Chapter Twenty

Now, Quinn knows she has a stunning girlfriend. It's nothing she hasn't allowed herself to acknowledge before, but the sight of Rachel Berry when she emerges from the house still manages to floor her.

Quinn is standing at the bottom of the steps to the porch, nervously fidgeting with the hem of her shirt and her heart beating a mile a minute when Rachel walks out, suitably bundled up against the cold, but looking more stunning than Quinn has ever seen her.

Quinn's eyes immediately drop to Rachel's legs, clad in warm leggings beneath her deep blue dress that stops just above her knee, and her thick, black coat. Her head is covered by a woollen hat, and she's already flushed. Whether it's from the cold, Quinn doesn't know, but she's ridiculously stunning.

"Hey, Missy," Rachel says, sounding amused; "eyes up top."

Quinn lets out an embarrassed laugh and climbs the few steps to meet her. "Hi," she says, extending a hand. "Are you ready?"

She merely nods, easily slipping her hand into Quinn's and entwining their fingers.

Quinn tugs gently, and then they start walking, Quinn leading the way. She remains silent as they go, mentally counting in her head to see how long it'll take her gorgeous girlfriend to break the silence.

Rachel makes it until forty-seven before she speaks. "Where are we going?"

Quinn just smiles at her, saying nothing.

"Quinn," Rachel whines, pulling on her hand, as if the action will loosen Quinn's tongue. "Quinn, you have to tell me. You have to. I won't survive if you don't."

"Ease up on the dramatics there, Berry," Quinn says with a small laugh. "We're almost there, by the way."

"Almost where?"

When they near the barn, Quinn has them veer to the right, into the vineyard. They walk through the rows, the sound of their crunching footsteps and quiet breathing filling the air between them. Out of all the spots Quinn could choose, she had to pick one relatively close to the barn because she needs the power supply.

"So, I've been thinking," Quinn says, her fingers tightening around Rachel's; "we still don't know all that much about each other." She presses her lips together. "I mean, I know you, but I still don't. Does that make sense?"

Rachel hums. "As in, you know what fuels my nightmares, but you don't know that I played Gretel in my fourth grade production of Hansel and Gretel?"

Quinn chuckles. "Not exactly what I was going for, but, yes, something like that," she says.

"Well, I was," Rachel says. "Gretel, I mean. I was actually rather good at it, if I do say so myself."

"I'm sure you were."

"I actually think my mother recorded it," she says, thinking back. "It was such a stupid little play, and the boy who played Hansel was so - " she stops abruptly at the first sighting of the fairy lights. "Quinn?" she whispers, their pace slowing as they approach the small clearing.

Quinn just watches her face as the lights reflect off her perfect skin and shining eyes. Rachel actually gasps at the complete scene, her eyes eagerly taking in the endless fairy lights draped over the vines and leading up to what looks like something out of a fairytale.

There's a large canvas blanket spread out on the ground, with cushions spread out and several fluffy blankets for warmth folded in the corner. There's a cooler off to the right, there's music playing from somewhere, and there are several space heaters set up.

Rachel turns to look at Quinn, a bright smile on her face, despite her latent disbelief. "Quinn," she says again, and it's both a question and a statement.

Quinn just smiles at her. "Come on, you have to get the full experience."

Rachel allows herself to be led, and then directed to remove her shoes and settle against the cushions. She lies on her back as Quinn floats around, getting them something to drink and removing her own shoes before coming to lie beside her and draping a thick blanket over them.

For the longest time, neither of them says anything, content to look up at the stars in the sky as they exist in each other's presence.

Eventually, Rachel sighs happily, her fingers reaching for Quinn's. "This is quite possibly the closest thing to perfect," she says softly. She smiles when Quinn rolls onto her side and wraps warm arms around her. She likes this side of Quinn; the side that's open and affectionate, not averse to touching and being touched.

Rachel hums in content, her eyes slipping closed. "If I wasn't already hopelessly in love with you, I would be now," she tells her. "Do you think it's possible to fall even more in love with someone?"

Quinn seems to give it some thought. "It has to be," she eventually answers. "It's the only explanation for what I feel every time I look at you."

Rachel literally swoons.

"Your legs help," Quinn comments amusedly, her left hand reaching down and running along the back of Rachel's thigh.

The brunette shivers. "Are my legs your favourite part of my body?"

"I love every part of your body," Quinn says, stilling her hand. She doesn't want to push for anything that may or may not make Rachel uncomfortable, and she really didn't bring them out here so they could fool around. There are much warmer places to do that.

"I love you."

Quinn presses her lips to Rachel's cooling forehead. "Do you know that we've been dating for one month today?"

Rachel's eyes snap open. "What?"

Quinn chuckles. "I kind of forgot too," she admits. "But then I was planning out this entire thing because we're leaving tomorrow, and I was like oh, would you look at that?"

Rachel rests her forehead against Quinn's chin. "It completely slipped my mind," she admits. "It - it feels like so much longer, for some reason."

"I think it's because it's unofficially been more than one month," Quinn suggests. "I'm pretty sure I loved you before we even started dating."

"Me too," Rachel admits. "I reckon we just both gave up fighting our feelings exactly one month ago."

"I prefer that, yeah."

Rachel turns her head to gaze back at the stars. "I want you to know something, Quinn," she says, wanting to say this without looking at the blonde. "When the time comes, and you finally get to be free from all the guilt and pressure and fear, I want to be there with you. I want to be standing right beside you, holding your hand and making sure you know that you did it."

Quinn lets out a long breath. "I want that too, Rachel," she murmurs. "I want everything with you."

"Everything?"

Quinn lifts herself up slightly, propping herself up on one elbow. "Everything," she assures. "The love, the life, the family."

Rachel swallows nervously.

"I know I have a lot to work through, but I'm going to do it," she says. "I - I want this," she says, absently waving her free hand in the air. "I want all of it, Rachel. With you." She waits a beat. "And I'm sorry if that's too intense, or maybe it's too soon, but I can't help - "

Rachel interrupts her spiel by pressing their lips together for a kiss that deepens far too quickly. "Quinn," she says when she pulls away. "I want all of it, too."

"You do?"

Rachel nods, kisses her again, and then sits up. "Now, I also want food, and I assume that cooler holds many, many treasures."

Quinn just chuckles as she lifts herself up and crawls towards her stash. She and LeRoy spent a few hours making some of Rachel's favourite things, and the sight of the brunette's wide, surprised smile is so worth it when Quinn pulls out the container of fajitas.

"I love you," Rachel squeals. "Gimme, gimme."

Quinn dutifully passes it to her, and pulls out everything else. There are soft corn tortillas and extra salsa. There's also some kind of yoghurt-based dressing. There are garlic rolls - Rachel's favourite - which made LeRoy laugh because there's bound to be limited kissing occurring now.

Quinn packed extra mints.

There are chocolate covered strawberries (mainly for Rachel) and freshly-baked cookies with Skittles in them. It's the only indulgence Quinn will allow herself.

Well, besides Rachel, of course.

Rachel abandons their food first.

As much as it pains her, she bypasses the garlic rolls, crawls across the blanket and straddles Quinn's thighs. Her arms slip around a pale neck and bemused, hazel eyes look at her curiously.

"Hello," Quinn says, still nibbling on an overly-sweet cookie.

Rachel takes the cookie out of her hand and chucks it over her shoulder.

"Hey," Quinn complains. "I spent a lot of time on those."

Rachel has a lot of flirty things she could say, but all she wants to do is kiss the slight frown off her girlfriend's face.

So, she does.

The kiss starts slowly as they both settle into it. Quinn's hands come up to slide along Rachel's back, drawing her closer until their bodies are flush against each other. Rachel lets out a soft moan at the contact, and her grip tightens, fingers sliding into Quinn's hair.

As the kiss deepens, tongues tangling and bodies rocking together, Quinn tries and fails to remain sitting upright. Rachel pushes her back against the pillows, and the two of them resettle, Rachel draped over the blonde's body.

"You're missing the stars," Quinn murmurs against Rachel's lips.

"I'm seeing them," Rachel whispers back, dragging her mouth down to a perfect, pale neck. She sucks gently on the skin above Quinn's pulse point. "All I have to do is close my eyes and kiss you, and I'm seeing the brightest stars imaginable."

Quinn tilts her head, absently tugging on Rachel's hair to bring them into another heated kiss. She gasps when Rachel cups her left breast, gently squeezing the flesh.

"Take off your coat," Rachel suddenly says.

"No ways," Quinn immediately says. "It's freezing."

Rachel huffs. "But I want to touch you."

Quinn growls, whether in frustration or arousal, neither girl knows. "I'm not taking off a single layer of clothing, Rach," she says. "We're going to have to wait until we get back to the house."

Rachel sighs, burying her face in the crook of Quinn's neck. "We're sleeping in my room," she says. "It's soundproofed."

Quinn blinks. "It is?"

Rachel nibbles at her skin, enjoying the whimper the blonde lets out. "Yes."

"Why didn't I know that?"

"Didn't come up."

"Why is it soundproofed?"

"My brothers used to complain about my singing," she explains. "I had a very strict practice schedule."

Quinn pulls back slightly. "But you don't anymore?"

Rachel lifts her head to look at Quinn's face. Lying on Quinn is probably her favourite place in the entire world, and she can't imagine what her life would be like without this. "Before, I used to think singing and dancing and getting to Broadway was everything," she says softly. "I dedicated so many hours of my life to practicing, and made endless sacrifices of my time and energy and friends and family. After the assault, it just didn't seem as important to me anymore."

Quinn thinks that over. "Is that why you stopped singing?"

Rachel shifts slightly, resting her head so her ear is pressed over Quinn's beating heart. "Not exactly," she says. "I told you I wasn't in a good place afterwards. With the investigation, the vilifying and the trial; I just didn't feel joy. Singing has always been my companion, you know? My friend when I had none. A constant. And, I didn't want him to take that from me, so I didn't want the one thing I loved doing the most to fall victim to my… lacking."

Quinn isn't sure she fully understands, but she doesn't think it's all that important. Whatever prevented Rachel from singing has been overcome, and now her girlfriend is back on stage and performing and doing what she so obviously loves.

"I don't give it as much time as I used to," Rachel continues. "I think, without it, I learned a lot more about myself. I accomplished other things, and I think it was important for me to discover exactly who I am without my talent. Because, that's all it is. It's a talent. I'm a singer, but it's not all I am, and I think that's an important distinction going forward.

"I think I know more than anyone that anything can happen. One of these days, my talent could be gone, and then what's going to happen to me? Before last year, I probably wouldn't have been able to tell you, but I have a better handle on my goals and desires now."

Quinn quirks an eyebrow. "Desires, huh?"

Rachel giggles softly. "You know I want you all the time, Quinn," she says. "It's actually a problem. I don't know how I'm supposed to survive the next almost two weeks without your pretty face and oh-so-sexy body."

Quinn chuckles. "If you're going to miss my body so much, why are you spending all your time talking?"

Rachel meets her gaze. "You know, Quinn, you really do ask the smartest questions."

Quinn has just enough time to smile smugly before it's being wiped right off her face by a pair of insistent lips.

"Dance with me."

Rachel just stares at her for a moment. "You want to dance?"

"With you, yes," Quinn replies easily as she slowly gets to her feet and stretches. She holds out her hands to help Rachel up, and then she's sliding her arms around the brunette's waist as they both stand in their socks.

Rachel hesitates for only a beat before her fingers link together behind Quinn's neck. There's a song playing in the background, but Rachel isn't paying attention to anything besides the strength of Quinn's body and the warmth of her breath.

"Just when I thought this night couldn't get any more perfect," Rachel murmurs.

"Hmm?"

She just pulls Quinn closer, her eyes slipping closed as she embraces this moment.

It's unlikely they're going to be able to experience many more in the foreseeable future.

"Take it off," Rachel commands, as soon as she turns the lock on her bedroom door and shoves Quinn towards the bed.

Quinn just smirks at her. "What exactly am I taking off?" she asks, her voice dripping with something sultry.

Rachel has to take a moment to gather herself, shaking her head to clear it. All of it, her mind screams out, but her mouth says, "Start with the coat."

Quinn willingly obliges, and Rachel does the same with her own, dropping it onto the ground and stalking towards Quinn with the intention of devouring her. Rachel practically jumps into Quinn's arms and wraps her legs around the blonde's waist.

"Is it too late for you to come with me to New York?" Rachel asks, already breathless.

Quinn just chuckles, as she turns them and shuffles towards the bed. "Think I can fit in your suitcase?" she asks as she gently sets Rachel down on the duvet, and then climbs over her.

"Are you flexible enough for that?" Rachel questions, shifting until she's lying against her pillows.

Quinn crawls over her, her knees between Rachel's legs and her palms on either side of her head. "Is this the moment we talk about it?" she asks softly.

"Talk about what?"

Quinn meets her eyes. "You wanted me to take off my coat," she says. "Is that all you want me to take off?"

Rachel reaches up to trace the tips of her fingers along Quinn's cheek. "I want to see you," she whispers. "And I want to touch you."

Quinn merely nods, her gaze unwavering. "Am I allowed to see you?"

Rachel nibbles at her bottom lip, before she nods her head.

"Touch?" Quinn questions.

"Gently."

"Always, baby," Quinn assures her, and then slowly nestles herself between Rachel's legs, supports herself on one elbow, and softly kisses her. "Just tell me if it's too much, okay," she instructs as lightly as she can.

"Like, a safe word?"

Quinn nods. "Sure," she says with a ghost of a smile on her lips. "We can do that. Any ideas?"

Rachel absently plays with Quinn's hair, twirling it between her fingers as she visibly thinks. "What about… cinnamon?"

Quinn raises her eyebrows. "Cinnamon?"

"It's unlikely I'm going to say it while we're making out," she points out. "And, it's what you smell like."

Quinn smiles at her. "You're a little obsessed with how I smell, aren't you?"

Rachel just tugs on a lock of her hair. "You smell really good."

"And you were calling me the vampire the other day," she says with a roll of her eyes.

"I'm not against biting," Rachel says easily, and Quinn lets out a long breath.

"You're dangerous, you know that?"

"I do know that," she says, smiling innocently.

Quinn just shakes her head, thoroughly amused and sufficiently turned on. "Okay," she says; "Cinnamon it is."

Rachel's fingers slide into Quinn's hair, which she's come to find is one of her favourite things to do. "Are you okay with all of this?"

"With what?"

"Just seeing, and just touching?"

Quinn blinks. "As in, am I ready to go that far?"

Rachel nods, biting her bottom lip.

"Baby, you do know I've… gone all the way before, right?"

"I know," Rachel says, still slightly uncomfortable with the idea of Quinn and Tori. "So have I, which doesn't automatically make anything we do something you would be ready for. With me."

Quinn kisses her cheek tenderly, and then rolls off her. She sits cross-legged at her side, and regards her carefully. "I didn't really think about it," she confesses softly, wringing her fingers together. She recognises the movement makes her look uncomfortable, and she stops immediately.

Rachel slowly sits up as well, her eyes on Quinn's face. "We should really talk about it, shouldn't we?"

Quinn chuckles softly, and then sighs. "With Tori, is was experimentation at first," she explains. "I was curious, you know? I wanted to know for sure that I actually liked girls, and she helped with that. There was no… tenderness." She frowns slightly. "We kind of just figured out what the other liked, and that was that. I don't think we ever truly made love, if that makes any sense."

"It does," Rachel assures her. "It actually makes a lot of sense."

Quinn meets her gaze. "Finn?"

"I realised only afterwards that I wasn't actually ready," she says, reminding Quinn of why she really doesn't like that boy. "He didn't push me or anything. Or, he did, and I just didn't realise it." She shakes her head, forcing away the memories. "I know you don't particularly like him, but he is a good guy. The problem is that's what he is: a guy. And a teenager, no less. Sometimes, they're just very… single-minded, as it were. A little self-absorbed."

Quinn bites the inside of her cheek to stop herself from speaking. She really doesn't want to be having a conversation about Finn, right now, but she acknowledges that this is all necessary.

"Not that it excuses his behaviour," Rachel says thoughtfully. "I just think… there are levels, or something, and I've experienced an extreme I wouldn't wish on anybody else."

Quinn nods. "Would - would things be different if I were a boy?" she asks, careful to keep her tone of voice neutral.

Rachel gives herself time to think about it. "I think so," she finally admits. "I can't be sure, because I'm inherently attracted to you, and I think I would still be as into you if you were a boy."

"Why?"

"Is this one of those things where you're wondering why I like you again?" she questions.

"Maybe."

Rachel reaches for one of Quinn's hands. "I told you there's no one reason, Quinn," she says. "Maybe there are many, but those reasons have no bearing on how I feel about you."

"That doesn't make any sense to me," Quinn confesses. "How can you like me without having a reason?"

"Okay," Rachel allows. "Why do you like me?"

Quinn doesn't even hesitate. "Because, when you look at me, all you see is Quinn." She sucks on her teeth for a moment. "You don't see Lucy, and you don't see a Fabray. You don't see Frannie's little sister who couldn't save her. You don't see the girl whose life isn't worth the loss. You don't see an investment to be paraded around when it's convenient and required. No. When you look at me, all you see is Quinn, and that's all I've ever wanted."

Not trusting herself to speak, Rachel just moves into Quinn's lap and holds her. The two of them just sit there, perfectly still, their breathing the only sounds in the room. "Can I tell you what I think?" Rachel murmurs.

"You can tell me anything," Quinn responds, just a quietly.

"Me thinks that no clothes are getting taken off tonight."

Quinn chuckles lightly. "Me thinks you are correct."

After a little manoeuvring, the two of them get settled under the covers, not bothering to change into pyjamas. Quinn holds Rachel close, tucking the brunette's head under her chin.

"Quinn?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

Quinn adjusts her hold, tightening slightly. "I love you, too."

"Do we have to leave today?"

Rachel just laughs as Quinn throws herself onto Rachel's bed dramatically, dislodging the brunette's carefully folded clothing.

"Isn't there some way to stop time or something?" Quinn questions.

"If you manage to figure it out, I'm all ears," Rachel says thoughtfully, and then sighs. "You know, if you wanted, I'm sure you could stay a few more days."

Quinn sits up, their gazes meeting. "Rach?"

"You said you have to be in Hartford only for the party on New Year's Eve, right?"

Quinn nods.

"So, you could stay here until then," she says. "You don't have to leave just because I have to. It doesn't work like that, and you know how much they love you."

Quinn just stares at her, trying to determine if she's being serious or not. "Would you really be okay with that?" she asks seriously.

Rachel shifts to stand in front of her. "If you want to stay, and it's not too much of a hassle to change your travel plans; then you should stay, Quinn. I want you to, as jealous as I'll be." At the conflicted look in Quinn's eyes, she places her hands on the blonde's shoulders. "Of my family, I mean," she says. "They'll get to spend time with you while I'm in New York, and I might just turn green with envy."

Quinn shifts to the edge of the bed and slips her arms around Rachel's waist. "Well, green looks good on you."

"I'll be sure to remember that when I'm starring in Wicked," she quips, bending to kiss the tip of Quinn's nose.

Quinn draws her closer, pressing her face into the valley of Rachel's breasts. "I don't want you to go."

Rachel just chuckles. "We'll be back at Dalton before you know it."

"If that's supposed to make me feel better, I'm afraid you've missed the mark, Berry."

Rachel bends once more, this time kissing the top of Quinn's head. "Just say you're going to miss me, and help me finish packing."

"No," Quinn grumbles, tightening her hold.

"Quinn."

"You're not leaving."

"I have to."

"No."

Rachel's fingers thread through Quinn's hair. "The faster I get packed; the more time we get to make out before I have to leave."

At the sound of that, Quinn immediately releases her, drawing a sharp laugh from Rachel.

"You truly are very special, you know that, right?"

Quinn grins at her. "I know."

"Wait, so, you're not leaving?"

Quinn blinks. "Uh, yes," she says. "Is that okay?"

Hiram, Daniel and Emily-Anne just stare at her for a long moment, and then she's being buried in a Holt-Berry hug that has her tensing for a few seconds, before she forces herself to relax.

"Okay, okay," Rachel says as she descends the stairs. "Let's not forget that I'm still leaving. You lot can hug Quinn to death when I'm gone."

Hiram just laughs as he releases Quinn and moves towards his daughter. "Don't be sour now."

Rachel rolls her eyes, and then looks at Daniel. "Dan, you think we could head into town a little earlier? Quinn and I are supposed to meet Noah and his new girlfriend at Proof before my train."

"Am I invited?" Daniel asks, pouting.

Rachel shrugs. "I'm sure Lee will want you to pick up something," she says. "We're just going to meet her, maybe grab a hot chocolate, and then I'm on my way."

"Aw, Sweetheart," Hiram says, pulling her into a hug. "We're going to miss you, you know?"

"No, you won't" she grumbles. "You'll have Quinn, and you won't even think of me."

Quinn chuckles. "Such a drama queen."

Rachel shoots her a look. "At least you've acknowledged I'm royalty."

"Oh, but you're a lot more than that, aren't you, Your Majesty?"

"So."

Rachel turns away from looking over her shoulder at a visibly-tense Quinn and looks at Daniel as he drives them into town. "Yes, Daniel?" she queries, stretching her arm back to offer her hand to Quinn, which the blonde immediately takes, clutching it tightly.

"Aren't you going to lay down the law or something?"

Rachel frowns at her oldest brother. "What do you mean?"

Daniel glances at a rigid Quinn in the backseat, who, he now knows, has to take anxiety medication to help her travel. He wants to make the trip as painless and quick as possible, but he's not about to start speeding. He suspects that'll make things worse. "You're leaving your girlfriend with us, and you don't have instructions for any of us?" he questions, his tone light. "I don't believe it."

Rachel just stares at him. "Did Em tell you?" she eventually asks.

"No, but you just confirmed it," he says. Then, as if nothing monumental has been revealed, he asks again, "So, no warnings then?"

Rachel takes another moment to gather herself. "No warnings," she confirms. "I trust you guys to treat her well," she says, glancing back at Quinn, who has her eyes tightly closed and her empty fist clenched. Rachel rubs her thumb over the back of the hand she's holding. "If I haven't managed to scare her away yet, I doubt you'll be capable of doing it."

Daniel grins at her. "Is that I challenge I hear?" he questions.

"No, it's def - "

"Because, challenge definitely accepted," he interrupts enthusiastically. "We're going to feed her berries until she pukes, and we're going to tell her all about that time when you were seven and you we - "

Rachel clamps her free hand over his mouth. "You wouldn't dare," she hisses, her eyes wide.

"Oh," he says, shaking his head until she drops her hand. "Is that a warning I hear?"

Rachel grumbles. "I hate you."

"I'm going to miss you too, B," he says, his smile gentling. "I promise we'll take good care of your precious cargo."

"Thank you," Rachel says softly, and she means it for so much more.

"Who are we meeting again?" Daniel asks, draping an arm over Rachel's shoulders as they make the short walk from the car to Proof, one of Wallingford's best bakeries.

"Noah's girlfriend," Rachel tells him, glancing over at Quinn, who still looks a little traumatised. As heartbreaking as it is, Rachel can't stop herself from thinking her girlfriend looks positively adorable. She wants to reach out and comfort her, somehow, but she's not willing to risk it.

"Who is she?" Daniel asks.

"I don't actually know," Rachel admits. "Besides the fact that her name is Jennifer and she works at Proof, he hasn't said much else. He seems to like her a lot, though."

Daniel raises his eyebrows. "Are we sure we're talking about Puckerman?"

Rachel giggles. "It must be serious," she says. "She must be quite something to have him thinking about dating for more than just a weekend."

Daniel rolls his eyes. "I can barely look Natasha in the eye anymore."

Rachel just shakes her head as they reach the door, which he immediately pulls open. Rachel lets Quinn go in first, just because she wants to place her hand at the small of her back.

The blonde smiles at her over her shoulder. "God, it smells so good in here," she murmurs.

"Tell me about it," Rachel echoes, her eyes scanning the room for Noah. She spots him at a table in the corner, sitting opposite a girl who's slightly obscured by his muscular frame. "Over there," she says, gesturing to their collective right.

Quinn looks in that general direction, easily spots the table, and then starts moving towards Noah, a steady smile on her face. She's nothing if not polite, even if she's feeling slightly uncomfortable in public.

Noah must sense their approach, because he turns his head, and slowly rises to his feet. Quinn doesn't quite understand his facial expression - it's a mixture of guilt and concern and a deep apology - until she hears Daniel swear behind her.

"Jeez, B," he grumbles. "You can't just stop walking in the middle of the shop."

Quinn turns around to look at Rachel, who has stopped walking. In fact, she looks frozen in place, suddenly pale, and Quinn knows something is wrong.

Noah moves towards Rachel, his hands held out in front of him in some kind of placating manner. The girl behind him stands silently, observing everything with conflicted eyes.

Quinn can barely pay her any attention beyond the fact that she looks vaguely familiar, because Rachel hasn't moved an inch.

"Rae," Noah says softly. "Rae, you have to - "

Rachel shakes her head, her eyes closing for a few moments. "I don't have to do anything," she hisses, her voice low and dangerous. "How - how could you?"

Quinn's frown deepens, and she automatically moves back to stand at Rachel's left side, just wanting to be closer to her.

Noah looks pained. "I - I didn't mean to," he says, his voice sounding strangled. "It just kind of happened, and then it was too late to - "

"What the hell, man?" Daniel suddenly says, catching on to what the problem is. "Like, what the actual fuck?"

"Dan, please," Noah says.

"No!" Daniel snaps, stepping forward to shield Rachel, who seems to have shut down. "It's one thing to - " he stops, still in disbelief. "But to actually ask Rachel to meet her? In public, no less? Are you fucking psychotic?"

Quinn is very confused, but she can read enough about the situation to know that Noah's girlfriend's identity is not going down well with either Daniel or Rachel, and Rachel needs her. Quinn steps as close as she can without actually touching her, leaving the option of making contact to Rachel.

Which the brunette takes with minimal hesitation. She wraps her arms around Quinn's shoulders and buries her face in the crook of Quinn's neck. She's gasping for breath, fighting to stay in control, and Quinn feels her rage at Noah increase tenfold.

"Rachel," Noah tries again. "I don't know what I'm supposed to say. She's not like the rest of - "

"Don't you dare finish that sentence," Daniel interrupts hotly. Quinn has never seen him look so livid. He's even turning red, which is an amazing sight on his brown skin. "You were there," he forces out. "You heard them. She sat right there behind him, defending him, calling Rachel all sorts of…" he trails off because, honest to God, he actually can't believe this. "How dare you even think to stand there and defend her? In front of Rachel?"

Noah looks helpless.

Quinn decides to speak. "Daniel," she calls gently. "What's happening right now?"

Daniel looks at her, his eyes refusing to take in the trembling form of his sister. He's bound to lose it completely, if he does. "That's Jenny Prescott," he says. "Justin's little sister."

Quinn takes a moment to process just what that means and, the second she does, the entire shift in her demeanour is evident for everyone to see.

Noah actually takes a step back, suddenly wary, and Daniel's eyes widen as Quinn's eyes harden and the rage and protectiveness practically roll off her in waves.

"Daniel," Quinn says, her tone brokering no argument. "Take Rachel to the car."

"What?"

Quinn's eyes narrow. "Take her to the car. She needs to get out of here, and I would really prefer it if she didn't hear the words I'm about to say."

Daniel waits another beat, before he gets moving. He has to pry Rachel off Quinn, and then they stumble out of the shop, Daniel glancing back once before disappearing.

"Rachel," Noah starts, trying to follow, only to have Quinn step in front of him, her glare so pronounced that it would probably incinerate him if it were a physical entity.

"Get out of the way," he says, suddenly irritated. "This has nothing to do with you, Quinn." He tries to sidestep her.

She doesn't let him past. "Actually, it does," she says, which gives him pause.

It takes him another moment to click, and then his features turn curious. "Really?"

Quinn steps into his space. "Tell me something, Noah," she says, her tone icy cold. "At what point in the last, I don't know, few weeks did you first think it was a good idea not to tell your best friend you're fucking her rapist's kid sister?"

Noah flinches at her tone, and blinks at the words. "I didn't know how to - "

"No," she says, shaking her head. "That's not an answer to the question I asked. I want to know exactly when you realised, hey, I definitely can't tell Rachel about this because, God, she's probably going to freak out and I'm probably the worst best friend in the world right now."

Noah clenches his jaw. "Out of everyone, you should be the one to understand," he says.

She raises a curious eyebrow. "Oh? How so?"

"I imagine your friends and family aren't too happy with your choices either?"

Quinn's eyes narrow, but she's just able to suppress her flinch. Her latent fear has roared to life, and there are quite a few people in this shop.

Still, this is about Rachel.

"You're right," Quinn allows, and Noah sighs in relief. "I understand completely, Noah. I understand that, when they do find out, I'm going to lose them all."

Noah's face falls.

"I understand that this is too much for them to accept, and that I'll no longer be welcome," she says. "I understand that fully, and it's a relief to know you do, too, because I would hate to have to point out that you're essentially choosing this… relationship over Rachel and, frankly, I think it'd be the worst choice imaginable."

"Quinn," he whispers.

"I don't know what's going through your fucking mind, but I sincerely hope you're suffering some kind of brain injury right now, because even you can't be so stupid as to have Rachel meet your girlfriend like this." She forces herself to take a deep breath. "God, what the fuck is wrong with you?"

"I wasn't - I don't - " he tries to defend.

Quinn just raises a hand to keep him silent. "Sort your shit out," she says. "Determine who's worth it, and try to figure out if you're willing to put Rachel through any more loss." She shakes her head, and then looks past him at the girl whose presence is causing all this mess.

She looks contrite, but there's a certain challenge burning in her eyes that Quinn positively hates. Now, Quinn sees why she was so familiar. It's the look she saw in Jackson's eyes.

To anyone else, the girl looks so harmless, but the blonde knows better. "Tell your brother to stay the fuck away from me," she says clearly. "He comes near me or Rachel or any of her family again, he'll find out exactly who my father is. Do I make myself clear?" She doesn't even wait for a response, as her attention shifts back to Noah. "Seriously," she says, suddenly exasperated. "Just, seriously, like, what the fuck?"

And then she turns and walks out.

Seriously.

"Should we take her home?"

Quinn ignores Daniel in favour of smoothing her hand over Rachel's hair. "Rach," she whispers, trying to coax her out of the… catatonic state she seems to have gone into. "Rachel, please look at me."

It takes a while, but Rachel eventually lifts her gaze to meet Quinn's hazel eyes.

"Hi," Quinn breathes, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

"Hi," Rachel whispers back.

"What do you need?"

"Just a moment."

"Okay." Quinn reaches for her hand and squeezes her fingers, and then looks at Daniel. "You can take us to the train station so long," she says.

He hesitates. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," Quinn assures him. "It's okay. Just drive."

Daniel merely nods, and then backs out of the space. He keeps an eye on them through the rearview mirror, and his heart both swells and breaks when he sees Quinn pull Rachel into her arms and begin to whisper quiet words into her ear.

It hurts because he knows he wouldn't have been able to help in this situation. Quinn seems to know exactly what to say and do, and he's trying not to think about how or why that could be. He doesn't think he could handle knowing Quinn has also gone through some kind of trauma.

Whatever Quinn says to her must work because, by the time Daniel is pulling into the parking lot at the station, Rachel is good to go. Her eyes are clearer, and she isn't shaking anymore. If Daniel hadn't seen her twenty minutes ago, he wouldn't believe anything was amiss.

Quinn is some kind of miracle worker, surely.

She's something.

If he's being honest with himself, the blonde girl scares him a little. She has this intensity to her to which he's not used, and he's unsure how to handle it or her.

With her attention so focused on Rachel, Quinn barely acknowledged they were in a car, and all three are immensely relieved by that.

When they unload the car, Daniel drags Rachel's suitcase along, and Quinn shoulders her backpack, allowing the brunette a few moments to compose herself.

They find her platform easily, and Quinn gives brother and sister a moment to say their farewells.

"Rach?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I just tell you that I'm very frightened of your girlfriend?"

Rachel laughs lightly, pulling him into a hug. "I'm glad to hear that."

"She's terrifying."

"Good," she says. "Don't mess with her."

"Oh, I won't, believe me."

She squeezes him tightly for a moment, and then releases him. "Thank you," she says.

"For what?"

"Being you."

"I don't know how to be anyone else."

She reaches up and kisses his cheek. "Go put my luggage on the train," she instructs gently. "I need to say goodbye to a certain blonde."

He smiles knowingly. "You know, you should probably think about putting a ring on it as soon as possible."

Rachel rolls her eyes. "You really are Hiram's son, aren't you?"

Daniel laughs out loud. "Indeed, I am."

"Come with me."

Quinn just manages to hide her amused expression as Rachel tugs on her hand and leads her into the women's bathroom. Mercifully, it's empty, and the two of them spend an obscenely long time not talking.

Rachel pushes Quinn up against the main door and kisses her for all she's worth, trying her best to remember everything about this moment: the smell, the feel, the taste.

Everything Quinn.

When she pulls away, her lips are swollen and her pupils are dilated.

"Why are you so God damn sexy?" Quinn murmurs, stealing a few more kisses.

"Are you going to be okay?" she asks softly, moaning when Quinn nips at the skin of her neck. "Tell me if you need me to stay, because I will."

"Your mother is expecting you," Quinn reminds her, sucking on her pulse point. "She's been waiting for you all Break. You have to go."

"I know," Rachel breathes, tilting her head back to give Quinn more access. "It doesn't mean I have to like it… Oh, Quinn."

Quinn's smile spreads across her skin. "I love you," she whispers.

"I love you, too."

"You have to go."

"I have to go."

"I have to let you go."

"You have to let me go."

Quinn kisses her mouth again, deepening it immediately. It's enough to leave them both breathless and wanting, and Rachel is suitably flushed and a lot aroused when she finally gets onto the train.

Quinn and Daniel stand on the platform and watch her leave, both of them waving until they can't see her chestnut eyes anymore. Even then, the two of them wait until the train is completely out of sight.

"She's going to be okay, right?" Daniel asks as they start back towards the car.

"Of course," Quinn replies easily.

"How can you be so sure?"

Quinn glances at him. "She's Rachel Berry," she says. "How can you not be?"

When Daniel and Quinn get back to the house, Daniel is the one to explain to LeRoy, Hiram and Emily-Anne that Noah's new girlfriend is Jenny Prescott, which draws gasps and shocked expressions from all three of them.

"And he wanted Rachel to meet her?" LeRoy fumes. "Is he crazy?"

"I hope you gave him a piece of your mind," Hiram says, his eyes on Daniel.

Daniel cocks his head to the side. "Actually," he says; "you should probably be talking to Quinn about that. She's fucking scary."

The blonde rolls her eyes. "Only boys are scared of me."

Daniel pouts. "You're mean to me."

"You threatened to feed me berries until I puke," she counters.

"You heard that, huh?"

"I was mid-anxiety attack," she says, entirely too casually for any of their liking, though she doesn't seem to notice. "It doesn't render me deaf."

It's later, after Rachel is safely on her flight from New Haven to New York that Hiram finds Quinn sitting in the kitchen with Declan and Julian, the three of them playing Monopoly.

From the looks of things, she doesn't seem that interested, and it's pretty easy for him to end their game by suggesting the boys go and bug Eric and the PlayStation.

Quinn doesn't move. She just looks expectantly at him, a part of her knowing he's really here for her. She has only two more days in New Haven County, and then it's off to Hartford, where she's going to be the best actress she's ever been.

"We should probably talk, shouldn't we?" Hiram says, sounding thoughtful.

Quinn bites her bottom lip. "Probably," she agrees.

"There are a few things I would like to discuss with you," he tells her. "Would you be comfortable talking in my office?" He asks the question carefully, because she always seems to get uneasy whenever they're alone behind a closed door.

Quinn regards him carefully. "Is it going to be one of those conversations?" she asks.

"I'm afraid so."

She sighs in resignation. "Lead the way."