Driving You Home (F/F Glee Faberry)

[wannablessedbe]

Hello my dears! I know I haven't been around for a while, but now I'm back! This story is a slightly different version of Faberry from what I usually do; instead of Quinn and Rachel being a long-established couple as I usually write them, this takes place in early S2 with everything being canon up to that point. Rachel sees Quinn walking home in the rain and just can't stand it. That's all! I hope you'll all enjoy

--WBB

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Driving You Home

A Faberry Fic for SFF

Chapter 1

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Rachel had stayed late in the auditorium that day, as she often did, so she could practice her vocal solos without annoying her neighbors at her own house. It was a blustery, rainy day, grey and chilly and damp, and the wind almost blew the tiny starlet's umbrella inside-out as she struggled to her car. When she finally made into the driver's seat and pulled the door shut, she sat back with a heavy sigh of relief, a little shiver running up her spine as she brushed a damp lock of hair back from her face. That was when she saw a blur of red and white and soggy blonde hair out of the corner of her eye. Blinking rain water from her eyes, sure she must be imagining things, Rachel turned and stared—there, sure enough, was a dripping-wet Quinn Fabray, head down in the rain with her shoulders slumped and her armed wrapped tightly around herself, trudging down the long McKinley High driveway towards the main road. Surely she wasn't walking home? Perplexed and concerned, Rachel swallowed the nervous warmth that always fluttered around her stomach when she spoke to Quinn Fabray, pulling her car up alongside the soggy blonde girl and rolling down her window.

“Quinn! What are you doing? What—where's your car?” Rachel called through the rain, catching the cheerleader's attention. She must be freezing, the dark-haired girl thought with a pang of strange protectiveness, seeing how pale the blonde girl had become from walking in the chilly rain. Her lips were bluish-purple with cold, and the bottom of her nose had gone a delicate shade of pink. She looked so miserable, it was almost cartoonish. But Rachel was anything but amused.

“It's in the shop,” Quinn sighed, pushing back a lock of wet blonde hair that had escaped from her ponytail. “I was...g-gonna get a ride home w-with Britt and Santi...but Coach Sue m-m-made me stay late to do laps, so...” She trailed off with a shrug, and Rachel felt the pang of protectiveness in her stomach harden into a lump of cold fury—with the maniacal Sue Sylvester for forcing Quinn to run laps in the rain after everyone else got to go home, and with Brittany and Santana for leaving her behind when they knew she had no other way to get home.

“Well don't just stand there getting hypothermia! Get in!” Rachel huffed, gesturing to her own passenger side door. Quinn raised an eyebrow, staring at the shorter girl in silence for a moment and looking very unsure. “Quinn, for God's sake, just get in. Everyone else has already gone home, there's no one here to see you getting into loser Rachel Berry's car, okay?” The little starlet huffed impatiently, blowing her bangs back from her face.

“That's not what I...” Quinn shook her head, trailed off, and sighed again, releasing a little puff of condensation into the cold air. “Okay. Thanks.” Ducking her head, she ran around the front of Rachel's car and jumped into the passenger seat, dripping and shivering. “S-sorry...I'm messing up your car,” Quinn stuttered slightly through chattering teeth.

“It's no trouble, Quinn, please don't worry about that,” Rachel shook her head with a small smile, turning up the heat to the highest setting and pointing the vents at the trembling blonde girl. “Were you really planning on walking home in this? Why didn't you just call someone to come pick you up?” The dark-haired starlet's voice was a little more stern than she'd intended; she just couldn't stand the idea of Quinn torturing herself like this in the freezing rain when there were an unlimited number of people who would be thrilled to have the honor of driving the blonde cheerleader home.

“My mom works nights now,” The blonde girl shrugged, sniffling softly as she wiped the water from her eyes.

“Okay, fine, but why not call on another cheerleader, or someone from glee club?” Quinn just shrugged, staring down at her hands and avoiding eye contact. Rachel sighed. “Well, I certainly am glad that I happened by when I did. I'm happy to give you a ride, and you'd certainly have caught your death out there if you walked all the way home in this rain.”

“Rach, I'm fine,” Quinn grumbled; but she finally gave the other girl a sideways glance as a small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “But, you know...thanks for picking me up.” Rachel made no attempt to hide her own smile, beaming at the sound of Quinn Fabray calling her Rach. Almost like they were friends.

“It's my pleasure, Quinn.” They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, until the shivering blonde girl gave a soft sigh, hazel eyes narrowing as she raised one hand and pinched the bottom of her pink nose.

“Hhhuh...hht'chxishh!! *S-snfl*...” Quinn gave a helplessly chilly sneeze into her cupped hand, and Rachel could tell by the wet sniffle that followed that the other girl needed a tissue.

“God bless you, Quinn. There's a pack of Kleenex in the glove compartment, please help yourself.”

“Th-thadks,” Quinn sniffled softly, her cold-numbed fingers fumbling with the glove box and pulling the whole pack of tissues into her lap, her nose running freely now. She had just cupped a tissue to her pink nose when her eyes closed again, her expression slack and helpless as her breath caught teasingly in her chest. “Hhih...hhhhih...hhheh'iiishhu!! Aah'chOOoo!!! Ohhh...*s-snfl!*...egscuse be,” The blonde girl sighed miserably, lightly massaging the pink underside of her damp nose through the tissue as she sniffled.

“Bless you Quinn,” Rachel tutted, wanting nothing more than to wrap the rain-soaked, sniffly girl up in a warm fluffy blanket and cuddle her until she stopped shivering. Like that was ever gonna happen. Still, there was no denying the blonde girl needed a little kindness right now, and Rachel Berry was not about to miss the chance. “Poor thing, I knew you were bound to catch a cold as soon as I saw you out in that rain. Next time you need a ride...if there ever is a next time, I mean...you can always call me, you know. I'd be honored to escort you home anytime, day or night.” Quinn blew her nose, then looked over at Rachel with another shy half-smile.

“Thank you, Rachel, that's...that's really nice. But I'm fine, honestly, I'm not sick. My nose is just...*snf!*...just running cause I'm so cold...it'll be fine in a...a few minutes...uhh'chhxsh!! Hhhetchhu!!! *S-snfl*...Aah'IIISHoo!!!” Quinn rubbed her nose up and down as she sneezed into a fresh tissue, still shivering weakly in her seat.

“Bless, bless, bless you,” Rachel smiled gently, reaching out and lightly rubbing Quinn's back while she blew her chilled pink nose again. “What you need is a nice hot bath, the moment you get home.”

“Okay, Mom,” The blonde girl teased weakly, finally returning Rachel's smile without trying to hold it back. “Why...*snfl*...why do you care?” Pulling up at a red light, Rachel turned to stare at the other girl in frank astonishment.

“I care about you, Quinn. I thought...by now...it was kind of obvious.” It was Rachel whose smile turned shy now; and she noticed a bit of color finally returning to the blonde girl's cheeks as she blushed at the admission.

“Oh,” Quinn replied dumbly. Then she closed her eyes and coughed sharply into the damp tissue still clutched in her hand. Not sick, my ass, Rachel thought silently to herself, but she didn't say it out loud.

“Well...here we are,” the dark-haired girl remarked nervously as she pulled into the Fabrays' driveway and cut the engine.

“Thahhdks...” Quinn sniffled, eyes narrowed again as she looked at Rachel helplessly, massaging her pink nose up and down in a fresh tissue. There was already a small pile of wadded, used-up tissues in her lap. “Aah-ahhchOOoo!!!” She shivered desperately as another sneeze tumbled out, the tissue fluttering in front of her face for a moment. She looked so cute and helpless, Rachel had to suppress the urge to lean over and kiss her.

“Bless you Quinn,” The dark-haired girl murmured gently. Quinn sighed miserably, straightening up sniffling and rubbing her nose in the tissue.

“Thadk you,” she croaked softly, her voice slightly hoarse now. As soon as she dropped the tissue to her lap, a thin trickle of snot slid gently from one nostril. Rachel bit her lip, nervous about what she was about to ask, but unable to stop herself from blurting it out.

“Would it be quite all right if I accompanied you inside, just for a little while? You deserve to have someone take care of you, Quinn, and I know your mom isn't home because you just told me, and I simply can't stand to leave you all alone like this,” Rachel babbled, her cheeks flushing slightly pink. Quinn giggled, and then coughed.

“Yes, Rachel. It would be...*snfl!*...quite all right.” Quinn smiled shyly and wiped her nose on a fresh tissue, hastily shoving all the used ones into her pockets. Rachel beamed.

“No, wait, stay there,” the dark-haired girl shook her head, grabbing Quinn's arm to keep her from stepping out into the rain again. Instead, Rachel got out on her side with her enormous gold star umbrella, then went around to Quinn's side, opening her door and escorting her out under the umbrella, which was easily big enough to cover both of them.

“Thanks,” Quinn smiled again; and, impulsively, she leaned over and kissed the shorter girl on the cheek.

“No problem,” Rachel squeaked, her heart hammering somewhere in her throat. As they turned and walked the short distance to the Fabrays' front door, Quinn doubled over and sneezed a soft hhehxshiih!! into the chilly rain; and this time, Rachel wrapped an arm around her before murmuring a soft bless you in her ear.

[Hygge]

I pretty much check the fanfic thread exclusively looking for your stories. So. Good. So good. I want more always!

[StarshineEmber]

This is amazing. Bow down to the master of glee fanfics. *gets on knees and worships* I am not worthy to be in your presence. That was really good. Who am I kidding it was spectacular. Can't wait for an update

[wannablessedbe]

well thx guys! so nice to be appreciated in my own time, lol. so I don't normally write two updates in two days but last night I watched the series finale and I was VERY VERY UPSET about how quinn, brittany and santana got shoved into the last three goddam minutes of the episode and had not a single spoken line between them. WHAT THE FUCK GLEE. NO. so now as you can imagine I have some feels to work through, lol. so here you go, enjoy part 2!

--WBB

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Driving You Home

Part 2

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“All right missy, now it's straight upstairs and into the tub with you before you turn into a popsicle. I'll make some tea, all right?” Rachel smiled sweetly and put a hand on Quinn's wet shoulder, giving it a little squeeze. Quinn smiled weakly back, still stiff with cold.

“Actually, Rach...can you go straight down that hall to the kitchen, and bring me a dish towel? I...*snfl*...d-don't wanna track puddles all over the floor. My mom w-will have a f-f-fit.” Quinn was shivering again, but she made no move to come further into the house, standing on the mat directly inside the front door with her arms wrapped around herself. Her teeth began to chatter slightly.

“Okay,” Rachel sighed, biting back the impulse to argue. She didn't think the pristine condition of Mrs. Fabray's marble floors were as important as Quinn's poor health; but this was the first time the blonde cheerio had ever invited the tiny starlet into her house, and besides, Rachel just didn't have the heart to argue with the girl she had such illogically tender feelings for when she looked so miserable. Instead, she hustled down the long hallway to the chilly kitchen, grabbing some dishtowels from the center island and bringing them hastily back to Quinn, who had already stepped out of her soggy shoes and socks and now stood there with her bare feet on the cold marble, shivering worse than ever.

“Th-thadk you,” the blonde girl sniffled, trembling as she reached out and took the stack of dish towels, hastily rubbing her dripping hair and the hem of her short red skirt, then her sodden cheerios jacket, then her bare feet. Her toes were so cold, she felt like she might actually cry. She wanted to get in that hot shower so badly; but she was scared to leave a muddy wet footprint somewhere on her mom's perfect floors. Ever since she'd gotten kicked out of her house when she was pregnant, she was terrified of even the smallest screw-ups. Quinn was the perfect daughter full-time now; she had to be.

“For God's sake, enough. You're not dripping anymore, you're just freezing,” Rachel tutted, taking the damp dishcloth from the blonde girl's hands and swatting her teasingly with it. “Your mom's floors are safe. It's you I'm worried about. Go upstairs and get warm right this instant, Quinn Cordelia Fabray. You're going to make yourself sick.” Rachel cocked her head with both hands on her hips authoritatively, and Quinn smiled shyly back, too exhausted to put up a cool mask of indifference as she usually did. No one else had ever really talked to her like that before. There were people who bossed her around, of course—Coach Sue, her mother, most of the boys she'd ever dated—but Rachel was the only one who did it in a way that made Quinn feel good, like she was being looked after. Like she was the most important person in the world to someone.

Quinn realized she must've spaced out a little smiling at Rachel when the dark-haired girl quirked an eyebrow at her, and asked “What?” in a slightly bewildered tone of voice.

“Nothing. S-sorry,” Quinn squeaked, a bit of color returning to her pale cheeks as she grinned shyly, looking away. “I'm going, okay? I'm g-getting in the shower...uhh'tchxeww!!” Quinn paused halfway to the staircase to sneeze into her cupped hands, doubling forward at the waist.

“God bless youuuu,” Rachel called back, already halfway down the long hallway to the kitchen again. “Now scoot!”

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The next time Quinn came downstairs, she was warm and dry, her damp blonde hair the only remnant of her previously soggy state. She wore an oversized, faded Ohio State University sweatshirt, a pair of black dance leggings, and thick, squishy purple socks. There was a sleepy, glazed look in her hazel eyes as they met Rachel's, and the two girls smiled shyly at each other. Quinn was hugging a battered old stuffed animal, its head nestled under her chin.

“Please don't judge me,” she said sheepishly, sitting down on the couch beside the dark-haired girl. “Only Britt and Santi know I still sleep with Charlie...and they're sworn to secrecy.”

“I would never judge you, Quinn,” Rachel shook her head, her smile widening as she took in the adorable sight of the blonde girl looking so sweet and unguarded, not even trying to put up her usual walls of cold indifference. “Here, I made you a cup of peppermint tea. Sorry I didn't make any for Charlie.” The corner of her mouth twitched impishly. Quinn smirked unwillingly back.

“Oh, fuck you,” the blonde girl grumbled half-heartedly, still smiling as she took the tea from Rachel's outstretched hands. She took a sip, and sighed deeply. “I mean...thank you.”

“You're welcome,” Rachel smiled back, tucking a lock of loose, damp hair back behind the blonde girl's ear. Quinn took another sip of her tea, breathing in the warm steam; then she narrowed her eyes, staring off into space as she raised her free hand to her face, pressing a finger firmly under her slightly pink nose as her head tilted helplessly back.

“Eht'shhiew!!” The blonde girl sneezed sleepily into her tea, rubbing her little nose back and forth against her finger. “*S-snfl*...aah'chxshh!! 'Chxishh!!! ...*snfl*...ughh, sorry,” she sighed miserably, rubbing her nose more firmly with a wet, congested sniffle.

“You don't have to apologize, Quinn,” Rachel frowned, pushing the box of tissues on the coffee table closer to the blonde girl. “You have a cold, you can't help it.”

“I don't have a cold,” Quinn crumbled crankily, still rubbing her nose firmly against her finger. “I don't get sick.”

“Okay, fine. Blow your nose anyway,” Rachel rolled her eyes, pulling out a few tissues and pushing them into Quinn's hands. The blonde girl grumbled a little, but she buried her damp pink nose in the tissues, blowing and rubbing intently.

“Aahh...eihh'chxshh!!” Quinn gave another pink-nosed sneeze into the damp tissues, shivering as she bent forward on the couch. “Aah-aatchOOoo!!! *S-snfl*...” She sighed heavily as she straightened up, massaging her runny nose in little circles through the crumpled tissues. “I'mb sor”— she began to say, but Rachel cut her off.

“Do not dare say you're sorry again,” the dark-haired girl commanded firmly. A faint blush colored Quinn's pale face.

“Okay,” she smiled shyly, and took another sip of tea. “I still...*snfl*...dod't understand why you're being so nice to me.”

“I still don't understand why you're letting me,” Rachel shrugged back, with an equally shy smile as she reached out and tugged affectionately on a lock of blonde hair grazing over Quinn's shoulder. It would be so easy to lean in and kiss her, Rachel thought longingly; but at that moment, Quinn closed her eyes and began to cough croakily into her cupped hands, effectively ending the tender moment. Rachel scooted a little closer and rubbed Quinn's shaking back until the coughing fit passed, then picked up the warm mug of tea from the coffee table and passed it back to the wheezy blonde girl, urging her to drink more.

“There now, is that better?”Rachel murmured softly, absently running her fingers through long blonde hair.

“Uh-huh,” Quinn yawned, leaning back against the couch cushions with her eyes half-closed, and unexpectedly dropping her head onto Rachel's shoulder. The starlet felt her stomach do a little backflip of joy as the blonde cheerleader snuggled up to her, and with a small burst of bravery, she slipped one hand over Quinn's knee, tracing light patterns with her fingertips. Quinn sighed deeply.

“You better stop that,” the blonde girl murmured against Rachel's shoulder, her breath warming the shorter girl's throat. “Gonna fall asleep on you...”

“It's all right, Quinnie. Go to sleep...I'll be right here,” Rachel murmured back, the affectionate nickname slipping out before she could stop it.

“Mmm,” the blonde girl mumbled sleepily, shivering a little as she turned into Rachel's shoulder and cuddled up to her a little more snugly. Rachel reached for the arm of the couch, grabbing a neatly folded throw blanket and spreading it over the half-asleep girl. She felt another weak shiver run through the blonde girl, and she knew Quinn was going to sneeze again; but she couldn't bring herself to break free of the intimate position. She realized she didn't mind Quinn sneezing on her; not one bit.

“Hht'iiishew!! *Snfl*...” Quinn raised a cupped hand sleepily to her face, but Rachel still felt the mist of the blonde girl's sneeze against her neck and shoulder. “Iiihhh...'iiiihshew!! Aah'chOOoo!!! *Snfl*...*s-snfl*...” The blonde girl shivered every time she sneezed, cupping her stuffy nose in the cuff of her oversized sweatshirt.

“Bless you,” Rachel murmured quietly, passing Quinn a fresh tissue from the coffee table and lightly kissing the top of her head to show her it was okay.

“Thag you,” Quinn murmured back, sniffling and wiping her nose in the soft tissue. “Sorry...I got mby cooties all over you.” She yawned again.

“I like your cooties,” Rachel smirked, feeling her own face heat up with a blush that Quinn thankfully couldn't see.

“Rachel...” Quinn sighed sleepily against the little starlet's throat.

“Mm-hmm?” Rachel gulped nervously. But Quinn's only reply was a soft, cold-stuffed snore as she fell fast asleep against the shorter girl's shoulder. Smiling, Rachel turned and kissed the top of the blonde girl's head, pulling the blanket up more securely around them both as Quinn slept.

Edited March 23, 2015 by wannablessedbe

[stars123]

love it!! Ive missed your stories!

[GhostLily342]

Oh my, this is just lovely! Well done!

[wannablessedbe]

hello darlings! thanks for reading and reviewing! here's part 3, enjoy

--WBB

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Driving You Home

Part 3

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Quinn woke up alone on the couch, and for a moment she couldn't remember anything; why she was asleep on the couch before it was even completely dark out, why her head was spinning so dizzily. As she sat up blinking in the twilight, she felt a deep, teasing tickle blossom in the back of her head, making her breath huff softly and her pink nose quiver. She tugged a tissue from the box beside her on the coffee table.

“Hhhuh...uhh'chxshhu!!! ...*Snfl*...” Quinn's blonde hair swept forward across her shoulders as she bobbed forward and sneezed sleepily into the tissue. Then she realized, as she snuffled and wiped her nose, that it was the first time all afternoon that Rachel hadn't been there to say bless you to her when she sneezed; and then in a rush she remembered the whole afternoon all at once, Rachel rescuing her from the cold rain and bringing her home, making her tea, being so sweet to her while she sniffled and sneezed and tried to pretend she wasn't sick.

Was that real? Did that really happen? Quinn wondered, rubbing her eyes and trying to force herself to wake up more. She still felt so foggy; what if what she was remembering was actually a dream? It had seemed real, but...it was just so unlikely...and if Rachel had been here when she fell asleep, then where was she now? Did she just get up and leave? That didn't seem like something Rachel Berry would do...but then again, being inside the Fabrays' house didn't seem like something Rachel would do, either...

With a sigh (that became a cough), Quinn pushed the blankets off her lap and stood up, putting her dreamy confusion aside as she focused on a more immediate goal: going to the kitchen and getting some tea. Her head was swimming with congestion, her throat felt dry and her chest ached, and right now the idea of a hot cup of tea was the only thing she wanted badly enough to actually make her stand up and go to a different room. She shuffled down the long hall to the kitchen, noticing as she approached that there was a light peeking out from under the door. It wasn't that late, her mom couldn't be home yet...could she?

Pushing the door open, Quinn's pale face went blank with shock as she took in the sight of Rachel Berry, standing over the stove and making a pot of soup. The little starlet had the radio on and was singing absentmindedly along with Taylor Swift, sprinkling herbs into Quinn's mom's big soup pot, which was currently emitting large quantities of warm, bubbling steam into the kitchen. The blonde girl just stood there staring blankly for a moment; then she smiled softly, rubbing her nose on the cuff of her sweatshirt.

“It wased't a dreamb,” she murmured croakily. Rachel looked up, and immediately her expression was full of sympathy.

“Oh, Quinn. You sound terrible,” the dark-haired girl sighed, shaking her head and staring at Quinn with those big, brown Bambi eyes as she wiped her hands off on a dish towel and came around the kitchen island to hug the woozy blonde girl. “Oh my goodness, you've got a fever...poor thing, you must feel wretched,” Rachel cooed, smoothing Quinn's blonde hair back and feeling her forehead.

“I thought I dreambed you, Rachel,” Quinn said again, reaching out and running her hand through dark, silky locks with a goofy grin on her face. “You're really in my kitchen...*snfl*...making me soup?” She raised a hand and wiped her nose on her cuff as she sniffled. Rachel picked up a box of tissues from the kitchen island and offered her one.

“Thahh...thadks...” Quinn sniffled again, holding the tissue a few inches in front of her face as her pink-rimmed nostrils widened teasingly. “Aah'chhiixsh!!! ...*S-snfl*...” She sneezed desperately, cupping the tissue to her runny nose with both hands. “Aa-ahh...*snfl*...uhh'chxshh!!” Quinn sneezed again, massaging her nose lightly in the now-damp tissue. She was starting to feel dizzy; everything inside her head felt heavy and underwater, like the bottom of the ocean. She wished she was back on the couch.

“God bless you,” Rachel cooed gently, running her hands through the cheerleader's blonde hair while she blew her stuffy nose again. “And yes, I'm really in your kitchen, making you soup,” the shorter girl confirmed, grinning shyly. “I hope that's all right. I just couldn't leave you alone, Quinn, you're awfully sick. And don't say you're not, because you know you are. You've been sneezing ever since you got in my car.” She reached out and rested a warm hand on the small of the blonde girl's back. Quinn leaned into her without conscious thought.

“I doe I'mb sick,” she whined softly, leaning her head limply on the shorter girl's shoulder again, just like she did on the couch. When Rachel had allowed herself to be used as a human teddy bear/pillow. “I...*snfl*...don't feel so good, Rach.”

“Aww, poor Quinnie,” Rachel murmured, emboldened by how sweet and submissive the usually alpha-cheerleader was being with her. “Come on, let's go back to the couch, okay? I'll bring you some soup, and you can pick a movie, okay? You just need to rest, that's all.”

“You're...*snfl*...you're staying? Hheh'iiisht!!” Quinn sneezed dazedly into the crumpled tissue she still held, then sniffled and wiped her nose.

“I'm staying,” Rachel agreed gently, leaning in impulsively and kissing the feverish girl on the cheek. “And bless you.”

“Thadks,” Quinn grinned shyly, wiping her nose again. She liked the way Rachel said bless you every time she sneezed; most people only said it once, or maybe twice, and then that was that. It made her feel special somehow, and warm, and cared for. Or rather, Rachel made her feel those things.

“Anytime,” Rachel smiled back sweetly. Then she wrapped one arm snugly around the blonde girl's waist and steered her rather forcibly back to the living room, where the inviting couch and soft fuzzy throw blanket were waiting. “There now, you just get cozy and snug, and I'll bring you some soup, okay?” Rachel tucked the blanket around the blonde girl's feverish body, feeling her warm face one more time. “Now sit. I'll be right back.”

“Okay...thadk you,” Quinn murmured, docile and agreeable now that she knew the other girl wasn't going to leave her.

“No thanks required,” Rachel grinned with a little wink. Quinn's submissive, woozy state seemed to be making her more confident, and they both managed to forget how bizarre this all was, geeky diva queen Rachel Berry in head cheerleader Quinn's Fabray's house, cuddling her and making her soup and cooing over her cold, like...like a girlfriend, Quinn thought dreamily. She knew she wasn't supposed to think that; she spent so much time and energy every day training herself to hate Rachel so she wouldn't have to deal with these feelings. But right now she was so sick and weak and stuffed up and woozy, she felt like she was on drugs; and she just couldn't force her brain to think strictly appropriate thoughts like she usually did.

When Rachel returned with the hot bowl of soup on a kitchen tray, she also had a thermometer and a bottle of bright orange cold medicine. She must've gone looking for that stuff in the upstairs bathrooms, Quinn realized, and she smiled again at that odd, warm feeling that blossomed in her chest. Was this what it felt like to know that someone loved you, really loved you?

“Rachel...I'mb sorry,” Quinn croaked softly, wiping her nose on a fresh tissue.

“Stop it, you don't have to be sorry,” Rachel tutted, placing the tray on the coffee table and sitting down beside the blonde girl with a sympathetic smile. “It's not your fault you got sick. I mean, walking home in the rain was obviously not a smart move, but you were already sick when you got in my car...it must've been coming on for a while. People get sick, Quinn. You're entitled to a little extra attention.” She leaned in and kissed the blonde girl on her warm cheek. Quinn sighed and looked down at her hands.

“Doe, I mean...for everythidg. I'mb...*snf!*...I'mb so sorry for being such a bitch to you all the timbe, for ndoe reason...I'mb just...*snfl*...just a horrible p-person...hhuh'chshh!!” She sneezed woozily into the crumpled tissue in her hands, straightening up with a stuffy sniffle as she pinched her nose through the damp cotton.

“Bless you, Quinn,” Rachel said gently, leaning in and kissing the blonde girl on the cheek again. She still had a soft smile on her face; but at the same time, she looked sad. “And I know you're sorry...I know that. You're not a horrible person. You're just scared. But you don't need to be.”

“I dod't?” Quinn asked blankly, before taking a fresh tissue and blowing her runny nose.

“No. You don't,” Rachel shook her head. “You're smart and beautiful and strong and amazing...you don't have to play some part of the mean head cheerleader to be popular. You can just be yourself, you know...and people will still like you. I promise.”

“How...*snghf*...how can you promise that?” Quinn asked in a small voice, looking up to find Rachel's dark eyes looking right into hers, like she could see everything the blonde girl was. And Quinn believed she really could. It was such a relief, to feel seen like that. She'd certainly never felt that way before.

“Well...I'll still like you,” the dark-haired girl teased gently, nudging the cheerleader gently in the ribs. Quinn giggled weakly. “And so will anyone who's really your friend. The rest...well, pardon my language, but fuck them. They're not worth your energy. In ten years you won't even remember their names, why should they get to decide what's important to you?”

Quinn nodded slowly, the simple truth of Rachel's words sinking into her feverish head. Then she tugged a fresh tissue from the box, raising it to her pink nose as her eyes began to narrow again. “Aahhh...aaheshhiew!! Ugh, stupid cold...*snfl.*” She jiggled the bottom of her nose roughly in the tissue, and gave it another wet blow.

“Bless you,” Rachel smiled softly, kissing her on the cheek again. Quinn liked this new pattern of getting a kiss every time she sneezed...between that, the soup, and all the cuddles and attention she was getting, Rachel was almost making her enjoy being sick.

“Thag you,” Quinn sniffled, reaching for the soup.

“No, wait, let me take your temp first okay?” Rachel held up the thermometer. Quinn groaned.

“Rachel, nobody's taken mby temperature sidce I was, like, eight years old.”

“Well that's completely inappropriate, Quinn. You clearly have a fever, and we need to know how high it is before you take the medicine. That's the only way to know if the medicine in even helping, or if you need to go to the doctor.”

“I dod't need to go to the doctor,” Quinn grumbled, coughing into her elbow.

“Good, prove it,” Rachel smirked, waving the thermometer in front of Quinn's face again. The blonde girl rolled her eyes.

“Okay, okay,” she sighed, opening her mouth and allowing the other girl to stick the thermometer gently under her tongue. Rachel thought Quinn looked adorable with the thermometer sticking out of her mouth like that, rumpled and messy in her comfy clothes, her hazel eyes unfocused and her cute little nose all pink. The electronic beeping of the thermometer jolted the dark-haired girl out of her daydreaming, and she pulled it out and examined the reading.

“100.9. You're officially not going to school tomorrow,” Rachel sighed, putting the thermometer aside and opening the bottle of cold medicine, pouring a shot of it into the little plastic cup. “Now drink up.”

“I dod't like cold mbedicine,” Quinn whined, shrinking back from the little cup with a cranky expression.

“No one likes cold medicine,” Rachel sighed, rolling her eyes. “But it'll make you feel better. Do you like feeling better?”

“Dod't tease mbe,” Quinn pouted, massaging her cold-stuffed nose in a fresh tissue as her breath began to hitch and huff again. “Hhhiih...*s-snfl*...hhtiiishew!! Aah-ehtchiew!! ...*Snfl*...” Quinn whined softly behind the tissues, sniffling and pinching her nose again. Rachel sighed.

“Bless you...” The little starlet murmured, leaning in and kissing the blonde girl on the cheek, just as she had before; and then, because Quinn had sneezed twice, she took the blonde girl's chin in her hand and tilted her face toward her, so she could kiss the other cheek. “Bless you,” she said again. Quinn smiled shyly and blew her damp pink nose, unable to stay cranky after getting kissed.

“Thag you,” the blonde girl croaked softly, the pout of a few moments before already gone from her face.

“You're welcome, sweetie. I just want you to feel better, you know.”

“I...*s-snfl*...I doe,” Quinn sighed, leaning her head back against the couch cushions as she rubbed her nose.

“So now will you take your medicine?” Rachel asked gently, holding out the cup again. In answer, Quinn reached out and took the little cup, knocking it back like a shot of tequila.

“Good girl,” Rachel beamed, taking the blonde girl's warm face in both hands and kissing her on the forehead this time. “Now you get soup.” She reached across the coffee table and placed the tray gently in Quinn's lap, the steam still wafting up gently from the hot soup.

“Thadks,” Quinn sighed, cupping one hand over her nose and mouth as her eyes squeezed abruptly shut again. “Aahchhxsh!!! *S-snfl*...ehhiiishiuh!!!” Her cold overwhelmed her little pink nose again, ejecting two more cold-stuffed sneezes. She sighed woozily behind her hand.

“My goodness, God bless you Quinn,” Rachel cooed sweetly, reaching for a few fresh tissues from the coffee table and putting them in the sniffling girl's free hand. Quinn blew her nose, and Rachel kissed her warm temple. Finally, after thoroughly clearing out her damp nose (for the moment, at least), Quinn picked up her spoon and tasted the soup. It was warm and wonderful, and she actually closed her eyes for a moment as she sighed in contentment.

“Jesus, Rachel...how do you manage to make me feel so good, when I feel so bad?” the blonde girl sighed, grinning goofily at the huge smile the little starlet was giving her. Now it was Rachel's turn to shrug shyly. “If I wasn't so gross right now, I'd totally kiss you,” Quinn beamed woozily.

“You're not gross, Quinn,” Rachel shook her head, taking in the blonde girl's messy hair, pale face, and her cute pink nose. “You're beautiful...even when you're not trying. Especially when you're not trying.”

“So are you,” Quinn murmured, boldly reaching out and cupping Rachel's cheek in her hand. They started at each other in heavy silence for a moment, brown eyes locking onto hazel; then Quinn leaned in and kissed the dark-haired diva lightly on the lips. It lasted several seconds longer than a strictly-friendly kiss needed to last.

“Well okay then,” Rachel grinned goofily, her dark eyes sparkling like Quinn had never seen before.

“I probably shouldn't have done that...you'll catch mby cooties,” Quinn sighed regretfully, though she didn't exactly look very sorry about it.

“I told you already, I like your cooties,” Rachel shook her head, still grinning like an idiot.

“Yeah?” Quinn smiled back shyly.

“Yeah,” Rachel nodded, her dark olive skin blushing scarlet.

“Good to know,” Quinn smirked, raising one eyebrow teasingly. Then she picked up her spoon and went back to eating the warm, wonderful soup that Rachel made just for her.

[weevill25]

So I'm just now hopping onto this story but HOLY MOTHER OF GOD IM GLAD I DID. I absolutely love this and I can't wait to see it continued!

[stars123]

love this so much!!!

[Leafeon78]

Umm this was totally nice keep it up.

[Hygge]

Looooove it. So sweet and adorable and awwww

[sugarrush]

a lovely perfectly written fic as usual

[ArianaAngel]

I'm new here and joined to follow your fics as I've been reading them for about a year!! please update this I am in love

[wannablessedbe]

Thx you guys, I love your comments!! Here's another part, enjoy

….................................................................................................................................................................

Driving You Home

Part 4

….................................................................................................................................................................

Rachel eventually went home that night; and in the morning, she had to stop herself from texting Quinn first thing to ask her how she was feeling, and send her some cute kitten emojis or something to make her smile. She really did want to know how the blonde girl was doing with her cold; but she also wanted to make sure that Quinn hadn't forgotten about their kiss. She wanted to make sure it was going to happen again, that last night hadn't been some fever dream that would disappear like mist in the light of day. But, a little nagging insecurity told her to back off and not be the clingy annoying girl after one kiss; don't text her at 7am, when you know she's sick and asleep, she told herself firmly. At least wait until lunchtime.

She was, therefore, completely surprised when she saw Quinn walking to her locker as the morning bell rang. The blonde girl looked very pale, almost ashen; there were faint circles under her eyes, and the bottom of her nose was a delicate shade of pink. She had her Cheerios varsity jacket on even though they were indoors, and her red warm-up pants as well under her short Cheerios skirt. Normally they only wore those at outdoor practices when it was cold out, not during the school day. She looked sick and chilly and miserable. Rachel felt her heart throb painfully in her chest, like an open wound. No. It was not okay for Quinn to suffer. The dark-haired girl realized dimly in the back of her mind that she had never felt this protective of anyone before...ever.

“Quinn! What on earth are you doing in school? You're supposed to be home in bed,” the little diva scolded, stalking across the crowded hallway and reaching out to feel the other girl's face with her hand. Quinn smiled reluctantly, her sleepy hazel eyes registering a faint note of surprise at how forward Rachel was being, speaking to her this way—so casually, like the glee club geek and the head cheerleader talking in the hallway was a thing that just happened. But she didn't flinch away from the shorter girl's touch, giving them both a little flutter of happiness in their stomachs.

“I felt a little better this morning,” the blonde girl shrugged, putting her backpack in her locker and pulling out a few books. “And I took some of that stupid orange stuff you left. It's not so bad. Anyway...I have a chem test today...” As she spoke, she shifted the textbooks she was holding to one arm, her free hand quickly darting into her jacket pocket and raising a crumpled tissue to her face as her pink nostrils huffed irritably open. “HhhehIIISHT!!” Quinn doubled over weakly with a sick, shivery sneeze into the tissue. “*Snfl*...ughh, excuse mbe,” She sighed stuffily, wiping her nose in the wadded tissue with a few soft sniffles. Rachel's heart was thudding painfully again.

“Bless you Quinn,” The dark-haired girl sighed sweetly, cocking her head to one side as she inspected the cheerleader's face more closely, reaching out and pressing the back of her hand to Quinn's cheek again. “You still have a fever, you know,” Rachel said gently, her overwhelming feelings of sympathy and protectiveness outweighing her usual tendency to lecture and scold everyone. “You should just go home and rest, give yourself a break. You don't need to be here.”

“Rach, I'm okay,” Quinn half-smiled, a shy, sweet expression that Rachel trusted completely. She couldn't help smiling back.

“Why the fuck are you talking to the Keebler Elf?” Santana snarled at Quinn, appearing out of nowhere and leaning up against the locker next to Quinn's, arms crossed. Brittany was beside her, and gave them both a cheerful little wave, oblivious as usual to the tense vibe Santana projected at everyone else.

“Don't talk about her like that, Santi,” Quinn snapped back, closing her locker with a huff. “It's enough, okay? It's been two years. I dod't wadt to fucking hear it anymore.” Rachel just stood there with her mouth hanging open, stunned into complete silence. Santana snorted derisively and pushed off the lockers, looking back and forth between Quinn and Rachel with her eyebrows raised.

“Excuse me? Did I miss a fucking memo?” The Latina growled, rolling her eyes.

“Just lay off her, okay?” Quinn sighed wearily, too tired to fight anymore. Now Santana just looked confused, like she literally didn't understand what the blonde girl was saying. Quinn pulled another tissue from her pocket, holding it absently a few inches in front of her face as she stared off into space. “Hhheh...*snfl*...hht'chxshh!!!” She shivered slightly as she pitched forward with a muffled sneeze.

“Bless you,” Rachel said quietly, resisting the impulse to put a hand on Quinn's back. She didn't want to push her luck with Santana still staring at them like a zoo exhibit.

“I think Quinn has a cold,” Brittany announced decisively, watching her friend blow her nose.

“I'mb fide,” Quinn grumbled behind her tissue, closing her eyes for another itchy, congested blow.

“You're not fine, Quinn. You're just being stoic for no reason,” Rachel sighed, finally giving in to the impulse to rest a hand protectively on the blonde girl's back while she blew her nose again. “Will you please let me take you to the nurse, hmm?”

“Rachellllll,” Quinn whined, pouting as she shoved the damp tissue back in her pocket. “I told you, I have a chem test today. It's no big deal, okay?” She closed her eyes and coughed into the cuff of her Cheerios jacket. Rachel raised an eyebrow.

“That was quite a convincing argument,” the little starlet said drolly, giving the blonde girl a knowing smirk.

“I'm sorry, did someone slip a tab of acid in my coffee this morning?” Santana demanded, hands on her hips now, looking more agitated by the second. “Did Sam finally open his enormous guppy mouth so wide that we all fell through into another dimension? Go the fuck away, RuPaul! You don't talk to Quinn Fabray. Do we need to get the football team to reinstitute the daily slushie to remind you of the way things work around here?”

“Santana, just stop it and leave us alone!” Quinn snapped, slamming her locker shut and turning to face her acerbic best friend, her hazel eyes suddenly shining with tears. “Why can't you just be a person, for five minutes? Have I ever for one second given you any crap about Britt?” Finally, Santana's eyes were as wide and shocked as Rachel's, and all three of them—Brittany, Santana, and Rachel—stood staring at the head cheerleader in stunned silence. Because Quinn surely hadn't meant to suggest that she felt about Rachel the way Santana felt about Brittany...right? Rachel's brain felt like it had just short-circuited, her usual buzz of internal dialogue grinding to a halt. All she could think about was that Quinn had just said us. About her. They were an us.

“Jesus, maybe you do have a fever, Q,” Santana chuckled, her eyebrow going up again as she shrugged in feigned indifference. “You must be delirious or something. Whatever.” She reached out for her girlfriend's hand with a teasing, but almost approving, smirk. “C'mon B, let's give 'em some privacy. Otherwise I'm probably going to barf all over this hallway.”

“Thadk you...” Quinn murmured, her voice soft and breathless as her eyes narrowed again, and her hand rooted in her pocket for a clean tissue, which she cupped to her pink nose just in time. “Aah'chxshht!! *S-snfl*...” She still had her textbooks in one arm, leaving her only one free hand to cup the crumpled tissue to her runny nose as she sneezed. She sniffled softly, jiggling her nose a little in the tissue, obviously trying not to sneeze again. “Aahh...*snfl*...uht'chxhew!!!”

“Ugh, snot city,” Santana balked, pulling Brittany a few steps further back from Quinn's sniffly sneezes.

“God bless you,” Rachel said gently, trailing her fingers lightly up and down Quinn's arm in silent sympathy. “Can I at least hold your books for you, hmm?”

“'Kay,” Quinn croaked out woozily from behind her tissue, still sniffling and wiping her nose as she awkwardly handed her books to Rachel. As soon as both her hands were free, she cupped them both over the tissue, lightly rubbing the pink underside of her nose as her eyes closed blearily again. “Hhuh...hhhh...hhehIIISHoo!!! 'Iiiishhoo!! Hhhuh...uhh'kxshew!!! *Snfl*...” The blonde girl trembled with light fever chills as she pitched forward and sneezed repeatedly into the soggy tissue.

“Bless you, sweetie,” Rachel said quietly; then she immediately bit her lip in fear, glancing around the hallway to see if anyone was listening. She hadn't meant to call Quinn sweetie; it just slipped out.

“Thadks,” Quinn sniffled, oblivious to Santana's continued gawking at them as she took another tissue from her pocket and wiped her runny nose. “Rachel?”

“Hmm?”

“Let's...*snfl*...let's go to the nurse.” Quinn smiled weakly in defeat; Rachel beamed.

“Okay, Quinnie. Come on.” Rachel reached out her hand. And Quinn took it, right there in the hallway in front of everyone. They both knew the entire school would be talking about it by lunchtime, even those who hadn't actually seen it—Santana would make sure of that.

“Aah...hiiishxt!!” Quinn's steps slowed as she bowed forward with another stifled sneeze into one hand, her other still holding Rachel's tight.

“Bless you, Quinnie-boo,” Rachel whispered in her ear; and then, with her heart thudding nervously in her throat, she kissed the blonde girl on the cheek, just as she had done the night before. Only now, they had an audience. A part of Rachel was absolutely terrified that this was going too far, that Quinn would have to laugh at her now, or slap her, or say something cutting to remind her of the natural order, the way Santana had. But the blonde girl just grinned shyly.

“Thadks, Rach,” she murmured, squeezing the starlet's hand a little tighter. They were both still grinning shyly when they reached the nurse's office.

[Leafeon78]

This is adorable those two seem to like each other.

[stars123]

I love this story so much

[ArianaAngel]

I love this story!!

[LastHope]

I loooove this a lot

[Sirène]

YAY!!! I basically freak out every time I see a new WBB Faberry fic.

Also,

"She liked the way Rachel said bless you every time she sneezed; most people only said it once, or maybe twice, and then that was that. It made her feel special somehow, and warm, and cared for."

That definitely describes my fetish... where can I find someone like that??

[ArianaAngel]

Please update this:))

[stars123]

^ agreed!

[wannablessedbe]

hey guys! sorry it's been a while since I updated this story...I actually wrote a couple of different versions of a new part for it, but I wasn't happy with either one. I always get to a certain point with every story where it just feels like it's over, and if I try to write more and drag it out it just gets less and less interesting, like it's just going through the motions somehow. you know what I mean?

anyway, I AM going to start a new story soon, featuring wheelchair!Quinn, with an Easter/Passover theme as a request for Koda. so stay tuned!!

also, as a side note...I just saw Dianna's new lesbian indie film, Bare, at tribeca last week, and it was soooooooooo freaking good, I could die happy now. not ONLY because we finally get to see lady di having sex with a girl, but because it was SO GOOD in every way, SHE was so good in every way, I've never seen her shine more than this. the only way it could've been better was if lea played her love interest. I really, really, REALLY hope the movie gets a theatrical release so everyone can see it!!! I'm sure it will, it was too good to only play the festival circuit. here's the review from afterellen if anyone's interested!

[purpleninja]

Ahh, thank you so much!!! Honestly, you could give me the same plot over and over and with these characters and your writing, I'll love every minute of it (as it is, I already obsessively reread all of your stories, even though I have them mostly memorized...)

[wannablessedbe]

Ahh, thank you so much!!! Honestly, you could give me the same plot over and over and with these characters and your writing, I'll love every minute of it (as it is, I already obsessively reread all of your stories, even though I have them mostly memorized...)

wow, thanks! that's some pretty high praise there. I'll try to live up to it

starting that new story now...I'm actually googling "how to celebrate easter" to make sure I know what I'm talking about, lol!

Edited April 29, 2015 by wannablessedbe

[ArianaAngel]

I agree with Koda, I don't think I could ever get bored of one of your fics! Read them so many times ahaha you're such a talented writer and I can't wait for the next one xx