Merry Christmas and Happy New Year's, Rachel — Part IV

January 1st, 2013 — what time?

The door isn't even closed when Quinn is attacking Rachel. It wasn't that long ago that they were intimate together (while sober) but even in the days apart, with not seeing each other, with all the feelings and emotions and anticipation and anxiety just below the surface, threatening to simmer over, they were bound to crack... in the good way.

The door snaps shut but the noise is lost in the drone music that has started up again along with the cheering and celebration still happening in the living room, whether from the New Year or the exceptional kiss. Quinn's nimble fingers actually fumble on the lock before the smallest of clicks reports that they are safe and alone in the bathroom, no light needed. All Rachel needs is the guidance of her lips and hands to seek out Quinn as the girl presses her body against the smaller one between her and the door. Despite their crying, the absolutely terrifying moment when Rachel didn't think Quinn wasn't going to show and the terrifying moment Quinn thought Rachel wouldn't get her kiss to bring in the New Year and their new relationship, the atmosphere between them has shifted drastically.

Quinn's mouth is hot and hungry when it finds Rachel's lips, her teeth immediately taking a bit of plump skin and drawing out a moan at the borderline rough gnaw. Rachel can still feel herself shaking from the fear and daze at seeing the blonde part the crowd like the Red Sea. The way she literally took her from Santana's arms and claimed her, her tears mixing with the ones already on Rachel's cheeks, it was something unreal. She can't remember letting go of Quinn, of moving past everyone and bringing themselvse to the bathroom, but now, that isn't really what is at the forefront of her mind. How about the fact Quinn's hands now grasp her waist, pulling their bodies impossibly tighter, or how her hands seem to slide up into glossy hair in some familiar habit, taking fistfuls and returning the gnaw with a dart of her tongue, tasting Quinn's faint mouthwash. She prepared for this and it makes a tingle travel down her spine.

There comes a point where breathing is necessary and they separate, Quinn immediately moving to Rachel's neck instead. Her tongue peeks out, slick and warm against the muscle taut in Rachel's neck, and she works her way up to her ear. Her swollen lips brush against the brunette's shell of her ear, breathing huskily, and she whispers, "Happy New Year's, Rachel."

Rachel is at a loss for words, which is really something, unless of course she is with Quinn. In that case, everyone should just get used to the fact that this one girl is always going to steal the breath right from her lungs. Imagine trying to sing in front of her ever again.

Focus, Rachel, Jesus—

"Fuck," Rachel swears below her breath, eyes screwing shut even if the bathroom they're in is completely dark. Quinn hands have now made their way beneath her dress, hitching the fabric up to the top of her thighs, but her hands aren't stopping. Nails graze her hipbones, sending tiny electic bolts through her abdomen, as they claw at the waistband of her underwear. In moments, Quinn's hot mouth is missing from her neck, where she realizes the dull throb below the corner of her jaw is surely to become a hickey. Her underwear is torn down her legs and she barely has time to step out of them before she feels a peculiar sensation of warm air between her legs and realizes that Quinn is kneeling before her, mouth precariously close to her center. Through the darkness, Rachel can sense Quinn's eyes are searching for her face. Reaching out, her hands find that silky hair again and she shivers, a small moan escaping her, when hands smooth up her legs, massaging her thighs, before one seizes the back of her knee and lifts it over a shoulder.

A cry is pulled from Rachel when she feels a tongue lave through her, her head hitting the door without a thought of pain. Her fingers tense up, knotting hair, as that dangerous tongue works itself in Rachel's heat, circling the center of her throbbing and dipping into her entrance. One hand clutches her hip, keeping her from bucking and surely bruising her tailbone from pushing her against the door so hard, while the other hand slowly ascends her inner thigh, feather like and tantalizing. That mouth moves to her clit again and two fingers enter where Quinn's tongue was just attending. Against the grip of her hip, Rachel bucks out of reflex, her mouth hanging open while small groans roll from her throat. Quinn thrusts to the knuckle and flicks her tongue against her bud a few times before licking a trail up her lower abdomen until the dress stops her. Using the hand that was holding her down, effectively allowing Rachel to grind down on the fingers sliding into her, Quinn tugs the dress over Rachel's head, throwing it somewhere in the abyss behind them. Before a cool breeze can touch her bare body, Quinn's body is against her again, her hand still between them and curling fingers. Rachel moans but it's cut off by Quinn's mouth. Now, her mouth has a different, more delectable taste, and Rachel's brows furrow together are experiencing her own essence on Quinn's lips.

The pace of Quinn's fingers quicken, matching exactly the rhythm Rachel sets and increases. She grips the back of Quinn's neck, letting her body move to the tempo of their ministrations, their foreheads together as Quinn breathes heavily across Rachel's breasts and listens to the small shrieks coming from the singer. Rachel can feel the fire inside her spreading, her mind buzzing while nothing filters besides the dilating of nails against the back of Quinn's neck. Her mouth is starting to go dry, she can feel herself nearing the edge, her muscles quivering out of pleasure, and all she wants to hear right now is Quinn telling her she loves her, those three words causing the most blissful feeling she could ever imagine. And she does, whispering huskily, passionately, thick in the heated air between them, drawing her name out in a groan as though Rachel is stimulating her right then.

Starbursts explode before her eyes, seemingly illuminating the room though nothing has definition. Her body goes rigid, her legs trapping Quinn to the wrist, and she feels a hand wrap around her waist, pulling her flat against the blonde while a mouth sucks on her shoulder, teeth grazing. She wants to scream but gasps and pants are all that can be made at this point, the energy of her climax taking over. She rolls her hips against Quinn, who pushes her against the door again and rolls back into her, the material of her sundress strange against Rachel's bare skin and each movement serving to create some post-shockwave. After the appropriate amount of time, Rachel sags a little in Quinn's hold, floating down from her high, light-headed and satisfied. A dopey smile comes to her face and she thanks the lighting that Quinn can't make fun of her "cute smile". Retracting her claws from Quinn's shoulders, she moves her trembling hands to cup a proud jaw, guiding lips back to hers in a more loving way than the feral attacking they had begun with.

"I love you," Rachel murmurs back, her mouth still brushing Quinn's. She can feel a smile spread then, loving the way it feels against her skin, the very fact she can feel Quinn's happiness. Winding her arms around the girl's covered ribs, she hugs her, seeking warmth and finding it in the way those strong arms snake around her waist and a hand tickles up her spine to find the ends of her long hair to tug at playfully.

"We can't stay in here much longer," Quinn whispers a couple beats later, her mouth by Rachel's ear, kissing it. "I have someone I would like for you to meet."

"Really?" Rachel asks breathlessly, resting her head back on the door.

"Yes. I want you to meet Franny."

Rachel's cognitive process halts for a moment before starting back up. Franny? As in her sister, Franny Fabray?

"She brought me here," Quinn provides, like she had sensed Rachel's confusion, or read her mind. "Because of my parents, I was almost forbidden to go. I would have walked through the snow but Franny finally stood up to them. She drove me here because she didn't think it was fair what they have done to me."

"I have a lot to thank Franny for," Rachel replies, her tone suggestive. Quinn snickers and kisses her neck again. They remain in the intimate position for a few more moments, saying nothing else and enjoying holding each other. Rachel closes her eyes and lets her breathing return to normal, her insides fluttering now with the content of just getting to say Quinn is her girlfriend.

Girlfriend.

Finally, Quinn takes a deep breath and lifts her right hand. Her fingers find the switch for the light and it flicks on. They both wince and squint at the light, having been adjusted to the darkness, and laugh. Quinn takes Rachel's dress from the small vanity it was thrown onto and hands it over, not bothering to hide her leering. Her hazel eyes, spectacularly bright, travel up Rachel's body and finds her eyes. The brunette blushes under the look and slips her dress back on, hoping it wouldn't be torn off her for the second time in the next few seconds. Joining Quinn at the sink, they wash their hands and fix their hair, especially Quinn who has to finger-comb tangles out. Turning her neck, Rachel can see the beginning of a hickey where she felt Quinn bite her. Flipping her hair onto her shoulder, her dark locks manage to cover it and hopefully, it won't come under scrutinize when they present themselves. Quinn snickers again, apparently proud.

When they open the door, Brittany flits by, whipping her shirt over her head and half-undressed. In her other hand is a Solo cup with whatever poison is making her more rambunctious than usual. Taking Rachel's hand, Quinn leads her into the living room, the smile on her face obvious that they, well Rachel really, had some amazing sex but the blonde got to get her to climax in record time. However, instead of getting to focus more on the details, Rachel spots who could only be Franny. She sits at the far side of the living room, on the couch, looking a little lost but smiling every few moments at something that amuses her, which more than often is Mike trying to teach Finn how to dance and will always be funny considering the blundering boy has no hope whatsoever. Franny looks a lot like Quinn, with blonde hair and pale skin, but even from the distance, Rachel can see her blue eyes. She holds her car keys, her fingers playing with them idly until she looks up and spots her sister and the diva walking over.

"Franny," Quinn greets as she brings Rachel over. "I'd like you to meet, Rachel." She faces said girl and beams, adding, "My girlfriend."

Rachel swears her heart stutters, except that it's a medical condition and as far as health goes, she's perfectly fine. She breaks into a smile and lifts her free right hand to shake the older sister's.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Franny," she says as the older sister takes her hand warmly. Looking at Franny is like looking at what Quinn will appear to be in a couple years. They are nearly the same height, Quinn the inch or two shorter. Franny's hair is longer, subtle waves ending on her chest. When she smiles, she can see their resemblance clearly.

"Likewise," Franny says. Her voice is slightly more pitched and just as smooth. Rachel vaguely wonders if she can sing as well. "I would like to say 'I have heard so much about you', but I have only heard a little in the past couple hours. As far as I can tell, you're worth being disowned for."

"Fran..." Quinn sighs, eyes casting downward momentarily. Rachel deflates a little, feeling a little like she is talking to Quinn when they were sophomores and the younger blonde was more passive-aggressive. Hearing that Quinn has been disowned is like a punch to the gut and she feels guilty, that this is really all her fault.

Franny shakes her head, lifting a sculpted brow, "I mean that in a good way, I promise. Anyone who can make my Lucy happy and means enough to her to want to go against our parents is worth it."

Looking back up, Quinn smiles, and in Rachel's hand, she can feel the tension release.

"I'm sure Lucy has told you that I have been visiting?" Franny assumes, returning to Rachel. It strikes her how much they are alike and perhaps Quinn had been the way she was because Franny could have been the same way and just followed in her footsteps.

"Yes, actually," Rachel answers, looking up at Quinn. Those hazel eyes are on her again and she becomes momentarily distracted.

"Then I am also sure you have heard things about me that may have not been the best," Franny sighs. Guilt flashes through Quinn's eyes before disappearing.

"I have heard some good things as well," Rachel admits, though it is not a total lie. She rubs her thumb soothingly over the back of Quinn's hand, unbeknownst. "And doing what you have done for the both of us tonight is the best thing anyone could have done. I love Quinn."

At this, both Quinn and Franny radiate happiness. The older sister looks between the two girls with an expression that says she has been wanting the best for her little sister and Quinn herself grins because Rachel has accepted her sister. She leans over and presses a chaste kiss to Rachel's temple, making butterflies tickle her stomach.

"I would just like you understand what is going to happen now," Franny begins to explain, adjusting the strap of her purse on her shoulder. Quinn looks towards her, confused by the lifting of her brow, and Rachel can only imagine this about their family issues that have risen from this. A pressure of panic settles on her chest. "I am leaving in a minute to go see mom and dad. I'll be packing some of your things tonight."

"Where will I go?" Quinn asks, and though she holds her composure, Rachel can detect worry lining her voice.

"With me," Franny replies, nodding solemnly. "I am renting an apartment in Lima until you finish your senior year and have a plan on what to do next. You can't live with mom and dad now, they wouldn't let you, and I wouldn't take you away from here to live with me in Massachusetts."

Rachel looks at Quinn as the blonde's mouth opens wordlessly in surprise. She looks like she is trying to say something, anything, but she says nothing, no smooth quip or sophisticated response. Rachel can feel the excitment bubbling up inside her, at the idea of Quinn having an accepting home even if it is just with her sister and not having to leave her new girlfriend. Quinn faces her again, the surprise of Franny's plan written all over her features. Rachel breaks into a laugh, ecstatic now, and jumps into arms that lag to catch her and then holds her so tight she can't breathe.

"Enjoy your New Year's," Franny laughs as Rachel finally drops down from Quinn's arms. She steps forward and hugs her sister, Quinn burying her face for a second in Franny's long hair, looking the picture-perfect siblings. Franny then turns to Rachel, smiling, and winks before leaning down to give the short brunette a hug as well. She feels like she could burst with happiness, hugging Franny with her full might. The tall blonde lets her go with another laugh, a noise that is so heartfelt, and steps past them. Looking over her shoulder, she says to Quinn, "Call me if you need me."

No sooner is Franny out the door that Puck leaps over, swaying before balancing himself, a look of pure jubilation on his face.

"So?" he asks, dark eyes moving between Quinn and Rachel. Rachel wants to blurt out what has happened but so much has occurred, it would just tumble out of her mouth without making a bit of sense. Quinn giggles and takes a breath, then finally says in the suspense, "I'm moving in with my sister and Rachel is officially my girlfriend."

Quite suddenly, his drink is raining down on them because he's whooping obnoxiously and has thrown his cup into the air. Rachel doesn't have room to care and just lets herself be taken up in the whirlwind of Puck's arms as he spins them around, though dangerously considering his drunken state. He does fall but just onto the couch, and reaches up to grab Quinn's hand to pull her over them. She falls with a yelp of surprise only to land in their laps, her arms falling around Rachel's shoulders to keep her from rolling off. She takes the opportunity to bring Rachel to her and kiss her earnestly, all their pent up feelings over the course of the night pouring into their kiss. There's movement beside Puck and they break to see Sam cheering as he sits and then passes out beers to Puck and the girls. Quinn takes hers, something attracting her attention as she does. She looks up at Santana as the Latina saunters over with Brittany hanging on her arm. Even if she felt bad about attempting to steal Rachel and the kiss, she doesn't show it with that smirk on her face.

"Didn't I say you have a girlfriend?" Quinn snips, perking a brow and fixing Santana with a joking but subtly threatening glare.

"If you weren't going to show up, someone has to take care of her and her needs," Santana responds, shrugging a shoulder. Brittany giggles and pecks Santana's cheek before teasingly announcing, "Sanny has a crush on Rache."

Quinn rolls her eyes and returns her attention to Rachel. Profusely blushing and hoping this won't affect their night, she gives a sheepish grin when Quinn says with admiration, "Who doesn't?" and presses their lips together again.

"Seriously? Get a room," Santana barks, lifting a cup to her mouth and taking a swig. "No one wants to watch you two make sweet lady love to make up for all the lost time since the second you two first met."

"You know what?" Quinn says brightly, breaking away to Rachel's disappointment and standing up only to take Rachel's hand and make her stand as well. "That's a good idea. Thank you, Santana. And while we are making sweet lady love, you can sit down here and mope over the fact you will never get to kiss my girlfriend. Enjoy your night."

With that, dominating Quinn takes over and she leads Rachel from the room, taking one long pull from her beer Sam handed her and slamming it down on a table on as she walks on towards the stairs. Rachel can only laugh and let herself be dragged along, knowing Quinn is true to her word and the idea of this attitude following them into the bedroom making an ache begin between her legs. She takes a drink of her beer and sets it on a stair step, ready to get to her bed.

January 1st, 2013 — 11:47 a.m.

In the distance, Rachel can hear a ringing... one that doesn't belong inside her head from the party or from her alarm clock that she made sure to turn off the night before... or morning, whatever. Rousing herself from her lethargy, she turns her head to see Quinn's angelic face resting on her shoulder, still sound asleep with an arm thrown over her blanketed waist. Letting her eyes roam over smooth, unclothed skin, she follows the slope of Quinn's neck that gradually declines into the dip of her spine all the way to where the blanket stops her at the blonde's lower back. When she notices the red welt lines that are beginning to calm, Rachel bites her lip and has to look away if she doesn't want to wake Quinn just to jump her again.

The ringing starts again after stopping sometime during Rachel's gazing and she turns her head the other way. Lying beside her dress on the floor is her phone, the screen lighting up with a name and picture she can't quite discern from the distance as someone is calling her. It takes a little while to ease herself from under Quinn's body but the girl is so asleep she barely moves when Rachel steps nude from her bed. She watches Quinn nuzzle her face into the pillow, taking a deep sleepy sigh. She smiles and stoops to grab her phone, but that smile falters when she reads who is calling her.

Dad.

Stepping into the bathroom to grab her robe for something to make herself modest, she steps silently out into the hallway as she misses the third call. Swearing under her breath, she shuts the door with a soft click and pads all the way downstairs, wanting to be in the living room.

Immediately, she turns around. Santana and Brittany lie on the couch entangled with each other and Artie is thankfully still in his chair but pushed into a corner, his head propped up where the two walls meet, snoring. God knows who else is left in the house and she can't dare talk in front of them. If her talking wakes one of them up and they try interrupting her while on the phone with her dads, then... it just wouldn't be good.

There's really no other safe place so Rachel shuts herself in the same bathroom from last night, refusing to lean back against the door for the sake of staying sober and not remembering what Quinn did to her pushed up against it. She taps her touch screen to "Call Back" and sits down on the toilet, noticing the two beers set atop the sink and rolling her eyes.

"Rachel?" her dad answers within the first ring.

"Hi," Rachel says, trying to remain quiet but still speak loud enough to appear as though she is home alone. She most definitely is not.

"Is everything alright? Is your phone's volume up?" Her dad asks, sounding worried... and maybe a little suspicious.

"Yes, sorry," Rachel says, picking her voice up to seem like she is rushed. "I was taking a shower. I slept in again because Puck and Sam stopped by to celebrate New Year's with me, so I stayed up until at least one."

"Oh, that does make sense," her dad says off-speaker, like he is telling her daddy who might have assumed something along the lines of that. He returns. "Okay, good. I know this trip must be putting you out of whack."

"Out of whack?" Rachel repeats, stifling a laugh unsuccessfully. Her father chuckles.

"Just trying to keep up with you kids these days," her dad admits. "Anyways, we decided to cut the trip short. We'll be home in a couple of hours!"

Rachel has to resist bolting up from the toilet cover and panicking, though the latter is already happening and she has to swallow to keep it from affecting her speaking. Hoping her voice won't give her away, she says, "Really? That's great! I might actually have some friends over though, so don't be surprised. They wanted to stop by and see me, you know, say the whole 'I haven't seen you since last year!' bit."

Her father laughs and she can imagine him nodding on the other side of the line as he says, "Okay, that's great. We're about to board the plane that will land in Ohio, so it won't be too long. We'll make sure to stay out of your hair though, if you want to spend some more time with your friends. Your dad and I can just go out for something to eat. Ironically, we miss Breadstix."

Rachel laughs, though it seems a bit hollow. "Alright, well, I better finish getting ready. I'll see you guys soon! I love you."

"Okay, sweetheart, we love you too," and she can hear her daddy making a kissing noise in the background. She laughs genuinely before hanging up, and then the laughter stops.

Shit.

Darting out of the bathroom and up the stairs, she bursts into her room. She doesn't grab the door handle in time and the door slams against the wall. The noise causes Quinn to bolt upright in bed, the blankets falling away to expose her naked body, and of course, Rachel becomes derailed from the real problem. However, Quinn has already caught onto the panic she saw on Rachel's face before her breasts were exposed and she grabs the sheets to wrap around her body and stands.

"What's wrong?" she says, tucking the top of the sheets in to keep them from falling. She hurries around the bed and stops before Rachel, who is quickly becoming drowned in her panic again.

"My dads," she croaks, her voice failing. What is happening to her lately?

"What? Are they home?" Quinn asks, her eyes widening.

Rachel shakes her head and looks at the phone in her hands.

"They'll be home soon?" Quinn pushes, taking a step closer to look at the blank screen and then at Rachel's face again.

Rachel nods, the panic spiking. Quinn swears and rubs her nose as she thinks, looking around the room. She stops herself and steadies Rachel by placing her hands on her shoulders, forcing them to look each other in the eye.

"You need to go wake up Puck and have him start cleaning," she instructs, Rachel nodding along. "You and I need to take showers so I will take one now and you can get Puck into one as well."

"Santana and Brittany," Rachel manages to get out again. She isn't quite sure how her dads will react when they come home to the house a distaster or in the process of being cleaned. The worse trouble she's ever been in is for being suspended when she rigged the Student Elections so that Kurt could win. She was grounded and worst of all, forced to keep from singing.

"They're still here, aren't they?" Quinn answers the question herself.

"And Artie and whoever else," Rachel says, starting to talk again. Quinn nods, eyes reflecting the wheels turning in her head.

"Okay. Go wake up Puck and tell him to get everybody else up and out the door... except for Santana and Brittany. They can help clean. Alright?"

She grabs Rachel's face and pulls her into a passionate kiss, stealing her breath once again. When she pulls away, she has a smirk on her lips and she whispers, "Oh, and thanks for last night."

When she steps back, Rachel now confused at exactly what she was thanking her for, Quinn takes the sheets and spreads them to reveal her legs. Rachel gasps in recognition and in, well, arousal at the sight of the hickeys dotting Quinn's thighs and hips. The blonde giggles and twirls away, shutting the bathroom door behind herself and leaving Rachel to daydream about what exactly she did to Quinn last night. She kicks herself and turns away, almost running into the doorframe, to go find Puck.

Opening the door to her fathers' bedroom, she finds Puck sleeping at the head and Sam sleeping at the feet, still dressed with party hats tangled around their necks and Sam holding a beer bottle that appears to have dumped onto his shirt. Groaning at now having to do her parents' bedsheets for laundry, she stomps over and smacks Puck on the side of his bald head.

"What?" he whines angrily, sitting up.

"Puck," Rachel deadpans, staring at his bald head. "Puck, you're bald."

"Well, yeah, you have to shave most of your head for a mohawk," he says irritatedly, rubbing the spot above his ear and not realizing he is completely bald.

"No, I mean, you are bald. Totally," Rachel says, astonished.

It takes a moment for Puck to process what Rachel is saying, and then slowly, his hand runs over his head, where his strip of hair should be. He does this a couple of times, each time his eyes growing wider.

"Fuck!" he shouts abruptly, jumping from bed. The motion jostles Sam awake, slapping himself in the chest where he spilled his beer. He makes a disgruntled noise before sitting up and staring down at the beer splotch that spreads now that it isn't collected between his pecs.

In the bathroom, Puck is swearing repeatedly, and stepping just inside the door, Rachel watches as Puck turns his head each way he can, finding not a single hair left on his head.

"What the fuck happened!" a note of hysteria entering his voice now. He whips around, looking at Rachel with a lost and angered expression.

"I sort of like it," she mutters, looking away. An idea hits her and she looks back up, taking a step forward with her hand out. "Give me your phone."

"What?" Puck asks incredulously, patting his jean pocket where the outline of his phone sits. When Rachel says nothing but waits patiently, he takes it out with a groan and hands it over.

Flipping it open, she goes to his media files and finds what she was looking for—a video from last night. She smiles before she can stop herself, karma making its circle back to Puck for taking that video of her and Quinn at the Christmas Party. Selecting the video, it plays, once again noise blaring from the speakers. She watches as none other than Santana steps in front of Puck who sits belligerently drunk in a chair. She holds an electric razor, laughing psychotically as she grabs his chin and holds his head steady. She has no qualms in pressing the razor against his head and running it through his mohawk, chunks of his dark hair falling away. Now, as everyone bursts out laughing harder than before, there are two thin lines that remain from his proud mohawk. She runs the razor over his head again, shaving off any sign there was even hair on his head. Finn pops in the side of the frame, yelling about something dealing with the hair, and then smacking Puck's now bald head. Mercedes appears out of nowhere and grabs his head, kissing where his mohawk once trailed and rubbing it like you rub the belly of Buddha for good luck. The video ends and Rachel has a hand slapped over her mouth to keep the worst of her laughter from upsetting Puck.

"It was your idea, dude," Sam says, Rachel realizing he has been standing just behind her the whole time. She can smell the alcohol from his shirt and breath. Looking over her shoulder, she watches him rub a fist in his bloodshot eyes.

"I'm going to fucking kill Santana!" Puck threatens, turning back to the bathroom mirror and rubbing his bald head. "I can't be Puckzilla now if I don't have my trademark."

"It'll grow back, Noah, I promise," Rachel says. She hands over the phone and remembers why she came in here. Puck looks up and sees the worry flash in her eyes again, all anger pushed aside.

"Everything okay?" he asks, pocketing his phone. Sam steps beside her and places a hand on her shoulder.

"My dads will be home in a couple hours, the house is trashed, and we still have people here who need to leave not to mention the liquore cabinet," Rachel says in one breath, so it's easier to get out and say.

Puck and Sam look at each other, their faces dropping. Suddenly, Sam is stripping his clothing and tossing it at Puck, and before Rachel realizes what is happening, the blonde boy is naked and stepping into the shower, yelping at the spray of cold water before it turns warm. Puck yanks off his shirt and sidles past Rachel, running out and down the hallway. She turns, shutting the bathroom door, and runs after Puck, calling, "Santana, Brittany, and Sam can stay to help! The rest need to go home!"

"You bet your ass Santana is helping!" Puck hollers through the house. Rachel nearly stumbles down the last steps, having to catch her bathrobe to keep it from flying open, and she scoffs at the prospect of actually getting dressed.

When she enters the living room, Brittany is sitting up from Santana, rubbing her eyes against the light through the sliding doors. Santana mumbles something and turns over, burying her face in the couch cushions. Rushing over, Rachel helps Brittany up and then shakes the Latina.

"Santana! You need to get up!"

Her hand is smacked away and the girl replies muffled, "Déjame en paz, chica."

"No!" Rachel says, smacking the raven-haired girl in the arm with as much frustration as she can, which isn't much. She doesn't like physically hurting people. "Get up!"

"What do you want, Rachel?" Santana groans, rolling over. "Do you want that kiss now? I have to say, you aren't as appealing to me anymore."

"Cállate," Rachel snaps. This gets Santana's attention and she opens her bleary eyes to stare at Rachel in disgruntled confusion. "Yes, I pay attention in Spanish. Now get up and help clean! My dads are going to be home in a couple hours!"

"Why should I care?" Santana says, finally sitting up. Brittany makes a noise of frustration, stamping her foot, and says, "Santana, just get up. We can help, Rache."

"If you don't help," Puck interrupts, appearing from the kitchen and pointing a finger at the darker girl, obviously pissed. "Then I am going to shave a mohawk into your hair."

"Alright, alright," Santana mutters, waving her hands to dispel the negative energy and stands. "I'll help, just don't get your panties in a bunch. This'll be no problem, I've done stuff like this before."

Puck scoffs and walks away, muttering. Rachel rolls her eyes and notices movement at the stairs, glancing to see Quinn hurrying through the hallway into the living room as she brushes her wet hair and is dressed in what she wore the night before.

"Oh, the walk of shame," Santana jeers, smiling sweetly, stretching her arms above her head and making that sinful dress rise higher on her thighs. Rachel looks away and finds herself watching Brittany become mesmerized by the procession, like she doesn't get to sleep with the Hispanic girl every night of the week.

"You're wearing the same clothes from last night, too," Quinn snaps, running her fingers through her bangs and flipping them from her face. Rachel can't help but be slightly turned on by Quinn fresh from a shower and how defensive she gets against Santana.

"I never took them off," Santana corrects, winking. She moves around her, taking the brush from Quinn's hand, and says, "Come on, Britt. Our turn. Wouldn't want the daddy Berrys to wonder why we smell like a party."

"We can we take a shower together?" Brittany says excitedly, bouncing after her girlfriend. Santana laughs and nods, Brittany exclaiming, "Yay! My favorite!"

"Hi," Quinn says, turning to Rachel. She wraps her arms around her waist and pulls her in for a quick kiss. When she pulls away, Rachel lifts a hand to grab one of Quinn's wet locks, tugging it gently.

"You're cute when you're wet," Rachel jokes, smiling and resisting biting her lip.

"Cute?" Quinn questions, that brow piquing again. Rachel giggles. She steps from Quinn's arms and sighs.

"We really need to clean," Rachel says, even if she really just wants to be the one in a shower with her girlfriend.

"Are you going to tell your dads today?" Quinn asks, her face taking a quality of indifference like she is trying to hide how she really feels. Rachel actually hasn't though about that, having to worry about getting everything in order before actually having to face her parents. Now that it is presented to her, she knows she can just come out to her fathers and tell them that Quinn is her girlfriend, but she wants it to be more special than that. She wants them to have a dinner together or for her to sing about it, some grand performance that just shows that Quinn is different than all her past relationships, that this is the person she wants to be with.

Her hesitation to answer must have said she didn't want to tell them and Quinn didn't even bother trying to hide her upset. She just nods once and turns with resignation.

"Wait, Quinn! It's not what you think!" she says. She wants to slap herself in the face for saying some clichéd as that phrase but at least it works and Quinn turns, giving Rachel a scrutinizing look. She steps forward and takes the blonde's hand in both of hers, lifting it to her lips to kiss it. The action softens Quinn's expression but Rachel can still feel the hurt seeping through.

"I want to tell them but I want to do it some great way that shows them how much you mean to me, that you are more than just my girlfriend but also my best friend and someone I love so much," Rachel says, looking straight into Quinn's hazel. With each word, they soften until she realizes she had been stupid to think Rachel wouldn't tell them. She faces her completely and cups her cheek, kissing her tenderly. Rachel melts that way she does whenever Quinn touches her, wanting to forget what they should be doing and how they could be back upstairs in her bed.

"We'll figure it out when the time comes," Quinn whispers against her lips, her thumb stroking Rachel's cheekbone. "I'm sorry for thinking you wouldn't tell them."

"You don't need to apologize," Rachel whispers understandingly, eyes still closed to hold onto their kiss.

"Lovebirds!" Puck cuts the moment short. Apparently, his missing mohawk has just put him in a foul mood all around. "We have a house to clean up in just a couple hours! Keep it in your pants!"

Quinn scoffs and breaks away, giving Rachel a fleeting glance with a smile before hurrying into the kitchen. No sooner is the blonde gone then Sam comes down the stairs with a towel around his waist, escorting Mercedes to the door as she puts on his jacket. He has that adorable puppy smile on his face and he kisses her cheek, opening the door for her. She says something with a giggle and pats his bare chest before stepping out the door and shutting it. He does a small fist pump to himself and turns to see Rachel watching, bemused. A little smile appears on his face and he winks, then says, "The shower is open if you want to use it."

"Thank you," Rachel says, walking past him with a suspicious glint in her eye at his interaction with Mercedes. He just shrugs and walks into the kitchen as well, where Rachel can hear Quinn make some kind of comment on the fact he has no clothes on and he saying something that earns a smack.

Later that day — 2:50 p.m.

The house became much cleaner in the shorter amount of time than it did the first time, even if the Christmas party was a catastrophy with the amount of people that tore through. Most of the Glee club had actually fallen asleep in her house and Rachel had been the one to find Finn down stairs in the basement show room, asleep on the futon with his shirt missing and "FRANKENTEEN" written over his chest like some kind of title for a show. She got him up and made sure he was alright to walk, let alone drive, but in the end, he thanked her for a great night and went home.

Showered, dressed, and clean, the six remaining friends step into the living room with their chores finished.

"All done?" Rachel asks, looking from one face to the other.

"I think so," Santana sighs, setting her hands on her hips.

"I already went out to dump off the trashbags so you dads wouldn't see them," Sam provides, appearing on the other side of Rachel that isn't occupied by Quinn.

"Since I can count, I took Puck's list of alcohol and made sure the liquor cabinet is okay," Brittany says, looking happy with herself. Quinn sniggers.

"I did of check of every drawer and cabinet like last time," Puck says, swiveling on his feet to take one last sweep of the room. "Think we should actually look like we were doing something before your dads come home?"

"Right," Rachel says, a bit breathlessly. She breaks away from the circle they had made to the DVD player by the TV. Opening the boxset of Friends, she selects a random season, takes out a random disk, and puts it in. Puck already has the remote in hand to change it to the right channel and presses play.

Santana and Brittany move off to a chair, the Latina curling up on her girlfriend's lap and whispering something in her ear to make her snicker. Sam and Puck flop down on one end of the couch, leaving the other half for Quinn and Rachel to seat themselves.

Taking her hand, Rachel follows the blonde to the cushions. They sit in unison, looking at one another with a smile. Something as simple as being able to sit together in front of their friends and in full knowing the two are together makes them more than content. Rachel can feel the emotion buzzing between them, see that favorite shine of hazel eyes, and closes the distance between them to give Quinn a quick, earnest kiss. Facing the TV, Rachel throwing her now sweatpant clad legs over Quinn's own legs and their hands still locked together, they watch the episode play out.

They get through the first episode before Santana has to get up to make something for them to eat and Puck asks for drinks as well. Of course, this results in some snide remark about how Santana isn't their waitress and Puck should take him and his bald head into the kitchen to get it himself, but she ends up returning with some cans of Coke that she found left over from whenever. Her and Brittany now sit on the floor, leaning back against the couch. Brittany pinches Sam's leg and the two start an almost sibling-like fight, the blonde boy nudging her roughly in the shoulder with his knee and Brittany pinching him again. Santana passes out the drinks except to Puck, who says something rather crass and rude about her before nearly falling over Sam and off the couch to grab himself a can.

During all their fighting, Quinn ducks her head, pressing her mouth to Rachel's neck, sprinkling kisses along the column of skin. It's sweet and teasing, not meaning to get Rachel riled up, but the girl just sitting close to her makes her want to rip off her clothes. She giggles and turns her head, forcing Quinn to look up, and catches her lips. They kiss, the other four and their jostling of the couch as Sam continues to kick Brittany and Santana gets onto her knees to yell at Puck about his stupid head, fading away.

Only the door opening stops them.

"Rachel!"

"We're home!"

Springing away from Quinn out of habit rather than not wanting to get caught kissing her, Rachel stands, taking a breath. She isn't sure why she is so nervous but she looks back at the five, Santana sinking to the floor again as Rachel prepares to meet her fathers. She thinks it's just the idea of getting caught and Rachel getting in some major trouble that makes them all appear a little worried, so she gives them a reassuring smile.

Walking into the entryway, she sees her fathers looking a little more tanned, and ruffled from the flight over. They're talking amongst themselves, setting their suitcases down, but when they notice Rachel approaching, they both straighten up with wide smiles on their faces.

"Did you miss us, honey?" her dad asks as she hugs them both, having to stand on her toes to match their height bending down.

"Of course!" Returning to her feet, she looks between them amusedly. "You two got some sun, didn't you?"

"I made sure to put sunscreen on him," her daddy says like Rachel would reprimand them if they didn't and he pats his husband on the back with a chuckle. "He still burnt a little but I think it did him some good."

"So, who all is over?" her dad says, returning to Rachel. "Anyone we know?"

"You just know Puck," Rachel says, turning to walk down the hallway. Puck appears around the corner, smiling with familiarity.

"Whoa, Noah!" her daddy exclaims, stepping ahead of them to rub a hand over Puck's now shaven head. "Where did the 'hawk go?"

He looks to Rachel like he is about to explain that some crazy Hispanic bitch shaved it off his head last night in a drunken stupor but he laughs and says, "Needed a change of pace. I can rock the baldie."

Both dads laugh and her dad says, "We'll see about that. Who else have you got hidden in the living room?"

Walking into the living room, Brittany immediately bounds to her feet and shakes each "Mr. Berry"'s hand, introducing herself. Santana and Quinn are slower to get to their feet, Santana actually looking a little more demure and doesn't say something stupid when she greets them. Rachel steps around everyone to grab Quinn's hand. The blonde gives Rachel a shy smile and it occurs to the singer that the only reason why Quinn would be hesitant in meeting her parents when she would normally act smooth and mannerly is because she has to basically come out to them, too. After her own parents, Rachel can see why she would be a little leery. Giving her a confident squeeze of her hand, Rachel decides what better way than to introduce Quinn as her girlfriend than being in front of her accepting friends who are all getting to know her fathers?

They wait patiently for everyone to finish talking, Quinn nervously and Rachel in anticipation. When her fathers turn to her again, they notice her fingers intertwined with Quinn's, their arms touching. Her daddy gives her an almost excited look but her dad is the first to speak. He raises a finger to point at Quinn and for a split second, Rachel swears everyone tenses.

"That's who we have been looking for," her dad praises, nodding with an approving smile on his face. Her daddy takes his husband's other hand and practically bounces on his toes, looking a lot more like Brittany.

"You've been looking for Quinn?" Rachel asks, now confused. She can feel Quinn's perplexity, unsure of how she should be reacting right now.

"Not exactly," her dad says, stepping up and placing a gentle hand on Quinn's shoulder. Beneath the contact, Rachel can see Quinn relax, like the touch is relaying some kind of good vibe. "Rachel, we have always suspected that you were a little different in a way that is less conventional. You've had your fair share of boyfriends and even if you seemed totally enamored with them, your father and I could tell that you weren't completely happy."

"That may have just been that last boy she was dating," her daddy adds, waving his hand dismissively. "He was a nice enough boy but a little too dumb for our Rachel. He was also very tall and it scared me that he might eat her."

Rachel rolls her eyes at her fathers' crude analysis of Finn. They broke up on a more or less mutual term, and true she didn't have much feelings for him to begin with so it was easy to get over, but he is a nice friend to have. Either way, he isn't important right now.

"What were are trying to say," her dad says, looking towards Quinn now. She smiles a little and his hand squeezes her shoulder almost fatherly. "We have already known you'd find a girl. It has nothing to do with being raised by two gay fathers, it's just who you are. You are so loving and passionate that it makes it all the more harder for a man to step up to the plate."

All this is taking Rachel rather by surprise. She was supposed to be the one surprising her fathers, not the other way around. The fact that they have known she would turn out to be homosexual, though she would rather just say she loves Quinn and not have a label, is somewhat comforting but a little embarrassing. Is it that obvious to everyone else? Is that why people make so much fun of her? She glances at Santana, who gives her a supporting smile, and Rachel thinks back to when Santana was pushed out of the closet, having to face her lesbianism on someone else's terms. She suddenly has a lot more sympathy for the Latina, that the reason why she is so brash and insulting is because it's the only way to protect herself from everyone that wants to break her down for being different and falling in love with a girl.

"Well, I'll have you know," Rachel says, finally speaking up and facing her fathers. "Quinn isn't just any girl. She is my best friend and my girlfriend. I had always been quick to say I loved a guy but with Quinn, it took me much longer to realize and then even longer to say that I do love her."

Slowly, Rachel can feel Quinn's eyes land on her. When she looks up, there's a melancholic quality to Quinn's face, like what Rachel has said is the best thing that has ever been said about the blonde. Her eyes are shining and they look more like tears than that shine she has when she looks at the brunette.

Rachel's father pats Quinn's shoulder, gaining her attention. He smiles warmly and says, "Welcome to the Berry family. We're a little crazy but I have a feeling you already know that." With that, he pulls Quinn into a hug. She seems a bit taken off guard at first by the hug and then she almost curls up against his chest, hugging him back. It makes Rachel's heart ache at the fact that maybe Quinn's father never really hugged her that way. Her dad appears to notice this and hugs her a little tighter, rubbing her back.

Her daddy steps up and wraps an arm around Rachel's shoulders, hugging her and planting a kiss to the top of her head. He chuckles, his eyes on the four friends off to the side, where Puck and Sam fist-bump each other like Mission: Faberry has been a success and Santana hugs Brittany around her waist, watching with a smile of her own and not some snarky expression and remark about "the level of gay in this room is astronomical".

"So," her daddy speaks up in the silence. He pulls back to look properly down at Rachel with a very amused face. "How fun were the parties?"

A/N: Oh, what's this? THE FINAL CHAPTER. I deserve a pat on the back considering my crippling writer's block. That or another Nerf bullet in my eye. Sorry for the suspense! I have you have enjoyed this story as much as I have writing it!

I'll be getting to updating What It Takes soon, hopefully!

-xoxo