December 23, 2016

Lima, Ohio

5H45 pm

Rachel walked on tiptoes to answer Quinn's cellphone which was ringing and Quinn was sleeping so peacefully she didn't want to wake her up even though she felt like it was an invasion of privacy answering her phone.

"Hello?" She said, almost whispering.
"Quinn? Your voice sounds different, how are you?"
"Oh Britt it's you."
"Oh it's Rachel." Brittany said not acknowledging the awkwardness of the situation, which obviously Santana – who was next to her girlfriend – did.

"Give me the phone babe. Rachel? Why are you answering Quinn's cellphone? What's going on? Why are you with her phone?"
"I'll explain it to you later, let's just say Quinn came over this morning, I was still sleeping and now she is sleeping here to regain strength."
"Why you? Why not me?"
"Don't be jealous Santana."
"Jealous? Of you? You wish dwarf, well tell her to call me today, or I'll go there to see what's really going on."
"Calm down, you're always stressful to speak with, damn. I'll tell her, don't worry."

Immediately after hanging off the phone, Rachel saw Quinn moving she was probably starting to wake up.

"Shh, keep sleeping, you need to rest." Rachel said approaching Quinn's side of the bed, to which she slowly started to open her eyes with a huge and truly sweet smile on her face, Rachel was quite surprised after all Rachel wasn't easy in the morning or easy to wake up, she could be really moody but it turns out Quinn conversely to Rachel wasn't. Rachel could swear that was the most beautiful smile she had ever seen.

"Rachel." Quinn said. Rachel never found her name more beautiful than on that day, Quinn turned it into gold, she obviously smiled back.

Quinn proceeded. "Already awake? Was I dreaming or you were on the phone?"

Rachel laughed. "I was indeed, your friend Santana is finding very strange the fact I picked up your phone, sorry about that by the way, but you looked so…"

"So…?" Fabray asked.
"Peaceful and to be honest it was almost hypnotizing to watch you sleep."
"Hypnotizing… I see…" To which Rachel turned her face the other way before she started blushing for the 1000th time.

"But since you're awake, it's 6 o'clock now, I have this tray with some things for you, you need to eat something, I don't know what do you like so I brought you fruit, a bowl of it actually, all chopped off, a milk shake and two slices of bread, ham, cheese, butter."

"And that's enough Rachel, are you trying to sabotage me by making me eat a lot and gain some extra pounds (kgs)?"
"No Quinn, that wasn't the point…" Rachel said with her voice almost vanishing.

"Rach I'm joking, I love all of these, I just don't know if I'm capable of eating everything but I'm sure you can help me."

"Fruits maybe, I'm vegetarian Quinn."

"Oh right, oh and can I call you Rach or do you mind?

Only Kurt called her 'Rach' but for some reason it sounded so good coming from Quinn "Yes, I guess…"

"Get in here, you're more comfortable here." Quinn was tapping on Rachel's side of the mattress, she ended up agreeing, both of them ate what Rachel had prepared, the tray was almost empty, barely with food.
They talked, mostly light subjects and then Berry finally said it.

"You know Quinn, I spoke to my dads an hour ago, downstairs and without telling them the real reason of course, I only said you are dealing with a lot and that would maybe easy for you, and I asked them something to which they obviously agreed."
"I think I know where you're going with this…" Quinn, staring at Rachel.

"Yes… so, what do you think Quinn?"
"Rachel I'm very flattered for your invitation, very thoughtful of you and also very kind of your dads to let me stay but I don't know if letting my mom alone now is the right thing to do."
"About that…"

"I know that… I mean, don't get me wrong to be honest it's not my biggest wish to spend these days in Lima over there, because it brings me awful memories and also because the odds of seeing my father aren't small. Wait, you said 'about that', what?"

"I understand your concerns, my thoughts exactly, as you may understand first thing I did as soon as I woke up was to call your mother and let her know you were okay, safe, here with me, resting.

She was very happy to know, then she also told me it was for the better since your father was there for 3 or 4 hours today, and that he will be back to get more stuff and to have their lawyers discuss the terms of the divorce, so I asked her, having your best interests in mind, if she would mind you staying here for some days."

Quinn was surprised with how bold Rachel was and with her mother's honesty about everything she was dealing with.

"What was her answer?"
"She says it will be good for you and also for her, because you need to calm down and be in a relaxing environment and next to your friends, and even though she's going through a hard time she rather go through it on her own, although she also told me you may visit her whenever you want to or if you ever feel like it's time to go home, if you feel it's best for you she will welcome you with her arms open, oh and a bottle of champagne, I guess she was joking about the champagne thing." Rachel finished.

"Oh yes she can be a jokester. So you don't mind at all? I mean concerning all we went through during high school…"

"Quinn, I'm serious now, enough with the apologies, enough with the regrets, let's think and move forward, let's live the present and maybe with possibilities of having a future as… friends? Can I call us friends?"

"You may. You certainly may Rach."

"But now there's a second thing we need to discuss, I don't mind at all having you wearing my clothes but that's a pajama, I'm guessing jeans, skirts too probably but shoes, etc. won't definitely fit you, you know in Santana's words I'm a dwarf."

Quinn laughed through her nose while grabbing both Rachel's hands. "An adorable dwarf, well I don't know but yes you've got a point, I should probably go home and get my stuff, my luggage."

"I'll go with you."
"You'll do that for me?"
"Of course, let me just change clothes."

And so they did, they went to Quinn mother's house and Quinn's mom told her that Frannie, Quinn's sister was coming over for Christmas so she was expecting her daughter to also be there on December 25 to what she agreed.

So, Rachel talked about the meeting their friends were planning before the events concerning Biff's exposure, she asked Quinn what did she want to do about it, Rachel told her if she wasn't ready to see them after what happened she would understand and she would tell them, it would be fine.

But Quinn said no, she said it will be good for her to be with those who truly love her for who she is no matter what, so both of them decided that since Quinn will be at her mom's house for Christmas and since the odds were the rest of their friends would also be with their families the best idea was probably having Christmas eve together, and so they did.

When they got to Rachel parents' house they already had the guest room prepared for her, since she was staying there for those days. She would be at ease, with a bed for herself, her own toilet, privacy.

They had a marvelous dinner, Rachel's dads were thrilled to have someone for the holidays, they loved their privacy don't get me wrong but they also loved having their house full, it wasn't full but as least they now had two more people with them.

After dinner they had their own private show, Hiram played the piano while LeRoy sang a couple of songs, Rachel was invited to joined them but she was too shy to join them, maybe because Quinn was in the room she thought, but then she also wondered why was she shy about it since they sung a lot during High School on Glee Club.

"Perhaps because I'm only with her here, and my dads of course, but no one else is here, maybe that's the reason I'm reticent about it, yeah that's probably it." Rachel thought.

Rachel led Quinn to the guest room, which was her room from now on during those days. "Is it everything okay? Do you need more blankets?"

"No Rachel I don't, everything is fine, actually more than fine. I'm so grateful for you guys having me here, you didn't have to."

"It's not about having to but wanting to. We want you here and I hope you feel welcome and please feel at home."

Cellphone ringing

"It's Santana." Quinn said looking at Rachel.

"Don't let her wait, she already called you during dinner two or three times, you better answer the phone. She may think I killed you or something, she was very…"

"Very….?"
"Protective early today." Rachel lowered her eyes and said.

There were somethings still left to explain, or so Quinn felt upon hearing Rachel's voice tone and also when she lowered her eyes.

"But we were talking…"

The phone kept ringing.

"Just answer her Quinn. We'll talk tomorrow morning, okay? I better sleep now and you better answer her, you know her, she won't stop, she will keep calling you until you pick up the phone."

"Santana, it's me, give me just a second. Don't hang off." Quinn said upon finally answering her phone. "Rach, once again thanks for everything, you're being out of this world and answering to what you said I do feel very welcomed, thanks. Sleep tight, we'll talk tomorrow."

"You too Quinn, I hope your body and mind may rest properly, goodnight." Landing her a kiss on Quinn's cheek.

Already inside the guest room where Quinn is staying.

"Am I living in a parallel universe or what?" Santana said.
"Why? What now Santana?"

"What's going on Quinn? Are you still mad at me? Is that it? Because I don't see why you went after Rachel, why was she your first choice? You two were never friends, well we helped her with that prom election but besides that…"

"I had my motives."

"Don't tell me you have a secret crush on Berry. I'm beginning to think Biff wasn't that bad."

"Really Santana? Really? You really said what I think you did?"

"You're right, it was an unfortunate comment, my apologies."

"Apologies accepted."
"But seriously what's going on between you two? I mean, she said early today that you went this morning to see her, she told me when I called that you were sleeping at her dads' house."

Promptly interrupted by Quinn. "Yes I was. In her bed."

"What? Not only you were sleeping in her house but you were also sleeping in her bed? Did you guys…?"

"Don't even try Santana. No we did not. Of course, what are you thinking, really."

"I wouldn't blame you, she isn't me or any femme fatale but I wouldn't blame you if you were after revenge sex."
"Well surprise surprise, I'm not. And as far as I know you're forgetting something, Rachel's very straight."

"Oh right… cough cough.. she is."
"What are you insinuating?"

"Do the math… first she's on Broadway for quite some time now, the word is people are quite liberal there and we haven't met anyone since that creepy Brody and since Finn's death… plus… well never mind."

"Plus what? You started now you finish. Plus what?" Quinn sensed something but she wanted to confirm.

"Oh Q, don't tell me you never noticed how nervous she is when you're around… never noticed Rachel blushing for no apparent reason around you? My third Mexican eye tells me she has a crush on you, maybe she doesn't realize it consciously but my third Mexican eye is never wrong…"

Well, Santana had a point… she was right with Brody and also with Biff.

"Santana you're trying to mess with my head that's all, well changing the subject, since my sister Frannie is coming over for Christmas we decided to…"

"We? Who, you and Rachel I'm guessing."

"Yes. We decided to have that lunch or dinner you guys were planning on Christmas eve, because on Christmas day I will be with my mom, my sister and her husband, at least them, my father of course won't be there. Do you think you can make it?"

"Sure, I was planning already to see some of you tomorrow, Mercedes keeps sending me text messages me for some reason, saying she has something to discuss with me and I guess since I delay that conversation much longer tomorrow will be the perfect occasion to talk to her. Do you want me to call the others?"

"Yes please, if you don't mind. Oh tell Britt I said hi, I miss you guys, we hadn't the chance to speak properly yet, but we will tomorrow."

"I'll tell her, she's talking to Lord Tubbington making him try some new clothes…that poor creature, in the end I think he likes it, I guess some things never change."

Quinn laughed really hard.

"Well, that must mean you're better…? I know it's everything too recent but how are you?"

"You know what San, I really am a lot better. How? I don't quite know… it's almost like someone put a spell on me or something, I guess this means I didn't really love him, what really affected me was the meaning of it, how it made me feel and who I was becoming, and maybe Rachel's pep talk had something to do with it too, she made me see some things I needed to see."

"Pep talk? Oh now she's Mr. Schue… I always thought they had a secret affair behind the curtains if you know what I mean… guess he taught her well then."

"Don't be mean, Mr. Schue is a very decent man, maybe one of the last decent men on earth. And Rachel was always very professional, plus she was a kid back then."

"Oh look who is all protective now… maybe you could become her bodyguard when she gets back to New York. I'm just kidding. I'm glad you're better, and if I hurt you in some way by doing that I'm sorry but I needed to."

"You don't have to be sorry at all, you were right, you always were and I didn't listen to you, thanks for not giving up on me San, we slap each other, we sometimes are bitchy to each other but in the end…"

"In the end we respect and love each other."

"Indeed. No one will ever destroy the unholy trinity, tell Britt I said thanks too. So I see you tomorrow?"

"Sure, I call you in the morning to tell you who is coming and at what time, I was thinking of breadsticks like in the good old days?"

"Great idea, I'll be expecting your call."

"Oh before we hang off, where are you staying? Because I could swear you said Rachel goodnight as I could also swear I heard the sound of a kiss."

"Yes Santana, answering to your interrogatory, yes I said Rachel goodnight, sleep tight actually if I'm not mistaken, and yes you heard her kissing me on the cheek, I am staying here while I'm in Lima, I'll explain it to you tomorrow, ok Officer Lopez?"

"Officer Lopez… okay, okay, like I've said before I feel like I'm living in a parallel universe, you two so close suddenly, it doesn't seem real. But if it makes you happy I'm happy. About that sleep tight you told her… you understand I could play with the use of the tight word… considering it's Rachel, considering she's tiny… considering she has a…"

"Stop right there Santana, your mind doesn't stop at all does it? Always thinking ahead of what's really going on. Go get Britt, your mind is too dirty for me right now, I need to rest, we'll talk tomorrow."

"Dirty, uh? You liked it once…remember Q?"
"Santana that was an one night stand, and it's in the past… aren't you happy with Britt? Or are you suggesting a threesome?"

Quinn finally teased Santana, she realized that Lopez was not going to stop with the insinuations so she better play along and go with it.
Santana laughed.

"See? That's the sassy Quinn I was looking for, and yes I wouldn't mind at all, there is enough Lopez for the two of you. But I'm not sure if I would want to share my Britt with anyone else…"

"Yes you shouldn't. Me? I'm going to bed now. Go get Britt Santana, you should. Talk to you tomorrow. Goodnight."

"Goodnight Q."

"And thanks for your concern. Thanks for caring."

And they both hang off.