Part 2
She doesn't know why she's even standing there, on the doorstep of the woman who has given her up for adoption and hasn't wanted anything to do with her, since then.
But she has never denied anyone a second chance, so she is waiting there, with a gift in her hands and a perfect smile on her face. A perfectly convincing smile.
"Rachel, hi." Shelby has a towel draped over her shoulder and brightens at her sight. Her smile looks more sincere than the one she has practiced in front of her bathroom
mirror.
"Hello, Shelby." She steps inside and looks around, surveying the small apartment that is big enough, though, for a mother and a baby. "This is for Elizabeth."
"You're the only one calling her like that." She takes it and shakes it lightly.
"It's a little stuffed lamb. It was my favorite when I was a child." She kneels down to remove her shoes, noticing a pair of familiar sneakers by the door. "You're not alone?"
"No, but it's not a problem to me unless you want to talk to me privately?" Shelby looks towards the bedroom, as it opens and reveals a familiar blonde, carrying a baby that looks like her.
"She's up." Quinn holds the toddler, who is trying to grab her ponytail with her hands. "Rachel, hey."
"Hello." Walking up to her ex-girlfriend, she rubs Beth's back, who looks back at her and gives her a toothless smile.. "Hi Baby Elizabeth." She whispers and keeps on rubbing her.
"She likes you." Quinn looks between them, with a smile. She lowers the blonde toddler on the carpet and hovers behind her, as she starts crawling towards her toys.
"She's grown." She looks over at Shelby and then drops on the opposite side of the carpet to welcome the small child crawling towards her.
"Here, she loves this stuffed bear." Quinn throws it at her, so she can use it to get Beth to crawl towards her.
"Hello Elizabeth." She looks down at the baby who seems to be entranced by her moving the bear back and forth. "You like Winnie?".
"I need to take a quick call, can you keep an eye on her?" She asks both of them. "The banana puree is on the table if she gets hungry."
"I'll take care of it." Quinn nods and once the door closes, she sighs in relief.
"You don't like her, do you?" Rachel looks between the blonde and the door where Shelby has disappeared into.
"I do, but…I don't know if I'll ever warm up to the woman who adopted my baby." Quinn looks down at Beth, who is trying to get to Rachel's necklace, as she stands in her lap on wobbly feet.. "And who gave you up for adoption."
"You don't need to worry about me. I'm a big girl." Rachel looks at Beth and keeps ahold of her, supporting her back and holding one of her small hands in hers.
"Of course I worry about you. You can't ask me not to." Quinn crawls towards them and kneels just behind Beth, looking at her ex-girlfriend over her shoulder. .
"Has Noah seen her? She has his eyes." Rachel brushes her fingers over her small hands.
"We really don't talk much but I think she must have informed him too." She nods. "I think the nose is his too."
"Really?" Rachel tilts her head to look at the baby a little closer. "The eyebrows raise is all yours."
"Very funny, Rachel." She rolls her eyes at her and when Beth stumbles back, she is quick to cradle her in the circle of her arms. "She's clumsy."
"That's totally you." Rachel looks at Quinn, who shares a soft smile and nods.
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Quinn is avoiding her. She hasn't returned any of her calls and whenever she has tried to approach her, on their trip to New York, she has always found a way to avoid being alone with her, coming up with one excuse or another.
"Rachel?" Finn finds her sitting on her own in the hotel lobby, going through the music sheets of the songs they need to perform on stage.
"Finn." She looks up from the music sheets and looks at him, dressed up more than usual. "I thought you were out with the rest of the group."
"I didn't have any interest in going, knowing you'd be here on your own." He takes a seat across from her. "Would you like to take a walk with me?"
"Now?" She checks her phone for the time. It's almost 10 PM and their curfew is just in an hour. She doesn't want to disappoint Mr. Schue.
"Just around the block. We will be back in less than an hour." He smiles convincingly and she nods, slipping the sheets inside her messenger bag.
"I feel underdressed here." She looks at her colorful dress and matching yellow shoes. Since they have gone around New York that morning, she hasn't changed out of her outfit.
"You look pretty." He holds his hand out and when she takes it, he laces their fingers together.
"Have you seen Quinn?" She has lost sight of her since they've been back and it seems she hasn't even joined the bigger group in their sightseeing tours around the City That Never Sleeps.
"I think I saw her leave with Sam. Maybe they got the same idea." He chuckles and smiles down at her.
"Maybe." She looks down at her feet and tucks herself closer to him, to borrow some of his body heat.
"So, is this like you've always imagined it to be? The lights, the music and everything else?" He looks around them in awe. "I always saw documentaries about New York but wow. You cannot keep your eyes on the ground."
"Yes, it's exactly like I remembered it to be." She looks at the skyline around them and falls even more in love with it. It's the place she wants to be in a year and for the rest of her life.
"We could be here in a year. Can you believe that?" He stops at the end of the block and stands in front of her.
"We? I thought you didn't like New York. What happened to taking over Burt's shop?" She looks surprised. "Finn, you are not just saying it because you think I want to hear that, right?"
"Rachel, I haven't stopped loving you and I know we fell apart months ago but…" He takes her hands in his. "Give me another chance, Rachel."
"Finn, I…" She tries to take her hands back but he just holds onto them. "Finn, I can't."
"Why? Is it because of Jesse? After what he did, he doesn't deserve another chance." He scoffs.
"And why should I give you another chance? Give me one good reason." She challenges him back.
"Because of this…" He leans down to kiss her, but when something - or more someone - catches her eyes over his shoulder, she quickly turns her head to the side and just gives him her right cheek.
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"Well, Miss Vice Senior Class President, how are you feeling after you practically forced the Christmas spirit out of everyone?" Quinn finds her in the choir room, piling the chairs one on top of the other as everyone else has left for the Christmas break.
"Very funny, Quinn. Hadn't it been for me, we would just hang a garland around the doorknob and put the cheapest Christmas tree at the entrance, to discourage everyone from coming back." She struggles to push them to the side, huffing.
"Here, let me help you there." She drops her gym bag to the floor and just walks to the other side, pulling as Rachel pushes. "Why didn't you ask one of the guys to help?"
"They were all in a rush and I can manage fine on my own. As the captain of this club, it is my duty to make sure everything is in place. Don't you do it in the locker room?"
"Janitors do that, I just make sure to scare everyone off from cheating too much on their diets. We've got Regionals in January and the schedule is tight enough."
"You're slowly turning into a mini Sue Sylvester, has anyone told you that?" Rachel walks to the piano to get the music sheets scattered around.
"No one in their right mind would ever tell me something like that, without facing the consequences of their words." Quinn advances on her from behind.
"Well, contrary to everyone else here, I don't fear you." She piles the sheets neatly and turns around, just to come face to face with Quinn.
"So, isn't that fear what I see in your eyes right now?" She smirks.
"You have no power over me, Quinn, so I can say anything I want without fearing what's going to happen next." She gulps.
"Mmmh." Quinn takes a step back, nodding. "If you say so, Rachel."
"I do." She holds her ground. "Your HBIC attitude does nothing to me."
"Nothing?" She raises an eyebrow at her.
"Yes, absolutely nothing." She nods again. "Now, if you'll excuse me I have got some more errands to run and-" She walks around the blonde cheerleader, who takes her by the elbow as she passes by and pulls her in her arms. "Quinn…"
"Do you like Christmas traditions, Rachel?" Her other arm circles her waist.
"Of course." With her hands against her chest, she can feel Quinn's heartbeat under her palms.
"Look up, Rach." Quinn's smirk dissolves into a smile that could still light a whole room up.
"Why?" She looks up at the ceiling. "Oh, I forgot I put it right over there. I think it was Finn or Sam's and-"
"May I?" She pulls her closer with the arm around her waist.
"You never asked before." She grips the fabric of the cheerleader uniform a little tighter.
"We were still together." She looks down between them and then, back up in her eyes.
"Yes." Rachel nods softly. Her hands go up her shoulders and lock behind her neck, left exposed by her high ponytail.
"Merry Christmas, Rachel." Quinn dips her down and when their lips touch, fireworks just explode all around in their heads.
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Between the shouts from Santana and the protests from some of the other members of the club, she catches a glimpse of Quinn's blonde hair as she flees the room.
"Come back here! I am not done with you Hobbit." Santana's heeled boot hits the door as she is safely on the other side, trying to locate the cheerleader's room.
Walking down the hallway, she sees the door closing on itself just in time to slip through it, sneaking inside the room.
"Rachel, not now." Quinn is rummaging through the drawers and her suitcase.
"Yes, you'll hear me out and then, you can throw me out of that door if you think I don't deserve any additional minute of your time." She steps carefully in the room.
"Fine, you've got 5 minutes." Quinn stands in the middle of the room, with her arms crossed.
She is taken aback from how cold she sounds, but she realizes she is building walls around her and it's up to her to break through each one of them.
"Time is running. Tick, tock." She points to her watch.
"Quinn, I swear that kiss meant nothing to me. I was surprised and furious just like you okay? It came out of the blue and I would have never agreed with it, if I had known about Finn's intentions." She takes a step forward but Quinn takes one back.
"Fine, you may leave now." Quinn nods to the door.
"You don't believe me, do you?" She shakes her head.
"How can I? You're Finn and Rachel. You've been chasing each other for a year and you can honestly tell me you didn't feel anything when he kissed you? Nothing? Not even a small sparkle?" She snarls. "And spare me lies. I don't need them. Let alone from you."
"Okay. To be completely honest, a very small part of me enjoyed it okay? We have history and that kiss brought me back then, but it's like 0,1% of me. You can't be mad about that." She tries to take her hands, but Quinn crosses her arms over her chest.
"You're right, I can't." She nods. "But you know what? I am not mad. I am terrified okay? I am fucking scared of what you make me feel, Rachel. I am scared that you make me feel things like no one else before and that you hold so much power over me, that you can break me with a snap of your fingers." She runs her fingers through her shorter hair.
"Quinn, why didn't you talk to me about it?" She steps up into her and, this time, Quinn allows her to.
"Because I needed time. This is all new to me and I can't…" She looks away. "God, I can't breathe or think properly when you're close to me and I needed to think this through."
"Do you think this isn't new to me? Your fears are my fears." She reaches for her hands. "But we can take one step at a time, right?"
"What if that 0,1% becomes more, Rachel? What if you wake up and realize you want him back and this isn't worth it? That I am not worth it?" Her lips tremble.
"That's not going to happen." She brings her palms to her lips. "And you know why? Because when you kissed me, I couldn't think of anything else besides
wanting to live in that moment forever."
"And it didn't feel like that with him?" She drops her forehead against the crown of her head.
"No one else. Only you." She pulls back to look up into her hazel eyes.
"It's not going to be easy, I'm a mess and my family is a disaster and this is all new." She sighs. "I am not good with feelings, Rachel and you saw that with Finn and Sam and Puck. I can be a trainwreck."
"As if I am any better? Do you know who I am?" She chuckles between the tears.
"So, we're really doing this?" Quinn pushes her forehead against Rachel's.
"Yes, if you want that too." She uses their locked hands to bring the girl's arms around her waist, stepping up into her personal space.
"I do." Leaning down, she tilts her head to the side and when Rachel meets her halfway, she captures her lips in a kiss that seals the deal.
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"Miss Fabray, what do we owe this honor to?" Leroy stands tall in front of her, challenging her with an eyebrow raise.
"Good afternoon Dr. Berry. I would like to deliver something to your daughter, but I'll be very brief." She nods to the package under her arm.
"Is she expecting you?" He stands in the way.
"Dad, who is it?" Rachel's voice snaps them out of their temporary banter.
"It looks like you have a visitor, honey." Leroy steps aside, letting the blonde in the house as Rachel walks down the stairs and catches a glimpse of her ex-girlfriend.
"Quinn, hi." She stands a couple of feet from the bottom of the staircase.
"I'll be in my studio if you need me." He nods to the blonde, who salutes him back with her head high.
"I thought you were heading to Pennsylvania to spend Christmas with your sister." She wraps her arms around herself.
"I'll take a flight tomorrow evening to join them." She nods and takes the gift in her hands. "I saw this and I thought of you."
"Oh, but I didn't get you anything." She takes it with careful hands, mindful not to ruin the package.
"It's okay, I didn't come here to bear gifts expecting something back." She smiles softly. "How are you going to celebrate?"
"We'll spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day here and then we will go to Columbus to visit my Nana." She nuzzles her nose against the collar of her sweater. "When are you going to be back?"
"A few days after Xmas, I can't really miss Santana's New Year Eve's party. It's the event of the year." Quinn tucks her hands in the pockets of her coat. "I should get going."
"You don't have to. I mean…" She steps on the floor, looking at the blonde girl. "Do you want a cup of tea? Or something else?"
"I wish, but I really need to pack a bag with clothes and not just books." She chuckles.
"Thank you, for this." Rachel nods to the gift in her hand.
"If I may? Page 85 is my favorite." Quinn smiles cheekily at the brunette and turns on her heels. "I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas."
"Thank you." Rachel walks her to the door. "Have a safe trip tomorrow."
"You too." She leans down to drop a soft kiss against the corner of her lips. "Bye, Rachel."
"Bye, Quinn." She watches her walk down her driveway to the Red Beetle parked and as soon as she is inside the car, she closes the front door holding the book to her chest.
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"See you on Tuesday, Miss Rachel." Kathy is the last one to leave her dance class, running towards her baby-sitter who welcomes her with a hug and then takes her by the hand to leave the building.
"Why didn't you audition for the Cheerios?" Quinn's voice startles her. "I am sorry, I thought you heard me walk in."
"I was lost in my thoughts." Rachel breathes in deeply and looks at her through the mirror. "What are you doing here?"
"On Friday, you teach kids, right? It's part of your volunteering activities." Quinn walks to the parallel dance bars and leans against them.
"Are you stalking me, Miss Fabray?" Rachel smiles at her.
"I just have a very good memory." Gripping the bars, she lifts herself off the floor and leans over. "I also thought that it's the first Friday of our summer break and we could do something?"
"Oh, are you asking me out for a date?" She walks to the other end of the bars.
"Would you be interested in spending the rest of your evening with me?" She moves forward, on her hands, balancing her body off the floor.
"Showing off your impressive strength should convince me?" She challenges and when Quinn pushes herself off, doing a cartwheel in the air, she swoons without hiding it as much as she wants to.
"You haven't seen anything yet." She stands in front of the brunette. "Are you here with your car?"
"I was supposed to call my Daddy to come pick me up but I can ride home with you." She leans forward to drop a kiss over her lips but when Quinn hesitates, she stops. "No one's here besides me, you and Paul the security guard sitting at the front desk."
"Alright." Quinn cups each side of her face and leans down to drop a light kiss on her lips.
"Can you give me 20 minutes to shower and change into something else? Dancing with kids ain't a walk in the park." She looks down at her shorts and Titan t-shirt.
"Of course, I can wait for you here." Quinn nods with a smile and when Rachel skips out of the room, with her gym bag over her shoulder, she sighs in relief.
She slumps forward against the wooden bars and tries to calm her raging heart. She tries to convince herself she can do it and, this time, she won't fuck it up.
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"Hold your horses, I'm coming." Quinn rushes to the front door, before the person on the other side just kicks it down. She expects some door-to-door salesman, but she doesn't expect a petite brunette rushing inside.
"Unbelievable. Just unbelievable." Rachel paces back and forth in the foyer of the Fabray's mansion.
"Hello to you too, Rachel." Quinn shakes her head. "Geez, can you stop pacing and tell me what's wrong?"
"You're unbelievable, Lucy Quinn Fabray." She stomps her foot and looks at her, breathing heavily and with her cheeks blushing. "Really, Quinn? Really?!" She takes the book from the bag and it's all Quinn needs to know. She gets it.
"Oh, you're a fast reader." The blonde chuckles and if it hasn't been for her fast reflexes, the book would be hitting her face rather than the door behind her back. "Rachel, are you crazy? You could have hit me."
"You deserved that. You deserve that and even more pain, because you're so frustrating and just unbelievable." She shouts at her face. "Who do you think you are? Who do you think you are to play these mind games with me? Tell me!"
"Rachel…" Quinn takes a careful step forward. "I am not playing any game with you. It's just…It's just how I feel and I know it's not what you need from me, but I'm trying. Okay?"
"No. It's not okay and if you think that I should just look over the fact you can't say those words to me, you've got another thing coming." She wraps her arms around herself protectively. "I deserve more than a whisper in the dark. I deserve more than a love confession written by someone else."
"You're right, you do." Quinn nods softly, looking away. "It was stupid of me to think that you'd appreciate the gesture and…"
"God, don't you get it? I don't really care about any gestures, okay? I just want to hear it from you." She yells at her, with tears streaming down her face. "I don't need anything else."
"Rachel…" Quinn looks at the book on the floor and then back at her.
"I am going to walk out of the door, Quinn, and this time, I am not coming back." Rachel wipes her cheeks angrily. "It's over."
"Rachel, c'mon." She tries but the brunette just heads to the door, just like she has barged in. It's like a hurricane and Quinn is not in the eye of the storm.
"Goodbye, Quinn." She opens the door and breathes in the cold breeze, hitting her wet cheeks. She has one foot on the porch, when she stops.
She stops for a moment and hears it.
"I love you." Quinn's voice is not strong, but it is louder than a hushed whisper in the middle of the night.
She stands still, worried that it might just be a figment of her imagination. She needs it again. She needs more.
"I love you, Rachel." Quinn stands in her doorway, probably freezing in her white sweater and WHMS sweatpants.
"What did you say?" She turns around but doesn't move from her spot.
"I love you." Quinn looks at her with a hopeful smile. "I know it's too late but…I can't let you leave without hearing it."
"You're so frustrating, Quinn." Rachel shakes her head, tears swelling in her eyes.
"I know. Take one to know one, though." She grins and braces herself, when the brunette slams into her, jumping into her arms.
She barely has time to close the door with her foot, as Rachel crushes their mouths together and steals her breath away.
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"I read about this place on some food blog and I thought we could try it out." Quinn opens the door for Rachel, who smiles shyly back for the gesture.
"Enzo's. It sounds promising." The brunette walks side by side with Quinn, who lets her in first and just trails behind, until a waiter shows up in his red gilet and white shirt.
"Welcome to Enzo's. Do you have a reservation?" He checks his computer.
"Under Fabray for two." The blonde holds her head high and her voice steady, earning another thankful smile from the brunette.
"Please, follow me." He grabs a couple of menus and tucks them under his arm, moving through the full main lunchroom to get to an adjacent one, which would give them more privacy. "Your table Miss Fabray."
"Thank you." Taking her cardigan off, she drapes it over the back of the chair, sitting across from Rachel. "So, let's see what they have for vegans…"
"Quinn, you didn't have to spend all this money on my vegan habits. I could have been fine with a salad at Breadstix. Their food is getting better." She chuckles but her smile drops at the price.
"Nonsense, Breadstix is our Central Perk only with a bad cuisine with too many breadsticks." She chuckles over the menu. "Have you found something worth a trial?"
"These seitan balls with the cauliflower side dip." She checks the other options for the blonde. "You?"
"I'll have the tagliolini truffles with butter." She calls the waiter over, waving his way.
"Interesting. Sodas or plain water?" Rachel skips the wine list.
"I'm in the mood for a Diet Coke, you?" She turns to the waiter, "We'll have the tagliolini truffles with butter and the seitan balls with the cauliflower dip." She nods over to Rachel. "We'll also have a portion of sweet potato fries to share." She hands him the menus.
"Anything else?" He looks at both.
"Two Diet Cokes and a bottle of still water." Rachel adds. Once noted, he walks away.
"Sweet potato fries? Does Sue know?" She sits up straight on the chair.
"We are off Cheerio training for a week, let me indulge in some of these treats before I go back to it." Quinn laughs softly. "Speaking of, I will be away for 15 days for cheer camp."
"Oh. When?" She looks down at their empty plates.
"Mid-june, we haven't got the final dates yet. Knowing Sue she might kidnap us in the middle of the night." She chuckles.
"I don't see anything remotely funny in the way that woman coaches you." She huffs. "Her methods are barbaric."
"Deep down, she cares about us but she's just got an odd way to show it," She thanks the waiter for the drinks.
"That woman is ruthless. How can you still follow her lead after she tried to shoot Brittany from a cannonball?" She takes a sip from her coke.
"I stopped that before it could happen and I threatened her I would leave the Cheerios, bringing everyone with me." She did the same for her drink.
"You always wanted to be a cheerleader?" She looks at her.
"'No, but my Mom and Aunt were cheerleaders and so was my sister. It was expected from me and I had to work twice harder to get in shape and make it to the team. But hey, it was worth the early morning and the late nights spent working out." She smiles at the waiter as he serves them their main courses. "I'd offer you to take a bite but it's not vegan friendly."
"It's fine, but it looks good." She looks down at her plate. "So does mine."
"Let's dig in, then." Quinn twirls her fork in the pasta and brings it to her mouth.
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"Say it again." Rachel cups her face and tilts it upwards, to capture her lips in the umpteenth kiss of their evening.
"Say what?" Quinn smirks against her lips and trails her hands down her bare back, dipping under the duvet wrapped around their naked bodies.
"Quinn, say it." She nips at her bottom lip hard. Her hips roll forward, pressing down into the other girl who just moans and holds her close
"Ouch." She grunts and just rolls them over, pinning her hands to each side of her head, to settle between her thighs. "You say it."
"You first." Rachel looks at her with mirth. With her right foot sliding up the back of her calf, she pulls her closer and against her.
"I love you." Quinn gives in as soon as they're touching everywhere. There's no space left between their fronts and it feels so good. Almost too good to be true.
"I love you too." She instantly replies back. Freeing her hands, she cups her cheeks to bring their lips together.
"Maybe I should change my flight again or just cancel it." She checks the clock on her nightstand. "Do they even need me over there? We can lock ourselves in here and never
leave this bed."
"What about food?" Rachel chuckles.
"That's what food delivery is for, babe." She leans down to pepper kisses along the side of her throat. "I can get you anything you want with one click."
"What about celebrating Christmas with our families?" She whimpers and spreads her thighs wider, making more room for the blonde.
"Overrated. I don't need anyone but you to have a Merry, Merry Christmas." She hums the familiar song right against her ear. "Don't you agree?"
"I totally would, but contrary to your family, my Daddies are here in Lima and they wouldn't allow us to have these kinds of celebrations." She chuckles when Quinn groans against her neck. "Makes me wonder why they didn't set an open door policy, whenever you came over."
"Maybe they thought we were not doing it?" She kisses up her ear. "Or maybe since I can't get you pregnant, they don't worry too much? Or maybe now they don't worry about it, because we are supposedly broken up?"
"Maybe." She nuzzles her nose against her cheek. "Are we going to stay like that?"
"Like what?" She pulls back to look down into her eyes.
"Broken up." Her fingers draw imaginary circles against the base of her spine.
"I don't know…do you want to?" Cradling her head with her forearms, she brushes her hair away from her forehead with her fingertips. "We have been on a break but we couldn't really stay apart for too long."
"You came to my opening night and brought me gardenias." Rachel pecks her lips.
"You never miss a game when I cheer." She prolongs the kiss and rolls her hips forward, into Rachel. "I always look for you in the crowd."
"I know you do." She whimpers when their nubs bump together. "Quinn…"
"Be my girlfriend again, Rachel." She whispers against her parted lips. "I'll do anything to earn your trust again, but I can't be away from you."
"I need more." Rachel's hands grab her from the backside to roll their hips together. "I…we don't have to come out. But I need more, Quinn. I deserve more."
"I know. I know, baby." She nods between the moans. Reaching between their bodies, she lifts one of her legs over her hips and angles down, to rub more of herself against the brunette under her.
"God, like that." She brings their lips together. She kisses Quinn hard, as their hips just move into a familiar rhythm.
"Yes. Fuck, yes." She should be ashamed of cursing but the pleasure is too much to resist. She's done things with Rachel that could have put her old self to shame but there is nothing shameful in loving her, like she wants to.
"More." Rachel finds the strength to roll them over and just straddles her, with a hand against her chest to support the movements of her hips.
"You're so gorgeous." Quinn can only stare in awe. Leaning back, she holds her by the hips and just moves with her, falling into the pace she sets.
"That's you. That's always been you." She beams down at her and it's all Quinn needs to sit up and claim her lips for a harder kiss.
"Do you love me?" Rachel's legs cross behind her back, sitting right against her core as they both throb in pleasure.
"I do." Quinn pulls the brunette into her, rocking back and forth to get more solace for her ache. "Do you?"
"I do." The brunette's arms frame her head and just hold onto her, as they move towards the edge together.
As they take a step forward into the future.
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"Thanks for the evening, Quinn." She tucks a loose strand behind her ear as they sit, in the blonde's car, in front of the Berry residence.
"Thank you for accepting my last minute invite." She grips the steering wheel.
"We should do it again, maybe I could pick the entertainment of the next one?" She looks over at the blonde, who stays quiet. "Or maybe not."
"No, don't get me wrong." Quinn turns to look at her. "I…Rachel, it's not easy for me and I've got all these feelings. I don't know what to think."
"Look at me." Rachel turns to look at her, leaning against the seat.
"Okay…" Quinn turns to her, with their hands laced together.
"Close your eyes now." She squeezes her hands.
"Rachel, I don't think,,," Fingers are brushed against her eyes, until she drops her eyelids.
"What do you feel?" Rachel's hands cup her face, thumbs brushing over her cheeks. Her fingers trail down to her jawline and even lower, to press her palms
over her chest.
"I feel…" She releases a breath and covers her palms with her own hands. "Alive." She opens her eyes, finding Rachel close enough to feel surrounded by her, with all her senses.
"We're taking it slow, one step at a time." She laces their fingers together.
"Thank you." She leans down to nuzzle her nose along Rachel's, who pushes their foreheads together.
"I really had a good time, the restaurant was a nice surprise." She nuzzles her forehead against the other girl's nose and mouth.
"It couldn't be worse than Breadstix." She kisses her brows. "I'll walk you to the door."
"You don't have to." Leaning back, she is tempted to kiss her.
"I want to." She brings knuckles to her lips and lingers, eyes on her.
When Rachel nods, Quinn just slips out of her car and rounds it in time to help the brunette out, shutting the door closed behind her.
Side by side, they stroll on the driveway leading to Rachel's porch, illuminated by a soft light.
"This is me." She stands on the front porch, with Quinn at the sidewalk level and at a height disadvantage for once.
"This is you." Quinn nods with a smile.
"Would you drop me a message when you're home? I know you're close by, but I want to ensure your wellbeing. It's almost midnight." She tucks her hair behind her ears.
"I'll text you when I get home." Quinn nods. "And I will be eagerly waiting for your invitation."
"Let me think of something suitable for a second date and you'll be the first to know." Rachel smiles.
"I would hope so, since you're supposed to be on a date with me." The cheerleader returns her smile. "I really should get going now."
"Thank you for the lift and dinner." The brunette takes a step back, not to be tempted to say goodbye in a "too friendly" way.
"Thank you. Have a good night, Rachel." Quinn turns around and walks the path back to her parked car. The brunette girl does not walk inside her house until she is back behind the wheel, pulling away from her driveway with ease.
Once she rounds the corner, she unlocks the front door and braces herself for all the questions she is going to be subjected to.
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"You keep checking the door and your clock, do you have somewhere else to be?" Mercedes nudges her in the side.
"Quinn was supposed to be back today and come to the party, but I haven't heard from her." She checks her phone again. It's past 11.30 PM.
"Maybe her flight got delayed? I thought she was coming home two days ago?" Sam offers Mercedes a drink and drops on the floor in front of them.
"Her sister asked her to stay a little longer, since they don't see each other much. It was nice of them but now…" She sighs.
"Well, if you're worried about the midnight kiss, I see someone ready to take over." The blonde guy nods to Finn, hovering around the brunette without really making a pass. "Gotta say, he doesn't give up."
"If Quinn is not coming, I am not going to kiss someone else." She rolls her eyes. "I'd rather go home or lock myself somewhere safe."
"So, you're giving it another try?" Mercedes finishes her drink. "Or you're just fooling around?"
"We are too involved with one another to just fool around, 'Cedes." She looks down at the bracelet she has been gifted by Quinn. "I love her."
"And does she feel the same way?" Sam squeezes her knee.
"Yes, she does." Rachel nods with a beaming smile. "She told me the day before she left and…I don't think I've been happier than that day."
"That's love." Mercedes pats her shoulder and looks over at Sam, who returns her shy smile. "It makes you feel at the top of the world."
"Excuse me." She stands from the couch and walks upstairs, where the music isn't so loud that she cannot even hear her own thoughts.
'Hi, you've reached Quinn. Please, leave a message.'
"Ugh, Quinn where are you?" She leans against the wall outside Santana's bedroom and looks up, frustrated by this situation. Where is she?
"Is everything okay?" Finn stands at the top of the staircase with two red cups.
"Hello, Finn." She refrains from rolling her eyes at him for his obvious intentions. "I'm fine, thank you."
"I thought you'd like a refill." He nods to his cups. "It's almost midnight, you should toast to it."
"That's very considerate of you, but I'll get another one in a bit." She checks the time again.
11.50 PM
"You're leaving already?" He looks at her.
"No, I am not." She sighs. It's too late to go home.
"I didn't see Quinn, is she coming?" He looks down at the living room, where most of the Glee club members are dancing and singing along.
"Yes, she should be here any minute now. If you'll excuse me, I'll go back downstairs." She tries to move past him but he stands in her way.
"She will never love you like I do, Rachel." He looks down at her. "When she broke up with me, she didn't even feel sorry. She's got no feelings for anyone but herself."
"That's not true and you know it." She shakes her head. "Quinn has many feelings, but she was just raised to keep everything bottled inside."
"That's her excuse for keeping her distance from you?" He chuckles. "She gave up on her child and can barely be seen with you. Maybe she's just ashamed."
"Stop talking about things you don't know, Finn." She slips from under his arm, walking downstairs.
"She's just going to hurt you, like she hurt everyone else!" He calls after her, but she is already out of the front door.
"Damn it, Quinn! Where are you?" Rachel leans against the porch and looks down at her phone.
11.58 PM
She's freezing cold, risking getting sick just so she doesn't let her anger boil over. She hits the call button again and it finally starts ringing.
'Rachel?' Quinn sounds out of breath.
"Quinn, where the hell are you? You were supposed to be here hours ago." She yells in her phone. She yells at the girl who is supposed to take her in her arms and kiss her at midnight.
'I know. I am…' The line drops and Rachel is about to smash her phone against a wall.
She hovers the phone button again when the sound of hurried footsteps comes from her right. "What…"
"Rachel!" Quinn puts the extra effort to up her pace, running towards her.
10…9…8
She almost collapses in the brunette, who holds her in her arms, cupping her cold cheeks. "Quinn, what happened to you?"
"I..my…" She pulls back to bend over, trying not to throw up all over the snow piled up at the end of Santana's driveway. She could kill her for it.
7…6…5
"You're not going to pass out, are you?" Rachel rubs her back and when she stands back up, she realizes she's still in her comfy travel clothes and not wearing one of her
perfect party dresses.
4..3…2
"I can't promise anything." Quinn leans against her, arms around her waist. "I am a mess."
"You're the prettiest girl I've ever seen." Rachel burrows closer, stealing some of her heat and leans up.
"1." Quinn whispers just before their lips meet halfway, right when midnight strikes and she gets to kiss her, against all odds.
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"So, when you told me you'd want us to meet here, I thought you wanted to grab some late dinner or late coffee to go." Quinn finds her at the ground floor of the Lima mall. "Aren't they supposed to close in 10 minutes?"
"Well, I asked a friend for an extra favor." She chuckles. "As long as we stick to that area without venturing anywhere else."
"Which area?" Quinn follows her up the automatic staircase and to the right, where the arcade is. "Oh, you want to play video games?"
"A family friend owns this and he'll let us be on our own here." She nods to the guy by the entrance, who lets them in.
"But what about food or drinks? I am sort of famished." She smiles cheekily.
"And that's why I packed us sandwiches and sodas." Rachel nods to the backpack on her shoulder. "There are some homemade chocolate chip cookies."
"You got it all sorted out. So, which one do you want to try first?" Quinn looks at all the games they can try. "Pac-man? They still have it?" She almost runs to it, excited.
"You must know, Quinn, that I do particularly excel at this game." She hands her one of the fake coins that she has exchanged for the night.
"We'll see, Rachel." She slips the coin in and grabs the joystick, starting a new game.
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"Geez, Quinn, you look like shit." Santana greets them as soon as they walk through the door, hand in hand.
"Thanks Santana, you really know how to cheer someone up." Quinn rolls her eyes at her and takes her jacket off, hanging it in the closet by the door.
"I aim to help. Here, you have to catch up." She pushes a red cup in her hand and walks away, in search of Brittany.
"Maybe, later." She sits the cup down and turns to Rachel, who is still looking at her. "What is it? Do I have something in my hair?"
"Nothing. Let's go greet the others." She shakes her head and tugs her by the hand, where the rest of the group is chatting and dancing.
"Speaking of being fashionably late." Kurt chuckles. "You're a year later, Fabray."
"Totally true, but I have a very good reason for it." She finds a seat on the couch and when Rachel goes to take a seat somewhere else, she keeps their hands laced.
"It's okay, Quinn. I'll go over there." Rachel leans in to kiss her temple, but the blonde tugs her until she drops on the arm of the couch, beside her.
"If it's too uncomfy, we can switch." She looks up at Rachel, who beams and pecks her lips quickly.
"Awww." All eyes are on them, so they just pull back and look away, both blushing.
"Oh, stop it." Quinn snaps at them, leaning back into the couch.
"So, what the hell happened?" Santana drops on the armchair across from her, sipping from her fourth or fifth drink.
"My flight got delayed because there was some rainstorm in Cincinnati and it was impossible to fly here." Quinn feels Rachel's hand squeeze hers. "So, by the time it stopped, I was two hours late."
"I feel there's more to it." Sam nods.
"My car battery died and apparently, no one in that freaking airport had cables to jump start it. It took me more than half an hour to start my car and I just went past any speed limit to make it in time." She reached for a drink. "But when I stopped at a traffic light on Main Street, it died permanently."
"Main Street? But it's like three miles away." Mike joins the conversation.
"I left it just outside your Mom's office, Mike, and I ran all the way here." She turns to Rachel when she rubs the back of her neck. "And here I am."
"You could have called a cab." Finn chips in.
"On New Year's Eve? Sure thing, Finnept." Santana scoffs at him, anticipating some bitter remark from Quinn herself.
"Whatever. She ain't a hero for running some." He turns to walk away.
"Don't mind him. He's just bummed you showed up before he could make a pass on Berry." The Latina confirms, getting a nod from everyone else.
"Again?" Quinn drops her head against the couch and looks over at Rachel, who just bends over to kiss the skin between her brows.
"Don't worry about it." Rachel whispers against her forehead.
"Can we go home? I just want to have a hot shower." Quinn's eyes never steer away from Rachel's, who just nods and takes her hand.
The rest just disappears…
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"You totally cheated!" Rachel nudges her, while they walk up her driveway towards her front door.
"I did not cheat, but you're a very sore loser." Quinn follows her on her porch.
"You tickled me while I was playing Pac-Man, just because I was so close to beating your record. That's you being a sore loser, Quinn." She unlocks her door and leans inside, switching the alarm off.
"Where are your Daddies?" She looks inside, when the other girl turns the lights on.
"My Dad is attending a medical convention in Chicago and my Daddy went with him. They'll be away until Sunday." She drops her keys on the bowl by the
door.
"I leave on Monday, for cheer camp." Quinn nods and leans against the open doorway.
"Oh, already?" Rachel turns to her.
"Yeah, she wants us sooner. I think she caught some girl eating junk food at some restaurant and she is punishing us all." She shakes her head amused. "I am not surprised."
"Well, you did indulge in some forbidden food too." She walks up to her and reaches with her thumb, to brush the breadcrumbs of the ice-cone off her lips.
"You're a bad influence on me." She holds her hand against her face, kissing her palm.
"Really, now?" She reaches behind her to close the front door shut and pushes her against it. "Do you want a cup of tea?"
"Do you have any ice-tea?" She gulps, looking down in her eyes.
"Let me check." Pulling back, she walks to the kitchen followed by the blonde cheerleader.
"Are you going to be fine? On your own, I mean." Quinn leans against the kitchen counter and watches her pour them a couple of glasses.
"I've been on my own before and this is a very safe neighborhood." She nods. "Don't tell me you're worried about me."
"Of course, I am." She takes the glass for a sip. "I would have been worried as a friend, but with this happening between us I am even more concerned about your safety."
"Your concerns are very endearing, Quinn." Rachel squeezes her free hand.
"Maybe, our next date could be an indoor one? I wanted to suggest going to the movies, but the selection would be more limited than us picking from our collections." She finishes her glass. "I just need to get my Mom out of the house."
"Or we could take advantage of my Daddies' absence to do it here?" She does the same. "Our living room is perfect for our monthly movie themed nights."
"Why doesn't that surprise me? Let me guess, we should have a Broadway themed movie night?" Quinn chuckles.
"If we do this, I need to know if you can go through musical movies without falling asleep or huffing all the time." Rachel looks away. "I'll let you pick a musical of your choice too."
"I'll be fine with whatever you choose for us, but I'll get us food." Quinn lifts her chin up. "Deal?"
"Deal." She beams at her.
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"When will your Mother be back?" Rachel settles on her side, facing her as she slips under the covers, freshly showered.
"In a couple of days. After Frannie, she's visiting her other sister who lives not that far." She nuzzles her pillow and stretches her muscles. "Mmhh."
"You're insane you know? Why didn't you call me? I would have picked you up." She caresses her cheek with the back of her hand.
"My phone had no service and I didn't want you to come on your own." She nuzzles it.
"But it was fine for you to run across town, alone, on New Year's Eve." Scooting close, she leans down to kiss her softly. "I was worried sick about you."
"I know a small part of you thought I had changed my mind about this." Circling her back with her arm, she keeps the brunette close. "I'm not mad, Rach."
"Yeah, but when I saw you, I kicked myself for having thought that." Her lips brushes over Quinn's, who pulls her flushed against her.
"What happened with Finn?" She speaks against her lips.
"Nothing that really matters, Quinn." She kisses her a little longer. "His usual nonsense that doesn't deserve any of our time."
"He will never give up on you." Quinn pulls back to look at her. "And I totally get him, because it's what I'd do too…"
"And it's mutual." Rachel looks back at her. "I told you I'd fight for us. With Finn, it was never meant to be and the sooner he gets that, the faster he will move on and find happiness with someone else."
"And what do you see with me, Rachel?" Rolling her over, she hovers the brunette on her elbows.
"It could go either way, everything with you is so intense and unpredictable." Her hand rests against the small of her back. "We're both so strong headed and ambitious
but also, so different. That keeps me on my toes, eager to see what happens next."
"I can't tell you what the future holds for us, but I can assure you that I want to be by your side every step of the way." Leaning down she drops a tender kiss over her
lips. "Now…can we stop talking and start celebrating this New Year?" Fingers slip under the night shirt Rachel has borrowed from her closet.
"Oh yes." Rachel rolls them over and pins her hands down. "My turn to stay on top!" She grins and crushes her mouth over Quinn's.
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"Okay, I am asking you to be very honest with me here. How much have you hated this movie night from 1 to 10?" Rachel turns to Quinn, sitting beside her on the living room couch, with her hands folded in her lap and extremely quiet.
"Well, if I have to be really honest. I think I stopped paying enough attention to it, after 45 minutes in." Quinn looks at her. "And it's not the movie's fault because West Side Story is a favorite of mine."
"You've watched it before? Why didn't you say anything?" She pouts.
"Because you planned this evening so thoroughly, that I didn't want to mess with your perfect schedule." She nods to the copy of their "planned" date. "And it's your fault that I got distracted."
"My fault? How can it be my fault?" She huffs.
"When you leaned over to grab the popcorn bowl, I just sneaked a glance down your shirt and I've been having these impure thoughts since then." She blushes.
"What kind of impure thoughts?" She blushes as well.
"Rachel, I don't want to sound like a horn dog on our third date. Let's resume it and I swear I'll pay attention to it." She leans back on the couch.
"Quinn, I want to know." She switches the TV off with her remote. "I would never compare you to some guy who cannot keep it in his pants. If it makes you feel better, Finn would have asked me to make out within the first 30' of our evening." She kisses her cheek. "You've been a perfect gentlewoman."
"Fine." She looks away, gulping. "I can't stop wondering if you're wearing a bra under your shirt." She rubs her face with both hands. "I'll be sent to hell for this."
"Oh." Rachel looks down at her chest and then back up at Quinn. "Do you…do you want to find out by yourself, maybe?"
"We've barely kissed and you want me to go second base with you already?" She looks at her.
"I…I didn't think it like that. I am not easy like that. Sorry" Rachel stutters and just bolts out of the room, running up the stairs that lead to the bedroom zone.
"Way to go, Quinn." She groans and mentally kicks herself for having ruined the mood.
She follows after Rachel, taking two steps at a time. Once upstairs, it's easy to locate Rachel's room due to the "Hollywood" star on the door and her name in gold under it.
"Rachel?" She knocks softly and when she hears nothing, she just turns the knob to open the door. Rachel is sitting on the edge of her bed, sniffing and wiping her eyes.
"You should go home, Quinn." She sobs lightly.
"Not until you accept my apology." Quinn takes a seat beside her after grabbing the Kleenex box on the nightstand.
"You don't have to. You did nothing wrong." She sniffles. "You're right, I was offering and we haven't kissed yet."
"That's another thing that has been on my mind, not just tonight." Quinn clenches her hands. "This is our third date and we haven't kissed that much. I get it's new for the two of us but…" She looks at her.
"I was giving you all the time you needed to process this. It's new for both, but I can still open up with my parents and you-"
"I don't need you pity, Rachel." She reaches for her hand. "I know my family is a mess and I am going to struggle to let it all out, but I like you and you're beautiful and talented and-"
She doesn't have time to finish because a pair of lips captures hers in a full kiss. It's a kiss that makes her toes curl in her fluffy socks. When Rachel goes to pull away, she cups her face with both palms and chases after her, joining their lips again.
"Mm." Rachel leans back, taking Quinn along who just moves over her and brushes her tongue over her lips, asking for permission.
"You okay?" She whispers against her parted lips.
"You have no idea." Her hands grip onto her sides, through the hoodie she is wearing.
"I don't think you're easy and even if you have more experience than me, there's nothing wrong with it. I'm just a prude who got pregnant at 16." She chuckles sadly.
"Everything is new for me too, Quinn." She caresses her forearms and down to her elbows. "And I don't care about your past because it doesn't matter anymore."
"Do you want to go downstairs and put on some trashy Tv Show that we can just ignore?" She leans down to nip at her bottom lip.
"Sounds like a great idea." She nods vigorously and pulls her down for another kiss.
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"Seriously? I understand you're getting laid again, but I have standards." Santana groans, following her captain along the queue in the canteen.
"Do you really need me to use the trick up my sleeve?" Quinn nods behind her, to the tall blonde cheerleader talking with one of the cafeteria ladies, Mrs. Rose.
"Fine, but you owe me." She huffs, using her school Id to pay. "A 100$ gift card from Breadstix is a starting point."
"Alright, consider it done." Quinn holds her tray with both hands, navigating through tables and the students searching for a place to sit with their crowd.
"And when I talked back, she became so red that-" Rachel trails off when a familiar blonde comes into view, behind Kurt. "Hello, Quinn."
"Is there any room left for us?" She nods to a reluctant Santana and an overjoyed Brittany, for the extra scoop of ice-cream she has gotten.
"What happened to your Cheerio table?" Mercedes asks, voicing Rachel's thoughts. "This isn't a prelude to some slushie shower right?"
"Slushies are off, it's been a while though." Quinn rounds the table to place her tray beside Rachel's and to take a seat on the bench. "Since Regionals are close, maybe we could share ideas without the pressure of Mr. Schue's validation. Right?" She turns to both her cheerleader mates, who are just stuffing their faces with food. "Figures."
"What?!" Santana growls behind her burger bite.
"Keep your mouth shut when you eat, Santana." Quinn rolls eyes at her and just looks at the rest of the group. "So, what do we have for Regionals?"
"You're really interested in having this conversation? With us? Here?" Tina looks around, since all the curious eyes are on them.
"I am still part of the Glee club, right?" Quinn looks over at Rachel, who reaches under the table for her hand. "You're my friends and I am sorry if I made you feel like I was ashamed of you." She looks at everyone. "All of you." Her last glance is for Rachel.
"Enough with the guilty trip, how many solos will I have?" Santana grins and it's Rachel, now, being calmed down by Quinn's hand around hers.
"She's kidding." Quinn kicks Santana under the table, getting one back. "Ouch."
"We were discussing 1 group number and 1 solo that has yet to be assigned." Rachel looks at Mercedes and Santana. "Do you think we should go for another solo or duet or group number?"
"Well, I'd go for another group number but do we have time to work on choreography and all? We cannot always re-use Don't Stop Believing." Artie chips in from the end of
the table.
"What about some of your dance routines?" Rachel looks at Quinn and the other two cheerleaders. "Anything we can borrow?"
"Sue is gonna kill us, Q." Santana shakes her head.
"No, unless we don't make it to Nationals." Quinn smirks. "I've got an idea." She turns to Rachel, who squeezes her hand.
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"Honey, are you sure you don't want to come with us? Harold and Winston adore you." Hiram stops before crossing the threshold of his front door.
"I am more than sure, Daddy. I wish I could tag along, but we have the summer recitals tomorrow and my students are pretty excited about that." She nods, leaning against it. "Give them both a kiss."
"We'll call you when we get there. Don't forget to lock after yourself and set the alarm." He kisses her forehead. "We love you."
"Love you too, Daddy." She waves at Leroy, leaning against the side of the car. "Bye Dad, drive safely."
"Will do, honey." Leroy gets in the driver's seat as soon as Hiram approaches the car. Once inside, he rolls the windows down to be able to wave goodbye to their daughter, who stands in the doorway watching them go.
True to her promise to her Daddies, she locks the front door and sets the alarm, before going back to the living room where she just wants to watch some old movie and stare longingly at her phone, hoping for a text from Quinn.
She has just settled down, with the remote at her side, when the doorbell rings. Padding to the door, she waits to make her presence known and just stands on her tiptoes to check through the peephole.
"Rachel?" Quinn stands on her front porch, with a bag of what she assumes is take-out food in one hand.
She goes through the front door locks so fast, that she almost breaks the key into the lock and when she gets in front of her alarm panel, she panics when the key-code escapes from her mind.
"Rachel? Are you okay?" Quinn knocks on the door.
"One second!" She mentally kicks herself for being so eager to see the blonde cheerleader. She calms enough to punch the code in, hoping the alarm won't go off and make them both deaf. Once disabled, she pulls the door open with her best smile on. "Hello, Quinn."
"Hi." Quinn's smile is equally sincere and these weeks apart have just made her heart grow fonder.
"I thought you wouldn't be back before next Saturday." She leans against the door.
"It was a last minute change of plans. Sue is needed in Columbus for some personal matters and she called the Cheer Camp off. It's not like she was very happy with us, so I'll go through hell when school starts." She shrugs. "But until then, I dropped by Enzo. Are your parents home? Am I interrupting your dinner plans?"
"Not at all. I was going to heat some leftovers but your food smells better." She moves aside to let her in, locking after the blonde.
"You're on your own again?" Quinn looks around the silent house.
"My parents are visiting a couple of friends in Louisville and I was supposed to go with them, but my dance students have their summer recital tomorrow and I can't miss it." She leans against the door. "What did you get?"
"Oh, this is a big portion of their zucchini noodles with a vegan bechamel sauce." She nods to the bag. "I got it for the two of us, to share."
"Sounds yummy." Rachel moves past the blonde, who follows her to the living room and takes a seat on the couch, where she has been just moments ago.
"Here. We have paper forks and a couple of sodas too." She sits them on the coasters. "What are we watching?"
"It's just a classic 'To Catch a Thief'." Rachel looks over at her companion. "You know it?"
"I had to watch it, you know? To see what Jesse was coming from." Quinn chuckles.
"He wasn't lying," Rachel scoots closer and reaches out for her hand. "You're as beautiful as Grace Kelly."
"Stop it." Quinn looks away blushing. "You should thank my plastic surgeon, not my genes."
"Quinn, you're beautiful." She tilts her chin towards her. "And I'll remind you until you believe it."
There is only one way to reply to that.
One way that leads to Quinn leaning down, to capture Rachel's lips in a soft kiss. A kiss that has been craved by both, for all these days apart.
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"What are you doing here?" Quinn exits her car, with a medal hanging from her neck and her duffel bag over her right shoulder.
"I saw Brittany's FB post about you winning Regionals and I wanted to welcome the captain home." Rachel stands from sitting on the porch steps in her winter jacket.
"You must be freezing out here, why didn't you ask my Mom to let you in?" She gets her keys out of her jacket and opens the front door. "Mom?!"
"Because she's not home?" Rachel chuckles from behind. "I didn't see her car in the garage."
"Oh." She checks her phone, but no text. "She probably got stuck at work."
"How did it go? Besides the obvious." She points to the golden medal around her neck.
"We qualified for Nationals in Texas." Quinn starts walking upstairs towards her room and Rachel just follows. "Sue yelled at us for the whole ride back, but I was too tired to care."
"You won and she yelled at you? That woman is out of her mind." The brunette goes to the trophy case where Quinn has her awards, including a picture of her leading their Glee club at Nationals in New York, despite the result. "When was this taken?"
"I asked a favor from a friend." She smiles.
"I thought you'd keep a group picture and not just mine." Rachel looks over at Quinn, who is changing in more comfortable clothes.
"Why should I want a group picture if I can have one with my girlfriend?" She pulls the sweatpants up her legs.
"Quinn…" Rachel looks away from the picture.
"Come here." She holds her hand out. She holds her hand out and waits for the brunette to stop being embarrassed long enough to close the distance between them.
"A part of me will never get used to this." She tucks her head against her shoulder and hugs Quinn around her torso. "To you loving me so much."
"You know, I've got the same problem." She brushes a kiss behind her ear. "But we have time to learn how to accept it, don't you think?"
"Yes." She nuzzles up into her neck. "I am proud of you."
"Thank you, but I didn't do anything special." Nuzzling up her neck, she grips her by the hips. "Do you want to settle here and watch a movie? I can't promise I will stay
awake, though."
"You must be exhausted." She pulls back to drop a soft kiss on her lips. "Settle in bed and I'll get your laptop."
"Thanks." Quinn slips from her embrace to crawl on her queen size bed and just drops on her stomach, face burrowed in her soft pillow.
"Where's your charger?" Rachel has the laptop under her arm.
"Always in my bag, the front pocket." She yawns and curls around it.
"Got it." Taking it out, a folded envelope slips out as well and ends at her feet. "What's this?" Curiosity gets the best of her and when she reads the sender, she freezes. "Quinn?"
"Mmhm?" She snaps out of her semi-unconscious state.
"Why is there a letter from Yale in your bag?" Sitting the laptop down at the foot of the bed, she stares at the letter.
"I…I was going to tell you about it, Rach." Quinn is more and more alert, as Rachel curls into herself. "Rachel…" Crawling towards her, she reaches for her only to have Rachel take a step back.
"When? When were you going to tell me about Yale?" She looks at it. "You never mentioned Yale. Why now?"
"Hey, look at me." Slipping out of bed, she stands in front of the brunette. "This isn't how I planned to tell you but I wanted to. I have been trying to think of all the ways to tell you on the ride back and then you just found out."
"Found out about what?" She looks at the letter in her hand.
"I got into Yale." Quinn takes it from her hands and drops it on the bed. "I told you there were recruiters at one of the Titans' games. They were at Regionals too and they offered me a scholarship. 50% of my tuition."
"You got into Yale." Rachel furrows her brows.
"Yes, Rach." Quinn cups her face with her palms. "I wanted to take you out for dinner or just a walk and tell you-" Her words were caught by Rachel's mouth over hers, kissing her breath away.
"You got into Yale. It's Yale, Quinn!" With her hands in her hair, she rests their forehead together.
"I thought you were mad about it." She chuckles.
"Just caught by surprise, but…wow." She pecks her lips. "It's the first thing to tell someone, what's wrong with you!?" She slaps the back of her head.
"Ouch." She rubs it. "I was exhausted, okay? I couldn't think straight and then I saw you and I just missed you." Quinn nuzzles her cheek, "Can we go back to our original plan and just cuddle for a while?"
"I'll let you have a power nap, Quinn Fabray, and then you'll tell me everything about meeting these recruiters." She pushes the blonde back towards the bed and just slips on the right side, dropping on her back.
"That's so generous of you." She yawns, resuming her position on her front, cuddled up into Rachel's side, with her cheek against her shoulder.
"Don't provoke me." She pokes her in the ribs.
"Stop it." She slaps that hand away and curls against her, yawning against her sweater.
It doesn't take her too much to give into her tiredness and fall asleep, in Rachel's arms.