Author's Note: So… this is gonna be strange – I got a really weird plot bunny stuck in my head that refused to leave, and this is what I wrote. It was meant to be a one shot. Currently it sits at 26k. Clearly I have a problem.

The next chapter of dirty paws is outlined and I'm moving the plot along cause I think it's time to actually have things happen. There may or may not be more smut to come. I want get to Christmas and from there finish up the rising action.

I have no idea where this is going, mostly because once again, a plot developed out of a plot bunny. Any suggestions would be awesome because I'm just running into the fog with it.

As always I do not own Glee. Had it been mine, I probably would have at least talked about some of the effects that the pregnancy had on the characters, as well as have, I don't know, steady character develop that doesn't involve ignoring my own canon.

Please Read and review,
SurrealSteamPuckk(WeOffendedShadows)

!-!-!-!-!

There were rumors floating around Lima. Though, if Rachel was being honest with herself, which she always was, there were always rumors floating around Lima. But this is the first time she was interested in them.

At temple, the older ladies, whom she was expected to spend with time if nothing else to have a female presence in her life that was positive and Jewish (the latter being extremely important), were gossiping, as they would normally, and Rachel tuned them out. After all, it wasn't that they tended to say anything of importance, though Rachel knew more who was cheating on who with whom than she ever cared to know. There was a reason why she avoided the Desperate Housewives tv shows.

But this time, Mr. Sagal was discussing a topic she heard from her neighbor who heard it from her beautician that swore she heard it from the librarian at the Lima Public Library. Apparently there was someone sleeping in the library, though it was only a speculation since no one ever found this person. "And I swear, she was saying that they called in the police, and they search the entire building at night. Didn't find them."

"Then how do they even know there is someone there?" Mrs. Schwartz said.

"Because of the refuse, Marian, the garbage this person leaves. Bits of food wrappers, misplaced books, only to turn up later. Hell, food keeps disappearing from their lounge. Been happening for a couple weeks now."

"How dreadful," Mrs. Kerrigan said. "That some vagrant would spoil a fine establishment like the library."

How dreadful that no one sought to help them. Rachel looked over her shoulder, hoping to see her Dad, yes he was waving her to head home. She made her goodbyes, smiling and politely exiting as quick as possible so she wasn't quite running. Daddy was lucky enough to escape this week, because of his third shift time slot at the hospital.

But as they drove home, curiosity found a little spot in her mind and grew and grew as she stared mindlessly out the window. For once, she wasn't focused on her music or practice that night. Instead, she wanted to do as she always did, prove that she could do what others couldn't. Broadway would be hers, and she would be famous, while the rest of this town could only claim that they knew her or, more likely, bullied her. She would prove everyone that she was talented, more than anyone else. That she was worth more than anyway one else. And that she could do anything she wanted, despite being of a slightly less than average height.

Once in her house, Rachel ran to her room and started to plan, reading up on breaking in buildings, especially ones that should be as easily done as the library. Friday night, when everyone was out watching the football game in the frozen October weather, Rachel Berry would be entering the Lima Public Library under complete cover. She wished she had time to acquire the blueprints of the building and case the joint, as the internet informed her she should, but if the police had already searched the building, then the person would possibly move on, which would not suit her plan.

Rachel was ever the optimist, and with a very little preparation, including finding a pair of non-torn black jeans buried at the bottom of her closet, that should still fit albeit tight, and she would have to be careful and adjust herself to relieve as much pressure on her as possible, and one of her black sweaters, she knew at least she could look the part of the cat burglar. And appearance was everything.

The hardest part about all of it would be waiting. Being patient. It was never one of her strongest characteristics to wait, but if she wanted to escape her house without detection that night, if she wanted to find this person and at least see if there was something she could do to help them (because really, who would want to sleep in a library), than Rachel would require all of her acting skills acquired since sixth grade summer courses and monthly lessons. She would have to act the part of Rachel Berry, singer extraordinaire and budding star, and now Rachel Berry, master infiltration expert, even if it was a title she had just decided she was.

Getting out of her house was easy. Breaking in the library was even easier. They really shouldn't have left a window open to the offices, it would make the entire building colder. And their wards left a lot wanting, but that was neither here nor there. Rachel used it to her advantage and practically crawled her way in with no resistance.

The tricky part would be finding this person, wherever they hid. If the police and the Librarians never found them, then they must be well hidden. But Rachel had earned her trophy from 4th grade summer camp for best at hide-and-seek, though it was usually the hiding part she won at, so finding one person should be no issue.

Three hours later, Rachel stomped her foot on the second level. Really, this place wasn't that big and she had looked through everything, walking carefully so she made no sound. While ballet shoes were terrible for the cold, they were great to muffle her feet. But there had been no sign of this person.

Maybe they had left already. Which was disheartening, but it meant her accomplishment would not be shown off, as there was no prize for it.

Rachel had no choice to pull out all the stops in her search. She closed her eyes and slowed her heartbeat as much as possible. Almost thirteen years of musically training had taught her some wonderful things about sound and being able to pull out pitch, tone, timbre, and all sorts of other things just by listening. So she did.

She started by listening past her heartbeat and her breath, then the furnace and heating ducts, then the few fluorescent lights buzz dissolved into a background noise. There, behind it all, very faint, but incredibly steady, was a second person breathing.

Rachel smiled and fought the urge to jump in place and clap. Good, she found them. Sorta. Now it meant finding them through the entire building.

Another hour of walking very slowly and pausing to continue to listen and divine the location, Rachel found herself standing under a duct in the break room. She closed her eyes and listened again. Above her, there was a steady, almost too slow, rhythm of breathing.

Now came the difficult part: Rachel was on the lower end of average for height and the ceiling was probably ten feet high. While she could stack a few chairs on a table to reach it, it was obvious that would be a disaster waiting to happen, along with potentially career ending event, and she would not be stopped from Broadway.

Instead, she found a broom handle, stood right underneath the vent, and tapped it as hard as she could. A solid thump and a bit of scratching, before the vent opened and a face slowly moved in the opening.

Quinn Fabray, albeit extremely dirty and thinner than she remembered prior Winter break, stared at her from five feet away. Her blonde hair had gray coating it, and it occasionally fell as she struggled to hold her head up and her eyes open. Rachel offered her brightest, realest, smile. "Hi."

"Zhuh?" she said, opening her eyes wide before relaxing again. Quinn wasn't even looking at her.

"This really isn't the best place for sleep, so you're gonna come with me. Kay?"

"Whatz?" she repeated, and yawned rather big.

"So, get down there, since that is rather high," Rachel continued, "And despite my tenacity, I would hate to break my talent in the name of a good deed."

"Whtzyadonher?" she muttered.

"Taking you home." Rachel's smiled lessened a bit. "I hope that is okay."

"Can I'zlep?" she asked.

"Not until you come down there and to my car," Rachel said.

She took a deep breath and settled her eyes on her. "You intend to keep me awake until I agree to your demand," she said. The HBIC/Ice Queen Rachel had grown accustomed to from the general bullying at the academy spoke now, though her voice held nowhere near the power and anger it once did, and Rachel took a small step back out of reflex. "What makes you think you can follow through with it?"

"If I've found you once, I can find you again," she said.

Quinn stared at her, yawned, and then looked around. "Push that table over here, Berry," she said.

Rachel nodded and moved as swift as she could, with as much strength as she could muster. The table scrapped the flow in an ungodly shriek, but she ignored it until the center was as close to directly beneath the vent as possible.

Quinn disappeared for a bit, and Rachel tapped her foot, waiting and listening. She had not moved far along the vent, and in a minute returned. Rather, a small gym back fell from the opening, then a poorly dressed Quinn Fabray followed, hanging for a moment from the edge before landing on the table.

She yawned again, and Rachel took in the rest of her appearance. Quinn had an extremely thin and large wind breaker on, covered in dust like her, and while she couldn't see what she had under it, Rachel suspected from the lack of shoes and socks, and how dirty her feet were, she lacked them or at least ones in good condition. Quinn shivered slightly and wrapped her arms around her chest.

"C'mon," Rachel grabbed the bag before Quinn could move and offered a hand. The head-cheerleader took it without much prompting, and allowed herself to be lead through the library to the office window she had entered in. "Here."

"Huhz?" Quinn said. She had slowed in the walk, and had Rachel not been guiding her, she figured that she would have lost her.

"Put my jacket on." Rachel held up her rather large pinky fluffy coat. Daddy had bought it for her last Christmas, and while she didn't wear it to school in fear of it being slushied,

"Berry, that's-"

"Quinn, put my jacket on."

The blonde sighed and moved slowly, trying to glare the entire time she let Rachel put it on her. She stood really close to the dirty girl, and couldn't stop her frown at how thin she looked. While prior to the semester ending, Quinn was the embodiment of beauty in the school, a statuesque figure that cut through the entire student body with a look and a step. Had she been a bit taller and broader shoulder, and much darker skin, Rachel would have considered her a great example of an Amazon like Wonder Woman. But now, whatever strength, inner or physical, was gone, and a shell of a person, the shadow of that beauty, stood in front of her. How long had she been here?

"Good, now, step through that window and wait for me on the other side," Rachel said. She picked up the bag and stood next to the window, waiting.

Quinn nodded and shuffled over to the window. It took a bit, and a few lifts and pushes from Rachel, but she was through and standing/leaning on the other side. Rachel climbed out with the same ease as the first time, closed the window to its original height, and picked up Quinn's hand again. "My car is this way."

All she received was a nod and shuffling of feet as they headed to her car. It was freezing out, but Quinn would have been much colder, and she was walking barefoot. That was not a situation she had expected, and it did not bother her much. But it was wrong, and Rachel hated that she couldn't do much about it. At least snow had not arrived at all this year. Maybe she'd get a White Christmas next year, but for once, she was grateful for the lack of precipitation.

She looked over her shoulder every few steps, offering a smile to the exhausted girl, but Quinn kept her head down, her entire body loose and just hanging together by threads of will. Rachel frowned and looked away.

Whatever drove this girl from her home, whatever forced her to find shelter within the library, was wrong. There was no reason for someone, even a person as horrible as Quinn could be, to be forced into that position.

Rachel unlocked her car, and dragged Quinn into the front seat, placing her bag in her lap. She rushed over to the other side and climbed in. She started the car and hugged herself as she turned as many fans towards Quinn. "Sweetie, can you close my door?" Quinn looked up and turned to her, then nodded and moved at the same pace she did everything else, a dead crawl, to grab the door. When she pulled it shut, it slammed closed and she jumped a little bit. Not much, but Rachel saw it nonetheless.

"Kay, we'll be home shortly, and then you're getting into a bed, missy, no arguments," Rachel said.

"Kay."

Rachel nodded once, turned to her eyes to the road, and drove away. She refused to look over to Quinn, especially when she reached up and wiped her face clean. She made no sound though and barely moved. But Rachel refused to see the cleaned lines on dirty cheeks.

!-!-!-!-!

Quinn pulled the heavy comforter over her shoulder with a shrug and scooted closer to the leg right next to her. In fact, she threw an arm over it and pulled it as close to her as possible, resting her face against it. Fingers combed her through her hair and she let go a sigh.

She was warm, a feeling she had not had in almost a week. The hunger she was used to, having scavenged very little from the Library. Her accounts were locked, and she had barely any cash on her when she left, which meant almost no food. But here, she was comfortable and calm, a feeling she had not had in almost five years. "Mum?" A giggle came from above her. No not her mum. Never her mum again.

She was thrown out. No, left. She had left her house, never home, with little opportunity to grab anything of hers. She was not even able to retrieve her laptop or books. All she had were a spare set of Cheerio sweats and a thin workout t-shirt.

So the warmth and the person were a rather nice surprised, even if strange. She could barely remember the night, just a soft, gentle hand in hers and a musical, kind voice.

Quinn nuzzled against the cotton covered leg and another giggle came from its owner. She turned her head slightly to look up to Rachel Berry, her biggest target prior to all of this. A week before, no one would have thought that she would have been thankful that it was Berry in bed with her, even if the girl was just sitting against the headboard, running her fingers through her extremely dirty and knotted hair. It did not hurt; Rachel never pulled when she reached a knot, just gentle worked it as she scratched her scalp. The tank top was rather loose and barely hung on her shoulders, barely covered her, and the flannel pajama pants were extremely baggy but comfy to rest on.

"Hey," she said.

Quinn was one of the few people who still tormented her, mainly because she had been taught it was necessary, both as head cheerleader and as a Christian daughter, no matter how much it was wrong. At the beginning of their year ten, Berry changed from the bright, sunny, and horribly dressed midget into what could only be goth-like persona with the same cheerful disposition. She had blue highlights, extremely dark and barely noticeable except in the right light or if a person was looking for them, and the tips of her silky black hair were also died in the same neon blue. She wore black t-shirts with various bands, comics, and video games, all of which Quinn doubted Berry even really knew about them. She had extremely tight black jeans or loose, almost dancing, skirts that just hung in the air every time she turned.

"Hi," Quinn said. "I probably smell."

Berry shrugged and smiled at her. It wasn't the usual smile that the student body received, large and brilliant, but a gentle and secret one, as if it were only for her. "You're fine. Well, not fine, but clearly whatever drove you from your home was bad enough that you felt like you couldn't reach out to any of your friends."

"I do not have any friends."

"Oh," Berry replied. Quinn closed her eyes and stretched a bit until her head was resting completely on her thigh, though she started to squirm a little bit. She did not move from her spot. "Neither do I."

"I am sorry about that." She shrugged again, big enough that Quinn felt it through her entire body. Her fingers stopped scratching her scalp, and moved the base of her neck.

"Is there anything I can get you?" Berry asked.

"No, just," Quinn sighed and tried to sit up, though a firm hand on her neck, not forcing or anything, just steady and there, kept her from moving too much. "I should probably get out of here, I do not want to impose."

"You're not leaving."

"I am a captive then?" she asked with a small smirk. It felt weird to smile.

"Of sorts," Berry said. "Quinn?"

"Hmm?"

"Why are you being nice to me?"

"Huh?" She drew circles on her calf and Rachel squirmed, trying to move away without removing her off her leg.

"I mean, you're right. You are the reason why I don't have any friends, and the reason why school has been a living hell for me, even with my slight change in attitude this summer."

"I am sorry for that."

"We'll discuss that later, but can you please answer my question."

"I," She trailed off and swallowed heavily. Quinn turned into Berry's leg, pressing her mouth against it, and threw an arm over both of them. She stiffened for a moment, then relaxed extremely slowly, but Rachel adjusted how she was sitting and squeezed her legs together. "I guess because it doesn't matter anymore. Not much does."

"Sweetie, don't say that. Of course it matters," Berry said. "But that's not really an answer."

"Sweetie?"

"Deal with it, now answer the question."

"I kinda like this spine you grew."

"I've always had a spine, I just grew some claws that's all," Rachel said.

"And witty too," Quinn replied, and received a full body laugh from her pillow. "Can I answer it later?"

"Sure," Berry's hand strayed under the top of her tank, dragging her nails against her. Quinn shivered and pulled away slightly. This was not proper, and she needed that distance. Rachel allowed her to sit up finally.

The windbreaker she had found in the lost and forgotten bin was gone, as was her work out tank. Instead, she found a somewhat comfortable t-shirt with a brightly dressed man in blue with a cap on it. Her shorts were replaced with some pajama pants. Along with her missing panties.

Quinn looked over to Berry and raised an eyebrow. She didn't bat an eye. Her black and blue hair fell onto her shoulders, like an empty night sky. "I refused to put you into my guest room in disgusting clothing. Your hair and skin was the most I could handle at the moment, though I am gonna wash these sheets after your shower."

At least her necklace was still on. Her pendant and charm remained with her.

"So eager to get rid of me?" It was meant as a joke. It really was, but the words just fell out of her mouth and over a cliff.

"Never," Rachel said. "I'm keeping you I decided."

"Keeping? I am not a pet."

"Yet." Berry smirked and Quinn felt her face flush as she turned away. "Anyways, I'll respect your decision not to tell me, but I do expect an answer eventually as you are now a permanent member of this household."

"I, Berry, that-" That was not what she was expecting. Maybe a warm shower, some fresh clothing, just for a few days, and then off she'd go. But staying? Permanently? She turned back to her and saw the same smile, even if her eyes were brighter.

"Yep, I decided and Daddy agreed after I told him where I found you," Berry said.

"Your parents?

"Of course, I told them when I work up."

"What time is it?"

"Noon thirty," Berry said. "I figured letting you sleep in would be good for you."

Quinn nodded and looked down played with a thread she just found. "I do not know what to say."

"'Thank you' and then 'I'm gonna shower', because really, you are dirty, at least, physically, and that is not acceptable in house hold. Cleanliness is next to godliness after all."

"Thank you, Berry, and I am going to shower," Quinn said with a laugh, though did not look at her as Rachel climbed off of the bed away from her.

"Rachel." She stood next to the bed, just a foot from her, and Quinn could see her hands on her hips and almost felt the glare.

"Huh?"

"You're a guest here, and I'd appreciate it if you'd call me by my name, first name, not last."

"Okay, I can try to do that."

"That's acceptable for now, though I expect it to be do later, fair enough?" Quinn nodded. "Good, I've placed a set of clothing for you in the bathroom down the hall, along with some products that I expect you to use all of them. Some of them more than anything will help you relax." Rachel reached over and pushed her face up. Quinn dragged her eyes slowly up, following her pajamas.

She had felt something, just a slight hint of it, and it was strange. Not as strange as her, but strange nevertheless. There was nothing on her pants or by shape of her legs that she could tell if anything was off, but Quinn knew that Rachel was hiding something.

But she was as well, so it did not matter too much in the end.

"Sound good?" she asked. Quinn nodded. "Good, then hop to it, and please take your time. I'm sure you're still exhausted and a nice long hot shower will help ease some of those tensions away. Let me show you to the guest shower." She caressed, for lack of a better word, her cheek, dragged her hand down her neck and shoulder to her hand, and squeezed it gently.

Without another word, Quinn allowed herself to be pulled up and guided to the bathroom. It was a choice she told herself, not simply the desire of an extremely strong-willed girl and distant acquaintance that drove her completely. It was a lie, but it comforted her a little bit, the idea that, for the first time in a long time, someone cared enough about her to take care of her.

Quinn took a twenty minute shower, and most of that was simply spent standing under the hottest water she could stand. Berry, no Rachel, had left seven shower products: two types of conditioner, a shampoo, three soaps, and substance that she did not quite understand its purpose but nevertheless used like a soap. It was a choice, really, she wanted to use all of them, and end up smelling like a bunch of berries and vanilla. But she was clean. All the dirt and grim she had accumulated in the air ducts was gone and she felt almost normal.

Berry, correction again, Rachel had left her a clean pair of black sweat pants with stars on them, as well as another small tank top, pink this time. She pulled them on with little fanfare, after digging through her cloths and searching for her necklace, and left the small bathroom. She could not lose that again.

Never again.

The sounds of laughter drifted down the hallway, and Quinn followed them down the stairs into an open kitchen. Mr. and Mr. Berry stood with Rachel around the counter laughing and talking together. She did not feel like interrupting, but she noticed her and shot up from her stool over to her. "Hey," Rachel said.

"Hi," Quinn replied.

"Good to see you're awake," Mr. Berry said. The number of people taller than him could have been counted on one hand, and his salt and pepper hair drew attention to the dark, almost engraved laughter lines across his face. "We're worried bout you, give how much you slept already."

"I am sorry about the inconvenience, and I will leave-"

"Nonsense," the other Mr. Berry said. It was from him that Rachel acquired most of her traits, though her naturally tan-light skin probably came from her birth mother, not the pale, almost sickly, thin man. "You're more than welcome here."

Rachel dragged her from the foot of the stairs with that damned smile plastered on her face. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Rachel said, and Quinn did not want to ask again. She was brought over to the seat next to Rachel's and practically forced to sit down, where a turkey and bacon sandwich and a glass of water was waiting for her. "I want you to stay."

"And what you want you receive?'

"Damn straight," Rachel said.

"Language," Tall Mr. Berry said. "I hope that is okay. Star told us you were pretty much a carnivore, so thankfully we don't have to slaughter a bunch of innocent vegetables, as she likes to do so often. Thank the Lord that we talked her out of that vegan diet."

"Daddy!" Rachel stomped and put her hands on her hips, glaring up at the tall man.

"I'm just informing Quinn of some of things in the household, that's all, Star," he replied.

Quinn nodded and pull bits of the bread off of it, chewing very slowly. Rachel stepped even closer to her, almost flush now, and she had no desire to push her away as she would have the beginning of the semester, but clearly everything had changed. The diva scratched the small of her back, and she leaned into her.

She wanted to stay. She really did. But if she remained in this place, in plain sight for people to interact with and even just see, it would be a moment of time before she was found again. She has escaped as quickly as she could have, taking next to nothing, and ran across town, no warnings or goodbyes. She had found what she needed and was gone.

Now, Rachel wanted her to remain, and Quinn was extremely thankful for the ed and the food and the closing, she could not remain here. She wanted to, because it was warm and there was food, and now there was Rachel, which mattered for a reason she could not but a thought to, but she could not.

"Quinn?" Rachel asked. The hand paused on her back, and she leaned away. But Rachel followed.

"I am going to have to leave shortly, Mr. Berry's," she said. The bread was enough to fill her and she might be able to take the rest of it with her. Maybe an extra coat. The library was a wash, but possibly in the next town over, she would find a new place. At least until spring came, then she could go anywhere.

"Why?" Rachel asked, whining. She could not look at her. "Back to the library?" Quinn shook her head. "Then why can't you stay here?"

Quinn stared at the plate.

"I think a better question is why you were there in the first place," Mr. Berry said.

Quinn sipped at her water.

"Sweetie?" Rachel said.

"I do not want to talk about it," Quinn replied. "Please." She held the pendant on her necklace tightly, edges piercing her palm.

"You don't have to say a word," Mr. Berry said. The shorter man stepped around and sat at a stool directly across from her. "You don't even have to look at me. I just need you to listen to my questions."

"Quinn," Rachel moved closer and touched the small of her back. She fought not to jump away.

"I would like to go please."

"Does it have to do with your father?" Mr. Berry asked.

Quinn pushed the plate away.

"Did he do something to you?"

She shifted her pendant closer to her chin.

"Did he take that from you?"

She squeezed her eyes shut and pulled her limbs in, her feet on the seat with her now.

"He hide it?"

She kept still.

"It's very important to you, isn't it? It's okay Quinn. It's safe here. You're safe here."

"He'll find me and bring me back," she whispered.

"Quinn, no one-" Rachel said.

"Star, just, be patient, please let us handle this," Mr. Berry said. Feet shuffled and slippers moved for a bit until they paused. "Quinn, did you father hurt you?"

She looked away.

"Directly?"

She did not move.

"Indirectly then. By taking that from you? Don't answer that. I think I got it."

"I am not safe here," she whispered. She was never going to be safe again. Not as long as he would be out looking for him.

"Quinn, whatever it is, whatever happened, it has to be better here than there right?" Rachel asked.

She did not move.

"Quinn," Mr. Berry asked. "What he took, did it always look like that?"

Quinn pulled her knees up and hid her hand and pendant between them and her chest.

"I need you to look at this," Mr. Berry said. "Can you look at something for me? No one is going to hurt you here. For the moment you're safe. I swear it."

Quinn opened one eye and looked around slowly, then carefully opened the second one and lifted her head from her knees until she was looking at a small pad of paper with an oval filled with swirls. "Did it look like this?"

She exhaled heavily.

"You've never talked about it with anyone have you?"

"Dad, what is it?" Rachel asked. She stepped in Quinn's space again, even closer, and threw an arm over her shoulders. Quinn felt herself lean into her.

Why? Why was she safe next to her? Comforted by her. IT was not right. It was not right the way she hurt the diva over and over again at school, trying to break her. Quinn told herself that it was the desires of her father, but still, Rachel had every reason to hate her, yet she kept pulling her closer and offering her, of all people, comfort.

"And since you could remember, you didn't even see it until, what? A week ago?"

Quinn nodded.

"But you know what it was. You know what it meant if it was yours again. If you and only you had it, right?" Mr. Berry said. "That's why you can't stay, or at least, that's why you think you can't stay."

"I am not even first generation," Quinn said. Her tails swished behind her, stretching over the waist band of the sweats. All seven of them, though the energy they were supposed to have was not present. "I, it is far back in our line, and yet…."

Rachel said nothing of the tail that brushed up against her leg.

"It's okay, we'll figure it out."

"I don't understand."

Mr. Berry stood up from his stool, walked away from his husband, to her, and she tried to move away, but Rachel held her in her seat.

"A kitsune, right?" he whispered, though she heard it anyways. Quinn pulled her pendant away from him, leaned back away from him.

She found it, her heart, her self, buried in boxes in the basement when she was looking for a book that her father said he had thrown down there because it was "trash" and should be forgotten. It did not matter. What mattered was her upcoming chastity ball at the Church, and how she would have to show just what grand and fantastic people the Fabray's, and find herself a perfect husband of his choice. That was her purpose now.

But Quinn wanted that book. And in a box in the corner, under dust and cobwebs, Quinn found her empty pendant. She found what it meant to her when she picked it up and held it tight to heart, the faint beat of the energy matching her weak heart, her weak magic. Physically strong, top of the food chain at school, despite being probably the weakest at, well, everything involving magic. She had the best theoretical scores, and since they started their practicals this year, the worst there, though no one talked about that. She made sure of it.

Here, in her house, away from her, she found a hint of what was missing. What was stolen from her. Quinn wanted it back.

Her father was a drunk, and tended to be drunk with other drunks, so when he left that night for his weekly bowling night, though Quinn knew it meant drinking and prostitutes, she broke into his study and dug through everything, broke every lock and chain she could, to find it. Find the orb that fit perfectly within her pendant.

Her magic sang to her, and with no thought, she took it and ran, grabbing a bag from her car and left before her father returned. She knew a search was on for her, but no one could speak of it, because if they did, they would have explain just exactly why her father wanted her back with the desperation that mimicked a man dying of thirst. They would have to know what Russell Fabray stole from his daughter for his own power.

Whatever strength she should have, whatever the orb in her pendant should have given her, was exhausted, almost non-existent. But there was a slight flicker of it, and one day, when enough time had passed and she rested enough, Quinn could be who she should have been.

"I, please, do not take, I know you can. You have me, but please," Quinn felt her cheeks get wet, but stared at him.

"No one in this house will take that from you, dear, I swear it," he said. "Though that you having it, and being what you are, makes things a bit difficult."

"Dad, what are you talking about?" Rachel asked. "Quinn's staying here, with us." With me, she heard. It would be nice, to stay with someone who actually liked her, though she had no reason to.

"Of course, that hasn't changed, Star," Mr. Berry said, returning to his station at the stove. He began to clean up swiftly, lifting the remains into the air with a wave and dragging it over to the trash bin. "Now it's a matter of logistics, that's all."

"I, I am staying?" Quinn asked.

"Like I would let you go," Rachel said.

"Are you sure you are not kidnapping me?" It was meant to be a joke, but part of her was worried. Whatever promises, whatever they swore, there was always that question of her pendant "mysteriously" disappearing.

"Of course not, that would be against your will," Rachel smirked at her. "That would be wrong."

"But you seemed to enjoy that thought."

"There is something to be said about tying you up, a leash and everything, and-"

"Star, really, this is not the time," Mr. Berry said. "But that brings up a really good idea." He ran the sink and floated the dishes over to it.

"I can get the basement I always wanted?" She let go Quinn and bounced up and down.

"What? No? Star, what are you referring to? Hiram, do you know this?" Mr. Berry turned from the sink, hands covered in bubbles and dripping water.

"Later, hun," Mr. H. Berry said. "No, Star, you cannot, but leash is expected on a familiar, especially the larger ones. At least out in public until they can be fully trained. A collar is always mandatory, though."

"What?" Quinn said. A familiar? Some of the older students at McKinley had them, but she rarely saw any of them in her classes, or even the hallways. Mary had one, an owl or something, but she hated it and never talked about it other than to whine about how it shits everywhere, all the time. Rumor had it some year thirteens had ones that looked like human, but she had never seen them, given that they were in the other building.

"That's even better than my basement," Rachel replied. "Really?"

"If it's okay with Quinn," Mr. H Berry turned to her.

"I do not understand."

"You are right to fear people taking that jewel of yours," he said. "And you are right to not to trust us, but there is a way to protect it, to protect you and the power anyone, well, anyone but Star, has over you."

"Mr. Berry, what are-"

"You are a magical creature," Rachel said, "A powerful one with its own magic." She pulled Quinn back into her and rubbed her bare arm. Quinn fought the urge to bury her face in her stomach.

"And it is illegal, taboo of the highest kind, to take a familiar's magic," Mr. H Berry finished. "There's just the matter of paperwork and, Leroy, do you still have that contact over at Mt. Carmel?"

"Yep," Mr. L Berry replied. "She'll fast track it, make sure Quinn's safe and everything, handle all the legal. Might cost a favor or two."

"A platter of thank you cookies?" Rachel asked. That smile, loud and full, lifted up Quinn just a little bit. Not much. Not really. "Would that be one of them?"

"Couldn't hurt," Mr. H Berry said. "Is this okay Quinn? You'd have your magic, yourself, under your control, mostly. It'd be Rachel's job to watch over you and take care of you, make sure you don't abuse it, but still, it's yours."

Hers. No one could take it. No one could control her again. Almost no one.

Quinn looked up to Rachel. "I, I do not want, I cannot not go back to that."

"To your home? Your dad?" Rachel asked.

Quinn shook her head and turned to press her nose against Rachel's ribs.

"She doesn't want to be controlled again, to be under someone's thumb," Mr. L Berry said. "She wants to be herself."

Russel Fabray had molded and formed a daughter of his liking, all without her realizing it: virgin Christian girl, top in classes and manners, politically powerful yet slightly submissive to his, and whoever he choose, will. His word was law to her, until a few days ago. Every word, every motion, every idea that ever came from her could be traced back to him. That was the power he held when he held hers.

"Sweetie, that's not gonna happen, kay?" Rachel said. "You get to be yourself. I don't want to change that. You're Quinn."

"But I do not know who that is, just who used to belong to that name," Quinn mumbled. "I am not her any more. I cannot be her anymore."

"Then we'll make sure you figure who that is," Rachel said. "And if I ever do get too overbearing-"

"Which will be quite often," Mr. H Berry said

"Then you can just call me out on it, kay?" Quinn nodded.

"Then it's settled. I'll call her now," Mr. L Berry said. "We can take a trip over there, make a day of it, have dinner and everything."

"I am not going to be a burden, am I?" Quinn asked. Her father had always made it seem so, that she was simple another status symbol, though he treated her like a normal person, she guessed.

"Not at all," Mr. H Berry answered. "Never think that you'd be that."

"But the money and-"

"We have more than enough."

"Enough for you to have stayed had we not had to make you my familiar," Rachel said, and she felt the laugh. Quinn tried to smile. She really did.

"Is this okay with you, Quinn? You don't have to run, you'll be safe. It'll be safe," Mr. H Berry continued.

She did not have to run. To sleep in air ducks, or behind walls, or under porches. She would not have to scavenge for food and warmth. She could go to school and be almost herself again. Lord, she could be a Cheerio. Maybe not. "I guess."

Rachel bounced and nearly pulled Quinn off of her seat. She wrapped an arm around her waist, held her tightly. She got the hint and stopped.

"Then we should get ready. Star? Those will work for now, least until we can pick her up some that fit properly?"

"Fine," Rachel said, "but I like it when she wears mine." Quinn agreed, but the thought was too strange to think so she pushed it aside.

"Star," Mr. L Berry said.

"Fine, c'mon, sweetie, let's get you dressed." Rachel slid a hand into hers and tugged slightly, enough that Quinn stood up from the table, though she gave one last look to the sandwich she barely ate. "Take it with you, but just don't get crumbs in my room."

She paused and looked back and forth between the food and Rachel. "Really, though, I wouldn't kick you out for it, kay? Not even the bed."

"Star, I really don't need to hear this," Mr. L Berry said. Mr. H Berry laughed.

"But she's my familiar now, where else would she sleep?" Rachel asked, innocently. Quinn turned and raised eyebrow at her; she actually had that innocent and sweet tone that only children had in movies when they asked a really stupid question. She had never heard a real person speak that way.

"Where ever she feels comfortable, and that's final, Rachel," Mr. L Berry replied.

"Fine."

"Go get dressed and I'll make that call, hopefully we can leave before two." Rachel nodded and tugged on Quinn's hand. She grabbed the plate and offered a small smile to the Mr. Berry's as she was pulled out of the room.

Maybe things would not be as terrible as they could be. If they kept their word, if Rachel kept her word, then her magic, herself, would stay under her control. She could be herself, whoever that person was. And being a familiar of Rachel's could not be that horrible. Even if she was extremely excitable and energetic, plus obsessed with all things Broadway and a terrible dresser. Right?

Quinn was wrong. Completely and utterly wrong. The finding cloths went rather quickly, though Rachel demanded that she stay in the room just to "ensure that she did not go off and run away" while she changed. That was not too bad, if it left her extremely red in the face and unable to look her in the eye. Her tails had receded which made the pants so much easier to put on.

Then she was forced to wait in the room when Rachel changed, who rambled the entire time, on some strange topic combining Broadway and a ward schema she was working on. She had put on a longer skirt than Quinn was used to seeing on her, still her school-girl plaid black and gray, along with torn, purple fishnet stockings and combat boots. Her sweatshirt was torn in the neck, and barely sat on her shoulders, revealing her dark blue tank and a lacy black bra. She had to stop staring when Rachel dragged her to the Berry's car.

No, the worst part was the car ride over to Mt. Carmel. Rachel demanded, stomping a foot and crossing her arms in the car nonetheless, that as her soon-to-be familiar she should sit right next to her and hold her hand, as to prevent Quinn from getting lost. She nearly called her out on that overbearing nature, but kept her mouth shut, glared and dealt with it. It really was not a big deal to sit in the middle seat and hold her hand.

But Rachel pulled her completely flush, hard enough that she nearly fell into her lap, which apparently was a better position, Rachel declared that it was a bit forward in their relationship for her to be offering something like that. Her face turned even brighter than the morning and Quinn moved as far away as the seatbelt would allow her from the diva, still holding her hand.

Mr. Berry's laughed at the whole situation, though Mr. L Berry had been a bit more hesitant with his daughter's forwardness towards anything relationship related. Then they all started to talk on the subject of Broadway. The entire time there. With almost no break, because when one of the stopped talking, another one would start right away. About productions, songs, costumes, comparing various versions of musicals and casts, nitpicking the littlest of things and declaring massive opinions based on just the lighting alone. That topic resulted in Rachel stomping her foot and crossing her arms. And a glare for Quinn when she smiled at it.

They arrived at the Mt. Carmel Pet and Familiar Emporium around two thirty, and Rachel had finally quieted down, though she kept bouncing in her seat, trying to clap and pull Quinn even closer. She gave up in her struggle to keep some distance and let the diva wrap an arm around her shoulders. She had been whispering about shopping and getting her some adorable clothing, which meant animal sweaters and short skirts, Quinn figured.

"Hold onto Star, Quinn," Mr. L Berry said. "Especially since you lack a collar and leash." Right, the leash. She had not been looking forward to that portion. Rachel's enthusiasm about the items aside, it was just going to bind her more to someone, and she already had one item around her neck that was capable of doing it. But she knew that Rachel would smile, and plead, and scratch the back of her neck, and Quinn would give in with almost no question or resistance.

Rachel smiled and swung their hands as they walked into the building.

The Mt. Carmel Pet and Familiar Emporium was loud and full with items, and there were a few familiars free, especially the owls and the cats. The rafters had a few of them sleeping, while others flew overhead, examining the crowd within the building. A few cages held rats and frogs. "The more exotic ones are in the back, partly to protect them, but most of them are also extremely temperamental." Mr. L Berry nodded toward the back. "Maria is waiting for us with them. Most of the paper work is done, we just need to sign it, including Quinn."

"I have to sign?" she repeated.

"Yeah, intelligent creatures have to allow the familiar bond to exist in order for it to grow. It's a choice." Not really too much of a choice: be taken advantage of by everyone or possibly by one person. At least she was able to choose Rachel, a choice that was not that bad.

Quinn nodded and followed Rachel and the Berry's through the crowds. No one noticed her or them for that matter, and most of the people were parents with little children or a teenager. Probably purchasing the familiar to help them get accustom with their upcoming responsibilities when learning magic. She held onto her pendant just in case.

Rachel seemed fascinated by the place and slowed down enough to walk next to her, holding her elbow in both hands. She rambled on and on about all she read and researched about familiars in preparation for receiving one this year for her sixteenth birthday. Though most of it went to waste given that Quinn was an intelligent (very intelligent, she had to add), creature, she was still confident the majority of the training she learned concerning familiars would be useful.

They walked past a counter with no one at it, either manning it or looking for an employee, and into a back room. The place was rather run down, and the desk in the center was covered in files stuffed with papers to the point of popping out, and the one cabinet had all of its draws sticking out slightly, with even more papers leaking out. A closed steel door stood behind the desk, and was covered in rust and scratches.

Mr. L Berry walked over to the old metal desk, moved some papers around and found a little button. Once he pressed it, he stepped back and crossed his arms. "Should be just a few minutes," he said and offered a smile to Quinn. Rachel bounced and Mr. H Berry just nodded.

Ten minutes later, the steel door struggled to open, scrapping the floor until it was slide completely to the side. A woman who had to be in her late nineties by the little amounts of gray in her hair and few wrinkles stepped through offering a smile. Quinn could not see much through the opening, though a few empty cages sat near the entrance. "Sorry bout the wait," she said. "Caught a fresh one a few miles north of here and she's a bit lively of one."

"Fuck you bitch, when I get out of here-" the voice echoed through the other side. Quinn should have recognized it. Did, but the name of its owner slipped her mind.

"Quiet down before you get tazed again," she turned and shouted back. "Sorry again."

"It's all good," Mr. L Berry said. "How are you, Maria?"

"I'd be peachy if that bitch of a coyote didn't try to scratch me each time I got close."

"You fucking deserve it, cause I am not an animal," girl shouted again. Really, the name was on the tip of her tongue.

"Excuse me a second," she smiled at them and walked back through the door.

"I know that voice," Quinn said, speaking only for Rachel. "I should know that voice."

"Then who is it?"

"I fucking warned you, asshat, I'm gonna-" There was a loud buzz and then silence followed.

Maria came back through and dropped the cattle prod next to the door. "Now, let's get down to business."

"Do you always treat the familiars like that?" Rachel asked.

"Of course not," she replied. "That'd be inhumane."

"Then why do that to her, clearly she didn't want to be here, and especially since she is intelligent."

"Intelligence is debatable on that one," Maria said. "Spirit Coyotes have been known to be mimics, so it's difficult to know, exactly. Don't worry bout it."

"Still, it's horrible to treat her like that," Rachel looked up Quinn. She stood as still as possible, squeezing her pendant.

Maria shrugged, then turned to Mr. L Berry. "So, this the familiar?"

"Yeah, found her hiding in the forest nearby, and Rachel just fell in love with her, and she seems rather attached, so figure better make it all legal." Mr. L Berry looked back at them briefly, trying to smile at Quinn, but it barely reached the sides of his mouth. Mr. H Berry touched her shoulder and she struggled to remain in the touch. Rachel moved closer to her.

"Course," Maria said. "I just have a few pages that you need to fill out and then we'll discuss payment." She dug through the massive amount of files until she pulled a small folder and held it out for them.

"Sounds fair," he replied. "Hiram'll take the forms, and they can go to the waiting room to fill it out while we discuss the logistics" Mr. H Berry stepped forward and took it, looking it over with his husband.

"Santana," Quinn said.

"What?" Rachel looked up at her.

"It is Santana, Rachel," she repeated. "The voice. I have heard that tone for so long at cheer practice."

"Santana Lopez?" Quinn nodded. Rachel frowned for a moment. "Daddy!"

"Yes, Star," Mr. L Berry turned around.

"I want another one," She said.

"What?" Mr. H Berry joined his husband in staring at them.

"Santana, the spirit coyote, I want her too,"

"It's a great deal of responsibility to take care of one familiar, let alone two," Maria said. "And you're so young. I don't want to run the risk of a familiar running rampant because you couldn't handle it."

"We are not leaving her in this conditions," Rachel said. "I am not leaving her to be tortured and hurt."

Mr. L Berry looked at them, stared at his daughter for only a second then focused on Quinn. She wanted to look away, but she held his gaze, keeping her face as smooth and empty as possible. "Please?" Rachel said. But neither of them moved. "Dad? Daddy? It won't be an issue. She'll listen. I promise."

"It's Leroy's decision," Mr. H Berry said. The tall man held her gaze, just waiting for something, though Quinn did not know for what. She could not let her friend stay here, be treated like this, even if it put her in the same position as her. She would not. Even if she had to run away from Rachel to save her. Even if she and Santana were not really friends, not any more, even if it appeared otherwise at school.

"Fine," the man finally said. "The spirit coyote too." Quinn exhaled, and Rachel smiled brightly at her parents. She looked down and let a small smile cross her lips.

Maria showed no emotion. "They are rather difficult to handle and-"

"Please, Maria, once Rachel has made her mind up," he replied, "it takes an act of God himself to change it, and even then it's difficult."

"Yep," Rachel said.

"Quiet," Mr. H Berry said.

Could they even handle two familiars, let along human ones? Humanoid ones? Whatever term of what they were? Or worse, could they afford it? "Only reason I'm even allowing this because I know who you are, Leroy, you know that?"

"Course," he said. "Wouldn't think there'd be a reason otherwise."

"Fine," Maria said, and pulled another file. "Fill these out, and you have to get her out of her cage. Brat of a familiar is probably awake already."

Mr. H Berry took them without another word and led them out of the room. Why could they not stay there? She knew that many of the deals her father made were backdoor, but she did not expect the Berry's to make similar ones. They seemed so, Quinn figured the best word would be nice. Nothing like her father or his associates.

Rachel sat next to her father and made Quinn sit in front of her so she could run her fingers through her hair. When she stopped, she told her that they were finished and thirty minutes had passed. "Oh, sorry," Quinn said.

"You were adorable, so don't be," Rachel said. "You okay with sharing me?"

Quinn shrugged. "I would be wrong to leave her here."

"True," Rachel said. "I doubt she'd be as well behaved as you."

"How do you know I am well behaved?"

"Please, sweetie, you've let me get my way so far, caving on everything," she replied, "so don't tell me you're not."

Quinn did not reply.

"C'mon girls," Mr. H Berry said, standing up.

They followed him back inside, and the room was even messy and dirty. In fact, the single file cabinet had a dent in the side, and she smelt ash and burnt hair. But neither were injured or at least did not show it. "Just go in back and get her," Maria said, and handed Mr. L Berry a collar and lease. "You'll need on for that one, but it'd be better if the spirit coyote was bound sooner rather than later."

"Fair enough," Rachel said. She stepped around her father and grabbed it from Maria. "Which way to her?"

"Just follow the complaining, you can't miss her," Maria said.

"Hiram, maybe you should-"

"I'll be fine, Daddy," Rachel said. "I have Quinn." She tugged on her elbow and they left to go into the pit of cages and chains.

Quinn tried her hardest not to see anything in there, to ignore every other creature they passed, as well as the various tools to bind them. She tried so hard, but some slip through her HBIC mask, and she knew she would never erase them. The cat-o'nine tails was one of them, at least the one with glass and rust on the tips.

"You're safe, sweetie," Rachel said, and patted her hand. "Just stay with me, and we'll get Santana free and we can leave this torture house."

They followed the groans and the light complaining, well, Rachel followed it and Quinn just followed her. She knew it was only five minutes, she counted the seconds, but it felt so much closer, especially when she closed her eyes halfway through. The hands on her elbow never left her, and her pendant kept her there, kept her from listening to the sounds of things locked in cages, of beings withheld daylight, warm, and decent food. Like Bacon. How hard would it be to persuade Rachel to stop to get her some bacon?

"Go away, bitch," Santana moaned. Quinn opened her eyes to see her teammate sprawled on a pile of hay, face down, and there was probably drool. Santana drooled when she slept. Brittany thought it was adorable. It was not when they ended up sharing pillows, or rather, when Santana decided they were sharing pillows. Cheerleading trips were certainly interesting then. "Leave me the fuck alone."

"That's not very nice," Rachel said.

"The fuck, Berry," Santana replied, but did not move. "Bitch caught you too? Just my fucking luck."

"You are getting drool on your uniform," Quinn said. Not that she was actually wearing it. Wherever she had been Santana had been caught wearing jeans and a pink, of all colors, tank top, no socks or belt. It was strange to see her without some sort of fashionable clothing.

"Q? You're fucking here too? Just my fucking luck, both the bitches who make my life fucking miserable." She rolled to her side and glared at her.

"I resent that." Rachel stomped the ground. "What have I ever done to you? You're the one who-"

"Rachel, may we please argue someplace else?" Quinn gripped her pendant tighter. She focused solely on the Latina in front of her.

"Right, this place is horrible," Rachel held out the collar, leash already connected to it.

"The fuck is that?" Santana finished rolling over and directed her glare at Rachel, and Quinn felt a growl in her chest, but swallowed it before it could escape. It was not right.

"Your collar?"

"You much be fucking crazier than I thought, because I am-"

"They will sell you off to the first wizard who wants a sex toy," Quinn said. "The first one who walks through that door and says that they could handle such a "spirited animal" and break her, just to show her who's really in charge. They will do whatever they want to you because they can, because they do not view you as human, even though you are just a teenager. All because it's in the name of taming an intelligent familiar."

Santana pulled her knees up to her chest and turned slightly. "Why do you care?"

Quinn shrugged. Because that was to be her life. Her pendant in hand, she knew that now. When before the blinders her father gave her kept everything out. Including self-preservation.

"I do," Rachel said softly. She let go of Quinn and stepped forward to the cage. She wanted to follow, to put her hands back on her, keep the skin to skin contact that kept her from losing it. But Quinn stayed still.

Rachel crouched down and leaned her forehead against the bars. "You hate me for some strange reason, and have done your worst to make my life hell."

"Then you should just leave me here if you think that. If you hate me that much." There was almost a crack in her voice, just a slight break, but it was covered by the fierce tone that always exited from her mouth.

"No one deserves this, Santana," Rachel replied. "And I never hated you."

"Why? I was the worst, well, second worst, Q there has that title," Santana said.

Rachel shrugged and held out the collar again. "Because sometimes, the people who hurt others can be hurting themselves. I think we forget that, and it'd be wrong of me to say that I like you all that much, but I don't hate you."

"Then you're in an elite club, Treasure Trial, with just one other person."

Rachel looked over at Quinn. She stood as far as she could away from cage as she could but still be with a step of her. "You aren't friends?"

"I told you the truth," she answered.

"But at school?"

"The Unholy Trinity can't be broken," Santana said, "can't seem weak or things would collapse in on itself. Q saw that. Even if she was a frigid bitch who needs to have someone replace that stick up her ass with another stick."

"And Santana agreed with me, despite being the angry slut who spreads her legs for anything with a heartbeat, if rumors are true."

"Well that type of relationship isn't going to work," Rachel said. "As my two familiars, I won't stand for it."

"Familiar, what the-" Santana looked at Quinn. "You? You're a fucking familiar? How did that shit come up?"

Quinn let go of her pendant and felt the air dance behind her, her seven tails brushing her legs and grazing a few cages behind her. She covered her pendant and wrapped her other arm around her stomach, willing her tails away.

"Shit, Q," Santana said. "That's fucking hot. And seven of them? Even fucking hotter."

"You know what she is?"

"Course, anyone worth their weight in anything knows what a fucking kitsune is," Santana said.

"Even if it is year thirteen Magibiology," Quinn smirked.

"Damn straight, fuckers can't read."

"Then you understand what's going on? Good, take the collar and get out of here," Rachel shook the collar at her.

"Fine, because you asked so fucking nicely." Santana crawled over slowly. The cage was not even tall enough for her to sit up fully. Her hand shook as she reached out, but after a few seconds, she grabbed the leather and wrapped it around her neck.

"Looks good on you, S," Quinn said. "Though did not expect you to put it on so quickly."

"If it gets me fucking out of here, fine then. Whatever."

"Not denying you're a coyote?" she asked. Rachel stood up and took the lock in her hand, staring at the runes on it.

"Fuck no, that shit's awesome," Santana smiled at her. "Do you how easily it is to sneak about when you're practically transparent? The fucking things people say when they're thinking no one's around them? Best blackmail ever."

"You are sounding like Wheezy and Porcelain."

"You take that back. You fucking take that back right now." There was a smile on her face. Maybe without her father, she could be friends. They would be friends again. Santana was not all that bad, certainly not with the only person she seemed to like. It would be nice to be on the other side of that anger for once.

"Quiet," Rachel said. "Maria didn't give me a key, so it'll take me a moment to break this." She traced her fingers over the various carvings, sticking her tongue out. Was that a hint of metal?

"Wait, you can read runes?" Quinn stepped over to her, and looked over her shoulder.

"Some," Rachel said. "How do you think I got into the library in the first place?"

"The fuck you doing in a library, Q?" Santana asked. She played with her collar, lounging back as though she was not stuck in some cage, waiting to be set free.

"I needed to hide somewhere," she said. "Seemed like the best place to since it was the last one my father would check."

"Why would, oh, fucker took that didn't he?" Santana asked. Quinn nodded. "No, I feel kinda bad about all that frigid bitch crap."

"Kinda?" Quinn smiled.

Santana held up two fingers, very little space between them. "Poquito."

"I like that you are getting along," Rachel said. She squeezed the lock and pulled, the metal turning to ash in her hands. "Or at least, not calling each other names and trying to hurt each other."

"We can be civil," Quinn said.

"How the fuck do you think we get through school," Santana said. Rachel pulled the door open and she scrambled through the opening, climbing as quickly to her feet as possible. The diva held onto the end of the leash the entire time. Santana stared at it and slowly looked up at Rachel, similar smile on her face like the one she gave Quinn earlier. "Thanks, I guess."

"You're welcome," she said, and took Quinn's elbow again. "Ready to go."

"What about Q's collar? Shit ain't fair if she isn't wearing one," Santana said as they walked through the warehouse. Quinn closed her eyes, pulled her pendant up under her chin and her arms in, and hunched her shoulders. Rachel would lead them out; she was not required for this trip.

"We're picking it up when we leave," Rachel said. "Had to register her and everything you know."

"Right," Santana said. "And you didn't take that?"

"Her pendant? No why would it?"

"Huh. No reason." There was a very good reason. With just holding her pendant, specifically the opal within it, a person had power over her. Could shape her, mold her to their needs, use her magic and her body for whatever purpose they wished. It was how her father had completely control over her mind and body. She went from Lucy Caboosey to Quinn Fabray in a matter of months, though took years to return, because he desired it so.

"I trust Quinn, just like I trust you," Rachel said.

"Stupid to trust me."

Rachel stopped short and pulled on Quinn's arm when she kept walking. She opened her eyes; Rachel stood in front of Santana and cupping her face with her free hand, the end of the leash around her wrist. The Latina was only slightly taller than the diva, but it seemed strange to see her lean into the touch. "Never doubt yourself, not with me, okay?" Rachel said. "You are worth the trust and the heartache, and all the things that come with being a friend."

"It's not right how easily you calm me and make me feel better," Santana said. "Stupid familiar bond." She sniffed and wiped a tear away, but had a smile on her face. Was that what it was? The faint tug on her every time Rachel looked away, every time she spoke and felt like she did something wrong, that she wanted her praise and acceptance. The elation, however small, at the smile she received for being good. Was that what it was?

"Then I guess it was meant to be that you were meant to be with me." Rachel smiled. "C'mon. I don't want to stay in here any longer."

The walk back was much quicker, though Quinn kept her eyes closed most of the time. She did not open them until they were back out of the office with the Berry's. "You gonna be able to take care of them, Star?" Mr. H Berry asked.

Santana snorted.

"Of course," Rachel said. "I'll feed them, and love them, and cuddle with them, and make sure they don't make messes and-"

"I'm not a puppy," Santana said.

"I bet in your coyote form you are adorable," Quinn added. She received a glare from Santana and a laugh from Rachel.

"Well, I am glad to see that you three are at least happy with this arrangement, though I doubt that it was something either of you two were looking for," Mr. L Berry said. "Star, go get Quinn a collar and leash. The laws are pretty strict regarding familiars, even intelligent ones. Grab a leash too."

"At least someone recognizes my brains," Santana said.

Mr. H Berry laughed. "I like this one. Gonna keep Star here on her toes."

Rachel turned to Santana and stuck a finger in her face. "You behave, missy. I won't have you acting out."

Santana nipped at her finger, smiling the entire time. She frowned once she pulled back. "Stupid familiar bond."

Was that it? Quinn had not done much reading on the subject, her tastes, even with her father's influence, was more on the classical canon. But the emotion, the need to make Rachel happy and like her, to support her and be nicer to her? It was either the strange bond or the real Quinn growing, without any influence over her.

She did not have a problem with the idea.

"We should probably contact your parents, Santana, at least let them know where you are," Mr. H Berry said.

Santana shrugged. "Ma won't miss me, too. Just one less mouth to feed in the end."

Mr. Berry's frowned, but said nothing. It was common knowledge that Santana was the youngest of seven in a household of a single mother, and three of her older brothers were still in school at the other building, grades eleven through fourteen, with a brother and her two sisters away at apprenticeships or college. As hard as she worked, she had to make do with little on. No one dared to bring it up at school. Between Cheerleading and Quinn, no one ever would."

"We'll have to get you some clothing, at least until we can pick yours up."

"So more shopping?" Rachel asked, bouncing.

"I have no idea where she got this love of shopping," Mr. L Berry said. "Hiram or I hate going to the mall."

"If you like the mall so much Berry what's with the animal sweaters from last year or the dark, dead, and dreary get up you have now?" Santana asked.

Rachel grabbed her hand and smiled at her. "Besides liking the way I look-"

"Never said there's anything wrong with rocking tight jeans," she added.

"These cloths are easier to clean, and the animal sweaters were cheap."

"Oh," Santana looked down and Quinn looked away. "Now I feel worse. Seriously, this bond is-"

"You can't blame the bond for everything," Rachel replied.

"I can fucking try."

"That and curbing your language, kay?"

"Fine, I'll work at it." Rachel smiled at her and kissed her cheek. Quinn let go of her pendant and touched her own, a slight warmth there. Then Rachel had to kiss hers and the warmth was more pervasive and overpowering. Stupid bond was right. Santana blushed and smirked, though did not look away.

"Let's go forth and finish up here," Rachel said and dragged her two familiars with her to find the last of the items they need.

Ten minutes later, they stood in the checkout lane, and Quinn was trying to adjust the ice blue leather collar that sat around her neck, hiding most of her pendant under it and the tag on the front. Santana's dirty and mangy one was replaced with a bright red collar, with added fuzz on the inside. She swore it was Rachel's idea and that she did not pick it out. Both were lies. Their leashes were a bit longer too, so while Rachel rambled on to the cashier, they stood back a bit.

Quinn did not like the silence.

Which was shattered by a squeal. Santana's face blossomed into a large smile and she nearly pulled away from Rachel, but only took a few steps towards the source, but it was enough to receive the tall blonde missile in her arms.

Brittany S. Pierce, yes the full name is important and anyone who said otherwise was wrong, was one person in the world who Santana never raised her voice to, never called her stupid, or hurt her in any way possible. No one did. It was the eleventh commandment at school, and the first time it was broken during last year, the year twelve apprentice was never seen again. Santana had a hand in it, and Quinn may or may not have had something to do with it as well. Her father never received a straight answer, no matter how much he pushed.

"Sannie! What are you doing here?" she asked. If happiness and energy could be bottled and sold, the world's energy crisis would be solved in weeks thanks to Brittany, and there would still be a surplus. "Are we playing a game that I didn't know about, because that is a really cute collar and I remember you talking about wanting one, but we never-"

"Hey B," Santana said and hugged her tighter, pressing her head against her chest. "I missed you."

"Sorry bout not having you over, but Grandma was being a pain and wanted it family only, and I tried to explain that you were family, just not blood, but I think I got confused, and started to talk about bunnies and duckies." She looked over Santana and smiled brightly at Quinn. "Quinn! You're alive."

"I am," she replied, and returned to smile.

"And you have one too."

"What?" Santana pulled away, moving so she could wrap one arm around the girl.

"Collar! And a leash, it's cute," Brittany said. She followed it back to Rachel who had decided that boring the cashier was too much and wanted to see what her familiars were up to. "To Rachie? Even better. Wait here."

"Huh?" Rachel said as Brittany ran off.

"I have no idea," Quinn said.

"Just go with it, please," Santana asked. She walked back to Rachel and stood to her side, a smile as she watched Brittany run to who Quinn could only assume was her parents and talking with them frantically. Arm waving and interpretative dance included.

"The world is ending." Quinn stepped to the other side.

"Huh?" Rachel looked between them.

"Santana said please."

"Shut it, Q."

"See you can speak without swearing."

"Shut it, B." But Santana never lost her smile. Quinn had been so used to seeing a frown or scowl on her face that the timid look should have been off putting. It was, but not in a way that she had expected. It was cute and she wanted to wrap her in a hug. Lord, she was getting soft. Maybe this was who she actually was.

Brittany ran back to them, a yellow cotton collar in one hand and a long yellow leash in the other. "What's this?" Rachel asked.

"I'm a familiar, like them," She replied. She stood a few inches above Quinn, so she was almost a head over Rachel.

"I don't-"

"I'm a fierce rabbit of caerbannog," she said. She clawed at the air. "And you need to tame me. So take my leash"

A tall man with bright gray hair and a sweater vest came and join them as the Mr. Berry's walked over, everything paid for, she guessed. "So what's this about a rabbit?"

"That's me," Brittany said to them. "Hi Hiram, hi Leroy."

"Bunny," the other man said.

"That's right, see," Brittany added, "even daddy agrees. I am a rabbit of caerbannog. Rawr! I'm dynamite."

Mr. Pierce's smile mimicked Santana's, but softer, kinder. He stood taller than his daughter by over a foot and easily towered over all of them. Quinn did not feel afraid of a tall man for once. "I'm sorry bout my daughter, but she is rather insistent that your young girl take her on as a familiar."

"She has to," Brittany said. "I am fierce and dangerous and require a proper wizard to ensure that I do not harm anyone."

"But, bunny," Mr. Pierce replied. "She already has two to take care of and-"

"Quinn is too well behaved because of her crazy daddy, and Santana's wrapped around my finger, no I'm the only one she'd have to train. So please, please, please, please, please."

Mr. L Berry snorted and covered his mouth. "How much?" he asked, though struggled.

"Daddy! You can't just buy a person." Rachel turned and glared at him, stomping her foot. "It's almost as bad as caging Santana like that."

"But I'm a not person," Brittany said. "I'm a rabbit of caerbannog, and you're my wizard. I even have the paperwork that says so." She pulled a thick set of papers from her back pocket and unfolded them before handing it to Mr. H Berry. "See all there, third familiar of one Rachel B. Berry. It's written down, it's fact. It's law."

"Well, Star," Mr. H Berry said. "It seems things are in order, a price just needs to be settled on." He flipped through the pages, though barely read anything, a slight grin on his face.

"Ten dollars," Brittany said.

"Now, sweetie, don't get greedy. Are you sure you're worth that much?" Mr. Pierce said.

"Fine, eight, I guess," Brittany pouted.

"I don't understand." Rachel looked back and forth between her fathers and Mr. Pierce.

"I trust that your daughter will take good care of mine?" Mr. Pierce asked.

"Of course," Mr. L Berry smiled at her. "Rachel is probably one of more the responsible teenagers we know. Certainly one of the few that choices to stay home on Friday nights, if that is an indication of responsibility." Rachel smiled, though it was not her carefree she offered Quinn or her gentle one for Santana. It was a Broadway smile, large and bright, and fake. Quinn looked at her feet and tried not to think about it. She and Santana were the reasons behind that. And they all knew it.

"Star, do you have eight dollars?" Mr. H Berry said.

"I don't, Daddy what's going on?"

"There has apparently been a mix-up and you didn't pay for your third familiar," he replied.

"I never got-" Santana elbowed Rachel in the side. She tried to glare, but between Brittany's puppy dog eyes and Santana's non-angry ones, all she did was sigh. "Fine, I guess, if that's what happened." The puppy-dog eyes dissolved away, and Brittany threw her arms around her neck. When she pulled back, she withdraw eight dollars from Rachel's wallet and handed it back to her.

"Eight dollars for me, right daddy?" Brittany asked.

"Course, cupcake." He took the money and shook both of the Berry's hand. "I appreciate this. She was rather insistent about it."

"No problem, James," Mr. H Berry said.

Brittany forced the collar into Rachel's hand and guided them to put it on her. Santana stepped over them, sliding underneath Brittany's arm as she bounced, actually bounced. Quinn stood back, the leash almost taught.

"Q? You okay?" Brittany asked. She stepped out of Rachel's arms and glided over to her. She could not look up, instead focusing on the few bags of owl and cat food, which strangely came in the same bag.

"Are you mad at me?" She shook her head. "Are you mad? No, it's not anger. It's fear." She lifted her head by her chin and stared at her, blue eyes focused solely on her. "You're not going anywhere. Okay? I joined you two so we could be friends, the way we were. You're not going anywhere."

"Sweetie?" Rachel stepped over, under Brittany, and wrapped Quinn in her arms. "You are not allowed to be upset."

"You cannot order people like that," Quinn said. Please do not order me like that, she hoped Rachel heard. Brittany pried her hand from her collar, her opal, but did not let it go.

"Good thing we're not people, right Q?" Brittany said. "C'mon, let's get away from here and keep you safe. Because that's what this is about, right? To get you away from your dad?"

"You knew?" Rachel asked. Brittany nodded.

"She wasn't ready yet, she hadn't found it yet," Brittany said. "Now, enough sadness. We need to get Quinnie and Sannie cloths, which is stupid because we're familiars and familiars don't wear cloths, but you three'd probably get embarrassed about it, so for now I guess I'll continue to wear them now, but this is a conversation we're having later, kay? Good." She drug Quinn over to Santana and took her hand, then smiled at Rachel.

Goodbyes were said, hugs were given, though Quinn did not pay attention too much. Brittany made Santana stand close to her, make sure she was okay, even if they were all connected to Rachel's wrist by their leashes. One hand was in Santana's, the other Brittany pulled away from her collar occasionally, stepping away from the conversation that she, Rachel, and the parents were having.

Ten minutes of small talk had passed, and Rachel was leading them out the door. The Berry's small car had only three seats in the back, and Brittany forced Quinn to sit in her lap, while Rachel sit between her and Santana. The rest of them talked, filling up the air, what was needed, how their Winter Breaks were going prior to the whole familiar thing, what was happening of school. Brittany rubbed her back, and Rachel drew circles on the back of hand.

Things had changed so much, so rapidly, and now they changed even more. She had partly accepted the whole required to be a familiar aspect. It was a strange thing, but she had most of her freedom back, at least no one telling her how to thing. Then they found Santana, and the whole idea of familiar bond, then Brittany who knew more than she should, knew more about her home life then was proper.

Both of them being nice to her, not just civil, but nice, was an even stranger idea that she still did not know how to wrap her head around that change.

But Rachel touched her, making sure she was there, was with them. Brittany held her, keeping her together. And Santana smiled at her, which was the strangest thing she ever saw and wanted to keep seeing it.

Everything had changed so much, and maybe it could be for the better. It had to be. The alternative was not acceptable.