Hola!
The date continues and I must say I loved writing it!
R+R, where possible! :)

All the best,
faberrylovingklainer


Chapter Nine:

"Take the next left." Quinn instructed. "Now make a right." Rachel silently obeyed unaware of where she was going. Quinn had altered the route so it was more of a detour than necessary but she wanted to surprise the brunette. "Just make another right here."

Rachel soon realised where she was but was unsure why but Quinn had led her back to the Fabray house. "Why didn't you just ask me to drive you home rather than making a big detour?"

"Where's the fun in that?" She questioned. Rachel didn't look impressed. "Come on, the date must continue. I can sense I have some making up to do." Quinn got out of the car and walked around to the driver's door. She opened it and unbuckled Rachel's seatbelt who chuckled at the gesture. Quinn was thankful her Mom had gone out, she couldn't enjoy this part of the date knowing her Mom was watching from behind the curtains.

Quinn laced her fingers through Rachel's and walked them both towards the back garden. "Your garden is beautiful Quinn."

"It used to be much nicer. Mom just hasn't got the time to maintain it now she works, but I think if you asked her she'd prefer to work now."

"Maybe we could fix it up for her, I don't know how because looking around there isn't a rose out of place." She said looking around at the grandeur of the garden.

"We should plant some gardenias." Quinn replied absently as she continued to lead Rachel through the garden.

"Look up." Quinn said as she stopped beneath the base of the huge oak tree that stood in the middle of the garden.

"Woah. Quinn that is amazing." Rachel replied, stepping back to admire the tree house above her head.

"Let's go up." Quinn said ushering Rachel towards the wooden ladder.

"Will your legs manage?"

"It's not far I promise I'll be fine." She smiled. "Now up."

Rachel scrambled towards the ladder and slowly climbed up. Rachel pulled herself through the gap and stood up. "Nice view."

"It was until you made it to the top." Quinn cheekily replied.

"Quinn Fabray, were you checking out my ass?"

"Of course." She shrugged nonchalantly. "Did you seriously expect me not to?" She laughed.

"Take your time." Rachel said ignoring Quinn's comment as she watched the blonde climb up the ladder.

"I will." Quinn replied. "...Mom." She added under her breath.

"I heard that."

"Damn it." Quinn laughed. "Two more and I'm there."

Quinn pulled herself through and was relieved to feel no additional pain in her legs. She was healing; slowly but surely. "I brought stuff up here earlier to make sure everything was all good, I didn't feel anything hurt when I climbed up here earlier but I think all of the walking tonight has strained them." She explained to Rachel. She could see Rachel was worried. "Hey, I'm ok. Look, come lie down here with me." She ushered Rachel to the blanket she'd laid on the floor.

"I brought you this just in case it got cold." She pulled the two hoodies out of her backpack and handed one to Rachel. Rachel was swamped in the blonde's hoodie. She lifted the sleeves to her face and smelt it. It faintly smelt like Quinn.

"You're not getting this back, by the way. Some people give their dates flowers; I'll just take your hoodie." Rachel chuckled.

"I outgrew that about three years ago but I couldn't bring myself to throw it away and now it appears that I don't have to."

"I don't know whether to be offended at you mocking my size or laugh at your attachment to an item of clothing." Rachel smiled. Quinn pulled her girlfriend closer and kissed her gently. "Now Quinn Fabray, tell me why is there a tree house in your back garden?"

"Dad built this for me when I was eight. Fran used to go and do things like horse riding but I wasn't keen on it. That was one of the things I really did love about my Dad, he did anything to try and make me happy." Quinn sighed.

"Tell me more." Rachel simply replied.

"We'd just moved here and I didn't know anyone. I'd always wanted something I could call my own. It's hard when you have a sibling, but also when money is tight. So after Dad got his big promotion and I had all the operations I asked him to build me a tree house. He saw how sad I was and he genuinely would do anything to make me happy.

When I was eight, this was my space ship. Dad and I were astronauts. We landed on the moon and I got Mom to bring out our dinner so we could have dinner on the moon. She wasn't impressed but Dad convinced her anyway. When I was nine, it was my pirate ship. Dad and I sailed around the world in about two hours. We hung a Jolly Roger off one of the branches and painted scars on our faces. The next day he came home from work with a box but he wouldn't tell me what was in it. The next weekend he told me to go up to the tree house and he'd join me in a minute. I got up there and there was a treasure map. That weekend we were explorers. The tree house was our base, Dad had hidden the box he'd come home from work with in one of Mom's flowerbeds, it was our hidden treasure. Dad taught me how to use the map to find the treasure. Mom wasn't impressed at us digging through her flowerbed but Dad was happy that I was happy. Most weekends we'd have our own mini-adventures. Something that was just ours...then everything changed.

I got older and Dad got busier. He started locking himself in his office rather than spending time with me. Mom tried to play with me but she was scared of breaking a nail that she refused to climb up the ladder. I soon realised I wasn't a child anymore and this became my go-to place when I just needed space. Fran and I used to go to mini golf to get away but she was older than me so she could escape when she needed to. She didn't want her kid sister hanging with her all the time, so I used to grab a book, CD player or my Gameboy and would come and sit up here for hours...or what felt like hours.

I remember coming out here two or three times a week when my parents began fighting. They tried to keep up appearances. We looked like the perfect little Christian family but we were so screwed up. The number of times I'd walk into the front room and see Dad's fists clenched in anger, Mom's makeup running down her face and it scared me. Dad saw the fear and hurt in my eyes as he watched me run out here. I tried desperately to hang onto my childhood and the happiness that came with it. Not even the sight of his daughter in tears at what was happening before her eyes was enough to stop him. Eventually he'd start shouting things like 'I'm going to hire someone to cut that precious fucking tree down, then where will you run?'

I started cheerleading when we got to high school. I channelled my anger into that. The anger I felt at my Dad for turning into a monster. I put on the ice queen facade and hid behind that. I hid behind Santana. She's naturally fierce and I always envied that. She was scared of my Dad so she wouldn't come around here. She never got to see my tree house even though I talked about it all the time. I tried to explain to her that my Dad wasn't as scary as she made out but who was I kidding? The guy had become a living nightmare. You're the first friend who's ever seen this place Rach. That makes me sad, I'm nearly eighteen and something so magical that I spent my childhood loving has never been seen by anyone.

The last time I came up here was just after I found out I was pregnant. I was so scared Rachel. I lay right here where we're lying right now and thought about all the happy memories Dad and I had had up here. I was disgusted with the thought of how much I'd disappointed him. I had no idea what I was going to do. It was up here that I decided I couldn't get rid of the child inside of me. I couldn't end a life. I'd made the mistake of sleeping with Puck; I had to make sure that child would get the best possible life. I had to rectify my mistake and I've finally achieved that. Beth's happy. I'm happy." Quinn broke down in tears at the memory of the painful decision. Rachel pulled the blonde as close as humanely possible and let Quinn cry on her. She stroked her hair to soothe her and peppered her cheek with kisses.

"Some date huh?" Quinn said through her tears. "Thank you Rachel."

"For what?"

"Being my girlfriend. I wasn't the nicest of people to you."

"You were a child handling some pretty big stuff and now I understand why you lashed out. I'm sorry that your memories of this place are tarnished by your father. I want you to know that if you ever need anyone to talk to I'm always here, it's in the description of girlfriend."

"Really? I thought it was just physical, I didn't realise I actually had to talk to you." Quinn joked.

"Quinn..." Rachel reprimanded.

"Sorry. Humour reflex, sometimes it just appears when unwanted or unneeded." She replied sincerely. Rachel nodded in acceptance of the apology.
"I'm honoured you showed it to me, maybe we can make some new memories in it." She said. She looked deep into Quinn's eyes and saw a mischievous glint flash across them. "Get your mind out of the gutter, Fabray. It's still the first date, remember."

"You're welcome." She smirked. "I had truly forgotten how beautiful it was up here." She said as she stared into Rachel's big brown eyes. "It's much more beautiful than I remember." She said leaning into kiss her.

Quinn cupped Rachel's cheek as they kissed. She knew Rachel wanted to take things slow and she'd agreed to it, but part of her wanted to push how far Rachel was willing to go. She brushed her tongue along Rachel's bottom lip looking for access. She heard Rachel breath sharply at the contact and slowly her mouth opened. Their tongues met and it was as sensual as Quinn wanted it to be. She wasn't pushing any further. Rachel laced their hands together as they broke apart. "That was ok, wasn't it? It wasn't too much, too soon?" Quinn quickly asked, desperate for reassurance.

"Calm down Quinn, it was fine. You're cute when you're nervous."

"Excuse me; I believe you are the cute one when you're nervous. Do you not remember the other day?" Quinn mocked. She held Rachel's hand tighter and was confused when she felt metal between their fingers.

She furrowed her brow and let go of Rachel's hand. "Quinn? What's wrong?"

"I'm just a bit confused. Why are you still wearing Fi-" She quickly stopped herself remembering that she and Rachel had agreed to stop mentioning his name. "Why are you still wearing that engagement ring?"

"Shit." Rachel mumbled, fumbling to take it off. "I forgot it was there, honestly. I've become accustomed to wearing it that I forget it's there."

"It's not because you're waiting for me to fall in love with you, then you're going to pull the rug from under my feet and laugh in my face to get back at me for making your life hell?"

"No Quinn! Of course not! I want to be with you. How many times do I have to tell you?" Rachel exclaimed.

"Just the once. I believe you. I just wanted to make sure because I'm going to fall in love with you Rachel Berry; I want you to know that now."

"I intend on falling in love with you too, Quinn Fabray." She replied smiling.

"Put the ring back on." Quinn instructed.

"What? Why?" Rachel replied. She was confused, hadn't they just almost fought about this?

"Just do it." Quinn calmly instructed.

Rachel did as she was told and placed the ring back on her finger. Quinn pulled her to her feet and then led her through a small door like opening that led her onto an almost balcony overlooking the rest of the back garden. She stood Rachel at the front and Quinn wrapped her arms around her waist and placed her head on the brunette's shoulder. With one hand, Quinn took Rachel's left hand and slid the ring off her finger. In one swoop, she threw the ring into the garden.

"Goodbye past, hello future." She mumbled as she kissed Rachel's neck.

"I just hope he didn't want that back." Rachel laughed.

"He can come and find it if he really wants it back." She mumbled softly "I'm a bit stuck now." Quinn laughed.

"Why?"

"I don't know how to end the date. I've never done this before, well I have but I've never been the facilitator." She replied shyly. Finn and Sam had walked her to her door and kissed her good night, but she'd had to get Rachel to drive her over to her house and the brunette was going to have to drive herself home. "Well let's not end it just yet." The brunette replied.

Rachel took her phone out of her pocket and set it to camera. "Quinn, take some pictures, I want to remember the exact moment of this date. I'd hold it in front of me, but with my incredibly short arms I'd only get myself in it and I want to see your pretty face too." She laughed.

"Wait, you can make fun of your size, but I can't? That's not exactly fair." Quinn mocked.

"Just take the picture, woman."

Quinn took the phone off her girlfriend and stretched out to capture the moment. She heard the phone make a click sound and she turned it around to check the picture out. Both girls were smiling proudly; the sun setting behind them and Quinn resting her chin on Rachel's shoulder really framed the shot. She turned Rachel towards her and kissed her. Holding the camera to the side, she snapped another shot. She put the phone in her back pocket and continued kissing Rachel until they needed to break apart for breath. "I should get you home, huh?" Quinn muttered taking Rachel's phone out of her back pocket and handing it to her.

It was ten thirty and the sun was close to setting. "What would your Dads say if I asked you to stay?"

"I think they'd tell you to get your skinny ass home and stop expecting too much from a first date...then they'd say yes." Rachel babbled.

"What if you asked them if you could stay?"
"Why don't we find out?" Rachel countered "It should be fine." She added.

"You think?"

"I do. They never stopped me staying over when we were friends before so staying over now wouldn't be much different. They know I fully intend on taking it slow with you. Make sure you let them know you plan on respecting my wishes." Rachel said. She noticed Quinn's raised eyebrow and added "...and that I plan on respecting yours."

"Nice save there Berry. I thought you were suggesting I was as horny as a guy."

"Honey, you are."

"I am not. Before I got pregnant and until New York I was the celibacy club queen, don't you remember? I distinctly remember telling you to wait when you decided you want to sleep with...him. That's not exactly horny guy material."

"You only told me to wait because you wanted me all to yourself, admit it." Rachel cheekily replied.

"I got you, didn't I?" Quinn said before kissing her lightly.

"You certainly did. Come on, let's go to my house and either end our date or get an extension."

Rachel pulled her car into the Berry driveway. Quinn got out and walked around to her side and opened the door for Rachel, just like she had done earlier. They walked up to the porch and just before she entered the house, Quinn grabbed her wrist and spun her around so they were facing each other. "If this is the end of the date, then I want to say to you I had a great time tonight, Rachel. It went so much better than I could have hoped."

"Me too Quinn." She shyly replied, hoping that it wasn't the end of the date. They stood there waiting for the other to make the next move. "This is the part where you kiss me." Rachel whispered.

"Oh yeah, of course." Quinn mumbled blushing furiously. She lent down and gently met the diva's lips with her own. It was sweet and tender. Quinn broke away and let the diva go inside the house.

She sat and waited on the porch. "Quinn Fabray?" A familiar but stern voice called. She looked behind her and saw Hiram Berry stood in the doorway. "Yes sir?"

"It's Hiram; do come in, Rachel's just getting ready." A wave of relief washed over Quinn as she registered what Rachel's Dad had said to her.

"I didn't mean to startle you." He laughed.

"Have we got another nervous one?" Leroy asked as Hiram lead Quinn into the front room.

"It appears so." Hiram laughed.

"Your reputation precedes you both. It's understandable any one wishing to date your daughter would be nervous. Rachel talks so highly of the both of you." Quinn bumbled.

"Relax Quinn." Leroy laughed. "Rachel speaks highly of you too, by the way."

"We have one wish for you and our daughter, Quinn." Hiram said.

"Of course, anything."

"Look after her heart like it could break with the slightest touch." He stated. Quinn nodded in response. "We know Rachel hasn't had the easiest of high school experiences. People tend to walk all over her. Protect her Quinn."

"I will. I promise." Quinn replied sincerely. She'd never said anything with such purpose before. She knew she had to protect Rachel and that's what she intended to do, for as long as the diva would let her.

Rachel bound through the front door with her overnight bag slung over her shoulder. "Ready?" She asked.

"Of course. It was good to see you again Hiram, Leroy." She said, nodding to the Berry men.

"The pleasure is all ours." Hiram smiled.

"Do you want to walk back to mine or drive?" Quinn asked as they got onto the porch.

"Will you be pushing it if you walk? You've done a lot today."

"Probably, but I'll wake up with you next to me, which is a good enough reason."

"Plus then I can drop you off in the morning. When I say I'll drop you off, I do mean my Mom, of course." Quinn laughed.

"Let's go then." Rachel said as she laced their hands together.


A/N: For the tree house as lame as it sounds I based it off Troy's in High School Musical 3, if this loses me cool points, I'm sorry! ;)