Serendipity

CHAPTER 5

Two glasses of wine, one amazing salad, and a terrible movie later, Quinn knew that she needed to get going. It was nearly eleven thirty, she had at least a half hour drive ahead of her, and they needed to be on set and in the hair and makeup trailer in less than eight short hours. She knew she needed to call it a night, but the feeling of Rachel's hand in her own and the sight of the brunette lounging peacefully beside her made it hard to leave. Hard, but not impossible. You'll have the entire course of filming to spend time with her, she reminded herself. Just say goodnight, Fabray. Shooting starts tomorrow and we're already going to be playing catch-up after not filming today.

Quinn took a deep breath and squeezed Rachel's hand gently. "Rach, I should really get going," she said softly.

Rachel nodded and gave the blonde and understanding smile. "I know," she said as she crunched herself up to a sitting position. "Thank you for keeping me company tonight."

There's nowhere else I'd rather be, Quinn thought to herself as she smiled back at the brunette. "It was my pleasure. This was actually the most fun I've had in longer than I can remember."

Rachel blushed and looked down at their joined hands. She'd just been thinking the same thing. "Me too," she confessed softly as she regretfully pulled her hand out of the blonde's. "I'll walk you out."

"You don't have to. I mean, if you're comfortable, there's no reason for you to get up, the door will lock after me," Quinn said as she went in search of her flip-flops.

Rachel shook her head. There was no way she would ever ask Quinn to see herself out. That was something one did to guests they didn't like, and Quinn certainly didn't fall into that category. "Its fine, Quinn. Really."

Quinn slipped her feet into her shoes and looked up at Rachel with a bashful smile, beyond pleased to have the opportunity for even a few seconds more with the brunette. "Okay."

Their eyes met across the darkened room and their gazes held for a handful of heartbeats before Rachel tilted her head toward the front door. "Come on, Fabray. You need to get home and get your beauty sleep. Can't have my leading lady looking tired on set tomorrow."

Quinn chuckled under her breath and obediently followed the brunette down the hall, her flip-flops echoing hollowly against the hardwood floors until they stopped in front of the door. She sighed as she watched Rachel's hand wrap around the knob and she forced herself to smile as it was pulled open. "Thanks again, Rach," she said as she made to slip past the brunette.

Rachel instinctually reached out for Quinn's hand as the blonde passed by and she pulled the surprised woman into her arms, not wanting to let her go quite yet. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice low and sincere.

Quinn swallowed thickly and wrapped her arms around Rachel's waist, pulling the smaller woman flush against her. We fit together as perfectly as I'd always imagined, she thought to herself as she rested her cheek against the side of the brunette's head. She didn't know what had prompted Rachel to hug her, but she was more than willing to soak in the smaller woman's touch for as long as she could.

Rachel, for her part, was equally confused by her actions, but found herself sinking deeper into Quinn's embrace, her body feeling strangely warm and alive everywhere their bodies met, until the tiny voice of reason inside her head spoke up, telling her that she had already held onto the other woman for far longer than was appropriate. It was with a soft, regretful sigh that she released her hold on her newfound friend and backed way, smiling embarrassedly into warm hazel eyes. "I'm sorry."

Quinn smiled and reached out to tuck an errant strand of hair behind Rachel's ear, her touch lingering for the briefest of moments before she pulled away. "Never be sorry for that," she said gently, forcing herself to take a step back as her lips literally itched to kiss the brunette. She waved as she began backing down the walk, through arches of overhanging foliage, and called out, "Sweet dreams, Rachel Berry. I'll see you tomorrow."