Author's Note: Hey, guys! Thanks for the reviews so far! I'm glad you're enjoying this story so far. :)
"So don't do it."
"I don't have a choice."
"You always have a choice."
"Hey..."
Quinn looked up from the book she was reading. Her lips formed a smile as Michael sat down beside her on the couch.
"Hi," she said.
"Are the kids asleep?" he asked.
"Yes."
Michael smiled and pulled her gently into him, Quinn wincing slightly as she felt the pain from some not yet healed bruises on her side. Michael kissed her head and held her. "You smell good." He nuzzled his nose into her hair.
"Thanks." Quinn closed her book and set it aside. She ran her hand up and down her husband's arm slowly.
"I talked to my parents." He kissed her cheek. "We'll be staying with them from the twenty third until the fourth. How does that sound?"
"Good." Quinn paused. "And... what about Thanksgiving?"
Michael drew back slightly. "What about it?"
Quinn turned, looking to him. "I asked you about visiting my mom."
"No." He shook his head.
She knew when to press a subject or not. Right now, she still had some time. "Michael... She really wants to see the kids."
"You're cooking here for us," he replied easily. "You cook for Thanksgiving, we visit my parents for Christmas. That's always been the plan."
"I know," Quinn agreed, looking away for a moment before bringing her gaze back up to him. "But could I invite her here then?"
There was a pause on Michael's part before he shook his head. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"Why?" she asked softly, trying not to appear hurt.
"I just want it to be us, baby." Michael pulled her into a hug, holding her tightly. "Me and you and our two beautiful kids. That's what I'm thankful for. That's who I want around me."
"Yeah." Quinn knew her time to make her case was up. If she pushed it anymore, he was likely to get angry fast. "That makes sense. Maybe she could come around for Halloween? Go with me to take the kids out? They'd like that a lot. They haven't seen her since the Fourth of July."
"That might work," Michael responded.
A smile appeared and the blonde looked to her husband. "Really?"
"Sure." He leaned in to kiss her. Quinn kissed him back gently. "I love you, you know that, right?"
"I know," she said softly. "I love you too."
"Good." He gave her a squeeze and nuzzled her neck. "I don't know what I'd do without you. I certainly wouldn't survive."
Quinn laughed a little. "I'm sure you would."
"Mmm, no, I really don't think so." He kissed along her neck lightly. She let her eyes close and tilted her head. "It'd end me... break my heart... destroy me..."
She laughed again. "Good thing I'm sticking around."
"Good thing." Michael pulled back a little. "Why don't I get us to our room, huh?"
Quinn smirked at him. "What a perfect plan."
Michael smiled back at her and stood from the couch. He picked her up and Quinn laughed despite the pain in her side as she held onto him. They didn't do fun things like this too often. Michael kissed her as he carried her to the bedroom.
Rachel felt like she was stalking Quinn. After the party Saturday night, she had been a little on edge. Quinn kissed her and she had no idea if the blonde even remembered it. She had decided to take it upon herself to find out and talk to her, but whenever she found Quinn, she lost her nerve. Hence, the stalking.
But now it was Tuesday and this was starting to get ridiculous. Quinn definitely didn't remember. If she did, wouldn't she want to talk about it? As soon as that thought crossed Rachel's mind, she became convinced Quinn did remember it. She was the queen of avoiding.
Drawing in a breath, Rachel approached Quinn. The blonde was sitting on a bench outside of the library, texting or something on her phone. She stopped in front of the other girl and cleared her throat. Quinn looked up and raised an eyebrow.
"Hi, Rachel."
"Hello, Quinn."
There was silence for a moment as the two stared at each other.
"Did you... want something?" Quinn asked.
Rachel turned and sat down on the bench beside the blonde. "I was thinking we could talk."
Lifting both eyebrows now, Quinn gave a shrug. "Talk about what?"
"About what happened Saturday night... in my bed." Rachel pressed her lips together.
"Finally had your cherry popped?" the blonde asked with a smirk.
Rachel frowned. "You know very well that it was only you and I in my bedroom Saturday night."
"So that's a no," Quinn concluded. She drew in a breath. "All right then. What?"
"You kissed me," the brunette said, finally getting it out in the open.
"Excuse you?" Quinn replied, her eyebrows shooting up again.
Rachel felt dumb for a moment. Maybe Quinn really didn't remember. "You—we were drunk," she faltered. "When I brought you to my room. And you kissed me."
The blonde was quiet for a moment, a very faint blush creeping up to her cheeks. "That was... obviously a mistake. I... I fell into you."
"You kissed me," Rachel insisted, trying to keep her voice low as a few people walked by. "That was a definite kiss."
"You kissed me back, lesbo," Quinn said quickly, defensively.
Rachel certainly wasn't expectantly that reaction. "Woah, Quinn, I—"
"Look, Rachel, I don't know what you thought that was, but I fell into you," Quinn told her, still speaking quickly. "I wasn't trying to kiss you."
"But, that's not—"
"You're the one who kissed me," the blonde insisted.
"I didn't." Rachel frowned. She wasn't the one who initiated it. "Well, I did I guess. But only after you kissed me first."
"I didn't kiss you!" Quinn noticed people were staring and lowered her voice. "You better not breathe a word of this to anyone, you creepy little munchkin. Go back to Oz." She stood from the bench and began to walk away.
Rachel stood as well, taking a step after her. "Quinn, wait. I didn't mean to upset you."
"I'm not upset!" Quinn called back as she glanced over her shoulder. "Leave me alone."
Rachel watched her go, quite certain that was the absolute worst way that could go. Actually, it could have been worse if Quinn slapped her. She hadn't meant to scare her off like that. But it seemed quite clear that Quinn was denial and just maybe that kiss had actually meant something.