A/N: This doesn't have much Faberry. It's mostly Santana/Quinn (friendship only! Don't panic!), which sort of makes it filler, but I assure you, the next chapter will be good. I just have to think of an idea for it first. As always, R&R, and don't be afraid to leave suggestions for where this story should go. I might take your ideas.

I had plan for the next day at school. We had early Cheerios practice, which went terribly, because half of the girls had decided to ditch because they hated that I was captain again. I was annoyed and satisfied at the same time, because it just worked in favor of my plan.

"Fabray!" Coach Sylvester called after we decided to end practice early. "My office! Now!" I debated whether to take a shower first or not. On the one hand, if I went straight to her office, by the time she was done with me, I probably wouldn't have time to shower off. On the other hand, if I didn't go straight to her office, I was pretty sure she'd kill me...or at least kick me off the squad.

"If any of those girls shows up to school today, I'm personally going to kick each of their asses," Santana said to me as we walked off of the field. "Practice was hell. If I have to run one more suicide because bitches have problems, I swear to God-"

"Calm down," I said.

"No! I'm the one who got stabbed in the back, and I still show up!" Santana was fuming, and because it wasn't directed at me, I just thought it was a little funny.

"To be fair," I interrupted, "you stabbed me in the back first by telling people I was pregnant."

"You know, I'm sort of trying to stick up for you right now," she said, and I rolled my eyes. "Besides, that's just the nature of our relationship. We piss each other off."

I laughed a little. "It's really sad that we're each other's best friend. You'd think we'd be able to find some people who actually like us to hang around with."

"Let's face it, Quinn: no one can stand us but us." She paused. "Well, I guess you have Berry now...so I guess it's just me."

I sighed. "You know, it's nice to have a friendship that doesn't have all the complications that my friendship with Rachel has."

She laughed. "Quinn, I think we have the MOST complicated relationship in the history of the world." She looked at her watch. "I've gotta go. Puck's waiting for me in the janitor's closet."

"Gross," I said.

"Yeah, that was a joke. I haven't slept with Puckerman for weeks...months, even."

"Could that have something to do with a certain blonde haired, blue-eyed Cheerio?" I asked, smirking.

"Aren't you supposed to be talking to Sylvester?" she asked.

"Shit, I was trying to block that out of my memory," I said. "Whatever, I wanted to talk to her anyways."

Santana's faced contorted into one of disgust. "Why? You are aware she's gonna chew you out, right?"

"Eh, she doesn't scare me much anymore."

"Bullshit. She scares all of us," she said. "Now go, before Sylvester comes out and tears you a new one in front of all of us."

I shook my head and walked to Coach's office.

"You wanted to see me, coach?" I said as I walked in.

"Sit," she said, pointing at the chair in front of her desk. I did as I was told. "I reinstated you as head Cheerio because I thought you could get the job done and lead us to another national championship, but I find myself increasingly annoyed with your lack of results."

"I know, Coach. The girls have been slacking, and-"

"No, you've been slacking. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were letting personal problems get in the way of leading my squad. Maybe I was wrong by trusting you again, Quinn."

I shook my head. "No, I can do this job, I just think there should be some changes to help us be the best."

"Fabray, I've won so many competitions and championships I could fill several vaults at a bank. I think I know what needs to be done to make us a winning team, and apparently, it isn't you."

I was nervous, but considering that I'd been planning out a similar conversation in my head the night before, I had a response.

"Coach, with all due respect, this team would be in shambles without me," I said. "Sure, you managed last year, but a lot of our best girls graduated last year, Kurt Hummel transferred, and the freshmen aren't impressive. Santana, Brittany, and I are all you've really got."

"I can still have you on the squad without having you be captain. I know how obsessed you are with being on the top. You wouldn't quit all together," she said.

"No, but you know that there isn't a girl on the Squad that could handle the head Cheerio position."

"It seems that you can't handle it anymore, either," she said.

"That's why I have a proposition for you," I said, and she looked at me, waiting for a response. Rachel was right; an audience really did respond to a dramatic pause. "Make Santana and I co-captains."

"No," she said, sitting back in her chair. "I don't need her popping her floatation devices if she falls off the pyramid."

"Coach, if you want us to win, I think the only way to do that is to split the captain duties between Santana and me. Besides, you gave me another chance."

"I'm regretting that decision now," she said, narrowing her eyes. "And you got me funding. What does she have to offer?"

"Her dad is a doctor. I'm sure that he'd be more that willing to donate money to the program. In fact, I'm sure that he could get his golf buddies to chip in some, too."

Sylvester looked at me for a long moment before speaking. "How exactly would this work?"

"I'd run the Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday practices, Santana would take Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and we'd switch off spying on other squads after the Saturday practices."

"I doubt that Lopez will even agree to this," she said.

"Trust me, she'll do it," I said. I knew better than anyone how important being at the top was to Santana.

Sue thought for a moment before calling out," Becky!" Becky came in from the room next to ours.

"Yes, Coach?"

"Get Santana Lopez in here," she said. I smiled, and she turned back to me. "This had better work. If I ever have another time where Cheerios think they can get away with missing practice, I will make sure that Figgins allows me to physically reprimand you and Santana." She started writing in her notebook. "You may go."

"Once more thing," I said before leaving. "I don't want my father to know about this."

Sue looked up at me. "Your father has asked that I inform him of every change we make to the schedule, Quinn."

"My dad is a bully, and he's trying to bully you into making him do what he thinks is best for me. If I can get some time to myself, it will only make me a better Cheerio."

Sue nodded. "I've never been very fond of your father," she said. I was glad that the people in my life that I didn't like also hated each other. "I won't tell him, but only if this works. If we don't keep winning, I'll tell him about this, and about the fact that you're still talking to Rachel Berry."

My eyes went wide. "How did you-"

"I have eyes and ears everywhere," she said. "Speaking of that, I want to make it very clear that if your 'friendship' with the midget embarrasses me or the squad in any way, I will make sure that your father knows about it, and you'll be back to where you were this year minus the baby bump, and I'll make sure that Berry's life becomes hell as well, understood?"

I clenched my fists at my sides and bit my cheek until I was almost drawing blood. "Understood."

"Good, now leave," she said, and I did before I lunged over her desk and tackled her to the ground for threatening and insulting Rachel.

God, I had it bad.

It wasn't until between second and third period that I knew Santana had heard the news. I was getting things out of my locker when the next thing I knew, it was being slammed shut in front of me.

"What the hell?" I yelled.

"What are you playing at?" Santana barked at me.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb, Quinn," she said, shoving me backward. "Sylvester told me everything."

"Then why are you mad?" I asked, confused. I thought that she'd be excited about being back on top, even if she did have to share the spotlight.

"Because you never give up power unless there's something in it for you. Tell me what you're setting me up for before I beat it out of you!" There was a crowd gathering, waiting for another Fabray-Lopez throw down. I couldn't explain everything in front of them, so I grabbed Santana and dragged her into an empty classroom.

"I'm not setting you up, you idiot," I said as soon as I closed the door. "This was the only way I could get alone time with Rachel."

Santana looked confused. "Wait...what?"

I sighed, deciding to explain it piece-by-piece. "Okay, what do captains have to do at Cheerios practice?"

"They get to tell everyone what to do," she said.

"Ugh! Think before and after!"

"How the fuck was I supposed to know you were talking about after?" I shot her the dirtiest look I could muster. "Fine. They have to be there before everyone else and after, unless coach says otherwise, they have to stay and put away all the equipment. Is that what you're getting at?"

"Yes. I'm going to spend that time with Rachel on the practices you run." It wasn't much time; I could probably get away with about an hour for all the practices in the afternoon, but it was better than nothing. "I figure the best days will be the Saturday spying days. Those can last all day."

"So, wait...you're doing all this...giving up power and letting me have a piece because of Berry?" I nodded. "Seriously, that girl has you wrapped around her finger."

"Well, I also did it because..." I didn't really know if I wanted to let this next part out. It could bite me in the ass. "Because I felt bad about taking your spot. You deserved it."

"I don't need your handouts, Quinn. I could've gotten that spot back on my own, y'know."

I sighed. I might as well let it all out...stupid Rachel making me learn how to share my feelings.

"Okay, I'm going to tell you this in the hopes that you don't use it against me in the future. Just remember there are things that I know about you that you don't want people to know."

"Spit it out, Fabray," she said.

"Fine." I took a deep breath. "I knew that if things kept going the way they were, you were going to end up screwing me, and probably Rachel, over in the end. This way, we both have what we want, and I don't have to lose my best friend, but if you tell anyone that, I'll deny it and out you, got it?

There was a painfully awkward lull in conversation. I didn't know if it was because Santana was trying to come up with the best insult or if she was just processing what I'd said. I briefly thought I saw a look of appreciation cross her face, but I was sure I'd imagined it.

"What the hell does Sylvester see in you?" she finally said. "You're softer than a marshmallow." I didn't say anything in response. "Whatever, Quinn. This is probably the smartest decision you've ever made. We need a captain that can actually control the team, which you obviously can't anymore, if this morning was any indication."

"Are you just gonna sit here and insult me, because I could be doing better things with my life right now."

"What, were you expecting me to fall to your feet and praise you for giving me a chance. Please, Santana Lopez doesn't play that." She walked past me towards the door. Before she left, though, she turned back around.

"What, think of another way to degrade me?" I asked.

She looked me up and down and said, "It's sad that we're best friends. Thanks for nothing, loser." With that, she was gone. I laughed. She had me fooled right up to that point. After knowing Santana for what felt like forever, I knew her well enough to know that was her subtle way of thanking me. I walked out of the classroom, shaking my head, and I almost ran into a very concerned Rachel.

"Quinn? Are you alright?" she asked. "I saw you walk in there with Santana. Did she threaten you or something?"

I laughed. "No, we just had a little chat. She and I are co-captains of the Cheerios now."

Rachel went straight into panic mode. "What? Why? Is Coach Sylvester unhappy with you? Is it my fault? I'd hate to think I was distracting you from something that's so important to you. I couldn't live with myself if I was the reason for your demotion-"

"Rachel," I said, cutting her rant off. "It's not like that. No, she wasn't happy with me, but she hasn't been happy with me since I got pregnant. And it's not a demotion. If anything, it's just a promotion for Santana, and it takes some of the load off of me." I stepped a little closer to me. It was best-friends-close, close enough that she was the only person that could hear me, but not close enough that people would put any of the pieces together. "Besides, it's freed up some time in my schedule. What are you doing this Saturday?"

Rachel smiled at me. "Nothing...so far."

"How about we go catch a movie or something? I could pick you up. I'd pay and everything," I said.

"Quinn Fabray, are you asking me out on a date?" she asked, batting her eyelashes.

I laughed. "What, I can't ask my friend out to a movie without ulterior motives?" She shook her head. "Call it whatever you want, Rach. Just as long as you come."

She smiled that signature Rachel Berry smile. "Well, I have my usual morning workout and vocal exercises. I usually get in an early ballet class around ten...I could probably be ready about one?"

"Perfect. Cheerios ends at 12:30. I'll pick you up right after."

She raised an eyebrow. "You're picking me up in your Cheerios uniform?"

I shrugged. "My dad's going to think I'm out spying with Coach. I won't have to think about changing this way."

"Okay," she said. I was surprised that she didn't even bat an eyelash at the fact that I was lying to my parents. Then I remembered her last conversation with my father, and I wasn't as shocked. "Besides, you look really hot in that uniform anyway." The bell rang for class.

"Gotta go," I said. "Will I see you at lunch, or will you be in the choir room?"

"I'd love to sit with you, but alas, I'm still trying to convince Mr. Schuester that I deserve the solo for regionals. It was nice to have a break for once, but I think that's the only one I'll need for the rest of my performing career."

"Fine, drama queen. I'll see you around," I said, hugging her before I left. Things were looking up, in a very fragile way. Yes, my dad could find out at my moment that I was still talking to Rachel, or worse, that we were in love with each other. Sue could actually be the one to tell him. Hell, I didn't completely put it past Santana to be the one to do it if we ever had a falling out. Still, for the moment, I just wanted to enjoy the fact that Rachel and I were finally going to get some time together without meddling parents or nosy peers.