Faithfully
A/N: Whoa! I'm churning out chapters like crazy lol but I seriously couldn't resist your enthusiastic response to this chapter and it seems that it only fuels my desire to write these two…seriously.
BTW: This chapter is named once again after the song from "Spring Awakening" My favorite musical at the moment.
Disclaimer: Please, I would have seduced Dianna Agron into being my wife by now. And then she'd be my baby mama. It's all written down somewhere in my plans for world domination, but I haven't gotten around to it yet, so sadly, no I don't own it.
Chapter 7
Rachel was fantastic at basically everything.
She was a fantastic student, a fantastic friend, a fantastic performer and a fantastic lover.
She was good with just about anything…numbers, lyrics, memorization. Basically everything it possibly took for her to succeed in the profession she had carefully mapped out for herself.
She was good at planning things.
For instance, getting the woman she loved back. That was also another thing she was a master at; being honest and of course,
Being gay.
And she was planning and mapping out Quinn's position in her very busy life, in her life built by her for her, because it wasn't as fantastic and she definitely wasn't as fantastic as she could have been without the company of that gorgeous blonde, of that phenomenal woman.
However, she wasn't mapping Quinn Fabray out to be as a big of a distraction as she was becoming.
She had been at the offices of Universal records for a rare week, and she had found balance. She had took charge and rectified things to a certain way, for her liking.
But coming into work with the feel of fingertips touching you…marking your body with a message that was unknown to anyone that didn't hold your names and your presence did things to the brunette, made those numbers confusing, and the lyrics became vague.
The routine was off.
She found herself clearing her schedule after the hour of one o'clock, but couldn't bring her brain from the time and events that would be taking place.
She was firm in her decision about the tattoo. She did indeed have her own reasons of why she needed the ink engraved on her skin, if only a little dishonest about the actuality of the situation.
There was a reason, and there was a love for the song, but it had everything to do with Quinn.
She was intoxicated by the arm of her lover and the deep and inviting ink that covered the surface of her skin. She was curious as to where the fuel from that particular fire came from, but was catching on thanks to the closed off demeanor of the blonde.
Sitting at her large desk in her large office with her heeled feet propped on the glass surface, she closed her eyes, letting them drift to the expanse of a time when nothing was ever complicated, when things were easy.
But then, she remembered.
From the time she laid her eyes on Quinn things were never easy. From slushie attacks, to undying and seemingly illegal feelings for the blonde, she found herself struggling with a truly difficult situation from the start.
But that was no surprise, Quinn Fabray was known to be difficult.
And she couldn't help herself but to think that now in different times, the girl would be ready. She hoped that now she would be over her fears and ready to declare her want for the brunette, but of course as fate would have it, she was wrong about that.
And some thought that the brunette couldn't feel, that she had her career and talent to fall back on, that she most definitely did not need Quinn to reciprocate the feelings that were dealt unto the blonde, but they were wrong.
Her talent and career didn't feel the empty void that Quinn left. Her talent didn't keep her warm at night, or wipe her tears away.
She needed Quinn.
And it was hard to fathom on the outside looking in at the songstress that she had a care in the world about the former cheerleader and friend. It was hard to fathom that she had an intense burning in her system that only ached worse when the blonde wasn't in her arms or when she thought about the fact that blonde wouldn't be with her soon.
But it was there.
The need was prominent, the female was like a necessity for living in the brunette's world.
As a matter of fact, she was her world.
There was no Rachel without Quinn.
Without Quinn there was just this talented, wealthy woman with nothing to look forward to. Nothing to go home to, nothing or no one to love openly.
She would be reduced to a silent lover, someone who sat by and let their true love live without the knowledge of the partner's unknown devotion.
It wasn't Rachel Berry at all.
She was not a coward.
But it was a tough demeanor to keep, when rejection from the most important person about the most important thing was so near. It was hard to not be a coward when the challenge was so thick and solid.
But then again, it wasn't Rachel Berry to back down from a thick and solid challenge such as this one either.
Especially when the reward consisted of a blonde, tattooed woman whom she had been in love with for a series of years.
When the taste of her skin, and the feel of her touch was in your grasp, when you could practically feel her gathered in your arms from the last spontaneous moment of embrace, you found yourself restless and less fantastic than you were before you found a way to get her back.
Because now, you could get her back.
And you just had to be less fantastic in reality, less fantastic when it came to less meaningful things, in order to be more successful and greatly fantastic when it came to your desire, your fetish, your fantasy.
Your love.
"Ms. Berry?"
A voice snapped her from her train of thought and she looked up to see the bright eyes of her secretary smiling at her, from the crease of her now open doorway.
She always had been such a happy optimistic woman.
That's why she had the label hire her. She was optimistic, nothing but an outsider to the trials of reality, what Rachel used to be, and that's why Rachel needed her so badly.
"Yes, Laura? And please I told you, you can always enter my office, and you can always call me Rachel." The brunette spoke, taking her legs from the elevated position they had been comfortably occupying.
The red headed woman blushed and further entered the office, holding the door open with her palm.
"Sorry, Ms…I mean, Rachel. I didn't really need anything, I just wanted to inform you that there is a Shelby Corcoran calling from Lima, Ohio…she says she's your mother."
Rachel allowed the wide smile to dim from her features for a moment at the announcement and it seemed Laura noticed the change in demeanor. For she cowered, a little unsure of her presence at the less jubilant stance of the president.
"Thanks for letting me know Laura, you may leave now…" Rachel responded curtly offering a short smile to the girl to reassure her obviously frightened mind.
The girl left with a nod and when the door to the office was shut promptly, Rachel allowed herself to pick up the phone with only a little hesitance.
"Shelby."
"Hi, Rachel…I'm sorry to call you at your new job but I wanted to see how you were doing? Is this a bad time? Because I could call back…Beth was just dying to talk to you about everything in California…she's jumping into this "tween stage" a little too quickly if you ask me…"
Rachel couldn't fight the smile from her features then at the mention of her little companion. You could hardly call her a sister at the fact that Rachel could hardly call her mother a mom. But the girl had a piece of Quinn, and it made her near to the brunette's heart.
"No, actually…I'm not busy at all, I'm just waiting for one o'clock to get here a little sooner." Rachel spoke absentmindedly and she let her eyes look at the photo taken of her and her mother, from her high school graduation.
"Got a hot date for lunch?" Shelby joked awkwardly and Rachel grinned, her mother was still getting used to having a relationship with her daughter trying her best to keep up with her as best as she possibly could. And upon learning of her heart's desire, the mother of her adopted daughter, she was trying even harder to make things as less complicated as possible.
Trying meant, slowly succeeding, you know?
"Yeah…she's pretty hot alright, if you mean feisty and stubborn with an attitude that would rival any diva any day…" Rachel ratted off playfully and Shelby laughed.
"So I'm assuming you've met up with the infamous Quinn Fabray."
"It was such a pleasure, catching up with her…as always it only ended up disaster," Rachel offered, hoping that was as much detail as she would be forced to offer.
"Well...?"
"Well what?"
"Is that it? It ended in disaster? If it ended in disaster, how could you possibly be having a lunch date with her today?" Shelby questioned and Rachel realized where her persistence arrived from.
"I managed to rectify the situation." Rachel said twirling a pen idly through her fingers hoping her mother would stop while she was ahead.
But if you spawned the most inquisitive child in the world it was only natural that you be just as inquisitive.
"How did you Rachel Caroline, rectify the situation if you pissed her off when you met up with her?"
"Well I didn't piss her off at first…there was just a lot of unanswered questions and I may have been a little frazzled and got ahead of myself-"
"You pushed."
"I most certainly did not push!"
"Rachel, you came from me, and there is only one reason why people get pissed off at people like us: we're pushers."
Silence engulfed the two of them, before Rachel responded.
"Okay, so I might have pushed a little…but I love her." the brunette spoke sitting straight up in her chair, placing her hand on her thigh in earnest, as if she had never made this declaration to her mother before…but it was nerve-wracking each time she let someone else know how she was struggling, with this…Quinn Fabray.
"I know sweetheart."
"But it's clear, Shelby. It's so clear now more than ever. Everytime I look at her, I just want to hold her, I want to tell her how much I need her…and I can't do that because she won't let me in."
"Rachel, maybe she needs time…"
"I'm sure nine years was enough time." Rachel spat sternly and quickly reprimanded herself for using that tone.
"How are you even sure she's felt the same way about you for that long of a time?" Shelby challenged, and Rachel almost was offended at the way the woman spoke the words.
"I do mom…I do. Ever since graduation…I saw it in her eyes. I just want her to say it." Rachel pleaded, not sure if she was pleading with herself or her mother or even god.
"She will. But you have to understand. She's lost a lot of things in her life, she's sacrificed a lot of things in her life. And her reasoning may not be understandable to you, but it's understandable to her…and you have to respect that."
"Even if it's wrong, and sucks?" Rachel questioned.
"Yes, you big baby." Shelby laughed. The brunette smiled at the sound, this was a moment she would have to remember. Her mother was actually being…a mother.
"If she loves you and needs you as much as you think…she'll come around in time, she'll give you want you want. Because she'll want to make you happy. And if she's anything like the wonderful baby she gave birth to, she'll love you with her whole heart and do anything to see you happy." Shelby stated with a firm tone, so firm that Rachel had no other choice but to smile and believe the woman.
"Okay."
"Okay…on a slightly different note…how did she react to the picture?" Shelby questioned nervously.
Rachel remembered the look on her lover's face, the missing and the happiness at seeing the daughter she gave birth to growing and healthy.
"She thought she was beautiful…she misses her, has her name tattooed on the back of her neck."
Shelby hummed at the information.
"Rachel, if you can…"
"I know. I'll ask." She knew what the question was, and she knew how important it was for the answer to that question to be 'yes'. But it would take time…and lots of explaining.
"Thank-you."
There was some shuffling going on in the background before a voice was heard.
"Mom, is that Rachel?"
"Someone wants to talk to you-"
"Rachel?" An excited voice questioned replacing that of her mother's and Rachel smiled.
"Hi, Beth!" She answered earning an excited squeal from the twelve year old blonde whom she had come to love.
"Oh my god, I've been telling all my friends about how you live in L.A., they all think it's so cool! Do you meet any celebrities? Well of course you do, because you're a celebrity!"
Oh yeah, she was most definitely hitting the tween stage hard.
"I wouldn't say I'm a celebrity Beth, I'm still same old Rachel." She stated, which was what she always stated when the little girl gushed over her fame. It was a truth she liked to state to herself and to anyone else who would listen.
"Well of course, you're my Rachel! Only with a twist in the form of a superstar! Listen to this, my teacher told me that I couldn't sign my name with a gold star anymore. How outrageous is that? I told him that it was a metaphor, and that the infamous Rachel Berry became a star by using this very same metaphor, and he actually tried to report me to the principal's office. I then just calmly stated about my mother's status on the school board and how I could have them all fired if they tried to refuse me my ability to express myself."
She spoke all of it in one huff and Rachel couldn't deny the heartwarming feeling of the influence she had on the little girl.
"That is truly horrifying. Should I make a special call and alert them of the true discrimination against you and threaten to take our story to the press? My two gay dads will contact the ACLU immediately if necessary."
"I told them all of that. And I won my case, they agreed to let me express myself and I am now satisfied. Until the next slip up of those Neanderthals. I swear they have no absolute clue how to run a school." Beth finished expertly and she sounded identical to Rachel, only with a voice identical to her mother's.
"Beth, Rachel has to get back to work." Shelby reprimanded firmly from the background.
"Okay, I miss you Rachel…"
"I miss you too honey." Rachel spoke sadly into the phone, not one pleased with the girl's sadness.
"You'll come visit soon?" The girl asked hopefully and Rachel had to grin at the prospect of going back to Lima to spend some quality time with her family.
"You have my word."
"Okay, love you, bye!"
"Bye Beth, love you too!" Rachel called into the phone with a fond smile, after some more shuffling she was met with the voice of her mother once more.
"She's growing up to be just like you, isn't she?" Shelby offered and Rachel laughed.
"Unfortunately for Lima…"
"Yes, unfortunately. I've got to go, Rachel. Thanks for finding time to talk to us, I know we're becoming less important in your busy schedule."
"Never too busy for a conversation with my mother and Beth."
Rachel smiled letting her eyes wander to the clock to find that it was twelve forty five. Excitement flooded her veins at the revelation and she licked her lips in hydration for the sudden dryness of her mouth.
"I love you, and thanks again."
"Love you too, bye."
She hung up the phone with her mother, with a strange feeling of confidence filling her system.
That almost never happened when it came to conversations with the woman. She was always left with a feeling of emptiness and longing that she tried not to elaborate on.
But now was not the time to start.
Quinn would be there soon, and she wanted to be free of guilt and any signs of emptiness. She wanted to be back to the new Rachel Berry of tomorrow.
Not the Rachel Berry of yesterday.
Quinn Fabray stood in the elevator leading her up to the twenty second floor of the Universal Studio's building.
She was feeling, as well as looking, out of place.
Dressed in an almost illegally tight pair of skinny jeans and very revealing tube top, she let the thought pass through her mind that maybe she should have dressed a little bit more conservative.
But then she returned back to her body.
She was Quinn Fabray, who gave a shit?
When the doors opened and she was met with the floor of her desire, she let the toothpick sink between the spaces of her teeth, briefly remembering her mother reprimanding her for the particular habit when she was younger.
She yanked the toothpick from her mouth's warmth as she stepped up to the receptionist's desk, and let her eyes scan over the name plate.
Laura.
She was cute.
Kind of like that waitress from the coffee shop…she was cute.
Laura was on the phone, seemingly a little perturbed by the person on the other line, who refused to take the words that poor Laura was attempting to give them.
"Yes sir…I understand sir, but Ms. Berry isn't available at the moment…she's actually in a meeting with an important client…yes sir I know how important it is for you to talk to her but I can't put you through-"
Quinn grinned at the sound of the line going dead and the girl shook her head as she carefully sat the phone down back on the dock. Quinn sat her elbows on the surface of the front desk and grinned.
"Hi."
"Oh, I'm so sorry! Is there something I can do for you?" Laura asked just now sensing the face of Quinn waiting expectantly.
"I'm here to see Rachel."
"Do you have an appointment?" The flustered girl questioned and Quinn grinned, she leaned upwards to peer down at the laptop that seem to hold the "appointments".
"You could say that."
Laura's blue eyes met Quinn's hazel ones and understanding dawned on them.
"Are you here to take Rachel to lunch?"
"And then some." Quinn said with a short smirk, feeling more than confident than she had anticipated feeling.
The girl rose from her seat and smiled. "Well I'll just go get her personally, if you'll excuse me-"
But before either girl could make a move the double doors to the office that dear Laura was guarding opened to reveal the gold star of Rachel Berry herself in true gold star fashion.
"It's simple, platinum sales or we will be letting you go from your contract. Sitting idle by and spending this label's money unnecessarily is not what being an artist is about. Being an artist is about entertaining your audience and making a good view for your fans to support and look up to. You've have most definitely done neither." The fiery brunette spoke, her heels clicking on the marble floor as she turned from her rant to face the prima Donna she was speaking to.
"And please remove your sunglasses, it is very disrespectful, especially to the person who signs your paycheck."
The diva seemed to be slowly getting more infuriated by the moment and Rachel didn't take any notice to it.
However, Rachel continued to be as presidential as possible.
"You just walk in here after a week and think you can talk to me like that? Do you know who I am?" The girl spoke outraged by the tone and attitude being thrown at her. And Rachel seemed equally outraged, not even noticing Quinn standing behind her watching her every move.
It was quite interesting, two divas going head to head.
"Of course, I know exactly who you are. Your last album flopped, everywhere. Let's get something straight. Regardless of how long I have been here I will be here for a very considerate amount of time and through that amount of time I will be rectifying many unsettled circumstances, including unsuccessful artists who have made themselves think that after their one hit wonder that they can call out demands to the person that signed them when they just had potential and nothing else," Rachel placed both of her hands on her hips and stared the insufferable woman down, and then she surprised every person in the room.
She snatched the sunglasses from the girl's face.
"I told you to the take the fucking sunglasses off. Now hear me, you will spend the next few months taking vocal lessons and training your body to act like a role model and an artist and not some crazy ass pop singer who does what they want to because they think they can."
She spoke the words low and clear and Quinn swore she could feel the tension filling the room at the showdown taking place.
"And what if I don't?"
"Then your journey at Universal has come to an end." Rachel provided with a raised eyebrow and thrust the sunglasses back into the hands of the infamous woman who huffed without another word and stalked past the brunette.
Rachel turned and followed the girl with her eyes until she entered the elevator and Rachel's attention was deterred to that of Quinn Fabray.
She turned her frown into a nervous smile and Quinn stuck her toothpick back in her mouth as she grinned at the president herself.
"Oh, hello Quinn…I'll be ready in just a moment."
Quinn nodded watching as the cute little Laura retrieved Rachel's jacket and purse from her office and brought it out to her.
"Thank you Laura. Would you do me a favor and call her manager? Make sure he knows about all the substantial adjustments his artist should be making within the next month or so?" the brunette spoke and the president was back, Quinn had figured.
Laura nodded returning to her position at the desk, "And then afterwards, you may leave. I cleared all my other appointments."
"Thank you Ms. Berry."
"It's Rachel Laura, come Quinn." And the blonde found herself steered into the elevator with The President of Universal Records Rachel Berry, the in charge and no nonsense woman she had come to fall in love with during high school.
But when those doors closed, the demeanor shifted.
"Hi."
"Hi," Quinn replied with a smile.
Rachel reached up to remove the toothpick from her teeth and stood up on her tip toes to kiss the elevated blonde.
It was less urgent than the others, a soft joining of the lips that only seemed to be a mere brush, but it was savoring and enjoyable all the same.
Quinn pulled away from the embrace, her cheeks flushed red, unsure where the embarrassment arrived from.
"What was that for?"
"Consider it an apology for witnessing the beast of a business woman back there." the shorter woman spoke and her blonde companion rolled her eyes.
"Unnecessary, I spent four years of high school with that same beast, I'm sort of used to her." Quinn teased.
"Hmm, then I owe you an even bigger apology?"
"Certainly, I think I can come up with something later…" Quinn offered and Rachel let her heart flutter with happiness at the prospect of awkwardness and tension that had dissipated in the mere day that they had allowed themselves away from each other.
But it was obvious that all though one type of tension had disappeared another was waiting on the horizon and Quinn could see the dark forming in the barrier of her brunette lover's eyes.
She had been wondering about that actually.
How was she gonna manage to keep her libido at bay when the embrace they shared the day before had been anything but tame. And she was going to be so close to areas that were tempting and the brunette would be practically unclothed…it was too much for the blonde theoretically, and she been attempting to devise a plan on how to avoid ravishing her in the public of her workplace…again.
Quinn took her toothpick back and allowed her eyes to travel to the floors they were passing in earnest before she let her eyes slide back to the brunette.
"Are you positive you want to start this today?"
"Yes, Quinn. I trust you."
"I hope so…this is kind of important, and permanent, I just want you to be sure that it's what you want." Quinn offered, still a little unsure about the choice of tattoo the singer would be acquiring soon.
"Quinn how sure were you when you got yours?"
Quinn bit her lip thinking back to what led to her giant metaphorical piece taking up the skin of her once wholesome arm.
"That was…under different circumstances. It was different…there was a reason behind my piece, I was desperate for that tattoo." Quinn spoke locking her hazel orbs with the chestnut ones of her lover.
Rachel sighed. "In other words, you were pretty sure. And so then, I need you to be understanding that there is a reason for mine as well…and I am sure about this Quinn."
The blonde studied the desperation behind the words and wondered why the singer wanted this so badly, why she was putting the tortured blonde through the struggle she was putting her through. This battle was one Quinn wasn't truly prepared for, but was about to enter head on.
"Okay."
The doors of the elevator opened to reveal the front lobby and Quinn grabbed Rachel's hand quickly to lead her from the spot, turning her head as to miss the content smile that settled on the short brunette's features.
The bell to the tattoo shop noisily sounded as Quinn lead the way into the establishment.
Rachel followed obediently behind her and smiled at the receptionist and the awaiting customers.
"Quinn there are a couple one clocks scheduled today-"
"John will take them…I've got a rather special appointment to take care of today, and it will be taking a little more than an hour." Quinn stated, her heels clicking as she stalked swiftly past the front desk and passed an open-mouthed John.
"But I told you that I wouldn't be able to take those appointments yesterday, Quinn!" He fired and the blonde stopped her journey right at the glass door leading to the back.
She seemed to be contemplating her response, and then she looked over her shoulder.
"And I told you I didn't care. Deal with it, or lose your job." She cut her eyes to Rachel and the brunette saw the command before the words escaped her lips.
"We're going in the back Rachel. Kim? is Santana back there?"
The receptionist's eyes bolded a little when the Latina was mentioned. "Yes, but Quinn she told me to tell you not to come-"
"Come on Rachel."
The brunette followed quickly trying to hide her whole body under her sunglasses, thankful for the few customers that didn't notice her. The blonde opened the door and allowed her to go first but found herself running into the back of the brunette as she stopped abruptly.
"Oh my…" Rachel muttered.
Quinn looked down confusingly at her lover before she let her eyes travel to the glass window of Santana's office. There usually were curtains shielding it from sight but now the vision into the room was clear and concise.
A blonde and excited Brittany had her head thrown back as an equally excited Santana devoured her neck. Rachel couldn't seem to allow her eyes to leave the sight.
It almost looked identical to the predicament she found herself in with Quinn less than a week ago and she couldn't deny the hot flush that spread down her body as she followed the Latina's hidden hand…which she found buried under the blonde companion's skirt.
Quinn smirked and reached forward from her stance behind Rachel to knock solemnly on the window.
"Hey! Planning on actually having lunch that doesn't involve you sucking on your wife?" Quinn called and Rachel couldn't hide the laughter that filled her body when the Latina jumped at the sound startled and turned with a face hot with anger.
"I'm gonna kick your ass Fabray!"
"Can't wait, Lopez! Let's call this payback." Quinn spoke and Brittany smiled and waved enthusiastically from her position under her wife.
"Hi Rachel, hi Quinn! Are you guys together yet?" She asked innocently and Rachel grinned at the blonde's enthusiasm and happiness.
"Um, no Britt…I'm actually about to go do Rachel's tattoo…so we'll talk to you later." Quinn smiled warmly at the girl and her eyes widened hopefully.
"Ooh! S, I want to see Rachel's tattoo later!" Brittany called and the Latina rolled her eyes.
"We'll see babe, Quinn cut the fucking small talk! I'm kind of horny if you didn't notice!" Santana hissed and when she turned back from her wife it was the first time that Rachel noticed that her hair was down.
"Um, nice to see you again Santana." The brunette squeaked her cheeks red with embarrassment at the predicament.
"Yeah, later Berry."
Quinn pulled her shocked lover from the scene with laughter spilling from her lips. In Rachel's opinion it was the most glorious sound ever heard, and she only wanted to hear more of it.
"Um, do you guys always do that to each other?"
"What? Catch each other in the act and interrupt? Yes, well in her case…she's never caught me.." Quinn trailed and Rachel felt a twist of jealousy fill her body at the thought of Quinn being intimate with someone that wasn't her.
"Oh…you must be very discrete with your um…love affairs." She said quietly, but with a small hint of malice.
Quinn halted at the work room and turned to look down on the shorter girl. "If by very discrete you mean not having sex at all? Then, yeah I guess I'm somewhat discrete."
"You've uh…been abstaining from sex, well you know…before me?"
Quinn smirked, "Let's just say I was waiting on that special someone." and with that the conversation ended as she opened the door revealing a room, seemingly made for Quinn herself.
It was her office, after her office.
There was a lounging seat, black leather in the center of this dimly lit room. There were all these different sketches both colored and black and white covering the walls of the room.
While a sink and a cabinet space adored one corner, there was full length mirror and also several mirrors of different sizes on the other side. There also was a desk and several drawers and things that were taking up a considerable amount of space and Rachel hadn't even realized she was staring until the object of her affection appeared in front of her face brandishing what looked like a hospital gown in front of her.
"Go, change, into this and take one of the washcloths and the soap and thoroughly scrub your lower back…and stop ogling…it's just a room."
"Oh, um…I'm sorry, it just seems kind of…intimate, too intimate to be a room where you draw on people's skin with needles." She spoke inching towards the adjoining bathroom.
Quinn grinned at the brunette.
"Isn't drawing on people's skin with needles, intimate? I always think so…I do better work in here…on the few times that I'll take an appointment that requires this room…they always turn out spectacular." Quinn bragged as she sought out the task of readying her utensils.
The brunette chuckled and Quinn didn't look up as the door closed to the bathroom.
It was all so easy.
When she was clothed, and not writhing under her, or lying naked across her leather chair as she inked her own special mark onto her body…it was all so easy.
But soon, when she came out clad in everything save for that incredibly revealing hospital gown…Quinn would be helpless.
Quinn would have to work exceedingly hard to not let her eyes roam, and more importantly…let her fingers roam, thankfully one of her hands would be occupied with a highly dangerous sharp object so then she would have something to distract her but still…she didn't want to chance it. She didn't want to slip up, not like the last few times.
Underline on few.
"Quinn?"
The once powerful and demanding voice was now timid and made Quinn look up from her attention on her now buzzing needled pen.
Rachel stood shorter than before with her bare feet and tanned legs un hidden by the gown that stopped mid thigh. She was holding the material of the back of the clothing and Quinn knew it was because there was no back to the scrap cloth.
Her hair fell past her shoulder looking as silky and gorgeous as ever and there was a small red tint to her cheeks.
"Where would you like me?"
Naked and spread on this chair.
"Um…on your stomach…since you want it on your bikini line, yeah, I think that will work." Quinn said swallowing and the brunette made her way over to the cushiony chair, looking nervously at the blonde before she slowly rolled her way onto her stomach.
She was still clutching the material of her dress and Quinn had to grin.
"Rachel, you're going to have to let go of the gown in order for me to start."
She turned, looking a little uncomfortable at her position. "Oh, um well, I guess I could comply to that request…"
Quinn allowed her eyes to roll as she pulled up a stool to the side of Rachel where her table of utensils sat.
"Just relax…think like you're about to receive a massage, or something." Quinn said, unaware of the soft tone her voice had taken.
Rachel nodded, her chin rubbing up against the leather. "I'm just a little nervous…you know?"
Quinn smiled at Rachel who had turned to glance up at her. The blonde reached to the head of the girl and pulled her long chestnut tendrils to the side for the comfort. And she allowed her hand to trail across the tense muscles hidden behind the flimsy gown.
She pulled her hand back and sat the pen down. "Rachel? Would you mind if I moved your gown aside?"
And Quinn was asking because she wasn't quite sure of the action herself.
"Sure Quinn…I trust you."
The blonde heaved a sigh of her own amount of nervousness and she let shaking fingers inch towards the material…slowly pushing the clothing aside.
She was met with the sight of tan, shiny, and smooth.
It was a little too much. Her eyes roamed the curve of the shorter girl's back sliding down the dip from her shoulders, the ripple of the stern muscles reflecting off of the low look in Quinn's eyes. And then she let her eyes roam past the spot she would be etching the personal message into…and she savored the sight of Rachel's backside.
Jesus fucking Christ.
The plump, and pert ass was perfectly stout and Quinn had to physically restrain her hands from delving into the flesh, she had to watch herself, she wanted to knead and touch…she was a definite ass woman.
"I-Is everything alright?"
The timid voice and the slight turning of Rachel's head broke Quinn from her concentrated stare of her ass and she snapped her vision back to the girl.
"Yeah, I'm gonna sanitize your entire lower back, just kind of a…uh, double check for safety. Then I'll start."
Rachel nodded, and she folded her arms and rested her head on them, looking as if she was trying her best to be as calm as possible. Quinn grabbed the sanitized washcloth and dragged it softly over the skin, feeling the tense area contract slightly.
"Rach, you know you can trust me…you just told me you did." The blonde sat the rag down and pushed her blonde hair behind her ear easily.
"I know…but it's going to hurt, I don't deal well with physical pain…" She said softly looking backwards at Quinn and she could feel the sadness in the brunette's eyes.
Quinn reached over and turned on the pen, the buzzing filling her ears in a full way, making her sigh in contentment.
"Rachel, I'm here…if it hurts then you can hold my hand and squeeze it until it makes you feel better, okay?"
"Okay."
Reaching upward Quinn offered her small hand and Rachel clasped hers onto the blonde's.
"Hey Rachel?"
"Yeah?"
"How did you end up on the stage? After Julliard I mean…you never told me the story of your success…"
And just like that, Quinn made the brunette forget every single thing around her. She opened her mouth telling the story of her fame and Quinn lowered the needle to her skin softly, the tip beginning the etch of an unknowingly important inscription.
When the first letter of the word was finished, Rachel had just realized that the tattoo had started. Quinn was keeping her cool pretty well.
She just didn't understand. Why would her lover possibly want this personal inscription.
"Wow…I didn't even know you had started." Rachel spoke with a slight laugh, and Quinn offered a strained chuckle of her own.
"How does it feel?"
"Like, a slight sting…but it's not overwhelming pain. It's actually quite relaxing-"
"Why this tattoo, Rachel?" Quinn cut her off and the brunette seemed a little taken aback at the abruptness of the inquiry.
"Quinn, I don't think this is the time or place-"
"It's the perfect time and place, Rachel. Do you not trust me enough to know why you're getting a Journey song, and even more coincidental the same Journey song tattooed on my arm, practically on your ass?"
It was in a tone filled with irritation and impatience. She was slowly and lightly finishing the tattoo but the more attention she paid to the word the angrier she got.
"And why is it that the same song is tattooed on your arm Quinn? I've been asking you to relay the details behind the creation for a while now with no avail so why should I reveal my own personal reasons of getting a tattoo?" Rachel challenged.
"Is it some sort of memory of Finn that you want to keep? Of that glorious moment between you and him where you looked into each others eyes-"
"Oh please Quinn, save the jealous guilt trip for someone who cares." Rachel spat turning her head quickly and squeezing the girl's hand as the pen pressed a little more harshly into her skin.
"Fuck you Rachel, I have my reasons."
"And I have mine, and they have nothing to do with Finn!" She said face hot with anger.
"That's the only thing I can presume from that Rachel! You sang that song to him that night at Regional's…you stared at him the entire time, you were in love with him! So I feel a little hostile at the fact that you're getting those words on your body, permanently."
Rachel scoffed. "You are so damn obtuse Quinn! It would make more sense for me to get Quinn fucking Fabray on my back!"
Her words came at almost a scream and Quinn had to wrench the pen from her skin, afraid of drawing too much blood.
She slid her stool quickly over to Rachel's face.
"I watched you the whole time Rachel. I fucking stared you down…I was so in love with you in that moment. I wanted you to take my hand and sing to me about how you would forever be mine, not Finn's. I wanted you to turn to me and kiss me, I wanted that moment to be ours…I wanted that moment so bad that I fucking got it tattooed on my arm so that I would remember that moment. The moment I realized I was so deeply in love with you, and that nothing and no one would change that."
She let her hand cup the brunette's cheek. "The star that is surrounding that word are the names of every song that we have ever shared together, every song that I witnessed you sing…every moment that I fell. I had them all etched into a star around that word…that song that forever connected my soul to yours. Forgive me for being hostile, because I don't know why you want that moment on your back, but I know why I have it on my arm, and since you are so damn nosy now you know."
She pulled her body from the girl and looked down at her open toed sandals, she finally grabbed the needled pen and continued her job of the tattoo.
"I wanted you too, Quinn. Tell me should I get your name on me? Maybe I should brand myself for your sake." Her words came, soft but forcibly.
Quinn looked up from her work, "Why is this what you chose to get on your body Rachel? You didn't know the purpose behind my tattoo. So why?"
"Because Everytime I closed my eyes I saw your face."
The shorter girl pleaded with Quinn silently to listen. "The entire time I sang to Finn, I saw you. I wanted you. I was devoting myself to you."
"He told me he loved me right before that performance…I didn't respond."
She wanted to sit up so badly, she wanted to grab the blonde's face with earnest and make her understand, but she couldn't move thanks to the pen still buzzing with life on her skin.
"Oh Quinn, can't you see? I love you…I have since that moment, and I want to remember that particular moment for the same reason that you want to remember it too." Rachel spoke and the blonde wondered if tears would well up in her eyes like she always thought at the declaration.
Quinn clicked the button of the pen off.
"It's finished."
Rachel bit her lip and Quinn stood from her spot on the stool, extending a helping hand to the girl, helping her from her frazzled state. She carefully guided her over to the full length mirror, and then in turn handed her another handheld mirror.
Rachel turned and glanced at the inscription.
It was medium sized and in cursive and just how she had always wanted it. She smiled small at the sight and then she sat the mirror down.
"For now. It's finished for now." Rachel answered and Quinn stared down at her, shaking her head.
"How can you possibly love me?"
"I don't know…exactly. I don't have a definite reason, but I keep telling you this, and I will keep swearing on this promise. I will spend as long as possible showing you, how much I love you and how much I adore you…I promise." Rachel spoke, conviction so blatant in her eyes.
Quinn swallowed. "I would like that…I would like to seriously try that…because I'm kind of in love with you too…but I'm really scared and I don't know what to do about it."
Rachel leaned up and pressed her lips to Quinn's softly, maneuvering them slowly over her companion's with love and honesty. She wrapped her arms around her neck and slipped her tongue inside her mouth with ease.
"Does that mean that we're dating?"
"Yeah, let's say that…dating." Quinn said and she actually let a genuine smile take over her features.
Rachel pressed her lips to the neck of her…well could you even call her a girlfriend? Anyways, she let her head rest comfortably in the crookof her neck, content with the action and content with her feelings for this tortured blonde.
And Quinn let her hands trace the brown locks with earnest adoration. She couldn't take the grin from her features. Because she was scared shitless on the inside, but she wasn't going to really elaborate.
Because she was dating Rachel Berry.
The gold star, Universal Studios president Rachel Berry.
Finally.
A/N: It is not over! Trust me…I've just been having way too much fun with this thing and there are few plot bunnies running around poking me to use them, so yeah…
GET READY!
Oh, by the way, this chapter went 22 pages, over 7, 000 words: LONGEST CHAPTER EVER!
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-Mimi