-Chapter 9-

It was the middle of June and Elizabeth's first weekend at Puck's. Quinn couldn't sleep. She was worried about the baby, checking her phone every five minutes just in case Puck had tried to call or text. That wasn't the only thing keeping her awake though. Rachel. It was always Rachel that kept her thoughts occupied even when she was thinking about something else. The wheels in her brain were constantly turning. Elizabeth, Rachel, Elizabeth, learning the specifications on the new plasma screen televisions at the furniture store, Elizabeth, Rachel, finding out why show room kitchen table #6073 was wobbly, Rachel, Elizabeth, yelling at Puck for letting Elizabeth listen to Eminem uncensored, Rachel…

Ever since Rachel had broken up with Finn, Quinn tried to keep her emotional distance from the brunette; she didn't talk about her feelings anymore, she didn't flirt with Rachel or say anything suggestive. They were still friends though, just as they had been before Rachel started dating Finn. At the time she made the decision to keep her distance from Rachel, she figured she had caused enough complication in the brunette's life and it wasn't difficult at first because she had been distracted with Elizabeth and working full time. However, now that she had some time to think about it, it was threatening to drive her insane.

Quinn padded down the hallway and stood in front of the door with the gold star on it. She opened it quietly. Rachel was snoring lightly. Quinn eased herself into the room and shut the door behind her. She sat on the edge of Rachel's bed and gently shook her awake. Rachel grunted and Quinn shook her again. The brunette sat bolt upright and looked around.

"Quinn…baby…Elizabeth…is…is she okay? What's wrong?"

"Lizzy's at Puck's tonight, Rach."

"Oh." Rachel resumed her previous position lying down and Quinn sighed in frustration.

"Rachel I need to talk to you."

"Quinn, it's…" Rachel rolled over and looked at her clock, "three seventeen in the morning. Can't it wait?"

"If I wait any longer I'll go crazy from sleep deprivation."

Rachel sat up and turned on the lamp on her bedside table.

"Okay."

"I love you, Rachel."

Rachel sighed. "Okay."

"I've tried to move on but can't get over it. It's…impossible to explain. I just can't."

"Go back to bed."

"Rachel…"

"Quinn, please. I can't do this right now." Rachel reached for her lamp and Quinn caught her wrist.

"I've been patient, Rach. I haven't said anything since the hospital even though I could have. But do you really think I didn't notice that you weren't devastated over Finn? And did you really think that I wouldn't find out how at the hospital you avoided every single question about…"

"Who told you about that?"

"Come on, Rachel. Our friends love drama. Did you really think that they'd keep their mouths shut? I've been getting attacked with what they think are subtle questions about you and me. They keep offering to take Lizzy in the evenings in case we want to spend time together. Kurt pocket dialed me a week after Lizzy was born and on my voicemail was an entire conversation he was having with Mercedes dissecting every single comment you made while I was out of it."

"We're not getting into this," Rachel snapped. "Go back to bed."

Quinn didn't move.

"Please, Quinn."

"Can I sleep in your bed? I'm having trouble sleeping without Lizzy in there."

"No."

Quinn got up from Rachel's bed and the brunette turned off the light when Quinn left the room. A few minutes later she heard her door squeak open again and there was a rustle. Rachel turned the light to see Quinn spreading a comforter on the ground and dropping a pillow at one end of it.

"What are you doing?" Rachel hissed.

"You said I couldn't sleep in your bed. You never said anything about the floor." Quinn smirked and sat down on the comforter and pulled the second one over her. She stretched out on her back and put her hands behind her head. She glanced over at Rachel who was propped up on one elbow staring at her.

"You're certifiably insane, Quinn Fabray."

"I know."

Rachel turned out the lamp and rolled over. After half an hour of listening to the rustle of Quinn tossing and turning on the hard floor she let out a frustrated sigh.

"Quinn!"

"Yes?"

"I swear to Barbra Streisand you are the most stubborn person I know!"

"Thank you!"

"Get in this bed before I have time to seriously think about what I'm offering."

Quinn leapt off the floor and bounced into Rachel's bed. She snuggled into Rachel's back and attempted to wrap an arm around the girl's waist but it was pushed away.

"If you're in my bed, you sleep by my rules. Keep your hands to yourself."

"I understand. If we sleep in my bed can they be my rules?" Quinn giggled manically; Rachel grabbed a pillow and hit her in the head.

Quinn woke up early the next morning and tried to move but found herself unable to because there was a tan arm hugging her across her stomach. Rachel twitched when Quinn tried to move again.

"Rach, wake up."

"Nuh-uh."

"Then at least let go of me."

Rachel grumbled and held on tighter.

"I'm not Finn, you know."

"Mmhmm. Stay."

"I'll come back. I really have to go to the bathroom though!"

Rachel grumbled again and let go of Quinn. The blonde returned a few minutes later and cautiously crawled back into the bed, sure Rachel would freak out. When Rachel resumed her position of holding on tight to Quinn, the blonde's worries slipped away.

"Rachel?"

"Hm?"

"You're still aware that I'm Quinn, right?"

"Sleep."