A/N: Next chapter. Mostly fluff and friendship until the end. I hope you like it. I've decided this will be a Faberry romance but it will be a long way in coming. Neither girl is in lover with one another yet or even considering beginning together as an options. Both have a lot to deal with before they are in a place to explore a relationship. Please be patient with me shippers (especially since this is my first Faberry or chapter story for girl/girl romance). Let me know what you think I love reviews and THANK YOU to all of you who have review I loved reading them. Disclaimer: I do not own Glee.
Ch. 4
Just as she had promised Quinn was at my door by 5 o'clock that Friday night. Despite the bright smile she gave me she looked tired. Small dark bags had formed below her eyes. I hoped they weren't my fault. "You look like you haven't slept." I blurted out as soon as the door was shut. She rolled her eyes.
"I had a major paper due today. I was up for 48 hours finishing it."
I couldn't help putting my hands on my hips and tapping my foot at her, "Quinn Fabray how dare you leave a project to the last minute. That is highly irresponsible and a terrible work ethic for someone at such a prestigious institution."
Quinn threw her arm around my shoulder. "I do my best work under a deadline."
"She ain't lying; I don't remember a single paper she didn't write the day before in high school. She procrastinates and gets A's , I study days ahead of time and get B's."
"And A's San you're a great student."
"Eh, mediocre at best. Come on Tubbers I haven't had a decent meal in months get your ass in that kitchen and whip something up for us. Don't worry about it being vegan Berry gave that up since she's got a Berry spawn to think about."
Quinn dropped her things by the couch and moved to the kitchen. "Do you even have fresh food here?"
"I went shopping just for you, no chop chop Chef Fabray."
I stood by the front door stunned. I was bewildered but amused by the two's interactions. I'd never seen Quinn and Santana this at ease with one another. I'd believe it was new development due to maturity but the way they bantered and now moved seamlessly around the kitchen told me this was nothing new for them; that this is how the two HBICs of Mckinley acted in private or when in the presence of someone they trusted; someone whom they didn't feel the need to pretend around. In this moment I joined the ranks of Brittany and perhaps Puck, it was a small club, the people Santana and Quinn truly trusted and valued and I was overjoyed at finally being one of those people.
It was pure hilarity watching the duo in the kitchen. Quinn was a perfectionist. Putting out ingredients ahead of time, measuring them exactly, only to have Santana mess it up by adding her own "pazang" as Santana put it, to every step. Rachel expected Quinn to get upset but instead she'd laugh as she playfully glared at her friend.
The result was the best fajitas and chili I had ever tasted. "This is amazing, Quinn where did you learn to cook?" I asked after my second bowl of chili.
"Housewife 101." Santana mumbled.
Quinn sent her an annoyed glance before turning back to me. "My mother, she felt it was imperative that I develop a certain set of skills."
"Like walking with a stick up your ass, staying quiet until spoken too, cooking, cleaning, writing invitations, hosting society events…"
"Santana enough." Quinn snapped, "My mom has changed now leave it."
"She tried to turn you into a Stepford Wife."
Quinn stood up cleaning all the plates, "Because that is how she was raised. She has become much more liberal minded recently."
Santana shrugged, "Whateves. I pick the movie."
I moved to help Quinn clean but she dismissed me with a wave of her hand. I could tell she needed a moment to collect herself. Following Santana I sat on the couch as she went through our DVD collection.
"Why must you push her buttons? Dinner was so nice."
"It's what we do."
"She's upset now." I countered.
Santana sighed. "Her parents, they just …it pisses me off. Q, she's just starting to realize her childhood wasn't 'All American'."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I hate it when Santana gets cryptic. She does it so much when she is talking about Quinn, it's as if she wants to share so much but feels like she can't because it would break Quinn's confidence so she leaves a trail of bread crumbs instead.
Santana looked away and then back to me, "It means that our girl grew up in a home where women were second class citizens, to be seen not heard. It means that any punishment was acceptable for stepping out of line, of challenging the status quo, and our Quinnie challenged it a lot."
I wanted to ask for more detail but Quinn joining us stopped our conversation. "Now that Santana has finished slandering my mother and over exaggerating the conditions of my WASP upbringing can we watch a movie, preferably something where smartass Latinas die first."
I laughed at that and Santana shot me a piercing glare.
"Fuck you Fabray."
"Been there done that Lopez." Quinn winked.
My mind went into over load as I stared between my two best friends, Quinn with her triumphant smirk and Santana with an appreciative and impressed smile. Was Quinn serious or was this a joke to get under Santana's skin? If that was it it didn't work as Santana broke into a belly deep laughter. "Touché Fabray Touché."
"Wait," I called attention to myself, "you two slept together?"
"Sure did short stack." Santana smiled at me.
"Wh..when?" I was truly flabbergasted. My mind was having a difficult time imaging Quinn, good Christian girl straight as a lace, Quinn Fabray having sex with Santana Sapphic Lopez Queen of Lesbian Land.
"Mr. Shue's non-wedding." Quinn said nonchalantly as she pulled a DVD form Santana's hand and put it in the player.
"Why?" I gasped.
"Why not? Seriously Berry what woman wouldn't want to tap this?" I barely kept my eyes from rolling as I focused on Quinn.
"Why? I was curious and drunk and wanted to know what it was like to be with a woman." She said it like it was the most logical thing in the world. God these two were so confusing. I needed a manual for each of them and then one for their relationship.
"But your best friends." I stammered still trying to get my head the whole situation. I felt as if I was in shock and nothing made sense. Quinn and Santana, Santana and Quinn had sex.
"Exactly. Rachel, look I don't know what they big deal is. Q's my best friend. I'd rather her to satisfy her curiosity and take a tumble through Sapphic exploits with me than some stranger who wouldn't take their time with her, who could hurt her."
I felt my appreciation for Santana and the amazing person she was grow, that was the most caring and loving thing I'd heard her say about anyone outside of Brittany.
"I knew I could trust San, that she'd be good to me. I was also confident that our friendship would survive one night of sexual exploration."
I was beginning to understand. I guess it made sense; who better than your best friend to help you understand your own sexuality. "so what was the verdict, are you gay?"
Quinn shook her head, "Though it was great."
"Amazing." Santana corrected.
"Yes amazing. I didn't, it wasn't like this 'ah ha' moment for me, like nothing clicked in place and I realized I was gay. I didn't like it any more or less than my night with Puck. Both were good, both felt good physically but neither felt right." Quinn looked slightly resigned, "I don't really know what that means, though both Santana and my roommate think I'm asexual."
A chuckle came from Santana.
"But I prefer to think I haven't found the right person, whoever they are and whatever gender they may be. So I guess I'll take one from your book and say my sexuality is fluid and undefinable."
I could get that. I had often said the same thing, that you love the person not the gender, though I've never dated or had sex with anyone but men.
"Now enough about my sex life. Move time. Lopez popcorn."
"Sure thing Cap."
I pressed play and Goonies came up, "Really Quinn?"
"Best movie ever now shut it Rach."
"Sure thing Cap." I said in my impression of Santana which caused both of us to laugh, tonight would be a good night.
QFRBQFRBQFRBQFRBQFRBQFRB
That night had been great, perfect even; actually I had the most fun in who knows how long that weekend. Santana, Quinn, and I fell asleep watching TV sometime around 2am after watching classic 80s films. It was odd and slightly disconcerting to wake up with Quinn's arms wrapped around me and my head buried into her side yet it was also so comfortable and safe. Kurt appeared around ten on Saturday and joined us on a day out in the city. Amazingly enough neither Kurt nor myself had been to the classic New York tourist spots so we all went to the top of Empire State Building where Quinn and Santana decided to reenact the end of Sleepless in Seattle with me playing Jonah, don't ask me how that happened because I have no clue. Next was Ellis Island followed by the World Trade Center and finally to the library for Quinn.
Sunday was a much more relaxing day, though she didn't admit it Santana,Kurt, and I knew Quinn's legs and back were in a lot of pain after our marathon day of walking so we stayed in and rented movies. We ate pizza, drank soda, and dinned on frozen yogurt. Kurt complained about having to run it all off this week, Santana offered to work out with him (he politely declined) and Quinn took a two hour nap before having to leave for New Haven.
Sure nothing had been decided all weekend, in fact other than Santana's Berry Spawn comment on Friday no one brought up the pregnancy and I was thoroughly grateful. I still hadn't made up my mind about what I wanted to do yet I was done talking about it. I had talked to Quinn, Santana, Kurt, and Shelby, now I just needed to sit down and make my decision. I was determined to make the best decision not only for myself but for my baby. There was no getting around it, the child growing inside of me was mine, wanted or not it was my job as its mother to do what was best for it. I was beginning to think abortion wasn't an option, I was already growing attached to the peanut sized baby forming in my wound but I would make a rash decision, it still may be best if I don't go through with this pregnancy. I came to realize I had to talk to one more person that there was only one other opinion I felt compelled to get before making the most important choice in my life.
I found him in our school's library. I still didn't know why I hadn't heard from him but it didn't matter. I may be the one whom this pregnancy would affect the most but he was the father and he had the right to know I was pregnant and to have an opinion about what to do next.
"Hey." My voice sounded small and vulnerable even to me so I wasn't surprised by his next words.
"Rachel, are you okay?" He really was a good guy deep down despite everything.
"Um can we talk somewhere private?" He silently packed up his books and followed me outside. We grabbed a coffee and headed to a local park. It wasn't until we were sat on the bench that either of us spoke.
"Rachel what's up?" He sounded scared. Good he should be.
"Brody I have something important to tell you." I bit my lip not sure how to continue.
"Alright."
"I…I'm pregnant." I stared at him trying to gauge his reaction. His jaw hung open, his eyes grew big. He said nothing for a long time and I was about to leave when I saw his Adam's Apple move with a forced swallow.
"Okay, um…what happens now?"
I shrugged, "I don't know. I need to decide if I want an abortion or if I want to give the baby up for adoption or keep it. I thought you deserved to have a say."
He rubbed his face before looking at me sadly, "I'm so sorry Rachel, I should have used protection."
"We both decided to forgo it that night." We'd been drunk after a party and neither thought one night without a condom would hurt.
"I still should have used it. I knew you normally never went without protection, we'd talked about it extensively."
"It's done Brody there is nothing we can do to change what we did that night. I am pregnant and now we have deal with it. We can do this together or I can do it myself it is up to you."
He grabbed my hands and squeezed them tight, "I know I am not the man you thought I was, I know I lied to you and that I betrayed your trust, but I will not let you do this alone Rachel, I care to much about you to do that."
I smiled and felt relieved, Brody would help and I knew he'd keep his promise. "Thank you. Do you have an opinion on what to do?"
He leaned back against the bench, "Part of me wants you to have an abortion because I know having this baby can be detrimental to your career and I'd hate to be the reason you don't make it to Broadway, but I also don't want you to feel the pain of aborting, I don't want that pain. I think you should have the baby Rachel, as for adoption or keeping it, I leave that to you. I will support you no matter what you choose. If you decide adoption I will sign over my rights no questions asked, if you keep it I would like to help you raise it, be its father in every way."
"I know how much family means to you." I admitted. I wasn't surprised by his answer. Brody loved family; he often talked of having a large one someday. He came from a large family and despite their financial woos Brody wouldn't change his family for anything.
"It means everything to me. I am not ready to be a parent but who ever really is. What do you want?"
I felt tears roll down my cheeks, he scooped me into his arms, it was surprising they didn't feel as safe as before, as safe as Quinn's had Saturday morning. I pushed that thought from my mind and took comfort in my child's father's arms. "I don't know. I am so torn, every option ends in some sort of pain."
He kissed the top of my head, "It does and it is horrible but now you must figure out what pain you can live with." It was great advice and I took it in. He was right what pain could I live with, I wish I knew.
"Just let me know when you decide."
"I will." We sat a little longer before going our separate ways. Santana and Kurt were waiting for me when I returned. I smiled at them and they let out their bated breaths.
"Plastic Boy stepped up, good." I shook my head at Santana before plopping down between my friends.
"Quinn's coming back Friday, right?" I asked. I knew the answer but I needed to hear it again.
"Yes." Kurt replied.
"Good."
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