Writer's Note- Okay, I know this is a pretty quick update, but the thing is people are super dedicated to this story, and it makes me so happy. The reviews I've been getting are amazing, and I've cried because of them, you guys are awesome. So, I feel like if the reviews keep coming, and they stay as positive as they have been I can be as consistent as possible with this story. It means a lot to me that people like it, so the more specific everyone is about what they like about it, the better I can write. Thank you so much for the support. I seriously love all of you.
Quinn squinted at Santana, as she noticed she was smiling and staring towards the door. she followed her friend's gaze, and when she saw Rachel looking at her, she felt like vomiting.
"Uh-Oh", said Puck, covering his mouth with his hand. He was trying not to laugh.
Jade came in carrying a few bags, but stopped because Rachel was blocking her path. She studied everybody's faces, and then the awkward silence hit her like a brick wall.
"Hmmmm. I'm guessing I missed something...as per usual", she mumbled.
Quinn and Rachel just stared at each other, not really wanting to be looking at one another. However, they couldn't help it. By then, Santana had covered her face with a pillow, and was laughing so hard, her entire body was shaking. Puck had turned in head, very awkwardly to the side to hide his laughter.
"Um...Okay, what the crap is happening right now", asked Jade.
"Rach...", said Quinn, as she stood up from the couch. "You...weren't supposed to hear that...".
"Obviously not...", said Rachel, as she finally moved towards the kitchen. Jade followed her, and they both put the bags of food on the counter top. Santana, still laughing a little stood up from the couch, and walked towards them.
"Come on Jade, we need to give these two some private time", she said, grabbing Jade's hand, and pulling her."Puck, get your ass up, come on."
"Wait...but what did I miss", asked Jade, and Santana pulled her down the hall. Puck followed, and they disappeared into his bedroom.
"Rachel...she tricked me, I didn't know you were standing th-"
"Did you mean it?"
"What?"
"Are you really in love with me?"
Quinn looked right into Rachel's eyes, and smiled. She wasn't looking away, or trying to avoid eye contact in anyway. She looked hopeful. But, Quinn still couldn't say anything. Rachel took a deep breath, and moved closer to Quinn.
"Tell me...please."
Quinn knew she was in love with her, and she was pretty sure Rachel felt the same. But, she wasn't fully sure, and she needed to know before answered.
"Remember when I found you in the choir room after Glee that one day...and I kind of...went off on you?"
Rachel just nodded.
"When I told you to leave, and you said no because you didn't want to leave me...", she continued, and Rachel nodded again."Well, if I wouldn't have yelled, and been such a bitch, what would you have wanted me to do?"
"I don't understand what you mean", said Rachel, sadly.
She's adorable when she's confused...
"If you could go back to that day, and have our conversation end the way you wanted it to, how would it have ended?"
Rachel's facial expression softened, and her eyes filled up with tears.
"No, Rach...sweetie please don't cry...", said Quinn. She grabbed onto her, and pulled her closer, wrapping her arms around her waist.
"I'm not crying because I'm upset. These...are happy tears, I promise. Quinn...", she cried, her voice breaking. Quinn just smiled, and wiped some of the tears from her cheeks. She found herself tearing up. Happy tears, to match Rachel's. "I think out of all the questions I've been asked in my life...that is the sweetest thing anyone has ever a-asked me", she cried. Quinn was almost in shock.
I can't believe how emotional she's getting...over me nonetheless.
"Rach...", she said, and it had come out more desperate than she thought it would.
"I wanted you to kiss me", cried Rachel, softly. And just like that, Quinn lightly grabbed her chin, lifted her face, and pressed her lips against Rachel's. The kiss was pure magic for both of them. Quinn pulled back ever so slightly, but when she felt Rachel's body press into her, she decided to keep going. She nibbled on Rachel's bottom lip, and to her surprise, Rachel's tongue slowly pushed into her mouth. She wasn't sure how much time had passed, but it didn't matter, Quinn could have kissed the girl for days. They only stopped because they both needed to breathe. They rested their forehead's together, and stayed holding each other.
"Yes Rachel, I really am in love with you", she cried. They were both a happy tearful mess.
"I'm in love with you too", said Rachel, through her tears. Quinn tightened her grasp around the girl, she didn't want to let her go. This moment was so surreal to her, but it didn't matter she felt something inside that she was sure she hadn't ever felt before. Suddenly, Puck came bursting out of his room, arms in the air, smile on his face.
"Alright, that's it, you guys suck really bad", he laughed."I'm happy for you guys, I really am but because of how sweet that moment was, I got trapped in my own bedroom with two weeping chicks."
"What", asked Quinn, keeping Rachel in her arms. Santana and Jade both emerged from Puck's room, each of them wiping tears away.
"Oh my God...", laughed Rachel.
"Don't even say anything, I wouldn't have started crying if it wasn't for Jade being overwhelmed by all her own damn emo-ness", said Santana, half laughing.
"Well, I'm sorry but that was the most beautiful Effing thing I've ever heard in my life...", whined Jade, and she almost started crying all over again.
"Awee, Jade...", said Rachel.
"I didn't mean to ruin the moment...I'm happy for you guys", said Puck, as he walked over and hugged both Quinn and Rachel.
"Ugh, thank you Noah...but you're squishing me", laughed Rachel.
"That sucks, because it's about to be a big ass group hug", said Santana, and her and Jade rushed over, and joined the hug.
"You guys are so annoying! Get away", laughed Quinn.
"Nooooo, snuggers all around", said Jade.
The next couple weeks went by pretty slowly for everybody. Classes started for Quinn and Santana, and they found themselves seeing less and less of their friends. They spent as much time as they could at Smashed, becoming regulars in the process, and meeting a lot of great people. They were even set to preform there once in a while. Although it bothered Quinn that she wasn't seeing Rachel as much, she knew it was for the best. Yes, they were together, but they wanted to take things somewhat slow, considering how fast their new relationship and blossomed. They had even had their first official fight as a couple, already. Quinn found out that Rachel's internship was to be a stage manager, and she didn't like it. She believed it to be beneath the diva's true talent, but Rachel didn't really seem to care. Frustrated with Rachel for simply not giving a damn, she had stormed out of their lunch date, and back to campus. Hours later, they made up, but Quinn still wasn't backing down. Rachel had let go of her dreams, but Quinn wasn't going to.
One afternoon, Santana was walking across campus, having just left her last class of the day. She pulled out her phone, and dialed Jade, but it went straight to her voice mail.
"Weird, her phone is never off...", she mumbled to herself. She was already a little confused, because Jade had stopped texting her in the middle of a conversation. Which left the Latina a little upset, because she always texted with Jade during her classes. Still walking, she thought for a second, then dialed Rachel. It rang a few times before it went straight to her voice mail.
"She must be at work still...".
She knew Quinn was in class, Jonah and Puck were doing books at the bar, so she had no choice but to call Mercedes. She dialed her number, and luckily she answered after just two rings.
"Hello?"
"Finally! Do you know where Jade is?"
"Yeah, she's right here girl...actually...can you come to the apartment?"
"I'm heading there now, why, what's wrong?"
"I'm not really sure, when I got here she was on the floor in the kitchen...she was bawling her eyes out, couldn't even sit up on her own...".
"Jesus...call 911, take her to the ER! Something", snapped Santana, as she started jogging.
"I tried, she won't let me. Said she's fine...but I got her in her bed now, she's half asleep. She won't even let me call Jonah or Puck."
"Okay, I'll be there as soon as I can", said Santana. She hung up the phone, and started waving for a cab. After three had passed by her, she was done being patient. She saw one coming, and took a few steps into the street. The cab driver had to slam on his breaks.
"What the Hell is wrong with you! I could have killed you", the guy screamed out his window.
"Whatever, are you on duty?"
"No, I'm not!"
"Tough shit dude, you are now", she said, and she walked over to the side of the car. The cab driver was going to argue but, he decided Santana didn't look like a person he needed to mess with. Once she got to the building, she got up to the apartment as fast as she could. She flew into Jade's bedroom, where Mercedes was sitting on the bed, watching TV.
"There you are", she said, switching it off.
"She okay", asked Santana, throwing her stuff down, and getting onto the bed.
"I don't know, she's pretty out of it."
Santana ran her hand down the side of Jade's face.
"Jesus, she's burning up...Jade...Jade, wake up baby...".
Jade moved a little, but she didn't wake up. Santana was getting scared, but managed to stay calm.
"Come on Jade, wake up for me, please...".
She moved a little more, and her eyes slowly fluttered open.
"Hey you...what's the matter...", asked Santana. At first Jade smiled weakly. She liked that she had woken up to such a beautiful face. But, her smile faded, and she started to cry.
"I don't feel good."
"Awe...okay, it's okay", said Santana, leaning down and hugging her. Her heart had just broken a little at the site of Jade crying like she was. She sounded like a sick four year old.
"Talk to me, what hurts?"
"Everything...", she cried.
"See, that's exactly what she told me when I asked her...what do you wanna' do", asked Mercedes, a worried look on her face.
"Hospital", said Santana, standing up, and taking Jade's covers off.
"No, no no...", cried Jade.
"Yes, Jade. Something is seriously wrong, we're taking you to the ER", said Santana. She reached down, and scooped Jade up into her arms. An hour later, Mercedes and Santana sat in the waiting room. Jonah and Puck came flying in, and spotted them.
"What's going on, is she okay", asked Jonah, out of breath.
"Don't know what's up yet, baby...they haven't come out yet. It's okay, come on and sit", said Mercedes. Jonah sighed and sat down. Mercedes kissed him on the cheek.
"What happened", asked Puck, taking a seat next to Santana.
"She couldn't move, she said everything hurt. She was burning up like really bad", answered Santana, who was staring down at the floor.
"Damn, she must be sick if you actually got her here. My sister hates hospitals and doctors...if she could have she could have run away and locked herself in a room just to avoid coming here, she would have", said Jonah, shaking his head.
"Dude, remember trying to get her to go to her check up a a couple months ago", asked Puck.
"Oh my God", said Jonah, and he couldn't help but laugh.
"Is that when she bit you", asked Mercedes.
"Yeah, she was hiding under her bed, and I had reached down to pull her out, and she bit me. Left teeth marks and everything", he laughed. Puck laughed too, but he noticed Santana wasn't laughing, she didn't even crack a smile.
"Hey, I'm sure she's fine...don't worry", he said, rubbing her back.
"Don't touch me Puckerman...", she said, quietly. He threw his hands up defensively.
"Sorry."
"Girl...don't worry", said Mercedes.
Without a word, Santana stood up and stormed off.
"What was that about", asked Jonah.
"Just let her cool off", said Puck.
After sitting in the cafeteria for about forty-five minutes, Santana saw Quinn walk in. As soon as she spotted her, she hurried over to the table, and sat down next to her.
"Hey", she said.
"Hey", answered Santana, but she wouldn't look up."Any news?"
"Not yet...how're you doing with this", asked Quinn, placing her hand on her friend's shoulder.
The second she felt Quinn's hand on her, she broke down. She started crying, and crying.
"Oh, honey...", said Quinn, and she leaned over and hugged her tight."It's alright, everything is alright, she'll be okay."
"What the fuck is wrong with me", cried Santana.
"What?"
"When I got there, and saw her like that...all I could think about was her dying."
"God, Santana it's probably not that serious, why would you think about something like that?"
"I don't know, that's what I'm trying to tell you! This is a girl that I barely knew existed back at home, a girl that I've spent the better part of three weeks with. I like her so much, more and more every single day...but I barely know her. We chit chat, we cuddle, we make out, that's it. I don't know what it is about her, but I really like her...and I'm already scared that I'm gonna' loose her", she cried.
Quinn hated seeing Santana cry. She was a very strong person, and it took a lot to make her break down like she was. She had noticed how happy Jade made Santana, but she had also figured out why that was.
"San, have you ever noticed how adorably slow Jade is? How often she misses a point, how loving she is towards everyone?"
"Yeah...".
"She's sweet, she's smart in her own special way, she's so loveable. Do you see where I'm going with this?"
"Obviously I don't Q, so could you just get the damn point?"
"Santana, change her skin color, add some height, dye her hair blond, you'd get Brittany."
"What the fuck are you talking about", asked Santana, through her tears.
"You like her so much because she reminds you of Brittany. True, they look nothing alike, and their personalities aren't exactly the same...but close enough. And, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I haven't seen you this happy since Brittany...and I think you need to take this as a sign, that Jade is your moving on point. It's time...".
Santana just nodded a little, and kept crying.
"Guys", they heard from the doorway. They looked to see Puck."Doctor just brought out, come on!"
They rushed back to the waiting room, and Jade was sitting in a wheelchair next to a female doctor, and a nurse. She still looked pretty sick, but a lot better than she had two hours before.
"Hey...hey...oh my God...", said Santana, getting down on the ground, and hugging Jade.
"Hi", said Jade, tiredly.
"You're all family, correct", asked the doctor.
"I'm her brother, but these are all our friends, they can hear this too, it's alright", said Jonah.
"Alright, well my name is Doctor Mindy Andrews, I just did a full check up on Jada here."
"Jada", asked Santana, and Quinn in unison.
"It's my real name...but for the love of God, please never call me that", said Jade.
"She's alright for now, but her symptoms are a little awkward. I was very concerned with the fever, because it's been up and down since you brought her in. It's been down for the last thirty minutes, so that's part of why I'm allowing her to go home. That, and she's made it perfectly clear how much she hates hospitals", laughed Mindy. They all looked at Jade with smiles on their faces, and she just giggled, weakly.
"For a little while, we thought it might be Mono, but since her fever is already gone, we had to rule that out. Now, with the body weakness, and her not being able to move on her own, as much as she hates these places, she is going to need weekly check ups. Her immune system isn't really working as hard as it should be, so I've written her a prescription, and I need to see her same time next week. I think it would be best for her to spend the rest of the day off her feet, and she needs to be watched, because if she collapses again, she needs to be brought back immediately."
"So, you really have no idea what's wrong", asked Quinn.
"I'm sorry sweetie, I don't. Sometimes, illness is a pain in the ass like that. But, don't worry I did a number of tests, I'll call with her blood work tomorrow, and I will do everything I can to figure it out. I promise", said Mindy, with a very warm smile.
"Okay, thank you so much", said Jonah.
Quinn looked down at Jade. She looked so tired, but the whole time the doctor had been talking, she was making little faces, and rolling her eyes.
"Jade", she said, trying to get her attention, and she looked up at her.
"I wanna' lick you like a lollipop", Quinn Sang, laughing a little. Jade smiled weakly, and a thoughtful look crossed her face.
"I want to use the muscle...in my mouth...to treat you...as though you...were a piece of candy..on a stick...", she said, tiredly. They all started laughing, and Doctor Andrews looked over at the nurse with a confused look on her face.
"Yeah, she's okay", laughed Mercedes. Santana, who was still on the ground by Jade's wheelchair, leaned in, and kissed her softly on the cheek.
Once everybody was back at the apartment, Jonah carried Jade into her bedroom, and put her in bed. Santana laid down with her, and Jonah joined Puck, Quinn, and Mercedes back in the living room.
"Is Rachel still at work", asked Mercedes.
"She should be out by now, I texted her, and told her what happened. I guess she's held up", said Quinn, looking at her phone. As if by magic, the door flew open and in walked Rachel.
"Where is she", she asked frantically. Quinn stood up and walked to her.
"Calm down...she's fine. She's in her room with Santana, doctor says she's okay."
But, Rachel didn't listen, and she ran down the hallway, and into Jade's bedroom. Jade and Santana were laying in bed, under the covers, and the TV was on. Jade was snuggled comfortably into Santana's arms, with her head resting on her chest. She sleepily looked over at Rachel.
"Hi Rea Rea", she said tiredly.
"God...", breathed Rachel, walking over to the bed and crawling onto it."How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine, I'm just sleepy..".
"Awe, okay. Rest up...I want you to feel better", said Rachel, kissing her on the cheek.
"I do feel better...I'm making Santana watch Nightmare Before Christmas with me...".
Rachel glanced at the TV, smiled, and looked up at Santana. She just smiled back at Rachel.
"You're making her watch your favorite movie", Rachel asked Jade.
"Yeah...she promised not to make fun of it...so we're watching it til' I can go to sleep", slurred Jade, and she yawned.
"She's a little out of it because of the meds...", said Santana.
"I see. Well, I'm glad you're okay Jade, and I love you very much", said Rachel.
"I love you too Rea Rea."
"Get some sleep...", said Rachel, leaning down, and kissing Jade on the cheek.
"Mkay."
Rachel smiled, and stood from the bed. She looked at Santana, who gave her a reassuring nod, than she quietly left the room.
"Jade...", Santana whispered into her ear.
"Huh..".
"Don't you ever scare me like that again."
"Why?"
Santana didn't answer her, she just kissed her on the forehead, and started watching the movie again.
Twenty minutes later, Rachel and Quinn were on the rooftop of the building, looking out and down at all the lights. Rachel was sitting in Quinn's lap. It was the perfect place to be after a very long work day. She was being quiet. Too quiet for Quinn's liking. She didn't say anything at first, but when she felt Rachel's little body shaking, she realized that she was crying.
"What is it, Rach", she asked softly.
"I can't imagine what my life would be without her", cried Rachel.
"Jade's fine, she's not going anywhere."
"How do you know that, you guys told me that the doctors don't even know what's wrong."
"You know shes a strong girl", said Quinn.
"Yes, I do...".
"She'll be fine."
"Quinn, you don't know her like I do, she's her and Jonah have had so much happen to them. Really bad things, and it's mostly because their parents, and other siblings are horrible people. They're lucky they don't have to be back in Lima dealing with them. But, honestly she's one of the only reasons I am alive right now...she saved me. Her, and Puck saved me...I wouldn't be here without them", Rachel cried.
"I know. Lucky for you, they saw through you enough to know Jesse was hurting you", said Quinn.
"No, it wasn't just that...".
"What?"
Rachel didn't want Quinn to know about what she was going to tell her, but she knew that she needed to hear about it. She shifted her body so that she was straddling Quinn's lap, and looked right at her.
"Quinn...I tried...to...kill myself...".
Quinn's heart started pounding so hard, she thought it was about to beat right out of her chest.
"No...".
"It was right after I moved in here with them...I was feeling so useless. So...broken, I just wanted to die", cried Rachel. Quinn already didn't want to hear this story."I thought Puck and Jade would be gone for a while...so I went in the bathroom, and took whatever pills I could find. Everything...was just fuzzy...and I felt numb. I felt...so at peace, the best I had felt in a very long time. I was ready, I wanted my heart to just stop. I was laying on the bathroom floor, looking up at the ceiling and I remember wishing Jesse was there. I wanted him to see me like that, I...thought I wanted him there to watch me die. But...then I changed my mind. It made me sad thinking about it...because I realized that if he had been there watching me die like that...he would have enjoyed it", she said, and she started crying even harder. Quinn had started crying to, and she was holding onto Rachel as if her life depended on it.
"The next thing I knew...Jade was hovering over me. She was crying so much, and I didn't understand why. She picked me up, and I remember she whispered right in my ear...Rachel I love you like you were my own sister, and I will not let you die...that was the last thing I heard before I blacked out. Next thing I knew, I was in the hospital. They kept me there for three days, I didn't even have choice. Jade, and Puck didn't leave my side the entire time...".
By the time Rachel was gone, her and Quinn were both crying so hard, they could barely breathe.
"Never. Again."
"No, Quinn I swear, I won't try that again."
"Rachel Berry, if you ever try to end your life while I'm with you...", cried Quinn, holding her tight.
"I swear, Quinn...I swear I won't. But, now do you understand why Jade is and always will be my best friend?"
"Yes, I do. I'm so happy that she found you, and I will thank her for that later. But, you have me now too, Rachel. You have me now, and I will always be here no matter what. I will catch you when you fall, I will hold you when you're sad, and I will love you with all of my heart for the rest of my life. No matter what happens, I will always love you", cried Quinn. Rachel buried her face into Quinn's shoulder. Quinn making herself so sad, and she knew exactly why. All she could picture was Rachel crying, forcing a bunch of pills down her throat, laying helpless on the floor.
Please God, don't take her away from me...
They stayed cuddled together for a while. Rachel felt so safe in Quinn's arms. Their bodies couldn't have gotten closer. Eventually they both heard footsteps, and looked to see Mercedes walking towards them.
"You guys really need to come downstairs...there is something you need to see", she said.
Five minutes later, they were all standing in Puck's bedroom. He had found something on his computer, but he had the window minimized. He didn't want to show Rachel, but he knew he had no choice.
"What is it", asked Rachel.
"Fun Size...stay calm, okay", he said. Rachel nodded.
He did some clicking, and a window popped up. The headline read "New York's Newest Jersey Boy and his New Wife." There was a photo of Jesse St. James, exiting a court house. He had a huge smile on his face, and he was holding hands with Sunshine Corazon.