Title: Bet You Didn't Know That (Part Eleven A)
Author:
amaltheaz(LJ) / pseudohuman(FFn) / boldlikelove(Tumblr)
Pairing/s: Rachel/Quinn
Rating:
PG-13
Length:
6,348 wordss (Total: 18,620 words so far)
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee, or anybody in Glee. So not used for profit.
Spoilers:
Up to Ballad, then AU-ish.
Author's Note: There isn't a lot of Faberry in this part but it's all important to get the girls to where they/we want them to be by the end of this humongous chapter. With that said and with the posting of the first part, this EPIC chapter is dedicated to all my readers that have been waiting for something to happen between the girls that would actually progress them to more than what they have been in the past, I don't know, ten chapters? Lol. I have to say, you're all so seriously awesome for being so patient. And I'm really, really hoping that I won't disappoint you with how I have handled the progression of the girl's relationship. Please let me know, yes?
Author's Note #2: To my beautiful reviewers/commenters, I love – love - reading everything you've been saying to me about this story. Keep them coming!

Bet You Didn't Know That

Part Eleven A

Finn walks in the music room the following day during lunch period to find Rachel standing over the piano, one arm folded underneath her as she leans closely over papers that are spread out on top of the instrument. His entrance is noisy enough to alert the tiny diva of a new presence in the room. When Rachel smiles, realizing that it's him, Finn responds with his trademark crooked grin. Without sparing another thought, Finn immediately goes to sit on the piano bench next to the diva. "Hey Rach," he says quietly, earning a bright smile from the brunette before she returns her attention back to her papers. "Are you going through your song for Glee?" he asks. He sees her nodding absently to his question, her concentration still mostly on scribbling notes.

Finn takes a second to look around the room and sees Quinn with her head down, listening to her iPod, Brittany and Santana sitting up on the risers, talking quietly. The brunette Cheerio somehow feels his roaming gaze and meets it. Finn braces himself to receive a scathing glare but Santana just curls her top lip into a sneer and crosses her arms, leaning back against her chair before rolling her eyes at him then turning to her left to resume talking to her girlfriend. Finn knows that it is just about the friendliest acknowledgement that he is ever going to get from the girl and he happily takes it.

Completely oblivious to a certain pregnant blonde's narrow-eyed glare at his proximity to the small brunette, Finn leans down to ask quietly, "So how come they're sitting so far away? I thought you girls were attached at the hip or something."

Rachel chuckles indulgently at Finn's comment, not really surprised by it as it isn't the first time somebody has mentioned something to that effect. She doesn't blame people for thinking that really. She is very aware that the majority of the student body perceive her and Quinn (and to some extension, Brittany and Santana) to be almost inseparable. Even more so now since Quinn especially, has taken to waiting outside of Rachel's classes if her own happens to be nearby. Warmth spreads throughout her body every time she walks out of a room and meets Quinn's bright hazel eyes and crooked smile. And it is a habit that Rachel is quickly becoming addicted to as she has never had anybody who would voluntarily do that for her.

Her dark eyes flick up to quickly glance at the three girls sitting some distance away from them, letting out another chuckle when she spies Quinn glaring at a smirking Santana, guessing that the Latina is teasing the blonde about something, again. "Quinn is working on her own song for the Glee assignment," she begins to explain, "and Brittany and Santana are there because Santana says I'm annoying in diva mode. Personally, I think she finds it more amusing to annoy Quinn as I am now immune to her badgering."

Even though he doesn't think that he'll ever really understand how the relationship between Rachel and Santana actually works, Finn chuckles and nods along anyway. Puck had come over to his house last night, telling him about the trip to the music store with the girls and since then, there is a topic present in his mind. "So," he starts, attempting nonchalance, "Puck told me you guys met some dude from Vocal Adrenaline?"

Rachel nods absently as she jots down another note. "Yes, Jesse St. James is the male lead. He is a very gifted singer." She stops her writing and puts down her pencil when her mind processes something, and looks up at the boy, "You and Noah are talking again?" she asks, a hint of a smile playing on her lips, hoping that the two former best friends may be on their way to reconciling.

Finn shrugs. "It's nothing major," he tells her. "He came over last night and we played some games... talked a little bit," he murmurs, willing himself to maintain a light and unaffected tone in his voice.

The small brunette nods, accepting his answer and diligently goes back to her notes. It's going to take a while before Finn's friendship with Noah return to its former glory. Though it won't really be the same as it was, but she is certain that once they do move on from this, their friendship will be stronger than ever.

"Anyway, I heard Jesse asked you out," he adds, unable to hide his disdain when saying the male lead's name.

Her hand pauses in the middle of writing and Rachel sneaks a cautious glance at Finn, recognizing the tone that his voice has taken when saying Jesse's name. "And I turned him down," she replies slowly.

"You did?" he asks, unfolding his fists, belatedly realizing that they had started to clench and his chest heaves with an inaudible sigh of relief. When Rachel looks up at him, arching a questioning eyebrow up at him, he mumbles sheepishly, "I kinda stopped listening after Puck said that the guy asked you out." He knows that he doesn't have the right to be jealous but he can't help it anyway. While he may be okay with them trying to be friends, his heart is slower to accept it and still carries a yearning for the smaller brunette. "Why did you turn him down? From the way Puck put it, it sounded like he was your perfect guy or something."

Rachel smiles ruefully. "He and I are far too much alike for us to be anything more than acquaintances." She doesn't know why people, Finn and Quinn apparently, seem to think that just because somebody shares her interests and her drive, it means that they're perfect for her. But in a way, she can understand that it is what they think she would want. Who better to achieve her dreams with than the person who shares them too, right? It would be so easy. But Rachel just isn't equipped for easy. She shifts her gaze away from Finn, looking for the blonde that has unknowingly made everything so complicated. Staring at Quinn as the blonde pays close attention to whatever Santana is saying to her. When a tinge of pink colours Quinn's lovely features, Rachel feels her own cheeks begin to warm over and her lips are curving up into a smile as her eyes remain on her friend.

Her friend, impregnated by a friend who is also another friend's ex.

Complicated and yet, there is no doubt in Rachel's mind that she will ever want it any other way.

Finn takes in Rachel's soft grin and follows its direction, though somehow knowing already who is the recipient of that longing stare (definitely neither the brunette nor the blonde decked in red and white), and he remembers the something that has been circling his brain for awhile now, ever since that day Quinn told him about the baby and finding out that Rachel had known the whole time. He shifts in his seat uneasily as his mouth opens and closes several times, trying to think of ways to phrase it without sounding like a moron. "Does-" he stops for a moment, swallowing thickly, and he leans even closer to her, asking so softly that Rachel can just barely hear his question, "does Quinn have anything to do with why you said no?"

Rachel's head suddenly whips back to him and Finn leans back, spluttering in surprise when he gets whipped in the face by her flying brunette locks. She smiles apologetically and tucks strands of her hair behind her ear. "What do you mean?" she asks quietly, her voice shaky as her heart begins to beat in trepidation when Finn just looks at her calmly and somewhat knowingly, in a way that reminds her of how Brittany looked at her when she first asked Rachel about her feelings towards Quinn.

Finn takes in a deep, steadying breath as he stares at her, "Since finding out about the baby, I decided that I need to pay closer attention to what is happening around me," he explains.

"And?" she urges, lowering herself on the piano bench, finding herself with the need to sit down.

"And," he sighs, seeing the nervous brown gaze. He really doesn't actually want to know the answers to the questions that are present in his mind and from the look on Rachel's face, he's pretty sure that she's not even ready for this conversation. But if these past few weeks have taught him anything, it's that it is better in the long run, to get things out as soon as possible. "I've seen some things that I probably never would have noticed before," he answers vaguely. "And I know you know exactly what I mean, Rachel."

Rachel frowns, swiftly averting her eyes to escape the weight of Finn's discerning stare, looking down at her abandoned music sheets.

Finn waits for her to acknowledge him. After seconds pass and she still hasn't, he sighs, "What's going on between you two, Rach?"

"I don't know," she mumbles, anxiously biting down on her lip. "I mean, there's nothing going on between Quinn and me," she quickly interjects, wanting to take back her words.

"You know, for someone who wants to be on Broadway to act for a living, you're kind of a bad liar," he dryly remarks.

"I'm not lying!" she whispers-yells indignantly. Technically, it isn't a lie. There really isn't anything going on between her and Quinn, despite her deeply-buried wishes that there is. And how dare he insinuate that she can't act? She is about to give him a piece of her mind when he places a hand on her wrist.

"Rach, I'm your friend, right?"

The brunette holds back a grunt, her annoyance melting completely when Finn gives her a sincere look, showing her that he really meant no harm, though she is a little peeved that he's using the 'friend' card on her. "Yes," she mutters through clenched teeth, crossing her arms as she mildly glares at Finn.

Only barely managing to hide his amused chuckle because seriously, Rachel is all kinds of adorable when she's fuming, Finn lightly squeezes her hand. "Then talk to me," he lightly pleads, his thumb tenderly stroking the skin on the inside of her wrist.

Most, if not all, of Rachel's hesitance comes from the fact that this is Finn. A boy that she knows is still fighting his feelings to get over Quinn. But he is also still her friend. The first person to actually befriend her in school and Rachel somehow feels like she owes it to him. If anything, she knows that he will listen. She peers down at their hands in her lap, at how his big hand completely covers her own smaller one. There is comfort, tenderness, and there is warmth. But it's nothing like having Quinn's hand in hers. Rachel sighs, nodding acquiescingly.

"Tell me about her."

At Finn's softly-spoken entreating words, Rachel pulls her hand away to brush through her hair and looks to the distance; to the captivating blonde sitting across the room. As if she can feel her, Quinn's head shoots up, her eyes locking immediately with Rachel's dark chocolate ones and Rachel finds herself drowning in the deep swirls of brown, yellow and green.


She sees him entering the room before Rachel does; sees his face lighting up instantly at the sight of the small brunette; sees him paying little to no mind to the other occupants of the room, ambling straightaway to sit by Rachel's side. Quinn fights down the jealousy that rises, watching the easy smile that arrives on Rachel's face in response to Finn's presence. It's not that she thinks Rachel still wants Finn. The diva made it very clear yesterday that she thinks of him only as a friend and Finn seems to be accepting it as well, but still, does he have to sit so close when there's a perfectly good chair right beside the piano? She should be there, making Rachel smile and laugh like that. She should be the one who-

"Stare any harder and Shrek's head is going to explode." Quinn jumps slightly, startled by the voice cutting off her thoughts in its tracks. She growls under her breath then turns to send a withering glare at Santana who only smirks at her in return. "What? You were mooning over Berry again and I was starting to lose my lunch just watching you."

"Then why are you still watching?" the blonde asks.

Santana shrugs. "I'm a masochist, apparently," she replies dryly. "So, why haven't you done anything yet?"

The pregnant blonde gives her an incredulous look. "Weren't you the one that said to me that I shouldn't try anything with her?"

Santana rolls her eyes. "Q, you and I both know that you'd sooner dropkick me into the Atlantic before listening to me telling you to not do something," she pauses when Quinn lets out a snort of agreement, "and anyway, you haven't done anything to screw up whatever deal you've got going with the midget so far, so you know, you have my permission to do whatever. God speed and all that," she finishes, waving her hands in Rachel's direction only to have Quinn slap them down in a panic so as to not alert the smaller brunette. The blonde sighs in relief when Rachel doesn't look their way.

"I can't tell you how much that means to me, Santana, to have your blessing to go after a girl who is of no relation to you whatsoever," Quinn deadpans, warranting another eye-roll from the Latina. And yet she mulls over Santana's "blessing" and how she was thinking the same thing yesterday anyway when she and Rachel were in the car. She really wants to- no, needs to do something. She needs to tell Rachel how she feels, that she wants to be Rachel's somebody. Feeling a wave of insecurity taking over her as she watches Rachel conversing easily with Finn, "What if she doesn't feel the same way?" she quietly asks Santana, flinching slightly when the brunette loudly scoffs at her question.

"Did pregnancy make you stupid and blind?" the brunette's dark brown eyes are filled with disbelief as they stare into the vulnerable hazel eyes of her former Head Cheerio. "Seriously Q, do you not see the way she is with you?" Santana grunts impatiently when Quinn's eyebrows furrow into a confused frown. "It's disgustingly sweet, that's what it is. And then there's the way that you two act around each other?" she pauses to make sure the blonde is paying attention. "You're basically girlfriends," pausing again, this time for effect, "without the benefits," she finishes with a lascivious smirk that deepens when Quinn's cheeks blush a crimson red.

Quinn can't help but wonder though. Sure, Rachel is amazingly sweet with her, with the way she looks after Quinn and her baby's needs but Quinn has discovered that Rachel is like that with everybody. It's a side of Rachel that not many experience due to their unwillingness to see pass her abrasive nature. But when given the chance, Rachel really is just that sweet.

The next point to come to mind is that, Rachel doesn't call anybody else 'sweetie' or any other endearing nicknames. Doesn't tenderly press her hand to anybody else's face like she does with Quinn. Doesn't touch anybody else as easily as she does with Quinn. While the blonde may not notice or realize just how exactly Rachel looks at her, she's not too oblivious to not notice that their physical interaction seems to come as effortlessly as breathing.

Could it really be true? Could Rachel really feel the same way? It's almost too good to be real. How could somebody like Rachel want her? Why would she, even?

"You should just go and tell her that you love her."

Her head snaps up to meet Brittany's resolute blue eyes, surprised by the girl's frank statement. She didn't realize that Brittany has been listening in on their conversation. "I- I don't know if I can call it that," Quinn stutters quietly, feeling a little caught off-guard by the taller blonde's interruption.

Brittany frowns, her baby blues coated in confusion. "Then what would you call it?" she asks because really, what else can it be?

"Really, really, really intense... 'like'," she trails off, wincing instantly because even she can hear the weakness of that word.

Santana chuckles in amusement and rolls her eyes at the pregnant girl. "Oh yeah, 'cause that is so much different," she replies sarcastically, deciding to let this conversation go for now. Obviously Quinn needs just a little bit more time to grow the balls to make a move on their resident diva and Santana Lopez is not a meddler. If Quinn wants to be an idiot and shuffle around aimlessly, denying just how wet her panties get because of one Rachel Barbra Berry, then that's her deal. The current Head Cheerio has done her part in giving the pregnant blonde a gentle nudge; any more nudging and people are going to start thinking she cares or something equally insane.

The girl in question sneaks another glance at Rachel and Finn, noticing from their solemn faces that whatever conversation she's having with Finn has taken a serious turn as Rachel is wearing a sad frown. It makes Quinn's heart ache, makes her wish that she could just rush down to hold the smaller girl and make whatever pain she's feeling go away. And to also smack Finn upside his big head for making that look even appear on the girl's face.

Quinn sighs, turning her attention back to her iPod. Unbeknownst to Rachel, Quinn has actually already chosen her song. As soon as Rachel finished saying what she had to say in the car yesterday, Quinn knew what her song is going to be.

The sound of a guitar playing lulls her to a calmer state and she dips her head down, closing her eyes as she listens to an easygoing voice singing the lyrics to her. She presses a hand down on her belly when her baby starts to kick. The thuds suddenly increase in pressure, a familiar sensation that only happens when a certain somebody is either approaching or looking at her. Quinn blinks open her eyes and she leans back in her chair, taken slightly by surprise when she instantly meets a mahogany stare focused solely on her. She doesn't know why Rachel is looking over at her in such a way that makes her feel like the brunette is searching for something but Quinn returns the stare anyway, more than willing to surrender what it is that Rachel is trying to find. As Rachel's eyes continue to bore right into her, the blonde can't deny the rising heat in her cheeks, the shudder coursing through her body and the wild racing of her heart. All things telling her that this is more than just an intense 'like'.


A few moments pass by before Rachel finally breaks the stare, lowering her eyes to her hands on her lap and she sighs, her voice is soft and shaky, like she's trying to catch her breath, "We have these moments together, just like that one and there is something in the air between us that I can't find the right words to describe. And I feel this... connection to her, and it's so piercingly deep like it's trying to settle inside my bones – inside every part of me – and sometimes, I think I can actually feel her."

Breathless, Finn finds himself ill-prepared and completely unable to bear the sheer weight of Rachel's quiet confession. He can't even find the words to say anything because this is clearly way out of his depth. A part of him had expected it and yet he discovers that he just isn't ready to hear something of that magnitude from her. His heart wrenches painfully in jealousy that he knows he doesn't have the right to feel. He isn't even sure whom this jealousy is directed towards, maybe it's one or the other, or even both of the girls, simply because they have each other and he is left in the dust.

Still focusing on her wringing hands and oblivious to Finn's struggle, Rachel continues, "I have never known that something like this can exist between two people, something so strong and powerful, especially when those two people happen to be Quinn Fabray and myself. But she has changed so much from the Quinn we used to know. And she has changed me too," she pauses, realizing that the boy hasn't said anything and she looks up at him, unnerved by the distraught look on his face, "Finn, are you okay?" she asks, worrying her bottom lip in between her teeth.

Finn shakes his head, taking in a steadying breath. He meets her concerned brown eyes and gives her a crooked desolate grin, "We never really had a chance, did we?" he asks, his voice cracking slightly. There is no other way to say it, nothing more that he can say and he's pretty sure that anything else that'll spill out of his lips now would just probably come out as a wrangled sob or something equally horrifying. Resentment, anger, pain. They all swirl around in the pit of his stomach, bubbling underneath the surface of his skin. If this had been weeks ago, he would have retaliated by now. In his mind's eye, he can easily see his reaction if he had gone by instinct. The chaos that he alone can cause because of this... hurt. His hands clench and unclench, sometimes tightly gripping the top of his thighs, trying to rid himself of the tension that is rapidly burrowing its way inside him. He breathes in deep and exhales long and harsh, trying to alleviate the stinging in his heart.

Rachel searches the expression on Finn's face and her breath hitches, realizing too late how difficult this conversation must be for the boy. It isn't just the fact that Finn still has to wrestle with the feelings he has for Quinn, but also the feelings he has for her because even if nothing actually happened between them and nothing is ever going to happen, doesn't mean those feelings never existed or that they just magically disappear just because they decided to be friends. She berates herself for being so self-obsessed that she doesn't see her own friend's suffering, the casualty of her feelings for the girl who used to be his. Guilt washes over, overwhelming her to the point that she feels tears clouding her vision. "No. I don't think we ever did," she softly concedes, hoping that he can hear the remorse that is laced in her trembling voice.

He is about to say something in reply when suddenly Rachel grabs his bicep, clinging almost desperately, "Are you upset with me?" she asks in a trembling, insecure tone. One look into her wide dark eyes that are so completely filled with innocent hope, Finn forces himself to push it all down, to swallow the jealousy and the hurt because really, neither of the girls is his. And it isn't like they planned to do this to hurt him, even if it does feel like it. Finn knows that even if he breaks off his friendship with Rachel, her feelings for Quinn will still be there. And the same goes for Quinn too. If he's learned anything from his failed-before-it-even-began relationship with Rachel is that you can't stop your heart from loving whomever it chooses.

Finn experiences a slow lift in his chest and he knows that it is his heart, gradually being released out of its chokehold, allowing him to truly let go. Maybe not all at once, but it's a start. And that's more than he can really hope for right now. Looking into her deep brown orbs, Finn realizes that he would be a big fool if he were to throw her friendship away. She's the first person to see him as who he is and accept him at the same time. He gives Rachel a small reassuring smile, "No, I'm not upset, Rach," he finally answers, placing a hand over hers that is still on his arm, gently squeezing it. Her face lights up significantly and she suddenly leans up, soundly planting her lips on his cheek before giving him a shy smile, so filled with joy and pride that further confirms his belief that he is making the right choice, and he smiles back in return.

"Thank you," she says softly, squeezing his arm in gratitude before letting go, "I don't know what I would do if you're upset with me again."

The earnest sincerity in her dark eyes tells him that she really means it, that she truly does consider him a friend that she would be sad to lose and it fills him with a sort of joy that he is irreplaceable to her as she is to him. "It's just going to take me a little bit more time, okay?" he shakily reminds her, hoping that she will understand that it's going to be a little while before his heart is done playing catch up.

Rachel nods. "I get it."

Finn lets out a discreet sigh, feeling a little exhausted as if he had just gone through battle. He shakes his head. "So, what are you going do to about Quinn?"

The diva catches her bottom lip in between her teeth, concern flashing brightly in her brown eyes. "Are you sure you want to keep talking about this? We can always talk about anything el-" She stops when Finn takes her hand, squeezing it reassuringly.

"I think it's best for us to just get it out of the way now," he says before assuring her with a brave smile, "I can do my crying when I'm alone in my room," he chuckles mirthlessly.

Rachel regards him dubiously, wondering if it would be the best course of action to confide in Finn because she doesn't want to hurt him anymore than she already has. But there is a fierce determination in his eyes that tells her that he would rather know the difficult truth now than be ignorant of it. She steals another brief glance at Quinn, who is distracted by whatever song she's listening to, before sighing deeply, "I don't think there's anything that I can do."

"What do you mean?" he asks, frowning at the despondence in her voice, confused by her resignation.

"She already has so much to deal with, Finn," she sighs again, picking up her pencil as she begins to doodle on the music sheet. "She has a baby on the way. And then there's Noah to think about as well. It's very obvious that he has really deep feelings for her and I don't want to hurt him," she murmurs, trying fruitlessly to distract herself.

Wincing slightly at Rachel mentioning Puck's feelings for his former girlfriend, the pang of betrayal not as fresh as before but still stinging nonetheless, Finn chooses to ignore and not comment on it. "Did you ever think about maybe talking to her about it?" he asks carefully.

"How do you think she would react to finding out that the friend that has been there for all the tears since the beginning; the friend that she has been living with since her parents kicked her out; has feelings for her and wants to do many unmentionable things to her and with her?" she pauses, a hot blush settling in her cheeks when her words register in her brain. She doesn't dare to look at Finn for fear of his reaction and she decides to quickly finish her rant, "And can I really dare to hope that she might feel the same way?"

"She'll hate me," she answers finally, gasping lightly at the hollowness striking in her heart at the mere thought of losing Quinn and she takes her hand off Finn's arm, folding it into a fist over her chest. She is not fond of that feeling at all.

Finn swallows a tearful lump at the troubled look in her eyes; instantly pushing away the thought of the two girls together and watches Rachel lose herself in a world where Quinn leaves her, never once looking back. He softly calls her name, wanting to pull her out. Her head whips around to meet his apologetic gaze and his heart lurches inside his chest. There's something about seeing Rachel Berry look so shaken up that makes Finn want to kick somebody or himself if need be; anything to get that desperate, haunted look out of her eyes.

He has only been watching their interaction from afar and really, it's so very painfully clear to see the intensity that swims deep in both pairs of brown and hazel eyes when they only looked at each other. The air crackles between them so fiercely that even Finn feels the effect, feels the edges of his skin singeing from the electrical current that flows in between the two girls. And the way that Rachel had spoken about the connection that she shares with the pregnant blonde; it was so very easy to hear the desire in her voice, to see the fire in her brown eyes. And he would have to be an idiot to think that Quinn doesn't feel the same for Rachel, from the way that Quinn just stares right back at the brunette like Rachel is the source of everything good and true. So it surprises him that Rachel can't seem to see that. Can't seem to see Quinn's reciprocation and he wonders why, only to have Rachel answering his unasked question, "I don't think I can survive Quinn pushing me away again, Finn. Once was more than enough."

He purses his lips, giving her a sympathetic look. He understands now that it is Rachel's fear that she could easily lose Quinn because of this, blinding her from seeing that there is nothing she could do that would ever make that really happen. "I don't think she would do that to you again, Rach, or to herself. She was a wreck too, remember?" he reminds her, easily recalling the weekend that Quinn stayed in his bedroom, crying and calling Rachel as if it were only yesterday. The regret in her hazel eyes was so clear and so palpable that he wonders why he didn't see it then; didn't see the depth of feelings that Quinn had even back then for the brunette.

She nods solemnly, "I remember," her breath catching at the reminder of a weekend of forced separation filled with nothing but seemingly endless tears, ignored phone calls and unanswered apologetic texts. "And that's exactly what I don't want to happen between us. I don't want to get my heart broken, Finn."

"But isn't that supposed to be the whole point of being in love?" he blurts out without thinking, "So that you take that risk of getting your heart broken?"

There is a long pause before Rachel utters her reply. "In love?" she repeats softly, her eyes blinking slow and owlishly with every passing second.

He shrugs. "Yeah. That's what this is, isn't it? You're in love with Quinn."

Rachel feels a pressure in her chest, a sudden shortness of breath and a sheen of sweat on the back of her neck. She wonders when did the room get so hot, and her next words are nothing but stutters of "I- oh God, I didn't even- I never-" as she tries to get a hold of her roller-coaster of emotions.

The taller boy's eyebrows fold together, frowning in confusion by her actions. "Whoa Rach, are you okay?" he asks, his hands reaching up to rest on her shoulders, holding her down. He doesn't understand why Rachel is being like this. She is desperately clutching her chest as she stands on seemingly wobbly legs and her eyes are darting everywhere like she's trying to-

"Rachel?"

Both of the club's co-captains are startled when they realize that Brittany is standing beside the piano, a calm smile playing on her lips. Rachel focuses on that grin, trying to draw some strength from it, feeling relieved that Brittany is there. Both Finn and Rachel wait for the blonde to continue, stating her reason as to why she's there.

"I'm heading out to feed my bird. You want to come with me?"


Once they're a good distance away from the music room, Brittany wraps an arm around her friend's shoulders, pulling Rachel closer in a one-armed hug as they walk towards her locker. The smaller brunette hasn't said a word since they left the room and it doesn't take a genius to see that whatever it was that she and Finn were talking about, it has left Rachel feeling very unsettled. The blonde leans down, pressing the side of her head against Rachel's temple in comfort, "Do you need me to go kick his ass?" she calmly asks the contemplative brunette. The last time Rachel was this eerily quiet was after the last time that Quinn had upset her and it worries Brittany that Finn might have said something that hurt Rachel too.

Rachel looks up from the floor, startled that Brittany broke her out of her reverie. "What?" she murmurs absently, having missed what Brittany said to her as her own thoughts are too preoccupied with what just happened in the music room. She doesn't really know what it is that she's feeling but the very moment she heard, "You're in love with Quinn," it didn't just take her by surprise, it knocked her back completely. She's not even sure why it did because isn't this what all those feelings were building up to anyway? Maybe it was just hearing it said out loud for the first time. It makes everything that she feels for Quinn more concrete; Finn's words were breathing life into Rachel's deep-seated feelings for the blonde, giving them a name. One name and it strikes Rachel as strange that this is how she consciously realizes her feelings. She has always known that she loves Quinn; loves her in the way that she needs the blonde in her life. Her feelings for Quinn have always been right there and she has always been aware of them taking their time to seep inside her skin until they're completely buried deep inside her. But in love?

"Finn," Brittany clarifies, breaking Rachel out of her quiet bewilderment. "Do you need me to kick his ass?" she asks, slowly repeating her offer.

She feels Brittany's fingers tensing slightly around her shoulder, ultimately betraying her calm demeanour. Rachel really doesn't know where or when Brittany suddenly got this protective streak. Ever since they became friends, Brittany has always tried to discreetly look after Rachel, especially with the slushies and everything but after the confrontation with Finn about Rachel knowing that Noah is the baby's father; it was like Brittany stepped it all up a notch, though thankfully she isn't as bad as Santana. Rachel gives the taller blonde a smile in thanks, wrapping her own arm around the cheerleader's waist to return the embrace, hoping to calm the girl down at the same time. "No, Brittany, it's okay. He didn't upset me."

"You look upset though," Brittany argues, frowning at the pensive brown eyes looking back at her. She has never told Rachel this but she really hates that she wasn't there when Finn confronted the smaller brunette, only hearing about the encounter from Santana afterwards and Rachel, only the day after. She felt this rush of anger and fury overcoming her and it's something that she is not used to feeling. Brittany likes to think herself as an easygoing person, never one to resort to promised violence, not like her girlfriend but just the thought of Finn who is so big, practically towering over Rachel who is really so small and scaring her too, really makes Brittany's blood boil. While the brunette was talking to Finn, Brittany was very subtly watching Rachel's body language and when Rachel's face took on a stunned look and seemed seconds away from hyperventilating, Brittany reacted instinctively, taking her chance when Rachel stood up by stepping in and giving her the option to escape.

"He was just talking to me about Quinn," she tells her friend.

"Why? Does he want to get back together with her?" Brittany asks apprehensively.

Rachel shakes her head. "No. He is definitely not thinking of that at all." At Brittany's look, urging her to explain, Rachel does so, "He- he knows about my feelings for her."

Of all the people that Brittany thought would have been the next to know about Rachel's feelings for Quinn, she never would have pegged that it would be Finn. She sighs in relief. She had been worried that he might have scared Rachel from wanting to be with Quinn. From the conversation that Quinn and Santana were having and the loaded looks that she was sending Rachel's way, Brittany has more than a feeling that something is going to happen between them, and soon.

"And he asked me if I ever thought about talking to her about it," Rachel continues in a mumble. Without giving Brittany a chance to even reply, she tugs on the taller blonde's waist, pulling them in the direction of Brittany's locker, "Come on; let's go feed your bird."

Brittany sighs and lets it all go for now, knowing that Rachel needs some time to regroup. So she takes a page out of her girlfriend's book and decides to leave it well alone. Rachel and Quinn are meant to be and maybe some things are just better left to Fate.

END OF PART ELEVEN A