A/N: Lovely reviews, thank you very much. This chapter is kind of long, I was tempted to split it up into two separate ones but figured I might as well post it all at once. As always, feedback is greatly appreciated.
"Quinn Fabray!" Rachel shouted as she stomped into her room. "I forebode you from my elliptical. Your doctor specifically told you not to partake in any strenuous exercise until six weeks post delivery, you still have four days to go!"
Quinn rolled her eyes as she turned the volume up on her ipod and increased the intensity on the elliptical. Not daring to look up at Rachel, who was steadily tapping her foot and resting her hand on her hip; Quinn found Rachel to be absolutely adorable when she threw one of her fits.
Rachel, who under no circumstances would allow herself to be ignored, marched over to the elliptical and snatched Quinn's pink ipod from her and unplugged the elliptical. "This is inexcusable, Quinn. Dr. Everett gave you those instructions for a reason."
Quinn sighed as she stepped off the machine. "Rachel, Beth is over five weeks old, an hour on the elliptical is not going to make my uterus fall out."
"That is a disturbing image, that my mind does not care to have, and I will be extremely distraught if that occurs on my carpet."
"Noted. Now give me my ipod so I can finish." Quinn held her hand out expectantly, raising her right brow.
"Quinn Fabray, your brow raising intimidation techniques will not work on me." Rachel put the ipod behind her back and slowly backed up towards her bed.
"Berry." Quinn warned, failing miserably to hide the fact that her lips were curling up into a smile, as Rachel playfully smirked at her. "Give me the ipod, I need to workout so my body can begin to resemble something at least halfway human again."
Rachel shook her head. "Absolutely not, Beth agrees. We are concerned for your health."
"Beth is asleep, however if she was awake she would be on my side." Quinn began to move closer to Rachel. "Berry, I will make you pay."
Rachel scoffed. "Oh Quinn, you are delusional if you think you can intimidate me."
Quinn smiled as she moved so she was only inches away from Rachel, inhaling the sweet strawberry scent of Rachel's lotion, finding it slightly amusing that someone with the last name Berry would choose to smell like berries. Her smile grew as she remembered the conversation at the dinner table the previous night: how ticklish Rachel was.
"Quinn the look in your eye is nothing if it is not devilish, it is beginning to frighten me-" Rachel shrieked as Quinn wiggled her fingers in between Rachel's ribs, causing her to release the ipod.
"Ah Ha!" Quinn shouted in victory as she retrieved the ipod from the floor. "You should know this by now Rachel, Quinn Fabray always wins."
Rachel pressed her lips together. "Who says this is over, Quinn Fabray?" Moving even closer to the blonde, groaning when Quinn held the ipod above her head, just out of Rachel's reach. Quinn swallowed hard when she felt Rachel's breath tickling her neck.
Rachel, completely oblivious to Quinn's reaction to their close proximity, began jumping up and down in an attempt to reach the ipod. She eventually lost her balance and crashed into Quinn. Quinn wrapped her arms around Rachel's waist to steady the girl's balance. Quinn's breath caught in her throat as their eyes met; impulsively she leaned forward, softly pressing her lips against Rachel's.
Rachel froze, she was far too shocked to know whether or not she wanted to return the kiss or pull away. Quinn abruptly pulled away after Rachel's failure to respond. "Quinn?" Rachel said breathlessly, bringing her finger to her lips, feeling the spot where Quinn's lips once rested.
"Oh my God. What the hell is wrong with me. Rachel I..." Quinn didn't bother finishing her sentence, she was far too horrified by what she had just done, she had just kissed Rachel Berry. "I have to go."
Rachel was not sure how long she stood in the middle of her room, her finger pressed to her lips, attempting to process what just happened. Quinn Fabray kissed her. Rachel tried to think of a plausible reason; maybe she hallucinated the entire thing? Quinn Fabray in her right mind would never plant her lips on Rachel Berry, Rachel knew that. "The only way to find out is to go to the source itself." She mumbled as she nervously made her way to Quinn's room, only to find it empty once she got there.
"Daddy?" She asked Brian, who was sitting at his desk going over some papers for work. "Have you seen Quinn?"
Brian sat his papers down and looked up at Rachel, recognizing the sad, hurt tone in her voice. "She left about five minutes ago, she said she was taking Beth for a walk. Is everything alright sweetheart?"
Rachel certainly did not want to tell her father about the confusing kiss she and Quinn shared. "Yes I think so. Quinn's just acting a bit...different lately."
Brian smiled. "Being a new parent is hard, trust me your father and I know better than anyone. You, my dear, put Beth's late night screaming to shame. Quinn is probably overwhelmed and exhausted, maybe she just wants some space." Brian smiled at Rachel before going back to his paperwork.
Quinn sat on a bench at the park down the street from Rachel's house, still completely horrified by what she had done. She smiled at Beth whose wide eyes were looking up at her from her place in the stroller. "God Beth, what has mommy done? Rachel has done so much for the both us and I'm pretty sure I just ruined everything. I'm sorry I keep making such foolish mistakes and the mistakes I make affect you." The baby just grunted up at her, her wide eyes drooping downwards until she fell back asleep. Quinn smiled as she ran her fingers through the baby's soft curls.
"Q!" Santana yelled, startling Quinn, as she and Brittany made their way across the park. "What are you and Lil Bit doing here? Where's the dingle Berry?"
"S, don't call her that." Quinn snapped. "Why are you all in your Cheerios uniforms? It's summer, school's been out for over a week."
"Coach Sylvester's Summer Concentration Camp. What's up Q? You look a little down, Berry do something to piss you off?" Santana sat down on the bench next to Quinn, Brittany followed suit.
Quinn sat for a moment, contemplating whether or not to share the morning's events with Santana, Kurt would be her first choice, but she knew he was helping his dad with the garage. "If I tell you something, can you be sworn to secrecy?"
Santana nodded, glancing back at Brittany who did the same. "If needed I can kick her ass, Q."
"No, no you cannot and you will not ever lay a hand on Rachel, I don't care what she's done. Plus she isn't the one who did anything, it was me." Quinn glanced down at Beth, trying to search for the words she needed to explain the situation. "I kissed Rachel." She mumbled the words under her breath, they were barely audible.
Santana's eyes widened. "I'm sorry Quinn, I don't think I heard you correctly, at least I hope I didn't hear you correctly, because if I did that would mean I heard you admit to kissing Rachel Fucking Berry." Quinn's cheeks turned several shades of red and this was all the confirmation Santana needed. "What the hell, Q? Were you drunk or sleep walking, maybe you're sick or something?"
Quinn sighed. "For the last few weeks I have caught myself staring at her, admiring her lips, her eyes, God she is so beautiful-"
Santana held her hand up. "Okay, Q, I'm going to stop you right there. I get what you are saying, I don't need to hear you going on and on about Rachel Berry's beauty, it freaks me out. So what you are telling me is that you are crushing hard on Rachel Berry?"
Quinn nodded, continuing to stare at Beth, not wanting to meet Santana's judgmental eyes. "I don't know how it happened S. I think it's Kurt's fault, he was running his mouth in the kitchen one day about me liking Rachel and ever since then I cannot get her out of my mind."
"Oh. Was this around the time of The Great Thigh Molestation of 2010? What possessed you to kiss her?" Santana began a fire squad of questions.
"We were just messing around, playing keep away with my ipod and suddenly she was right in front of me and I could smell her, and oh God does she smell good, then our eyes met and before I knew it my lips were attacking hers. It was so stupid, I'm shocked she didn't pull out her rape whistle." Quinn nervously ran her hands through her hair as she thought about the inevitable conversation she would have to have with Rachel about what happened.
"Listen, Q I don't understand why you would have feelings for Berry, and I don't even want to try to understand, because honestly it makes a little sick to think of her in that way, and I also question your sanity, I mean how could you be attracted to someone who wears animal sweaters and never knows when to shut up? But regardless of that, Q you need to be having this conversation with Berry, not us." Santana slapped Quinn on the back in encouragement.
"Did she kiss you back?" Brittany questioned. "Because sex doesn't mean you are dating, right S? We aren't dating. So if you had sex it doesn't have to mean you are dating."
Quinn furrowed her brow as she processed what Brittany had said. "No. She did not kiss me back. She stood there, practically terrified. It was horrible." Quinn was almost thankful when Beth began to cry in her stroller, talking about the kiss only made her feel sick.
Rachel stood at the edge of the park, watching Quinn, Santana, and Brittany, wishing she could hear their conversation. She fought the urge to run over when she heard Beth cry, but smiled when she saw Quinn lovingly pick her up. If you asked her two months ago if she thought Quinn Fabray would be a good mother, her answer would have been no; but everyday Quinn surprised her with her natural ability with Beth, it was a beautiful thing to watch.
Rachel was jerked out of her thoughts when she felt a hand on her shoulder, and heard a familiar voice saying "Hi." She whipped around to find Shelby Corcoran standing behind her.
"Mom-I mean Ms. Corcoran, what are you doing here?"
Shelby walked over to a nearby bench, indicating for Rachel to follow her, Rachel did, before shooting one last glance at the group she had been watching. "It's a nice place to think, I love to hear the birds and the squeals of joy as the children play. What about you? Aren't those your friends, why aren't you with them?"
"I was just doing some thinking myself, everything is a little confusing right now. Why are you talking to me? I was under the impression you thought it was too late for us to form any kind of bond?" Rachel's tone was bitter, forgetting about the kiss for a second as she remembered how Shelby Corcoran wanted nothing to with her, her own daughter.
Shelby sighed. "I was scared Rachel, you are a beautiful young girl, who has parents who love her, and you know exactly what you want in life, I was afraid my presence would mess everything up for you. So I thought about it, about our relationship and I don't think I can go on acting as if you do not exist, I would like to try again with you. But I don't want you to think our relationship is just going to blossom over night and we will be baking cookies and taking mother-daughter trips right away, I'd like to start out as friends, if that is okay with you?"
Rachel considered the idea for a second. "I'd like that." She finally said, smiling slightly. "I could always use another friend."
Shelby smiled, before her face turned serious. "I heard you've been through an awful lot in the past several weeks. I am sorry about Noah Puckerman and I heard my Glee kids egged you, if I had known I Jesse planned that I would have stopped it, I hope you believe me."
"I believe you, but everything with Jesse seems so pointless, you know? My heartache from that is nothing compared to what Quinn is going through, losing Puck and raising a baby. Jesse was an arrogant boy, and yes he broke my heart, but I refuse to dwell on it."
Shelby nodded. "That is a good way to be Rachel. Is that Quinn and her baby over there with the Cheerios?"
Rachel smiled as she shook her head yes. "Her name is Beth, and she is an amazing little girl. I fully intend on having her enrolled in a tap and jazz class by nine months, vocal lessons by age one year."
Shelby let out a soft laugh. "Sounds like you really care about her, and her mother, judging from the way you were staring at them. Why weren't you over there with them?"
Rachel was not sure how to answer the question, she certainly could not tell Shelby about the kiss, though she desperately wanted to, hoping for someone to give her advice. "The situation is complicated." She said vaguely, glancing in the direction of Quinn, Beth, and the two Cheerios. Hoping Quinn did not see her, not ready for that conversation, yet.
Shelby could see the confusion in Rachel's eyes. "Honey, the only way whatever is going on is going to get uncomplicated is if you talk to her about it. I have to go figure out some choreography for the next school year, as I said, I don't know the situation, but I really think you should talk to Quinn. I can tell whatever is going on is really bothering you." Shelby smiled and squeezed Rachel's hand before vacating the bench.
Rachel continued to stay on the bench, wishing she had a pen and paper with her so she could make a pros and cons list about whether or not going over to talk to Quinn would be a good idea. She took a deep breath as she watched Santana and Brittany stand up and say their goodbyes to Quinn and Beth. Rachel knew this was her chance to talk to Quinn, to figure out what the hell had happened in her room a little over an hour ago. "Hi." She whispered as she sat down next to Quinn, who was still holding Beth.
Quinn looked back at her, her eyes wide, her mouth open as if she wanted to speak, but just did not know what to say. "Hi." She finally whispered back.
"She really enjoys being outside, doesn't she?" Rachel gently stroked Beth's smooth cheek. "It wont be long before she is playing with the other kids."
Quinn smiled but turned away. "Rachel you didn't come find me to talk about Beth." A lump was forming in her throat and all she wanted to do was get up and run away, terrified of what Rachel's reaction would be. Knowing she would probably ask her to find somewhere else to live or tell her they could not be friends any longer.
"You're right, Quinn I just don't understand what happened. You...you kissed me."
Tears stung Quinn's eyes as they threatened to fall against her will. "I know. I'm sorry Rachel, I wont let it happen again, just please forgive me. I honestly don't know what Beth and I would do without you."
"Did you mean it?"
Rachel's question caught Quinn off guard, she honestly was expecting Rachel to yell at her and tell her how wildly inappropriate the kiss was. "I uh..."
Rachel sighed. "Quinn, the answer is either yes or no, did you mean it when you kissed me? Or were you just joking around or something?" Rachel did not know what she hoped Quinn's answer would be, part of her hoped Quinn would say yes, the other part of her knew everything would probably be easier if Quinn said no.
"Yes." Quinn said softly. "I meant it. Well I mean I guess I meant it, I did not intend for it to happen, I certainly didn't plan it, but in the moment, when it was happening, I meant it." Quinn waited for what seemed like an eternity for a response from Rachel, any kind of response, but got nothing. "Okay, Rachel let me try to explain myself better. Since moving in with you and watching you with Beth, my feelings for you have changed. I tried to ignore them and tell myself all I was feeling for you was gratitude but that just isn't the case. I like you Rachel, I really like you. And I understand that you don't feel the same-"
Rachel cut Quinn off, finally finding her voice. "Who says I don't?"
Quinn was taken aback once again. "Well I just assumed you didn't, I mean why would you?"
"Why wouldn't I, Quinn? You are beautiful and watching you grow so much as a person has made my feelings for you change as well. But I don't know, you are the only friend I have ever had, and I am terrified to ruin our friendship."
Quinn's heart pounded in her chest as she nodded in response. "I understand Rachel, how about we just forget this past hour and a half never happened? Erase it from our memories."
"No." Rachel said firmly. "I want you to kiss me again. I think if you do and I am not blindsided by it, I will be able to better understand my feelings. So please Quinn, kiss me again, like you did before, like you mean it."
Quinn nodded, placing Beth back in her stroller, not trusting her arms, her entire body was shaking with nervousness. Her heart pounded as she closed the small distance between her and Rachel, Quinn gently pressed her lips onto Rachel's unbelievably soft ones and as she did everything around them seemed to disappear. Quinn was relieved when Rachel not only responded to the kiss this time, but deepened it, she smiled into Rachel's mouth as she smelt the familiar sweet smell of strawberries.
Rachel was the first to pull away as Beth began to stir in her stroller, Quinn whimpered softly at the loss of contact. The two girls stared into each other's eyes. Rachel breathed heavily, sure she had been kissed plenty between Finn, Puck, and Jesse, but never quite like that, so soft, yet firm at the same time and with so much emotion. "Quinn...that was amazing." She intertwined their hands, smiling at how perfectly they seemed to fit together.
Quinn smiled as she stroked Rachel's hand with her thumb. "So what is this? What are we? Are we even a we?" Quinn asked nervously
"I want to be honest with you. As much as I would like for us to try being a we, it terrifies me. I don't want to just be your distraction from all the stresses in your life. You just lost Puck and you're a new mother. If the two of us became a we, so to speak, I would want it to actually mean something."
"Rachel, look me in the eyes." Quinn waited until Rachel's deep brown eyes met hers before she continued. "I promise you what I feel for you is real, I don't understand it, but I know it's real. You are not just a distraction to me. I value our friendship as well, and I don't want to lose it either, but I think we at least need to give it a try, I think it will be worth it." Quinn gave Rachel a quick peck on the lips before pulling away. "Plus, I think I should be the one worrying about your feelings being real or not, do I really need to bring up the time you fell head over heels for Mr. Schu after the two of demonstrated Endless Love?" Quinn bit her lip and smiled.
Rachel scoffed as she attempted to pretend to be offended. "That is not fair, Quinn!" Rachel turned her attention to Beth, leaning down and scooping the baby up. "Mommy is so mean, isn't she Beth?"
Quinn laughed. "Oh no, Beth knows better than that."
"I'm glad you kept her." Rachel's face turned serious for a moment. "I know that sounds selfish, but I love her so much and if you really think about it, she kind of brought us together. I doubt we would have become so close if she was not here. She's our own little matchmaker."
Quin smiled as she watched Rachel coo at her daughter, for the first time since she found out she was pregnant she truly and honestly knew everything was going to be okay, all thanks to one Rachel Berry.
