A/N: This is my first story, I've never really written anything, but Faberry is so important to me and I'd like to do it right. I don't own Glee.
This is my attempt at a somewhat realistic establishment of Faberry with mentions of bits from the show. Basically a Rachel who only had eyes for Finn (since that's how Ryan Murphy portrays it), and Faberry feelings coming to the surface as they all learn to move on. Mentions of Finchel and Finn's passing.
Faberry is forever my endgame.
I just had this idea tugging at my thoughts, and I really wanted to share it. Enjoy! :)
Chapter 1: Where'd You Go?
"The whole world can become the enemy when you lose what you love."
―Bridge of Scarlet Leaves
It had been months since Finn's funeral. The holidays were approaching. For the fifth time in a matter of days, Rachel was calling Quinn Fabray. When news of Finn's passing was delivered to everyone, it was almost an obligatory gut feeling to bombard Rachel with calls, texts, voicemails, emails, even letters exclaiming how sorry they were and how special he was.
Of course, Rachel was in no state to respond or even look at her phone; Kurt ended up responding for both of them. She loved Finn; they both knew they would always find their way back to each other.
Everyone did reach out to Rachel, because a star had just lost her sky. They made it a point to be in Lima for Finn. Everyone except Quinn. In fact, now that they all stayed in more frequent contact, it was concluded that nobody had heard from her. Where was Quinn Fabray?
"Quinn, this is.. A lot of phone calls, I know. I'm sure you've heard about Finn by now. Where are you? You were his girlfriend once, you know. And a friend. Please call me back. Email me, text me. Anything. Just..." Rachel couldn't control her silent crying and had to pause. "Just... please..?"
"Rachel." Rachel jumped and spun around to face the sudden intrusion in her room, hand held over her heart.
"Kurt." She gives him a genuine smile, he's been her rock and constant. She couldn't have gotten through this without him.
"..Sweetie. Did you just call Quinn again?" Kurt gives her a sad knowing look. He's tried to contact her too, but he received the same results. It was frustrating but he wanted it to stop eating away at his best friend.
Rachel opens her mouth to answer. "Well I just thought-"
"Rachel. Anybody and everybody has contacted us. Even people we barely know have made an attempt."
He holds his phone up to show a huge volume of messages and missed calls from people who reached out to them, as if to make a point.
"Quinn was my friend too. But she's given us nothing but the idea that she's uninterested in talking or in anyone's feelings but her own. Who knows? Maybe she doesn't even care. Maybe we're all just old news to the fabulous Ice Queen. When is the last time anyone has seen her?" He laughed lightly to try and break the tension. He cared about Quinn too, and felt guilty for saying these things. But what else was he supposed to believe?
"She came when you asked her and Santana to save me from doing that terrible topless scene. We sang, we danced, and she cared about something that should've been so small and insignificant. But she did that for me." Rachel's voice was vulnerable, much like she was in high school - when she didn't have her quarterback.
"Something small and easy. Maybe she doesn't want to deal with something that actually requires a big heart and a lot of thought." Kurt wasn't trying to be hurtful, but he didn't want Rachel to keep pining away at something so impractical. She was already mourning Finn. She didn't need to mourn Quinn too. He was scared to look at her and to see the hurt in her eyes.
After a moment of silence, Rachel put on a show face and smiled, "I won't bother with it anymore."
He breathed a sigh of relief until he finally noticed that she was holding the train pass Quinn had given her their senior year.
"But I need to do one last thing, Kurt. Finn would've wanted this. He always reached out to people, and I feel like this is a part of getting closure." She softly smiled at the train pass as if it would answer all the questions in her heavy heart.
Rachel rushed to pack her items, checking off a list as she went. She planned on having enough for a few days because she hoped she would find Quinn at the same address she had given her so long ago, and that she would welcome her in with open arms.
"What if she doesn't live there anymore?" Kurt knew Rachel had to do this, and he tried many times to tell her he would go too. She didn't want him missing out on his life for her; he had already given her so much. She told him over and over that it would be a few days at most, if everything panned out the way she hoped. And if she could handle it.
"Well. If she doesn't live there anymore then maybe I can find a way to see where she has moved on to. I can be pretty persuasive!" Rachel's eyes lit up and she had a bold grin on her face as if to solidify her previous statement.
He laughed. "I think you just keep talking in circles until people agree."
"Kurt!" She pretends to be appalled at him and lightly slaps his arm before pulling him into a hug. "Thank you. You saved me ever since we heard about Finn. I just really need you to know how much I love you and you're my family. It's going to take a long time for anyone of us to move on, but I feel happy knowing we can do that together." Tears were brimming both of their eyes. It hadn't been an easy few months.
You were a wonderful brother to him.
"Santana! Listen. I'm going to be gone for a few days. I think. Possibly just a few hours if I don't find what I'm looking for. I'm going to New Haven to find Quinn. Before you try to tag along, don't. Stay here. Have fun with Dani and tell her I said hi. I'll be back soon. Love you lots." With that, Rachel ends the call.
She silently ponders if Santana will be upset that she left a voicemail and didn't get to say bye in person. She had been planning to talk to her last night, but Santana sent her a text saying she was staying with her girlfriend for the night. The trip was just so last minute and she needed to go before she changed her mind or began to think rationally.
It was only 8:00AM. The crisp air engulfs Rachel. She enjoys the feeling, because she enjoys wearing a nice coat and hat - which is particularly odd to do when it's summer. She hugs Kurt one last time and kisses him on the cheek before stepping onto the train with her suitcase in tow.
Waving from the train window, she wondered how this trip would go. Suddenly it hit her that she was going to New Haven. No, like REALLY going. She was going to be there in less than two hours. All she had was a name and a possible address. What if she wasn't ready to face this? And by herself, why did she downplay this whole trip so much? She's never even been to New Haven or used this train pass.
Anxiety replaced the determination. She quickly went into the train's bathroom and stared in the mirror.
Okay Rachel. Maybe she doesn't live there anymore. If you don't find her, it's okay. It's okay. It's going to be just fine. You are persuasive. Or you talk in circles like Kurt said. It shouldn't be hard to find someone who knows Quinn or of her in that apartment complex. But hey! Maybe she lives there still!
What if she doesn't?
This isn't helping...
After a few more minutes of giving herself an internal pep talk, she comes out and sits down.
The nerves will go away soon. Just breathe, Rachel. Breathe.
Her phone vibrates and Santana's name lights the screen up. "Hello Santana."
"RACHEL. What the hell! If you had told me last night that you were leaving, I would've come home to say bye!"
Santana was hit pretty hard about Finn's death and has tried to openly show others how much she cares, more than before.
"Santana. It's okay. I might not even find her and if that's the case, I'll be home tonight. Alright?"
"I just.. Alright. Make sure I see you again soon okay?"
Rachel smiled and reassured her, "You'll see me again soon, ALL the time. You'll wish you hadn't said that!"
"Yeah sure, whatever Berry." Laughter comes from both sides, and they end the call.
Rachel gazes out the window, wondering what New Haven will hold for her.
Stepping into New Haven for the first time felt overwhelming. She stood at the station looking around for a few minutes. Remembering her reason for coming, she begins rushing off to get a taxi.
Once in the taxi, she gives the driver the address and sends a quick text to Kurt and Santana letting them know she's arrived safely in New Haven. It's about 10AM at this point. She could feel the weight of the world on her chest. It only took ten minutes to get to the apartment complex. Yale was only a 20 minute walk from the station and 5-10 minute drive. Luckily Quinn lived pretty close to Yale.
She hands $20 to the driver and tells him to keep the change.
The complex looked nice, and new. Rachel kept mentally patting Quinn on the back for her good taste and made a note to tell her that later. It'd be a neutral topic to discuss.
Quinn's address states that her apartment is #115. She pulls her suitcase to a map of the layout and studies it for a second. Quinn should be on the first floor on the far right.
Rachel walks in that direction with renewed vigor. When #115 is staring her in the face, she brings her hand to the door and knocks gently.
Maybe too gently?
She knocks again, a little harder and hears shuffling inside.
Please be Quinn, please please please.
Rachel's hands were clenched hard and her heart was beating out of her chest.
The door unlocks and opens. Rachel is graced with the sight of Quinn Fabray, in a large Yale t-shirt and some running shorts. Flawless, even when she's not dressed to impress.
"Quinn?" Her breath hitches as brown eyes meet hazel eyes.
Realization dawned on Rachel's face. She wasn't ready. Quinn, just as wide-eyed as Rachel, composes herself in a matter of seconds. She nods in affirmation and her familiar husky voice snaps the little star back to reality. "Rachel. I should've known you'd show up sooner or later."
A/N: Let me know what you guys think!
I'm hoping to update this story often. I'm not sure where I'm going with this story or if I should even continue writing it. Suggestions would be great! Thank you for reading!
Farewell, Finn/Cory. You inspired many throughout your lifetime.