a/n: I'm not happy with this chapter and I'm sorry it took so long. Also, I'm currently looking for a BETA.

Rachel opened and closed her mouth several times, trying to figure out what to say next. But after a few failed attempts, she gave up, swallowing the lump in her throat. Quinn Fabray was here, in her dressing room. Quinn Fabray was her secret admirer. Quinn Fabray was looking at her expectantly. Quinn Fabray was holding out a bouquet of flowers to her. It was all too much.

"Rachel" Quinn said slowly and softly, taking a gentle step towards her.

Rachel turned away from Quinn and turned to Zoe-if she wasn't staring at the blonde girl, Rachel felt as if she could talk again "Zoe" she cleared her throat "Can you please leave Quinn and I alone for a moment?"

Zoe looked like she was going to argue, but nodded stiffly, glaring at Quinn before she left the room.

"Hi" Quinn said softly, taking another tentative step towards Rachel, and on instinct, the brunette moved away, staring at the floor so she didn't see the look of hurt that flashed across the blonde's face.

"I know you-" Quinn began, but Rachel cut across.

"What are you doing here?"

Quinn gave a slight smile "I didn't really have a choice."

Rachel shook her head "Why have you been sending the flowers? Forgive me if I'm mistaken, Quinn, but you and I have never exactly been close."

And then all the memories came flooding back. Memories of high school, of Cheerios and Finn Hudsons and Glee Clubs. But one particular bunch of memories hit Rachel like a ton of bricks-memories of finding little trinkets in her lockers after she got slushied, and it clicked. Quinn was behind those gifts. Quinn Fabray, her main tormenter, had been giving her gifts without Rachel knowing. The slushies, the comments, the names-Quinn hadn't meant any of it. And Rachel couldn't take it. Shaking, she sat down on her couch, taking deep breaths to steady herself.

She blinked, finally daring to look up at the blonde girl "Were you behind the gifts back in high school?" Rachel didn't even know why she was asking, she already knew the answer-but maybe a part of her needed confirmation.

Quinn nodded, taking a final step forward and sitting down beside Rachel. The smaller girl flinched slightly, but tilted her head in confusion.

"I don't understand" Rachel shook her head, a mix of emotions welling up inside her, threatening to blow over "I thought you hated me."

"I never hated you" said Quinn softly, but firmly "I know I gave you that idea, but I could never hate you Rachel-and I never did."

"Then why did you do it? Why did you torment me, slushie me, call me names and continue to take Finn away from me?" Rachel demanded, and she felt Quinn sink lower beside her.

"It's always easier to torment someone than to admit your feelings about them" Quinn said quietly, and Rachel wondered if she even heard her correctly.

"Your feelings?" Rachel gulped, half expecting Ashton Kutcher to jump out from behind the potted plant "What feelings? Quinn, I-"

"I like you, Rachel" Quinn gently took Rachel's hands, holding them as she continued "I always have. And I didn't know what to do with my feelings. My family would never forgive me and the things people would say-" she trailed off, shaking her head "I was scared, Rachel. So I tormented you."

Rachel blinked several times, trying to process everything Quinn had told her. Quinn couldn't like her. It was all a joke. A sick, twisted joke, 14 years in the making. Rachel stood up abruptly, pulling her hands away from Quinn's. The other girl's eyes widened in surprise but she followed Rachel's move and got to her feet.

"Get out" Rachel whispered, as Quinn took a step towards her "Just leave. Please."

Quinn looked hurt, and Rachel almost took her words back. But even if it wasn't a joke, she couldn't deal with Quinn right now. And as if the blonde could hear her thoughts, she nodded before stepping out of the room. And it was only then that Rachel let the tears fall.

...

"So" Puck began carefully, turning to face Quinn the next day "Are you going to tell me how it went?"

"No" Quinn replied sharply, tearing chunks of grass even though she had scolded Beth for doing so about five minutes before. But Beth had been doing it because she was destructive like her father, and Quinn herself, God, what she would give for the problems of an eleven year old.

"I'm guessing Rach didn't take it well?" Puck persisted, and Quinn narrowed her eyes.

"No. She threw me out. I thought we agreed we weren't going to talk about this."

Puck sighed, rolling on his back "Quinn, it's not good to bottle up-"

Quinn was glad she didn't have to kill Puck, especially since the two girls who had interrupted him wouldn't be pleased.

"What's not good to bottle up?" Avery questioned, taking a seat next to Puck. They kissed, and Quinn looked away. What she would do to have something like that with Rachel.

"Disgusting, right?" questioned Beth, leaning back. At eleven years old, Beth looked exactly like Quinn, despite her dark hair. She had her mother's knowledge, her father's attitude and both their athletic ability. Puck had said on numerous occasions that the world wasn't ready for Beth Fabray-Corcoran. Quinn couldn't help but think that Rachel would love her. Well, Rachel did love her, since she was her adoptive sister after all, but things got complicated if Quinn thought about that.

"Then again" Beth continued, shooting a glance at her mother "You're probably just upset it's not you and Rachel."

Quinn snapped her head up and glared at Puck, who refused to look her in the eye "You told her?"

"I didn't meant to!" Puck argued, still avoiding Quinn's gaze "It just sort of...slipped out?"

"Slipped out? Puck-"

"I don't see what the big deal is" interrupted Beth, with all the sass of a girl her age "You like her. You've practically been stalking her. Just keep trying."

"Beth" Quinn argued "It's not that simple."

"I think it is" Avery mused, and Quinn opened her mouth to retort, but Puck cut across.

"You know, Fabray, if you keep trying, you might get somewhere."

Quinn frowned, shaking her head "It doesn't work like that. She hates me, and with good reason. I hate me for what I did to her. This entire thing-" she waved her hands around as a gesture "The flowers, the shows, the star trinkets, it was all for nothing."

"Quinn" Puck said, his tone of voice no longer defensive "Rachel doesn't hate you. Rachel doesn't hate anyone, except for maybe-"

"Me" Quinn interrupted, feeling Beth's hand slip into her own.

"No" Puck argued "Rachel doesn't hate you. If she did, you would damn well know it. But she doesn't, Quinn, and you can't give up on her."

"What if-"

"No what if's. Just go out and get the girl."

"We'll help" quipped in Beth, and both Puck and Avery nodded in agreement.

"Just don't tell Shelby" Avery added, and Quinn felt the corners of her mouth turn up.

"So" Puck grinned, leaning back in his chair "Are you in?"

...

Several hours later, Quinn tucked her phone between her shoulder and chin, listening to the dial tone. She prayed to God that Santana and Brittany weren't doing it on the sofa.

"Hello" called Brittany's voice through the other end, sounding breathless, causing Quinn to roll her eyes "Is anyone there?"

"B" Quinn replied, knowing that talking to the blonde would get nowhere. Only Santana could get through to her, and Quinn hoped the other girl wasn't still pissed at her "I need to speak to Santana."

"Okay!" Brittany chirped "She's mad at you, you know. We just finished having pissed at Quinn se-"

"Thanks B. Put me on to Santana" replied Quinn through gritted teeth, disgusted that there was such a thing as pissed at Quinn sex.

"The fuck do you want, Fabray?" Santana's voice came through the other end, as bitter as it had been when she yelled at other Cheerios back in high school.

Quinn winced "Look, about what I said earlier-"

"You're not going to apologize are you? Something must've fucked up royally for you."

"No" Quinn laughed, shaking her head "I have a plan. A mission, if you will. And I need you and Brittany to help."

"What is it?"

"Mission Faberry."