This love is difficult but it's real, a glee fanfic

Summary: "You're ruining everything." Rachel walks up to the pink haired girl, who stands to the side with her arms crossed over her chest.

"I am? And what about you? You are reciting lines like you're reading them for the first time and I know you're not new to it. You know this play and you're just acting like a robot." The pink haired girl scoffs at her.

"Maybe I am just not inspired enough." She huffs and turns her head away.

"This is how you'll handle being casted in a show with someone you don't like? Finn turned the role down before I even auditioned for it. It's not my fault he cares about football more than you." Quinn looks at her with a pointed look. "We need to work together, so you better deal with it or I'm sure Miss Holiday won't have problems recasting your role."

A/N: Joining the "Faberry Month" challenge, this is my take for the Prompt #30 "Leads in a school play"

A/N 2: This is High School! AU Faberry: Quinn didn't get pregnant with Beth and she and Puck never happened. Also, the Fabray's are not horrible and Russell is not a bad guy (for a change).

Warnings: explcit sexual content

This love is difficult but it's real

"Finn! There you are, I was looking for you!" Rachel Berry walks up to the tall guy standing by his locker and shoves a flier in his hand. "Look at this!"

"It's a play?" Finn reads it quickly and hands it back over, so the brunette can fold it neatly inside her bag.

"It's the play, Finn!" Rachel leans against his locker and looks at him. "It's one of our tickets out of here! Do you know how good a play directed by Holly Holiday is going to look on our resume? It opens doors!"

"Mm, who is Holly Holiday?" Finn rubs the back of his head and he knows he has said the wrong thing, when Rachel's mouth drops and her foot almost kicks him in the shin.

"Finn Hudson, do you ever listen to me? I told you everything about her. She is the youngest play-writer to have won a Tony and been nominated for an Academy Award for the movie adaptation. She is originally from Lima and a close friend of Principal Sylvester. That's why she is here!" She rolls her eyes at him. "I am pretty sure I told you that a week ago over dinner."

"Was it when the Super Bowl was on? I might not have listened to you." Finn shrugs and Rachel smacks his arm. "Ouch!"

"You're insufferable, Finn Hudson." She smacks him again. "But there's something you can do to make it up to me and I'll forgive your lack of attention."

"Do I need to be forgiven for what?" He is even more confused.

"I just told you, Finn." She huffs. "We need to audition for the play."

"We?" He gulps down. "Rach, I have football three times a week and then we have Glee. I don't want to be at school all the time."

"But this is another backup plan, Finn. You can get a scholarship for football and if that doesn't work, you'll have this. Don't you want to get out of here?" She leans forward to brace herself against his chest. "We can be together, in New York."

"What's the play?" Finn sighs and brushes her hair out of her forehead.

"Romeo and Juliet. I can help you with your lines." Rachel beams and leans up to kiss him gently. "We're going to show them how it's done."

"Yeah." Finn nods tersely and holds her against him. He's got a bad feeling about this.

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"Silence, please." Holly takes a seat in the front row and claps her hands loud enough to catch everyone's attention. "So, since most of you are auditioning for the main leads and we can't have everyone playing Romeo and Juliet, we'll run auditions for assigning the parts. If you don't get the lead, we can find another suitable role for you." She looks over at her assistant, who hands her the clipboard with all the names. "Questions?"

"Miss Holiday, when is the play supposed to be on stage?" Finn raises his hand. "And what's the schedule like for rehearsals

"Mr. Hudson, right?" Holly looks at him and when he nods, she keeps going. "Depending on your luck, you might be here twice or three times a week a week, from Monday to Wednesday for two hours after school."

"But we have football training on Tuesday." Puck says from behind Finn. "It's the last part of the season."

"No one is forcing you to be here, Mister?" Holly looks at the guy with the mohawk.

"Puckerman, but you can call me however you want." He smirks at her.

"I'll stick to Puckerman, it sounds safe enough." The blonde stands up. "You can volunteer to help out with the scenes or the costumes or even the lights, if you think this play may interfere with your bigger plans."

"I'll help set up the scenes. I'm very good with my hands." He winks at Holly and Rachel rolls her eyes. Obviously noisy Noah.

"Is there a smaller role? Like some character standing in the background? 'Cause I could do that." Finn avoids looking at Rachel.

"Finn!" She whispers angrily and Finn ignores her.

"I'm sure we'll find you something else, Mr. Hudson." Holly takes a note. "Anyone else want to raise a point?" When no one speaks, she nods to her assistant. "Now, let's split everyone into groups. Who is auditioning for Juliet?" She calls out and a group of four girls - including Rachel - move to the right.

"Will we be auditioning now?" Rachel raises her hand but speaks before she is allowed to.

"It depends, really. Do you have somewhere to go?" Holly raises her eyebrow and Rachel is reminded of someone else. Someone who has turned punk at the beginning of the school year and has been creating chaos on school grounds since then.

"No, Miss Holiday." Rachel lowers her hand and looks down at her feet.

"Don't waste our time, Berry. We all know I got this." Stephanie, one of the cheerleaders, snarls behind her and she takes a step aside, away from them.

"Quiet." Holly calls out. "Now, for Romeo?" The blonde director watches fewer boys form a group on the other side of the stage. "Great." She mutters seeing the ones remaining after Finn and some of the other football players have dropped out. "Anyone else?"

"Miss Holiday?" A feminine voice catches her attention and when she sees to whom it belongs to, she smirks with curiosity.

"The Juliet group is over there, Miss Fabray." Holly points to it and Rachel is feeling even worse. Despite her punk look, Quinn Fabray is a more appropriate Juliet than she is with her perfect face and her stance and her natural talent for acting.

"I am auditioning for Romeo, Miss Holiday." Quinn stands in front of the Romeo group, ignoring the whispers behind her.

"Very well." Holly nods. "Fabray, stay here, I'll call the rest of you for your separate auditions." Holly nods to the doors leading outside the auditorium. Rachel doesn't know whether to feel relieved or even more worried about the turns of the events, but there was only one way to find out.

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Rachel is the first one to show up in front of Holly Holiday's door. Right beside it, there is an empty board but she knows the final casting call is going to be posted soon. It's supposed to be at 3PM and it's 2:55PM.

She is willing to be late for Glee, if it means that she gets to be the first one there. The first one to know.

"Nothing yet?" Quinn Fabray stands behind her and she takes a step forward, not wanting to reek of cigarettes.

"You're interested in joining a school play? Or is it just another way to mess everything up?" Rachel scoffs at her.

"Do you think you're the only one dreaming big, Berry?" Quinn scoffs right back at her.

"Take a step back, everyone!" Holly comes out of her office door, with a paper in her hand. "Now, before anyone gets offended by this, I want you to know you all did great but some were just better than others." She shrugs. "There are enough roles for all of you to have a part though. Even if not for what you originally auditioned for." Reaching on her toes, she pins the list to the board and walks back inside her office, not wanting to be involved in that bloodbath.

"Scoot over, RuPaul." Stephanie pushes her aside, followed by her minions, but when she sees the list she loses it. "Sub?! I am no one's sub! I am the star!The role was mine!"

"Being an understudy is a noble role, Stephanie." Rachel snickers from behind her and beams when her eyes land on her name at the top of the list. "Years from now, you can tell everyone how you were Rachel Berry's understudy in high school."

"I'm going to kill you!" Stephanie lunges forward but Quinn steps in, blocking her path. "Move, Quinn."

"Go take a walk, you need it." Quinn commands her the same way she used to, back when she was the HBIC. "And tighten up your pony before you get to class."

"You're no longer my captain, Quinn." Stephanie turns on her heels to walk away, not before tightening her ponytail.

"So, it looks like your audition went well." Rachel clears her throat.

"I can tell that myself." Quinn looks at the board. "I'll see you later then, Berry." The pink haired girl turns the opposite way and starts walking away, leaving her to her thoughts.

"How did it go?" Finn rushes to her side, still wearing his football jersey.

"I got the part." Rachel looks up at him with a smile and he leans down to kiss her forehead.

"Who is your Romeo?" Finn squints his eyes to look at the list pinned there. "Oh geez. You and Quinn?" He looks at her.

"I guess…" Rachel looks at the girl walking down the hallway and sighs.

It will be a long way to make it work.

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"No! No! No!" Holly throws the script to the floor and rubs her hands over her face. "10 minutes break!" She calls and storms out of the auditorium, clearly upset.

"You're ruining everything." Rachel walks up to the pink haired girl, who stands to the side with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Maybe I am just not inspired enough." She huffs and turns her head away.

"And that's what you want, right? You want me gone so you can be the star." Rachel looks at her. "You've always tried to outshine me."

"Oh dear Lord! And how did I do that?" Quinn runs her fingers through her hair.

"You tried to get between me and Finn!" Rachel stutters.

"After you came between us? I was with him long before you did and you just decided you needed him as a leading man." She takes a step closer. "I know he cheated on me with you and that's why I broke up with him."

"You had it coming. You treated him so poorly." Rachel takes a step back.

"Maybe. But it was none of your business really." Quinn takes another step forward. "But you know what? I never thanked you enough for showing me how wrong I have been all this time, by tying myself to someone like him."

"Finn is a good boyfriend. He loves me." Rachel backs away again.

"Not the way you deserve." Quinn looks down at her, hands each side of her head. "He loves you but he loves football and his popularity almost as much." She reaches out to hover the side of her face with her fingers. "He loves you, but he will never follow you to New York."

"You don't know that." Rachel looks away.

"He is someone here in Lima, and you're the girl hanging from his arm." She cups her chin to turn her head her way. "But in New York? You'll be everything, Rachel. You're meant to be a star so bright that people won't see anything else but you." She looks down at her so intensely that Rachel almost feels naked under her gaze.

"Quinn…" Rachel reaches up with her hand to hold onto her wrist.

"Break's over!" Holly's voice echoes through the auditorium and Quinn steps back, looking away from the smaller brunette still pressed against the wall.

What happened?

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Rachel doesn't know what she is even doing here. She has been replaying their scene in her mind for so long that she hasn't been able to sleep. She hasn't been able to think of anything else.

"Hello?" The blonde haired woman stands in front of her in a tailored suit, and Rachel suddenly feels out of place. Standing in her simple jacket, her classic animal sweater and argyle skirt, she feels underdressed compared to the woman in front of her.

"Good morning Mrs. Fabray, I am a friend of Quinn. Is she here?" Rachel crosses her hands in front of her.

"She is in the living room, dear." The woman lets her in. "I didn't catch your name. Is she expecting you?"

"My apologies." She smiles. "My name is Rachel Barbra Berry and no, I came here unannounced. I hope it's not a problem with you."

"Of course not, Rachel." She smiles at her. "I am just leaving to attend an event at the Country Club but I'm sure you can keep Quinn company." She walks further in the house and Rachel follows her. "Quinn? Your friend is here."

"What friend?" Quinn looks up from the piano sheet in front of her and looks over at her mother. It doesn't take much for her to recognize the brunette with her. "Rachel, what are you doing here?"

"Sweetheart, where are your manners?" The woman coughs. "I left you some money for takeout okay? Rachel, you're more than welcome to stay."

"Thank you Mrs. Fabray." Rachel nods softly.

"I'll see you later." The blonde woman sends Quinn an air kiss and walks towards the door, snatching her designer coat and her purse on the way out.

"What are you doing here?" Quinn raises from her stool and walks towards the coffee table, to pour herself some water.

"We don't have enough time to rehearse before opening night and we are quite behind." Rachel looks at her. "I know we have our divergences, but I need this to go well, Quinn."

"And I don't?" Quinn snaps at her and Rachel takes a step back. "Sorry. So, what do you suggest we do?"

"We could get together during the weekends to do some additional rehearsal? We lack the other actors, but we can work on our scenes." Rachel grabs a folded paper from her bag. "I did this."

"What is it?" Quinn crosses the distance between them and takes it from her. "How did you get my schedule?"

"Noah helped me." She looks away blushing.

"You broke into my locker? You could have asked me." Quinn rolls eyes at her.

"Really?" Rachel is the one rolling eyes at her.

"Whatever." Quinn mutters under her breath. "You have Glee here, no?" She points at the slot on Wednesday.

"How do you know?" Rachel looks at her, in surprise.

"I just do." Quinn is the one blushing now. "Anyway, it sounds good to me."

"Great. I wanted to run it by you before we could start." She claps her hands together. "I'll see you on Monday, Quinn."

"Wait…" Quinn rubs the back of her head. "Do you have plans today?"

"Not really, no." Rachel looks at her.

"We could start working on it?" She nods to the schedule in her hand. "I don't have plans either."

"Oh, yes we can." Rachel nods.

"Here, give me your jacket." Quinn tucks the schedule into the back-pocket of her jeans, and Rachel gets out of her jacket for the ex-blonde to hang it in the closet by the door.

"Thank you." Rachel looks at her through her eyelashes. "You have a lovely house, Quinn."

"Too big for my liking, but I can always give you a tour later." Quinn takes her by the hand and leads her back to the living room. "Shall we start?" She drops her hand and reaches for her script on the couch.

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"Very well, girls!" Holly claps enthusiastically. "I have been hard on you, but it is a nice payback to see it working! We can wrap up here, for today."

"Thanks Miss Holiday." Rachel looks over at Quinn, who nods in agreement.

"Get some deserving rest. We have a big scene tomorrow." Holly looks at her assistant. "And you two…" She points to Rachel and Quinn on stage. "I want to see this flame tomorrow. It's their first night together, so I want to be amazed."

"Fuck." Quinn mutters to herself and Rachel looks at her.

"You heard me?" Holly raises an eyebrow to them.

"Yes, Miss Holiday." Rachel steps in, nodding for the two of them.

"Awesome, see you both tomorrow." She gathers her things and walks out, leaving the two girls to themselves.

"Perfect. Fucking perfect." Quinn starts pacing back and forth on stage and it makes Rachel nervous. She is the quiet one between them.

"Quinn, stop." Rachel tries with her words but the ex-blonde is too absorbed in her thoughts. "Quinn…" She stops in front of her and rests her hands on her chest.

"I can turn the role down." Quinn looks at her. "We can ask Finn again or maybe some guy can do that with you. Sam looks like me, doesn't he? Maybe if we hide behind a curtain and I can be the one speaking."

"Why do you think it's such a big deal for me?" She grips her by the shoulders. "And it'd be such a shame if we couldn't be professionals and go through this. We started this together."

"I know you heard the rumors about me and that girl from Carmel High." She sighs. "But it's just for the sake of the play, it's not a poor attempt to make a pass on you. I would never do that.

"Oh." Rachel drops her hands nodding.

"Oh God, not that I don't find you attractive enough." Quinn stumbles on her words. "You're beautiful, but you're with Finn and you're straight so I am not going to try anything more than just playing my role ok? I am not some perv who will take advantage of this situation to cop a feel or-"

"Stop it." Rachel brushes two fingers over her moving lips. "I got it, Quinn." She uses her thumb to trace her bottom lip and then move to her upper lip.

"Ok, good." Her lips kiss her thumb in the process."So, how do you want to play this out?"

"I don't know." She drops her hand to the girl's hip and looks up at her. "Maybe we can ask Holly if we can play the scene behind a curtain? Behind something that will show our silhouettes without showing too much?"

"Sounds good to me. Lord knows Jewfro has been waiting for you to get naked on stage for years." She chuckles softly.

"Don't remind me." Rachel takes a step back, nodding. "Can we rehearse later? My parents are out for the evening and they won't bug us."

"I'll bring pizza." Quinn watches her go for her bag. "Any preferences?"

"Just the first vegan alternative they have. Alfredo's on main street knows my order." She shoulders her bag and jumps off the stage. "7pm ok?"

"Sounds good." Quinn waves at her as she slips out of the auditorium.

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"So, Tybalt is dead and Romeo is banished from Verona. Juliet is conflicted because the love of her life has killed her cousin." Quinn checks the script and looks at Rachel who is leaning against her bedpost.

"Romeo comes into Juliet's room, after the nurse has found him, and they spend the night together." Rachel nods and looks up at the pink haired girl, who walks up to her. "They don't say anything until the morning after."

"Right." Quinn nods and stands in front of her. "Can I ask you a favor?"

"If I may…" Rachel smiles, uncertain of her request.

"Would you do the last part of Juliet's monolog again? The third scene of Act 3." Quinn rests her hands on the metal bedpost each side of her waist.

It takes Rachel a moment to think about it. It takes her another moment to remember the words she knows by memory. "Come, night. Come, Romeo. Come, thou day in night, for thou wilt lie upon the wings of night Whiter than new snow upon a raven's back. Come, gentle night; come, loving black-browed night." She closes her eyes reciting the words slowly. She whispers them, but Quinn is close enough to hear them. "Give me my Romeo, and when I shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars, And he will make the face of heaven so fine That all the world will be in love with night-"

Quinn leans down before she can realize what is happening and before the blonde can regret her choice. Their lips meet, so delicately, and Rachel holds her breath. Or maybe it is Quinn stealing her breath away.

"I…" Quinn pulls back and it feels too soon for her liking. "I was just…fuck, I shouldn't have done that."

"Quinn…" Rachel is still in daze and her lips still tingle from having felt Quinn's mouth upon hers.

"I am sorry, Rachel. I don't know what I was thinking and I-" It is time for Quinn's ramble to be cut short in the best way possible. Rachel's hands fist her shirt and tug her close enough to press back against her bedpost.

"Shut up, Quinn." Rachel gets on her tiptoes to keep her mouth pressed against the blonde's, whose arms circle her waist to hold her upright.

"That's new." Quinn whispers against her lips. Their noses brush tenderly and Rachel's hands work the buttons of her shirt open, to get to the warm skin underneath.

"We should go ahead with the morning after scene, don't you think?" She pushes the shirt off the blonde and brushes her fingers along the shape of her red bra, teasing her.

"Rachel, are you sure about that?" Quinn gulps slowly when her bra joins her shirt on the floor.

"I have never been surer in my life, Quinn." She drops her hands to reach for the hem of her own sweater and lifts it off her, along with her bra. "Unless you don't want me?"

"You're kidding me?" Quinn cups her face and leans down to crush her mouth over her. Rachel kisses her back and drags her to the side, so they can make it to the bed behind them.

Quinn lifts her off the floor and lies her down. Her hands drop to the waistband of her skirt and swiftly tugs it off. She is about to lean over, when Rachel guides her hands to the hem of her panties and she doesn't wait anymore. She pulls them down her long legs, leaving her bare and naked under her.

"Come here." Rachel doesn't meet her eyes but Quinn is quick to push their foreheads together and to nuzzle her nose over the brunette, who clings to her.

"You're beautiful." Quinn whispers against her lips. "You're breathtaking"

"Take these off." Rachel unbuckles her pants and Quinn does the rest. She kicks them to the floor, followed by her own panties. "Come here." She whispers and Quinn does what she is being told to do.

"We don't have…" Quinn brushes her hair back and places her lips against her temple. "We don't have to do anything, Rach."

"What if I want to?" Rachel brushes her lips against her ear and Quinn trembles against her. "What if I want to do everything with you?"

"Everything?" Quinn turns her head to stare at her and Rachel just leans forward to capture her lips in a hard kiss, before rolling them over.

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The sound of her phone vibrating on the nightstand behind her wakes her up. She doesn't remember the exact moment things have quieted down enough, but she remembers the feeling of peace when it happened.

Slipping her arm from under Rachel, she parts from her with a kiss on the forehead and reaches for her phone. It's later than she has thought, but not too late for a school night and the agreement with her parents. Sitting up, she places her feet on the carpet and checks the messages left by her Mom.

"Going somewhere?" Rachel's lips trail along the curve of her shoulder and up the side of her neck, while her arms sneak around her torso from behind.

"Just texting my Mom back that I'll be home later than I thought." Quinn drops her phone aside and her head turns around to nuzzle her temple.

"Or maybe you won't go home at all." Rachel brushes her lips against the pink haired girl who reclines back into her.

"It's a school night, I can't stay." Quinn twists around and settles back against the mattress, allowing Rachel to claim her spot against her, once again.

"Wilt thou be gone? It is not yet near day. It was the nightingale, and not the lark,That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear." Rachel pins her hands down and hovers her, straddling her waist. "Nightly she sings on yond pomegranate tree. Believe me, love, it was the nightingale."

Quinn arches up into her and brushes her lips along her jawline, nipping at her skin and making Rachel roll down her hips on her. "It was the lark, the herald of the morn, No nightingale. Look, love, what envious streaks Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east."

"God, Quinn." Rachel sets her hands free and her hands grasp each side of her face to kiss her harder. She nibbles on her bottom lip, tugging at it when Quinn rolls them over and her right hand drops between her legs to cup her.

"You're still so wet." Quinn looks down between their naked bodies and when two fingers slip all the way in, Rachel rakes her nails down her back.

"Fuck." Rachel curses and the blonde throbs hard. She rolls her hips down against the thigh between her legs, rubbing herself so hard that she could come already.

"You feel so good." Quinn pumps away steadily. She keeps on thrusting her fingers, sinking knuckles deep into the brunette writhing under her.

"We won't be able to do this on stage." Rachel's hands lower onto her backside and guide her movements. She pushes her down, to grind into her leg.

"This is for my eyes only." Quinn breathes hard against her ear and Rachel's insides clench around her fingers. Knowing Quinn doesn't want to share her with anyone else makes her tingle all over. She makes her warm all over.

"God, yes." Rachel nods and scratches her skin with angry marks that will hurt in a few hours. Nothing unbearable, though. Nothing compared to wearing the reminders of their night together.

"Come for me." Her lips trail down her chest, to leave some wet kisses along her collarbone and her sternum. "Come for me, Rachel." She closes her lips around her left nipple and tugs. She tugs again until Rachel's hand joins hers between her legs, pushing her fingers in and out at the pace she needs.

"Quinn…Quinn…" The brunette comes with her name on her lips and her fingers inside of her. She comes hard and Quinn falls a little more in love with her. She comes and Quinn keeps her close, when she does.

"I'm here." Quinn brushes her lips against her ear. She kisses it again and Rachel's arms circle her waist, holding her down against her front.

"Don't leave." Rachel nods and nuzzles her face into the crook of her neck. "Don't leave me yet."

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"Someone call 9-1-1, there's a fire alert here!" Holly fans herself out with an obvious smirk and walks behind the curtain, where Rachel and Quinn are still wrapped in each other's arms, under the sheets.

"Was it good?" Rachel sits up holding the sheet over her chest, while Quinn still lies down.

"Good? That was incredible. I might have to take a shower to calm down." She winks at her and Quinn's arm slips around her waist, almost possessively. "We can close it here, ladies."

"But what about the other scenes?" Rachel looks at Quinn and then at the blonde director.

"We can do them tomorrow. We'll need the rest of the cast too." Holly nods to her assistant. "We are not far behind on our schedule, I was just worried about these scenes when you two were supposed to be intimate, but you went beyond my expectations."

"Thanks, I guess." Quinn nods.

"What's your secret? You could barely look at each other a week ago." Holly smirks at them. "Did something happen?"

"We just…" Rachel looks at her silent companion and then turns back to the blonde woman. "We just rehearsed a lot, until we were comfortable enough to see each other in this state of underdress."

"Gotta say I wish all my actors were like you two. Give me a call when you graduate, you both have a natural talent for it." She grins at them. "Maybe we could talk about this talent of yours in front of dinner, say tonight at 6PM? Do you know where we could go? My treat."

"Well, there's Breadstix." Rachel nods.

"But it doesn't have many vegan options, does it?" Quinn sits up beside her. "There's this new Italian place on Main Street and there should be enough options for Rachel too."

"Perfect, email me the address and I'll see you both there." Holly hands them the two stage robes and walks away, followed by her assistant.

"Breadstix was fine, really." Rachel slips out of bed and puts the robe on, tying it over her waist.

"I am not really a fan either." Quinn does the same and walks to where she stands. "The food is so greasy that I have to run twice harder the morning after to burn it all out."

"You have nothing to worry about, really." Rachel looks at her, from under her lashes.

"You think, huh?" Quinn tugs her by the belt loops of her robe and leans down to drop a quick kiss on her lips. "Hey, you were pretty amazing today."

"I was just inspired." Rachel grins against her lips. Her arms circle the girl's head, to hold onto as they kiss slowly, in the safety of the silent auditorium.

"Oh really now?" Quinn's hands play with the belt of her robe and loosen it enough to caress the skin of her hips and sides, under it. "I wonder what inspired you."

"As if you don't know already." Rachel's hands trail down her back to slip under the hem of her robe and grab onto her backside. She digs her nails into the marks she has left behind, the night before, and Quinn whimpers.

"Fine, got your point." Quinn rolls her eyes at her. "Why don't we head back to my place? My parents are still working. We can watch a movie."

"And ignore it? You just want to have sex again." Rachel nips at her pulse point. "Not stage sex."

"You don't want it?" Quinn's hands trail upwards to cup her breasts. "You don't want me inside you again? Or against you?"

"God, Quinn…" Rachel nibbles on her earlobe when Quinn's fingers play with her nipples, making them hard again. They're so hard they almost hurt.

"Rachel?! You're here?" Finn's voice echoes from the distance and the two girls jump apart, almost burnt by their own intimate touches.

"Damn it." Quinn fixes her robe and Rachel does the same, in the haste of covering their tracks.

"Rachel?" Finn is closer and he has heard enough rustling to know someone is there, in the barely lit auditorium.

"I'm here, Finn." Rachel pushes the curtain aside and shows herself to the boy she hasn't seen much lately.

"What were you doing over there and why are you half-naked?" Finn crosses his arms over his chest.

"I…" Rachel is at loss.

"Hey, Finn." Quinn makes her presence known. "Rachel and I were rehearsing the aftermath of a sex scene. Miss Holiday gave us a few points to work on and we were just doing that."

"Alone? Where is everyone?" He raises his brows.

"It is a rather intimate scene, Finn." She grabs the script from off the floor and hands it to him. "There are things that we prefer to work on our own before we act on it in front of everyone." She points to the bottom of the page. "It's what they do on Broadway too, right?"

"Yes, it's part of the acting process." Rachel nods shortly. "Like Quinn said."

"Okay, cool." Finn throws the script aside. "I am sorry I dropped out of the show, but I promise I'll be sat front row on opening night." He braces himself against the stage and looks up at her.

"It's okay. I know football has been time consuming lately." Rachel nods softly.

"Practice got called off. Maybe we can have dinner later? I have a discount at Breadstix." He grins at her, while Quinn scoffs beside her. Any other time, she would have melted at his smile. Before all of this. Before Quinn.

"I'll have to take a rain check on that, Finn. Quinn and I are meeting Miss Holiday for dinner." Rachel looks over at the pink haired girl beside her.

"Can I come?" He walks on stage and their height difference is even bigger now that she is barefoot on stage.

"Sorry Finn, only for the cast and crew." Quinn cuts him shortly and Rachel winces for him, but Finn hasn't noticed really.

"Oh, maybe we can do something before that? I can take you home and we can watch a movie or…" He pulls her closer and his hands move on her body the way Quinn has touched her before. It should feel the same, but it feels so different.

"I'll see you later, Rachel." Quinn has to look away from that. She can't stay around and watch him hold her the way she has. The way she wants to.

"Quinn, wait…" Rachel tries, but the pink haired girl has already walked backstage to retrieve her clothes and things.

"I missed you." Finn's lips trail along the side of her neck."Let me take you home ok? I want to be alone with you." It's clear what he really wants from her, but she is no longer sure she wants to give it to him.

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"There you are, my two favorite stars crossed lovers." Holly greets them with a kiss on the cheek and points to the two empty chairs around the round table.

"Thanks for the invite, Miss Holiday." Quinn takes her seat and watches Rachel do the same, with the corner of her eye.

"Oh please, call me Holly." She grins at them. "You earned that right with your performance on stage. It will be such a success!"

"Thank you." Rachel nods softly.

"So, girls, what are your plans?" Holly thanks the waiter for the wine poured in her glass and the two diet cokes placed in front of each girl. "You've got something lined up?"

"Well, I want to go to New York." Rachel starts when Quinn keeps quiet. "I have been dreaming to be on Broadway since I was 4 years old and my Daddies took me to see Wicked."

"Well, you've got the pipes to sing and your acting is remarkable for someone so young." She nods. "You've applied where?"

"Tisch and NYADA." Rachel reaches for some bread.

"I've got friends there." Holly nods. "I'll give them a call just to make sure they don't miss their chances with you."

"You don't have to really." Rachel's attempts are short lived.

"Oh hush, it's a pleasure." Holly turns to the other girl sitting with them. "What about you, Quinn?"

"I got into Yale, early admission." Quinn clears her throat, head held high. "Majoring in drama with a minor in creative writing."

"Whoa, that's impressive." Holly is not the only one sitting there, amazed and surprised. "Your parents are supporting you?"

"My Mom is, my Dad is still hoping I'll change my mind and switch my major to business." Quinn shrugs. "I'll see who is right between us." Holly nods and Rachel looks at her in awe.

"Are you ready to place your order?" The waiter shows up.

"I'll have the smoked salmon with salad to the side." Holly hands him the menu.

"I'll have the tagliolini with mushrooms." Rachel does the same with her menu.

"Two of those, please." Quinn nods to what Rachel has ordered and the waiter nods, taking her menu.

"Sorry, I need to take this." Holly nods to her ringing phone and stands up to take the call, stepping outside.

"Yale? When did this happen?" Rachel looks at the pink haired girl.

"The day after we got casted." Quinn looks down at her empty plate. "You look surprised, do you think it's too much for me?"

"God no." Rachel reaches for her hand, but Quinn pulls it out of her reach. "You're more than just a pretty face and I knew you'd make it out of here. You've always wanted to get out of Lima."

"Just like Finn, huh?" She crosses her arms over her chest.

"Keep him out of this. He's not here and he's got nothing to do with us." Rachel sighs.

"He is your boyfriend, no?" Quinn looks at her and when she doesn't deny, she keeps going. "Then he has everything to do with us, since you cheated on him with me."

"I know but-"

"What? It doesn't count because I am a girl?" She chuckles.

"Keep your voice down." Rachel looks around, but it seems the other patrons are ignoring them or just haven't heard enough to pay them attention.

"Why? You're worried he will know?" Quinn looks around them. "Have you slept with him?"

"What? When?" Rachel looks at her.

"Today. Have you fucked him?" She whispers angrily.

"I am not having that conversation with you. Not here." Rachel turns away, but she hears Quinn storming out to the restrooms.

"Where's Quinn?" Holly comes back just a moment later and Rachel's only answer is to stand up, to chase after the other girl.

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"God, can't I have a fucking moment on my own?" Quinn has no time to lock herself in a stall, because Rachel follows her in the last one. The biggest one.

"What happens between me and Finn is none of your business." Rachel stands against the door, blocking her path.

"Fine, suit yourself. Now, move." Quinn tries to push her off the door but the petite brunette braces herself against her chest and pushes her back, pinning her against the opposite door.

"Not until we work this out." Rachel shakes her head.

"You want to work it out? Pick one then. You can't have both of us, Rachel." Quinn looks down into her eyes. "It's either me or him."

"That's unfair." Rachel looks away from her.

"It's not fair to cheat on your boyfriend with me." Quinn grabs onto her wrists. "It's not fair to see you with him, when all I want is to be with you and have many more nights like last night."

"I can't…" Rachel drops her head against her shoulder.

"You can't have both." Quinn rests her head against the wall and looks up, at the ceiling. "I won't hold it against you if you choose him, but I won't do this ok? I won't be the other woman."

"You're not." She nuzzles her neck and holds onto her waist. "I am just so confused. I don't know what to do."

"I can take a step back." She kisses her temple. "I'll do the play with you, but I'll keep my distance so you can figure it all out. No pressure from me."

"You're giving up on me." Rachel clings to her.

"I am not." Quinn's arms circle her waist. "I want you and I want you to choose me."

"I didn't sleep with him." Rachel whispers against her ear and Quinn's arms tighten around her. "He wanted to, but I turned him down. I couldn't…"

"Why?" Quinn nuzzles her cheek slowly.

"I felt like I was going to betray you after last night." Rachel kisses the underside of her jaw. "It's ridiculous, right?"

"Maybe." Quinn tilts her head back. "Or maybe not." She brushes her thumb over her lower lip, that trembles under her featherlike touch. "Maybe you know what you want more than you want to admit."

"I just don't want to hurt anyone." She kisses her thumb and presses up into her inside the stall.

"You can't do this without hurting someone in the process." Quinn leans down to drop a soft kiss on her lips. "You'll have to do what your heart wants."

"What if I don't know what I want?" She whispers against her lips but Quinn can't answer that. She just leans in to take advantage of these stolen moments between them, knowing they might be the last ones she has to share with Rachel.

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True to her promise, Quinn gives her space. She is still a professional when it comes to being on stage with her. She doesn't look for her behind the scenes or after rehearsals. She stands aside and waits giving her time and space to make her choice. She gives her time, but it's Rachel who misses her the most. She misses all the small ways that Quinn made her feel she was close. Not too close to smother her, but not too far to feel the absence of her.

"Can you all come here?" Holly stands in the middle of the stage, behind the curtain, asking them to form a circle around her.

"Miss Holiday, where's Quinn?" Rachel walks slowly in her stage dress, that slows her movements down.

"Here." Quinn struts forward, with the sword hanging from her belt and the costume hugging her in all the right places. She walks in with the same attitude she used to have, when she was the head cheerleader and she parted the crowd with a glare. The same aura of confidence that took Rachel breath away.

"Quinn, your hair…" One of the other cast members beats Rachel, stealing her comment. "Where did the pink go?"

"I think it was time for a change." Quinn runs her fingers through her blonde hair and lifts it in a tight ponytail, the way she has worn it for the whole time. "Right, Miss Holiday?" She stares at the blonde, who beams and nods.

"As long as you didn't go bald, Miss Fabray." Holly smirks and makes room for her other female lead on her left side, while Rachel stands on her right. "I want to thank you, all of you, for the tremendous job you've been doing so far." She looks around at all the students gathered around her. "Tonight is only the ending to this amazing journey together, so go out there and show them what you can do. Show them how amazing you are." She looks at Rachel and then Quinn. "Now, break a leg!" She shouts and they repeat it after her for three times.

The circle breaks and Holly goes behind the stage, to take her position along with most of the cast. She checks everything, from the lights to the music, while Quinn and Rachel stay on stage. The brunette looks at the blonde, who is buttoning her jacket up and fixing the sword at her side.

"Quinn…" Rachel walks up to her and Quinn looks at her, the way she usually looks at her. The way she has looked during their only night together.

"Break a leg, Rachel." Quinn holds her hand out for her to shake, but Rachel just slips her fingers through hers. She caresses the back of her hand with her thumb, making Quinn shiver.

"Break a leg, Quinn." Rachel takes a step closer and uses the other hand to reach up, to brush a loose lock away from the girl's forehead. "I forgot how good you looked with your natural hair color."

"I thought blonde looked better on my Yale ID Card." Quinn chuckles softly.

"Yeah, I guess." Rachel plays with the end of her lock and looks up into her hazel eyes. "Quinn, I-"

"5 minutes!" Holly's assistant calls from behind the scenes and the two girls break apart. They're not in the opening scene, so they go to their respective places on each side of the stage. Turning around, Rachel throws one more last look at the blonde who stands across from her, having her costume fixed with the final touches.

They both take in a deep breath, almost in synch, and watch Tina - the narrator - walk on stage, right in the middle of it, when the curtains open and the light hits her directly. She stands there, in front of the full auditorium, and when everything quiets down, her words are the only sound that can be heard.

Two households, both alike in dignity

(In fair Verona, where we lay our scene),

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

[...]

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They receive a standing ovation. After two hours and a half, when the curtains close on the death of the two lovers, they hear the clear clapping coming from the audience. It is so loud that they can barely believe what they're hearing. It is so loud that when the curtains open on the cast lined up, on stage, they see with their eyes how they are all standing up, clapping and shouting some of their encouragement.

"My baby girl." Hiram wraps Rachel in his arms as soon as she gets off stage, after the long minutes spent on stage thanking the audience for her performance. "You were amazing. Simply amazing."

"Thank you, Daddy." Rachel leans into his arms and then moves into Leroy's arms, who hugs her equally tightly. "You liked it, Dad?"

"I have no tears left, honey." Leroy whispers in her ear and she giggles. She rests her head against his shoulder, wrapped up in his arms.

"Ahem." Finn clears his throat and Rachel pulls from her Dad to look at the tall guy standing behind them, with a bouquet of roses in his arms. "You were great, Rachel." He smiles down at her and she nods softly. "I am kind of jealous of those scenes with Quinn, maybe i shouldn't have turned the role down." He chuckles.

"Thank you, Finn." She takes the roses and smells them. "But what's done is done, right?"

"Yeah. Do you want to go out? To celebrate, just the two of us." He looks at the Berry men for approval, but they just stare back at him, dubious. It's not their call, really.

"Finn, I-"

"Miss Berry?" Judy Fabray interrupts her before she can reply to him. "I am sorry to interrupt, but I just wanted to personally thank you for the amazing performance you delivered. Quinn always said you were talented, but I had no idea how much."

"Mrs. Fabray, thank you for your nice words." Rachel blushes and looks at the blonde woman. She gets a glimpse of Quinn, talking to who she presumes are her Father and older sister. "It was a collaborative work and I wouldn't have been able to do it without Quinn. She was equally amazing."

"She was, wasn't she?" Judy looks at the blonde girl who is grinning at something her sister has told her. "I hope Russell sees that too." She turns back to the brunette. "We are going out for dinner, do you and your fathers want to join us? You deserve that, don't you think?" She looks at the two men, who smile in agreement.

"That would be a generous offer, Mrs. Fabray." Hiram nods. "But we insist on splitting the bill."

"We'll see what my husband has to say about that." She grins when a familiar arm circles her waist and his taller frame presses up against her back.

"What about me, dear?" Russell kisses her cheek from behind but keeps it light. It's a small display of affections really.

"I was just inviting the Berry's out for dinner, to celebrate our girls' amazing performance." Judy reaches for his hand, holding it by her side.

"As long as it's not a problem, Mr. and Mrs. Fabray." Rachel looks at them and then at Quinn, who has just joined them.

"Of course not." Russell looks over at Quinn. "You two have been fantastic and your chemistry was through the roof. How did you do that?" He asks rhetorically, ignoring what has occurred between them. Ignoring all the questions left unanswered.

"Rachel, we were supposed to go out for dinner." Finn reaches for her hand, but the brunette pulls away from his hold.

"Can you excuse us?" Rachel looks at the small group around them and walks to the side, with the tall boy following her. She doesn't notice Quinn's eyes following her, with concern.

"I asked you out first, Rachel." Finn looks at her. "But it feels like you don't want to be alone with me. Did I do something wrong?"

"Finn, we need to talk." Rachel looks at the flowers in her hands and then up at him. "You didn't do anything, it's me…"

"Why does it feel like you're breaking up with me?" Finn takes a step back. "You can't break up with me. We're supposed to get out of here and go to New York."

"We are just lying to ourselves, Finn. What would you do in New York?" Rachel looks down at the flowers in her hands and when he keeps quiet, she knows her answer. They both know it. "We both deserve better than a relationship where one of us is giving up on their dreams for the other person." She leans up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "I am sorry, Finn."

"Rachel, we can still make it work." Finn cups her face and leans down to kiss her softly. "I still love you."

"It's over, Finn." She shakes her head and slips out of his arms. "Here, take these back." She gives him the flowers back and walks back to the group formed by her family and Quinn's.

"Is everything alright, honey?" Hiram pulls her in a hug as soon as she is close enough.

"Yes, I am fine." Rachel rests her head sideways against his shoulder. She wants to close her eyes but her gaze is drawn by the blonde watching her. Their eyes meet but no words are needed. It takes them a glare to understand each other.

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The doorbell rings and Quinn is pulled from the book she has been reading, lying sprawled on the couch, while her parents are out for antique shopping in the nearby town. She drops the book aside and stretches her limbs as she walks to the front door. Stretching on her tiptoes, she checks through the peephole and when she realizes who is standing on her doorstep, she is quick to unlock the front door.

"Hi, Quinn." Rachel has her hands clasped in front of her, shifting her weight from one foot to another.

"Hi." Quinn steps aside to let her in. "How are you?" She takes her jacket and hangs it in the closet by the door, like the last time.

"I am good. How have you been?" Rachel looks around the silent house.

"My parents aren't here." Quinn leads them into the living room where Rachel can see what she has been obviously up to. "Can I offer you something to drink? Or eat?"

"I broke up with Finn." Rachel stands in front of Quinn, who stops fixing the mess she has left behind to stare at her. "But you knew that, didn't you?"

"I thought you did, but I didn't want to assume anything." The blonde tucks her hands in the pockets of her sweatpants. "You've broken up before and you got back together. It may still happen."

"But it was different back then." Rachel takes a step closer. "It was before you."

"Oh." Quinn nods softly. When Rachel steps forward, a lock slips out of the headband keeping her hair together and the blonde can't help herself. She leans up and her fingers brush it back, just like Rachel has done it for her, before their debut. "So, what does it mean for us?"

"I just broke up with him and I still need some time." Rachel feels her fingers trail along the side of her face and she just leans into her tender touch. "But if you still want me, I would like to see where this may lead us."

"I would like that too." Quinn's thumb brushes the side of her neck and cups it, tilting her head enough to just lower her forehead on the brunette's. "I can't stop thinking about you."

"What about me?" Rachel gulps when her hot breath brushes over her lips, like one of her kisses. One of those kisses that she has craved for days.

"About the way you looked at me." She looks down into her eyes, despite the proximity. "About the way you felt under me." She caresses her neck and down to her chest, resting her palm over her heart. "About the way you made me feel."

"Quinn…" Rachel's hands tremble when they land on her hips.

"About the way you kissed me." The blonde nuzzles her nose against Rachel's, in a tender Eskimo kiss that just makes the brunette melt in her arms. "About the way you tasted." She kisses the corner of her mouth, lingering a little longer.

"I can't stop thinking about you either." Rachel circles her head with her forearm and brings their heads together, until they're just a breath away from kissing again. She has missed her kisses. Her real kisses. She has missed Quinn.

"I'll be waiting for you." Quinn's arms slip around her waist, holding her close. "I am not going anywhere without you." Rachel nods and just buries her face against her neck, holding tight on the girl that has stolen her heart, in such a simple yet beautiful way. They have time ahead of them. They have time to write a new chapter in their story. Their love story.

Romeo, save me. They're trying to tell me how to feel

This love is difficult but it's real

Don't be afraid. We'll make it out of this mess

It's a love story.

The End