Disclaimer: I own nothing really, just borrowing the characters for a little joyride
Pairing: Eventual Quinn/Rachel
Spoilers: Anything up has already aired.
Rated: R for language
A/N: Well…still Unbeta'd. Sorry for all mistakes, feel free to point them out. Reviews would still be very much appreciated, as we all know authors live off of them, even part time authors like moi. And I finally had popcorn yesterday.
A/N 2: Okay, sorry shorter chapter again. I have some hours of work to accomplish today before I can get back to what is really the second part of this chapter. But I broke it up. Or, perhaps this was the second part of the last chapter. Either way. : ) And yes, my team won…yaaay! *dances*
Quinn stirred her half of the second packet of hot chocolate into her over-sized mug and then passed the packet to Rachel.
"You know, we can go crazy and each add our own second pack. It would be extra chocolaty then."
Rachel paused to consider it, and shook her head. "Nah, I think this will be enough. And we should save some in case Kurt and Mercedes would like some as well."
"That is true, how many have we got left?"
Rachel leaned over and counted the little envelopes in the back. "Let's see, there are six more packets. That should be enough, right?"
"Hope so! If we run out, I can get more I guess. "
"If I'd known you liked hot chocolate, I would have brought over some of my dad's hot cocoa mix. We all watched Tyler Florence preparing some holiday entertainment stuff a few years ago. Now we have it every year. If you happen to have real cocoa powder, powdered milk, and some bittersweet chocolate, I could probably approximate it. Oh, and sugar of course."
"Ah, so you're saying my family's Swiss Miss isn't good enough for you, eh?"
"No! I wasn't—"
"Kidding, Berry. I'll check, but, I'm not sure we have either powdered milk, and pretty sure the bittersweet chocolate would also be no."
She padded over and stepped into the pantry to have a look around. "Hm, yeah, negative on the chocolate, unless maybe Tollhouse Chocolate chips would do."
"Hm, I'm not sure about that. Maybe another time I could—well make some for you. And your mom? You were saying she took a part time job. I'm sure her life is a little bit…different than it was…you know…before."
Quinn sat down at the table again, stirring her hot chocolate, before blowing on it and having a sip. She looked out the window before speaking. "Yeah. She's been doing pretty well, I think? There was crying for awhile, but she stopped that after about a week. And she's been keeping very busy ever since."
"Speaking of sweets Berry, you know I half expected some cupcakes would show up with you here today, what's up with that?"
The brunette rolled her eyes looking guilty. "Ah, guilty as charged. Or would have been. How did you know? Am I that predictable?"
She looked to other girl, who shrugged a little apologetically.
"It is a Very Berry thing to do, I've noticed over the last year, sorry."
Rachel chuckled "Well, I'd had plans for them, it is true. Pumpkin Spice. But, Finn was a little late for dinner, and I didn't have time to get them made after the movie." She looked a little embarrassed. "I knew if I made them before, Finn would have wanted…well, probably several."
Quinn tilted her head a little and half-smiled and nodded. "Sounds about right. Not that I would know precisely, as I never baked anything for Finn. Guess he got lucky with you."
Her eyebrows drew together in thought or annoyance, Quinn couldn't tell. "I think the big dinner we had made him sleepy. He didn't even make it half way through the movie." She sighed. "I think my dads fed him a huge dinner on purpose. Full of garlic no less. They seemed to think it would keep him from kissing me. Hm, perhaps I should be thanking them for that considering certain comparative information I have recently become privy to...?"
Quinn rolled her eyes at the same time she grabbed one of the empty packets from the hot chocolate, crumpled it up and chucked it playfully at the diva's head. It bounced off her head and the diva stuck her tongue out.
The blond chuckled, pleased with herself. "Don't they like Finn?"
"Oh, I think they like him well enough. Certainly more than Jesse. More than Puck for sure. I guess—I'm still my daddies' little girl." She looked up to the left a puzzled look on her face. "Daddies'? Daddys'? Both of them. Anyway—"
She stopped when she noticed Quinn's mouth pinch in a little as she winced a little. The blond nodded looking down into her cup again, stirring it. Rachel's brows knitted. She watched Quinn take a deep breath and then look up, and around the room, anywhere but at Rachel, her eyes a little bright.
"Oh, Quinn. I—I'm an idiot. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up—anything to upset you."
Quinn smiled a little. "S'okay. It's better this way." She looked at Rachel who looked stricken. "Really. Sure, it's a little painful, but I really do think its better this way." That statement applied to more than one thing in her life.
Rachel was still observing her, empathy in her eyes. Quinn started to get a little antsy under the intent and thoughtful look.
Quinn tried to break what she felt was an odd tension. "Hey so now do I qualify for any famous Rachel Berry I'm Sorry Cupcakes?"
It worked, and Rachel laughed. "Was this a ploy? All you had to do was ask you know. I'm easy."
Quinn snickered cheekily, "not as easy as me, in case you haven't heard the rumors?"
Laughing still, Rachel crumpled up her own empty packet of Swiss Miss and through it at her.
"Oh please. Nobody with any sense thinks that about you."
Quinn caught it easily and pretended like she was going to through it back, Rachel through her hands up to protect herself, giggling. Quinn tossed the crumpled packet it on the table instead. Her mouth curved into a smile, as she raised her hands to show she held nothing in them.
"How about we drink to that truce right now Berry?"
"On one condition?"
"Conditions? I throw down my arms in a peaceful gesture and you give me conditions? Fine, Berry. Speak to me of conditions, and I shall ponder them."
Rachel beamed. "'I can assure you I mean you no harm.'"
"V for Vendetta?"
"Yep."
She smiled and was just about to relate of the events the night before involving Sam, and the debate over whether Zach Braff was hot enough for Natalie Portman. She shook her head, and pulled herself up short before she said anything. That way lies madness. Or was it dragons? Here be dragons? She shook her head to clear it, trying to focus on the girl in front of her. She was kind of delicate looking, waiting there expectantly for her to say something. She smiled a little uneasily and motioned for her to continue.
"Okay, let's hear it."
"My conditions are two-fold."
"Of course they are, Berry."
"Make that three-fold."
Quinn crossed her arms and leaned back, her eyebrow arched sardonically. "You're pushing it…"
"I don't think I am." Rachel crossed her arms smiling in triumph. "One. Let me make you hot chocolate sometime? I'll show you how."
Quinn's eyes widened with confusion. "Hm. Well, I think I can say yes—
The diva held up her hand imperiously, which made Quinn giggle. "Wait, you have to hear them all and agree to them all."
"Dang Berry!" She waved her hand, and rolled her eyes smiling. "What else?"
Grinning she continued. "Two. You let me make you the Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes."
Quinn was about to open her mouth, but saw Rachel tilt her head and give her a warning look. Her sitting version of putting her hands on her hips, Quinn thought with amusement. She put her hand to her lips and 'zipped' them.
"Third, and lastly," her smile became smaller and less self-assured, "call me—by my name? My first name?"
That caught the Head Cheerio by surprise. She inhaled quickly, nodding slowly. "That sounds reasonable. You're good, Ber—Rachel. Rach?" She cocked her head in and smiled. Watching the Rachel's shy smile turn into a huge grin, made her chest tighten a little and feel warm. She leaned forward smiling at the petite girl across the table. She reached across the table halfway and held her fist out for Rachel to bump.
"Raise your fist Rachel, like mine. Watch me."
Rachel arched her eyebrows up looking a little trepidation as she mirrored the pose. She'd seen particular ritual of course, but never actually participated. Quinn bumped their fists together lightly, then pulled her hand away slightly, spread her fingers and lifted them slightly. Quinn was felt a little flushed with delight watching as Rachel copied her actions. She thought Rachel looked like she was a six year old on Christmas morning. Or Hanukah she corrected herself mentally.
"Nice," Quinn nodded approving. "Yeah, thank Mercedes for teaching me that."
"Hang on, can we do that again, I don't think I did it right."
Quinn laughed, and Rachel laughed with her. "You really ARE a perfectionist aren't you? Okay, one, two, three, bump." Quinn couldn't help but grin and laugh at how happy and cute Rachel looked sitting there, so pleased with herself. She shook her head smiling.
Rachel smiled and leaned in, raising her eyebrow.
"The best victory is when the opponent surrenders of its own accord before there are any actual hostilities... It is best to win without fighting."
Quinn leaned in and raised an opposing eyebrow. "I get hot chocolate, cupcakes. I think you're mistaken about who won this exchange.
"I get to be called some by name occasionally. How about we call it even?"
Quinn shrugged and nodded agreeably, and the brunette smiled goofily.
"Can we fist bump on it? "
"Again?" Quinn looked incredulous, and shook her head with mirth.
"Please?"
"Okay, bring it in." They both smiled and repeated the fist bump and fade. Quinn thought Rachel looked like a complete dork doing it, but an adorable dork, she admitted. An inkling in the back of her mind twitched at that thought.
Mercedes and Kurt both witnessed the giggling and fist bumping. Mercedes turned to Kurt. "I'm starting to lean towards your End of Days theory. THAT is just weird."
"Let's get in there and suss this out then shall we? Maybe they were just hatching a plan to take down Vocal Adrenaline? Don't we usually know things before everyone else? How did we miss something?"
Mercedes nodded. "Well, Rachel has every reason to want to get back at Jesse. Perhaps she's just tapping into our resident HBIC's talent for revenge and destruction? It may have gone dormant, but it's still there. I just can't think of any reason those two would be so—so—"
"Friendly?" Kurt supplied. "Bosom buddies? Sisters in arms?"
Mercedes just shook her head slowly watching them. "I taught her that fist bump."
"Like I said, something is afoot here." He offered his elbow to Mercedes. "Shall we? "
"We shall."
Mercedes was still shaking her head as they stepped to the door and knocked. Kurt had an unreadable look on his face.
Quinn jumped at the knock, startled. She'd forgotten anyone else was coming, and had been mid-sip and spilled some on her fleece. "Shit!"
Rachel looked over concerned, "you didn't burn yourself did you?"
"No, no. I'm just a dumb ass and got it on my clothes. I'm going to change, can you let them in?"
"Sure, sure, go! Go treat it before it stains."
Quinn waved at the two visitors apologetically, holding up a finger to hold on a minute.
Kurt and Mercedes looked at each other and shrugged as they watched Rachel wave them into mud room as she unlocked the door to the inside.
They stepped inside, both curious. And a little wary.
A/N Thank you all so much for reviews, alerts add/etc. You all rock. Sorry this had to wait a bit and is a bit short. More later. After more work gets done. Grr. And thanks to you anonymous reviewers I can't thank personally.