AN Happy Valentine's Day Everyone hope you're all having or have had a lovely day. Because I'm feeling generous and you're all so lovely I'm updating earlier than planned.

Thanks to everyone for reviewing and please keep it up with the feedback, I love seeing what you all think :-)

Oh and don't worry I will be delving into Katie and Rachel's past soon, to see what our little diva has had to put up with. Xx

Disclaimer : I asked for glee for valentine's day but alas I still don't have it :-( xx

Rachel

I lift my head slightly from the pillow as I hear my cell-phone ringing in the kitchen and extract myself from Katie's firm hold, leaving her asleep in bed. She's been like this since she came back three days ago, possessive and constantly around me or ringing me if she she isn't. I feel smothered by her and I don't know how to tell her without upsetting her or causing another argument.

I frown at the unknown number flashing on the screen of my phone as I answer it.

"Rachel Berry."

"Er, hi, erm, hello, I mean, hey it's Quinn." I smile as I hear the HBIC fumble over her words, her obvious nervousness coming through the phone. I stay silent, trying to work out how to respond when she continues.

"Quinn Fabray, f-f-from high-school." She says a little clearer, I can tell she's starting to get annoyed by my silence.

I chuckle softly into the phone. "I know who you are Quinn, can I assume you're calling me with regards to the play." I say as I make my way over to the window seat in my apartment that looks out over a busy sidewalk, bringing my knees up to my chin as I look at everyone rushing around even at this early hour, this city really does never sleep.

"Yeah, I mean yes. God I'm so nervous, I don't know what's wrong with me." I smile as she laughs nervously down the phone. "Can we meet Rachel, would that be ok?"

"Yes, I'd like that Quinn." I say, already thinking of a way to not tell Katie where I was going so she didn't demand to come with me or worse, start an argument with me over it.

"Great!"

I wince as she exclaims loudly into the phone. "When would you like to meet?" I realise I sound very formal, but I really don't know anything about who Quinn Fabray is these days and whilst she sounds nervous and sweet on the phone, she could still be the same bitch she has always been in person.

"Today? This morning if possible, I have some meetings this afternoon so around ten thirty would be perfect. If that's ok with you? If not we could re-arrange for another day, I mean, I realise you may not be free at such short notice..."

"Quinn! Stop! It's fine ten thirty is fine, I'll meet you at Riingo's for some brunch if that's suitable?" I interrupt her before she can continue, I'm not used to this Quinn, she seems almost, well, considerate.

"That's perfect Rachel, see you soon and thank you." She says a little breathlessly as she ends the call between us.

I stare down at the phone in my hand, it almost seemed like I had made a date with Quinn, I shake my head and laugh at myself. It's a meeting about work with the girl who had took pleasure in making my life hell in high-school, I just hoped I knew what I was getting myself into.

"Who was that?"

Katie's voice startles me and I look up from the phone in my hand to my girlfriend, she really is beautiful and for some strange reason I feel guilty about even talking to Quinn. Her mane of black hair is unruly around her face, her grey eyes wide and questioning and I know before I open my mouth I'll tell her who it is.

"Quinn, she invited me to a meeting regarding the play." I say truthfully unfurling myself from the window seat and heading towards her.

"That's funny Rach, because it sounded like you were inviting her to Riingo's for brunch, I didn't hear anything about the play." She says as she narrows her eyes at me and steps back as I go to place a hand on her arm.

"Kay, don't bloody do this again please, not now." I snap at her and go to head to the bathroom.

"Don't fucking walk away from me Rachel!" She snarls at my retreating form.

I spin round to face her. "Just fucking stop this shit Kay, what's wrong with you? You've been acting strange ever since you came back, we haven't fought like this in so long and you've been so fucking clingy it's killing me, I feel like I can't breathe with you always around." I shout out, I don't mean to say so much and it's very rare I snap at all, which must be why she's staring at me in shock.

It doesn't last long though and before I know it she's marching right up to me, towering above me as she pushes me back slightly with her body. Her eyes are blazing and I've seen this look before so I'm wise enough to know that I should be scared.

"You just don't fucking get it do you, stupid fucking bitch!" She hisses out at me, pressing her face close to mine. "You don't see how you fucking look when you speak about her, like she's some fucking god yet all she did was treat you like shit, at least when I do I pity you enough to fuck you afterwards." The Katie of old is back and I'm really fucking scared now.

I wince and try to step back from her but she reaches out and grabs my still sore wrist, gripping it tightly in her hand and squeezing, a small grin forming on her face as I cry out and try to move back again but she pulls me in to her body.

"See baby, this is how it works with us. I hurt you and then I fuck you." She says as she pushes her free hand roughly down my jersey shorts. I whimper and shake my head, my heart hammering loudly in my chest. I don't want this, I don't want her near me right now let alone where she is but I'm frozen in my fear and all I can do is shake my head as she attempts to force my thighs apart with one hand. "C'mon baby you know you want it." She says to me, her voice low and terrifying.

"No, please Kay, please don't do this. I can't forgive this." I finally get out, bringing my hand down and gripping onto the arm she she has pushed down my shorts. I press my fingernails into the skin and stare into her eyes. "Stop." I whisper out brokenly.

Her eyes soften, as does her grip on my sore wrist and I step back from her with wide eyes as I struggle to catch my breath. I can't believe it, she's been doing so well, therapy and not drinking and trying and now this, over...over nothing really.

"Ra.." She says, tears in her eyes as she stares at her hands. She looks up and me and her face crumbles, tears falling freely as sobs start to rack her body. "What's wrong with me? What kind of fucking monster am I?" She cries out as she falls to the floor, still staring at her hands. "I just nearly...when you didn't... I mean... I just." She looks up at me again and starts to sob harder.

My heart literally aches from inside my chest as I watch her. I love her and I've forgiven her before when she's apologised, but this is different , what she was going to do was too far. But she looks so broken. I kneel on the floor and wrap my arms around her sobbing form, holding my painful wrist away from her body as she clings to me. I stare at the bruises and the half moon nail marks embedded in the skin and shake my head sadly, I'm so tired of this, so tired of being afraid all the time.

"I love you so much baby, I am so, so, sorry. I need help Rach, help me please." She pleads as I continue to hold her. I stay silent and just hold her because if I try to speak right now I don't know what I could say to make this better.

(-)

I pull a long sleeved, low cut red top on over my black skinny leg jeans and make sure the sleeves are long enough to cover my wrist. Once again I shake my head, I thought I was over this, I never thought I would have to cover up anything any-more. Katie is asleep on the couch after crying herself to sleep and I feel like I can breath more easily now. I still haven't spoke to her about what happened earlier, I'm not ready to face it yet and I know I'm burying my head in the sand but I have too much going on right now to let myself wallow in the situation.

I pull my knee-high boots on over my jeans and straighten up to check out my reflection. I narrow my eyes and try to block out the negative thoughts Katie's words had put into my head. I pick up my bag and leave the apartment without a second glance at Katie, to see if she is still asleep or awake, I can't bare to look at her yet.

When I arrive at Riingo's the woman behind the bar smiles at me and must recognise me from previous visits as she comes out and takes me to my usual table. I tell her I'm expecting a guest and she winks and makes her way back to the bar.

"Hi, I'm here for a meeting with Rachel, Rachel Berry."

I look up as I hear Quinn's voice and feel my breath catch in my throat. She is dressed to impress and impress she has. She is wearing a black skin-tight pencil skirt, with a slit that is tantalising high, she has a cream blouse on, tucked inside her skirt and her beautiful blonde hair is pulled back from her face and secured at the nape of her neck. She looks breathtaking.

She was shown to my table and as soon as she saw me she stopped and stared, her mouth dropping slightly. She seems to shake herself and she makes her way to me, when she gets to the table she looks down at me and smiles softly.

"Rachel, you look lovely." She says softly.

I'm completely confused now, because she's looking at me like she genuinely likes me and she seems so very sincere.

"Thank you." I say softly, gesturing for her to sit.

She sits opposite me and smiles at me. "How are you?" She asks.

"Fairly well thank you, yourself?"

"Just fairly well?" She says with a small frown, she glances down at the table then, realising that I've ordered for us. Coffee, juice, bagels and muffins grace the table and I sit silently as she pours us both a coffee. I am just struggling so much to connect this woman to the girl I knew from high-school, it's making my head hurt.

"Yes, just fairly well." I say softly and her eyes snap up to mine, concern showing in them and I find myself having to break eye contact in case I give too much away.

"Oh" She says, before clearing her throat. "I'm sorry" She mutters under her breath.

"What for?" I ask with a frown of my own, surely she doesn't think that she has affected my mood.

"Everything." She says looking up at me, her eyes shining softly. "I was such a bitch to you Rach and you of all people didn't deserve it."

I never thought I'd see the day where Quinn would be apologising to me, I hoped that one day she might see the bigger picture and realise whilst what I did was uncharacteristically stupid on my part, I had just acted out of pure lust and got caught up in the moment. I hoped that she might feel some guilt for how she treated me afterwards, but I never imagined this.

"Thank you, you have no idea how nice it is to hear you say that." I say earnestly.

"I know it doesn't make up for it, but hopefully with us working together over the coming months you might learn to trust me again and we could maybe try to be friends."

"Wait, are you saying I got the part?" I say grabbing her hand across the table, trying to ignore the heat that flares under my palm from where it's connected with her skin.

"Ha, of course Rachel, you were brilliant, you blew me away." She says sincerely.

I grin and let out a little squeal as I jump up and down in my seat.

"I take it your happy?" She says softly smiling widely at me.

"You think?" I laugh as I wipe my head, feeling a little hot due to the humid august air and my excitement. I push my sleeves up and rest my chin on my hands as I continue. "Your script is amazing Quinn, I can't wait to play Sam, I don't know why but I see myself in her and I just think it's written so beautifully..." I trail off as I realise Quinn is still and silent across from me.

I look down at her and am surprised to see that she looks shocked, her mouth is hanging open and her eyes are wide.

"Quinn, what's wrong?" I ask reaching across to touch her hand again.

As I my hand gets closer to hers, she turns her palm upwards and softly holds my hand still, she stares into my eyes before she drops her gaze to my hand.

"Rach, who did this?" She asks softly, her fingers tracing the bruises and marks adorning my wrist.

I close my eyes and all I can think is 'oh shit, how can I get out of this'.

AN Make my valentine's and review please xx