AN: Okay so I should be finishing my never ending DEBS fic (and when my co-writer finds out I've posted this they are likely to hunt me down and kill me), but the Faberry plot bunnies just won't leave me alone, so I'm breaking down and posting this. I really don't know how often it will be updated, but as there isn't much of a plot, it should be easy to follow in fits and spurts. I will try to update at least every few weeks, but that is highly likely to change. I do have the fic fully outlined plot wise - so it will be finished - I left the exact number of chapters up in the air for now but it should be around 10.

For this fic Brittany is going to be the most out of character, everyone else should have recognizable traits, though for fic related reasons they are a bit OOC.

Obviously given the state of marriage equality in the U.S. (or lack thereof) I have taken some liberties for the sake of the fic. Any legal stuff that is completely off base is also on me - but this is fluff not reality so just go with it.

As always I would love to know what you think of it. This first bit is un-edited so all mistakes are on me. This is really just a short set up chapter, future chapters will likely be longer.

Chapter 1: Hey Berry Let's go to Vegas

"C'mon Berry stop being such a tight-ass, it will be fun," Santana insisted as she flopped down on her friend's bed.

"Santana, while I appreciate your attempt to get my mind off of recent… unpleasant events, I hardly think a weekend in "Sin City" is the cure all that you seem to think will be," Rachel insisted staunchly. She picked up her hairbrush for the table surface and completed the first of her one-hundred nightly strokes. She sighed quietly to herself as she met her gaze in the mirror of her vanity table. Maybe Santana and Jesse were right, maybe she didn't know how to have fun.

Hearing the sigh from the diva Santana lifted her head from its resting spot on the bed and met her friend's gaze in the mirror. "Don't think about that bitch Rachel, she isn't worth it."

Rachel smiled slightly at her friend, appreciating the show of loyalty. "She's not a bitch Santana," Rachel defended her ex. "She just knew what she wanted, and that wasn't me. So instead of dragging out the inevitable she chose to end it." Rachel nodded her head, a small show of approval. "I admire her decisiveness."

Santana rolled her eyes in frustration and let out an aggravated sound, akin to a growl. "Please, that bitch was stringing you along from the get go. Did you two even ever sleep together?"

Rachel flushed in embarrassment, but shook her head in the negative. "Well…no..no…she said she wanted to wait until we had made a firm commitment to each other, she doesn't believe in casual sex."

"Oh please," the Latina scoffed. "The bitch never had any intention of sleeping with you, even if you had dragged her to Massachusetts and married her ass. She just wanted to ride your coat tails until she could get in close with the right people and land enough roles to make a name for herself."

Rachel continued to stroke the brush through her hair, thirty-three…thirty-four, and dropped her gaze in shame. While she was trying to defend Jesse's motive to Santana, and in large part to herself, there was a large part of her that couldn't deny her friend's words.

She and Jesse St. James had met at an open cast call for a small off Broadway show over a year ago. Almost immediately the curly haired singer had latched on to Rachel and staked her claim. Rachel was well accustomed to people admiring her for her singing voice, even if she had still yet to catch her big break, but she had never had someone show such an interest in her personally. While the other girl may have pursued her with a single minded intensity in the beginning, once she had landed Rachel, their relationship seemed to level off. Not wanting to pressure the other singer Rachel had agreed to Jesse's wish to keep thinks light on the physical front. For the past year they had been in a kind of holding pattern, until last week when Jesse suddenly announced that things just weren't working out, and that she wanted to end the relationship.

Rachel had been blindsided, thinking that she had finally found the one person that would stick by her. They were remarkably well matched, shared the same passion for music, and the same single minded intensity and drive to succeed. Shortly after the break-up it was announced that Jesse would be starring in a new off Broadway musical that they had both auditioned for, a role Rachel thought would finally be her big break.

Seeing her friends downcast expression Santana got off the bed and walked over to her the small brunette, resting her hands on the other woman's shoulders. "Seriously Rachel, don't waste any more of your time pining over that bitch – she doesn't have a quarter of your talent."

Rachel gazed into the mirror, once again meeting her friend's gaze. "Yet she has the role that I thought for sure would finally catapult me into the spotlight."

Santana furrowed her brows, not sure if the information she had recently learned would make the small singer feel better or worse about the whole situation. Santana felt the familiar anger churn in her gut as she took in her friends dejected posture.

Okay sure, Berry could be demanding, high-strung, spoiled, condescending and almost unbelievably self involved, but she was also one of the most loyal people that Santana had ever met. It pissed her off that time and time again the small diva seemed to fall into relationships with utter parasites and scumbags.

"Trust me, according to my sources, you wouldn't have wanted to do what was necessary to land that role," the Latina finally stated in a sardonic tone.

Finally completing her one hundred strokes Rachel turned in her seat, dislodging her friend's hands, and facing the taller brunette. "What do you mean?" Rachel questioned. She had put her all into that audition and couldn't imagine what else would have been required of her. She had researched the character extensively, done countless test runs with Jesse, she had had that part down cold.

"Well word is that she may have had to get a bit horizontal to seal the deal," Santana confided.

Rachel felt her mouth fall open in shock. She jumped up and began to pace back and forth. "Surely your sources are mistaken. While I am disappointed that our relationship didn't work out as I had hoped I hardly think Jesse would be capable of what you are suggestion," Rachel insisted, her hands flapping about in agitation.

"Oh trust me, my sources are beyond reproach. Besides, are you actually saying that she beat you out of that role based solely on her talent?" Santana questioned, knowing that the diva's ego wouldn't allow her to concede that another singer was better suited for a role that she had set her sights on.

Rachel stopped in her tracks, and swung her gaze to her friend. "Well….no….not when you put it that way." Shoulders slumping she made her way over to her bed and collapsed onto the side, utterly dejected. "It was all a lie." Shaking her head she felt tears start to well up. Very few people ever saw this side of Rachel Berry. To the outside world she was careful to present an image of utter self confidence, disappointments, and the occasional insult, rolling off her back with little to no notice.

Santana cursed inwardly and walked over to sit beside her friend. Looping her arm around the smaller girl's shoulders she pulled her in tight to her side. She was one of the few people that ever saw the more vulnerable side to Rachel. She often thought that if the other girl was just willing to let others in a bit more, she would find that special someone she always seemed to be looking for, but never finding.

Rachel sniffled back that tears that were threatening. "How can I be such an idiot?"

"You aren't an idiot," Santana defended loyally, though inwardly she thought that maybe the small singer was more than a little blind when it came to her personal life.

Rachel shot her friend a "yeah right" look. "Do you think she was even gay? I mean we were together for almost a year and we barely got past heavy kissing."

Santana winced. "Honestly?" Rachel nodded her head, and Santana sighed. "No. She never even blipped the tiniest ping on my gaydar," Santana confessed.

"God even my gaydar doesn't work," Rachel wailed melodramatically. "Two gay fathers, gay best friend, have know I liked girls since I hit puberty and a still can't tell when a woman is straight." Rachel stood abruptly from the bed and stalked a few steps away before turning to glare at her friend. "If you knew she was straight why didn't you tell me?" Rachel asked accusingly, her hands coming to rest on her hips.

Santana held her hands up in a defensive posture. "Hey, I tried. If I remember correctly you wouldn't hear a word said against her." Adopting the petite brunette's signature speaking style, the Latina mockingly recalled. "You just don't understand someone that has a strong sense of personal decorum Santana. I rather admire her desire to keep our courtship chaste, it shows that she thinks highly of me, of us, and respects us both enough to make sure the time is right. Why don't you focus more on my professional affairs and less on my personal ones."

Rachel crossed her arms across her chest and pouted. She wanted to refute the Latina's words but she couldn't, that was a near perfect recall of the conversation that had occurred when Santana had initially voiced her concerns about Jesse. "You should have made me listen if you felt that strongly about it," Rachel insisted stubbornly.

Santana rolled her eyes. "I love ya Berry, but you have never tried to convince you of anything. Trust me when I say futile doesn't even begin to describe it."

"I just can't believe that I wasted a year of my life on yet another relationship that was apparently doomed before it even began," Rachel cried.

"This is why you need to let loose and just enjoy some meaningless sex, no pressure, no expectations. You take this relationship stuff far too seriously, chica. You need to just let go for once and not worry about the consequences."

"I don't know," Rachel replied uncertainly. Sensing that the other girl was weakening Santana sprung up from the bed and walked over to her friend.

"If you won't listen to me as your friend, then listen to me as your manager," the Latina cajoled, a feral grin in place, just about able to taste victory. "Since Jesse St. Slutbag stole this role out from under you, you are going to have to hit the audition circuit hard, and to do that successfully you need to be nice and relaxed."

Rachel bit her lip, still undecided, but slowly coming around to Santana's point of view. She had never been one to engage in casual sex, always leaving that domain in Santana's capable hands. She wasn't a total prude however, and having gone over a year without sex had put her decidedly on edge. She really wasn't looking to get into another relationship, seeing as she had such disastrous luck in that department.

"Well….maybe."

Santana grinned in triumph. "No maybe about it Berry, this is going to be just what the doctor ordered. Now get that sweet ass in gear and get packed," she gave her friend a playful swat on the ass, causing the smaller girl to squeak in surprise, "our flight leaves in two hours."

Rachel spun and glared at her friend. "You already booked the flight? That was a bit presumptuous of you wasn't it?"

"Prepared Berry, I was just planning ahead," Santana replied casually. "Besides if you decided to be stubborn and not go I was just going to trade in your ticket to upgrade to first class and have myself one hell of a weekend," Santana replied cheekily. "Now stop finding things to nit-pick and get ready." Rubbing her hands together gleefully the taller brunette smiled at her still doubtful friend. "You'll see, this is going to be the best weekend ever."

"So do you have any plans this weekend?" Brittany asked her friend with forced casualness, pulling her jacket more tightly around herself as the two blonde's walked down the deserted streets. They had just gotten off their late shift at the diner they both worked at, and were making the 15 block journey to the small apartment they shared.

Quinn shook her head and let out a sad sigh. "Not a one. Just going to try to keep myself from hopping the first bus to Lima."

Brittany smiled sadly and leaned over to bump shoulders with her friend in a show of support. "It's going to be okay, she'll be back before you know it, and then you can put this whole ordeal behind you."

Quinn sucked in a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heartbeat. She wanted to believe her friend, but mostly she just felt a crushing sense of foreboding. "I just don't understand why they had to do this now? All those years they could have tried to be a part of her life, and now suddenly they demand visitation?"

"You know why Quinn," Brittany replied sadly.

Quinn bit her lip and nodded her head. She did know why. All those years her parents had viewed her as just a disappointment; the good little Christian daughter that had fallen off the pedestal and gotten pregnant out of wedlock. While they had let their disapproval be known they hadn't really pressed to be a part of her and Libby's life. They would call occasionally, mostly to inquire if she had met a suitable man yet and settled down. Each day she remained a single mother was another day they had to endure the shame of having a harlot for a daughter.

Finally unable to take it any longer Quinn had exploded and told them that not only had she not found a man, there would never be a man. She was gay. Her revelation had been met with a glacial silence, followed by the sound of a dial tone. The next contact she had from her parents was via their lawyer. The words mandatory visitation, custody, and parental fitness, had all swum before her confused gaze.

The Fabray's wanted to take Libby away from her. Not able to hire an expensive lawyer, she had to rely on an overworked legal aid attorney, and as ludicrous as it seemed, after almost three-years of virtually no contact, the Fabray's had managed to convince an Ohio family court judge to grant their petition for a month long visitation with their grand-daughter. Quinn had tried to fight it, but with little time, and the meager resources that she could afford on a waitress's salary, she had been unsuccessful in blocking their request. Her parents had arrived earlier that week and whisked her daughter away, leaving behind nothing but an empty aching void.

"I hate them," Quinn stated hollowly. "They're my parents, I'm supposed to love them."

"You'll get her back Quinn, this is only temporary. No judge is going to give them permanent custody just because you're gay," Brittany reassured her friend.

Quinn laughed, a harsh sound devoid of any trace of mirth. "Just like no judge would award them a month long visitation without my approval?"

"We'll get a better lawyer. We'll fight this Quinn." Brittany hated to see her friend so despondent. Ever since she had learned she was pregnant she had shifted her entire life to make sure her daughter was put first. For anyone, especially the blonde's absentee parents, to argue that she was an unfit mother was absurd.

Quinn shook her head, still lost in a sea of self recriminations. "This is all my fault, if I had just kept my temper and not blurted out that I was gay none of this would be happening." Quinn laughed harshly again. "I mean it's not like I actually go on dates, it's not like it really makes any practical difference."

Brittany clapped her hands together, startling her companion. "Okay, enough dwelling on what you can't change. What you need is a distraction, if you spend the remaining three and a half weeks thinking about this you are just going to drive yourself insane." Quinn had been in an almost catatonic state of depression since Libby had been picked up by her parents, and Brittany was starting to become concerned. "And that's why you are going to put all of this out of your head and have fun this weekend. You and I my friend are going to let loose and party."

Quinn looked at her friend with a look that said "are you crazy" clearly written on her face. "I'm really not in the partying mood Brittany, besides, even if I wanted to I can't afford to go out and do anything." All of the blonde's meager earnings were being funneled into her legal fund. The only bright spot she could find in this bleak situation was that with Libby away she would be able to save money on babysitters, and maybe even pick up a second or third job. Maybe if she worked herself until she was ready to collapse she could manage to hold it together until the end of the month.

Brittany shook her head. "You don't worry about it, this weekend is on me." Grabbing her friends hand she pulled her forward. "So come on and hurry up, our flight leaves in a little over an hour, we are going to have to scramble if we are going to make it."

Quinn stopped dead in her tracks, causing the other blonde to jerk to a stop. "Our flight?" Quinn questioned in disbelief. She was half convinced that the stress and worry had finally caused her to break and she was now suffering from delusions.

Brittany nodded, grinning happily. "You and I are going to Vegas for the weekend."

"Vegas?" Quinn replied blankly.

"Yup. I called my cousin, and he got us a killer deal on a weekend package. The only downside is that we have to take the red-eye." Tugging on her friend's hand she once again tried to get her moving forward. "So come on, we still have to get you packed. I did my packing earlier so it hopefully won't take too long."

Still too stunned to put up much resistance Quinn allowed herself to be dragged down the sidewalk. Shaking her head to try to clear some of the cobwebs Quinn finally snapped out of her trance. "Brittany I can't go to Vegas."

"Ticket's are already purchased, too late to back out now."

Quinn frowned. "That's another thing. There is no way that I can afford this trip, and there is also no way I can let you pay my way." Quinn knew that money was almost as tight for the other woman as it was for her. That was part of the reason that the two shared the tiny two bedroom apartment.

Brittany shook her head, refusing to hear any opposition, and continued to drag her reluctant friend down the sidewalk. "Again. Too late, it's already paid for, and since it was all booked so last minute there is no way I can get a refund. So either we go and have a good time, or you stay here and wallow, regardless the money has already been spent."

Quinn bit her bottom lip. "Brittany…," she tried to argue weakly.

Brittany stopped and turned to face her long time friend. "Quinn you need this. You haven't taken any time for yourself since you found out you were pregnant with Libby. If you don't take a little time to get away, clear your head, and try to de-stress, you are going to drive yourself into an early grave." Reaching out Brittany drew Quinn into a tight hug. "Let me do this for you."

Quinn swallowed back the tears that were suddenly clogging the back of her throat. She would find a way to pay this back. After everything with Libby was settled she would make it right. For now she was just going to swallow her pride and not hurt her friend's feelings by declining her generosity.

Nodding her head jerkily she tightened her arms around the taller blonde. "Come on. Why are we standing around hugging on the sidewalk when we have a flight to catch." Her voice was a little hoarse but she managed to fight back the tears.

Brittany pulled out of the hug and smiled broadly at her friend. "This is going to be so much fun!" she squealed in excitement.