A/N - This is just a short fluffy chapter - Enjoy!
Chapter 20 - Drums Everywhere
The sun shined brightly through the sheer curtains in the windows of Quinn's bedroom. Quinn's eyes slowly fluttered open and she was startled when the first thing she saw was Rachel's chocolate eyes gazing down at her.
Rachel felt Quinn's body jump in surprise, so she held onto her girlfriend's waist tighter, kissing her forehead. She was so comfortable holding Quinn in her arms while they laid together on the bed. Her fingertips running softly up and down Quinn's naked side.
"Good morning," she whispered to the yawning blonde. She smiled at her cuteness.
Quinn rubbed her eyes. "Good morning," she responded.
But before Rachel could say something else, they heard a little boy loudly calling from his bedroom.
Quinn took a deep breath and started to get up. "Aaaannnnddd… the day begins!"
Rachel looped her arm around her girlfriend's waist, pulling her back onto the bed. "Let me go get him. Why don't you relax and take a long shower or a bath. Jax and I can handle breakfast."
The blonde looked up at her in surprise. "Really?"
Rachel smiled and nodded. "You bet. Jaxon and I are master chefs." She gave Quinn a quick peck on the lips and jumped out of bed, pulling on the clothes she had on the night before. She needed to ask Quinn if it would be okay for her to leave some extra clothes here. Before heading out the door, Rachel jumped back on the bed, and cupped Quinn's cheeks. "I love you, Quinn Fabray."
Quinn grinned like it was Christmas morning and she received the present she had been wanting the very most. "I love you too, Rachel Berry," she said, kissing her girlfriend. She was about to deepen it when Jaxon called out again.
Rachel rolled her eyes. "To be continued…" She pushed herself off the bed and blew Quinn a kiss as she walked out the bedroom door.
A goofy grin covered Quinn's face as she watched her girlfriend leave.
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Quinn leaned against the door frame of the kitchen, her arms wrapped around herself as she watched her two favorite brunettes sing and dance as they prepared breakfast. Jaxon sat on the counter stirring the cinnamon sugar in a small bowl, moving his hips back and forth to the music, while Rachel maneuvered around the kitchen seamlessly. Quinn could smell the sweet cinnamon and honey of french toast, and her heart swelled when she smelled the heavenly scent of bacon.
"Good morning, you two," she said as she walked up to the island counter next to their son.
"Mama, we make you b'eakfast!" Jaxon exclaimed, holding up the spoon covered in cinnamon sugar.
Quinn smiled. "Wow! Thank you! It looks really good, baby."
He nodded and continued stirring while Rachel dipped another piece of bread in the egg mixture and added it to the frying pan.
Quinn stepped behind Rachel and slid her arms around her waist. "Hello again," she seductively whispered in her ear.
Rachel smiled, loving the feel of Quinn's body pressed up against her. "Why, hello to you too, beautiful goddess."
The blonde shot a quick glance over to Jaxon to make sure he wasn't looking at them. When the coast was clear, she quickly kissed Rachel's lips. Giving her girlfriend a wink, Quinn gathered the plates and cups and utensils from the cupboards and carried them over to the table.
Ten minutes later, all was ready and they sat around the table with plates full of food.
"MMMmmm," Quinn moaned as she took her first bite of french toast. "Rach, this is really good!"
Rachel smirked as she added some bacon to the blonde's plate. "Thanks for the compliment, but Jaxon was the one who told me that you loved bacon and french toast for breakfast. He said it was your favorite."
Quinn nodded then messed up her son's hair. "That it is."
The three ate and talked and laughed. As Quinn was clearing the table, Rachel's phone rang. She excused herself and went into the living room to take the call.
A few minutes later the singer came back into kitchen. "That was Holly. A reporter from People magazine wants to do an exclusive on the band and unfortunately today was the only day that was available to do it. So I have to head down to the studio." At the sight of Jaxon's sad face, Rachel added, "Would you guys like to come down there with me?"
Jaxon bounced up and down. "Yes peas! Play drums again!"
Rachel chuckled and gave him a kiss on the top of his head.
"I think that's a great idea. I'd love to see where you go when you're not with us," Quinn told her girlfriend, walking over and wrapping her arms around the singer.
Rachel smirked at the cute look on the blonde's face. She wrapped her arms around Quinn's waist, lacing her fingers together against her back.
Quinn pressed her lips to Rachel's, but realizing what she was doing, she quickly untangled their limbs and stepped away. The hurt look on Rachel's face made Quinn's heart drop, but she held the singer's hand tightly and murmured, "Remember, Rach. We need to talk to Jaxon first before he sees us together like that."
Rachel nodded with realization. That was another thing they had talked about the previous evening. Jaxon was used to seeing Rachel all the time, usually all three of them would hang out, but he hadn't seen the two women being so affectionate towards each other and Quinn wasn't sure how he was going to react. So they decided they needed to talk to the little boy and explain their new relationship.
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Quinn was a little nervous as she held tightly to Rachel's hand. Rachel was taking her and Jaxon to the studio where New Directions' rehearsed and Quinn couldn't quite understand why she was so nervous, but she was. Jaxon bounced up and down in Rachel's arms as they walked through the large glass doors into the tall building.
"Ride 'vator?" Jaxon asked, his eyes wide as he looked around the fancy lobby.
"Sure," Rachel told him, kissing the side of his head. "We have to go to the very top floor, so unless we want a lot of exercise walking up the stairs, I say the elevator is a good idea."
As they approached the elevators, Jaxon began to wiggle. "Down, Mom 'Chel. I push button."
Rachel's heart glowed at the sound of her son calling her 'Mom'. She chuckled as she set him on the hardwood floor and watched him study the up and down buttons next to the elevator doors. She brought Quinn's hand up to her lips and gave the back of it a kiss. She looked over at her and winked.
Quinn's heart fluttered at the singer's actions. Rachel was definitely a romantic at heart.
The elevator dinged and the small family stepped inside.
Jaxon was mystified as he stared at all the buttons. "What I push?" he asked, looking up at Rachel.
"This one right here," she said, pointing to the button with the number 25 on it.
Jaxon nodded and push the button, smiling when it lit up.
Rachel moved behind Quinn and wrapped her arms around the blonde's waist, resting her chin on Quinn's shoulder. "You okay, babe?" she asked quietly.
Quinn swallowed and nodded. "Yeah. Just a little nervous."
"About what?"
"Well… what if your friends don't think I'm good enough for you?" she asked.
Rachel wrinkled her eyebrows in concern. She turned Quinn around in her arms and gave her a small kiss on her lips. "Don't worry about them, babe. I don't care what anyone thinks, you are mine and I am yours." She gave Quinn another quick kiss while Jaxon was enamored with all the buttons.
Pulling away, Quinn nodded. "Okay."
"Especially Noah. Whatever he says to you, just ignore him," Rachel added.
After stopping at a couple unplanned floors due to Jaxon's excitement of pushing multiple buttons, the elevator dinged and the doors slid open on the top floor. Jaxon took a tentative step out and looked around the richly decorated reception area.
"Wow," he breathed. "Pretty."
Rachel smiled at her son's wonderment.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Berry," the young receptionist said, and Quinn swore she saw the girl wink at Rachel.
Quinn tightened her hold on Rachel's hand, stepping closer to the brunette's side, wanting the woman to know that Rachel was already taken.
"Hi, MacKenzie," Rachel greeted the blonde receptionist. "Has the reporter from People arrived yet?"
"Not yet, but everyone else is here and waiting for you in the conference room," MacKenzie responded with a flirty smile.
Rachel just ignored the girl's antics. Ever since Holly hired the receptionist last year, she had been constantly flirting with every member of the band, well except for Blaine obviously. She was actually a very skilled receptionist, so they all just endured her flirty nature. Puck always enjoyed it and Rachel wouldn't be surprised if the two were already sleeping together.
"Thank you. Let them know that I'm here and I'll be there shortly. By the way, this is my girlfriend Quinn," the singer introduced the two blondes. Then she held Jaxon's hand in hers. "And this is my son, Jaxon."
At both the announcement, MacKenzie's eyebrows reached her hairline. She took in all of Quinn then sputtered, "G-Girlfriend?" Then looked down at the little boy grinning up at her with his Berry watt grin. "And your… son?"
Rachel grinned proudly and squeezed their hands. "Yep. This is my family. So whenever they come here, just let them pass. Whatever is mine is theirs," she said and pulled Quinn and Jaxon down the hallway toward her office.
Quinn giggled. "I wish I would have captured her face with my camera! It was priceless!"
Rachel chuckled. "MacKenzie is naturally flirtatious. But please never think anything has happened - or will ever happen - between me and her," the singer said, shivering at the thought.
Opening the door to Rachel's office, Quinn's eyes widened at the extravagant sight. It wasn't really the office itself, granted it was huge and what you'd expect of any multi-Grammy award winning artist. What really got her was the view out the floor to ceiling windows. Rachel chuckled a little at Quinn's reaction and gently pushed her in the door, closing it behind them.
Jaxon's eyes glowed as he saw all the beanbags and the bright yellow shaggy rug in the middle of the office. He darted over and belly flopped on the dark blue beanbag, squealing as he landed.
Quinn bee-lined for the large windows overlooking LA. She knew the building was tall, based on what she had seen outside, but she hadn't realized just how tall it actually was until she was in Rachel's office, which happened to be on the top floor. Looking out over the city, it was a beautiful view of Los Angeles. "You get to look out these windows every day?"
Rachel walked over to her girlfriend and stood next to her. "If I spent all my time in the office, then yes. But as it is, I spend most of my time in the recording studio, producing or singing; depending on what we have planned for the day. The penthouse office at this point is more of a formality. Where else would I put all my awards?" Rachel jokingly pointed over at the cabinet that held her Grammys, as well as two platinum records hanging on the wall next to it. While her Grammy wins were her pride and joy, she still proudly displayed the Billboard Music Awards, MTV Music Awards and the multiple other smaller awards that the band had won over the last few years.
Quinn glanced over at the brunette before staring out the window again. "It's just so beautiful."
Rachel looked over her shoulder and laughed when she heard Jaxon belly-flop onto another large beanbag, obviously having a great time. "Come on, Jax, let's go see some drums."
She barely got the sentence out before Jaxon was up and running toward the door with his short little legs. Rachel just smiled as she watched him. He was just too perfect.
Quinn took Rachel's hand, lacing their fingers and followed their son out of the office, catching up to him before he scoured the entire floor looking for the drums. They walked down the hall to a massive recording studio, complete with a grand piano set up in the corner of the room.
"So, this is where all the New Directions magic happens?" Quinn asked, waving her hand around the room. She had never really seen a real, legit producing studio like this and was very impressed by how professional it all was. She hadn't realized that the band recorded all their music in their own studio. She just assumed they had to go to their record label's studio.
The large studio was complete with a massive sound studio, recording and mixing equipment, dual monitor setup, and multiple instruments scattered around the room, ranging from the piano to a piccolo. There were even two cushy couches crammed into one of the corners of the room, looking worn from endless hours of writing songs and relaxing, Quinn assumed.
"This is amazing, Rach," the blonde gushed as her hand reverently glided over the shiny black piano. "This is a really nice piano. It's even bigger than the one at your house."
"Yeah, I ended up investing in one when I started working with some artists who played their own piano arrangements for their tracks."
Quinn looked over at the brunette, her eyebrow raised. "Other bands record here too?"
Rachel smiled proudly. "Yeah. I've been producing a few other artists' albums for a couple years now. And Cassie and I have already decided to buy this building. We have our own record company, so that way all the profits go to us, instead of in the pocket of some over-paid executives at other labels."
"Really?" the blonde's eyebrows rose.
The singer laughed at her girlfriend's astonished expression. "Yep. Cassie found a few different locations, but in the end, I decided that I just wanted to stay here. So a couple weeks ago I made an offer to buy this building and the owner was gracious enough to sell it to me."
"That's wonderful, Rachel!" Quinn exclaimed, throwing her arms around the singer.
Rachel smiled and held her tight. "All the papers still need to be signed and everything, but hopefully by the end of the month, this building and everything in it will be all mine."
"So what is your label called?"
"Wicked Productions."
Quinn laughed. "Huh… I wonder who picked that name out," she teased the diva.
Rachel looked mock offended. "Of course I picked it out. The guys wanted to name it '4 Dudes and a Diva'."
The blonde looked disgusted. "Okay, that is bad."
"Anyway, we've already signed several artists to the label and are producing their albums. I'm only working on one right now, but it will pick up in a few months in between concert schedules."
"Is Cassie helping you produce?"
"Usually I'm the one who produces. Cassie and the guys don't really have the interest in it, even when I told them I would hire them to do it, but I find it rewarding and it's another way I use as a creative outlet. I've really been enjoying it," Rachel said, gazing around the studio, a smile on her lips.
Quinn was very impressed and she was in awe at the glow in her girlfriend's eyes. Quinn knew that Rachel worked hard and always took pride in her work. That was one of the huge things she had learned about Rachel over the last several weeks, the brunette was relentless. If she set her mind to something, it was virtually impossible to stop her until she accomplished it. She dreams big, but has the work ethic and guts to get her there.
Suddenly the room was filled with loud banging. The two women turned and saw Jaxon sitting behind a drum set, beating on it with drumsticks and looking like he was on top of the world.
When introducing Quinn to the rest of the band and Tina, Rachel was glad that her friends made Quinn and Jaxon feel welcome. And by the relieved and happy look on her girlfriend's face, the singer called it a success.
Quinn and Tina stayed in the conference room and talked, and the guys took Jaxon back to the studio so he could jam out on the drums again, while Rachel headed to do her interview with the reporter.
Rachel entered the large room they had designated as the interview room. It was much easier for the band when the reporters would meet with them at the studio, that way they could still rehearse between interviews and not have to waste travel time. Plus, the interview room had everything they could possibly need. It was large enough to have a full kitchen, two separate sitting areas that sat at least seven people at each one, and a table was off to one side against the wall with a couple comfortable chairs around it.
So when Rachel entered the room and saw the reporter sitting at the table, she knew the interview was going to be low-key. That was one of the small things she had noticed in the entertainment industry, if the interviewer automatically sat in one of the sitting areas, they wanted to keep it professional. But if the prefered choice was the table, it was more relaxed where they could each have a drink and even some food.
"Hey, James!" Rachel said to the man as she walked over to shake his hand.
"Hi, Rachel," he smiled, taking her hand. "Thanks for meeting with me. I apologize for the short notice."
Rachel waved his apology aside. "Don't worry about it. I had some time to spare today. So… can I get you a drink or something?"
"Oh, uh… How about a soda?"
"Coming right up!" The diva went over to the fridge and pulled out a soda and a bottled water.
Sitting at the table, she passed him the soda and got comfortable in her chair. "So… what do you want to talk about?"
James pulled out his notebook then placed a recorder on the table and began, "I'm talking to Rachel Berry today. Hi again, Rachel."
Rachel giggled, knowing that he was repeating his greeting for the sake of the recording. "Hello, James."
He smiled at her grin. Rachel was one of his favorite celebrities to interview, she was just always so down to earth and fun. "So… what have you been up to for the last several months since New Directions ended their tour?"
Rachel chuckled. Oh wouldn't he like to know?! "Well… I took some much needed relaxing time. I bought a new house, so I've been busy getting everything set up. And just working and stuff. A musician is never idle."
"Are you guys planning to record a new CD soon?"
"Not that I know of at the moment. We are, however, going to release a few singles to gear up for our next tour that we start in a couple months. So we're just doing a lot of writing and toying around with ideas."
James nodded and wrote a few notes. "I talked earlier with Puck and Blaine and they seem excited about the tour."
Rachel nodded. "Yeah, definitely. We live to perform, it's in our blood. Going out and meeting our fans is the best experience. Their energy is contagious and it's just great to be around them."
"So, I wanted to talk to you about a few rumors and things that are being splashed all over the media about your love life."
The singer rolled her eyes and took a deep breath. She knew this was going to come up. "You can ask… then we'll see if I answer."
He chuckled. "Fair enough." He turned to a certain page in his notebook and started on a few questions. "Are you currently dating anyone?"
Rachel bit her lip. She and Quinn hadn't really discussed whether or not to go public with their relationship yet. So she just shut the question down for now. "No comment."
James tilted his head, giving her a strange look. "What about the pictures with you and a blonde woman? In a few of them you two look really close."
"You know, James, I'm just going to stop you right there. I have no desire to talk about my love life right now. So if you don't mind, ask questions about some other topic," Rachel said with authority in her voice.
James swallowed and nodded. "Of course, Rachel. I apologize."
Rachel nodded her forgiveness and actually enjoyed the remaining twenty minutes of the interview.
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Just another day in the life of Faberry!