VII
Quinn's stress levels skyrocket the closer they get to the grand opening of the hospital, and it's as if her wife just... disappears.
She's physically present, of course, but she's quiet and thoughtful with her mind constantly elsewhere, and Rachel can't quite figure out how to get through to her when filmed surgeries don't work.
Well.
There's always sex.
Instead, Rachel sweeps all of Quinn's papers aside and plonks herself in her lap. She wraps her arms around Quinn's neck and turns her head to face her. "Quinn," she says.
"My love."
"Can I tell you about my mother?"
Quinn's gaze snaps up, eyes a little wide. "You can tell me anything, Rachel; you know that."
The room is quiet around them, their hearts beating steadily in their chests. "I look a lot like her, you know," she says, voice low, as if she's telling a secret. "If we stand near each other, you can tell we're related." Her fingers slide into Quinn's hair, playing with a few loose strands. "I thought she was magic when I first met her. Someone unreal. Like, there was no way she could be mine, you know? How could I have come from her?"
Quinn's left hand settles on her back. It's warm and comforting, calming in a way that Quinn's presence usually is. "Baby, you are amazing," she says with zero hesitance.
"You're cute."
Quinn looks immensely pleased with herself, and it truly is the most adorable thing.
"I was a strange teenager," Rachel reveals, and Quinn grins at her. "I'm aware I'm still a strange adult, but I was - I was caught in this confusing position of wanting to pursue something I wasn't sure I would be allowed to." This entire situation has brought up memories of childhood and high school she would have loved to leave locked away.
Quinn can sense her distress, Rachel can tell. Her brow creases from worry in that way that makes Rachel's heart flutter, because this woman cares in a way her own life experiences should have robbed her of.
"I liked to sing, did you know that?"
Quinn gives her a rather pointed look, because it's a silly question and they both know it. While she doesn't sing all the time, she does sing. In the shower, while she's making tea, when she's reading medical journals, and more commonly when her little patients request it of her.
It doesn't bring her the same joy it once did, tinged by heartbreak courtesy of a mother who stole dreams from her she probably wasn't even aware she'd given her.
Of a father who somehow orchestrated the entire thing.
"Do you ever think about what you'd be if you weren't a doctor?" Rachel asks, and what she's really asking is what would Quinn be doing if Beth never got sick.
Quinn's head tilts to the side in thought. "I wanted to be a writer," she admits after a moment. "I spent so much time living in other people's worlds when I was trying to escape my own that I thought it was something I'd like to do for others."
Rachel frowns. "Wait," she says; "you wanted to become a writer to help people?"
Quinn looks a little bemused. "Well, yes," she answers, as if it's the simplest thing in the world. "Why else would we do anything?"
Rachel gets reminded of Quinn's heart on a daily basis, and it honestly baffles her how her family or those insignificant people from her hometown could have ever hurt her. What stupidity must be in that water for them to let her go?
"I don't know how I ever thought you were a narcissistic asshole," Rachel says, more to herself than anything, and Quinn looks predictably affronted.
"Excuse me?"
Rachel laughs, automatically pressing a kiss to her cheek. "I'm sorry," she says. "It's just - God, you were such a - "
"Do not finish that sentence."
"Or what?"
Quinn gets this look in her eye, and Rachel just knows her attempt to distract Quinn from her building stress with conversation has reverted to her initial solution.
Sex.
Rachel has been worried, of course, that Quinn's sex drive will wane. It's expected. The first year of marriage is supposed to be a rollercoaster, and she's just relieved this marriage looks to be lasting longer than her first one.
This one is on track to last forever.
It's somewhere between orgasm two and three, when Rachel is desperately trying to catch her breath, that she tugs on Quinn's hair and says, "I was trying to tell you something important."
Quinn just hums, nosing at Rachel's hipbone.
"I want you to meet her."
Quinn freezes. "What?"
"I was telling you about my mother," Rachel says. "We have this complicated history, and we've never quite managed to recover from it. But she gets these moments when her guilt must rear its ugly head, and she calls me up and we end up getting lunch and discussing the highlights of our lives as if we're actually not complete strangers, and I - I want you to meet her."
Quinn looks at her for a long while, eyes searching. "Okay," she finally says. "As long as you're sure."
She's not, but she still smiles and pulls Quinn into another kiss.
Four and five, and six and seven.
Rachel picks a day she knows Quinn will be working late and takes a trip to Long Island to meet Beth after she lets out of school. It's an impromptu visit, and she manages to surprise the teenager enough that Beth actually squeals in surprise when she sees her.
Rachel wants to give Beth the opportunity to play off her presence as nothing important, but Beth drags her to meet her friends, introducing her as Quinn's wife, Dr Rachel Fabray.
Just from the interaction alone, Rachel knows Beth's friends - Thomas, Janice and Vidya - are disappointed by the continued truth that Quinn is officially off the market. It's amusing to Rachel, and Beth confirms her suspicions when she casually mentions that Vidya cried actual tears when Beth told her about the nuptials as they're leaving.
"I mean, how embarrassing is that?" Beth asks. "Like, they all have these crushes on both my mom and Quinn. Janice calls them a Bisexual's Dream, with the capital letters." She glances at Rachel. "You've probably also just joined the ranks."
Rachel just laughs, because she can't realistically blame those kids. She'd be heartbroken too, if she wasn't with Quinn.
In fact, she was heartbroken when they were separated.
Beth shrugs. "Anyway, not that it's not great to see you and all, but what are you doing here?"
Rachel wouldn't say she's nervous, exactly, but she's thought about this for a while, and she's curious. "I wanted to ask you something," she says. "About what you remember of my father."
Beth's expression freezes on her face. "Oh."
Rachel follows as Beth leads her to a nearby café, where she quietly orders a coffee for herself and a green tea for Rachel. She pays, shaking her head when Rachel offers, and then the two of them find a table and stare at each other for a full minute.
Eventually, Beth says, "What I remember is he was very tall," quietly enough that Rachel has to lean forward to hear her properly. "I mean, I was ten, and I remembered what it was like the first time, but not really. Just, Mom was a mess, and Quinn used to look at me as if she would never see me again. There's just that thing her face does, when she knows her worst nightmares are coming true."
Rachel has seen that expression on her face before. The day Finn died; that day Rachel shoved her so far away that it's still a miracle she came back.
"Quinn found an oncology specialist surgeon person," Beth says. "Dr Holly. She was nice." She gets a faraway look in her eyes. "I sometimes think that she and Mom would have actually got together if she wasn't my doctor." She laughs to herself. "I always had these fantasies, like, if I did end up dying, of my mothers just... finding their people, if they weren't going to end up together." She looks at Rachel. "You've exceeded my expectations, Rachel."
Rachel feels heat on her cheeks. She's getting far more than she thought she would coming here.
Beth clears her throat. "Anyway, Dr Holly did some things, I guess. There was a surgery, and some trial, I guess, and then chemo and radiation. I don't - I don't really remember the details, but Quinn should. You should ask her."
Rachel looks away. "She's so stressed at the moment," she deflects. "I'm just - I've been dealing with some things when it comes to my parents, and it's brought up things I'm trying to figure out. I don't really want to bother her with all of it just yet."
Beth meets her gaze. "I get that," she says, and her tone is heavy. "I wonder about my own, too."
Rachel holds her breath. Oh no. Wait. No.
"I assume Quinn's told you about when I was born?"
Rachel knows she needs to steer them away from this topic as quickly and seamlessly as possible, because the last thing Quinn needs is Beth asking more questions about her origins. "I - yes."
"So you know exactly what she's hidden from me?"
"Beth," she sighs.
"She has a tell," Beth says. "Honestly, it's like she's an open book sometimes, and I know her well enough to pick up on these things."
"Beth."
"It's bad, isn't it?"
Rachel looks away. God, Quinn is going to kill her. "Beth," she says again.
Beth's jaw clenches, as if just the sound of her name is confirmation of her worst thoughts. "He hurt her, didn't he?"
"Beth."
She makes tight fists of her hands. "Why wouldn't she just tell me?" she asks. "I'm old enough now."
Rachel sighs. "Maybe, in the beginning, it was about protecting you," she says; "but now it's about protecting herself."
Beth seems to ponder that, and then nods in something like understanding. Rachel's words hang there between them, both heavy and light, and she internally panics about how she's going to tell Quinn that Beth has always known there was more to her birth, and Rachel just confirmed it without actually confirming it.
"You have a tell, too," Beth says after a moment. "I don't know how you give people bad news."
Rachel shakes her head. "I'm not a doctor right now, Beth."
"What are you?"
Rachel opens her mouth, and then immediately closes it. What is she, indeed? They've never really talked about it. She's Quinn's wife. That's her role when it comes to Beth: she's Beth's biological mother's wife.
"I'm not sure," Rachel finally says. "All I know is you are very important to me, and I've grown to love you like family." It's Beth's turn to blush. "I'll always be in your corner, and I'll even help you convince Quinn and Marcella to let you go to Florida for Spring Break."
Beth laughs unexpectedly, and then holds out a fist.
After a moment, Rachel bumps it with her own. "Just know I'm around, okay?"
"Okay."
Rachel focuses her attention on her lukewarm tea, still panicking over Quinn's potential reaction to Beth's new knowledge. Maybe she should confess during sex. Quinn's normally more understanding after a few orgasms.
"I won't tell her I know," Beth says, and Rachel's gaze snaps up. "Your tell is blinding," she explains with a small smile. "I - I don't want her to have to tell me. Not if it'll hurt her."
As lovely as the sentiment is, Rachel knows she's going to have to tell Quinn, anyway. Regardless of her reaction. Maybe she should wait for after the grand opening.
"I think the two of you should talk about it," Rachel says. "Which means I should talk to her first."
"You should also ask her about Dr Holly," Beth says. "You know, while you're having difficult conversations."
Rachel rolls her eyes. "Drink your coffee."
Beth grins at her, and leans forward, elbow on the table. "So, tell me," she says; "What did you think of Thomas?"
Quinn is already in bed when Rachel gets home, which is surprising. She was supposed to be busy at the hospital, but she's tucked in their bed with her iPad balanced on her stomach.
"There you are," Quinn says. "Come look at this: I'm getting us tickets to Hamilton. Am I the best wife or what?"
Rachel can't even bring herself to walk further into the bedroom. She just stands at the door and looks at her with all the love she constantly feels.
Quinn's smile fades when she doesn't move. "Baby?" She sets her tablet aside and starts to get out of bed. She's wearing a pair of Rachel's shorts and a Harvard sweatshirt, looking as comfortable as ever. If it weren't for the concern in her brow. "What's wrong? What happened?"
"I did something."
Quinn freezes where she is, and Rachel can only imagine what's going through her mind. "Whatever it is, we'll figure it out," Quinn says, her voice steady, though her lips tremble.
"I went to see Beth," Rachel says, and Quinn's expression shifts to confusion. "I wanted to know about my father."
Quinn's frown deepens.
"We started talking about fathers, in general."
When it clicks, what she's trying to tell her, Quinn's entire body seizes up. Understanding dawns and she takes a step back. She blinks repeatedly. "You told her?" Her tone holds disbelief and betrayal, and Rachel aches with her apology.
"I didn't have to," she reveals. "She already suspected. She figured it out herself. She just - "
"I can't believe this."
Rachel stands perfectly still.
Quinn looks pale as she stares right back at her. "I don't - why would - how did she take it?"
Rachel licks her lips. "As well as I expected," she says. "She's angry for you, and she asked why you hadn't yet told her."
"I - "
"Honey, she knows why," Rachel says. "You wanted to protect her."
Quinn looks away. "I was going to tell her; I was."
"I know," Rachel says, stepping forward. "I'm sorry we took that away from you."
"Maybe it's better this way," she says, sighing in something like defeat. "I don't know how coherent I would have been." Her arms wrap around her own body. "She has his eyes, you know."
Rachel wants to reach out to touch her, but Quinn looks coiled so tightly that she's afraid of what'll happen if she unwinds.
"Everything else is me, except for the eyes," Quinn continues. "Sometimes, when the light catches them at a certain angle, I see - " she stops quite suddenly, looking horrified.
"Quinn," Rachel breathes, stepping forward again, but immediately halting at the involuntary step Quinn takes back. Away from her. She's taken it alarmingly better and worse than Rachel ever thought, but the last thing Rachel wanted was to take her back there. To that moment in time.
Quinn shakes her head harshly, as if she's clearing it. "I should make time to talk to her."
Rachel nods once. "You should make time to talk to her."
Quinn takes a deep, deep breath. "I'm going to get back into bed now," she says. She shakes her head again. "Maybe I should put on some pants. It's a little cold tonight."
It's a strange dynamic for them, because Quinn is usually the one holding Rachel together through all she's been through, and she doesn't know what to do to help in this moment. Quinn has it together quite spectacularly. She's basically the adultiest adult Rachel has ever met.
"Why don't you get into bed and I'll get you some pants?" Rachel offers when Quinn still hasn't moved.
"Good idea," Quinn says, distracted.
Rachel watches her turn and walk to resume her position in bed. Everything feels disjointed all of a sudden, and it doesn't get any better until Rachel is also in bed, lying stiffly beside her wife, who suddenly feels so far away.
Quinn rolls onto her side, facing Rachel, and tucks her hands under her cheek. "I see him, sometimes," she whispers, essentially finishing what she didn't say earlier. "I don't mean to, and I hate myself when I do, but I can't help it, and I - I am over it, you know. I've worked through it. I'm successful and happy, and my kid is happy and healthy and safe, and I never needed any of them."
Rachel listens in silence, her full attention on Quinn.
"But I see him, sometimes," she repeats. "She has his eyes."
Rachel suddenly hates that Beth has such lovely eyes. "Quinn," she says. "If you just give me a name, I can have him taken out, you know? My wife is a millionaire. I can make it look like an accident."
Quinn smiles for what must be the first time since Rachel got home. "At first, I was very interested in keeping tabs on all the people I left behind," she says. "When Beth was born, I went through... a tough time, and I was curious. And then I just wasn't anymore. I don't know. It didn't seem important, whatever was happening in their lives, because I had the most important thing in mine."
"So, basically, he could already be in jail, and we wouldn't know?"
"I'm pretty sure I would have heard about it if he was," Quinn comments. "That wouldn't be news Nadine wouldn't tell me."
"Nadine's the friend you stayed with, right?"
Quinn hums. "She's also the first girl who ever kissed me."
Rachel isn't even a little surprised by that. Everyone will fall under Quinn's spell; if they're not careful.
"Her timing was horrific, of course, and I didn't handle it well," Quinn says, sounding solemn. "We didn't speak for a good few years after I left her house. Not until I figured out I did actually like girls, and I sent her a message to apologise for the way things ended between us."
"Where is she now?"
"Charleston," she answers. "With her wife and two dogs."
"We should get a dog."
Quinn laughs, and it's the most glorious sound. "We cannot possibly get a dog right now."
"You said 'right now.'"
"We'll revisit it after we've successfully got through three months at HG Memorial, okay?"
"I'm going to hold you to that," Rachel declares, relieved Quinn's little episode seems to have faded.
"Well, you could just hold me," Quinn says in response, and Rachel goes still. "It's just that you're all the way over there, and I'm over here, and it would be really nice if you could come closer."
Rachel wastes no time closing the space between them and wrapping her arms around Quinn's waist. She breathes out in relief at the same time Quinn does, thankful for the extended contact.
"I love you," Rachel tells her. "More than all those insignificant people ever could. I love you more than I ever even thought myself capable of."
Quinn buries her face in Rachel's neck. "That means the most to me," she whispers, breath hot against Rachel's skin. "My love, that means everything."
Rachel offers to go with Quinn when she makes plans to meet Beth somewhere in the city, but Quinn politely declines.
Instead, Rachel spends the afternoon with Marley. They have a lot to discuss, it seems. Marley isn't aware of Rachel's impending departure - this one, her father has managed to keep to himself - until Rachel very casually says, "I'm referring Eli to a specialist I'll be working with at HG Memorial."
Marley stops scribbling her endless notes, her head snapping up. "What?"
Rachel continues to read through Eli's patient file. "I think we'll get better results if Dr Washington takes a look at him. At this point, what we're doing is like putting on a bandage, when we need to figure out how to stop the bleeding." She grimaces at her own words. "Metaphorically, of course."
Marley makes a strained sound. "You're leaving?" Her voice is high when she asks, and Rachel finally looks at her. "You're leaving me?" Her eyes widen. "I mean, you're leaving us? Us."
Rachel regards her closely. "You already know, Marley, that I've been putting a lot of work into making sure this Ward runs properly when I'm gone."
"No," she counters, "you've been doing it because you want us to work independent of you."
"Exactly."
Marley looks so distraught that Rachel worries she'll actually start crying. "But - but, you can't."
"Marley."
"How am I supposed to learn from you if you're not here?" she asks.
"I - there are other doctors," Rachel points out.
"But none of them is you," Marley says, and it's almost a shriek. "You're - you're amazing at your job. So good with the littlies, and their parents, who can be horrible, you know. I'm basically sunshine in a human body, and even I lose my patience with them. And you're so talented. I - I watch your surgeries all the time, and that save on Michael Brathwaite; all the residents are still talking about it."
Rachel does not blush. Absolutely not. "Marley."
"No," she says again. "You - you can't just leave us here."
Rachel sighs. "I'm not leaving you," she says, suddenly realising she's probably going to have a version of this conversation with Jesse soon. "I'm taking a job at another hospital, in order to further my career." It's more than that, of course, but they've stuck to that response.
Marley's eyes narrow as if she knows. "If I apply for my Fellowship there, will you hire me?"
Rachel almost denies any involvement in the hiring - which is mostly true - but she knows she'll be able to make the exception for any specific doctors she wants. And she'd want Marley.
"Yes."
Marley seems to settle at the response. "Okay."
"Okay."
"Just, you know, don't do anything too groundbreaking until I get there."
Quinn's eyes are slightly puffy when she gets home, and Rachel immediately pulls her onto the couch with her, laying her head in her lap and threading fingers through her hair.
"It went well," Quinn tells her after a moment. "She cried, so of course I cried. She - she didn't ask for details, but I - I told her as much as I could. About my family. About what my life was life before her." She turns her head to look at Rachel's face. "If my baby girl wasn't the thing to make them throw me away, it would have been something else. My sexuality, maybe even my career. Something. I would have gone through all of it, anyway, but maybe in a different way. Except, now, in this life, I got Beth out of it."
Rachel leans forward to kiss her forehead.
"We talked about better communication," she says with a snort. "So, I told her that sex is overrated and pineapple is not an acceptable pizza topping."
Rachel giggles. "Quinn."
"And she told me about Thomas."
"Ah, Thomas."
"She's mentioned him to you?"
Rachel nods. "Talked about him for ten minutes without even breathing," she says. "I met him, as well. He's cute in that boy-next-door way. Beth could definitely do a lot worse, because I was dating disasters when I was her age."
Quinn shakes her head. "I reckon I have you beat there, dear."
Rachel winces, but doesn't verbally agree. "So, you two are okay?"
"I think we'll have to keep talking about it, but I think we will be," she says. "I made it clear that she can ask me questions if she wants, but I don't think she will."
"You know we'll track him down and make his life hell if you ever tell us who he is," Rachel says.
"I'm aware."
Rachel hums softly, giving Quinn an Eskimo kiss. "Have you had dinner?" she asks. "I picked up some lasagna from Cartelli's."
Quinn grins at her. "You bought me comfort food."
"I bought you comfort food."
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
"Thank you for being everything I need."
Rachel kisses her slowly, purposefully. Kisses her with all the meaning in the world. Kisses her as if this moment will end, but also won't.
Kisses her with everything she is, and will be.
Rachel isn't sure of the procedure for leaving work and essentially moving to what may prove to be a bit of a rival hospital. Jesse grows sombre during her last few days, which is surprising but also expected. With Sam gone, she's really the only person he interacts with on a daily basis, and now she's leaving him too.
God.
It really is like high school.
Rachel holds one last meeting for her Paediatric Department, informing them of her departure and thanking them for all their hard work. She wishes them well, reminds them not to be strangers, and invites them to stop by the new hospital if ever they have time.
Some of them knew Henry, so they know just what he meant to her.
They know.
Jesse knows, too, but he pretends to be more affronted by her departure than he really is. She can tell he's not happy, but they both know she can't stay. Not when she has the opportunity to do such good work alongside her wife. What kind of idiot would she be to pass up such a thing?
"Maybe your father really will fire me?" Jesse comments.
"Please don't actually do something to give him the excuse," Rachel warns, because she can't realistically say there will be a huge demand for additional plastic surgeons in a children's hospital. She's aware of the structure of the Henry Garcia Memorial Hospital for Children, but she doesn't yet know if all the positions have been filled.
She's going to be in charge of the general surgical department, leading a team of surgeons in innovation and general procedures. It's a bit of a daunting prospect, but she's looking forward to all the work they're going to be able to do.
All the children they'll get to save.
All the difference they're going to make.
All the lives they'll change.
"I mean, I basically called him an egotistical hypocrite to his face, so I don't know what more I could do," Jesse says, drawing her attention once more. They're having one of their last lunches together in the cafeteria, and she can't help thinking about the things she'll miss.
Definitely not the food, though.
Rachel pushes away her tray and looks at Jesse. "You should probably know that he knows I know about Shelby."
Jesse stares at her. "And I'm still here," he says. "Wow, he must really love the money I pull in."
Rachel gives him a very particular I told you so look, and he rolls her eyes. She sighs. "How have things been since, though?"
Jesse shrugs. "Fine," he says. "LeRoy and I don't interact, and I stay as far away from Blaine as physically possible."
Rachel winces, because Blaine is probably another person she should bid farewell to. Santana? That seems unnecessary, seeing as she'll probably see her at the grand opening, anyway. Best friends supporting best friends and all that. Mercedes, maybe.
Jesse sighs. "I just - I don't think I'll enjoy my time here with all of you gone," he says. "And, I'll deny it if you tell her, but I also miss Quinn." He groans. "I don't think I ever even talked to her when she worked here, but she made for an interesting time."
"Imagine living with her."
Jesse glares at her. "Are you about to boast about your sex life again, because I'm sick of hearing about it?"
"You say that, but we both know it's not true," she says, poking his arm. "And, I know directly from the source that you and Sam are talking again."
Jesse goes red right before her eyes. "Talking," he echoes. "We're just talking."
"That's more than you were doing a week ago."
"You've spoken to him?"
"He comes by, sometimes," she informs him. "To see Quinn, mainly about work, but we've had dinner a few times. He's nice company. I didn't get to know him before, but, yeah, I can see why you like him."
If possible, Jesse's blush intensifies. "You talked to him about me, didn't you?"
"Briefly," she admits. "I can't speak for Quinn, though, because they might have as well."
"If I manage to get everything sorted out, are you going to make us go on a double date?" he asks.
She grins at him. "Answer that yourself."
He laughs, shaking his head. "I'm going to miss you."
She's not going to get emotional, because it's not as if they won't ever see each other. It'll just have to be planned properly from now on. "I may or may not miss you."
"You better not make a better friend than me."
"You know we're one of a kind, St James," she assures him. "You're the only ex-husband for me."
"We should start a band," he jokes.
And, well, Rachel takes him seriously. "We should."
"Jesse and I are starting a band."
Quinn glances up from her laptop screen, glasses perched on her nose and tongue poking between her teeth. "What?"
Rachel's words were initially blurted, pouring out of her at the sight of Quinn Fabray looking so deliciously sexy. It's honestly not fair that she can look that good just sitting there and working.
"Baby?"
"Jesse and I," she says, stepping closer; "we've decided to start a band."
Quinn blinks. "A band?"
"A music band," Rachel clarifies, almost unnecessarily. "With instruments and singing."
Quinn's head tilts a little to the side as she processes the words. "Okay," she finally says.
"Okay?"
Quinn smiles. "Whatever makes you happy, my love."
Rachel can barely contain her affection, and she drifts closer to where Quinn is seated at the kitchen table. While they have a shared home office, Quinn claims she prefers the kitchen table in the evenings. "What are you doing?"
"Finalising the program for our big day," she says. "I meant to ask if you wanted to say a few words."
She frowns. "About what?"
"Henry."
Her breath catches, and Quinn watches her closely. "I - I don't even know what I would say."
"Sure you do."
And, well, Rachel supposes she actually does. She just doesn't trust herself to be able to get the words out without breaking down in front of every person in attendance.
"Think about it," Quinn says. "Tell me tomorrow." She shifts back slightly and turns her body, presenting her legs. She very purposefully pats her lap in invitation, and Rachel gets out one laugh before she's crossing the room to take up her preferred position.
Arms around Quinn's neck, Rachel says, "Hi," very quietly.
"Hey."
"Jesse and I are starting a band."
Quinn smiles patiently. "You said so," she says. "And you just decided it."
"I think he just wanted us to have an actual reason to hang out," she says. "I think he's really bummed about all of us leaving."
Quinn hums in understanding. "I get that," she says. "Santana's still sour about it."
"She didn't consider joining you?"
Quinn shakes her head. "Somebody has to make sure your father doesn't actually self-destruct."
Rachel gives her a look. "It's because of Dani, isn't it?"
Quinn chuckles. "She'll never admit it," she teases. "I think, if I can get Dani to do her Fellowship in Foetal Medicine with us, then maybe we'll have a chance."
"People travel far and wide for her," Rachel says. "If you can get her to agree, that'll be massive for the Heart Centre."
Quinn hums in agreement. "Look at you making sense."
"It's been known to happen."
Quinn kisses her cheek. "You always make sense."
"Now, we both know that's a lie."
"Stop speaking ill of my wife," Quinn says, feigning irritation. "She's the most sensible person I know." The grin of mischief is on full display. "I mean, she married me."
Rachel rolls her eyes. "Seems like she's a bit of an idiot to me."
"There you go again talking shit about the love of my life."
Rachel can't possibly resist kissing her right now. That smile is too inviting, and she just has to taste it. She prays, hopes and wishes there's never another day she has to go without getting to be this close to Quinn. That life wouldn't be worth living.
When they break apart, Quinn looks a little dazed. "Baby," she murmurs. "Please don't start something you have no intention of finishing."
"Who said anything about not finishing?" Rachel asks, intentionally making her voice dip low with obvious suggestion.
Quinn's grip tightens on her waist. "Baby."
"Take me to bed."
Quinn looks to the ceiling. "You have terrible timing, did you know that?"
"Please don't tell me Sam is on his way over again," she grumbles.
"No."
"Santana?"
"No."
"Beth?"
Quinn shakes her head. "I ordered dinner."
"So?"
"I'm not answering the door in my robe again," she grumbles. "I've already given Chuck one free-show."
Rachel beams at her, easily recognising the name of their usual delivery guy from one of Rachel's favourite Greek restaurants. "You ordered gyros."
"I got home with the intention of cooking, but - yeah, I'm kind of exhausted."
Rachel runs her hands over Quinn's hair. "You have been working so hard. You deserve a good rest."
"I'll sleep when the hospital is officially open and everything is functioning as it's supposed to be."
"So, basically, never?"
Quinn gasps. "You take that back."
Rachel laughs, nosing at Quinn's cheek. "You do know it's never going to be perfect, right?"
"Doesn't mean we shouldn't try."
"No, it doesn't," she agrees, hugging Quinn close. "It's happening," she whispers in Quinn's ear. "I mean, I always knew it would, but this feels - it's really happening."
"No regrets?" Quinn asks.
"None at all."
Quinn answers the door in her robe, and Rachel laughs for a solid minute when she hears Chuck say, "Lookin' good, Doc."
For Rachel's troubles, Quinn makes her get up off the couch to get her own food, looking severely unimpressed.
Rachel just kisses her cheek. "You're cute," she murmurs. "I'll make it up to you later."
Quinn holds her expression for another beat, and then she grins at her. "I shall consider it," she says, and then starts unpacking their food. It's too much for just dinner tonight, and Rachel appreciates they'll have leftovers for lunch.
It's when they're settled and comfortable back on the couch and enjoying a rare evening of no additional work that Rachel surprises them both when she asks, "Quinn, who is Dr Holly?"
Quinn's hands freeze on the way up to her mouth, her eyes a little wide. "Dr Holly?"
"Beth mentioned her," Rachel says, trying not to feel equally thrown by Quinn's reaction to the name. "Said she was the doctor who eventually saved her."
Quinn sets her gyro back on her plate and sighs. "I found her by accident," she says. "She wasn't what you would call a conventional doctor, in the sense that her treatment plans were usually quite out there. But I was desperate for anything that could save Beth. I just - I needed someone to try."
There's something in her voice; something almost begging Rachel to understand.
"I invited her to consult without telling any of Beth's other doctors," Quinn says. "I mean, they weren't willing to try, so I found someone who would, and I - she said she would do it, so I let her." Her expression stills. "I just - I let this woman I barely knew cut into my baby girl because - because I couldn't stand the thought of her dying, and - "
"She survived," Rachel says, as if Quinn needs the reminder.
Quinn shakes her head. "She wasn't meant to, you know," she says. "They all wrote her off. Like, her tumour regrew, and it should have been the end, and I've always been so terrified it'll come back."
Rachel can't realistically tell her it won't, because they can't know that. But it's been more than five years of remission, which means something. It's almost enough to consider Beth cured from an incurable disease.
"Holly put these, at the time, experimental radiation balls at the site of the resected tumour," Quinn explains, almost at a monotone. "They weren't FDA-approved. She lost her license when they found out what she'd done."
Rachel's surprise must show on her face, and Quinn looks away.
"Holly said she didn't regret it," Quinn says. "Said she would do it all over again; that she wouldn't want to have disappointed Marcella and me, and I - God, I felt - like, Beth was alive, but this woman who was willing to do everything she could to save our kid lost her medical career over it, and I was guilty but relieved, and - " she stops. "I think it hit Marcella worse, because - "
"Beth mentioned there was... something there."
"There definitely could have been," Quinn admits. "Sometimes, I want to track Holly down and see what she's up to, but I don't know if it's fair of us to go looking for her."
"Maybe you should, anyway," Rachel says. "Just to settle your own curiosity."
"What if we really ruined her life?"
"And what if you didn't?"
Quinn leans back, her expression troubled. "Beth doesn't remember much, does she?"
"Just the name, as far as she told me," Rachel answers. "And that she could have become her stepmother."
Quinn rolls her eyes. "I wonder what she'd think of us now."
Rachel reaches out to touch her, hand light on her thigh. "I think she'd be pleased with everything you've accomplished," she says and, while she doesn't know this Holly person, it's impossible for her words not to be true.
Quinn glances at her. "You really think so?"
Rachel leans over to kiss her cheek, gentle and lingering. "I know so," she murmurs, so certain. There are few things she's sure of, but they all relate to this woman she gets to call her wife. "Everyone should be."
Rachel officially leaves work at New Budapest Hospital on a Tuesday, and gets little to no sleep between that time and Saturday morning: the day they reveal all their hard work to the world.
They've technically been softly open for a few days by the time the event is held, doctors coming and going and Rachel meeting and getting to know some of the professionals working around her.
She sees very little of Quinn during those days, her wife either holed up in her office at the hospital, working from her office at the Spencer Foundation Headquarters or actually asleep in their bed. Rachel can't be sure when she even eats, but they both have very important days coming up, so Rachel will worry about it later. As long as they're still having sex, she doesn't have a lot to be concerned about when it comes to Quinn.
The days go both quickly and slowly, bleeding into one long period of time where it feels like everything and nothing is happening all at the same time.
Quinn might not be physically talking to her all that much, but she texts every few hours with questions and observations about the day-to-day of the hospital as she views it.
Rachel always texts back as soon as she's able to, wanting to give Quinn something to keep her grounded and focused and here. It's a bit strange, knowing she and Quinn are now in the same hospital again, and that she can go to the third floor and actually see Quinn in her office.
She resists, though, because she knows how busy Quinn is. On top of preparing for the grand opening, Quinn essentially has two full-time jobs. She's still the Head of Operations of the Medical Branch of the Spencer Foundation, as well as an incoming paediatric trauma and general surgeon at the hospital.
Rachel smiles at the thought that Quinn fits into the hierarchy of her department, working under her on the daily. The idea is amusing to them both, but Rachel knows they can work well together when they want to. They've proven it in the past. Quinn is as interested in taking on medicine as much as she is.
Quinn wants to save them all, and they're going to help each other do it.
On Saturday morning, Rachel wakes before Quinn and spends a few minutes just watching her wife sleep. The fact she's managed to catch a few hours at all is a miracle in itself, and Rachel admires her until even she starts to feel creepy.
She can't resist pressing a kiss to Quinn's cheek before she climbs out of bed and proceeds to get ready for this very big, very important day.
Rachel has had her outfit picked out for a week, and she takes her time in the shower, eventually squeaking in surprise when Quinn joins her. She looks soft and perfect, hair messy from sleep, and Rachel reaches out for her immediately, drawing her under the hot spray with her.
When Quinn kisses her, it's tender. She touches her like she's something precious; makes love to her in a way that leaves marks on her soul rather than her body. It's never felt this way before, and it seems like both a start and an end.
They waste far too much water, but the pleasure is almost worth it.
Quinn generally gets dressed quicker than Rachel does, but this morning is different. She does everything slowly, purposefully, as if everything she puts on her body is going to define how the rest of the day goes.
Quinn eventually decides on a dark blue dress, a light dusting of makeup and matching heels that make her look devastating. Rachel stares at her for far too long when she finally emerges from their bedroom and, if Quinn notices, she doesn't mention it.
They have a small breakfast, which is just a smoothie, and then they head out for what could be the most important day of their lives so far. Quinn doesn't look nervous at first glance, but Rachel knows her well enough to see her nerves in the restless tips of her fingers and the way she hasn't once stopped touching Rachel since they left their place.
Being whom they are, Rachel almost expects disaster to hit at some point, but the entire ceremony goes off without a hitch. Exactly as planned and running on time.
They all gather in the main lobby, Quinn, Anne, Cassandra and Rachel standing closest to the large red ribbon and surrounded by an audience of almost eighty people.
Behind them is the memorial Quinn designed for Henry. It has a plaque, briefly explaining who he was to them and all he managed to become in his short life. They already knew they were going to have to answer endless questions about where the name of the hospital came from, so it made the most sense to memorialise him this way.
Anne speaks first, as the head of the Spencer Foundation, and then Cassandra says words about the vision the hospital has to be a pioneer in children's medicine. Quinn just invites Rachel to speak, standing behind her with the large scissors meant to cut the ribbon in her hands.
Cameras flash as she steps forward and says, "The first thing I ever learned about Henry was that his favourite colour was blue. Not like the ocean, but like the sky. He told me he wanted to touch it, one day. All he wanted was to touch the sky, and I like to think that's exactly what he's doing right now.
"It's comforting thinking of him up there, among the angels, watching us proudly embarrass him with just how much we miss him and his toothless smile." She glances somewhere to the left, where Henry's parents stand together, tears in their eyes. "Despite that, I do like to think he would be proud of us, and what we've done." She feels Quinn's hand flat on the small of her back, and her head tilts up to look at the ceiling.
At the sky.
A camera flashes again, and it's the picture that will be used in all the newspapers that publish articles about the grand opening of the hospital. Quinn just at her side, and Henry blanketing them.
Rachel finishes by saying, "Happy birthday, sweet boy," and then the small reception that follows the cutting of the ribbon is filled with an endless number of reporters and fellow doctors. It's really a rotating door of people that she needs to speak to. Quinn is sometimes at her side, but more often locked in some conversation with their donors and other members of the board.
By no means does Rachel think their fundraising is over - Quinn explained it would likely be a constant thing - so it's important for them to show their investors just where all their money has gone. Quinn is so stupidly charming like this, and Rachel finds her gaze drifting towards her, even when she's meant to be talking to other people.
If they notice, nobody makes mention of it. They're maybe amused by it all, but Rachel doesn't quite care. Her wife is fascinating, and she wonders for what won't be the first time how she's supposed to work with her every day.
Well.
That's tomorrow's problem.
Today, the one thing demanding her attention is successful.
Today is the start of something big and important and life-changing.
Today, everything good is happening.
They've made it so.
The first month at Henry Garcia Memorial goes so quickly that Rachel barely registers its passing.
They host Thanksgiving for the first time in their home, with Quinn and Beth doing most of the cooking. There's a turkey and stuffing and cranberry sauce and constant, never-ending teasing.
Beth says, "I think I get it now," when she sees Quinn tug Rachel into her lap and kiss her senseless as she sits in an armchair. They break apart at the sound of her words, both of them feeling giddy with the holiday. Rachel's a little drunk, and Quinn's cheeks are flushed from the two glasses of wine she's consumed.
"Get what?" Quinn asks, smiling when Rachel wipes her mouth with her fingers. She makes a point of kissing the pads of those fingers.
"Never wanting your person too far away from you," Beth says.
Quinn looks at Rachel, and then at Beth again. Her smile turns into a dangerous, intoxicating smirk. "She's talking about Thomas."
Beth blushes. "No, I'm not," she squeaks; "it's just - "
Rachel laughs. "She's totally talking about Thomas."
Beth shakes her head. "All I'm saying is that I get it," she huffs and rolls her eyes at their matching grins. "Whatever."
Quinn's arms wrap around Rachel's waist, bringing her closer to her chest. "You know what this means, don't you?" she says to Beth. "I'm going to tease you endlessly. God, it's going to be epic."
Beth just glares at them, and then disappears into the kitchen with the sound of their laughter at her back.
Rachel leans back against Quinn, relaxing against her body and sighing contently. Her hands settle over Quinn's on her abdomen, fingers interlocking. It feels wonderful just holding her there, in a way that makes her wish for things.
Wish for something - someone - under their palms.
Rachel turns her head, resting her forehead against Quinn's cheek. "Quinn?" she whispers.
"Hmm?"
"I think I'm ready," she says, her eyes closing.
"For what?"
Rachel squeezes Quinn's fingers, pressing their hands down against her stomach. Her womb.
Quinn gets it a beat later, and Rachel feels her stiffen beneath her. "My love?" she asks, her voice hesitant. Daring to hope. "Are you - God, are you sure?"
Rachel kisses her cheek. "Maybe we can wait for the new year to make any proper plans," she offers; "but, yes, I'm sure." She noses at Quinn's cheek, sighing happily. "I'm ready whenever you are."
Quinn kisses her lips this time, her right hand sliding up Rachel's front, along her neck until she cups Rachel's cheek. "I love you," she murmurs. "I love you, I love you."
Rachel knows they probably would have done something they really shouldn't when there are people in their home, but they hear Beth's laughter and break apart.
"Later," Quinn whispers, her voice full of promise; "we'll get started later."
They're halfway through December when a blonde woman knocks on Rachel's open office door and pokes her head in. She frowns, and Rachel frowns at her frown.
"You're not Doctor Fabray," the woman says.
Rachel blinks stupidly. "Um." She glances down at the name embroidered on her lab coat just to make sure it says what she's sure it says. "I'm definitely Dr Fabray," she says.
"Oh." She woman's frown deepens. "Is there another one?"
Rachel's head tilts to the left, taking in this woman and whom she might be. "You're looking for Quinn," she states.
"I am," she says with a nod. "I asked for Dr Fabray at the front desk, and they directed me here."
Rachel hums, waving her inside. "She's not actually in today," she says. "Quinn spends Tuesday mornings at the Spencer Foundation. Maybe I can help?"
"Oh," she says, stepping further into her office. "Are you - you're also a Fabray. Any relation?"
"Quinn is my wife," Rachel says, and she still gets a particular thrill every time she gets to say those words out loud.
The woman's face shifts from surprise to delight, and Rachel doesn't know what to make of it. "Wow," she says. "God, that is amazing. Hi, wow, it's lovely to meet you."
Rachel slowly gets to her feet. "I - um, are you - "
The woman seems to realise Rachel has no idea whom she is, and she laughs softly. "I'm Holly," she finally says, holding out her hand. "Holly Holliday."
Recognition hits and Rachel smiles widely. "Dr Holly," she exclaims, immediately shaking the woman's hand.
"Just Holly," she automatically corrects, and Rachel winces. "It's all right," she says with a smile. "I bet you're wondering what I'm doing here."
"Quinn contacted you," she says.
"She did," Holly says.
Rachel smiles to herself, and then invites Holly to sit. "I'm Rachel, by the way," she says as she returns to her own desk chair. "I'm going to text Quinn to come straight here when she gets in. It shouldn't be too long."
"Oh, don't rush her," Holly says. "I don't mind waiting." She looks panicked for a moment. "I'm not keeping you from anything, am I?"
Rachel glances at her daily schedule for a beat. "Not at the moment, no," she says. "Just a consult in a couple of hours."
Holly nods thoughtfully. "I wasn't meant to come by," she says. "But I stay in Jersey, and I just felt compelled to come and see her. If that makes sense."
"It makes sense," Rachel tells her. "I suspect it was a surprise to hear from her."
"It was," Holly agrees with a smile. "I assume it had something to do with you."
Rachel looks away for a moment. "She sent the email," she says. "I just let her know it was okay to do so."
"Well, thank you," Holly says. "It was good and unexpected, but yeah." She looks at her hands, fiddling with the rings. "A lot of life has happened between then and now."
Rachel has her own questions, but she holds onto them until Quinn arrives.
Quinn, who comes practically skipping into Rachel's office an hour later. She's already speaking as she steps through the front door, saying, "Baby, I think we should get Beth an iMac for Christmas. The little brat won't stop bringing it up every time we talk."
"Quinn," Rachel says, getting to her feet. "We have a visitor."
It's kind of a beautiful thing watching their reunion. It's a little awkward at first, but then Holly cries, which makes sympathetic-crier Quinn Fabray also cry. Rachel orders lunch for them while they catch up, and she watches them with all the affection she feels in this moment.
Holly explains that she moved to Jersey shortly after her medical licence hearing. She started working in a school as a nurse and substitute teacher. She met a woman, whom she married on a Wednesday. She says it with a smile, and then rolls her eyes when she adds, "Unfortunately, it didn't work out."
Quinn can't help her own smile. "So, you're single?"
Holly reads her expression for what it is. "Oh, no, don't you start."
"Funny you should say that," Quinn says, ignoring her; "so is Marcella."
The sound of the name has its desired affect, and Holly's expression shifts from surprise to indecision to something impassive with a hint of hope she desperately tries to hide. "Quinn," she says, shaking her head.
"Holly."
"Quinn."
"Holly."
Holly looks at Rachel, silently pleading for help.
Rachel just winks, and then says, "What are you doing for Christmas?"
Holly huffs in amusement, but Rachel has her gaze on only Quinn, whose own eyes are twinkling with mischief. Quinn winks at her after a moment, and Rachel can read it for what it is.
Well, Lucy Quinn Fabray, I'm immensely glad I married you, too.
Rachel turns thirty-five on a Monday.
Quinn makes a comment about giving her thirty-five orgasms throughout the day, and Rachel thinks she's joking until she wakes with Quinn's head between her legs.
Three in their bed and two in the shower, one in the kitchen and one against their front door before they leave for work. It kind of makes her feel incredibly old by the time they get to the hospital because, if Quinn is actually being serious, that's still twenty-eight more to go and she's not sure her body could handle that much pleasure in one day.
It's also surprising that they actually haven't yet had sex in either of their offices. Which is an oversight Quinn rectifies - and then some - by the time noon rolls around.
They're at twenty more to go by the time Quinn brings her Tom Yum soup for lunch in her office, and Rachel tells her in no uncertain terms, "You are not allowed to touch me until we get home."
Quinn just grins saucily and says nothing in response.
Rachel really should know better, though, because her wife is all mischief when it comes to defying her and giving her pleasure. Quinn's libido and sexual prowess is something to behold on most days, and all she really has to say on this day is, "Imagine, there could be three of us this time next year," and Rachel hits sixteen without Quinn even having to touch her.
Hiram calls in the early afternoon and they talk for fifteen minutes, mainly about work and what their plans are for the holidays. Hiram is seeing someone new, and they have tentative plans to go on a cruise together. Rachel hates that there's a part of her that's relieved.
LeRoy sends an email at four o'clock, and she appreciates the limited contact, given everything. Then, when she's getting ready to leave for an early dinner with Quinn, Beth, Marcella, Sam and Jesse; she gets a call from Shelby.
For a moment, she considers not answering, but she's been meaning to call the woman for a while. She has some time to kill before Quinn comes to fetch her, anyway, so she settles back into her chair and answers Shelby's call.
Apparently, she's in New York for the holidays, and she would really like to see Rachel.
Rachel doesn't invite her to her birthday dinner, even if she considers it. Instead, they make plans for later in the week, and Rachel hesitates before telling Quinn she wants her to meet Shelby with her when Quinn eventually shows up at her office.
Quinn immediately agrees, as if there was no other option, and then shoves Rachel onto her couch before dropping to her knees for one more.
Beth doesn't even bother with her teasing when she sees them, which is a feat in itself, because Quinn looks like a smug little shit as they settle at their reserved table. Her hand immediately lands on Rachel's leg under the table, and Rachel decides in the moment that she'll murder her own wife if that hand goes anywhere untoward.
Quinn, at least, behaves herself at the dinner table, even if she does steal her away between their main meal and dessert. To the bathroom, where she locks them in a stall and needs only four minutes to get Rachel off for the eighteenth time in the day.
"God, I have so many plans for you," Quinn promises in a breathy whisper, and Rachel can't tell if she's ready to leave the restaurant right away or stay as long as possible.
Jesse makes an embarrassing toast and she has to kick his shin under the table when he starts mentioning her incoming grey hair like it's inevitable. She's horrified the few strands are already visible.
It does also get her thinking, though, because she and Quinn are getting old. It's one of those things about life, she knows, and the realisation that she gets to grow old with Quinn is everything.
It's later, when she and Quinn are tucked away at home, inexplicably on their way to reaching Quinn's goal of thirty-five, that Rachel very quietly says, "I'm happy."
Quinn is half asleep - though she claims just to be 'recharging' - so all she does is hum in acknowledgment she's heard Rachel.
"I wasn't always," Rachel says, rolling onto her side and propping her head up on one elbow. "Maybe I've never been before now, who knows?" Her free hand lifts to trail her fingers over Quinn's bare sternum. She can feel Quinn's heart beating a little faster than usual under her skin and bone.
Quinn turns her head, her eyes blinking open. "Did you just realise today?"
"I think I've known for a while, but my consciousness just figured it out this afternoon," she says. "I don't know; talking on the phone with Shelby, I didn't have that usual need to... explain or even validate myself in her eyes. Like, all along, I used my medical career as something that kept us apart; something that made us different."
"And now?"
"Now, my career has nothing to do with my biological mother, or either of my fathers," she says. "It doesn't even feel like the thing that connects me to you, anymore." Her fingers pause over the pulse point in Quinn's neck. "Every day, I get to do what I love - and, yes, that includes you, you insatiable woman - but I - I guess, for the first time in forever, it feels like mine. My career, my life, all my choices. They're all mine, and this is where I ended up, and I'm just so happy."
"Baby, are you just saying all this because you've had thirty orgasms today?"
Rachel really doesn't have the heart to tell her it's actually twenty-nine, because she's quite certain Quinn is actually starting to cramp. She does cup Quinn's cheek and lean in to press a kiss to her smiling lips. "I'm saying all this because my life feels settled and worthy in all aspects for the first time in my memory, and this is something you've given me."
Quinn shakes her head, laughing softly. "All I've given you is myself," she says.
"Exactly."
Quinn's smile seems to freeze on her face. "Oh." She blinks several times. "Are you about to say things that'll make me cry?"
"I thought you were a sympathetic crier?"
"But you're going to end up crying first, anyway," Quinn points out, which is definitely true.
Rachel pinches her cheek. "I'm not going to cry," she says. "I am going to tell you that I'm happy, and it might not be because of you in the traditional sense, but it's this person you are that's allowed me to be happy in all the other parts of my life."
"I can see tears in your eyes."
Rachel sighs, because her wife is so silly. "Quinn."
"My love?"
"Thank you."
Quinn looks to the ceiling, a slight crease in her forehead. "You make it sound as if I did a completely selfless thing," she says, and Rachel recalls her own words in relation to this very topic. Loving Quinn is the most selfish thing she's ever done, and it seems Quinn feels the same. "Loving you isn't some chore for me. I'm not with you because I looked at you and decided I wanted to fix you."
"I know."
Quinn hums. "Okay."
"Thank you, anyway."
Quinn snorts, only half-annoyed. "You can thank me in an hour," she says.
"What's happening in an hour?"
"Thirty-five."
"Definitely keep reminding me how old I am," she mutters, as she lies back against their sheets.
"Baby, you're not old," Quinn says, lifting herself up and rolling onto Rachel, their bodies sliding together deliciously. "I promise nothing is sagging yet."
Rachel pinches her ear, which makes her yelp. "Keep that up and I'm closing up shop."
"You wouldn't," she counters immediately, nosing at Rachel's cheek.
"I would," Rachel says, and then contradicts herself by spreading her legs to accommodate Quinn's hips more comfortably. "But, instead, we could just stay like this for forever."
"As lovely as that sounds, I'm not used to failing," Quinn says, looking visibly conflicted.
"There's always next year."
"Baby, if we can't even get to thirty-five when it's just the two of us; what makes you think we could reach thirty-six?"
"There you go again, just pointing out my age," she says with a pout. "We'll plan it better."
Quinn shifts her hips. "Just five more," she murmurs. "Are you tired?"
"I'm exhausted."
Quinn laughs. "Is that why you keep trying to get me to cry?"
"All I'm doing is reiterating how much I love you and just how you've changed my life," she says, fingers threading through Quinn's loose hair.
"You keep repeating your vows."
"Would you like me to stop?"
"By all means, tell me how much you love me at every opportunity," Quinn says, shifting again, a small smirk on her face.
"Do you have any idea what you mean to me?"
Quinn turns her head, pulling back a little to be able to meet Rachel's gaze. The answer is there in her eyes, Rachel already knows, but Quinn still does her a favour and asks, "What do I mean to you?"
Rachel gently tugs her head down, pressing their lips together for a moment. "You mean the world to me," she whispers. "Quinn Fabray, you mean everything."
Fin
