Okay, finally getting to another update! Oddly Thin Ice took over for a while lol but now I'm hoping to get this one out and one more for Thin Ice before taking a small break until after Christmas…please don't kill me! It's only because I want to finish the second part of Cheerio's and the Hogwarts Christmas one. *ducks the flying objects* but after the big day is over then I swear it's business as normal once more. In the meantime enjoy these updates and wish me luck, that way I might finish the specials I want despite work being monumentally busy. Who thought a toy store would be busy at Christmas huh? Lol xxx as always thanks for her excellent work and patience with my writing goes to tiggerbounced, she pretty much rules and is awesome!
The next morning Rachel was the first one awake as things went back to normal. Sliding from the bed, she turned on the elliptical and just watched Quinn as she slept. One good thing about all this crap (the brunette winced at even thinking the profanity in her head) spilling out was that the athlete had finally started to get a regular sleep pattern going. Before her nights were often interrupted by Quinn's nightmares, although the blonde never spoke about them it was obvious from the whimpering and profuse sweating that that was indeed what they were. Even when she woke up with a scream locked behind her lips, she wouldn't talk about it or allow Rachel to question her. But she would let herself be held and comforted back to sleep.
That was in the early days however, now she tended to sleep through the night and although a tiny part of the diva felt betrayed that Quinn still felt she couldn't share the details of her nightmares…she was mostly relieved. Therapy had given Quinn the shelter she needed to feel safe enough to unburden herself, and when it came down to it, Quinn's happiness was the only thing that mattered to the brunette. Shaking her head slightly she smiled and looked down to adjust the settings as she entered the peak of her routine. It was then that she noticed the bruises on her wrist and an unexpected shiver rippled across her spine. Swallowing hard, she realised she'd stopped moving and tried desperately to remember what the support group had told her to do. Taking a deep breath, she forced her muscles to relax and eventually started moving again.
A few moments later she felt the chill leave her as well but she also couldn't brush aside the consequences of Finn's actions anymore. He had been arrested and no doubt the news would be all over the school by now. She glanced over to the bedside clock and then back at the sleeping basketball player. As always just the sight of her girlfriend made her calm down and finally stopping her workout she slipped from the elliptical and crept to the side of the bed. The romantic side of her insisted on throwing up an image of her needing to kiss the princess to wake her. She smirked as she bent over to place a soft kiss on Quinn's lips…knowing instinctively that the idea of being a helpless princess would not sit well with the blonde. Stirring at the gentle yet firm kiss on her lips, Quinn found herself smiling before she even opened her eyes. When she did crack them open however it was to peer straight into her girlfriend's mischievous ones. Raising an eyebrow high she levered herself up onto her elbows and scratched her belly idly while yawning.
"Hey you! Any particular reason for the pleasant wake up?"
Shrugging, Rachel placed another kiss on Quinn's forehead and then standing, held out a hand to pull the blonde upright.
"Because I love you and you looked cute sleeping?"
The basketball player frowned and with an overly dramatic sigh she threw her arm over her eyes and fell back onto the bed.
"Cute…you have to stop using that word supernova! I'm like a supremely good basketball player, which is meant to be physically impressive. I'm pretty good with musical instruments which most women and quite a few men find hot. And I drive an awesome car that's cool…and yet every time you use the superlative 'cute'!"
Giggling, the brunette crawled up her girlfriend's now prostrate form on the bed and when she was eye to eye with her, reached out and moved the blonde's arm from over her eyes.
"Okay let me explain my reasoning. Then if you have a suitable rebuttal for the argument set down in front of you, I will consider it."
As high as Quinn's IQ was she had to take a moment to process that sentence. It was really early in the morning after all and the blonde was pretty sure that Rachel was born with the vocabulary of a linguistics professor. Once she had it, she nodded her agreement and tucked her hands under her head as she smirked up into the brown eyes above her.
"Okay Berry, lay it on me."
Accepting the silent challenge in the athlete's smirk, Rachel slid her hands down the well defined abdominal muscles as she spoke.
"Everyone knows how good you are at basketball baby. It's a given and everyone out there see's a flash of your licktastic abs whenever you leap up to shoot one of those three pointers."
It was on the tip of Quinn's tongue to question the use of the word 'licktastic' when the diva lowered her head and with the tip of a very agile tongue ran it across the clearly delineated muscle in question. Suddenly the basketball player wasn't sure what she was going to ask…or what words were. Choosing not to gloat over her first victory Rachel sat back upright resting her weight on Quinn's hips. She waited for the hazel eyes to clear and focus on her again before continuing.
"Therefore, although it is indeed true that you are a perfect athletic specimen, it is not special to me and me alone. Now I believe you mentioned the next thing as being 'hot' due to your skills with instruments and performance?"
Swallowing slightly at the implications behind the simple words, the blonde managed to nod in agreement. The diva smiled happily and carried on as if she was completely unaware that her girlfriend was fidgeting under her as her arousal level started rising.
"And again I would like to point out that when you play with the jazz band on Saturday evening's everyone can see the way you handle those instruments. They all witness how amazingly dexterous your fingers are and the inherent skill you possess. So again everyone knows you are hot."
As she spoke, she reached down and coaxed the athlete's hands out from under her head, lacing their fingers together, all while keeping her gaze locked on Quinn's as she took in the widening pupils with a certain amount of pride. Swallowing again slightly the blonde tried to remember what her last point had been.
"Um…and the um…cool factor?"
She cursed internally as the last word ended on a squeak that had Rachel biting her lip to try and stifle the laughter welling up in the back of her throat.
"Ah yes…the cool factor. Well if someone can play any instrument out there, throw three pointers that would have most NBA pro's weeping with jealousy and drive a car that even I will admit is extremely suave. I think cool is a moot point, so yeah again everyone can see your cool side Fabray. But the cute side?"
Unable to force her vocal chords to actually emit any words at that point, the basketball player just nodded silently. Rachel tilted her head to one side and smiled softly as she sucked in the corner of a lower lip and Quinn moaned slightly.
"When you're cute only I see it. So while everyone else gets to call you by those other labels? It's only me that has the right to call you cute because I am the only one you have ever trusted enough to show that side to."
Quinn freed one of her hands up and with a small smile brushed the back of her hand lightly across Rachel's cheek, causing the diva to lean into it. Turning her hand, Quinn cupped the soft cheek and spoke hoarsely.
"You got one thing wrong in that argument supernova. I don't let you see that side because I trust you. It's because I love you, and that side of me comes out naturally. However…I accept that you above everyone else in the universe has the right to call me cute."
There was a moments quiet between the two of them and then as if a starters pistol had gone off behind them they surged as one. Rachel leaning down as her hands buried themselves in Quinn's short blonde hair. The athlete surged upwards at the same time, meeting her halfway, although her hands were holding onto the diva's hips possessively. It was pure bliss as they let loose their inhibitions and kissed each other the way they had wanted to for so long. Rachel had been hesitant because she didn't want to scare the blonde away from her. Ironically, Quinn had been holding back because the power she felt behind her love for the brunette scared her and she also didn't want to force either of them into a situation they weren't ready for. Their bodies however (or more accurately their teenage hormones) had finally had enough of their instinctual reticence however and taken over. Which is why when Leroy decided to open the door that morning without knocking, he saw something that he hadn't planned on. If it had been any consolation to him he was nowhere near as embarrassed as either of the girls.
Quinn had rolled them over leaving her in the more dominant position. Underneath her, the diva was writhing and bucking against the strong thigh muscle that had fallen between her own legs as she kept running her nails up and down the basketball player's back, urging her closer with each stroke. The sensation of Rachel's nails scraping across her skin deeply enough to leave raised marks was sending the athlete crazy with desire. Her hands had gravitated upwards and were caressing both of the diva's breasts eagerly, loving the way the usually verbose singer had been reduced to eager gasps and moans.
All of that suddenly stopped when a voice screeched loud enough to make the two of them spring apart with enough force to leave Quinn on the floor nursing a bruised elbow and Rachel scrambling to cover her chest with the duvet as she yelled.
"Daddy for goodness sake's! We have talked about this before, you cannot burst into my room like this anymore! I am nearly…"
She was cut off as the sound of thundering footsteps took over and Leroy was elbowed out of the way by two police officers with their weapons drawn. They quickly scanned the room and the younger of the two suddenly flushed a bright red as he realised the situation. Hastily holstering his weapon, he turned to his partner who was trying her best not to smirk as she did the same. Seeing that Leroy Berry was still struggling to speak with one hand clutching his chest she spoke instead.
"Okay…um we do actually need to speak to you both which is why your father came up here. We heard the scream and assumed…well I guess the rest is obvious huh? Um why don't you two sort yourselves out and we'll see you downstairs in a moment."
Rachel nodded dumbly as the younger officer quickly led her still trembling father out of the room with a gentle hand on his elbow. Quinn for her part, was glad she was hidden on the other side of the bed and just held up a thumbs-up signal from the safe zone. Once the door closed, Rachel groaned in her throat and let her face fall into her hands. She felt the bed dip slightly and opening her eyes noticed Quinn crawling towards her, still embarrassed but also slightly smirking. That made the diva's eyes widen and Rachel sat up indignantly.
"Quinn Fabray! Do not tell me that you find this even the remotest bit amusing!"
Biting her lip hard in order not to erupt into giggles at the indignant look on the brunette's face, she just shrugged helplessly.
"Look at it this way supernova…most people have to take a cold shower to pull back from the precipice we were on. We got your father's high pitched girly shriek and two drawn guns…how can you tell me that it's not even the tiniest bit amusing?"
At that the diva's imagination abruptly and in very precise detail showed her how the whole thing must have looked and she also started giggling. After a few minutes, they sobered enough to finish getting dressed and wonder exactly why the officers needed to see them. Rachel had said all she needed to last night and Quinn hadn't actually punched Finn so she couldn't be in trouble…but they had said it was both of them they needed to talk to. As they started to move towards the door, Quinn sensed her girlfriend's nervousness and hugged her gently from behind. Pausing to drop a gentle kiss on the diva's shoulder she whispered.
"Hey…it's probably just some details from yesterday okay? And I'm gonna be right there with you so don't worry. If you're going to worry about something, worry about how much of a freak out Leroy will have once the cops are gone."
Pausing for a last gentle press of lips to lips, Quinn took Rachel's hand and they headed downstairs. Leroy was raising a cup and saucer with shaking hands while he avoided their eyes. Hiram was mostly concerned but occasionally paused to pat Leroy's shoulder in sympathy. The police officers were also drinking cups of coffee and as the two girls sat down, they gratefully accepted their own drinks. After a moment the female officer cleared her throat.
"We're sorry to interrupt your breakfast this morning."
They all tried to ignore the way Leroy sputtered into his coffee or the way the younger police officer turned bright red.
"Something has come to light in our investigation of the attack on you Miss Berry."
Rachel shifted slightly, despite everything, she still felt uncomfortable to think of the word attack in connection to a boy she had felt great affection for but she forced a nod. Quinn was fighting the familiar surge of anger and nodded as well, though hers was more terse than anything else. The officer regarded them both carefully, she wasn't looking forward to breaking this piece of news to the girls. As far as she was concerned they already had enough to deal with but as it concerned them she had no choice.
"During last night's interrogation of Mr. Hudson, it became clear that he was, as you had suggested earlier Miss Berry, quite disturbed. He has also confessed to the violent assault on Miss Fabray in the school's car park."
She watched them carefully and as she suspected, Rachel had suspected nothing. Her brown eyes widened in shock and she turned to face her girlfriend, a million questions on her lips. What she had failed to see but what the police officer hadn't, was the fact that there was no such surprise in the blonde's expression. Quinn glanced over at the policewoman and nodded slightly before speaking.
"So what happens now?"
Rachel looked puzzled that that one question was the only thing that came forth from Quinn. She looked between her girlfriend and the police officer and knew that something else had happened…something she had missed. With a gasp, she realised what it must have been and before the police or their fathers could say anything she swivelled abruptly in her seat and levelled a hurt expression at the athlete.
"You knew didn't you! All this time you've known who attacked you!"
Suddenly feeling supremely uncomfortable, the basketball player tried to avoid the hurt and confused brown eyes…only to see the identical expression in her de facto fathers' eyes as well. Sighing, she ran both hands through her hair and sat back.
"I…couldn't remember at first, that wasn't a lie. But yeah…I remembered a few weeks ago, just after the performance at the pep rally actually."
Although she knew the police were the last people in the line of importance when it came to those she owed an explanation to, looking at them was safer right now, plus they were there for answers as well. She felt slightly better when a tan hand wrapped around one of hers, she let her shoulders relax and explained.
"Things have been tough for everyone for the last few years. And I'm not trying to make excuses for anyone but…shit I don't know. I guess that so much has changed for all of us already that me reporting him would be too much. But then he attacked Rachel and I realised that she was right. The guy needs help and if he goes down for the assault he wont get that."
It was Rachel that interrupted then and she said the last thing that Quinn ever expected to hear from the forgiving little diva.
"Tough. I'm sorry Quinn but you were right about one thing when you were angry yesterday. Just because he has had stuff happen to him that effected the way he see's the world is no excuse for what he has done."
Quinn opened her mouth to comment but Rachel just shook her head furiously and carried on talking.
"No Quinn Fabray…after what you lived through, you more than anyone else had the right to strike out at people but you didn't. You lived in a self-imposed hell because you didn't even want to taint anyone with what was slowly killing you from the inside. I am upset that Finn never knew his father, that he has had to get used to a new family. That his relationship with me ended but…I cannot and I will not excuse him for beating you so severely that…"
She stopped abruptly with a sob and although there was so much Quinn wanted to say she acted on instinct. Reaching out, she pulled the brunette close to her and held her tight, waiting for the sobs to subside. The police officers waited as well, happy to leave it until the girls were both ready to carry on. Eventually the female officer cleared her throat and carried on.
"Miss Fabray, you have to understand that while you may not wish to see Mr Hudson charged over this, the matter is out of your hands. He already has been and given the severity of the attack it is unlikely he will avoid a custodial sentence."
Quinn knew she should have felt some relief at hearing that. After all, he had pursued and then attacked Rachel and her. But all she felt was an overwhelming sadness. Jail wouldn't solve any of Finn's problems and as much as she hated what he had allowed himself to become she also remembered when she had felt great affection for him. Closing her eyes, she found herself near to tears and with a shaky exhale she looked back at the officers.
"Is there any chance that they would be inclined toward leniency if I gave a statement on his behalf?"
At that there were several gasps. Firstly from Rachel who looked torn between the love she felt for the blonde and the overwhelming urge to see justice done. Leroy had come out of his initial shocked state only to fall into a different one and Hiram looked puzzled at Quinn's words. Seeing the varied expressions, the basketball player rubbed the back of her neck and tried to explain.
"I just…think everyone has been hurt enough and while I agree that there needs to be some retribution for his actions, I don't want to put him in a position where he can't find redemption. I don't want to be the person he blames decades from now when he looks back to see where his life went wrong."
Rachel still looked confused although a part of her began to understand. Quinn carried on as her eyes flickered between the assembled adults, mutely appealing for understanding.
"I…guess I understand how easy it can be to blame something on everyone else, and while sometimes that blame is justified to an extent, the way you choose to react to things is entirely your own decision. So yes, he needs to face a trial for this but I just want to make sure they give him a chance to help himself that's all."
She fell quiet and eventually felt a heavy hand fall surprisingly gently onto her shoulder. She looked up into Hiram's eyes. He was smiling gently and nodded.
"If that's what you want Quinn, then I will speak to the Hudson's and we will arrange it. In the meantime, just stay quiet about all this…or as quiet as high school gossip will allow you to be."
Smiling crookedly, the blonde's eyes suddenly widened and she glanced at the clock on the mantle.
"Speaking of which we should get going if we don't want to be late."
Leroy finally spoke up, all traces of his earlier 'trauma' seemingly forgotten and replaced by deep concern as he looked at them.
"Are you sure you want to go?, I'm sure that principal would understand if you wanted to remain here for one more day."
Finally finding her voice again, Rachel cleared her throat and spoke clearly even as her thumb continued to run gently over the basketball player's knuckles.
"I think missing another day of school is unnecessary, after all we are both physically fine and the longer we are absent the more the gossip will grow. At least if we return now then things won't be that bad…well they might but we can manage them at least."
She turned to Quinn and smiled slightly as they knew all too well how many questions they would be fending off at school that day. Grabbing a sandwich each that Leroy had already made them they transferred their coffee's to travel mugs and made their way to McKinley. As they expected, the whispers and not so subtle pointing started up as soon as Quinn slid the Plymouth into its usual parking spot. Sighing slightly, the blonde rolled her eyes and killing the ignition, reached into the backseat for her messenger bag. A hand on hers stopped her and Rachel reached out and laid a hand against her cheek.
"Hey…if I forgot to mention it this morning, I'd just like to remind you that I love you."
Flushing pleasantly, Quinn found her lips curving into a shy smile and she leaned forward to kiss the far too tempting lips in front of her.
"I believe that you did mention it but there's always going to be room for you to remind me again."
Pushing the strap of Quinn's bag out of her hand, the diva then dropped her own and with a growled 'Good' surged forwards with a kiss that reminded both of them very pointedly of the pent up passion they had released earlier. Before she knew it, Quinn found herself almost horizontal on the front seat with the diva determined to kiss her into submission.
This time they were interrupted when the driver's door was opened and Quinn's head fell back…only to glare up into Santana's amused expression. The Latina propped a hand on her hip and raised an eyebrow in a slightly weaker emulation of her old Captain.
"Q…you go from mother superior to dogging? that's quite a leap!"
Scowling and muttering under her breath, the basketball player waited until Rachel had tidied herself up then she slid out of the car and hooked her bag over a shoulder. Brittany beamed at her and instantly the frown melted into a grin. Quinn couldn't prove it but she was ninety percent certain that Santana knew the power of Brittany's grin on mere mortals and therefore used it as often as she could. Santana smirked and flicked her eyes to Quinn's waist.
"I know you have a weird fascination for superhero boxer shorts Fabray but you might wanna fasten your fly before everyone else knows as well."
Flushing, she looked down to her undone jeans and swore under her breath, turning from view as she fixed herself. Once she was presentable again, she blew out a breath and turned to see the tail end of Santana bumping fists with a happy diva. She sputtered slightly as she half glared at the two brunettes.
"Rachel if you just fist bumped S for getting my fly down…!"
The brunette had the good grace to flush slightly while Santana grinned unrepentantly and threw an arm around Rachel's shoulders.
"Come on Q, you gotz to admit the dwarf has got game…especially as you didn't even notice."
Rolling her eyes, she grabbed Rachel's hand and extricated her from the Latina's grip. The four of them headed to the choir room for their morning glee session. They were surprised to see the rest of the club already assembled including their new addition. Cameron was seated behind the drums, eyes glued to the I Pad in front of her. Mike started clapping when the two girls walked in and the rest of the group soon followed him. He was grinning widely and gestured to Santana who with a slight bow turned to face the blushing couple as they took their seats.
"Now we know how close competition time is and far be it from me to leave it to you two to suggest we don't work without you here."
There was a pause as Rachel acknowledged the hit with a giggle and Quinn just looked vaguely bewildered.
"Anyway…while we don't know the full story about what's going on with you two and Hudson. The one thing we do know is that we are here for you. You're gleek losers just like us and us gleek losers stick together. So in an effort to prove to you to that we can work without Berry here to crack the whip..."
The others laughed while the little diva huffed in mock annoyance and stamped a foot even while seated. Quinn's mind was stuck on an image of Rachel with a whip however, in the distant recesses of her mind she pictured an Indiana Jones like scenario with Rachel as Marion being the one to wield the leather weapon. She realised the others were chuckling and she blinked self consciously trying to shrug off Santana's smirk.
"And, if you're done with the drooling Q, I'll finish what I was trying to say…which is that we put together a little something in support of you guys. Ya know because we want you to know we don't slack off."
Brittany nodded and then felt the need to add.
"And because San was so worried about you both, she cried and we all had to hug her a lot. Mike then said we should do this and he and San worked on it."
Sighing and muttering something that was no doubt profane in Spanish, the Latina let her head fall into her hands. Mike chuckled and nodded to the rest of them who got into place beside various instruments. Once they were in place ,Santana and Brittany started the singing, followed shortly after by Blaine and Kurt. Only a few words in and Quinn and Rachel smiled as they realised that the group had chosen a song from one of the blonde's guilty pleasure films. They had to laugh when the entire glee club paused in their performance during one of the song's natural breaks to slap on eye patches. Although it was silly and nowhere near the type of performance they would need to win them regional's, neither Quinn nor Rachel could deny that the glee club's rendition of 'Professional Pirate' from Muppet Treasure Island was amazing.
Once they had all stopped laughing they passed the two girls their own eye patches and proceeded to wear them for the rest of the glee club. It goes towards Mr Schue's belief in them as a group that he didn't even think to question the reason they were all wearing eye patches when he walked in a few moments later. As he sat the meeting started and it became clear that there had been several ideas for regional's and in a display of how far they had come as a group as well as friends, not one person had chosen a piece for themselves to perform. Everyone had chosen their piece of music with someone else in mind. After several nudges (one of which sent Quinn half out of her chair) the blonde handed over the song she had written. As Rachel handed around photocopies complete with notes that she just happened to have on her, the blonde watched the group read over the lyrics. Mr Schue raised an impressed eyebrow.
"And you wrote this by yourself Quinn?"
The blonde nodded with a half shrug and rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly.
"I know it's not as good as the past few original songs we performed but you said to write from the heart so I did. Also at the moment it's just for piano because I haven't had a chance to finish the other parts yet."
She trailed off as Artie spoke up from over by the drum set where he was in a huddle with Cameron, and Puck.
"We can help with that if you like…are you going to sing it?"
Quinn quickly shook her head and at everyone's frowns she hurried to explain.
"I wrote it and while I can sing it I would rather it was sung by someone with the vocal range to pull it off. We have a lot of really good vocalists in the club and at first my mind was on Rachel…because…well, you know."
Santana snorted but it was affectionate and her eyes twinkled as she drawled out.
"Because that's what it's always on?"
The rest of the group laughed and even Quinn chuckled slightly as she shrugged with a half nod in agreement.
"Anyway…what I meant was I don't mind who sings it, it's up for grabs so I'm thinking that it's time for open auditions for anyone interested. Oh and as far as the group number goes we had a sort of interesting idea about that…or rather Rachel did."
The brunette diva beamed happily and straightened her back as the others looked to her for the answer. As much as she valued and loved the fact that they were a proper team now she couldn't deny that she still loved the spotlight. Sweeping her hair over her shoulder, she clapped her hands together excitedly.
"As we all know the competition is getting fierce these days and we have to find that one thing that makes us stand out in contrast to all the other groups out there. Now one thing the other groups do not have, or at least have chosen not to showcase is musicians!"
There was a general murmur among the group and several nods of agreement as they each looked amongst themselves. With Cameron on the drums they had pretty much a whole band now so long as they stuck to basics. Rachel nodded and carried on.
"Exactly, Puck is an accomplished guitarist, Cameron, as I have now seen, can play the drums, Artie can wail the bass and Blaine can tinkle the ivories. Quinn can play whatever other instrument we need…are there any other hidden talents we don't know about?"
There was a ripple of laughter and one by one the glee club all shook their heads, although Kurt admitted with some embarrassment that he could play the harmonica. Brittany shrugged and said apart from spoons she had no musical talent, Santana just looked at her fingernails feigning boredom…until she caught Quinn's grin. The Latina's eyes narrowed and she didn't have to open her mouth for the blonde to interpret the unspoken 'don't you dare Fabray'…
"Well there is one more hidden musician amongst us…"
The basketball player trailed off with a smirk and Santana scowled over at her.
"All this because I laughed at the fact that the dwarf managed to flash your under crackers to the school parking lot?"
Grinning with satisfaction, Quinn decided to take the high road without actually taking it.
"I could have held a grudge about that yes…but this is for the good of the glee club Santana. Besides the violin is something I haven't fully mastered yet and you were concert quality at one time."
The others looked at the Latina with gaping open jaws and Brittany just hugged her proudly. She of course had known as well as Quinn had but didn't want to be the one to out her girlfriend, so to speak. Eventually the head Cheerio huffed and crossed her arms.
"Fine, okay I admit it but we don't use it unless we really have to…you got that dwarf!"
Completely un-cowed by the supposed snap in the other brunette's voice, Rachel just grinned and nodded.
"You have my word Santana."
Once that had been sorted out and Santana felt she had glared at her former captain for an appropriate knee-trembling amount of time, Quinn picked up where Rachel had left off.
"As Rach was saying, we can bring in the band element of it which although isn't a key part to a glee performance, it does highlight our ability to sing as well as perform. Plus if we choose a song that suitably involves our audience then that really gets us attention that the other groups don't get."
Cameron rubbed her chin in thought and nodded as she twirled a drumstick with the other hand.
"Kinda like you guys did with 'Loser Like Me' but with a more well known song? I mean although that one was original, it got people up on their feet;, appealed to the underdog in all of us type of thing. I get where you're going with this, sort of like how when All American Rejects perform 'Hurts like Hell' they always get the crowd to join in."
Santana nodded as well and Mike grinned as the rest of the group came around to the idea as well.
"The question is what song can we do that either hasn't already been done to death or ruined by the very element we want it for."
Dave spoke, his brow creased in thought, at his question Rachel grinned brightly again and produced two piles of photocopied song sheets that she began to hand around. Once the club and Mr. Schue each had a copy of both songs in their hands, Rachel spoke again.
"As we are a club it is of course up for debate, I mean if there are more suggestions then we listen to them as well but I took the liberty of reviewing some songs online and short listed it to these two."
Kurt and Blaine nodded and looked thoughtful as they skimmed over the two songs. Artie nodded his head to the beat in his head and Dave smiled slightly. Mike scratched his head and half raised a hand. Rolling her eyes, Quinn spoke.
"Geez Mike don't raise your hand before speaking, my little supernova has enough of a leader complex as it is without you feeding it."
The others chuckled and Rachel paused to poke her tongue out at her girlfriend good- naturedly before turning back to Mike.
"Ignore her, she's just grouchy. Now, what was it you wanted to ask?"
Grinning as Quinn huffed and folded her arms at being dismissed, he gestured to the song sheets.
"Well I know 'Stars Tonight' by Lady Antebellum but I'm not sure I've ever heard of 'The Feeling' or this song by them 'Join With Us'?"
Cameron grinned from behind the drum set as she looked up.
"Brit band, known for their cheery lyrics and snappy rhythm's. It's all pretty upbeat and would get people off their feet. But as Mike just said, do enough people know them?"
She shrugged a shoulder and twirling her drumstick tucked it neatly into a pocket. At that moment the bell rang and so Rachel stood with the rest of them and spoke hurriedly.
"Well go home, listen to both and then we can take a vote…or if any more suggestions come up bring those along."
As they left the choir room Quinn grabbed Rachel's hand and all but jogged them to their next class. Once they were in front of the doors for Math class, Rachel stopped them breathlessly and held up a hand.
"Okay…now we finished running like we have the very hounds of hell on our heels, would you mind explaining to me why?"
Quinn grinned and managed to get out between breaths.
"I just outed Santana as a violin playing geek, she is definitely going to be looking to get back at me for that…hence the rush between classes."
Rachel looked at her for a moment then burst into peals of laughter as she leant on the wall of the classroom for support. Quinn waited patiently for the amusement to subside…well sort of patiently anyway, she couldn't quite help but pout.
"Oh boy…you, the big tough basketball captain is hiding behind her tiny diva of a girlfriend for protection?"
Scratching behind her neck and flushing slightly, the basketball player in question shrugged with a half smile.
"Hey everyone needs a hero sometimes supernova. Just goes to show that you are mine."
The laughter trailed off and Rachel let out a tiny gasp as she pulled her girlfriend to her for a kiss. They only pulled apart when one of the other students cleared a throat to move through the door they were currently blocking. However, for the rest of the day, Rachel did help Quinn to duck and hide from the slightly peeved head Cheerio. The school day as a whole wasn't too bad and the end of the day was upon them before they realised it. Back home they were relieved to find out that their dad's had gone out shopping and so for now they would be able to avoid the awkward conversation that was no doubt on the way. That being the case, Rachel decided that it was the opportune time to try and introduce Quinn to the kitchen safely; needless to say the blonde was more than reluctant.
"Rachel it hates me! It tries to kill me or smoke me out or…stuff."
Pausing in her attempts to drag Quinn across the threshold of the kitchen, Rachel propped her hands on her hips and levelled her girlfriend with a serious look.
"Quinn Fabray, do not be so silly! A kitchen is inanimate, it cannot plot to kill you or attempt to do so! Now stop being a big baby and get in here right now!"
Folding her arms, Quinn very purposely plopped down to sit on the floor of the hallway with her legs crossed and a pout.
"No, me and the kitchen have a truce in effect. I don't go in there and attempt to use it and it doesn't try to maim me. I am not going in there under my own steam and you can't make me!"
Caught between amusement and frustration at Quinn's reticence, Rachel sighed and then turned toward the fridge. With a very sly smile, she moved forward and tried to think how she could encourage her girlfriend to stop being a child about the situation. And then it occurred to her to just act very,…very adult! The blonde frowned slightly as she saw how Rachel's shoulders suddenly relaxed, the diva opened up the fridge and with a delighted squeak grabbed a juice box from within. Quinn got more and more suspicious as it wasn't grape (Rachel's favourite flavour) but orange (Quinn's favourite). A suspicion that only grew when an overly vigorous attempt to poke the straw through the foil cut-out resulted in a stream of the juice soaking the diva. Peeling the top off with a dramatic sigh, Rachel dropped it into the laundry bin in the utility room. When she returned, she smirked as she leant back against the sideboard in her bra. The basketball player swallowed…but refused to be swayed, though she did sit on her hands just in case.
"Quinn…I'm all wet now, aren't you at least going to come and help me?"
Trying to block out the far from subtle innuendo in the other girl's voice, Quinn decided to examine the ceiling tiles carefully as she muttered.
"Um…you took your top off so you're dry now."
There was no answer and thinking that she had somehow regained the upper hand Quinn decided it was safe to look again. A moment later, her eyes widened as she realised that Rachel was scooping some whipped cream off the top of a trifle Leroy had made that morning. She bit her lip, which stifled most of the moan as she watched the tip of Rachel's tongue come out to swipe at the cream on her finger. Why oh why couldn't she remember any of those millions of bible passages she must have learnt over the years. Because right now the memory of some smiting and plagues were just what she needed to cool her down. Sadly her mind remained blank apart from the vision in front of her. She was holding out well until a blob of the cream dropped from Rachel's finger and landed on the swell of a breast. A dark eyebrow arched wickedly.
"Are you sure you can't give me a hand with this?"
Swallowing hard, Quinn took a last nervous look inside the kitchen of death and then shot to her feet. In two long strides, she was within arm's length and pulled Rachel towards her. Ducking her head at the last minute, she darted her tongue out to swipe the blob of cream from the tanned skin before her.
"Rachel…this is so cheating!"
She growled into the skin under her mouth and nipped lightly but with strength. The diva's eyes widened and she emitted a gasp at the bite, it almost felt like Quinn was marking her territory…and to the brunette's surprise she loved it! She refused to take a backseat in her own seduction however and slid her hands over the basketball player's hips and dipped down past the waistband. Letting out a groan, she gripped Quinn's butt with both hands and squeezed the taut muscle. The growl against her skin grew louder and Quinn trailed kisses back up Rachel's jaw line towards her mouth. There was a dull thump as the door to the refrigerator was slammed closed as Rachel was backed into it. After months of quiet affection and muted passion, things between the two teens had finally exploded. And this time it was the kitchen getting the brunt of it, pushing back into the athlete, the brunette arched her neck and without conscious thought Quinn pounced on the newly revealed skin. Her hands snuck under the diva's bra with only the slightest hesitation. Gasping, Rachel pulled one of her hands off of Quinn's butt and slapped it over the one in her bra.
"Harder stud…squeeze it harder."
Not needing any further encouragement, the basketball player snuck her other hand around to the back where the clasp was and after a minor battle managed to release it. She actually whimpered slightly as her girlfriend's breasts were finally fully revealed to her and she paused to pant out breathlessly.
"Jesus Rachel…why did we wait so long?"
Surprised by the rough quality in her own voice, she was doubly shocked when she found herself on her ass on the floor as Rachel struggled with her shirt.
"I don't know but I'm not waiting any longer, however far we go tonight…we just go."
Nodding brokenly in agreement, Quinn managed to regain enough sense to press a hand to Rachel's chest and create breathing space.
"Agreed but…not the kitchen floor…I know it started out with you trying to get me in here but we can at least lock our bedroom doors."
Without speaking, Rachel shot to her feet and with one hand scooped up her sweater and bra. The other shot out and grabbed hold of the athlete's own as they literally sprinted up the stairs. They only had maybe a few hours before Hiram and Leroy came home but they were determined to use those hours well. There was no goal in mind when it came to what they wanted, all they knew was that they had held back for so long. Now it was time to truly explore each other, find their limits, what each was comfortable with. Two hours later when their fathers came back from shopping, the two of them looked inside cautiously.
"I think it's safe Leroy…now stop cowering, it can't be that bad you know. After all you must have been expecting them to do this at some point. I'm actually surprised at their restraint."
Leroy pulled a face.
"Well it wasn't you who found them was it…hands in places and mouths…!"
He shuddered dramatically and Hiram laughed at his husband's antics before coming up behind him to pull him into a hug.
"Hush now, they're upstairs doing homework that's all, so stop fretting and put the milk away!"
Rolling his eyes, Leroy smiled nonetheless and opening up the fridge, started to load the chilled goods inside. As he stood he frowned and gestured to the trifle.
"Who's been messing with the dessert? It looks like someone's been dipping into the cream!"
He looked puzzled and then glanced to the side where a squashed juice carton was turned on it's side…school bags cast to one side…homework abandoned. His eyes widened and he shivered as he glared at Hiram and pointed to the ruined desert. Hiram sighed and wondered why Rachel couldn't have inherited some of his subtlety. Putting his hands on his hips he yelled up the stairs. It was going to be an awkward albeit entertaining evening!
