Weeeeew, new fic. These things did not actually occur, yadda yadda. Written with Steph theducksinthehat.

Quinn was normally a shy person when it came to going out to bars, but she quickly became comfortable with the idea when her friends forced her to. It was on her 21st birthday when she went to her first bar, dragged there by one of her closest friends James. They had been friends since the age of five, and had always talked about following in their father's footsteps by joining the Army. Once they were of age, they signed up on their birthdays. They were separated during their basic training due to their genders, but they would sneak out after lights out to talk about what they did during that day and share what their company was like.

Once out of basic training, they were lucky enough to be posted at the same base in North Carolina. Quinn rose through the ranks due to her commitment to serving. She'd recently been promoted to Staff Sergeant, and they were going out to celebrate at a local bar. Little did she know, that bar trip would change her life.

Quinn adjusted her tie in the mirror as she got ready to leave with James. She gave her cap a slight tilt and nodded. "Let's get going." she grabbed the key to her door and walked down to the bar just across the street from where she stayed.

"Let's see if we can get you some company tonight." James chuckled and gently pushed Quinn's arm to let her know that he was joking.

"I won't be actively searching for any company, Jimmy. I'm content being by myself. Most of the time." She opened the door and let James walk in first before following after him and taking a seat on one of the stools that were close to the bartender. It was one of the smaller bars in the town, but it was the most popular due to the military traffic.

James hopped into the seat next to her and looked around the establishment, his eye catching the only crowd of women in the bar before tapping her shoulder. "Look over there, Q."

Quinn craned her neck in the direction James was pointing and could feel her breath hitch as her eyes fell on a brunette sitting by two other women. They were in the far corner of the bar, hidden by a slight partition. She'd never seen anyone more beautiful in her life. She swallowed and looked back to the bar in front of her. "She's... pretty." she said low, trying to sound disinterested.

"Pretty? Are you serious? How about drop dead gorgeous?" he leaned over the bar to get a better look at the brunette. "I'd love to get to know her, if you know what I mean." he laughed and it earned him a slap on the arm from Quinn.

"Don't talk that way about girls, Jimmy. It's disrespectful."

"I was just joking, Q." he rubbed his arm where Quinn smacked him. "You shouldn't hit me so hard. I'm fragile."

"Oh, yeah. You're real fragile. Just like glass." she rolled her eyes and couldn't help but glance over at the brunette again.

"You should go talk to her, Q. I know you're looking at her."

"You know how I am around women, Jimmy. I stammer. It's really embarrassing. Let alone someone as pretty as her?" Quinn scoffed and shook her head. "No way. Words are not my thing around pretty women."

"She might find it endearing."

Quinn sighed and played with the neck of her beer bottle. "I don't know.. Maybe. I don't even know how to go about talking to girls."

"Well that's easy. You just open your mouth and words come out." he flinched back, waiting for Quinn to slap him again, but it never came.

"The only thing that comes out of my mouth towards any woman is a bunch of stammers and stutters. No actual words." she chugged her beer for a few seconds before slamming it down against the dark wood of the bar.

"Just take a chance, Quinn. You never know what might come out of it in the end." he slung his arm around her shoulders and tugged her closer. "You always took care of me since we were little. Let me do it just this once."

Quinn eyed James and sighed heavily. "I guess I could do it, but not before a shot." She motioned for the bartender and asked him for a shot of whiskey. She quickly downed the drink, trying not to grimace at the sharp heat that coursed down her throat. "Okay. I can do this."

James nodded and patted her shoulder. "You can do it, Q. I have faith in you. Go be a stud." he quickly hopped out of his stool and ran a short distance after Quinn raised her hand to hit him.

"You better run. Chicken." she stuck the tip of her tongue out at him and took a deep breath as she stood up. Quinn took slow steps towards the brunette, her hands getting sweaty by her sides. Once she was in front of the small group of women, she flashed a smile at the brunette.

"Hi, ladies." Quinn looked at all three of the women in front of her before her eyes landed on the brunette again.

The three women smiled, glanced at each other, before greeting the officer in the same manner that she did, while the brunette allowed her eyes to rake over Quinn's well-poised form. "What brings you here, officer?" She asked, and her two companions stifled their mutterings to listen to what Quinn had to say.

Quinn cleared her throat when the brunette actually spoke to her. "I'm just here with my friend. I recently got promoted to Staff Sergeant, so we're out celebrating." she was surprised that she'd yet to stammer.

Smiling up at her, one of the girls, the one Quinn had her eyes on, scooted against her friends to make space on their bench. "Congratulations. Would you care to join us?"

"Thank you, ma'am." she glanced back at James. "Would you mind if my friend joins us? He's really nice."

"Of course he can, right girls?" The dark-haired girl smiled and they created more space for James. "Though you haven't told us your name yet, Sergeant."

Quinn waved her friend over and gripped his forearm, leaning in to whisper in his ear. "James, please don't embarrass me."

James chuckled and nodded before taking a seat next to the blonde on the right and Quinn sat next to the brunette in the middle. "My name is Quinn. This is James."

"But you can call me anything you like, ladies."

"Jimmy. Please." Quinn shook her head. "I should correct myself and say he's sometimes a nice guy."

James looked offended. "I'm always a nice guy, Q."

Quinn shook her head again. "Anyway, what's your name?" she directed to the brunette beside her.

"Rachel," she said, leaning in closer to Quinn so she could be heard amidst the roar of conversations that came with James, her companion. The two other girls conversed with James, leaving Rachel with Quinn. "So, Sergeant." She smiled and twirled a lock of her russet hair around her index finger. "What made you decide to join the Army?"

Quinn smiled at the way her new title sounded coming out of Rachel's lips. "I really like that name. I wanted to follow in my father's footsteps. He was in the Army when I was a kid and before that. I just thought it was amazing to serve your country and keep it safe."

Rachel traced the rim of her glass before taking a drink. "You sound like an honourable person, Quinn." She turned in order to face the Sergeant better. That was when she took notice of the glint of a pin attached to her lapel. "My father was a pilot as well." Rachel said, reaching out to trace the wing pin with her fingertips. "Do you love flying, Sergeant?"

Quinn looked down at Rachel's fingers, and she swallowed hard and nodded. "I-I-I-I-I..." She took a deep, slow breath to get her bearings. "I'm sorry.. I stammer sometimes.." she cleared her throat. "I love flying. How did your father become a pilot?"

Beside them, James and Rachel's friends laughed so hard that beer shot out of their noses at something James said. Rachel winced at their volume and turned to Quinn. "I'd answer that question if you would join me look for someplace more quiet?"

Quinn's eyes shot over to James then back to Rachel. "I'd love that." she stood and offered her hand to Rachel to help her up from her seat. "Ma'am."

Rachel reached for Quinn's hand and got up, leading her out of the stifling bar. Her hand still in the Sergeant's firm grip, Rachel took her to a park across the row of buildings that made up the street. Once they were in the vacant park, Rachel pulled Quinn to sit on one of the damp benches beside her. "I can't really remember my father's story. He died in a plane crash before I was born. I was sent to live with my aunt and uncle, but from what they told me, he loved flying ever since he was a kid." Rachel smiled and chanced a glance at Quinn. "I hope I'm not too morose for you, Sergeant?"

Quinn followed behind Rachel and sat beside her on the bench. She listened to Rachel's story and had a sad expression on her face once she was finished. "I don't mind it no, but I'm very sorry for your loss. And please, call me Quinn." she looked down at the bench they were sitting on. "This bench is wet.." she pulled Rachel up and laid her jacket down before guiding Rachel to sit again. "Now your dress won't get wet."

"Such a gentleman," Rachel beamed and sat back down, sweeping her skirt smoothly so it wouldn't wrinkle. "But I'd hate to ruin your coat, Quinn."

Quinn shook her head. "It's no problem at all. You won't ruin it." she looked back up to Rachel's face. "What's your story? What do you do?"

Rachel hummed and crossed her legs, as she stared at the streetlamps that flickered and buzzed. "I'm a military nurse, and I've been assigned at Cape Fear." She twisted her body enough to face Quinn. "I want to take care of people like you. Soldiers." Rachel reached her arms out and brushed the dust off of Quinn's lapel. "Like you, I just want to help my country as best as I can."

Quinn's eyes glanced down to Rachel's legs for a few seconds before she quickly moved them back up to Rachel's face as she spoke, not wanting to seem rude. When Rachel reached out to touch Quinn's lapel again, she swallowed hard. "I-I-I-I.." Quinn took another deep breath. "I'm sure you're very good at what you do."

Rachel chuckled as Quinn stammered. "I hope that I am." She leaned against the backrest of the bench and looked up at the moon. "Maybe we should getting back. I'm sure you don't want to leave your friend alone for too long, in the company of those girls." Rachel said, a teasing smile on her lips.

Quinn blushed slightly as Rachel chuckled at her stammering. "Jimmy should be fine, but it's probably a good decision to check up on him." she stood up and took Rachel's hand. "If you're cold, you can wear my jacket." she said as she picked it up from the bench. "Would you like to?"

Nodding, Rachel gathered her hair to one side and smiled at the weight of Quinn's army jacket on her shoulders. She looped her arm around Quinn's as they walked down the dirt path back to the road, the bar in sight. They entered and returned to their table, where Rachel's friends were still conversing with James.

Quinn put her jacket on Rachel's shoulders and smiled as they walked arm in arm back to the bar. "See, he's fine." she said as they sat back down in their seats. "I'm sure he'll convince the both of them to come back to the apartment with him. He's good at stuff like that, though I don't really condone it."

"Just as long he doesn't get in the way of our work, I won't threaten his manhood." Rachel said, asking the bartender for a glass of cold water. "It's not a bad thing, convincing women to join you in your apartment. We're on the brink of war and life is short." She leaned in, eyes trained to Quinn's. "We have to enjoy what we have, don't you think?"

Quinn had a firm grip on the beer in her hand as Rachel spoke. "We're not in the war yet. I don't actually think we will be." when she met Rachel's eyes, she felt like she was stuck in place. "I believe that we should..." she took a large gulp of her beer and put the bottle back down.

Noticing the tight grip Quinn had on her bottle, Rachel covered the back of her hand with her own. "We might be. There's no way of knowing. And Quinn, don't be so tense." She teased, gently prying her fingers from the beer bottle so they could lock their fingers together. "I'm only a nurse. I'm not your commanding officer."

Quinn looked down at their joined hands. "I get n-n-n-n.." she took a breath. "Nervous around beautiful women."

Rachel couldn't help the giggle the bubbled out of her. She patted the back of Quinn's hand but kept it there. "You should be nervous all the time then. You're quite beautiful yourself."

Quinn blushed and smiled at Rachel's compliment. "I don't know about that one." she looked at their hands again. "Would you like to go on a walk with me?"

"I'd love to." Rachel finished her drink and rose up once more. "Where should we go?"

Quinn shrugged. "We could go anywhere. Let me just say goodbye to Jimmy. Would you like to do the same with your friends?"

Rachel nodded and told her friends that she was to go on a walk with the Sergeant, while Quinn pulled James aside. "Please don't take advantage of those girls."

James dropped his jaw. "I'm offended by that. I'll take really good care of them."

"Yeah, I bet you will. Wrap it up, soldier." she raised her brow, knowing he'd get her meaning.

"You too, Sergeant." he saluted her and smiled. Quinn slapped his arm and pushed him back towards the two women. "Come on, Rachel." she offered Rachel her hand, which she accepted almost immediately. Together they left the bar, leaving behind the laughter, the music, and the drinking. The further they walked, the more peaceful the streets became. Soon enough, they were accompanied by nothing else but the nighttime breeze. "Where are we heading?"

Quinn looked around. "How about we head down here." she tugged on Rachel's hand and led her down a dirt path. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you. I know this looks a little strange." they went through an area cluttered with trees and brushes until they reached a clearing. She pulled Rachel over to a short pier and sat down on the only chair, looking up at Rachel since their hands were still locked together. "You can sit on my lap if you like. There are no other seats."

"Oh, if you don't mind..." Rachel looped her arm around Quinn's neck and sank onto her lap. "Am I too heavy?" She asked, her eyes scanning the scenery before her. The lake, with its dark, calm waters, and the glint of the pale moonlight, coupled with the nighttime breeze brought a smile to her face.

Quinn's arm went around Rachel's hips as she moved into her lap. "Definitely not." she smiled and looked out on the water. "I thought this would be a peaceful place for us to talk without much interruption. I hope I didn't scare you with how we got here. I know it looks bad on the way down here."

Rachel giggled and played with the tiny hairs on the nape of Quinn's neck. "It did frighten me a little bit, but I figured you were too much of a gentleman to harm a helpless girl like me."

Quinn felt a shiver run through her entire body as Rachel played with her neck. "I'm sorry for scaring you. And no, I'd never do anything to hurt you or any woman."

Smiling to herself, Rachel continued her ministrations on Quinn's neck, her fingers snagging against blonde locks. "Tell me a story Quinn. Something about you." She licked her lips and felt the cool breeze blow past them. "I'd like to know more about you, if you don't mind."

Quinn hummed and let her eyes look down at Rachel's lips after her tongue peeked out to wet them. "A story?" she thought for a second. "When I was about ten years old, my dad took me out on his airplane. It wasn't anything fancy, just a small crops plane. He let me sit in his lap while he flew, but once we were stable, he let me take over the controls." she smiled at the memory. "It was then that I knew I wanted to be an Army pilot. I'd already decided I was joining when I was 18, so that just came naturally with it."

Rachel listened, hypnotised by Quinn's deep voice. She smiled and caressed the side of the Sergeant's neck, forcing her to look into her eyes. "Being a pilot was your dream?" Rachel asked softly, her thumb grazing the underside of Quinn's jaw. "Then I'm glad. I'm glad that you got your dream."

Quinn looked up at Rachel's eyes and smiled as she nodded. She swallowed hard as Rachel's thumb grazed her jaw. "What about you? What's your dream?"

"I wanted to be a singer. An actress." Rachel smiled sadly and rested her palms on top of Quinn's shoulders. "But I know that it's a faraway dream, and that's okay. Maybe in my own time, but not as my job."

Quinn smiled a little when Rachel told her she wanted to be a singer. "Can I hear you sing?"

Rachel blinked. "Right now? I... Okay." She took a deep breath and began to sing. "Them that's got shall get... Them that's not shall lose. So the Bible said and it still is news. Mama may have, Papa may have, but God bless the child that's got his own... That's got his own." Her voice lulled to a softer tune, and once she finished the last note, she bit her lip and stared everywhere but at Quinn. "H-how was I?"

Quinn nearly stopped breathing when she heard Rachel's voice. Her mouth was open slightly as Rachel ended the verse on a softer tone. "Wow.." she put her hand on Rachel's cheek, turning her face to catch her eyes with her own. "That was incredible, Rachel. Really. I've never heard anything so amazing."

Her breath hitched, and she covered Quinn's hand with her own. "Really?" She asked, her voice a tiny squeak.

Quinn nodded. "You're amazing."

Smiling in relief, Rachel hastily pressed a kiss to Quinn's cheek. "I was so nervous. I've never sang in front of anyone outside of my family and close friends."

Quinn blushed furiously as Rachel kissed her cheek. "You-you-you-.." she took a deep breath. "You were amazing. Don't ever stop singing."

Her reaction didn't escape Rachel, and it only made her smile. "Okay. I'll take that advice, Sergeant."

Quinn nodded. "Good." she was trying to calm herself down from the kiss to her cheek. "What time do you have to be home?"

Rachel checked her watch and hummed. "No one said I have to be home." She said with a small grin, as she got up from her perch on Quinn's lap. She tugged the Sergeant up and pulled her to her body, her arms wrapped around Quinn's waist. Rachel bit the inside of her lip as her eyes locked with hers. "But if you want me to go home, then..."

Quinn smiled at the news that she didn't have to be home. When she tugged her to stand, she put her hands on Rachel's hips and looked into her eyes. "I don't." she said low. "I'm just used to having a curfew to follow is all." she chuckled. "The Army is rather strict about that."

"Then does that mean you have to be home?" Rachel grinned as she straightened up Quinn's lapels.

Quinn looked down to watch Rachel's hands. "No. I'm not living on the base at the moment, so no curfew to follow."

Rachel rested her palms on top of the Sergeant's shoulders, her fingertips grazing against the well-defined jaw. "I think we should..." She leaned in and brushed her lips against Quinn's cheek, up to her ear. "Do this again sometime." Rachel kissed her ear firmly before stepping out of Quinn's arms, a bright smile on her face.

Quinn's whole body tensed up as Rachel kissed from her cheek to her ear. A strong tingling sensation traveled through her whole body. "Y-y-y-y.." she took a breath as Rachel stepped out of her arm. "Yes." she nodded.

"You really need to stop being so nervous around me." Rachel said, taking Quinn's hand in hers. A yawn escaped her, and she blushed not realising she was exhausted. "If you don't mind, will you walk me home? I don't want to let go of your hand."

Quinn blushed. "I'll try. I just always get a little nervous." she laced their fingers together and nodded. "Of course I'll walk you home. I don't want the night to end just yet." she led Rachel back through the woods, lifting branches out of the way for Rachel so she didn't get snagged on them. "Which way are we headed?"

Motioning towards the sidewalk, Rachel led them to the direction of her home. As they walked, Rachel kept her arms around Quinn's. In a couple of minutes, they reached her house. Facing the Sergeant, Rachel sighed softly. "Well, this is my stop."

Quinn smiled as they walked back to Rachel's house. Once they got up to Rachel's door, she sighed. "I really don't want tonight to end." she guided Rachel's arms to wrap around her waist, while her own rested on Rachel's waist. "Can I see you again?"

Rachel nodded. "Of course you can." She said, rising up to the tips of her toes to peck Quinn on her soft, warm lips. "Because I'd love to see you again."

Quinn's heart raced when Rachel's lips touched her own. She felt like her chest was going to cave in. "I..." she moved her hands up from Rachel's waist to her face. Her thumbs ran along her cheeks before moving them down to her jaw as she leaned in to kiss Rachel's lips fully.

For Rachel, breathing became difficult, but not in a bad way. It felt as if she was drowning in the warmth of Quinn's lips against hers, making her heart speed up as her arms wrapped around the taller woman's neck. She kissed back, her nails gently grazing the nape of Quinn's neck. Rachel pulled back, her eyes dilated and her breathing coming out in short pants. "Wow, I... Um." She laughed breathlessly and licked her bottom lip. "We really should see each other again."

Quinn couldn't help the groan that left her when she felt Rachel's nails dragging on her neck. "We definitely should." she cleared her throat when her voice came out about two octaves lower than it normally was. "How about this..." she reached down and straightened her jacket that was still on Rachel's shoulders. "You hang on to this, and I'll get it back from you tomorrow."

"Thank you." Rachel murmured, pulling the coat tighter around her body. She leaned up for one more kiss, whispering goodbye against Quinn's mouth before climbing up the steps to her door. Rachel waved and disappeared inside her house.

Quinn smiled into the kiss and kissed her back. "I'll be seeing you." she watched Rachel walk into her house before walking back down the street until she was out of sight. A wide smile broke out on her face and she jumped while tossing her arms in the air. It had been the best night of her life, and it was only going to get better.