Paint me a picture?
After hours of sitting in that room crying Quinn finally managed to stand up, breathe and walk out.
It was dark by the time her feet took her to the place where she felt like she could conquer the world just a few days ago, the apex of the bow railing. The place where she felt like flying now only made her feel hallow and empty in so many ways.
She didn't want to go back to the D deck, she didn't want to face Santana and tell her that it was over before it even begun. That she was right and Rachel already made a choice before Quinn went looking for her.
She had never felt so defeated before. She had lost and it felt like she wasn't even given the chance to properly try.
It was so cold but she couldn't care less. She just wanted to have Rachel in any way possible. She hadn't been lying when she said she'd try until her last breath to make the girl happy. That's all she wanted, a chance to make Rachel happy.
The worst part is that she knew, she was certain that Rachel felt the same way and was too scared to leave everything that she knew behind and try with Quinn.
Wasn't Quinn worth trying for too?
"Hello, Quinn."
Was it possible?
Her entire body froze when she heard the voice and turned around without a second thought. There was Rachel standing a few feet behind with her puffy eyes and tear tainted cheeks.
"Forgive me" her voice was raw with emotion but Quinn couldn't speak because she was too entranced by the brunette. She couldn't believe that she was actually there with her perfect eyes staring at her. Her regret was palpable even if Quinn knew that she might felt like she didn't have a choice. "I've been looking for you" her hair was down, the wind was making it fly around her pretty face with its force but she still looked beautiful beyond belief.
"Come here" Quinn reached out her hand, Rachel stepped forward immediately and the blonde enveloped her in the tightest hug she'd ever received and she hugged back just as tight.
Quinn pressed her lips on top of Rachel's head, sending a silent prayer to whatever God that was listening for making Rachel come back to her.
"I'm so sorry, Quinn" Rachel said on the verge of tears again but Quinn leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
"Close your eyes." Rachel was confused for a second but Quinn's eyes were telling her to trust her so she closed her eyes.
Quinn smiled to herself when she didn't catch any hesitation on Rachel. She settled behind Rachel's body, her hands pressed gently on the girl's stomach as she walked her closer to the rail and pressed her there.
The air hit Rachel in the face with force, her dried tears made her cold but the feeling of freedom was quickly engulfing her and erasing everything else.
"I'm so glad you came" Quinn whispered in her ear before she stretched Rachel's arms on each side of her body and placed her hands back on her stomach.
"Open your eyes."
Rachel slowly opened her eyes, trusting Quinn with all her heart and gasped at the sight in front of her.
There was nothing but the ocean ahead. There was just the sound of the wind, and the soft soaring of the water underneath.
"I'm flying" she almost cried out of so much joy. Her heart was hammering inside her chest wildly at having Quinn so close to her.
Love, for your love
with a taste of cinnamon
I go, for your love
I won't give up, no
Quinn slowly sang for her and Rachel closed her eyes as she imagined how their lives could be. She smiled realizing that she wanted it all with Quinn.
There is not enough ink or paper
to put in words how much I love you
there isn't a song
sadder or darker than a goodbye
Quinn kept singing as Rachel pressed against her front with a bit more pressure. Slowly she raised her hands to her arms to caress her and slide until their fingers were grazing slightly against each other, ducking away, playing until Rachel interlocked their fingers in a tight hold.
Quinn kissed her ear and buried her face in brown locks. She could do this for the rest of her life and be a happy woman until her last day.
Rachel moved her face to the side just as Quinn kissed her cheek. She brought their joined hands to rest on her stomach again and freed one to reach out and cup Quinn's face.
She cupped a pale cheek on her hand as Quinn leaned forward and united their lips for the second time that day. Quinn's arms wrapped tighter on her middle as their mouths molded together in a slow kiss.
"God" Quinn gasped out of breath against Rachel's cheek. "I thought I had lost you" the words were spoken so softly but Rachel heard them and it hurt her to think of the pain she put the blonde through. If it was anything how Rachel felt the entire day, then she regretted it with her entire heart.
"Never" Rachel said and turned around to kiss Quinn more properly. She felt like she was the one that needed to assure Quinn from now on. She was the one that needed to make up for her mistake.
Both girls knew what they were getting themselves into but it didn't scare them like it should have.
"Would you draw me, Quinn?" the request came out of nowhere. Quinn smiled and raised a single eyebrow at Rachel.
"Sure, yes. Yes, of course I would" she nodded, reminding herself that she'd do anything to keep the woman in her arms happy.
"You are so talented and I want to have something to remember this day and a drawing will be perfect" Quinn kissed her cheek again and agreed softly to Rachel's demand.
From the corner of her eye Quinn saw a group of people walking towards them, and although she didn't know how serious Rachel was, she didn't want to know just yet anyway. The thought scared her to no end.
"Let's go somewhere else" she told the brunette.
"Shall we pick up your pencils and books?" asked the shorter girl but Quinn hesitated. Her friends would be in her bedroom and she didn't know if Rachel wanted to be seen or not.
"Are you sure you want a tour in the third class bedrooms?" she asked with humor as she pulled Rachel closer making her giggle.
"Well, I'm kissing a third class girl so I'd better be getting a tour" she teased back and kissed Quinn for good measure.
"Come on then" Quinn laughed and held her hand as she took her down to the D deck. They smiled politely at all the people that eyed them strangely and stared at their joined hands with judgmental eyes.
Quinn hesitated again when they reached the door to her cabin but Rachel gave her an encouraging nod.
"Santana can be a bit… just… she's a good friend, ok? Just remember that she's my best friend" Rachel nodded at Quinn's smiling eyes but internally wondered how Santana was in reality.
"Where the hell have you been all day?" Santana barked as soon as Quinn walked through the small door, her eyes widen when she saw the girl trailing behind Quinn.
"You remember Rachel, right San?" Quinn's eyes were pleading. Santana scuffed and crossed her arms across her chest. She wasn't that bad.
"Yeah, I do" she said dismissingly as she stood up and sized Rachel up and down "What is she doing here and where have you been?" she turned to Quinn again as the blonde picked up her materials and sketchbook. Brittany and Holly were nowhere to be seen.
"Don't be rude, San" Quinn pointed a finger at her direction but the brunette slapped her hand away from her face "I invited her here and I was with her all day" Santana eyed her suspiciously.
They weren't best friends for nothing; Santana knew that Quinn had been crying and she had a pretty good idea of why.
"I guess you didn't tell her that you found me in the saloon earlier" Santana said facing Rachel. Quinn's eyes snapped up quickly and Rachel looked beyond apologetic.
"I was looking for you" she explained. Quinn knew that it was helpless to try to hide the truth from Santana now but for the night, it was going to have to wait. She had only been trying to keep their matters private.
"It's ok" she said with a small smile. Santana glanced at the things in Quinn's hands and stepped away to sit on a bed.
"I'll just wait outside" Rachel excused herself and quickly left the room.
Quinn and Santana's relationship went a little bit farther than the best friend thing. They've been together for the last three years of their lives. They were all the family they had and they only trusted each other.
So it was understandable to see Santana reacting this way when Quinn was pretty sure that her friend had everything figured it out in her head at that point.
"I love her" she simply said without looking at her friend and knowing well that Rachel was probably just outside the door listening.
"I know" Santana stood up and cupped Quinn's face with her hands. "Be careful, ok?"
Quinn nodded and Santana kissed her cheek before they hugged. They were never good with words, at least not with each other and that was all the honesty that they both needed right then because they got each other.
Quinn walked out of the room to find Rachel leaning against the wall opposite to hers and she smiled adoringly at the brunette.
"Where to, miss?" she asked with a thick English accent making the girl laugh as they moved closer.
"I know just the place." Rachel kissed her lips before she grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the A deck and didn't stop until they reached the bedroom doors.
Quinn eyed her questionably but Rachel just smiled and opened the door to the most amazing bedroom that Quinn had ever seen.
The blonde was speechless when she first walked in. The suite was bigger than the old apartment she shared with Santana. The fabric, the furniture, the floor and the chandeliers were absolutely beautiful.
"Will this light do?" Rachel asked eyeing the only chandelier in the middle of the small living room "Don't artists need good light?"
"The light is perfect" Quinn said turning around to face Rachel. She set her materials on a chair to wrap her arms around Rachel's waist and pull her closer to her "You're perfect." Rachel melted on the insides after hearing those words. How could she not? When they most beautiful girl that she's ever seen was whispering them for her and only her.
With her arms wrapped around the blonde's neck, Rachel pulled her down to kiss her before Quinn noted the deep blush on her cheeks.
Quinn kissed her deeply before pulling back with Rachel's lower lip between her teeth and loving the moan that erupted from the brunette's throat before she kissed her again and played extra attention to the offended lip.
"Hey!" Quinn pulled back suddenly and walked towards a painting on the wall "Monet!" she said in owe. "He is an amazing artist. The way he uses color?" she showed Rachel.
The brunette walked closer to the taller girl and wrapped her arms around her waist from behind, resting her chin on Quinn's shoulder blade pondering on whether or not she should be angry that the blonde had open her eyes while in the middle of kissing her.
"I saw him once, through a hole in this garden fence in Giverny" Quinn laughed at the fond memory as Rachel kissed her ear provocatively. An inspired Quinn was definitely a turn on and no, she could never be mad at the adorable blonde.
"You met him?" Rachel asked as she pulled back and walked into another room to the right.
"Not even close. Santana and I were chased by two policemen after we saw him" Rachel laughed and shook her head imagining Quinn running away from cops.
Quinn was still observing the painting as Rachel worked the combination to the safe and pulled out a black box.
"Finn insists on taking this thing everywhere he goes." Rachel commented as she closed the safe.
"Should we expect him anytime soon?" Quinn asked with a tight tone. She was not sure how she felt about their situation just yet.
"Not as long as the cigars and brandy hold out." Before Quinn could say another word Rachel opened the box and the blonde's eyes widen in surprise.
Rachel took the necklace in her hand and pulled it out to show it to Quinn.
"Is it a sapphire?" she nervously asked.
"A diamond. A very rare diamond, called the Heart of the Ocean." Quinn nodded dumbly, her eyes still locked on the beautiful piece of jewelry.
Rachel watched in silence as Quinn's eyes traveled over every inch of the necklace. Her hazel eyes filled with curiosity, it was obvious that Quinn had never seen anything like it.
"I want you to draw me like one of your Frech girls, Quinn" hazel eyes met hers with a shy smile "Wearing this"
"Ok"
"Wearing only this." Quinn's inspection of the necklace abruptly stopped as she locked eyes with a very determined Rachel. She couldn't do anything but give a nod in response and watch as Rachel entered her bedroom leaving her with indications to set everything up.
Still in shock, Quinn managed to move the large couch under the light, set a lamp behind the chair where she'd be seated and sharpen her pencils.
"The last thing I need is another picture of me looking like a china doll" Rachel's voice made the blonde look up from her open sketchbook and she saw the brunette walking inside the room wearing a silk red kimono.
"As a paying customer, I expect to get what I want." Quinn gulped as Rachel walked closer and handed her a dime before walking backwards and parting the kimono with her hands.
Her eyes never left Quinn's as she revealed her chest and the diamond resting between her perky breasts. Somehow she was as calm as can be. Quinn was nervous enough for the two of them if her shaking hands were any indication.
Rachel always enjoyed the drama that one could create with barely any movement. She smirked as her hands pushed the silk farther down her shoulders. Quinn's eyes were following the movement with devoted attention.
In a swift movement the kimono slipped of Rachel's body leaving her completely naked in front of a dumbfounded Quinn.
"In.. uh… the… in the couch" Quinn stuttered out, much to Rachel's amusement.
"Tell me when it looks right to you" Rachel laid on the large couch and posed with a mischievous smirk on her lips.
"Uh… just bend your left leg a little and… and lower your head" Quinn said looking like she was gaining her control back. Rachel followed directions and the blonde nodded "Eyes to me. That's it"
Quinn took a deep breath and locked eyes with Rachel, she gave her a tiny nod of her head and then Rachel watched as Quinn's hand danced on the sketched book with an ease that could be only be perfected by years of practice.
With very concentrated green eyes traveling on her body the way there way Rachel started to feel differently. Long gone was the confidence she had a few minutes ago when she took off the kimono. Her heart was beating rapidly against her chest as Quinn's eyes focused on her breasts.
"Have you ever…" Quinn smiled to let her know that she was listening "…have you ever been with a woman before?" Rachel asked.
Quinn didn't stop drawing as she raised a single eyebrow at Rachel's direction.
"Yes. I have" came the short answer after a moment.
"Have you ever been in love with a woman?" Quinn focused on Rachel's bellybutton for a minute before looking up and locked eyes with Rachel.
She saw the fear in Rachel's eyes even if she was trying to look reserved. After a moment Quinn went back to drawing and Rachel saw the pencil moving rapidly once again.
"Yes." Quinn said without looking up. Rachel felt her heart sank for a brief moment before Quinn spoke again "I am" Quinn smiled at her direction making her blush.
Rachel's body was perfect or at least close to perfection according to Quinn and even if she'd drawn several women naked in Paris she still couldn't help the blush that crept on her cheeks when she started to draw Rachel's most private area.
"I believe you are blushing, Ms. Big Artist" Rachel teased her, knowing well what part of her body Quinn was currently focused on. "I can't imagine Monsieur Monet blushing like that" she laughed as Quinn tried to stay cool, even though she was already sweating from head to toe.
"He does landscapes" Quinn raised the sketchbook to cover her blushing face and to have a better angle to draw. Rachel saw Quinn's eye above the sketchbook as the blonde tried to suppress a laugh.
"Dork" Rachel chuckled.
"Don't move. Ms. Draw me please" Rachel blushed a deeper shade of red as Quinn laughed softly to herself.
"Sorry, sorry"
"Eyes on me."
…
"You're amazing" Rachel admitted, completely awed as she stood behind Quinn's chair looking at the picture that the blonde had just drawn of her.
She knew that Quinn was good from the pictures that she'd seen but actually see her working had been a completely new experience and now she had the final piece in front of her and she looked exactly like she had hoped.
She looked simply beautiful, simple being the key word because it was just her. Quinn somehow had managed to capture the essence that was Rachel without the need of elegant clothes and over the top accessories to make her look striking.
Her eyes had a spark on them, her hands looked delicate, and her entire silhouette looked full of energy. She was alive in this picture; she could finally see something that no one else had been able to capture because this was the first time that she was actually feeling happy and it had been because of Quinn.
"You're amazing" Quinn repeated as she wrote the date on the bottom of the page. 4/14/1912. "And sexy" she added with a cute chuckle.
"Shut up" Rachel laughed as the blonde closed the sketchbook.
"Come here" Quinn grabbed Rachel's wrist and pulled her down on her lap, feeling slightly disappointed that the brunette had picked up the kimono from the floor the minute she was done with the picture.
"You are beautiful" Quinn said before she united their lips in a deep kiss which Rachel eagerly returned.
Twenty minutes later Rachel was finally wearing clothes again as Quinn put the chair and couch back in place. A proud smirk adorned her lips as she worked.
"Can you please put this back on the safe" Rachel handed her the black box with the diamond in it.
"Sure" Quinn took the box and put it back into the safe thinking about how much that thing must have cost while Rachel made a life changing decision in the solitude of her bedroom.
"Are you ready?" Quinn turned around to grab her coat because the night was getting colder by the second when she saw Rachel with her sketchbook in her hands.
"Yes" the brunette said from the next room and Quinn heard the safe's door closing with a loud thud.
Quinn walked towards the brunette with the intention of kissing her but the sound of a key in the lock made them stop and turn around. Rachel knew that only three people had the key to the suite and her thoughts went to Finn immediately. She could not have Finn finding Quinn in her suite mostly because William was always with him and that man carried a gun.
She'd love to believe that Finn was not capable of the unthinkable but she had her doubts, most of them concerning William.
"Miss Rachel? Hello" William's voice was heard and Rachel grabbed Quinn's hand and dragged her to the next room, she closed the door very quietly behind them.
"Come on" she said, urging Quinn to follow her. They walked out to the corridor that lead to the B deck foyer from the back door.
Quinn smiled at Rachel before taking her hand and filling the empty spaces between Rachel's fingers with her own. Her heart fluttered as the brunette smiled back with sparkly eyes, they felt like they could conquer the world at that moment when they thought that they left William behind but just when they were about to lean in for what it would have been a small but sweet kiss they heard the door opening in the corridor and saw William coming out.
William's eyes locked with Quinn's and the blonde could almost hear him roar with rage.
"Come on!" Rachel pulled her and both sprung into a run. They avoided running over two ladies just outside the elevator doors but Rachel was laughing and Quinn knew in that moment that she would follow Rachel to hell and back if the girl asked her to.
William was right behind them when they ran inside the elevator closing the doors behind them.
"Take us down. Quickly, quickly!" Rachel ordered and the guy in charge quickly downed the handle just when William got to the gates of the elevator and he hit the iron bars with rage.
Rachel laughed in his face and Quinn was laughing because Rachel was happy. The operator gasped when Rachel flipped William off but the blonde laughed even harder thinking that maybe, just maybe she wasn't exactly a good influence of Rachel and how much she loved that.
With a sense of relieve both girls walked out of the elevator, laughing and with Quinn's arms wrapped tightly around Rachel's waist from behind.
Rachel, still laughing, turned around in Quinn's arms before cupping her cheeks and pulled her down to share a soft and deep kiss that lasted for a few minutes before Quinn rested her forehead on Rachel's and inhale deeply with her eyes closed.
She kissed the tip of Rachel's nose as the shorter girl ran her nails on the back of her neck sending waves of tingles down Quinn's entire body.
"Pretty tough for a valet, that fella." Quinn commented after a few silent seconds. Rachel placed a last small chaste kiss on pink lips before grabbing Quinn's hand to drag her down the long corridor.
"I think he was a cop" Rachel said as they crossed a door without knowing where it might lead them but without actually caring.
"Really cause he was like… oh shit!" Quinn cursed when William's eyes locked with hers once again through a small glass window on the door.
Without missing a beat William launched towards them with full speed at the same time that Quinn grabbed Rachel's hand in hers and did the same in the opposite direction.
That man was really creepy and she wanted to get as far as possible.
They ran around a corner into a dead end alley with three doors on its sides. Quinn pushed open one of them without really knowing where it lead and let Rachel walk inside first before she closed the door and locked it behind them.
They heard a thump on the door where William probably slammed against but they couldn't be sure since the sound coming from below them was too loud.
"Now what?" Rachel screamed.
"What?" Quinn yelled back, both girls had their hands on their ears. The roaring was too damn loud.
William was outside waiting for them so going out was not an option. Quinn eyed the hole on the floor with a ladder going down and knew instantly that that was the only way to go, for now.
"Come" she helped Rachel to go down. The air quickly turned hotter and both girls looked around as the roaring became louder. They saw dozens of men working to get the Titanic moving and Quinn realized that they were on the bottom of the ship.
"What are you doing here?" one of the stokers asked but Rachel was laughing. This was obviously something that she'd never done before, breaking the rules like that and Quinn was done wondering, and she just wanted to see Rachel smiling like that all the time.
So Quinn let herself be pulled by Rachel and they ran together through the boiler room.
"This is dangerous!" another stoker yelled their way but they didn't stop and ran into the next boiling room.
At that point Quinn was amazed by how many people were actually working down there but she didn't stop, she just squeezed Rachel's hand tighter before taking the lead and guiding her through another boiler room but before she could take another step Quinn held her still and kissed her passionately.
When they pulled back Quinn was staring intently at Rachel and the brunette was almost sure than a confession was on the tip of the blonde's tongue. But Quinn just laughed and softly pressed her lips against her forehead before she unwrap her arms from around Rachel's waist and took her hand again.
Rachel knew in that moment. as Quinn was leading her inside the luggage compartment that she hadn't made the wrong choice when she left that note on the safe for Finn to found.
She had everything that she needed right in front of her, literally. As if on cue, Quinn turned around smiling a small but sincere smile that melted Rachel to the bone.
Yes, she belonged with Quinn and there was not a doubt in her hearth or head anymore.
…