Why are you obsessed with buying a boat all of a sudden?

It's called a yacht. Rich people have yachts. And I'm not obsessed. I want to enjoy life. A boat is a wonderful way to show the world we've made it.

You just want to send pictures to daddy to rub it in. He always wanted a boat but never bought one.

I want to learn to drive it. And if we can make him feel bad in the process then that's just a bonus.

You don't drive it, you sail it.

Whatever.

No boat. At least not yet. Once we hit our million dollar goal we'll get a bigger place. We can justify that. Besides if we're gonna settle down with Rachel we have to have a new place to do it in. Somewhere we can call our own.

Hey U-hauler, we haven't even convinced her to be our girlfriend yet. You're already moving us in together.

My cell phone chimed in my hand. I'd been holding it for the past twenty minutes hoping I could build up the courage to call Rachel and pour my heart out to her. Being honest was a pain in the ass. It worked out for me with Cheryl but I couldn't imagine my luck would hold with Rachel.

I checked the caller ID. Frannie.

What the hell does she want?

Probably to ask questions. Everybody we know has been asking us questions since those pictures went up on TMZ of us having dinner with Chad.

Answer it. See what she wants.

"Hello." I said. It had been months since I'd spoken with my big sister. These days she avoided me like the plague. When I told her I was gay she told me I was throwing my life away and practically disowned me.

Okay not really. Unlike my father she still kept in contact. She wrote letters and sent emails. Sent cards at Christmas time, pictures of the kids. I could count the number of times we'd actually spoken on one hand but she at least made an effort. I hadn't spoken to my father since I'd told him I was gay.

We keep in contact. When we bought our condo we sent him a picture.

Only to show him that our place costs more than his.

It does. It cost twice as much as the house we grew up in. Three times as much even. Just thought he should know that since he didn't think we'd ever amount to anything.

"Quinn. Hey, it's your sister."

No shit.

"Hey Frannie what's going on?"

"Quinn hey. I was just calling to see how you were."

I laughed to myself.

Sure you are.

"I'm doing great. I just got a huge promotion at work."

"Really, that's great. I mean it's really great. A friend of mine said she saw a picture of you on the internet with Chad Ullrich. You were going out to dinner together. You never told me you knew him."

I knew it. I knew she'd be jealous.

"Yeah, he's just a good friend."

"So you guys aren't dating. Somebody said he wanted to have sex with you."

Nice of her to cut to the chase.

"Of course he does, he's a guy. Guys want to have sex with pretty girls."

She paused for a beat. "Did you do it?"

Great now she thinks I'm a slut.

"No. I didn't."

"Why not?" She asked me.

And we're the slut?

"Because I barely know him. And he's a guy. I'm gay Frannie. I don't sleep with men."

Frannie sighed. "Quinn I've been really accepting about your lifestyle but when a rich and handsome movie star wants to be with you there's no reason for you to turn him down. You're being crazy. I understand you find women attractive but you have to be practical. You should be with him. Mom and I think you should be with him."

Oh well why don't I just rush on over with a box of condoms and a six pack of Coors light.

I appreciate the advice but I won't be getting freaky with Chad.

"Frannie. I'm sorry but this isn't up for discussion." I told her.

"Quinn just hear me out. Dad said being with Chad is the right thing to do. He said this is the way we can bring our family back together. If you do this he'll welcome you home."

Oh well why don't I just pack a bag.

Stop it. Stop being snide.

What, are we supposed to just drop everything because dad says so?

No I'm just saying maybe we should listen.

Listen to what? These people abandoned us. They threw us out on the street then turned their backs on us because of something that won't effect their lives at all. Us being gay doesn't matter to them in the least. We're victims of these people. Just because we're related doesn't make them family. Family doesn't abandon you. We're sticking to the plan.

Fine.

Say it. Say it until you mean it.

We're sticking to the plan. We're sticking to the plan.

Good. Now finish this phone call and let's call Rachel.

What are we gonna say?

At this point it doesn't matter. We just have to get her to agree to see us.

~The next night~

I hated having dinner at swanky restaurants. Everything was always so stiff and cold. It reminded me of having dinner at my nanna's house when I was a kid. My nanna was a perfectionist who had to have everything just so. Expensive silverware, fancy napkins and a tasteful centerpiece. The woman even made me and my sister wear dresses. I hated every second of it and stepping into a place like this took me back to that helpless place as a kid.

"Ms. Fabray, it's a pleasure to have you join us." The hostess said the second I walked through the door. I had no idea how she knew who I was. It had been happening everywhere I went these past few days. People were greeting me by name, speaking to me as if we were old friends. Asking me about things they shouldn't know. It was unnerving.

"Thank you." I said politely. I felt hands on my shoulder pulling carefully at my jacket and almost jumped out of my skin.

"Please excuse me madam." A man said as he pulled my jacket off and headed away. He didn't give me a chit or receipt for the coat check and I wondered how I'd get it back.

Is he gonna steal our coat? I love that coat.

He's not going to steal it. Will you relax. We're supposed to be fitting in.

"Right this way please." The hostess said as she walked off without waiting for me to respond.

As much as I despised eating at places like this I couldn't help but be thrilled by the ambiance. The place was a who's who of society and business. Half of the faces I recognized from the financial pages of the city's various publications and the rest were the snobby types with the million dollar penthouses and names like Rockefeller and, van der Woodsen.

Didn't we go to high school with a girl named van der Woodsen?

That's not a real person, she's a character on Gossip Girl.

Most of the snobs ignored me as I walked through to reach my table. I knew their reputations but didn't know any of them. The others smiled politely and gave me respectful nods. Most of these were movers and shakers. Wall street players who felt the need to make new friends and new connections everyday. My type of people.

I was ten feet away from my table when I heard a spine chilling voice call out to me. "Grace Kelly?" I recognized the voice right away and my stomach turned.

Oh my God. Not him. Anybody but him.

Only one person has ever called us Grace Kelly.

I turned and came eye to eye with Jesse St. James. He still looked the same, handsome with his patented slightly askew brown hair and blue eyes. He smirked when he saw me and I waited for him to say something snarky.

Great, all we need when we're trying to woo Rachel. Her ex-boyfriend.

"Jesse St. James. What on Earth are you doing here? I thought you were ruling the European circuit with an iron fist."

Jesse had done some Broadway work but had managed to find a career for himself overseas. He was huge in the Paris and London theatre circuits and from what I heard he had won all sorts of awards. The last place I ever expected to find him was back in the states.

He was on his feet and embracing me in a hug that made me uncomfortable but I didn't fight him off.

"It's great to see you. It's been how many years?" He asked me.

Since we'd lost Nationals our Junior year of high school actually.

"Oh years and years. Welcome back to the states."

He turned his attention to the young woman sitting with him at the table. "Excuse me Your Highness forgive my rudeness. Allow me to present Quinn Fabray Wall Street's future master of the universe. Quinn and I went to high school together believe it or not. And Quinn allow me to present to you Her Royal Highness Princess Amelie, of the Kingdom of Sweden."

Quick. Bow.

Bow?

Yes. Royalty. Bow, now.

Remembering that women didn't actually bow they curtsied I showed my proper respect and received a polite nod from the princess.

What the hell is St. James doing with a Princess? That kid could get sent to Hell and come out licking an ice cream cone.

"Pleasure to meet you Your Highness." I said. I didn't want to say anything else in risk of embarrassing myself so I turned my attention back to Jesse. "So are you in town for a show?"

Jesse looked towards the Princess and shook his head slowly. "Actually no. I was asked to escort Her Highness to the United States by His Majesty the King. She wanted to see the sights and experience some American culture. We're actually going to be seeing Rachel's show when it opens."

Interesting. "Really? She's coming here as a matter of fact. We're having dinner. She should be here in a moment."

The Princess's face lit up. "Oh you must join us."

I looked towards Jesse for approval and he nodded eagerly. "Her Highness is a great admirer of Rachel's work. She saw her two years ago in Victor-Anna and was quite taken."

That settles it then.

I looked over to the hostess who had stopped walking but was clearly paying very close attention to the conversation.

"My party and myself will be joining Her Highness for dinner."

The hostess nodded and on her way past stopped to give the princess a curtsy of her own. Half the room was watching now and I could hear the whispers. Nothing like royalty to draw attention.

By the time Rachel showed up I was on pins and needles. I knew nothing about Sweden and up until tonight didn't know they had a King. I spent most of the time catching up with Jesse while he casually asked about the rest of the Glee club. He asked specifically about Finn, his high school nemesis for Rachel's affection, and when I told him he was still in Lima running Mr. Hummel's auto repair business Jesse smiled. I didn't tell him that Finn had managed to expand the business and with Kurt's help had opened a second location.

Rachel showed up to the table and immediately gave the Princess a bow, which by now had become the thing to do. Half the diners in the place had stopped to bow as they exited. Rachel did so gracefully then gave Jesse a polite smooch on the cheek. I'd been able to send her a warning text to let her know our intimate dinner plans had changed and when she finally showed up she didn't look as if she minded.

This sucks. We can't tell her we love with a princess and Jesse at the table.

We'll take her home and tell her then.

It's better anyway, more private I suppose.

Rachel surprised me by leaning into me and giving me a quick kiss on the lips. It was light and fast but it told me everything I needed to know. She cared for me and wasn't ashamed of it. I had to do this tonight.

~Rachel's house~

"I'm sorry about tonight. I saw Jesse, and the Princess was a fan of yours and asked if we'd join her for dinner. I didn't know she was going to be so chatty."

Rachel laughed. "It's okay. I'm just surprised to see Jesse with her. The guy has the strangest luck with women. I'm not sure what it is about him that women find so attractive."

That's funny seeing as how she dated him.

"What did YOU like about him?" I asked her.

"I was attracted to his talent more than anything. He's handsome but that's not really what it was about for me."

I nodded but my mind was starting to wander. Questions about me and Rachel were taking over my mind. I had to get this off my chest. It had been killing me all night.

"Can I ask you a question?"

She nodded as she slung her jacket over a nearby chair. She was once again wearing a dress designed to take to my breath away. My eyes poured over her body and I had to force myself to stay on track. Sex was bad. At least right now. I want more than her body.

"Go ahead." She said with a chipper tone I wasn't expecting.

"What is it you want from this? Me and you I mean. Are you looking to settle down?"

I could tell by her reaction she wasn't expecting the question. She froze in place, her brow scrunched, and she began to bite the corner of her lip.

"I'd like to settle down one day." She answered.

She's avoiding the question. Remember what Chad said, she's afraid we're going to hurt her. Keep going. Keep pressing her.

"Rachel I like you. A lot. I know I've made a mess of things but I may be in love with you. And I don't say that lightly. I want to make plans with you. Spend time with you. I always have. Since I met you I've wanted us to be together."

Rachel was staring at me with a look of something that resembled awe on her face. I didn't ease up.

"I want it to be you and me. Hearing you were with Luke hurt me. It hurt me but I didn't want you to see that. When I figured out it was just a sham I didn't think it mattered but it does. I want you to know that it matters to me. You being with him matters to me, even if it isn't real."

She finally smiled. "What's come over you?"

"I want to be with you. I want to share my life with you. I don't want to have to worry about Luke's career."

"Quinn Luke's my friend. I love him like a brother but he wouldn't want to stand in the way of me making a life for myself. He's my best friend."

Of course Luke's a great guy. Why wouldn't he be?

"Tell me what you want from me. Tell me what I have to do to make you mine. I'll do anything."

Her smile fell away and I could see concern come to her face. "Promise me, promise me I'll always be your one and only. Promise me you won't hurt me."

I'll handle this. You'll just screw it up.

"I promise to put you first. I promise you'll come before everything and everybody in my life. Money, my job, my friends. I promise that if I do hurt you, I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you. I promise I'll always take care of you."

I could see the concern in her face melt away. "Do you mean that? Don't just say it. I want to believe you but if I give myself to you and you don't mean it it'll kill me."

She's afraid of us. Still.

"Why are you afraid I'll hurt you? You're scared of me. Why?"

She began to shake her head. "It's going to sound silly."

"Try me." I urged her.

She sighed again. "I don't know. It always feels like you're holding something back. That first night we were together you were so free. You took charge of things and made me yours. It was like you didn't care about anything. Then the second night it was like you were a different person. It wasn't bad but it felt like you held back. It's almost like you're two different people sometimes." She began to shake her head. "This is going to sound crazy but that day I came to your office I spied on you. I spied on you and it was like seeing the Quinn I love. Bossy, a bit of a bitch, arrogant. It felt like home again. Then you spoke to me in the bathroom and it all went away."

Oh my God she does want you.

I knew it. She loves me. I always knew she did. Suck it!

"Rachel I was never nice to you back home. How could you want me to treat you that way again? I don't understand. Explain it to me."

"When you were drunk you told me you learned how to be nice to win me over. I don't need that. I want you to be yourself. You don't have to pretend for me. I never took the mean things you said to heart. You may not remember this but the one thing you gave me back in Lima was honesty. Sure you were a bitch about it but you always told me the truth. You believed in me. Do you remember when you told me I didn't belong with Finn because I was bigger than Lima and would make something of myself one day? That day changed my life. I cried but I knew you were right. That gave me the strength to go after my goals. I always doubted myself before that day. Could I really make it? Was I good enough? That all stopped that day at the piano. I'm here now because of you."

I remember. I remember it was ME saying those profound things to her.

Details, details.

"Rachel I'm just afraid I'm going to do something to hurt you. Say something to hurt your feelings."

She laughed. "Don't. Don't worry about that. I don't need anybody else telling me how great I am. I want somebody who'll stand out on my front stoop and tap dance Man Hands." She pressed her hand against my chest. "Is she still in there?"

I leaned into her and gave her a kiss. "Of course she is Rupaul."

Rachel laughed. "Good. Because I miss her. She's who I want to be with."

~One Year Later~

"Move your ass beautiful we're gonna be late." I yelled up to Rachel.

Rachel had been getting dressed for the past twenty minutes and as much I appreciated how hot she always looked, I hated being late.

"I can't find anything up here. You keep moving my stuff."

I told you to leave her stuff alone.

She likes it when we give her a hard time. She pretends to be annoyed but she loves it when we hassle her. Hiding her stuff is how I say I love you.

You two are so sick together.

I don't need your approval smarty pants, Rachel's love will keep me warm thank you very much.

"I can't help it you have so much stuff. You wanted a walk-in closet and I got it for you. I even filled it with nice stuff. You want me to organize it too?" I teased.

"This place is way too big Quinn. I can never find anything. There's like six closets and you keep hiding my shoes." Rachel yelled down at me.

"Check the pink bedroom." I finally relented. It was fun hiding her things but only if it didn't make her late for anything and today we were almost definitely late.

Last month we'd made the leap and moved in together. We'd searched all over the Upper East Side for the perfect home to start a life together and finally settled on a brownstone Co-op near my old place. Despite the sluggish real estate market my place wasn't on the market two days before somebody made an offer. I even made a nice chunk of change on the sale, more than enough to make a comfortable down payment on a new place. Rachel's place never actually went on the market. She sold it to one of her Broadway friends without even having to advertise. She didn't make much on it but that wasn't the point. We were just happy to be out from under it.

"I found them." She yelled down to me.

"Great, now let's get it moving. Shake a leg."

"You know you're not doing yourself any favors by rushing me. I don't see the appeal of us going anyway."

Rachel had been complaining about this all month long. Having to sit through a lesbian wedding was bad enough. Having to sit through one involving two of my exes was even worse. Cheryl and Liz were rounding off their emotionless union with a tasteful ceremony and reception at the Palace. I didn't mind going but Rachel was against making an appearance. I finally convinced her to go by explaining that it was only by being faced with the possibility of a life with Cheryl that I realized I was ready to move things forward with her. Besides I was the Best Man AND the Maid of honor so I couldn't not show up.

"Free food babe. Besides Cheryl did all of our legal work for free."

"Well I'll be glad when it's over."

"I'll be glad when you get down here so we can leave babe."

I can't believe she likes you more than me. You're terrible.

Jealous?

Yes.

Good.

"Okay, okay, I'm ready." Rachel said as she made her way down the stairs. She looked perfect in her light blue designer dress. The missing shoes, a pair she'd spent an obscene amount of money on last weekend, were now on her feet.

"You look great sweetheart." I reassured her.

"Better than I looked for Brittany and Santana's wedding?" She asked.

Careful, it's a trick question.

Well answer it smarty pants.

"You look more beautiful every day I see you Rachel."

She smiled satisfied with my answer.

See.

Fine, you were right. You still suck.

"Let's go." She finally said. "You know only for you will I sit around and be happy for two people you've had sex with."

"If it makes you feel any better I broke up with them. I needed to find Mrs. Right."

She smirked. "It helps. A little bit. I'm just a little tired of going to all these weddings."

"Well we have at least one more. After that I promise we don't have to do anymore if you don't want to. I swear."

Rachel looked at me confused. "Who else is getting married?"

"We are. I mean if you'll have me."

I dug into the my pocket and pulled out the ring I'd bought her. A custom made piece from Tiffany's that I knew Rachel would love. I knew in my heart I was doing the right thing. Ever since I'd gotten together with Rachel things had been going my way. I'd been promoted twice. I was well past my financial goal. And after having my picture taken with a Hollywood star and a Princess I was officially somebody to know. Rachel's Broadway show was a hit and she'd recently been nominated for a Tony Award. Rumor had it she was the favorite to win. I was on cloud nine.

You should have gotten down on one knee.

Boys do that.

I thought we were supposed to be butch. That would make us the boy wouldn't it?

No.

Whatever. You still should have at least tried to be romantic.

I let you handle the ring. Shut up now please.

"What?" Rachel asked. Her head was still spinning from my revelation.

Remember, be romantic.

Fine.

"Rachel Berry will you make me the happiest woman in New York and spend the rest of your life with me?"

When she smiled and looked down at the ring I knew I had her.

"Of course I will."

You got lucky.

WE got lucky. I'll share her with you. You've earned it.

The end.

Please forgive my sloppy plotting. I got halfway through the story before I realized I wasn't headed in any particular direction story wise. Because of this the plot is a bit thin and unfocused. In any case I consider it a comedy so I figure you'll all give me a pass. I hope you enjoyed it in any case. I really wanted to write something light and fun after Zero, Thirty-seven, Nine. That story was so heavy and dark it felt right to do something fun next. This was more of an experiment for me. I really wanted to see if I could write, funny, and by the response I got I'm encouraged. I could use some work but I know I can get there. Thank you all for reading and keep your eyes peeled for something new from me. ~Empty Pen 09~