Disclaimer: I don't own Glee, or any music mentioned. I also have no rights to Scrabble, Funny Girl, Juno or Life as a House.

Things Change

Quinn made her way to Rachel's house just before lunchtime. She was excited to spend time with the girl, even though they hadn't made any specific plans for how to spend the day. At the beginning of summer just after she came home from New York and had to face her feelings for the diva, she was sure she'd never get to be close to the girl and now they were having heated make-out sessions and already went on a date. She was happy to take things slowly and see where they went, as hard as taking it slow was turning out to be, in favor of developing a real relationship with the girl. Rachel was attracted to her, but they needed a foundation firmer than mere physical attraction. She loved the girl but knew very little about her, and Rachel was far from being that into her. Today was going to be about connecting on a deeper level, or so she hoped. Things with the beautiful brunette never seemed to go the way they were planned.

As she arrived that Berry residence, Rachel greeted her with a chaste kiss. "It's weird you know, we spent the whole day together yesterday and I still feel like I miss you."

Quinn smiled at Rachel's admission. "Me too. I don't think I could ever spend too much time with you, though."

"Oh, when I become all clingy and annoying, you'll definitely be singing a different tune." The brunette smiled as she took a jab at her own expense.

"We'll see." Quinn's fingers interlocked with Rachel's, how could the simple act of holding hands bring her such peace?

"Wanna go for a walk? My Dads are home, and well, it'd be nice to have some time alone and just talk."

"Talking sounds nice."

The girls started down Rachel's driveway and out of her neighborhood. As they walked, hands still connected, they chatted lightly about whatever was on their minds.

"Have you chosen a song for our next glee assignment?" Rachel asked.

"No, I haven't really thought about it. Sometimes, I wish Shue would just let us sing what we want to sing instead of choosing a theme and making us pick a song that fits it."

"Well, then. If you could sing any song, what would it be?"

Without hesitation, the blonde blurted out. "'Make you feel my love.'"

As soon as she said it, her cheeks went red and she closed her eyes in embarrassment. Rachel saw this, and squeezed her hand in reassurance. "What version? Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Garth Brooks, or Adele?"

Quinn's eyes shot open as her head cranked to the side to catch Rachel's pure eyes. "I really like the Garth Brooks version, but would probably do better with Adele's."

Rachel thought for a moment before nodding. "I agree. You'd sound amazing."

Quinn blushed again, but for entirely different reasons. "Thank you."

"You're more than welcome Quinn. I really do love your voice; I wish you'd sing more often."

"You mean when I'm not occasionally sharp because I lack your years of training." Quinn teased as she watched Rachel wince.

"You really do remember everything I say." The brunette stated matter-of-factly but it sounded as if she were in awe as well. "What I say doesn't come out the way I want it to sometimes. I didn't mean to insult you; I was trying to compliment you. But when I'm around you I get a bit…defensive. Like I have to state all of my accomplishments so that I'll be good enough for you."

The brunette mumbled her confession, lacking her usual confidence, and avoided making eye contact with the blonde. Quinn struggled to hear the words spewing from the girl's lips, but in the end heard everything. She shook her head incredulously as she sighed. "I really did make you feel so inferior, didn't I? I don't think I could ever forgive myself for how I treated you, Rachel. But I do promise to make it up to you, every single day, if you'll let me."

Rachel stopped walking and turned to face the girl. As they looked into each other's eyes, the brunette spoke. "I didn't say that to make you feel bad Quinn. Once again, it came out wrong. I was trying to explain my own actions. You aren't the sole reason for my inferiority complex. You weren't my only bully. And to top it off, the way I was treated by Jesse when we dated and then being abandoned by my mother basically twice. It was a lot more than anything you have done to me."

"How are you, Rach? With Shelby back. I know it threw me for a loop. After we…bonded the summer before junior year, I've always regretted that Shelby was the one who adopted Beth. I know how much it hurt you for her to turn you away in favor of a baby of her own. You were as broken as I was that summer."

"She came up to me when she got into town. She wanted to give me advice on what song to sing as I tried out for the play. We sang together…it's just so complicated. She tells me she doesn't want me in her life, that she's my mother not my mom. But she seeks me out…I want to tell her so many things, but every time…I'm just happy she's back. Even if it's not for me…she's my mom no matter what she says. And I will always just want her to love me."

Both girls were fighting the tears welling up in their eyes. "She told me that she regretted giving you up, Rach. That it almost broke her. She said she searched for your face in every person she saw. When she found you…she freaked out, and it's no excuse. But if she feels for you half of what I feel for Beth, then she loves you more than you could ever fathom."

"And Beth will love you Quinn, simply because you're her mom. Nothing will ever change that."

Quinn let her tears fall first, and Rachel's followed shortly after. The brunette hugged her tightly in an embrace that seemed to lessen the pain in her soul. Quinn hugged her back just as fiercely. "I'm sorry junior year was so miserable for us. I really wish I would have acknowledged the bond we made rather than returning to the status quo."

"You're not the only one who ignored it all, Quinn. Sometimes it was easier to pretend that it didn't happen than to have to face it."

They pulled apart from their hug. Quinn looked nervously at Rachel. "Rach, if Shelby were to have come for you. When you were younger. I know you said that you automatically love her because she's your mom, but if she wanted to take you from your Dads what would you have done?"

Rachel shifted uncomfortably. "I would have resented her for it. They were all I knew. I wanted her in my life, sure, but not at the expense of the only family I knew and loved."

Quinn nodded definitively. "So, you think I'm being selfish."

"Do you think you're being selfish?"

"Yes…" Quinn tore her eyes away from Rachel's briefly before looking back into her questioning orbs. "I know I did the right thing, giving her a chance at a better life than I can offer her. But it hurts so bad. Knowing that she's out there, that she'll grow up with the same questions you had. The same insecurities."

"Quinn." Rachel interrupted, taking both of the girl's hands in hers. "It isn't the same. I never knew my mom and so I had so many questions. Shelby is giving you the opportunity to know Beth. She'll grow up knowing how much you love her."

The blonde breathed deeply as she closed her eyes. She opened them to see Rachel's concerned brown ones looking back at her. She slowly exhaled. "My whole life I was always trying to be good enough to be loved. To deserve to be loved. First by my father, and then in relationships I had with boys. I guess with Beth, I knew that she would be the one person who could ever love me unconditionally. She had to, I'm her mom. But then I gave her away. I gave away my one chance to be loved back."

Rachel dropped the blonde's hands again and wrapped her in her arms. She held her while Quinn cried on her shoulder; tears staining Rachel's shirt. She began rubbing circles on the blonde's back, trying her best to comfort her but not knowing what to say to make the girl's pain go away. Instead of thinking about the perfect words, she just spoke from the heart. "Beth wasn't your only chance at being loved, Quinn. I have seen how much your mom loves you, and I assure you it is unconditional. And your friends in glee will always be there no matter what, I think they've proved that. Brittany and Santana love you too. When you weren't in glee the first few weeks of school; they were miserable and worried. And I'm here Quinn, I'm not going anywhere. I have always cared about you, and I love you as much as the rest of them do. I know we've just started embarking on whatever this is between us, but I can promise you that the potential for falling in love with you is there. It's hard not to fall for you Quinn, you're perfect."

"No one's perfect Rachel." She took in every word the brunette spoke to her, and although her breath nearly caught in her chest at Rachel's confession, she couldn't let herself hope. Not yet.

"Fine, correction: you are perfect for me."

And just like that, Quinn's heart melted. Sure she crushed on the girl and probably loved her, but just like that she had fallen so hard. Maybe it was too soon to hope, but she couldn't help it. There was no going back now, she was falling in love with Rachel Berry and nothing had ever felt so good in her life.

Quinn pulled away from the embrace. She kissed Rachel's temple, then her cheek, then her forehead and her nose, before placing the softest of kisses on the brunette's perfect lips. The kiss was chaste, but held so much emotion that it was the most intimate kiss either girl had ever received. "Thank you."

Rachel smiled at the girl. "You're welcome, and it's true. Just so you know."

"I know."

They looked at each other in silence for a few moments before Rachel laced their fingers together again. "Why don't we grab lunch? I'm buying."

Quinn beamed at the thought. "So, is this like our second date?"

"You're not counting yesterday? I cooked for you, it was a date." The brunette demanded.

Quinn chuckled. "Okay, then it's our third date. We're officially dating." The smile that appeared on the blonde's face could have lit up a starless sky.

"We're dating." Rachel confirmed. "And although the two dates we had thus far have been…untraditional, I must say that they've also been the best I ever had."

"Agreed." Quinn replied, still smiling.

They walked the rest of the way to a small café in amicable conversation. Rachel paid for their food and they shared a booth in the corner of the restaurant.

"Hey, you never told me what song you'd sing if you could sing anything." Quinn asked between bites.

"Truthfully, I don't have something waiting in the wings. I know, shocker. It's just that I usually just sing my emotions, so the songs find me."

"What song would find you today?"

"Probably, 'I can't help falling in love.'" Rachel answered with a shy smile, causing Quinn to blush.

"Rach…" Quinn was suddenly quite nervous. "Will you be my girlfriend?"

Rachel smiled in response. "I'd love to Quinn."

The blonde looked a combination of relieved and ecstatic, as she reached for Rachel's hand and held onto it softly. They ate the rest of their lunch with one hand as they held each other's hand with the other.

"Wanna go back to my house and watch a movie? I think as your girlfriend it is now my duty to educate you on the importance of well-versed musical theatre knowledge. We can start with Funny Girl…"

Quinn put a finger over Rachel's lips to quiet her. "Are you going to let me answer you, or just keep rambling?" She teased.

"Right. Would you like to watch a musical with me at my house?"

"Yes, if I must." She replied with a smirk.

"Quinn Fabray!" Rachel huffed, causing the blonde to burst into giggles.

When they arrived at the Berry's house, Rachel fixed them some drinks and popcorn while Quinn started the movie and grabbed a blanket. It wasn't cold or even necessary for the blanket, but it gave them an excuse to cuddle and hide her hands (or feet) from doing something entirely inappropriate in case Rachel's dads were to come home.

Quinn was happy that they spent the whole day just enjoying each other's company. Sure she loved Rachel, but now she actually really liked her too. As a person, and as her girlfriend. She smiled and hummed happily to herself as she was putting the movie in the DVD player.

Rachel came into the room with the snacks she prepared, they just ate but she found it almost impossible to watch a movie without eating popcorn. Except the last few times she watched movies with Quinn, but that was because her hands and mouth were otherwise preoccupied. She smiled at the memory. She really liked to kiss Quinn, but today she learned that she also really loved to just be around the girl. It made her not only happy but also content. And for some reason, contentment seemed much harder to come by, so she reveled in it.

They snuggled on the couch, watching the movie in relative silence while they enjoyed their popcorn. Their hands brushed together a couple of times sending a shock of electricity throughout each girl's body. They smiled shyly at each other, and continued watching the movie. When the popcorn was finished, Rachel sat the empty bowl on the coffee table and leaned into Quinn as the blonde wrapped an arm around the girl and pulled her closer.

They sat like that until the movie was finished. As the credits rolled, Quinn turned to her girlfriend. "I actually liked that movie."

"Don't sound too shocked." Rachel huffed indignantly causing a grin to form on Quinn's lips.

"I was just saying that I enjoyed it; don't get an attitude with me." Quinn playfully shot back which caused Rachel's eyes to go wide.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to come off snippy. I'm just a bit defensive; it is my favorite movie after all."

Quinn nodded in understanding. "No need to apologize Rach, I was picking on you. But now, the next movie choice will be mine."

"Was that supposed to sound as ominous as it did?"

Quinn chuckled heartily. "I guess not."

"What's your favorite movie, Quinn?"

"Juno." She deadpanned.

"Oh…well, I guess I can see the appeal of…"

Quinn was laughing again. "I was kidding Rachel." She replied, shaking her head. "I really like the movie, 'Life as a House.'"

Rachel's brows furrowed. "Never heard of it."

"Great. That's what we'll watch on our next movie date." Quinn replied happily.

"You're not even going to tell me about it?"

"Are you always so impatient?"

"Only about the things I want."

"And you want…"

"Another movie date with my girlfriend."

"Good answer."

"But seriously, what's it about?" Rachel begged.

"You must be a riot on Christmas Eve."

Rachel looked at Quinn with a very confused expression on her face.

"You know, waiting for Santa?" Quinn replied incredulously before realization hit her. "You don't celebrate Christmas, because you're Jewish. Right?"

"We celebrate Christmas. We open presents and stuff. But never with Santa. We celebrate both Christmas Day and Hanukah."

"What do you do for Hanukah?"

"You'll just have to wait and see." Rachel replied with a devilish grin.

"I hate you."

It was Rachel's turn to chuckle.

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They spent the next few hours entertaining themselves by playing Scrabble (which Rachel won) and several different card games. They laughed and talked and had a good time. Then Berry men came home from running errands and they all had dinner together.

"So, what were you girls up to all day?" Michael asked knowingly, hoping the answer wouldn't scar him for life. As much as he adored Quinn, Rachel was his little girl.

"We took a walk and grabbed some lunch."

"Then Rachel beat me mercilessly in Scrabble after she made me watch 'Funny Girl.'" Quinn teased, eliciting a chuckle from the men.

"She liked it, so don't feel too sorry for her." Rachel pouted.

"Anything planned this evening? Rachel mentioned going to a haunted house, was that still on the agenda?" Jeremiah asked when he regained his composure.

"Yes, just waiting for dark." Quinn smiled.

"You're that excited about it huh?" Michael wondered.

"Halloween's my favorite holiday. Always has been. I love everything about it!" She replied eagerly.

"Rachel's too. When she was little, she'd dress up in those little princess costumes and we couldn't get her to take them off for weeks. I think she wore them to school even." Michael teased.

"Daddy!"

Quinn was grinning. "I remember." She said without thinking. Then her eyes widened and she looked around the table. "I guess I was paying attention to her for longer than I thought." She admitted sheepishly, to which Rachel just smiled at her and took hold of her hand.

"I'm not complaining." Rachel spoke silently, hoping only Quinn could hear but she was not so lucky.

"Awww. Aren't these two just precious?" Jeremiah gushed teasingly.

Both girls blushed instantly.

"Have you decided on a costume this year, Quinn?" Michael asked, changing the subject.

"Actually I haven't given it much thought this year; I had a lot on my mind recently." The blonde admitted.

"Maybe we can look for something together?" Rachel offered.

"I'd like that."

Further conversation was interrupted by an insistent knock on the door. "I'll get it." Rachel spoke as she stood from her seat. Quinn followed after her without the brunette's knowledge.

Rachel opened the door and an angry Latina stormed through it. "You haven't answered your phone all day! You bust in on me at night to interrupt my…special time with Brittany to ask for my help and you don't bother to pick up your goddamn phone."

Rachel looked at Santana with a confused and terrified expression. "I apologized for that, but today I'm sorry I didn't answer your phone calls but I've been otherwise engaged."

Quinn listened to the exchanged intensely. Santana was about to reply to the brunette when the blonde caught her eye. A wide smirk made its way across her features as she addressed the blonde. "Q. I didn't see you there."

Rachel jumped at Santana's words and turned around and brought her eyes up to meet a stone faced Quinn. "Hey." Was the emotionless reply before the blonde pulled her eyes from Rachel's and looked toward the Latina intruder. "What do you want Santana?"

"Well, the dwarf here begged for my help after almost being arrested for stalking you." Santana replied with a quirked eyebrow as she stared down the blonde. "I'm sure she told you of her misguided scheme to help you."

"She did." Quinn replied breaking eye contact and trying to find Rachel's averted eyes.

"And that she begged me to help you guys?"

Quinn nodded silently.

"Great. Now that we're up to speed, I came to tell your little hobbit that I have a plan. But Berry wouldn't answer my calls." Santana was clearly annoyed, yet a trace of pride could be heard lacing her words. Whatever the plan, she was obviously excited about it.

"And I appreciate your assistance San, but we don't need it. I'm not getting Beth back."

Rachel's eyes shot up to look at Quinn, so many emotions circling around the brown depths of them. Quinn looked at her in silence for several long minutes before turning her attention back to Santana. "I will take Shelby's offer to get to know Beth, but I won't try taking her away. It wouldn't be right."

"Well damn." Santana's annoyance overruled her surprise. "I spent the whole day coming up with the perfect scheme and you don't even need my help? Thanks for wasting my time." The last statement was addressed toward Rachel, dripping with disappointment.

"Sorry Santana. It was a rather recent decision." Rachel replied, her eyes on Quinn. However, the blonde wasn't looking at her. "Thank you for trying to help, it is appreciated."

"Save it Berry."

"Don't talk to her like that Santana." Quinn defended.

"Or what, Q?"

"I'll tell Brittany." Quinn challenged causing Santana to back down.

"Fine. I just hate that I wasted time to help you two idiots and you refuse to accept my offer."

"You're really just upset that I interrupted your Brittany time." Rachel jeered causing Santana to scoff.

"Okay, you got me." She rolled her eyes, before shaking her head in disbelief. "You really are growing on me, Berry."

Quinn found herself taking a few steps toward Rachel possessively. Santana noticed it and called her on it. "Relax Q. I don't want your woman, if I did I'd have taken her the night she showed up at my house all soaked from the rain and looking fine as hell."

Quinn's head shot up toward Rachel as she reached out to grab her hand. They laced together, and she was immediately calmed. "I was upset that you sent me away without listening to me." Rachel explained to Quinn, though the question was never asked. "I told her that I wanted to help you and asked her to help, as I already told you I did."

"I get that Rach. I do. But we spent the whole day together and you never once told me she had been calling you." Quinn wasn't upset just disappointed.

"I didn't know. I had my phone off while I was with you. I didn't want the interruption." Rachel replied honestly before turning her attention to Santana. "I would've have answered your calls, Santana. If I knew about them. So I'm sorry."

The Latina nodded in acceptance of her apology, while Quinn couldn't hide the pleased smile that appeared on her face at Rachel's words. The girl turned off her phone in order to spend the whole day alone and completely uninterrupted with Quinn. She couldn't have been happier.

"You owe me, Berry. And I will collect." Santana demanded and exited without a goodbye to either girl.

"Should I be scared?" Rachel asked.

"Actually. Yes, a little." Quinn admitted.

Rachel smiled at the girl's confession. "She's not going to give me Mono is she?" She should be scared, but she couldn't bring her self to be, not when Quinn was so obviously protective of her. She leaned in for a kiss.

Quinn turned away from the kiss. "And how is she going to give you Mono exactly? You planning on kissing her?" Quinn teased.

"No, I was scared she'd kiss you and you'd give it to me." She countered.

Quinn actually cackled in response before claiming Rachel's lips. After making out for nearly five minutes, they were interrupted by Michael. "I really need to learn to knock or something." He muttered as he returned to the kitchen shaking his head trying to get rid of the image he had walked in on…again.

The girls giggled, and started to kiss again. Finally Rachel pulled away. "We really should finish our dinner. And apologize to my dads."

"Do we have to? I mean, face them right now. It really is quite humiliating to have been caught twice now."

"At least you didn't have to sit through 'the talk.'"

"Speak for yourself. My mom sat me down last night and it was awful. I would have thought that the whole 'at least you won't get pregnant' statement would have been embarrassing enough but she just kept going. It was mortifying. I have scars."

Rachel grinned. "Guess we're on the same page then."

"Oh, so your dads were relieved about you not getting knocked up again?" She raised an eyebrow and smirked.

Rachel's mouth opened and shut, before she stared at the blonde. She was completely speechless.

"Kidding. Geez. I'm sure it was humiliating for you. Especially when we weren't even together at the time. They were warning you about something that wasn't even happening."

"Yet."

Quinn's face flushed as she repeated her breathlessly. "Yet."

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After dinner, the girls went to the haunted house and had a terrifyingly great time. When they were finished, they made-out in Quinn's car for a half hour before the blonde took her girlfriend home.

"Today was a really great day, thank you for sharing it with me." Rachel smiled at the blonde.

"Thank you, Rachel. For being you." The blonde kissed the girl softly. Then she got out of the car and walked around to open the door with Rachel. She walked Rachel to her house, holding her hand the whole way to the door. She leaned in and kissed her goodbye. The innocent kiss quickly got heated before the girls noticed the porch light flicker on and off. Rachel pulled away.

"I told you, they're humiliating." Rachel groaned.

Quinn smiled. "I think it's sweet."

"Would you, if it were your mom on the other side of the door?"

"Point taken." Quinn replied as a look of horror crossed her features.

"Good night, Quinn." Rachel smiled before pecking her on the cheek and walking inside. She left Quinn completely speechless on the front porch, which a lopsided grin on her face.

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Make You Feel My Love by Bob Dylan (originally)

Can't Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley