Chapter Text
Janis squeezed Regina’s left hand tightly, “Ready?”
Regina took a deep breath in, tried to calm her beating heart, “Absolutely not, but here we go.”
“I love you baby, it’s going to be okay,” Janis tucked a stray curl behind her ears and kissed her forehead filling Regina with warmth.
Regina opened the steel door handle to her childhood home, holding Janis’s hand as tight as she could.
Her parents were waiting, she’d told them she had something important to tell them and they needed to be there, for once they were. Well, they were in the house, she had to force her father out of his study and into the living room.
It hit her what she was about to do when she saw her parents on the pristine white sofa looking up at her and Janis with confusion. She almost wanted to run away, she really wanted to run away but Janis was looking at her with those stupid proud eyes. She couldn’t back out now.
“Regina what’s wrong?” Her mother asked, picking at her nails. Her father didn’t even look up from his phone.
“So, the thing that I need to tell you guys is that I have girlfriend. This is Janis,” She gestured, and Janis smiled. She was repeating what her and Janis had practiced that morning, but it was much different when she actually had to look her parents in the eyes.
A myriad of emotions flashed across her parents faces, shock, disgust, confusion. Regina winced, awaiting their response.
“Girlfriend?” Her mother questioned, her face screwed up in disgust. Her father stayed silent, but his phone was face down on the sofa now.
Regina breathed in, “Yes I’m a lesbian.”
More shock.
“You’re kidding right? You’re just joking?” Her mother laughed anxiously, like she was expecting Regina to scream “April fools”
“No, I’m being serious, I’m tired of hiding and pretending I’m someone else. I love Janis and I want to be with her.” She said, trying to keep her voice strong but failing to hide the emotions she was feeling right now.
That was it for her father and he started to scream, “I knew all that fucking football would turn you gay.”
Regina wanted to tell him to go fuck himself, “You don’t get turned gay, I’ve always been gay,” she said instead.
Her father put his head into his hand, “Do you understand what this could do to me?” He yelled. “My business. If people know I HAVE A FUCKING DYKE FOR A DAUGHTER.”
“Well, I don’t really care.” Regina shrugged trying to keep a calm face, trying to pretend she really didn’t care, like it wasn’t breaking her heart to hear this. She hated her parents, she really did. But a small part of her still wanted their love and approval, just wanted them to care. All she wanted was for them to wrap their arms around her and tell her they would support her, that they would always love her. But that would never happen, she knew that.
“You’re a selfish bitch and you are not my daughter. God I can’t believe this.” Her father got up, red faced.
Regina couldn’t help but laugh, she was starting to lose it, “Not your daughter? Have I ever really been your daughter? You’ve never been my parents that’s for sure, I had to raise myself, I HAVE TO RAISE KYLIE.” She started to feel hot tears trickling down her cheeks. This time she didn’t wipe them away; they deserved to see the pain they had put her through. She was done with pretending to be okay.
Her mother stayed silent, eyes fixed on the wooden tiles.
Her father was bright red, furious, “I can’t believe you would say that shit. I brought you into this world, gave you a house, clothes, I fed you.”
“You were literally never at home, neither was mum I was completely alone.” She screamed, years and years of repressed anger flooding out.
He breathed out deeply, “You are never seeing Kylie again. I will not have her around you, learning your ways.”
Regina took a deep breath, tried to calm herself, “Well actually, you don’t get a say in that because I’ve issued a formal complaint to child protective services about your neglect of Kylie, and I am going to fight for full custody.
“Excuse me? She’s our child,”
“A child you don’t look after, I care for her more than you do.”
“We’re her parents, you’ll never be given custody,” He snorted.
“Kylie would much rather have me as her parent than you and she’s not afraid to say it. I have multiple friends who will testify that you are neglecting her as well as her teachers and the parents of her friends, believe me I have checked.”
“What are you talking about? Kylie’s fine,” He spluttered, face red.
“You leave her completely alone with nothing. I’m the one who buys her food, I’m the one who calls her before bed every night, I’m the one who goes to her football games, I’m the one who looks after her. She’s been walking alone to school since she was 5, she cooks her own meals, her teachers are worried about her, her friends' parents that take her home are worried about her. I’m doing this and you have no say.”
“You bitch. After everything we’ve done for you.”
Regina started to laugh, “EVERYTHING YOU’VE DONE FOR ME? it’s not just Kylie that’s been neglected, you didn’t care for me either. It’s like you keep forgetting I am also your child, and you never ever acted like it. I didn’t have a sister like Kylie does, I had to look after myself completely. I started cooking my own food when I was 4, I walked to school, I was left alone at home for days and days as a CHILD, you did NOTHING FOR ME.” She was full on sobbing at this point and Janis was holding her hand tightly, her anchor.
Her voice shook, “I’m leaving and I’m taking Kylie with me.”
“You can’t,” He yelled.
“I don’t give a fuck. I’m getting her away from you.”
She ran up the staircase, hot tears now trickling down her throat, Janis followed closely behind but stayed outside as Regina opened Kylie’s door. Kylie was sat on her bed, knees to her chest and shaking. She tugged strands of hair, twisting them around her fingers.
Regina looked at her baby sister sobbing and her heart ached, “Oh, Kylie baby did you hear all that?”
She frowned, “I got scared cause of all the yelling.”
“I know baby I’m sorry,” She sat down next to her and reached out to wipe her tears away with her thumb. “How would you like to come and stay with me?”
Her face lit up instantly, “Really for how long?”
“Well,” Regina paused. “How would you like to stay with me forever?”
She looked at her in confusion, “Forever? What do you mean forever?”
“Kylie you’re not safe here, mum and dad don’t care for you enough, but I can get it sorted and If you like I can be your guardian.”
She grinned wider than Regina had ever seen, “Like I’d get to be with you all the time?”
“Yeah, and you could live with me in my apartment, you’d have your own room, and you would see Shane and Karen and Gretchen all the time. And you’d have to go to a different school and football club, but it would be okay. I’d be with you, and I’d take you to school and cook you dinner and we could cuddle up and watch movies every night.”
“Really?” Her eyes welled up with tears.
“I still have a job though so I couldn’t be with you all the time, but it would be more than now and when I go away you could stay with Shane.”
Kylie started to tear up, “I’ve never wanted anything more, that’s my dream.”
“Oh baby, it’s my dream too. I’m so sorry I’ve left you like this for so long.” She wrapped her arms around her, breathed in the smell of her soft lavender shampoo. Regina thought nothing could ever be wrong again as long as she had Kylie in her arms. She was going to keep her safe this time.
“Not your fault, you’re the best sister ever. I can’t wait,” She jumped up and down, clapping her hands.
“Okay we’re going now.” Regina pulled herself up.
“Now?” She smiled.
“Right now, and guess who’s outside?”
“Who?” Kylie looked up at her, wide eyed.
“Janis.”
Kylie’s mouth widened in shock, “Really?”
“Yep, and she’s coming with us.”
“I feel like I’m dreaming,” She touched her face like it was all going to disappear before her eyes and grabbed onto Regina’s arm.
“So do I baby, this is all I’ve ever wanted too. Why don’t you go pack a bag with your favourite things to take with you.”
Kylie got up excitedly and started packing all of her stuffed toys and her football boots. Regina packed some of her clothes and the more practical things and in almost no time they had a huge suitcase filled.
Regina walked outside to see Janis sat on the floor, she looked up from her phone and smiled.
“I told you she’d be happy.”
“JANIS.” Kylie was overjoyed to see Janis again and ran straight into her arms.
“Hey kiddo.” Janis laughed and lifted her up, spinning her around, making Regina’s heart clench. Kylie let out the cutest little giggles and said, “I missed you Janis and so did Regina.”
“Really?” Janis smiled.
“She missed you so much. I know it because she was sad all the time and when she was with you, she was happy.”
“You’re very smart.” Janis nodded.
“I am,” She smirked.
“Kylie baby,” Regina knelt down to be at her level. “The reason there was so much shouting downstairs is because I told mum and dad that Janis and I are dating, she’s my girlfriend.”
Kylie’s eyes lit up and her mouth turned up into a smile, “Your girlfriend, really?”
“Yeah, is that okay?”
“I love Janis.” Kylie screamed and hugged them both, Regina looked over to Janis with tears in her eyes, happy ones and Janis wrapped her arms around them both. They stayed there for a while, the three of them, some of the people Regina loved the most in the world in a place with so many bad memories for Regina. She was okay, everything was okay.
“I’m so glad you’re coming home with Regina,” Janis said to Kylie and then turned to face Regina. “Although you aren’t meant to take her yet, I don’t think.”
“I don’t care. I’m not letting her live in this house a second longer.”
“And that’s why I love you.”
They walked downstairs, Janis carrying Kylie’s suitcase and Regina holding Kylie’s hand tightly, refusing to let go.
“You can’t do this,” Her dad sighed, not bothering to actually move from the sofa.
“Yes, I can,” she lied. “Why do you even care? You’ve never cared this much about Kylie before.”
“Fine whatever, you’re not going to win. so, take her, she’ll have to come back.”
Regina shook her head, “There’s no way I’m letting her come back, never.”
Before she left, Kylie gave their mother one last hug and Regina couldn’t help but feel bad for her. She hated her father that’s for sure, but she didn’t hate her mother, not really. She wasn’t a good mother, but she wasn’t a bad person, and she did love Kylie, in her own way.
Kylie got into the back seat of Regina’s car with her huge suitcase (mostly filled with stuffed toys). Janis also sat in the back so Kylie wouldn’t be alone, and they talked the entire ride. Regina’s heart felt like it was going to explode hearing Janis asking Kylie all about school and football, her favourite books and tv shows, her friends, her favourite foods. Kylie was ecstatic telling Janis story after story and the trip went by quickly.
Regina had set up her guest room a few days before for Kylie and was excited to show her. The bedsheets were pink with teddy bears and there was so many fluffy pillows. She put photos of the two of them as well as Shane on the walls. There was a little desk with pens and paper and a big comfy chair. She bought her some new books and set up a bookshelf by her bed. She even had her own bathroom which Regina had stocked with fun smelling soaps and shampoo. Spoiling Kylie was her favourite activity.
Kylie burst out into tears at the first sight of her bedroom, “For me?” she asked.
“Of course it’s for you, do you like it?”
“I love it so much,” Her bottom lip started to quiver, and Regina wrapped her arms around her.
“Oh baby, I’m so glad you love it.”
Kylie started settling into her room, excitedly putting away her clothes and arranging her stuffed toys.
But Regina had one last thing to do.
She pressed post and threw her phone down.
It wasn’t that Regina felt she needed to come out, that everyone needed to know. It was that she was tired of hiding and pretending to be someone else. She couldn’t keep doing it and neither could Janis. She settled for a simple photo of them at the picnic Janis had set up, Janis laying her head on Regina’s lap and Regina looking down at her with love. It was beautiful and it was perfect. The caption: “I’m tired of hiding.”
Her phone was probably about to blow up, so she placed it to the side and refused to look at it.
“Most people are going to be great about it,” Janis squeezed her shoulder.
“I know I’m just nervous.”
“I get it, I really do. But I’m here and you have Karen, Gretchen, Shane, your entire team, it’s going to be fine.”
“I know,” Regina said, and she meant it. Everything really was going to be okay, she knew that now.
“And you’ve got Kylie now.”
“yeah, I do.” She smiled.
After making sure Kylie wasn’t too overwhelmed, she invited everyone round for dinner.
Shane came first, living the closest to Regina and he practically sprinted through the door.
“Shane this is Janis,” She gestured to Janis who stood awkwardly by the sofa and waved.
“It’s so good to finally meet you,” Shane said.
“You too.”
“Hug?” He said excitedly.
“Sure,” she nodded, and he swept her into one of his typical bear hugs.
“Wait am I supposed to threaten you or something?” He said, like the thought had just occurred to her.
“No Shane, don’t,” Regina shook her head in exasperation.
Shane’s expression morphed into something that was probably supposed to be threatening but just ended up looking stupid, “If you hurt her, you will regret it.”
Janis just laughed, “That’s ominous.”
“Don’t worry Shane couldn’t hurt anyone even if he tried,” Regina assured her, patting Shane’s chest sympathetically.
“Not true,” He pouted. “I’m strong,” He flexed and kissed his muscles. He was very strong and very tall, but Regina knew Shane and he had the temperament of a puppy.
Regina patted his back, “We both know that you could not.” He laughed and swept her up in a hug.
“I’m so proud of you Gi,” He kissed her forehead and held her close to his chest.
She looked up at him, the adoration in his face and she thought she was going to cry again, “I love you so much Shane, I’m sorry if I don’t tell you enough.”
He just smiled, “I know you do”
Kylie hearing the noise ran out of her room, “SHANE, SHANE!!”
“Hey kiddo,” Shane laughed and picked her up swinging her around. God Regina’s heart felt so full it was going to overflow.
“How are you doing Ky?” He pulled on one of her ringlets affectionately.
“Amazing, I get to live with Gina.” She squealed.
“I heard, that is amazing.”
Karen and Gretchen arrived next, hand in hand like always.
They ate greasy takeaway pizza on the couch, Kylie up way past her bedtime. They laughed and told stories and sung songs at the top of their lungs. Karen fell asleep on Gretchen who was leaning on Shane and her girlfriend stroked her hair lovingly.
Kylie was cuddled up by her side and Regina felt herself tear up knowing this was her new normal that Kylie was hers to love and hers to take care of. This was all she had ever wanted, all she had ever dreamed of. She had Gretchen, Karen and Shane who loved her endlessly. She had a team that cared about her and supported her, and she was someone’s first choice, she was Janis’s. It hadn’t been easy but she knew she was where she was meant to be.
Regina was surrounded by all the people she loved, who loved her too, and she deserved it.