"Accidentally in Love" - Ch. 6: Free Your Mind
Summary: Quinn wakes up after the accident and thinks it's sophomore year. She's dating Finn and Rachel's dating Puck. After some coaxing, they play along for the sake of Quinn's mental stability. A Puckleberry Fuinn fic.
Rating: T ...there's a chance there will be a more "M" chapter later, but I'll give fair warning.
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews! You all are awesome!
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or any of the characters. If I did Finchel would be Season One news, and we'd have beautiful Puckleberry Fuinn...and lots of Pezberry duets! And Tina would get a song, and maybe even a storyline.
The girls had spent the afternoon watching movies, painting each other's nails, and trying out these crazy hair styles. It was around seven when Rachel's cell buzzed to let her know that Finn was downstairs in the hospital lobby. Santana and Rachel had offered to stay the night with Quinn, as she didn't want to spend the night alone. Much to Rachel's dismay, Quinn had practically begged that she text Finn to see if he'd stay over again.
Rachel excused herself to go get a soda, so they could talk before he came in to play dutiful boyfriend.
"Hey," Finn greeted her. "Can we go talk outside?"
Rachel nodded, and the two walked outside in silence and found a somewhat secluded bench to sit on.
"So, are you still mad at me?" Finn asked.
"Are you still suggesting I'm going to sleep with Noah?" Rachel countered.
"No," Finn started. "Listen, I'm sorry I accused you of anything. It's just...you know I don't really trust him around you, and this whole situation is crazy."
"I know you don't trust him, but you asked me to marry you Finn. I'd hope that you trust the girl you asked to be your wife," Rachel said. She was trying not to cry. This whole situation was getting too stressful, and she just wanted to go home, curl up in bed with Finn, and forget this whole scheme.
"I do trust you Rach. I just was feeling guilty and decided to lash out, and I'm sorry," Finn said.
"Guilty? What were you feeling guilty for?" Rachel asked, worry and insecurities creeping into her head.
"She kissed me last night and I tried. I tried to do what you told me and picture her as someone else Rachel, I really did. But it's Quinn. And I love you, but there-" Finn hesitated, he wasn't sure how to say this without hurting Rachel. "There's a part of me that will always be drawn to her."
Rachel sat for a moment in silence, conflicted between anger, jealousy, and understanding. She took a deep breath, "But you love me? And you still want me to wear this ring?" Rachel asked, playing with her engagement ring on her right hand. She hadn't wanted to take it off, so she switched hands and told Quinn it was a promise ring from Puck.
"Yes, I do Rachel. I want us to start our lives together, it's just..." Finn said.
"Then, I get it. She was your first love. They're hard to forget and completely kick out of your heart, even when they crack an egg on your head or sleep with your best friend," Rachel said.
Finn just nodded in response. He was thankful for her understanding but confused where it left everything. Another part of his brain was trying to digest the thought that Rachel had loved Jesse, he always had assumed he was Rachel's first love.
"So we're okay then?" Rachel asked, pulling Finn out of his thoughts. He responded by leaning in to kiss her. He pulled her onto his lap and they made out for a few minutes.
"This whole scheme is absolutely insane. I miss you," he said. Though he was glad to have Rachel back in his arms, Finn couldn't help thinking about the lack of fireworks when he kissed her.
"I missed you too," Rachel said, leaning her head on his shoulder. They sat like that for about five minutes before heading back upstairs.
When they were just outside Quinn's room, Rachel stopped Finn.
"Finn, please just don't fall back in love with her," Rachel pleaded.
Finn kissed her forehead in response and then the two walked into the room.
"So, I am completely sugared out," Quinn announced after eating half the pint of ice cream Finn had brought her. "All we did today was gossip, eat sugar, beautify ourselves, eat sugar, and watch movies."
Finn laughed, "What were you girls gossiping about?"
"Well," Quinn started, "Santana filled me in on how Rachel has tamed Puckerman after I noticed that sparkly promise ring he gave her. It's still so crazy to me that Rachel Berry of all people tamed Noah Puckerman."
Finn nodded, imaging how much fun Santana was having being able to concoct crazy stories.
"I'm so glad they found their Jew love together," Quinn said, "I know it was a long time ago now, but I really thought I was going to lose you to her back then."
It took a lot for her to admit that, but the last thing Quinn truly remembered before being told all these stories, was being deathly afraid that she'd lose Finn to Rachel Berry. That's why she had joined the Glee Club in the first place.
"Never," Finn said. Looking back, even knowing what he knew now about Quinn and Puck, he still felt bad for his flirtation and kissing with Rachel while he was dating Quinn.
"So, what do you want to do for your last night in the hospital?" Finn asked, desperately trying to change the topic.
"I have an idea, but you have to promise not to laugh at it," Quinn said, to which Finn agreed. "Okay, so Rachel told me about my plans to study drama at Yale. And I figured it could be fun to go up to the patio, and just get lost in Shakespeare for awhile tonight. Just you and me, escaping into a story where it doesn't matter what I can remember about my own past because I'm Lady Macbeth and the three witches tonight, and you're MacBeth."
Finn smiled. "That sounds great."
He was thankful. It was really hard to lie to Quinn so they could portray this reality, and it was even harder to keep coming up with stories and answers. This night sounded like the perfect escape from either reality for both of them.
Finn helped her into her wheelchair, and they were on their way. When they got up to the patio, Finn managed to download the play onto his phone, and they decided to pass it back and forth to read different parts.
"When shall we three meet again, in thunder, lightning, or in rain?" Quinn asked in her best witch voice.
"When the hurlyburly's done, when the battle's lost and won," Finn said in his own goofy witch voice, causing Quinn to laugh.
For the next two hours they tried their best to act through scenes, but usually ended in hysterical fits of laughter. Finn was embarrassed a few times as he stumbled over some of the Shakespeare-era words, but Quinn made him feel comfortable about it.
"Maybe I should've opted for Romeo and Juliette, less cackling, more kissing," Quinn said as they calmed down from their latest fit of laughter.
"I'm sorry I'm not a better acting partner," Finn said.
Quinn leaned in and kissed him. "This, Finn Hudson, has been a perfect evening, exactly what I needed."
Finn leaned in to kiss her again. When Quinn pulled away she said, "Double double toil and trouble, we better get back down to my room before the nurses bubble!"
The two burst out in hysterical laughter again before heading back down to her room.
Once they settled back into her hospital bed, Quinn put her head on Finn's shoulder again.
"I wish I was going home with you tomorrow instead," Quinn said quietly.
Finn ran his hand down her arm, "I know. I'm sorry, you know my mom loves you but our house is just a little full now with Burt, Kurt, and Sam."
"No, I know, I'm just bummed we won't get to sleep like this anymore," Quinn said snuggling in closer.
"I don't know, Rachel's dads are pretty lenient,"Finn said.
Quinn leaned up and kissed Finn, "Just in case that doesn't work out. Let's get in some contraband kissing."
Finn smiled. He knew he should feel guilty, and he did. One part of his brain was definitely focused his fiance and how screwed up this situation was. But mostly, he was focused on how great it felt the old Quinn Fabray in his arms. Not the crazy Quinn he dated last year, the real Quinn he fell in love with three years ago.
Rachel was exhausted when Santana dropped her off, so she wasn't exactly thrilled to see Puck's truck in her driveway.
"What are you doing here?" she asked when she got to the porch where he was waiting for her.
"Is that anyway to greet your boyfriend?" Puck asked with a smile.
Rachel kicked him lightly.
"I came to hang, help you prep the house for Quinn, maybe talk a bit," he admitted.
Rachel opened the door, and Puck got up and followed her inside.
"Santana helped me de-Finn the house last night, and my dads prepped the downstairs guest room for her since she's not going to be able to get up or down the stairs anyway," Rachel said, switching on the light.
"Oh," Puck said, closing the door. "So where are your dads?"
"They're at some LGBT function in Columbus, they'll be back tomorrow to help me bring Quinn home," Rachel answered.
The two decided to watch some television, and Rachel went to grab a snack and drinks for them. She came back to the living room with a bowl of chocolate drizzled popcorn, a soda for Puck, and a bottle of water for herself. He hadn't turned on the television yet, so Rachel figured he may really want to talk as he'd suggested earlier.
"So, how was the OSU game?" Rachel asked, setting the bowl down in front of him.
"Cool, would've been better if Finn wasn't being such a douche," Puck said, grabbing a handful of popcorn.
"I'm sorry that my fight with him put a damper on your day," Rachel said.
"Yeah," Puck said absently.
The two sat in silence for a few minutes before Puck spoke again.
"Rach, why is he so convinced that I'm going to try to get with his girlfriend again? I thought we were past that," Puck admitted. He didn't want to sound like a girl but it had been bugging him all afternoon. When they were tailgating, Puck had taken Finn aside and told him to stop being a douche. Finn replied by telling Puck to stop trying to screw Finn's girlfriends.
"He told me in October to stop hanging out with you, because he didn't trust you. I thought the same thing, and when I pressed him for why he didn't trust you and me again, he told me what you said to him in the locker room when he asked for condom advice," Rachel said.
Puck looked confused.
"When you told Finn you always thought you'd be my first," Rachel said. "Noah, why would you say that?"
"So you've been cold and distant with me, and my best friend was a douche to me all day because of a joke I made?" Puck asked. He cringed inside. He had really hoped that comment, that was never suppose to slip out, would've gone right over Finn's head.
"So it was just some Puckerman crude humor?" Rachel asked.
"Yeah, of course," Puck lied.
"Okay then," Rachel said. She silently debated whether or not to expose the real reason she had been cold and distant all year, or to press him for why he'd joke about that. But her exhaustion from all the current drama won out.
"What do you say we sit here on this sofa, watch mindless television, and just forget this whole crazy situation we've all found ourselves in this week?" Rachel suggested.
"Sounds perfect," Puck said, flipping the television on. They eventually settled on some VH1 special on the 80s. Two hours later, Rachel was asleep on the other side of the sofa.
Puck scooped her up to carry her up to her bedroom. She was light enough, and this wasn't the first time he had to carry an unconscious Rachel up to her room. Puck's mind flashed back to last spring after everyone had pretty much left the Glee alcohol-fused disaster of a party, and Puck carried a very drunk Rachel up to her bed. He had been a perfect gentlemen. He tucked her in, assured her that she hadn't made a drunken fool of herself even though he was still a little drunk himself. And then he headed home.
But tonight was different. Rachel woke-up when they got to the top of the stairs.
"Did I fall asleep?" Rachel asked. "I'm sorry."
"No problem," Puck said, dropping her to her feet. "I'm gonna head out, let you get some sleep."
"Noah, will you stay?" Rachel asked, walking into her room.
"Rach, I don't think that's a good idea," Puck said.
"Please, I hate being home alone," Rachel pleaded.
Puck knew he couldn't say no to her pleading eyes, it was a weakness of his and he figured every other guy in the world. "Fine," he answered shaking his head.
Rachel headed into the bathroom to change, and Puck laid down on her bed. This was so not a good idea, he told himself.
When she came back out of the bathroom she laid down on the bed, and got under the covers. She turned on her side to face Puck. "Noah, can I ask you something?"
"Sure," he said.
"Do you think Quinn's accident was a sign I shouldn't marry Finn?" she asked. The question had been plaguing her, but she hadn't admitted it out loud to anyone.
"I'm not answering that Rachel," Puck said with a sigh. He stared up at the ceiling. This was definitely not a good idea.
"Fine. Tell me more about your LA plans," Rachel said, leaning over to flip the light off. She eventually fell asleep listening to his plans to make a living off his pool cleaning business and playing gigs at dive bars.