A/N Sorry this chapter took so long to upload; I've just started college and had the plague, by plague I mean stomach bug. But enough with the excuses, on with the show!
All disclaimers still apply.
We didn't stay long in that house and for that I am eternally grateful. The faces coating the walls haunted me, the smiling faces of a family; I don't know what happened to them but I was certain that those smiling faces in the photos that seemed to be everywhere I looked were no longer smiling. They were probably dead. We camped out in the dead family's house for only one night, leaving promptly the next morning. One good thing did come of the house though; they had a caravan, a caravan stocked with essentials and tents. And so we knew our next step: Leave the town. After scoring the houses in a close proximity to caravan-dead-family-house we come up with enough supplies to keep us afloat, for a while at least. We sped through the deserted roads leaving the fallen in our path dazed by our fleeting presence, by nightfall we were in neighbouring fields where we set up camp. We had decided that for now at least we should stay in the town's proximity, I wasn't happy with this decision and Kurt seemed to feel likewise but if we had marched on away the rest would have stayed; they wanted to find their families, to at least get possessions, photos of their loved ones.
As everyone sat around the campfire discussing strategies of how to locate loved ones I quietly slipped away, not wanting to hear it, not wanting to think about my own mother and father of whom I wasn't willing to risk my own life to find. Sitting behind the tents cross-legged I rested my hand on my faintly protruding stomach; I didn't want to bring a baby into this world, a world where death and destruction sought out all happiness, a world with no hope. Though maybe, just maybe this baby was the only hope we had, something that we desperately needed these days, though hardly ever feel.
As the sky grew dark the encroaching shadows drew me back to the make-shift safety of the main group, I could see Mercedes cooking through the caravan window but everyone else was sitting around the fire, hot chocolates and blankets already dished out. I sat myself on the edge of one of the logs we'd brought over as a seating arrangement, farthest away from any of the others; staring glassy-eyed at the dancing fire letting their conversation seep through my consciousness.
"I didn't see a single living person on the way here, how likely is it that anyone's alive?" Pucks voice was hard but I could feel the tangible cracks in it.
"We have to see, I thought we'd agreed on this?" Artie was a leader, a director I'd figured that much out by now.
"We have! We have, I'm just, well I'm a little anxious…"
"If no one else has survived how will we? I think we should let go and just leave." I was right, Kurt did agree with me.
I let my eyes break away from the fires snare and studied Kurt's gentle features, his skin glowed golden against the fires heat, his hair carefully coiffed, his beautiful features portrayed determination and superiority. But his eyes held a secret, I don't know how I knew but I did, that sounds poncy but it was true. He looked as though he had a secret he desperately wanted to tell but couldn't.
"For the one hundredth time I-am-not-leaving-my-abuela" Santana spoke through gritted teeth.
"Go ahead and lose your life in vain then." Kurt's words were quiet but it was obvious that Santana had heard them because in the next second she was shouting.
"No voy a dejar a mi abuela para no puta, no tienen voz en este Smurf Prancy así que cierra sus labios señora!"
It took both Puck and Finn to with-strain the Latino and Brittany to calm her down. I was watching the fire fade from Santana's eyes when it hit me; the undead can't walk around for ever.
"Guys!"
Everyone's eyes were on me as I shot out of my seat; I expect they thought I'd seen a zombie or something equally as life threatening judging by their expressions.
"I just realised something, the zombies, well they're corpses right?"
I hope so.
"Well corpses decay"
"So we just have to outlast them!" Rachel pipped up catching on
And there was that little devil called hope again.
I'm not sure whether it held as much comfort for anyone else as it did for me but I went to bed feeling a little lighter. However I couldn't seem to fall asleep, my mind just kept whirring, all thoughts on my stomach. This was the time of night I'd generally be lolling myself to sleep reading a comic; the little things were putting me off-balance. Rolling to my side in the tartan sleeping bag that was ever so slightly itchy –I didn't even know tartan sleeping bags existed, maybe the family were Scottish, I shuddered and pushed all thoughts of the haunting family away- I watched Kurt's chest rise and fall gently, letting his deep breathing relax me. His silhouette lay dark against the orange luminosity of the tent, shuffling over in a very worm like manner I snuggled myself against his sleeping form momentarily feeling his comforting warmth before slipping out of my sleeping bag and slinking out of the tent. Rachel was on watch for the next hour, I could see her tiny form cuddled up on one of the fire-side logs. Feeling my own thirst I poured two plastic cups of water from a flask that happened to be by my tent. As I drew closer I couldn't help but feel like something more than a casual companionship was drawing me towards her, something strong. Her sweet face was sombre and her long black hair was no-longer sleek but tousled, I liked it.
"I come bearing gifts my lady"
As I perched next to her on the log I watched her turn towards me with a gentle smile on her lips and I couldn't help but thinking that her eyes lit up as she looked at me. I definitely needed to stop my daydreams from interfering with my perspective of reality.
"Water" I said gesturing towards the cups and then handing her one.
"When I was little and I was sad, my dad's would bring me a glass of water. It got to a point where I didn't know if I was sad or thirsty."
"Are you sad?"
"No, my dads are on holiday in Egypt, maybe over there it's safer?" Her face looked hopeful, but not the genuine kind, more as though she was trying to convince herself that she was hopeful.
"I'm sure it is, it has to be"
"They're in a rural villa anyway so I have to believe they're okay."
After a moment of ever so slightly awkward silence Rachel continued
"Quinn?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you sad?"
I pondered that for a moment and genuinely couldn't find an answer.
"My parents didn't love me so they don't deserve my emotions." I hoped saying it out loud would make it true, but in all honesty emotions come whether or not they've been deserved.
She stayed silent, I could practically feel the sympathy radiating from her and out of habit I almost shot her down, but this wasn't the hard Quinn Fabray, weakness isn't a sin. Just to break the silence I continued
"Truly I have more important things to worry about."
"Like what?" Her curiosity made her look like a small child, I just wanted to eat her all up.
"Well you" quickly tagged on by "And the rest of them"
I let my hand subconsciously rest on my hardly-there bump and noticed my mistake instantly as I watched Rachel's eyes follow the movement and grow wide at the gesture. She didn't know, not really, I could have shrugged it off and she would have believed me but I couldn't, in that moment it felt physically impossible to lie to her, to not tell her.
"Are you?" Her voice had scarcely any volume but it felt like a shout.
"Pregnant?" I started nodding, biting my bottom lip as the tears made their appearance.
"Oh Quinn!"
And then she embraced me, holding me so close to her own body. I let my mind commit each level of the sensation to memory.
"Are you okay? How long have you known? Do you need anything? Who's the dad?" Her questions chased each other out of her mouth and as the last one tumbled out her had smothered her lips and she was quite clearly embarrassed by her outburst. But if I wanted to tell anyone then I wanted to tell her.
"Yes. A while. A friend. Puck."
"Will I do, as a friend I mean? I know you're Quinn Fabray but my shoulders here." I could see more questions in her eyes but we both thought them better left unasked.
"Your shoulders the only one I want right now."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"I want you to distract me."
After a moment she complied.
"I have 38 pairs of knee-high socks."
"Wow"
"Yes, I'm quite proud, but the aims 100 before I'm 20"
"May I ask why?"
"What would life be without goals?"
"This."
I watched the smile slide off of her face and immediately felt sorry for bringing up our situation.
"I'm sorry"
"Sorry?" Shock was clear in her voice
"Yes."
"Quinn Fabray just apologized to me!" She spoke so quietly that I wondered whether that was meant to reach my ears.
She spoke louder this time,
"Aren't you supposed to be glaring at me and calling me 'big nose' or something equally as offensive?"
"Oh no." I let seriousness colour my tone.
"Much more offensive."
I could tell she could see the smile in my eyes because her face lit up 1000 watts and her contagious laughter filled the night's air.
I don't know how but I'd never seen Rachel smile, at least I'd never paid attention when all was normal, when her smile wasn't rare. I would have remembered it if I had. It would have engrained itself into my memory as it had now, her face a moment ago so serene burst into joy, a joy so vivid that it lit up her whole face, her mahogany eyes intensifying, deepening. Showing the joy in her very soul, her every thought, passion, emotion lay in her eyes in that moment. Her whole universe. Her perfect teeth on display; imagine an angel's smile: that was Rachel's smile, perfection. But what caught me, made my stomach tighten was her dimple; her smile had revealed a dimple sitting on the right side of her face that gave her a cheeky impression.
It was a smile I couldn't help but join in on.
Her smile was everything, as it slipped from her face and her eyes lost their wild heat, looking like gentle warmth once more I knew I'd never see her face the same way again. Her smile would forever be in my heart.
I suspect that was the moment I realized that I was unconditionally in love with Rachel Berry.
I grew suddenly uncomfortable, largely by the intense need to lean forward and kiss her lips that she was biting into.
"Well it's late and I need to catch some sleep…"
"Good night Quinn."
"Sweet dreams Rach, I'll see you in the morning."
With that I scurried back to my tent and snuggled up against Kurt.
I woke with a gentle breeze washing over my body; Kurt's sleeping form still against me. The breeze was softly fluttering the tent flaps that I was sure had I secured the night before as I snuck in. Sitting up slowly I watched Kurt stir slightly at the movement and waited for his features to relax once more before slipping out of my sleeping bag again. The sky outside was still slightly dark, it must have been sunrise; everyone else was still sleeping that was for sure. Looking around I felt completely awake which wasn't exactly normal for me, I was rarely anything less than groggy when I awoke.
A whispering made my head snap up, the voice sounded like a quiet tinkle of bells.
"Violet Ida' Tryamon"
"Who's there?" My voice was scarcely audible.
Laughter so sweet that it seemed childlike rang through the air presumably in response to my words.
I found myself moving towards the exquisite noise, it took me out of the campground and to a magnificent forest that I had somehow never noticed before. The forest was tremendously inviting, a warm golden glow filtered through the trees with their intensely emerald-green leaves, mushrooms of every size and colour sprouted through the dewy grass at the trees bases. Though most strikingly the forest was entwined with the most elaborate floral display, stood on the edge of the tree-line I looked around in awe, my mouth parted and my eyes wide.
The laughter broke through my consciousness once more and I primed myself to find the source which turned out to be immediately in front of me. I would have assumed that he were in camouflage but something told me that he were more part of the forest than trying to look like the forest. White flowers blossomed from his long golden hair and he was clad in what I could only assume was raw white silk; his limbs matched the colouring of his outfit glowing white themselves. He could have been human, but he was not, his ears told me that much; they stood pointed out of his hair like an elves ears. He had an ethereal beauty like none I had ever seen; his handsome features far surpassed that of Finns or Pucks, more beautiful than even Rachel (on the outside that is, of course by this point I was certain no one could match Rachel Berry as an entire being).
The creäture had a vast smile dominating his face and was staring directly at me.
"Violet" His voice was soft and if I wasn't mistaken he sounded almost in awe himself.
"Violet?" Again I couldn't summon my voice to project much more than a whisper.
"Or Quinn, hello Quinn." As he spoke he stepped forward, out of the undergrowth towards me with his smile still in place.
"H-hello"
Reaching forwards with both of his long pale hands he picked up my limp hand and placed his lips upon it. His lips felt like every pleasant experience I had ever felt, soft like a plum, red and swollen as though bee stung. They looked as though if I bit into them delicious fruity fluid would seep out, not that I wanted to kiss this otherworldly stranger I chastised myself.
I wanted to ask so many questions but they built up in my throat forming a lump that made it hard to breathe correctly.
The stranger began to circle me, taking in every inch of me in with his eyes; it made me feel very vulnerable. His fingers entwined themselves into my own golden hair that tumbled loose down my back. Once he was facing me once more he spoke again, his eyes holding mine in a trance like stare.
"It is not safe here Quinn Lucy Fabray, you must come with me." His soft words seemed shy, his cheeks blushing and he began looking at our feet bashfully.
"I can keep you safe. I need to take you away from here, let me?"
I found myself feeling a very strong desire to let this stranger keep me safe, to let him lead me away into the unknown with the unknown.
"Yes" I found the word tumbling out before I had even consciously thought it; I found my whole being agreed with the word.
I watched as his eyes lit up for me as no others truly had, not so very genuinely.
"No." A voice called from behind me, I couldn't tear my gaze away from the strangers to investigate. The voice was very stern and somehow familiar. I felt waves of familiarity and nostalgia strike me making me suddenly feel very uncomfortable being with this stranger.
"Einion, what do you think you are doing with Quinn?" The voice still held its stern strength.
"Merely taking her to safety"
"Do not lie to me; she is not of your kind Tylwyth Teg. What does Gwyn ap Nudd want with her?"
By now I was thoroughly confused. I desperately wanted to look towards my saviour (?) but it felt as though some kind of force was physically stopping me from breaking our gaze.
"We are simply curious in her."
"This is not mere curiosity, she is my responsibility."
Whose responsibility? Who was this person speaking?
"The lady is obliged for she has already accepted my request."
"The lady has no choice in the matter."
No choice?! How dare him, I was no one's responsibility and I could make my own choices.
Suddenly the strangers –Einion?- arms were around my waist and I was being flung over his shoulder. I felt powerless against his strength and no screams were coming up my throat. However now that our eyes were no longer engaged I could look over my shoulder towards the source of the other voice.
Said human, no, yet again not a human was apparently in utter disbelief.
This creature had startlingly crystal blue eyes that changed to emerald green with the slightest tilt of his head. His limbs resembled Einion's in their slender length and pale shade as well as his equally pointed ears though this was where their similarities ceased. This second creature was as familiar as my own face, though I had never in my memory seen him before, he radiated warmth and love. Even with his eyes so cold and hateful as he looked upon Einion. His hair was short, splaying up from his forehead vaguely resembling a large disarrayed quiff which was deep mahogany. His facial features were delicate with a slightly pointed though perfectly swooping and proportioned nose and plump lips.
As this second beautiful stranger charged forward my heart lurched, he was going to save me, no, he just had to. Reaching us I watched as he grabbed Einion's arm with his own long pale hand.
"YOU WILL NOT TAKE HER" The second stranger s voice thundered echoing off the very trees.
Einion spoke under his breath as he pulled his arm out of the strangers grasp. "I'd like to see you try"
In return for that comment the stranger's lips pulled up into a devilish grin with his eyebrow raising. Twisting around I watched Einion's face grow ever whiter in response.
"Your wish is my command." The strangers smile grew larger with his words.
With that Einion began to slowly back away, me being still across his shoulder.
"You cannot perform magic in front of her; it would give your identity away!" His voice raised several octaves.
I was guessing they were both magical so why was Einion getting so scared?
"No but I will!" A third voice called out from the forest to which both original strangers seemed startled by. My head was spinning.
"What are you doing here Aelfwine?" The second stranger blurted out in shock.
"Just came to help an old friend out" Aelfwine spoke casually whilst sauntering out of the depths of the trees.
"Enough with the lies today" Apparently the second stranger was exasperated.
"Alright, alright well I merely came to observe the destruction of the human realm which would not be quite as entertaining lacking the infamous Violet Ida' Tryamon."
I could have sworn I saw a smile creep onto the second stranger's lips.
"Well as long as you're here to help."
"For now."
And with that the two of them stood in defiance against Einion who promptly dropped me which may I add hurt.
Leaving a shout of "You will feel Gwyn ap Nudd's wrath" in his wake.
To which both remaining strangers began howling in laughter at.
After a moment I did a little cough so as they'd remember my presence.
"Oh I am sorry my dear lady" He began crouching down next to me as he spoke and even though we were both on the ground attempted a little bow.
"What's your name?" I blurted it out feeling as though he wasn't about to hang around for long.
"I go by Robin Goodfellow." He said with a wink.
A/N: Now look up Kesha's 'Goodbye' it's appropriate and it's so not Kesha so don't get your panties in a twist, I'm an auto-tune hater too, unless we're talking adventure time. Oh Finn the human…But yes 'Goodbye' is my jam of the moment and in turn the soundtrack to my next few days' worth of writing because I will play it incessantly until I hate it.
Refocusing on relevant matters thank you for every single review, I may not get masses but they all touch me and make it that much more worth not doing my course work. Sorry for a lack of vampires Jhyena Aj Jax but Puck got the job done just fine but yes step three is definitely not going to be completed anytime soon.
So excited about people reading this chapter and yey for faberry fluff right? If you can call that fluff. I've been waiting so long to get my teeth well and truly into the plot so I hope you guys like the direction that this is going and pretty please review for the sake of my curiosity?
Just so y'all know:
The next chapter makes a few things clearer, in case your confused by this little twist. Though even in the next one don't discount it, oops I'm giving t much away...
I WILL be better at uploading -she says in vain.
I had something else my sister distracted me and I've forgotten, lets hope it wasn't important.
So until next time!