Rachel woke at 8am, turning to see Quinn still sleeping soundly. They had moved in the night and when she woke Quinn's arm had been draped across her stomach. She admired her beauty as she watched her sleep, so glad to actually share the same space with her again. Rachel knew she wanted Quinn, she wanted her a lot, but it was frightening just how much and she was glad that she'd set that alarm last night. It'd be different today, her Dads would arrive shortly and their presence would help her to keep her hormones in check. She was pleased they had two more days together and knowing that she'd be in the same state as Quinn in just over a months time filled her with happiness, but it was tinged with a fear of what may lie ahead.
She crept out of the Bedroom and put on a pot of coffee. It was strange how right it felt having Quinn close, she was still planning on taking it slow, but didn't regret the kiss last night one bit.
Just as she settled with a cup, Quinn walked in the room, her hair was still mussed and Rachel couldn't imagine her looking any sexier, she couldn't take her eyes of the woman's svelte figure and let them linger on the exposed flesh of her stomach, wetting her lips as she thought of what it'd be like to taste that skin. Quinn coughed and when Rachel's eyes met inquisitive hazel orbs she realized she'd been caught, but instead of blushing she just winked suggestively and it was enough to make Quinn burst out laughing.
"Sleep well?" Rachel enquired as Quinn poured a coffee and joined her.
"Yeah, you have the best bed in the entire world."
"I know, I'm going to miss it when I leave."
"You're going to keep the apartment?"
"Kim thinks I should sublet, but I don't like the idea of having some stranger in here, with my things and it's only a few months."
"Who's Kim?"
"My agent/publicist/manager/dresser and then some. She's blunt, kinda rude, but does her job well and I wouldn't get through a day without her, well except holidays and things, but if I'm working I need her."
"Will I like her?"
"No."
"Okay then." Quinn laughed off Rachel's comment, but she was keen to meet Kim and wondered if she was a cross between Sue and Santana because that was how she now pictured her. "I'm going to get that huge turkey in the oven, it should be okay for about 2pm. Is that going to be good for you?"
"Perfect, Dad and Daddy will be here about 11am. I need a shelf in the oven and two of the rings on the hob. The rest is yours."
"Our first Thanksgiving." Quinn moved behind Rachel wrapping her arms around her waist and resting her chin on the shorter woman's shoulder.
"I'm glad you're here."
"Me too." Quinn squeezed Rachel and let her lips brush against her ear lobe. Rachel shivered and Quinn placed a soft kiss to her neck. "Really glad."
"But you have to let me go, I've got too much to do and at least three more coffees to drink before my Dads arrive."
"Fine, I'll take a shower." Quinn reluctantly let go and left Rachel to get on with her cooking.
An hour later and the apartment smelt delicious, it was filled with the smell of turkey and bacon mixed with Rachel's vegan concoctions. Rachel had finished her second coffee and gone to take a shower, Quinn couldn't help herself as she tried to sneakily taste the dishes Rachel was working on, she was amazed at how good they were.
"You like?" Rachel asked as she returned from her shower, she was still towel drying her hair when she caught Quinn with a wooden spoon to her lips.
"You're a good cook."
"Don't sound so surprised."
"I didn't mean to, it's just well, this is wow and it's just vegetables."
"You have a lot to learn, but you're going to have the best teacher in me. Eating defenseless animals is not...what?" Rachel stopped at Quinn's raised hand.
"Look I think you are hot and I really like you and want to have a relationship and date and other things, you know, but I'm not stopping eating meat. So save the speeches and powerpoint presentations for someone else...ouch" Quinn flinched as a cushion hit her on the head. Rachel was now pouting, but Quinn couldn't help but laugh.
"Fine." She stomped her foot and spun ready to storm out, but realizing she was still in her robe she headed back to the bedroom and dried her hair instead.
xxx
A little later and Quinn opened the door to an eager Hiram and a flustered Leroy.
"Quinn, so good to see you again, I watched you last night and wow you are amazing, really amazing and I know its the big finale soon, so you must tell me what happens next?"
"Please H, can we at least get in the door before you start fangirling."
"Why? So you and Quinn can fangirl over Rachel instead? I love The Empire."
"I know!" Leroy was exasperated.
"Don't mind my husband, he hates New York, puts him in a mood before we've even packed a bag."
"I do not hate New York. I just don't like the taxi drivers." Leroy had had enough and moved past Hiram into Rachel's living room. "My god this place is huge, she's obviously making more money than I thought."
"I probably am." Rachel appeared in the bedroom doorway. "Dad, Daddy, welcome to my home."
Quinn felt a little sting at that. Rachel's home was so far from her own and it wasn't a place they shared, but she pushed that thought away for another day. This was all still new for them both and u-haul was not an option.
The Berry's bickered more than Quinn realized and she was relieved when dinner was finally served. It seemed to calm Leroy to have a full belly and she could relate to that, but they had barely touched the turkey and Rachel was busy scolding them both for wasting it.
"I'll make a curry." Quinn finally conceded and Rachel seemed happy with that answer as she sat back down at the table.
"Dessert?"
A collective moan escaped and Rachel shook her head at them all.
"Couch, TV, no talking, does that sound better?"
"Perfect." They sighed in unison.
Rachel tidied the last of the dishes away before taking a seat next to Quinn, she didn't think twice as she lifted Quinn's arm and leant into her side, allowing Quinn to wrap her arm around her shoulders. Her own hand resting on Quinn's stomach. Her thoughts returned to the earlier vision of bare skin and her hand began tracing circles over the defined abs she'd been so eagerly admiring. Quinn shifted at the touch and noticed Hiram quickly turn away.
"Did Rachel tell you about her new job?" Leroy asked as Rachel made them all coffee.
"She did. I just can't believe that she is going to be in Los Angeles at last and soon she'll be a megastar."
"It's shocking! My baby is going to be on the telly. I just can't." Hiram squeezed Leroy's hand.
"I know, Broadway, well yeah Rachel was always going to make it there, but now to California. Promise me you'll take care of her Quinn? I mean I know you are both close now and things and my Rachel still needs protecting, she'll deny it of course" Leroy shot Rachel a look.
"I will do my best, Cali is a bit more laid back than NY, I think she'll be fine."
"I meant from the darker side of things, casting couches, seedy agents and alike."
"Oh god no, please give me some credit." Rachel placed the pot and cups on the table.
"It's a bad place. I'm sure Quinn has tales to tell." Leroy continued, Rachel just rolled her eyes at him.
"Um, well some people aren't too nice, but really I doubt it's much different to the stage, basically you've got to take care of yourself, no one else will and for most of the people around you, it's all about money."
"But you have friends and good people around you too?" Hiram looked at Quinn concerned.
"Some are I guess. I got on really well with the cast and crew at The Empire I think we'll all stay in touch."
"Then I'm glad Rachel is going to be there for you too, it sounds like you need someone."
"I kind of do." Quinn spoke softly, her eyes locked on Rachel's. The brunette reached out and took her hand with a gentle squeeze.
"So you do need saving?" Rachel said as Quinn entwined their fingers.
"Always."
Quinn was so lost in Rachel, the fact that her Dads were in the room were forgotten.
"Maybe we should get to bed." Hiram stood and pulled a protesting Leroy to his feet.
"But its so cozy, this is the best couch in all the world."
"And our daughter needs some space, come on. It was a long trip."
"Fine, night baby, night Quinn." Leroy huffed before kissing the girls goodnight.
xxx
"Hiram knows." Quinn said as soon as the guest room door was closed.
"You think?"
"Definitely, he knew in Lima."
"And he hasn't had 'the talk' with you yet? He must like you! Actually he really seems to, all that about me being there for you."
"He was right, I need someone. It's been hard the last five years. It was okay when I was running from my past."
"But you aren't running now?"
"No, I'm just finding the place I want to be." Quinn looked at Rachel pointedly.
"Come to bed." Rachel stood and left her hand out for Quinn to take.
"No alarms?" Quinn asked hopefully.
"Just trust. I'm not ready, not yet. I want to hold you though because I will be there for you Quinn. I want this."
"Thank you." Quinn took Rachel's hand and let her lead the way to her bed. Once changed they both climbed in and true to her word, Rachel's arms wrapped around Quinn pulling her close. She felt so much comfort in Rachel's hold, the tears fell without her realizing and she felt Rachel's hand start to brush through her hair reassuringly.
xxx
When she woke up Rachel was gone and she sat up panicked. She'd let go of something last night, all those years of emptiness had hit her hard, she'd felt so safe in Rachel's arms, but maybe it was too much for the other woman. Her fears were short lived when Rachel walked back in the room and climbed onto the bed so that she was kneeling beside Quinn with a tray in her hands.
"Breakfast madam?"
"Mmm please, I'm strangely starving, even after all that yesterday."
"Well it's just us now. My Dads have gone sightseeing, I thought I'd let you sleep in and we can always join them later?"
"Thanks, wow these are really good, I can't get over your cooking."
"Are you okay?" Rachel asked once they finished eating.
Quinn looked up at Rachel and all her vulnerability returned, the concern in the deep brown orbs that looked at her just ripped her soul open.
"I might be." She spoke just above a whisper. "It's been a long journey to get back to something that reminds me of me. When I first went to L.A. I was a mess. I drank and smoked and partied. I never dealt with anything and I'm not proud of the mistakes I made. My Dad had just died and my Mom let me run away, neither of us could be there for the other. I'd been a cheerleader, the most popular girl in school, a pregnant teen, a punk, a psycho mom all before I'd even graduated. Playing another role was easy once I calmed down. Being an actor turns out to be the most natural thing in the world to me, but it also helped me to hide and that wasn't good."
"You are very talented. I'm in awe to be honest, I worked so hard, but when I see you on the screen, well it's something else. You can tell me, you know? about whatever it is that you did. You don't have to hide from me."
"Some things I can't talk about, not yet anyway. My talent is tainted in a way, I had to get so messed up for that to be possible, I wouldn't wish that on anyone, work hard, it's emotionally more stable." She gave Rachel a lopsided grin and was met with a kiss.
"You aren't alone anymore." Rachel wrapped her arms around Quinn's shoulders and held her tight.
She couldn't help but cry at that, she'd felt so alone for too long. Rachel made her feel okay, made her feel like she belonged.
"I think you're the most amazing person I've ever met."
"I probably am." Rachel quipped. "But in all honesty, I get some of it. I know the loneliness. I ran away too, I ran from everything I knew and tried to be someone else. It was hard, but after a year I realized I had to just be me, I'd never have gotten anywhere pretending to be accommodating and eager to please, just in the hope that everyone would like me. I'm Rachel Berry, I want something and I work hard to get it."
"That simple huh?"
"No." Rachel let go of Quinn and fell back on the pillow, Quinn lay down beside her and Rachel rolled onto her side to look at her. "I came here with an ache. I missed you. I thought maybe it'd be Finn or home or more likely my Dads, but it was you. Then I met someone. He was, well it was me being a silly little schoolgirl all over again and." Rachel closed her eyes at the memory and felt Quinn's fingers gently brush against hers, encouraging her to finish. "I walked in on him with my new best friend and then roommate. Things got a little awkward after that."
"He broke your heart?"
"No, I was more upset that I'd let someone mess me around so badly, it wasn't just the cheating. He'd been controlling. I'd let a guy say where I could go and who I could see. I didn't even like the girl that was supposed to be my best friend, she was so shallow and clearly not a good friend either." She shook her head at the memory and noticed Quinn's brow knitted together. "I was weak and so desperate to be accepted and loved, its always been my weakness."
"But you are stronger now." Quinn stated, she could tell Rachel wasn't the girl that she'd just described, not anymore.
"I am. Meeting Jesse again helped."
"The guy that first played you?" Quinn scoffed, she still wasn't too pleased that Jesse was still in Rachel's life.
"He changed. I'd changed and I had a friend. He helped me with auditions and even helped me make contacts. Without him I might have ended back in Lima, teaching drama and running the glee club."
"So maybe I can forgive him then, maybe." Quinn smiled through a pout.
"I hope so, he's a good friend. But enough melancholy, how about we get out of this place?"
"Can we hide indoors all day?"
"No."
"Going out sounds great." Quinn said with zero enthusiasm.
"Come on, this is the first time I've known you were in New York with me. I want to take you places."
"Empire state is fun the second time?"
"It is and the fifth, but I meant my theatre and my favorite coffee shop and there is this little book shop and..."
"I'll be ready in 30." Quinn jumped out of bed and rushed to get ready, she was desperate to see Rachel's favorite place and knew it was a big deal to the brunette to take her there.
xxx
They returned four hours later, arms wrapped around each other trying to keep warm. They fell through the door in laughter and were met by quizzical looks from both of Rachel's dads.
"Good day?" Leroy asked.
"The best." Rachel replied, the smile not leaving her face as she looked adoringly at Quinn.
"Best Thanksgiving ever." Quinn nodded.
"It's been so good seeing you again, your father and I wondered if you'd join us for Hanukkah. It's been a while."
"I uh." Rachel looked to Quinn and remembered she didn't need to keep running anymore. "I'd love to Daddy." She was suddenly scooped up in Leroy's arms.
"And you too Quinn? If you'd like to? We love having people and we do celebrate Christmas too, so?" Hiram added.
"Can you face Lima?" Rachel focussed on the blonde.
"For you? Yes, I'd love to come."
Plans were made, menu's discussed. Quinn's presence meant Leroy could indulge in cooking meat and he was letting them all know that Quinn was now his best friend forever. Quinn laughed and relaxed and could honestly not remember feeling happier or more like she belonged in her whole life.
"It feels like home." She pressed a kiss to Rachel's neck as they nuzzled on the couch.
"New York?"
"No, this. Being with you."
Rachel leant her head against Quinn's, it really did feel perfect, but an old doubt kept creeping into her mind. In their bubble it was amazing, yet Rachel was a little scared how things would be once they had to face the real world, but for now she pushed it to one side. They had just had the best Thanksgiving and in a little over a month, they'd do it all again for the holidays.
xxx
A/N: Thanks for the reviews everyone, it means a lot. I'm working on the next chapter.
Christmas at the Berry's should be here by Friday, I'm thinking some fluff and there may be sex, but I don't know, do you think they are ready?