Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or its characters.

A/N: Yeah, I'm aware it's been a while since I published the last chapter, but this week was Christmas, my bday and my friend bday, and on top of that, the Three Wise Men leave their presents next week… so I'm sorry, but I've been busy as hell. Hope you like this.

CHAPTER – 3

As they come into the house, the first thought that runs unconsciously through Quinn's mind is about how different the Berry's house is from the one she was brought up in. The ambient seems so relaxing and familiar, in contrast with the memory of a cold and empty house.

"Sweetie, why don't you show the girls around? We're going to fix you something for dinner, you must be starving."

"Ok, daddy." Rachel answers.

"You think you need help with your bags?" Harold says.

"I think we can manage, thank you." Quinn replies politely.

The two men disappear into the kitchen and they're left alone. Rachel starts the tour around the main floor: the kitchen, the living room, her dad's studio, the toilet and the garage. Then, they go upstairs.

"That is my dads' bedroom. They have a bathroom and this is the one we'll be using. Beth, you'll sleep here." They enter a very simple but comfy room with a single bed in the middle.

The girl drops her bag on the bed and looks around. "I like it. Thanks Rach."

"You're welcome." Rachel says gladly. "We'll be at the end of the corridor, ok?"

"Ok." Beth replies absent-minded, because she is already busy with her things.

They walk to the closed door at the end of the corridor. Quinn has known which room was Rachel's from the start because of the gold star. Just before opening that door, Rachel turns to Quinn.

"Come on, darling. Let me in your room?" Rachel looks doubtful for a moment. "I've already let you into my heart, haven't I?" Quinn kisses her cheek making the brunette wake up from her wonder and reminding her of how things have evolved since the last time they were in town. Finally, she smiles as she opens the door.

They walk into the room with a very big bed in the middle and the wall full of Broadway posters. In one of the walls, Quinn notices a board full of pictures and pieces of newspapers.

"Dad and Daddy keep that board. I believe they possess a copy of every picture or article Broadway related I am mentioned in." Rachel informs.

Quinn examines the board carefully. She recognizes the ones from Spring Awakening and it's grateful that Rachel's parents have removed her ex husband, Mark, from them. Just the thought of him makes the blonde reach for the brunette and hold her tight defensively.

She holds her and breathes the scent of her hair. After a while, she comments. "I like your room. It's not what I imagined in high school."

Rachel separates her body from the blonde to look at her hazel eyes and she grunts at the lost of contact. "You imagined my bedroom when we were in high school?"

"I… It might have crossed my mind at some point…" She gives in.

"And how did you imagine it?" The brunette asks.

"I don't know. I think I pictured it with gold stars all around." Quinn untangles from Rachel and walks around the room. At the end, she lands her eyes at one particular spot on the wall. "And I definitely didn't picture this." Rachel follows her and watches a few posters of Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp.

"If my room was all about Broadway or musicals, it might be boring…"

"True."

Quinn sits on Rachel's bed and stares at her night table. On it, she finds a couple of pictures in frames. The first one is a family photo, her dads adoring their little girl. The other one, it's a copy from their yearbook photo, the same one she found long ago in her box of memories.

Rachel sits by her side and she feels her hand sliding around her waist, so she does the same. The brunette rests her head on the blonde's shoulder.

"Do you think we could stay like this forever?"

"Girls, dinner's served!" A voice calls from downstairs.

"I don't think so…"

The slowly untangle themselves and go down to the kitchen. As they enter, they are surprised with a huge amount of plates and glasses.

"Daddy, what is all of this?"

"It's for Christmas dinner, darling."

"But how many people are you going to feed? I shall remind you that we are only five persons."

"Darling, I haven't gone mad. We invited the Puckerman's, the Lopez's and the Robertson's."

"Really? Are Daddy, auntie San and auntie Brit coming?" Beth enters the kitchen excitedly.

"Yes, sweetie. It was all Harold's idea, what do you think?" Quinn freaks out in her mind, thinking how interesting their dinner is going to be. She only can hope that Santana can handle things, for her sake. She's going to have a serious conversation with the latina.

"Cool!" Beth replies excitedly.

"It will be fun." Teddy says with certainty.

"You shouldn't have bothered at all. Having us is already too much." Quinn says. "Thank you for everything."

"Oh, shut up already. We want for you to feel comfortable." Everybody laughs, but still, Quinn enquires.

"Maybe I could help?"

"Would you stop worrying?"

"Probably."

"Then, yes."

That night, as they close the door to Rachel's bedroom, Quinn feels her muscles relax. However, she is not able to get all the sleep she would want to. In the morning, she wakes up even earlier than Beth to look for her presents.

The little blonde loves all her presents and starts playing with the new Singstar she receives, trying to beat Rachel. Rachel's dad both seem to enjoy their gifts. Rachel gets a bottle of her favorite perfume and Quinn gets a pretty jersey from the brunette's parents.

The blonde leans and whispers in the brunette's ear. "I'll give you mine later…" The brunette bits her lip and hands her present to Quinn, who opens it impatiently. "Oh my god. This is so pretty." A little gold necklace with a tiny but really beautiful emerald shape like a tear. The brunette can see that Quinn really likes it and she can't help but smile contently. She helps the blonde to put the necklace on and kisses briefly her lips.


"Darling, could you go to the supermarket?" Harold asks her daughter.

"You know it will be crowded, right?"

"Yes, I know, but we really need these things for tonight." He hands her a little list and the brunette examines it quickly.

"Alright… Beth, do you want to come with me? Pretty please?"

"Ok…" The kid gives in.

"Get your coat then. I'm going to tell your mom."


"Sweetie, I'm heading to the supermarket. Beth is coming with me. Do you think you'll be alright?"

"I think so. Anyways, this will happen sooner or later."

"You're too dramatic."

"I have a pretty good teacher, you know?"

"Yeah, right…"


"The only thing left from the list is the paper napkins. I don't really know why we would need paper napkins, but… Stay in the queue and I will go get them, ok?"

"I hate queues. Can't I get them?"

"Ok then."

The little blonde runs and disappears from Rachel's sight between the corridors.

"Excuse me, sir. Could you get me that package of napkins, please? I'm too short and I can't reach them."

"Of course, little lady." A tall, blonde man gets it for her. "How is it that I've never seen a well-mannered little girl like you in town before?"

"My mom and I just came here to spend Christmas."

"Where are you staying?"

Beth looks a little doubtful. "The Berry's invited us to their home."

The man's smile freezes a moment in disgust and Beth notices it. "You really look familiar. Who's your mom?"

"Sir, with all the respect, you're starting to creep me out…"

"Beth, what are you doing? You got the napkins or not?"

"Yes, Rach. This man helped me."

Rachel faces the man's cold eyes and swallows. "Mr. Fabray." She says almost in a whisper.

"I don't believe we have ever met. I'm Russell Fabray." The brunette stays momentarily shocked before she grabs Beth's hand.

"I don't think it's a coincidence that in this little town we share the same surname, right?" The little blonde asks Rachel hopefully, but the brunette shakes her head negatively. Beth looks at Russell, who is now in shock too. "Let's go, Rach. There's nothing left to do here." She says as she walks away with the brunette's hand, leaving her grandfather processing what has just happened.


Meanwhile, at the Berry's house…