Backdated Log: Make a wonderful love if I may

[bttrswtromantic]

Who: Rachel and Quinn
When: Saturday, 6 November 2018
Where: The Spaghetti Warehouse, Dayton
What: The First Date

Rachel glanced to her right as Quinn shuffled slightly in her seat. “You okay?” She asked with concern. “You don’t mind leaving Lima for a short time tonight, do you?” She turned back to the road as a car passed them in the opposite direction.

“You should’ve let me drive,” Quinn grumbled, as she glanced over at Rachel. Her stomach was pressing against the steering wheel as she drove past the Lima city limits. They’d argued about who would drive and Rachel had insisted that since she’s done the asking, she should do the driving.

“When you ask me out on a date, you can do the driving,” she replied, her eyes firmly trained on the road. “Let’s discuss appropriate displays of affection while at the restaurant,” Rachel suggested. When she’d been with Isobel, affection in public was practically forbidden. Isobel made sure to explain to her that it wasn’t because she was ashamed of being with Rachel, she just wasn’t comfortable with it. With Quinn, Rachel wanted to be extra cautious. This would be Quinn’s first proper date with someone of the same sex and Rachel wanted it to run as smoothly as possible. “Wait,” she said, suddenly curious about something. “You and Brittany. I know you two slept together. More than once,” she mumbled. “But did you two ever date?”


Hazel eyes widened a little. She’d never even considered Brittany as a possibility. “No, it was definitely just sex with Brittany. You’re the first woman that it’s ever been...more with,” Quinn said slowly, her lips quirking a little as the fact settled over her.

“Good,” Rachel replied straightening her shoulders. Inside she barely held her excitement together. She was finally Quinn’s first at something. “Now back to my original question. What is acceptable to you, in terms of affection in public?”

“No sex at the table. I wore a dress on this date for a reason, but that reason is not easy access,” Quinn said resolutely. Rachel had brought up sex in a public place once before and at the time and even right now, the idea had held a certain appeal. But as she’s stated before, Quinn Fabray did not put out on the first date.

“I think you’re already suffering from Baby Brain. I’ve already described the scenario in which I’ll fuck you under a table,” she replied with a grin. “The Spaghetti Warehouse is not where that is taking place.” Rachel glanced over at Quinn. “Continue,” she prompted.

Quinn chuckled at that and nodded slowly. “I...remember,” she said, giving Rachel a pointed look before she continued. “Anyway, kissing and handholding is more than acceptable. Is there anything else I’m forgetting?”

Rachel thought on it for a few seconds. She could definitely work with kissing and hand holding. “Sounds perfectly acceptable to me,” she said with a grin and nod of her head. “Okay, I need to pull over at the next rest stop. I need to pee.”

“Another reason I should’ve driven...” Quinn muttered under her breath. “Wait. What do you consider acceptable behavior on a date?”

Rachel put her turn signal on and began to change lanes. “Personally, it depends on how comfortable I am with the person, and what they’re comfortable with,” she answered honestly. “Isobel didn’t much enjoy holding my hand on the street,” she said with a shrug of her
shoulder. Rachel navigated the car onto the exit ramp and toward the closest gas station.

Quinn looked over at her, hoping she was joking. When she saw that Rachel’s expression was completely serious, she shook her head. “Why were you with her? How did you guys make it four years? I’ve heard and read a lot of things about her and not a single one of her qualities has been redeeming, I gotta say.”

Rachel flushed with a little embarrassment. She felt a little defensive. She loved Isobel and Isobel loved her, in her own unique way. Rachel was sure of that. “We weren’t without our problems. And we did break up a few times, but we loved each other. A part of me still loves her,” she said with complete honesty. “She’s not as horrible as the tabloids make her out to seem.”

“Right,” Quinn said, not wanting to argue on their first date. A part of her was always going to love Mike. So, she guessed she could understand. “I’m going to choose to believe you.”

Rachel smiled softly. “Thanks,” she said, grateful Quinn seemed to be dropping the subject. She pulled up into a spot at the front of the gas station and put the car in park. “I’ll be right back,” she said now with a grin on her face. She opened her door and squeezed out of her seat. She went to close the door but quickly bent over and popped her head inside. “Don’t think about switching seats. I’m in charge tonight.” And with that, she closed the door and hurried through the automatic doors.

Quinn sat back with a pout and folded her arms. Dammit, how does she know me so well? She thought as her head fell back against the rest. She looked over at the uListen and flipped through it, looking through all of Rachel’s favorites on her “favorites” playlist. She was disappointed to find the usual suspects, Broadways standards, Bette and Barbra, some classic rock and a few songs from the eighties and nineties. She’d made it through almost the entire list before she stumbled upon a song that made her gasp and giggle. “Well, well, Rachel Berry, you are just full of all sorts of surprises, aren’t you?”

Rachel was thankful there hadn’t been a line for the one restroom in the gas station. It did still take her close to five minutes to relieve herself. She couldn’t wait until she wasn’t pregnant anymore. She quickly hurried back to the car. She opened the door and was bombarded with loud music coming from her uListen hooked up to the car stereo. Rachel immediately recognised the song and gasped. “Oh my God!”

Smirking up at her, the blonde raised an eyebrow. “Really Rachel? Really? How Many Licks? I’m so amused right now.” She giggled and started the song over, but lowered the volume so that Rachel could hear her. “You do realize that I’m not going to let you live this down for a very long time, right?”

Rachel quickly scrambled into the car as best she could. She slammed the door closed behind her, blocking the sound of the song from people passing by. She narrowed her eyes at Quinn. “I think I’m more interested in finding out how you know the song,” she said, turning the tables on Quinn.

The blonde shrugged, nonplussed. “You don’t live with the Jones family and not get introduced to a sundry of music. It’s a ‘favorite,’ Ms. Berry? Really? I always knew you were a freak. I just didn’t realize it was more of a geek in the streets/freak in the sheets kind of way,” she said, unable to stop the gigglesnort that escaped at the absurdity of it all.

Before she could stop herself, Rachel’s hand flicked out and slapped Quinn’s arm. “Stop!” she cried out with a pout. Quinn continued to giggle, so Rachel turned to face the steering wheel and set back her shoulders. When a third snort erupted from Quinn’s side of the car, Rachel turned her head and eyed the blonde. She raked her eyes over Quinn’s body. She noticed how the low v-neck cut of the dress allowed her glimpses of Quinn’s creamy flesh. She bit her lips as she dragged her eyes down to the hem of Quinn’s dress that had ridden up her thigh as she’d been preoccupied with laughing. “Are you done?” she asked, clearing her throat.

Trying several times to wipe the smirk from her face, Quinn nodded and made sure the tears that had leaked from her eyes didn’t smudge her makeup. “Yes, I’m...I’m fine. You can drive now.” She offered Rachel her most winning smile, hoping to erase the brunette’s pout.

Rachel swallowed and gave a curt nod before buckling her seat belt. She was only a little embarrassed, but definitely glad Quinn had only found that song in her favorites. She turned the key in the ignition and turned the engine on. She stuck out her right hand and narrowed her eyes at Quinn. “As beautiful as you look right now, I don’t trust you with my uListen.”

Quinn considered protesting, but thought better of it, handing over the device. “I didn’t say it was a bad thing, you know...” she admitted quietly, a blush creeping to her face as she looked down at her hands. She loved that Rachel had so many sides to her.

Rachel quickly scrolled out the playlist and settled on the one she’d put together for Quinn’s birthday. “I know,” she said with a smile. “but until I have the opportunity to rifle through your uListen, then there is no way I am giving you unlimited access to my ‘fuck me’ playlist.” Rachel grinned mischievously as she put the car in reverse and began the last leg of the journey.

Eyes snapping to Rachel’s face, Quinn’s jaw went slack. “Your ‘fuck me’ playlist? You have a ‘fuck me’ playlist? Oh God...” Rachel was going to be the death of her. She knew it. “What’s on it?”

Rachel couldn’t help but keep her grin in place. She glanced over at Quinn, watching as she shifted in her seat. She bit her bottom lip as a list of songs ran through her mind accompanied by various images of her and Quinn. “Oh... just a few songs,” she finally replied with a shrug of her shoulder. “Britney makes an appearance, but that’s not at all surprising to be honest. Right?”

Quinn whimpered as the image of Rachel’s “Baby One More Time” outfit came flying back to her mind. At the time, Quinn hadn’t really paid it any attention, choosing to avoid getting caught up in the Britney Spears haze that had settled over the rest of the glee club. She shook her head as she could feel the faint stirrings of arousal in her stomach. This would not do if she hoped to make it through the evening. “So...where are we eating?” She asked, changing the subject.

Rachel’s grin turned into a smirk. “Britney brings back a few very good memories,” she commented thinking back to their group performance of ‘Toxic’ and Quinn dancing with Puck. “Obviously my choice in music selection has you flustered because I already mentioned we were visiting The Spaghetti Warehouse tonight.” Rachel winked over at Quinn. “And in the future, you show me yours, and I’ll show you mine.” She waited a beat. “Playlists, I mean.”

“I haven’t eaten at The Spaghetti Warehouse in a long time,” Quinn said through clenched teeth. She wasn’t going to let Rachel get her all riled up. The brunette would definitely see it as some sort of green light to molest her.

“I checked their menu and there should be a few dishes I can eat there,” Rachel added with a smile. A part of her wished she hadn’t decided to drive now. Quinn’s cheeks were flushed and she kept pressing her thighs together every few minutes. All she wanted to do was lay her hand on Quinn’s thigh, to comfort her. Okay, that was a lie, but it would have been a good excuse to feel up her girlfriend. Girlfriend? “You know, I think you were right. You probably should have driven. You can drive us home after dinner,” Rachel suddenly announced with a nod of her head.

Concerned, Quinn looked over at her. “Are you okay? Do you want to pull over and switch?” She asked in alarm. Rachel was so stubborn sometimes and Quinn suddenly wished she’d pushed harder to drive.

Rachel shook her head. “No, I’m fine for now. Anyway, if we pull over, we’ll be late for our reservation. But, you don’t mind driving on the way back?” Rachel asked feeling slightly guilty for worrying Quinn. She’d make it up to her. Multiple times.

Quinn studied her face for signs of dishonesty. Rachel might be a great actress, but when it came to dealing with people close to her, the blonde had learned, the woman was a horrible liar. She wore her expressions, but Rachel seemed fine. “Well if you’re sure...no I don’t mind driving back.”

“Thanks,” she said, feeling even more guilty now as Quinn was so accommodating. She bit her lip and glanced over at her. “Okay, I have an ulterior motive or two for wanting you to drive. But, before you question me on that, I think it imperative that we discuss what we are,” she said quickly, rushing to take Quinn’s mind off the first part of what she’d said.

Ulterior motives, she thought before it occurred to her why Rachel might want her to drive. She frowned, ignoring the feeling of wetness gathering between her thighs. “I don’t put out on the first date, Rachel,” Quinn said in a singsong voice. “And what do you mean what we are?”

“Technically, this is our second date and you put out many times on the first date,” Rachel replied grinning. “That was a good first date,” she murmured. She shook her head slightly ridding herself of thoughts of naked, writhing Quinn. She cleared her throat and swallowed. “I mean, do we have a label?”

“I don’t know if that counts since I was someone else’s girlfriend. This is our first date-date. I want it to be nice,” Quinn insisted, ignoring the bait Rachel was trying to get her to take. “Do you want a label? I mean...aren’t we exclusive? I’m not interested in dating anyone else. Are you?”

Rachel kept her eyes firmly trained on the road ahead of them. She didn’t regret being with Quinn, spending those days and nights with her, but it still hurt to be reminded of the role she played in Quinn and Mike’s broken relationship. “No, I don’t want to be with anyone else,” she said. “I’m comfortable with whatever you’re comfortable with in terms of wanting or deciding on a label.”

Quinn reached out and took Rachel’s right hand into her left. “I want you to be mine. We’ve been through and will go through so many things...I want to know you’re going to be there with me every step of the way. I want you there. I feel like I’ve spent the last few months fighting to get to here. I don’t want to give you up when I just got you. Is that...official enough for you or do I need to say the words?”

Rachel squeezed Quinn’s hand and smiled softly. Her heart was pounding with nervousness. She felt maybe Quinn wasn’t ready to put an actual label on what they were, or where they were headed. She didn’t want to risk pushing her and in turn, losing her. She shook her head in the negative. “No, you’ve said it all,” she replied with a smile. “I want to be yours and you to be mine. I want all of those things for both of us.”

Smiling, she kept her hand in Rachel’s for the rest of the drive to the restaurant.

It only took them another twenty minutes before they reached Dayton. “We’re almost there. How are you feeling?” Rachel asked glancing at Quinn.

“I’m okay. Not as queasy as I was at my sister’s, so that’s something, right? You should see the new house. It’s pretty nice. Bigger than my house. I told her Abby and I are moving in,” Quinn said with a small smile as she gets out of the car.

Rachel frowned as watched Quinn exit the car. “Hey!” she called out. “Are you going to let me be in charge, or what? That car door was for me to open,” she complained as she pushed herself out of the car and closed the door behind her. She hit the lock on her car keys and the alarm sounded off. She shouldered her hand bag and hurried around the front of the car to hold Quinn’s hand.

Quinn stopped walking and waited for Rachel to catch up. “Sorry, I wasn’t thinking about it. You can hold the door to the restaurant open. Though, you don’t have to be so formal, Rach.” The blonde smiled as Rachel’s hand met hers. Despite all of her experiences in the past with Brittany, they didn’t come close to feeling this. Holding hands with another woman that wasn’t just her friend. She laced their fingers together and squeezed lightly.

Rachel grinned up at Quinn. “Will you just let me do this properly?” Rachel asked, tugging on Quinn’s arm. “Come on. Pasta awaits,” she said, reaching for the door of the restaurant with her free hand and pulling it open. She let Quinn pass through first, following close behind.

The hostess, a young girl dressed in all black with smooth brown skin and curly dark hair, opened the door with a smile. “Welcome to The Spaghetti Warehouse,” she chirped with a smile that reminded Quinn of Mercedes.

The blonde smiled back, nodding her thanks and taking a deep breath as she felt Rachel’s hand at the small of her back. She moved to the side as they walked into the restaurant, allowing the shorter woman to step forward since she’d made the reservation.

Rachel smiled at the hostess. “We have a reservation for two under the name Barbra Berry,” she said, sliding her hand across Quinn’s back and down her arm to slip her fingers between Quinn’s once again.

Quinn shivered and chuckled lightly at the name, looking over at Rachel with a raised eyebrow. When the brunette merely shrugged, she shook her head. The second hostess, a shorter girl of Indian descent, looked over the reservation lists and found their name quickly, nodding and grabbing two menus. “Found you. Right this way.”

“Thanks,” Rachel replied as she began to lead Quinn, following the hostess. They were shown to a table for two against one of the large windows. She smiled at the hostess and nodded her head in thanks. She let go of Quinn’s hand as she moved behind her to pull out her seat. Quinn blushed as she moved into the seat. Rachel pushed it in as Quinn sat down. Bending forward, Rachel kissed the side of Quinn’s neck before pulling away and moving toward her own chair next to Quinn and facing the window.

She was pretty sure that her whole face was red all that to the tips of her ears. She cleared her throat and fixed her eyes on Rachel’s. “I thought you were going to behave. That was definitely not behaving.”

Rachel smiled. “You said kissing was more than acceptable. Are you going back on that?” she asked, resting her chin on her hand on the table. She reached out with her free hand to brush a few loose strands of hair behind Quinn’s ear.

Before Quinn could reply they heard a throat clearing above them. Rachel turned her head slightly to find the hostess trying to hide a grin and holding their menus. “Thank you,” Rachel said taking both menus and offering one to Quinn.

Quinn ducked her head in embarrassment. She waited for the hostess to assure them that their server would be “right with them” and walk away before she addressed Rachel. “Kisses on the lips, not spots you have discovered after spending hours trying to figure out what ‘gets me hot.’ You knew what I meant.” She opened her menu and looked at the appetizers. She was suddenly feeling very hungry.

Rachel shook her head. “You should know by now that you need to be a little more specific,” she said, opening up her menu. “As much as I would love to know what goes on in there, I can’t read your mind. It’s also too late to specify the terms. The date has already begun,” Rachel added with a grin. “Ooh, pesto and pasta,” she said with excitement, her eyes lighting up as she grinned into her menu.

“What do you mean it’s too late?” Quinn asked, looking over her menu at Rachel. She’d known the moment she’d seen the description in the menu that she wanted a big plate of fettuccine alfredo with grilled chicken and broccoli.

“Exactly what I said.You can’t decide where I can or cannot kiss you now,” Rachel replied deciding on a Caesar salad without the chicken and cheese for her starter. “I would normally allow you to change your mind, being that we’re so early in the date, but I think a large part of you enjoys trying to see how many ways I can... bend your rules.” Rachel closed her menu and laid it down in front of her. “Anything look appetizing?” she asked with a grin.

Raking her eyes over Rachel’s body, Quinn smirked. “Definitely...” She glanced back at the menu and nodded. “I want the mozzarella fritta to start. What about you?”

Rachel laughed as she caught Quinn practically undressing her with her eyes. “My choices are a little limited, but I’ll be able to eat the Caesar with a few minor adjustments,” she replied. “Although, there is something at this table that I know is vegan and tastes delicious,” she added with a smirk.

“I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Quinn said, grateful when the server came to the table. She listened as Ryan read off the specials of the evening before ordering a sparkling water and her appetizer.

Rachel smiled up at the server and rattled off her order. Once he left, she turned back to face Quinn. "I was talking about the bread," Rachel replied reaching forward and picking up one of the freshly baked bread rolls in the basket. "You have such a dirty mind, Quinn Fabray," she added with shake of her head and a smirk.

“I just said I didn’t know what you were talking about,” the blonde countered. She flipped her hair over her shoulders and smoothed out her clothing. “You’re the one with the dirty mind, Rachel Berry.”

"I do have a dirty mind," Rachel conceded. She leaned over, her left hand sliding up Quinn's arm as her mouth moved to Quinn's ear. "I really wasn't talking about the bread. You know, it's been so long since I've tasted you, I'm worried I might forget," she whispered before grazing Quinn's outer ear with her lips.

A whimper lodged in her throat and she moved away a little. “Rachel! We shouldn’t be talking about this here.” She looked around and saw no one was paying them attention, but she didn’t think it was proper date etiquette.

Rachel sat back and smiled. She glanced over at a couple at the table to their right. The guy leaned over and whispered something into his companion's ear, a giggle quickly erupting. "I'm sure that guy over there only whispered a joke in her ear," she replied sarcastically. "I'm going to keep whispering what I want in your ear. You're mine, Quinn Fabray and I want you and everybody else to know it."

The possessive tone Rachel was using shouldn’t have turned her on, but she could feel her heart start to beat faster and she could feel her panties getting damp. “No one is questioning who I belong to.”

Rachel slid her hand under the table and placed it on Quinn's knee. "And I'm just making sure that no one does," she replied, her thumb gently stroking Quinn's knee.

"You're wet, aren't you?" Rachel asked softly, her hand sliding a little higher on Quinn's leg. Rachel spotted their server approaching with their drinks ad she quickly slipped her hand back into her own lap.

Quinn practically ripped her glass, taking a long drink. Ryan walked away again and Quinn looked over at her. “What do you think you’re doing?”

"Making dinner conversation," Rachel replied reaching for her water. She took a sip before placing the glass back on the table.

“By practically sitting in my lap?” she asked slowly.She enjoyed their sex life immensely, but Quinn had really hoped to see what it would be like to just enjoy a nice evening out.

Rachel grinned. She'd felt Quinn's mood shift. "I apologize. It really wasn't my intent to rile you up, but you opened the door and I had to try my luck," she began. "Can't blame me for trying, can you?" Rachel asked, a puppy dog expression on her face. "Ok, I promise not to make any further advancements," she relented.

Ryan came back with their appetizers, plates and napkins, setting them in the center of the table and offering to refill their beverages. They both declined the offer and she waited for him to leave before turning back to Rachel. “You know that this isn’t about me not wanting you. You know that I do. I just want to focus on you and us tonight. It’s our first date and I have to say I’m glad that it’s with you. It’s relaxed and familiar.”

Rachel nodded, looking down at her salad and reaching for her fork. “I suppose it’s because I don’t want to have to say goodbye to you at the end of the night and I suppose to you it must sound stupid, but I like having you sleeping beside me,” Rachel admitted, a blush creeping up her neck. “I miss you, the nights you’re not there.”

“Hmm...I hadn’t thought about the date meaning I can’t spend a Saturday night with you. So, maybe I won’t go home. We can sleep next to each other without having sex. I’ve been very tired lately anyhow,” Quinn admitted. She was still getting used to the changes her body was making to accommodate supporting another life.

Rachel brought her hand up to reach for Quinn’s but hesitated. “Is it... May I hold your hand?” she asked tentatively. “I don’t intend to do more than offer comfort,” she added.

“I already said we could hold hands. I’m not really bothered by mini-public displays of affection. I won’t freak out, okay? I promise,” Quinn finished with a smile, offering her hand.

Rachel laced their fingers together. “I’m sorry you’ve been so tired, lately. I’d like it if you accompanied me home this evening. Perhaps we can have a bath, or just you?” Rachel asked, her thumb stroking the soft skin on the inside of Quinn’s palm.

“I’d love to soak in your big bathtub with you. Sounds like the perfect ending to this date. You can sing me and all of our babies songs,” she lifted Rachel’s hand to her lips and kissed the back of it.

“I really want to say that thing we’re not saying right now,” Rachel replied with a smile. “But, I‘m certainly happy to settle for a relaxing bubble bath with you and the pseudo-triplets,” she said. She leaned forward and pressed her lips against Quinn’s briefly. She pulled back and licked her lips. “Are you wearing strawberry lip gloss?”

Quinn took a deep breath and pressed another, lingering kiss to Rachel’s lips before pulling away with a smile. “It’s lip stain, but yes, it’s strawberry flavored. And I think it’s funny. They will be pseudo-triplets. We can get one of those strollers. We’re going to need one.” She made a mental note to look up the prices. She also needed to go to her mother’s and get some of Abby’s baby stuff she’d stored in attic. She wasn’t looking forward to that particular visit. Telling her mother she was pregnant again and that she’d broken up with Mike and was now seeing Rachel was going to be a nightmare. Maybe she’d ask Millie to come along.

Rachel shook her head in mirth. “Those strollers are huge,” she commented. “We’re going to have to get a third c- I mean,” Rachel paused remembering that Quinn didn’t actually live with her. “We’ll have to get a travel crib for when you, Abby and the baby stay over,” she recovered with a smile. “Abby can have the guest bedroom,” she added reaching forward and stroking Quinn’s cheek.

Biting down on her bottom lip, hazel eyes met deep brown ones. “I have some of Abby’s baby stuff stored at my mother’s. If it’s okay with you, when the time comes, we can get baby things that we leave at your house so I don’t have to lug it back and forth. It’s going to be pretty hard to do with a baby and Abby...” Quinn hoped she wasn’t being too forward. She didn’t want to go any faster than they already were in a lot of ways, but this plan seemed to be the most practical.

“That sounds like a good idea. It’s not like I’ll be running out of other baby necessities either, if you forget something,” Rachel replied with a smile. She reached for her fork again and speared a few pieces of lettuce and a crouton before bringing it to her mouth. “So,” she began after she’d swallowed. “any interesting food cravings, yet?”

Quinn shrugged, reaching for one of her fried mozzarella squares. She moaned softly as the gooey, soft cheese exploded in her mouth. “Ohmygod, that’s so good,” she hummed as she chewed. “Seriously, I wish you could eat one because it’s like ohmygod foodgasm.” She paused between grabbing another one, blushing a little but grinning. “Not any weird cravings yet, though after tonight, I probably will crave these. Anyway, it’s more like I’ll be queasy all day and then suddenly I’m starving and everything sounds good. Well except breakfast foods. Which sucks because you know I love my bacon.”

Rachel grinned at Quinn devouring her mozzarella sticks. “It’s not that I can’t eat them, I just choose not to eat them,” she replied taking another bite of her salad. She chewed slowly as she watched Quinn’s eyes light up with every bite of her appetizer. She was going to have to start keeping non-vegan food in her house. She probably should have already started, but she’d been hoping that she’d wear Quinn down a little and she’d give Rachel’s food a chance. Now that Quinn was pregnant though, it would probably be more ideal if they went shopping together and Quinn could choose a few staple items to keep at Rachel’s. “So no breakfast food because of the morning sickness? Or can you have breakfast for dinner, if you’re craving bacon?”

“Every time I smell it, I have to run to the bathroom at work. I haven’t tried it in the evenings. I do miss bacon,” Quinn said, sighing wistfully before she ate another fritta. “Maybe I will tomorrow. Right now I want to enjoy these little bites of heaven. I think I want to take an order to go. I’ll even pay for them.”

Rachel let out a burst of laughter. “You don’t have to pay for them. It’s on me. Before we leave, just put an order in to go and we can add it to the bill. I don’t want to deny you your appetizers,” she replied grinning.

Quinn eyes parted and she grinned, quickly chewing the rest of the fritta in her mouth. She picked up the napkin and wiped her mouth before leaning over and kissing Rachel’s cheek. “You’re the best date ever,” she said in a low raspy tone. “I might even let you get to second base if you continue to be so sweet.”

Rachel leaned forward. “Under the bra?” she whispered before pulling back slightly, her eyes staring at Quinn’s chest. “Are you even wearing a bra?” Rachel bit her lip as she thought about all the things she’d love to do to Quinn. She suddenly shook her head and sat back, reaching for her glass of water. “Disregard those questions. Sometimes you’re too tempting and I forgot myself for a moment,” she said, blushing.

Smirking, Quinn stared at Rachel’s lips before shaking her head. “Okay, I’ll disregard them, but the answers were yes and no.” She pushed the empty appetizer plate near the edge of the table and sat back, pushing her hair over her shoulders. For some reason, being out with Rachel was making her feel like her teenage self. She felt flirty and free and it felt good after weeks of being sad.

Rachel tried not to pout. Quinn was so confusing sometimes. She pushed her plate away slightly and offered Quinn a subdued smile. “How’s Abby?” she asked hoping to change the subject. She reached for her glass again, swallowing the last of her water as she waited for Quinn’s answer. She was desperately trying to remind herself that Isobel and Quinn were two very different people. Quinn wasn’t likely to use sex as a power tool in a relationship. She was sure of it. Right?

Frowning a little at the way Rachel’s face fell, Quinn answered. “She’s fine. Happier since Mike joined her and Finn for trick-or-treating. She was really worried that he wasn’t okay, but she’s cheered up considerably. Her teacher just sent an email and said she’s singing a song in the Thanksgiving play her class is having. She told me she’s even going to be playing her guitar. I’m really impressed with her. Maybe she can start those lessons we talked about sometime soon. It always seems like we’re so busy.” She took in Rachel’s body language, slightly concerned. She wondered if she’d done something wrong.

Rachel smiled brightly. “She’s going to be in her first live performance? I have to be there!” She exclaimed with renewed excitement. “Would Mike and Finn be okay with that?” She quickly asked. “Would you be okay with that?” Rachel asked. She glanced down at her place setting and straightened her knife. She needed to stop over thinking everything. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have just invited myself along. If it’s okay with you and Abby, and of course Finn and Mike, I’d very much like to be there.” God she hated being pregnant, she felt like she was about to burst into tears at any moment and she couldn’t even explain why.

Alarmed, Quinn reached for Rachel’s hand. “Whoa...why are you like on the verge of hyperventilating? Of course it’s fine for you to come see her play. Rachel, you’re a part of our lives. Why wouldn’t I want you there? We’re together now,” she said softly, running her thumb over the back of Rachel’s hand. “I promise I’m not offended when the people most important to me love Abby. It would be like a special treat for her to have you there. As for Finn and Mike, I really don’t see them caring, but even if they did, this isn’t about them or us, it’s about Abby. Are you okay? You’re really tense. Talk to me.”

“It’s these stupid hormones,” Rachel replied quickly wiping a tear from her cheek as she turned her head away. “I’m sorry,” she began. She took a deep breath, burying her hands in her lap as best she could. Rachel pasted on a smile. “I think I just need to go to the bathroom again. I’ll be back to my normal self when I get back. I promise,” she said pushing her chair out. She leaned forward and placed a kiss on Quinn’s cheek, her left hand moving to push Quinn’s hair behind her ear. “I’ll be back.”

She watched as Rachel retreated, her brow furrowed in confusion. Ryan came back with their food, apologizing for the wait and grabbing their empty plates. She dismissed him with a wave of her hand, telling him to come back in a while to make sure Rachel didn’t need anything. Quinn was completely at a loss as to what could possibly be wrong with Rachel. She wanted to believe it was baby hormones, but something about the chain of events didn’t sit well with her.

Rachel quickly located the bathroom and pushed the door open. She hurriedly pushed away a second and then a third tear as she headed straight for the sinks. She turned on the tap and leaned forward to splash some water on her face. She didn’t even understand what was happening. She was so happy earlier. And just like flipping a switch, she felt like she was doing everything wrong, saying the wrong thing and she was sure she’d ruined the date. She bit back a sob and splashed her face for a second time.

She turned the tap off and stared up into her reflection in the mirror. She took a few deep breaths and straightened up. She’d smudged some of her make-up and she almost burst into a round of new tears. Quickly spinning around and reaching for the paper hand towels, she quickly grabbed a few and began wiping her face. She tried to think of the lyrics to her go-to happy song, hoping to distract herself from thoughts of failure and disappointment. When you’re smiling, when you’re smiling, the whole world smiles with you. Rachel sighed in relief as she began to relax.

She stared at herself in the mirror once more. “Get it together, Berry,” she muttered before she finished drying off her face, giving herself more time to calm down. When she made it back to the table she felt a little better. She made sure to push everything negative she’d been thinking and feeling aside so she could enjoy Quinn’s company properly.

“Feel better?” Quinn asked, relieved that Rachel seemed to be smiling genuinely. She’d refrained from eating until Rachel had returned, which proved to be no easy task because she was starving.

“You should have started without me,” Rachel said, motioning to Quinn’s dinner. “I didn’t mean to take so long,” she added, pulling her chair closer to the table. Rachel picked up her fork and spoon and waited for Quinn before she started to twirl her pasta against the inside of her spoon.

Quinn shrugged. “We’re on a date. I wanted to wait,” she watched Rachel carefully as she swirled her own fork in her pasta. “You didn’t answer my question. Are you feeling better?”” She tried again. “We could always take the food to go and get out of here. I’ll drive and you can rest.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Rachel said with a grin. “I’m feeling fine,” she said, taking her first bite of her pasta. “Mmm, this is really delicious,” she said after swallowing. “So when is Abby’s performance scheduled? I just want to make sure to keep that evening free.”

“It’s the Monday before Thanksgiving at 6:30pm. I think that’s the...22nd. Will that work for you or do you have to check your calendar?” Quinn asked as she took a bite of her food.

“I’ll probably have to check my calendar, but I don’t think it should clash with anything at this point,” Rachel replied with a smile. “Who taught her the guitar?”

“She’s kind of always been fascinated by guitars. It goes hand in hand with her Beatles obsession. Before he left, Puck used to play his for her sometimes to get her to go to sleep. I think it might be in her blood. Though, she’s pretty good with the drums too. Finn’s pretty proud. He’s been teaching her for two years. She’s been taking guitar lessons for about three.” Abby never ceased to amaze her. She’d taken to all things musical like a fish took to water, even dancing.

“You know, there are studies that prove that children who play a musical instrument are more intelligent? I’m proud of her by association,” Rachel replied with a grin. “She’s extremely talented.”

“Sometimes I worry she’s a little too mature. I forget, when I’m talking to her, that she’s only eight. It’s just been the two of us for so long...well I just worry a lot about a lot of things. I keep her schedule pretty packed. I don’t want her to miss out on any opportunities just because we aren’t as financially set as some of her other friends. I’ve been lucky. Brittany gives us a discount and her guitar lessons are from just a local artist that does it to make a few bucks. She’s so gifted,” Quinn said with a sigh. “I wish I could send her to one of those arts schools, but I’d never be able to afford that.

Rachel laid a hand over Quinn’s. “You do more than most other parents do. And look, my dad’s had my schedule just as packed. They couldn’t afford to send me to an arts school either, but I still made it. I still get to do what I love,” she said. “You’re giving Abby every opportunity you can, and honestly, those arts schools? You don’t want her turning out like a bitch,” she added with a smile. “Although, with your DNA swarming through her...” she trailed off with a wink.

Quinn gasped, swatting Rachel’s arm playfully. “Abby is very sweet, thank you very much. Besides, I might have been a bitch in high school, but you loved every second of it,” she said in a haughty voice.

“You liked it, too,” Rachel replied. “Sometimes I miss that repressed little Quinn Fabray. If I knew then, what I know now, I think things might have been very different.” Rachel grinned as she thought back to finding on particular note shoved in her locker. On it was a very graphic doodle of what was supposed to be her, singing while contorted in some sort of position that Rachel supposed was intended to depict her masturbating. Vocal Masturbation was written across the top. “That was your handy work with that graphic note left in my locker junior year, wasn’t it? I asked Santana, considering she made the joke about Kurt first, but she denied any involvement.”

She flushed. She remembered doing that to Rachel, but didn’t exactly remember what the picture looked like. She’d drawn so many over the course of high school, she couldn’t recall them all, but she should’ve realized she was less than straight just given the sheer amount of time she spent on the drawings themselves. “Probably. That sounds about right actually.”

“I kept them, you know?” Rachel replied twirling another mouthful of pasta. “Every last note you and the Cheerios sent my way. I’m not sure why.” She shrugged her shoulder and brought the fork to her lips. “Actually, there’s a student at McKinley that reminds me a bit of of you,” Rachel commented before taking the bite of pasta.

Quinn frowned as she chewed. “There’s a Cheerio that reminds you of me? Did she slushie you? Has she been drawing naked pictures of you in the bathroom? Tell me who it is and I’ll...well I don’t know what I could do besides talk to her mother, but it will be a stern talking to,” the blonde insisted before taking a bite of her fettuccine.

Rachel laughed. “No, no... She doesn’t slushie me. Although, given half the chance, I’m sure she’d be first in line,” she commented with a grin. “She’s Head Cheerio and seems to have taken an intense disliking to someone we know very well. Lily,” Rachel revealed glancing over at Quinn. She knew the two had a lot of bad blood between them. She hoped Quinn would explain it to her one day.

“Lily?” Quinn repeated slowly, wondering who she knew named...oh. “Lily Puckerman? I didn’t know you knew her. I guess it never occurred to me she’d be taking your theatre class...” the blonde said with a frown. Quinn hadn’t seen Lily much since the beginning of summer. She’d been so busy with her life drama, she hadn’t really given the teen much thought. “The girl that reminds you of me dislikes Lily? Interesting...”

Rachel frowned as she looked over at Quinn, dropping her arms to the edge of the table. “You do know Lily is in glee, right? She doesn’t take my theater class,” Rachel clarified. She eyed Quinn for a few seconds before beginning to reach for her more pasta. “Why do you find that interesting?”

“She and I don’t really get along. We never have. I don’t really get why. I mean I realize she’s just a kid, but even when she watches Abby...there’s just something about her that rubs me the wrong way. And before you say it, it’s not because she’s a Puckerman,” Quinn said slowly. “I think I knew she was in glee. Bree’s her best friend and I knew she was in glee. “

Rachel rest her fork and knife against the edges of her plate. She put her elbows on the table and chewed slowly, watching Quinn. “She’s not a bad kid, you know? A few issues, but who hasn’t got those?” she remarked. “She’s pretty resilient and Emily’s words, that’s the Head Cheerio, don’t affect her the way they’re intended to.” Rachel stared at Quinn carefully. “Are you sure it has nothing to do with her being a Puckerman?”

“I’m not sure I want to get into this right now,” Quinn said evenly. “I know she’s not a bad kid. I do allow her to watch Abby, but-well it doesn’t matter. Like I said, I don’t want to talk about it now, but it’s good that she doesn’t let that girl’s words affect her I guess. Cheerios are bred to be bitchy. Sue doesn’t even let you on the team if she thinks you’re too soft.” Quinn remembered being hand-selected by Sue Sylvester in the eighth grade. Millie had been a Cheerio and Sue treated Quinn like she was the second coming or something. That was until she’d gotten knocked up.

“Then how did Bree get on the squad?” Rachel asked genuinely perplexed. “We won’t talk about Lily now, but at some point I would like to talk to you about her.” Rachel took a sip of water before getting back to what she’d been saying. “Emily Smulders, that’s who reminds me of you. Pretty, privledged and a bitch,” Rachel added with a grin. “The bitch part I think comes with being on the Cheerios and her home situation. But she is ruthless.” Rachel giggled as she thought about their meeting in her office. “I made her join glee.”

Quinn smirked. “Well, Bree being a Cheerio has more to do with some sort of arrangement between B’s mom and Sue. I really don’t understand it.” She ate the last of her pasta and pushed the empty plate away. “How do you make someone join glee?”

Rachel grinned. “Anyone who signed up for my theater class needs to average higher than a C. If not, they’re required to join Glee. Emily would be a great actress, if she weren’t so emotionless. She handed in a poorly written paper on sex and repressed sexuality and now she’s in glee.” Rachel began twirling the last of her pasta around her fork. “I rather like having this amount of power.”

“So not quite like me. I never got C’s, even after I had Abby,” the blonde said, sitting back in her seat. “I guess that’s a pretty fair exchange. And maybe she’ll need glee club to take her down a few pegs. Just don’t go power crazy, Ms. Berry,” Quinn teased. “How many kids are in glee club nowadays?”

“I’m sure you’ll find a way to make sure the power doesn’t go straight to my head,” Rachel replied with a grin. She took the last mouthful and chewed. “Emily made twenty. I’ve just set the Sectionals assignment,” she said with a grin. “Actually, that reminds me, I need to begin the search for chaperones.”

Reaching for Rachel’s hand again, Quinn squeezed her hand. “You have met your match. Where are Sectionals this year?”

Rachel laced their fingers together as she pushed her plate away. She turned slightly in her seat to face Quinn a little more. “It’s in Akron this year. Regionals haven’t been announced but it’s been determined that Nationals will be held once again in New York.” Rachel settled back in her seat and relaxed. “It would be great for my club to make it to Nationals. They’re a great group, but they’ve been without strong leadership for a while.”

“Well, how are they as a club? I mean it took us two years to prefect our sound. We didn’t really work as a team. Is that how it is with them?” Quinn asked a she used her free hand to pick the dessert list. “I’d offer to chaperone, but I’m not sure how the rules for that work. Plus, I don’t want to step on your toes,” she said, her eyes settling the brownie dessert.

“I have to ask Principal Figgins about that part as well,” Rachel admitted. “They’re a good group. They’re fairly friendly toward one another and they all enjoy it. I think they haven’t had many opportunities to bond as a team,” she added.

“Do you have anything in mind to help them with that?” She asked, deciding on her dessert. She handed the table tent to Rachel while looking at her expectantly.

Rachel knew there weren’t any vegan dessert options for her on the menu and she was fine with that. “If I weren’t pregnant, I’d be doing things a little differently. I’d want to organize a kind of Glee Camp, filled with all sorts of activities. If only for a night or two away, but I’m sure they’d enjoy it. But, depending on the outcome of Sectionals, I’ll have to decide on a few activities that can take place in Lima,” Rachel replied with a shrug of her shoulders, placing the table tent back down.

“Well you could always organize a Glee Camp for somewhere in Lima or close by. Admittedly, I don’t know what would actually need to take place at this camp, but if it’s anything like Cheerios Camp, I don’t envy them,” Quinn said with a small smile. She remembered going to cheer camp with Coach Sylvester. It was constant weigh-ins and dancing for hours and practicing until every person on the squad got the steps perfect. She didn’t think Rachel would be a tyrant like Sue, but she was a professional now.

“That’s actually not a bad idea,” Rachel replied with a nod of her head. She mulled the idea over in her mind. “Do you think Brittany would be able to help out with some choreography? If we place at Sectionals, then I’d love to organize a Glee weekend camp. Just a two day thing, obviously not to clash with anything Cheerios related,” Rachel said, beginning to think out loud. “With so many of the original New Directions back in Lima... I wonder if we could show this group how it’s done?” She asked with a grin.

Quinn laughed a bit. “I think it would be pretty amusing that during the ‘Original New Directions Reunion’ I’ll be pregnant. I think Brittany would love to help you out and it might actually help with that reluctant Cheerio to have her come. B loved glee. As for clashing with the Cheerios schedule, football season is over and if I remember correctly, November doesn’t have many competitions, if any at all. So, you’d be good on that front too. Are you going to be doing that Beatles medley we discussed? I’d really love to bring Abby to the Sectionals competition.” She was actually getting excited as she made her suggestions. She hadn’t fully appreciated it while it was happening, but high school had been some of the best years of her life.

Rachel giggled. “We’d both be pregnant this time,” she said shaking her head. “I’d love to do the Beatles medley at some point, just for Abby, but we’ll see what my kids come up with for Sectionals,” Rachel said reaching for Quinn’s hand. “I’d love it if you and Abby were able to make it to Sectionals. I think the club would love to have support from home,” Rachel added with a grin.

“I’m sure she’d love it even without the medley. Her school has a choir that only kids in fourth grade and up can be in. It would be nice if she joined next year. So, hopefully seeing New Directions will inspire her.” She sat the tent back down and looked over at Rachel. “We can eat dessert at your place if you’d like.” It wasn’t meant to be suggestive. She just felt bad that there wasn’t really anything for Rachel to eat.

Rachel smiled. “No, I want to drink a tea before we leave, so you should definitely have some dessert,” she said squeezing her hand. “It would be great for Abby to join their choir next year. Is it something she already wants?”

“Are you sure?” Quinn asked, biting her lip. “I don’t mind leaving.”

“Yes, I don’t want to leave yet,” Rachel said. “Go on, order something for dessert.”

When Ryan came back to the table, Quinn ordered the brownie dessert she’d been eying and another order of mozzarella frittas to go. “Thanks for tonight, Rachel,” she said as he walked away.

Rachel blushed and ducked her head. “The date’s not over yet,” she replied.

“I know, but still, it’s been fun. I mean who knew I’d enjoy listening to you talk so much,” Quinn teased, leaning over and kissing Rachel’s cheek. “I’m teasing you of course, but when I’m with you, everything is just...well it’s just.”

Rachel raised an eyebrow. “Just...?” she asked.

Quinn shrugged, blushing a little. “Amazing? Like I don’t want to be anywhere else. I feel kind of lame, like some starry eyed teenager. It’s actually kind of ridiculous because I’ve been through so much, but you’re like an unstoppable force in my life. So, I guess it’s good that I don’t want to stop you.”

Rachel felt her heart pounding in her chest. “This is where I’d say that thing I’m not supposed to again,” she replied with a smile. “I guess I have to settle for telling you that I love spending time with you, too, and you make me feel like I can be me when I’m around you. As much as that might be hard to handle sometimes,” Rachel added with a grin.

“You do have a lot of personality, but I like to think that we compliment each other,” Quinn said with a smile. “I love spending time with you too.” She could feel the words getting caught in her throat and she didn’t want to just blurt it out. So, she decided to change the subject. “How are the babies doing tonight?”

Rachel smiled down at her belly. “Pretty quiet, actually. They probably knew this was important,” she said with a grin as she rubbed her belly. She thought about Santana’s suggestion to let Quinn know about what was going on, but she didn’t want to spoil the evening. It’d be fine to wait another day or so. “I’ve been looking at the last photo Tommy gave us a lot. I’m almost certain one of them is a boy,” she said grinning.

“Why do you think that?” Quinn asked, letting her hand fall to Rachel’s stomach. “Could you see his...thing?”

Rachel laughed loudly. “You mean his penis?” She asked, drawing attention from a few patrons at the neighboring tables. “You are just...” Rachel trailed off shaking her head. “But yes, you can see it, or what looks like it hanging between his legs. I have to call Tommy and ask to find out for sure,” she said, smiling.

“Hmm...I wonder which baby is the boy,” Quinn pondered aloud, absentmindedly rubbing Rachel’s stomach. “I bet it’s Baby B. My beloved...which makes sense because I’ve never had any trouble in the boys department.”

“Never?” Rachel asked, smirking. “Of course it’s your i>beloved,” she replied rolling her eyes. A sudden, slightly frightening thought hit her. “What if they’re both boys? Oh, God. What are we going to do?”

“Cross that bridge when we get to it?” Quinn suggested, looking up at Rachel. “It will be fine. I’m sure having boys will be easier in some ways. They’ll never come home pregnant at least,” she joked.

“No, but they may come having gotten someone else pregnant!” Rachel exclaimed with a huff. “Might be easier to choose names, though? I like a lot of boys names.”

“It was a joke. You really have to calm down, Rachel. We’ll love them just the same, right? And I agree about boys’ names.” Quinn said, smiling as one of the babies stirred beneath her hand.

“Oh! There you go,” Rachel said with a smile as she covered Quinn’s hand with her own. “What names did you have in mind? I’m always open to new suggestions.”

I don’t know. I don’t really have them off the top of my head. What about you?” The blonde shrugged.

Rachel shrugged. “I mostly have Jewish names. Benjamin, Samuel, Jaco- nope, not that one,” Rachel began listing some Jewish boy names she knew. “Adam, Eri, Habib... Okay, maybe not those last two.”

“Habib? No, Rach...just no. That’s not allowed,” Quinn said, pulling back in horror. “Do you want him to get beat up?”

“Of course not. I did say not that one,” she replied rolling her eyes. “You suggest a few now.” Rachel leaned back slightly as Ryan returned to the table with Quinn’s orders and her tea.

Laughing, Quinn moved away from her, thinking as she took a bite of her caramel and fudge drizzled brownie. “Hmm...I really like the name Patrick. I like Benjamin and Samuel. I like Sawyer, Beckett, James, Lucas, Jackson, Cory...this is list is pretty long, Rach,” she said before moaning at the taste of her brownie.

Rachel swallowed carefully at the sound of Quinn’s moan. “Fine, Here’s what we’ll do. There is a high chance I’m having twin boys. Due to this, we shall make a list each of our top ten favorite boys names. Not now, but we’ll sit down and do it together. Then we can bring the lists together and see if any overlap. Deal?” Rachel asked, focusing solely on what she was saying so she didn’t let her brain linger on Quinn’s tongue practically making love to her spoon.

“Deal,” Quinn mumbled around a mouthful of ice cream. “God, this is good. Great place for a date. All the food is so yummy.”

Rachel shifted in her seat and leaned forward, rubbing her thighs together. Damn her. “We’ll have to come back another time, then,” Rachel suggested with a strained smile.

Smiling happily, Quinn finished her brownie. “I’m actually sad that it’s all gone,” she said with a little pout. “Are you ready to go?”

“Finally!” Rachel exclaimed. She motioned Ryan for the check. “I need to get you naked into my bed. Or my bath. Or even better, both.” Rachel grinned.

“I don’t put out on the first date, Rach...” Quinn reminded her with a smirk. “First date Quinn is all about the teasing...”

“I know, it doesn’t mean my hands have to be idle, though,” Rachel replied with a wink. She searched for her credit card quickly as Ryan approached the table. “You’re welcome to watch,” she added with a smirk as she held out her card to Ryan.

“God, how do you always manage to find a loophole?” Quinn asked, groaning as she imagined Rachel touching herself.

Rachel grinned and leaned forward. “Don’t try to deny it. You love that about me,” she replied.

“Tonight wasn’t about finding loopholes even though it would be really hot,” the blonde whined. “Can’t you behave for just one night? I promised to let you get to second base....”

Rachel narrowed her eyes. “You just wait until your hormones are driving you crazy and I deny you,” Rachel replied. She quickly leaned forward and brushed a kiss across Quinn’s cheek. “Don’t worry. You and I both know I probably wouldn’t be able to deny you long. I promise all I want is to be with you tonight. That’s all.”

Quinn smiled and took her hand. “You’re amazing. Don’t think this isn’t hard for me either. I would love to go back to your place and do all of those things you’re probably thinking of right now, but I just want to lay with you more. Tonight is special.”

Rachel returned Quinn’s smile with a small one of her own. “I know,” she nodded in understanding. “I really do just want to spend time with you. Tomorrow morning though, you’re all mine,” she finished with a wink.