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Part 19
"Good morning." Rachel walks inside the sunlit kitchen to find her Daddy stacking vegan pancakes in four neat piles.
"Good morning, sweetheart." Hiram leans down to receive his morning kiss and Rachel delivers soon after. She stretches on her tiptoes to kiss his shaved cheek.
"What time did you get back? We didn't hear you." Rachel grabs her mug from the cupboard and fills it with hot coffee, sippining it to get herself warm.
"It was almost 3, but I am sure you and Miss Fabray were otherwise occupied." He winks at her and the blush tinting her cheeks is the confirmation he needs.
"We were not…Daddy, we-" She knows she should explain herself but it is so obvious when the guest room has been empty since the first time. It is also obvious how they have taken advantage of the empty house to indulge in more intimate activities, without risking to be interrupted.
"As your father, I should feel somehow shocked that my baby girl is having sex under my roof." He flips the pancake right on the plate. "You're 29, Rachel, and you love this woman like I love your Dad. As long as you're happy, I am fine."
"Thanks Daddy." She sits her mug down to wrap her arms around him from behind.
"She can't get you pregnant." He chuckles. "One thing less to worry about."
"True." She kisses his shoulder and grabs her mug on her way to the kitchen table. She leans back and grabs her phone from the pocket of her hoodie. She keeps sipping as the phone comes to life, after being switched off overnight, and she has straighten in the chair when her messages notifications and email alerts start rolling up, incessantly. "The hell?" She mutters to herself.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?" Hiram turns at her mild cursing.
"Oh God." She keeps scrolling through the emails and news, reading the small descriptions below the pictures.
"Morning." Quinn chooses this moment to walk in the open kitchen, freshly showered and with her hair up in a messy ponytail.
"Good morning." Hiram sends her a small smile and then goes back to his daughter. "Honey, what's wrong?"
"Wrong? Are you okay?" Quinn approaches her and leans over her, from behind her chair, to kiss the top of her girlfriend's head.
"Look…" Rachel holds the phone up for the blonde and leans back against her, tilting her head back to stare up at her upside down.
"Is this…" Quinn scrolls through the pictures. "How did it happen?"
"Someone must've sold him out." Rachel sighs and gets her phone back. "Should I call him or Cassie, first?"
"It's up to you, but I think they're expecting a statement with your side of the story." She leans down to kiss the top of her head. "I know he is your friend, but you should make sure your reputation is still intact."
"Okay, what's wrong? What happened?" Hiram has enough of going back and forth between them, clearly missing some key information.
"Brody, the co-star I am apparently dating, was caught making out with another girl at some New Year Eve party in Los Angeles. The pics are all over the gossip sites." She shows him the pictures.
"What happens now?" Hiram nods.
"I should probably release a statement and I think it's time for us to break-up." She stands from the chair. "I don't want to drag him into the mud. He was caught doing something we've been doing for two months." She turns to Quinn.
"I know." She pulls her into her arms and leans down to nuzzle her nose along her temple. "Call Cassie but make sure she knows you're not going to attack him publicly."
"I'll drop him a text too." She nods and leans in for a quick peck. "You're okay?"
"Why wouldn't I be? Are you?" She leans down to press her forehead against Rachel's. "Whether you stand by his side or not, they'll find ways to blame you for his cheating."
"Don't I know?" She shakes her head and leans for a quick peck on her lips. "I better call Cassie before she sends someone to pick me up, against my will." She slips out of her arms and walks into the living room.
"You're really okay?" Hiram nods to her. He wears a soft and knowing smile.
"Yes, I am." Quinn drops in the chair Rachel has vacated. "I'm worried of the backlash she'll receive, even she was not the one caught cheating."
"It's not her fault." Hiram furrows his brows.
"No, it's not." She looks behind her shoulder to get a glimpse of Rachel walking back and forth, talking with Cassie. "But they'll hint that she drove him nuts and he had to cheat to escape her or some shit like this. It happens all the time."
"And when the break-up comes, it will be worse." He nods. "You'll be there for her, right?"
"I would never leave her side, let alone now." Quinn nods to him. "I told her I am ready to step up as her girlfriend when time is right. I don't want to hide anymore."
"That's a big step, what do your parents think or say about that?" Hiram takes a seat himself.
"With all due respect, Hiram, my parents cannot have a say in this." She leans forward. "I'll let my Mom know before we go there but I don't care about anyone else, but Rachel."
"They're going to be hard on you." He sighs. "If this is bad, it will be worse when you both come out clean with your relationship."
"I can handle myself." She nods and looks back at Rachel. "I will take care of her too."
"Thank you." He leans over to squeeze her clasped hands.
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"Hey." Quinn walks into the girl's room after her morning cigarette and having left Rachel finishing her late breakfast, following a long hour spent on the phone with Cassie.
"Hey." Rachel folds her clothes and drops them into her open suitcase.
"You're packing already? We leave in two days." Quinn leans against her dresser.
"Packing relaxes me and I don't like procrastinating on these things. I need to organize everything without any rush." She keeps folding clothes.
"Okay." Quinn walks up to her and wraps herself around the distressed brunette from behind, until she stops and just lets herself be held.
"Talking with Cassie was tough." Rachel drapes her arms over Quinn's. "She wants what's best for me but I don't want to hurt him."
"You should talk to him and give him a heads up that whatever will be said or written from your point of view might not be the truth." Quinn kisses her shoulder softly. "He'll understand and if you tell him, he can face it better."
"He was drunk and someone sold him out. It was not his fault." Rachel nods softly.
"I know. It could've happened to us too, but we are being extra careful when we're in public." Quinn nuzzles her cheek and holds her a little tighter. "Brody would do the same if he was in your shoes."
"Right." She nods softly ans nudges her off just to turn around in her embrace and wrap her arms around Quinn's waist.
"Hey." Quinn's forearms cradle her head. "I don't know what you're feeling like but I am here if you want to talk about it."
"I don't know what I feel like." Rachel rests her head against her shoulder. "I am sort of relieved that the break-up can happen after he cheated but I also don't know what's next." She holds her a little more. "How long until it is safe enough to come out without getting called out on it?"
"Probably never." She kisses her cheek. "When we come out, there will be angry people saying the worst things about us because we're two women or because it is against God or because you drove your man into someone else's arms or all of them and some more."
"What should we do then? Stay hidden forever?" She shakes her head and nuzzles the base of her throat.
"No. I am saying you should be ready for people being against us." Quinn kisses her cheek again. "But there will be people supporting us too and that's what you should focus on."
"And what about you? They'll target you too." Rachel grips the back of her sweater.
"I'll focus on you and on what we're building together as a couple." Quinn's fingers slip through her hair. "I am not going anywhere."
"Good." Rachel leans on her tiptoes to brush her lips over the blonde's. Arms close around waists, erasing any distance left, as they embrace in the middle of the bedroom.
"Do you feel okay about travelling back with the plane or should I get the jet?" Quinn kisses her gently.
"The plane is fine. We cannot get off at Jfk together though, Cassie is sending paps." Rachel groans and nibbles on her lip.
"No prob, I'll be the one hidden behind a Yankee cap and dark glasses." She chuckles and kisses her again. "I'll meet you at the car."
"Sounds good." She tugs the blonde with her as they recline back onto her bed. The packing can wait for a while.
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Rachel is rubbing the water in excess from her hair when the knock happens. Dealing with Cassie and the press after the official statement about her breakup with Brody has been draining, so she has hopped in the shower as soon as she has gotten back home.
She just needs to relax and to ignore the hundred notifications blowing up her phone.
She only wants to curl on her bed, under the covers, and fall asleep to the sound of Quinn's voice, on the phone, since they haven't had time to be together since they have gotten back from Lima.
Rachel drops the towel aside and opens the door, surprised to find a familiar blonde woman on her doorstep.
"Hi." Quinn smiles at her. Her hair is slightly damp from what she assumes is the rain. It is pouring heavily outside and she wonders if Quinn should have ventured outside for her, in the middle of the night.
"Hi." Rachel moves aside to let her in and, as soon as she is, she leans back against the door while the blonde stands in front of her, with her hands behind her back.
"Is it a bad moment?" Quinn looks down at her. "I can always go."
"Don't you dare." Rachel grabs her from the front of her sweater and tugs her forward, until she is in her personal space. "What are you hiding from me?" She tries to look but Quinn steps back.
"Curiosity kills the cat, don't you know?" Quinn puts another step between them and then produces a bouquet of gardenias from behind her back. She holds it between them and just takes in the other girl's reaction. She just enjoys the way Rachel's smile blossoms for her.
"Did I miss something?" Rachel takes it and buries her nose in the familiar flowers.
"No, I just wanted to buy you flowers." She steps closer and leans down to kiss her cheek. "And I wanted to see you."
"We have been apart only for two days and it feels like it's been a week." Rachel drops her arm aside and turns her head to brush their lips for a soft kiss. "You're staying, right?"
"If you want me to." Quinn nods gently and cups each side of her face, pulling her into another soft kiss.
"You're definitely spending the night." Rachel nods and grabs her by the hand, tugging her across the living room to her master bedroom. She sits the flowers in the vase on her dresser and then turns to Quinn, who is waiting by the bed.
"Come here." Quinn beckons her closer and she doesn't need to hear Quinn repeat herself. Rachel crosses the space left and wraps herself around the blonde, who stumbles back for the impact but doesn't lose her footing, not completely at least.
"Have you read what they're saying?" Rachel nuzzles her face against her shoulder and leans into her. She is just taking the strength from the blonde.
"Yes. They're being unfair to both of you." Quinn nods and kisses the top of her head. "But it's nothing unexpected."
"Still sucks." Rachel nods against her shoulder. "I wonder what they'll say when we come out as a couple."
"Don't worry about that." Quinn nuzzles her temple. "We can face it and if it's not us, then we'll have Cassie and lawyers to take care of everything, should they go too far."
"Well, my fans always speculated about my bisexuality." She looks up at the blonde. "They shouldn't be totally surprised when I'll show up with you by my side."
"Didn't you date girls before me?" Quinn brushes her knuckles along her cheeks.
"One, it was brief and we never came out. But I've been on Broadway and you know what's like." She leans in to peck her lips.
"Yeah, I know." Quinn turns them around and pushes the brunette towards the bed, before lifting her by the back of her thighs to lie her down on it.
"Change into something comfier and join me?" Rachel pushes her back when she tries to crawl on top of her, still fully dressed.
"Fine." Quinn starts scattering her clothes around the room, until she stands in her boxer briefs and is bent over Rachel's dresser, searching for something to wear.
"Third one from the top." Rachel enjoys the view from her place under the covers.
"So, you stole it from my bag huh?" She holds the tattered Yale t-shirt in front of her bare chest before she slips it on.
"I told you it was my favorite." Rachel shrugs with a grin. She is guilty of the 'crime' she is being accused of.
"Thief." Quinn pulls the covers back and lies down, on her side of the bed.
"You love me." Rachel rolls over as soon as she has settled and crawls over her, pinning her hands down above their heads.
"Maybe." Quinn rolls her eyes at her.
"Liar." Rachel leans down to nuzzle her nose along her pulse point. She brushes her tongue over it and then sinks her teeth in the spot, making Quinn hiss under her.
"I need…" Quinn groans. Her hands slip down the back of Rachel's shirt, to get under it and find the warm skin that she wants to feel against hers. "I need to ask you…"
"Ask me what?" Rachel pulls away from the barely visible mark and looks down into her girlfriend's eyes.
"The Foundation's anniversary is coming up next week and we're hosting a charity party for it." Quinn squeezes her hips gently. "Would you come with me? As my guest and as a friend, of course."
"Do I need to sing?" Rachel stretches against her and pecks her lips.
"If you want to, otherwise there will be another music arrangement for the evening." Quinn slides her hands down to her backside and squeezes it through the shorts.
"I'll let Cassie know but there shouldn't be a problem." Rachel nods and nibbles on her bottom lip. "Unless we start making out in the middle of the dance floor."
"It won't be the case, no." Quinn licks her own lip after the tender attack. "But I can't promise I won't drag you somewhere to have my way with you." She flips them over and makes room for her body between Rachel's legs.
"You won't hear me complain." Rachel grins and pulls her down for a kiss, while with the other hand she tugs the covers over their heads, hiding them fully underneath.
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Rachel is through her second flute of exquisite champagne when Quinn gets off the improvised stage, after her speech. She drinks slowly, staring at Quinn in a way that she should be ashamed of herself for, but she cannot really help it.
She cannot help if her eyes linger on the form fitting red dress, hugging her around the hips and waist. She cannot help if her eyes travel along her exposed forearms, with muscles flexing with each squeeze around the mic she holds in her hand. She cannot help if her eyes meet Quinn's, in a knowing contest that is going to get her in trouble later.
"Miss Berry." Quinn finds her as soon as she is done exchanging pleasantries with one of the sponsors. She is carrying two glasses and she is quick to finish hers, to accept the new one.
"Nice speech." Rachel takes the glass and joins the blonde for a quick toast. The sound of their glasses clinking together is not loud enough to catch anyone's attention.
"Glad to know. It wasn't as good as your speech at the Tony's, though." Quinn chuckles and sips from her glass. She looks back at the brunette with a smirk that makes Rachel blush.
"Different circumstances." Rachel takes a sip. "I won an award, you're thanking your people for your company achievements. It needed more inspiration."
"Was it inspired enough?" Quinn takes a step closer and looks at her over the rim of her glass.
"Stop it." Rachel says in a hushed tone.
"I'm not doing anything." She chuckles. "Yet."
"You're incorrigible." Rachel finishes her glass and sets it down on the table at her right. "Is there anything I can eat? I am on my third glass with an empty stomach."
"The table over there is the vegan area." Quinn nods to the table on the left side of the room, under the ample windows with the perfect view on the Freedom Tower.
"Walk with me?" Rachel walks ahead of the blonde, who sits her own glass beside Rachel's and follows her. She nods and smiles to the familiar faces on her way there, until they're standing side by side looking down at the food.
"You're the expert here." Quinn has a plate in her hand. "Lead the way."
"It's not so difficult, Miss Fabray." Rachel grabs the metal clamp and places a couple of vegan muffins with zucchini in their plates. "Did you do this for me?"
"There are some other vegan guests." Quinn leans closer with the excuse of reaching for some grilled tofu. "But you know it's for you." She whispers in her ear when she pulls back.
"I really wish I could kiss you." Rachel whispers back. She knows she has been heard when Quinn brushes a hand along her back, as she walks by to get to the dessert area.
"I wish-" Quinn stops dead in her tracks when her eyes land on the two people who have just walked in. "Motherfucker."
"What?" Rachel follows her gaze and she stops as well. She curses under her breath when Russell ans Judy Fabray walk further in the room, greeting everyone. "You invited them?"
"Don't need to. He founded this." Quinn shakes her head and sits her plate down, hunger completely gone. "He is not on the guest list."
"Did they know I'd be here?" Rachel stands by her side, not close enough to draw suspicions. Close enough to make Quinn aware of her support.
"I am in charge, I decide my guests." Quinn clenches her fists.
"I'll take that as no." Rachel earns a sideway glance that makes her shiver.
"Lucy." Judy is the first to approach them. She has left her husband chatting with some rich investor and has walked their way. "Miss Berry, what a surprise."
"Mrs. Fabray, it's a pleasure to see you again." Rachel leans in for a quick kiss on each cheek. "Your daughter was kind enough to invite me and I couldn't miss it."
"This year's location is probably the best one in the last 10 years. Very well done, Lucy." She pulls her daughter in a quick hug.
"Thanks, Mom." Quinn frowns. "I thought you and Dad were in Texas."
"We came back this morning, we would never miss it." She grabs a glass from the nearest waiter and half downs it. "I read about your breakup, dear. Are you alright?"
"Yes, Mrs. Fabray. Thank you for asking." Rachel nods with a smile.
"Is there anyone new in your life?" The questions catches both girls by surprise.
"Mom, you know that Rachel and I-" Quinn trails off but she knows her mother has gotten her point.
"I know, but she needs someone to be seen with, right?" She smiles over the rim of her glass.
"Mom, we discussed this…" She looks over at Rachel, who nods. "Rachel and I want to do that." She says in a hushed tone.
"Do what, Lucy?" She steals a grape from the bowl of fruit in the middle of the table and pops it in her mouth.
"Go public, Mrs. Fabray." Rachel gets closer to whisper to both women. "Come clean with whatever is happening between us."
"Lucy, you can't." Judy looks at her daughter with a resigned face. "You know your Father is going to run for the next elections and this won't help him."
"It's my life, Mom." Quinn tries to keep her voice down even if she wants to really shout at her own mother. "I won't hide anymore." She looks at her. "I thought you were okay with it."
"I am…" Judy looks between the two younger women. "But think about this, Lucy. It's gonna change everything."
"And we can't let that happen, right? Why change everything when we can just keep on living our mediocre and unhappy lives." She scoffs. "When we can pretend we are just the perfect American-"
"Lucy." Russell's voice stops her from raising her voice too much.
"Figures." Quinn rolls her eyes at him. "It's such an honor to have you here, Russell."
"It's a nice party, why do you want to ruin it with this stupid nonsense?" He looks between them with disdain in his eyes.
"Right. We should put our best smiles on and pretend we're all fine here." Quinn chuckles bitterly. "I didn't get your RSVP."
"Do I need one? For the company I founded on my own?" He is raising his voice now. "There's my name on the door."
"And so is mine." She challenges him back. "But you see those guys by the door?" She nods to the men in suits. "They do what I tell them to, so if you don't behave accordingly I might need to ask them to escort you outside."
"You're kicking your own family out?" Russell steps closer and it's obvious how they have been catching everyone's attention now. "For her?" He snarls at the brunette, who is closer to Quinn now.
"For the same reason I was kicked out of my own house." She looks up into his eyes. "You're more than welcome to stay, but you better behave like one of the other guests and not like you own this place." She grabs a couple of glasses and pulls the brunette along with her.
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Rachel has been quiet for the whole ride back to Quinn's place. The driver has taken them around the building, to the side entrance and then down into the underground parking lot, where they have taken the elevator to Quinn's floor.
She hasn't spoken a word about what happened, not wanting to disturb Quinn and her thoughts about the whole thing.
What happens now? She is wondering about that as she stands by the door, heels in her hands and back against it. She stands there, with her coat still on and her arms crossed over her hips.
"Do you want something to drink?" Quinn is padding barefoot to the liquor cabinet. She has dropped the coat on the armchair and her purse on it, without a care really.
"No, I'm fine." Rachel shakes her head and reaches for her phone. Maybe she can call a cab and go home. Maybe it's for the best.
"I'm not going to leave you." Quinn has her back to her but her voice is clear and resolute.
"I…" Rachel sighs. "I'm scared you will." She hugs herself a little more and closes her eyes. She leans back against the door, ready to slide down and hug her knees to her chest, like when she was a kid scared of the thunderstorms.
She is lowering herself when strong arms pull her into someone else. She stops herself when she falls against Quinn's, clinging to her like it's their last time together.
"I'm not going anywhere." Quinn's voice is filling her ears. It is warming her heart. It is soothing to her soul. "I don't care what they'll say or try to do as damage control, but I am not leaving you." She pulls her closer.
"I don't want to lose you." Rachel buries her face into her neck. She clings desperately to her back, wrinkling the fabric of her expensive gown.
"You won't." Quinn nuzzles her cheek slowly. "You're stuck with me."
"They'll never accept our love, will they?" Rachel sighs and nuzzles her neck. "It's never going to happen."
"I cannot bring myself to care anymore." Quinn kisses her temple. "It's my life and I am choosing you."
"They'll disown you." Rachel nods. "You're going to lose everything."
"I am losing my parents and their bigot relatives." She shrugs. "My friends are backing me up on this and mostly, I have you. What else should I want?" She nudges her nose against her temple.
"I don't know." Rachel looks at her, still uncertain.
"I want you." Quinn cups her face. "I choose you, Rachel." She looks down into her eyes. "I only want you and your love."
"You have it." Rachel nods. "You have my heart forever." She grabs onto her wrists.
"And you have mine." She leans down to drop a tender kiss against her lips. "We'll figure this out, together."
"Together." Rachel pulls her down for another kiss and leans back against the door, feeling Quinn follow along and press up into her. In her arms, she can really believe they can make it through.