Disclaimer: I own nothing really, just borrowing the characters for a little joyride

Pairing: Eventual Quinn/Rachel
Spoilers: Anything up has already aired. A/U obviously at some point.
Rated: R for language, and other stuff.

A/N ! If you would rather, feel feel free to skip to Chapter 29 where our plot picks up after things got mutually, and consensually intimate overnight. Seriously. You won't miss any plot really.

A/N 2: Thank you as always to those of you who take the time to comment or review. It definitely makes my day.

A/N 3 yes, I actually cranked out another chapter. I had to work through the dross of yesterday's crrap. Uh, there is definitely more than cuddling and spooning. I know some will like it, some will not. :/ I guess that is my warning. Let me know if the warning should be a stronger.

Thanks for the anonymous reviewers from last chapter. Seriously. If M offends you, just jump to chapter 29 :)

The blue light on the DVR stated 1:04 a.m. Quinn gave a squeeze on Rachel's fingers.

"Okay, that's a wrap. Time to hit the showers."

The smaller girl sat slowly up, stretching. "Hit the showers?"

"Yeah, sorry, Sue-ism."

"Ah, so you're equating the day to hours of torture? Great…." She covered a yawn and twisted side to side working out the kinks, stopping to grab the blanket. She smiled when she felt the small push on her shoulder.

"Of course not. You fed me."

"Which is better treatment than Finn got I could add. But won't."

"This is true. And thank you."

"Okay, I'm check to make sure the embers are out in the fireplace, and then I'm going to wash my face again."

"Hm. I wouldn't mind freshening up a bit. I'll sleep better."

Rachel turned on the bedside lamp before turning out the overhead light. She surveyed the bed, and then crawled in on her usual side. She didn't have a 'plan' yet, but she was pretty sure using discretion would be the better part of valor this evening.

She lined herself up as far to the edge of her bed as possible, and sat up with her hands folded over the blanket on her lap, waiting politely for Quinn.

The door opened, and she smiled at the tiptoeing girl. "Quinn, it's okay. My dad's are two floors down, you probably don't need to tip-toe."

She looked down at her bare feet and shrugged. "Habit?" She continued walking gingerly around to the opposite side of the bed and slid in while the brunette looked concerned.

"You're sure you don't mind that side of the bed?"

Quinn shook her head, amused at the concern Rachel was showing. "No really, it's perfect. I'm not really that particular one way or the other."

"Comfy?"

"Like a bug in a rug."

"Okay, good." Quinn wanted to laugh at the contemplative expression on her face, but held it in as smaller girl gave voice to her thoughts. "I've never understood that expression, but I get the meaning. Lights out?"

Quinn nodded. "Lights out."

The room blinked into relative darkness, and all that could be heard primarily was the rustling as each girl slid down inside the cover. There was a fair amount of fidgeting going on as they each tried to get comfortable.

Quinn could tell that Rachel was making sea changes on her side of the bed. She went from facing her to putting her back to her. Since she tended to sleep on her right side, she was a little more settled.

"So, I'm starting to suspect you might be as energetic in your sleep as you are during the day Berry."

Her eyes were adjusting to the light level now and she could see that once again the diva had her back to her. The lump next to her moved again and now she could tell Rachel was facing her.

"Sorry" the lump whispered.

Quinn chuckled and sighed. "It's okay. I've had to sleep next to Brittany at camp. She is given to sweeping roundhouse punches. Well not punches, but I've been caught by them a few times and they might as well be."

There was some shifting on the bed, as Rachel inched forward. Quinn shrugged herself a little closer to the middle as well. "Huh. I would think Santana would be the more…aggressive sleeper, shall we say?"

"Oh, well, I haven't slept next to Britt for awhile, this was way back. Yeah, you don't want to bunk down next to those two. Trust me."

"Ahh…"

"Yeah. Well, now it's okay. They don't sleep anywhere near each other right now."

"That's a…shame."

"Yeah. I guess. They're impossible to figure out."

"So they are…?"

"Oh yeah. Or they were. I don't know what their deal is now. With Artie? Yeah, I don't know." She trailed off. "Not that a boyfriend would normally be an impediment for S."

"Or girlfriend."

"Oh definitely not a girlfriend," she laughed, and it sounded harsh.

They fell into silence.

"It seems to me like those two would be much happier together. Maybe I'm wrong. Not that Artie doesn't seem to make Brittany happy…but it has always seemed, at least to me anyway, that Artie can be kind of…"

"An ass? Yeah, that was my take on it. You don't want to hear Santana's take on it. It will blister your ears. But yeah, I'm all for him having confidence, and having a girlfriend, Brittany or otherwise, but…"

"I've been reverse discriminating haven't I? Artie can be a misogynist sounding tool sometimes."

"Bingo."

"Hm."

"Oh, and Santana can be a complete tool, no need to tell you that I'm sure. But she's also…scared I guess?"

"Of losing status?"

"That. Certainly. And more than that. She's scared of being vulnerable."

"Ah. You relate to that, don't you?"

Quinn cleared her throat. The mattress dipped and readjusted as Quinn rolled onto her back and stared into the dark at the ceiling, halfway surprised there weren't glow in the dark moons and stars. Which might even be kind of cool. She sighed. Rachel was being more perceptive than she was comfortable with. Again. She took a deep breath.

"Maybe. And you don't? Anyone who isn't is worried about it is foolish."

"I suppose."

Quinn rolled abruptly back to face the singer, her head propped on her elbow. She half expected the other girl to cringe. She couldn't quite keep the edge out of her voice when she spoke.

"You suppose. What? You're not afraid of making yourself vulnerable?"

"I'm vulnerable every day I go to school, aren't I? I suppose that would make me foolish?"

"I suppose it would."

Rachel propped herself up on her own elbow as well, slightly annoyed, but mostly amused.

"A stare down in an almost completely dark environment is not much of a stare down Quinn," she mocked gently.

She had no doubt she was getting an eyebrow cocked at her, even if she couldn't quite see it in all it's glory. She sighed. "Of course I'm afraid when I make myself vulnerable, Quinn." She didn't voice her follow up thought. I'm afraid right now.

"I just don't often let it get in the way of something I want."

"True dat."

Rachel sputtered and a small laugh erupted, breaking the tension. "Didn't we agree neither one of us could pull that off?"

"Yeah, well, thought I'd give it the ol' college try. Therefore making myself vulnerable to ridicule."

There was a snort.

"Like ridicule from the likes of me is anything to fear."

The silence loomed again. Both girls sought to crack it at the same time.

"I..."

"I…"

"Go ahead, Quinn."

"No, no no. Nature and Rachel abhor a vacuum. Go ahead."

"Er, nothing. Just, if you get cold…there is the extra blanket of course. And if you are the kind that likes to sleep in socks, I happen to have several very comfortable pairs. All clean of course. Or well, also, well if you're the snuggling type, there is Waldo here, and he doesn't bite., I can let you borrow him…"

Rachel had reverted to rambling Quinn noted to herself wryly. It was kind of endearing. She smirked broadly in the safety of the dark while the diva continued.

"Or…well just so you know, I don't either. Bite that is."

Rachel heard a sharp intake of breath. Not waiting for a response, she lowered herself onto her back again, pulling the cover up to her chin.

"What did you want to say?"

"Uh. Nothing" The bed moved as Quinn slid off her elbow. "Nothing. Er. Thanks. Good night Berry."

Rachel sighed inaudibly. Too much. She always went a bridge too far. "Well, Good night Fabray. Sleep well."

Quinn smiled and took a deep breath. "No kicking."

"No kicking."

There was more shifting as the next few moments went by. Quinn rolled onto her side again. She could see the tangle of black hair, indicating Rachel was facing away from her. She hunkered down and stared at the hair. For one minute, and then another. Small movements told her the other girl was still awake.

Fuck it. Just…fuck it.

She scooted towards the other side of the bed, leaning up over the indistinct shape and whispered quietly.

"Hey, Rachel? I had…a good day. A really good day." She paused and breathed out before adding a nearly inaudible "Thanks." It was a complete accident her nose nudged the diva's ear.

She stayed half a second, intending to move back to her side of the bed, but curiosity kept her there another second more as she hovered. She was not even sure what she expected. Acknowledgment? Maybe she'd been mistaken when she assumed the other girl was still awake.

She decided it was probably a good thing she was sleeping. And then the movement below her both terrified her and relieved her.

The petite body rotated slowly onto her back, and Rachel looked up at her. It almost looked like she was frowning. Not quite what Quinn had been expecting really. Not that Quinn quite knew what she was expecting, but frowning just hadn't been one of the possibilities she'd considered. Her face started to feel warm and she started to slink back away to her side of the bed.

Faster than she could figure out what was happening, surprisingly strong fingers snaked out and grabbed her left hand in a firm grip. She sucked in air, surprised, as she felt her hand pulled steadily away from her.

"Feel this."

Rachel must have been able to see well enough to gauge Quinn's wide-eyed, slightly fearful and probably comical reaction.

The diva huffed. "My arm, Quinn. Feel my arm. Gently." Quinn felt her hand pulled to her forearm. She felt soft skin, and something else. Goosebumps. Rachel released her grip on her hand, but kept contact with it as Quinn skimmed the surface, unable to help herself.

"And before you ask, no I'm not feverish or sick and this is not my subtle way of informing you that you might have contracted H1N1 virus by contact."

Rachel held her breath a moment, enjoying the sensation of the warm hand on her skin. Quinn stayed silent and stilled her hand. She watched the other girl.

Rachel silently battled.

This was not part of the plan.

Screw the plan, you don't even have a plan yet, she retorted.

This could blow up in your face. It probably will.

But if it doesn't…

Finally, she looked earnestly up at the taller girl. "Quinn, I assure you I am really not trying to make you uncomfortable. That is the last thing I want to do. But I happen to have very sensitive ears. Which you have no reason to be aware of. But...when you whispered in my ear, you did this to me."

"I give you goosebumps?" It was the barest of whispers, almost too low to hear.

"You do. I felt that as you are sleeping a mere foot or two from me, it was my duty to inform you. You should know I would never-"

The hand breezing over her arm again now closed over her wrist and squeezed it. "Rachel."

She stopped. Startled into silence, she squeaked out a fearful "yes?"

"You talk too much."

The diva gulped and ducked her head. "Yes, I've been told that on numerous occasions, by numerous people including yourself—"

"Rachel. Can you be quiet a moment?"

The brown curtain of hair moved as she nodded.

Quinn took a deep breath and released it with a violent puff, before bending to catch her eye as best she could in the dark.

"Something you should know? If you keep talking right now? I might forget or ignore how very badly I want to kiss you at this moment." She could hear Rachel's breath hitch.

She eked out the next few words in a whisper, not even sure the other girl would hear them.

"Which may not be a bad thing."

She pulled back breaking all contact and tried to read a reaction, which was of course impossible. She'd heard the pop of the singer's mouth clamping shut. She heard breathing, and the pounding blood in her own head.

She paused while her stomach did flips. Waiting to hear if she would speak again. Not sure what she wanted. Quinn whispered again.

"Just say the word, any word, and I'll leave you alone. Pretend I never said that."

The cheerleader moved infinitesimally closer. No words yet.

Quinn actually felt a little bit predatory, as she eased her body so that she hovered over the smaller girl. And she had to admit she liked it a little.

"No words? Are you sure? You can say anything you want, really. " Suddenly she was anxious she really was in fact acting predatory.

The dim outline of the features below her looked up at her. Hands trailed up the side of her body by her rib cage moving around to her collarbone and then up to her face. The small, completely non-manlike hands cupped her cheeks letting her thumbs meet in the middle over her lips where they moved to the corners of her mouth gently. Quinn smiled a little into them. One hand moved down to take Quinn's hand that wasn't supporting her weight. She felt it being pulled to Rachel's lips, which were closed. But so soft.

She looked down, sensing as much as seeing the saucy quirk of a dark eyebrow. Rachel looked up with dark eyes. No words. Just the very insistent word of my wanting.

The hand holding Quinn's released her fingers, and reappeared behind her head, fingers twining in the hair at the base of her neck, so Quinn now used both hands to support herself. Biting her own lip and then licking it once in nervousness, she finally dipped her head into the dizzying orbit of Rachel, brushing against her full lips, almost nuzzling them.

A small thumb appeared again and brushed against her lower lip. When she felt the warm swipe of a tongue against her lip, followed by teeth she heard herself release a completely base guttural moan. An answering moan from beneath her made her flush with heat, and her stomach tighten.

Having nothing but sheets or blankets beneath her hands to grip, Quinn twisted them. Strong fingers in her hair tightened their grip, as lips slid open and tongues met.

Now Quinn felt her own set of goose-flesh rise at the back of her neck, she pulled back whimpering a little, and shivered. The sensation covered her body now. Rachel cupped her hand to her jaw and rubbed it, soothing, questioning.

Even with her eyes squeezed tight as she reveled in the exquisite torture of the sensation passing over her body, Quinn could feel the concern of the girl beneath her. Shaking herself once, she grinned wickedly before leaning and swiping her tongue along the shell of Rachel's ear, eliciting a mewling sound. Pear and vanilla floated into her brain.

She returned again to the sumptuous lips kissing them deeply before pulling back just enough to whisper into them, "you give me goosebumps too. All over."

She was rewarded with a sassy giggle. And then a nibble to her lower lip before it was pulled gently between her lips. Quinn couldn't help herself and she moaned, barely containing a growl.

Now she felt an iron vice grip on her bicep as the singer groaned again, louder. Quinn backed up, and put a finger to her lips hissing. "Your dads are home!"

"Sound proofed room, silly."

"A little creepy, but okay then." Her brain was pretty fuzzled.

Rachel looked at her and Quinn could tell she was rolling her eyes. "For the vocal exercises dumbass."

"Oh, right, okay. Not creepy. Convenient?"

"Could be."

The blonde's laugh thrummed low and husky as she swooped to nuzzle an ear, repeating the warm caress with her tongue, and gently bit on her earlobe, causing the diva to arch her back involuntarily. Quinn smirked into the skin below the ear and kissed it.

Insistent now, the fingers twined in her hair pulled her back and down for another scorching kiss. She could feel Rachel's skin against her own bare stomach where the too short top and the low slung sweat pants gapped.

Her mind did cartwheels when she reached down to skim her hands across the soft skin there, moving her hand further up coming closer to places she'd heard from Sam that she barely let Finn touch, even fully clothed.

She paused in a moment and pulled away enough to look the singer in the eye to see if she was crossing boundaries. She was dying to see or at least feel the supple skin she was sure was under there but she wasn't going to force it. But there was no help there, as all she could see was dark hair thrown back on a pillow, as she gasped for air, eyes shut tight.

Instead she put her hand to some of the tendrils of dark hair and brushed it back. "Is this okay? If—"

One eye cracked open and she smiled crookedly "Good God. Off!" Quinn flinched. "Not you. I mean my shirt. Take it off. And yours." Quinn almost laughed. Partly with relief that she wasn't being rebuffed and kicked off, and partly because it was just funny. Rachel poked her finger firmly into Quinn's chest.

"You jump I jump Jack."

The tilt of the blonde's head probably made her look like a Golden Retriever, which might be why Rachel giggled at her as she answered the puzzled expression.

"Titanic, it's from Titanic. "

"Oh, I thought it was from Gilmore Girls. I never got that."

"Ah, I have so much to teach you Fabray." With that she reached out and grabbed the bottom hem of Quinn's shirt and started inching it up.

"In for a penny, in for a pound then?" Quinn quipped before she abruptly swung her leg slightly off and over Rachel's thighs so she could fumble around off to the left. She finally managed to tap the lamp light into it's lowest setting. Not enough to even read by.

The room took on a low yellow amber glow. But at least she could see the girl in front of her now. She looked at her steadily, and raised an eyebrow in question and waited until the flushed brunette nodded as she intoned the verdict.

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."

Quinn knew that one from class. T.S. Eliot. She nodded and pressed her lips together in an indulgent smile. She took that the quote as assent, and only then did she resume her position.

Once she was kneeling over Rachel's quads again, she cupped her face again and kissed her slowly. She was still raging with lust, but it was slightly less demanding, at least for the moment.

She sat back again. Rachel looked her in the eye, checking in there, and then she reached for her Quinn's shirt again. The taller girl reached down and touched her hands, and then lifted her arms over her head to help Rachel free her.

There was a soft sigh, and a low "wow." Quinn looked up at Rachel who hadn't gotten past "wow" yet.

Flattered and a little bit proud, Quinn shrugged. "You wanted vulnerable? You've got me vulnerable," she murmured shyly.

Rachel flushed deeply, trying to find the appropriate words to say. Still nothing came to mind but a simple "So gorgeous." And then she added an afterthought.

"The light back on? Brilliant."

Quinn laughed, still shy, but feeling bolder. "Anything worth doing is worth doing well, right?"

"Absolutely. Of course."

"Yes and well, as I have no idea what I'm doing, I thought perhaps a little light on the matter might be helpful."

Quinn pushed forward for another kiss, and reached for the bottom of Rachel's sleeping shirt. She leaned back to eye the girl again.

She didn't even have time to cock her eyebrow impudently before Rachel had practically ripped her own shirt off and tossed it to the bottom of the bed. Both of Quinn's eyebrows went up in amused shock. And then she looked at the sight before her, wondering where all the blood went, because she felt a little light headed and it clearly wasn't getting to her brain. She did slightly better than Rachel and managed to formulate a response to the sight of the beautiful body in front of her.

"Well and then there's the fact that I can now see…well, those. Yeah. The light idea was a winner."

Well this is going to be interesting.

Read and review if you feel so inclined. I do hope this makes up for yesterday's morass. And the long wait...?

A/N yes, I finally got them in to bed. And you thought they were just going to cuddle some more, didn't you! Ha. Hm, Okay, maybe I might should move it to M for next chapter. hm. Opinions? I mean, I don't think is too smutty, but what do I know. Next chapter two chapter more spicy, skip to Ch. 29 if you've had enough

Anyway, I think it might be a bit rushed, but…I suppose that is a bit laughable considering this is chapter 25? *g* I'm sorry this turns into sorta a cheating situation at least at the moment. But I just don't see Quinn's character (even my nicer sweeter one) breaking up with a boyfriend to find out if she likes err, kissing girls. So, there. And Rachel has her own bizarre world logic about Karma and Finn and Quinn. At least in my world. And I think more spooning and cuddling would be great too. But, sometimes, you just have to say...what the heck.