A fill for Lima Designs "Somebody Fic This" challenge.

For a while they sit silently in Rachel's kitchen, Rach at the table and Quinn in her chair, as Rachel cries softly and Quinn looks on, completely unsure of what to do before she remembers the cup in her bag.

When Rachel asks how she knew, Quinn shrugs and watches Rachel raise the cool glass to her lips.

"Shelby told me."

"Oh."

She feels instantly guilty when Rachel's face manages to fall even farther and her frown cuts more deeply than it had when she had opened the door. She didn't think it was possible.

"I…I didn't ask her. I just…I was holding Beth and she wouldn't stop crying and I…I felt terrible because, you know, I'm her mother. I should know how to comfort my child and I couldn't. She told me about the water thing because…because when she saw you she felt the same way. When she learned about the glass, she felt like maybe she could help you when you were hurting, at least a little bit."

"Thank you." Rachel gives her a small smile, and Quinn sees the effort behind the expression, but it doesn't stop the slow and steady stream of tears slipping down her cheeks.

Quinn rolls closer to Rachel and gingerly takes her hand.

"I don't know how it happened, Quinn," she whispers hoarsely. "I was on that stage and I heard the music start behind me and felt the heat of the spotlight and…and I choked. Maybe it was that I knew that the person who would decide my future was sitting in the house, or that everyone watching me expected something incredible and after Kurt whipped out his amazing performance…"

"Shhh," Quinn soothes rubs small circles on the back of Rachel's hand. "It doesn't mean you're any less talented than we all know you are. There are so many other programs and schools that would love to have you even if this doesn't work out." Quinn doesn't know if it's true, but it seems like the right thing to say.

Rachel shakes her head. "How do you do it?"

"How do I do what?" Quinn raises an eyebrow.

"Move on. Give up. How do you move on after your dreams go up in smoke?"

She bristles at the implication. "What do you mean?"

"You wanted to cheer again, and go to Yale and become an actress and then…"

"I didn't give up anything, Rachel."

"But…"

"I didn't give up anything. I'm still going to Yale and I'm still going to act, and I'm going to walk again. My dreams are still alive and well and I'm still going to achieve everything I said I would. I'm not going to let one setback stand in my way."

"Do you really believe that?" The doubt in her voice is unmistakable, but hope shines in her eyes.

"Yes, I really do."

"Maybe it will work for you…but you didn't completely blow your chance. What happened to you was an accident."

"Rachel, listen to me." She cups Rachel's cheek in her hand. "This isn't the end all be all. You've said it yourself—you belong on the stage and your talent is unstoppable. One audition with someone who makes a living criticizing other people isn't you're only shot."

"But—"

"Listen to me, you're going to New York and you're going to be a star, Rachel Berry. Forgetting the words to one song one time won't stop you, and I won't let you stop yourself."

This time the small that stretches across Rachel's face reaches her eyes, but Quinn only glimpses the grin for a moment, before her view is eclipsed by Rachel's lips meeting her own.

"Thank you," she murmurs. "For the water."

If anyone ever asks, my three favorite words are "I liked this". ;)