AN: This chapter is a beast... a beast, I tell you! But it's done and I really hope you like it!
When Rachel and Quinn got up both of their eyes were so swollen there was nothing either of them could do but laugh.
"You look like you had an allergic reaction," Quinn giggled as Rachel pouted at her reflection in the mirror.
"An allergic reaction to what? Your pillow?" Rachel turned around, trying to glare at Quinn through her puffy eyelids. "We look like cavewomen."
"Cavewomen?"
"Shut up, you," Rachel said, snorting. "I need a shower."
"It's across the hall," Quinn said helpfully as she dug around in their suitcase, handing Rachel a clean pair of jeans and a neon pink bra - clearly Rachel's.
"I know where it is." Rachel paused at the door. "Are you coming with me?"
"Somehow I don't think our sharing a shower would be much appreciated by the rest of the household."
"I'd roll my eyes at you, if I could. Get your mind out of the gutter, I merely meant that you could, uh, keep watch? You know you're quite vulnerable in the shower; remember Psycho?" Rachel said, taking the offered toiletries bag from Quinn.
Quinn tilted her head back, as though consulting the heavens for advice, and sighed. "Rachel..."
"Fine, fine. But if Uncle Phillip breaks down the door and attempts to stab me with a crucifix I'm blaming you." Rachel warned and grabbed the matching underwear from Quinn's fingers.
"If my dear Uncle happens to walk in on you in the shower I'm pretty sure all he will do is blaspheme and fall all over himself to escape your nakedness." Quinn snickered as she continued to dig through their clothes. She made a triumphant noise and yanked free her prized Georgetown t-shirt, only to whine as Rachel snagged it from her and quickly dashed across the hall.
When Rachel returned to the room, Quinn was waiting for her and leaned in to whisper, "The coast is still clear," before she dodged Rachel's swat and all but dove into the steam filled bathroom.
Rachel shook her head, albeit fondly, and turned her attention to re-packing the suitcase, the contents of which were now tossed around the floor.
By the time Quinn came back Rachel had everything neatly folded and tucked back away and was sitting on the end of the bed swinging her legs back and forth.
"I see you survived," she joked and reached out with both hands for Quinn. "Come here?"
Lopsided smile firmly in place, Quinn nudged Rachel's knees apart, stepping up against the end of the bed to return Rachel's hold. They both sighed and Quinn bent to kiss the crown of Rachel's head. "Why does it feel like I haven't seen you in forever?"
"It's just stress," Rachel said and hummed contentedly. "And then relief making you realize how stressed you were, which in turn makes it seem like we've been here for months."
Quinn pondered that for a second, "It worries me when you make sense."
"Get used to it."
"Right away, your Majesty."
"Oooh, 'Majesty', that's a new one. You can keep that one."
Rachel giggled and Quinn growled playfully, then closed her eyes and sighed again. "It's weird to feel so normal again."
"How so?"
"Just, with everything that happened in the last two days. I feel like it's okay now."
"That's a good thing, right?" Rachel asked, a little timidly. She loved the natural feeling they'd both woken to, but she didn't want Quinn to bury things or feel like she needed to sweep them under the rug just so they could pretend everything was fine if it wasn't.
"Yeah, it's a good thing." Quinn pulled back and grinned at Rachel's pouty bottom lip, pushing it back in with her finger. "Speaking of normal... stand up."
Rachel felt both her eyebrows lift as she stared up at Quinn. "Huh?"
"Stand up," Quinn repeated slowly and gripped Rachel under the armpits, lifting her off the mattress.
"That's better," she said once Rachel had settled her sock clad feet back on the floor.
"And you say I'm the confusing one," Rachel grumbled and scrunched her nose up.
"It just occurred to me," Quinn said, dragging her thumb across Rachel's lower lip teasingly. "I haven't kissed you all weekend."
Rachel's breath caught in her chest. "Oh."
"Oh? That's all you have to say?"
"Yes - no, I mean... I think you should remedy that. Immediately."
Quinn grinned and tipped her head down, "yes, your Majesty." She closed the gap between them and kissed her so gently it made Rachel ache.
Rachel's eyes fluttered back open when Quinn pulled away. She groaned and headbutted Quinn's shoulder once and then again. "I hate when you do that."
"Do what?" Quinn asked, pulling at the hem of her stolen shirt.
"Kiss me like that," Rachel huffed. "It makes me feel like an idiot."
"An idiot?"
"Yes, an idiot. I can't think straight! I now want to climb on the roof and sing loud enough for the whole state to hear how ridiculously in love with you I am."
Quinn tugged at the shirt and chuckled warmly against Rachel's ear. "How is that idiotic? You do that all the time."
"That's not the point," Rachel whined, cocking her head back to look Quinn right in her smirking face.
"You do that to me and I feel like... I don't even know. It's indescribable."
Quinn's smirk grew decidedly more smug. "So what you're saying is I'm an amazing kisser, capable of knocking your head straight into the clouds?"
"Something like that," Rachel said and kissed Quinn again. "Don't look so pleased with yourself, Quinn Fabray."
"I'll work on it," Quinn quirked an eyebrow and then her expression shifted, a more serious look replacing the self-satisfied one. She snuck her fingers under the faded grey t-shirt and skimmed the pads over Rachel's stomach.
"Quinn?" Rachel said, shuddering at the ticklish sensation.
"You know it's funny...I know this is my shirt, my favorite shirt. I remember when I bought it and I have quite a few fond memories of times when I was wearing it. Like the time I snuck out with my roommate because she said my constant studying was driving her nuts and I drank way too much whiskey before we wound up sitting at the WWII memorial somehow, late into the night. It's really peaceful there, quiet and somber. But as much as this may be mine, it smells more like you now and somehow that's so much better. Now whenever I manage to get to wear it, it's like wearing you. That sounds sort of creepy, doesn't it? I just mean that, I love that, I put it on and I can almost feel you."
"It's not creepy at all," Rachel assured her. "It's why I started wearing it in the first place. It's been my way to have you with me, as close as possible when you're not there."
"We are such saps," Quinn laughed.
"I won't tell if you won't." Rachel peered up at her for a long moment, biting her lip as she considered something. She backed away from their loose embrace and Quinn's eyebrows shot up as Rachel dragged the thin grey material up over her head. "This isn't what it looks like."
"Oh, 'cause it looks like you're stripping."
"Well, yes, I suppose I am but it's not an attempt to get into your pants, I promise. I've heard that couples tend to engage in sexual activities after funerals, but that's not what I'm doing. I love you and I'm more than happy to show you that physically once we're safely back home, but your relatives actually frighten me a little and I don't wish to cause a scene should they hear or, heaven forbid, walk in on us. I wanted to give you this." Rachel held out the still warm article of clothing. Quinn took it from her, forehead wrinkling as she stared from the shirt, to Rachel, and back. "I think you need it more than me today."
Understanding lit up Quinn's eyes, she smiled and set the shirt down on the end of the bed so she could pull her own off. She handed over the dark red material and Rachel immediately yanked it down over her chilled skin, sighing as it warmed her. As soon as Quinn was clothed again Rachel pressed back into her, wrapping her arms around Quinn's hips to settle her forehead down against her chest.
"Rachel the Lionheart Berry is afraid of my relatives, huh?" Quinn teased lightly.
Rachel blinked at the unexpected nickname and felt heat creep across her cheeks. She ducked her head and tightened her grip around Quinn. "Please," she said once she'd relocated her voice, and looking up at Quinn through her lashes with a knowing smirk. "I saw the look on your face when your mother told you about Uncle Phillip staying here."
Quinn rolled her eyes. "Touche."
When they hit the bottom of the stairs they parted, Quinn heading for the kitchen and Rachel for the living room. Rachel paused and looked over her shoulder at exactly the same time as Quinn and she had to smile. "I go left, and you stay right?"
"You do know how to save a life." Quinn tilted her head in the direction of the kitchen. "I – my mom."
Rachel nodded, "I'm really proud of you."
Quinn gaze flicked over Rachel's shoulder briefly before settling back with a knowing look. "You be careful."
"I'm just going to talk; you're the one who goes to the grocery store armed," Rachel teasingly replied.
"Rachel, have you heard yourself yell in traffic? You're always armed and dangerous."
"I'm trying to decide if that's a compliment or not. I'll have to reply later when I've figured it out." With a gesture towards the kitchen, where the sounds of breakfast making could be heard, Rachel turned, squared her shoulders and marched into the danger zone. "Ryan might have been right. Perhaps combat gear is needed." Cautiously she peeked her head around the corner, and saw darling Uncle Phillip enjoying the morning paper with a drink. She watched him finish the last dregs of the beverage and decided it was now or never.
Phillip looked up from the newspaper and his warm smile dropped into a scowl when he saw her. "You. I do not want you in my presence."
Rachel held up her hands, "Trust me, the feeling is entirely mutual. However I have something I'd like to say to you before we leave you to your homophobia."
"Some homosexual propaganda, I'm sure," he sneered, but folded his newspaper neatly and set it on the armrest of his chair. "I suppose you're going to tell me that you love my niece and there's nothing unnatural or perverted about it. I will not be as easily swayed by lies as she is."
Feeling her lip curl in utter distaste for the man in front of her, Rachel shook her head and dug her nails into her palm. Do not lose your temper. Calm, steady, and sure. "No, I didn't come in here for that. My relationship is just that – mine. It has nothing to do with you and your opinions."
"Maybe you're not as stupid as you look."
They glared at each other for several unbearably long seconds before Rachel took a deep breath and searched her heart for the words she'd been hiding since the moment he'd verbally assaulted her girlfriend. "This whole weekend I've seen and heard more than I ever imagined, and instead of wanting to run away screaming... I've never been more sure of my relationship with your niece. With that said, there are certain things about her past that I - I can't actually believe, or wouldn't have if I hadn't seen the evidence of it in Quinn for years." Rachel shook her head and fixed a hard glare on Phillip's confused blue eyes. "You are poison. Just like I would imagine your younger brother was. He was younger wasn't he? Trying to live up to your glorious example, no doubt. You taint and destroy everything you touch - and don't bother with denying it. I can see it in your face. You're a waste of a human being."
"Young lady," Phillip growled, but Rachel saw something other than anger flicker across his face and she knew she had him. Squaring her shoulders, she kept going, letting her words tumble out freely, uncensored.
"Is it because you're scared? Or because you're jealous and bitter? Russell had the family, the pretty wife and children, and you got nothing. You're a sad, pathetic, lonely man." Taking two steps forward Rachel snatched up the empty tumbler next to his hand, turned it upside down and smacked it back down on the table. "Someday, when all the booze and excuses are gone, you're going to die and there won't be anything left to numb it. Who's going to be there to mourn your absence? The liquor isn't. I feel sorry for you, Phillip, because that's not a fate I would wish on anyone, even someone as twisted as you've let yourself become."
With that said Rachel levelled a look of genuine pity at him, making sure to hold his stare for as long as she could, and then executed a more collected version of a storm out. She didn't march away, but she turned her back on him and walked steadily, only letting her face crumble when she knew he couldn't see it.
She was a lot of things, she knew that, but she was never going to be a person who would let someone like that see her cry for them.
In the kitchen, Quinn approached her mother like some sort of bomb she would have to disarm. Judy was elbow deep in sudsy water, already washing up from breakfast - she'd always told Quinn the easiest way to maintain a tidy kitchen was to clean as you went. It felt more than a little strange, to be thinking about that and standing back in the place she'd first heard it. Back then she'd had to use a step stool to reach the sink.
Judy was humming something just under her breath as she wiped at a bowl. When she was younger Quinn had always thought it was a strange idea, to pre-wash something before she stuck it in the dishwasher to be washed again. But now, she had to smile at the familiarity of it all as softly cleared her throat to try and keep from startling her mother.
Judy jumped anyway and jerked around, throwing bubbles onto Quinn. "Oh! Quinn, I'm sorry!"
Quinn bit her lip and shook her head, a laugh threatening as she looked down at her water splattered shirt. "We haven't had a water fight in a while, Mom, but I don't think now's a great time to start one."
A crooked smile briefly appeared on Judy's face before it fell and she sank back against the sink. "I - I'm still about the shirt, I..."
"Mom," Quinn said, dropping her head to stare at her toes.
"I really am. I'm so sorry, Quinn." She moved to turn the water off before giving Quinn her full attention. Biting into her bottom lip, she wrung her hands as her confession hung between them.
"Do you know why I came back?" Quinn asked, dragging her gaze up from the toe of her shoes to look Judy in the eye. "It wasn't for him," she said slowly. "It was for you."
Judy sucked in a rough sounding breath and touched her fingers to her forehead. "Quinn, I know that I've failed you so many times," she said. Her chin wobbled, and Quinn had to fight the urge to do something, anything, to keep from closing the distance between them. She hadn't hugged her mother, hadn't really had contact with her, since her graduation from the FBI Academy. They'd never been touchy people, at least not with each other. Quinn had realized that in her relationships with others, especially with Rachel, she craved that contact. She wanted it constantly - the connection with someone - even if it was just a brush of fingers. After being able to give in to that desire for closeness it was almost unbearable to deny herself the comfort she knew both she and Judy would get from human contact. But she also knew that if she made a move towards Judy now her mother would shut down. So she stood her ground and shoved her fingers into her pockets, waiting for Judy to continue. "I can't make that right; I can't change what happened but… I want to be the mother you deserve, honey. I – I would do anything to be that for you."
Quinn licked her lips, forcing herself to maintain eye contact. "I want to know why."
"Why?" Judy blanched, and Quinn could read the hesitation, but she couldn't let it stop her. They'd both been running from the conversation for too long.
"Yeah, I know you can't tell me why - why Dad did what he did - but I want to know why you let him." Her vision was starting to blur and she paused to brush her fingers under her eyes. "Why didn't we leave, Mom?"
"It's complicated, Quinn," Judy sighed. "He was my husband and I was very lost. I couldn't stand the thought that I might lose all of you if I ever said anything. You have to understand - we all loved your father at times, and it wasn't until I saw him turn his back on you that I realized the man I married was gone. In keeping my silence to keep you I ended up losing you anyway. Camille left as soon as she could, and then you were gone and... Quinn, it's not an easy place to be as a wife and a mother. I didn't know how to choose without losing you altogether. If I'd left him earlier, there's a good chance he could have gained custody of you girls, and then I wouldn't be there to stop him at all."
"You never stopped him," Quinn said and screwed her eyes shut. She could still smell the leather of Russell's shoes under her and his cologne on the jackets hanging over her head in that damn closet.
"No, you're right, but I almost always found out after it was too late to stop it. I tried, I really did, but it seemed like all I could do was try and take care of you after."
Unsatisfied, but unable to see a way to get what she wanted, Quinn whimpered and shook her head. "Why didn't you come up when I - when I was in the hospital? I looked for you."
Judy hesitated and then reached out to touch Quinn's cheek. "I was so afraid that I would show up and you would already be gone. Or worse, that you wouldn't want me there. I wanted to be there, to hold your hand and tell you it would be okay, but it's not my place anymore, I didn't want to make things worse."
"What do you mean, not your place? You're my mom." Quinn rubbed at the scar under her shirt and didn't stop even when Judy put her hand atop of hers and squeezed.
"I called Camille, you know, and I begged her for updates. I asked if I should come - if you needed me. She said," Judy smiled again, as another wave of tears snaked down her cheeks, "she said I could if I wanted, that Rachel had asked about me. She said that Rachel barely left your side, that your partner was forcing her to leave, to eat - and I realized that you don't need me anymore. You have someone else - someone better - who loves you and protects you and fights for you. More than I ever did. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I was jealous of Rachel; I was afraid to see with my own eyes how you'd replaced me, even though I'm glad that you did."
"Do you love me?" Quinn asked, barely able to get the words past her lips.
Judy cupped Quinn's face with both hands, and chuckled soggily. "More than I could possibly say."
Quinn nodded. "Then that's enough."
"About Rachel... Quinn, I didn't understand at first when you told me that you – about her. I was afraid of what it all meant, but now that I've met her and seen the way that you look at her... I told her last night, and I want you to know, even if it doesn't matter, that I approve of her. I think she's an amazing woman, and I'd be happy to have her as a daughter-in-law."
"Thank you." Quinn moved forward and carefully, as though it might break both of them, drew her mother in for a hug.
From around the corner Rachel watched with both hands against her mouth, covering her smile, as tears meandered down her cheeks.
Finally.
The drive back to the airport was filled with more stories of baby Rachel, and Quinn laughed until her stomach hurt while Rachel fake pouted at her fathers, groaning good-naturedly at every embarrassing tidbit that they could recall.
She was more than certain that if Quinn didn't think she was crazy before she definitely would now, especially after the tale of little Rachel Berry sitting in front of the television singing her heart out to 'Part of your World' with the Little Mermaid - only to remark, quite seriously to her fathers, that she wanted to be a mermaid when she grew up.
It wasn't until they were standing just off the entrance to security that Rachel realized it was time to say goodbye to her fathers again, and her eyes immediately welled up with tears as she looked from one face to the other.
"Oh no, don't cry yet!" Hiram sniffled. "I'm supposed to wait until I'm in the car."
Leroy rolled his eyes, rubbing Hiram's shoulder soothingly.
Rachel leapt at Hiram, wrapping her arms around him as tightly as she could. "I'm going to miss you so much," she whimpered. "I want to see you more! I'm going to forget what you look like!"
"We need to Skype more often - every day," Hiram agreed, crushing Rachel against him and kissing the top of her head over and over. "You too, Quinn, come on, get in here!"
Quinn smiled lopsidedly, shyly shuffling over, and choking slightly in surprise when Hiram threw an arm around her neck and squeezed her into his chest alongside Rachel.
"Alright, my turn," Leroy sighed and opened his arms wide. Rachel wasted no time in rushing to him, giggling soggily when he picked her up and spun her in a tight circle. "Goodbye, baby, try not to keep us in the dark for another year," he teased. "Especially not when you two get engaged," he whispered against her ear.
"Daddy!" She squeaked and slapped at him. "I'd never."
"Miss Fabray, don't think I'm letting you off with my little girl without a proper farewell," Leroy said.
"Just don't spin me around," Quinn quipped, stretching on her tiptoes to hug him as well.
"This from the cheerleader," he said and lifted her off her feet for a couple of seconds.
"Former cheerleader," Quinn cheekily corrected.
"You take care of my baby," he said, pointing his finger right at her nose as Quinn nodded.
"Always," she promised and reached out for Rachel's hand, features softening when Rachel laced their fingers together.
"Okay, go... go, before I make a scene," Hiram said, shooing them towards security.
"Too late," Leroy chuckled, pulling Hiram into his side.
Quinn steered a silently crying Rachel into line for security, holding tightly to the hand in hers as they trudged their way through. "You'll see them again soon," she whispered, dotting a kiss to the ear peeking out through dark hair. Rachel sighed and bobbed her head in a short nod.
The world seemed to have righted itself once again as the two hastily made their way through security and ambled off towards their gate. Rachel secretly loved watching Quinn go through airport security; it was one of the most amusing things to see. Quinn was almost OCD about the way she placed her items in trays. She was sure there was a story there somewhere, perhaps about Quinn losing something to the evil x-ray machine.
Her smile fell the tiniest bit as she wondered if it had more to do with the herd of people lined up, pressed in close like cattle. Maybe it was Quinn's claustrophobia and not an adorable need to keep all of her belongings.
That realization made her feel like the worst girlfriend in the world.
"Hey," Rachel said lightly, bumping a hip into Quinn who was walking alongside her with a small smile pulling at the corner of her mouth. A small, satisfied almost-smirk that instantly banished all thoughts of panic attacks from her mind. "What's the smile for?"
"I have to have a reason to smile?" Quinn asked playfully and slid her arm around Rachel, holding gently to her bicep.
"Well, no," Rachel backpedalled. "I was just curious."
"We only packed one suitcase."
Rachel shot a questioning glance up at her as they came up to their gate. She sat down next to her and thought about packing, blinking when she realized Quinn was correct. They'd only packed one suitcase. "Does that mean something, Brainy Smurf?"
Quinn shrugged, "I think it does. Doesn't it to you?"
"I'll have to get back to you on that," Rachel said, frowning slightly.
"You do that," Quinn teased and flopped down in their boarding area. "I don't suppose I could talk you into getting me another delicious energy drink?"
"Like you need it," Rachel grumbled, smiling sweetly as she did.
"I'm not the one who acts like a hummingbird on speed when I get the slightest dose of anything resembling an 'upper'. I remember you flitting about after that Vitamin D incident in Glee club."
Rachel felt her stomach drop as she remembered her harsh speech to Mr. Schuester at the funeral. She sat down, oh so slowly, next to Quinn, who immediately picked up in the sudden change of mood.
"Rachel?"
"I - I'm going to go get you a redbull and, um, I think something for me."
"Are you okay?" Quinn clasped her hand around Rachel's wrist and leaned over, searching her face for answers. "Rachel?"
"I'm fine, Quinn, I just got really... sleepy suddenly and I don't want to sleep on the plane or I'll never fall asleep tonight. I'll be right back." She leaned over and kissed Quinn's cheek before jumping up, purse in hand, and heading back towards the various shops.
As soon as she was out of Quinn's line of sight she pulled her bag open and plucked out her phone. Rubbing at her mouth, she waited for the line to be picked up.
"Rachel?" Hiram answered, sounding more than a little surprised. Rachel couldn't blame him; they had just dropped them off at the airport, after all.
"Dad, I – I made a mistake," she blurted out and turned in a circle, looking for a place to sit down before she fell over.
In the silence between her confession and his answer she could hear the deep rumble of Leroy's voice and the ever annoying sounds of a car in motion. It made her feel like she would have to shout to be heard over the noise. "What happened?"
Closing her eyes, Rachel gave up on her search for a seat, plastering her back against the nearest wall to slide down to sit on the floor. "I lost control and I took it out on someone who didn't really deserve it."
"Honey… did you and Quinn have a fight?"
"No," Rachel blanched at the thought. Fighting with Quinn after the emotionally draining weekend would be borderline cruel. "No, of course not. It was someone else entirely."
"Can you elaborate?"
"With everything going on, I just... lost it." Rachel said, letting her head fall back against the wall as she replayed her cutting words and the look on her victim's face. "Mr. Schuester was at the funeral and he was talking to me and I think I heard what I wanted to – like I made an excuse to vent my frustrations. I don't know what to do."
"Rach, you and Quinn had a very full weekend. Nobody's perfect. You know that, so now you go and fix it."
"How?" She whimpered, feeling like some sort of monster.
"Be an adult - call him and apologize. Trust me, he'll appreciate it."
Rachel straightened up, sniffed mightily, squared her shoulders, and nodded her head – even though Hiram couldn't see it. She was ready; she was Rachel Berry and she could do this. "Do you have his number?"
"I'll text it to you."
"Thank you." She disconnected the call and drummed her fingers against her drawn up knees as she waited and waited and waited… until her phone chimed and she froze, staring at the number in front of her.
Rachel the Lionheart Berry, she remembered Quinn saying. With a shake of her head she tapped her finger to the number and lifted her phone back to her ear. A small smile pulled at her lips as 'Bad to the Bone' filled her ears. "Bad to the Bone, Mr. Schue?" she groaned. "Really?"
"Schuester residence!" Another familiar voice chirped across the line, and Rachel tried not to laugh as she remembered kneeling over a toilet bowl with an anxious Emma Pillsbury hovering behind her.
"Hello, Mrs. Schuester, it's Rachel Berry," She said politely after clearing her throat of an imaginary obstruction.
"Oh, Rachel, hi! This is a nice surprise," Emma squeaked breathily. "I keep telling Will we need to go see your show. I've read all your reviews and I'm just dying to see you in action."
"You're so sweet," Rachel chuckled. "I would love for you guys to come up and see the show. You have to let me know so I can get you backstage. Is Will there?"
"Yes, of course, hold on a second… Will!"
The pause was just long enough for Rachel's nerves to surface again and threaten to choke her. She pushed them back, just as she had several times already over the weekend, briefly wondering if she could develop an ulcer or something from all the suppressing she was doing.
Maybe she and Quinn should go get massages when they got home, before the tension in their bodies turned them each in to one giant knot.
"Hello?"
"Mr. Schuester…" Rachel fumbled, only for a second, as his greeting yanked her out of her pondering. She frowned at the phone when she realized she had no idea what to say. "I – well, I'm calling to apologize to you for my behavior at the funeral. It's been one hell of a weekend and I'm so sorry for taking it out on you. I shouldn't have; it was incredibly rude of me."
All she heard for a couple of seconds was his breathing, and then the sound of movement followed by the click of a door. "Rachel, you're not the only one who should apologize. I was thinking a lot about what you said and I'm sorry that I made you feel defensive. It's not my place to question your life or the choices you make. I also - I didn't know about you and Quinn. I'm actually really happy for you two – surprised for sure, but genuinely happy that you found each other."
"Thank you," Rachel sighed, curling her knees in tighter to her chest. "About what I said, about Quinn and her family and your relationship with her… I had no right to lay that all on you. It's not your fault and I was... I was feeling guilty because I was there too and I didn't know."
"You know, it's not easy being a teacher," Will said slowly, and Rachel felt her eyes tear up. "There's this line and it moves. You're never sure when you've gone too far or not far enough. I tried; I still try, to be a good teacher but I mess up sometimes. I'm not perfect, and I've never claimed to be. Quinn was - God, I didn't know what to do with her. I wasn't her parent and I wasn't a friend. I was her teacher."
"I understand, Mr. Schue – I'm so embarrassed for what I said to you. Would, I mean, may I offer tickets to my show for you and Emma to make up for it?"
"Really?"
Rachel blushed at the excitement in his voice, "Absolutely, and you'd be welcome to stay with us if you wanted."
"That would be amazing, Rachel, really – you don't have to though, you know. I get that you had a stressful weekend. It happens to all of us."
"I want to. Please let me?"
"Yes, yeah, of course yes!"
"I hope you'll forgive me," Rachel said.
"It's already forgotten," Will replied and she could hear his smile. "Please give Quinn my condolences."
"I will. Thank you, Mr. Schue."
"It's Will, Rachel."
Rachel smiled and chuckled, "Thank you, Will. Keep an eye out for those tickets."
"We will! Goodbye."
"Bye." She dropped the phone back into her bag and wiped at her eyes, then jerked when she realized she didn't know how long she'd been sitting there. A quick check of her watch sent her to her feet, cursing and flailing as she rushed off to find Quinn her blasted energy drink before they had to board the plane.
She raced through the airport, trying to locate a shop that would sell her the most coveted of all energy beverages. "How is there no Starbucks," she huffed, throwing her hands in the air. Finally she darted into a gift shop and came out with a couple of magazines, water, and an ice cold blue and silver can.
Quinn was standing at the back of the line when Rachel came racing back towards the gate and she smiled so widely it nearly knocked Rachel over.
"I told you not to stop and sign autographs," she said, happily accepting her redbull.
"If you must know, I wasn't signing autographs; I was running around this tiny airport trying to find your chemical cocktail."
That lopsided smile never failed to make Rachel's heart stutter, and she ducked her head to avoid mauling her ridiculously cute girlfriend in front of the entire airport.
"Why are you acting all shy," Quinn asked and dipped to kiss Rachel's ear again. Rachel squirmed and distracted herself by playing with Quinn's hand.
"I'm not," she half-protested and flashed a brilliant grin.
"Oh, okay," Quinn shook her head and tugged Rachel after her down the boarding ramp. Once seated and buckled in, Quinn sighed, letting her head fall back against the seat.
"I can't wait to be home," Rachel groaned and hastily pushed up the armrest between them so she could more comfortably lean into Quinn's side. "I miss our bed."
"I miss everything," Quinn said and twisted to stare at Rachel a little more seriously.
"What?" Rachel asked, narrowing her eyes as Quinn studied her.
"You were really amazing this weekend."
Rachel couldn't help it; she snorted. "Quinn, I was a disaster."
Quinn shook her head, "No you weren't. Honestly, Rachel, I don't know what I would have done without you."
Feeling heat creep across her cheeks, Rachel smiled and tucked her hair behind her ears. "Flatterer."
"You're kind of my hero."
"Quinn," Rachel whined and turned her face into Quinn's shoulder. "You can't say things like that in public."
"I'm just, god, I'm so in love with you," Quinn confessed, unperturbed by Rachel's mumbling. She loved making her blush – but she wasn't just playing with Rachel - she really meant it. "Move in with me."
"I – what?" Rachel's eyes bugged and her mouth fell open. She was not expecting that. "Really?"
"Don't look so shocked. You practically live with me now. You've taken over my closet, you call it our bed, I actually don't remember what it's like to wake up without you, and don't get me started on your shoes – they're everywhere. So, let's make it official. Move in."
"You're sure?" Rachel stuttered, already fighting back the urge to cry or break into song… or both.
"Rachel," Quinn laughed and shook her head. "Even before this weekend I've never been more sure. I want you to live with me."
"Yes!" Rachel squealed. "Yes, yes, a hundred times over yes I'll move in with you!"
"That's all you have to say?" Quinn arched an eyebrow disbelievingly.
"What more can I say?" Rachel leaned over and gripped Quinn in the most awkwardly awesome seated hug she'd ever experienced. "I love you and I can't believe we're living together!"
"I guess I was expecting a rant of some sort about furniture and whether we continue to sleep in my bed or if it goes in the guest room so we can use that monstrosity of yours..." Quinn pursed her lips and rolled her eyes up to the ceiling. "Speaking of which, I have no idea how we're going to get that thing out of your apartment, let alone into mine."
"You're so right!" Rachel gasped and started flapping her hands. "I need paper! I'm going to have to plan; I need phone numbers - we'll need professional movers... oh! Can I paint the bedroom then? The white walls make me slightly insane, we need some color!"
Quinn smiled and set her chin in her palm, happily watching Rachel animatedly chatter away and dig in her bag for a notebook. She was going to wake up to that face and that crazy enthusiasm every day, for the rest of forever if she had anything to say about it.
She couldn't be happier.
END