A.N: Posting to celebrate the fact that tonight was my favorite Glee episode ever... despite certain... things.

A.N2: Thank you to all of you who commented and to all of you who sent well wishes to my mom, she is doing better. You can blame my computer for this delay.

Disclaimer: Le sigh... I really wish I owned it but alas.

Thursday January 28, 2010

4:44 P.M.

Quinn's heart hammered in her chest like she had run a marathon. Rachel was gazing up at her with her dark sincere eyes, and after so long it was almost too much. She wanted to take the little diva in her arms and never let her go. The idea that Rachel, who she had treated badly for so long, could love her was absolutely astounding.

Rachel smiled gently, "I do Quinn, and the more I get to know you the more I fall. You're strong and brave, and so smart, and completely breathtaking. How could I not… but…"

Quinn felt like air had been sucked from the room, "But?"

Rachel's cheeks colored, "I don't know why you like me Quinn and I am finding that overcoming my insecurities will be difficult. I… know you say you love me and I desperately want to believe that but… I am just learning to trust you Quinn. You've been so good to me in the last couple of months."

Quinn let out a rush of air, "I know I treated you badly Rachel, I have nightmares about it but I do love you. I love everything about you. I love how bossy you can be, and I love that you push us in Glee, I love that you have ambition and that you know your dreams and yourself. Your voice makes my knees weak and your eyes are like hooks, I live for the way you feel in my arms." Somewhere along the way she had taken Rachel's hands in her own.

Rachel's eyes shined as gazed at Quinn, "I… I'm starting to believe you Quinn. I really am but I still need time and I think you do as well. You have so much going on right now with the baby, Puck, and even Finn."

Quinn shook her head, "I'm fine and Finn and I are done."

Rachel whispered, "I… I don't want to hurt him Quinn."

Quinn let out a puff of air, "You still have feelings for him don't you?"

Rachel replied honestly, "Not in the way you assume. Finn was… a fantasy. He embodies everything I'm supposed to want."

Quinn nodded, "It's why I dated him."

Rachel continued, "I don't know him Quinn. I know nothing about him and yet I was enamored with him. He was safe; as much as he was able to hurt me I wasn't destroyed when I couldn't have him. I'm learning though Quinn, and the more I learn the more terrified I feel. You are so different from everything I had ever imagined. You like old classic music, and you love black and white movies. You're so so smart and I had always dismissed you as just another cheerleader. I… may not have hated you but I spent a lot of time disliking Quinn Fabray, head Cheerio. I need more time to get to know Quinn, I need time to build my courage because the more I learn the more I realize that you have a power that Finn never did, you could break me Quinn." She trailed off and then asked, "Do you… do you understand what I mean?"

Quinn pulled Rachel into a tight embrace and murmured into her hair, "I understand Rachel, and I'll wait. I know you're brave."

Rachel sank into the embrace gratefully, "Thank you Quinn."

Quinn held her.

Sunday January 31, 2010

1:22 P.M.

Sunday saw Quinn knocking on Santana's door. She needed to talk to Santana. The Latina who had often been Quinn's enemy had also been her best friend just as often. The two girls had butted heads because they both liked to be in control and Santana resented the hell out of the fact that Quinn often came out on top.

The door was thrown open and Santana's mother stood there, "Quinn?"

The woman smiled and Quinn gave a small wave, "Hello Mrs. Lopez."

Mrs. Lopez stepped out of the doorway, "We haven't seen you in a while Quinn."

Quinn nodded, "I know, I'm sorry about that, I've just had so much going on."

Mrs. Lopez's eyes ticked down to her stomach, "How are you Mija?"

Quinn shrugged, "Ok. Better than you'd expect."

Mrs. Lopez stared at her for a long moment before she bellowed, "SANTANA! Your friend is here!"

Santana's voice carried from upstairs, "Is it Brittany!"

Quinn winced as Mrs. Lopez replied, "COME DOWN AND SEE!" She smiled at Quinn, "That girl." She patted Quinn on the back and vanished into the living room.

Santana came thundering down the stairs and stopped dead, "What are you doing here Preggers?"

Quinn breezed past her and up the stairs to Santana's room, "We need to have a chat Lopez."

Quinn was seated on Santana's bed by the time Santana entered.

Santana scowled, "Nice of you to ask Tubbers."

Quinn snapped back, "Enough Santana."

Santana's jaw worked before she finally sat heavily at her desk, "What do you want?"

Quinn eyed Santana.

The Latina had a shiner under her left eye and a set of claw marks across her neck, "You look like someone kicked your ass Lopez." Quinn allowed herself a small smirk.

Santana sneered, "Some bitch sucker punched me, and it's not like I can hit a pregnant whale."

Quinn inclined her head in acknowledgement, "So… you want to know why I'm being nice to Rachel? You really want to know?"

Santana blurted out, "Hell yes. You attacked me Q! Over Berry! It's like we're in Bizzarro world!"

Quinn bit back, "You shouldn't have tried to hurt her S. You crossed a line. You'd push me in front of a truck if I pulled that crap with B."

Santana yanked a hand through her hair, "Frigging duh Q! It's Brittany! I've lo…" She cut her self off abruptly.

Quinn crossed her arms, "You've loved Brittany since Cheerio camp in eighth grade. I know."

Santana's jaw seemed to unhinge, "How long…? How long have you known?"

Quinn shrugged, "Since Cheer camp in eighth grade. You're different with Brittany, softer. I know you say it's just sex but we both know that's crap."

Santana was silent before she shook her head violently and demanded, "What the hell do me and Britt have to do with anything? This is Rachel Berry were talking about!"

Quinn was silent, waiting for the light bulb to turn on in Santana's head.

When it did the Latina stared at her in shock, "Rachel? You… whe…how?"

Quinn smiled softly, "Remember in seventh grade when Miss. Anderson put her name up on the board?"

Santana snorted, "For talking too much, yeah I do. Berry ranted for weeks about it."

Quinn breathed, "She put a gold star up next to her name and I don't know I just… I fell. She was so different. She was loud and bossy, and so smart. She was little and yet she sang like a grownup. I just… I never had a chance."

Santana sat, "Since seventh grade? But Q, you were horrible to her. Everyone was. Why?"

Quinn looked at her hands, "I spent a week with my head in the clouds. I was sure that one day I would marry Rachel and we'd live happily ever after. And then my dad came home fuming about the new Cardio-Thoracic surgeon at the hospital. A gay man named Eli Berry." She stood and wrapped her arms around her stomach, "I told him I knew a girl named Rachel Berry and he… he was so angry. He told me that the Berrys were all going straight to hell. That those two," She choked a little, "Fags were dragging their daughter down to hell with them. He hated them so much but… he didn't know them. All he knew was that Eli was a man married to a man and there I was, planning my wedding to Rachel… a girl. I got scared. I was mean to Rachel the next day."

Santana murmured, "I remember. She looked hurt. We were all surprised."

Quinn nodded, "I still have nightmares. The stupid thing is that I spent years torturing Rachel so that my dad wouldn't find out, so that I wouldn't be tempted and I end up pregnant because I was jealous that Rachel was paying Finn attention."

Santana let out a harsh laugh, "Irony is a bitch."

Quinn chuckled, "A heartless bitch." The two girls looked at each other for a long moment.

Santana broke the silence, "So you… you and her? Is that why she was so upset? Why you were?"

Quinn replied, "She knows how I feel and she says she feels the same."

Santana purred, "I bet she's a monster in the sack. All that energy," She let out an exaggerated moan.

Quinn's cheeks flamed red, "I wouldn't know. We've kissed, once, but she needs time to work through some things."

Santana scowled, "What kind of things ?"

Quinn sighed heavily, "She doesn't completely trust me."

Santana flinched, "I guessing my stunt yesterday didn't help any?"

"Nope." Quinn shrugged, "It didn't help but we talked and I'll take Rachel any way I can get her."

"I'm sorry Q. I… If I had known I wouldn't of…" Santana started.

Quinn held up a hand, "I know S. I believe you. I should have told you."

Santana nodded, "Yeah. Hummel knows doesn't he?"

Quinn grinned, "Yeah, he figured it out."

"Cadillac?" Santana actually looked vulnerable.

Quinn shook her head, "No. You're the only person besides Rachel I've told."

The vulnerable look vanished, "Nice. I knew I was awesome."

"Yeah yeah. I just… We've grown apart lately San and I know a lot of that is my fault. Puck was such a mistake but he was also dating you." Quinn looked shamed.

Santana waved a hand, "Puck is an idiot and I never expected him to be faithful, I certainly wasn't."

Quinn replied quietly, "Him being with some random girl is different than him being with me."

Santana cuffed Quinn on the shoulder, "Karma took care of that for me." She winked at Quinn, "Seriously Q, it's forgotten. I'm actually more pissed that Puck stole your first time."

Quinn shivered, "It was horrible. Puck was sweet, if drunk, but he wasn't what I wanted, not at all."

Santana clapped her hands together, "So… do we like hug now or something."

Quinn's face morphed into a slightly horrified grimace, "Ew. No thank you."

Santana looked relieved, "Good." Her eyes lit up and she asked, "So what's the deal with Berry? What's the plan?"

Quinn cocked her head slowly before she replied, "Plan…?"

Monday February 1, 2010

8:23 A.M.

Kurt had been concerned that Quinn had told Santana, stating that the Latina might use the knowledge to her advantage. Quinn had defended the Latina.

Her faith was rewarded the next day when Karofsky made his way towards Rachel, slushy in hand.

Quinn moved to intervene but was beaten to the punch, literally, by Santana.

The Latina popped Karofsky right in the stomach and growled, "Stay away from her."

Karofsky straightened after a moment and demanded, "Berry? Since when is she off limits?"

Santana snarled back, "Since now." She turned and addressed the students milling in the hallway, "Listen here you lemmings. Rachel Berry is officially off limits! From now on, whoever messes with her answers to me, am I clear?" The students were all stunned but nodded, terrified of the slightly psychotic looking cheerleader.

Santana huffed and then snapped at Karofsky, "Go away." The hockey player gaped for a moment before he hurried down the hall.

Santana nodded to Rachel, "Berry."

Rachel squeaked back, "Santana?"

The Latina inclined her head in Quinn's direction before sashaying off.

Quinn smiled at Rachel and approached her, "Can… can I walk you to class?"

Rachel shook her head and Quinn's face fell.

It lit up a second later when Rachel removed Quinn's books from her hands, "I think I'll walk you to class."

Quinn shrugged, "Ok. How was your weekend?"

Rachel looked excited, "I spent the weekend with my dads. We went to Cincinnati for an art show. You?"

Quinn edged closer to Rachel as she answered, "Nothing much. Talked to Santana yesterday, had a manicure with Kurt and Mercedes on Saturday, we tried to invite you but you never picked up."

Rachel looked regretful, "Daddy took away my cellular. He said that family time was, well for family."

Quinn waved her off, "It's no big. It gave me a chance to bond with Mercedes."

Rachel smiled, "That's nice." The two girls smiled shyly at each other and then Quinn's good day started to suck.

"Hello Rachel." Jesse St. James stepped out in front of the two girls.

Rachel reply was polite, "Good morning Jesse."

Jesse completely ignored Quinn, "I was hoping we could discuss our date for this Friday."

Quinn's step faltered, "Date?"

Rachel glared at Jesse, "He's thinks he's being charming. There is no date."

Jesse ran a hand through his over gelled hair, "There could be."

Rachel drew herself up to her full height, "Am I incorrect in assuming that you've read my relationship status on Facebook considering that you friended me?"

Jesse looked uncertain, "I read it but what…"

Rachel cut him off, "And what did it say?"

Jesse sighed, "It said it's complicated…"

Rachel huffed, "That's right, implying that I am in a relationship that while complicated, is also important to me. Please refrain from assuming I will fall at your feet." She gave him a hard look, "Besides, I am fairly certain that you have your eye on a certain male soprano." Rachel stepped around Jesse and Quinn indulged in her childish urge and stuck her tongue out at him before hurrying after Rachel.

The blonde whispered as they slipped into class, "Did you just sic him on Kurt."

Rachel grinned, "Sure did. Kurt can thank me later."

Quinn was hesitant, "What if he's a spy?"

Rachel paused before, "I… I'm certain he is. No doubt he was sent here to woo me and then break my heart, but unless I am completely mistaken, he is genuinely attracted to Kurt."

Quinn sat down, "Meaning?"

Rachel placed Quinn's books in front of her and took her place next to the blonde, "Meaning he might develop real feelings. Kurt is suspicious so he won't go into anything with Jesse blind."

Quinn nodded, "Just the same, we should warn Kurt."

Rachel held up her phone, "I already did." She gave Quinn a bright smile.

Quietly Quinn breathed, "I love you."

Rachel ducked her head and whispered, "I love you too Quinn."

The blonde took Rachel's hand under the table and gave it a light squeeze. She was happy and she'd stay happy as long as St. James stayed away from Rachel.

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