Oh what a tangled we weave

When first we practise to deceive!

Sir Walter Scott

Rachel scrolled and refreshed the page several times over the last few days, hoping what she read was a mistake.

Finn Hudson is in a relationship with —

She couldn't give a rat's ass who the other person was; just the fact that Finn had updated his Facebook status from Single to In a Relationship with, made her stomach turn. What was she expecting? Of course, in almost a year, Finn would have moved on. She closed her eyes and counted to ten. She stared at the computer screen and nothing changed except the number of "likes" and "comments" congratulating her ex-fiancé. Huffing, she grumpily checked on her Facebook page.

Status: Single

"Quinn Fabray!"

The blonde jolted at the urgency on Rachel's voice and in the process cutting her finger instead of the zucchini she was daintily preparing. "Mother of god", she mumbled as she pressed her bloody finger while letting water from the faucet run through it. "What is it?"

"In here. Now."

Quinn looked up and muttered something inaudible. "What did I do, this time?"

Rachel stomped. "Just. Get in here."

"Give me a minute", the blonde sighed while wrapping her finger with Band-aid. Drying her hands with a towel, she moseyed over to their bedroom and leant against their Japanese divider. "What's up?"

"My status is still single. Any idea why?"

Quinn frowned. "Because the only time you change status is when you become married. Otherwise the government does not recognize cohabitation as a legal status."The blonde winced at the death glare sent her way. "I'm guessing my answer is wrong?"

"I'm talking about Facebook, oh wise one."

"Ah." Quinn puffed her cheeks and nodded slowly.

Rachel fully turned around and crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm waiting for an answer"

"Because I haven't accepted your request to change our relationship status?"

"Correct. And why haven't you?"

Quinn quirked her eyebrows and bit her inner cheek to stop herself from laughing. "Rachel, I haven't updated my account in like… bajillion years."

"Why?"

"Because I don't like putting myself out there on the internet. It has a way of haunting people and biting back their behinds."

"It's Facebook. Everyone announces their relationship status on Facebook. Come on, don't be so anti-mainstream on this.", Rachel pleaded.

The blonde laughed affectionately. "I'm not being anti-mainstream, Rachel. I'm just being careful."

"Quinnnn. Pleaase. Just one click of the mouse to accept it."

Chuckling, Quinn stepped forward and pulled a chair next to Rachel. "Okay, okay. If it's that important to you. Log out and let me in."

Rachel clapped and bounced from her chair. "Yay!" She quickly logged off from her account and looked at Quinn expectantly to take over the computer. "All yours."

The blonde readied her hands on the keyboard when Rachel gasped. "What happened to your finger?"

"Well, someone ruined my concentration when I was slicing our supposed dinner.", Quinn explained and slightly feigning annoyance. "We'll have zucchini soup with blood le Fabray for tonight."

Rachel's lower lip jutted out and gave looked at her with Bambi eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Oh, for.." Quinn leaned forward and kissed Rachel. Rachel knew that expression was her girlfriend's weakness and was shameless at using it whenever she knew she was in trouble. "You don't fight fair, do you?"

"Never."

The former HBIC chuckled then kissed Rachel's cheek before wrapping an arm on her shoulders. "Okay, let's do this."

Rachel placed her hand on top of Quinn's. "Let me, since I'm the cause of your injury."

"I'm not giving you my Facebook password.", Quinn protested with a slight panic on her voice.

Rachel hung her head and spoke lowly. "Really? I have your ATM PIN. I'd like to think that required more trust than this."

Quinn crinkled her nose and thought of a counterargument but found none. "Fine."

The brunette grinned widely then started typing. "Okay, so…Quinn Fabray at gmail dot com, right? Great. Now, password please?"

Quinn sighed. "Rachel Berry is mine forever and ever"

Rachel pursed her lips in an attempt to keep a straight face. "Is that one word with no caps?", she asked in her best professional voice.

"Yes." Quinn rolled her eyes and mumbled. "…You may laugh."

At prompt, Rachel laughed loudly. Quinn groaned then tried to stand up only to be tugged down by the diva. "No, honey, that's actually really adorable", Rachel cooed then kissed Quinn's already red ear. That always worked when she wanted to calm the blonde down. "I love your password", she whispered.

"Whatever", Quinn mumbled and still clearly embarrassed.

The brunette giggled then frowned. "You have ten friend requests, you want me to accept?"

Quinn sat up and read the names. "Yeah, sure. Accept them."

"Who are these people?" Rachel Berry had a hawk eye, which was a fact. She immediately zeroed in on the request of a certain Kenji Inoue, and the mouse pointer was clearly directed at it.

"They're all from Baruch", Quinn replied in a disinterested tone.

The diva clicked on the boy's profile. "He's handsome"

"I guess. If men turn you on"

"True", Rachel said in a pleased voice as she went back to Quinn's page, skillfully evading any opportunity for the blonde to notice her timeline that included the one of Finn's status update and quickly led them to the relationship status request. She lingered for a while before turning her head towards Quinn's direction.

Quinn smiled for assurance and rubbed the brunette's shoulder. "It's okay, Rach"

As soon as her relationship status request was accepted, her girlfriend stood up and kissed the top of her head then went back to cooking their dinner. It was within a few seconds that Rachel realized what could have been the possible reason for Quinn's hesitation to do this seemingly mundane activity. Because she has yet to log out from Quinn's account, she saw message after message bombarding Quinn from her former church members and her relatives.

Message 1: The immorality of this kind of relationship.

Message 2: Some misquoted text from the Bible.

Message 3: How much of a disappointment Quinn had become.

Message 4 (And Rachel's personal favorite): Because being pregnant out of wedlock wasn't enough.

"Quinn! Can you come back here?"

Quinn growled in response. "Can I not cook in peace?", she whined as she stormed back in their room. "What? Do you want to change it now to Engaged?"

"No, I—" Rachel's eyes widened. "Do you want to?"

"What?"

"I asked if you wanted to…be engaged with me"

Quinn stared at her girlfriend blankly. "I..well, yeah, of course. I mean, in the future, I was hoping we'd end up married." She stood defensively when met with silence. "I mean, what's the point of this all if we won't be thinking of reaching that, right?"

"Of course", Rachel nodded and stared back at Quinn.

The taller girl cleared her throat. "So, why did you call me back?"

"Oh", Rachel shook her head. "Uhm, some people messaged you and they're not very nice."

Quinn waved it off. "Ignore them. It's a waste of time to read those things."

"Is that why you didn't want to change it?"

"No.." Quinn walked towards Rachel and kissed the top of her head again reassuringly. "Honestly, Rachel, the only reason is. I don't like putting my personal stuff online as much as possible. It's got nothing to do with my family or not wanting people to know about us. The people who matter to me know. But you feel it's important so I'm okay with it."

"But now, they're sending you all this nasty stuff"

The blonde scoffed. "Karmic retribution."

"Hmm?"

"Well, I sent you nasty stuff on your Myspace."

"That's different"

"No, it's not. A rude act is a rude act, regardless of circumstance. Just delete the messages and block them if you want, okay?"

Rachel looked up and gazed childishly at Quinn. "You're letting me block them?"

"Those that sent out foul messages. Not because you think one is too pretty.", Quinn clarified and winked.

The brunette sighed dramatically and pouted. "Okay. Just the uncouth people.", she agreed then went on quickly to blocking those people and reported abuse just for good measure while allowing Quinn to finally reach kitchen Zen for the night. She gave herself one final look at Finn's page and fought tears brimming in her eyes and bravely clicked the "like" button before exiting and moved on to browsing through other things.

Quinn heard her phone buzz and checked on it while the pot was simmering.

Santana Lopez: LOL great timing.

Quinn frowned in confusion and typed in a reply. "What timing?"

Santana Lopez: The Facebook relationship status update. Right after Finn.

Quinn closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead before responding. "I don't get it."

Santana Lopez: Seriously? Finn changed his status to "in a relationship", then after a few minutes, you changed yours. Finally.

Quinn smiled sadly and shook her head. Of course. It had something to do with Finn Hudson. She replied one last time with a "just pure coincidence. My status change was long overdue", before grabbing their remaining box of orange juice and poured the contents in the sink. She stepped out and took her purse. "Rach? We ran out of OJ." She shook the box for evidence. "I'm just gonna grab a couple at Duane Reade's, okay? Can you watch over the kitchen? Should be done in five minutes."

Rachel nodded and smiled sweetly. "Don't be out too long"

It must have been very weird for someone to be crying while paying for orange juice, but she could not care less. So she loved Tropicana very much she becomes emotional, who gives a shit? She walked around the block, hoping by the time she had returned to their building, the tears are all gone.

She had briefly wondered why Rachel found a renewed interest in social networking but seemed so earnest about it, she had to give in. It wasn't like the brunette was eager to tell the world of their relationship in the beginning. She should have known. She thought it was over. The nights when Rachel would dream and mumble his name frequently had not happened in two months. She kept tab. It was hard not to. Quinn felt she could breathe clearly for the first time but was apparently a temporary reprieve. She had two choices, walk away as soon as possible or fight for the girl she loved. The sensible one is to quit and cut her losses while ahead. But she never acted logically where Rachel is concerned. She needed to up the ante but she just had no idea how. She used to compete with Rachel for Finn's affection. The reversal of roles made it a rather unusual set-up and left her without guide. Her situation these days make things even more difficult because, really, Finn isn't even trying to win back Rachel, so how can she compete with a memory?

Quinn hunched forward and studied the photos neatly lined up on Emily's fireplace. "Who's the kid?"

'What kid?", Emily asked while clasping her bra.

"The kid you're carrying in this photo". Quinn gingerly traced her finger on the frame.

"Oh. Eoin " Emily slipped her dress on then stepped outside her room. "He's my child."

Quinn dropped the photo in shock and resulted to a domino effect. "Shit, shit. I'm sorry", she said as she tried to rearrange the frames.

The British woman chuckled genially. "God, Quinn. Don't tell me you're one of those people who run away from single mothers?"

"No, of course not. What do you take me for?.", Quinn retorted.

"I don't take you for anything. I don't make judgments. Unless you have a criminal record that involves heinous ones."

"Well, I don't."

"Then you're still welcome in my home."

"So." Quinn uttered. "You have a child. Where is he?"

"He's in Dublin with his father."

"Were you ever married?"

"Zip me up?" Emily turned her back to face Quinn to which the blonde obeyed. "No, we were never married. Eoin is fourteen now. That little boy and that teenager..", she pointed a photo on a wall. "..is the same rascal."

Quinn's breathe hitched. "So..so you were very young when you had him."

The older woman turned around and beamed. "Yes, I think keeping him was the best decision I had in my life."

"Your parents were alright with it?"

"Oh, god, no, definitely not. What could be worse than your teenage girl getting pregnant with an Irish boy as the father?", she laughed. "Nothing, I tell you, nothing."

"How did you meet him in the first place?"

"We were at the same boarding school. Kieran is the Irish Catholic with cash, to every snotty English man's dismay and worst nightmare."

"…maybe that's why I got attracted to him to begin with", she said as an afterthought while putting on her earrings. "Never really gotten to figuring that out. So anyway, with his family being Catholic, abortion was certainly out of the question. They took me in and paid for all expenses. We've developed a non-traditional family set up. They're Catholic, but not too Catholic, if you know what I mean."

Quinn shrugged and played with the other pieces of jewelry lined up in a box.

"They treat me like their own daughter. I guess I'm just that likeable, hmm?"

The blonde looked up at her and smirked. "I guess."

"So yes, Eoin lives with his father most of the time. He's schooled in Ireland. But, I get to have him on summers when I'm not away."

"And he's okay with that?"

"Kieran or Eoin?"

"Both?"

"Kieran and I, I guess because we've had a long history already, we have a very open and comfortable relationship. He knows I will drop everything if and when my son needs me. But, Eoin treats me more like his much older sister, which is fine by me."

"Do they know about your sexuality?"

"Honey, everyone knows about my sexuality. It's something I can't really hide. Like I said, Catholic but not too Catholic. Eoin's only starting to understand what it means. He's nonplussed about it as of the moment. But he has his father to explain."

The blonde stared at Emily for a moment with blatant curiosity. "You're awfully candid about your life."

"I have nothing to hide, Quinn. I've made mistakes in the past and I'll continue making them. But. With every blunder, I'm sure I've done something right as well. That's life. I don't volunteer information to strangers. But if you ask me, I'll answer."

"Okay", Quinn noted. "So, we're playing the twenty questions game."

The British woman laughed and shook her head in amusement. "If that's what makes you comfortable. I can engage in that."

"Yeah, I guess you can ask me questions."

The older woman regarded Quinn for a second then nodded. "Alright, who's Rachel Berry?"

Quinn's eyes widened. "Wow, okay. You don't give warnings do you?"

Emily raised her eyebrows in response. "I don't want to waste my twenty questions by beating around the bush. I'm not a lawyer."

"How did you know about her?"

"Facebook"

Quinn stood up and flailed. "What is it with people and Facebook?"

"Relax, oh my god", Emily laughed loudly. "You don't tell me anything about yourself. Can't blame a girl for being curious, can you?"

"No, I guess not.", the blonde frowned.

"Look, Quinn", Emily spoke in a calm and serious manner. "The reason I'm asking is, it does say in your profile that you're engaged to her. I may be a woman of few social rules, but I draw the line to being the third party. That's not my cup of tea."

"No..we're not..we're no longer. I just..I don't—"

"You don't need to explain in detail. You look like you're about to faint. Just tell me if you're cheating or not."

Quinn gazed into Emily's eyes. "Technically, I'm not."

The older woman chuckled and shook her head. "There's a non-technical side to it? This is why I avoid younger girls. You guys make it so complicated with your angst and constant need to label everything."

"We've broken up, yes. So technically I'm not cheating."

"But?"

"But, she's been trying to, you know."

"Ah.", Emily nodded. "And I'm getting in the way?"

"No", Quinn exclaimed. "She knows about you."

Emily looked at her skeptically. "And she's okay with it?"

"I—I don't think so. No. But she's not asking me to stop seeing you."

"Are you daft?"

"Excuse me?", Quinn glared.

"She's trying to win you back. Of course she's not going to demand things from you."

"I'm not asking you for relationship advice.", Quinn snapped then let out a shaky breath. "I want this", she pointed to the ground. "I want whatever it is we have been doing. I don't..you don't expect anything from me and I don't have to deal with how you feel for me."

"Quinn, I'm running against my better judgment by letting you have your way ,because I think you're adorable and you're fun to be with. But I'm telling you, the moment this gets out of hand; I won't look back regardless of what you want."

"Yeah, I know what I'm getting myself into.", the blonde mumbled. "Don't worry about it."

"…alright", Emily nodded then took her purse. "Ready?"

They drove quietly to Therapy at Hell's Kitchen, one of Manhattan's most popular gay bar that used to be a warehouse and whorehouse. "Quinn, stop that. You're distracting me.", Emily chastised after a few minutes of tolerating the blonde's knees bouncing incessantly. "Relax, it's just auction night."

"I'm the one being auctioned. How am I supposed to relax?", Quinn snarled.

"You agreed to it."

"I hate Santana."

"Because she's auctioning you off for a good cause?"

"I could've just given money to the Trevor Project.", the blonde huffed.

"Where's the fun in that? You're too uptight, Quinn. Loosen up. You're ten times sexier when you're not sober. In fact, you should be permanently tipsy."

Quinn grunted in response. She had no idea why she allowed her best friend to put her in situations like this. She's proud that Santana had been navigating her way in New York and finding her niche in the LGBT community. But putting up an event that auctions people –and proceeds go to the Trevor Project—wasn't something the blonde approved. Nonetheless, for some reason, she apparently said yes to her Latina friend and can't back off.

"It's just dinner with whoever wins you, Quinn", the British smiled and placed her hand on the blonde's thigh for reassurance. "You're not obligated to do anything after. It's charity, not prostitution."

"I know", Quinn finally agreed. "I just don't like the idea itself."

Emily nodded. "Just keep an open mind. Good things happen when you least expect it."

"You'll buy me, right?", Quinn looked at Emily with pleading eyes.

"If I can afford you", the older woman laughed. "I've got a feeling you'll pick up a good price."

Quinn cringed at that. "Come on, please? That's why I asked you to be there. You're loaded with money. I'm sure you can match any offers later."

"I have a 400 dollar budget. I'm not going beyond that. And dinner with you isn't exactly incentive because I've been getting that for a way lower cost. With benefits on the side."

"Aren't you the most tactful woman"

"I'm wealthy, not blue-blooded.", the older woman smirked. "My mouth is as dirty as a Geordie coal miner."

Meanwhile, Santana ducked and squeezed herself in between a horde of humanity inside the bar towards one particular spot. She grinned and opened her arms. "Rachel! Glad you could—"

"I hate you, Santana.", Rachel stomped and waved the flyer in front of the Latina's face. "How could you..You're disgusting! You're auctioning Quinn?"

"Uhhh…okay. Chill.", she implored the seething brunette with her hands defensively raised on her chest. "That's precisely the reason why I highly encouraged you to be here. You plan to claim your woman, and tonight's your night. Literally."

"How can she even agree to this?", Rachel whined.

"She didn't. I kind of tricked her into thinking she did." Santana found herself dodging a tiny brunette's hand about to wallop her head. "Oh my god, Rachel! Stop that! I'm on your side, remember?"

Rachel crossed her arms and panted. "Explain."

"What's to explain? When it's Quinn's turn up there on the stage, just go for it. Bid for her and make sure you fight for her to the very last cent you have on your wallet."

"But I didn't bring much! I don't even have my credit card with me.", Rachel panicked. "You said charity event and that you already paid for my ticket!"

"It is!", she rolled her eyes. "Look, here", Santana opened her purse. "Pay me back after." The Latina slid a couple of hundred dollar bills in the diva's hand. "Listen, I agreed to this…unholy alliance with you. You need to somehow trust me."

The shorter brunette nodded and stared at the bills in her hand.

"Just do whatever it takes to win her.", Santana nodded encouragingly. "Oh and, uhm, she's bringing Emily with her."

The diva rolled her eyes. "Of course. It's Emily this, Emily that. I should have expected her Dumbledore to be with her."

"Right, well. I just thought I'd give you a fair warning. Quinn doesn't know you'll be here, so I'm sure to be in trouble later. So the least you can do for me is to not glare at her British bitch if ever you're introduced to each other."

"I know", Rachel sighed. "Best foot forward."

"And you're good at that". Santana winked and patted Rachel's cheek before ushering her to the front row. "Stay here, I'll join you in awhile."

On cue, Quinn stepped inside the club with Emily one step behind as soon as Santana left Rachel alone in her table. The blonde looked at her ticket for the table number then craned her neck up front. "That way", she motioned to her companion. It took her a few steps away from their table to recognize the back of her ex-girlfriend. "R-Rachel?"

The brunette smiled then turned around to face Quinn. "Hey." She immediately eyed the statuesque brunette woman behind Quinn who threw her a cordial smile.

"What..what are you doing here?" There was alarm in Quinn's voice and expression. A part of her was pleased to see Rachel but was quickly unnerved when she was reminded of who she was with and why.

The diva stood up and offered the two other ladies seats. "To support Santana. She said this was her first big event?"

"She invited you?"

"Why's that a surprise?", Rachel chuckled.

"No..I—Not really a surprise. I—" Quinn stepped forward and gave Rachel a hug. "I'm glad you're here to support her." She released Rachel then wrung her hands together. "Uhm, Rachel, this is Emily Carr. Emily, Rachel Berry."

Emily, courteous as always, was the first to extend her hand. Quinn released a breath of relief that she didn't realize she was holding when Rachel politely took it and smiled. "Pleasure to finally meet you."

"Likewise". Emily quirked her eyebrows at Quinn and flashed a wider smile. "This is certainly going to be an interesting night, ladies. I'm going to get us drinks. Do you have any preference, Rachel?"

"I'm feeling a little adventurous. I'll have what you have, Emily.", Rachel grinned in response.

Quinn looked awfully a lot like Finn that moment. You know, the constipated baby expression. Yup. Definitely channeling Finn Hudson. "Quinn?", both brunettes simultaneously asked.

"I'll have a Coke and—"

"Johnny", Emily quipped. "Perfect. I'll double the shots to start the ball rolling."

"Okay", Quinn mumbled while staring blankly at the crowd.

Emily took huge strides towards the open bar but stopped and held on to Santana's waist before whispering, "You are a wicked girl, Miss Lopez. Putting us all in one table. You know Quinn's going to spontaneously combust, yeah?"

The Latina felt Goosebumps all over her body and swallowed thickly. God, this woman is sex on legs. "I happen to just want two of my closest friends to support me", she drawled while slowly removing Emily's hands off her.

"Try not to hurt Quinn in the process."

"Why", Santana had turned around and now faced Emily. "What's it to you? What's your angle?"

Emily simply smirked then walked away from the now snarling Latina. She marched towards Rachel and dragged her away from Quinn who was struggling to start a conversation. "Santana, what are you doing?", the diva huffed in annoyance.

"Listen, Frodo. Shit just got real at Middle-Earth."

"Hey, I thought we're over the name calling.", Rachel frowned. "And what are you talking about?"

"Ugh, you seriously need to read what Quinn reads."

Rachel's opened her mouth and nodded knowingly. "Oooh, okay. Noted. Will read the stuff Quinn reads so we have a lot of things to discuss."

"Yes, but, no, that's not the point. Like, seriously, do whatever it takes to win tonight or I'll ends you."

The diva's eyes widened and took a step back. It's been a long time since Santana resorted to Lima Heights Adjacent-speak so this must be urgent. "Okay, got it."

"Good. Now, go back to your Sam."

Rachel furrowed her brows and mouthed "Sam?" while she was being pushed by Santana. By the time she got back to their table, Emily was already sitting next to Quinn but had enough space for another person, the diva noted. How in the world is she going to compete with someone that even had the decency not to invade Quinn's personal space on a night like this? She knows she would have. Sighing, she tucked her hair between her ears then tottered towards the un-couple.

Quinn looked up from her drink as soon as she felt Rachel coming back. "Everything alright? What did Santana want?"

"Oh, nothing", the diva waved off. "Just for me to drive her home in case she gets wasted tonight."

"That's weird, I'm the one who lives with her."

"Well, she must have assumed you'd be off elsewhere tonight after this. It's not a big deal, Quinn", Rachel smiled then placed her hand on top of the blonde's. The blonde glanced subtly at their hands but made no move to remove hers. She was too frozen to react and too confused to even notice a slight change in Rachel's posture and demeanor.

Emily quickly took her glass to cover her smirk. Rachel was certainly marking her territory. She decided right at that moment, she liked the girl. Too bad they can't be friends. Not right now, anyway. Tonight, it's all about alpha females battling it out. Nothing personal. She's got a feeling who will win, and oddly enough, she felt alright about it.

A/N: This will be a two-part chapter, with the auctioning and everything else on the latter part. The last chapter was certainly heavy –maybe too heavy for my liking—and I didn't expect that. I somehow want to recover, lol.

A/N 2: I genuinely appreciate the time, effort in reading and commenting, and your overall investment on the fic so far. It's what keeps me inspired, really.