Title: What Doors May Open

Pairing: Rachel Berry/Quinn Fabray

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. Just having a little fun.

Summary: AU. Rachel comes out as gay after dumping Finn. People slowly start to find out and, when Head Cheerio, Quinn Fabray finds out, Rachel knows her life will never be the same again.

A/N: Last chapter! I want to thank you all for your reviews; you've all been too kind, and I've appreciated all of your words. It's been fun Faberry fandom! Stay awesome!

Rachel knew something was wrong when Quinn didn't respond to her customary goodnight text last night. Sure, it was a new custom and Quinn could have simply forgotten, but Rachel had a sixth sense about these things. And her sixth sense was telling her that something was wrong.

Her head was practically out of the car window as Hiram pulled into the school parking lot. She saw dots of letterman jackets in a sea of students. But none of them were Quinn.

And it only made Rachel worry more.

"Do you see her, sweetheart?" Hiram asked. He pulled into a parking spot in front of the school, and Rachel rolled her window up with a sigh.

"No. Do you think she told them, dad?"

Hiram's eyebrows furrowed as he looked around them. "I don't know, honey. But would her parents really cut her off from civilization just because she's gay?"

"I wouldn't put anything past her parents," Rachel mumbled. She looked around for Quinn again and unbuckled her seatbelt when she didn't see her. "I should probably go see if she's inside." She reached for the door handle when she felt Hiram's hand wrap around her arm. Morosely, she turned back to him.

"Hey," he said softly. "Stop assuming the worst. For all you know she could be sick right now and out of school or something. She did visit you when you were ill, after all."

By nature Rachel was the type of person who always assumed and prepared for the worst. It had never occurred to her that Quinn really could just be sick and in bed. But a niggling thought in the back of her head was telling her otherwise. Still, she smiled at Hiram in thanks. "Hopefully that's all it is." Her brow furrowed. "Not hopefully that she's sick, or anything—just—"

"I get it," Hiram said with an amused smile. "Now go to school and stop worrying."

Rachel leaned over in her seat to give Hiram a warm hug. "Thank you, dad." She pulled back and got out of the car, waving at him once more before walking into the school. Once inside her shoulders drooped with anxiety she didn't want to show her father. Rachel was almost positive Quinn had told her parents about them, or at the very least, about her sexuality. Hiram didn't see the look of determination laced with fright in Quinn's eyes yesterday like Rachel had. It was determination that would not be deterred, and a surge of dread trickled down Rachel's spine at the thought of Quinn being in any kind of trouble.

Her eyes scanned the hallways diligently for her girlfriend as she walked toward her locker. She didn't really expect to see Quinn and could only sigh when she made it to her locker without having run into her. Worn penny loafers scuffed to a halt at her locker as she heaved a heavy breath.

She caught sight of Cheerio uniforms out of her peripheral as she was spinning her combination into her locker and looked down the hallway towards the familiar colors. Her breath hitched unpleasantly at the sight.

Brittany and Santana were strolling down the hallway. Just Brittany and Santana.

She slammed her locker shut and hurried toward them. "Excuse me," Rachel greeted, stepping into their paths. "Hi—I couldn't help but notice that Quinn isn't with you. Have either of you seen her?"

Brittany placed a finger under her chin as she began to think the question over. Her eyes seemed to sparkle as if a light bulb had gone off in her head. "I totally saw her yesterday." Her face creased into a frown. "You were there. Do you have anesthesia or something?"

"Amnesia," Santana gently corrected with a small smile in Brittany's direction.

"I—well, no, I don't, but I was referring to today, Brittany," Rachel clarified, feeling her patience fray.

"We haven't seen her," Santana continued.

Her shoulders drooped instantly. "Oh," she murmured, gaze lowering as her mind plummeted to the worst case scenario possible.

Santana smirked, completely oblivious as she walked past with Brittany. "Suffering from withdrawals already?"

If only she knew.

Rachel stared blankly at the dry erase board as she wrote down notes on the nervous system. She had noticed that since she and Quinn had started dating her concentration in all of her subjects had substantially been lacking.

It was hard to concentrate on anything when she worried about her girlfriend, worried about whether or not Quinn was crying buckets at her house all alone. Rachel had met Quinn's parents firsthand and was more inclined to call them monsters than anything else. Guilt began to pool in her stomach as she was reminded of the time she had left Quinn at home all alone all weekend after she had come out to Quinn's parents. Quinn had said she had spent the entire weekend in her own room, and Rachel's heart ached at the thought of Quinn doing the exact same thing right now.

All pretenses lost, she fished out her phone from her school bag and began texting Quinn.

Good morning, Quinn. :) I couldn't help but notice that you aren't in school today and wanted to inquire your whereabouts?

Thumbnail firmly between her teeth and an uncomfortable block of lead settling in her stomach, she scrolled through her contacts for the only person who could calm her down right now.

Finn, I don't really have time to explain but Quinn isn't in school today and I'm nervous. Do you think she's okay?

It was an admittedly vague text, but Rachel had long ago learned that Quinn was a private person and didn't like her personal life divulged to anyone under any circumstances.

So, when Finn sent back that he hadn't seen her all day either and asked the logical question of just why wouldn't Quinn be okay, Rachel didn't respond.

Just like Quinn didn't respond to her own message.

Lunch was overly crowded today as it was every Friday when pizza was being served. Rachel opted out of standing in line with Kurt and sat momentarily alone at their usual table. Her hand brushed a wad of gum underneath the table as she drew it up to nervously tuck a lock of hair behind her ear and she nearly hyperventilated. "Gross," she whined.

Kurt dropped his tray on the table and sat down. "Seen her yet?"

She shook her head morosely. "Kurt, I'm worried."

"Maybe it's nothing," he supplied. "After all, she could just be sick."

"Or she could be locked away in her room sobbing because she came out to her parents and they just rejected her," she hissed.

He shot her a dry look. "It's not safe to live in your own head."

Rachel sighed. "Kurt, I'm serious. I'm really worried about her."

"Then text her."

"I did, and she didn't respond."

At that, Kurt lifted his head up and really looked at her. "You have got to calm down before you give yourself a heart attack."

Easier said than done, and Rachel grumbled just as much as she fished her sandwich out of her lunch bag. She couldn't calm down and probably wouldn't until she knew once and for all that Quinn was okay.

Her gaze shot up to Santana who was just leaving the line. She stumbled out of her seat without thought. "I'm going to go see if she's heard anything from Quinn."

"Good luck!" Kurt called unhelpfully from over his shoulder.

Rachel quickly sidestepped a girl with hair that nearly whipped in her face as she walked across the cafeteria. Dread prickled the back of her neck as she made it to the long table in the back of the cafeteria. She caught Puck's gaze and quickly averted her eyes as he winked at her. Catty cheerleaders sneered at her, and she took the long way to walk around them as she finally made it to Santana.

She looked around her then lowered herself toward Santana to keep everyone out of their conversation. "Pardon me, Santana, but I was wondering if you've seen Quinn since the last time I've spoken with you."

"Stalker!" she heard some girl say.

"Seriously, why has she been riding Quinn's jock lately?" another girl crudely asked to Rachel's utter mortification.

"Jealous?" was all Santana prompted with a taunting smirk.

No one else spoke a word, and Rachel didn't dare turn around to see the looks on their faces.

With that, Santana turned back to Rachel. "Still haven't seen her, Berry. Guess she's not here today."

She shrugged as if it was no big deal, and Rachel could feel her shoulders grow heavier with trepidation.

"Alright, guys, let's begin," Mr. Schuester declared.

"W-wait, Mr. Schuester," Rachel stood up to say. Everyone's gaze zeroed in on her, and she could feel the back of her neck grow hot under their scrutiny. "I mean, we should wait for Quinn, right? I mean, she could be here any minute, and I think ten minutes is respectfully customary." She cut her rambling short in embarrassment. She didn't really know why she was wasting precious glee club time when it was clear Quinn wasn't at school today, but a part of her didn't want to believe it.

"Quinn's not coming," Santana said from the back row. Rachel turned to face her. "She's at the nurse."

Rachel's jaw dropped in outrage and surprise. "How long as she been here!" she demanded. "And you failed to inform me, Santana!"

"Don't get your Sears size eight granny panties in a twist, Berry," Santana drawled lazily. "She came after lunch. I saw her in the hallways but when I called her, she kept walking away." She sucked her teeth. "The bitch."

"That's enough, Santana," Mr. Schuester stated authoritatively. "Now that we know that Quinn is here and in the nurse's office and, therefore, won't be joining, let's continue."

"I'm sorry, but I can't," Rachel whispered, turning back around to face Mr. Schuester with inner turmoil shining in her eyes. She loved glee club with all her heart, but, "I have to check on her."

"Since when are you friends with Quinn?" Mike couldn't help but ask from the second row.

"She doesn't have to answer to you, Michael," Santana spat.

Despite the situation, Rachel could feel her chest flutter at the way Santana defended her so fiercely. Perhaps they really were friends, after all.

"Since recent," Rachel declared succinctly. "She and I have a very…deep and genuine friendship that I value and thus, I consider it my duty to check on her and make sure she's okay. Mr. Schuester, I'll return shortly."

Impatient, Rachel stormed out of the choir room without even receiving permission to leave.

The door was ajar and Rachel pushed on it gently, knocking on it as she stepped inside. She saw Mrs. Smith sitting at a desk and smiled. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Smith," Rachel greeted.

Mrs. Smith stood and stepped around the desk with a large smile on her face. "Well, if it isn't my favorite student. No slushie related traumas today, I see."

She ducked her head, smile turning sheepish. "Not today, no." She looked up. "In fact I have not been slushied for quite some time now."

"I haven't seen you around recently," Mrs. Smith conceded. "If I remember correctly, the last time you came here was when you were with your boyfriend because he stepped on her toes." Rachel cringed inside as Mrs. Smith chortled happily. "He never did seem like the best dancer. Such an overgrown child that boy is. But he's a sweetheart. How are you guys?"

"He and I actually aren't together anymore," Rachel drawled out, trying to soften the blow to the woman who had become hers and Finn's biggest advocate during their relationship. "But we're the best of friends." She wrung her hands together, peering past the nurse toward the rooms in the back of the office. "By any chance, Mrs. Smith, would you happen to have a girl by the name of Quinn Fabray here?" she continued, wanting to get to the point.

"The cheerleader, right?" Mrs. Smith asked with a thoughtful frown as Rachel nodded eagerly. "Poor thing's been in here all day. She your friend?"

"A very dear friend," Rachel said somberly. She took a step forward. "Can I see her, please?"

Mrs. Smith hesitated. "She made it explicitly clear that she didn't want visitors today."

Rachel took a step closer, her eyes deep in sincerity as she begged the nurse to understand. "I understand that, but Mrs. Smith, Quinn doesn't really like to be alone," she whispered. "She's probably waiting on me as we speak. And she's a very near and dear friend of mine, and I'd really like to make sure she's alright."

Mrs. Smith's eyes softened as she regarded her favorite student. "You always did have a big heart, Rachel."

Rachel beamed proudly back at the older woman. "May I?"

Mrs. Smith's lips twisted into a playful smile. "Tell you what: I skipped my lunch break today to keep an eye on her. So, I'll be eating in the teacher's lounge." With that, she turned back to her desk and grabbed her lunch bag, flashing another smile at Rachel as she walked away. "I never saw you," she finished as she walked out of the door.

It shut with a finality that made Rachel's heart flutter as she turned back toward the rooms, one of which Quinn would be in. Her feet carried her forward before she even made up her mind to make a move and she was walking toward the rooms, looking in each of them for a pretty blonde angel who stole her heart long ago.

She found Quinn in the very last room on the left, hunched over on the side of the bed. Relief flooded through Rachel at the sight of her, and she knocked on the door softly as she walked inside.

Quinn tensed, spine straightening as she looked toward the door then turned away. "What are you doing here?" she croaked out in a thick voice. Beside her, she was fumbling for a Kleenex that she mashed against her face as Rachel walked closer.

She took a steadying breath, not knowing how to handle this new side of Quinn. She looked slightly disheveled by Quinn Fabray's standards, which meant not much, but noticeable to people who knew her. Vibrant curls had fallen out of her ponytail as it hung lifeless from her head; her posture was uncharacteristically droopy and unsure as she avoided Rachel's gaze.

"I came to visit you," Rachel murmured as she came to a stop in front of Quinn. "I was worried when you didn't respond to my text last night." Quinn still wasn't looking at her, wiping desperately at her eyes as if Rachel would magically forget that she had been crying, as if she would forget how red and puffy Quinn's eyes were and how flushed with frustration her face was. Rachel reached out to lightly place her hand on Quinn's shoulder and Quinn stopped moving all together, sucking in a large breath and holding it.

Neither one of them said a word for a long moment as Rachel tried to allow Quinn to save face, though nothing about this situation would make Rachel think less of her. Quite the opposite if what she was already thinking was true. Quinn sniffled, and a soft, sympathetic sound gurgled from Rachel's throat as she slid her hand over to cup the side of Quinn's neck. "Did you tell them?" Rachel finally asked.

Quinn's whole body seemed to shake as she nodded her head minutely.

"Oh, Quinn," Rachel murmured. She smoothed down the back of her skirt and moved towards the bed to sit beside Quinn. Her hand darted out and clasped Quinn's for support. When Quinn's wide, red rimmed eyes shot to the door, Rachel quickly calmed her. "The nurse went out for lunch. She won't be back for a while and I'll hear her when she does come back."

Hazel eyes diligently remained on the door for a moment longer before they dropped down to where Rachel was intertwining their fingers. A shuddery breath was pushed past her lips as she licked them for moisture.

Rachel flicked her hair over her shoulder to better see Quinn as she turned to her. "How did it go?" she asked tentatively.

Quinn shrugged a shoulder, gasping in a breath. "It wasn't…terrible, considering my family and what I had to tell them." She roughly rubbed at her eye once more, and Rachel reached out to gently grasp her hand and pull it away to wipe away the lone tear streaking down her face. Quinn huffed out a humorless laugh. "I don't even know why I'm such a blubbering mess right now," she grumbled.

"It's emotional," Rachel supplied. "I mean, even I cried when I came out and my fathers already knew I was gay, so really there was no reason for tears other than it felt good yet weird to finally get it off my chest."

She watched Quinn's eyes squeeze shut, a tear falling through, and Rachel leaned over to kiss her cheek, wiping the tear away. "It'll be okay," she whispered. She gave Quinn's hand a squeeze and flashed a reassuring smile when watery hazel eyes reopened to stare at her. "What did they say?"

Quinn dragged her tongue along her lower lip, jabbing the heel of her palm in her eye. "I have to go to church more," she whispered, dropping her hand into her lap. "I can't miss any Bible studies. And I need to pray. Every day, multiple times a day—I'll never have time for you."

"I'm not going anywhere," Rachel assured with a stern frown on her face. "I don't care how full your schedule is. We'll work around it."

Quinn's head lowered and she stared down at the veins raised in Rachel's hand where she was tightly gripping her own. Her chin trembled as she bit down on her lower lip. "Do you promise?"

"I promise," Rachel replied without hesitation.

"You won't be able to come over to my house," Quinn rasped, voice sounding even more nasally and heavy with sorrow. "They won't let you over."

Rachel sucked in quick breath, trying to find remnants of Quinn's strength that seemed to be stripped away and take it as her own, though fully being rejected by Quinn's parents as if she were a leper left her feeling like someone had knocked the wind out of her. "Then you can just come over mine." Her breath seemed to wheeze out of her as she continued. "Whenever you want, remember when I told you that?"

Quinn nodded a little. "Yeah."

"And I-I mean, this isn't so bad, right?" Rachel asked. "All things considered?" She had been waiting for the moment when Quinn would explicitly state that they couldn't be together anymore, but that didn't seem to be forthcoming, and for now it was something she was desperately clinging to.

Quinn drew her lips into her mouth and released them with a pop, before a barely there smile tugged her lips upwards a fraction, and Rachel's heart thumped loudly, painfully against her chest in hope that maybe this wasn't so bad. "I guess. When I told them…my mother wasn't surprised but still disappointed, of course." Quinn shook her head. "My father was quiet for a long time, but I knew he had a lot to say. He finally told me that all I was allowed to do was homework, cheering, glee club, and Bible study." Her lips quirked with sad amusement that both surprised and confused Rachel. "Then he said, 'At least you're not pregnant.'"

Rachel's expression became bemused as she said, "Well, your parents should think of it this way: as long as you date girls they'll never have to worry about unplanned teenage pregnancies."

"Thank goodness," Quinn drawled with an eye roll that Rachel had never been so happy to see. "I mean, he—I get it, what he was saying. Pregnancies...you can see them, you know? They're an embarrassment that everyone will eventually see. But being gay..." A long breath trembled out of her. "You can't see that, you know?" Rachel watched as Quinn turned away, staring unseeingly at the wall. "It's on the inside," she whispered. "It's on...my inside. And now they know that. But only they will know that."

Her mood grew somber, and Rachel watched in fascination as Quinn murmured her stream of consciousness. It was the only confirmation that Rachel was going to get of Quinn fully coming out as gay to her parents and she wasn't going to push for more.

"I just—" Rachel cut herself off as her gaze flicked over Quinn. She was so in awe of the girl who months ago wouldn't even give her the time of day and was now Rachel's girlfriend and in the nurse's office crying because she had come out to her parents. "I just wanted to say that I love you. And I am so very proud of you, Quinn."

"I don't feel like I've done anything to be proud of," Quinn admitted.

"You have," Rachel insisted, turning more to look directly at her. "You are tremendously brave and you've come such a long way. You're an inspiration, Quinn."

Quinn stared at her for a long moment. Then her head dipped, and she lightly bumped her forehead with Rachel's without a sound save for a giant sigh that loosened the tense muscles in her shoulders. "I don't inspire people," Quinn whispered.

"You inspire me," Rachel said earnestly. "I'd love to sing a song in glee club next week. Dedicated to you, of course."

Quinn groaned. "Please not I'm Coming Out or anything else painfully obvious."

Despite the situation, Rachel giggled quietly and shook her head. "See You Soon."

"Coldplay," Quinn mumbled. "Didn't know you had good taste in music, Berry."

Rachel scoffed, but wasn't cross enough to pull away. "I'll have you know that I have excellent taste in music, Quinn Fabray."

"Excellent, hmm?"

"The best," Rachel declared succinctly.

Their banter was cut short when the distinct sound of the door opening in the other room wafted to their ears. Quinn straightened to pull away, giving Rachel's hand a squeeze before stealing her own hand back. "I must look a mess," she mumbled as she slid from the bed and walked towards the sink in the corner of the room.

Rachel disagreed, but watched in silence as Quinn redid her ponytail while the nurse walked into the room. "Are you feeling any better, Quinn?"

With a sigh, Quinn nodded. "Thank you."

Mrs. Smith turned to Rachel with a smile. "You still have a way with words, I see."

Rachel's head dipped with a shy smile at the tease about her verbosity. She hopped off the bed and clasped her hands together in front of her. "Would you like to go to glee club, Quinn?"

Quinn ran a damp paper towel over her face to wash away dried tears. Her head lolled to the side to face Rachel. "I hadn't planned on it."

Rachel's tongue dragged over her lower lip as she walked closer. "I sometimes find that expressing myself in glee club helps me let loose of some of the tension that just builds inside of me."

Hazel eyes hardened. "Can you stop talking, please?"

Rachel recoiled in surprise at the level of coldness that had seeped into Quinn's voice. "O-okay…" Her throat felt constricted as she took a deep breath, and she cleared it, averting her gaze from Quinn's toward the nurse who was still here witnessing what had quickly turned into an awkward moment. What had she done wrong? "Maybe I should go."

She felt her chest tighten and scurried out of the room under the heavy gazes of Quinn and Mrs. Smith. Her arms folded tightly across her chest and hurried down the hallway as fast as she dared within the school rules of no running in the hallway.

"Wait!"

The thick sound of Quinn's voice wrapped around Rachel and stopped her in her tracks. She stood motionless with her arms wrapping tighter around her middle in defense.

The rapid pitter-patter of footsteps reached her ears as Quinn neared her, and Rachel turned to where she knew Quinn would come from her left. All that could be heard was Quinn's slightly labored breathing as Rachel bit her lip in apprehension.

"I didn't mean to yell," Quinn sighed after a moment.

"I just want to help," Rachel whimpered, looking up at her. "And now you're mad at me."

"I'm not mad at you," Quinn told her. "I just—" She rubbed her lips together in frustration. "I just don't want to talk about that," she whispered lowly with emphasis, "or allude to it when other people are around. Okay?"

Rachel nodded hurriedly. "I know. And I'm sorry. I didn't mean—"

"I know you didn't mean it. You really were trying to help." Her eyes pinched as she choppily muttered with reluctance, "I was being an ass. And I'm sorry."

She realized right away, though it was hardly a new discovery, that she didn't like fighting with Quinn, especially now that they were together. It caused an uncomfortable churn in her stomach. But it lifted the second she saw the remorseful way Quinn looked at her, eyebrows slanting and dipping in their own version of apology. Quinn didn't just apologize with words, it was a bodily effort to convey what she sometimes had little words to say.

Quinn puffed out an annoyed breath. "And this is so not the situation I wanted to find myself in when I asked if I could come to your house after school."

Rachel's gaze shot up at the admission, eyes widening in excitement. "You want to come over after school, like, right after?"

Quinn nodded. "I would—I could drive you home…if you want."

If she wants? Did Quinn not know her by now?

"I would be more than happy to accompany you to my house in your car," Rachel replied eagerly.

Quinn rolled her eyes. "Say it like a normal person, Rachel."

"I am a normal person."

"By whose standards?"

Her eyes narrowed as excitement caused butterflies to release in her stomach. A flirty retort was on the tip of her tongue, but it would have to wait until they were at her house.

Quinn flicked up a victorious eyebrow with a smirk playing on her lips, and no one would have known that just twenty minutes ago she was had been crying her eyes out. She spun on her heel, hands clasped behind her as she walked away. "Let's go to glee club," she stated as if it was her idea all along.

Her hips had an exaggerated sway to them that had Rachel biting her lip as she trailed behind, thinking that maybe they were going to be okay, more than.

It kind of astounded her, how sturdy and unrelenting Quinn was.

Dark eyes darted to the creaking doorway as Quinn walked out of the bathroom, having changed clothes. There was a sense of normalcy in the skin tight high thigh high shorts and tight tank top she wore. And as well as arousing Rachel it also served as a balm to the heightened state of anxiety the two of them had been facing lately ever since Rachel had met Quinn's parents.

"Eyes up here, Berry."

Obeying with a playful grin, Rachel looked up just as Quinn stepped up to her, her modest chest pushing teasingly into Rachel's face.

Rachel couldn't help but quirk an eyebrow because for someone who lived by their vow of celibacy Quinn sure did love to tempt her, which was ultimately tempting the both of them because Rachel had noticed lately that Quinn was starting to allow them to go further once things got started.

She heard Quinn clear her throat and when she focused again, Quinn was blushing, blonde curls framing her face and tumbling down her shoulders. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

Rachel just reached out and grabbed her hand, intertwining their fingers and letting them hang limply. "Would you like to watch a movie, or something?"

Quinn nodded with a head tilt, eyes sparkling as she slowly murmured, "…Or something."

And Rachel knew they would be okay. They had their work cut out for them, but as long as they could revert back to square one and work their way up from there when things got rough she knew they would be okay.

They started where they began in an entirely new way and new place as Quinn climbed onto the bed, straddled Rachel and sunk to her hands and knees above her.

"I bought Up," Rachel whispered as Quinn leaned down, nuzzling their noses together.

A breathy chuckle wafted through Rachel, and made her stir. Quinn's eyes clenched shut, nose crinkling as she smiled. "You're so—"

"What am I?" Rachel dared. Whenever they got to this place and Quinn had things to say, she very rarely finished her thought.

"You're wonderful," Quinn mumbled against her lips, and Rachel smiled.

Admirable, amazing, awesome, dynamite, enjoyable—good. Synonyms were awesome.

She was wonderful in Quinn's eyes.

And she couldn't have been happier.

So, everything else could wait until Monday.