Deus Ex Machina [god in the machine]

Epilogue

"Okay, Rachel, I finished ironing your gown and it's hanging up on the peg inside of your car," Hiram said briskly as the brunette in question tore down the stairs in front of him and into the kitchen.

"Thank you, Dad."

"And I packed some snacks and your other graduate essentials in your backpack and put that into the truck of your car," Leroy yelled from the doorway as he made his way back into the Berry house.

"Thanks, Daddy," Rachel impatiently called, now in the living room.

Hiram and Leroy met in the hallway and exchanged a look before peering into the room at their daughter, who had her feet planted firmly in front of the window.

"She'll be here, sweetie," Hiram assured his daughter while Leroy looked at his watch and shook his head.

Rachel was about to shoot Hiram a frustrated retort when she caught a flash of blond underneath a hood as a girl jogged up the street and up their walkway.

Rachel ran to the door, nearly knocking Hiram and Leroy over in the process, before flinging it open.

"You're late," Rachel chided.

"And you're impatient as ever," Quinn returned with a smile as she pulled off her hood and closed the door behind her. Being dead for ten years had its benefits, and Quinn had spent the past year using her "ghost training" - Puck's words, not hers - to blend into the Lima society without really being noticed. It had only proved to be a problem when she had to wear a sweatshirt and hood out in ninety-degree weather.

"Well?" Leroy asked as he and Hiram clasped hands behind Rachel, eagerly watching Quinn, "Tell us how we did as home-school teachers this past year."

Quinn met Rachel's eyes and couldn't help but smile back at the hopeful grin Rachel was shooting her. From out of her faded red hoodie pocket, Quinn produced a rolled up piece of paper. "You two must have done something right because they gave me this GED certificate for passing the test," Quinn said, her voicing rising near the end out of excitement.

The Berrys squealed simultaneously before engulfing Quinn in a group hug. "Congratulations" and "I'm so proud of you" were thrown around the group before Quinn quickly pulled away and pulled out her cell phone to check the time.

"Rachel -"

"I know," the brunette cut in. She ran into the kitchen and grabbed her keys before running back to the group at the door. "My turn to graduate," Rachel said, biting her lip nervously.

"We'll be there as soon as they open the doors to the public, honey," Hiram said.

"And you're sure you can't come?" Rachel asked, turning to face Quinn.

The blond smiled softly but shook her head. "We talked about this, Rach, it's too risky. There will be way too many people there and someone would definitely recognize me, especially Puck's parents. I'll be here when you get back though, and hopefully I'll be all packed by then."

Rachel nodded reluctantly before plastering a nervous smile on her face and hugging both of her fathers. Quinn walked her to her car and grabbed her hand before she got in.

"You did it, babe. You're graduating."

"We both did it, Quinn. We finally made it! I just have to get through this ceremony, and I know that you'll -"

"Be there in spirit," Quinn said in amusement, laughing as Rachel winced and shook her head.

The two shared a gentle look for a moment before Rachel reached forward and squeezed Quinn's hand.

That day marked a year and a half of them being together as a couple. The rest of Rachel's junior year and their senior year of high school had gone off without a hitch and without anything paranormal happening.

Rachel squeezed it again. "Just making sure," she whispered.

Quinn sucked in a breath and quickly reached forward, pulling Rachel into a tight hug before pulling back and swiftly capturing Rachel's lip with her own. As she pulled away, she softly bumped Rachel's nose and then placed a kiss against the brunette's bangs, her lips lingering and forming a smile.

"Then…. New York."

Rachel closed her eyes and stayed in Quinn's embrace for a moment more. "Then New York."