Thanks for reviewing the last chapter: RVNola546, xtreme, SilverfoxCFL, sunrise4ever, Musicfutbolfan6, Guest, mythic-lionheart, DAgron01, Faberry's-Knight, PeppermintPatty, pierce22, Guest, Novak Fan, NZgleek91, nightcuddler, xphrnzrjh, Guest, Sticktoyourguns, Guest and emmacancook

They were some really nice reviews :)

Posted: 5/9/12


Chapter 3

"So what happens now?" they were safe in their Sanctuary, better known as Rachel's apartment, cuddled up on the sofa when Quinn decided it was time to face the truth.

"Well... I was fired this morning anyway. Figgins said I'd still get my pay check for the month but that's it, as long as I left immediately... and then he asked me if I could just work the last day"

"Probably realised he'd have to pay a sub on top of your salary for the day anyway" Quinn muttered dryly as she rested her head on Rachel shoulder

"Yeah" she sighed, not wanting to dwell on it, it wasn't important "I guess he wanted me gone to avoid..." she trailed off; having to think about the consequences was making her feel sick and she didn't want to feel that with Quinn in her arms "I don't know what's going to happen, Quinn. I'll never teach again"

Quinn moved her head too look up at the brunette from the shoulder "You didn't want to teach anyway" she chuckled lightly, before relaxing again

"Yeah" Rachel smiled, simply because she loved hearing Quinn laugh "but it was still my job. I'm going to need to start over, get away. I own my apartment, so I'll sell it and pay off the mortgage"

"Where are we going to go?"

"I don't know" she paused to pull away from Quinn and get her to look at her properly. The blonde, still in her Cheerios uniform was slouched on the sofa as she looked at Rachel curiously "Quinn, remember you still have your parents-"

"No" She suddenly sat up straight "I don't need them, I need you. I'm not me without you" she couldn't look at Rachel to reveal her vulnerability. She let the tears fall but with what had happened at the school recently she didn't want Rachel to think she was weak

The brunette shuffled closer, leaning against the younger woman's side as she tried to wrap her arms round her comfortingly "Quinn-"

"No Rachel" she turned in her arms, hoping she held back her tears enough so Rachel wouldn't notice "... I never asked anyone else to go to the gallery with me; I just needed an excuse to spend time with you outside school. And I wanted to be open with you; I wanted to prove I'm not just some dumb kid, before I tried"

"-I know you're not some dumb kid Quinn" her own eyes were getting shiny at seeing Quinn like this "I just need you to know what will happen if we do this, what you'll lose"

"It's nothing compared to what I'll have" she smiled bravely, knowing she was making the right decision "So where are we going?" she pushed again hoping to move the conversation along; she had some ideas

"I don't know yet" she admitted

"Really, well how about New York?" Maybe it wasn't always the city she pictured herself in, but it was hardly a down grade on any idea she'd had for herself. New York city had been in her mind more and more since getting to know Rachel better and her Broadway dreams "A fresh start and I don't just mean for us now, but for you... you could try again-"

"Don't Quinn, just don't, I can't" now it was Rachel's turn to move away

Quinn grabbed Rachel's shoulders and turned her around sharply "You can" she said with her bossy glare

"No I can't" she bowed her head "It's too late, and we'd need money"

"It's never too late and we'd manage" she hooked a finger under Rachel's chin and, this time, gently got Rachel to meet her gaze "I'll get a job, I'll be a waitress or something"

"That's sweet" she smiled "but you need to finish school, I can't let you go on without a high school diploma, and then college, I want you to succeed"

"Well I want you to succeed too. I know it would be hard, but we'd have each other"

"You make it sound so easy"

"Yeah and I get that it won't be, but I can't be without you Rach"

"I don't want to be without you Quinn" she bought her hand up to cup the side of Quinn's face and leant in to kiss her softly. It was only short, but they had been in a more intense lip lock from when they got to the apartment until shortly before Quinn started this conversation "Can we really just run though? This could haunt us forever, I'd be worried it would find us... your parents will find you. All because I..."

"...What? That you fell..." she didn't want to assume even though they'd confessed their love already

"Fell in love with a student?" she asks as she filled in the end of the question "A wonderful young woman who became the only light in my life... yeah and I'm sorry but I am terrified of the judgement... and your parents, they're going to take this to court when they find out"

"No, because we won't be here, and I won't let them. They don't know anyway, it's not like I'm going to tell them"

"But they'll know if you leave"

"And then it will be too late. You can try all you want Rachel. We're in this together, and we're going to New York City and we're going to live our dreams with each other"

Rachel conceded with a long sigh "I love you"

"I love you too" she was the one to initiate this innocent kiss and the one to take it away again much to both their disappointment; but there were still things to do "Now I should go home, before they get suspicious" she slowly stood and started toward the front door; finding her shoes on the way.

"When are we going to start our plan then?" Rachel asked as she followed Quinn, she stopped to lean against the wall while she watched Quinn innocently slip her sneakers back on

"Depends, how long until you can sell this?"

"I'm not sure, could be a couple of weeks. We don't have to wait until its sold though, we can go once any paper work is in order and they'll get in contact if a sale is made. I only bought it rather than rented a place because I thought I'd be here longer-" Quinn cut her off with another kiss.

"You're so cute when you ramble" she wore a smirk as she pulled away from the Brunette to see her a little dazed by something so simple. She turned away to grab her jacket and slipped it on. She stopped for a second, there was one last, really important thing she needed to know. She turned back to see the brunette smiling at her fondly

"Rachel?"

"Yeah?"

"What am I?" when she saw Rachel's expression drop to slight confusion she elaborated "What am I to you, what are we?"

"Our relationship?" that sent a shiver of excitement through Quinn at Rachel using that word. Obviously they were already committed to one another, but it hadn't really come up in conversation.

"Yeah, am I your girlfriend?" she wasn't the confident girl she was a few minutes ago when they were talking on the sofa

"Only if I'm your girlfriend" Rachel said just as shyly as she kept her eyes on her feet, mirroring Quinn's pose

"I'd like to be your girlfriend" Quinn muttered timidly.

"Good, because I'd like to be your girlfriend too" she bashfully stepped closer and childishly took Quinn's hand in her own, like a young girl on a first date about to have her first kiss. And it was just like their first kiss... well physically because it was without the tears

"I'll see you soon, tomorrow" she said as she rested her forehead against her girlfriends

"You've got school tomorrow"

"No way, I'm not going back there" she pulled back to shake her head with her words, but didn't release Rachel's hands between them

"But your parents will know something's wrong if you don't go in" Rachel tried to reason

"I-I can't, I just can't face them, at school. Besides me being there might make things worse"

"Or they'll think I've left and the problem has been resolved. I know it will be hard on you Quinn and it's a big ask"

"Okay I get it; I'll go in... they'll bad mouth you though I just know it" and this would hurt Quinn more than it would Rachel as she'd be the one hearing

"Join in then, anything, make yourself a victim. Do what you have to and then we'll be free. I'm sorry to ask that of you, I really am"

"No I understand" she said "And just so you know, I feel like a victim when I'm in that school, never with you. I love you"

"I love you too"

"Now I really have to go" Quinn said reluctantly, kissing Rachel briefly and only on the corner of her mouth this time, so it couldn't lead to more.

"Call me when you get home so I know you got their safe"

Quinn nodded, Rachel asking her to call wasn't a big ask, she would call Rachel when she got home either way. She reluctantly pulled herself away so she could leave.

As Rachel walked her to the ground floor Quinn just had to keep reminding herself this wasn't forever, just a few days and she would see Rachel again tomorrow... after she went to school.

...

The house was oddly silent when Quinn got there. She placed her bag on the floor, putting her car key inside so she could find it easily in the morning

"Mom? Dad? I'm home" she called out cautiously. Normally she would hear her dad talking animatedly about his day at work. Of course his enthusiasm was forced by whatever from the liquor cabinet would take his fancy on the day

"Quinnie, can you come in here please" That was all she heard, nothing else, not even the television was on. And her dad likes his sports.

"Yes daddy?" she asked as innocently as she always could be with him as she stepped through the double doorway and towards her parents. Judy sat quietly, almost invisible as Russell stepped closer towering over her daughter

"We got some news earlier today. Rather incredible story telling for once" he huffed a humourless laugh as he took a sip of his drink before placing it down on the side board next to them "They said, and it's ridiculous, that you, my dear daughter, are sleeping with one of your teachers" he laughed louder " A female teacher"

She said nothing. Her expression plain on her face, she showed no emotion. Even with Rachel's words in her head; of saying she should play the victim. That idea sickened her, Rachel had quickly become her world.

Was it impossible, maybe she was being some stupid kid with hopeless romantic wishes? She couldn't let it happen, even if she was asked to do so by the only person who mattered

"Who told you?" was all she said

She'd seen the anger in his eyes when she walked in, he already knew, he was just giving her the chance to own up, so she did

"It doesn't matter who told us!" he snapped "It's true then?"

"Every word" she was near trembling, she always was when he got like this.

"How dare you, how dare you bring this into our house. Do you know what this will do to me, to your mother? People talk Quinn" he spat her name like it was poison on his tongue "

"You were never supposed to know, it was between me and her and no one else, So stop making it about you"

"Making this about me? I am your father, your guardian. You live in my house under my rules" His voice boomed startling Quinn, but she wouldn't let that fear show in her eyes "The fact she is a woman is bad enough but she's your teacher! She's an adult and you're a child!"

"I'm 18! I'm not a child anymore"

"Don't talk back! You think you're old enough to decided what's best for you"

"I know what's best for me!" she was riled up, she couldn't help but echo his actions and voice

"I told you, now don't you ever talk back to me again. Get up to your room. We will solve this once you've come to your senses and then we are to never speak of this again" he pointed to the door way, as if it were a violent cue for her to leave. But she wasn't done yet.

"Yeah that's right" she scoffed "Just like always, if we don't about it, it doesn't exist"

"Do not push me Quinn" he warned lowly through gritted teeth

"I'm sick of you ruling over my life like this, you don't know what's best for me, you don't even know me"

"Of course I know what's best for you!"

"No you don't, you don't listen to me, you just speak over me like my opinions don't matter and everything you say is what we should all believe in" today she'd make her thoughts known; she wouldn't let him push her around anymore. She didn't want to live the life others had moulded for her "But you know what dad, I'm done with your beliefs and opinions, why should I respect a man who hardly shows me the tiniest amount in return, I'm not asking for much"

"You will not turn this on me, you are the disappointment here"

"I'd rather be a disappointment than a failure like you-" she was cut off by the back of a heavy hand smacking her across the face. She felt her dad's wedding ring collide with her cheek bone, which didn't help with the initial sting.

He quickly straightened himself up; his face didn't soften as she slowly turned her slapped away head and looked back at him. "Now, give me your car keys and your phone, get upstairs and do not show your face for the rest of the evening" he said just as sternly as before.

A smart remark was on the tip of her tongue but she held it back. She went over to her school bag, taking her car key and cell phone out. She placed them on the coffee table in front of her dad. Her mom was quiet, sipping at an amber liquid in a crystal glass, as she sat on one of the various sofas in the large living room. Quinn didn't spare her a glance; it would just be wasted time and effort.

As soon as she was shut in her room she dropped her school bag on the floor, and went straight to her dresser to inspect her face.

"Shit" she looked closely, round her left eye was red, with a small cut, probably where his wedding ring hit her.

She decided to change; there was nothing else she could do now, she couldn't even call Rachel and lie by telling her everything was okay.

...

Quinn was curled up defensively in the middle of her bed in sweat pants and a hoody, when she heard her bedroom door open. She froze, waiting for the intruder to say something so she knew just how defensive she used to be.

"Quinn?" she'd know that voice anywhere but there was no way it could be who it sounded like. She shot up revealing her red eyes to the trespasser.

"Santana, what the hell are you doing here?" she sniffed and wiped her face on the back of her sleeve.

"I had to talk to you" The Latina stood awkwardly by the bedroom door she'd just closed

"And how did you even get past my parents" she didn't give Santana enough credit, she was a scheming bitch on school but she could talk her way through anything by adopting a different persona when around parents

"I made up some shit about talking some sense into you"

"Wow, you nearly quoted my dad then" she laughed humourlessly as she casually pushed the hood from her hoody down off her head

"What the hell happened to your face?" she would have yelled louder but she managed to control her volume in case the Fabrays heard down stairs. She approached cautiously wanting to get a better look

"It's nothing" she dismissed turning around so her back was to her ex-friend

"Did he hit you?" why there was surprise in the Latina's voice was a surprise in itself. She'd never trusted Russell Fabray but she'd really hoped he'd never resort to physical violence

"Why do you care?" Quinn decided to snap, realising she was mad at the other girl.

Santana didn't bother to notice Quinn's tone and she didn't really care either "I'll kill the son of a bitch" she threatened lowly "Why did he do that?"

"I told him he was a failure" Quinn kept her head down as she felt the bed dip next to her as Santana sat down next to her

"And I thought Parents wanted their kids to tell the truth" she laughed lightly

Quinn didn't want to talk about it so she asked an earlier question again "What are you doing here?"

"I had to see you; after you took off I was worried" she admitted

"You told them didn't you?"

"No" Santana was quick to jump in defensively "I know what a psycho your dad can be, I wouldn't tell him about this"

"But you felt fine telling the whole school?" she turned her battered face to the teenager next to her

"I didn't tell the whole school, I- I let it slip to a couple of the Cheerios" she sounded so weak, which was just so not Santana

"You told those bitches?" Quinn had to step away from the other girl. She folded her arms across her chest as she stepped over to her dresser. She went to sit down when she saw her eye surrounded by a growing bruise. She turned away having to face the Latina instead.

"I didn't mean to. It wasn't like I said; I think Miss Berry is screwing Quinn; it was a little more coded than that. But apparently some of them are smarter then we gave the credit for" she cringed before averting her eyes from the stony glares she was receiving.

"So who told my parents?"

Quinn could see the hesitating on the tip of the Latina's lips before she just had to let it out "Puck"

"What?" she couldn't believe what she was hearing; a boy her parents hadn't approved of was the one to approach them just to ruin her life a little more

"Well he feels like his rep is damaged because you used to date him"

"Yeah for about 3 months and he was sleeping with you behind my back"

"You knew?" Santana mumbled guiltily

"I'd have to be as dumb as we thought most of the Cheerios were, to not have known"

"Sorry about that"

"I don't care about it, it's in the past" Quinn sighed

"I knew he was going to talk to them... I told him I'd sleep with him... like we used to if he didn't. He actually turned me down" she felt for stupid for thinking it before she'd spoken to Puck about it. But she still cared about her friend even if she'd selfishly wrecked her life

"You would have become an even bigger slut so my parents wouldn't find out" she asked with a sceptically raised eyebrow

"Yeah, I felt dumb for thinking it. I haven't had sex with any guy for..." she shook her head "Anyway, is there anything I can do now, for you. I know it's not ideal, if it weren't for me no one would know yet but if there's anything I can do..." the let the offer hang there while Quinn thought about it

"Actually; can you please go to Rachel's, I just have this feeling she might panic. I told her I'd call her once I got home but I didn't get the chance" she explained, her tone softer now

"You could just use my cell" she offered, trying to get it out of her jean pocket.

"I don't think I can remember the number and I think if she hears the shaking in my voice" she held back tears and hid her face by looking at her sock clad feet "she'll think something's wrong" the worry in her voice and on her face was upsetting for anyone even to Santana; she was off the bed and by her friend again so quickly.

She placed a hand gently on her shoulder, hoping it was comforting because she didn't do hugs "Something is wrong Q. Your dad hit you" she stressed every word of the last sentence "You have to get away, both of you soon"

"We're already planning to get away once she sells her apartment" she started to explain

"No Q, you should get away really soon, like tonight" maybe it was crazy but Santana didn't want her staying in this house and if Quinn went to hers or to Rachel, Russell would find her. And who knew what he could be capable of with enough alcohol in his system

"You think it's that bad?" Quinn sniffed, feeling worry and vulnerability settle again

"People will start talking; Ra-" It sounded wrong just trying to say it "Miss Berry won't be able to walk down the street without them talking. I mean this as your friend: you both need to get out of town before they keep you apart"

"'They'?"

"Well your parents, for starts. That bruising eyes is proof of that. And the people Quinn, the small minded people of this wonderful town" she said with obvious sarcasm

Quinn gave it a moment's thought. She had so much she wanted to talk to Rachel about, but could she really rely on Santana to remember everything. "If I write a letter will you take it to her?"

"Yeah, that's a good idea. Go on, you start writing I'll start packing" A letter, that was definitely a good idea, then she wouldn't have to talk to her teacher awkwardly about anything.

"Thanks Santana" she said quickly before finding a piece of paper and a pen and planning out in her head all the things she wanted to say.

"Are you kidding? It's the least I can do after messing it up for you" she went straight over to Quinn's closet and took out the blondes Cheerios duffle bag

Quinn stopped, it was a good as time as any to ask "Why did you mess it up?"

"Honestly, at first I just thought it was wrong. I mean, come on Q, she is your teacher" she tried to explain it from her point of view

"She's only 5 years older than us San. It's just bad timing, if we'd met at another time-"

"Okay, okay, I get it. It wasn't just me wanting to be a bitch though... I was also jealous"

"Jealous, seriously?"

"Yeah, you're happy and I'm not. You've got the woman you love and Brittany-"

"Just tell her" Quinn sighed

"I have" she almost yelled back "But she said she'd 'totally be with me' if it weren't for wheels"

"San-" Quinn tried sympathetically but the other girl didn't want to hear it

"No... I know what she really wants; she wants me to be out with her. Another reason I was jealous of you and Miss Be-" now that was feeling weird to say "her because you had... you were a secret" she admitted

"Oh" Quinn could understand her jealous a little more "I guess I get it, I don't completely forgive you thought. Rachel and I could have kept it quiet until I graduated"

"You really believe that? You two can't take your eyes off each other, if I hadn't said anything someone else would have. And what's with the 'Rachel and I' did she correct the way you speak or something" she paused and shook her head "Don't answer, just get writing" she didn't want to know

She had started filling a second duffle bag, that she'd found in the closet, and this one just had clothes in it too. Quinn could sort out her irreplaceable-s while she was starting phase two of the plan.

"Are you taking your cheerio's uniform?"

Quinn stopped writing to ask her friend slightly puzzled. Yeah it was her uniform but was it important tight now "Why would I take that?"

"I dunno, you two might like that in the bedroom"

"Eww no, just no" she paused to gather herself and let her blushing calm down "Rachel doesn't like anything that reminds us of our age difference"

"Yeah gross I didn't need to know you two were actually having sex, and often enough for that to have even been mentioned. So much for being the celibate ice queen when the dwarf drama teacher turns you to a mushy romantic and sex slave"

"Hey, I'm no slave"

"Gross, again, more images I didn't need in my head. Have you finished that letter yet?"

"Yeah I finished the letter" she folded the paper into 4 and tucked it into an envelope before sealing it. She noticed Santana had been watching her the entire time "What?"

"Do you think I'm gonna read it or something?"

"I know you'll read it" she smirked.

Phase one of the plan was nearly complete, the only part left for the phase was for Santana to escape without being interrogated


So... I started slowing the story down a bit. This was a lot of talking, not sure if it was annoying or what. But please let me know what you think...