Chapter 4:

Quinn knocks on the door of the townhouse. She hears a series of locks open, then Sam opens the door. A huge smile spreads across his face and he immediately wraps his arms around her. Laughing happily, Quinn hugs him back. She squeals when Sam lifts her off the ground. He sets her down and grabs her bag, leading her inside.

"We've missed you."

"I've missed all of you, too."

"Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in."

Quinn rolls her eyes. "Nice to see you, too, Santana."

The girls are hugging when fast feet scurry down the stairs. There's a squeal, then someone slams into them. Quinn laughs, knowing Brittany has made it a group hug. "Quinnie!"

"Hi, Britt!"

She's led into the living room where Finn is watching TV. He shuts it off and stands to greet her. "Hey, Quinn! It's great to see you."

"You, too."

Brittany is bouncing excitedly on her feet. "C'mon, lets get your stuff upstairs!"

She's led upstairs. "Is Mike here yet?"

"No, he'll be here tomorrow."

Brittany briefly shows Quinn around upstairs, then has her dump her stuff on her bed. It's so obvious which side is Kurt's and which is Brittany's that she has to smile. From what she's heard so far, other than Kurt wishing he was rooming with Rachel, the rooming arrangements are going well. If it weren't for the fact that San and Brit are dating, Kurt would be able to share a room with his sister. Quinn frowns lightly when she realizes she doesn't see or hear anyone else.

"Where are Rachel, Kurt, and Puck?"

Brittany smiles knowingly. "Downstairs. C'mon!"

Now she's led to the kitchen. Rachel seems to be in the midst of baking something with Kurt's help. Puck seems to be enjoying impeding them if his smirk is anything to go by.

"C'mon, babe! Just one spoonful!"

"No, Noah."

Kurt snorts. "Calling her babe won't win you any points."

"She's my Jew-babe. She knows that. Come on, just a finger lickin?"

"No!" Puck reaches for the bowl on the counter. Rachel slides it out of his reach and smacks his hand. "Stop. God, you're like a small child."

"Just the bowl! Please?" He adds a ridiculous pout.

Irritation fading, Rachel is now fighting back a grin. "Fine. When I'm done."

Puck throws a jubilant fist into the air. "Yes!"

He kisses her cheek soundly before watching eagerly as she pours the batter into the pan. His face falls as she does her best to scrape up as much of the batter as she can from the sides of the bowl. Seeing that, Rachel sighs and hands him the wooden spoon coated in brownie batter. Like a little boy, Puck happily starts licking it up. Rachel grins and slides the nearly empty bowl to him to lick clean. Quinn feels a smile tugging at her lips at the scene.

"Go ahead and lick it clean, but then you have to actually wash it."

Puck pauses his licking to pout briefly, but then shrugs and resumes enjoying his treat. Kurt shakes his head and turns away, finally spotting Quinn in the doorway.

"Quinn!"

The other two turn to face her, their faces lighting up. It makes her feel warm and loved. "Hi, guys!"

Rachel hurries over, shoving Kurt out of the way to get to Quinn first and wrap her in a big hug. Quinn laughs and hugs the tiny diva back. Tiny. The tall blonde can't help but let her smile dim as she really feels how thin Rachel is. She's stage one, shouldn't she be putting on weight? Her eyes move questioningly to Kurt and Puck. Their faces are grim. Clearly, they know what she just noticed. Both boys shake their heads in the negative, letting her know not to bring it up. When she feels Rachel release her, she puts her happy smile back on. Kurt playfully knocks Rachel aside.

"My turn!"

Laughing again, Quinn hugs him tight. In her ear, Kurt whisper that he'll explain later, but that she shouldn't worry about it. Puck steps up to hug her next. She's surprised to feel her heart flutter when he wraps his arms around her.

"Missed you." He mutters quietly.

"I-I've missed you, too."

The vulnerability in his eyes surprises her. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Uh, hello. We've missed you, too!" Laughing she looks over at Rachel and Kurt who are grinning at them.

Knowing she's blushing, she steps away from Puck. "I've missed all of you. So much."

"So much that it's taken over a month for you to come visit." Santana comments, entering the kitchen.

"Leave her alone, San." Rachel chides lightly. "She's here now."

They have a great time catching up. Quinn loves that everyone is pitching in to help with dinner in some way. It's so warm and familiar that it once again reawakens her jealousy of not being here with them. They really are just a big, weird, family. It's so comfortable and happy that she has to excuse herself to the bathroom just to get a grip on her emotions. They all help out cleaning up after dinner, too. Even Yero helps, which amuses her. He licks plates clean and carries certain things to the trash or counter. They tell Quinn about who is responsible for what chores and tease Rachel about having the least amount of chores and being able to bow out of anything she doesn't feel like doing. She accepts their teasing and, as she often does in situations like this, jokes back about being royalty. When the timer dings, Rachel goes to open the oven and retrieve the brownies.

"Whoa, hold up!" Finn snags her around the waist and lifts her. He walks her away from the oven.

"Finn!"

"Nope."

Quinn looks around at the mixed reactions from the others. "What's going on?"

Santana sighs. "Last week the hobbit was reaching into the oven to get the lasagna she made when a mild attack struck. If Brittany hadn't been beside her and hadn't grabbed her as fast as she did, Rachel would have fallen onto the hot oven door."

Quinn's stomach flips at the thought. That'd have been awful. "So….she's not allowed to take things out of the oven?"

"Correct. Which she knows." Kurt calls over to her with a mild glare.

Rachel huffs. "I had a mild attack earlier today. Chances are I won't—"

"Well that's not a chance we're willing to take." Brittany states, gently prodding her back to the table to sit.

"Fine. On to happier topics, are you willing to go out with us tonight?" Rachel is grinning excitedly at her. "We don't have to. We can stay in if you want."

Seeing her so excited, Quinn smiles. "What did you have in mind?"

"There's an amazing bar called Callbacks that all the NYADA students go to and Friday nights are the best because everybody gets up and sings and it's where we're going tonight, and it's gonna be great!" Rachel is bouncing in her seat she's so excited. However, she forces herself to calm down. "If you want to, that is. If you don't we can hang out here. That's fine, too."

Quinn looks around. Everyone looks excited to go (to varying extents). "Sounds fun. When do we leave?"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

They ended up taking two Ubers to get there, cramming in to get everyone in so they wouldn't need a third car. The bar is already busy when they arrive and packed with young adults. The group walks in and immediately searches for an open table or two.

"Rachel! Over here!"

Quinn sees a hot guy waving at them. She also sees the way his eyes scan Rachel's body. She does look good. Too thin, but well dressed, hair styled, nice makeup, and very happy. The group heads over to him.

"Hi, Brody!" Rachel and this 'Brody' hug. "These are the rest of my friends that you haven't met yet. That's Sam, Noah, Brittany, and this is Quinn. She goes to Yale and is visiting for the weekend."

"Nice to meet you all. And nice to see you again Santana, Finn, Kurt." They shake hands. "So! Whenever you're ready to sing, just tell Pascal. He's a friend of mine so tell him I sent you. And I hope to sing with you, Rachel."

His eyes jump to Finn. Honestly, so do Quinn's. Finn is very much the jealous type. It surprises her then, when Finn smiles and nods. "After she sings with me, of course."

"Of course." Brody easily agrees. "Drinks, anyone?"

Puck and Santana agree, but the others shake their heads. Brody turns to Rachel.

She shrugs. "I can't. I'm seventeen."

His jaw drops and he actually takes a step back. "Wait, what?! You're seventeen? Still? W-when do you turn eighteen?"

"In December."

Brody stares at her. "I forgot you said you skipped a year. Fuck. I dodged a bullet."

The others break out into laughter. Rachel, however, frowns. "What are you talking about?"

"You're jailbait! I was flirting with you until I found out you had a boyfriend! I fantasized about kissing you! And you're seventeen?! You're jailbait."

"Only for two more months!"

Brody spins to look at Finn. "Dude. Keep her close. I'm not the only one with a crush on her on campus and I don't want anyone to get in trouble because they didn't know how young she is."

"Noted. I can't exactly blame them." Finn smirks. "Besides, Yero here will attack anyone who tries to hurt her or get too close without her permission."

"Good to hear. With that, I need a stiff drink."

Brody is turning to leave when two tall girls pass by their table. The taller one with dark hair sneers at Rachel. "Well, if it isn't little Miss Make-a-Wish."

Quinn's stomach swoops and heat builds in her stomach. She wants to smack this bitch. From the looks on her friend's faces, she's not the only one feeling this way. Brittany appears to be holding Santana back while simultaneously fighting back her own glare.

Rachel glowers. "Well if it isn't Miss Flat."

The group splutters out their laughter. The tall girl crosses her arms, hiding her very flat chest. "Speak for yourself! You have no breasts, either!"

Rachel gives her a look. "I meant musically. You tend to go flat. But the other is true, too."

The laughter increases. When Tall Bitch opens her mouth to retaliate, Brody waves her off. "No. Rachel won that round."

Tall Bitch's mouth drops open. "But—"

"Nope. She was 100% right. She won. You lost. Leave, Bethany."

With a huff, the girls spin on their heels and storm off. Brody gives Yero a quick pet, waves goodbye, and leaves as well, joining his own group of friends.

"Who was that bitch?" Santana asks angrily.

"One of many. I can handle them." Rachel insists quietly.

"There are others like that?" Quinn asks her.

"At least one in every class. They think that because I'm sick I shouldn't be here. They give me a hard time about it. It's slowed down now. Most have backed off and leave me alone. Some have even taken the time to get to know me, like Brody. But some….like her….I think will always be bitchy. Brody thinks it's 'cause they're jealous of my talent."

"It's very likely." Kurt nods.

"But you've made friends?"

"Yes, Mom." Rachel grins at her.

Quinn rolls her eyes. "You know what I mean. I know it's hard to make friends when you don't know anyone on campus."

"But I'm assuming you have. You're too amazing to not have made friends by now." Rachel states candidly.

Again, Quinn feels warm inside. "I've made a few."

The group is talking for several minutes when someone runs up and slams into Rachel's back, wrapping her in a tight hug. Rachel quickly grabs the table to stay on her stool. Finn, who is next to her, grabs her arm to help steady her. Considering the flash of pain that crosses her face, Quinn can only imagine that this hug is hurting her ever-present bruises.

"Rachel!"

Rachel laughs. After all this time, Quinn is still amazed at how easily she can brush off pain that would probably stop most people in their tracks. "Hi, Lydia. Having fun?"

The flushed girl nods, a smile stretching from ear to ear. She's drunk. "It's so much fun here! And thanks again for your help earlier today. You're awesome!"

"Thanks, you're welcome, and so are you." Rachel responds patiently with an amused smile.

"Are you gonna sing? You should sing! I'm so glad you're here."

"I'll sing." She promises.

"Good. See you later, Rachel!"

"Bye, Lydia."

Finn convinces Rachel to move so that she's sitting on the bench portion, with her back to the half wall. That way no other well-meaning drunks can accidentally knock her over. The group goes back to talking and listening to whoever is singing for a while. They discuss who will sing what. Quinn is mildly annoyed that no one has told her why Rachel is still so skinny. Actually, unless she's mistaken, Quinn thinks Rachel is thinner now than she was when she left for New York almost two months ago. She'll demand answers from Brittany and Kurt later tonight. Her eyes focus on the small diva. Other than being a little pale and very thin, she really does seem fine, though. That eases some of her worries. The girl is happily chattering away and waving her hands enthusiastically. Yero grabs Rachel's purse with his mouth and hands it to her. The others watch curiously as the girl pulls out her ringing phone and looks down at it with a small frown. Rachel pales.

"Shit. I forgot to call my mom earlier. I got so excited about Quinn coming that it slipped my mind!"

"Better answer it." Puck advises.

Rachel answers the FaceTime from her mom. "Hi, Mom."

It's loud in the bar, but Quinn is sitting close enough that she can just make out what Mrs. Matthews is saying.

"Hi, honey. Where are you?"

"Uh….a bar. A karaoke bar! It's a NYADA tradition to sing here! I'm singing, not drinking, I swear. I know I'm too young and it would interfere with my medication, so I can't. I wouldn't risk it."

"Good girl. I'm glad to hear it."

Rachel turns the phone so everyone else can wave and say "hi" before turning it back to herself.

"Alright, I won't keep you. I just got worried when I didn't hear from you."

"I'm sorry." Rachel insists sincerely. "I stayed late to help a classmate with a dance move, then got excited for Quinn to come and started baking brownies and forgot to call you. I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

"Since you answered my call now, it's okay. If you hadn't—"

"You'd be on your way here." Rachel smirks.

Mrs. Matthew laughs. "Possibly. Or I'd be calling all the others, asking th—Noah, are you drinking beer?"

Puck is sitting next to Rachel and in view of the camera. The boy goes pale and panics. "Uh—"

Puck quickly stands and hands the beer over the top of the half wall behind them. Brody and his friends are on the other side. Brody takes the bottle with a confused look.

"—nope. I was…..holding it for someone. He's back from the bathroom now, so I….gave it back."

"Uh—huh."

Curious, Brody leans over the half wall to get a closer look. His face brightens. "Hey, is that your mom, Rachel?" The girl nods happily. "So that's what you'll look like when you grow up? Lucky you."

Everyone laughs, including Mrs. Matthews. "Oh, I like him. Who is that?"

"Hi, I'm Brody." He says with a charming smile.

"Oh, you're Brody! It's very nice to meet you. And thank you for helping my baby girl."

"Mom!" Rachel's tone and face are flooded with embarrassment. Quinn is laughing.

"Brody, honey, they're all underage. None of them should be drinking." She states firmly.

"Understood, Rachel's mom."

"Thank you but you can go now, Weston." Rachel uses her free hand to try to shove Brody back over the half wall. The boy laughs but goes willingly.

"Berry!" Everyone looks over at the very drunk man shouting happily. "You gonna sing?"

"Hi, Brian! Yes, I'll sing." She calls over.

"Woo! That girl can sing!"

Rachel flushes. "I'll talk to you tomorrow, Mom."

"Bye, honey. Have fun! Someone record all the singing you guys do tonight!"

"I will, Aunt Shelby!" Kurt calls.

"Good. Bye everyone!"

The others call out their goodbye's. Quinn detects a fair amount of relief when Rachel puts her phone away. The younger girl may miss her mom, but talking to her while she's at a bar with her friends is…..odd. Quinn gets it. The group takes turns singing; solos, duets, and small group numbers. They're quite proud to be a hit with the rest of the patrons. Especially considering only Rachel is currently a student at NYADA. Of course, as good as they all are, Rachel's performances are a cut above. In the short time she's been attending NYADA, Quinn can already hear a difference in her signing. She's improved and that's saying something. Rachel sings "Faithfully" with Finn, then "Give Your Heart a Break" with Brody. Quinn and Puck sing a duet and she can't help but note that they sound amazing together.

"You mentioned having a doctor's appointment in a few weeks, right?" Brody asks. At Rachel's confused nod, he whispers a song suggestion in her ear. She laughs heartily before nodding.

"Yes! It's perfect!" She refuses to say what song it is before heading up to the stage. Once on the stage, Rachel winks at them.

"Don't bring me bad news, no bad news
I don't need none of your bad news today
You're a sad little boy, anyone can see
You're just a sad little boy
That's why you're carrying on that way

Why don't you burn it all down, burn your own house down
Burn your own house down, try to kill your own disease
And leave the rest of us, there's a lot of us
Leave the rest of us, who want to live in peace, to live in peace

I'm gonna find me a man, love him so well
Love him so strong, love him so slow
We're going to go way beyond the walls of this fortress
And we won't be afraid, we won't be afraid

And though the darkness may come our way
We won't be afraid to be alive any more

And we'll grow kindness in our hearts
For all the strangers among us
Till there are no strangers anymore

Don't bring me bad new, no bad news
I don't need none of your bad news today
You can't have my fear, I've got nothing to lose
Can't have my fear, I'm not getting out of here alive anyway

And I don't need none of these things
I don't need none of these things I've been handed
And the bird of peace is flying over
She's flying over and coming in for a landing"

She ends with a flourish, belting the last word to much applause from the other patrons of the bar. Quinn is smiling and applauding, amused by the song selection but also proud and pleased of how well Rachel is handling everything. She seems to be in good spirits despite everything.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It was a fun night but a long day. Quinn isn't surprised that Rachel was falling asleep in the Uber on the way home. She watches quietly as Santana wraps an arm around Rachel's waist and the two girls giggle the whole way up the stairs to their room before shutting the door.

"Did she need help up the stairs?" Quinn asks the group.

Her friends share a look. "Probably not, but we're not risking it. She's had a long day and long night. She's normally asleep by now. We don't take any risks with her. Just to be safe."

"Okay. That makes sense. I couldn't help but notice that…..she's…..really skinny."

"Yeah." Finn mumbles. "She's had some days of being too tired or nauseous to eat anything, and ended up sleeping through dinner. We only know if she eats lunch if one of us is able to join her for lunch on campus, but now that we're all busy, that's happening less and less. We're just trusting her to answer honestly when we ask her what she had for lunch and how much of it she ate. But she threw up after her last two treatments. Like a lot. Couldn't keep anything down for the rest of the day, either."

"And with her dance classes and walking around campus between classes, she's been getting more exercise. Exercise that her body isn't used to and she doesn't need." Puck says.

Kurt sighs. "We think it's a combination of the extra physical activity she's doing and throwing up after treatments and sleeping through dinner sometimes that is causing her weight loss. We're hoping. We'll know for sure in a couple weeks after her next appointment."

"What'll happen if she dropped? If she's like stage two? Or worse?" Quinn frets.

"Worse-worse? Aunt Shelby will take her home. Stage two? I guess it depends. She'll probably want to take Rachel home, but to be fair, she was going to let Rachel come to NYADA when she was still stage two, so….she has no reason to take her home just because of that. I mean if her symptoms get worse or she's not keeping up with her classes, then maybe she'll go home."

"She'll hate it. Even though she's exhausted a lot, her dance teacher gives her a really hard time, and she has some nasty classmates, she still loves it at NYADA." Brittany says. "She'd be devastated to have to leave. I think she'd leave willingly, or you know, not fight it, if she was actually feeling too sick to keep up with her classes. But as long as she can keep up, she won't be willing to leave."

Quinn hesitates to ask what she really wants to ask. "I…..look, I'm really happy for Rachel that she's getting to work towards her dream and she's clearly happy. She deserves it. But….isn't it….stressful for you guys?"

They share a look then start laughing.

Finn explains. "We were talking about that the other night after she went to bed. And to be honest? No. I mean, yeah, it'll always be stressful in a way. Someone we love is seriously ill. But it's nowhere near as bad as we feared it'd be. With all of us helping out, it's really not too stressful. None of us are upset or feeling any strain."

"Plus just seeing her so happy and excited makes it worth it." Kurt admits quietly. "She's suffered so much. She deserves to do what makes her happy. Her spirits are high. That alone makes our jobs easier."

"And think about it," Sam grins, "all we're really doing is spending time with a friend we love. It sucks when she's in pain or throwing up, but otherwise it's been going pretty smoothly."

The others nod happily. Quinn feels a little guilty for assuming it'd be stressful to live with Rachel while she's still sick. More than that, she's relieved. For all of them.

"That's good to hear. And it's been a long day for me too, so I'm gonna go to bed if that's okay."

"Of course! C'mon!"

Brittany jumps up and loops her arm through Quinn's. She chats happily up to her room, getting quieter as they near the top of the stairs.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mike's arrival the next day is greeted with as much enthusiasm as Quinn's. Everyone hugs him tight and they happily listen to his stories of how his dance school is going. The group of friends have a great time hanging out and catching up. It's so reminiscent of their time hanging out at their spot in the woods, that they joke about starting a small fire. But it makes all of them smile.

They do a little traditional sight seeing around the city. Everyone was pleased that Rachel didn't hesitate to tell them when she needed to slow down or take a break. It generally worked out well, since someone always had to go to the bathroom or wanted a drink or snack at those times, so they happily took advantage of the breaks. It was a really fun day. Quinn had a hard time saying goodbye to them all on Sunday. She's jealous of Mike, who gets to stay a whole week while his campus plumbing is being repaired. With a promise of returning for another weekend in the near future, Quinn heads back to Yale.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"The tango. It's a requirement as it's a popular dance in many shows. Pair up, people!"

Eager, Rachel looks around for a partner. Maybe Devon will be willing—nope he's already paired up. Before she can ask someone else to partner with her, Ms. July walks up to her.

"Not you, Schwimmer. The tango is all about sex. And you don't have enough sex appeal to pull off a credible tango. You're awkward and tentative in your body and you move like you're ashamed of it."

"I—" Insulted, Rachel opens her mouth to argue. She's not ashamed of her body, but she supposes tentative is fair. She sometimes moves tentatively, but that's because she never knows if she'll get dizzy or something. It's not her fault.

"Besides, we're short a guy. You don't have a partner. Just….practice your jazz hands in the corner or something."

Looking around, she realizes Ms. July is right. Everyone is already paired off. Sighing in disappointment, Rachel takes a seat and pets Yero. She watches and takes mental notes. Maybe someone can help her practice at home tonight. She perks up, realizing that Mike, who is a guy and an excellent dancer, is staying with them. Surely he'll be willing to help her practice it at home. Since dance is her last class of the day, Rachel heads towards the entrance to wait for whoever is picking her up today. She moves slowly, her stomach flipping mildly. She hates being nauseous. She'd rather deal with a headache than worry she's going to throw up. Especially when she's not at home.

"What's wrong?"

Looking up, she sees Brody sitting on a nearby bench.

Frowning lightly, she tries to phrase her question politely, not wanting to offend him. "You weren't sitting here waiting for me, were you?" She doesn't need a babysitter. She likes having him around as a friend, not as another minder.

"No. It's a beautiful day and it's starting to cool down. Okay, so sitting here has the added benefit of getting to watch you leave campus after dance class, but it's not my main reason for sitting here." He grins.

She sighs but decides to let it go. She won't be treated normal until she's in remission and she needs to accept that. Besides, she has a favor to ask of him. She hadn't though of it until she saw him sitting there. He frowns.

"Seriously, what's wrong?"

"So, Cassie said that I, uh, wasn't sexy."

Brody shakes his head. "You're crazy sexy."

Rachel looks down, knowing that's not true. Especially not now. She knows she's too skinny. Her torso is littered with bruises. Add on feeling nauseous and throwing up a lot…..it's not exactly sexy. "No, um, I'm not, but, uh, I'd really love it if you would dance with me. 'Cause there aren't enough guys in my class."

Her stomach sinks when she sees his hesitation. "Cassie doesn't allow upperclassmen to perform in her class. She would have a fit."

And the last thing Rachel wants it to piss her off even more. The woman already hates her. "Got it. Got it. Sorry."

Brody, seeing how disappointed she is, quickly changes his tune. "Which is why it would be so much fun to do it."

Rachel laughs lightly. "Thanks, Brody. I appreciate your offer, but I don't want to piss her off any more. She already hates me and I don't want to make it worse. And I don't want to risk her getting mad at you. Seriously, I'll just sit out this week. Thanks, though."

"I'm sorry. But, you know, it might end up being a good thing."

"Brody…if you mention rest and not pushing myself, I may have to slap you. You wouldn't be wrong, but I already know and I'm already tired of hearing it." Seeing the look on his face, she groans. "I'm sorry. I'm not trying to be a bitch, it's just frustrating. And I'm not feeling great right now, which is making me a little short tempered. So sorry."

He leans back. "I get it. And I find it a little funny that I didn't even have to say anything. You're not feeling well?"

"Just mildly nauseous and…..blah. It's normal. I'll take some medicine when I get home."

"Alright. Let me know if you change your mind about having me join you in your dance class."

"Thanks, Brody."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Are you kidding me?" Mike asks incredulously. "Of course I'll help you! I can practice with you now, but…wouldn't it be better if I joined your dance class? So you can participate in class?"

Rachel blinks. "You wouldn't mind?"

"Would I mind dancing with one of my best friends? Uh, no. Not at all. It'll be fun!"

She laughs and hugs him in thanks.

Santana taps her chin thoughtfully. "It'd also help your sex appeal if you wore a more mature dance outfit. You feeling up to a little shopping?"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Rachel absolutely loves her new dance outfits. They're more mature and more…sexy. Not that she feels sexy, but the outfit helps. Santana and Brittany helped her pick them out. The boys all gave their seal of approval. It helped. But Finn taking the time to make out with her, kissing her all over, while murmuring about how sexy she is…..that's what really helped boost her confidence. She walks into dance class with a smile and her head up. She's going to dance the tango today and show Cassandra July just how sexy she can be. She excitedly leads Mike into the dance room. Wanting to be respectful, she and Mike went early to ask permission ahead of time.

"You're dressed like a Walgreens underwear model. And who is this and what are they doing here?"

"This is Mike. He's a friend of mine. I asked him to come dance with me since there aren't enough guys in my class. I want to learn the tango."

Ms. July's brow furrows and she looks Mike over speculatively. "Hm. Well, he looks like he can dance. Think you can keep up?"

"I can. I attend Joffrey Ballet school in Chicago."

Ms. July's face lightens and her eyebrows shoot up. "Seriously? Prove it."

He starts with a mock bow and smirk, then dances around the room in an impressive display of skill and agility. Ms. July is grinning. Rachel squashes down her mild jealousy over not ever getting anything resembling praise in this class. Dancing isn't her forte. It's Mike's. Just like she excels at singing and Mike doesn't. So she's easily able to stomp it out and smile proudly at her friend.

"Okay. I suppose you can stay and help out. Did you leave Joff just to come dance with her?" She asks curiously.

"No," Mike admits, "there was a plumbing issue and the campus closed down. I decided to spend my time here with friends. The timing just worked out in our favor. I'll be here for the week, though, and I'd love to attend with Rachel."

Ms July shrugs. "Sure. It'll be nice to have someone who can actually dance in this class."

Rachel rolls her eyes behind Ms. July's back. Still, she's giddy. She gets to dance the tango and she gets to do it with Mike. She's comfortable with him. There's the added bonus that Mike is very used to handling mild attacks and dizziness that sometimes pop up. He won't make a big deal out of it. With him, she can relax, have fun, and learn the tango.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Joff campus ended up being ready to resume classes sooner than expected. This disappointed Mike, but he also didn't delay getting back to Chicago. He said his goodbyes, promised to see them over Thanksgiving, and headed off. Another surprise came that week; a phone call from Mr. Schuester to Noah. Apparently, Noah has a half brother who now attends McKinley and the kid is spiraling out of control. In shock, Noah headed back to Lima to meet his half brother and talk to him. Finn and Sam both offered to go with him, but Noah said it was something he had to do alone.

Kurt's been thrilled with his internship at working for Isabelle Wright. He's made some great suggestions and has had a blast getting to know these incredible designers. Since he's well liked and they love his ideas and enthusiasm, he is often invited to spend time with them outside of work, though the adults tease him as they hand him nonalcoholic drinks. Best of all, he has been getting a lot of praise for his own design ideas when he tentatively shares them. The fact that Isabelle told him she wouldn't be surprised if he ended up being highly sought after for his designs shocked him. It has made him start thinking about possibly going into fashion instead of musical theater. He's talked it over a lot with Rachel, Blaine, his dad, and the others. For now, while waiting for NYADA to tell him he's in, he'll focus on his fashion dreams. Once he's accepted to NYADA, he'll attend and reevaluate his future.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Rachel sits up straight, her entire being filling with alarm. "Mom? What happened? Are you okay?!"

Her mom smiles at her through her phone screen, shaking her head ruefully. "I'm fine, honey. It's just a few bruises."

"What happened?" Her eyes examine the bruise on her mother's face as well as she can through a phone camera.

"I was in a car accident. Someone was texting while driving and ran a red light. Neither of us were going very fast, so I'm fine. Nothing serious, I promise. It's literally just a few bruises."

"Are you sure?" Rachel asks uncertainly.

"I'm sure, baby girl. I am truly fine. They don't even hurt."

"Did you go to the hospital to get checked out?"

Her mother's face is full of understanding. "Yes. Scott insisted, just to be safe. I got checked over by paramedics and by doctors in the emergency room. They all agree; it's just a few bruises. I'm truly fine."

Some of Rachel's nerves are soothed by that, but knowing she can't hug her mom or see her in person to be sure makes tears prick the backs of her eyes. She blinks them away, not wanting to let her mom know how upset she is by this. If she wants people to believe her when she says she's fine, then she needs to believe them, too. So if her mom says she's fine, then she's fine.

"Okay. If you're sure."

"I am. Honestly, my bruises aren't even as bad as yours usually are." Her mom insists with a smile.

Rachel chuckles a little at that. "How about the car?"

"Ah. The car. It's pretty banged up. It's drivable, but not in good shape. I've been wanting a new car, so this isn't a big deal. I'm just getting a new car a little earlier than I intended. I'm actually pretty happy about that. Getting a new car is exciting. I love new car smell."

Seeing that her mom truly does seem fine and happy, Rachel relaxes even more. "Are you going to get another SUV?"

"Yes. I'm used to them and they hold a lot. And they're pretty sturdy."

They talk for a while longer, with her mom asking about how classes are going (as well as the usual questions checking in on her symptoms). It ends on a positive note, but Rachel can't shake the unease from their conversation. Rachel heads downstairs, still frowning.

"What's wrong, Tink?"

"My mom was in a car accident." Everyone turns to her in alarm, so she's quick to reassure them. "She's fine. Just a few bruises. She needs a new car but she seems pretty happy about that."

They all instantly relax. It amazes Rachel and makes her a little jealous. She wishes she could brush it off that easily. Realizing she's being ridiculous, she pushes it all away and focuses on her homework.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"You're sure? You've seen her?" Rachel asks worriedly.

Uncle Burt chuckles. "Yes. Seriously, your mom is fine. She and Scott had dinner with us. We spent a while talking about what kind of car she should get. Your mom is fine, princess. I promise."

Rachel releases a breath. "Okay. Have you gotten used to a quiet house, yet?"

"Nope. It'll take a little longer, I think. Kurt and your mom both told me that some of your classmates are still giving you a hard time?"

"Not many anymore. Right now, there's really only like….three who are still mean. It's fine. I can handle it. Especially since everyone else is either fine or nice. We're all competing for the same thing; Broadway. So it makes sense that there'll be some animosity. I just didn't expect it to begin freshman year."

They talk a little longer and Rachel settles down even more. She enjoys talking to him almost as much as she enjoys talking to her mom.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Kurt rambles excitedly about all the incredible designs and ideas he participates in at work. Rachel smiles and wonders if fashion really should be his new focus instead of performing. Or somehow do both. Her brother has been a little upset lately. She knows he really misses Blaine and hates that they don't even get to talk as much lately, considering how busy Kurt is with his new job. However, she thinks he's also a little homesick. So is she. They miss their parents and she doesn't think there's anything wrong with that. Not that either of them are admitting it; but they both know. Rachel wonders how many of her friends are starting to feel a little homesick. The excitement of starting a new chapter of their lives and all living together in New York is starting to wear off. Now, in October, they've settled into a routine and are calming down. They have a new normal that no longer includes seeing their parents, families, or other friends often. For some, that's a hard adjustment.

Rachel is glad she's not nauseous at this treatment; she's tired of throwing up. But her head is starting to hurt and she feels really weak. Disturbingly weak. Like lifting her hand to grab her phone is hard. Kurt notices and trails off worriedly.

"Rach?"

Even opening her mouth to talk seems to be a challenge. She works up the strength to mutter out a single word. "Head." It's not a perfect descriptor of how she's feeling, but it was the easiest. And better than trying to explain the weakness. Besides, maybe if her head starts feeling better she'll start feeling stronger, too.

Kurt kisses her forehead and leaves without a word. About a minute later he returns with a nurse. She checks Rachel's vitals, gets her to confirm that she's in pain, then hands her two little pills in a small plastic cup. Acetaminophen. Rachel knows it won't be enough, but the clinic doesn't like providing anything stronger. Hoping it'll be enough to make the ride home manageable, Rachel reaches for it. The cup slips from her hand and clatters on the ground. The nurse, who had been leaving, spins back around. She comes closer and shines a light in Rachel's eyes, then takes her hands.

"Squeeze my hands as hard as you can." She says softly, mindful of Rachel's headache. Rachel does. The nurse frowns. "Can you squeeze any harder than that?"

Annoyed, Rachel squeezes harder.

"Okay, thank you. Are you feeling dizzy?"

"No."

"Weak?"

"Yes."

"Whole body or just arms?"

"Whole."

"Okay. Stay put."

It seems like a stupid thing to say, but Rachel gives a slight nod. Kurt takes her hand and scoffs lightly.

"What a moron. Where exactly are you going to go?"

The corner of her mouth quirks up. They don't have to wait long before the on-site doctor comes over. He looks Rachel over thoroughly, asks her a few questions, and gets her to do a few simple tasks such as touching her nose with her finger, giving him a high five, and lifting her feet. Then he turns to Kurt.

"The weakness seems more excessive than usual for this sort of treatment. Most likely she just needs rest. I'm going to send her home, but keep a closer eye on her tonight. Someone must literally be by her side at all times. Someone must be close enough to reach out to grab her at all times. If the weakness persists tomorrow morning, take her to the hospital. If it gets worse tonight, to the point that she can't move or hold anything on her own, take her to the hospital. However, I really do believe that all she needs is sleep."

Kurt's face is pale and grim. "I understand. Thank you, doctor."

Finn returns to the clinic in an Uber to pick them up. Rachel sits silent and still while Kurt quietly tells Finn what the doctor said. Finn closes his eyes and he rubs a hand over his face. Guilt for worrying them fills her. When he reopens his eyes, he is calmer. The boys help her into a wheelchair under the watchful eyes of the nurse. Finn lifts her into the back of the Uber. She remains silent, leaning against Kurt, the entire ride home. Finn carries her inside. Because she has to be watched closely, the boys decide not to take her to her room. Instead, they set her on the couch. Kurt runs upstairs to get her pillow, blanket, and stronger pain med. Once they've got her settled, she closes her eyes. She's still awake and listening while the boys tell the others what the doctor said. She hates the tense silence that follows. She's stage one. She should be getting better. But she's not.

Sleep is trying to pull her under, but something is keeping her awake. It's not the headache. That's nearly gone, now that the good meds are kicking in. After a couple minutes, she figures out what's bugging her. She bites her lip, debating whether to say anything or keep quiet. After mulling it over, she decides that he won't mind. He'll want her to be comfortable, even if it's embarrassing to ask for. Hell, he'll probably be quite pleased with this request.

"Finn."

Her boyfriend had been playing a game on his phone, but drops it the instant she calls out to him. "Yeah?"

"Do me a favor?"

The tall man kneels on the floor beside the couch and leans over her so that his ear is by her mouth. She supposes that means she wasn't talking very loud. "Name it."

"I want—" Her eyes flick to Brittany before she finishes her request. "—my bra off."

Finn pulls back and stares at her with an amused grin. "You actually want me to undress you in the living room? In a house with five other people?"

Embarrassed, she burrows under the blanket. "It's uncomfortable! It's rubbing my skin."

His low chuckle has her flushing. "Brittany, can you make sure no one enters the living room for a couple minutes?"

Rachel peeks out from under the blanket to watch the interaction. Brittany sets her own phone down and tilts her head in curiosity.

"Why?"

Finn glances down at her. Knowing Brittany has zero sense of modesty, Rachel shrugs. Finn nods. "Rach wants to take her bra off. It's rubbing her skin and making her uncomfortable."

Brittany's face lights up. "Oh! Yeah, it sucks when that happens. Especially after a long day. It's hard to sleep with a bra on. Rach, why don't I just go get you pajamas? We can help you change."

Rachel is already dressed in comfortable lounge clothes; she always dresses casually for treatments. However, this is a new bra and not a particularly comfortable one. She will not be buying another. "Thanks, but I just need the bra off."

Brittany giggles and stands guard in the doorway. "Coast is clear, captain!"

Rachel wonders how much of their good humor is an act. Yes, it's a fairly amusing situation, but she also knows they're really worried about her. Hell, she's worried about her. She decides it doesn't matter. She's glad they're being a little goofy and tries to relax and join in the good humor. Instead of focusing on the fact that she's too weak to take off her own clothes at stage one, she enjoys the feel of her boyfriend's attentions. Finn's large hands slide under her shirt and up her back. Rachel shivers, but not from the cool air. His fingers deftly unclip her bra. He takes his time, letting his fingers dance along her skin. He slowly pulls her up to a sitting position and helps her slide her arms out of her shirt. Arms free, he quickly pulls off the bra and tosses it aside. Rachel's eyes move to the doorway; Brittany is still acting as a sentry. Finn's fingers gently rub along the lines left behind by the bra. Rachel hums softly and leans into him. His lips graze the shell of her ear and she shivers again. She is equal parts relieved and disappointed when he stops his caresses and helps her put the shirt back on. He smirks at her, his eyes sparkling as he teases her.

"Admit it. You just wanted a little romantic attention. It's alright. You can tell me."

"Right. With Brittany standing six feet away."

"I won't listen if you wanna, you know, do stuff!" The tall blonde calls to them without turning around.

"Thanks, Britt, but we'll pass."

He helps her get comfortable lying down again, then kisses her gently.

"Can you put my bra away? I don't want it seen."

"Sure." Finn shoves the bra under his shirt. "You're right. This does chafe the skin." She giggles and he winks at her.

He taps out Brittany, asking her to go back and sit by Rachel while he jogs up the steps to put her bra in her room. Finally comfortable, Rachel falls asleep before he comes back downstairs.

At some point in the night, she wakes up to find Kurt wrapped around her, Finn sleeping on the recliner, and Brittany curled up on the loveseat. Knowing it'd be best to wake someone, she nudges Kurt. He wakes quickly and immediately asks her how she's feeling.

"Better."

Kurt frowns. "But still not 100%?"

"When am I ever 100%?" She asks irritably, her good humor from before gone. His face falls. Crap. "I'm sorry, Kurt. I didn't mean to say that. I'm just tired and frustrated."

He kisses her cheek. "I get it. You feel up to eating?"

She's not particularly hungry but she's not nauseous either, so she nods. He reheats the leftovers from dinner and plays on his phone while she eats. She sets her plate down on the coffee table when she's done. Kurt puts his phone down.

"So, um….I talked to your mom yesterday since you weren't up to calling her. And she's putting her foot down. You're not to go to class tomorrow. No matter how you feel."

Rachel sighs but nods. While she has missed a couple classes so far, this will be her first (and hopefully only) time missing a whole day. As much as she hates it, she knows her mom is right and she should stay home to rest. Besides, she's not completely sure she'd even be up to going. She's nowhere near as weak as she was at her treatment, but she can tell she's still not up to her normal levels yet.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"So….you're not sick? Your sister is." Isabelle asks over the phone. "And that's why you're calling out today?"

Kurt bites his lip. He hasn't told anyone at work about Rachel's condition yet. Not only did it not come up, but he kind of liked having a place where it….never came up. He could take a step away from it for a few hours every day. "Yeah. I, uh…..I've told you a little about my sister, but I left out a pretty major thing. She's sick. Rachel has a life threatening condition. Our parents let her come to the city because I'd be here with her, and so would her boyfriend and a bunch of our close friends. But after her treatment yesterday, she became extremely weak. And that's not normal. Not to that degree, anyway. The doctor at the clinic said she needs to rest. But she can't be left alone. Everyone else has work or classes, and if I went to work while someone else stayed with her, I'd spend the whole day worrying about her and checking in on her. So it'd be best if I stay home with her."

For a long moment, there's silence on the other end of the line. "I had no idea."

"That's my fault, not yours!" Kurt is quick to point out. "I didn't say anything."

He can hear her tapping her well manicured nails on her desk while she thinks. "Is she okay?"

"She will be. She just needs to rest today. I'll make sure she stays in bed as long as possible and takes it easy."

"Okay. Well, we'll definitely miss you around here, but I understand. Thank you for telling me, Kurt. Take all the time you need, okay?"

Relieved, Kurt assure her he'll be back soon. "Thank you, Isabelle! I'm sure I'll be back tomorrow. If she needs to stay home another day, someone else will stay with her."

After his phone call with his boss, he makes breakfast. He let Rachel sleep in a little, but considering how much she slept yesterday, he decides it's okay to wake her to make her eat something. Wanting her to stay in bed for as long as possible, he carries everything upstairs on a tray. Thankfully she doesn't take long to rouse. She's obviously touched that he brought her breakfast in bed. Brother and sister sit on her bed and eat breakfast together, occasionally tossing bits of bacon down to Yero to eat. When they finish, Kurt insists she go back to sleep. He's not sure if he's relieved or worried when she immediately agrees. Thankfully, the day goes smoothly. Rachel stays in bed for nearly half the day, sleeping. When she's awake, she doesn't fight him on taking it easy. She never argues or complains. She does roll her eyes and tell him he's being a little over the top, but that's about it.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Santana quickly sits up in bed and looks over to the other occupant of the room. Confirming that she heard right and Rachel is crying, she hurries over to the other bed. She frowns worriedly, but her friend seems to just be crying, not having an attack. Yero is lying next to her but not acting how he does when something is wrong, so Santana calms down a little.

"Rachel?" She slides onto the bed and wraps her arms around the girl. "What's wrong?"

Rachel curls into her and continues to cry. Santana rubs her back and waits. After a couple minutes, the diva calms down.

"Sorry." Rachel mumbles, wiping her eyes.

"Whatever. Just tell me what's wrong."

"It's stupid." Santana stares at her until she sighs and gives in. "It was just a nightmare."

Santana frowns again. It's not surprising, but the things she could be having a nightmare about are serious. "What about?"

"My mom." Her voice wavers. "The accident. I had a dream that she died."

After her brief explanation, her face crumbles and more tears leak out. Santana wipes them away. "It's okay. She didn't die. She just got some bruises and a new car."

"I know. It was just a nightmare."

"Call your mom. She'll make you feel better."

Rachel looks at her in indignation. "Call her? Now? It's two in the morning! She'd panic and then she'd be up the rest of the night! It's a school night and she has work tomorrow!"

"And you have class tomorrow. If you feel up to going."

"I do. I missed yesterday, I'm not going to miss another day." She'd still been pretty weak yesterday, but got stronger as the day went on.

"You will if you don't feel up to it." Santana says firmly. She will tie this stubborn girl to the bed if she has to.

"I know. I've been good about not pushing myself, haven't I?"

"You have." And she has. She also hasn't fussed with them when they insist she rest or eat or something. "Think you can go back to sleep?"

"Yeah. Thanks, San."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Rachel knows Santana was annoyed and disappointed that she didn't tell her mother about her nightmare. But it was just a stupid nightmare. There is no reason to tell her mom about it. Besides, she knows how ridiculous it was. Her mom is alive and well. Her bruises are already fading! That makes Rachel a little jealous. Her bruises don't fade that quickly. Classes are going well now. Most people stopped giving her a hard time about being there or looking at her like she's going to drop at any moment. She's had a few mild attacks on campus. Some thankfully went unnoticed by her classmates. The ones that were noticed weren't a big deal. Except the one in dance class when she suddenly stopped dancing and nearly fell over. Her dance partner, Devon, kept her up until it ended. Ms. July had insulted her, but no big deal was made.

Finn is frowning down at his textbook. He's been irritable and snapping at people lately. Noah and Sam took him out to some batting cages to let him get his frustration out physically. They'd had fun. But whenever he's back to studying or going to class, he's back to being miserable. Rachel can't watch him be so unhappy anymore. She sits beside him.

"Finn?"

"Yeah?"

"Take a break?"

Without a second thought, he snaps the book shut. "Sure. What do you want to do?"

"Talk. You seemed frustrated."

"It's this stupid class!"

"Just that class?" She asks tentatively.

He goes quiet. "No. All of them."

"Are you sure you want to be a teacher?"

"I do! But…..I hate school. I hate classes." She doesn't hide her amusement fast enough and he sees it. "It'd be different as the teacher!"

"Would it? You'd have to write lesson plans, teach, grade, prepare lessons and activities—"

"As a gym teacher?"

Rachel shrugs. "Talk to Coach Bieste. Ask her what it's like being a gym teacher."

"That's a pretty good idea, actually."

"I get them occasionally." She jokes and is rewarded with a small smile. "Why do you want to be a teacher?"

"I want to inspire kids the way Mr. Schue does. Teach them, support them, encourage them."

Her heart melts a little. "That's really sweet. But do you have to be a gym teacher to do that?"

"What do you mean?"

"Mr. Schue is a good Spanish teacher, but…..honestly his Spanish isn't that great. It's only when he's coaching Glee that he's inspiring and wonderful."

"Oh." Finn thinks it over. "Yeah, honestly, I think I'd mostly want to coach a Glee club. Or maybe a football team."

"So you want to be a coach more than you want to be a teacher?"

"I…I guess." He looks really confused.

"You don't know for sure?" Rachel presses.

Finn's confused look becomes a glare. "Not everyone goes through life knowing exactly what they want to do! Not all of us are that lucky, Rachel!"

"Right. I'm lucky."

"I wasn't talking about that! Not everything is about your illness!" He snaps.

Anger bubbles in her chest and she lashes out. "Except that I keep working towards my future despite my illness!"

"Again, this goes back to you already knowing what you want to do with absolute certainty! I don't have that! I never have!"

"That's okay! Not everyone does, Finn. Don't get mad at me for knowing what I want or for trying to help you."

"I'm not mad about that!" He argues. "I mean kinda, 'cause it seems like you're rubbing it in my face, but I just don't want to be pushed when I already feel like I'm up against a wall! No room to move, no future!"

"This again? Enough, Finn. You have a future. Stop with the pity party." She takes a breath, trying to calm herself. "Forget it. Now clearly isn't a good time to talk about this. I just wanted to help because I want you to be happy and you don't seem happy."

With that, she stomps out of the kitchen and up to her room.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"I'm sorry."

Rachel looks up from her computer. Finn is standing in her doorway with his hands in his pockets and head bowed. Silently, she closes her laptop and sets it on her nightstand. When she waves Finn into the room, he enters slowly and sits on the bed with her.

"Why did you get so angry? I was just trying to help."

"I'm angry at myself for not figuring out what I want to do yet. And kind of angry at you because…..I know it's stupid, but you already know what you want and are so confident you're on the right path that…..I'm jealous. I know you weren't rubbing it in my face—"

"I really wasn't." She's still a little annoyed about that comment.

"I just feel so uncertain about my future that people who are confident make me feel….like I'm not good enough." He admits.

Rachel shakes her head slowly. "It amazes me that someone as incredible as you has so little self esteem."

Finn scoffs. "I'm not incredible, Rach."

"You are." She feels like she's failing as a girlfriend for not making him feel it. "And one day you'll believe it."

"I barely graduated high school."

"But you did. While leading two different teams to championships. And supporting me, hanging out with your friends, working part time in your stepdad's shop, and taking me on dates. You managed it all. And you did it while remaining strong and good humored. I'm proud of you. You're incredible and you should believe that. You're an amazing friend, son, brother, and boyfriend. The fact that you still don't know for sure what you want to do is not a big deal. You just feel that it is because a lot of the rest of us do. But Santana doesn't. And a lot of other people. At least you have two firm ideas."

Slowly, he nods. She can tell he's still not certain. "You really think I was pitying myself?"

"Kind of. Yeah. Every time you talk about not having a future, you use the same words and the same tone. And it's self pity. Knock it off." She uses a light tone and adds a smile, hoping to take any potential sting out.

It works. He chuckles lightly. "Okay."

"Finn, you really don't seem happy."

"I….."

"Be honest. Please."

"I'm not."

"When are you happy?"

"When I'm with you."

His response is instant and sincere. It calms some of her worries. She knows he loves her, but enough to stay here while miserable? She leans forward and kisses him.

"I'm glad. But I mean besides when you're with me or the others. Besides hanging out with people you love. Really think about it."

"I guess….I'm happy when I'm singing. And when I'm playing football. And when I'm working on a car. But I'm not good enough to sing or play football professionally."

"You could coach. Or do those for fun."

He nods. "Yeah. I guess I could."

"You're happy working on cars?"

He grins slightly. "Yeah. It's fun. I like using my hands. And I'm good at it."

"Do you want my advice?"

"Please!"

She chuckles. "Okay, but it's just advice. Take it or leave it."

"I understand."

"Finish the semester. Do your best. Maybe talk to your school counselor or whoever helps you sign up for classes. Talk to Coach Bieste and maybe even Mr. Schue. Hell, talk to my mom. If at the end of the semester you decide not to become a teacher, drop out and join a technical school to become a mechanic. Or see what the requirements are to become a coach. But if you decide you do want to be a teacher and you're happy to work towards it, then stay on this path. No matter what, I need you to know two things."

Finn is smiling softly at her. "What?"

"First, that you can change your mind at any time. Second, that I'll support whatever you decide. Including if you decide to change your mind again later."

Finn leans over and kisses her. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

Rachel grabs his shirt and pulls him down on top of her, connecting their lips again.

xxxxxxxxxx

A/N: If you're still having trouble with this website, my username is the same on AO3. I post there as well.