AN: It feels super weird to almost be done with this story. I only have two chapters left to post. I should mention that Santana's line and the name of this chapter - "Get your shit together" – comes courtesy of lyrics from "Any Which Way" by the Scissor Sisters: "The night don't last forever/So get your shit together/Open arms are never what they seem." I figured Santana would actually say something along those lines to either Rachel or Quinn. It ended up being said to Rachel, obviously. Thanks for reading/reviewing/alerting/etc. You make this process so much fun for me, even when I know I'm frustrating the hell out of some of you. I'm not trying to annoy anyone, I promise. This is just where the story took me. I don't normally like angsty stories, so you can guess my surprise when I ended up writing one that was about 80% angst. But, just keep that other 20% in mind.

Quinn was determined to take control of this situation before Rachel could launch into what was likely going to end up as a twenty minute lecture on how the plant signified lack of trust between them, or something like that. Quinn wasn't entirely sure how the plant factored into this, and she truly just wanted Rachel to hurry up and end things without resorting to metaphors and long-winded explanations.

Rachel held up the plant for Quinn's inspection. "Look…"

Quinn put her finger over her lips in a shushing gesture. Rachel clamped her mouth shut and stared up at Quinn. She scooted around on the bed, obviously perplexed, but made no move to stand. She actually pushed herself further back.

Quinn had a momentary lapse in concentration. Rachel's movement had caused her skirt to ride higher on her thigh. Quinn's eyes zoomed in on the spot as she admired the smooth expanse of skin now visible under her gaze. Her face was becoming flushed and her body was rapidly heating up. No. No. No. It was most certainly not the time to indulge in those thoughts.

She gave a minute shake of her head and directed her attention to Rachel's eyes. Rachel stared quizzically back at her.

"Quinn, are you…"

Quinn shook her head to silence the brunette. Rachel leaned all the way against Quinn's headboard, placed the plant beside her, and locked her fingers together. She favored Quinn with a bemused smile.

She could just lean her body down and she'd be right on top of Rachel. It wouldn't take much and her hands would be touching…

Quinn shut her eyes in the attempt to regain focus. Not opening her eyes, Quinn spoke, "How did you get in?"

"Your mom. Quinn, would you please look at me? Are you hung over? Your face is very red and I happen to know you were at Santana's last night. I didn't think you were coming home until today…"

Quinn held up her hand and interjected: "I e-mailed you."

"Yes." The bafflement on Rachel's face was quickly being replaced with her signature look of annoyance. "But you were quite vague. I did not expect your arrival back in Lima until today. I have no idea if you have any extra-circular activities that might have kept you at school late on Friday, which would potentially have delayed your journey…"

Quinn's eyes remained closed as she again disrupted Rachel's monologue. "Right, right, got it. But how'd you know I was at Santana's?" She couldn't seem to restrain her desire to keep Rachel talking about anything other than what the brunette obviously came here to discuss. Quinn was delaying what couldn't be avoided: The break up.

"Santana texted me this morning. Here, look."

Quinn forced her eyes open and stepped closer – but not too close – to Rachel. She squinted at Rachel's phone and read the message from Santana: "Quinn just left my place. Get your shit together."

Quinn arched her brow and was finally able to keep her eyes on Rachel's face…and nowhere else.

Smiling slightly, she shifted back and away from Rachel. "Get your shit together?"

It was Rachel who now looked decidedly uncomfortable; her face turning a slight shade of pink and her body abruptly unable to remain completely still.

"We…we talk about you. Only sometimes! And she told me I should, you know, make up my mind."

"And I suppose you have?"

"Uh-uh. It's been pretty obvious to me all along which way this was going to play out."

Quinn's face burned bright again, but with anger this time instead of concealed lust. She dearly wished Rachel wasn't being so casual about this whole thing. She didn't even seem upset. And if she'd known she was going to end it with Quinn, the blonde was more than a little pissed they'd waited even so long as a week to have this conversation.

"You know what, Rachel? I'm willing to humor you." She nodded toward the plant – she was reasonably certain it was the basil – and continued, "Tell me all about your metaphor and how it relates to our relationship."

That expression of puzzlement was back on Rachel's face. "What metaphor?"

Exasperated, Quinn pointed sharply at the basil pot. "The plant, Rachel, the fucking plant!"

"I still don't understand…"

Quinn ran her fingers through her hair and danced her eyes across Rachel's face. "How the plant represents everything that is wrong with us…you're giving it back 'cause you can't be with me. It's all some type of symbol!"

"Oh, Quinn." Rachel sounded genuinely sad. "Why do you always have to think the worst of me?" She stood up and pulled Quinn to her. Quinn didn't resist.

"I just wanted to show you how much the plant grew since you gave it to me." Rachel ever so slightly shifted away from Quinn, but she kept her hands wrapped loosely around Quinn's waist.

Rachel's face suddenly lit up. "You know, I could've used the plant as a metaphor! You're so smart, Quinn! I think, much like this plant, that we are growing. Thriving, even!"

"How do you figure we're thriving? We haven't talked in a week!"

Rachel buried her face in Quinn's neck in what appeared to be a way to tamper her excitement. It didn't quite stop Rachel from lightly bouncing up and down. Quinn tried desperately to stop her body from tingling at the feel of Rachel's breasts against her own.

Rachel was nearly squealing at this point. "Because! You let me have time to think, and you were willing to wait for my answer. You didn't get mad. And I've stopped thinking you left Lima because of me."

"I told you before I left – I told your fathers, Rachel! - that wasn't the reason."

"But I wasn't sure I believed you. I mean, I did believe you…but I wanted to be mad at you. I couldn't – didn't want to – let it go. It's easier, sometimes, just being mad at you."

Rachel looked sheepishly up at Quinn. The blonde swiped her hands along Rachel's cheekbones.

"Stubborn girl, Rach, very stubborn."

Rachel smiled. "I'm afraid so." She nestled her nose against Quinn's neck. "Are you mad at me for being mad at you?"

"Not exactly. I'm more curious to know why you aren't still mad at me. Or are you?"

"No…and I know this is going to sound really, really strange…but it was something Santana said that made me realize I wasn't angry so much as hurt. She said you left Lima, not me. And I knew that, Quinn, I did!"

Rachel shrugged her shoulders and pushed her body flush against Quinn's. Quinn tried not to move. There was that awful burning sensation flooding through her body again.

"But hearing it from someone else made me realize how foolish I was being. I'd been trying to punish you…and you weren't giving me any reason to…but it…"

Rachel didn't finish her sentence. Instead, she kissed Quinn gently on the neck. Quinn, startled, jumped out of Rachel's grasp.

"What on earth is the matter?"

"Sorry, you…uh…scared me. You were talking and then…not talking."

Quinn wanted to wipe that smirk right off Rachel's face. With her mouth. She pivoted away from Rachel and swooped up the plant. Time to get them talking again. Not kissing. Definitely, definitely not kissing. Not yet.

"I'm kinda having trouble with your point about the plant. You could have just told me it was doing okay."

"Don't you appreciate a good visual, Quinn?"

Quinn struggled not to look down at Rachel's legs. She did, in fact, enjoy a good visual.

Rachel spoke again, "My point is that I did come here to give you back the basil." She jutted her finger against Quinn's chest. "You are going to have to learn to cook vegan food for me. And I am providing you with your first ingredient. Now, when I visit you at your father's – and I will be visiting you, Quinn – I expect you to be able to feed me."

Rachel smiled triumphantly at Quinn. The blonde nodded in response.

"Seems logical enough. But why didn't you e-mail me? Or something? Why just show up at my house? You couldn't have known when I'd be home."

"First, I wanted to surprise you."

"That doesn't work well with us."

Rachel laughed. "I'm figuring that out."

That familiar smirk ghosted across Rachel's face. "And I had some idea as to when you might arrive at your mom's. I get out of temple at eleven."

"So?"

Rachel looked extremely proud of herself. "So, Quinn Fabray, it is now just after noon and, voilà, here we are. I think you were hoping I'd show up."

Rachel might be on to something. It was far from the realm of possibility that Quinn unconsciously avoided going back to her mom's until she could be sure there was a chance – however slim – that Rachel might seek her out there. It was becoming increasingly evident to Quinn that her internal clock was set to a rhythm created and controlled by Rachel Berry. But Quinn wasn't ready to concede defeat.

"I couldn't know you'd be here."

"That's not what I said. You hoped I'd be here. Or that I'd show up." Rachel had taken to bouncing up and down again. "Tell me, did you have any plans this afternoon?"

"Nope."

"This evening, then?"

Quinn blushed. She was totally caught. "Uh…no."

"See! Told you! You came here to wait for me."

"Rachel, now you're just being a brat!"

Rachel giggled and grabbed Quinn in a bear hug. "I think it's very romantic."

"It's very pathetic."

Quinn's heart rate sped up considerably at Rachel's nearness. She gently pried Rachel's fingers from around her waist and slowly backed away. She accidentally bumped against her bed and went toppling down on top of it.

Rachel giggled again and crawled beside Quinn on the bed. She held her arms out to Quinn. "Come here, I want to kiss you."

And so they kissed. Quinn was careful to position herself above but not on top of Rachel. She couldn't trust her body to lie below Rachel's. It would have been too easy to reach up and slam her hips against Rachel. Quinn was already wet; had been wet since catching that glimpse of Rachel's thigh. It wouldn't take much, she knew, and she'd be unavoidably unable to keep to Rachel's no-sex policy.

Rachel's tongue circled round and round her own. Quinn felt like she was on the verge of passing out. Rachel's hands drifted across Quinn's ass as the brunette pulled Quinn closer to her. Her body was well on the way to overheating. Quinn could literally feel the tips of her ears turning pink!

But Rachel? Rachel seemed so calm it was as if she was about to fall asleep. There was no heaviness to her breathing. Unlike Quinn, who was on the verge of panting: Rachel's breathing had actually slowed down since they'd started kissing. This just wasn't going to work.

Quinn jumped up. "I'm hungry. Aren't you hungry? We should eat something."

Rachel blinked up at Quinn. "Uhm…okay. What are you in the mood for?"

You. Quinn nearly said it out loud. "I don't know. Maybe Italian?"

Quinn's body sagged with relief when Rachel stood up and headed for the door.

Rachel reached for her hand. "I'll treat you. We'll make a date of it."

Quinn smiled at Rachel and let herself be led out of the room.

(Break)

She convinced Rachel it would be fun to hang out with Santana and Brittany that night.

"I've missed them." Quinn wasn't sure Rachel would buy that statement.

"You just saw Santana last night."

"But not Brittany!" Quinn couldn't tell if her voice had the right pleading tone to it or not. Couldn't tell if she sounded convincing enough. And, technically, she wasn't lying. She hadn't seen Brittany the night before. She also really did miss Brittany. The cheerleader's unwavering optimism and goofy quips were always a comfort to Quinn.

"Fine." Rachel didn't sound too disappointed. But Quinn could tell the brunette wasn't overly thrilled either.

It took Quinn a lot of begging and bribing to persuade Santana to give up a Saturday night alone with Brittany.

"Don't you want to be alone with Rachel, Quinn? I'm sure you two can come up with lots of things to do. To each other."

Quinn could hear Brittany laugh in the background. She glanced around the bathroom; certain that Rachel was going to pop in at any moment. She pressed the phone closer to her mouth and whispered her response, "That's just it. Rachel wants us to hold off on the…well, you know. And I'm…" Quinn trailed off.

"And you're what?"

Quinn knew Santana was enjoying this exchange. "Santana, please! Hang out with us tonight. I'll pay for everything."

"Everything?"

"Yes!"

There was a pause in the conversation. Quinn could just barely make out the sound of Brittany's voice.

"Fine, me and Britts will be at your place in an hour. We expect you to buy us food."

Quinn ended up spending a lot of money that night, and most of it was on Brittany. Santana probably thought Quinn would balk at Brittany's suggestion that they go to the fun park twenty minutes outside Lima. But Quinn thought the idea was brilliant. She'd tire Rachel out with all the activities. And that would buy her at least one night. One night where she could be sure she wouldn't pounce on Rachel and effectively end their relationship before they could mend it.

Quinn made them hit the batting cages. She bought Brittany cotton candy. Quinn dragged Rachel to the bumper cars. She gave Santana thirty dollars to buy Brittany a stuffed unicorn. They played three rounds of mini-golf. Brittany took Quinn aside and asked for enough cash for an order of nachos and a slushie. Quinn told her to keep the change.

By the time the park closed, Rachel was hanging on to Quinn in an effort to stay awake.

Rachel pouted. "I want to go to bed."

Santana laughed and mumbled "I bet you do" just loud enough for Quinn to hear.

Quinn shot Santana a nasty scowl but the Latina merely yawned and asked for money to fill up her car with gas. Making sure Rachel wasn't looking, Quinn handed Santana three twenties. Quinn told her to keep the change.

(Break)

Quinn practically had to carry Rachel inside her house.

Grunting, Quinn struggled to move Rachel into her bed. "Are you sure your dads don't mind you staying over?"

"Told them about it." Rachel was barely awake. "Is okay."

Quinn watched as Rachel rolled over and pulled the covers around her body.

"Hold me," Rachel demanded.

Quinn didn't even bother changing her clothes. She climbed in bed beside Rachel and held on tightly.

"I love you," Quinn whispered into Rachel's hair. But Rachel was already asleep.

Quinn trailed her fingertips the length of Rachel's arm. She really wanted her fingers somewhere else. Sighing, Quinn turned away from Rachel to put some distance between them.

Otherwise, it would be a long, sleepless night for Quinn.

(Break)

Quinn spent Sunday morning in bed with Rachel. She was able to keep her libido in check. Barely. And only because they weren't kissing. They were talking.

"Are we girlfriends now?" Rachel asked.

"If you'll have me."

"I'll think about it."

Quinn laughed. "My dad knows about us. Just a little FYI for you. You'd better let me know if I can call you my girlfriend when I introduce you to him."

Rachel sat up. "You told him?"

"Yeah…but he wasn't surprised. He said I talk about you a lot. He guessed it. I don't know when."

"Ahh…your dad knows you love me! That's so sweet!" Rachel clapped her hands and rolled on top of Quinn.

Quinn stiffened but she didn't push Rachel off her. "I have to leave soon." It was all she could think to say.

Rachel rested her head on Quinn's chest. "Stay a little longer? Please?"

Quinn held Rachel until the early morning turned into the late afternoon. She kissed Rachel goodbye with the promise that she'd see her on Friday.

She ended up talking to Rachel on the phone the whole trip back to her father's house.

Quinn was glad her dad was out when she arrived home. She didn't want to have to sit through the inevitable "how was your weekend?" conversation just yet.

She had her skirt off before she made it inside her room. She had her hand down her panties before even laying down. It didn't take long for Quinn to get herself off. It took even less time for her to do it again. And again. Each time, it was always, always an image of Rachel that pushed her over the edge.

Always, always Rachel. Quinn breathed out Rachel's name and with a roll of her hips, she came around her fingers for the fourth time.

(Break)

Rachel's week was going by too slowly for her taste. And this was despite the Glee club's frequent, grueling practices for next week's Sectionals. Nor did the fact that she had two tests on Friday - that she spent a great deal of time studying for throughout the week - make the time pass quicker. She wanted the weekend. She wanted to see Quinn. But the clock was set against her. By Thursday she was in such a sour mood that she'd snapped at Tina for accidentally bumping into her during dance rehearsal. She'd stomped away from the girl after muttering a clipped apology. She was still fuming when she arrived home. She wanted the weekend. She wanted Quinn.

But Quinn only made things worse for her that night.

"I can't see you on Friday. I'm sorry."

Rachel nearly flung her phone across the room. "And why not? We agreed!"

"Rachel, don't yell. My mom called me today. She's going out of town on Saturday. She wants us to spend time together on Friday. It's only one night. I'll make it up to you. I've already asked Santana to invite the Glee club over to my house on Saturday. We'll have a party. It'll be nice. Everyone together before Sectionals. Bonding and all that."

Rachel held in a scream of frustration. "Quinn, I see these people every day. Every! Day! When do I see you? Apparently, once a week. If that! I don't want to bond with Glee club. I want to be alone with my girlfriend!"

Quinn was silent. Rachel again resisted the urge to throw her phone.

Quinn spoke up. "I'm sorry. I assumed you'd want all the time you could get to strategize about Sectionals. I thought it would be easier for you if everyone was in the same place."

"While I appreciate your gesture, I'd like you to call Santana back and rescind your offer."

There was another pause on Quinn's end. Rachel had a feeling she wasn't going to like what Quinn said next.

"Rachel, I don't wanna be rude. Besides, they won't stay that long. We'll have time alone together."

"You'd better hope so, Quinn Fabray!" And with that, Rachel hung up the phone and hurled it against the wall.

(Break)

Rachel's phone hadn't broken and she'd called Quinn back almost immediately. Quinn had sounded desperate to appease her and Rachel couldn't hang on to her anger. Not at Quinn, anyway.

Not until now. She was supposed to be listening to Blaine talk about a possible last minute change to their Sectionals set list, but Rachel found herself once again staring over at Quinn. Her girlfriend appeared absorbed in whatever it was Santana was saying. Quinn was essentially leaning into Santana's every word. And it had been like this for nearly two hours.

Rachel frowned. The worry that had first seeped into her brain on Friday wiggled its way to the forefront of her mind as she looked over at the two girls. Was there something going on between Quinn and Santana? Quinn had wanted to spend last weekend with Santana, too. She'd spent last Friday night at Santana's house! And Quinn had begged Rachel to let her see Santana the very next day. Santana was seeing more of Quinn than Rachel!

Santana leaned over and whispered something in Quinn's ear. Quinn's face instantly turned bright red. And Rachel had suddenly seen enough.

She made her way over to Quinn. "I'm going home."

Quinn grabbed her arm. "Wait, Rachel! What's wrong? Why do you want to go home? Are you sick?"

Rachel jerked out of Quinn's grip. "No, I'm not sick. It's getting late. I'm tired. And I'm done with this party."

Rachel gestured around the room. "No one has left. We're not alone."

Rachel glanced over at Santana before turning back to Quinn. "I don't think you want to be alone with me. So, go ahead and have your quality time with your friends. Enjoy it."

She pushed past Quinn and made her way to the door. She heard Santana mumble something as she quickly walked to the front door. But she wasn't going to let the Latina rattle her. The cold air caused her to shiver almost as soon as she set foot outside. She'd left her jacket in Quinn's room. But that was okay. Her car was only a few feet away.