So I tweaked this a little bit. For those who haven't read, this is an alternative take on the episode "Original Song", originally written before the episode and now edited after. I am thinking of continuing this so if anyone is interested please review since I love getting them!

*SPOILER WARNING*

I am on the American showings so if you are watching the UK timetable and do not want part of the plot revealed, turn away now! :P

As always all characters belong to the creators of Glee, I am just adding a little extra

The applause in the theatre was deafening. The crowd was on their feet, putting their hands together for the spectacular performance just given by New Directions. Rachel basked in their attention as she too applauded. She had sung the best she could, they all had. Rachel continued to clap as she turned to beam at her team mates. Whatever the result, the team truly had put their whole hearts and souls into this performance and had really come together. Tina, Zizes and Mercedes were in a tight circle with Puck, all four jumping up and down with excitement. Santana had her face buried into Brittany's shoulder, the latina sobbing uncontrollably against the tall blonde girl whose arms were wrapped tightly around her. Sam was doing some kind of victory dance with Mike at the front while Artie wheeled behind them, waving a foam hand that had somehow ended up on the stage. Rachel's gaze fell onto Fin and she felt another twinge of hurt. The tall boy had Quinn in his arms and was spinning her around, a look of such adoration plastered on his face that Rachel had to look away. As the judges began to exit their seats to deliberate, Rachel took the opportunity to run to the bathroom with intention of sorting her appearance and composing herself. She had smudged her eye make-up during her solo and she did not want panda eyes if they were to pose for a winning photo. She had just begun to wipe away some of the residue when the bathroom door opened and Quinn appeared in the mirror behind her.

"Can I talk to you for a second?"

Rachel was really not up for this. Their prior discussion in the auditorium and her solo during sectionals had left her emotionally drained. Quinn had hurt her with her words

"Look Quinn. You made it perfectly clear earlier; Fin and I will never be together." Rachel sighed tiredly as she applied a fresh layer of mascara, eyes resolutely focussed on the task at hand and not at the blonde standing just a few steps behind her. "I get the message."

"That's not why I said it." Rachel paused mid-stroke, her gaze finally connecting with the hazel eyes which had caused her so much pain. She turned away from the mirror and crossed her arms, eyes fixing on the stoic blonde.

"What do you mean?"

"You just gave the performance of your life out there, you embodied everything within the lyrics and you became that song." Quinn paused. "Do you remember when you sang "Give's You Hell"?" Rachel huffed impatiently. She remembered every performance she had ever given, even the ones from one of Mr Schuster's weekly assignments.

"Of course I do but what has that got to do with today? "

"You were angry at Fin for the way he treated you. You channelled all your emotions into your performance and it worked, I mean it REALLY worked." Quinn gave Rachel a shy smile which the brunette did not return. "I meant what I said in the choir room yesterday, you are an amazing and talented individual who doesn't get the full credit you deserve." Rachel still had no idea where Quinn was going with this and she was beginning to become frustrated with the other girl.

"Quinn-"

The blonde interrupted her with a raised hand.

"Please. I need to say this to you."

Rachel tried to read the other girl's stoic expression. If this was leading to another verbal assault, she wanted to be prepared for it. Having found nothing in the blonde's demeanour that would suggest an oncoming attack, Rachel nodded to the blonde and Quinn continued.

"You wrote a great song for today Rachel but every time you sung it in rehearsals, you were still clinging to the hope that you and Fin might get back together." The blonde lowered her lashes "And that held you back." Rachel's heartbeat began to pound and, as if she could hear, Quinn started to fidget with the ribbon on her dress.

"However a good actress you may be, I know that one of your songs becomes twice as powerful if you can properly relate to it. Fin and I realised pretty quickly that what we used to have was no longer there. We ended it last week."

Rachel's mouth went dry and she watched in horror as Quinn's eyes started to glisten.

"I kept up the premise that we were still seeing each other so it would hurt you, so that you were in that moment, living and feeling every word of "Get it Right". I knew you were a strong enough person to take all of your hurt and pain and channel them into delivering a winning solo."

Quinn's voice cracked, just like it had in the auditorium when she told Rachel she didn't belong here. "I am so sorry Rachel. You have every right to hate me for my actions and I don't know where this leaves us." And again, just as quickly as she had displayed emotion, the blonde retracted it, her stoic mask back in place.

Rachel was rooted to the spot, her mind trying desperately to process what she had just been told. She wasn't even aware that the blonde had moved towards her until she felt a soft hand rest lightly on her shoulder. The brunette flinched at the uncharacteristically gentle touch but made no effort to shove the hand away. Quinn's dropped to a breathy whisper but Rachel could still hear every word.

"I just hope that you can someday forgive me." The hand was removed and Quinn exited the bathroom, the roar of the crowd accompanying her before the door shut, once again leaving Rachel alone in silence. The brunette had yet to move, her body as bewildered as her mind. She wasn't exactly sure what emotion she was currently feeling. Hurt and anger were definitely there but they were also joined by confusion and something unidentifiable. Quinn didn't have to tell her this. She could have just left Rachel in the dark and let the brunette assume that Fin and herself were still dating. That's what HBIC Quinn would have done. And head bitch Quinn would never ever apologise to Rachel "Treasure Trail" Berry. True, she had played with the brunette's emotions but If Rachel had known of a way to make a performance better, would she have not gone to extreme lengths to achieve it? Then there was the whole mini breakdown. Rachel knew from Fin that Quinn hated showing emotion, believing that it made her seem vulnerable and weak. The blonde had also asked for her forgiveness, maybe Quinn thought more of Rachel than she let on.

Rachel sighed and shook her head. Only one thing was really certain, it would be a long time before Rachel understood Quinn Fabray.