A/N: Sorry for the delay. Also, riverkirby see if you recognize a conversation that I featured during this chapter :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee, Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do, , X-23: Target, or any music mentioned.
Chapter 9
On the drive back to the Berry's, Quinn was holding Rachel's hand in hers while her thumb was gently stroking Rachel's knuckles.
"Rach, there's something I've been wondering."
"Yes?"
"How'd you beat up Sadie yesterday, what was that?"
Rachel giggled. "I study Martial Arts. I actually have a Black Belt in Tang Soo Do, it's South Korean. Similar to North Korea's more popular Tae Kwon Do. I have extensive knowledge with self defense, and I am very flexible..."
Quinn tried to pay attention, she really did, but her mind stopped as soon as she heard that Rachel was very flexible. There could have been more after that. Actually, Rachel's perfect lips were still moving so there was definitely more after that. But all Quinn currently cared about was that her beautiful girlfriend, Rachel Berry was very flexible.
"What do you think, Quinn?"
"Huh?" Quinn internally cringed at her own stupidity, she was sounding worse than Finn Hudson right now.
Rachel smiled, took Quinn's hand to her lips and gently kissed each finger tip. Quinn's mouth went dry. Another phrase of Rachel's from earlier that night played on loop in her mind. 'At least we have all night.' Her breath hitched.
"Quinn, are you okay? You don't look so…breathe, Quinn!" Rachel panicked when Quinn's face became pale. The blonde let out a long, ragged breath.
"I'm not a virgin Rachel." She blurted out.
Rachel looked at her strangely. "I figured as much Quinn; you told me you were with Sadie. You had pictures…."
"God! Rach, the pictures I sent out were of us kissing. I'm not some slut."
"Oh. Quinn, I never thought you were. I just knew you were most likely more experienced than me; since I haven't been…you know…with, anyone."
Quinn nodded, suddenly color returning to her face.
"So you've been with someone, it's okay Quinn. It's the past."
"I used to date Finn until I cheated on him with Puck. Then I was with Sam and cheated with Finn. And the whole time I was with Sadie."
Rachel nodded slowly, taking in the new information in stride. "That explains why they were against you joining glee initially."
Quinn watched Rachel out of the corner of her eye. "That's all you're going to say?"
"What else is there to say, Quinn? Do you want any of them still?"
"God no."
Rachel nodded again.
"I just needed you to know everything about me. You heard the rumors; you know I used to be a bitch. I needed you to know." Quinn finished off quietly as they pulled into the Berry driveway.
"Are you trying to scare me away Quinn? Because I had a wonderful time today and I thought you did too, and now it seems like you're pulling away from me."
Quinn slowly put the car in park and turned off the key. She was trying to buy time.
"Not at all Rachel, it's just that before anything…else happens to us, I needed you to know."
"Anything else? Quinn just because you're living with me, did you think that we were going to…tonight?"
Quinn's face flushed deeply. "I…ah…"
"This is our first date, you don't do stuff like that on a first date."
Quinn turned wide eyed.
"Quinn, did you sleep with them on your first date?"
"They were my boyfriends; we never actually went on dates. It's what the cheerleaders did. We slept with football players."
"Did you ever want to?"
"Did I ever want to what?"
"Sleep with them. Or did you do it because you thought that was what you had to do?"
Quinn suddenly turned uncomfortable. "I wanted to with Sadie. But with them it was pretty much I didn't want them to leave me. I didn't want to be alone. But even with Sadie we sort of just were friends with benefits. We weren't an item. This was actually the first date I've ever been on."
Rachel held both of Quinn's hands in hers. "Did you have a good time tonight, Quinn?"
"Yes of course."
Rachel smiled. "Great. So did I. So, what comes next is you walk me to my door and you give me a kiss goodnight."
Quinn nodded. She hurried out of the car and opened Rachel's door for her. Taking the smaller girl's hand in hers, she walked her to the door.
"Oh, and Rachel, sorry about the chocolates."
"It's okay, Quinn, you didn't know."
"What's vegan? I meat, I get you don't eat meat. I noticed that much during lunch, but what else don't you eat?"
"Animal by-products. Milk, cheese, eggs. I also don't buy shampoos, perfumes and soaps and stuff that have been tested on animals. Just so you know, in the future."
Quinn smiled widely. "That is good to know. I guess when I make you breakfast in bed in the morning, that it won't be eggs."
"Awww Quinn. That's a sweet thought, but I get up at 6:30 to work on my elliptical. So, I'll probably be the one fixing you breakfast in bed."
Quinn pulled out her phone. She pushed a few buttons and then returned it to her pocket.
When she looked at Rachel, her smile vanished. Rachel had a very agitated look on her face. "That was incredibly rude Quinn Fabray, to text someone while you're on a date."
"Relax Rach, I assure you I wasn't texting anyone."
Rachel's phone beeped with a new message. Quinn looked at her incredulously. "If you answer that, I'm going to have to give you the same lecture you just gave me."
"Believe me it's not important."
"Rachel Berry, are you hiding something from me?" Quinn smirked. She was only teasing the girl, but when Rachel's face turned red in embarrassment she suddenly became perturbed about what the girl might be hiding from her.
She reached into Rachel's pocket and pulled out the phone.
"Quinn don't! Please?" The brunette begged, which only intensified the blonde's curiosity.
She quickly snuck a peek at Rachel's phone. Her eyebrow shot up nearly to her hairline as her lips quirked in the darkest smirk Rachel had ever seen. "You get texts from Dictionary dot com sent to your phone?"
"It's the word of the day."
Quinn couldn't help being amused; and though she'd never admit it, she also found it adorable.
"You should also get a joke of the day sent to you, so you can learn to tell better jokes." Quinn teased as she handed the phone back.
Rachel huffed. "I happen to like my jokes!"
"Oh, baby, I do too." Quinn cooed as she brought her lips to kiss the pouting girl.
When Quinn pulled away, she saw Rachel smirking. "That doesn't count as a goodnight kiss Fabray, not until I kiss back."
The blonde's eyebrow rose, but before she could respond the brunette was claiming her lips. They kissed fervently for several minutes until they pull away breathless.
"Now, normally this would be the end of the date, but since you're living here you are allowed to come in."
Quinn finally regained her breath, and her voice. "I'm allowed inside, huh?"
"I suppose." Rachel grinned, as she opened the door and led the girl inside.
When they got in the house, Rachel's dads were waiting up for them.
"So, how'd it go?" Jeremiah asked.
"This is going to get old really fast isn't it?" Rachel replied, turning toward the blonde who simply nodded mischievously.
"I guess that's their way of telling us it's none of our business." Michael interjected.
Rachel smiled approvingly before kissing her dads goodnight and heading up the stairs with Quinn right behind her.
Rachel changed into her pajamas first, though Quinn still was unable to call them such. Rachel Berry really was going to be the death of her.
Quinn went into the bathroom to change and get ready for bed next, when she returned to her bedroom Rachel was there lying on her bed. The sight took Quinn's breath away.
"I was wondering what you meant earlier, Rach." Quinn grimaced because her voice cracked. She cleared her throat. "About us having all night?"
"I thought we could cuddle for awhile, and maybe talk." Rachel said cheerfully.
Internally Quinn's stomach did flip-flops. The thought should have nauseated her but the idea of holding Rachel in her arms, though it was far from what she really wanted to do to the girl, was enough to cause her heart to soar.
She climbed into bed next to the brunette. The petite girl crawled into her arms. Quinn held on tightly, and sighed because it felt right. They felt right.
"Quinn? Why haven't you unpacked yet?"
"I did."
Rachel turned her head to face the blonde as her eyes narrowed as if to challenge her.
"Check for yourself, the clothes I packed or in the drawers."
Rachel burrowed her head underneath the girl's chin. Her lips grazed the blonde's neck, sending goosebumps across Quinn's skin and shivers down her spine. Quinn held just a little tighter on pure instinct.
"I trust you, Quinn. It's just; you still have that suitcase over there and…"
"You're curious about what's inside." Quinn stated with a smile.
"I..."
"It's okay, I know about your word of the day quirk, so if you give me shit about mine, then I'll just dish it back at you."
"Language Quinn."
"Sorry." Quinn took a deep breath before releasing in and mumbling. "They're comics."
"Comics? Comic books? In a suitcase? You got kicked out of your house and of all things, you packed comic books?"
"The only text you received all day was from dictionary dot com."
"Right. I'm shutting up now." Rachel giggled lightly.
"My dad would have burned them if he found them and some were hard to find. Plus, I don't only have comic books in there. I have a few books too."
"So who's your favorite superhero?"
"That's all they are to you, aren't they? Rachel, there is some excellent writing in there. And some of the art is absolutely incredible. I try to draw like that, but I still have a long way to go. You really should read them sometime. I recommend the X-23 stories. 'Target' was an amazing story. It's a great piece of literature period."
"You sold me, okay, Quinn. I'll give them a try. Anything that has you talking so passionately has to be worth it." Rachel pulled out of Quinn's hold and seized her lips in a searing kiss. "I also want to check out some of your drawings sometime."
Quinn smiled. She was beginning to love everything about the girl in her arms. "I'll show you tomorrow."
Rachel smiled happily. Then she fell back into Quinn's embrace and they held each other for awhile until there was a knock on the door. Michel opened the door gently.
"I thought we discussed an open door policy." He said sternly, but smiled when he saw that the girls were far from a compromising position.
"Sorry, Mr…Michael. I wasn't even thinking." Quinn stuttered trying to maintain the good impression she had made with the men yesterday. If you call sobbing in one of Rachel's dad's arms a good impression.
"I better not have to warn you girls again. And now, Rach, off to bed."
"Yes Daddy." Rachel climbed away from Quinn, and was nearly off the bed before she turned around and quickly kissed the girl's lips before leaving the room.
Quinn smiled as she shook her head. She already missed the warmth and comfort of holding Rachel in her arms.
000000000000000000
Quinn's phone went off at 6AM; precisely the time she set it for last night when Rachel accused her of texting. She smiled to herself at the memory. Then the entirety of last night flooded into her mind and she was overwhelmed with happiness.
She quickly hurried down the stairs and prepared some mixed fruit and fresh squeezed orange juice for the brunette, and some toast too. Can vegans eat toast? She'd have to ask Rachel. Then she hurried up the stairs with the plate of food.
She slowly opened Rachel's bedroom door and turned on the light. The brunette immediately shot up in bed, her eyes wide open. "I'm awake!" She yelped to no one in particular as Quinn tried to hold back her laughter.
"Relax, Michigan, it's just me."
Rachel rubbed the sleep from her eyes, and stretched (provocatively, if you ask Quinn) revealing a sliver of her bare torso when her shirt rode up a bit. Quinn bit her lip to try and stifle the moan, though judging by Rachel's seductive grin she failed miserably.
The blonde closed the distance between them, as she handed the plate to her girlfriend. She'd never tire of referring to Rachel as her girlfriend. The brunette smiled brightly as she took a strawberry off the plate.
"How'd you wake up before me?"
"It'll remain my secret." Quinn smirked.
Rachel patted the bed next to her, trying to entice Quinn to join her. The blonde didn't need much by way of enticing. She quickly sat next to the brunette. The smile never leaving her face.
They ate happily in silence, until Rachel's alarm rang throughout the room. The brunette hopped off the bed to shut off the alarm.
"So, do you mind if I go back to sleep now?" Quinn asked, already fading fast.
Rachel laughed as she grabbed her workout clothes and headed to the bathroom to change.
She hopped on the elliptical and worked out and showered while Quinn slept. When she was finished, she climbed in bed next to the blonde and curled up into her. The blonde automatically wrapped her arms around the brunette and pulled her closer, sighing in contentment while she was still sound asleep.
When the blonde woke up two hours later, with Rachel in her arms, her heart swelled as she felt that she could get used to this routine. She smiled as she kissed the top of Rachel's head. "Rach?"
"Hmmm?"
"We should be getting out of bed before your dads come in again."
They got ready for the day and spent the morning with Rachel's dads, Quinn was amused by them.
After a small brunch, they returned to Quinn's room. Quinn showed Rachel her sketchbook. The blonde was a bit shy at first because many of the drawings were of Rachel, but when she saw the awe in the big, brown orbs she was relieved and handed over the whole book for Rachel to peruse.
Picture after picture, Rachel released a small breath of admiration. "Quinn these are beautiful."
The blonde smirked. "That's because they're of you, Rach."
"Funny, Quinn." She flipped another page, resting her hand on the sketch reverently. "But really, they are amazing."
Quinn ran her fingers through her hair nervously. She sighed. "Thanks."
Rachel looked at the blonde in awe. "Quinn? Thank you for sharing it with me."
Quinn had a lopsided grin on her face. Rachel handed the book back to her.
"Would you like one, Rach? Any one, it's your choice."
The girl's eyes lit up. "Really?"
She quickly scanned through the pages and found the one that she previously had her fingers rest on in awe. Quinn knew by the look on Rachel's face when she first saw the drawing that she adored that sketch in particular.
"It's yours, Rachel." Quinn said as she took the book back from her and tore the page out.
"Tell me about this drawing. She seems more meaningful that a lot of your other sketches."
Quinn ducked her head shyly. "She's a character I'm creating for a comic book idea I have in mind. She's destined to be a Princess someday, but she started out as a warrior for her people."
Rachel's smile took over her whole face. "That's brilliant, Quinn!"
She hurried out of the room; Quinn sat in shock at the quick exit. About five minutes later, the brunette was back in the room. She held a frame in her hands, with the drawing inside of it.
"Help me find a place to hang it, will you?" She asked as she handed the frame to Quinn.
The blonde looked at the picture then at her girlfriend. A smile spread across her lips, she had to admit her picture looked damn good framed and it'd look amazing hanging in Rachel's bedroom.
After hanging the picture up, and making out in Rachel's bedroom for fifteen minutes, Quinn excused herself to shower.
When she was finished, she returned to Rachel's bedroom but she was not there. She walked down the hall and found her own bedroom door open. When she walked inside, she saw Rachel's head in a comic book. A smirk appeared on her face.
Rachel was so engrossed in the story that she never noticed Quinn standing there. She finished one book, slowly and reverently returned it to its packaging before removing the next one.
"I was right, wasn't I?" Quinn sing-songed as she entered the room and sat beside the brunette.
Rachel jumped at the sound of Quinn's voice before giggling nervously. "I was just going to flip through one, but you were right. This story is fantastic, and the art is breathtaking. And this character, X-23, I absolutely love her! She's sort of an anti-hero, but you can't help loving her. And it's too bad she's a cartoon, because she's hot."
Quinn laughed out loud. "I agree, on all counts."
She lay back on the floor and watched as Rachel read through the entire story of the character she loved. The idea of Rachel enjoying something that meant so much to her was amazing to the blonde.
They spent the afternoon talking comics, and Quinn shared her own idea for the original comic she wanted to create someday. Before they knew it, it was dinnertime and then they had to work on their homework. They kissed goodnight, before heading off in their separate bedrooms.
The next morning, Quinn woke up before Rachel to make them breakfast again. Then while Rachel worked out, she showered. She took a short nap while Rachel showered, before they both headed to school.
When they were sitting in class, Quinn's phone went off with a new text. She glanced at it.
From Rachel: Why can't a nose be 12 inches long?
Quinn looked at her girlfriend incredulously. But her phone buzzed again.
From Rachel: Because, otherwise it'd be a foot.
Quinn laughed out loud in class at the absurdity of the joke, briefly drawing the attention of her teacher. And yes, she fell for Rachel just a little bit more. Before she could respond her phone when off again.
From Rachel: Awww. You lurve me!
Quinn's brows furrowed in confusion. She quickly typed a response.
From Quinn: Lurve?
From Rachel: Yes, it's too soon in our relationship to talk about love ;)
Quinn's breath hitched. Her throat suddenly got dry and she had a hard time swallowing. She couldn't even think of a clever response for the girl.
She glanced over at Rachel who smirked at her. The blonde shook her head, because she had indeed fallen head over heels for the girl. And though it was definitely too soon to talk about love, she did indeed lurve the dork. She rolled her eyes at the revelation.
The rest of the day went by quickly and thanks to Sadie's sudden transfer to a school in Nebraska, it was also uneventful. Or it was until they got to glee. Quinn and Rachel were surprisingly the last to arrive in the choir room. When they walked in, they were ushered to the front of the room where there were two empty chairs.
"Do you know what's going on?" Rachel asked the blonde nervously, though a bit excited.
Quinn shook her head.
"We heard about what happened to Rachel at her old school, and Santana told us about your parents, Quinn." Puck started talking, but was soon joined by Sugar, who added. "And we prepared a song for you. We won't explain it, because we feel the lyrics say it all."
Quinn and Rachel sat holding hands as their friends sang "Lean on Me" to them. Tears began to pool in their eyes as they proudly smiled. It was the first time in either of their lives when they could truly say that they had friends. And it felt amazing. However, when Sugar brought her hand to her ear and mouthed the words 'call me' to Rachel, it made the duo shift uncomfortably in their seats.
A/N: This was a fairly long chapter, I hope you enjoyed it. Let me know either way, thanks :)
Until next time…