Chapter 29

Quinn took her to the Boardwalk to find something nice to wear. They walked together, hand in hand. Rachel didn't care that they were in public. She'd come to the realization that in LA no one really knew her name, except the studio and Quinn and company. They were safe. There wasn't anyone to bother her or Quinn while they shopped. It was a freeing feeling and she enjoyed it.

She really had no clue where Quinn was going to take them later, so she didn't know how fancy to go. She liked a number of dresses that were in the little boutique they'd gone into.

"What's wrong?" Quinn asked.

"Nothing."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I am just enjoying being a normal person right now."

"I see," Quinn replied with a grin. "Well, if you get the part in the movie, that won't last out here. It might take them a while, but they'll figure out who you are."

"I know," Rachel said with a bit of sadness in her voice.

Quinn squeezed her hand and pulled her along. She didn't want her getting down while they were out. She knew that this was the first time that Rachel had been out of New York for a long period of time. She wanted her to have fun. She wanted her to enjoy her trip to California and not just because she was out there for an audition.

They walked along and Quinn looked at her watch. She was trying to keep up with the time to make sure that they made it to their final destination for the night on time. Rachel caught the look and giggled a little. She could tell how much thought Quinn had put into it.

"You ready to go?" Quinn asked her.

"I don't know what I need to wear tonight."

"Something classy, but something that you can move around in easily. I would suggest a pants suit but, it is really up to you. I will tell you that it will be near water, does that help?"

"You like this don't you?" Rachel asked her.

"Like what?"

"Keeping me in suspense," Rachel replied.

"It is rather amusing for me. I know that you don't like surprises, but I assure you that you will like this. I've only done it once before, but I think that it will be more fun with someone that hasn't been on it before. Besides, I don't think that you have to be that dressy. Come on. It'll be fun," Quinn told her.

"It better be."

Rachel smiled at her. She was willing to allow Quinn more leeway than anyone else that she had been with because she of the relationship that they had built online. Quinn proved to be exactly who she said she was the first time that they met. They were still who they were online. They were both afraid of being lied to and the more time they spent together, the more that Rachel could actually see herself with Quinn.

She smiled at her Quinn again. She walked closer to her and took her hand. She was letting herself go and allowing Quinn to lead the night. Quinn could tell that this wasn't something that Rachel did regularly but she was determined not to disappoint her.

"I am glad that you agreed to come with me tonight," Quinn told her as she led her back to the car.

"Why?"

"Because, not only do I get to spend the day and the night with a beautiful woman, but she is smart and challenging, too," Quinn told her.

"I'm challenging?" Rachel asked as she got in the car.

"In a good way, Rachel, I promise. You make me think. You understand me. And, I know that you aren't after me for my connections or my money. You've made that obviously clear and I am thankful for that. I don't think that you would have even found out about our firm if I hadn't suggested it," Quinn said.

"I wouldn't have."

"See. I am glad that Santana agree to represent you. That way no one can say that you didn't get anything because you don't deserve it. I am not the face of the firm. No one really knows me, but the studio lawyers and they don't like to cross me. I hardly go to court and when it is needed, Santana does everything. I just supply her with questions, notes and such. So no one really knows me. I like it that way. I am more like a silent partner in the firm."

"I guess it helps that she represents you, too," Rachel added.

"It does," Quinn replied as they got onto the highway and headed to their next destination.

Quinn reached across the console and took Rachel's hand. She couldn't believe how good it felt there. It was like her hands were made to hold Rachel's. She had to stop herself from dramatically sighing, even though she could feel her libido spiking. She then wondered what Rachel would think about their night together and the fact that Quinn had booked them a hotel room. She hoped that it wasn't too forward, but she didn't want to be driving so late after their dinner and "show."

An hour later, she pulled into a local parking garage. She placed her parking ticket on the dash. She got out quickly, before Rachel could and she held the door for her.

Rachel had been looking around as they were driving in hopes that she might deduce where they were going, but she had no clue. There were all sorts of touristy attractions around where they were at. She couldn't pinpoint one as the one that Quinn would take them, too.

"Ready?" Quinn asked, holding her hand out for Rachel as she also held the door.

"Should I be worried?"

"Not at all. Let's get our bags and get settled a little bit before dinner," Quinn told her as Rachel met her around the hatch and seeing the look on Rachel's face. "I know that you thought that we were going back to the house, but I found something a little more entertaining for us. I hope you don't think me too forward with this."

Rachel watched as she retrieved the bags with their outfits for the evening. She didn't know what to think at this point. She was happy, but she could tell that Quinn was now nervous. She decided to wait to make a judgement on why until they got to where they were going.

A few minutes later, Quinn escorted them both onto the Queen Mary in harbor. Rachel eyed her as she checked in at the desk and received their room, singular, key. She took Rachel's hand and moved them through the decks to their cabin suite. She opened the door and invited Rachel in. Setting the bags on the bed, she let Rachel take it all in. It was opulent, but nowhere near the hotel that Rachel was staying in.

"Why the room?"

"I figured that you might want to change later," Quinn said.

"And afterwards?"

"That's up to you," Quinn added with a hopeful grin.

Rachel just nodded. She looked around the room. She saw the large King bed. She didn't know what Quinn had planned for the rest of the evening, but she could wonder if they would be sharing the bed later for more than just sleeping. She turned and gave Quinn a smile.

"This is the best dressing room I've ever had," Rachel joked.

"You're sure that you are creeped out by this?"

"Should I be?"

"Not yet," Quinn answered with a little bit of grin.

Rachel just looked at her unsure what to say to that answer. She stalked across the room, knowing that she could get Quinn off balance, and got in her face. Brown eyes met hazel, but there was no war, there was only compassion and dare Rachel believe: love. She was looking to see if Quinn meant to hurt her. She knew that wasn't.

"How long do we have?"

"Until?"

"We have to be somewhere?" Rachel asked.

"Dinner starts at seven, so we have a little time," Quinn answered as she looked at the clock on the wall and then back at Rachel.

Rachel turned to the clock and read it. They had a little over an hour before they had to be somewhere else on the ship for dinner. Rachel could only guess what they were going to eat. She was a little surprised by the room and the ship, but she knew that the dinner was going to be another surprise. She wondered if she could wait that long.

"What's wrong?" Quinn asked her.

"I don't want to wait," Rachel told her.

"We could always change and then go get a drink before dinner," Quinn replied.

"A drink?"

"Yes, a drink. They have a nice bar on board. We could walk around and look at the ship if you would like. There is plenty that we could see. The night is ours after our dinner. We could take a stroll in the moonlight on top deck. Or, something else," Quinn suggested.

Rachel sauntered over to Quinn and gave a quick peck on the cheek. She moved over to the bed, where Quinn had laid out their selections for the evening and began to gather her clothes together. Quinn just watched her move in awe. She knew that Rachel was lithe and sexy, but to see her move about the cabin with such abandon and grace made her heart race. When she couldn't hold herself back anymore, she moved over to where Rachel was.

"Do you need help?"

"With?" Rachel asked her coyly.

"Dressing, or undressing," Quinn added with a definite husk in her voice.

"No, I think I can handle it."

Rachel didn't move away from her, though. Quinn figured that she would have at least moved away to get dressed. Instead, she reached to her hips and drew her shirt over her head. Standing before Quinn in just her bra and shorts, Quinn took a deep breath and willed herself to keep her hands to herself. She wanted to do nothing more than reach out and touch her, but she wasn't sure that they were ready for that. Besides, she needed to keep herself in check until tonight. They had all night to explore each other, if it got that far.

Before she could do anything, Rachel grabbed the blouse off the bed and began to put it on. Quinn knew then that she needed to get dressed as well. She wasn't sure if she would have enough room to change in the bathroom. She looked over at Rachel and realized that she didn't have a real reason to be shy about her body. She was used to changing in front of multiple people while on the stage. But, Quinn wasn't. She smiled as she began to change. She had only ever really changed in front of Santana and Brittany and possibly the other cheerleaders from high school.

After a few minutes, they were both changed and ready for their evening. Quinn reached out her hand and Rachel took it. She escorted them through the ship to the Observation Bar and Art Deco Lounge. She was glad with her choice as soon as she saw Rachel's face.

"This is awesome," she told Quinn.

"I'm glad you like it," Quinn stated as she escorted them into the lounge area.

They ordered a drink and chatted. Rachel continued to try to guess what the rest of their evening would entail, but true to her word, Quinn didn't give her any more hint than they would be on the boat. Rachel just sipped her drink and waited. After they finished their drink, Quinn managed to get her up to the dance floor to dance a few times to the jazz band before they had to leave.

Just before seven, Quinn pulled her out of the lounge and through the ship to Sir Winston's. Rachel was amazed at the atmosphere of the restaurant. She still didn't know why Quinn told her that they would need to be able to move freely, but she hoped that she would find out soon. She was getting antsy to see what was in store for her through the night.

"Hello, how can I help you?" the maître'd asked as they approached.

"Two for Fabray," Quinn told him quickly.

He looked down at the list and then back at them, smiling, before saying, "Ah, yes, right this way, Ms. Fabray."

"Are we near a window?" Rachel asked.

"Yes, ma'am," he replied as he held the seat for Rachel and then Quinn.

He handed them a specialized menu. Rachel looked it over and noticed that there were only two options for the dinner, a vegetarian and non-vegetarian. She wondered if Quinn had made sure that they would have something for her to eat before she made the reservation.

"Your waiter, Edward will be with you shortly. Once dinner is over, don't forget to head down to the fourth deck to begin the tour with the group. An announcement will be made prior to the finish of dinner. You will enjoy the tour, I'm sure. Make sure to tell all my old friends hello for me and that I'll keep a table ready for them," he stated, gave them a nod and left.

Rachel quirked her eyebrow at Quinn as she gave a little giggle. Now, she felt lost. Quinn knew what was going to happen and evidently so did the maître d'.

"Don't worry, Rachel. I am not going to let anything happen to you tonight," she told her with a slight grin as she tried to contain her laugh from the maître d's words and then she looked at the menu. "I hope this is acceptable. I know that it might not be exactly vegan, but I hope that it will work for you."

"I know that I told you I was vegan, but sometimes, I find that it isn't exactly easy to follow. Especially when I go out with people. So, I tend to stick with the vegetarian options when I have to. I am sure that it will be fine. I just make sure to be very good in the days after," Rachel replied.

Quinn's brows knitted. She wasn't sure what Rachel meant by that and she hoped that she wouldn't be that upset by the selections. She hoped that dinner didn't ruin their evening.

"It'll fine, Quinn. Stop worrying. This is fine. I'll just ask them to leave off the cheese on the salad and for the dressing on the side. I'll be fine. Stop worrying about it. I don't want this to ruin whatever it is that you've planned for us this evening. I am sure that everything will be fine for me. Let's just enjoy ourselves."

Dinner was elegant and easy. They talked some more, mostly about other times that they had a fancy dinner with someone. For Quinn, it had been for some award shows and a few dates. For Rachel, it had been before the Tonys, and other New York Theatre awards. Most of the dates that she had gone on had insisted on nothing less than a four star restaurant, but she was happy eating a someplace smaller or some hole in the wall that only locals knew about. This wasn't like anything they had been on together before. They were both enjoying the company, the atmosphere and the food. It was easy. There was no preface or need to pretend. They could be themselves and that was the most enjoyable thing about it.

They finished their meals and surprising enough for Rachel, she was able to stay mainly vegan throughout. Her waiter seemed to understand her wishes passed them on to the chef, who made sure that her dishes were completely to her tastes. She was glad, but besides the cheese on the salad, there wasn't much for them to do. She smiled at the appreciatively and thanked both the waiter and the chef for their quick and positive reactions to her dietary wants. She also made sure that Quinn left them a large tip, which she would reimburse her for later.

"Now, Ms. Fabray, you need to make your way down to deck four. The tour will start there. The guides will be expecting you. I hope you have a spectacular time," Edward told them as he cleared their table some and walked off.

Rachel just eyed her as Quinn extended her hand. She smiled at the gentlemanly gesture and took it. Quinn deftly moved them through the ship until they got to the fourth deck. She found the group of waiting for their tour. It wasn't until they joined the others and Quinn signed them in that Rachel found out what the tour was.

"Welcome to the Haunted Tour of the Queen Mary. I will be your tour guide tonight. My name is Roman and I promise you that we will go to some of the most haunted places on this ship. What I can't promise you is that you will experience anything. If you do, please feel free to share it with us. This isn't a haunted house, so nothing and no one should be jumping out at you. There are going to be tight places and spaces in some areas, so we ask that if you have mobility problem, you share that with me now. I can make arrangements for you. If there are any questions, please ask them now," he told the gathered group.

Quinn looked around. They were a little overdressed to some of the others on the tour, but she didn't mind. She took Rachel's hand as a few questions were asked.

"A historical haunted tour?"

"It's touristy," Quinn stated.

"That it is."

"You don't like it?" Quinn asked her.

"Ask me at the end," Rachel replied.

"Are you not going to be able to sleep on the ship?"

"I have no idea, but you've got the room…." Rachel said with a mischievous grin as they followed the tour guide into the belly of the ship and started their tour.