A/N: I found myself having a very hard time making it from Point A to Point B. I hope you enjoy the final product regardless.

If the Roles Were Reversed

The first time Quinn Fabray wrote out the words, "I think I'm in love with you," she had received a beating from her father subsequently followed by a major car accident, another beating, and removal from her parents' custody and their lives in general.

Despite the disastrous turn of events in Quinn's life leading up to New Directions' performance at Sectionals, saying the words, "I love you," to Rachel Berry hadn't been quite the conflict of will Quinn had suspected it would be.

It was easy.

It was natural.

And over the following several weeks, it became a common place occurrence.


The Night After Sectionals

Rachel's dads kissed both girls on their foreheads.

"Goodnight, girls. It's been a big day for you both, you need your rest," Marcus said, clasping his husband's hand firmly in his.

Brendon nodded. "Yes, goodnight, ladies. We were so proud of both of you tonight."

Rachel giggled and proceeded to tightly hug both of her dads at once before skipping off into her bathroom to prepare for bed.

"Goodnight, Mr. and Mr. Berry," Quinn said bashfully.

"Now Quinn," Marcus began. "You know we told you to call us Marcus and Brendon." He winked at her. She blushed and nodded before quietly muttering another 'goodnight' and heading into the bathroom behind Rachel.

They brushed their teeth in companionable silence. Rachel finished first and began washing her face. As she finished, Quinn replaced her at the sink.

Once they were both fresh and delicious and ready for bed, they headed – hand in hand – to Rachel's bedroom, completely foregoing whatever semblance of modesty or discretion they had attempted to hold in place up until that point. Rachel's dads had seen their heated kiss – most show choir enthusiasts of Western Ohio had seen their kiss, come to think of it – and they hadn't imposed any stringent open-door policy or comparable measure.

The girls were grateful. And completely prepared to take advantage of the circumstance.

Quinn gently climbed into Rachel's bed, careful of her still-sore ribs. Rachel – less gracefully – fell into bed with a content sigh, one hand clutching lightly to her stomach.

"You won it for us today," Quinn said quietly, reaching out her hand for Rachel's and tilting her head slightly towards Rachel's side of the bed.

Rachel immediately rolled onto her side, collecting Quinn's hand in both of her own and rubbing soothing circles on the girl's palm. "I legitimately don't see how that's possible," she said. "By all accounts, you won the competition for us today, sweetie."

Now it was Quinn's turn to be skeptical. "Really, Rach? How are you going to back that claim up? I literally just swayed in the back. I'm part of the chorus line."

"You're more than just backup. And you do more than just sway," Rachel said indignantly.

"And you did more than just sing Don't Rain on My Parade, Rachel – you completely moved the audience. The rest of the glee club didn't even have to sing a word. We just walked down the aisles. And you had the crowd on their feet. You prepared the audience to hear us – and not just to hear us, but to listen. You did that, Rach. Just you."

"Not just me," Rachel said, leaning forward to press her lips tenderly against Quinn's. "As an aspiring young ingénue, I've often searched for sources of inspiration. A muse, if you will. And I have to tell you, Quinn, when you told me that you loved me? Moments before the biggest performance of my young life thus far?" She paused briefly and pressed her forehead against Quinn's, staring directly into the other girl's eyes, refusing to look away for even a moment. "You are my muse, my inspiration – the reason that I performed with more passion and fervor than ever before in my life. If we won today because of me? Then we won today because of you."

"I meant it," Quinn said quietly. If Rachel hadn't been directly in front of her lips, the words may have gotten lost somewhere between them. But they weren't lost.

"I know," Rachel said. "I love you, too, Quinn Fabray."

"And I love you, Rachel Berry."


First Evening of Hanukkah

After the four members of the Berry Household exchanged gifts, Brendon and Marcus excused themselves to the kitchen where they began making hot chocolate.

Rachel was eagerly thumbing through her gift from her dads – The Essential Barbra Streisand collection of sheet music. Two hundred and fifty pages of nothing but Barbra. She was giddy.

Quinn scooted over closer to Rachel, leaning back against the couch and resting her hand on the diva's leg. "I'm glad there a couple generation gaps between us and Barbra," she joked. "Otherwise, I would be jealous of this infatuation you seem to have with her."

Rachel didn't scoff or attempt to argue with Quinn at all. Instead, she simply replied, "Generation gap or no, Barbra is fair game if I ever meet her in real life."

Quinn's jaw dropped – but just slightly. Really, she thought to herself. Is it that surprising?

Rachel turned her head slightly and saw the expression on Quinn's face. She placed the book on the floor and turned her body so that she was directly facing Quinn with her knees tucked up under her chin. "But you're my number one choice," she mockingly said, a grin twitching at the corners of her lips. "Just so you know."

Quinn's shocked look slowly disappeared, only to be replaced with a full-fledged smile – a smile that lit up her face and brightened her eyes, a smile that spoke volumes into the now still air. "I am so in love with you," Quinn said, promptly allowing the oncoming blush to color her cheeks. But she didn't look away from the girl sitting in front of her. She couldn't. And she wouldn't even if she could.

Rachel smirked and leaned forward slightly, allowing her lips to come in contact with Quinn's. "And I love you," she whispered into the sweet space of Quinn's mouth, tucking a strand of blond hair behind her ear.


Last Morning of Hanukkah

Quinn was freaking out. "Santana!" she practically yelled into her phone. "What am I supposed to do? I know that Rachel and Brittany went to the mall last weekend. And I'm one hundred percent certain that she got me something."

She heard Santana sigh over the phone. "And?" the Latina questioned.

Quinn bit her lip nervously. This was a sensitive subject. She hadn't been living outside of her parents' house and surveillance for very long – but it had been long enough to realize that they had cancelled her credit card and emptied both her checking and savings accounts. For all intents and purposes, Quinn Fabray was completely broke. "It just sucks, S. I don't know what to get her and –" she sighed and slumped forward, placing her head in her hands. "- I couldn't even get her what I wanted to get her if I actually knew what I wanted to get her!"

"Whoa," Santana said. "Settle down, Blondie. Is this a gift-choosing issue? Or a money issue?"

"Both," Quinn said dishearteningly.

"OK well, I can cover the money issue. And Brittany can cover the actual choosing of a gift. Or assisting you, whatever."

"Santana, no, I can't let you do that –"

"Quinn," Santana interrupted. "You know what my allowance is, you've known since we were little kids. And what I don't spend, I put in my savings. My savings is ridiculous, girlfriend. And I haven't even spent all of my allowance for December alone. So don't even start with me. I'm at Brittany's right now. I'll give her my check card, and you can meet her at the mall in –" she paused to check her watch "– approximately forty-five minutes. Cool?"

Quinn laughed and let the sound of her slight smile resound in her voice. "You're a good friend, S."

Santana huffed on the other line. "Pfft. I'm a great friend, Fabray."


Last Afternoon of Hanukkah

Brittany squealed and pulled Quinn into the first jewelry store they came to. She quickly began to move from display to display, as if she was looking for something in particular. Quinn followed a short distance behind.

"Aha!" Brittany exclaimed.

Quinn looked up, one eyebrow arched. "Find something good, B?"

"This is the one," Brittany replied. "This is perfect."

Quinn looked at Brittany's choice and smiled widely before giving Brittany a one-armed hug. It was perfect.


Last Evening of Hanukkah

They had finished celebrating with Rachel's dads and made their way upstairs. Earlier in the day, they had made the decision to exchange their gifts to each other in the privacy of Rachel's bedroom. And now, here they were – sitting cross-legged in front of each other on the brunette's bed, eagerly anticipating the exchange.

"Ready?" Rachel asked.

"Ready," Quinn replied.

They each tore off the wrapping paper on their respective gifts – their, oddly enough, similarly-shaped gifts.

In unison, they opened their jewelry boxes. Two soft 'click's filled the air and two gasps followed.

They each freed their gifts from the confines of the cases and lifted them into the air. There, dangling in between the two girls, were two identical necklaces.

"Brittany?" Quinn questioned.

Rachel nodded. "Brittany."

They burst out into a fit of giggles, falling against each other when it became hard to breathe.

"Oh my God," Quinn said. "I love you."

Rachel just kissed her. Hard.


Christmas Morning

Quinn awoke before Rachel. She quietly scooted out of 'their' bed and headed towards the bathroom, closing the door as silently as she could manage behind her. She used the bathroom and brushed her teeth before splashing a bit of water on her face.

After this simple action, Quinn looked up into the mirror. She caught her own stare. She blinked a few times.

This was her first Christmas without her family. Without her older sister. Without her mom. Without her dad… And it's all my fault, she thought. My family has been torn apart. Her sister refused to even accept her phone calls anymore. Her parents hadn't been seen in weeks. Because of who I love.

Even looking herself in the face, she couldn't pinpoint the exact moment when the tears started to fall. But fall they did. And her shoulders shook. And her ribs hurt from the effort of containing her sobs.

And when the bathroom door creaked slowly open and Rachel peaked inside, her face coming into Quinn's view in the mirror, Quinn stopped trying to play the subdued role. She let it all out, and Rachel caught her as she slid slowly to the bathroom floor.

"I love you," she mumbled into Rachel's chest as the smaller girl cradled her in her arms. "No matter what he thinks."


New Year's Eve

The twelve glee club kids found themselves at Mercedes' for that years' New Year's Eve party.

Normally, the 'unpopular' kids would be at home celebrating with their families or close, equally as unpopular friends.

Normally, the 'popular' kids would be at some other popular kid's house – normally Puck's – getting drunk and playing cheesy games in order to make-out with each other before midnight.

But this year, the popular and the unpopular came together for a party that was something of a 'hybrid,' a high school anomaly, a socially unbalanced scene… Though decidedly strange, it was unequivocally gleeful.

Five minutes till midnight, Rachel grabbed Quinn's hand in hers and stood up to make an announcement. "Excuse me!" she proclaimed. It only took about half a minute for everyone to finally shut up. "I'd just like to let you all know – so that when midnight comes around, no one is shocked – that Quinn and I are a couple."

"Like we didn't already know," Mercedes said loudly, laughing and returning to her previously interrupted conversation with Kurt.

"That's hot," Puck said.

Finn punched Puck lightly in the shoulder. "Hey," he said. "That's my ex-girlfriend you're talking about."

Mike and Matt exchanged devious smirks and high-fived. Lesbians are hot.

Santana rolled her eyes before sitting down on the nearest couch, pulling Brittany snugly onto her lap.

"You know it's pretty hot, San," Brittany whispered into the other girl's ear.

Santana kissed Brittany lightly on the lips and said, "You're hot, Brit. That's all I know."

Tina just smiled brightly at Rachel and Quinn in turn, squeezing Rachel's shoulder and saying, "I'm really happy for you guys," before sitting down on Artie's lap – he then wheeled them over to an unoccupied side of the room in preparation for the ball-drop.

Both of Rachel's eyebrows were arched dangerously high when she turned back to Quinn. "Huh," she huffed. "That went… Well?"

Quinn giggled and patted the empty space next to her on the loveseat. Rachel delicately sat down next to her girlfriend and laced their fingers together.

As the countdown started on the television, the glee kids began to countdown together.

Ten.

Nine.

Eight.

Seven.

Six.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

'HAPPY NEW YEAR!' they all exclaimed.

Quinn leaned forward, her eyes intently attached to Rachel's succulent lips. When they met, her tongue lightly probed forward, asking – no, begging – for entrance. Which was readily allowed.

It was well into the next year before they came up for air.

"You're a great kisser, Quinn."

"You too, baby girl. I love you."


Present Day

Yeah, Quinn thought as she snuggled down to watch some random musical with Rachel in their bed. It's pretty easy to tell this girl how madly in love with her I am.


A/N: Christmas Morning was my favorite. I'm a sucker for angst. What was your favorite?