Chapter Nine: Here In Your Arms

She sits in her couch looking at the clock.

3pm. Rachel should be here any minute now.

She gets up and goes to the bathroom to look herself in the mirror for the eleventh time.

Her mom is out today – probably visiting her father and lying to her about it – but she doesn't care because right now her door bell is ringing and when she opens the door there's a tiny brunette with the most perfect smile in the world looking at her.

She says hi and Quinn can't get the stupid grin out of your face.

''Hi, you-you are gorgeous.''

Rachel blushes and looks at her from head to toe and back; she was wearing exactly what the diva had told her too: jeans and simple t-shirt.

''I could say the same about you. Shaw we?''

''Yes.''

They walk towards the car and Rachel opens the door for her and she realizes that she is probably going to spend the whole day with a goofy smile on her face.

They pull out of Quinn's house and the radio starts immediately:

Angel of mercy
How did you find me?
Where did you read my story?
Pulled from the papers
Desperate and hardened
seeking a moment every fix

''I love this song.''

''Yeah?'' Rachel glances at her for a second before turning her attention to the road. She would later find out that the brunette didn't like to talk while driving because talking demanded eye contact and she didn't like to get distracted because she was sure it would end up in a terrible car accident.

''It makes me think of you.''

Of course singing once include in the rule. She hears Rachel giggling while she starts to sing along in the chorus.

Angel of mercy
How did you find me?
How did you pick me up again?
Angel of mercy
How did you move me?
Why am I on my feet again?
And I see you

Whoa Whoa Whoa
I feel you
Whoa Whoa Whoa

She closes her eyes and feels the wind in her face while listening to her favorite voice in the world sing.

Before just the daylight
Come and I stand by
Waiting to catch the quickest plane
Flying to nowhere
Is better than somewhere
That's where I've been and nothing's changed

''Sing with me.'' She says and continues, glancing at the blonde from second to second.

All I wanted to say
All I wanted to do
Is fall apart now.
All I wanted to feel
I wanted to love
It's all my fault now,
A tragedy for sure.

She eventually gives in and they voices melt perfectly together like it always have.

Angel of mercy
How did you find me?
How did you pick me up again?
Angel of mercy
How did you move me?
Why am I on my feet again?

And I see you

Whoa Whoa Whoa
I feel you
Whoa Whoa Whoa

I'm so lost in you
A tragedy seemed to be over now,
A tragedy it seemed to be,

Over now.

Angel of mercy
How did you find me?
How did you pick me up again?
Angel of mercy
How did you move me?
Why am I on my feet again?
And I see you.

Whoa
I feel you
Whoa
I feel you
Oh Whoa
I feel you Oh, Oh, Oh.

This date was amazing so far.

x

''What-How do you know about this place?''

''I was casually talking to Brittany at rehearsal and she mentioned she knew about us.'' Rachel says with a raised eyebrow.

She smiles at the mention of an 'us'. ''Yes, and Santana knows too. I told her; she already suspected and Brittany just knew. She is really sensitive like that.''

Rachel nods and smiles back at you. ''Yeah and then I said I was taking you out on a date and was thinking about a picnic or something and she got really excited and suggested this place. She said the three of you used to come here a lot and still do when you need to think.''

''Yeah. I spent a lot of nights here last year.''

Rachel smiles and grabs her hand taking them into the park. It was a small one on the edges of the town. Apart from 3 kids playing in the sand there was no one else there.

Rachel takes a sheet from the bag she had insisted in carrying when Quinn had reached for it. She settles it on the grass and they sit side by side. She takes fruits, sandwiches and bottles of water from it and the blonde can't take her eyes away from her.

She feels Quinn staring at her and turns her head to meet hazel eyes; ''Hi''

Quinn's face turn red like she had just been caught doing something she shouldn't but says hi back.

They start talking about which fruits are their favorites and which ones they dislike, and the conversation goes on and on for hours.

They find it so easy to just talk to each other. They go from fruits to food in general and then favorite weather, favorite musical instrument, beach or mountain, rain or sun, dog or cat and etc.

At 6pm they are in the car again heading to Rachel's house.

''My dads are out having dinner so I thought we could go and watch a movie?''

''Are they ok with that idea?'' She asks. She had just met Rachel's parents and didn't want to cause any kind of bad impression before she could even ask them if she could officially date their daughter.

''Yes Quinn I told them you were coming over and they got excited. Well, Daddy did.'' She jokes and sees the blonde tense next to her. ''They want to talk to us when they get back from dinner.''

Quinn looks at her with wide eyes and starts to panic.

God no.

''Baby relax, they won't threaten your life. Well, they may but all they want is to be sure you won't hurt me or make me suffer like others have. They can be very protective after the Finn disaster they are in alert.''

Her breathing calms down and she grins. Not because she wasn't afraid of her encounter with the Berrys anymore. No, it was because of a completely different reason.

Rachel glances at her when she doesn't say anything. ''What?''

''You just called me baby.''

The brunette swallows slowly and keeps her focus on the steering wheel when they stop at a red light.

''Well, I didn't even think about it. It is- it is ok?'' God she was a nervous wreck. She was desperately trying to control herself and not ramble or do something stupid. This was their first date and she wanted it to be perfect.

She takes a deep breath and looks at Quinn just as the blonde answers: ''Yeah. It is perfect.''

And just like that all the hesitation and fear vanishes from her face and she giggles; ''Good.''

x

''So, make yourself home. I will just grab us some popcorn and something to drink. What do you want? We have soda if you want, I don't drink it but I'm not opposite of you doing so; if you want to. We also have grape and orange juice which you both like so-''

Quinn grabs her hand gently; ''I will have whatever you are having.''

''I was rambling out of control again weren't I?''

''Yes. And although I find it extremely cute you do need to breathe.''

Rachel squeezes her hand and nods before sighing and smiling again ''Orange juice it is. I'll be right back.''

Quinn sits on the couch and stares at the blank TV while she waits for Rachel.

The brunette comes back into the room and puts the popcorn and the glasses on the table along with the juice bottle. And then she moves to the TV and Quinn gasps.

''What are we watching?'' she asks while staring at the ceiling. Rachel is on her knees leaning forward and she almost chocked when she saw it. So now she was looking at anything but Rachel's… ass.

''Finally!'' the brunette gets up and catches Quinn breathing fast and avoiding her eyes. ''Everything ok?''

The blonde finally looks up at her and gives her a shy smile ''Yeah.''

Rachel frowns but lets it go. ''Firefly!''

It takes Quinn a second to realize that Rachel was answering her question – she was still trying to calm herself down and not think about the things her mind wanted to... then it hit her ''What? Why? You don't like sci-fi.''

''I never said I don't like it. But it shouldn't matter because you do. And I slept during it the last time so now I shall stay awake and try to appreciate it with you.''

''Rachel you really don't have to.''

''Nonsense! Of course I do, if we are going to be together I need to at least try to like the things you do, just like you have patiently watched musicals with me and make the effort to show interest when I go on and on about them.''

Quinn smiles at her and opens her arms. She doesn't even think before moving forward and jumping into her; pulling her arms around her waist while Quinn pulls her closer by her shoulders.

She had never done this with anyone besides her parents. She was always cautious and hesitant when physical contact was involved.

But not with Quinn. She loved the warmth and sense of protection that came within being on the blonde's arms. And it freaked her out a little.

How could and had she come to feel so safe with the girl who was once her tormenter?

Sure, she had forgiven Quinn a long time ago and they had been evolving their friendship for a while now; but that was different than falling madly in love and giving her heart away. She had this terrible habit of letting herself go too easily only to be abandoned and hurt.

She figures those are things she should be telling Quinn. And she will. But not tonight.

x

Quinn wasn't surprised to listen Rachel's snoring lightly on her neck after 30 minutes into the movie. She really didn't mind. She could stay like this forever; with the girl she is in love with in her arms cuddling and sleeping.

She kisses her forehead and returns her attention to the movie while grinning largely.

x

She hears the door getting open right when the movie ends and she closes her eyes.

The last thing she wants is to face Rachel's dads without Rachel – especially since they are sleeping in each other's arms and being very couple-y – so she pretends to be asleep.

She listens while Jacob gets closer and talks to Rachel: ''Baby girl wake up.''

Rachel moans and groans a little before opening her eyes and finding her father looking at her; ''Hi Dad. You are back!''

''Yes and we brought you two dinner. Wake Quinn up and come find us ok?''

She nods and turns her attention to the blonde – half beneath her, half by her side – while he walks away. ''You can open your eyes now.''

Quinn's mouth drops open and she frowns at the diva ''How- How did you know I was awake?"

''Because I have seen you sleep and is nothing like that. You are terrible at fake-sleeping. I can teach you some techniques if you want.''

''You have seen me sleep? Don't you mean stare?'' she says with a large grin.

Rachel rolls her eyes; ''Don't be so full of yourself Fabray.''

Quinn laughs and Rachel can't help but follow. The blonde holds her closer and she leans her head back, resting it on her shoulder. She closes her eyes, absorbing the feeling.

''My dads brought us food.''

''And they wanna talk to us.''

''Yes.''

''We should go then.''

''Yes.''

''You should get off of me then.''

Rachel pouts ''No.''

Quinn giggles. How could this girl be so adorable?

Rachel finally moves to free her but Quinn pulls her back.

''Before we go. Can I ask you something?''

Rachel doesn't turn to look at her but nods giving her permission to go on.

''Can I take you out on a date next Friday?'' She figures one week is enough time to execute her plan and put together the most amazing date Rachel Berry would have ever been to.

''Wasn't today's good? You didn't enjoy it? I know I fell asleep again but I couldn't help it I'm sorry I-''

''Rach, I had a lot of fun today. It was perfect.'' She pauses and kisses her cheek. ''But I want to take you out on a date.''

Rachel shakes her head and Quinn starts to freak out at the same time her heart begins to break. ''What? You don't want to keep doing this?''

''Yes but it's just that-'' her voice dies and Quinn takes a deep breath in relief and waits for her to continue.

The brunette sighs and decides to just let it out; ''No one I have ever dated has want to be around me that much. They would take me out once a month and that was basically it. We would see each other in school or at each other's house but nothing more than that.''

The blonde hugs her even tighter than before ''Well, now that you are willing to spend time with me you are going to have to get used to having me around all the time. Taking you out on dates and all around the city. Because I want to be with you all the time. You will even get tired of me.''

Rachel smiles with tears in her eyes. Happy tears.

For some reason she doubted that last part was true.

x


A/N: This chapter is shorter than I originally planned. You will have the talk with the parents, the date Quinn is planning and the coming out to the Glee club in the next one. I don't know when I'll update again tho (school comes back in two days)... Let me know if you want me to make an effort and update every week? I may try.

thatdamnyank: if I tell you that that's what made up my mind about who was going to cheat would you believe me? I'm trying to write in character but sometimes it's kinda hard lol. Glad you are liking it! Hope you enjoyed this chapter as well :)

Song: Mercy by One Republic