A/N: I won't be able to update this again until Monday, sorry about the delay. I promise I'll try to make it worth it. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this chapter!
As always, thanks for the reviews. I can't believe how many people are responding to this story, it warms my heart :)
Thanks to Ad3n for your suggestion I hope you like how I worked it in!
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee, NYADA, youtube or any music/singers mentioned
Know When To Hold…and When to Fold
It was 2am when Quinn's phone echoed off the walls in her darkened bedroom pulling the blonde out of her blissful, Rachel filled dreams. As soon as she saw Rachel's name glowing on the display, she flipped it open quickly.
"Rachel, are you okay?" She asked anxiously.
"Quinn?" There was a long pause. "Did I wake you?"
Quinn rolled her eyes. "No, I was up." She lied as she tried to withhold a yawn.
"We have Sectionals today and you should really get some sleep."
Quinn grinned. "What about you?"
Rachel sighed. "Santana made me watch a scary movie when we got home tonight and I've been imagining all sorts of horrible things in the shadows. And I even tried to sleep with her but she's a bed hog and she also kicked me, though I think that was because I wouldn't shut up."
Quinn knew she probably should have been jealous but she couldn't help laughing out loud when she pictured it.
"Quinn!" Rachel huffed indignantly.
"Sorry. I wish I could be there, I'd hold you all night and keep you safe."
The blonde could hear her girlfriend smile through the phone.
"I wish you were here then." Rachel whispered. "I'm sorry I woke you."
Quinn's mouth fell open and she heard the brunette giggle.
"You were always a bad liar Quinn."
The blonde thought about it. She thought about the lies she told Finn and Sam and yes, she was a horrible liar. But isn't that a good thing?
"Or maybe you just know me better than everyone else." Quinn teased as she tried stifling another yawn. "And Rachel, don't ever hesitate to call me. I would be disappointed if I knew that you suffered all night just because you were too scared to wake me."
"Thank you, Quinn."
"Oh, and since we're both up. I was wondering if after our competition, if I could cook you dinner."
"I'd love that!"
"Just a warning though, my mom knows how I feel about you and she's a bit too eager to meet you." She heard Rachel giggle. "Oh, and Brittany and Santana have to join us because Brittany said that she doesn't trust us alone and has to make sure that we don't cheat on the bet."
Rachel laughed out loud. "She and Santana could have been spending time alone as well."
"I know right!" When their laughter died down, Quinn replied tiredly. "Good night Rachel."
"Night Quinn." Rachel yawned. "And thank you."
Rachel fell asleep shortly after hanging up the phone. Quinn easily returned to her happy dream.
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The Sectional's competition was hosted at McKinley this year, so the New Directions arrived in their high school parking lot early and were just hanging out. About an hour before the competition the other teams started to show up.
Harmony saw Rachel and Kurt standing with their friends, and got the nerve to approach them.
"Rachel, Kurt." She greeted as she noticed all the eyes that were on her. Especially one hazel eyed blonde.
"Harmony." Rachel greeted neutrally. Quinn's eyebrow quirked. Santana stiffened.
"I just wanted to wish you all luck. Without Rachel competing, you're gonna need it."
Rachel's mouth dropped open, but she couldn't find the words to respond.
"Why you little..." Santana lunged for the girl, but was held back by Brittany.
"Just because Rachel isn't singing the duet, doesn't mean she isn't competing." Sam defended.
"Besides, we have such a talented group that we can beat you anyway!" Sugar replied.
Harmony studied them; she gave them a small nod and walked away. Before she got too far, Rachel finally found her voice. "Good luck to you as well, Harmony. You guys are really good, so may the best team win."
Harmony left with a small smile.
"What was that about?" Quinn asked her girlfriend. But it was Kurt who answered.
"Rachel and I went to some mixer thing for NYADA hopefuls and were bombarded with a performance by Harmony and her group. They were amazing and sort of knocked me and Rachel back down to reality. That's why the Presidency and the play became so important to us. We felt that we needed something to compete with them."
Every eye widened at the implication. If someone made Rachel question her talent, they must be good.
"If our competition was so great, why didn't you volunteer yourself to sing the solo?" Mercedes wondered.
Rachel took a deep breath. "Because, you and Santana's song is our best chance at beating them. I had nothing prepared."
Now everyone's jaws dropped.
"I mean, I always have stuff prepared. It's just I had a lot of other things on my mind lately. Trying to get our team back together, and our play and…stuff." She glanced at Quinn.
Everyone nodded.
"I wouldn't have suggested we do what we're doing if I didn't think it'd make us win. Okay, I want this more than anything just like always." Rachel added when she saw the hesitancy still on their faces.
"And the only way to get back at that bitch is to beat her fair and square." Santana snarled.
The glee club eventually made their way inside, leaving Quinn and Rachel standing alone in the parking lot.
"Rachel, I want to be with you. So much. But I will not distract you from your dreams. I stand by what I said to you at the piano that day. That you don't belong here, in Lima, and I want to help send you on your way."
Rachel kissed Quinn conveying so much emotion that when she pulled away, Quinn was breathless.
"I never told you, but I wrote 'Get it Right' for you. I wanted us to be different. I didn't want to make the same mistakes with you that I make with everyone else. Back then I didn't think I'd have the chance to be with you that way. But…I haven't given up on my dreams Quinn. I just realized that I want to share them with someone special." She kissed the blonde on the cheek and whispered in her ear. "And that someone is you."
Quinn's breath hitched at Rachel's words and at the breath that warmed her skin. Her eyes were blurred with tears. She took Rachel's hand in hers and laced their fingers together. They walked hand in hand into the auditorium.
Santana and Mercedes flawlessly performed their Adele mash-up and everyone else was amazing in the Michael Jackson mash-up. And although Harmony is talented, her group lacked the chemistry and heart of the New Directions. And that is why Rachel believed that New Directions won the competition and was now advancing to Regional's. They all hugged on stage and congratulated each other.
As the audience cleared out of the auditorium, the glee club stayed behind to celebrate. To share stories and hang out. Rachel noticed that Harmony had also stayed behind. So she went over to her.
"Congratulations." Harmony replied quietly.
"You did very well. It was a tough decision."
Harmony sighed. "We couldn't even beat your team with your second string performers in. I really wanted to go head to head with you, but now…"
"Can I just say that after that mixer when you performed for me and Kurt, we sort of had a breakdown, realizing that we weren't the only talented ones in Ohio. You guys were amazing."
Harmony beamed. "People have been talking about you since New Directions began competing in the circuit. You're 'Don't rain on my parade' performance two years ago is still getting hits on youtube. And even though the kiss last year at National's was very unprofessional, you guys really deserved higher than 12th place."
Rachel smiled brightly at Harmony's words. "Thank you."
After a long and awkward silence, Rachel suggested. "Maybe we could sing together sometime. Just for fun."
"I would love that."
They exchanged information and said their goodbyes. By the time she returned to her friends, most of them were gone. Only Blaine, Kurt, Brittany, Santana and Quinn remained. When she got closer, she nodded toward Santana. Santana motioned to Blaine and Kurt who quickly excused themselves.
"What'd she have to say?" Quinn asked, curiously and without a hint of jealousy.
"We're going to collaborate together sometime. She just wanted to see how she could compete with someone at my level and was disappointed that it wasn't me who beat her but what she called our second string."
Santana huffed causing Rachel and Quinn to smile.
"I don't know why you're so fine with it." Santana addressed Quinn who just shrugged. "Really? You are jealous of anyone who looks at Rachel and you're fine with them…collaborating?"
Quinn simply took Rachel's hand in hers and smiled.
"Well, I can't stand her. Sure she's talented, but she's annoying and way too cocky. Plus, she holds herself with this air of superiority and frankly, she's a bitch." Santana replied before her eyes got wide and a dark smirk performed. "She's like a crazy hybrid of the two of you. With only your worst qualities."
Rachel and Quinn exchanged looked, Rachel raised an eyebrow. "Worst qualities? I admire Quinn's confidence and the way she carries herself with pride."
"And Rachel's talent is amazing and her understanding how talented she is and embracing that is not annoying or cocky, it's sort of hot."
Santana scoffed as she rolled her eyes.
Suddenly the lights dimmed and a spotlight found the four girls in the middle of the stage, lighting them up brightly. And then music played loudly over the speakers. Santana and Rachel smirked at each other. They stood next to each other, facing their girlfriends. The blondes were shocked and just stared at the girls who stood in front of them.
Santana and Rachel sang, Adele's "One and only" to them with all the sincerity and emotion they could muster. It was a beautiful and intimate performance, as they mesmerized their audience of two. When the music slowly faded away, they stood in silence looking adorningly at the blondes in their lives.
Brittany tackled Santana to the ground and smothered her with kisses. Quinn slowly made her way toward Rachel, her eyes shinning brightly with unshed tears. She smiled at the brunette as she tried to compose herself. "That was beautiful. I know you guys sang songs to me when I was pregnant, but I've never been serenaded before."
"What about Sam? He sang…right. I see your point." Rachel replied getting a chuckle out of Quinn.
"And the fact that it was you, and that song. Rachel you're amazing." Quinn wrapped Rachel tightly in her arms. They didn't even kiss, they just held each other and never wanted to let go.
"I think that we definitely need Brittany and Santana to break." Rachel smiled mischievously as she whispered into Quinn's ear. The blonde nodded.
Rachel pulled away, she spoke loudly but not obviously so. "You know it's only a matter of time before our dads learn we're all…riding the rainbow and initiate an open door policy. I'd suggest that we have a special sleepover." Quinn knew that what Rachel was saying was for Santana's benefit, but she found herself blushing anyway. "But I have no intention of losing this bet, which is unfortunate because they are actually going to be out of the house tonight."
Quinn smirked when she saw Santana and Brittany stop making out and try to discreetly eavesdrop.
"I know what you mean Rachel. Just kissing will be hard since it'll be an empty house, and to just be sleeping in the same room would be torture."
"You could always give up Quinn, and forfeit the bet." Rachel smirked.
"I wont' give up. You promised to woo me and you haven't yet."
"How the hell did what she just sang to you not woo you, Fabray? Unless you truly are an Ice Queen." Santana's annoyance was apparent in her voice.
Quinn narrowed her eyes. She knew that she and Rachel were basically trying to push Santana's buttons, but how dare she question Quinn's feelings for Rachel. The brunette saw Quinn's eyes flash in anger so she quickly and gently placed a hand on Quinn's forearm in comfort. Then Rachel spoke to Santana. "I told you we'd have to do more if we wanted them to fall for us."
"That isn't true. I'm already in love with Santana and the only reason I'm not going to sleep with her tonight is because of the bet." Brittany replied, causing the Latina to redden in anger. She wasn't going to get laid because of a stupid bet; she was doing all of this extra work and romantic shit for nothing basically.
"Hey, midget, we need to talk."
Rachel smiled at Quinn and followed Santana into the corner. "So, we're forfeiting the bet."
"Really?" Rachel tried to sound surprised. "You and Brittany are giving up?"
"Me and Brittany? Hobbit, you and I were on a team. And I wants to get laid tonight, so you and me are going over there and we're forfeiting. I don't care that we have to buy our girls dinner, it'll be worth it. You know."
Rachel was silent. This wasn't the plan. She wanted Santana to fold, but she forgot that it meant that she would lose too. Rachel Berry is not a loser and she is not a quitter.
Before Rachel had time to argue, Santana shouted. "We forfeit! Okay, we owe you dinner and whatever else we bet on. Okay?"
Rachel turned around and saw mirth in Quinn's eyes. Shit.
"I need to hear it from Rachel as well." The hazel eyed beauty replied.
Rachel sighed. She knew Santana would murder her in her sleep if she backed out now. She slowly approached the blonde. "I forfeit as well."
Quinn smiled widely. She waited until Rachel got closer to wrap the girl in her arms tightly and kiss her senseless. When she pulled away she replied in a husky whisper. "I still plan on wooing you Rachel Berry, we still have six days to go and I expect to be wooed in return."
Rachel pulled away and stared at her wide eyed. "But?"
"Santana will be off our backs now. We can have dinner at my house in peace. I'd say it's a win-win." She leaned in closer and said in a dangerously low whisper. "And I'm looking forward to that sleepover you mentioned."
Rachel exhaled with a ragged breath. She tried to swallow but her mouth was suddenly dry.
Quinn kissed her jaw, nibbled on her ear lobe and licked down her neck before sucking fiercely in an attempt to mark her girlfriend. Rachel moaned in pleasure at every action the blonde performed. She finally found her voice and spoke shakily. "Now that we're not subjected to the stupid rules of my ill informed bet, we're just courting each other properly?"
Quinn's smiled against Rachel's neck and whispered. "Or not so properly, since we're sort of moving a little faster than what'd be deemed proper."
Rachel's eyes shut at the implication as Quinn reattached their lips.
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A/N: I hope you liked this chapter. I have found that this story in particular has been very hard to please everyone. People either think that Rachel needs to try harder or that Quinn does. I hope you'll be satisfied along the way.
Also, with all the stuff of tumblr about Sugar being Brittana's kid and Harmony being Faberry's, I decided to through in a little mention of it again here. Harmony will be back in the story soon :) Hope you don't mind…
Up next, dinner with Judy. Plus, the girls continue to get to know each other.