Title: Alice Practice (M)

By: Lcrazemag

Summary: Sequel to Alice in Zombieland. Quinn, Rachel, Jesse, Santana, Mike, Sam, and Beth learn to adapt and survive to the new society after the outbreak. They are haunted by thoughts of the friends and family they left behind. Soon, they'll find out if there's anyone left.

A/N: There's a bit more.. violence in this one. Also warning for minor character deaths. If you've never heard the song "Alice Practice" by Crystal Castles, listening to it will set the atmosphere of this fic perfectly.

Their plan to escape the sickness was only slightly liberating.

Over the winter, Santana had been right in her assumption that the weather would slow the undead down and make it easier to avoid them and survive the nightmare they perpetuated until it was over. They also assumed that the nightmare would end with the immobilization of the things and bring about some sort of societal revolution where the living could take back the continent. Well.. that didn't exactly happen.

As the colder months passed, the undead in the North succumbed to the frost and were buried under ice and snow, immobilizing them yes, but unfortunately also preserving the sickness they were infested with and bringing about a silent danger and a false sense of security.

People were kind of stupid.

In their celebration and rejoicing over the "eliminated" threat they started to form sanitation teams that would take it upon themselves to clear out the bodies of the undead, unknowingly unleashing the sickness upon themselves because they hadn't used proper protection in their haste to rid the world of the corpses.

So it took a while, but the virus spread... and started to mutate.

Now, people could be infected with the virus and not turn. Something within their bodies was biologically sound enough to recognize that the weather was unforgiving to a rotting corpse, so the virus lay dormant within the infected until the warmer temperatures rolled back around.

No one understood how the fuck a virus could posses survival tactics. But somehow, it did. This discovery resulted in a continental panic as other overseas countries had long shut down communications with North America, fearing that the virus would spread even further since it decimated the West practically unchecked.

And well, they were right.

Those who carried abroad the virus before the continental quarantine had done exactly what they feared.

The government couldnt give up though. They kept promising that things would get better after they found a cure and they pleaded with survivors to hold on as long as possible and keep themselves safe until calvary came.

Easier said than done. Especially when said from behind an armoured encampment.

They'd set up a forum on an emergency outreach network (EON) for survivors. The leaders of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico combined their military strength and their medical prowess to create a super base of defense. They figured that since the borders were shit—people had been fleeing between the countries like raving lunatics—that their best chances at redemption were to work together for the entire continent. They sent teams of soldiers and scientists to get supplies moved to whereever survivors were, including non-perishable food stocks, water, medical kits, netbooks that could access the EON, and even recruiting soldiers for the cause. These teams seemed like a good idea at first, until their first mission of quarantining large cities started to result in massive casualties. Minimal training had been the cause of a ton of failed efforts, and even an outbreak at one of their high security bases. For that reason, the recruitment efforts halted and people were left for fend for themselves.

It was literal madness.

—AP—

Quinn groaned as her eyes registered the brightness filtering into her room. Spring was right around the corner, but the bright sun conflicted harshly with the cold mornings and blinding snow. She blinked and fought to adjust to the fact that she'd left the curtains open last night in her haste to get to bed. She heard a snore to her right and turned her head to look at her bed mate. When she realized who it was, she groaned again in frustration, and pushed herself up to close the curtains.

She and Mike had gotten in late last night, again sneaking around to find factions to trade with. They needed more hunting gear and bullets, but had a surplus of powdered food for the month. Quinn didn't like feeding that shit to her kid, and Rachel wouldn't touch the stuff for various reasons. She claimed that none of it was natural and therefore it was hardly edible, to Quinn's everlasting irritation. So they had to find a way to eat fresh every day and hunting and fishing was a way of life by now. The area luckily offered an abundance of wildlife for them to hunt. Unfortunately not everything went down with an arrow.

They'd found what they needed trading through a black market set up a few miles outside Algonquin. They needed to be careful because running around in the dark wasn't safe by any means. Not only were there sick people who had become desperate in their deaths, but there were hostiles who simply enjoyed the lawlessness of the new world. People were robbed, kidnapped, and killed daily. They had to make sure their home was protected in their absence, that it wasn't discovered by rogue hostile groups, and that they were safe and sneaky enough to get to the market and back unharmed.

Quinn and Mike were simply the best for the job. Rachel hadn't liked that either.

The teams had basically switched. Quinn and Mike took on most of the trading and supply runs, and subsequently usually faced the most danger. Sam and Santana took care of the house, making sure their land was secure. They often did a lot of the hunting and fishing together and Sam had even aquired them some wild Canadian horses. Being originally from Tennessee had ironically made him familiar with horses. They had been a godsend since there was no gas for their vehicles anymore, but there were only three of them. The last team of Rachel and Jesse took care of most of their domestic chores and watched Beth.

Quinn stretched and felt her bones crack. She had a lingering fear that all the stress that her body was enduring so soon after her recovery would eventually bite her in the ass. Rachel was constantly arguing with her about over exerting herself but there was shit to be done. They'd been fighting constantly and waking up next to Mike—although fully clothed and with a respectable sleeping distance between them—only echoed the rift between them. She'd been spending most of her time with Mike these days, whether out of necessity or convenience she wasn't sure. She finished her stretches and kicked off her boots. She then reached over and removed Mike's while he slept on unaware. She then tossed their shoes next to the bed and made her way out into the hall.

She first went to where she thought Beth would be. When she and Mike had returned the night before, Beth and Sam were passed out in front of the television with the Looney Tunes Dvd repeating its menu in the background. Quinn had clicked the Tv off but left them undisturbed. When she located them, they were exactly as she left them. Except now, she was amused that Sam had been delegated a mattress since Quinn wasn't home to fill that role. Beth was sleeping soundly on Sam's back as he snored deeply. Beth tiny body rose with each of his inhales, and fell with each exhale. Quinn could see how it would be calming for Beth, and couldn't help the rise of affection for Sam for allowing her daughter to get comfortable on him. She smiled as she lifted the tiny body into her arms and nudged Sam awake.

Sam lifted his head in question and smiled when he saw Quinn standing above him. "How'd it go last night?"

Quinn shifted Beth in her arms. "It went well. We traded a case of that powdered beef shit for a case of ammo."

"That's awesome." Sam chuckled. It really was. "We're pretty good on Buck meat and frozen tuna at the moment so get rid of all that shit. I kinda like the powdered chicken though."

Quinn hummed. "We'll keep the chicken for just in case we get into a shortage. They seemed happy to get what we gave them though. I wonder if they even know there's a supply drop so close by."

Sam flopped over onto his back. "Even if they did, the soldiers won't supply black market dealers. Check out the EON later, there's news about hostiles attacking the supply groups to steal the goods and put a high price on'em."

Quinn didn't know that. She hadn't had time to spend with her kid in the past few days, let alone check the forum. Maybe she'd get to that tonight.

"Alright Sammy, thanks for looking out for my little bug here." Quinn smiled.

Sam returned it. "She's awesome Quinn. She chills and watches cartoons with me. She reminds me of Stacy... " he trailed off. Quinn reached out and squeezed his shoulder. Sam sighed and pasted his smile back on. "I'll chill with her anytime, you know that."

Quinn knew how much he missed his family. They all missed their families.

Quinn placed a kiss on Beth's sleepy head. Beth wiggled a little in her arms and she carried her off to find Rachel.

Rachel was angry with her when she'd left the previous night, and she hadn't seen her when she returned. She browsed the house with Beth on her hip in search of her girlfriend. Rachel wasn't in any of the common areas or the kitchen, so Quinn made her last stop at the bedroom Santana and Jesse shared. When she slowly opened the door and peeked inside, her eyes widened.

—AP—

Santana was warm. She couldn't help but smile softly in her sleep because she was ridiculously comfortable. She was aware that she was slowly waking up but was valiently fighting against being forced to face the world outside her blankets. She shifted slightly and her eyes shot wide open when she felt.. it.

It was Jesse. More specifically, Jesse's junk. He was molded into her back and it was pressing into her ass. She attempted to shift again but unfortunately a clingy little Berry was molded to her front. She remembered comforting Rachel the night before and it unfortunately wasn't unusual for Rachel to fall asleep in her arms lately. She and Quinn had been at odds with just about everything. But right now, she was trapped between a Berry and a hard..

Santana groaned in annoyance. Jesse apparantly heard it in his dream and pulled her closer effectively pressing himself even firmer against her shorts.

"Fuck." Santana grunted. Right before locking eyes with Quinn as she entered the room.

"What the hell, Santana?" Quinn hissed at her. Santana frowned and ignored her for a more pressing problem.

"Jesse!" She grunted. Jesse moaned in his sleep and shifted again. "Jesse, I swear to God.."

Jesse murmured and tightened his grip on her hip. Santana's patience ran out and she pulled her head forward and then butted his forehead backwards, instantly waking him from the pain.

"Ahh! What the hell?" he whined.

Quinn chuckled, realizing the situation and sympathizing with Santana momentarily.

"Get off, ass!" Santana yelled.

Jesse seemed to realized their intimate positioning and frantically rolled away a bit to quickly, resulting in him flying off the side of the bed on onto the floor with a hard thump. "Oww.."

Beth stirred at the commotion. Quinn sat her on the opposite side of the bed nearest her sleeping girlfriend. "Serves you right for groping Tana in her sleep." Quinn laughed.

"Oh shit, I'm so sorry Tana.." Jesse said contritely from the floor. He really didn't realize what he was doing, and his feelings were subconciously allowing him to get way too cozy with his friend. "I was asleep, I didn't realize.."

Santana smirked. "Sure, St. James. You totally were trying to get up on this."

Jesse glowed pink. "I.. I promise I wasn't—"

Santana untangled herself from Rachel and reached over the edge to ruffle Jesse's unruly curls. "It's cool St. Boner. I'm hot. Quite frankly, it'd be insulted if you didn't get a little worked up sleeping next to all this."

Jesse smiled halfheartedly and rose to his feet. He sighed and scratched his neck nervously. "I really am sorry, Santana. I'll consider finding a new sleeping arrangement so that you'll be comfortable." He said before walking out of the room towards the bathroom.

Santana's smile fell as she noticed the discomfort in her friend. She shared a glance with Quinn before watching Jesse dejectly walk away. She then let out an exasperated sigh and fell back into the blankets. Beth giggled at the impact, causing Santana and Quinn to smile at the sleepy toddler.

"What am I gonna do, Q?" Santana groaned. "I know he has feelings for me, and I'm trying so hard to be a friend and be careful with him. This is so complicated I feel like I can't even be in the same room without him stealing longing glances or blatantly ignoring me."

Quinn frowned sadly at her friend before laying down beside Beth and rubbing her tummy. "I don't know. I'm not sure what you can do. I mean even if you weren't a lesbian, that doesn't mean you'd automatically return his feelings. You can't feel obligated or whatever, that's not fair to you."

Santana winced. "I know. Its just so messy now. Before we could cuddle and it'd be just cuddling. I miss just being able to chill with him without him freaking out over every little thing and feeling like a predator or a kicked puppy."

"Yeah.." Quinn mused, reaching around Beth to rub Rachel's back. "Maybe just give him a little space? It was like that with Sam and me before he started crushing on Cedes. But your happiness is your priority, you know? You can't be with someone just so you don't hurt them. You're human, you have your own desires."

Santana looked over at Quinn and noticed her slowly gravitating towards Rachel. "She was so mad at you, Q" she giggled softly. "She mentioned wanting to smack you upside your fading pink head."

Beth rolled over and started to play with Rachel's hair.

Quinn smiled. "I can imagine. The trip was successful though. We got a lot of ammo. I know she gets worried but you guys are my priority" she murmurered, tickling Beth as the baby smiled around her pacifier. "I should probably talk to her later, although I'm sure she's listening to me right now." Quinn said, leaning down to bury her face into Rachel's neck with a teasing smile.

Rachel snorted. "Shhh! I'm sleeping."

Beth was amused by the action and giggled, losing her pacifier in the process. Quinn passed the baby to Santana so she could mold herself to Rachel's back. "You still mad at me, baby?" She smiled into Rachel's hair.

"Yes." Rachel giggled. "I'm furious. But I might be bribed to forgive you if we can spend some time together tonight."

Santana laughed. "Well I'd love to chat in bed all morning Faberry, but Sam and I are late tending the horses." She said as she rose from the bed and stretched. "Feel free to get the fuck out of my bed soon."

Quinn laughed as Rachel glared. "How about you stay out of bed with my girl, bitch." Quinn snarked.

Santana scoffed, "Bitch, your girl came to me. I don't blame her though, I'll keep her warm whenever she likes." Santana winked at an irritated Rachel.

"Okay shut up." Rachel growled. "You two are so annoying. And please try to watch your language around Beth!"

"Bitch!" Beth squealed.

Santana cackled as she exited the room as Rachel glared at Quinn. Quinn smiled sheepishly. "Beth, sweetie.. don't say that word, okay?"

"Tana bitch?" Beth asked innocently.

Quinn doubled over in hysterics as Rachel groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose. She had to prepare breakfast anyway, so she got up and stretched. "I'm going to let you deal with erasing your profanity from my baby sister's vocabulary, Quinn."

"I'm on it, baby" Quinn smiled. "If you'll agree to talk to Jesse."

Rachel groaned. "Fine. But fix that, Quinn."

Beth smiled. "Bitch!" Quinn snorted.