AN: Thank you Ad3n and Monichanz for your reviews and thanks to vonego88 for your PM message :)
The issue with my sister has been partially resolved, sorry for that authors note, it was juvenile but it seemed the only way to get her to listen :)
On with the chapter...
Quinn felt like she was always making progress with her emotions since moving to Lima, it was alleviating every time she concerned a something else. It was exactly three weeks and a day after Quinn came out to the glee club that she felt she was ready for the next confession.
She realised this one could have far many more consequences... it could really mess everything up but at this exact moment in time she felt she was ready and she couldn't hold it in anymore.
The blonde took a deep breath before knocking on the door "Rachel?" she called out so the brunette knew who it was
"You can come in" came a soft reply. Quinn took another breath before turning the door handle and pushing the door open "Hey, Quinn" Rachel greeted from where she sat on her bed, surrounded by her school books for homework "Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Um, kinda" she shifted weight from foot to foot
"What's wrong? Come sit" the short brunette waved a hand to gesture for Quinn to come closer.
The blonde just nodded and cautiously made her way closer to the bed, before perching herself on the edge and looked at the floor in front of her "I need to tell you something?" her hands started shaking so she clasped them together in her lap
Rachel shuffled to the edge of the bed to sit next to the other girl "You can tell me anything Quinn; you know that"
They didn't hear the phone ringing in the background
"Can I? Can I really tell you anything Rachel?"
"Of course you can" she furrowed her brow
"It's just..." she started "you and your dad's have been so good to me, and I wouldn't want to betray them... or you"
"I don't understand; is something wrong?" Rachel reached out with concern placing a hand over Quinn's clasped in her lap
"N-not exactly" she tried to swallow the lump in her throat "I...I L-"
"Quinn, Rachel" a voice softly called from the other side of the door
"We're both in here daddy!"Rachel called back
A second later both of the Berry men were standing just inside the doorway "Quinn, we have some news" the taller father shuffled from foot to foot, and glanced at his husband.
The way he stood there and his actions had Quinn concerned "What's wrong?"
"Your parents, they've found you, or rather they have been found" he rambled lowly "They'll be here tomorrow to pick you up" his tone drowning with reluctance
"Oh" was all she could mutter. The panic wouldn't set in just yet because she was trying so hardly to hold back a waterfall of tears
"We" the shorter father stopped to sigh, as if holding back tears too "We can all help you pack if you'd like"
"No... they're all your things anyway"
"We bought them for you" the taller father pointed out "We'll help you pack"
"No thank you" she muttered as nicely as she could before standing up and leaving Rachel's room; avoiding eye contact with all of them. She shut herself in her room dropped to the bed, curled up in a ball and wept herself to sleep.
...
The blonde woke to the sound of the door being pushed open tentatively "Quinn?" She rolled over to, showing her vulnerability through her red eyes to the cautious intruder.
Rachel didn't know what else to say when the still tearful Quinn looked at her like that, she just went to her, she sat on the edge of the bed and ran her fingers through the short blonde strands, to comfort her best friend "I don't want to go back Rach" she whimpered
"I know, I don't want you to go" she admitted her voice fading away as she tried not to cry "I want you to have this" she held a picture frame she had clasped in her other hand, in front of Quinn's face so she could see it "It's my favourite picture of the two of us" there was a smile in her voice
"I like that picture too"
"I want you to have it Quinn... and even if you're 5 towns over, we're still gonna be friends right?"
"Yeah" she sniffed, and pushed herself up. She shuffled over and sat against the head board ushering Rachel to move right next to her. They leant against each other, Rachel resting her head on Quinn's shoulder, the taller girl then resting her head on Rachel's. They both looked at the photo still in the brunette's hand. "It's too soon" Quinn whispered
"I know"
They just sat in silence until they fell asleep holding one another
...
Rachel woke, later, feeling alone; she turned over to see Quinn wasn't there. She looked at the time; the neon green of the digital alarm clock told her it had just gone 3 a.m.
She heard a noise coming from downstairs; it sounded a lot like the front door. A horrible thought hit her, she ran down stairs, preferring not to wake her dads but not caring if she did. She slipped her trainers on that sat by the front door before running out of the house to the end of the drive. She looked left: nothing, she looked right: she thought she saw movement... yes there was someone.
She took off in that direction, the closer she got the clearer she could see; it was Quinn with a duffle bag on her shoulder "Quinn" she whispered harshly not wanting to wake the neighbourhood too
She turned swiftly "Rachel" she almost shrieked in surprise "What are you doing?"
"I think I should be asking that question?" she crossed her arms and the blonde was sure she was about to stomp her foot "What on earth do you think you're doing?"
"I can't go back, I've said this how many times?"
"You'll get hurt again" she protested "I don't want that to happen"
"My parents will never accept me, and I'm scared of what Kelly will do"
Rachel's expression softened from anger to pure concern "M-maybe it won't be that bad" she reached out
"Yeah right, it will probably be worse" the blonde sniffed and wiped her face on her sleeve
"Please, just don't run. I need to know that you're at least safe" and as usual Rachel got her way.
Quinn conceded and followed Rachel back to the Berry house. They went back to Quinn's room, relieved that neither of Rachel's dads had woken (they didn't want to explain), they curled up next to one another on Quinn's bed and fell back to sleep.
...
The next morning at breakfast found the four sat round the table
"Um Quinn" the taller Berry man started "Rachel told us you tried to run away last night"
The blondes gaze shot straight to the girl next to her, she felt betrayed but realised Rachel was only looking out for her "I'm sorry"
"We're just worried about you Quinn"
"Rachel, can you go upstairs a minute" the shorter father instructed "So we can talk to Quinn in private"
"Of course dad" she pushed her chair back and stood up... she stopped for a second gazing with worry at the side of Quinn's head. She wanted to hug her, hold her... something... but she didn't she just went upstairs to her room, out of there way
"I'm sorry that I've betrayed your trust" she muttered still looking down at her cereal bowl
"You haven't betrayed us... we're just worried that you'll try it again; when you're back home maybe"
"We don't want you getting hurt again Quinn, we care about you"
"Thank you" she started welling up "I really don't want to go, you've all made me so happy here; the happiest I've ever been"
"We know we have no right, but we want you to know our door is always open to you, if you need help"
"You every right, you've been my family for the past 3 and a half months. I'm going to miss you all"
"We'll miss you being here too Quinn" both men reached across the table and took one of Quinn's hands in their own "You're family"
She nodded "Thank you" she released their hands and sat back in her chair "I feel I have to tell you something though"
"You can trust us Quinn"
"I told Rachel, moment before you said I could come live here, that I'm gay-"
"You are?" the shorter father asked with some surprise but earned a shove with an elbow for interrupting
"Yes, I am. That's why I ran away from home, I told my friend Kelly I wanted to kiss her and... She's going to ruin my life. But that's not what I wanted to tell you" she took a steadying breath
"Go on" The taller man encouraged softly
"I-I think... no I know, I'm in love with your daughter" she admitted
"Oh"
"-I'm sorry, I wouldn't ever intentionally try anything on with Rachel, because I really care about her and she's been a great friend but I've realised that I like her a lot more than that and I'm sorry because I've lived here for all these months and I've known my feelings for sure for about one and a half of those now and-"
"Quinn, calm down. We don't feel betrayed. Are you going to tell her?"
"I can't" she whimpered "And you can't say anything either" she demanded but her voice made it sound rather weak
"We won't. It's not our thing to tell"