Rachel was stunned when Quinn hightailed it after school, she didn't know what was going on with the other girl. The weekend had been amazing, but last week had been torture again and now they were back to this. She wasn't sure if she could keep playing this game. Giving Quinn time was proving hard when she kept going so bi polar on her.

When Finn appeared at her side she couldn't hold back the tears and found herself wrapped in his arms. It felt so comforting and she just really needed somebody in that moment, she didn't think. They planned to rehearse the next evening. Rachel decided to just go with it, waiting on Quinn was getting silly and asking her permission was just ridiculous as she wasn't even sure what they were to each other. She noticed the big smile on Finns face as she left him in the car park but she tried to ignore it by messaging Quinn.

Homework didn't prove much of a distraction and she was relieved to finally hear from Quinn later that night, a date for coffee, if it was allowed to be a date that is, and her heart was a flutter again.

Xxx

Her phone buzzed at 6.55am and she peeked out the window to see a waiting Quinn. Quickly she bundled her things together and kissed her sleepy Dads goodbye. The morning air was fresh on her skin as she walked to the waiting car.

"Good Morning" Quinn beamed as she climbed in, the smile lit her eyes.

"Hey beautiful"

They both just sat there staring at each other before Quinn broke the silence.

"So I picked up your coffee already and figured we could go somewhere quiet"

"So that we won't be seen?" Rachel didn't bother to hide the frustration in her voice, she felt Quinn take her hand and looked up to be met with those hazel eyes.

"No, not that. Just because I want to be me when I am with you, the real me. I hate who I am sometimes. I just get so cold. I don't want to be like that. I want to be the girl I am with you, the person you make me. I want to be that all the time Rachel, I am trying"

Rachel felt the lump in her throat and struggled to swallow, all she could do was squeeze her hand back.

"So we ok to go? I mean we can go to Lima bean and get fresh cups and be seen, because I don't mind being seen with you Rachel, I just well if that's what you want?"

"No, quiet and the real Quinn sounds perfect. We are good, let's go"

They sat in Quinn's car overlooking the town, it was a beautiful view and the area around them was peaceful and secluded.

"I'm sorry about yesterday. I shouldn't have got so uptight. I don't know why I walked away, all I wanted was to walk up to you and show Finn that you are mine"

"I am yours Quinn, if you want me that is. I just keep getting mixed messages from you. I don't know what to think half the time and then you kiss me"

"Then I kiss you" she repeated before she lent in and brushed their lips together and Rachel as ever forgot the world around her existed.

As they broke apart Quinn took her hand again.

"I can't do all the things that I want to with you, I don't know if I am ready or what all this means, but I really like you and I want to spend more time getting to know you. I want to stop being crazy jealous Quinn and I was hoping you'd like to come to dinner at my house…my Mom is a really good cook when she bothers and well that's if you um"

"I'd love to Quinn. I would be very happy to" the megawatt grin lit up her face and she saw Quinn's smile take over too.

Moments on their own were perfect and Rachel treasured every single one of them. Dinner with Quinn's Mom seemed like a move towards acceptance and it made her very happy inside.

"How do you do that?" Quinn queried

"Do what?"

"Make me feel happy just seeing you smile. How is that even possible?"

"I don't know but I hope it always works for you"

"Me too. It's a long time since I knew how to feel happy. I messed up so bad last year, I just"

Rachel wiped a stray tear from Quinn's eye.

"It's ok Quinn I don't think something like that will ever leave you, its huge and you coped so well"

"I didn't really Rach, I was a bitch. I hurt so many people and I will always regret not taking up your offer of friendship then"

"Finn got in the way a bit I suppose, but I am still here. You didn't do a very good job of pushing me away"

"You loved him?"

"Yes I think I did. It gets a bit confusing now though when I think about it"

"Why?"

"Because of this, us, whatever we are"

"I wish we could stay here all day" Quinn pulled Rachel into her arms. Their bodies really did fit well together.

"Mmm me too, but if we stay like this much longer I might…"

"You might?" Rachel met her eyes and she saw the desire and it made her heart flutter "oh…would that be so bad?"

"Should you tempt me?"

"No?"

"We should go"

"Yes ok" Quinn made no attempt to move until Rachel coughed pointedly. Begrudgingly she separated their bodies and instantly felt the cold against her skin.

"Is your Mom ok with me being vegan?"

"Sure that's no problem. I'm not sure she'll be so pleased when she knows I want to have sex with you, but yeah vegan is good"

Rachel couldn't help but laugh "you want to? Wow you are forward. I like this side to you Quinn, a lot" she winked and Quinn blushed before starting the car and heading towards school.

They walked through the corridors together that day whenever they could, Quinn would link arms or subtly brush their shoulders together. Keen for the other girls touch and Rachel loved every second of it.

When the day ended she could quite happily say it was the best day she had ever had at school. Kissing Quinn Fabray in the auditorium at lunch, the janitor's closet between classes and the girls' locker room in her free period made sure of it. The ever wandering hands made her think perhaps the sex joke may not have been so much of a joke after all. Chastity club be damned, Quinn Fabray made Rachel Berry hot and she wanted to know more about it.

With a sigh she made her way to a waiting Finn, she wished she could blow him off and spend the time with Quinn, but the competition mattered too. She waved as she saw Quinn driving home with Brittany.

"I still can't get used to you two being friends" Finn shook his head as he opened the door for her and they headed toward the auditorium.

"I hope you do get used to it"

"Just make sure she doesn't hurt you, I care about you Rach and I know Quinn. well she can be a bitch, but you know that first hand. Just be careful, she has a nasty side"

"Really Finn I don't want to be having this conversation with you at all, not after everything that has gone on and definitely not after the way you treated Quinn after the funeral"

"Whoa hold on Rachel. Sorry I said anything" he huffed

"Right this is not the time. So I think we need to move on. Ok?"

"Yes team captain. Let's get on with the show" he smiled and the tension was gone.

Brad was waiting and they got to work straight away. She sang as if she was singing to Quinn and with a happy heart.

"This is awesome Rachel. I really think we can win this time"

"I hope so, I really do. I am so excited about New York now too"

"It's going to be amazing; we are going to be amazing. I feel so pumped. Let's get a coffee before I drop you home and we can talk strategy, I know we focus on Vocal adrenaline a lot, but I have been researching some of the others we are up against"

"Seriously?"

"Yes, I take glee very seriously Rach, you made me and I love you for it" he took her arm and led her to his car.

Fifteen minutes later and they were sitting in the Lima Bean plotting and laughing. Rachel always enjoyed scheming against the other show choirs.

It was the first time since Quinn kissed her that she had focussed on her true passion and she was lost in the conversation. She didn't see Quinn walk in, collecting desert for her Mom at first, but when she locked onto those hazel eyes and saw horror on the blondes face, she quickly jumped up and shook her head. She watched as Quinn visibly calmed in front of her and she beckoned her over.

"Hey girlfriend" she smiled and wiggled her eyebrows, suppressing her laugh as Quinn almost choked on air.

"Um hey Rachel, Finn" the blonde nodded

"Join us?" Rachel asked

"Sure, how was practice?"

"Really amazing. Rachel was perfect. We have such a good shot Quinn I can feel it"

"Good. When isn't Rach perfect?" she smiled and Rachel felt a hand on her thigh under the table. She was very relieved that it was small and gentle.

"We were just talking about New York" said Rachel

"Yeah we are going to have so much fun. It's getting late though so I think maybe I should drop you home now Rach" Finn stood ready to leave, clearly uncomfortable since Quinn arrived.

"Um well Quinn if you didn't mind maybe?" Rachel asked

"I'll drive you home Rach, I need to collect that thing I left in your room" Quinn squeezed her thigh again. Finn just stood there confused as ever.

"Oh, right, well I'll see you tomorrow then I guess" he looked defeated

"Sure Finn bye" Quinn quipped back

Rachel couldn't help but enjoy the exchange, although she felt a little bad for Finn as he looked so dejected. She soon forgot about him when Quinn took her hand on the way to the car.

She drove them to Rachel's and followed her upstairs.

"So what did you forget?"

"Just this" Quinn pinned Rachel up against the bedroom door. Capturing the brunette's plump lips and pressing her body close. The kiss was becoming heated and Rachel melted into it. She felt a thigh press between her legs and bucked into it a small moan escaped from her mouth and she felt Quinn press in harder. Her hands laced into soft blonde hair trying to pull her closer, stopping only when she felt a thud against her back. Quinn shot out of her arms like a bullet, a startled look on her face.

"Rachel, honey does Quinn want to stay for dinner?" her Dad called from the other side

"Do you?" she whispered to a still shocked Quinn who just shook her head

"Not tonight Dad" she answered

"Ok well five minutes more girls and it's on the table"

"Thanks Dad"

Rachel moved across the room and felt Quinn flinch as she touched her.

"Quinn its ok" it took another moment for Quinn to come back to her

"Sorry. No I am really. Oh wow, that just well"

"He wouldn't have come in"

"Oh but if he did and we and oh"

"I prefer it when you are a little more articulate Quinn, well that or when you are doing the things you were just doing before Dad interrupted"

She saw the smirk return to Quinn's face.

"Hmm yeah that was good, more of that in future but not when your Dad is home. I better go. My Mom is waiting on dessert and I have been gone for an hour almost. She is really excited about tomorrow night though"

"Me too. Do I have to dress up?"

"Nope, just um…actually it might be best if you wore jeans"

"Huh?"

"Because I need to be composed when we eat and if you wear one of those Rachel Berry skirts I'll lose it"

"Horny Quinn is good though"

"Not in front of my mother" Quinn winced and Rachel laughed

"Sure. Jeans it is. Come on I'll see you out"

They walked to the door, Quinn waved bye to Rachel's Dads and paused at the doorstep, she looked around quickly before placing a kiss to her lips.

"Night Rach"

"Goodnight Quinn"

Rachel fell asleep that night with that smile firmly in place.

Xxx

As Quinn drove home her head full of Rachel Berry she couldn't help but smile. The last few weeks had made her feel more alive than ever before. She finally felt that things were coming together for the first time since she had Beth. Pulling into her driveway she began to formulate her own plan for the future that included dreams of college, New York and a life with Rachel.

Her Mom was relieved to finally get dessert and for the first time in months they sat and talked.

"So I can do Vegan, I have been looking at recipes while you were out and I hope Rachel is happy with my choices"

"I think she will be Mom, really thank you for trying and doing this for me"

"Anything Quinnie, I am just so happy that you seem happy. I want to meet Rachel properly and see what it is about her that has my baby girl coming back to me"

Quinn felt the pull at her heart strings, she couldn't speak so she just got up and hugged her Mom, it had been a long time since she had and it just felt so good, her Mom held her tight and she didn't let go.

Quinn hadn't realised how much she had missed spending time with her Mom. She went to sleep that night smiling and feeling so thankful that she had let Rachel Berry into her life.

Xxx

"Rachel Barbra Berry would you please get yourself down these stairs this minute" Rachel rushed at the call from her Daddy

"But Daddy I didn't do anything?"

"I know sweetheart, I just want to know what you did in order to receive these?"

"Receive what?" she called as she made her way downstairs only to see a huge bouquet of flowers being thrust towards her by her still smirking Daddy

"So?" he said

"Oh my word. They are just beautiful" she took the card from her Dad and opened it up.

"What's it say? Who is the new man in your life?"

"Oh um, it says" she blushed as she read the words quickly to herself "it says: To the most beautiful star in my life. May you always shine so brightly and make me smile so warmly. that's it" she blushed a little more and showed it to her puzzled Dad and Daddy, the two men exchanging knowing glances.

"So who is it? Is it Finn? You seemed to be getting on and well you have been smiling a lot"

"I always smile Daddy"

"More than usual" her Dad chimed in "Finn then or Jesse?"

"Nope not Finn or Jesse as far as I know. It's not signed so how would I know"

"Hmm, well no boy is dating you without showing his face to me first, so when you do find out you make sure you tell him that"

"Sure Dad, no boy. Got it" she smiled and skipped as she placed the flowers in a vase.

Escaping from her Dads prying eyes she sent a message to Quinn.

Thank you x

For what? Q

The flowers? Please say it was you. I really don't want to think otherwise

Lol yes from me. You made me happy and I wanted you to know it. Q x

My Dads are suspicious. No boy is allowed to date me without showing his face to Dad first

Hmm I will bear that in mind. Want me to pick you up for school?

Sure if you can?

No problem, looking forward to seeing you x

30 minutes later and the doorbell rang. Rachel rushed out of her room. Quinn normally just messaged her and never came to the door. She stood at the top of the stairs as she heard her Dad open the door.

"Hello Quinn"

"Hello Mr Berry"

"You don't normally ring the bell, is everything ok?"

"I just wanted to say hello and show my face for a change. I felt a bit rude not introducing myself properly and saying good morning whenever I pick Rachel up"

"Well that is very polite of you Quinn. I am glad you and Rachel are enjoying each other's company"

"Thank you Mr Berry. I am glad that you are happy for me to be um taking Rachel out to um school"

"Sure Quinn. I'll just call her down. Rachel" he shouted unaware his daughter was in ear shot "Come on in and take a look at the flowers she got this morning. Do you know anything of the new boy in her life or who he could be?"

Quinn followed him into the hall "No Mr Berry, Rachel hasn't told me about any boys in her life. She is a sneaky one though. Such lovely flowers!"

"They are beautiful, that's what Rachel said anyway, her suitor must have good taste"

"Oh for sure, if they like Rachel then they must have excellent taste"

Rachel stifled her giggles and made her way down to Quinn and her unsuspecting father.

She kissed him goodbye and laughed all the way to the car.

"I can't believe you did that?"

"Did what?"

"Turned up and showed your face to my Dad"

"Oh well if that's what it takes to date his baby girl" Quinn smirked.

"It was actually quite romantic"

"Quite? I thought it was very romantic. I realise I have to do things in secret right for now, but I am at least following your Dads rules. I think that's important"

"Thank you Quinn, you have made me so happy"

"I'm glad Rach. I really am" she kissed her quickly as they pulled up at traffic lights and smiled the rest of the way to school.