Colors and Promises

by itsfaberrytaboo

Quinn has loved Rachel Berry since she was seven years old, bound to her by a light green ribbon. When Rachel tries to circumvent fate, 19 year old Quinn goes to New York City in search of her soulmate. But how do you establish your loving dominance over someone who doesn't even want to be found? D/s AU.

5. Stay With Me

It's ridiculous, really.

There's no way she has a fever. Thirteen year olds don't get fevers. They don't get fevers, they don't get sore throats, and they definitely don't need to be sent to bed at nine o'clock so they can rest.

She can feel the amusement and Quinn groans, flopping over on her stomach and hiding her head under a pillow. "Go away," she mumbles into the mattress, but she doesn't mean it. Rachel's mother has been home all day, which means they've had limited time together, and Quinn's missed her. Being sick makes her… clingy.

She feels the slipping away; she did, after all, give an order, and so Quinn is quick to scramble back around. "No, Rachel, stay, I'm sorry."

Hmph.

Quinn smiles a little. "I feel awful."

I'm sorry. Anything I can do?

"Stay with me, that's all I need."

And so Rachel stays. She stays and does her homework, she stays until Shelby yells for her to come have dinner. She comes back twenty minutes later with a sadness that she quickly pushes away, not answering Quinn's queries. She stays as Quinn grumpily pouts that she has work to do, and she's going to miss school tomorrow, which means she'll miss cheerleading practice. She stays and smiles while Quinn is treated to ice cream – Quinn can't remember Rachel ever having ice cream – and she's quiet and soft as Quinn drifts in and out of sleep.

It's 4 a.m. when she awakes again, and Quinn realizes Rachel hasn't left. She's on her bed, in her little pink room, in her pajamas, reading a book about Barbra by flashlight.

"Rach," Quinn says hoarsely. "You have school."

You told me to stay. And even if you hadn't, I would have anyway. I don't like it when you're sick.

She sounds upset, tearful, and Quinn reaches out as best she can to calm her. Rachel's heaviness in her mind tells her how sleepy the girl is, and Quinn hates that there's only 2 hours before Shelby will come to "wake" Rachel for her before-school exercise routine.

"Thank you for staying," she whispers, resolving to stay awake until Rachel has to leave. "You didn't have to, really."

Yes, I did. Because I'm yours.