Hello!
This chapter has taken so long and I hope you all love it.
It's Christmas Day here in the UK now and I wanted this update done so you could all have it either for Christmas Eve, Hanukkah, Dwalhi or whatever else you may celebrate.
I hope you all have a brilliant holiday and I'll be back updating probably on the 26th!
All the best!
-Klaine2314
Love Knows No Boundaries:
"Well, well, well. What time do we call this then?" Kurt announced as Rachel crept into their apartment.
"Gosh Kurt, you almost gave me a heart attack."
"Similar to the one I almost had when I saw you weren't home after midnight."
"I guess I just lost track of time."
"I figured that, I also guessed where you'd be. Care to clarify?" He joked. A grin flashed across Rachel's face.
"Quinn's." She stated.
"I thought as much. Now I've scolded you, details please." Rachel chuckled. This was why she loved living with Kurt, he couldn't be mad at her for long without wanting to know every detail of her evening.
"Well, nothing happened if that's what you want to know."
"Ew, no. Trust me, when it does... happen. I really do not want to know." He blushed.
"Oh Kurt." Rachel laughed.
"Do not 'Oh, Kurt' me... There are something's that a best friend really doesn't want to hear."
"It wasn't like that in high school." Rachel jibed.
"Ah but that was when we were sharing our first times, that was an important moment in our friendship, just before you stuffed the presidential ballot box, which was also an important moment in our friendship."
"Right, I get it. Anyway, like I said nothing happened. I just went over and we chatted. It's bizarre Kurt, I can't explain it."
"What?"
"I just want to see her all the time."
"Are you being dramatic again?" He sniggered.
"When am I not dramatic?" She taunted. "Seriously, right now, as much as I love talking to you Kurt, I want to be talking to her or even just sitting with her. I've never felt like this before, this..." She trailed off in search of the right word, before she could find it; Kurt mumbled "needy?" Rachel playfully slapped his arm and he started giggling.
"Honestly Rachel, you'll be moving in together soon!" Kurt joked.
"Don't tempt me, but then I'd have to kick your little butt out of here and I'm not sure I'm ready to lose you yet."
"Why would I have to go? This is our apartment." He giggled.
"Well maybe at that stage, someone will be ready to finally move in with his boyfriend!"
"Maybe I'll move him in here." He joked.
"Well maybe I'll move Quinn in... That'd be interesting. We're lucky to both have a bathroom adjoin our bedrooms because mornings would be a nightmare. I've noticed you take ages!" She laughed.
"Skin care is not something to be made fun of. We'll see when we're both fifty and I have perfect skin and you, well... I just hope Quinn likes wrinkles." Rachel huffed in response, but caught Kurt's eye and they both started laughing.
"Now I know you're home, I can finally sleep."
"Yeah, otherwise you'll be the one getting wrinkles." Rachel retorted. She hugged her best friend before he made his way into his bedroom and closed the door.
Rachel did the same. She got changed into her pyjamas and under the blankets on her bed. She snuggled down and found herself aching for Quinn. She knew the blonde was going to bed once she'd left, so she didn't want to text her, even to just say goodnight. She wasn't that whipped...yet. Instead Rachel slowly drifted off to sleep.
-#-
"Kurt?" Rachel asked the next morning over breakfast.
"Hmmm?" He replied not taking his eyes away from the newspaper.
"Does love have a timescale?"
"I'm not sure I follow."
"How quickly or slowly does love progress?"
"I think it depends on the person. If the connection between the two is real then it can happen suddenly. If people are hesitant at opening up their heart then it probably takes a bit longer. Love doesn't know any boundaries. It's the people who have boundaries but eventually love finds a way through. Why?"
"I think I'm falling in love, Kurt. I'm scared."
"Rachel, love's a wonderful thing. Never be scared of love."
"I'm scared of being vulnerable. I'm scared of being too open that I scare her away. I can't bear to lose her. I feel so stupid; we've been together for what? Two days? I already feel hooked. Last night it took me ages to sleep because my mind wouldn't stop racing. I've never been like this before Kurt."
"Being in love is about being open, Rach. It's about two people being open enough with each other to love and appreciate what they have. Love builds a bond between two people, it's scary and it's tough but it makes people stronger. Rachel, promise me you'll never be afraid of love." Rachel sat and thought about what her best friend was saying. Slowly, she nodded her head.
"Maybe you should speak with Quinn about how you feel. I'm not saying you need to tell her, but from what she wrote in her book, I think it's clear that she's in love with you too."
-#-
Quinn groaned as her alarm clock went off signalling the end of her peaceful state. She had a meeting with Trevor who had one word for her. Well he probably had several but Quinn was only interested in one word. It was either a 'yes' or a 'no'. She dragged herself out of bed and got ready for one of the biggest days of her career so far. The reviews Lindsay had given her were good so far, but she hadn't given Quinn a definite answer as to whether or not she was definitely going to have another book published.
The fresh October air rushed over Quinn as she made her way to Trevor's office. Quinn's mind raced back to last night, she'd loved being so close to Rachel. Lying on the couch just listening to her breath was as amazing as Quinn always imagined it would be. She felt herself sigh when Rachel announced she was going home. When she'd got into bed shortly after Rachel had left, she found herself just lying there thinking of the diva, trying to remember the exact way Rachel's face fell when she smiled, or when she laughed.
She arrived at the office twenty minutes before her meeting was due to start. She sat outside the office waiting for Lindsay. She checked her phone and saw (1) New Message: Rachel. She smiled knowing that the diva was probably wishing her good luck. She loved how thoughtful Rachel was. "Good morning beautiful. I'm just wishing you good luck for today and hopefully I'll get to see you later. I think this will count as our third date? All the best. xx". Quinn smiled and typed out a quick reply just as Lindsay walked into the reception area.
"This is it, Quinn."
"This is it."
"Nervous?"
"A little bit, I don't think I've got any more inspiration in me if we get rejected."
"Let's not think like that." Lindsay smiled. The door to the office opened and Trevor walked out.
"We're ready for you now." Quinn took in a deep breath and got to her feet. She followed Lindsay into the office and sat down.
-#-
(1) New Message: Quinn. "Thanks baby. Third date? You counted last night as a date? I'm not complaining, it was almost as good as the first one. My evening's free so just give me some details and I shall meet you wherever. I'm just sat in the reception waiting. I'll let you know how it goes as soon as I know. See you later. xx" Rachel smiled as she read Quinn's text. Her day was free until the evening when she had a show, so she decided to have Quinn over once the show was done. She was currently deciding on what she was going to cook for the two of them. She didn't want to scare Quinn away with her strict vegan regime, but she did know that Quinn was a vegetarian so cooking a meal for the both of them wouldn't be too hard. She looked at the clock and knew Quinn would definitely be in her meeting right now.
-#-
"I'll be honest Quinn, we're not sure." Trevor admitted.
"What?" Lindsay exclaimed.
"It's good, but we're not sure about the focus of it. The plot line's a bit risky."
"Are you serious?" Lindsay argued. Quinn sat silently, debating whether she should let her editor fight her battle for her. "If you're only worried about the plot line then we can discuss it. That's why I'm her editor; we'll work together and edit it."
"Quinn, can you just break down the plot for me? Is it another metaphor that I simply can't understand in my old age?"
"Trevor, you're thirty. You're not old." Lindsay retorted.
"It's about waiting and taking chances when the opportunity arises. It's a plain old fashioned love story, just like the last one."
"I can understand that, I'm a bit confused as to how it's a love story though. The two characters are female."
"Which part don't you get?" Lindsay asked.
"I think I'm just unsure if a love story about two women is the right direction to take the novel in."
"Why not?" Quinn snapped.
"The world isn't accepting of reading stories between same sex couples. That doesn't sell."
"I'm not interested in the money, Trevor. I want my story to be told. I want the world to start becoming aware of what goes on. Just because they don't see it on TV or in books doesn't mean it doesn't exist."
"I just don't know. I don't think we can publish this, Quinn. I'm sorry."
"Give me time, let Lindsay and I edit it. Let us work out the kinks and we'll prove to you that it's a story worth believing in." Quinn begged, she wasn't ready to give up on her story yet. "Take away the fact that it's two women who are the leads and who fall in love. Imagine it's a man and a woman, you'd be eating it up, wouldn't you?" Quinn asked, arching her eyebrow.
"Honestly? Yes."
"You think like the world, Trevor. I always wanted my writing to inspire and convey hope to people. If this book gives people the confidence to 'come out' and be proud of who they are then I've achieved a goal. It's something I'm not ready to do yet." She admitted. "It's a love story about how everything takes time. It allows the audience to take their time as they begin to understand that the world is changing. It allows them to be captivated by a love story about two people who under normal circumstances would never have found each other let alone loved each other." She finished.
Trevor looked deeply into her eyes. "Ok."
"Ok?" Lindsay and Quinn repeated together.
"Ok. Edit it. Send me the final draft and I'll re-evaluate my decision. Quinn, you're the reason I went into publishing. I wanted to find authors with stories like yours, people who wanted to change the world. People who believe passionately in what they were writing. I thought you'd lost your way Quinn, but just then listening to you, you made it clear that you've only found your way further."
"You can thank being in love for that." She said as she left the office.
"I don't know how you managed that Quinn, but well done." Lindsay said as they left the building and began walking to Quinn's apartment.
"I don't know either, I just thought of Rachel and how proud she is of me, I want to make her the proudest woman in the world. If I don't tell this story, then I'll fail her."
"It's a good story and it'll be an amazing story once we edit it. This is my street so I'll be in touch Quinn." She said as she turned the corner. "Oh and Quinn?"
"Yeah?" Quinn replied turning around.
"Go tell your girlfriend you love her. You owe her that she saved our skin this morning." Quinn smiled and waved at the editor as she walked down the street.
She took her phone out of her pocket and dialled the diva's number. "Hello." A familiar voice answered.
"Hey you." Quinn replied.
"Don't hey you me; tell me, how did it go?"
"A bit of both to be honest. How about you come over and I'll tell you all about it?"
"Why don't you come here? We can have our third date now and then maybe a fourth later?"
"I like the sound of that. I'll be over soon." Quinn replied.
"See you soon." Rachel replied as she hung up.
As soon as she'd put her phone down onto the kitchen table she ran into Kurt's bedroom."Kurt, I need you to leave right now."
"What? Why?" He gasped.
"Quinn's coming over and I don't need her getting the third degree over lunch."
"It'll be fun!"
"No! Out! Now!" She ordered.
"Fine, I'll go over to Blaine's. Even though he's at work." He said, getting up from his bed and grabbing his jacked.
"Thank you!" She said kissing his cheek. She ushered him out of his bedroom and opened the front door to see a startled Quinn stood there.
"Hi Quinn, bye Quinn." Kurt said rushing past her.
"Err, hi Kurt." She laughed.
"Sorry, I can't stay and chat; I've been evacuated from my own house."
"Ignore him, he was going out anyway." Rachel jibed as she pulled Quinn inside.
"I hope me coming over won't annoy Kurt, you didn't have to kick him out."
"He is not third-wheeling our date." Rachel replied as she took Quinn into the kitchen. Quinn wrapped her arms around Rachel's waist and leant down and kissed her lightly.
"I missed you." She confessed.
"I missed you, too. How sad are we?" Rachel laughed. "Actually don't answer that, tell me how this morning went!" She commanded.
"Well I told you a bit of both. Trevor, the big boss, isn't entirely convinced about the plot and the characters. He isn't sure the choices I've made are right for the novel and well he's not sure whether or not they can publish it or not."
"Can you elaborate so I can see whether or not I can understand what he means?"
"Well it's a love story but about two women and he isn't sure as it opposes what society accepts as 'normal'. So what'll make money and what won't." Quinn explained, making sure to use air quotes when she used the word 'normal'.
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah, I hid the love in the last one and I don't want to have to hide love. Love knows no boundaries, Rach, that's why we're together." She said reaching out and holding onto the brunette's hand.
"However, I explained to him that I write to inspire people and give them hope. If my book helps people be honest with who they are then it's a win for me. I told him I wasn't interested in the money, I was writing to change lives. I'm not ready to come out yet and writing this book has helped me come to terms with that. I love writing, I can be whoever I want and that's exactly the depth of my characters I want. I want them to be so real that people can identify with them. They can identify with the struggles and be overcome with emotion when they succeed. Trevor took this on board and he's given me more time. Lindsay and I have got to work out some of the problems and he'll re-evaluate his decision.
I was thinking though, even if Trevor says 'no' there may be other companies willing to publish it. I'm not going to hide this story. I want people to be proud of who they are Rach. You inspired me last night when you said you were proud of me. I stood up for what I believed in. I believe in this book and the story the characters tell." She finished. Rachel led her over to the couch and thought about everything Quinn had just said.
"Quinn..." Rachel began.
"Yeah?"
"I think I love with you." She blurted out. Quinn looked stunned. "I know it's too soon, heck, we've been together for two days, but I can't help it. You and Kurt both said something similar today about love knowing no boundaries, and I guess it doesn't understand the concept of time either." Rachel babbled.
"Rach?"
"Yeah."
"It's not too soon, because I don't think I love you. I know I do." Quinn confessed. Rachel lent forward and kissed her girlfriend. Rachel could feel the tears slowly falling down her face. Quinn pulled away and wiped them away.
"Why the tears?" She asked.
"I've just never had someone tell them they love me and genuinely mean it." She admitted.
"I'll always mean it." She replied sincerely. They kissed again before laying down on the couch in each other's arms in absolute silence.
"Some date, huh?" Quinn joked breaking the silence a short while later.
"I don't know how we're going to top this one." Rachel chuckled.
"Oh, I have an idea. I think my place would be a better place though. Kurt may not be able to sleep for a few nights." Quinn felt Rachel's breathing increase beside her. "We don't have to. I know I love you and nothing's going to change that."
"No. I want to." She whispered.
-#-
Rachel's show went without any hitches, for the second time that week Rachel couldn't concentrate on what she was supposed to be doing. Before she knew it she was outside Quinn's apartment. She slowly reached up and knocked on the door. "Hey." Quinn answered.
"Hi." She finally uttered, her heart was racing.
"Come in, it's cold out there." Quinn said, ushering her inside.
"How was the show?" She asked as she took Rachel's coat and hung it up in the cupboard.
"I don't remember. You have this crazy effect on me, you make me lose focus but luckily my body goes into auto-pilot."
"Oh. Here, have this." Quinn said offering her a glass of wine.
"Thanks."
"I thought we'd have a movie date tonight."
"Do I get to choose?" Rachel laughed, batting her eyelashes at Quinn.
"Sneaky move there Berry!" Quinn chuckled. Rachel batted them a bit more.
"Go on then. My collection's over there." She said indicating to a cabinet. Rachel opened the cabinet and couldn't believe the sheer amount of films that Quinn had collected over the years.
"Quinn, how many films do you own?"
"I've never counted. I like films, what can I say?"
"How're they organised?" Rachel asked.
"They're not. I just buy them and then put them in there."
"You really should organise them." The brunette suggested.
"Too much effort..."
"If they were organised by genre or alphabetically then you could have ease of access."
"I know, but look how many there are. It'd take too long to sort out, by then I would have lost interest in watching one."
"But-" Rachel began but Quinn cut her off.
"Pick a film." Quinn ordered knowing she was going to lose the argument if she didn't put her foot down soon.
"I'm trying...seriously there's so many. Where are your musicals?" Rachel asked.
"I don't think I have any." Quinn laughed.
"What?" Rachel shrieked. "Next movie night, we're watching a musical. I am going to educate you!"
"I look forward to it. Have you picked anything yet?"
"Erm..." She said as she scanned the rows. "This will do. We won't end up watching it anyway..." She muttered. "Hand it over." Quinn instructed. She put the disc in the machine and sat next to Rachel on the couch. Rachel snuggled into Quinn. Instinctively Quinn lifted her arm and Rachel wiggled closer. Quinn draped her arm on top of Rachel's and her fingers traced patterns on the skin.
Neither was that focused on the film. Both were too busy thinking about what was going to happen next. 'We're in love, that's what matters.' Quinn thought.
'I love her. I want to show her how much I love her.' Rachel pondered. The credits began to roll on the screen and both just stared into space.
Slowly Quinn removed her arm and Rachel sat up straight.
"We don't have to do this, Rach." Quinn whispered.
"I want to. I love you Quinn. I'm scared, but I want to."
"I love you too." Quinn replied.
"It's not too soon, is it?" Rachel asked.
"I don't think of things in relation to time. I always think that if it feels right then its right."
"Does it feel right?"
"I think it does, do you?" Quinn replied. Rachel contemplated her answer before slowly nodding her head.
Quinn rose from the couch and took Rachel in her arms. She led her to the bedroom and slowly closed the door. Their first time with each other was special to both of them. It was the two of them affirming their love for each other. Some people may have thought it was too soon for them but Quinn and Rachel only cared what each other thought. They were in love and that was the most important thing to both of them.