Los Angeles

(Quinn)

"I hate move." Rachel snapped.

"Why? This is the easiest moving you've ever done. You only brought one suitcase. It's amazing."

"It would be silly bringing my entire wardrobe. I will spend most of the time in costumes and Kurt will be around to do some shopping with me."

We arrived in Los Angeles in a beautiful sunny day. Rachel was nervous, stressed and I thought it would be better if I accompany her. As soon as we arrived, I got the house keys: a nice house in a good neighborhood in Santa Monica. The maintenance of it was in the care of Mr. Weiz's company that existed only for the conservation of his real states. I can't imagine how many he has, but they should be numerous. Of the amount, two were now Rachel and Santana's: their apartment in New York and the house of Santa Monica.

The place was already completely furnished, with economical and simple decor. Rachel, if she wanted to, could enhance and customize it to her liking. The house had four large bedrooms upstairs, one suite, two ordinaries bedrooms and a small one in the mezzanine without any furniture. On the ground floor had the dining room and living room, a large kitchen, office/library and a bathroom. The service area was in the basement and it was connected to a large airy space in which Rachel could make a private studio. I didn't think Santana would care about that house if her life was completely in New York. There was also a large garden, no pool, but with good space for market garden. Not that Rachel liked to plant anything: she' not Santana. The garage was a kind of tool shed with space for two cars inside.

"I liked the house." I commented as we explored the place.

"It's a lot like my parents' house in Lima. It's only smaller and without a pool."

"This can be an advantage. Why would you want to live in a bigger place? And you hate pools."

"It wouldn't. But it's nice to have space to host. I'm sure that my parents will want to come with Beth. Or maybe even Santana would like to spend a weekend with Johnny."

"Or I..."

"Well, Quinn, you have my bedroom." Rachel smiled and gave me a light kiss on the lips. "But before the fun, we need to grocery shopping, clean a little bit and everything. Kurt and Mike must come here later."

"Later when?"

"They did not say."

Cleaning the house was part of the deal I made with my girlfriend when I said I would come to help her. Good thing is that the house was already ready thanks for Weiz's company. So everything was in place. But the fridge was completely empty, there wasn't anything in the cupboards and Rachel maybe would like to buy new utensils. Rachel rented a car to get around town until she could buy one if she wanted to. Her new place wasn't far from Century City, so, she could just call a taxi. Despite having been to LA a few times, Rachel always confused the places and our mobility was based on GPS.

Despite the work and fatigue, I loved spending part of my time with Rachel doing small household things. Saved the proper proportions, it was like going back to that time when we were a bunch of students without money sharing a small apartment in Brooklyn. Life was good and I didn't know it. Now, sometimes Rachel does things and speaks as if on autopilot and she also is easily irritated by little things. But, sometimes, she looks at me in a way that makes me melt. And I know she still loves me. If she was somebody else, I was sure that we would be over. But that was Rachel, the love of my life. So I tried to stay there as discreet as possible to expect pass this storm inside her.

"Rach?" I said as I put the food in the cupboard.

"What?"

"We will be okay, right?"

She stopped to clean the fridge and looked at me with teary eyes. It broke my heart.

"I know we'll be fine, Quinn. But that doesn't stop this uncomfortable cold feel in my belly. I... I was never alone so far. I mean, Santana was always by my side, and so do you. Now, I'll stay alone here."

"Hey." I ran my hand gently on her face and pulled her into a gentle kiss. "You'll be okay, Rach. I promise. In these last few weeks I have made up a mental exercise which is basically about saying a mantra: six months go fast."

"Is it working?"

"I don't know, because I only put in place to enforce it back to New York." Rachel forced a sheepish smile and kiss me. "Don't worry, ok? You have Mike, Kurt and Brittany. They are family too and I'm sure they will give you all support you need to."

"What that you?"

"I'll be swamped at work. They will relocate me to be cameo at the MTV show, and if it works out, I'll have a routine to face in New Rochelle studios three times a week, an extra day on location and perhaps have my Friday off, the day I booked to write my thesis."

"Sometimes I can't believe that my Quinn will graduate. I'm so proud!"

"I hope you can go to New York at my graduation day."

"We will see." She went back to the fridge.

Sometimes I'm scared how Rachel could be affectionate with me in an instant, and in the other I get a small dose of ice. These alternations didn't exist before our temporary break and I was starting to get tired and frustrated.

The doorbell rang and I ran to answer. To my surprise, who appeared at our door was Brittany and Kurt. I use to saw them on social networks. Brittany far less than Kurt. And these two were there in person, smiling with flowers and a basket of cookies.

"I can't believe you're here too!" Kurt gave me a tight hug. "Rachel said that only she would come to L.A."

"She didn't lie." I said to my friend. "I'm coming back to New York. I just came here to help Rachel to settle."

"Hey guys!" Rachel accepted the gifts after hugged Brittany. "Come on, come on! We need to celebrate our reunion!"

It was great to see those faces that, in a way, were family. Brittany was very beautiful and mature with long hair and bangs. Kurt won some muscles and a more robust body compared to the skinny kid he was back in Lima. Rachel ordered Chinese. Meanwhile, I show the house to our friends and opened a bottle of wine.

"Where is your kid, Britt? How is he?" I asked.

"Rob is with my mom right now." She put a lock of hair behind her ear. "And Jim's working. He is rehearsing for a new show, and I'm teaching dance for little girls and teens. Sometimes I'm called to dance on some music videos."

"Really?" Rachel asked. "Santana said something about you doing videos but she didn't give me more details."

"It's not a big deal. It's like the time I danced in Miley's tour: I just stand there in the background doing my movements."

"Have you ever thought about get a job on some TV show as a choreographer or something?" Rachel wondered. "Mike can tell you to some work of this kind."

"I don't know. Mike was there the other day saying he would set up a dance studio and asked if I wanted to be his partner. I think it's a cool idea, but I'm with Jim, he's the father of my kid and I work for him. It would be weird."

"It may be wrong now." Rachel said. "But don't discard this proposal through, Britt. We need to keep some doors open and we don't know about tomorrow."

"And you Kurt?" I asked. "Still dating Karofsky?"

"Rachel didn't tell you?" He frowned. "Karofsky moved to South Dakota. I'm almost single now."

"Almost single?" I asked and Rachel giggled. What she wasn't telling me?

"Blaine and I are talking again. He has this band that performs regularly at a pub and he invited me to sing sometimes. It's good singing in public again. I almost forgot how much fun I have doing it."

"Uh la la." I teased.

Our food arrived and we opened another bottle. Brittany helped Rachel to set the table, so we could eat and talk more.

"I still don't understand why you haven't moved to New York yet, Kurt. You had to go there to strengthen our family. Not to mention that there you have so many good opportunities as here. And you should try Broadway! I have some influence now, you know? You can take classes and try smaller parts to make your name known."

"The truth?" He took a sip of wine and fill his cup again. "Remember that director who recruited people at Nationals in New York? The one who gave you that card and passed by me as I wasn't there? That was my first reality check. My second one was when I made application for all good drama schools in New York and wasn't accepted in any. Then I got to join a small LA theater company. Yet the director said that while I sing well, he would hardly find something for me out of the stereotype of the effeminate gay or the magical creature. Let's face it: I'm not an alpha gay as Blaine or Karofsky."

"But that's bullshit!" Rachel protested, but she, more than anyone, knew things in the industry worked that way. She herself could never be seen publicly with me as what we really are: girlfriends. Kurt knew he had a limited range of roles and this could be very frustrating. "Broadway is the place that has more gays per square meter! Of course you would fit."

"Really, Rachel? Do you think we could do, for example, a romantic couple?" When she stammered to respond, Kurt saw that he was right. I get it. Working as a cinematographer and photographer Bad Things gave me access to listen nasty comments of the crew intended for models and actors. I knew the casting directors would look at him and say that he had no chance unless they seek one stereotypical role that Kurt could fit.

Mike arrived shortly after when the second bottle was almost empty. Lucky he brought some more. Their presence made me sure that Rachel would have the support she needed, regardless of her castmates. She wasn't alone in the city.

"I'll just shoot now in May." Mike said about the new indie film that he would be part. "It will be nice not to be the villain minion this time. The good thing is that I don't die until the end of the plot." Kurt and Rachel began to laugh. Rachel liked to laugh freely and high. I loved that about her, but something was out of place at that moment. It seemed forced.

"Will you shoot in Seattle?" Rachel asked.

"I'm very excited to drive that UFO!"

"Take an acid and go." Kurt shot and left us all wide-eyed, but Brittany, who seemed to miss. "What?" He tried to defend himself. "I'm not a junkie, but I went to college, honey. I tried things at a dance floor."

"Did you try a woman?" Mike challenged.

"Not that, my dear friend."

"Oh, Kurt, are you the only one here who has never tasted a vagina?" I teased. "This is disappointing."

"I kissed Brittany that time." He defended himself.

"It was just one time and your Father stopped it. You broke up with me the next day." Brittany smiled.

"How is it called the male version of gold star?" Mike looked at me.

"Really gay?" I shot and everyone laughed but Kurt.

"Come on! I know I am gay since I was four! And then, Mr. Chang, just as I am the only one here who has never experienced a vagina, you have never experienced a good dick."

"I'm reserving myself for the doc's finger at my first prostate exam." Mike raised his glass of wine and started laughing. "And I say that I am not the only one here that never has a dick inside, right miss Berry-Lopez?"

"Technically..." She told softly and I felt my face flush. "I've never had a real one inside. But I know the feeling."

"Oh god, Quinn!" Mike greeted me and I was even redder.

"And I work in a HBO show... well, you saw the scenes! I get naked and have a sex scene at least once a season." She said and I rolled her eyes.

"Speaking of dick, how's Finn?" Mike asked. "The other day I saw an old photo of our Glee Club before we leave. I missed that guys… even Puck!"

"I didn't understand your relationship between Finn and dick." Kurt laughed. "But he's fine as far as I know. Finn was living in Detroit last year, but he came back to Lima this year. I also know that he went to see Rachel's latest show on Broadway."

"Really?" Rachel looks surprised. I was surprised! "I didn't see Finn. He even contacted me. If I knew, he would have talked to me in the dressing room and we could have dined together. I could have called Quinn and Santana to come along or inviting him to come to my house."

"He never lost a play of yours." Kurt said. "I thought you were talking with each other…"

"Yes… on my twitter private account! And he never post anything personal."

"Oh!"

"Yeah! Oh!"

Knowing that Finn was in New York just to see Rachel's performance gave me chills. It's not that I feel threatened by him. No more. Rom Tyler was a far greater threat than anyone else. But I was worry. What must have passed on his head to see Rachel on stage without being noticed. It's clear that he still has a thing for my girl, but after all this time? On the other side, it's just like him do this kind of mess and come in a self-pity. I could see Rachel calling him just to say hi e suddenly he would feel like a hero again. God, I hate Finn Hudson! What a dick!

Kurt and Mike left because they had other things to do, but Brittany stayed to help us clean up the mess before she left. Brittany felt confident to bomb Rachel with questions about Santana and, more specifically, about her relationship with Johnny. It was like she was jealous and Rachel had the cruelty to emphasize how Santana was happy with her new boyfriend.

"He will move in now that you're here?" She asked as I wiped the glasses.

"I don't know. I don't think so. But it wouldn't bother me. That apartment is too big for Santana being alone."

"Oh!" Brittany pouted and I began to prepare for the pump. "Maybe I'll find some time to finally make a visit. I miss her."

"Aren't you married, Brittany?" Rachel already shot without hiding irritation. "So why are you talking about it now?"

"Why? Can't I be with Jim and be close again with my best friend?"

"You know that things aren't as simple as that between the two of you."

"How so?" Brittany defended herself with a question and Rachel sighed.

"Don't be sly, Britt. You can be slow for many things, but I know very well that when it comes to Santana, you're a specialist. Do you think I'm blind? My sister has always been in love with you and she would dump Johnny if you pop your finger. It's not fair and the best you do is stay away."

"You got it wrong, Rachel." Brittany increased the tone. "I've always loved Santana and I just want what's best for her. I'm not saying I want my ex-lover back. I'm saying that I miss my best friend."

"You didn't think like that when you dismissed her to stay with Jim."

"What?! I was pregnant and she was on the other side of the country. Jim gave me all the support I needed. My family gave all support for me to stay with him. But Santana was away in New York living her life. When Rob was born, Santana wasn't here. She never showed up. When she asked me to choose her at your parents' marriage, of course I said no. I had to move on!"

"I think you two should breathe a little." I tried to consider, but the impression I had was that I was invisible in that house.

"You talk as if Santana hadn't care about you. But I have news, Brittany, I was the one who held her drinking because she was too depressed when she knew about the pregnancy. I treated her gastritis because she lived anxious and full of problems to solve. I endured her rudeness and bad mood when you made your decision. But now that Santana's going through a good emotional time with a young man who truly loves her, you tell me you want to show up because you miss her? Do me a favor: if your intention is mess up her head, just don't! If you really love her, don't disturb her relationship with Johnny. Just forget it. I love you, Britt. You were part of my family and I wish you only the very best. Therefore, in the name of our friendship, leave Santana alone."

"You are not the queen of the world." Brittany was teary-eyed.

"Try me."

"Come on, Britt. It's late and you have a son to take care" I tried to be cautious in approach and held her hand. "I'll take you to your bike."

She grabbed her purse and left the house. Her motorcycle it was parked in front. We walked in silence to the vehicle.

"Rachel is just nervous because she will stay here alone."

"No, Quinn. Rachel meant every word, as always."

"That was just a misunderstanding caused by too much wine. Take a few days and you'll make up. I need you to take care of her, and Santana as well."

"Maybe." She wiped a tear and hugged me.

"Give Rob a kiss." Brittany smiled before putting the helmet and left who knows what condition.

When I was back inside, I caught Rachel also wiping tears. I hugged her from behind and tried to comfort her. Fighting so with one of her childhood friends shouldn't be easy.

"I thought you liked Britt. She is one of your oldest friends as well."

"I love her, Quinn." Rachel broke free of my arms to look at me from the front. "But her presence is very toxic to Santana."

"Don't you think your sister is big enough to decide what is best for her or not? And Brittany wasn't talking about have Santana again. They already talk by Skype sometimes. So what's the matter if Brittany wants to see your sister in person?"

"Not always we can see the big picture by ourselves, Quinn. Sometimes you have to take help from an outsider. What I know is that Britt blurs Santana's vision. The last word on this subject is Santana's, but that doesn't mean I should wash my hands and passively see the world on fire. Santana is happy with Johnny and I know she really loves him, but when it comes about Britt..."

"Okay, I don't want to argue about it."

I embrace my girlfriend. We kissed a little bit before we back to work, this time, we locked the house and set the bed. Then, Rachel and I decided to take a shower together. That's when I took the opportunity to play a little, after all, who knows when we would do it again. We kissed and we began to run our hands in each other's body. Rachel turned and pressed her back against me. I loved that position. It's good to massage her breasts as I kiss that beautiful neck and do some pressing against her fantastic little ass. After playing around, my right hand slipped further down and started to touch and circling her clit until I felt I could slip my fingers inside her. It's so erotic doing this lovemaking in the shower. Rachel had a fast orgasm and tried to repay me still in the shower, getting to her knees. But I refused. I had other plans in mind.

We dry our bodies and lay naked in bed.

"We'll be fine, right?" Rachel ran her hands gently through my body.

"Of course we will." I hugged her and ran my hands on her back. I could tell she was sore in the shoulders. "Come here." I told her to lie down on her stomach and I began to massage her. She moaned loudly grateful for the care.

"This is very good. You always make perfect massages."

I worked my hands at her shoulders for some good minutes, until started to kiss her back.

Rachel turned and kissed me on the mouth as she pushed me to the side, trying to stay on top of me. I allowed her to dominate and opened my legs in anticipation of the touch where I most needed, and Rachel wasted no time. I was so wet down there. First, Rachel works with her small but skilled fingers. In and out, in and out, with fast strokes. She was driving me crazy. Then, to my pleasure, she decided to go down on me. My orgasm came out accompanied by a proud smile of Rachel.

"You like it when I let you stay on top." I smiled lazily.

"I love it." She kissed my abs. "I love to taste your skin and do whatever I want. I love drinking your sweet juice." She kissed me inside my thigh. "I love that you agreed to depilate my playground with laser."

"It hurts like crazy but totally worth it." I smiled weakly as she continued kissing me.

"I told you!"

She lifted her body and repositioned herself so we could scissor. The night promised to be deliciously long. It had to be. It was our last weekend until who knows when. I tried not to think about it and only focus on Rachel.