Author's Note: Firstly let me apologize about how long it has taken to get this chapter out. First I had New York Hot taken down which was a major disincentive to me (if you were following that story, check my profile for the website where you can find it now), then I had severe writers block, to be honest I'm not sure this chapter is as good as it could have been, but at this point I just want to get it out there and move on with the story. And finally my computer died on me. The motherboard, which was less than 6 months old, went kaput and I had to wait the best part of a month to get a replacement. Sigh. Anyway, please enjoy and be kind in the reviews please.

The following is unedited, I'll reread tomorrow and fix any typos.

Rachel wasn't an idiot, she'd admit she might be a little naive at times and even gullible, but not an idiot so the first thing she did before she'd even left the classroom that Jesse had dragged her into was to text Quinn, Santana and Brittany and ask them to convene at her house after Cheerios' practice.

The girls collect in Rachel's room as she runs through the story. The diva and Quinn reclining on the bed with their arms around each other, Brittany sits on Rachel's office chair and Santana is perched on the edge of her desk.

"And then he stormed out." She finishes.

There's silence for a few moments and even Brittany looks serious.

"I never liked the jackass" Santana says, "But I never thought he'd be homophobic. It almost doesn't sound like him."

Rachel nods in grudging agreement, "You should have seen his eyes, it was like it wasn't him anymore, they were wild and so very angry."

"Do you think everything's gotten to him?" Quinn asks, "I mean he's been failed, recruited by Sue and probably still has her breathing down his neck even though he isn't doing what she wants, transferred to be able to graduate and have a chance to win at Nationals and hoped to get back with Rach and seen his chance at Nationals and with Rach taken away from him. Could he have finally lost it?"

"It certainly looked like it" Rachel agrees, "But that doesn't help us decide what to do about it."

"It seems to me" Santana begins, "that you have two options, either do as he says so he keeps quiet or come out of the flannel closet."

"There is another option" offers Brittany, "and it would mean we could go back to Glee club. Let him tell everyone."

There is silence in the room and the other three girls turn to look at the dancer for clarification but she says no more until Santana prompts her.

"How does that help Britt?"

"Didn't anyone listen to Principal Figgins at the start of the year assembly?" she asks and when the others look at her blankly she sighs, "The Students Rights thing?"

"I remember that" Quinn says obviously thinking hard, "Something about treating each other right or suffering the consequences."

Santana couldn't help the explosive chuckle that she produced, "Like that's happened."

But Brittany is nodding, "There's a bit in there about hemophobia."

"Homophobia Britt" Santana corrects automatically

"Yeah" the blonde confirms, "that. I checked."

"And what's the consequence for homophobia?" Quinn asks.

"Expansion" Brittany supplies smiling happily.

Santana chuckles at the mental image of Jesse inflating like a balloon. "You mean expulsion Babe?" she asks and when Brittany nods she adds "Well that's one way of dealing with it."

The four sit there for a while, all aware that in the end it's up to Rachel and Quinn to make the decision. Three choices, one means working with Jesse which neither of them wants, and two that mean that, one way or another, their secret is out at school.

Rachel tries to find the silver lining, "Well, at least we wouldn't have to hide at school."

Quinn looks a little dubious, "Are you ready to be out at school Rach?" she asks.

Rachel just shrugs, "More than I'm willing to work with Jesse. What about you?"

Quinn just smiles, "I faced my worst fear when I told my Mom and that worked out okay. And I'm sure Santana and I can keep everyone in line at school, especially if someone gets kicked out for outing us in the first place."

"So do we tell everyone or wait and see what Jesse does?" Rachel asks.

"If we're going to be forced out, I want to get the most out of it and that means getting rid of Jackass."

Rachel pouts, "I just don't like the idea of the Glee club finding out like that."

Quinn considers this for a moment, then she has a suggestion, "Well we could tell them on Friday and ask them to keep it to themselves."

Santana scoffs, "You think Wheezy will be able to keep it to herself for a whole weekend?"

Quinn smirks, "I'm sure you'll be able to take care of that Santana."

"Oh!" Rachel says, "We should sing a duet!"

And with that Rachel dives for her computer and starts searching through iTunes, joined a little reluctantly by Quinn. Santana and Brittany take that as their excuse to make an exit, the Latina needed some sweet lady kisses.

The itch between Quinn's shoulders started as soon as she stepped out of her car in the student parking lot on Thursday morning. It wasn't a physical itch, no amount of scratching would help, but the irrational itch that says everyone is looking at you, whispering about you, judging you. True Quinn was used to being looked at, but usually that was with awe and respect, fear and occasionally loathing. The only person she was used to looking at her judgmentally was her father and he really didn't count any more.

The blonde wonders if this is how Rachel felt every day as she waited for the next slushy to be thrown in her face and is amazed that the diva managed to keep her positive and upbeat outlook on life. She frowns as she considers for a moment how much pain and stress that she must have put her girlfriend through, that she'd been directly or indirectly responsible for, and she vows to do whatever she can no matter how long it takes, to make it up to the other girl. She doesn't even register the students glancing at her expression then scurrying out of her way.

Her frown turns to a smile as she sees Rachel in front of her locker and, as if she can feel Quinn's eyes on her, the diva turns unhesitatingly to look directly at the blonde and smiles back. Quinn stops close enough to Rachel that she could reach out and wrap her arms around her and it takes a surprising amount of effort to resist doing exactly that. They just gaze at each other, matching smiles on their faces and totally oblivious to the world about them until they both jump when Santana not so subtly clears her throat right next to them. Rachel's hand shoots to her chest as she recovers from the surprise but Quinn just rolls her eyes and glares at Santana.

"What?" Santana asks, "If you'd kept on like that you wouldn't have had to wait for Jackass to spill the beans."

"San has a point" Brittany adds as she bounces on her toes next to her girlfriend "You two were totally eye sexing each other."

Quinn glances around to see if anyone has heard Brittany's comment but the corridor is blessedly clear for the moment so it doesn't look like anyone else heard.

"Britt, use your quiet voice Babe." Santana says gently as she wraps her arm around the blonde's waist and pulls them together, "Remember no one else knows yet and we need to keep it that way."

Brittany's face falls immediately and before she can get a word out, Rachel is already assuring her that everything is okay and she doesn't need to worry. Quinn can't help but smile as she remembers Rachel being just as kind and gentle with Beth not that long ago and it strikes her, not for the first time, just how good a mother Rachel would be.

It takes Quinn a moment to realize that Santana and Brittany have left for their class. Rachel needs to go too but Quinn has a free period next so they agree to meet at lunch time in the auditorium for some time alone together away from prying eyes. Quinn leans on the lockers and watches as Rachel walks away down the corridor and doesn't notice Puck walking up behind her.

"Hey" he greets her.

Once Quinn has her heart rate back under control she turns and glares at Puck.

"Must you sneak up on people like that?"

"I wasn't exactly sneaking" Puck points out, "It seems you were otherwise occupied." He looks along the corridor in the direction that Rachel had left in, "Watching anything good?"

Quinn just rolls her eyes again, she's been doing a lot of that recently, and glares at Puck. "What do you want Puck?"

"How long have you and Rachel been dating?" he asks.

"I don't know what you're talking about" Quinn says but she feels the blood draining from her face and the look on Pucks face says he doesn't believe a word of it. She steps closer to Puck and hisses at him "Who told you?"

This time it's Puck that rolls his eyes, "I'm not an idiot Quinn. She was there when I arrived to see Beth and she was still there when I left. I would have to have been blind to not see how you looked at her and how she looked at you. So how long?"

Quinn sighs accepting there was no way not to talk about this with Puck, "Officially almost three weeks but you can't tell anyone else Puck, not yet anyway."

"I wouldn't do that to you Quinn, I'm not an idiot. But when your Mom finds out, if you need a place to stay …"

Quinn shakes her head and cuts Puck off, "Thanks Puck but she already knows, I told her on Monday night and she's okay with it."

Puck nods, "I can't say I wasn't surprised when I worked it out, but if you are happy then I'm happy for you." He pauses, "She makes you happy right?"

"Happier than I ever thought I would be." Quinn confirms.

There's a pause then Puck asks the other question that's been on his mind, "Do you know when Beth will be back?"

"Not yet, but they plan to move here before Christmas. I'll let you know as soon as I know, I promise Puck, okay?"

"Okay" Puck agrees and heads off to his class.

Rachel was unsuccessfully attempting to concentrate on her homework when she heard the doorbell go and her Dad calling out that he'd get it. A few minutes later there's a gently knock on her door and Quinn opens it.

"Hi Rach"

"Hi Quinn" Rachel replies getting up from her chair and hugging the other girl, "I didn't think I'd see to till tomorrow."

"I was nervous about tomorrow and I figured you would be too, so I thought we'd take each others minds off it." She holds up the overnight bag she's carrying, "I asked your Dad if I could stay over, he said it was okay with him if it was okay with you."

"Of course Quinn!" Rachel declares as she takes the bag out of the blonde's hand and puts it down beside the bed. She turns back around, wrapping her arms around her girlfriend and pulling her over until the both fall back onto the bed, "No how are we going to distract each other?" she asks with a grin.

Breakfast the next morning was just Quinn and Rachel, Rachel's fathers already having left for work. Rachel can tell that Quinn is nervous about the day before them and while she is too, Rachel it pretty sure things will be better once it's all over.

"So, today's the day." Rachel says.

Quinn nods, "Yeah"

"We don't have to do this today Quinn, there's still time to come up with another idea."

Quinn shakes her head, "No Rach, I'm fine. It'll be good not to have to hide."

There are a few moments of silence between them then Rachel sighs, "Well, at least Santana, Brittany and Kurt already know. They'll help if we need it."

"And Puck" Quinn says.

"Puck knows?" Rachel asks in surprise, "Who told him?"

"He worked it out, he claimed. Said he'd seen how we looked at each other when he was here to see Beth."

Rachel thinks about that for a minute then nods, "Yeah, I guess we weren't too subtle right then."

"We had other things on our minds" Quinn agrees, "I think Mom might even have worked it out had she been here all weekend."

Rachel finishes her drink and looks at the clock, "Come on, we're going to be late for school."

Quinn was, deliberately, the last to arrive at the Trouble Tones practice in the auditorium that day. She'd watched from the end of the corridor as the others had arrived and, once sure everyone was there, had entered through one of the side doors onto the stage. She found Rachel as she'd hoped, sorting through sheet music on the piano on the stage while the rest of the group milled about around the stage. Quinn walked across the stage, nodding back at the friends that greeted her, until she stood next to Rachel.

"Remember the last time we stood here?" She asks with a grin as she runs her hand over the piano.

"I sincerely hope you're not planning a public repetition of that performance." Rachel teases, "And I really don't see why you wouldn't sing a duet with me."

"Because there are other ways to get the point across without singing Rach." Quinn says. She looks to the other members and shouts "You guys ready to practice?"

Once they have everyone's attention she turns back to Rachel, "Like this" she whispers then takes Rachel's face in her hands and pulls the diva into a passionate kiss.