AN: I seriously love all of you but especially those who review – it really makes me smile when I get an email notifying me of a new review :D

So this chapter is extra-long for you all, well long compared to the last few chapters.

Read and review :)


Chapter 26

A year ago, if you'd have asked Rachel what her dream prom would look like, this would be it. A beautiful dress, Finn on her arm and surrounded by her friends. But now, staring at herself in the mirror, she was dreading it, it was truly a nightmare. She was haunted by the smiling face of Quinn in the pictures dotted around her vanity. How could she go to prom with Finn when she was in love with someone else, someone better? It was eating her up inside.

Nevertheless, Rachel was an honourable person so had to see this commitment through. In her mind, all that this date entailed was arriving together, sharing one dance and maybe leaving together, or rather, at the same time, they were definitely not going back to the same place. Though Finn will probably be invited to after parties, none of which would extend the invitation to her so hopefully, her night would end early.

Sam's advice had flooded her brain the past couple of days, she needed to constantly remind herself that Quinn needed time to process. Some people may think that the blonde was being hypocritical not forgiving Rachel, having cheated herself - twice, but Rachel knew better. Quinn had said it herself, she cheated on those guys because she didn't love them. She loved Rachel, and Rachel loved her so everything was just several times more painful.

The girls had become slightly more civil around each other since the incident. They shared smiles whenever they passed one another in the corridors and even had a small conversation in glee club yesterday afternoon. It was progress and that was all that mattered to Rachel.

The doorbell ringing pulls Rachel from her thoughts.

"Rachel honey, you're date is here." Her dad shouts up the stairs.

Both her fathers had been silently disappointed when Rachel revealed that she was going to prom with the boy that had repeatedly broken her heart instead of the girl who currently held her heart.

"Okay I'll be down shortly." She responds.

Sighing, she stands up from her vanity and smooths down the cream material of her dress. Memories of picking this dress out with Quinn one afternoon last month sweep into her mind but she pushes them aside and walks out the door towards her nightmare.


"Q! Get your sweet ass out of the bathroom right now!"

Quinn steps out of her ensuite, straightening her long turquoise dress and is met by wolf whistles from both Santana and Brittany, but they stop as soon as they see the look on the blonde's face.

"What's wrong?" Brittany asks, wrapping Quinn in a hug.

"Why am I even still going to this stupid prom?" She sniffs.

"Because…" Santana starts, leading Quinn over to her vanity to do the girl's make up. "You're nominated for prom queen and it's mandatory. Plus it's senior prom, if you miss it you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

"I doubt it. At this rate the only thing I'll regret is lying to Rachel and pushing her back into the arms of Finn."

"You'll get her back."

"She clearly doesn't want me back."

"Come on Quinn, we all know that isn't true." Brittany adds, running a comb through Quinn's hair.

"Quinnie, the car's here!"

Their conversation was cut short by Judy shouting up the stairs.

Quinn takes a deep breath. "Let's get this over with."


Walking into the transformed gym, Rachel lost her breath, Brittany had really nailed this dinosaur theme and every single student was enjoying it, despite frowning when the student body president had initially announced the theme.

By the photo booth there was what could only be described as a giant rocking dinosaur that people were climbing all over to get their pictures taken by the photographer who had been hired for the evening. A box of props was placed between there and the photo booth itself and Rachel noticed Quinn tumbling out of the booth, laughing at the photos she had just taken with Santana.

Rachel notes that it's nice to see her happy but feels a tug in her stomach as she thinks that they should be happy together. It was then the Quinn looked up and their gazes connect.

Santana notices and drags Quinn over to where Rachel was stood near the entrance whilst Finn wandered off to get them drinks.

"Hi Quinn, you look beautiful, as usual." Rachel comments politely.

"Thank you. You look lovely too, gorgeous even." The blonde stumbles.

"Thanks." Rachel giggles.

Santana coughs subtly, or rather, not so subtly.

"You look incredible too Santana, and if you see Britt before I do please congratulate her on the success of this evening." The brunette adds.

"Will do Berry." The Latina comments before heading off to find her girlfriend.

"Oh I um… didn't mean now."

"I think she knows that." Quinn blushes.

"Right. So how have you been?"

"Alright, I guess. Just focussing on getting good grades and our setlist for Nationals."

"Oh yes, are you excited to go to Chicago?"

"Well I've been before on family holidays when I was little but I suppose it'll be different this time as I reckon I'll actually enjoy it."

The two girls had just relaxed into conversation when Finn reappeared.

"Here you go babe."

Rachel notices the wince on Quinn's face at the pet name.

"Thanks, but Finn I don't think it's appropriate for you to call me that, seeing as I told you that tonight was a one off event."

The blonde's expression lifted slightly upon hearing that but decided to leave them too it anyway.

"I better go campaign some more." She excuses. "I'll see you later Rach, maybe for a dance?"

"Yes, I'd like that." Rachel responds, ignoring the small growl from Finn.


"Well your count is the same as mine, you won prom queen, congrats blondie."

Quinn was confused, she thought she would feel ecstatic about winning but she just felt empty. So she turns to the Latina with a thoughtful glance.

"Don't you want to leave this place having made a difference?"

Santana shrugs. "I lost interest in being queen when Brittany didn't win king, how could she only receive four votes?"

"Maybe it has something to do with the fact she's a girl."

"Lady Hummel won prom queen last year."

"Yes but that was a joke, nobody wants to prank Britt, no matter how okay she appeared to be about being nominated." Quinn explains. "Anyway seeing as I won queen I get to decide what happens next right?"

"Right…" Santana responds, a little wary of her best friend's expression.

Ten minutes later Quinn was stood on the makeshift stage in front of the entire senior year next to Santana and the other prom court nominees.

Sensing Quinn's nervousness, Santana reaches out and takes the blonde's hand, earning a thankful smile in response.

Once Figgins announces that Finn has won prom king, Quinn's eyes search the crowd looking for Rachel, only to find the brunette's eyes already on her. They share a small smile as Finn is crowned and nerves flood through Quinn's body once more. This was it. Make or break.

"And now, your 2012 prom queen is… Miss Rachel Berry."

The whole room gasps collectively, everyone wondering who had voted for Rachel and why they had done so when in reality, Rachel had only received one vote but it seems like because that vote had been from the true prom queen, it held a lot more power.

Rachel slowly made her way to the stage, wondering if this was a prank like last year, or if she was going to get covered in pig's blood like in Carrie. But no, nothing out of the ordinary happens, except for one thing. Quinn wasn't meeting her gaze and she wondered just how much the blonde played a part in this.

After getting crowned, Rachel is lead onto the dance floor by Finn and her holds her in his arms as the music starts to play.

The brunette's head snaps up as soon as she hears Quinn's voice filling the gym.

"Guess mine is not the first heart broken,
My eyes are not the first to cry.
I'm not the first to know,
There's just no getting over you.

"You know, I'm just a fool who's willing,
To sit around and wait for you.
But baby, can't you see,
There's nothing else for me to do?
I'm hopelessly devoted to you.

"But now, there's nowhere to hide,
Since you pushed my love aside,
I'm out of my head,
Hopelessly devoted to you,
Hopelessly devoted to you,
Hopelessly devoted to you."

As Rachel is spun around in a dance by Finn, she can't take her eyes off the hazel ones staring right back at her from the stage.

"My head is saying, 'Fool forget her',
My heart is saying, 'Don't let go,
Hold on to the end',
That's what I intend to do,
I'm hopelessly devoted to you.

"But now, there's nowhere to hide,
Since you pushed my love aside,
I'm out of my head,
Hopelessly devoted to you,
Hopelessly devoted to you,
Hopelessly devoted to you."

All too soon the song has come to an end and Rachel is forced back to reality, to the feeling of being wrapped in strong, masculine arms. She pushes herself away from him and heads for the nearest exit, but in a flash of turquoise and blonde, her pathway is blocked.

"Dance with me?"

"Quinn…"

"Please, it's just one dance and then I'll let you go."

Rachel wasn't sure if Quinn meant she would just let her go home or let her go completely. Right now, she didn't want to know the answer.

She nods and allows Quinn to lead her back to the dancefloor, ignoring the calls from Finn. As the music starts up and Santana takes her place at the microphone, Rachel glances up at Quinn curiously.

"I didn't know she was going to sing this I swear."

Rachel nods once more and begins moving to the music as the Latina starts to sing.

"Stand there like a ghost,
Shaking from the rain, rain.
She'll open up the door and say, 'Are you insane-ane?'
Say it's been a long six months,
And you were too afraid to tell her what you want, want.

"And that's how it works,
That's how you get the girl.

"And then you say,
I want you for worse or for better,
I would wait forever and ever,
Broke your heart, I'll put it back together,
I would wait forever and ever.
And that's how it works,
That's how you get the girl, girl.
And that's how it works,
That's how you get the girl, girl.

"Remind her how it used to be, be, yeah-yeah,
With pictures in frames, of kisses on cheeks, cheeks.
Tell her how you must have lost you mind, ooh-ooh,
When you left her all alone,
And never told her why, why.

"And that's how it works,
That's how you lost the girl.

"And now you say,
I want you for worse or for better,
I would wait forever and ever,
Broke your heart, I'll put it back together,
I would wait forever and ever.
And that's how it works,
That's how you get the girl, girl.
Ohh… And that's how it works,
That's how you get the girl, girl.
Yeah, yeah.

"And you know,
Oh, oh, oh…
That I don't want you to go, oh-oh.

"Remind me how it used to be,
Pictures in frames, of kisses on cheeks,
And say you want me, yeah-yeah,
And then you say…"

Quinn spins Rachel round so her back is pressed up against her front and leans down to whisper along to the lyrics in the brunette's ear as Brittany joins Santana on stage and sings the ad libbed sections.

"I want you for worse or for better, (worse or for better)
I would wait forever and ever,
(ever and ever)
Broke your heart, I'll put it back together,
I would wait forever and ever.
(I want you forever and ever…)
And that's how it works,
That's how you get the girl, girl.
(That's how it works)
And that's how it works,
That's how you get the girl, girl.
(Get the girl, that's how it works)
And that's how it works,
That's how you get the girl, girl.
(Ohh…)
And that's how it works,
That's how you get the girl, girl.
(Ohh…)

"That's how it works,
That's how you got the girl."

As soon as the last note rings out Rachel spins back round and pulls Quinn into a kiss, smiling when she feels the girl pulls her closer with hands on her hips.

After a few glorious moments they pull apart.

"We really need to talk huh?" Quinn giggles nervously.

"Yeah." Rachel responds, breathless. "Later though."


The door crashes against the wall as Quinn pushes it open in her haste, her lips never leaving Rachel's until the sound pulls them out of their daze.

"Are you sure your mom isn't home?"

"Yes, she left soon after Santana, Brittany and I left for prom and is spending the weekend at her sister's." Quinn explains, pulling Rachel up the stairs.

"Isn't this kind of cliché?"

"What? Hooking up on prom night?"

"Yeah." Rachel forces out, ignoring the pang of hurt at the words 'hooking up'.

Quinn meanwhile was mentally kicking herself at the slip of the tongue. She wanted more than anything to admit this was more than just a hook up but when Rachel agreed, she couldn't, even if she was pretty sure that Rachel was hurt by the comment too.

"Well I guess it could be seen as cliché but I don't really care." The blonde adds after a few moments of silence.

Finally the girls break through the door into Quinn's room and Quinn instantly pushes Rachel onto the bed and climbs on top of her, kissing her deeply.

Rachel returns the kiss greedily, even if this was just for tonight she wanted to make the most of it.

They quickly undressed each other, the familiarity of the situation taking away all the nerves.

Quinn settles back on top of the brunette once they are both naked and resumes the kiss, trailing her hands all over the expanse of tan skin beneath her.

Once the need to breathe becomes too much the girls pull apart and Quinn begins trailing kisses down Rachel's neck causing the singer to release breathy moans.

Simultaneously, they both run their fingers down the other's body until they reach each other's core.

Hazel eyes met brown as they both slid inside, just like the first time. Their pants turn to moans which in turn change into screams of pleasure. Quinn's left hand trails down Rachel's right arm before linking their fingers together, to anchor them to each other and they both instantly knew this was more than a hook up, this was love.

"I'm… I'm so close." Rachel husks.

"Scream my name baby." Quinn responds, not even noticing the pet name.

"… QUINN!" The brunette screams as she climaxes, causing the blonde to fall over the edge along with her.

Quinn collapses onto Rachel, their hands still intertwined, their heavy breathing melting into one sound until they both fall into a light sleep, the blonde still laying atop the diva.


Rachel was the first to wake an hour later, Quinn had shifted slightly and was now lying next to her with her left arm still draped across her body, their hands still linked on Rachel's other side.

A smile graces the brunette's face before faltering slightly as her mind starts to wander.

Were their problems truly over?


Songs: Hopelessly Devoted to You from Grease (I changed the word 'him' to 'her' for obvious reasons but do not own the song) and How You Get The Girl by Taylor Swift – the parts in bold and italics is when Quinn is singing along, the bits in normal font are Brittany, hopefully it's not too confusing.