Disclaimer - I don't own Glee, otherwise Rachel and Quinn would be in my bed with me every night.
Chapter 21 – Territorial
"Are you guys sure you can handle it?" Rachel asked Kurt and her bandmates, doubt heavy in her voice. "It's a huge responsibility."
"We're sure, Rach," Puck rolled his eyes for the hundredth time. "We are five grown ass men. We can handle it."
"Don't worry, Rachel," Kurt assured her. "I'll be there, so I will make sure everything is done right."
Rachel gazed again at her friends, reminding herself that she trusted these guys. These guys were her family. "It's tricky."
"We know," Jake said, shoving his hands in his jeans pockets.
"Expect the unexpected. Don't get distracted."
"We know," Sam answered.
"It's exhausting work."
"We know," this time it was Blaine.
"It's not going to be easy."
"For fuck's sake, JewBabe! We know! You already gave us this lecture and the 45 minute PowerPoint presentation shit. We can handle it!" Puck insisted. He took a breath to calm down then walked over to the girl who was one of his best friends and took hold of her shoulders. "Rachel, we promise. You can trust us. We'll make sure everything runs smoothly."
Finally having been reassured multiple times, Rachel closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. "Okay," she breathed out and opened her eyes. "I trust you."
She turned around and pressed the doorbell.
They heard scampering feet growing louder, then the door was flung open. Standing in the open doorway, wearing only a mega watt grin on his face, was Jaxon Fabray. And he was butt naked. Again.
"Mom 'Chel!" he screamed and jumped into the brunette's arms.
Rachel chuckled, holding him close.
"Dude, where the hell are your clothes?" Puck exclaimed, looking at the bare kid.
"Language!" they heard Quinn call out from inside the house.
Puck just rolled his eyes then looked at Jaxon. "No, Dude, I understand. Sometimes the manhood just needs to be free, to be able to stretch out without anything holding him back. You got it going on. Be free!" He bumped fists with the smiling three year old. When Quinn and Jaxon had visited the studio, Puck spent two hours teaching Jaxon the proper way to do a fist bump. Now the kid was a natural.
Jaxon giggled and pointed to his stomach. "I naked."
"Come on," Rachel told him as they all walked into the house. "I don't think your Mama wants you to be naked right now."
Jaxon just stared at her. And Rachel could see the gears turning in his head. He thought so much like Quinn that Rachel was sure he would grow up to be a CIA agent.
Quinn walked over and took the little boy from Rachel's arms. "Your Mom is right, Jaxon. You need clothes."
He just pouted at her.
"Come on, Jaxon," Kurt said, walking over to Quinn. "I'll take you to find some clothes."
Jaxon grinned, nodding excitedly. Quinn set him down and he grabbed Kurt's hand and pulled him toward his room. "Come on, Kurt!" he exclaimed.
Kurt followed along.
"Okay, you guys," Quinn turned to the band members.
But before she could say another word, Puck cut her off, "Don't worry, Quinn. Rachel has already given us the lecture and drilled what we need to know into our skulls. I'm surprised she didn't make us do a mock simulation."
"Shut up, Noah," Rachel said, crossing her arms. "Before I would even think about you guys babysitting my son, I had to make sure you were prepared."
"Rest assured, all will be fine," Jake called out as he and Sam plopped down on the couch and grabbed the remote to change the channel.
Quinn shook her head at the two men, then turned back to Blaine and Puck. "Jaxon's dinner is in the fridge, all you need to do is heat it up in the microwave. His diapers and wipes are on the side table over there," she instructed, pointing at the pile of diapers.
"Dude, that's your job," Puck told Blaine, his nose scrunched up.
"Anyways…" Quinn interrupted. "My cell phone number is on the fridge and obviously you know Rachel's. We'll be back before his bedtime, so don't worry about that." She mentally ran down her list. "I think that's it. Just play with him and make sure he doesn't hurt himself."
"Don't worry, Quinn," Blaine said with a soft smile. "Everything will be fine."
Jaxon and Kurt came bouncing back into the room. Jaxon was thankfully dressed in shorts and a t-shirt.
"We need to go shopping," Kurt informed the mothers. "He needs a whole new wardrobe."
Rachel chuckled.
Both women gave Jaxon hugs and kisses before they left. Rachel turned to her friends and made the 'I'm watching you' signal with her fingers, warning them all to take care of her son.
~~~~~QR~~~~~
"Just a little bit farther," Rachel said reassuringly as she led a blindfolded Quinn along the beach.
"This is silly, Rach," Quinn laughed, holding tightly to her girlfriend's hand so she wouldn't fall.
"Where's your sense of adventure, Quinn? This is fun." Rachel was smiling widely. She was having a great time and was excited to share a quiet evening with only Quinn.
A light breeze caressed her cheek and the blonde drew in a deep breath of the fresh air. She loved coming down to the beach. Jaxon did as well, but with their hectic schedules, they rarely had the time to spend down here.
Rachel stopped, then moved behind Quinn to untie the blindfold, but before removing it completely she murmured in her girlfriend's ear, "Now open your eyes."
Opening her eyes slowly, Quinn felt her breath hitch in her throat as she brought up a hand to cover her mouth in surprise.
Her gaze fell upon a picture perfect picnic; complete with a big green blanket, unlit candles, a wicker basket with food and a vase filled with gardenias. It was all set up on a small secluded beach hidden by huge cliffs on either side, which shaded it from any wind. It was completely still. Rachel had hung up fairy lights all around, making the atmosphere soft and romantic.
It was perfect. Rachel was perfect.
"Like it?" Rachel asked as her brown eyes danced in excitement.
Quinn felt her insides melt under Rachel's gaze. She wrapped her arms around the brunette's neck, giving her a tight hug. "I love it," she murmured, kissing her cheek.
Rachel was relieved. She led Quinn over to the blanket and helped her sit and get comfortable. Then she opened the basket to pull out the food.
"Wine?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and holding up the bottle.
"Yes please," Quinn replied, still in awe of the beauty of the scene around her.
Rachel poured a glass of the red wine, handing it to Quinn, then she poured a glass for herself.
Tasting the sweet liquid, Quinn moaned in appreciation. "This is delicious, Rachel. I've never tasted wine like this."
"Yeah. I have an acquaintance who owns his own orchard. He makes great wine." She then pulled out two covered plates from the basket. "Want some food? I actually made it myself," Rachel smiled that bright smile that Quinn loved to see.
"Well then, how could I refuse?" Quinn laughed.
Rachel handed the plate over and the two lovebirds fell into easy conversation and just relaxed, enjoying being together. They talked and laughed and Rachel was able to sneak in several kisses.
As they had finished, the sunset glowed perfectly across the water. It was a picture moment Quinn hoped she would remember forever.
"Are you ready for dessert?" Rachel asked, a sparkle of light in her eyes.
"There's more?" Quinn moaned. If she ate one more bite, she knew she would burst.
Rachel grinned and reached back into the basket and produced a small black box.
"What is it?" Quinn asked, intrigued.
"Open it," Rachel insisted.
"Okay…" Quinn hesitated, biting her bottom lip. Slowly she took the small box in her hand and opened it. "Oh, Rachel… Wow."
Inside the box was a diamond bracelet. The fading sun shined perfectly on it, making all the stones sparkle. Quinn was stunned. She couldn't move, let alone talk. All she could do was stare down at the breathtaking bracelet.
Rachel crawled over and knelt down in front of her girlfriend. "Quinn, you have made me the happiest woman alive. And I want you to know how much I love you."
Tears rolled down Quinn's cheeks and her heart filled with so much love for the woman in front of her. She was completely speechless.
Rachel drown in those gorgeous hazel eyes. "I know we are still getting to know each other and our relationship is brand new, but I want you to have this bracelet so you can always feel my love and know that you own my heart."
She pulled the diamond bracelet from the box and reached out to gently hold Quinn's hand as she fastened it around her wrist.
Quinn just stared down at the jewelry in awe. Her eyes darted back up to Rachel's face and she grinned. Without saying a word, she tackled Rachel down on the blanket and ravaged her lips with kisses.
~~~~~QR~~~~~
The band was sitting around the conference table in Tina Cohen-Chang's office. They had all been there for the past two hours discussing the upcoming shoot for their new music video.
Puck couldn't care less what the video was about as long as there were hot girls in it. Preferably with minimal clothing.
Most of the talking, well arguing, was between Rachel and their manager. Tina told them that they needed to shoot the entire video on a soundstage, but Rachel, the ever dramatic one, was adamant about shooting it in downtown New York at night on top of a tall skyscraper.
"Hold up! Hold up!" Blaine yelled, forcing the two arguers to be quiet. "This is getting ridiculous. Tina, how much is our budget for the video shoot?"
"$450,000," the manager said. "But remember that has to cover everything: wardrobe, sets, rental equipment, lodging for actors and crew, food on set, plus countless other costs."
Blaine turned to a frustrated Rachel. "Okay, Rach, why exactly, deep in your heart, do you think we should film in New York?"
The diva took a quick swig of her bottled water. "As I was clearly telling Tina, this particular song exemplifies love and sticking together through all the pain and tough times. It's about that one girl, who will always represent where your home is. It's a special song I wrote for Quinn and I know that the real backdrop of New York's skyline will be a thousand times better than a cheap, fake studio shoot."
The band looked around at each other.
"Rachel is right," Sam spoke up. "We need this video to explode MTV and the other stations, since it will be the last one before we leave on tour."
Blaine nodded. "I agree with Sam. If we want to make sure we sell out the arenas, we need to leave the fans wanting more. And the script for the music video is sexy but sensual and I think that the magic of the real New York is the only thing that will convey it."
Tina brought her hands up to rub her temples. "Well, then we have to cut back on a few things in order to stay under budget."
The band nodded and Rachel was ecstatic.
~~~~~QR~~~~~
Quinn and Rachel were finally in a really good place in their relationship and Quinn wanted them to spend more time with Jaxon and be a family. It was important that Jaxon fully understood that he had two mothers who loved him - as well as loved each other. That was why Quinn had suggested that the three of them spend a few days all together at Rachel's house. It was a weekend so Quinn didn't have to go into work and Rachel's next rehearsal wasn't until Monday.
Rachel was beyond excited about how her relationship with Quinn was progressing and was happy that the blonde actually wanted to build a future with her.
"Mom 'Chel's house!" Jaxon exclaimed as Rachel unlocked her front door and ushered her family inside.
Rachel smiled. "Yep, we're back at my house again. Do you remember when you were here before?
Jaxon nodded. "I play drum."
Rachel chuckled. "That you did."
Then he asked the most important question, "Where my room?"
Rachel chuckled again. "And why do you think you have a bedroom here, my boy?" she teased.
The saddest expression fell over the little boy's face and his eyes teared up. "No room for Jax?" he whimpered.
Rachel's heart plummeted. She didn't mean to hurt his feelings and now he looked like his heart had broken. She quickly knelt down in front of him, taking his small hands in hers. "I am so sorry, baby. I was just teasing you. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."
Jaxon sniffled and nodded.
Rachel kissed his cheek. "Of course you have your own bedroom. And it just got remodeled to be the perfect bedroom for Jaxon Fabray. Do you want to see it?"
He nodded excitedly, a grin covering his once sad face.
She picked him up and laced her fingers with Quinn's as she led them all upstairs. As they walked down one of the hallways, Rachel showed them each room. There were a couple bathrooms, two guest bedrooms, and a good sized loft area with a large TV and full kitchen.
"This is my room," Rachel pointed to a closed door on the right. "But I know our little man is anxious to see his bedroom, so we'll go there first."
They went a little further down the hallway and stopped at the next door.
"Are you sure you're ready to see your room, Jax?" Rachel asked like she was preparing to unveil the secret to the universe.
"Yes! Yes!" Jaxon chanted, bouncing up and down in Rachel's arms.
"Okay…" Rachel set him on his feet, then slowly opened the door.
"Jax's room?" Jaxon whispered as he gazed around the large room.
Rachel nodded. "Yep, this room is all yours."
Quinn and Rachel watched as the little boy walked into the room and looked all around with a grin firmly plastered on his face.
Kurt and Mercedes had done a fantastic job. The walls were painted a light blue with clouds and stars painted on the ceiling, making the room feel calm. There was a good sized closet with several clothes and outfits hung up, but also a dresser which Rachel stocked with more clothes. In the corner was a rocking chair, but it was more like a rocking bench. It was a rocking chair but larger, so the three of them could all sit together on the soft seat and rock, perfect for story time. There was a short dresser that held diapers and wipes until Jaxon was potty trained. And in the center of the room was a double bed. Kurt and Rachel had picked out a bedspread with musical instruments on it and made sure it was bright and happy.
Jaxon hurried over to the bed and pulled himself up onto it. It was a little taller than his bed at his house, but it was very doable. "Big boy bed!" he exclaimed, then turned to look at Quinn, "Mama! Big boy bed!"
Quinn grinned and sat down next to her son. "Yep. It looks like you have a big boy bed now. Do you think you are ready for that?"
He nodded enthusiastically.
They let him roam around his room, taking everything in for several minutes. Jaxon made sure he touched everything. He especially loved the large rocking chair.
After a while, Rachel said, "Come on. There is another room that's yours."
Jaxon's eyes grew wide. "'Nother Jax room?"
The singer nodded. "Follow me."
The family walked across the hall and stood in front of the closed door.
"Okay, Jaxon, I need you to take a deep breath…"
Quinn just rolled her eyes at the diva's dramatics, but quietly chuckled when Jaxon did what he was told and acted just as serious as Rachel. He was just as dramatic as his mother.
"Here we go…" And with that, Rachel turned the knob and pushed the door wide open.
The air was silent until…
Jaxon began squealing as he took off, running around the room like he was in Disneyland. The room was full of toys and books on a bookshelf and toys and pictures and games and toys and cars, one which Jaxon could even ride in. And in the corner, in all its glory, was a drum set.
The little musician went nuts. "DRUMS!" He tore over to it and sat down on the padded stool.
Quinn braced herself for the loud racket that was just about to assault their ears. But to her shock, when Jaxon started beating on the drums, hardly any sound was heard.
Jaxon was confused. He hit one of the drums again, but still no sound. He looked up at Rachel with sad eyes. "Mom 'Chel, drum broken."
Rachel smiled and walked over to him. "It's not broken, it's just… 'parent friendly'."
Quinn was thankful she didn't have to invest in earplugs. But Jaxon just looked confused, so Rachel grabbed a pair of headphones from the shelf on the wall, adjusted the volume and then handed them to Jaxon. "Here, put these on then try again."
Jaxon put them on. They were a little big for his ears, but would still work. He hit the drum again, and this time, his eyes practically bulged out of his head. "Drum work!" he exclaimed, then looked over at Quinn. "Mama! Listen!" He took off the headset and held it out to her.
Quinn put them over her ears and listened as Jaxon hit a drum. The sound was perfect, not too loud. "You can hear it through the headphones!" she exclaimed happily as she watched Jaxon bounce on his seat.
After a couple minutes, and showing Jaxon where she had stored a few other headsets so more than one person could listen to the drums, Rachel asked him, "Jaxon, are you okay in here while I go show Mama my bedroom?"
He nodded then slipped the headphones back on and continued his music.
Rachel took Quinn's hand and led her out of the room.
"Purely genius, Rach," she said, indicating the drum set.
"Thanks. I know he loves the drums, but the constant banging would have drove us insane. Now… I know I said that this is my bedroom but…" Rachel faced Quinn, holding both her hands and looked at her with hopeful eyes, "I was hoping it could be our bedroom."
The blonde smiled, her heart jumping.
"I also had it remodeled." Rachel opened the door and pulled her inside. "I hope you like it."
This time it was Quinn's eyes that bulged out. The bedroom was absolutely breathtaking! It was like walking into a dream with all the billowy light creamy fabric hanging from the windows and above the bed. In the center was a king sized four poster bed that looked like a cloud. It was the perfect bedroom; it was classic yet modern.
"I decided that I wanted to remodel my old bedroom and make it into something for the both of us," Rachel said, smiling at Quinn's reaction. That was definitely a good sign.
"Rach…" Quinn whispered, "... I-I love it. It's unbelievable." She turned and pulled Rachel into a long languid kiss.
The singer snaked her arms around Quinn's waist and held her tightly against her, and enjoyed every second.
~~~~~QR~~~~~
After dinner, a bath, two books for a bedtime story and finally getting Jaxon tucked into his new bed, Quinn and Rachel gave their son kisses and turned on the nightlight that projected stars all across the ceiling so he wouldn't be in total darkness. The women then headed downstairs for a glass of wine.
Rachel opened and poured a new bottle. She carried the two wine glasses over to Quinn who was staring out the large windows overlooking Los Angeles. Rachel stood next to her and took in the view.
"I still can't get over how the city looks so different at night from this viewpoint and being able to see all the lights," Quinn remarked.
Rachel understood what Quinn was saying. When she had first seen the night skyline of the city of angels, she had been awestruck. In the dark of the night, from this angle, it looked completely different than during the day with all the smog. There was more of a beauty and peacefulness now, like everything bad happening was asleep.
"Yeah, it's a really beautiful sight," Rachel murmured. She glanced over at Quinn's face and smiled at her mesmerized expression. The blonde's bright hazel eyes captivated the singer. The wonder and amazement that those eyes held warmed Rachel's heart. She loved this view of the city at night, but until now she never had someone to share it with.
They snuggled and talked for awhile on the soft couch, lightly touching each other's skin, small kisses, quiet whispers. Rachel lifted Quinn's hand and pressed a soft kiss to the exposed skin then looked deeply into those soft hazel eyes. "Let me make love to you," she whispered as she looked up through her dark eyelashes to see the love in Quinn's eyes.
Quinn could only nod, words seemed to be stuck in her throat. She held onto Rachel as the brunette picked her up bridal-style and carried her upstairs to their bedroom.
Their bedroom.
She loved the sound of that.
Once on the bed, Rachel hovered over Quinn, feeling her heart about to burst. This goddess under her was real. She was real, and she loved Rachel. Rachel had never felt that intensity of love before.
Propped up on her elbows, Rachel slowly lowered her mouth, softly capturing Quinn's lips in a kiss. Quinn's hands slid up the brunette's torso and around her neck, pulling her impossibly closer.
Rachel moaned and ran her tongue over the bottom of Quinn's lips, and the blonde eagerly granted access. She peeled off Rachel's button-up shirt, running her hands delicately over strong biceps. She loved Rachel's arms, the smooth chisel of her abs, the curve of her hips, the soft feel of her lips, the smell and taste of her. Her hands trailed up Rachel's sides beneath her tanktop, pulling the garment up and off, tossing it somewhere in the room. Where - she couldn't care less. Quinn memorized every inch of the girl above her, the girl who held her heart, always had and always would. She reached down and unbuttoned her own blouse now, their lips still moving as one. She shrugged out of the garment and threw it to the floor before pulling the brunette against her.
Rachel deepened the kiss further, one hand exploring down her lover's body, feeling every muscle quiver as she lightly passed over them.
She reluctantly pulled back, causing Quinn to whimper at the loss. Rachel just smiled down at her before sliding off the bed and proceeded to undress her girlfriend, then herself before crawling between the soft sheets.
They made love. It wasn't just sex. They made love, real love full of soft kisses, delicate touches, steady breathing, and the utmost gentle care. Quinn felt so much love pouring from Rachel. She felt truly cherished.
She was Rachel's. And Rachel was hers.
The emotion that washed over her as Rachel gingerly kissed her neck, relaxing every muscle in her body. She held onto her girlfriend like a lifeline, as if she would evaporate if she let go. Rachel was most careful and gentle with her, more than ever, which made it all the more special, all the more beautiful in Quinn's eyes. She had always been a sucker for romance, and her Rachel knew how to accommodate for that.
As she finally arched up into Rachel's body, falling over the edge of passion and pleasure, she gasped, "I love you."
"I love you too, Quinn," Rachel breathed in her ear, shortly followed by the brunette's release.
As they came down from their high together, Quinn cradled Rachel's head against her chest, their breathing evening out gradually.
This was perfect. Being here together. This was pure love.
This was all that Quinn could ever asked for, and was all that Rachel ever needed.
~~~~~QR~~~~~
The next morning, the two women were snuggled up in the warm sheets, holding each other and quietly talking. A comforting peace settled over them as they basked in their closeness.
Rachel leaned down, lightly brushing her lips against Quinn's. It was a slow and sensual kiss, nothing hurried just the two women expressing their love for each other.
Quinn wrapped her arms around Rachel's neck and was just about to deepen the kiss when she heard the bedroom door open and little feet scamper over to the bed. She quickly pulled away from Rachel and looked wide-eyed down to the bottom of the bed where she locked eyes with a shocked and wide-eyed Jaxon Fabray.
"Um, oh… G-Good morning, baby," Quinn stuttered as she desperately gathered the sheet to cover her naked body.
Rachel was laying back on her pillow, frantically trying to covering herself as well. 'Oh boy. This is embarrassing,' the singer thought, her eyes focused on her son. She knew Jaxon was young, but this situation was sure to cause a reaction in the small boy.
And oh was she right.
"No! No, Mom 'Chel!" Jaxon yelled as he climbed up on the bed and towered over Rachel, his hands on his hips and his brown eyes angry.
Rachel was so stunned by the outburst she had no idea what to even say. She looked up into those brown eyes that were usually filled with humor and silliness, but now she only saw anger. Jaxon's glare was so cold it actually caused goosebumps on her skin. He definitely got that from Quinn.
"No naked! No kiss my mama!" he yelled at Rachel as he sat down between the two women, protectively guarding his mama. Then he began pushing Rachel off the bed with his feet.
Thankfully Quinn wasn't as shell-shocked as Rachel. "Jaxon Berry Fabray! What are you doing? You don't yell at your mom like that. And stop pushing her!"
Jaxon turned around and looked up at his mama, his eyes narrow. "Mom 'Chel no kiss you, Mama. Only I kiss you. Only I luv you," he told her, his voice very serious.
Quinn arched her eyebrow and looked over at Rachel's wide brown eyes, wondering what to do. Silence filled the room as the two women watched Jaxon fold his arms across his chest and glare over at Rachel, all the while protecting and guarding his Mama.
Rachel finally snapped into action. She quickly grabbed her tank top and boxers that were, thankfully, right next to the bed and pulled them on. Then she stood next to the bed and addressed her territorial son, "Jaxon, come here for a minute please."
Jaxon glared up at the brunette. "No. You mean."
Rachel's eyes softened and she tried again, "Jaxon, please. I just want to talk to you."
After a minute, Jaxon reluctantly agreed. He stood up and stepped over to Rachel. She picked him up and cuddled him to her chest, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Sweetheart, you love your mama?" she asked.
He looked up at her and nodded. "Me luv Mama."
The singer was trying to figure out a way to explain the situation to a three year old. "Is that why you get to kiss her? You kiss your mama because you love her?"
He nodded again.
"Well, what if I love your mama too?" Rachel asked. "Can I kiss her if I love her?"
"You luv my Mama?" he asked, tilting his head to study the singer.
Rachel grinned and nodded. "Yes, sweetheart. I love your mama very much."
Jaxon turned to Quinn and asked, "Mama, you luv Mom 'Chel?"
"Yes, Jaxon, I do," Quinn told him, a soft smile on her lips.
Jaxon looked back at Rachel and just stared into her eyes, thinking and processing all that he was learning. Then he nodded. "Okay, Mom 'Chel. You luv Mama so you kiss Mama."
Rachel wanted to make sure everything was clear between all of them. "So, it's okay if I kiss your mama?"
Now Jaxon grinned and nodded. "Yes. You kiss Mama, you luv her. You kiss me, you luv me!" Then he grabbed Rachel's face and planted his lips right on hers, giving her a big sloppy kiss.
He pulled back laughing.
"Jaxon!" Rachel exclaimed jokingly. "You slobbered on me!"
The little boy giggled. "I luv you, Mom 'Chel."
Rachel's heart melted. "I love you too, Jaxon. Always." Then she pulled him into a big hug.
~~~~~QR~~~~~