Dirty Paws

by SurrealSteamPuck

Rachel Berry was not afraid of She had to repeat this mantra to herself as she ran away as fast as her short legs could carry The elliptical had prepared her endurance, but never for speed, and even then, she felt her knees start to ache, her legs burn, and her breathe It wouldn't be long before it caught up with *AU where Rachel meets weretiger Quinn*

13. Chapter 13

Chapter 13:

Author's Note: This is much shorter than I originally wanted. In fact, I cut about a third of what this chapter was, maybe more, because the next portion wouldn't make sense to split, and it is really important to the plot. Yes, there is one. I've finished mapping it out, and in the words of my brother: "I hate you, that's an awesome idea, but I hate you and die in a fire." So it's going good to say the least.

Rachel is hilarious to write from, especially the further I get with her character. These two are becoming easier and easier to write. In fact, so is Brittany who tends to be the hardest character for me to build around because there is nothing in canon.

Anyways, I own nothing, and sadly with the 100th episode soon upon us, we must send sacrifices to the OTP Gods so that at least fucking Ryan Murphy doesn't screw things up (These are futile prayers, but we must do something anyways). I'm playing in their sandbox, stealing their toys and making thing right again.

As always, please read and review. To my many follows and those who favorite, welcome to the insanity. Join because of the characters, stay because Quinn would murder you if you left Rachel. Seriously. It wouldn't be pretty.

SurrealSteamPuckk(WeOffendedShadows)

!-!-!-!-!-!-!

Dec. 2nd

They couldn't meet up until seven the next night, not for the lack of trying though. Rachel's dads had wanted to take her out to dinner, an apology for the weekend. Quinn was invited, though she paled at the idea and shook her head. Not that she really blamed her girlfriend. Things weren't right between Quinn and the adult Berrys and as much as she wanted to make them so, that would be between them and her. She would just have to push them to make the right decision, that's all.

Tuesday brought more homework, lessons and practices, but Rachel demanded, and Quinn smartly gave in without a fight, that they have their conversation that night. It was important that they actually discuss just what happened in the art room.

After Santana showed her whatever it was inside of her, energy, magic, life, mana, Rachel didn't know the word to use, she shivered and really wanted to feel Quinn's arms around her. Which was stupid because the transformation, no acceptance, there is proper terminology that she must use now, was extremely painful at the moment, and Quinn nearly passed out returning completely to human form. This only led to a guilty feeling Rachel who dragged, ran more like it, Puck out of there to Glee, leaving her girlfriend to be dressed and taken care of by her bff and her bbf's girlfriend. She was a coward, but honestly, she hated that she was the reason why Quinn even felt that way and needed to wallow in her self-pity. She hated herself and needed to leave before Quinn saw her crying. That would have only fueled her girlfriend's guilt complex.

The rest of the day and this morning, she avoiding Quinn a bit, though told her that she just needed a little time to deal with everything. And it wasn't a lie, she did need to deal. Not with Quinn. Never with her. Rachel felt she made this point very, very clear to her girlfriend, though the hurt still shone through. What she needed to deal with was the idea that Puck had some sort of mythical ancestry relating him to Hephaestus and Santana was a, well, Rachel left before she could learn the actual word, but druid seemed appropriate for the moment. The power she used wasn't her own, but rather the Latina channeled the Earth's energy to protect its inhabitants, especially those who can't protect themselves. Which was weird given that she decided to focus on Brittany and Quinn, and now she was added to the mix, which was kinda cool in a way that made no real sense.

Brittany talked to her at lunch as Santana had to deal with some silly school hierarchy thing as Head Cheerio, and Quinn was working in her studio, finishing up her projects for the semester, alone. Away from Rachel. Because she asked her to. Which made things much worse as far as Rachel felt.

They talked a bit more about what the whole exercise in scary people with power she didn't understand was about. Rachel was a newborn in the world and lacked any real understanding, which meant when she really got involved, and given that her relationship with Quinn was on track for permanency, she would eventually be involved. She had no talent, or at least, nothing readily known, but that didn't mean she couldn't learn something at least. She wanted to learn some things, at least to not be useless to her girlfriend. Besides the sex with Quinn's tiger-self. She was sure she'd be awesome at the sex.

The lunch conversation lead to Brittany not allowing her to hide, so now, Rachel stood on the porch of the Fabray resident, holding a plate of "I'm sorry" cookies for Quinn in hopes that she could forgive her for avoiding her, even if she really wasn't avoiding her.

Rachel had been waiting for five minutes, which was distressing because she was extremely prompt and arrived at the agreed time of seven pm. Either Quinn was punishing her for not taking the time to discuss the recent events and revelations or something was incredibly wrong. Rachel hoped it was just the former, though she had a really good argument for jer actions, with power point presentation and everything.

The house was expansive, larger than Rachel though would ever be necessary for two people to live in. It had been a while since she had been over, though their busy schedules had prevented any meetings at Quinn's house, and they had only a few at Rachel's. But when she was here previously, she had the feeling that both Mrs. Fabray and Quinn had no desire to really stay in it any longer than they had to, and they had to simply because Quinn was still in school. After they graduated, the house would probably be sold and the proceeds used to find someplace else where there were no memories of a horrible man trying to control them.

Finally, after seven minutes and thirty seven seconds of waiting, the door opened and Mrs. Fabray was standing at the door, a washcloth in her hands and a smile on her face. "Rachel? Why didn't you ring the bell? I wouldn't have known you were here except Quinn asked me to check for your car."

She blushed and looked away. "I told Quinn I'd be here at seven."

"Ah, okay," she said, as if it made sense. Which it should. Rachel Berry was a very prompt person. This was a fact. Like Quinn was a tiger. "Would you like to come in? Quinn will be down in a minute."

"Yes, please, thank you," Rachel replied and stepped into the Fabray residence. "I, um, I made these for you."

"I'm sorry' cookies?" Mrs. Fabray raised an eyebrow, exactly like her daughter. Rachel blushed under the glare/stare of the mother. She wasn't very good with mothers, what with not really having one. "Is there something you should be sorry for? Should I be having a conversation about why you hurt my daughter, missy?"

"No, I mean, maybe, I didn't mean-"

"Mom, can you do the interrogation after we talk? I need her to function for it," Quinn said as she came down the stairs, throwing a sweatshirt over her naked torso, and well defined abs. Rachel could never forget those. She licked her lips before looking up to the gentle smile of her girlfriend right in front of her.

"It is only proper that as your mother I learn what this young ladies intentions are. Especially since Frannie isn't here to give her a proper interrogation. We had those lights installed in the basement for a reason." Rachel swallowed heavily and wanted to hide behind Quinn. Interrogation? Lights? Was she gonna be wacked? Because she really wanted to lose her virginity to Quinn before that happened. Maybe that was the reason why Mrs. Fabray had decided this route. She knew about her plan. Well, revised plan. Quinn changed everything and Rachel couldn't be thankful enough for that.

"Mom, seriously." Quinn wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. Rachel would have been really thankful for the gesture had the glare/stare not been in play.

"Oh, fine." The eyebrow lowered on Mrs. Fabray, but the smirk didn't disappear. "I'll just take these cookies into the kitchen and not share."

"Not cool, Mom," Quinn said. "Not cool."

"The study is open," Mrs. Fabray said down to Rachel. "I started a fire there and it should be settled a bit for you. Quinnie told me how cold you get sometimes, she's a catch isn't she, and I-"

"Thank you mom." Quinn pushed Rachel out of the hallway, though she couldn't stop laughing at the older blonde. "Really, we will call you if we require anything."

She had yet to explore the rest of the Fabray house, but the study was exactly as she had expected one to be in a "rich" person's house. Except there were actual books, which was weird. Quinn stopped pushing her once they were fully inside the room, where a small fire was burning in, its only proper location, a fireplace. The dark browns of the wood of some orient type were practically glowing under the light, and there was a rather large chair sitting right in front of the fire, a small table with a large coffee mug next to it.

"Here," Quinn slide her hand down to hers and pulled her to the chair. She climbed into to it and dragged Rachel into her arms. As she snuggled into her embrace, the tigress pulled a blanket from underneath with just a toe, seriously, her girlfriend was way too limber for her own good, and covered them. "Just here."

Rachel smiled as she relaxed into Quinn's arms and tried to burrow deeper, pulling her arms around her shoulders. She had been cold since the conversation, not overly, but just a cool sensation that sat under her skin and refused to leave her. She was still uneasy about the whole thing, though Rachel had figured it was mostly due to her girlfriend's own unease.

"You wanted to talk?" She asked. Quinn nodded into her hair. "Are you mad at me?" Her hair shook. "Then what's wrong?"

"You okay with this?"

"With what?" Quinn dragged a hand down the front of her shirt, getting caught for a moment on her shirt before tracing circles on her stomach. "With the magic?" Quinn shrugged. "A conversation only works if two people are talking, kitty." She bit her neck lightly before sucking at the skin. Rachel tried to pull away, but the arms around her held her close. "Behave, kitty. Talk first, then fun time."

"Fine," Quinn said, breathing onto her neck.

"Quinn?" The tigress tightened her grip on her, pulling Rachel as flush as possible in her lap.

"Hmm?"

"Words. Now."

"Kay," Quinn said, then nuzzled her neck again. Now all she could do was wait. Quinn would take her time, gather her words, and speak when she was ready. But at least Rachel had put her foot down, however much she didn't want to, in regards to other activities. Her fathers didn't have a set curfew, but that didn't mean she would abuse the system they had in place. There were rules after all.

So Rachel was content to rest on a comfortable chair with a really large warmer wrapped around her, watching a fire. Fire was a rarity in the Berry residence, mostly due to her Daddy's inability to keep it from jumping to other places than where it's supposed to be.

"I love you," Quinn whispered into her ear.

Rachel sat up straight, her hands tightening on her tigress' arms around her waist. This was not what she was expecting. They were supposed to be talking about magic and her possibly being involved in some strange things going on. And not that she didn't hate the idea of her girlfriend loving her. It was fantastic and required a song to truly show how amazing it was. She had known Quinn loved her, truly loved her. She never needed the words to make Rachel know it, she wasn't that type of person. Which meant for her vocalizing something like that, some big emotion that probably frightened her greatly. More than it should.

Things had changed so much in the past few days, and Rachel was worried that Quinn would run. Really run. Far away from her, over some stupid idea that it was to protect Rachel from some stupid Hunter, stupid Jesse St. Jerkass showing up when he wasn't wanted, who was apparently scarier than the name actually suggested, which was weird but she could run with it as long as her girlfriend wasn't going to run out on her. Really, it was just a scrawny kid who looked like he needed a meal and a make-over for a different reason and- Damn Santana for making her aware of these beauty things. The knowledge was taking up room for other things, more important things, like Broadway. No, Jesse was not scaring away her girlfriend, or her name wasn't Rach-

"I am keeping you until the world's end, Rae," Quinn said, "So stop worrying I am breaking up with you over some noble idea that you would be safer without me. You are mine and that is not changing."

"Oh," Rachel replied. "Good, I mean, as you should, because I was just about to tell you how-"

"The point of telling you that was so you would not rant right now, sweetie." Quinn kissed the back of her neck and pulled her deeper into the chair, wrapping a leg around hers. Her tigress was way too flexible for her own good. "I need you. I do not think I could do this without you. Without Brittany or Santana, but certainly without you."

"Smart kitty."

"I have been top of our class for four years straight for a reason, Rae."

"I hate you so much for that by the way."

"Believe me, a lot of people did," Quinn sighed. "Apparently, they thought that something as silly as pregnancy and a baby was actually going to slow me down. Mike was not happy with me for a while, though that mostly meant him not looking at me when we were not talking. Serafine was beautiful, Rae."

"I know," Rachel replied.

"I," she swallowed heavily then pushed her face into Rachel's hair. "I think I would like to have another one."

"What?"

"A baby, one day," Quinn said. Okay, this changing topics and moods was going to give her whiplash. But at least Rachel held still for a moment while her tigress spoke. "I want to carry another one."

"Okay." She traced circles along her arms, settling into the embrace. No sudden movements, or else she would scare off the most elusive of all animals: a talking Quinn.

"One day, not any time soon, really, but when, in the future after everything is settled and I know we are safe."

"We?" Rachel spun in her embrace, though almost got completely tangled in Quinn's legs. She ended up in an awkward position with her legs bent in a slightly different direction than her chest, her head turned a bit more, just to look her in the eyes.

"Of course," Quinn said. "That is part of what I want to talk about."

Rachel smiled brightly. She had so many smiles, practiced so many for various purposes in roles that she would need to be able to bring up at a moment's notice, but this one hurt her face. It was a smile she had almost forgotten it had existed. She rarely used it, if at all. The first time in a long time was when Quinn asked her to be her girlfriend. Previously, she could only remember smiling like that when she was elementary school, when she had befriended someone before they left her at middle school for being weird.

"Really?"

"Yes? Why, is it-" Rachel finished spinning in her girlfriend's embrace, almost tearing herself free to that she was in between her legs, all of her weight on the blonde, face in her hands and pressing her lips as hard as possible.

Quinn arched into her, moaning in a closed mouth, and just accepted it. Which was better for both of them, because she really, really needed to kiss her at the moment.

"Hun?" Mrs. Fabray said. "If you want to continue speaking to Quinn, you're gonna have to let her breathe."

Right, breathing. Other non-Broadway-hopeful people probably needed to breathe a bit. She had practiced so much on it that it was just second nature to take and hold as much as she need at any given time. Rachel relaxed a bit, pulling back just enough to let Quinn gasp for a moment. She smiled as a bit of color returned to her face. Superior breathing finally paid off. And she had the right to say she kissed her girlfriend breathless. Which was so cool. Why had she stopped again? Oh-

She tried to push back fully now that her brain caught up with the idea that Quinn's mom walked in on them. Specifically her trying to swallow Quinn's face. Rachel wanted to look on the bright side of it. At least she wasn't trying to swallow Quinn's head, she guessed, though now she really, really wanted to do that, though it would be a waste really because-

"A bit red there," Mrs. Fabray continued. "Trying to corrupt my daughter, Ms. Berry?"

"Rae is very expressive," Quinn added. Rachel felt a strange meep escape her throat and stuck her face in the crook of Quinn's neck, trying to stop the onslaught of some very, very naughty thoughts about what she wanted at the moment. "Can I help you, Mom?"

"I was wondering if it was time for me to join the conversation. Like you asked?"

Quinn shrugged, though held Rachel closer if possible. "If you want. I was worried that-"

"Please, from everything you've told me, that girl could never say no to you."

"You say that as if it's a bad thing," Rachel said from Quinn's neck. Though now the thought of Quinn commanding her to complete what she started that first Friday of their acceptance of their mutual-attraction filled her mind.

"I do not need to hear about my daughter's sex life," Mrs. Fabray replied. "I still like to think of her as this virginal perfect girl who will never be touched by anyone and be a nun for the rest of her days."

"I have had a baby, mom," Quinn bit out. Rachel kissed her neck and slid her cheek up and down the bare skin. God, she felt no bra-strap under the sweatshirt. Was her tigress completely commando? So many things. So many things she wanted to do to her. They were in private right? She could make Quinn forget about that cruel remark about being pure from her mother, which probably was either a running joke with her or a slip of the tongue. Rachel wanted to slip her tongue into-

"Immaculate conception. Now, do you want to continue your conversation or could it wait until I've said my piece?"

Quinn sigh and slid her hands underneath Rachel. Yay, she was going to get lucky, hands were on her breasts and pushing her off of her girlfriend. No, this was not lucky. This was the opposite of lucky. She was being cock-blocked by her girlfriend. Not cool, Quinn. So not cool. Teasing her like that. Rachel glared at her as she was pushed into a sitting position, though was met only with an ice cool face. Oh. Maybe now wasn't the time for the sex times.

"Yes, it would probably be for the best," Quinn said. "I do not think that Rae would want to talk after we talked."

"I can tell sweetie," Mrs. Fabray replied. Rachel looked over her shoulder to see the woman tapping her nose. Oh. Right. She was very expressive with her body. Stupid teenage hormones. "So, our talk first then you two can have teenager time until ten, sound good? Good. Let me get a chair."

Mrs. Fabray walked out of the study, avoiding the rich leather (those poor cows) chair behind the mahogany desk. Rachel turned to Quinn. She shrugged and twisted them around so that Rachel was still in her lap, though facing forward now. Her bare feet grabbed the blanket and pulled it back up to cover their laps. "I will explain later, okay?" Rachel hummed a response, though just tried to relax completely in Quinn's arms.

They sat in silence, watching a fire that apparently did not die, or wasn't even close to dying, while waiting for Mrs. Fabray to return. Rachel counted the seconds, mainly because it was a way to stop thinking about how she really, really, really, wanted to slide her hand up the sweatshirt to- Bad Rachel Barbara Berry. You need to be behaving. She started her count again, having only reached twenty nine.

Three restarts later and reaching thirty seven the last time, Mrs. Fabray returned, carrying a sturdy chair from what Rachel could only guess was the dining room, in one hand and a platter of fruit in the other. She smiled as she placed the latter on the small table and the chair in front of them. "Okay, so. The Talk."

"Mrs. Fabray, as important as it is to be well educated, my fathers have done a good job of telling me about puberty and everything, including the safe-" Quinn covered her mouth with a hand, rather quickly again. She did this last time and Rachel couldn't get back at her as her mouth was smirking at them, so no grinding for the moment. Later, when they were alone. Yes then.

"Well, as much as I would love to embarrass my daughter right now, that will have to wait later, when Santana and Brittany are here to assist."

Quinn groaned into her shoulder for a brief moment before situating Rachel so she wasn't straddling her anymore. Which sucks because she really liked that position. Why was-

"No, Rae," Quinn finally said once she positioned her in a spot that was comfortable but non-sexually suggestive. "We are going to talk about what that conversation means for me. And for you. Specifically us. San and Puck, they did a fine job of taking you out of the cave, but it is my job to explain the world to you."

"Well, more like my job," Mrs. Fabray added. "I told Quinnie that I wouldn't share some of the details unless you were with her."

Rachel glared at her tigress for a moment; Quinn breathed heavily before releasing her mouth. Freedom. Sweet Freedom. "Thank you, Quinn," she said. "This is important then?"

"Ignoring the Hunter situation that Quinn has brought to my attention? Yes, it is very important. Let me tell you a story, Rachel, and maybe by the time I'm done, you can understand just why this knowledge is dangerous and precious."

Despite arriving promptly with the promise of alone time with Quinn, Rachel was also promised some answers. So she sat as quietly as she could, as still as she could, which meant she only spoke every few minutes with questions and interjections, as well as constantly shifted and twisted in Quinn's lap.

Were-tigers were products of their environment, when the People were being overwhelmed by the supernatural and the preternatural. Prayers and pleas were sent to the heavens, the seas, and the land, scattered in the four winds, for something, anything to come and help protect them. Mother, who had gone by many names and many forms, drew the greatest creatures of the land, the strongest, the smartest, the most loyal: Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Hawk, Leopard, and Wolverine. Six races, the ones She trusted and adored more than any, including the People, were brought up out of the darkness so to speak and into enlightenment. These were-beings were not man turning into creatures, but the reverse, and more dangerous because of it. Each guarded the People, teaching them how to protect themselves, showing them the power of Mother. The strength of Her Body, the earth. The wisdom of Her Soul, fire. The warmth of her Soul, water. The endurance of Her Life, air. They were the harbingers of the tools the People used to protect themselves. They were revered and so was she.

Until the People, until Man, became jealous. Spreading lies and rumors, slowly turning the People against their Guardians, turning their given tools into horrible weapons and their minds against their message. Most went into hiding, away from civilization, in the Wild where they could live and do their duty, what they were gifted to do by Mother until the end of time, until She extinguished the hearth. But Tiger? Tiger was proud and rightfully so. They had helped the People carve out an expansive civilization that stretched from modern day Germany to the Pacific, creating a fertile and wonderful Eden. But Man saw nothing but things that he did not create, he did not own. But his lies were not enough, his words fell mostly on deaf ears in Tiger's sanctum. Most.

Some people, those we now call Hunters, took up the calling of Man, and slowly began a campaign of genocide against Tiger. Killed in manners that could never be traced or bound with irons and steel, the Hunters gave little option: servitude or death. We choose the latter and they came with weapons of unknown origin and power, in dark flame and cold gaze. Hunters slaughtered the once-mighty Tiger and her decedents, until our numbers were so few they grew prideful and left us to die off, all because we would not bow to a race that stole their power and did not earn the right to rule.

The Eden Tiger had formed dissolved within years. Across the world, the havens created for the People died, leaving man to use superstition, fear, and dying knowledge as their weapons against their old enemies. Wolf and Bear continued to fight from the forests, protecting the People, the true-believers the best they could, against all odds. They thrived, in a manner that would be very generous, but their numbers are not what they once were. Leopard stepped into the shadows, hiding away in shame for its own inability to save his people. Hawk continues to watch, waiting for her time to return to her duties, when she is needed once again by the People. Wolverine sleeps, forgotten as the world rolls past it, for her purpose is gone, and she knows not what to do any more.

"And Tiger?" Quinn said. "What happened to them?" Rachel heard the question Quinn really wanted to say though, the words that existed under the need to extend the story: what of us. What are we doing now?

"We scattered to the edges of the world, as far as we could away from Man, where we waited to return to Mother, for we were no longer needed and would never be bound by the Hunters. We waited and waited, slowly losing what made us us. The once mighty race, the power and the strength of Mother, now down-"

"To two," Quinn said.

"No, sweetie," Mrs. Fabray said. "One."

"What do you mean?" Rachel asked.

"I," she swallowed and looked away, "I accepted a long time ago that I would never be one again." Rachel heard her words as well: I accepted my subservience to my husband. I abandoned my race. "Frannie, she never wanted to learn, she just saw it as a story. At least until Quinn accepted her life in front of her, and it was too late for her."

Mrs. Fabray offered as gentle smile as she could, and Rachel ignored the tears that sat on the corners of her eyes. "Quinn would never bow to anyone, to any Man. Even when trying to make her father proud, she could never be broken, never controlled. The Tiger in her refused it."

"Never felt that way," Quinn said.

"My greatest shame is not that I gave up on my people, but that I gave up on you. That I sat back and did nothing as you stood up to your father and honored the life within you. That when the time came, you took a stand and refused to budge. You broke the last chain others had you, and all that was left was the chains you created for yourself. This summer? Those chains shattered so brilliantly. My Lucy came back. And I thank Mother every day for it."

"What does that mean for me then?" Rachel asked.

"Because despite how the modern day animal called tiger can be, our people mate for life. We find who best suits us and remains with them, until death do us part. Our vows are our life."

"It is why Mom has not remarried," Quinn added. "She honors the words that he does not, and will until he leaves this world. I have offered a few times to hasten it, but sadly, that is not an option, apparently. Something about laws and respecting them and all those fun things."

"Which all of this brings to you, Rachel," Mrs. Fabray offered her a smile. "Do your fathers know of your relationship? The commitment that you have made."

Rachel blushed under her gaze. While Mrs. Fabray proclaimed that she was no longer a fierce feline predator, nevertheless the diva felt the gaze that all prey do when a superior creature, one that could slaughter her at a moment's notice. "I have informed them in the vaguest of sense that Quinn is it for me, and I see myself with her for a long, long, long time."

The glare was replaced with a smile. "Excellent, then this segues into the most important part. Christmas."

Rachel loved Christmas. And Hanukah. Holidays. She loved holidays. When Quinn mentioned that she wanted Rachel, and in turn her fathers, to join the Fabrays for Christmas, even though it was only a day ago, the thought lightened her step and almost made her skip. Almost. Thankfully she had some control at school. But, here, they were cementing the idea of a family, a two-family Christmas. She had dreamed of doing something like this in her future, when she was twenty-five and a Tony under her built, but to have it so soon, and with someone who loved her (she had resigned herself to a loveless marriage as was on course of what Broadway was, focusing solely on her career) and wanted everything with her.

"Yes, Quinn and I were thinking that maybe, even if it was just for a night, you and your family could join us for dinner. And by us, it'd be Quinn, myself and Frannie and her family." Rachel really, really, wanted to squeal. In her loud voice. But Quinn would not like that, so she held it the best she could.

"Blessed fuck, Rachel," Quinn yelled, pushing her off of her lap.

"Lucille Quinn Fabray!" Mrs. Fabray said, though she didn't yell. "You will watch your language."

"You pushed me!" Rachel said from the floor, kicking out a foot and slapping the ground.

"Stop with the screaming, Rae." Quinn had pulled her feet up and curled into a ball.

"Oh, right." Her girlfriend couldn't handle loud noises. Which would really suck because Rachel had figured herself as a screamer. "Sorry. I'll try to be-"

"Please, just not now," Quinn said into the back of the chair. She was trying to squeeze herself down into the edge, which was difficult since her head was touching the top of it and her legs barely fit on the seat, as her tail hung over the edge, oh. Right.

Rachel slowly pulled herself up until she knelt in front of the chair. She started to reach out, but paused over Quinn's bare leg. She shifted again, drawing herself into a smaller ball, well, as small as she could at the moment. The tigress barely fit on the chair any more. "Quinn," She whispered. "I'm so, so sorry."

"Just," Quinn replied, "just not now. Please, I, I am sorry. Rae, I-" She pulled her knees up completely, tucking them under her chin. Seriously, her girlfriend was way too flexible for her own good. She should not be able to fit in the position she was- Down Berry, you hurt your girlfriend, and you don't get the right to think sexy thoughts.

Rachel crossed her arms on the edge of the chair, inches from Quinn's bare feet. "I'm sorry, kitty," she said softly. "I should've known, really, I-"

"Rachel," Mrs. Fabray said. Rachel didn't move from looking up at Quinn. She was pulling her ears as flat as she could against her head, her nose buried in the corner of the chair. Why would she speak at a normal tone at a time like this, when her daughter could barely listen to anything? "It's okay."

"I hurt you," Rachel said. "Again." For the third time really. Oh, Barbara. Thanksgiving was the first time, and- "Quinn, I'm so, so, so…"

"Rachel," Mrs. Fabray repeated. She placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay. Quinn is okay."

"I hurt her." Rachel didn't want to move. She couldn't move. Quinn was in pain, and-

"Yes, and it's not your fault." She knelt down next to her and covered her hand. "Quinn is-"

"It is harder these days," Quinn said. Rachel snorted, stupid teenage mind. "To keep the tiger away. Not just because of, you know, you, Rae. But-"

"People skills are not Quinn's forte," Mrs. Fabray said.

"This has been too much," Rachel said. "First the failure that was Thanksgiving, where you missed song, Quinn, songs. Then the whole Jesse thing and now revealing all of this. You're scared aren't you?" She could only assume that Quinn nodded as she refused to lift her head from the seat. "You're terrified. That'd I'd leave you."

Quinn didn't move.

"We've been moving so fast, so very fast," Rachel continued. "And it's understandable that you're frightened, because despite my small size, which if you repeat that to anyone, especially Santana, that I am admitting I fall on the shorter side of average, I possess a very big personality and have the tendency to be overwhelming with it, in regards both to my music and my relationship, which leads me to the belief that-"

"She really can ramble, can't she?" Mrs. Fabray said.

"I know," Quinn replied.

"Very adorable."

"I know."

"Huh?" Rachel looked up from her perch to see a bit more relaxed though still very tigery Quinn smiling down at her. "Quinn, you need to understand that I've been running to you for a very long time, I've been trying to be friends with you since middle school. You're the one who rebuffed me, at least until this year. And, kitty, you're the one with the running problem, not me. So don't think your inability to deal with my loud voice at the moment is something that-"

"Sweetie," Mrs. Fabray squeezed her shoulder, lightly, enough to make her look over to the woman. She smiled down at her, trying to offer a bit of comfort, but Rachel wasn't really sure how to deal with it.

"Rae?" Quinn said. Rachel turned to her girlfriend, a weak smile on her face. "I know you will not run because of fear or anything that would question your courage. You are the bravest person I know. You accepted the friendship of three girls who had no right to ask that of you, and you have never wavered in that relationship. That is real bravery."

"But this is not about bravery, Rae. This is not about fear or terror or safety or anything remotely connected to that. This is about our future. My future."

"Quinn, I don't-"

"I am the last of my race, and I need to ensure our continued existence. You took biology, remember?" Oh, stupid genetics and too similar genes contaminating species. Right, that.

"So you need to have kids with other people?"

"Maybe, I do not know. I mean, there could be others out in the world right now, but as far as our limited knowledge tells us is that I am the last. So children with other people is a possibility that might need to be explored."

"You want to have sex with other girls?" Rachel said.

"No." The answer was quick and strong.

"Then, I don't. Oh, so what like the IVF fairy or something? Artificial insemination? Because I guess I could handle that, and-"

"I need a big family, Rachel, a really big one, and maybe not just from you," Quinn said. She slide down from the chair until her legs were wrapped around her and she stared down at her. "Not just the two point five kids in the white picket fence. There needs to be more than that."

The pair didn't move, though Rahcel heard Mrs. Fabray adjust her stance so she was kneeling, which probably was more comfortable than a crouch. She just listened to the large grandfather clock, trying to focus on Quinn's sweatpants and not what she was sure was underneath them. "Do we have to do this now?"

"Huh?"

"I mean, kids, at least the number of them is something that seems like at least an after sex conversation, maybe after college as well," Rachel squirmed in her spot until Quinn stilled her. She couldn't look her in the eyes. Maybe at least this one time her ability to ramble would be useful. Well, useful for Quinn. It was always for her. "If this is about me staying with you, making the plans for wedding and stuff, I'm okay with an early engagement, though again, all of that is something we should discuss before kids. And in no way is this a no in any form. I'm just asking if this can at least wait until I'm on Broadway once? I'd really like to have stories to tell our kids, other than just being a mare to meant solely for breeding."

"Rae, I do not-"

"I would have loved a brother or sister."

Quinn pulled her flush and rested her chin on the top of her head. When had she gotten so big. Not that it was a bad thing. Her breasts were slightly bigger and- seriously she needed to keep her mind out of the gutter, there were more important things to be discussing.

"It will always be there, I am afraid," Quinn replied. Oh, stupid filter failing completely, this was not the time to voice all of her fantasies and- "Really, Rae, please stop talking. I do not think Mom wants to hear any of what you are muttering about."

"Oh, please, no," Mrs. Fabray said. "Continue, I want to see how red my daughter's face gets."

"Back on topic," Quinn said, she pulled away slightly enough so she looked down at Rachel, her face relaxed and trying to smile. "Rae, I do not understand, though I think I do. I think I have a grasp on what you are trying to say, but-"

"One day, after we've discussed it fully and without anyone else around, so there is no other pressure than just what we want, yes, I would love to have your kids. I thought I made it perfectly clear earlier when you talked about wanting to give birth to another baby, which would be so adorable, though I'm not sure how it would work, but I am confid-" All other words were dissolved into Quinn's lips as the tigress pulled her tight and moved them in such a way that she was slowly being lowered to the floor without straining any part of her.

"I think our Talk is over for the moment, so I'm gonna leave before, welp, too late. Quinnie, please remember that I'm in the room before you – No? Okay, I'm gonna leave then and let you continue to molest your girlfriend then. Remember until ten. Enjoy sweeties. And Rachel, thank you. I know it's a big – You know what, the rest of what I want to say can wait until later. Night you two."