Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or its characters.
A/N: Extra long chapter today. Hope you enjoy it. Thank you for all the reviews and support.
CHAPTER – 10
"Oh, god! What the hell do you carry in these bags?" Quinn lets the bag she is carrying fall into the living room floor.
"Clothes, lots of shoes, personal care products, photos, some essentials on my CD collection I just couldn't leave behind…"
"Rachel… I was just making a point."
"Oh." She says and with a sad smile. "It's my whole life packed in a couple of bags."
Quinn looks down and her face also saddens.
"Anyway..." The brunette changes the subject. "Beth?"
"Hmm?"
"We've got a cleaning mission!" She says enthusiastically.
"That's not so cool…" And they march to the kitchen.
"This place looks worse than that time your mom and your dad offered to do the baking for the bake sale."
"You remember that?" Quinn sits near the counter, watching the girls work.
"I do. I remember you two going to change yourselves, Mr. Shue blaming us for the mess and making us clean."
"In my defense I'll say it was fun." The blonde says quickly.
"Wait, change yourselves? What were you doing?" Beth interrupts.
"Yes. It was something like…" Quinn reaches the pack of flour with her left hand she gestures something with her right hand. She takes a handful and throws it over them. They're mouths pop open in surprise.
"Oh my god. My eyes!" Rachel starts shaking her hands, trying to get the flour off them and clean them. Quinn worries, turns around the counter and tries to clean her eyes with a cloth.
"You know?" Rachel asks as she finally opens her eyes, her brown eyes against her white face and head.
"What?" Quinn asks worried.
"Milk is very good for the hair." And as she ends the sentence she pours some milk from the bottle into her blonde hair. Quinn can't be more surprised and Rachel thinks it's hilarious. She really didn't see that one coming. Quinn turns around and grabs the packet of sugar, pouring it down the brunette.
"Huh?" Rachel gets the cream spray and covers Quinn in it. They can't stop laughing while they're fighting. Suddenly, someone clears her throat and they freeze. Quinn's hand is on Rachel's trying to stop the cream; while Rachel's other hand is at Quinn's back trying to take the sugar pack from her. They both look at the sound's source. Beth is sitting on the other side of the counter.
"I don't think this is funny... I'm going to change and I'm not cleaning this mess up. It's your fault." She jumps from the chair and storms out of the room.
As they are left alone, they slowly turn to face each other and discover that they are so close they can feel the heat coming from the other's body.
"Peace?" Rachel says trembling, catching her breath.
"Peace." Quinn grants, but doesn't let go for a few seconds making sure she won't come back at her. Then she lets go and touches the milk in her hair. "Uhg."
"It is true milk is good for the hair."
"It's disgusting."
"But you were right. It was fun." Rachel smiles and Quinn does too. She steals a look to the bathroom and watches Beth going back to her room. Quinn notices.
"Oh no. I've got milk in my head. I'm first." They both run to the bathroom door.
"I've got to go to work. I won't be long, I promise." Rachel ducks under Quinn's arms and enters the bathroom, almost closing the door completely. She looks at Quinn with begging eyes. She rolls her eyes.
"Okay. Hurry up." She opens again the bathroom door and kisses her cheek quickly.
"You're sweet." She says, tasting the cream now in her lips. Rachel closes the door and Quinn stands in front of the closed door, smiling stupidly.
After a couple of minutes, Quinn hears the water run and shakes her head. "What the hell are you doing, Fabray?"
Rachel stands just under the shower. With her eyes closed she feels how the hot water touches every part of her body relaxing her muscles. She lets the water clean the flour and the sugar off her skin and washes her hair carefully. Suddenly, she hears the door opening and she stiffens. She peeks from behind the curtain, covering herself and she sees the messy blonde leaving some clean towels with a hand over her eyes. Rachel laughs.
"Stop that. You're going to trip over something." Unconsciously, she readjusts the curtain so nothing else is exposed as Quinn gets her hand off her eyes.
"I was just bringing some towels for you."
"Thank you, Quinn."
"Now, get out fast. This thing is itching in my head."
"It can't itch." Rachel says while she goes back to showering herself.
"Just so you know, I'm trying it some day on you. When you are not expecting it. I'll be there. With a bottle of milk in my hand." Quinn says in a menacing tone. The silent that follows is only broken by the water falling. "Are you scared?"
"No. I'm just biting on my hand so I don't laugh." Rachel hears a grunt and the door closing again, so she gets out of the shower.
When she exits the bathroom, wrapped in the towel, Quinn is almost done with the kitchen. She notices the brunette and smiles at her.
Quinn watch how the towel only covers a limited portion of the tiny brunette and let her eyes wonder from her feet to her wet hair in a quick movement. She really doesn't know what it's going on with her body today. It keeps getting hot in the room and she seems the only one to notice.
"Your turn." Rachel makes a gesture with her hand and walks to the bedroom. Quinn gets in the shower and makes the cold water fall over her.
When Quinn gets out the bathroom, the picture is a little different. Rachel is already dressed and she is setting the table to have lunch. The brunette notices her and this time she is the one to have a quick look at Quinn's body only covered by a towel. She starts by her long legs and goes up, finally reaching a smiling face which gives her a little wink. She tries to look away, rearranging the napkins on the table. Quinn comes back later already dressed and they have lunch.
"You know, if you keep doing this, I'm going to get used and not cook at all."
"Well, if you like what I cook, then it won't be a problem for me."
"Mom, can I go watch Rachel to the theatre today too?" Beth asks. Quinn looks at the brunette.
"It was not my idea. But I wouldn't mind at all."
"We were there yesterday; you can't invite us every day. And, anyway, I've got to study, for real." Quinn explains. Rachel looks to Beth who is already pouting.
"Would you let her come with me? She will help us in the backstage." Quinn thinks about it.
"Mommy?" Beth begs.
"Ok… but don't get used to it, Beth." She points her daughter. "And you… you are spoiling her."
"I know." Rachel says, sticking out her tongue.
"Don't be too late, ok? Tomorrow we are visiting Santana and Brittany." Quinn hands her a set of keys.
"'We' as in you two, right?" Rachel asks wary, taking the keys.
"Well, since I recall you only have one show tomorrow and it's late, no. You are invited too and we probably spend the day over there." Rachel looks scared. "She doesn't bite, you know?" The brunette makes a face. "Anymore." Quinn adds. "And I already told them you were coming."
"Perfect." Rachel says not sure at all.
Both girls leave and Quinn gets on with her study. She starts with some math and solves a few problems in the living room table, but just as the hours past, she feels her back hurting, so she lies on her bed reading a book about management. After a while she notices the picture on her night desk, the Glee Club one. However, this time it's not the only photo there. She picks it up and finds the one with Puck and herself on prom night in her house. In that house…
Rachel and Beth come back a little too late.
"Don't tell your mum we went to get an ice cream, ok?" Rachel whispers and Beth nods silently. "Go and brush your teeth, I'm going to check on her and tell her a tiny lie."
The brunette enters Quinn's bedroom and finds the little lamp over the night table on and Quinn's body trembling on the bed, curled over herself. She hears a low sob and she freaks out. She gets close to the bed and tries to meet her teary eyes.
"Quinn. Are you ok?" She whispers as she touches Quinn's arm. "Are you hurt?" Quinn shakes her head negatively. Rachel's hand travels down Quinn's arm and finds her hand. She's clutching a photo.
"Mum?" Rachel hears Beth from outside the room. She leaves Quinn's side and walks outside.
"She's asleep. She fell asleep studying." She whispers.
"Oh… ok. I was only going to tell her goodnight anyway… Goodnight Rachel." She turns around.
"Goodnight sweetie." She makes sure Beth is off for the night, changes into her pajamas and goes back to Quinn. She gets on the bed and lies beside Quinn. She doubts for a moment, but then she turns to the curled up body and hugs her back.
Under her arms, Rachel feels the blonde shaking in more sobs and she considers pulling out, but as she tries to, Quinn's sobs get louder, so she decides against it. In fact, she pulls herself closer, crosses her arms around her stomach and whispers to Quinn's ear.
"It's ok… It's ok…"
After a while, the sobs cease. Quinn tries to dry out her eyes with her hands.
"Are you alright?" Rachel whispers.
"I think so." She turns around to face her and shows her again the prom night picture. "My dad took it. We were in my house."
"I thought your parents were divorcing when I left."
"They were. He came back, begging. I told my mother not to listen to him, that things would be okay for a week and then everything would go back to the way they were. But she took him back in anyway and, after a week, it was worst than before."
"Did he…?" Rachel doesn't end the question, but gestures towards her arm.
"Yes." She answers, not meeting her eyes for a while. She turns around and takes the same position as before, motioning Rachel to keep hugging her, which she does gladly. The brunette crosses her arms around Quinn again and she puts her hands over Rachel's, preventing them from letting go.
She doesn't feel alone anymore. She feels protected. She feels safe. She feels her muscles relax and she starts to fall asleep.
Rachel sinks her face in the blonde's hair and breathes the sweet smell of her shampoo. It's really soft. She smiles against it remembering the milk she poured on her. She feels the blonde finally relaxing in her arms and her breathing slowing down. And so does hers as she falls asleep too.