AN: So, yes. Kill me. I didn't want them to split up. But this came, and I took it. These chapters are pretty lengthy, so I won't post daily as I did before, for those of you following me back then. I have my goals set, however, on posting every 2 - max. 3 - days, and I will try desperately to meet that goal. For now, this is all I've got. I don't know where it's going.
I highly recommend you read the other fic: Friends, Lovers of Nothing. It's 7 years later. Quinn & Rachel have dated for 2 years, until the end of High School. Then, Rachel broke up with Quinn. Now... no wait. It's all in the fic. So read it!! :D I hope you like it :) and even if you don't, I reaaaaaally would want to know. I have no idea if anyone's reading this. So, begging for reviews. For real. Begging. Please? :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee, nor anything that I may refer to. This includes the title of the fic, that I stole from a kickass Owl City song :)

Reunion

"Excited, baby?" Puck asked his girlfriend.

"Yeah, I am. First time we've gone out in a while," Quinn replied.

"First time since we moved to New York anyway."

She linked her arm through his as they walked into the theater. First time she'd see a Broadway show in... what, 10 years? Just about. She'd been 14 the last time, and now she was 23. 9 years, then. The Broadway revival of Funny Girl was supposed to the biggest show out there so far, and was a candidate to be reckoned with when the Tony's would come. They found their seats, and Puck gave her a quick peck on her cheek.

Noah Puckerman had really changed like no other. When Rachel broke up with Quinn after High School, he had helped her through it, tried to put her back together, and she was thankful for him. It wasn't his fault that she hadn't healed properly, he'd done everything in his power to guide. It was normal that she'd get together with him. He loved her, and she knew it. And she loved him, or at least the man that he had unearthed when he decided to grow up and stop the cougar-hunting. But it wasn't enough. It would never be enough. Maybe he knew it too. Sometimes she saw doubt in his eyes, and sorrow. Maybe he knew that she hadn't really stopped loving Rachel. Nor that she ever would. Maybe that was why he hadn't asked her to marry him yet.

When he'd gotten a job offer in New York and asked Quinn to come with him, there was no doubt in her voice as she accepted his offer. She'd find a life in New York. And it was out of Lima, at least. She didn't think about Rachel, she had learned to push every conscious thought of the girl away, at first thinking that pretending to be healed was almost the same as healing, that it was close, and that if she'd act healed long enough she'd heal eventually. She knew better now, but being miserable didn't help anything or anyone. So she'd decided to put on her smile - oh, she couldn't believe she was back to pretending all the time again - and give Puck the chance he deserved. He at least deserved it now, now he'd grown up and gotten a respectable job at a law firm. The only thing that he couldn't get rid of was the mohawk, and she didn't want him to. It was his trademark. And she loved the conflict of the mohawk combined with a black suit. Charming.

He grabbed her hand, traced his thumb across her fingers for a second and the show began.

When the lead came on stage, Quinn blinked. It couldn't be. Her mind went into denial mode immediately, and kept her mind clear. Her subconsciousness connected this role to Rachel, so she projected Rachel on the stage, but it was just any short brunette. It couldn't be.

But as soon as she opened her mouth, she knew it was. That voice. Nobody on the globe had a voice like hers. Speaking nor singing. She felt Puck squeeze her hand tightly, and knew that he knew it too.

When the male lead came on... was she even really surprised that it was Finn? Puck was, she judged by the way his eyes were seemingly trying to escape their sockets. But she wasn't, not really. That was the one person that on stage she had the most chemistry with, and again the chemistry was beyond obvious. Her heart throbbed, and she hated herself, that even 5 years later she still had this effect on Quinn. And it wasn't because of Finn's look at Rachel - she couldn't even blame him for that, she was more beautiful than ever, Quinn's memory hadn't done her glowing face justice - but it was because Rachel looked at Finn like... like she used to. Back. Way before them.

Don't Rain On My Parade made Quinn's mind almost blind with the memories and flashbacks that she had. She saw Rachel at Sectionals, in that little shiny black dress. She actually closed her eyes listening to it. Then is was over, everyone was clapping and it was time for the break. She saw everyone getting up, and realized that it was the end of Act I. She and Puck made their way to the bar, and without a trail of doubt in her voice she ordered a Cosmo.

"You okay, babe?" Puck asked. He was genuinely concerned. "You almost never drink."

"I know I don't, you know why."
"I do. You do things you'll end up regretting. So maybe you should put that down."
"Maybe this time I shouldn't."

He ordered a beer for himself and let Quinn have her beverage. She needed it.

Quinn was one to always pay attention to her surroundings. So now too, part of her was listening to what everyone was saying about... Rachel. She'd almost slipped and thought her Rachel, but didn't.

"She's very talented, isn't she?"
"She really is. She belted Don't Rain On My Parade out like a pro! I believe she has a great future on the stage. And the guy too, they've got great chemistry."

"I've heard their dating." Quinn's heart dropped to her stomach. Of course they were.
"Ah, that explains the chemistry. If I were a Broadway director, I'd make sure that they would appear in a whole lot of shows together. They're great."

Finishing her Cosmo, Quinn decided not to get all emotional over this. Not tonight at least. She'd never been one for public breakdowns - she hated being vulnerable in front of an audience and would avoid it at all costs if she could. Puck shouldn't see her cry over just seeing Rachel.

"Ready to go back for the second half?" Puck asked her when the break was over.

"Of course!" She said, and her confidence seemed to have returned.

They went back, and Quinn had a new mindset. This was the first time she'd seen Rachel in a long, long time, so the best she could do was enjoy it. Enjoy how happy she was, shining as she was at the place she belonged; the stage. She turned her focus to Finn for a minute. He had not changed at all. Still the tallest guy on the stage, still innocent, still pretty naïve looking, and she knew that after this show he'd have a whole bunch of screaming loyal female fans. Not that any of them would accomplish anything, judging by the way he looked at Rachel.

Afterwards... she didn't really want to talk to Rachel. Why push her aching heart anymore than necessary? But she knew Puck was eager to talk to Finn. She tried to think of a way to deal with things when...

"Quinn! Oh my god, Quinn, Quinn is that you!?" A low voice called out her name and Quinn froze.

She turned around and saw a man dragging another man with him towards her, waving. Jim Berry. Sam Berry.

Rachel's dads.

She had never really talked to Puck about how she hadn't just lost Rachel, but the people she considered her family with her. She hardly ever mentioned Jim and Sam, and that she missed them as well. A lot. But when Jim and Sam pulled her in for a hug, the kind of hug you'd only receive from your father, Quinn had to bite back her tears.

"Jim... Sam... I've missed you guys!" She released them when she was sure that no tears would spill over.

"We've missed you too, Quinn!" Sam assured her. "You're in New York?"

"Yes, I just moved here a couple of weeks ago. This is the first time we've gone out here."

Jim shot a look behind her. Puck shook his hand firmly.

"Mr. and Mr. Berry. It's a pleasure to see you."

"Noah Puckerman?" Sam raised an eyebrow and Jim gave her a look.

"You still recognize me, I am impressed! Yes, I'm here with Quinn. She moved with me to New York."

There was no doubt at the meaning behind with Quinn.

She saw Jim and Sam exchange a look that she knew all too well. A look that told her that they'd discuss this either in private or with her.

Sam looked at her again and smiled widely. The smile reminded her too much of Rachel to enjoy it.

"Of course you wanna see them! We've got backstage passes, and it won't be an issue to bring you with us. Shall we?"
No use objecting now. It would look too out of place. And Puck was really excited. So she sucked it up. She could do this. No worse than any reunion would have been. Actually, this was kind of a reunion. Reunion of the drama club, at least. The only ones who hadn't been a couple were Finn and Puck. A small smile played around her lips at the thought of them getting together in that way.

They were backstage.

"So, Quinn, I assume you want to see Rachel first?"

The amount of control over her emotions she had built up over the years was to no use now, as she felt her heartbeat speeding up at the thought of being alone with Rachel, the girl who had possessed her heart for 7 years and who hadn't left her dreams even one night since they separated 5 years earlier.

"W-what?"

They were standing in front of a door. With a gold star on it. If the golden star hadn't given it away, the pink letters "Ms. Rachel Berry" would have. But really, the star did the trick by itself already. Sam was already knocking on the door, and peeked inside.
"Hey honey, there's an old friend who wants to see you!"

"Who is it?"
"We'll meet outside later!"

She felt Puck's reluctance to let her go, but her hand slipped out of his as she got a push from Jim and tumbled into Rachel's dressing room. Not the ideal graceful entrance, but it would have to do. She looked up, into Rachel's eyes, and suddenly had a moment where she was 16, desperately in love with a girl for the first time, and inseparable from the girl who stood across from her.

Then she was 23 again, and she saw Rachel's lower lip actually drop a little, separating it from the top lip, making the voluptuous lips look that much more kissable.

She wasn't exactly sure how long they just stood there. A second, an hour, a day, an eternity, it all seemed just as possible. Then a single word left Rachel's lips.

"Quinn..."

It was hardly above a whisper. Her voice sounded... hoarse. Because of the show perhaps?

Quinn smiled. Because no matter what happened, she was with Rachel. Right now she had Rachel all to herself. In reaction, Rachel's most significant smile broke through and Rachel stood up, took 2 long strides and wrapped her arms around Quinn's waist, burying her face in the blonde's neck.

Quinn took Rachel in her arms as well, folding her arms around Rachel's shoulders, and held her as close as she could. It was just... perfect. Right. As it should be. Or at least, at first. Then she felt that Rachel's heartbeat was way too quick. That this hug lasted extraordinarily long. That Rachel was breathing in her scent, and she caught herself nuzzling Rachel's hair as well. Still strawberry shampoo mixed with Rachel's own sweet scent. Her hair was always strawberry, and her body always vanilla. Always mixed with that Rachelesque unique scent. If she hadn't stopped herself, she would have pressed a kiss to Rachel's hair. She started breathing through her mouth when she felt Rachel's breaths against her pulse point. Then Rachel pressed her face against Quinn's neck again, and she could swear she felt a pair of lips brush by her pulse point. A hand grabbed her by her neck, pulling her in the hug closer, and she let one of her hands drop to the small of Rachel's back and one head tangle in now tousled brown locks. She was almost trembling with the touches. It felt so safe and familiar. Like really nothing had changed. And who was she kidding? Her feelings hadn't changed a bit. But she was with Puck now. And her subconscious remembered all too well what would follow a hug like this one. She pulled back, and found her face still close to Rachel's, who had her eyes closed and her mouth a little open. Why did she have to be so cute?

Rachel's eyes opened, and dark brown pools met Quinn's hazel eyes.

"Quinn, it really is you, isn't it? I can't... It's hard to comprehend the coincidence of you being in New York and coming to this show and running into my dads at that! I'm so incredibly happy to see you again! I've missed you impossibly much, but now you're... you're here!"

Quinn let her eyes wander and stroked Rachel's hair absentmindedly.

"I know. It's weird, isn't it? Just let me tell you, nothing was as amazing and weird as seeing you on that stage just now. I had no idea that you would be starring in this, imagine my surprise. But it was you. You've become the star that you always were on the inside. Really, you rocked that stage. Don't Rain On My Parade sounded just as perfect as when it helped us take Sectionals, Rach, really."

Rachel's eyes glistened when she heard her old nickname.

"And with Finn, of all people!"

"Yes... I know... We ran into each other here, and he was in desperate need of a goal in his life. So I invited him to join me in my quest for stardom, because he was talented enough to take the stage as well. Because of the experience we had with Glee club, we worked together very well and when the director noticed our chemistry he decided that we were the ones to pick for the leads."

"And he was right. You were great. You were both great tonight."

Rachel's smile flowed over with genuine happiness and relief.

"You really thought so? I mean, I know that we're good, but to hear you say it..."

"I know so. You blew me away. And Noah too, for that matter."

Rachel froze. "You came with Noah? Or did you run into him?"
"Well no... I moved here a couple of weeks ago-"

"YOU'RE LIVING IN NEW YORK!?"

"-and I actually moved here with Puck. We've been a couple for almost 4 years now, and he got a really good job offer and he asked me to come with him."

Rachel was awfully quiet, she seemed to have a problem making her mind up about a proper reaction.

She closed her eyes and breathed in and out deeply, then a smile came back.

"I'm very happy for you. I assume he grew up? Otherwise you probably would have rejected him..."
"Yes, he has. He still has the mohawk, and the bad side is still in him somewhere, but he really has changed a lot."

"Good, good."

"Finn hasn't grown up at all?"
"I don't think he ever will," Rachel smiled adoringly and Quinn felt her stomach twist.

"And did I hear correctly that you two are dating?"
Rachel blushed and seemed reluctant.

"A little bit... but... not really... I mean, he wants to be like, a real couple and I... keep changing my mind."

Rachel's eyes begged her to leave the subject alone, so she did. Too early to push boundaries.

"Didn't we have to meet the rest outside?"

"That's right! But I still have to finish with my make-up and dressing and all. Could you wait a minute?"
"Of course."
"So, tell me, Quinn, what happened that made you end up with Noah Puckerman?"
"Well..."

Hmm, the truth probably wasn't the best idea. But Rachel had always seen through her lies, so what choice did she really have?

"After you broke up with me," Rachel stopped in her tracks, eyes fixed on the ground, biting her lip.

Quinn felt a weird possessiveness coming over her at Rachel's lip biting, well aware that Rachel had taken over that habit from Quinn. A feeling like she'd left her mark on Rachel overtook her. It felt good.

"Well, obviously, I was pretty upset. And I didn't really know who to turn to, and then Puck came and comforted me."

They had basically come together over the broken remains of Rachel and Quinn. Rachel didn't miss this, and obviously didn't know how to react.

Rachel took a deep breath, and Quinn just knew that Rachel was going to say something that would make her cry. Something serious. Something she shouldn't say 30 minutes after they'd met for the first time in 5 years. But this was Rachel, who had dramatic tendencies. And, well, it wasn't gone. The trust, the friendship, the familiarity; they weren't strangers, not by a long shot, and she still felt like she could trust Rachel with her life.

"Quinn, about that. Our break-up."
"What about it?" She crossed her arms. For a second, she slipped into her old Cheerio self. She didn't even mind, that girl at least had a tougher skin when it came to Rachel.

Rachel rolled her eyes. "Oh, don't give me that I-don't-care kind of look. I know you care."
She shrugged. "Okay. Yes, I care. What about it?"

She seemed to be taken aback by Quinn's attitude, but recovered immediately. Something she was very good at.

"Well... I want to... I want to apologize. For acting that way."
"What way exactly?"
"Giving you no good reason. It's just that, I know you wouldn't have accepted my reason and you would have gotten stubborn and well, it would have just been one big mess all for nothing, because it was for your own good, and this way I prevented at least that from happening. But still, in hindsight I probably shouldn't have left you quite so suddenly and seemingly unreasonably."

"Of course you had a reason. You were going to New York. You wanted to make a fresh start."
"Ahw come on. You know that I really wanted you with me. But I couldn't do it."
"What do you mean?" Quinn frowned. What was Rachel saying?

"Well, I could have asked you along with me. But you are so kind, and you loved me more than I deserved, you would have accepted it. And all your dreams and goals for the future would have been on hold because you would go to New York with me. That wasn't right. You deserved a chance to follow your own dreams."

Quinn's heart shattered. Again. And tears came to her eyes, like she had predicted.

"Do you mean that you wanted me with you? That you loved me? That it was all for nothing?" Nothing sounded like acid turned into a word.

"It wasn't for nothing."
"No, Rachel. If what you're saying is true - and I can see that it is - let me be the one to break the news. It was." She laughed once, without humor. "It really was for nothing. Because my dreams, that you were so eager to protect, were to be with you. And the future I saw, was a future with you. And now what? I'm studying film now for something to do, but I got dragged here anyway, and by someone I didn't want to come with half as much as I wanted to come with you."
She threw her head back, trying to force the tears back into her eyes, and blinked furiously.

"That's what it was for. It was so I would end up here anyway. With Noah Puckerman instead of you. And you are right, if I would have known that it was this stupid, stupid reason instead that you just didn't love me or that I was a burden, if I would have known this, I would have gone to New York with you and you wouldn't have been able to stop me. No matter what."

She quickly wiped away the tears that were about to fall and sniffed.

"God, I can't believe this," she muttered to herself.

Rachel frowned, like she didn't accept the words that left Quinn's mouth as the truth. Quinn wanted to slap her. Turn back time. Convince her. Hold her. Kiss her. Whatever would work, or all those things at the same time.

She got a grip on her tear ducts just as she saw Rachel lose her grip on hers. Who made who cry, now?

She stepped a little closer to where Rachel was sitting, and before she could really stop it - yeah, like she wanted that - Rachel was tugging on her hand, trying to motion her closer. It was only a little bit uncomfortable since Rachel was sitting and she wasn't. But Rachel helped that problem out of the world by tugging on Quinn until she had her right where she wanted her; on her lap, arms around Rachel, and Rachel had her arms around Quinn's waist and was sniffling into Quinn's neck. Quinn was patting her back, shushing, comforting her.

"Shush, Rach, it's alright, it's okay, everything's alright..."

"Are you kidding, Quinn? It was for nothing! The loneliness, the longing, I'm such a fool!"

"So you. Causing both of us a whole lot of pain for nothing."
"I really thought... it would be for the best, you know? Going separate w-w-ways."

She started sobbing, and Quinn held her closer. Rachel was vulnerable. And obviously, she was being honest. Now she had Rachel, walls all down, she couldn't resist.

"You really loved me?"
"Of course I did!" Rachel bit back, and Quinn smiled.

"I loved you so much. How could I not, really? And you..."

The sobbing began again, and she buried her face in Quinn's neck, tears streaming, sobs heartbreaking.

Quinn's heart ached for the brunette and she held her as close as physically possible, one hand again in her hair, and one hand stroking her back soothingly.

She heard a knock, but Sam didn't wait for an answer. He barged in immediately, to see Rachel sobbing into Quinn.

He closed his eyes and frowned. Quinn started stammering.

"I-I'm sorry, but I just, she said.. I said.. and then she started crying, and..."

"It's okay, Quinn. I know that seeing you put her on emotional edge. Is she okay?"

"I... I think?"

He rolled his eyes, and Jim came in. He looked at Sam.

"They weren't..."
"No."
"Good."
"What!?" Quinn said. "We weren't what, Sam?"

"You weren't kissing."
Her stomach felt like it had gotten a tight squeeze. The thought of kissing that beautiful girl who had her arms around her made her heart stutter, but the thought of Noah Puckerman was like an iron fist. She shouldn't think about Rachel like that. It was just hard when she felt Rachel's form mold itself to fit hers better.

"True," she said.

"Let's go, Sam." Jim said. "We gotta give them a minute. We'll see you girls in 15 minutes outside, okay?"

She nodded, and they left again. They stayed there, while Quinn had an outer body experience. She had been dreaming about seeing Rachel again a lot of times, and now it was here, she felt like she wasn't really here. Like it was just another dream.

A few minutes later, Rachel's sobs got quieter. Rachel was the kind of girl who was strong, very strong, but sometimes she would just hit a wall and you'd have to let her cry it out. After that, she would be fine again. And now it seemed like she had cried it out again. Quinn gave her a squeeze and pressed a sly kiss on Rachel's hair.

"You alright?"
Rachel sighed. "I guess. It's just..."
"I know," Quinn said quickly. "Trust me. I know."
"I'm really sorry for what I did to you."

"I know that too."

"Of course you do." She felt Rachel smile into her neck, and tried to keep her heartbeat under control at the feel.

Her heart still thumped unevenly and loudly anyway. For a second it was the only sound in the room. Then Rachel lifted her head and looked into Quinn's eyes.

Rachel's eyes were dark, her lips were glistening, and she was wearing a sultry, hazy look. Her heart stepped it up a notch, as if it was trying to beat right out of her chest. Rachel smiled again.

"You gotta watch that heart of yours you know, it's about to leave your chest!"

"You think?" Quinn said in a sarcastic tone, but her voice sounded hoarse and she quickly coughed.

Rachel let her head lean against Quinn's forehead, and pressed her hand against Quinn's heart. Quinn honestly thought that she might puke, and she started breathing quickly through her mouth. Rachel breathed in deep through her nose and chuckled.

"Mint." She stated.

"Yeah..." Quinn chuckled slyly.

"Quinn... it's so good to have you here with me... I've missed everything about you," she whispered softly, and Quinn felt a shudder traveling down her spine, as Rachel's hand traveled up her spine before knotting in the fabric of her dress. This couldn't be happening. But it was too good...

Another knock and Quinn literally jumped off Rachel's lap, face flushed as Jim walked in and looked at the both of them.

She shot a quick look at Rachel and knew she was screwed. Rachel was flushed, she still had the sultry, hazy look in her too dark eyes, and she knew that she herself must have looked on the verge of a panic attack. Or a heart attack. And that she was blushing like crazy.

"I just came in to check on you girls, and see if Rachel was doing okay again. Are you coming?"

"Yes, yes daddy. We're ready." Rachel grabbed her purse and stood up quickly, walking to the door that Jim held open. She was out already, when Jim gave her a look with a frown.

"Be careful, Quinn. I want neither of you back in the position you left each other in 5 years ago. Clear your mind."

She nodded, untrusting of her voice. She walked out then too, outside, hoping that maybe some fresh air would blow the fog that came with Rachel away.