Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or its characters.
A/N: The feedback I have received for this fic is more than anything I have ever imagined. If I could hug every single one of my readers/reviewers I would because you guys mean so, so, so much to me. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Now, on with the show!
The school day had been horribly desultory and execrable for one Rachel Berry. She had thought about skipping school, but decided that ruining her perfect attendance record just wasn't worth it; thus explaining why the brunette had indeed walked into the front doors of William McKinley High School knowing that her day would immediately plunge into one of absolute misery and torture.
After Quinn had left yesterday evening, Rachel had collapsed on the couch feeling not much of anything. She had tried her very best to act natural around her fathers when they returned from work, but she had known she had not done a very good job. Her dads had been even more caring than usual and ordered take out from her favorite place that was kind enough to make specialty vegan orders. She loved that her fathers had been kind enough not to pry; she didn't think that she could have handled explaining the entire situation to them - not right then, at least.
Rachel had gratefully accepted a large hug from each of her dads before she had trudged off to bed; only to wake up multiple times during the night with an enormous headache or to a tear-stained pillow. Never-the-less, the brunette did her best to put on her showface to her parents before she left that morning.
When she had walked into her day of absolute misery and torture, she had been holding onto a ray of hope that maybe things would get better if she could just avoid Quinn. Thankfully, it seemed as if Quinn was giving the brunette space because Rachel hadn't seen Quinn except in the classes they shared together. Quinn hadn't talked to Rachel when they were in those classes, and while Rachel was sure that she saw a sad glance be thrown her by Quinn during the middle of Anatomy, Rachel made herself believe she had imagined it. She didn't want to see Quinn, talk to Quinn, or be near Quinn - not yet.
Rachel had not done much thinking last night. She just felt numb and confused. While she usually believed that thinking was the number one cure for confusion, she couldn't gather the strength to think through everything. She did, however, gather a few key points of things she wasn't confused about because they were the facts - it was just the why factor of the facts that confused her. The facts were simple:
1. Quinn Fabray loved Rachel Berry
2. Quinn Fabray was Charlie Q
3. Quinn Fabray lied to Rachel Berry
4. Rachel Berry was confused about why Quinn Fabray lied
5. Rachel Berry was Rachel Berry
6. Rachel Berry loved Quinn Fabray too
Rachel was pretty sure why she loved Quinn Fabray. She loved everything about the girl; the mystery, the beauty, the smarts, the charm, the quirks, the smiles, the laughs, the Quinn-ness. It was just that the critical side of her didn't understand why she still loved Quinn when she lied about being Charlie. Rachel had thought Charlie was a whole other human being, but she wasn't. She was just a big figment of Quinn's imagination.
But the logical practical side knew that Quinn hadn't known that Rachel had even been following her for at least a week, and that Quinn didn't know how to go about it. Rachel had heard Quinn's long-winded explanation, which if Rachel were asked she would say she was a tad proud for Quinn ranting and rambling to such a degree, and was shell-shocked to find out that Quinn had loved her for a long while.
Rachel hadn't needed time just to cope with the fact that Quinn was Charlie, but also time to process the fact that the Quinn Fabray was in love with the Rachel Berry.
Rachel loved Quinn too, she was positive that she did. She just needed time alone, to process and think. She had to figure out a way to go about the possible relationship with the blonde. Not only that, she was indeed still mad that Quinn had lied about being Charlie and hadn't told her right away, but ever so slowly throughout the school day as Rachel thought through things Rachel began to see that she probably would have done the same thing if she were to have a alter-ego.
Along with all of her thoughts, headache, and puffy eyes she didn't think her school day could get any worse. Boy, was she wrong.
First on the list, a mere three minutes after Rachel had walked through those evil double doors of WMHS, the one and only Finn Hudson had approached Rachel at her locker, with a dopey grin on his face.
"Hey, Rach," Finn said as he loomed over the girl trying to look cute.
"Finn," Rachel replied curtly.
The boy scratched the back of his head at Rachel's shortness but dove right in anyway, "So, I was wondering if you would like to go out to dinner with me tonight?" From behind his back, Finn brought out a single pink daisy, "Uhm, this is for you. I was thinking we could go to that place you told me about last time we talked, with the vegetarian stuff and everything."
Rachel sighed, "Vegan, Finn."
"Right," The boy smiled dumbly.
Rachel shook her head. She hadn't spoke to Finn since they broke up and he had left her stranded in the Breadstix parking lot. Sure she had been civil to him when they were obligated to speak in Glee, but nothing more. She thought back fondly to how Quinn had dropped everything to pick Rachel up that night; sure Rachel didn't know if Quinn had actually been doing something, but she liked to think that Quinn had just cancelled all her plans to rescue her.
Rachel thought she must have had a smile on her face thinking of Quinn, because Finn took it as a smile meant for him which egged him to place the flower in Rachel's hair. Rachel sort of wanted to smack him for thinking Quinn's smile was for him - not to mention him actually touching her.
"Finn, I apologize, but I'm afraid I have to turn down your invitation." Rachel pulled the flower from her hair and gave it back to the boy. Finn didn't move to take it back, so the girl just let it fall to the ground.
"Oh, it's not an invitation, Rach, it would be a date," the lumbering oaf smiled dopely.
Rachel tried to hold back a glare, "Didn't I cut down this tree already?"
"What gave you the idea that I would go on a date with you? Did you think that if I knew it wasn't just an invitation - which, mind you, I did already know that - I'd automatically want to go? Just because it was a date with you? Don't be so egotistical, Finn, it's not a good look on you."
Rachel slammed her locker door shut and stalked off to her first period class. On top of everything else, she really could not deal with Hudson today.
"So, was that a no?" The boy called after her.
Rachel rolled her eyes and turned back towards Finn.
"Are you really, honestly, that feeble minded that you can't even understand me when I say all of that?" Rachel just shook her head and met Finn's eyes, "No. I am not going on a date with you. I most likely will never go on another date with you. Go find some other girl that you can hang on."
With that, Rachel stalked off to her Chemistry class. She tried to feel bad about how mean she had been to Finn because being like that wasn't in her nature; but she couldn't. She didn't feel bad in the slightest. She didn't feel guilty one bit, except for the small guilt that she wasn't guilty at all.
From there the day progressed as any other day normally did, except as she walked down the hall to her fifth period of the day - which was thankfully study hall - something didn't feel right. She inched closer to the right side of the hallway near the lockers because being out of the direct line of sight seemed like a smarter idea than being an open target in the middle of the hall way. Then she heard it, the unmistakable laughter of the football team stomping down the hallway. Mere seconds apart splashes would resound down the narrow hall, signaling the start of a slushy onslaught. She did her best to get to the nearest classroom, but it was too late - right as she turned to run, SPLASH!
But wait… why wasn't she as cold as usual… why did the gasps of a hundred students fill the air? She opened her eyes, which thankfully weren't covered in colored corn syrup, and they grew wide when she realized that Santana-fucking-Lopez had stood in front of her to guard her from the attack.
The latina stood there with her mouth open in response of the cold shock, and purple ice sliding its way down the red and white Cheerios uniform. Rachel only had some on her left arm, far less than what the other brunette had on her.
Rachel heard Santana growl and backed away, fearful that the brunette was mad at her for being near her when she knew a slushy attack was happening.
She gaped when the latina pushed the jock who had thrown the cold ice on her and screamed so the entire hallway could hear her, "Listen here you asswipe, if you ever throw shit on me - or Berry - again," Rachel was about to pass out, this had to be a dream, "You will be mines, got it? I'm from Lima Heights you jackass, I'll tear you the fucks apart."
The jock looked as if he were about to piss his pants, and nodded quickly to the scary latina. She pushed the jock away and turned towards Rachel with a grimace that didn't quite reach her eyes, "Get out of here."
Rachel had immediately obeyed and ran her way to the library. She was even more confused than she was before.
"Why the hell is Santana of all people protecting me?"
"It makes so sense, she hates me."
"Well, obviously not. She just put a slushy ban on you."
"At least I won't have to do as much laundry."
"I'll have to bake her some thank you cookies."
"Make sure they don't have purple icing.."
"Right, too similar to the slushy she took for me."
The rest of the day had been riddled with difficult assignments. Usually when it was time for Glee, Rachel was excited and ready to make progress with all of her friends. But today… She didn't know how she was going to make it. The day had been so terrible with Finn, the assignments, the threat of a slushy attack, her headache, and her endless thoughts. She didn't want to go to Glee and sing. Her head hurt too bad to listen to anything; all she wanted to do was get in her bed and sleep, and deal with everything another day.
She just shrugged and decided to sit in the back row with her eyes shut; she had already made it this far today, no point in giving up now.
It was about ten minutes into the class, and of course nobody had asked Rachel if she was okay. She knew it had to seem uncharacteristic to the others that she was sitting out, but if she was being honest with herself, she knew they were probably enjoying the break from her. However, Rachel could feel a certain blondes eyes on her; she could feel the concern in them, but appreciated that the blonde was respecting her wishes.
Mr. Shue's voice rose above the others in the room, "Alright, guys! Settle down! Quinn, Santana, and Brittany have prepared a song for us."
Rachel peeked open an eye, and wondered when the trinity had changed; Quinn had changed from her usual sundress to a more comfortable laid back outfit, similar to the one Rachel had complimented Quinn for earlier in the week. The other two were dressed casually, and stood to the side in the background leaving all the focus on the shaggy, open Quinn. And then, Rachel realized it.
This wasn't just Quinn Fabray in front of her and the whole Glee club. It was Lucy Charlie Quinn Fabray. It was all of Quinn. It was every single part of the struggling girl, open and showing for the entire world to see. The blonde wasn't wearing her usual perfect sundress, and her hair was shaggy and messy, unlike the usual, perfectly styled way Quinn usually had it during school hours. This wasn't the Quinn that was about appearances. This was the Quinn that was about laughter, life, writing, singing, smiling, dancing, and the Quinn that let her heart open up and shine through with all the compassion and love that many people didn't know Quinn could possess.
Rachel sat up straighter, and her breath caught when the most vulnerable, loving eyes met hers. Her headache vanished almost instantly.
"This song is for someone I care deeply about. I really messed up and hurt them, and I want them to know exactly how I feel for them. I never meant to hurt them, but sometimes life doesn't go as planned. This song is for them, and I hope that when it's finished they'll know exactly where my heart lies."
Rachel gripped the side of her chair, her knuckles going white from how tightly she was holding the rigid plastic. She wasn't prepared for this. Her heart was beating wildly out of her chest, and she was sure that all the Glee members could hear it. Quinn averted eyes from Rachel's, and closed them to concentrate for her cue from the music.
"Wise men say only fools rush in, but I can't help falling in love with you…" Quinn opened her eyes and met Rachel's. A flurry of emotions was flooding through Rachel. She wanted to be mad at Quinn, but she couldn't. Not with the way Quinn's soft, airy voice floated through the room, just for her. She barely acknowledged the other two girls swaying and singing back up.
"Shall I stay… would it be a sin… If I can't help falling in love with you,"
"Like a river flows surely to the sea… Darling so it goes…" Quinn's voice grew louder as she grew more confident and stood from the stool she was sitting on, "Some things are meant to be-ye-ye," A smile spread its way across Quinn face, and Rachel couldn't help but feel a rush of love, joy, and everything in between flood through her.
The music transitioned smoothly with Quinn's voice as another song's melody mixed with Elvis'.
"Oh my Barbra, she made a mashup?!"
"I'm in heaven."
Quinn walked around the stool, with the same smile on her face as she sang out the lyrics, "Pretty brown eyes, please come out today, so I can tell you what I have to say…" Quinn slowly climbed the rafters and looked deep into Rachel's eyes. Rachel was pretty sure she stopped breathing when that beautiful tremulous alto reached her ears, "That I love you, love you…
Pretty brown eyes."
Rachel stared into Quinn's glistening hazel orbs as the blonde sang, "Take my hand," the blonde held out her hand, and without even thinking, Rachel took the soft hand and stood when the hand beckoned her to do so.
"Take my whole life too…" The pair made their way down the rafters slowly, their eyes never leaving one anothers, not feeling the other pairs of disbelieving eyes watching their every move.
"For I can't help falling in love with you…" Quinn led Rachel to the stool and had the smaller girl sit on it. Quinn kneeled on her knees and took Rachel's hands in her own. Rachel didn't even think to reprimand the girl for having her back to the audience.
"Like a river flows surely to the sea," Quinn squeezed Rachel's hand and ran her fingers up the girls arm; Rachel was just a tad embarrassed that goosebumps were left in wake, Quinn seemed happily surprised, "Darling so it goes," Quinn looked up and met Rachel's eyes, and Rachel swore in that moment that Quinn had never looked so stunning.
"Some things are meant to be-ye-ye," Rachel squealed as Quinn lifted her off the stool, and she swore she heard Quinn suppress a giggle. Santana and Brittany came up beside Quinn and Rachel, their hands interlocked. The music picked up once more, and Quinn sang in a soft powerful tone as she spun Rachel in sync with Santana and Brittany.
"Pretty brown eyes," Quinn smiled, and again in perfect sync with the other pair, trailed a finger next to Rachel's left eye.
"Please come out today… So I can tell you what I have to say," The couples stared into their partner's eyes and swayed as Quinn's voice became softer, "That I love you, love you…" Quinn leaned in close to Rachel, and Rachel internally swooned as their foreheads pressed together and their eyes bore into one another with an unbreakable intensity.
"Pretty brown eyes…" Quinn whispered seemingly only for Rachel's ears.
And then the tears came along with a gigantic smile, and the couple cupped each others cheeks and cried happy tears because how could Rachel not be thrilled with that?
"I'm still mad at you," Rachel laughed softly and searched Quinn's ecstatic eyes who gave a soft smile and nodded gently in acknowledgement.
"I know, and I promise to give you any space you need and do anything you want me to, and I promise to be the best I can be for you, and to always tell you everything right away, and t-"
Rachel rolled her eyes playfully and smiled, "And you say I talk too much?"
Rachel immediately pulled Quinn in for a searing kiss. Her heart felt so alleviated. She was still mad at Quinn for lying, but how could she deny Quinn after that? Besides, with all the thinking Rachel had done earlier, she was more than certain that the blonde had only been doing what she thought was necessary. It doesn't mean it was right, but Quinn was apologizing in her own way and going above and beyond to show Rachel how much she cared. Sure the music had been a bit old-school and a bit unconventional, and Rachel was sure that half of the class didn't know what song the second part of the mashup was, but Quinn was laid back, and old school, and unconventional and Rachel loved Quinn that way. Odd, unique, quirky. She didn't pick a mainstream song. She had picked two songs that represented her, and Rachel loved that Quinn had done that.
Rachel vaguely heard Santana and Brittany's cheer, and a couple of slow, uncertain claps from around the room. All she was focused on were Quinn's lips moving against hers. It felt amazing. Invigorating, but blissful; Smack-in-the-face-here-I-am, but ethereal; the calm before the storm, but the storm itself; when you jump into a cold pool, but the same as when you're warmed by the fire. It was all so beautiful, majestic, and heavenly; yet so powerful, strong, and mighty. The kiss was surging with power, and Rachel felt as if she had just been filled with helium; she was floating on air, the breath was knocked out of her lungs, and her mind was happily delighted. She never wanted to stop kissing Quinn; never wanted to stop kissing the girl of her dreams; the girl she loved.
Rachel tried desperately to keep her lips pressed to Quinn's even as she ran out of oxygen, but she knew the effort would be futile if she didn't want to pass out. The couple gently pulled away, and blushed at each other before joining their hands and turning towards the others.
Puck, Mike, Sam and Artie were all staring slack jawed, ("typical boys"), Mercedes and Kurt looked like they had just seen a UFO, Finn looked like he was about to blow a socket, and Mr. Shue looked incredibly uncomfortable.
Brittany and Santana sauntered up beside them with their pinkies linked. The blonde had an excited smile on her face and Santana had a happy, but smug, grin on her face.
"Does this mean we can all go out on double dates now?"
Rachel smiled up at Quinn when she heard Brittany's question, and Quinn looked down at Rachel with radiant eyes and a large smile of her own, "Of course we can, Britt," answered Quinn.
Rachel faced the other New Directioners once more, "Hello, everyone. As you may have noticed I was a bit decommissioned at the start of class, but needless to say, I am feeling much better now."
She heard Quinn chuckle next to her and squeeze her hand as she continued on, "There have very recently been some new developments," She tried to hold back a smile when Quinn laughed next to her (because yes they were 2 minute old developments that took place in front of all the New Directioners eyes).
"Quinn and I," Rachel looked up at Quinn, and the blonde nodded with a happy smile that appeared as if it would never leave the blondes face (and Rachel hoped it wouldn't), signaling Rachel that it was okay. Rachel looked back towards the others again with a beaming smile, "Are officially in a relationship, as of now."
Rachel should have known not to expect cheers and confetti and cake (though she really did feel like having a party), but she didn't expect absolute silence.
She felt like she was in her dream again, except this time it wasn't Charlie next to her, it was Quinn, because she felt like she could feel every single thing about Quinn's movements. She felt the girl's demeanor change and looked up to see the girl raise a vicious eyebrow at the group. Immediately the others began clapping and cheering the new couple on.
Rachel's heart fluttered.
"Awww, she's using her HBIC glare to help get what I want."
"I can't."
"This is all too much."
"So perfect."
"Much love."
"I want to kiss her."
"Yes, one more time."
"Kissie kiss time."
"Kiss kiss kiss."
As if Quinn had read Rachel's thoughts, the blonde leaned down and kissed Rachel gently on the lips and broke apart with a goofy grin on her face.
Quinn whispered to Rachel, "I just want to let you know, that kissing you in person is so much better than in my dreams."
Rachel blushed and beamed with pride; that was, until Finn's looming form casted a shadow over Rachel.
She felt Quinn glare up at the boy, and was incredibly charmed when the blonde stood in front of her in a protective manner.
"Yes, Finn?" The blonde asked coldly.
"I want to talk to Rachel, alone," The boy gritted out angrily to Quinn.
"No, whatever you have to say to Rachel you can say in front of me. She and I aren't going to hide things from each other, so you might as well just say it now."
Rachel smiled softly and laid a hand on Quinn's back. She desperately tried to push back any inappropriate thoughts. Protective Quinn was getting to her, and it was way too early to be thinking of those kinds of things. She directed her attention up at Finn, who took away all disputable thoughts immediately.
"Quinn is right, Finn. What do you need to say?" Rachel glared up at the boy, still annoyed with him from this morning and for taking away more kissie kiss time with Quinn.
Finn huffed and stared directly at Rachel, ignoring Quinn completely. "I thought you loved me, Rach. We were the best thing at this school. You're like, really hot, ya know? And I am too. And then somewhere down the line we'd have hot babies. I love you, Rach."
Quinn practically growled at the boy and took a step forward, but Rachel held her back. "I got this, CQ."
Quinn softened and cocked her head towards Rachel at the nickname. Rachel softened, as well, and met Quinn's eyes with a gentle smile and half-whispered, "On your first post you said you don't always like to hear your real name.. so.." Rachel blushed, "I want you comfortable and you just tell me whatever you want to be called."
Quinn's eyes lit up and a toothy grin spread it's way across her face, "God, you're perfect, Rach."
They leaned in for a kiss just as Finn cleared his throat.
"Damn it, Finn! I want my kissie kiss time!"
Rachel glared up at the boy as she intertwined her fingers with Quinn's.
"Okay, Finn, listen up for once. Being in love is not all about looks. It's not all about how hot you are or how popular you are. That is not what love is," Rachel turned her eyes to Quinn as she continued, "Love is about seeing every part of a person. Love is trying to learn new things about one another everyday. Love is about remembering," Rachel shot a glare at Finn, "Important things, and not as important things. Mind you, Finn, things like being a vegan for Pete's sake!"
Rachel felt Quinn squeeze her hand and she turned her attention back to the blonde, "But, also things like what style of poetry a person writes in, and what their favorite flowers are," another glare shot to Finn, "Which are not pink daisies, by the way. Love is about finding adventures, and finding happiness. Love is about forgiving, growing, and learning, so you don't make the same mistakes again. Love is about caring even after a person does something wrong," Rachel kissed Quinn's cheek gently and Rachel swooned when she saw that Quinn was tearing up at Rachel's words.
The couple leaned into each other's sides and Rachel looked up at the lumbering oaf to finish off her tirade.
"Love is not leaving the 'person you love' stranded at night. Love is not forgetting that they eat by a certain set of rules. Love is not being together just for the sake of looking like the coolest couple. Love is not repeating the same things over and over and over again, because in love you are always striving to go further, to go somewhere new, to gain new experiences and lessons with the one you love. I'm afraid you don't know what love is, Finn. I don't love you. And you don't love me. You think you do."
"But, come on Rach. We are meant to be! We like belong to each other. I was your first kiss right? That basically means you're like.. mine right?"
Rachel was about to punch the boy, but Quinn spoke up first, "Listen here you pipsqueak in a oafs body, Rachel does not belong to anyone. Just because you kissed her first, does not mean that she is yours. You don't get to take any person and just brand them yours. She's not even mine. She is her own person, with her own will, her own testament, her own beliefs. She and I are going to work in a partnership together, not rule over one another."
Rachel's heart was beating erratically out of her chest.
"Hearing that was so much better than punching him."
"Quinn actually respects me as an individual."
"Love, love love."
"I need kissie kiss time."
"Wait, can I still punch him now though, please?"
Rachel must have missed something because Finn was screaming out in agony clutching his jaw. Puck was waving his fist in the air from the impact and yelling at the boy, "Dude, fuck off! You don't treat women like that! What's wrong with you, bro? I used to think you were cooler than that, but apparently you think women are animals that are meant to be owned!"
Some New Directioners were clambering up to help the boy up, others were holding Puck back, and Santana just laughed at Finn in the background.
Rachel briefly wondered where the hell Mr. Shue was, but was more concerned about what Finn had said to make Puck explode like that.
She leaned into Quinn and whispered, "I zoned out. What happened?"
Quinn had a vicious glare in her eye directed towards Finn, "He said that no matter what we say that you're his. That he will get you back. That you are always going to be his. That he is the 'man' and that since you're the 'woman' you're below him. From what I gather, Finn was reminding Puck way too much of his father."
"One moment, CQ," Rachel kissed Quinn's cheek and walked over to Finn. His jaw was already bruising, and since the nurse had already gone home for the day, Kurt said he would go get a cold wet paper towel for the injured boy.
Rachel leaned down and growled low into his ear so only he could hear, "I am not your toy. I am not your meat. I am not your girl, woman, lover, or friend anymore. I am not someone you can pin after. I am not yours. I am not even Quinn's. I am myself. You need to grow up and learn some respect. Girls are not something you can just throw around and not respect. If I ever hear you say something like what you have to me, Quinn, or another girl, again, so help me God, I will cut off your little friend down there and feed it to the wolves. We'll see what a 'man' you are to yourself, then, because trust me, no one thinks of you as a 'man' right now. You're just a sad little pathetic child. Grow the fuck up, Finn. All you are right now, is a horrible little asshole."
Rachel tapped the bruise on his jaw with a little more force than necessary, and gave the boy a glare along with her signature beaming smile. It made her look all the more scary, and she briefly thought how useful it would be if she were ever cast in a horror movie.
Rachel turned around and saw Quinn smirking, though still on edge and angry. She could tell that Quinn knew full-well what just happened. Rachel skipped over to Quinn and took her hand and smiled at Brittany and Santana who were standing besides Quinn trying to calm down the girl down. "Your part in the performance was lovely," she said even though she had barely paid attention to the two. She kissed Quinn's cheek, and the girl immediately dissolved from her angry self to a puddle of mush as she smiled back at the girl with such love, Rachel thought she would overload on how happy she was.
"Thanks, hobbit."
"Santana…" Quinn warned.
"Oh shut it, Q. You know I kind of like her.."
Rachel blanched at the omission, "You what?!"
"Nope, not gonna say it again," The latina smiled and winked at the new couple, "Let's go Brit. It's past our usually sexy times anyway. Glad you got your girl, Q!" The pair walked out with their pinkies linked, Santana whispering God-knows-what into the other girls ear.
Other New Directioners were still crowded around either Finn or Puck. Rachel walked over to Puck, "Thank you for defending my honor, Noah. I really appreciate it."
"No problem, hot stuff," Puck winked and Quinn growled playfully, "Back off, Puck."
The boy smiled cheekily and winked again, "Do I get to watch?"
Both girls blushed to the tips of their ears and screeched,
"Puck!"
"Noah!"
The boy just laughed, and curled his swollen fingers into a fist so that he could flex his biceps, "Alright, I respect your wishes," Rachel chuckled at his obvious stab at Finn, "But you don't know what you're missing, ladies."
Quinn rolled her eyes and kissed Rachel's temple, "How about we get out of here?"
Rachel nodded and guided Quinn to the door. The pair called out their goodbyes to the ones tending to Puck, and not Finn. Rachel thought they would have to really evaluate their friends and their beliefs toward women.
The new couple walked hand in hand to Quinn's car. Quinn leaned against the passenger door and pulled Rachel by the beltloops in her skirt to her with an elated smile on her face.
"Hell yeah."
"That was hot."
"Kissie kiss time."
The pair leaned in together and joined their lips. The kiss was soft and slow, each girl exploring the other's soft lips. Rachel felt Quinn's arms wrap around her waist, and Rachel wrapped hers around the taller girls neck. They kissed deeply, passionately, but took their time. Breaking gently whenever they needed a quick breath or wanted to tilt their heads the other direction. One of Quinn's hands danced lightly over Rachel's back, causing little electrical impulses to shoot to her heart, mind, and… well, elsewhere.
"I really need to stop thinking these things. Way too early."
The dancing hand ran up to Rachel's shoulder blade and maneuvered its way to cup her cheek. She leaned into the warm hand and couldn't help but smile into the kiss. It caused Quinn to giggle quietly, and soon both girls were giggling and leaning back to stare into each others eyes.
Quinn smiled goofily and brushed the soft, silky brunette hair behind Rachel's ear, "Where to, Princess?"
Rachel bounced on her toes in excitement, "Can we go to the park? I really want to swing on the swings with you."
Quinn smiled and opened the passenger door for Rachel, "Your noble steed, madam."
Rachel curtsied playfully, "Why, thank you, you gorgeous knight," and climbed into Quinn's red VW Jetta.
Quinn giggled as she shut the door and Rachel tried to hide a laugh as Quinn stumbled trying to scurry over to the drivers side. The two were walking on air, and Rachel never wanted it to end.
"This day has definitely turned out better than expected."
"She's so cute."
"This is the start of something big, I can feel it."
Rachel was ready for whatever was to come with Quinn. She was ready for the ups and downs. They had already conquered the largest thing - Quinn being herself. They had a lot to learn about each other and Rachel wanted to be there for the entire adventure.
She was still trying to grasp the whole Charlie/Quinn thing, but who was she to deny this love coursing through her? Quinn had apologized and came out to the entire Glee club just for her. And love, real love, is about forgiving when the other person truly deserves it. They had a lot to talk about and a lot to learn, but right now everything was bright. Everything was good. Rachel and Quinn, "Or whatever the beauty wants to be called," were on a road that was sure to have some bumps, but as Quinn intertwined their fingers and pulled out of the parking lot, Rachel was positive that what they had was meant to last and everything, absolutely everything, would be okay.
A/N: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Should this be the end, or shall there be an epilogue? Guys, I have had SO much fun writing this story. The feedback has been phenomenal and so inspirational. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on the ending. Thank you all, for reading, reviewing, favoriting, alerting, and everything else. I can't express how amazing it has been writing this story. I've had a blast, and I want to thank every single one of you for coming along for the ride.
A/N2: I take no credit for the songs/lyrics. I Can't Help Falling In Love goes to Elvis, and Pretty Blue Eyes (I just changed it to brown) goes to Steve Lawrence. If you wanna see how the two songs go together, I think I'll be posting an audio of me singing it on my tumblr because that's just what I do lol. Just search "Meeting Charlie Q" and it should be on soon.