N/A Hello my lovely readers. Where does the time go? Hope you have been alright :) Thank you as always for the reviews, favs and alerts; makes me one happy girl. If you are just along for the journey of reading this story, thank you very much; means more than you can imagine. Okay, I'll stop my emotional rambling… on with the show! (Well, story, but you get what I mean).
Enjoy!
The air was becoming cold and this made Rachel shiver through her nerves and now the chills that were running down her spine. Quinn was only standing a couple of feet away, but this wasn't close enough for Rachel, she needed her and she needed her now. It had been too long; the feelings have been on her mind since she could remember. The goose bumps she would get when Quinn's skin came into contact with hers. The warmth she would get when she heard the girl's name. She wanted to tell the blonde, no, she needed to tell the blonde.
Rachel dragged a shaky hand up to her ear, tucking her hair behind it and then lightly clearing her throat. Not looking into Quinn's eyes, but instead letting the moon reflect in her eyes, she spoke above the safe silence of the secret garden and Quinn's intrigued ears.
"Would you like me to go first or would you like to speak first?" Rachel said innocently, before finally meeting eye contact and her heart rate started to increase dramatically.
Quinn contemplated it deeply. Rachel's eyes were literally eating her alive. There was definitely something hidden within the depths of the chocolate orbs and Quinn had a feeling there was something completely different about the way Rachel's eyes were tonight, a good different, an intriguing different.
"You can go first," Quinn smiled sweetly.
Rachel smiled in return, trying to hide the nerves that were making her feel like she was going to pass out.
Just tell her how you feel.
"Okay," Rachel nodded determinedly.
Quinn prepared herself. She had no idea what Rachel would have to say to her, but the attitude that Rachel was presenting was far from calm. Quinn could see that Rachel was thinking deeply and she looked incredibly fragile, but adorable at the same time.
"How long have we known each other Quinn?" Rachel said quickly, grabbing Quinn's hand in her own and stepping a little into Quinn's personal space.
Quinn could swear she was having a heart attack. The cold air suddenly felt like a much needed wave of oxygen and her heart beat was going out of control, just like it did every time Rachel was nearby. The soft skin of Rachel's hand in Quinn's supportive palm was more than either girl could handle at this moment in time.
Rachel needed to feel Quinn; to connect. Quinn's hand was just as hot as hers and the contact could almost spark off a fire.
Quinn thought about how long they had known each other; she didn't know whether to be scared or excited by the ambiguous question.
"Umm, about four years," Quinn smiled.
Rachel grinned when she saw the twinkle of the moon in Quinn's beautiful eyes.
"They have been the best four years of my life," Rachel whispered honestly into the open air.
Quinn looked intently into Rachel's eyes, absorbing her words and letting them warm her heart to its full extent.
"We've had our ups and downs," Quinn said, with regret written all on her face.
Rachel squeezed Quinn's hand attentively and then took the other hand in her hers, interlinking their fingers and dangling their hands in between them; her mind relaxing a little at the sensation.
"Let's just remember the ups and forget about the downs. They've still been the best four years of my life because I have known you," Rachel said quietly.
Quinn didn't know what to say. Rachel seemed to be so close, yet so far away. She wanted to hear what Rachel was going to say because her heart was fluttering at every minute that swept past, but at the same time, she just wanted to dive in and kiss the lips that she had dreamt of for four years.
"The past month or so have been the best of times, because I have had the privilege of getting to know the real Quinn. I have loved being part of something with you. This place, our secret garden, has helped me through so much; you have helped me through so much. You shared your passion with me and I have never felt so wanted and respected. I felt safe enough to share mine with you, because you made me feel like I could be anyone or anything, that I didn't have to hide or pretend that I was someone I wasn't. You stood by me in Glee and you stuck up for me in front of Santana. You have given me advice when you also needed some. You took time to help me, when you needed some help. You have promised me things and you have made me feel beautiful, which I never thought I could. You have made me smile until my cheeks hurt and laugh until I couldn't breathe. You inspire me, because you have been so strong through a lot of things and the speech you made at the beauty pageant had me in tears; happy tears. I hope I have helped you a little as well, because I feel we work so well together, in all areas. You're my best friend Quinn. Also, your photos are amazing and… well… so are you," Rachel finished breathlessly, as a small, single, emotional tear ran down her cheek, before dipping under her chin, only to be swept away by the quick action of Quinn's soothing hand, before it reconnected with Rachel's.
Quinn's eyes were nearly overflowing with tears and as she blinked slowly, the couple of tears travelled down her own cheeks and she smiled through them, letting the words sink in and solve her own thoughts.
Rachel shuffled on her feet a little, but in the process she deliberately moved a little closer; always wanting to move that little bit closer.
"I don't know how these things go because I have never felt this way. I just know that I can't hold them back any longer. They have been on my mind for years, before I even really realised what they meant. I know that I am only ever me, when I am with you. I have never felt so special, wanted, loved, cared for and true. You are beautiful Quinn, so beautiful, inside and out. I am just going to say these words, because I need to, I want to and you deserve to know," Rachel paused a bit, steadying her breathing and spoke up barely above a whisper into the night time atmosphere, "I like you Quinn. I really like you."
Was it possible to faint from words? Quinn couldn't speak, she couldn't blink and she couldn't breathe. Letting the moon light shine Rachel's features and letting the gentle breeze fill her lungs, Quinn needed someone to wake her up, wake her up from this dream that was making her fall into a deep feeling of overwhelming joy and passion. Quinn let the tears fall freely now, not caring about her makeup or how she looked at all; Rachel thought she was beautiful. Rachel said that she needed to say those words; those three words that Quinn never imagined being said to her, by anyone, but especially by one Rachel Berry. The Rachel Berry that Quinn had fallen so deeply for.
Rachel moved so that they were practically flush against each other, before moving her right hand out of Quinn's and moving it to Quinn's jaw line and lightly turning so that the blonde was staring straight into her.
"Say something Quinn, please say something," Rachel said quietly.
Quinn couldn't even if she tried, she was over the moon. No, stuff that, she was so over the moon that she had exited the universe and entered a whole new world; a whole new world that was just filled with Rachel Berry and her words; the words that she could listen to for days on end and never bore of them.
"The moon," Quinn smiled through the last tear.
Rachel's eyebrows furrowed, as her lips couldn't help but smile at the sight.
"The moon?" Rachel questioned innocently.
"I feel like I am on the moon, Rach. I need you to come and join me on the moon," Quinn said quietly, as her emotions were pushing her head closer to the brunette's.
Time had slowed to a halt, as each second lasted a minute. As each breath lasted a lifetime. As each twinkle in each of the girl's eyes, lit up the night. And finally, as each beat of the girl's hearts, exploded into fireworks.
Quinn's eyes were still connected with Rachel's, not wanting to ever look away from the most entrancing site she had come to know. She was slowly moving her head forward, as Rachel did the same. Both girls knew what was happening and both girls couldn't be happier than in this moment right now. Neither knew how to kiss or what it felt like, but this felt right.
Quinn could feel Rachel's warm breath hitting her anticipating lips and it made them quiver in want. Rachel felt dizzy with feelings. She was here in their secret garden, feeling Quinn's hand in hers, as her other hand was still resting on Quinn's jaw line, feeling the blonde's head gradually move closer. Her smooth tongue slowly came out and moisturised her lips ready to be given some much awaited attention, but in doing so, the tip of it lightly came in contact with Quinn's top lip, which ignited the flame that was slowly building in both of them. That was the last spark; this was real.
"I like you too Rach, more than you know," Quinn whispered quickly, before she pushed away those millimetres of air that were keeping her from those enticing lips.
The world was turning around them, as their lips came in contact with each others. Rachel closed her eyes tightly and let her other senses take over. Quinn's warm lips were moist and soft against her own, it was amazing how just this small action, which meant so much to Rachel, could feel this good.
Quinn didn't know where she was, what she was wearing, what she looked like, if she was standing, falling or flying, she just knew that she was with Rachel in this very moment, kissing her lips for all they were worth.
Rachel broke contact for a split second, before missing the warmth immediately and diving back into the spin that was kissing Quinn Fabray. This time, she had parted her lips and used her tongue to lightly make contact with Quinn's lip, just as she had done before. Rachel had no clue was she was doing, she just knew that nothing had ever felt so right in her life than this.
Quinn's body was no longer made up of cells or membranes or whatever biological reasoning's that were behind the human body; she was now made up of goose bumps, shivers, fireworks and stars.
Quinn felt the tip of Rachel's tongue brush gently up against her lip and knew that once she took this next step, she would never be able to stop herself again.
Removing her hand from Rachel's, she moved both of her hands onto Rachel's perfect hips, before pushing further into the brunette tenderly, letting their bodies melt together in the most innocent yet passionate way.
Letting her lips fall open to reveal a gap of entrance, Quinn copied Rachel's actions and let her tongue explore Rachel's lips.
Neither girl knew when it began, but before they knew it, they were both entering each other's mouths with their needy tongues, dancing against each other and revelling in this completely new but addicting sensation.
Their breathing became jagged and their once silent voices were now letting out little, but audible moans deep in their throats. When you have waited for years to kiss someone you never thought you would, would you ever want to stop once you started? Both girls would say no, but as the need for air became essential, Rachel unwillingly parted away and gave her swollen and delightfully numb lips a last swipe over with her tongue.
Quinn's eyes slowly opened dazedly and she managed to capture Rachel giving her lips a last taste and she couldn't help herself; she jumped back in and gave the sensational lips one last kiss. Reluctantly pulling away and licking her own lips, she was still able to taste Rachel.
With Quinn's hands still on Rachel's hips, they let their hearts slow down and their breathing adjust back to normal, or what their minds thought was normal.
Not wanting to break the comfortable silence or the unforgettable moment, Rachel just lent her head to rest on Quinn's shoulder, snuggling nicely into Quinn's neck, before wrapping her arms around the blonde's slim waist and sighing contently.
Quinn grinned up to the moon, before placing her head to rest on smooth brown hair and inhaling the intoxicating perfume of which Rachel was wearing. Lifting her hands away from Rachel's hips, Quinn draped them around the brunette's back and squeezed her gently, never wanting to let go.
Rachel breathed in Quinn's scent and smiled to herself. She just had her first kiss, her first ever kiss, with the person she had dreamt of kissing for so long. It was better than she imagined. Of course she was nervous at the beginning, anyone would be, but when Quinn admitted that the feeling was mutual, it was all Rachel needed. Not knowing what to do or where to go, she just went with what her feelings were telling her and they were obviously telling her the right things because that felt incredible, no, mind blowing. Actually, there were no words to describe it. That was just a kiss, so Rachel couldn't even get her mind around what it would be like to feel Quinn's skin underneath clothes, but neither did she want to, as kissing the blonde was all she needed right now and if it came to it, all she would ever need.
Rachel began to shiver, but Quinn just held her closer, keeping her warm. Looking up to the moon, Quinn spoke up.
"I like the moon, we should come here more often," Quinn smiled.
Rachel giggled into Quinn's neck, before moving her head away slightly, lightly kissing Quinn's jaw, before standing in front of the blonde, arms still wrapped tightly round Quinn's waist.
"I'm never leaving," Rachel looked up into Quinn's eyes through her long eyelashes.
Quinn just let her smile turn into a grin, before laughing into the evening sky.
"I might have to leave because my parents will be wondering where I am," Quinn joked.
"True, same here actually," Rachel slumped a little.
Yet more silence fell upon them as they looked into each other's eyes. Quinn was first to disconnect eye contact, as she looked down to the ground beside them.
"I am not sure what happens now Rach, in terms of how we act or like, stuff," Quinn stuttered, suddenly blushing at the reality of what happened.
"But, you have had a girlfriend before, you know more than me," Rachel giggled light-heartedly.
Quinn turned her head away slightly.
"Umm, I wouldn't call her a girlfriend; she was just a summer fling. Plus, we never actually, you know, kissed," Quinn said quietly.
Rachel stepped back, releasing her grip on Quinn.
"That was your first kiss?" Rachel asked a little shocked. She had just assumed that Quinn had kissed someone before.
Quinn simply nodded a few times, meeting Rachel's eyes and giving the brunette a small smile.
Rachel just grinned before she couldn't contain her happiness and started to do a little dance. Not any normal dance; a Rachel Berry special. She put her hands down to her sides, pointing her hands outwards towards the sides and shrugged her shoulders up and down, while giving little twirls and grinning like a Cheshire cat. She didn't know if this could be classified as dancing, but it's what she felt like doing; it felt natural.
Quinn just adored the view, as she was thinking about how gorgeous Rachel looked tonight. As her thoughts were being taken over by Rachel once again, she remembered something from earlier.
"Oh!" Quinn said excitedly, which in turn made Rachel startle a little.
Rachel stopped dancing and looked at Quinn, before grinning because Quinn was grinning; it's just the effect they had on each other.
"Oh?" Rachel raised an eyebrow.
"I remember I have something for you," Quinn smiled embarrassingly.
"Oh!" Rachel grinned.
"My sentiments exactly," Quinn winked, before side walking her way to her gate.
"Where are you going?" Rachel said a little worryingly.
"To go and get your present, I'll be back in two minutes, okay?" Quinn smiled sweetly, before swooping out of the gate and running down her garden.
Rachel took these few lonely minutes to inspect the garden more closely and she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with emotions right now. Kissing under the moonlight and stars, in the secret garden, which was filled with stories and pictures; it couldn't be more perfect.
Rachel was in a world of her own, when Quinn appeared at the gate, making the little brunette jump, before relaxing as she was now with Quinn once again.
"You've really got to stop making me jump," Rachel laughed.
"Sorry," Quinn laughed, before moving further in and taking a seat on a log.
Rachel moved to sit next to Quinn and felt confident enough to sit as close as she could get.
"Okay, I know that these are two weeks early, but after I decorated the garden, I went home and felt like doing this for you, it felt like the right time and to be honest, it couldn't be a better time than tonight," Quinn grinned, before passing the pink box towards Rachel's lap.
Rachel took the box in her delicate hands and brushed over the top with her right hand.
"Go on, you can open it," Quinn giggled.
Smiling to herself, Rachel released the knot of the small bow that was tying the box together and slowly opened the lid. Immediately after she had taken in the sight before her, she let out a little squeal and gripped Quinn's knee to the left of her.
"Oh my! They're lovely Quinn!" Rachel grinned, before diving into the box and examining the first cupcake.
In two neat rows laid ten beautifully decorated cupcakes, each with a different word on them.
On the first row of the five pristine cupcakes, they read, "Imagination", "Love", "Friendship", "Dreams" and "Feelings". The second row read, "Touch", "Smell", "Think", "Laughter" and "Space". Each cupcake was unique, with different handwriting on each one, in different shapes and different colour icing.
Quinn smiled at her work, delighted that Rachel liked them.
"You remembered my words," Rachel said in awe, as she placed the cupcake back into the box and stared at them in complete wonderment.
"I always remember your words," Quinn smiled, as she wrapped her right arm around the back of Rachel and snuggled closer.
Each touch and nudge still ignited fires in both of the girls, but now they didn't feel like it wasn't right, they didn't feel they had to ignore the feelings anymore; if anything they were embracing the feelings and they were excited to see what this journey of emotions would bring for them.
"And I will always remember this moment, it has been amazing," Rachel smiled, as she lent her head onto Quinn's shoulder.
"Well, it's lucky I have bought my trusty camera!" Quinn grinned, as she pulled her camera from by her side and turned it on.
Rachel laughed.
"I don't need a picture to remember this moment, I have my memory," Rachel giggled.
"I want one," Quinn smiled intently, as she got up off the bench and kneeled down on one knee in front of Rachel.
"It looks like you're proposing," Rachel laughed.
"No, not yet," Quinn winked jokily.
Rachel silenced straight away. She smiled at Quinn, as the blonde went back to positioning her camera. She couldn't tell if Quinn was joking but with a hint of affection, or if she was completely joking. For now, she would forget about that thought and focus on having her picture taken.
Smiling proudly at the camera, as she held up her beautiful cupcakes, Rachel let the camera's flash take over the secret garden for a split second, before Quinn sat back onto the log and saved the picture in her favourite's folder.
"I actually better go now," Quinn laughed.
"Yeah, sure. My dad's will probably be wondering where I am too," Rachel smiled sweetly, as she packed the cupcake box back up carefully.
Quinn got up off the log with a little jump and stretched out into the sky, as she let out a little sigh. Rachel got up and started to walk to her gate slowly, admiring Quinn's work on the walls once again; this girl will continuously amaze her. Quinn followed Rachel to the brunette's gate and once Rachel started to turn the gate's handle, as it squeaked through the night air, Quinn placed her hands on Rachel's shoulders, as her camera dangled around her slender neck. Rachel turned around slowly, cupcake box still clutched in her grasp. She looked up into hazel eyes, as she smiled widely. Quinn released her light grip on the brunette and simply put her hands in her pockets, as she ducked her head a little.
"I just wanted to say night," Quinn said shyly, as she lent in and gave a quick, chaste kiss onto Rachel's soft cheek, before dashing away and making her way to her own gate.
Rachel blushed profusely; as she let the goose bumps engulf her. She would never get used to the sensation of Quinn kissing her.
"Night Quinn," Rachel said, as Quinn stood at her own gate.
Both girls gave little waves to each other, as they made their way into their own gardens, immediately missing the company of the other. Rachel dazedly walked back to her house, with her favourite cupcakes clutched to her chest. Quinn skipped back home, with her camera swinging around her neck and two of her favourite photos saved on it.
~O~O~O~O~O~O~
Rachel's dinner was going cold and sitting alone at her normal seat. Jason was reading the paper at the side near the sink, after just finishing the dishes, as Michael sat next to Rachel's place and scrolled down his phone, replying to all his work messages begrudgingly.
The silence was finally broken, as the back door burst open with a blushed and grinning Rachel, clutching a box like it was her lifeline.
Jason placed his paper down onto the kitchen counter with a startle and looked a little questioningly at his daughter, while panting a little from shock. Michael was too interested in his phone to even notice the cold air rush in from the outside, or the loud bang the back door had made from hitting the kitchen counter behind it.
Rachel closed the door quietly and turned and just smiled sweetly at her daddy, as she tried to say sorry with her big owl eyes.
"Rachel, it's 7:45pm, you should have at least texted me to tell me you were going to be late. I still thought you were at Puck's," Jason shook his head a little.
Michael finally realised that someone else was in the room, as he placed his phone onto the kitchen table and watched his husband talk with their daughter. He would rather let Jason deal with this one.
"Sorry," Rachel ducked her head as she spoke to the ground, "I came back when you and dad were out and then went out to the secret garden to meet Quinn."
"Well, for a start, you should always let me and your dad know where you are. And secondly, you should let us know how late you are going to be, your dinner has gone cold now hunny," Jason said with a shrug. He couldn't help but call his daughter hunny or sweetheart, he didn't want to sound too mean; he was a big softie really.
"I'm really sorry daddy. Today has been a little… hectic but good, but just busy and… stuff," Rachel stuttered, as she felt herself getting a little flustered thinking back over the past hour.
Michael raised an eyebrow at his daughter, as Jason internally analysed her behaviour. Rachel sat down at her place at the table, before slowly placing the box next to her plate. She picked up her fork and started to poke the substance that was sitting coldly on the plate.
"I'll heat it up in the microwave for you," Jason laughed a little.
"You knew he wouldn't actually make you eat that," Michael grinned at Rachel, as she grinned back.
"Of course he wouldn't, couldn't let your beloved daughter starve," Rachel smiled big-headedly.
"I would have," Michael mumbled, while chuckling.
"What dad?" Rachel questioned.
"Nothing sweetheart," Michael grinned.
"Michael, I heard it," Jason said sternly, as he got Rachel's piping hot meal from the microwave.
Placing the meal down in front of Rachel, she immediately began to tuck in, as Jason took the seat next to his cheeky husband, before sipping the tea he had just made.
"So, what did you and Quinn get up to in the secret garden? You spend a lot of time down there," Jason smiled, gripping his mug of tea, letting it warm his aging hands.
Rachel stopped chewing and swallowed it audibly, before smiling to her dads and sipping her glass of juice, giving herself time to think.
"Um, we just chat and have a laugh really, whatever friends do," Rachel smiled, before quickly going back to eating her meal.
"Whatever friends do? Surely you should know," Michael laughed light-heartedly at his daughter.
"Well, you know, I do know, but we just chat, laugh and I sometimes write, while she takes photos; she likes photography," Rachel smiled uneasily, realising she needs to keep calm.
She was going to tell her dads about her feelings for Quinn, but having to tell them tonight seemed a little too overwhelming right at this moment in time.
"Sounds lovely," Jason smiled.
Rachel just smiled up at him, as she shovelled the rest of her meal into her mouth, before washing it down with the last of her blackcurrant juice and placing her cutlery hastily down on her plate.
"Done," she grinned.
As Rachel went to get up from the table, Jason and Michael both spoke up at the same time.
"Rachel," they both said simultaneously.
Jason looked to Michael and nodded.
"Sit down a minute sweetheart," Michael said calmly.
Rachel cautiously sat back down and picked up her fork and started to make little patterns in the left over sauce on her plate, to distract her from the awkward conversation that she knew was going to come.
"We just wanted to have a little chat, about some stuff," Jason smiled.
"Okay," Rachel said quietly.
Michael sighed a little, not really knowing how exactly to go about starting a conversation about this.
"Quinn seems like a lovely girl, we were just thinking that you should invite her round sometime for a proper dinner," Michael grinned.
Rachel looked up into her dads eyes, placing the fork back down.
"That was all the chat was about?" Rachel asked hopefully.
"Well, not really, but it's a way to break the ice right?" Michael smiled with a shrug.
Jason just rolled his eyes, before clasping his hands in front of him and taking over.
"Rachel, we think that you are proving to be a lovely young lady. You have come out to us about your true passion and we have accepted that and embraced it and it's proven to make you a much happier girl, so we have liked that. Quinn is all you have seemed to talk about lately. For example, you were going to Puck's, and by god, you looked miserable this morning, we wondered if it was about yesterday and Bianca, but then you come home after being with Quinn and you are a different girl, you are happy, alive and smiling all the time," Jason smiled as he talked.
Rachel unconsciously started to grin as the blonde's name was mentioned.
"I don't understand where you're getting at," Rachel played dumb, of course she knew where they were getting at.
Michael looked to Jason, as Jason looked to Michael. Jason nodded towards Michael, trusting his husband to take this one.
"Okay," Michael started, "are you banging Quinn?"
"Dad!" Rachel's mouth fell agape and all her dignity fell to the floor and her embarrassment level could not get higher.
"Michael!" Jason swatted his arm, hard.
Michael giggled to himself, as he took in his husband's and daughter's faces.
"I'm just joking! Jeez!" Michael shook his head, shaking off his last laughs.
"Okay, well, after your dads completely childish question, what we really wanted to know," Jason cleared his throat, before looking with warm eyes at Rachel, "is there anything going on between you and Quinn?"
The room fell silent, as Michael finally composed his posture and had seriousness on his face, as did his husband. Rachel still felt embarrassed from her dad's question, but was now contemplating whether or not to tell her dads just yet. She hadn't even asked Quinn what was going to happen, or how they were going to go about things. As she ran through her thoughts, her eyes fell upon the box next to her. She started to grin and all her pestering thoughts were soon taken over by Quinn. She nodded to herself, as she addressed her dads.
"I know I was acting a bit off this morning and I know that I spend a lot of time in the secret garden with Quinn, and it wasn't until recently that I knew what all my emotions were telling me. I don't know what's going on, I don't know how to tell you everything and I don't know if I will tell you tonight, but just to say that I am extremely happy and," Rachel paused, as she rubbed her hands together slightly, feeling herself becoming a little nervous, but she went with her gut instinct, "yes, I think that something is going on between me and Quinn."
Jason was smiling at his daughter, still finding it amazing that she seemed so small and petite but could address serious situations with such maturity; he sometimes underestimated her. Michael was smiling, but also had many meandering thoughts floating through the clever mind of his, which he would talk about with his husband at a later date.
"You think something is going on?" Jason furrowed his eyebrows.
"Yes, it's slightly confusing at the moment, as we have only just expressed our feelings," Rachel ducked her head as she felt the blush creep up her cheeks.
Jason couldn't help but clap and let out a little squeal. To Jason, it didn't matter whether Rachel liked boys or girls, but he had always thought Rachel may prefer the female species, as she had never really been interested in boys in such a way that showed the behaviour she displays when she is around girls; especially Quinn.
"No worries sweetheart, just come and talk to us whenever you're ready, we are just happy if you are happy okay?" Michael smiled.
"Thank you dad, I am so lucky to have you two as parents, being so accepting and things," Rachel smiled, with a small tear in her eye.
"What are parents for?" Jason nodded.
"True, but some people don't get this sort of acceptance, so I am not taking it for granted, but I am just extremely happy right now," Rachel grinned, "I'm going to go and get ready for bed now, I have school tomorrow."
"Okay," Michael smiled back.
"Oh hunny, what's in the box?" Jason said quickly.
As Rachel was making her way out of the kitchen, she just spoke over her shoulder.
"They are cupcakes from Quinn, with words that mean something to me on each of them," she smiled, before going up the stairs with a grin permanently fixed on her now kissed lips.
Hearing their daughter go into the safety of her room, Jason carefully opens the lid of the box and peers in. Taking in the delicate decorations and writing on the cupcakes, Jason just grinned madly to himself, loving the thought and time that went into making them. He was fond of Quinn already and he hadn't really met her properly yet, except for an hour yesterday.
"They're gorgeous Michael," Jason cooed at the little cupcakes.
"They are," Michael smiled.
"You aren't happy for her?" Jason questioned his husband.
"No, I definitely am. I am just a little worried, a little protective of her, you know," Michael said quickly, before walking over to the sink and gulping down a glass of water.
Jason sighed a little, before getting up and walking over to the sink and hugging Michael from behind.
"Mike, what happened to you won't happen to Rachel, she has lots of friends who love her and she has us, nothing will happen to her, I promise," Jason said gently into Michael's ear.
Michael turned around in Jason's arms and kissed Jason on the forehead, as Jason was a couple of inches shorter.
"I know, but my experiences have scared me Jason, they have made me a different person and it has taken a lot for me to move forward from my past, I just don't want Rachel to have any of the pain that I had," Michael sniffed, trying to hide back the tears that were trying to escape. Michael was more of the man in the relationship, whereas Jason let his emotions go whenever he felt like it.
Jason nodded, as he went to tidy up the table.
"We are here to protect her Michael, that's what a father does, and hell, she has two," Jason smiled, reassuring Michael.
Michael let out a little laugh at his husband, as he went over to help clear away.
Jason was moving Rachel's cupcakes to the fridge as he stopped what he was doing, and turned to Michael with a little pout on his lips; now that's where Rachel got it from.
"Hey Michael, how come you never make me cupcakes?" Jason asked quietly.
"You never ask me to," Michael deadpanned.
"But I want cupcakes like Rachel gets," Jason smiled a little.
"You are jealous of your daughter because she gets cupcakes?" Michael questioned, with a raised eyebrow.
"A little, you should make me some cupcakes," Jason whined jokily.
"I can't believe we're even talking about this," Michael shook his head with a chuckle, "anyway, you're more of a woman in this relationship, so you should make the cupcakes."
"Why?" Jason frowned.
"Because the woman belongs in the kitchen," Michael winks cheekily.
"You didn't!" Jason gasped, as he grabbed the tea towel and started to try and hit Michael, as Michael ran away laughing to himself.
~O~O~O~O~O~O~
As Quinn quietly made her way into her kitchen, there was no one to be found. She couldn't get the smile that was formed on her lips to go away, neither did she want to.
Quinn made her way over to the sink and quickly drunk a whole glass of water, gasping at the end of the refreshing drink. Wiping her soft hand over her wet lips, she made her way down the hallway, checking in each room to see if she could find anyone; no one was there.
Jogging up the stairs, taking two at a time as she was still on cloud nine from having kissed Rachel, she made her way down the long hallway, leading to her stairs up to the top floor. Quickly walking past the rooms, she heard someone in her dad's office, typing away. She hadn't realised that anyone was home, but assumed that her dad must be here.
Slowly opening the office door, she saw Tony sitting at his desk, typing an obviously urgent message out on his computer, and completely oblivious to his daughter standing in the doorway.
"Hey dad," Quinn said happily.
Tony jumped a little in his seat at the sudden intrusion, but a graceful smile took over his mouth when he saw Quinn standing there, camera round her neck; where else would it be?
"Oh, hello sweetheart. Sorry, I didn't hear you get home," Tony said apologetically.
"No worries, are you busy working then?" Quinn said politely, as she made her way further into the warm office and sat down on a chair, opposite the desk.
"Yeah, working on a Sunday is the worst. I just want to relax, but I have got to get this report off to my manager before tomorrow morning," Tony sighed, before rubbing his temple.
"Dad, you need time to relax as well remember," Quinn said, frustrated at the pure amount of work her dad seems to go through.
"I know sweety, I know," Tony smiled warmly.
Tony went back to typing, but he could no longer concentrate now his favourite person was in the room.
"Oh, would you like some dinner? I can go downstairs and conjure something up," Tony asked.
Quinn thought about it and eating right now was the last thing on her mind. She would have something later before bed, even though her dad didn't really like her eating right before sleeping as it can make you ill.
"No thanks, I will have a snack later. Where's mom anyway?" Quinn asked, realising that her mom was not home once again.
"Out with her friends," Tony said simply.
"Again?" Quinn joked.
Tony just laughed along, but his smile didn't reach his eyes and his laugh wasn't from his stomach.
"Yeah, something about a fashion week coming up and she needs to organise some things. She might be going away in a couple of months, for a week or so, to some fashion convention in Paris, so it will just be me and you kiddo," Tony smiled.
"I don't mind, I don't mind at all," Quinn grinned.
Tony rested his worn hands on his desk and looked at Quinn.
"So, how has your day been? After I got back from picking your mom up, you were out. So, I decided to work up here, but I think I did hear you come back in and do some stuff in the kitchen before running out to the garden again. Then you came back for about two minutes, before running back out to, where was it again? Oh yes, the garden," Tony laughed cheerfully.
Quinn just blushed under the statement and couldn't help but laugh along.
"I just love the garden okay?" Quinn grinned happily, before ducking her head.
"Is it just the garden you love?" Tony bent his head a little to look into Quinn's eyes, as her head was still at an angle.
"You know it's not. Oh, I also failed at the whole Rachel-free-day thing," Quinn laughed, while the blush still crept up her cheeks.
"This is going to sound really childish, but," Tony stood up from his chair and started to poke out his tongue and dance around in circles, "I told you so!"
Quinn burst into giggles at her dad's antics and tried to calm down, as he sat back down, grinning like the little boy he was inside.
"Come on dad, how old are you?" Quinn laughed.
"You have to grow old, but you don't have to grow up," Tony winked.
Quinn just nodded and clapped her hands.
"Touché," Quinn smiled.
"So, how was your day? As I'm sure you have something to tell by the fact that you haven't stopped smiling since you got through that door," Tony lent forward on the desk, ready to listen.
Quinn took a deep breath and let the smile stay on her face as she told the story of her day to her dad.
"Okay, well, when you went to pick up mom, Santana came over for a surprise visit. I ended up telling her what I told you about the way I felt for Rachel and she was amazing dad, she helped me through it and she gave me some advice, plus she also made me laugh, which was nice. Then, when she left, I ran to the secret garden and took some decorations and blankets and redid the whole place and now it looks great, if I may say so myself," Quinn giggled, "I also printed off some of Rachel's stories and took some of my favourite photos and lined the walls of the secret garden with our passions, making it our home. Then I came back and made some cupcakes, because, well, basically we had this little bet thing and now I have to make cupcakes for her each month and even though they were early, it felt like the right time, you know? Then when I was sat at home in the living room, she texted me saying that she wanted to meet me in the secret garden, so I rushed out there, needing to see her and hear her. Then, well, then it went crazy. Like, it was better than I ever imagined it. It was like fireworks mixed with marshmallows. Like little puppies with sparkles. We just stood there and she said she needed to tell me some things and I also had in my mind, stuff that I wanted to tell her. I won't say everything, but suffice to say, she feels the same way about me. She likes me dad! She really likes me! And then, we kissed; my first kiss. I don't know if that's too much information for a dad to hear, but yeah, I am kind of on cloud nine right now and I won't be down for some time, just to let you know."
Quinn finished her ramble of words a little breathlessly and just collapsed back into her chair, letting her head fall back and look at the ceiling, the whole time her smile was still there.
"Wow, you are so whipped," Tony mumbled.
"Dad! I heard that," Quinn quickly snapped back up, giving her dad an evil stare, before poking her tongue out and collapsing back down.
Tony stopped chuckling and cleared his throat.
"No, in all seriousness, I am really happy for you. I am glad you have found someone that can make you feel that special. If Rachel makes my daughter feel special and loved, then why wouldn't I be happy about that? Plus, the whole kissing thing, maybe you should keep that under wraps, but just to say that you should take things slow, okay. I am not going to have the whole birds and the bees talk, because I know you are sensible, but I just want you to be safe and not take things as a joke," Tony smiled wisely at his smiling daughter.
Quinn didn't speak; she just looked on in awe, so overwhelmed to have such an accepting and wise father to look up to.
"Umm, Quinn? Are you going to cry?" Tony asked calmly.
"No," Quinn choked out, wiping furiously at her watery eyes.
Tony just chuckled before leaning over his desk and squeezing Quinn's hand.
"I love you Quinn," Tony whispered.
"I love you too dad," Quinn said comfortably, before letting go of his protective hand.
Tony just cleared his throat and sat up in his chair.
"Right, you better go and start getting all your school things ready for tomorrow and remember, don't have a late night, because you will regret it in the morning," Tony said.
Quinn rolled her eyes playfully, getting up off the chair and making her way into the hallway and heading for her stairs.
"Yes dad," she said sarcastically, as she walked up to her room.
As soon as Quinn quietly closed her bedroom door, she immediately commenced in a full on happy-dance; sliding round her bedroom floor, hip-bumping her chest of drawers before twirling and jumping. Half way through her dance, she lightly flung her camera onto her bed, so she could really get into the feeling of dancing freely, with no weight on her shoulders and her heart full of juicy berries.
As she was mid-twirl, she completely froze as her eyes looked far out of her window and landed on the small figure of Rachel, standing in her own window, looking utterly and completely amused; a grin forming her lips and her hands on her hips.
Quinn just burned bright red and wondered how long Rachel had been watching her. How much can Rachel see of Quinn's bedroom?
Quinn straightened out her top and simple raised her hand, giving a little but significant wave and a cute smile, before quickly ducking away out of view and collapsing on her bed in utter embarrassment.
"Oh god," Quinn whined, "kill me now!"
Over the other side of the garden, stood a laughing Rachel, who had just witnessed the whole of Quinn's dance and found it beyond adorable.
Walking back over to her bed, she quickly sent out a text to said blonde, before making a phone call to one Noah Puckerman.
I think you should dance for me every night; I was enjoying that. R x
Letting the text get sent off, she put her phone up to her ear and listened to the mind-numbing dial tone, waiting for Puck to answer.
"Hey, you've reached Puckasaurus," Puck exclaimed down the line.
"You still use that to greet people?" Rachel laughed.
"Hey Rachel! How was your… wait, yes I do use that because it's freaking awesome, you dissing it?" Puck said jokily.
Rachel giggled.
"No, no, I would never do that to you Puck," Rachel said sarcastically.
"For sure you wouldn't. Anyway, as I was saying, how was your day after you left? How did it go? Spill all," Puck said confidently.
"You do know you just sounded like a really girly girl getting ready to gossip," Rachel laughed.
"I did not!" Puck said, a little too high pitched.
"You just kind of proved my point there," Rachel joked.
"Damn you Berry, anyway, like I asked, how did it go?" Puck asked, with more masculinity in his voice.
There was a silence over the phone, as Rachel just smiled to herself, before answering.
"It was amazing Puck," Rachel said quietly.
She heard Puck sigh with relief on the end of the line.
"Oh thank god. I knew it would go okay, but there's always that doubt in mind isn't there?" Puck said.
"You're telling me," Rachel laughed.
"So, you can tell me more tomorrow at school, but she feels the same right?" Puck asked with interest.
"Yes, she definitely feels the same," Rachel grinned into the phone.
Puck thought over things, before gasping into the speaker.
"You guys kissed didn't you?" Puck asked.
Rachel furrowed her eyebrows.
"How the hell did you guess that from just listening to me?" Rachel said in shock.
"I get you Rachel, plus, you are so damn obvious," Puck laughed.
"Fair enough, anyway, yes we did and I can't tell you how incredible it was, even though that might be hard for you to hear," Rachel said, remembering to go lightly on the subject when talking to Puck.
"Rachel, you don't have to be careful about what you say. It will take time for me to get over it, but to be honest, I am a strong boy and I am sure I will manage, plus, just imaging you two kissing will surely get me through this troubling time," Puck winked, but realised that he was on the phone and laughed instead.
"Puck! That's me and Quinn you're talking about," Rachel said defensively.
"Yeah, I know," Puck joked.
"Damn you Puck, stop imagining me and Quinn kissing, it's wrong," Rachel said, as she too began to laugh.
"Fine, but telling a guy to stop imagining two girls kissing is an incredibly hard thing to make happen," Puck chuckled.
"Whatever," Rachel ended it with a laugh.
"Anyway, I am really happy that it worked out okay, you deserve it," Puck said a little more meaningfully.
"Thank you Puck, it means a lot," Rachel smiled into the phone.
"Anyway, I got to go. I have to put Jack and Lucy to bed, as my mom is a little tired," Puck said.
"Okay, well have a nice night Puck, see you tomorrow," Rachel said happily.
"Night Rachel," Puck ended his side of the conversation.
"Night Puck," Rachel then ended hers.
With the phone call ended, Rachel got ready for bed, not before updating her Facebook status to read; "Had the best day ever…"
~O~O~O~O~O~O~
When Quinn had received the text from Rachel, she hadn't felt the need to reply, mostly from the fact that she was completely still from embarrassment and also the intense blush from the fact that Rachel wanted her to dance for the brunette more.
As said brunette was on the phone to Puck over in the Berry house, Quinn had decided to text Santana, knowing that if she phoned the girl, she would not be off the phone until two in the morning and to be truthful, Quinn was insanely tired from the whirlwind of a day.
Santana, it went amazingly. Q
Almost immediately, Quinn got a reply.
You serious? What did she say? Ahhh! I am so happy right now, even though you can't tell anyone that. S
She said more than I can convey on a text message, but let's just say that she likes me back and has done for a long time. Also, we kissed. Q
Okay, I will admit it, I am grinning like a freak over here, but I am just really happy for you Quinn. You deserve this. Plus, kissing her is pretty awesome right, just imaging it is making me think that you two are gunna be a pretty hot couple. S
Quinn laughed at Santana's back-handed compliment.
Kissing her was more than awesome. Anyway, who says she wants us to be a couple? Q
Quinn! Stop doubting yourself. You really need to get some confidence. She says she likes you, she kisses you and she is totally whipped for you, as you are for her. It is written in the stars that you two will become a couple. S
I want to be, majorly. But we have to remember, I know what I am, I have been out since summer, Rachel isn't necessarily a lesbian, this could just be an insanely big crush. I am just being careful San; I don't want to be hurt or to hurt her. Q
Okay, I get you. For now, I believe things are going on the right track and I will be with you every step of the way. See you tomorrow Quinn. S
Thanks Santana. Night. Q
With that, Quinn got ready for bed and checked her Facebook. Seeing Rachel's status she couldn't help but grin madly at the screen and press that all so simple 'like' button, but a 'like' could never be enough for how much she liked that status. Not wanting to make it obvious, Quinn wrote out her own status, before posting it off into the virtual world. It simply read; "I had the most amazing time on the moon today." She knew that most people would think she was going mad and wouldn't understand it, but that didn't matter to her, as she knew one person in particular would understand it and that was all that mattered to her.
Closing off her laptop, Quinn snuggled down into her bed to let sleep take her away to cloud nine, not that she had ever left it.
~O~O~O~O~O~O~
