Once again, co-written with Steph theducksinthehat.

It had been one of the best weeks of Quinn's entire life. She'd been seeing Rachel every single day since the night they met, and they were only getting closer as each day passed.

She was in one of the many airplane hangars on the base when one of her subordinates came to her side. "Sergeant." he saluted. Quinn furrowed her brows and nodded once.

"At ease, soldier."

"Thank you, ma'am. General Pratt has requested you in his office."

"I wonder what that's about.." she hummed. "You're dismissed."

The soldier saluted once more before turning on his heels and walking away.

James looked down from the wing of a plane he was working on and caught Quinn's eyes. "What's that about?" he asked, motioning to the retreating soldier.

"General Pratt wants to see me about something. I don't know what it is." she grabbed her coat and put it on along with her cap. "I suppose I should go see him." she joked.

"I think that would be a wise thing." he chuckled. "Good luck." he saluted Quinn and went back to work.

Quinn made her way out of the hangar and towards the main building on base where she was summoned. She dipped her head towards the receptionist at the front desk in greeting as she passed on her way to the General's office. Once she arrived at the door, she gave two firm knocks.

"Enter." said a lower, slightly aged, gruff voice.

Quinn turned the knob and entered the office, shutting the door behind her. "General." she stood with her back straight as she saluted him.

"At ease." he muttered.

Quinn's body relaxed as she dropped her hands to her sides. "You requested to see me, sir."

General Pratt nodded. "Indeed I did, Sergeant." he sat down at his desk. "I need you for a mission."

Quinn's heart dropped at that. Her first thought was Rachel. "A mission, sir?"

"You heard me, Fabray. Yes, a mission. The British need pilots and you're one of the good ones. They're about to perform a raid where they need numbers and good fighters. I elected you for this mission. This is an order, not a request."

Quinn swallowed. "Thank you, sir. I'm very glad that you think so highly of my abilities. I'll do this mission quickly and efficiently."

"I would hope so, Sergeant. I'm counting on you to represent this country with honor and respect. You will be the only American pilot there and any bad reflection is on you." he said firmly.

Quinn nodded. "I understand, sir. When do I leave?"

"You leave tomorrow. You will be on this base at five sharp and no later."

Quinn nodded again. "Yes, General. Thank you for this opportunity. I hope I can live up to your expectations of me."

General Pratt nodded his head. "You're dismissed." He said with a wave of his hand.

Quinn stood at attention and saluted him before walking out of the office. As soon as the outside air hit her face, Quinn lost all ability to breathe. She clutched at her chest as she tried to catch her breath. Once she managed to suck air into her lungs, she looked around for her car. She quickly got into it and drove to Rachel's house.

She climbed the stairs two at a time and knocked on her door. Rachel opened it, her eyes sparkling at the sight of Quinn on her doorstep. "Quinn!" She leapt into the Sergeant's arms and kissed her deeply. "What are you doing here? Not that I'm not happy to see you." She pecked the blonde's cheek a few times, a grin on her face. "So? Why aren't you at the hangar?"

Quinn wrapped her arms around Rachel, unable help but have tears in her eyes when she heard Rachel's voice. She swallowed hard and willed her tears away so Rachel wouldn't notice them. "I came to see my sweetheart, what else?" she pulled back and looked down at her.

Grinning up at Quinn, Rachel pecked her nose and pulled her into her house. "You have good timing, as always. I just finished making a batch of cookies for the girls at work." She pushed Quinn to sit on the couch and untied her apron, which she hung up on a hook that was attached to the wall. "Would you like to try one?"

Quinn took her seat on the couch and nodded. "I'd love to." she didn't know how she was going to tell Rachel the news that she had to leave. The last thing Quinn wanted to do was make the smile on Rachel's face go away.

Rachel took a cookie and sat on Quinn's lap. She placed the cookie in between her teeth and winked at Quinn.

Quinn couldn't help but grin as she leaned forward to bite half of the cookie between Rachel's teeth. She pulled the cookie into with her tongue and pressed her lips to Rachel's. "Amazing. The cookie is good too."

Rachel giggled and kissed Quinn's jaw. "Oh good. It was my first time trying out that recipe." She cupped the base of Quinn's neck and peered into her eyes, noticing the worry that was clouding her usually clear hazel eyes. "Quinn, baby... Is something going on? And don't you dare lie to me, Sergeant. I know you well enough to know. And you're a god-awful liar."

Quinn's heart thudded hard in her chest when Rachel noticed the worry in her eyes. She knew she wouldn't be able to hide the truth from her for long. "Can I tell you later? I want to make today real nice for us." she grabbed Rachel's other hand and laced their fingers together. "Please?"

Eyeing the blonde before her, Rachel released a soft breath and nodded. "Okay, I won't pry at the moment." She shifted her position atop Quinn's lap and caressed the firm line of her jaw. She kissed her once more before rising up again to clear up the materials she used for baking. "So, what do you have planned then?"

Quinn let out a sigh of relief when Rachel said she'd drop the subject for now. She kissed her back and looked up at her as she stood. "A day with you is all I want." she replied honestly. "Just you."

Rachel smiled and looked at Quinn through her eyelashes. "You'd love that, wouldn't you?" She finished washing the dishes and wiped her hands on a dishtowel. Returning to her seat on Quinn's lap, Rachel pressed into her so that she was leaning back into the sofa. "Well, you're lucky I love being with you."

Quinn immediately wrapped her arms around Rachel when she was perched on her lap again. "I'm a very lucky girl." she said low, trying not to break down right then. "I have something I want to tell you. But it has nothing to do with what you asked earlier."

Her brow raised, Rachel leaned in to brush her mouth against Quinn's, her hands cupping her features. "What is it?" She whispered.

Quinn closed her eyes and kissed Rachel back, tears filling her eyes against her will. She pulled away from Rachel's lips and looked into her deep brown eyes. "I know we've only known each other for such a short time, but I can say this without any doubt." she held Rachel's eyes and rubbed her thigh slowly. "I love you."

Rachel almost choked on air as she managed to understand what Quinn said. She stared at the Sergeant's face, and saw that she was indeed serious. Fighting back a sob, Rachel wrapped her arms around Quinn's neck and kissed her hard. "I love you too." She murmured. "I love you, I love you, I love you."

Quinn sat up straight and wrapped her arms around Rachel, pulling her as close as she could get her. She pulled away from the kiss and rested her forehead against Rachel's. "I hope that wasn't too soon." she whispered.

"Definitely not." Rachel grinned and ran her thumbs against Quinn's jaw. Her heart was brimming with joy and love for the woman in front of her that tears formed in her eyes. Rachel wiped them away hastily and allowed a bubble of laughter to spill out of her. "I know you think we just met, but meeting someone like you is a once in a lifetime thing, Quinn. It's better to be soon than to be too late, don't you think?" She asked, kissing Quinn's nose with a smile.

Quinn nodded in agreement. "Yes, I agree." she moved her head down and caught her lips in another kiss. "I'm so glad I walked into that bar."

Rachel giggled and kissed Quinn's cheek. "Remember when you stuttered a lot? That was so adorable."

Quinn sighed and laid her head on the back of the couch. "I won't live that down, will I?"

"Mm mm," Rachel leaned in and kissed Quinn's throat, then up her neck to her ear. "Never."

Quinn groaned low and smiled as Rachel kissed up to her ear. "At least I don't do it anymore."

"No, you don't. Now you're just a devilish charmer."

Quinn smirked. "I might be." she put her hands on Rachel's hips and lifted her slightly while turning Rachel to face her. Once Rachel was straddling her hips, she looked up at her, a small glint in her eye. "I'm a romantic at heart."

Rachel couldn't help but blush at their switch in position. She rested her hands on Quinn's shoulders and squirmed a little bit. "You are." She planted her knees on the couch and leaned in for a kiss. "A total sap. My romantic Sergeant."

Quinn put her hands on Rachel's thighs and rubbed them slowly as she kissed her back. "Your romantic Sergeant."

Rachel smiled and pecked Quinn's cheek. "You got that right." She glanced at the clock and hummed. "It's about time for me to start on dinner. Will you dine with me?"

Quinn nodded. "I'll cook." she got up and slowly put Rachel down on the floor as she kissed her. She made her way into the kitchen, shedding her coat and tie as she went. "What would you like?" she asked, turning back to Rachel as she unbuttoned her shirt so she wouldn't be as hot while she cooked.

Following after Quinn into the kitchen, Rachel perched herself on top of the counter. She swung her legs, eyeing the Sergeant's muscled form beneath the fabric of the tank top as it rippled while Quinn moved. "Anything is fine by me. I feel so lucky, having you cook for me." Rachel said with a grin. After a few moments of watching Quinn, Rachel hopped off the counter and stalked behind her. She pulled off the crisp light brown button down, exposing Quinn's pale shoulders. "Take this off." She said. "I don't want you to sweat in it or have it dirty as you cook." Rachel took a clothes hanger from the closet and hung up Quinn's shirt. "There. Proceed." She said, her eyes never leaving Quinn's toned arms.

Quinn looked behind her as Rachel removed her shirt. "You do have a point, but I think you just want to see me without my shirt on." she teased with a wink. She went over to Rachel and ran her hands down to the backs of her thighs, lifting her up. Quinn knew that Rachel could see her arm muscles straining as she lifted her to the counter. "Sit here."

"I will neither confirm nor deny." Rachel said, her hands on Quinn's bicep as she was lifted to sit on the counter. She tried not to stare too much. "So, where did you learn how to cook, Quinn? And what are you making for me?"

Quinn kissed her head and moved over to the stove. "I learned from my mom and grandma. They said it was proper that I know how to cook even if I was joining the Army. And I'm making you chicken with steamed vegetables."

"Yum." Rachel swung her legs to and fro as she watched.

Quinn nodded and started to steam the vegetables while she cooked the chicken in the frying pan. "I hope you like it." while the chicken was cooking, she moved over to rest between Rachel's legs.

"I will, most likely." Rachel answered, her legs parting to accommodate Quinn in between them. "So long as you don't burn it or make it too salty."

Quinn shook her head. "I like for people to add their own salt. Why ruin the whole batch?" she put her hands on Rachel's thighs and squeezed them gently. "No point in that."

Rachel grinned and wrapped her legs around Quinn's hips, her hands running up and down her sides. "That makes sense."

Quinn nodded. "I like to think so." she moved her hands slightly higher on Rachel's thighs before looking over at the chicken. "Be right back." she moved out of Rachel's embrace and attended to the preparation of their meal.

Once everything was cooked, Quinn set the table and plated the food. "Let's eat." she helped Rachel off of the counter and pulled her chair out for her.

Rachel kissed Quinn on the cheek and squealed as she was lifted off the counter. She took a piece of chicken into her mouth and hummed as she ate. "Mmm, delicious."

Quinn smiled and started to eat from her plate. "I'm very glad you like it." she quickly finished what was on her plate and sat back in her chair, observing Rachel.

Finishing around the same time as Quinn, Rachel let out a content sigh as she sipped her water. "That was a delicious dinner, Quinn. You should definitely cook more often." She said, winking. Rachel got up and took the plates so she could wash them. She stood by the sink, humming a soft tune as she scrubbed the plates and cutlery clean.

Quinn smiled a little wider as Rachel winked at her. She turned in her seat and watched her back for a few minutes as she cleaned the dishes. "Rach, I have something I need to tell you. It's pretty important and it has to do with me." she started slowly. "Can you come over here?"

Rachel spun around and dried her hands. "Okay... Is this about earlier?" She asked, walking over to Quinn. She stood in front of her, and looked with inquiring eyes. "Is this about what you couldn't tell me before? Are you okay?" She was slightly panicking now, but she stamped the emotions down and waited for Quinn to speak.

Quinn took Rachel's hand as she started asking rapid questions. "Sit." she pulled Rachel to sit in her lap. "I'm okay. There's nothing wrong with me." she kept her arms tightly around Rachel's waist. "The General called me into his office today..."

Rachel sighed in relief, her arms circling Quinn's neck. "Okay... What did he say?"

Quinn looked up into Rachel's eyes. "They're sending me on a mission. In the UK." she pushed through before Rachel had a chance to respond. "They ordered me to go fly for them during a raid."

The words 'UK', 'fly', and 'raid' rang in Rachel's head as she stared at Quinn blankly. She sat there for a moment of silence as she tried to understand. "But... But you just said you love me. And now you're leaving?" Rachel shot off Quinn's lap and stood on the opposite side of the kitchen. "That's not funny, Quinn. It's not even remotely close to being funny!"

Quinn stood up and pursued Rachel. "I'm not trying to be funny, Rachel." she didn't even try holding back the tears that welled in her eyes. "I would rather stay here with you, but I don't have a choice. It's an order and I have to follow it. I do love you. I love you more than anyone in my life."

Rachel clenched her fists and glared at Quinn, even as she cried. All Rachel wanted was to be held in Quinn's arms and savour the sensation of her arms around her, but she couldn't. "You're leaving me." She said weakly. "I don't want to be selfish, and I know your country needs you but..." She choked back on the tears and wiped them away with a trembling hand. Rachel took a shaky breath and released it slowly. "It's an order, and I understand that. But Quinn..." She sobbed. "I love you."

Quinn took a few more steps towards Rachel and took her hands in her own. "I love you, too, Rachel. There's nothing I want more than to just hold you from now until the day I die." she laced their fingers together. "If I had the choice, I'd stay here with you."

Rachel looked up at Quinn, her eyes shimmering with tears. "I know. I know that, but..." She brought their joined hands up to her lips and kissed Quinn's fingers. "When are you leaving?"

Quinn felt her heart clench as Rachel kissed her fingers. "In the morning.." she mumbled.

"In the—" Rachel sputtered and ran her fingers through her brown locks. "I can't believe this. You're leaving me tomorrow? That's barely enough time to say our goodbyes, Quinn. Why couldn't they have given you a week, at least?" She paced across the kitchen, muttering angrily to herself.

Quinn lowered her head as Rachel pulled away from her and started pacing. "It's always short notice." she wiped the tear away from her cheek and watched Rachel pace. "Baby.." she pulled Rachel into her arms. "I'm spending my last day here with you." she moved the hair from Rachel's face. "I will come back to you. I promise."

Her face buried in Quinn's chest, Rachel allowed herself to feel lost. Without Quinn around, she had no idea how she would spend her days. Wiping her tears away, Rachel breathed deeply and nodded. "I know you will." She smiled, cupping her cheek and rising up on her toes to kiss Quinn gently.

Quinn put her hands on either side of Rachel's face and kissed her back. "Nothing in this world is going to keep me from you. I want you to know that." she kissed her again. "I won't be gone for very long."

Rachel nodded and believed Quinn. "Okay. I trust you, Quinn. And I'll be counting the days until you come back home to me." She cupped the back of Quinn's neck and rested her forehead against hers.

Quinn leaned down and closed her eyes as their foreheads touched. "I have something more to fight for than just the safety of my country." she looked into Rachel's eyes. "I'll fight for you. To get home to you."

"I love you so much, Quinn." Rachel whispered, her thumbs grazing the Sergeant's cheek. She swallowed hard and forced a shaky smile to grace her lips. "How should we spend our last day together, baby?"

"I love you, too. So, so much." she took a deep breath, glad that the worst part was finally over. "I just want to spend it with you." she brought Rachel's hand up to her lips, kissing it softly. Quinn looked into Rachel's eyes. "I want.." she paused for a few seconds. "I want to make love to you."

Sucking in a nervous breath, Rachel spoke no words as she nodded. She laced her hands with Quinn's and led her up the steps, moving with grace and fluidity, as if they were already one. She led Quinn to her bedroom, and once inside, her hands tugged at the hem of Quinn's tank top. "You know, I've always thought about undressing you." Rachel said, her cheeks lighting up with a pinkish hue. "All those buttons on your uniform... But anyway, may I?" She asked, tugging on the fabric of Quinn's white tank top.

Quinn followed behind Rachel, her heart beating wildly in her chest. She pressed her body against Rachel's and couldn't help but smile at her words. "Yes." she lifted her arms as Rachel pulled her tank top off.

The expanse of skin that she was met with almost knocked all the breath from Rachel's body. She traced the outline of Quinn's stomach, the shape of her breasts, and the bumps of her collarbone. "You are so beautiful..." She whispered, pushing Quinn to fall on the bed. Rachel slid on top of her and kissed her softly, her hands continuing to roam all over Quinn's flat stomach.

Quinn's breath hitched at Rachel's hands on her stomach as they kissed. She put her hands on Rachel's back and rubbed slowly before moving them slightly lower to tug on the hem of her dress. "May I?"

Rachel nodded and allowed Quinn to take off her dress and throw it on the floor. Her hands rested on Quinn's belt buckle, and without asking for permission, Rachel simply unbuckled it and deftly unbuttoned Quinn's trousers. She tugged them off and straddled Quinn with a delighted smile on her face. She leaned forward and kissed her lips. "Gorgeous."

Quinn ran her hands all over the newly exposed skin of Rachel's body and lifted her hips to help get her pants off. She hummed into the kiss and reached down to cup Rachel's rear. "You're so beautiful." she flipped their positions and started to kiss her way down Rachel's neck.

She tilted her head back, allowing room for Quinn to kiss the column of her neck. She gripped handfuls of blonde hair, gasping at the sensation of lips against her skin. "Oh..." Rachel groaned, her eyes fluttering shut. "Quinn... I-I need you." She breathed out.

Quinn groaned as Rachel gripped her hair, nipping at her pulse point. She looked up at Rachel's face before hooking her fingers in the waistband of Rachel's underwear, slowly pulling it down her legs. She locked eyes with Rachel as she removed her own undergarments. The sight caused Rachel to gasp, and then an aroused groan tore through her throat. "Please..." Rachel whimpered, her palms flat against Quinn's breasts as she cupped them. "I need..."

She could barely finish her sentence as her hands wandered down Quinn's sides, to the juncture between her thighs. Rachel could feel the heat and the moisture of Quinn's core, and it made her moan. "Oh wow..."

Quinn pushed her chest out into Rachel's palms and groaned as her hand reached the apex of her thighs. "Oh.." she leaned forward, bracing herself with her hand against the mattress. Her dog tags were dangling from her neck, gently brushing against Rachel's chest.

She ran her hand down Rachel's stomach and groaned at the wetness she found when her fingers finally reached her folds. "Wow.." she looked into Rachel's eyes and slowly ran her index finger up and down her slit.

Trembling against Quinn's hand, Rachel couldn't help the cry that escaped her as soon as Quinn touched her core. She couldn't feel anything else, save for Quinn's presence. Her heat, her slickness, and the way her breath hit her cheek drove Rachel insane. She gripped Quinn's wrist so her hand wouldn't stop stroking her, while her own digits slid between Quinn's slick nether lips to find a bump that twitched beneath her fingertip. "Does that feel good?"

Quinn gasped sharply when Rachel's finger brushed her clit. "Yes.." she pressed their foreheads together and moved her fingers up to rub against the little bundle of nerves between Rachel's legs. Her hips started to move in time with Rachel's fingers, her dog tags bumping against her chin. "Oh my God.."

Rachel bit her lip, her eyes never leaving Quinn's features as she kept stroking Quinn's center. She sucked on a patch of skin on Quinn's jaw, moaning as she moved into her hand. "I'm so... I'm close." She husked, her hips rolling in a more rapid pace. "I need y-you... With me, Quinn..."

Quinn's hips jerked up as Rachel sucked on her jaw. "Me too, baby.." she connected their lips and lost all rhythm in her hips as Rachel's fingers brought her over the edge. "Rachel!"

At the sound of her name coming out of Quinn's mouth, Rachel shuddered and bucked into her lover's hand as she climaxed, raggedly breathing out Quinn's name. She stilled her hips, yet she continued to tremble. "I love you." She murmured, bringing up her slippery digits to rub Quinn's hip. "When you come back from your mission, you are not leaving this bed. We need to do that again." Rachel said, a sleepy smile adorning her lips.

Quinn smiled and kissed her lips softly. "I love you, too. And I promise that we won't do anything else." she kissed her lips again and cuddled into Rachel's side, her arms wrapped tightly against her. "I have to up around 4:30 to make it to the base in time. We should sleep now so we have a little time in the morning."

The following day, Rachel prepared breakfast for Quinn before she was awake. Placing a plate of eggs, toast, bacon, and coffee onto a tray, complete with a crimson red rose inside a makeshift vase, Rachel brought the meal up to her bedroom, where Quinn lay sleeping. She placed the tray on the side table for a moment, as she leaned over Quinn, kissing her cheeks until she was awake. "Baby, you have to get up. I made you breakfast."

Quinn hummed and cracked her eyes open when she felt Rachel's lips on her cheek. She sat up and looked down at the plate of food Rachel had for her. "Thank you, baby." she leaned over and kissed her lips, already starting to dig into her food.

She looked over at Rachel and smiled with her mouth slightly full. She winced slightly when the cold metal of her dog tags hit the heated skin of her bare chest. "Chilly."

Rachel chuckled and took the tags in her hands, rubbing them until they were warm with the heat of her palm. "There," she said, letting them fall on top of Quinn's chest. Rachel stole a slice of bacon from Quinn's plate and watched her as she chewed. "You're going to write to me, right?" She asked quietly, as the sun began to rise, illuminating the small bedroom.

Quinn nodded immediately. "I will write you every day." she finished her plate and leaned over to kiss her lips. "Though, mail does take quite a while to reach here from there. I could be home by the time it gets here."

Rachel smiled and took a sip from Quinn's coffee. "You never know, baby." She glanced at the wall clock and felt dread bubbling inside her chest. But she swallowed it down and ignored it. "You should shower. I'll iron your shirt while you do so."

Quinn nodded and got up out of the bed, heading into the shower. She showered quickly and walked into the bedroom without a towel on. "Pants..." she pulled her pants on and buckled her belt before reaching over to put her tank top on.

By the time Quinn got out of the shower, Rachel finished ironing Quinn's shirt and already brushed her jacket until it was free of dust. "Will you let me tie your tie for you?" She asked, blushing slightly. "I've always wanted to do it."

Quinn smiled and pulled her shirt on without buttoning it. "You can do all the rest of it, sweetheart."

Beaming up at Quinn, Rachel stood in front of her and slowly buttoned up her shirt with expert hands. She took Quinn's neck tie and tied it, making sure it was straight and perfectly dimpled. Then she brought the jacket over. Once Quinn's arms were in the sleeves, Rachel sucked in a breath and buttoned up the brass buttons before straightening out any wrinkles with her hands. She bit her lip and struggled against the tears as she stared at her lover, the love of her life, dressed and ready to leave her. "A-all you have left is your hat and you're r-ready to go." Rachel whispered.

Quinn stood very still as Rachel dressed her. When she was done, she wrapped her arms tightly around her. "I love you, Rachel. I don't want you to ever forget that. I'll come back home to you." she pulled back and kissed her deeply, putting every emotion she felt towards Rachel into the kiss.

Rachel cupped the back of Quinn's neck and kissed her back, her heavy heart feeling lighter as Quinn's mouth glided against hers. She licked her lips and traced the texture of Quinn's bottom lip. "I love you too. And I'll wait for you, Quinn. Every day, until you're back to me." Rachel stepped back and clicked her heels, giving Quinn a salute. "I wish you the best, Sergeant."

Quinn smiled as Rachel saluted her. "At ease.." she murmured against her lips before kissing her one last time. "I'll be seeing you." she put her cap on and exited the house, slipping into the drivers seat of her car. She looked out of the windshield and blew a kiss to Rachel before driving to the base.