Well... I don't think I'll need to continue the voting through this chapter too. Since I'm currently into chapter 17 writing, and Mike is starting to blow away the competition. Standings:

Mike - 11
Puck - 6
Mercedes - 5
Kurt - 3
Shelby - 1

So I think it's safe to say Mike's the winner.

Anyways, Thanks to Jennception for looking over this and helping me develop future ideas and pushing me to write faster.

This is going to be a bit of a happier chapter. A nice little break from all the drama of the story. Next happy chapter isn't coming until 14. Which will be posted on Christmas Day. Did that on purpose, otherwise one of the most depressing chapters I've EVER written would be posted on Christmas. BUT The week of Christmas you all can expect to get treated nicely by me. That's ALL I'm saying :D

The First 24
Chapter 11

December 31 – 6:15PM

"Quinn?" Rachel called out in frustration from the kitchen. Her attention was focused on the shelf just out of her reach that contained the last items needed for their mini gathering for the new year. Champagne glasses. Glasses that were taunting her now. She scowled at them before turning to call for her wife again. "Qu – oh jeez!" She stumbled backwards with her hand over her chest when she literally collided with the blonde mid-turn. "You frightened me." The words came out along with a heavy exhale of air to calm her nerves.

Quinn gently placed her hand on the smaller woman's waist to steady her. "Sorry." After just a few seconds she retracted her touch. "What did you need?"

"You put them up there last year." Her hand flew up to point to the glasses above her head. "You can get them down for me so I can wash them." She didn't miss the small smile on her wife's face. The smiles were still rare, as was laughter… even talking was a hot commodity. It was all slowly getting better with each passing day.

"Not my fault you're short."

Rachel wanted so badly to smack her wife's arm for the comment but used every ounce of self restraint she had to refrain. "It's not my fault either Quinn. I cannot help the fact that I acquired a slightly smaller stature than your average woman." She plucked the glasses from her wife's hands as she pulled them down. "Why exactly did you put them up there?"

Quinn let out a small laugh. "So you wouldn't break any more of them like last year."

Rachel blushed at the memory. It was a vague memory to her, but everybody else seemed to remember it like it was just yesterday.

December 31
-1 year prior-

Everything had been going beyond perfect in Rachel's life. Her manager had recently informed her that he'd been contacted by Paramount Studios because they were interested in the Broadway starlet for an upcoming movie. Rachel was ecstatic to say the least. She had never really given thought to Hollywood before, but since they were coming to her she thought she'd give it a try.

"Hey there." She flung her arm around Santana's shoulder and leaned in close to her. Rachel had already forgotten what drink she was on and it wasn't even 11PM yet. "Do you know where my wife is?"

Santana turned herself and the diva around to look at Quinn who was currently sitting on the sofa chatting with Eileen. "She's right over there."

Rachel's eyes narrowed for a few seconds to try and get them to focus on the mass of blonde hair that was her wife. "Looks like she's having fun…" She trailed off. Honestly she felt as though she was being ignored. "Dance with me." It was more a demand rather than a request. One she didn't give the Latina a chance to respond to as she pulled her closer to the stereo.

"You know," Eileen started, pulling Quinn's attention away from her mixed drink, "It's weird to see them getting along so well. Especially when they're always fighting or arguing over every little thing."

Quinn followed her friend's gaze to see her wife and best friend dancing rather intimately together. On instinct she raised an eyebrow at the sight. "They're both rather pig-headed people who don't back down easily. But you gotta remember they both have drinks in their systems." Her voice faded to nothing when the glass in Rachel's hand slipped out and shattered on the floor. Thankfully though, it was empty less a few drops. What happened next, caused her and several others to choke on their drinks.

"You had your tongue down her throat." Quinn mused. She'd found the whole situation entertaining. Not a single pang of jealousy hit her or Brittany about it. In fact, her fellow blonde thought it was hot.

Rachel's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red. She remembered kissing Santana, but everything leading up to it or following it as a blur to her. "Don't see what that has to do with the glasses though."

"You dropped the glass, not caring that it shattered on the floor just to wrap your arms around her neck."

"I was drunk." The diva attempted to fight back but couldn't stop herself from smiling as she watched the corners of Quinn's mouth curl upwards. She knew her wife was only playing and Rachel planned to continue it as long as Quinn allowed it.

"You wanted to make me jealous."

"I did?"

Quinn leaned against the counter near her wife. She'd already been well aware of how much she'd actually spoke, but she was relaxed. "You told Santana I'd been ignoring you all night. When… in fact… not even five minutes prior I had you pinned against the wall in our bedroom."

"Really?" Even though Rachel already knew all the details – what she was told anyway – she didn't mind hearing them again. Especially if it meant hearing more of Quinn's voice.

"You were beyond drunk Rach." The blonde shook her head with a small laugh. "You know, Brittany asked me for almost six months if we'd consider a four way with them."

Alright, that part was fresh information for the diva. Her eyes flew open in shock. "She what?"

"The last time she asked me was in June. I hated breaking her heart Rach. She told me she was so 'turned on' by watching San with another woman." Quinn looked away. "I kind of hated telling her no."

Rachel dared to take a step closer. Most of her was curious to see just how far she could push their playful banter before her wife would stop it. She missed seeing Quinn's true colors. She just hoped she wouldn't ruin it. "Why's that?"

The blonde made no attempt to move away, instead her eyes locked with Rachel's. She saw the intense burning fires of desire in her eyes. Yet, she also saw the soothing, gentleness of caring and love. She tried telling her feet to move, her arms to reach out to hold Rachel back, but nothing was responding. Her body wanted the closeness of her wife's. "Because I kind of got turned on too…" She bit her lower lip and looked away shyly. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary for her. Quinn always got shy when talking about anything sexual outside of a dimly lit bedroom, or unless she had a few… several drinks in her system.

Rachel's hand carefully reached out to cup her wife's cheek. The pad of her thumb gently traced over the fading bruise and healing skin near her eye. It was one of the simple, loving touches that Rachel knew she'd be able to get away with without Quinn going into complete panic mode. She smiled lovingly up at her wife. "It's completely natural to be aroused by the simple act of one making out with another. Regardless of whether or not one of them is related to you."

"Only you could make that sound so complicated." Quinn chuckled lightly before allowing her eyes to close and lean a little further into Rachel's touch.

"How about this then?" She took a deep breath to compose herself and pull in all of her natural acting abilities. "It's totally cool to get off watching your woman get her mack on with someone else."

Quinn stared blankly at her wife's perfect poker face for a good fifteen seconds before she could no longer contain herself. She retracted from her wife's touch and doubled over in laughter. That easily rivaled Rachel's promise of a traditional vegan Jewish breakfast for Christmas their first year as a married couple as the most absurd thing to ever leave her wife's mouth. "You've… you've been around Santana too damn long."

"Well at least it has not affected my acting abilities." Rachel stood proudly. Proud of herself for being able to pull off a perfect Santana Lopez. And proud of herself for getting her wife to laugh. She missed Quinn's laugh. Her real laugh. Not the small giggles and half-hearted chuckles she'd been hearing over the past several days.

"Oh I love you." Quinn looked up again to meet Rachel's eyes. This time she went on instinct as she closed the gap between them and pressed their lips together. It was only their second kiss since being reunited in Plattsburgh. This time around it was much more romantic and passionate than the languid kiss they'd shared the first time. The blondes head tilted slightly to the side. She was hoping Rachel would take over the lead. But when she did Quinn felt her body react in a way she was hoping it wouldn't. The moment she felt her wife's tongue poke out and drag along her lower lip she pulled back and swallowed thickly. "I…" She couldn't say anything.

Quinn didn't need to say anything, Rachel saw it in her eyes. The pained expression on her face said it all. She cursed herself for even trying to push it so far, but she was so caught up in the moment… theywere so caught up in the moment. Had she not tried to deepen the kiss who knows what would have happened. Her body could still be feeling the warmth of her wife's. She could still be feeling and tasting Quinn's lips on her own. Or Quinn could have still had the same reaction to her being so close and pushed her away, much as she'd just done.

"I'm sorry." Rachel finally spoke, her eyes looking down at the tile flooring.

"Rach, look at me." Quinn tried to force her hand to reach out to touch Rachel's cheek, but her arm wouldn't respond to the commands. Now she just prayed that the brunette would listen to her words. When brown eyes gazed into her own she breathed a sigh of relief and continued. "I'm trying here Rachel. I really am trying. I want everything to go back to normal… I want our lives back." Before Rachel could open her mouth to interject, she continued. "I just… I need you to be patient with me."

Rachel nodded and smiled softly. She offered her hand to Quinn's, her own smile growing more when the blonde actually took it. "Will you help me finish up the sandwiches? Jeff and his family should be here any minute."

Jeff was a man she'd known for years. He was the first person Rachel met when she entered the Broadway scene. They were both there for the birth of both of his children. He was like a big brother to her, and yet, the thought of him being the only man in the house tonight, scared her beyond belief. She trusted him with her life and knew he would never, everlift a finger to do anything other than help her… but it was the simple fact that he was, in fact, a he that had her entire body on edge. Quinn wasn't even sure if she'd be able to be in the same room as him. She just prayed he would understand if she were to suddenly get up and move to get away from him.

"Yea, I'll help…" She pulled away to get one of the serving platters from another cabinet in the kitchen. It was in yet another place she knew her wife wouldn't be able to reach without the help of a chair.

December 31 – 7:30PM

Quinn remained near the kitchen doorframe as she watched Rachel allow Jeff and his family into the house. Just as she feared, upon seeing Jeff enter her home, her body reacted in a negative fashion. But she refused to give in to her instinct to run away and stay locked in the bedroom. Especially when she saw two children running full steam past Rachel right toward her.

"Aunt Quinn!" They both chimed in unison. Each attached themselves to one of her legs. She pried them off long enough to kneel down on the floor to get eye-level with them

"Hey guys." She wrapped them both in a tight hug, savoring each second of it before pulling away to help both of them out of their winter attire. "I missed you guys." Her eyes glanced over Jessica's head to see Rachel leading Eileen and Jeff into the living room. She shot her wife a silent 'thank you' and continued paying attention to the children.

"You missed so much Quinn!" Alex kicked off his snow boots before pouting. "Why did you have to go away?"

Well that didn't take long… She took a deep breath to calm her building nerves before looking at the five year old. "I didn't want to go away." She decided to sit on the floor in the hallway to make herself comfortable. "Somebody made me go away."

"Did Aunt Rachel make you go away?"

"No stupid, then Rachie wouldn't have been so sad!" Jessica glared at her brother before wrapping her arms around Quinn's neck and making herself comfortable on the woman's lap.

Quinn relaxed under the young girl's touch, "don't call your brother stupid. He doesn't understand…" She paused to look at the girl. "Do… do you understand what happened?"

Jessica nodded. "Someone took you and did bad things to you and I'm just really, really happy you're okay. Even though you don't look okay." She reached out to touch the bruise that still surrounded Quinn's one eye. Her lip had healed, leaving behind only a very small faint scar, the only physical evidence now that remained was her still slightly puffy eye and some minor scratches and bruises over her body. Her ribs were even healing nicely and she hardly had pain while breathing, but moving, and having a ten year old sitting on you were another story.

"You're right, someone did take me."

"What did they do to you?" Alex stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her neck too.

Having two sets of child's arms around her completely restricted any and all of her movements. But, she was still completely relaxed. If anything, knowing the children were that attached to her helped her body relax more. "It was just one person Alex. He did a lot of bad things to me." Her heart ached at the memories, but she forced them aside, focusing instead on the two inquisitive children in her grasp.

It was Jessica's turn to speak. Quinn always found it amusing how, without even thinking about it, they'd automatically take turns when talking to someone. "Like what?"

"I can't tell you all that. Not yet at least… but… what I can tell you is that I'm okay now." She smiled at Alex's excitement. "Jess?" Quinn tilted her head to the side to look at the little girl who'd moments ago started to sniffle. "Sweetie what's wrong?"

"I thought you were dead." Her arms tightened around the attorney's neck as she sobbed. "Rachie missed you so much. We all did." She couldn't get any more words out even if she tried. Jessica had lost all control over her crying at that point.

Quinn cupped the girl's cheeks and forced her to look at her. "But look, I'm not dead. I'm right here, see?" She planted a soft kiss to her forehead. "I missed all of you guys too. So much."

"Why don't you guys let Auntie Quinn get up?" Rachel popped her head through the doorframe. She couldn't help but laugh at the sight of her wife at the bottom of the child dog pile.

Alex was the first one to pull away from the blonde on the floor. "Can I watch cartoons?" He asked shyly.

Quinn smiled at him before nodding. "Of course you can. Go ask Aunt Rachel to help you turn on the TV okay?"

"K!" He bounced off into the living room.

"Can I get up?"

Jessica still refused to move off of Quinn's lap. She just shook her head, her arms tightening around the blonde's neck. "Take me with you."

"I can't carry you right now sweetheart."

"Why?"

The attorney bit her lip. Before the incident she carried the girl everywhere. Jessica had always been very attached to her. More so than she was with Rachel. "Because I still hurt from when I was taken." She knew she had to pick and choose her words carefully.

"So you can't carry me?" She pulled back just in time to see the woman shake her head. "At least hold my hand?"

"Of course I will Jess."

The girl stood up from Quinn's lap and extended her hand out for the blonde to take. After Quinn stood up with a painful wince from the stabbing feeling in her side, she tightly gripped the girl's hand. They made their way to the living room where everybody was gathered. Along the wall, Quinn spied Rachel and Alex near the TV. Jeffrey and Eileen were seated on the sofa chatting softly.

"What up bitches!" Santana made her presence known as soon as the front door flew open.

"Bad word!" Both Alex and Jessica yelled in unison at Santana's greeting.

The Latina grumbled. "Dammit, didn't realize the kids were here. Alright…" she plopped her purse on the table along the wall and dug her wallet out. "Need to pay you two off early. Come here."

"You know how much money is in their jars from you?" Jeff laughed, earning a glare from the Latina. It was something him and his wife had started doing last year when Alex decided to call his sister a bitch. At a quarter a curse to whoever heard the bad word, Jeff and Eileen quickly learned to watch their mouths.

"I came prepared though. Just in case these two beggers were gonna be here. And once I start drinking…" The Latina started laughing. Once there was alcohol in her system, whatever small filter she had completely vanished. She pulled two 10 dollar bills out of her wallet and handed one to each of the kids. "That should cover me for the night." She threw her wallet back into her purse. "Surprised they don't have new game systems or TVs in their rooms yet."

"They're saving for it. Don't worry. And with you around they should have them soon." Eileen just shook her head as she took the money from her kids to hang onto until they got home.

"Breaking news in the Quinn Berry-Fa…"

The channel changed as Alex began his search for cartoons. "Change it back." Quinn called out as she took small steps toward the TV. When was close enough the young boy handed her the remote. She quickly hit the recall button to bring the news station back up.

"…captured earlier this evening while eating inside his van in a Burger King parking lot. One of the drive-thru employees stated she recognized him from a picture she had seen on a news broadcast. The standoff lasted for nearly an hour before Fields finally relented his weapon and exited his vehicle. Police released the following short statement: Fields maintains his innocence and claims he was only acquiring what was rightfully his. Police also state that Fields did not appear to be in a proper state of mind at the time of his arrest.

"Victim; Assistant District Attorney Quinn Berry-Fabray is said to be continuing her recovery in her private residence which she shares with her wife, Broadway star Rachel Berry-Fabray. All of us here wish you a quick recovery…

"In other news…"

The report faded from Quinn's ears. She didn't care what else they had to say. All that mattered to her was she was safe. Jim had been caught. Granted she'd missed the part of the report where they'd said where he was actually at but she really didn't care. He was back in jail. He was where he belonged. The damage had already been done but at least Quinn could get herself to relax some more. Now she wouldn't think every tiny noise outside was him. Because now it was impossible for it to be him. A single person could not be in two places at once.

"Quinn?" Rachel gently placed her hand on her wife's arm to draw her attention away from the television. "Baby, you ok?"

The battered and broken woman remained frozen in place. She was thrilled. She wanted to scream and cry and jump for joy. All at once. Quinn was at a lost as to which emotion she should allow her body to show. After a small hand squeezed her own she broke down in tears. Her knees buckled under her and she fell into Rachel's arms. Before she knew it she was on her knees on the floor, crying on Rachel's shoulder.

"It's over baby. It's over." Rachel cooed into her wife's ear.

Jessica remained glued to Quinn. Especially now that her Aunt was crying her eyes out. She didn't quite understand why, but she was smart enough to stay close. "It's okay Quinn."

December 31 – 11:30PM

It took some doing but Quinn finally got Jessica to go to bed with Alex. Both children were using an air mattress in the spare bedroom, where they would eventually be joined by Jeff and Eileen. Whereas Brittany and Santana were taking their already claimed spots in the living room. Quinn spent nearly a half an hour in the room assuring Jessica that she wasn't going to vanish by morning.

"Did you finally get her to sleep?" Rachel waited for her wife outside the spare room, two glasses of champagne in her hands.

Quinn took one of the glasses and took a small sip. "She didn't want to let me go. She wanted to stay up with us all night to make sure I didn't leave her again." She made herself comfortable against the wall beside her wife.

"She loves you so much Quinn… she's going to be so heartbroken when we move."

"I talked to her about that too. I had to promise to let her visit at least twice a year."

Rachel carefully reached out to rest her hand on Quinn's bicep. "How are you holding up?"

She closed the gap between them and pressed her lips to those of the smaller woman's. Anything to keep from talking about it. Talking about it kept putting her into a depression and she wanted to enjoy her day with her friends. "We'll talk later. Promise."

"Alright. I won't push you." Rachel's hand came up to rest on her wife's cheek. She dared to kiss Quinn again, this time it quickly became heated when she found herself pressed against the hallway wall. "I love you." She whispered between kisses.

"I love you too." Quinn moved her lips down to the brunette's neck and sucked gently on the skin she found. The moan that escaped Rachel's lips was enough to bring the blonde crashing back to reality. She allowed her forehead to rest against Rachel's as she tried to steady her erratic heart rate. As much as she wanted her wife she knew she wouldn't be able to. It didn't make her feel any less guilty about getting her wife worked up and then leaving her turned on.

"Let's go watch the ball drop." Rachel's eyes opened and she smiled up at her wife. She knew nothing would come from their heated kisses. Not so soon anyway. She gently took Quinn's hand and led them down the steps and into the living room where they already had the TV turned to one of the many channels watching the ball drop.

"To Quinn!" Santana suddenly yelled and raised her glass. All eyes became trained on her as her friend continued to talk over the news caster. "The strongest woman I know…"

"We're glad you're back." Brittany chimed in when her wife had finished talking.

Near the entryway, Quinn remained stock still. She simply absorbed their words. "It's good to be back." Her words were soft and emotionless. She could tell that Santana had had too much to drink. Her best friend was never so sentimental around other people. Even though she said she was glad to be back. It wasn't exactly a lie. She just didn't feel like she was back. Not fully.

"Hey, you in there?" Rachel gently cradled Quinn's cheek to draw her back to reality.

"Sorry… just thinking."

The diva placed her glass on the bookshelf behind her before taking Quinn's and doing the same. "I was just telling you Happy New Year."

Quinn looked out into the room to see Brittany and Santana practically making out on the sofa. As well as Jeff and Eileen sharing short, sweet kisses. She was so lost in thought that she didn't even realize the ball had dropped. "Happy Near Year Rach."

"May 2033 bring us new joys and bring us even closer together." Rachel whispered before capturing her wife's lips with her own.

Quinn allowed herself to relax with her wife's touch. She silently prayed that Rachel was right and the new year would be better for them. So far, everything that was planned was running smoothly. Especially with the news that their best friends would be joining them in California.

Yes.

2033 was going to be a better year.

Anybody catch any hints in this chapter? ;) No? Yes? Let me know what you think the hidden hint is.

Also, next chapter is the move, which turned out to be a chapter of over 5,000 words. Which I'm sure nobody will mind it. :D Most of the other chapters range between 3-4k