A/N: So after I posted the last chapter I got into the Christmas spirit and decided instead of finishing off the 'oh so close and nearly finished' chapter I have that I would write a completely new chapter just for Christmas (why I thought it was a good idea is beyond me, I have a thesis chapter due in the new year which is barely done). Christmas is always a manic time so it took a bit longer than I thought it would, but better late than never.

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays : -)

A quick point about temperature. While I adamantly refuse to change my spelling to 'US' English (mainly because I struggle enough with spelling without having to begin to consider swapping s and z around) any references to temperature such as 'low 30s' refers to the imperial system, so 30 degrees Fahrenheit which is around 0 degrees Celsius in metric.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything and I mean no offence, I'm just having a little fun.

Christmas at Rockefeller Center

'It's fucking freezing, why am I doing this again?'

Santana whined and shivered before Brittany wrapped her arms around the shorter girl from behind, pulling her back tightly against her front to warm the Latina up. Quinn was stood beside them, an arm through Kurts as they huddled together trying to keep warm. It was almost the start of December and the temperature was reaching the low 30s, the weather in New York wasn't all that different from Ohio at this time of year but it felt colder than it really was, New York was just one of those places where everything felt more amplified. Kurt turned to answer Santana.

'We're here to support Rachel and because it's a travesty that I've lived in New York for six years and have never been to watch the Christmas lights being switched on, be thankful Santana think of it as a bucket list item ticked off.'

'Yeah I'll have them put it on my tombstone when I die of hypothermia. Where are those fuckers with my coffee?'

'San be nice.' Brittany warned into Santanas ear before nuzzling into the Latinas neck.

Kurt rolled his eyes, those two made his head hurt, and he could see Quinn look at her watch and look searchingly around the crowd.

'Stop fretting there's loads of time.'

'I know, I don't why I'm so nervous all of a sudden.'

'Maybe it's the thought of having to hear Berry singing 'defying gravity' for like the millionth time, God you must be sick of this shit by now Q.'

'Santana Lopez one can never hear 'defying gravity' too many times.' Kurt interjected.

'I beg to differ Tinkerbell.'

'Help me.'

Quinn had been lying on the couch reading when Rachel pulled the book from her hands and draped herself on top of the blonde with a huff and a pout.

'What's the matter?'

'Run lines with me.'

'You know the lines Rach.'

'Help me.'

'Sweetheart you know the lines, I know you know them because you recite them in your sleep.'

'Sing with me.'

Quinn quirked an eyebrow, that was new. Rehearsals for Wicked had started and she'd been running lines with Rachel for weeks, helping her memorise the part and work out her movements and actions, but they'd never sung. Whenever the script indicated the start of a song Rachel would just wave a hand dismissively and they'd pick up at the next point of dialogue. She heard the other girl practicing the songs, the soundtrack and instrumental arrangements had been playing around the apartment constantly, they'd become engrained in her brain.

'What's brought this on?'

'Just sing with me, please.' Rachel pouted again.

Rachel Berry pouts could only be resisted for so long and with a roll of her eyes Quinn motioned for the other girl to get up. They moved away from the couch into the more open part of the living room as Rachel handed Quinn a copy of the musical score.

'So what do you want me to do?'

'Begin at the beginning . . .'

'But Rach, Elphaba isn't in every song.' Quinn flicked through her score as Rachel rolled her eyes.

'It's just like reading the lines, I'm Elphaba, you're Glinda and if one of us isn't in a scene or song we just pick up the part that is, ok?'

'I'm confused, so you just want me to sing the songs, or are we doing the lines as well?'

'Let's just do it all, ok.' Rachel said impatiently as she started the soundtrack.

Quinn was apprehensive, reading lines she could do but singing? Without an outlet like glee club or even those musical theatre modules she'd taken in college, aside from singing around the apartment and the odd bit of karaoke she rarely sang, and she knew Glindas part was realistically outside of her comfort vocal range. It took some initial coaxing and prodding from Rachel but eventually she found herself getting more into it, even bleating very convincingly as she played Doctor Dillamond. Quinn began to realise how much she missed singing with the other girl, how fun and carefree it made her feel. Rachel sang for her all the time, and Quinn loved to hear Rachels voice, it was such a wonderful emotional force that as she listened to the brunette reach the final part of defying gravity to finish the first act in the script and score she couldn't imagine ever tiring of hearing Rachel sing.

They continued into the second act and it came to a song that was mainly Quinn/Glinda. As she sang Quinn started to feel unsettled and like a heavy weight was starting to rest upon her. The two of them had joked about some of the parallels between their lives and the musical, but putting together the lines they'd practiced and the music Quinn had heard around the apartment seemed to bring it all the more to life for the blonde. As she reached the end of the song she heard her voice waver and turned, reaching for one of the nearby bottles of water Rachel had brought in earlier.

'Quinn, what's the matter?'

'Do you ever . . . do you ever think how different it could all be?'

'What do you mean?'

'I mean this.' Quinn waved the script in her hand.

'It's a bit like us in some ways isn't it and it all could have ended so differently for us. I dunno it's a bit . . . irrepressible, no that's not right.' Quinn frowned.

'Routing, overwhelming, uncontrollable-'

'That's it, uncontrollable. I know you love it, I love it, but it's not a happy musical is it.'

'Elphaba gets the guy in the end, they have their happy ever after ending, some would argue it's happy in some ways.' Rachel shrugged.

'That's not the . . . you know it's really about Elphaba and Glinda, that's the real relationship in this and at the end they're both too scared and settle for what they think they should want and have rather than what they actually want.'

'There are other reasons and factors that cause that outcome though Quinn.'

'I suppose, but that's what I hate a-a chance in circumstance, in outcome and everything . . . shifts, transforms. I hate to think that this (Quinn motioned between them) is an outcome of circumstances that a small change could alter everything . . . or perhaps it would have never happened at all.'

Quinn takes a deep breath fixing her gaze on a random point on the wall. She knows it doesn't really matter, that the 'what ifs' aren't important in the grand scheme of things, when the reality is that it did happen and they've made it to this point. But it still narks and niggles her that fate can so easily change things and that it's out of her control.

'I love you.'

Rachel speaks softly as she moves into Quinns space, wrapping her arms around the girl and hugging her close.

'You're placating me.'

'No I'm getting you out of your head.' Rachel stated moving back slightly so she could look the other girl in the eyes.

'I know things could have been very different but they're not. We got here Quinn, we did it. But you have to realise that we are a long way off a happy ending, this is just the start, we've got so much amazing stuff to come and I intend to keep you around for a long time. A long time in which I foresee many mind-blowingly amazing things and much mutual happiness.'

'Oh really?'

'Oh yeah, I'm a little bit psychic don't you know. In fact I'm sensing some of that mutual happiness in our immediate future.' Rachel smirked.

'Q! Fabray! Seriously how did you ever live with this shit Kurt.' Santana exclaimed as she waved a hand in front of a spaced out Quinns face.

'Leave her be Satan.'

'Not a chance, it's too funny, plus do you have any idea how many times Q cock blocked me and Britt back in high school, karma's a bitch and so am I.'

'They are sickeningly cute aren't they.'

'Cute? Kittens are cute, B in a onesie is cute, those two make me want to spray vomit and bleach my eyes.'

'Rachel is Quinns lobster.' Brittany declared abruptly, her and Kurt sharing a knowing smile at the Friends reference before giggling and making the motion of lobsters holding claws.

'Seriously B I worry about you spending so much time with those two and little miss gayboutin.'

'You can be my lobster San, except I don't like lobster and you with claws might not be such a good idea, oh-oh can we be ducks?!'

'Anything you want B, as long as it's you and me.' Santana said softly to a beaming Brittany.

'Oh god now I want to vomit.'

Santana turned a sharp glare at Kurt, who was poking a still daydreaming Quinn in the arm.

Yo Fabray! You're drooling you pervert!' Santana barked.

'What.'

'Seriously is it that good off in Berryland. Actually don't answer that I don't want to know what kinky shit you two get up to, Tinys probably got some slutty elf costume and a whip that makes an annual appearance.' Santana saw Quinns face glaze over and a faraway look come into her eyes.

'Q, what . . .again, are you fucking kidding me!'

'I can't believe I let you talk me into this.'

'But you look so . . . hot.'

They were stood in the Berrys kitchen having returned to Lima for the holidays. Quinn looked down at her outfit and then back at Rachel, who was dressed in a very sexy elf outfit.

'No you look hot, I'm dressed as a fat man, I look . . . jolly.'

'Well I think you look hot, in fact if you were Santa Claus I'd let you come down my chimney anytime you wanted.'

Quinn scrunched up her nose.

'Really?'

Rachel giggled as she hopped up onto the top of the kitchen counter, pulling Quinn closer to her by the big white beard she was wearing.

'Let's get back on topic. So, why was it so important that we leave Noahs party early and come back to the house?'

'Maybe it's because I have to pick my mom up at 11:30?'

'That's nearly an hour away Quinn.'

'Maybe I wanted to make sure I had plenty of time in case there was traffic?'

'This is Lima, you can be anywhere in ten minutes.'

'Maybe I just wanted to spend some time with you alone?'

'Hmmm.' Rachel replied as she pulled off the fake beard.

'You're going to mass with your mom and then the two of you are coming over here tomorrow afternoon, that's in about 12 hours time, we go much longer without seeing each other. Plus we've been together all day.'

'Maybe I don't like having to share you with other people?'

'Aha, I think we are perhaps getting warmer to the real reason you forcibly pulled me away from that party Santa Quinn.'

Rachel pulled the Santa hat off Quinns head running her fingers through the wild short strands, causing Quinn to hum contentedly. Quinn could never seem to decide whether to keep it long or short. When they'd both started college Rachel had quickly learnt that every time she saw the girl her hair could be a completely different length and style.

Quinn placed her hands on Rachels knees pushing her legs apart and stepping into the space. She started running her hands over the outside of bare thighs as Rachels hands moved to her neck, weaving and pulling at the shorter hairs she found there.

'Maybe I think you look really hot tonight?'

Quinn husked as she leaned down and started to place light teasing kisses along Rachels neck and jawline.

'I'm glad you approve of my outfit but I'm still not sure what it has to do with us leaving the party early.'

'Maybe I wanted to make use of the fact that your dads are out tonight?'

'I think my dads have been 'out' for a long time now.' Rachel teased as Quinn squeezed her thighs.

'Maybe I just can't wait two more days to get you alone and be able to fuck you.' Quinn growled into Rachels neck before biting down and sucking hard on the skin there.

'Yes.'

Rachel gasped at the sensation, quickly becoming lost in the feel of Quinns mouth latched onto and pulling at her skin. She felt Quinn release her grip and start to lick over the patch of neck that she knew would now be sporting a mark, she would have to find something to cover it tomorrow if they were to avoid looks and comments from their parents. Gripping the hairs at the nape of Quinns neck she pulled the girl upwards bringing their lips together in a heated kiss, coaxing Quinns tongue to dance with hers.

They kissed hungrily as Rachel ran her hands down Quinns neck and along her collarbones, moving them under the fake fur trim of the Santa jacket as she started to push it off the taller girls shoulders. Quinn helped, unbuckling the belt around her waist which held the jacket closed so that it could be discarded to the floor.

Quinn moved her hands back to the outside of Rachels thighs, running them up and under the short skirt the brunette was wearing until she reached the edge of Rachels underwear. Hooking her fingers into the waistband she started to pull, glad that Rachel lifted herself slightly so she could slide the garment down. As she got them halfway down Rachels thighs, Quinn broke their kiss, making contact with Rachels fierce brown eyes as she took a step back.

She continued to pull them down over Rachels legs, bringing the girls knees back together and crouching down guided the underwear over toned calves and finally over the high heeled ankle boots Rachel was wearing. Dropping the small piece of material to the floor, Quinn found herself level with Rachels shins. Reaching out she gripped the back of those glorious calves and dipped her head bringing her lips to the start of bare skin above Rachels boots. Placing light kisses Quinn worked her way up, alternating between the smooth shins, until she reached Rachels knees.

Rachels breathing quickened as Quinns hands covered her knees and moved them apart, she gasped at the feeling of being spread and of her increasingly wet centre being exposed. The sensation of cold air against hot wet skin was also developing along her inner thigh as Quinn continued to kiss up Rachels legs, but now the blonde was placing sloppier kisses mixed with flicks and languid licks of her tongue. She watched as Quinn made her way up one thigh, tortuously passing over her heated core, before making her way down the inside of the other thigh. Watching Quinn appreciate and tease her was arousing, she knew the blonde must be able to see the evidence from her position between her legs, Rachel could certainly feel it and the air between them carried the scent of her excitement. As Quinn began to place slow firm licks to the backs of her knees she couldn't take it anymore, speaking out huskily.

'Quinn, please.'

She felt the smirk against her knee and saw the sparkle in the hazel eyes which looked up at her, she watched the blonde head of hair move back up her thighs and a tongue come out to take a long lick at her folds.

'Oh fuck.'

Quinn heard Rachels cry and saw the brunette squeeze her eyes closed as she threw her head back. She placed a few more long licks, giving the hard nub she found a flick with her tongue, before dipping lower, pushing at the point and source of the abundant wetness.

'Shit, fuck.'

She pushed her tongue in as deep as she could, curling it inside, drawing out the moisture she found before starting the process over and over again. Quinn felt Rachel place a hand and weave fingers into her hair, drawing her closer and pulling at the blonde strands.

Rachel was making little high pitch moans and Quinn could feel that she was close. Removing her tongue she moved up to the girls clit, swirling her tongue hard before biting down lightly.

'Quinn!'

The sensation of Quinn teeth against her clit sent Rachel over the edge, gripping the other girls hair and pulling her towards her hard. She felt Quinns grip on her thighs tighten in an attempt to keep her still but it was to little avail as Rachel bucked vigorously against her tongue. Rachels body shuddered a few times with aftershocks as Quinns tongue went back to running long strokes through her folds, the sensation quickly became too much and she pushed the other girls head away from between her thighs.

'Fuck, Quinn.'

Quinn licked her lips, swiping the back of her hand across them as she stood up, making eye contact with the panting brunette and bringing their foreheads to rest together. Rachels hands ran up her arms, over her shoulders and neck, back into her hair as she was pulled forward into a breathless kiss. As Rachel tugged and massaged at the back of her neck it felt like she was trying to draw the breath out of Quinn, when they pulled apart both were gasping as they leaned and pressed tightly into each other.

'Hmm Santa, is that a candy cane in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me?'

Quinn chuckled reaching into the pocket of the Santa pants and pulling out a couple of the sugary treats, quirking her eyebrow at the other girl as she held out her hand between them. Rachel giggled as she took one of the candy canes, twirling it around and looking at it for a few moments, before looking back up to Quinn.

'How about we take this upstairs and I show you why I've been a very naughty girl this year.'

Rachel slid off the kitchen worktop and grabbing one of Quinns hands pulled them out of the kitchen, the two of them giggling as they rushed up the stairs.

'Coffee up!'

'Oh thank fuck.'

'Nice to see you too Santana.' Mercedes quipped as the Latina snatched two coffees from the girl, handing one to Brittany as she nestled back into the taller girls arms.

'Did we miss anything?'

'Nope you're just in time, Rachel is up after . . . whoever this lot are and then it's Mariah.'

'Oh man I am so excited, 'all I want for Christmas' is the ultimate holiday track.'

'Do you remember that holiday video Brittany sent out of her and Santana-'

'Do not go there girl Chang.'

'Ooh coffee.'

The aroma of coffee had filtered through Quinns daydream and she turned to face the group, reaching out to take the cup that Tina offered.

'Glad you could stop mind-fucking Berry for five minutes to join us Q.'

'Do I wanna know?' Mercedes quietly asked Kurt as they watched the two ex-Cheerios bicker.

Kurt simply shook his head before clapping his hands together to gain the attention of the still arguing girls.

'Alright you pair of bitter lemons break it up otherwise Santana I'll get Brittany to make you re-enact that holiday dance routine for us and Quinn I'll tell Santana about Rachels slutty elf costume.'

'I knew it!' The Latina exclaimed with a smirk.

'Kurt!'

'Shush yourselves Rachels coming on.' Kurt waved at them both dismissively, as everyone turned to watch Rachel and the other Wicked cast members take the stage.

A/N2: As always reviews and comments can only make me better.

This is a bit of a long note, apologies. I really wanted to post this in time for Christmas, usually when I get a chapter completed I give it 24 hours to keep re-reading and make sure I'm as happy as I can be. That wasn't the case with this one, I've basically finished and posted so any errors or if it doesn't quite work I'm blaming the alcohol and mince pie consumption. I know it's quite flashback heavy and I hope people followed the dialogue and it makes sense, I didn't want to keep write 'so and so said' etc..

Maybe it's an academic thing but sometimes I just want to put in little footnotes and diagrams and references to explain points a bit more but I know that would be too much and not very readable. Realistically I think more people have read this story so far than any of my academic publications put together. What sparked this? Well firstly researching that in fact yes the noise a goat makes is referred to as a bleat and secondly reading the reviews people leave, I love it, I love reading peoples thoughts and interpretations but then it makes me want to bore you to sleep with a debate and discussion about character thoughts, motives and psychology.

So I have to give some credit to a friend of mine 'K' regarding Wicked. I volunteer for a helpline charity and a group of us had a sneaky little trip to see Wicked. During the interval K and I, as the only gays in the charity, proceeded to educate the group about queer theory and alternative interpretations of Wicked. As part of that K began talking about interpretations of 'couldn't be happier' and how it was one of his favourite songs and one that he thinks is overlooked but in his opinion is one of the most pivotal because it gives Glindas perspective. He gave a lovely explanation, which I can't do justice to here about how it makes you come to realise that she's actually had to make a difficult choice and she understands that and so the song is about facing and accepting the choice you've had to make. Anyway like I said I haven't explained that very eloquently but it made me appreciate that part of the musical a bit more.