Spoilers: Well pretty much up to sectionals, it's all fair game.
N/A - Every chapter will have a song as it's back ground. This one is 'Last Shot' by Tom Baxter and is where this fic gets it's name from.
N/A1 - This is not beta'd which i'm really sorry for
'It seems that my wounds have begun to heal so I return to my mark'
There are some loves that stick with you, that never leave you. The love cuts so deep that goes straight through to your heart and leaves scars so harsh they are with you always. You can't escape it but in truth you never really try. You long to keep that connection even if it hurts even if the stinging so bad you feel like you can't breathe. Moving on just doesn't feel like an option. You spend the next few months following this break up checking their facebook, trying to see if they're hurting like you or worse to see if they've moved on. But eventually you stop because pictures of them smiling and laughing start to be more frequent. And although you tell yourself you want them to be happy, what you really mean is you want them to be happy only if they're with you. So you can attempt to ignore the aching in your heart and maybe sometimes you can go hours without thinking about it but then at random points the feelings
seep in until you have to go back to hiding it all with your perfect smile. But those who know you can see that sparkle from your eyes has faded and the skip in your step has disappeared. Love especially first love can be the most amazing or deadly thing in the world, you never see it coming and you never see the ending. Some loves were never meant to be over. Some loves will never be over.
****
Rachel liked the dress. Which is odd because she had always heard that bridesmaids dresses were meant to look horrid. This off the shoulder floor length lilac dress however was quite lovely and showed her off at ever curve. The reception was lovely, a stage and a dance floor had been set up outside with gazebo's covering them, although it was such a beautiful day she doubted it would rain.
She had returned from New York for her younger cousins wedding. It had taken much begging on her cousins part and although in her teens Rachel would have loved being the centre of attention, however now she quite liked being lost in the crowd. With that said somehow her cousin had not only talked her into being a bridesmaid but also into singing. If only her dads had given her a sister or given her cousin Lilly a sister, then she wouldn't have everyone looking at her. She would have loved for this attention at high school, but now she was so use to it, it bothered.
Rachel Berry had achieved her dream on Broadway, just like she always wanted. And she was greeted with open arms in Lima even by those who had thrown the slushies in her face. It almost made her laugh but she secretly enjoyed it as well.
"Rachel Berry you sexy little hot thing get over her!" A voice yelled from behind her, she turned to see Kurt just before he pulled her into a hug. The problem with Lima was that everyone knew everyone else with it being a small town. So when there was a wedding, a funeral or a birthday you were always sure you would see someone you knew. This however was a positive too due to the fact that literally everyone from high school was here.
"Hey!" she replied as she wrapped her arms around the male to receive the hug. "What are you doing here?" she asked not realising he was going to be. "I haven't seen you since we went to see Mercedes in February."
"I know!" he said pulling a slight face. "well I'm actually dating the grooms brother. It's only recent and I haven't spoken to you in ages so don't give me that hurt look. Although I saw you last week, in that wicked revival. I wanted to come back stage but I had to scoot." He told her. She kept in contact with everyone from high school…well almost everyone she thought sadly to herself. "amazing as ever."
"Thank you." she curtsied. "When I am getting my peek at your new collection? What's the point having a designer friend when he's holding out on me." She mocked placing her hands on her hips in a true Rachel Berry gesture. They stood in silence for a moment just taking the other one in.
"We did well for ourselves eh." He said with a slight chuckle, it was something they always said to each other but standing here in their home town it felt more real.
"We sure did. Is anyone else here?" She asked looking around.
"Blonde baby Bambi is here with the evil hunter who shot his mother." He pointed behind her and she saw Brittney and Santana and couldn't stop the small laugh. They were wrapped around each other like they were still teenagers. "Oh and also..."
However before he could go on he was stopped, over on the stage in front of the dance floor music started to play and a child's voice carried over the melody. The voice wasn't pitch perfect Rachel noted but there was so much potential in it that she too looked towards the source. The words took her back to high school as the lyrics to halo
floated through the room. A young brunette girl stood there singing with the most hypnotising hazel eyes, the whole
garden seemed to be caught under her spell. There was something about the child's angel like face that stopped Rachel and made her hear beat in over time but Rachel couldn't put her finger on what it was.
"Wow." She said out loud.
"I know she's like a little Rachel Berry." Kurt said into her ear. That was went Rachel's stomach dropped. She recognised those eyes, she loved those eyes once...and that's went she saw it. Standing watching the child sing in a black dress was Quinn. The girl who haunted her dreams still to this day. Head cheerleader, her first love her...
There were no words for Quinn. And then her stomach dropped as Puck walked up and draped his arm around her the same proud look that the blonde had.
"Yeah puck and Quinn are here too." Kurt suddenly said squeezing her hand, she didn't know why he had held her hand but she was silently grateful. And in that instant the memories she had hidden deep within her came bubbling to the surface.
****
"Ask me to stay." Rachel whispered as her girlfriend hugged her. "Just ask and I will. We can be a family. The three of us." Quinn hugged her tighter wishing that she was the selfish girl she'd been two years ago.
"I can't." Quinn said chocking back tears.
"Yes you can just open your mouth and say it." The brunette pulled back out of the hug and held Quinn's face in her hands. "We can be together and be open and raise Allie.."
"We're only 18, we are worlds apart."
"Don't. Don't say that. I'm here and you're here. And age is insignificant so don't use that."
"This is your dream." She finally said pulling away from Rachel.
"You're my dream." Rachel almost seemed to be begging.
"Why are you saying this now? You've had all summer Rach, and now you're about to go. Are you just using this as an excuse?"
"Because I was waiting for you to ask me. I've been waiting for you. I'm always waiting for you. So now I'm asking you." The brunette told her, wishing that Quinn would simply hold her and not let her go.
"Stop waiting." Quinn said quietly. "You have to go. I'll see you in the summer." She said the last part quickly, avoiding eye contact.
"So this is it?" Rachel asked not even trying to hide her own tears as they cascaded down her cheeks. "You're just going to let me walk away?"
"What do you want me to do?! Ask you to stay? Tell you to give up your dream. Stay here with me in this dead end town?" Quinn replied angrily.
"Yes that's what I want." She shouted back throwing her arms up.
"Well I won't. So just go. Get out of here and don't ever look back."
"Don't you love me?" She sounded like a lost little child, her arms reaching out and holding Quinn's wrists.
"Is this what you need to hear? I don't love you. So go." Quinn ripped away from Rachel and turned with her back to the brunette. Her heart breaking every second and when the door shut she crumbled to the floor her eyes streaming with warm tears, but Rachel never saw it. And Rachel just about made it to her car when tears rippled through her and she broke down against the stirring wheel.
****
That had been the last time Rachel had seen Quinn in the flesh and even after all these years the memory still stung her more deeply that she would ever admit. The only time she had felt more pain was this second right now, seeing the woman who she loved with her head rested on Puck's arm. She knew she'd always love Quinn, but she pushed it down and ignored it; but seeing her now…the cork to her bottled up emotions burst free. Failed auditions, failed romanced and failed friendships never hurt like this. If she had asked her to stay it would be her shoulder Quinn
was resting on. There would be no what if's they would have made it work. And now it seemed like she had been alone in her affections, even after ten years she loved the blonde. The girl had stopped singing but Rachel was still staring at the back of the blonde's head.
"Rachel...Rachel Berry?" The question brought her back to reality and there in front of her was the little girl who was singing. A little Quinn Fabrary.
"Erm yes, yes I am." she said with a slight smile trying to regain herself. The girl was gorgeous, she was going to break some hearts in the future.
"I thought so. My mum said she didn't think you'd come to the reception. Wow I can't believe you're here. I've seen you on broad way loads. My mum takes me every summer. Because you two use to go to school together which I find totally insane, like my mum knows a famous person. You, you're like amazing. Mum and aunt Brittney went and saw you in your first show, Spring Awakening. She has the CD with you on. This is so surreal."
"Take a breath Allie." The voice brought Rachel back to reality she had just been staring at the girl. It was amazing how much she looked like Quinn, her smile was captivating. "hi stranger." Rachel looked up and saw Quinn standing in front of her and the shorter girl tried to catch her breath.
"Hey." That was all she was able to say. Quinn looked stunning. Completely breath takingly beautiful so much so that Rachel thought for a second her heart might forget to beat. Which is why she was grateful that Kurt elbowed her when he did before mother and daughter thought she had mental problems. "Come her." Rachel reached out her arms. "It's so good to see you." The duo wrapped their arms around each other. Quinn smelled like strawberries always strawberries and the smell intoxicated her, causing her arms to hold her slightly tighter. They fitting together so perfectly and Rachel cursed herself for walking away and not fighting harder for her slice of perfection. The hug lasted longer than it should have and Rachel thought she could hear Quinn matching her own actions and smelling her brunette hair.
"Berry?!" It was puck and his voice caused them to jump apart. It made the brunette chuckle remembering her daddy walking in on them making out and they had jumped apart so quickly they'd both fallen off the bed much to his
amusement.
She instantly felt guilty however when he pulled her into a hug huge. "Lima isn't the same without you. What's kept you away." The hug only lasted a second like embraces were meant to. He seemed so happy about seeing his old friend and all Rachel could do was steal glimpses at Quinn's full lips wondering if they were still as soft as they use to be. If she still enjoyed having that bottom lip sucked on...Jesus she had to stop these thoughts. She had kept in contact with Noah for a year or so after leaving Lima but for some reason their e-mails stopped. Life had a way of taking over.
"Erm well work and college took over. I came back a couple of times. But my dads liked coming to New York. I'm on a break for a while. People are concerned that I will have a mental break down." She laughed slowly. "It's great to see you Noah, where's the Mohawk?"
"Allie here pointed out that it made me look...what was it again sugar chops?"
"An over grown pubescent teenager who's photos on Americas most wanted." Rachel and Quinn laughed, and Rachel thought it sounded like angels. "Well it did. It's like he wanted to be down with us kids."
"ooo little lady don't hold back." He said pulling her into a playful hug and the Broadway stars heart contracted, that should have been her. She felt angry, but swallowed it.
"So you managed to get the girl Noah?" She wanted to puke, when he looked over to Quinn with a smile. Her words came out more bitter than she had intended but no one seemed to notice.
"Not only did I get the girl. I'm going to bloody marry her!" He said proudly pulling Quinn's hand up and displaying this reasonable sized ring for her to see.
Rachel barely saw the diamond just before she felt the air leave her chest and the world went black.
'I've not been hit here before…I think that bullet dug deep so deep, the last shot hurt but this one's killing me'