I'm sorry that this is such a short chapter, it's just exam times where I am and everything is a bit hectic so I thought I'd try get something out. Thanks for all the really kind reviews, they really made my day. Have fun!
After Quinn and Leroy finished talking they came up from the basement, both with bleary eyes. Rachel and David had been sitting anxiously at the kitchen table, watching the door to the basement and wondering what the hell they were doing. Before her fathers could even mention separate bedrooms Rachel grabbed Quinn by the hand and pulled her up to her bedroom, watching as Quinn moved to her bed and fell on top of it. Rachel didn't know what to do, she had a billion questions as to what they had talked about but she decided she should hold them off for a bit.
"Come here…" Quinn mumbled. Rachel climbed onto the bed obendiently and sat up against the headboard so that her thigh was just touching the top of Quinn's head. Quinn crawled so that she was able to rest her head on Rachel's stomach, not even bothering to wait and see if Rachel would flinch back or not. Rachel couldn't hold her smile and ran her hand over her head, playing with a strand of her hair.
"What did you guys talk about?" Rachel asked, watching as Quinn played with the hem of her shirt.
"My feelings."
"And how was that?" Rachel pressed.
"Horrible." She muttered.
"Of course." Rachel murmured, trying not to laugh and she watched as Quinn rolled her eyes.
"I'm too tired to talk. Shut up so I can sleep." She murmured, snuggling into Rachel's stomach. Rachel couldn't help but nod, watching the cheerleader who looked at peace and for the first time, a little bit happy curl against her.
Quinn woke up with a start, clutching the nearest thing to her and that would be Rachel's hand. Rachel groaned in response, tugging her hand back. Quinn rubbed her eyes and turned to look at her. So last night was not a dream? Quinn did reveal her deepest secrets to a man she barely knew? She turned to look at Rachel's alarm clock, nearly five thirty. She needed a run. She got up, changed quickly into her jogging gear and grabbed her iPod, scribbling a note saying she was going for a jog for Rachel and left. Quinn liked running. She would do everything running if she could. She didn't have to think, just pick a point and pace and that's all she thought about, but this morning was a different. The whole bloody day was different. She finally confessed her feelings to Rachel, which was way too far for her liking but she was glad it was out and Rachel seemed to accept it. Also Quinn had someone for the first time in her life to be there for her. It certainly surprised her that she broke down in front of Leroy. She never broke down in front of anyone, let alone strangers. She couldn't ignore her thoughts, it overtook her whole brain and nearly caused her to run into a tree. Jesus.
Rachel woke, rubbing her eyes and rolling over. She sat up when she realised someone else was meant to be there and looked around. Quinn's bright red cheerio's bag was still in the corner of the room and she saw her Singing Contest from 1998 1st Place Trophy perched up to hold something under it. She slid out of bed, grabbing her bathrobe and read the note.
Rachel,
I've gone for a jog, b back soon.
x
Q
She rubbed her eyes and looked at her clock. Six-fifteen. When did she leave? Rachel walked out of her bedroom and headed to the stairs when she heard her fathers.
"She cried David, I've never seen a girl cry that hard." She haltered and sat on the top step, rubbing her knee and leaning forward to hear clearer. "And she was quiet for so long, she wouldn't say anything and I think it's because she's lost trust in people."
"What do you mean?" She heard her other father, David, ask.
"Well, Rachie told us her boyfriend cheated on her, and from the looks of it her father isn't around very much."
"Leroy… did you see…"
"Her arm? Yes I did too."
"You don't think?"
"I think so… They looked like… fingers." Rachel wanted to gag, but she felt a different sick feeling that she had to tell her fathers without Quinn's permission. Rachel came down the stairs, making her footsteps louder than usual and she heard her fathers readjust and change the topic.
"It's her father." Rachel murmured, leaning against the doorframe and keeping her eyes low to the ground. "He hit her against the kitchen cupboard doorknob and her forehead split open. If you look carefully her chin has a small indent and that's from being pushed into the corner of a door." She looked up at them, their faces appalled and shocked.
"Rachie…" David whispered. She walked over to him and sat down on his lap.
"I went over there to continue on our assignment and when Mr. Fabray saw me he went ballistic, he wasn't happy so Quinn got me out of there and went back in. He hit her I don't know all I could hear was screaming so I waited till it was over and I went to her bedroom and she was bleeding and she begged me not to tell anyone and even you guys, just before we came here." With that the door slammed shut and Quinn came through, wearing leggings to her knees and a tank, her hair slicked back into her signature ponytail. She had a small smile on her face, which then faltered when she saw all three of the Berry's faces.
"What's happened?" Quinn murmured weakly, looking at Rachel for an explanation. She got up and coughed.
"Quinn, Rachel did the right thing."
"Did the right thing?" Quinn asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It came up in conversation and… she told us about your father." Quinn turned to look at Rachel, her eyes hurt.
"You told them?" She shouted and turned away from them, running up to Rachel's room and starting to pack her bag.
"Quinn please."
"I trusted you!" Quinn said hysterically, turning around to look at Rachel who was now standing in the doorway.
"I just I couldn't help it."
"There you go again, being so bloody nosy." Quinn muttered darkly, shoving in her clothes and zipped up her bag. She turned and headed to the door where Rachel stood, blocking her way.
"You're upset." Rachel murmured.
"No shit, now move."
"No." Quinn grabbed her and pulled her away, freezing when she realised what she had did. She turned and Rachel was rubbing her wrist, standing near her bed.
"Rachel." She whispered, dropping her bag. "I'm sorry."
"Let me help you Quinn, please. Let me in." Rachel whispered, biting her lip. Quinn started to cry, but just nodded, stepping forward and Rachel captured her, wrapping her arms around her and held her. Letting her cry into the crook of her neck.
"I'll run you a bath, okay?" Rachel whispered and Quinn nodded, stepping back from her and wiping her eyes. Rachel sat her down on her bed and moved to her bathroom, turning it on and getting out the essentials, soap, shampoo and conditioner. She filled the bath up with bubbles and pulled Quinn into the bathroom. She was unsure if she should help her take off her clothes, but then Quinn turned, pulling off her running gear and slipped in. Rachel managed to get a glimpse of her butt, admiring how round and cute it looked.
"Can you sit with me? For a bit?" Quinn whispered as Rachel made a move to the door. She nodded, closing the door and sat down on the floor beside the bath, resting her chin on her arm that she had propped up on the edge of the bath. She was also glad that she decided to put in bubbles so that Quinn was fully covered. She was pretty sure she wasn't ready for that yet.
"Do you think you can really help me?" Quinn whispered and Rachel nodded, smiling a little.
"I think I can, Quinn." Rachel murmured.
"I'm so sorry for what I did to you, I really am." Quinn whispered and Rachel just shook her head.
"It was just a reaction, Quinn. It's okay. It was nothing."
"No I mean, for all the other times too." Rachel bit her lip and looked down at her lap. "I felt the need to hurt someone because of what I was going through and you didn't deserve that. No one does." Rachel smiled, taking Quinn's hand that was on the edge of the bath and holding it firmly in both of hers.
"I know and thank you, for apologizing. It's not easy for any of us." Quinn nodded, glancing down at her hand in hers and couldn't help but smile.
"Are you sure… you're okay with me… being who I am?" Quinn whispered, keeping her eyes on their hands. She couldn't bare to see the hate in Rachel's eyes. Rachel leant across to put her thumb on Quinn's chin, pushing it up to look at her.
"As weird as it seems, Quinn. I'm fine with it. Honestly, I thought one day I would have an experience with another woman-" Rachel, murmured, waving a hand.
"An experience?" Quinn asked with an eyebrow raised. Rachel couldn't help but laugh.
"I don't know. I've kind of seen it as… free to love." Rachel murmured.
"Rachel you have to understand, you're the only one that makes me feel like this. I've never felt like this before."
"And it's scary, I know Quinn, but I'm here. I accept it."
"Thank you."
"Now, I better go reassure my fathers that we're not doing anything up here, otherwise we'll never be able to see each other again." Rachel murmured with a laugh and got up. Quinn tugged her hand to pull her down and leant up to kiss her cheek.
"Thank you." Quinn whispered, biting her lip. Rachel smiled and kissed her hand before heading down the stairs to two worried fathers. Rachel couldn't help but smile and that's all she started to do from then on. Smile.
Reviews are always welcome!