A/N: This is technically the epilogue, but also the final chapter of this fic. I had a wonderful time writing this and am so happy that I was able to write a fic all the way to the end. It's been so great reading your reviews for this, and I love how much you all enjoyed this, I think you enjoyed it more than I did writing it! As of right now, I am not sure if I will be working on a project that I just thought of, or returning to old works that have yet to be finished (namely Anything for Glee) But whatever it is I hope that I see your wonderful reviews there as well! Enjoy!

"This feels entirely ill-timed," Rachel mumbled against Quinn's lips feeling the blonde press her further into the wall. And all she got in return was a groan from Quinn. Those perfect white teeth took Rachel's bottom in her own and nipped lightly, a sly smile playing on Quinn's features as she heard the light gasp escape Rachel. The faint sounds of music and chatter could easily be heard in Quinn's room, but quite frankly, she didn't care. The party could wait, right now Quinn just wanted this moment. She took advantage of all moments. There wasn't a single one she didn't feel completely.

Her hands that were resting on Rachel's cheeks slid down her frame and stalled at her hips. Again, that playful smirk made an appearance, but now Rachel was far too distracted to notice it. Her eyes had shut fully due to Quinn's perfectly talented lips and before she knew it, her body was being lifted off the floor and onto Quinn's vanity.

A loud yelp screeched throughout Quinn's room, but no one would hear it. Not unless their ears were pressed against the door.

Which had occurred to Quinn once or twice, Santana or Brittany getting far too curious. Or maybe even Rachel's dads wanting to ensure their daughter wasn't being 'de-flowered' at their second-daughters birthday party. Not that Quinn would do that. Rachel had laid down rules. No sex until she had her first Tony, that shouldn't be so hard.

Right?

Wrong.

At first it seemed a perfectly reasonable request, but as time went on Quinn was finding it nearly impossible to stop herself. They had been together officially for three months. Three. And already Quinn was losing her mind. Already she was acting like Finn. There was a time when Rachel once compared Quinn to Puck.

Rachel learned very quickly never to do that again.

"It's perfectly timed." Quinn finally answered, showing a few of her make-up kits to the side so Rachel could sit more comfortably, and Quinn could keep herself between toned legs. Legs that her hands were now running up and down. Legs that were going to get Quinn into serious trouble.

Rachel's own came to settled Quinn's roaming; she pulled back only to return and rest her forehead against Quinn's. "Do you need a break?"

It was the polite way of asking Quinn to calm down. The blonde began to understand Rachel code very well after their first month together. Others still struggled. "Yeah. Sorry, I wasn't trying-"

"I know, Quinn. You never do. I'm just-"

"Not ready."

Rachel nodded as she attempted to catch her breath, all the while smoothing down Quinn's blonde locks.

The gesture made Quinn smile. "Should we show our faces?"

"Do we have to?" The scowl Rachel sent Quinn was her answer, and with a long, much too exaggerated sigh, Quinn stepped back, keeping Rachel's hand in her own. "We could just hide up here. You know there's going to be at least one embarrassing childhood story, or someone's going to make a sex joke because we were gone so long. Santana will mention birthday sex. Really, it's probably better if we stay here." Quinn pulled back on Rachel's arm to pull her back into their own little bubble.

"The longer we stay, the more embarrassing it will be."

And that was the end of that.

Rachel turned back to the door and the two made their way back into the crowd of shouting and teasing. All in good fun, but all very much annoying. So what if Quinn wanted five minutes alone with her girlfriend? It was expected for a couple that had gone through what they had.

IOIOI

"Did you really have to cut a third piece?"

"Yes,"

"Ants are starting to gather."

"Then let them."

"This is weird. And that's coming from someone that talks to air."

"You don't talk to air, you talk to your sister. Now shut up and share your birthday with her." Rachel said firmly, leaning into the blonde as she bit a piece of cake herself. Quinn had to find a special recipe, but eventually Goggle came to her rescue, and showed her that vegan friendly cake did in fact exist.

"So I'm having a silent birthday?" Quinn's brow arched as she craned her neck to look at Rachel, a playful smile toying at her features. One that quickly turned into adoration as Rachel scowled back.

Quinn was happy. The real kind of happy.

The kind of happy that not even Finn Hudson could be angry at. He'd seen Quinn in too much pain already, and while he wasn't exactly thrilled that his two ex-girlfriends were dating each other, he saw Quinn happy. And that was enough for him. Not that that made the teasing at school any easier for him. But it was enough to keep him from getting too angry. Finn couldn't remember seeing the smile Quinn gave whenever Rachel was around, and should anyone get on his case, he'd just remind them of that fact. And that's all that mattered to him.

"I have one last present for you." Rachel said, ignoring Quinn's comment altogether.

She turned to rummage in the tote she had brought with them. And pulled out a small box wrapped with gold paper.

Quinn looked at it skeptically, taking her time to actually grab it. "What's this?"

"Open it."

"Not until you tell me what it is."

"You do realize that you'll find out the moment you open it?" Rachel huffed.

Uneasily, Quinn began to tear off the paper, and upon opening the box she saw a locket inside. A locket that opened and inside a picture of Frannie. "Where did you…?"

"Your mother."

Rachel allowed a moment of silence to pass the two before she moved to put the locket on Quinn's neck. "Now," she started, clasping the necklace and toying with it. "You can go wherever you want and still be able to talk to her. You can do anything and she'll be right there. So you don't have to worry about coming back here. I know you won't really want to once you get out." Brown sincere eyes met hazel ones, hazel ones that were about to fill with tears.

There weren't any words that Quinn could say to even begin expressing how she felt.

Actually, there was one. A single word.

Loved.

Quinn Fabray felt loved.

Truly and deeply loved by the last person anyone would have guessed.

It wasn't the locket that made Quinn so emotional, though that definitely played a part in it. But the simple fact that Rachel innately knew that Quinn would get out of here. The fact that Rachel knew this was something Quinn worried about without the blonde having ever mentioned it before. Rachel knew without a doubt that Quinn was getting out of Lima, and she gave her the only thing that would ever make it okay with Quinn.