Rachel squeezes her eyes closed against the bright sun hitting her eyelids. The light is pouring onto her face, making the insides of her eyelids look an orangey-brown color. She's warm. The sun pervades her whole body, making her more comfortable and warm than a blanket ever could. A slow warm breeze laps at her ears, blowing a few strands of hair into her face, and Rachel blinks, momentarily confused. The orangey-brown morphs into a light peachy-cream, and Rachel shifts forward, gasping when her nose and cheek brush something soft. She hears a noise, quiet like a whine, and the warmth around her waist tightens. She remembers.
"Quinn," Rachel murmurs, twisting her wrist to flatten her palm against Quinn's back.
She hears the sound again; it lasts longer this time, and Quinn's arm pulls her in closer. Rachel relaxes, sliding her hand up between Quinn's shoulder blades and smoothing out the tension.
"Nuh Rayshell," Rachel hears Quinn let out with her exhale, and she smiles fondly. She remembers back to the morning at Mercedes' house, how difficult Quinn had been to wake up, how the blonde had clutched her pillow, burying her head in it and refusing to meet the morning. When Rachel's smile grows and her cheek brushes Quinn's, she realizes how comfortable she is. Between Quinn and the sun, Rachel is cozy and warm. She wonders what time it is, how long they can stay outside in this snug bubble before they have to go in.
Quinn whimpers uncomfortably and shifts, pulling her hand clumsily from Rachel's. Rachel blinks in shock at how cold her hand gets. She'd forgotten Quinn was holding it. Rachel feels a pressure at her side when Quinn shoves her hand into her ribs, and Rachel squirms, whining in her discomfort. Quinn shushes her lazily, and Rachel lifts when she feels the blonde push her arm under her side. Quinn's arm wraps around Rachel's back, her hand moving to cup the back of Rachel's head. Rachel sighs comfortably as Quinn's other arm pulls at her waist, and she shifts closer, relaxing her fingers at Quinn's back. She's so warm, she can't help but grow drowsy again. Quinn tucks her head against Rachel's, her cheek rubbing against Rachel's own, and Rachel can't help but wonder if Quinn is so sleepy she thinks Rachel is a teddy bear.
"More minutes, Raysh," Quinn lets out again, the words tumbling through the air of Quinn's breath. Rachel closes her eyes and hums.
-/-
A soft bubbling against Rachel's stomach causes Rachel to open her eyes again. She blinks, confused, before she feels it again. She hears a low noise, a growl, and she smiles warmly, awake.
"Quinn," she murmurs, tipping her chin forward to kiss Quinn's cheek. Quinn whines, her arms tightening, and Rachel tickles the space between Quinn's shoulder blades.
"Mmph," Quinn mumbles, kicking her foot.
"Ow," Rachel giggles, tickling Quinn's back again. Quinn twitches and whines, and Rachel's eyes light up with delight.
"Quinn-"
"No."
"Quinn-"
"Sleep."
Rachel bites her lip, eyes alight with mischief. She feels the bubbling against her stomach again, but the growl is softer this time.
"Quinn, wake up. You're hungry."
"M'not."
Rachel pauses, dragging a finger up and down the center of Quinn's upper back. She wonders if the blonde is always this adorable when she wakes up. "Your stomach is growling."
Quinn swats lazily at Rachel's waist. "'S'cause it's mad a'you for wakin'it up."
"S'cause it's'ungry," Rachel says, mocking. Quinn kicks her foot again.
"Rachel," Quinn whines, drawing out the second syllable.
"Let's go eat. Quinnie, wake up."
Quinn gasps, detaching from Rachel in an instant and rolling over. The hammock dips and swings, and Rachel falls onto her back in the fray. She beams, giggling, and peers at Quinn's back.
"Quinnie-"
"Don't you dare. We're fighting. We're in a fight."
Rachel cackles, rolling off of the hammock and catching it with a shriek before it flips Quinn over. Quinn startles, throwing her arms out to steady herself and scooting back into the middle of the hammock, refusing to roll over. Rachel stands at the side of the hammock, doubled over, laughter pealing from her as she braces her hands on her knees. The sight of Quinn flailing on the hammock is forever imprinted upon her brain and likely to give her a hernia. She leans her head on the edge of the hammock as a new round of laughter cramps her stomach.
"Quinn," she gasps, fisting the rope in her hand.
"I hate you."
Rachel doubles over again, gasping for air as she laughs. "Quinn! Quinn. Let me make you something to eat," she struggles, but gains her composure and stands, rubbing the cramps out of her stomach.
"I'm hungry."
Rachel giggles. "I know."
Quinn whines, letting out a breath so harshly that the hammock shakes. "And now I'm cold," she complains, standing and shooting the hammock a glare when she trips. Rachel presses her lips together.
Quinn looks to Rachel and meets her eyes, and the girls both dissolve into giggles. The blonde makes her way around the hammock and stops in front of Rachel, looking down at the grass before pulling the brunette into a hug. Rachel wraps her arms around Quinn's waist and rests her head on the blonde's shoulder.
"We're not really in a fight," Quinn murmurs, tightening her grip around Rachel's back. "I was just kidding. Right?"
She sounds so unsure that Rachel squeezes her, pressing her forehead into Quinn's neck. "We're not in a fight, Quinn."
"We're okay."
"We're okay," Rachel agrees.
Quinn's head dips as she pulls Rachel closer, dropping a kiss to Rachel's cheek in front of her ear. Rachel pulls back enough to tilt her head up. She presses a kiss to Quinn's cheek in return, lingering for a moment before whispering in her ear. "We're good, I promise."
Quinn makes a soft noise and pulls Rachel in again. Her lips brush the space just underneath the curve in Rachel's jaw, and Rachel shivers, sending goose bumps down her arms and sides. Quinn's stomach growls again, and when Rachel feels the gurgling against her stomach, she can't help but giggle.
"Please, let's eat. I feel like it's yelling at me."
Quinn laughs and lets go, heading toward the house. "I'm starving."
Rachel bites her lip, hurrying to catch up with her. She slips her hand into Quinn's as they head for the back door. "I know."
-/-
Quinn lets go of Rachel's hand when they reach the entrance to the kitchen. The blonde heads into the foyer and fumbles through the bag she'd dropped when Rachel had run for the backyard. It feels like years ago. She takes the container of cookies and drops the bag back to the floor before heading into the kitchen after Rachel.
"Hey, Quinn, what are you hungry for?" Rachel calls out to her. Quinn places the tupperware on the counter next to Rachel and the brunette jumps. "Oops," she says with a smile. "I thought you were still out in the hall."
Quinn smiles. "I don't know. Waffles?"
Rachel raises an eyebrow. She twists to look over her shoulder at the stove clock. "It's 2:30, Quinn."
"And?"
Rachel shakes her head, rolling her eyes playfully. "Waffles are part of the breakfast category, but I suppose we can break the rule this time and have them now."
She squats down and opens a cabinet. Sticking her hands in and tugging, Rachel grunts, poking her tongue out of the side of her mouth.
"What rules are you talking about?" Quinn asks, ducking down to the floor and pushing the cabinet door open wider. She reaches in to help Rachel pull out a black metal... thing. The cabinet is dark inside, and the contraption Rachel is trying to lift weighs about as much as an anvil. Quinn helps Rachel heave the thing onto the counter and pants, feeling the burn in her legs. Then she laughs. "You would have one of these."
"Waffles are best when you make them yourself, Quinn."
"They don't make light-weight waffle-makers?"
Rachel glares playfully at Quinn and shoves her lightly as she makes her way to the fridge. She begins pulling things out and placing them on the counter. Quinn looks through the ingredients when Rachel turns to the pantry and wrinkles her nose at the vegan egg substitute on the counter. She picks it up, unable to stop her lip from curling as Rachel returns with her arms full of flour, sugar, and baking soda.
"They taste just like eggs, Quinn."
"But they're not eggs."
"That is correct."
Quinn puts the container down gingerly and watches as Rachel scoops ingredients into a bowl. "So what's in it, exactly?"
She sees Rachel take a breath and turn, and Quinn thrusts her arm out to hold Rachel's elbow. "You know what? Don't tell me. I don't think I could handle it."
Rachel rolls her eyes playfully and swats at Quinn's hand with a measuring cup. It hits with a thwack, and Quinn rips her hand back.
"Ow!" Quinn laughs, shaking out her finger. She pouts her lip at Rachel and squeezes her finger with her other hand.
"Sorry," Rachel giggles, pulling at Quinn's elbow. Quinn shakes her shoulders back and forth and pushes her lip out further. Her brow furrows, and Rachel tugs harder. "Let me see it."
Quinn acquiesces, allowing Rachel to inspect her finger. The knuckle is a little red, but the sting has faded. Rachel rubs the pad of her index finger over the red spot and kisses it gently. Quinn sighs. Rachel smiles up at her, and Quinn takes her hand and squeezes it before resting both of her own on the edge of the counter.
"I wasn't aware that we'd regressed to 19th century punishment tactics," Quinn teases, flexing her finger until the ache is gone.
"I'm sorry that I hit your finger with a measuring cup, Quinn. Would you like me to continue making you brunch, or would you like to make fun of me some more?" Rachel questions Quinn with a playful glint in her eyes, and not for the first time, Quinn finds herself enjoying bantering with Rachel.
"By all means, make me some waffles," Quinn teases back as Rachel continues mixing the ingredients. "But it's lunch, not brunch."
"It's waffles, Quinn. Of course it's brunch."
"Lunch, Rachel," Quinn twirls a lock of Rachel's hair around her fingers and Rachel huffs, turning from her mixing bowl to look at Quinn.
"Brunch."
Quinn chuckles, tugging lightly on Rachel's hair and shifting her weight against the counter. "It's 2:30. Brunch is at 11."
Rachel huffs, knowing Quinn is right. Quinn is looking at her with a smug smirk on her face, and Rachel will not smile back. She won't. She runs a hand through her hair and pushes the stray hair out of her face. Quinn giggles, dropping her hand, and Rachel combines the wet ingredients with the dry ones.
"Are you bored, Quinn? Is that why you're-"
"Rachel."
"Yes, Quinn," Rachel says calmly as she stirs the ingredients together. The almond milk and the egg substitute soak up the flour, making it harder to push the spoon through.
"You have batter on your face."
Rachel gasps, hands flying toward her face. She stops just before she touches her cheeks and looks at her fingers. They're covered with flour and almond milk. Rachel whimpers.
"Where?"
Quinn bites her lip and in a dash, she's reaching up to swipe at Rachel's forehead. Rachel sputters and blinks as white powder floats down in front of her eyes. Quinn's face is aglow with mirth, and Rachel takes a slow, deep breath.
"Quinn Fabray."
Quinn is giggling, hiding her mouth behind one of her hands as her shoulders shake.
"Yes, Rachel Berry?"
"Did you put flour all over my forehead?"
"No."
"Quinn."
"But you've got some," Quinn says again, stepping closer. "Right here."
She swipes at Rachel's cheek, and Rachel squeals, dipping her sticky fingers into the flour and dragging her hand across Quinn's face. Quinn shrieks, grabbing Rachel's wrist as she falls back against the refrigerator. She leans her head back and laughs, sliding down a few inches. Rachel trips over Quinn's feet and straightens, unable to bite back the smile threatening to take over her face. Quinn is clutching her stomach with her clean hand, and Rachel shakes her head when she looks at her wrist. It's covered in flour. She beams at Quinn, her cheeks aching as she watches the blonde laugh.
"Oh my god," Quinn sighs, still chuckling. She shrugs her shoulders up to wipe her eyes and smiles at Rachel. "Help."
Rachel twists her wrist around to grasp Quinn's and tugs the blonde to her feet. Quinn giggles, reaching her clean hand up to rub Rachel's forehead.
"Hey, Rach, you've got some stuff on your face."
Even now, Rachel can't help but grin at the nickname. "I wonder how it got there."
"It's the strangest thing."
"I bet," Rachel says.
She rises to her toes and lurches forward to rub her face against Quinn's cheek. Quinn shrieks again, laughing even as she shoots an arm around Rachel to grab her balance. She cradles the back of Rachel's head, slowing the girl's movement as she catches her breath.
"My stomach," Quinn says, laughing. "I can't breathe." She winds her arms around Rachel as her laughter slows to a stop. The blonde leans her head against Rachel's and breathes quietly.
Rachel giggles, relaxing once she knows their mini food fight is over. Never in her life did she think she'd actually enjoy having culinary items tossed at her. She pulls her head away from Quinn's shoulder, and after a moment, kisses it before pulling away.
"Waffles?"
Quinn smiles. "Yes, please."
-/-
"Okay," Quinn says as they take their dishes to the sink. The blonde lifts her hand to her mouth and licks the syrup off of her fingers. "I admit it. Those were the best waffles I've ever had. I take back what I said about your waffle maker."
"And the vegan eggs."
"And the... vegan eggs," Quinn mutters darkly, placing her plate on top of Rachel's in the sink. Rachel makes a satisfied noise and grins smugly. Quinn rolls her eyes and nudges Rachel's shoulder.
"Here," Quinn says, her voice going soft. Rachel looks up curiously as Quinn reaches for a tupperware container in the corner of the counter by the fridge. The blonde pops the lid off and holds the container out to Rachel with a demure smile on her face. Rachel crosses over to her and smiles upon seeing the contents of the container. She feels warmth spread through her when she sees the cookies. Quinn had arranged them to spell "I'M SORRY" on the top layer, but the whole batch is in there, piled inside. Rachel knows that she only forgave Quinn a couple hours ago, but it seems like so much longer. The cookies seem unnecessary now, at least for their intended purpose, but she smiles a genuine smile at the blonde and grabs one of the R cookies. She gasps. Now that it's out of the box, she sees it.
"They're stars," Quinn says softly. Her face houses the gentlest smile Rachel has ever seen on her, and the brunette is filled with a rush of gratitude and awe. "I know you like stars, and they're vegan, I promise," Quinn continues. "It took a while to find a recipe with ingredients we had in the house because I couldn't use eggs, but I found one."
Rachel tries to thank Quinn, but the words die in her throat. She shakes her head, bewildered, and takes a bite to buy herself some time. Even after the past month, part of Rachel still can't believe that this is Quinn, that underneath the cold-hearted bitch she'd known for years lay this beautiful, sweet, gentle girl. Quinn had been like this in elementary school, poised and polite and delicate, and while she and Rachel had never been friends, they were always cordial to one another. That had changed in middle school, when Quinn grew a diva attitude larger than Rachel's that stayed until some indecipherable moment during Quinn's pregnancy. Rachel knows that Quinn's father is awful, and she can't help but wonder if she and Quinn would have been friends ages ago if he hadn't been in the picture. She'd like to think so.
"It's delicious, Quinn," Rachel says quietly, swallowing the last of the cookie. Quinn places the rest back on the counter and straightens her shoulders proudly. Rachel walks forward and wraps her arms around Quinn's shoulders. "Thank you," she murmurs, tucking her head under Quinn's chin. "You didn't have to do that, or make them stars, or vegan. No one's ever-" Rachel stops and shakes her head, burrowing closer as Quinn's arms curl around her. "Just- thank you."
Quinn nods against Rachel's head, almost laughing when she feels tears prick her eyes. She thought she was done crying today. The relief she feels is indescribable to her, like finally being able to breathe after being underwater or lying down after triple Cheerios practice, except neither of those compare, and she doesn't know why.
"I'm so happy that we're okay," she says quietly, knowing she's said it a million times, but she has to, just once more. She brings a hand up to Rachel's head and strokes her hair, closing her eyes when Rachel relaxes further against her. "I didn't know what to do these past two days. It was the worst," Quinn admits, sniffling. She feels Rachel nod against her collarbone, and the brunette places a kiss there. Quinn shivers and squeezes her tighter.
"Me neither," Rachel says. She picks her head up and holds her cheek against Quinn's. Quinn's head dips down to place their foreheads together, and Rachel scratches her fingers against Quinn's shoulders as the blonde's arms tighten around her waist. "I'm sorry for ignoring you," she murmurs.
Quinn shakes her head, brushing her nose against Rachel's. "Don't. It's okay."
Rachel manages a teary chuckle, and sighs, taking in the comfort of feeling Quinn against her. "I'm sorry. I just-"
"I know," Quinn finishes, kissing Rachel's cheek. "We should stop apologizing to each other."
"We should. Okay," Rachel pulls back a fraction and kisses Quinn's cheek in return.
Rachel chuckles at how silly they're being, how girly and emotional, and she shakes her head. Her nose brushes Quinn's cheek. Quinn turns her head, and their lips touch. Both girls freeze. Rachel stares at Quinn's nose, so close it makes her eyes hurt and she closes them, afraid to move. Quinn pulls back first, but only a hair, and Rachel feels Quinn's hands shift against her back. Rachel lets out a breath through her nose, and Quinn whimpers. She's trembling, rigid.
"Rach?" her voice is small.
"I don't know," Rachel whispers.
They're so close her lips brush Quinn's again, and she shivers. Rachel uncurls her fingers and smooths them over Quinn's shoulders, thinking it funny that she doesn't know when her fists had curled in the first place. She knows she should step back, but her body won't move, not if Quinn isn't moving. She wishes she could read Quinn's mind, but she can't. She can't even read her own. Quinn lets out a breath that gusts over Rachel's lips. There's movement at Rachel's back, and Quinn's hands are flattening, holding Rachel steady but not pulling her closer, not pushing away. Rachel blinks her eyes open, but Quinn's are closed. Quinn makes a soft noise, brow furrowing for a moment before she leans forward and kisses Rachel again.
Rachel's eyes flutter closed, caught for a moment before it sinks in. She moves her lips against Quinn's, like kissing silk, or chocolate, or Quinn, and it fits and she doesn't know why. She unfreezes, tightening her arms around Quinn to thread one hand through blonde hair. Quinn whimpers, her hands fisting around the fabric of Rachel's shirt, and she tugs the brunette closer even as she pulls her lips away. Rachel settles against her, her mind swimming, just barely staying afloat as she catches her breath. Her forehead, nose, cheek, and the corner of her lips rest against Quinn's, the rest of their bodies pressed so close she can't feel air between them. She struggles with her thoughts, creasing her forehead and feeling the skin against Quinn's. She passes Quinn's hair through her fingers.
"Quinn?" she whispers, voice quivering with the worry that the sound will send Quinn running.
"I don't know," the blonde answers, shaking her head. One of her hands slips up Rachel's back to scratch her shoulder blades through her shirt. "I don't know," she says again. "Just, come here."
Rachel raises onto her toes before she even knows she moved and presses her lips to Quinn's. Quinn's neck straightens, and she sighs into Rachel's mouth, tightening her hold. Rachel slides the hand in Quinn's hair up to cup the back of Quinn's head, to press her closer, because after this, after sleeping on the hammock, she's still not close enough. She curls her fingers, feels them weave through Quinn's hair and skid across the back of Quinn's neck, and Quinn shivers, smiling against Rachel's lips. Rachel feels Quinn's lips curl against her own, and she's smiling too. She kisses Quinn again and giggles, kissing her once more before leaning back and pushing their foreheads together.
"We just-" Quinn starts.
"I know."
"How-"
"I don't know," Rachel pushes her nose against Quinn's, and Quinn sighs, stroking her thumb over Rachel's back.
"Okay," Quinn whispers quietly. "I- I think we're okay."
"Yeah," Rachel says, smiling as she nuzzles Quinn's cheek. "We're okay."