A/N: Alrighty. My head ache finally went away after nine hours and a crap load of pain killers that knocked me out. So here is the second part of the evening and the last chapter of the PTJ (pre time jump). I still can't believe that this whole story started out as just six chapters of about 16,000 words. Now it is 56 chapters and nearly 240,000 words.
What is even crazier is that there are over 1,300 reviews! You are so amazing in your support. Honestly, I never expected anything like the dedication you all have shown. It makes me smile to read and remember all of the things you have written me and all the stories you have shared with me. You have given me a level of confidence I never imagined I would ever have before, so THANK YOU so much.
Last chapter of PTJ. Hope you enjoy.
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Rachel left her father and headed out to Quinn who was standing at the base of the stairs smiling widely until she saw the diva's face. "I don't like it when you're upset like that. Who caused it? If it was Adrianne, I'll talk with-"
"No." Rachel answered, shaking her head and allowing herself to be pulled into a hug. "Dad started it."
The blonde sighed in a silent debate with herself, but lost and gave into her frustration. "I don't get it. You always talked about your dads and their unending support of you and everything you have ever chosen to do, but all I've seen Elijah do is second guess you and make you feel like shit for doing what you want."
Before Rachel could come up with her response, the other side of Quinn's personal debate kicked in.
"But then, if my hunch is right, the only thing he has ever not supported you on is anything that involves me."
"Quinn, don't do that." Rachel begged as she pulled her fiance closer. "Don't let this tear you down. I don't know exactly what his deal is. Just...let it be for right now. Let Adrianne handle him. Their show down is inevitable so wait until afterward before you bring anything else up about his attitude."
"Speaking of that certain brunette." Quinn noted in a musical tone, causing Rachel too look up at the blonde in concerned interest. She jerked her head towards the kitchen. "Take a look at that."
The diva looked over her shoulder and found Kim chatting with Kevin, Adrianne adoringly attached to the assistant's hip, sampling the food that was occasionally being fed to her by the younger woman. "That's cute."
Quinn shook her head. "Wait. Just wait." They both watched as Adrianne leaned against the counter and ran her eyes over her girlfriend's features as she socialized, much like Quinn did with Rachel or the diva did as Quinn slept. Her face void of all emotion because she was so lost in the other woman. "Here it comes." Quinn warned and Rachel waited patiently. Kim broke from Kevin's gaze for a second to look at Adrianne quickly and the apprentice instantly beamed with the biggest smile either of them had ever seen.
"Oh my God. She is so in love."
"And completely whipped." Quinn added with victory in her voice. She was going to tease her friend relentlessly about it.
"So, you think they've...finally?"
The blonde nodded. "You'll notice all tonight, how Adrianne wont let Kim out of her sight unless she goes to the bathroom or something. And if she's close enough, they will be touching in one way or another." Quinn explained pointing to how the back of Adrianne's hand was lightly brushing the assistant's hip as she braced herself on the counter's edge."
"How did you deal with that? You need your space."
The blonde shrugged. "It was one of our issues. I love cuddling and everything like that, but every now and then...I just need five minutes alone."
Rachel nodded her head, knowing exactly what Quinn meant. That was normally when she would go for her walks with her camera. "So...why is Adrianne so protective?"
"Why are you so forgiving? It's just the way she is. Nothing has happened to her to cause it. That I know of at least. Her father is very similar but takes your dads approach on normality, but just a little farther." Rachel arched an eyebrow for clarification. "Remember how I told you when I first met her parents, she and her dad had an argument about her being gay and his concerns were her being treated like an out cast. It wasn't out of embarrassment like it would have been with my dad, but general concern like yours. Your dad wanted you to date a man so you wouldn't have to go through the hardships either. Her dad just absolutely refuses to accept that Adrianne is gay, thinking it will eventually change her mind. He just wants her to be safe."
"So the protectiveness is inherited, or at least learned from her father." Quinn nodded. "So...who do you think will win tonight?"
"Adrianne. Mainly because your dad's reasoning is invalid. She'll just be more forceful than either of us in helping him see that."
Rachel laughed nervously. "That's because she doesn't have to live with him or have any sort of family ties to him. Perhaps this confrontation will be a good thing." Just as Rachel finished speaking the elevator opened and Judy came squealing out, startling everyone but especially Kevin as she ran to him, wrapping her arms around his neck in an excited hug. "Oh my God..."
"Mom. Mom...let him breath." Quinn begged as she walked over to the woman and tried pulling her off of him. "You're cutting off his air flow."
"I'm sorry." The older blonde apologized with a smile on his face. "It's just you two are getting married and we are all family now. Or will be, but we kind of already are." Kevin's shock had worn off and seemed to be instantly replaced by the woman's excitement as she two clutched each other's hands and squealed together, leaving everyone else shaking their heads in a disbelieving amusement. Who would have ever thought that Judy Fabray would not only be excited about her daughter marrying a woman, but that she was also excited about joining the family of two gay men, one of which was Jewish and the other was black.
"We have one extreme and then the other." Quinn whispered as Elijah approached.
Judy's smile died down just a little, not in disapproval of the other man's views, but respect for them. "Elijah, it's good to see you again." He nodded and actually hugged the woman, acknowledging her as something more than a previous acquaintance.
Quinn couldn't help but feel a little bad for the man. It must have felt rather lonely to be the only one to share his views on what was on everyone else's minds and was sure to be the topic of the evening. But then again, it was what his views were that kept her from feelings truly sorry for him. This was her life, her love, her engagement. She wasn't going to let him keep her from being happy about it. "So, now we're just missing Tina a Scott."
"They should be here in a little bit." Rachel answered as she walked up the stairs. "I'm going to get dressed."
The group mingled with Quinn keeping a watchful eye on the distance between Adrianne and Elijah with constant glances at Kim. The recent...development in their relationship was going to be the biggest buffer between an enjoyable night and a complete train wreck. The two head strong individuals could have their argument, just after everyone else had left for the evening. "You're going to help me with this, right?" She asked her assistant as the apprentice was lost in conversation with Judy.
Kim glanced at her girlfriend and turned to Quinn, leaning against the kitchen counter still. "I can't control her. You know how she is."
The blonde nodded. "I do. And that's how I know you can. Trust me. Put your foot down if she gets out of line and she'll cave. Just until the evening is over and Tina and Scott leave. Everyone else around will be family."
"So why not just let this happen now?"
Quinn smiled as Adrianne looked over and then returned her eyes to Kim as she turned away. "Fear of someone walking out, or the issue not being resolved in time and tension strangling everyone for the rest of the evening." Kim furrowed her brow, unsure of herself. "You have the power. Trust me."
The room froze in confusion as a loud buzz filled the apartment.
"It's the 'elevator bell. Scott and Tina must be here." Quinn explained as she tossed Kevin the key to go down and get them. "I'm going to check on Rachel and get dressed myself." The blonde was wanting to avoid the stress more than anything. Pawning Adrianne off on Kim was a true blessing to be able to do. "Hey, Baby. Tina and Scott are...fuck..."
Quinn stopped just inside the door as she caught sight of Rachel straightening her hair in the bathroom mirror. The tiny brunette was in a tiny black dress that bordered on indecent as the diva leaned forward over the counter slightly. "You alright?" Rachel asked, oblivious to the effect she was having on her fiance.
The blonde smiled and shut the bedroom door, making sure to lock it when she did. She silently moved towards the bathroom, stripping off her shirt as she reached the door way. Rachel giggled as Quinn cupped her hips from behind and kissed her shoulder, moving her lips ever so slowly up to her ear. "You are sex on legs...but you can't wear that tonight."
"Why not?" Her voice was deep with seduction as the blonde ran her hands down to her ass and squeezed it firmly.
"Because I wont be listening to anything anyone is saying...only thinking of the things I want to do to you. I mean," she continued as she moved her fingers down a little further to the end of the dress and began inching the material up slightly. "What ever happened to those reindeer sweaters?"
The diva smirked, and turned to face the blonde, stopping her hands from continuing to lift her dress. "You can't do that."
"Why not?" Quinn asked as she leaned forward and found Rachel's pulse spot as her hands continued their previous mission.
"Because I can't be quiet, remember?" Rachel teased and then gasped as Quinn ran her right hand between her thighs as her black lace panties became visible. "See?"
"There are seven people down stairs talking over one another and music playing on the stereo. I think we can manage to keep you below that."
The diva braced her palms on the counter as Quinn attacked her lips with a deep kiss and worked her panties down slightly, giving her enough room to slide her fingers through the rapidly dampening folds. The blonde braced her left hand on the counter between Rachel's and the diva's rocking hips as she captured her moans in her mouth, smiling as they grew louder as she quickened her fingers. Concentrating on not getting any louder, Rachel pulled her mouth away from her fiance's and bit her bottom lip. Quinn pulled her head back to watch as Rachel struggled, grinning when her mouth fell open and she groaned as the blonde slipped two fingers deep inside in a single fluid motion.
"You are so fucking tight."
Rachel continued rocking her hips in time with Quinn's paced thrusts, moving one hand to grip the blonde's forearm as she felt a light pull begin in the pit of her stomach. Her chocolate eyes opened widely and she moved to work Quinn's jeans off. "I want you to come at the same time."
The blonde grunted as Rachel worked the tight fabric down her hips and slipped her hand into her underwear, finding the bundle of nerves and an abundance of wetness immediately. "Wont take much." Quinn informed her, pressing her forehead to Rachel's as they panted together, increasing their pace simultaneously. "I swear, just looking at you just gets me there."
They could feel the heat radiating off of each other as they panted and moaned in unison, the sounds echoing off of the large bathroom walls. Feeding off of their own needs, their speed quickened again, reducing them to gasps of breaths and strained whimpers until their hips bucked forward at the same time as they came. "Fuck...fuck, Quinn...I just...God, I love you."
The blonde smiled and peppered Rachel cheek and neck with kisses, riding out the last wave. "I love you too...but you still can't wear that down stairs.
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"Elijah!" Tina called out as she ran out of the elevator to the shorter man, hugging him tightly. The Berry's had become like a second family to her. Every time the men came up to visit, they would go out to dinner with her and Scott to catch up on their lives as much as Rachel's. "It's been too long."
"Only three months."
She pulled him a little tighter before she let him go, both smiling widely. They liked Tina. They knew that since she and Rachel had known each other in the past, she wasn't using their daughter for her success and was a genuine friend for her in a very lonely world. "Still too long."
Scott shook the man's hand when he was finally given access and moved on to the other women. They had all met briefly when they surprised Rachel at her show, but there was still an air of mystery around them. They were, in some ways, Rachel's friends meeting Quinn's friends. They were being melded together just like the other aspects of the couple's lives.
"So, where are the happy couple?" Tina asked as Adrianne and Kim handed her and her husband drinks.
"Up stairs getting dressed." Kim answered shyly.
"And probably undressed and then dressed again." Adrianne added gaining a laugh from everyone but Scott and Elijah. Scott mostly because he thought that a straight man laughing at two lesbians having sex could be taken the wrong way. He didn't want to seem like a guy that fantasized about his client and her lover like that. He wanted to stay distant from the sexual aspect of their relationship as a show of professionalism and personal respect. Elijah didn't laugh because he was Elijah.
"So," The short man began as everyone took their seats around the table and waited for the couple to arrive. "Scott, things most have been pretty busy for you lately. Have you figured out how you are going to announce their engagement or that Rachel is taking time away from the stage?"
"Well, we still aren't sure if she is taking time off. She seems pretty set on it, but she is seriously considering everything that Quinn is saying as well. This is her dream and, while it's a small possibility, there is still a possibility that she wont get a second chance at it." Everyone nodded their heads. "As for the engagement, I don't know. That is for them to decide and I'll just play my part in it."
"It's so exciting though." Tina gushed. "I knew they were going to get married the first time I saw them together. They are just so meant to be. Rachel turns into a love sick teenager and Quinn is just absolutely smitten with her." She avoided Elijah's eyes when she spoke and looked to Adrianne quickly. She knew how the man felt and didn't want to rub his face in the fact that she was happy for them. And as for Adrianne, she wanted to see the brunette's reaction to her description of Quinn's love for Rachel. To her pleasant surprise, she was smiling and nodding her head.
"What about you Scott?" Elijah asked filling his glass of wine again. "What are your thoughts on this sudden engagement? As a friend, not a manager."
The blonde man hesitated and lowered his eyes to the table as he thought and worded his response carefully. "As a friend, I am always thrilled to see Rachel thrilled. Quinn obviously loves her very deeply and makes her happier than I have seen her in a long time."
"So you think they're rushing it too?"
Adrianne opened her mouth but Kim caught her chin with her finger and pulled her green eyes to hers, shaking her head to not get involved. To her surprise and joy, Adrianne only hesitated a second before closing her mouth and shrinking in posture.
Scott let out a quick breath and then looked at his wife. "I think that every couple moves at a different pace. Their pace, right or wrong, is simply faster than most." Tina nodded her head but Elijah wasn't happy.
"That didn't answer my question."
He cleared his throat and looked at the older man firmly. He was getting a little aggravated that he just wouldn't let it drop. "My thoughts as to whether or not they are 'rushing' things depends on when they actually get married. If the want the wedding next week or next month, then yes. If they take their time, then no."
Elijah nodded his head in acceptance of his answer and was pulled by the elbow for his husband to whisper in his ear. "You keep this up...and you can find a hotel to sleep at. We all know your opinion. Now keep it to yourself. You said you would stop protesting this."
"I wasn't protesting. I was asking the man his opinion. I knew everyone elses'."
"My warning still stands. If you do anything to upset my daughter this evening, you may find yourself sleeping with divorce papers when we get home." Elijah's eyes widened in shock at the threat but he did as he was told.
Once the couple descended the stairs and blushed their way through the sex jokes, the evening progressed nicely. Since there was a mix of religions and even some with no religion, the evening was not treated as a holiday celebration. It wasn't a Christmas party, but rather a chance for friends to come together and reconnect.
"So, have you come up with a tentative date yet?" Judy asked as Scott and Kevin cleared the table of plates after the meal.
Quinn kept silent and looked to Rachel who blushed under her gaze. "We were thinking maybe in March or April. It would be best if we waited until after I announced my career choice but it still leaving us enough time to prepare properly."
"That of course doesn't mean that we wont be discussing flowers and dresses every night until then." Quinn joked, gaining some laughs and Rachel pressed her forehead to the blonde's shoulder in embarrassment.
Scott could see Elijah look at him from the corner of his eye and cleared his throat. "I think that is a perfect time frame for you to work with. It's not too rushed and not too drawn out. You can worry about one thing at a time."
"Exactly." Rachel answered back. "It will also give Quinn the opportunity to make the money to pay for it."
"I thought the father of the bride was suppose to pay for it." Kevin chimed in and Quinn nearly choked on her wine.
"Well, I highly doubt my father will do anything to help out, and her ideas are likely to bankrupt you two."
Kevin shrugged. "We could still help. Once Rachel graduated from Julliard, we started saving for her wedding."
"Did you really?" The diva asked, shocked but not really at the same time. They men had always spent money on her. Whether with dance classes, singing lessons, trips to New York, or her college tuition. So this wasn't too far out of the ordinary for them. "Well, my ideas for the wedding aren't all that extravagant. It's the ideas for the reception. The celebration. You know, maybe keep the ceremony simple and just enjoy the party."
"I like that." Quinn agreed, looking to her fiance adoringly. "The wedding should be about the moment. The reception is the stress reliever."
"The thank God it's done, now give me some alcohol release." Adrianne added with some laughs.
"Are you wanting to keep the guest list small or are you inviting everyone you've ever met?" Judy continued her questioning. She was just as excited as the girls. Not only was her youngest daughter getting married, but the woman she was getting married to had very much become a daughter to her as well. There was double the excitement. Double the dresses, the flowers, double the hair. All of it.
The couple looked at each other and shrugged before Quinn answered. "We honestly haven't discussed the details very much because we have so much else going on. But I would figure the guest list would be average."
Rachel nodded her head. "I'm definitely not inviting everyone I have ever met. I don't like most of the people I've met. I'd want to invite some of the cast though."
"Not Chris." Quinn, Kevin, Elijah, and Adrianne stated at the same time.
"You don't like Chris either?" Elijah asked reaching across the table and taking Adrianne's hand in support.
"I've never talked to him, but he just reeks of arrogance.
The tall man sat up and smiled at the couple at the head of the table. "I like her. You can keep her around." He informed them, much to his husbands disapproval.
"That's good." Quinn retorted. "She's kind of hard to get rid of. Once you think you have, she shows up with signed contract and suddenly she works for you."
She shrugged. "You signed it. And the most recent one was all your idea, so now you're stuck with me for at least another year." Elijah stood up and took the empty wine bottle into the kitchen and filled his glass with another one. "I'm not going anywhere any time soon."
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By midnight the couple was waving their goodbyes to Tina, Scott, and Judy. Kim and Adrianne were in the living room on the sofa, the assistant with her hand on Adrianne's thigh while the apprentice returned Elijah's stare. He was sitting in the chqir opposite from them with his husband watching from the kitchen.
"Thank you two for lasting the evening without killing each other." Quinn stated as she sat down in the other chair in the living room and Rachel took a seat on her lap.
The diva sat sideways, resting her forehead against Quinn's temple and pulled the blonde's arms around her. "If you two are still insistent on discussing your differences, please don't get any blood on the carpet. Kurt will absolutely freak."
Adrianne sat forward, eager for the conversation to begin now that they were given permission, but Elijah shook his head. "I'm not allowed to discuss anything. I have been threatened with divorce."
Rachel lifted her head and looked back to Kevin who shrugged. "If it's okay with Rachel, go at it. I'll be in the bedroom." And with that, he retreated.
Quinn was unaffected by the tension in the room. She had gone through it on both sides. She had been at the mercy of both Elijah and Adrianne before. There was no point in worrying about the out come anyway. She was going to have Rachel no matter what. The diva was a little nervous though, mainly because she didn't know Adrianne was going to react. She knew everything that Quinn had said, but those were just words playing on her imagination. Seeing was believing. Kim was the most affected and it had Adrianne torn. She felt the need to defend her friends and herself, but didn't want to cause her girlfriend to feel uncomfortable. So she reclined back in the sofa and put her arm around her shoulders for comfort. She wasn't going to be the one to start this. She was defending, not attacking.
"My concern for my daughter has seemed to paint me as some sort of monster in all of your eyes." Elijah started and Kim lightly shook her head. She didn't believe that. She didn't really think any one saw him as a monster, just stubborn. "Thank you. I'm not a monster, just a father."
"Who should be happy for his daughter." Adrianne interrupted. "You're not a monster, just unreasonable."
"Unreasonable? They've been dating a month!"
"But have known each other all of their lives."
He shook his head. "Do you love Quinn?" The question was sudden and unexpected, but Adrianne answered without hesitation.
"With all my heart." Kim dropped her eyes to her hands. "But the question you're wanting to know is am I still in love with her. And the answer is no. I love her but I am not in love with her." Kim smiled but kept her head down and out of the conversation.
"How does one fall out of love so quickly?"
"By being honest with yourself. By admitting that after three years of being someone second choice, you are always going to be their second choice. I'll be honest with you. At first I was devastated. I thought I had found the one and could never have her because she was the one for someone else. But that all changed one day when I saw her kiss Rachel and I wasn't hit with that pang of jealousy anymore. I was shocked when I realized I wanted something like that, but not with her." Adrianne paused, knowing she was getting a little off of the real, unspoken topic. "I love Quinn and I love what Rachel does for her. How she makes her happy in ways that I never could. I love Rachel for it. I have spent three years hating the idea of her, but when I met her... I couldn't help but start to like her. She is someone I can see myself hanging out with and becoming very good friends with. We have a lot in common and I discovered that she is a very genuine and forgiving person. I'm thankful that my best friend is marrying someone like her."
Elijah nodded his head, unsure of what to say to that. She had made things very clear. She loved Quinn but wasn't in love with her. She explained why she originally hated his daughter but had changed her feelings towards her, and why she approved of this quick engagement. He had nothing to go on.
"May I say something separate from my relationship with your daughter and her fiance?"
Quinn knew what this was. It was going back to the first thing she had ever told Rachel about the woman. Adrianne was a very confident person when it came to her gut feelings. It was like Rachel's sixth sense but with a very passionate belief in them. The brunette 'knew' something and she wanted to share it.
Elijah shrugged his shoulders.
"You are her father, concerned, but still loving. You've also said in the past that you approve of Quinn and are glad that your daughter has found someone to make her happy like she does. So if your only concern was that the two of them were moving too quickly, your worries would have been eased by their announcement that they weren't planning on getting married for months yet." Rachel lifted her head in interest, looking at her father as he sat unmoved while Adrianne continued. "Things aren't moving too quickly anymore...with them. However, I have a very strong feeling that things are moving too quickly for you."
He didn't answer.
"You aren't ready to give her up yet. And that's why you are opposed to this engagement. It's the first real sign that you are losing your little girl; she'll belong to someone else. That is what is happening too quickly for you."
The room fell silent. His lack of response was his admittance. Adrianne had hit on something that no one else had noticed and no one even bothered to consider. He wasn't angry or disapproving. He was hurting. Rachel crawled out of Quinn's lap and moved to her father's, letting him cradle her in his arms.
"I'll always be your little girl." The diva whispered and he kissed her forehead. "Besides, I'm sure if you ask real nicely, Quinn would still share me. I don't think she would be the type to lock me in a room and never let me see you again."
The blonde dropped her brow and smiled at her fiance in her amusement with the brunette's imagination. "No. Definitely not the type. In fact, there may be times every month that I'll even send her to you if you would like."
He smiled lightly, resting his cheek against his daughter's forehead. "I've had her during those times for years. It's your turn to endure them."
"I am still right here, you know."
"I know." He answered, wrapping his arms tighter around her. "Just promise me that you'll visit more often. I know your schedule has prevented it before, but if you do take a break from Broadway, I expect to see you more often."
"We can do that." Quinn answered for the teary eyed diva. "If she does decided to leave, I was hoping to go travel a little bit and get some location shots. Ohio would be a stop for sure." She leaned over the arm of the chair and lowered her voice. "I'm not taking her away from you. I promise."
He nodded his head and let a tear fall. "I know. I just have to remind myself now. I really do approve of you. And while the engagement happened quickly, I am glad that the marriage isn't next week." He assured them both. "I'm happy for you. I was just a scared."
