Hey guys, yes I know it's been a really embarrassingly long time since I've updated any of my stories, and I seriously apologize for that. However, I just want to say that my school load this year has been very overwhelming and while I'd love to write every possible second, that's not really possible for me at least for now. I'm still determined to finish all my stories, just let it be known that if it takes a while, I apologize and I have you guys on my minds. But I promise, I will make extra effort to update more often. So enjoy this one!

Rachel watched in horror as she noticed Quinn's flushed face turn three shades paler, and then to a sickening green.

"Simone, where's the bathroom?" Quinn asked panicked.

Simone pointed to the door next to the vanity, "Just right there. Why? Are you alright, Q –", but Simone didn't get to finish her thought because Quinn had already dashed into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. From the other side, Rachel cringed at the muffled sounds of vomiting. Then came a flush and the water running from the sink and it sounded as if she was done.

Simone knocked on the door, "Quinn, oh my god, are you okay?" She turned around and shouted at the various people in the room. "Could someone get us a cool towel and some ginger ale? And can I get someone to clean up this coffee, please? Thank you!"

Quinn emerged from the bathroom, wiping her mouth gingerly. "Just peachy, thanks Simone." She handed Quinn a cup of ginger ale and she drank it graciously.

"Are you sure you're alright, Quinn? I could get someone to cover you if you're sick, or at least I think I can…"

Quinn shook her head, "No, Simone, I'm good I promise. That was just a fluke. I'll be fine, don't worry about me." She wasn't very convincing, but Simone did need her, so she let it go.

"Okay, well, let me know if you start to feel bad again. I hate to leave you, but I must call Philippe and see if he is on his way because I am starting to get nervous. Excuse me." Simone pressed her phone to her ear and walked away, leaving Rachel and Quinn alone.

Rachel thought she saw tears in Quinn's eyes in her peripheral vision, but she quickly turned around in her chair, too angry to look closer. She continued to flip through her magazine as well as touch up her makeup at the vanity.

"Feeling better?" Rachel asked bitterly, her back to the blonde. She flipped the pages of her magazine a little rougher than necessary. But she didn't care. She was upset and she had a right to be.

"Um, no actually. This is probably the worst I've felt in a while…" Quinn awkwardly shifted her feet, "How have you been?"

"What the hell, Quinn?" Rachel barked, tossing her magazine aside forcefully, whipping herself around again. "You ditch me in one of our Skype calls, fall off the face of the earth, then out of the blue call me on my birthday after five years, then hang and leave mid-phone call, again, only to miraculously be my photographer at my photo shoot out of all the people in New York and you have the audacity to ask me how I've been?" Her eyes were wide and wild and she was breathing heavily.

Quinn stood there dumbfounded, "I can see you're a little angry right now…"

"Angry? I'm furious!" Rachel grabbed a lipstick from the vanity and threw it at the blonde. "Do you know how worried I was? I thought something bad had happened to you! I would lie awake all night and pray that you hadn't been hit by a car or kidnapped or something. I would have understood if you didn't want to be friends anymore Quinn, I would have understood completely. I get that I'm annoying and loud and have no filter sometimes and it probably became too much for you, or you realized that I was still the glee loser and that I wasn't cool enough to be your friend. I would have gotten that because that's how you thought of me back in high school. But the least you could have done was reply to my calls or texts or letters or emails and let me know that you were okay." Her voice cracked and she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

Quinn stood there silently for a moment, obviously not knowing what to say. She took a step forward and tried to reach out to the brunette. "Rachel…I'm so sorry."

Rachel turned her attention back to her reflection. "Save it, Quinn. I have to get ready. You should probably do that, too." She spat coldly. She probably wasn't being fair, but she didn't care. She needed to blow off her steam. So, she ignored Quinn for the extra minute the blonde stood behind her, trying to seem busy by putting on more lipstick and touching up her mascara that was already ready. Eventually, she could see Quinn slowly back away into crowd of people in the reflection of the mirror and she sighed.

She leaned her elbows onto the counter and put her head in her hands and willed herself not to cry.

Breathe in…and out.

In…and out.

She looked up abruptly at herself, slapping herself hard across the cheek. She may have changed significantly since high school, but she was still very much like her seventeen-year-old self.

"You are Rachel Barbra Berry, one of the biggest stars of your generation. Are you going to let Quinn Fabray of all people get you down? Hell, no. She may have been you're enemy once and she may have your friend once and tore up your friendship, crumpling it up into a ball, throwing it on the ground, stomping and spitting on it, but you are better than letting it affect your performance. You are going to go out there, and show her what she has been missing out on, and make her regret pushing you away. So go out there, and kick some ass."

Rachel beamed at herself, smiling her dazzling smile. Her pep talks with herself have always worked, from high school all the way into the present.

A guy in a headset called over to her then, "Rachel, we're ready for you."

She stood up from her chair, fixed her hair and rubbed the excess lipstick from her teeth. She removed her rope and grinned.

She was going to blow Quinn Fabray away.

"Okay, everybody! Take five!" The shoot director, Philippe called. Everyone hustled around, some going out the door, other going straight for the snack table. "Rachel, darling! You are so gorgeous; you are doing a fabulous job! And you, too, Ms. Fabray. For a freelance photographer with no editorial training, I'd say things are going swimmingly." Philippe patted Quinn on the head and walked away.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Olivier. It's a pleasure working with you!" Rachel smiled graciously, calling after the man. Her happy demeanor faded however when she turned to see Quinn gawking at her.

"Rachel, you are incredible, not that you weren't before, but you're far more talented than I remember." Quinn compliment.

Rachel stepped off the white backdrop and began walking towards the snack table. "Gee, I wonder why," she huffed, picking up a carrot stick and putting it her mouth, mindful of her makeup.

Quinn groaned in frustration, "Rach, please just let me explain."

"What's there to explain, Quinn? You made it very clear that you didn't want me in your life anymore."

Quinn's eyes were desperate, Rachel could tell. "Please," she pleaded.

Rachel stared up at her conflicted. She wanted so badly to just push Quinn away like Quinn pushed her away. She wanted to make Quinn feel how she felt. But looking up into the disparity that inhabited Quinn's green eyes, made her falter. Still to this day, she had no clue what her damn fascination was with Quinn or why she always had a soft spot for the ex-cheerleader.

Rachel looked around, not wanting their personal conversation to be heard by the surrounding people. Reluctantly, she grabbed Quinn's wrist and guided her out to the small balcony. At least there they would have some privacy. She closed the door behind them and shivered in the December air.

"Go ahead. Explain." Rachel crossed her arms across her chest.

Quinn sighed. "There is so much I want to tell you, Rach. So much that I have been through…"

"Then tell me, Quinn. I'm right here."

Quinn stood and toyed with the ends of her sleeves, a nervous habit, Rachel remembered. She looked down into Rachel's eyes, no doubt noting her expectant expression.

"I can't." Quinn muttered.

Rachel rolled her eyes, "Of course, you can't. Thanks for the explanation." She turned towards the door, but was stopped by Quinn's hand on her arm.

"No, please Rachel, don't go. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I can't tell you. I'm just…I'm just not ready." Quinn pleaded.

"Then why are you telling me this, Quinn? You know I'll want to help you. Just because I'm mad at you doesn't mean I'm a horrible person, you know." Rachel reasoned.

Quinn bit her lip and nodded. "Yeah, I know."

"Why did you go away, Quinn?" Rachel asked, this time quieter, more sincere. She cared so much for Quinn that she was desperate to know.

"There was just some stuff that happened, things that got in the way and I know that isn't much of an explanation, but it's all I can give you right now, Rach." That's when the blonde started to cry, and Rachel's heart wrenched. "I'm so sorry, Rachel. I didn't meant to hurt you, I really didn't. I don't expect you to forgive me. Not after last night. I'm sorry I called, I shouldn't have. I just missed you."

"Why did you hang up?" Rachel asked curiously.

"Because I knew that if you knew that I was here, that you'd want to see me. But, I realized that I couldn't anything that I had done and that you didn't deserve to get hurt again, only I just hurt you even more for hanging up. You obviously hate me."

Rachel sighed, "I don't hate you, Quinn, I could never hate you. Am I furious? Hell yes. But I also can see that you've been through a lot, so I won't push it. When you're ready to talk about what's been keeping you away, I'll be here."

Rachel noticed the change in Quinn's demeanor, from a shameful one, to one that looked like some sort of revelation. She was looking at Rachel strangely, her eyes wide and full.

"You still want me around?" Quinn asked cautiously.

Rachel laughed slightly, "Of course, Quinn. Once upon a time, you were my best friend. And now that you are back in my life, I'm not just going to toss you aside. "Quinn's face faded and grew apologetic once more. Rachel realized her mistake. "I didn't mean it like that."

"I know. It's okay." Quinn smiled weakly.

Simone then popped her head out. "It's so great to see you guys hitting it off, but it's time to get back to work." She smiled and closed the door again.

"Hey, Rach, um…after this you do want to get some lunch or something? To catch up?" Quinn rubbed the back or her neck and asked.

Rachel grinned up at her old friend. "I would love to."

"You were great today. You really are so talented." Quinn complemented.

"Thank you. You are very talented yourself. What got you into photography?" Rachel asked, taking a sip of her tea and a bite of her bagel.

The two girls walked slowly down the Central Park sidewalk. After the shoot had wrapped the two girls shared a cab back to Midtown, where they got some bagels and coffee and decided to take a scroll through the park. It was freezing and both girls were covered generously in their coats, gloves, and hats, but they both silently agreed that being outside was better than sitting in a confined space.

"Well, I had just graduated college and still had absolutely no clue what I was going to do. Unlike you, some of us mortal humans still had some figuring out to do," Quinn joked, poking the brunette in the side, making her laugh, "Anyway, I was living in a one bedroom apartment that I could barely afford in New Haven and I was walking one day and there was an ad that someone put up looking for a one day photographer to shoot pictures of a soccer game. It was paying two hundred dollars, so I just did it and I loved it. So I started taking some photography classes, got my own equipment and became a freelance photographer. I just kind of fell into it. I was desperate to get out of New Haven, though; I really needed a fresh start, so I took my stuff and decided to travel."

"You traveled?" Rachel asked incredulously, "That sounds so divine. That's something I've always wanted to do. Where was your favorite place that you traveled to?"

"That's such a hard question! I can't just pick one place. That's like asking someone to pick one ice cream flavor." Quinn argued jokingly.

Rachel laughed at Quinn's playfulness, "Okay, okay. What were some of your favorite places that you went to? C'mon Q, give me the juicy details."

"I loved Moscow, and Italy. The food was amazing. Norway was gorgeous and Kenya had the nicest people. I'd love to do it all over again."

"And this time take me with you."

Quinn looked down at her as they walked, "Yeah. I'd like that."

Rachel breathed in the warmth of her drink. This felt so natural. It was like no time had passed. It was like Quinn never left. She was so curious as to what could have happened that made her want to push Rachel away, but like she said before, she wouldn't push it.

"I'd ask you what you've been up to, but I think we both know what you're answer would be." Quinn commented.

Rachel blushed sheepishly. "Yeah, I guess it is kind of obvious."

"I cried when you won your Oscar. You completely deserved it."

"You cried?" Rachel chuckled up at the blonde.

"Rachel I don't think you quite realize how amazing you really are. There was no doubt in my mind that you would make it to this point. You deserve everything that you've earned. I'm really proud of you."

Rachel was a little put off at the sudden seriousness in Quinn's voice, but she chose to not think anything of it.

"Well, thank you, Quinn. That means a lot coming from you."

Quinn just grinned down at her like Quinn Fabray does and Rachel marveled at her continued fascination for the girl. "Anytime, Rach."

"You don't know how surprised I was to hear you were in New York. After all that traveling, how did you end up here?" The brunette asked, deciding to change the subject.

"You know my friend Simone from the shoot? We met in my photography class back in New Haven and she looked through my work and helped me set up a gallery here. Besides the random job here and there, the gallery is where I get most of my income." Quinn explained.

"You have your own gallery, Quinn? That's amazing. You've really done so well for yourself after McKinley. After all you've been through, I'm so glad that you're happy." But the way Quinn was looking at her, made Rachel start to think that she wasn't so happy. Again, she didn't question it. Instead, she asked another question that had been nagging at her all day.

"Quinn, how long have you been in New York for?"

"Almost two years."

Rachel let that sink in. "Wow, almost two years. And we're only running into each other now. Why do you think that is?"

Quinn hesitated, then shrugged her shoulders as if she was trying to seem nonchalant, "Fate?"

Rachel raised an eyebrow. "Fate? Why fate?"

"I don't know. Just a guess."

Rachel nodded her head and smiled. "Uh, huh. I see. Fate it is then."

Quinn stopped their walking, resulting in Rachel to follow in suit. "Rachel, I really want this to work. I really want to be in your life again. Can we please be friends again?"

Rachel knew she was mad at first. How could she not have been? But walking and catching up with Quinn made her realize how much she had missed her. Of course she wanted to know what happened, but right now she was just glad that Quinn was there. Her Quinn.

"I'd like that."

The two girls smiled at each other, and continued walking in the snow, enjoying each other's company, and making up for lost time.

Rachel walked through her front door after a long day. She shed her extra layers, discarding them in various places as she walked through her halls, jumping stomach first onto her bed. She smiled and sighed happily against her warm sheets. She had a great day.

"Where the hell have you been?"

Rachel looked up, startled by the voice, only moving too quickly, prompting her to fall off the side of the bed. She hit the marble floor with a thump.

"Ow, what the heck Santana?" Rachel complained, rubbing her now soar butt. "What have I told you about sneaking up on me like that?"

"Answer the question Rachel, we called Maurice and he said that your shoot ended five hour ago. We wanted to go shopping, but you never came home, so spill Princess." Kurt chimed, who was absentmindedly reading the new edition of Vogue on Rachel's chaise.

"How did you two even get in here? I took away your keys!" Rachel asked exasperated.

"Joanna let us in. Kurt lied and said he was returning something from your closet. We've been here for hours. By the way, you're out of mini soaps again." Santana replied, not looking up from her nails.

"What? You –" Rachel was interrupted by her phone vibrating. "Hold on, we're not done here, and Santana put my soaps back!"

Santana saluted the diva from the loveseat as Rachel picked up her phone. It was a text from Quinn.

Thanks for a wonderful day. I'm really glad I have you back in my life.

Rachel smiled at her phone and typed a reply.

Kurt tossed the magazine on the floor, "Now hold the phone, what was the smile for?"

Rachel sat crisscrossed on her duvet and looked excitedly at her now attentive friends. "You'll never guess who my photographer today at the shoot was?"

"Some French dude?"

"Nigel Barker?" Kurt asked hopefully.

Rachel laughed, "No, and no, Kurt. It was…Quinn!"

Both of her friend's mouths fell about twenty stories. "WHAT?" They both shouted simultaneously.

"Are you freaking serious, Rachel? What did she say?"

"What did you do?"

"Why are you so happy about it?"

"Did the bitch apologize to you yet?" Santana grumbled.

"Okay, okay, hold on you guys. One at a time. Yes, she apologized. We worked things out and got lunch afterwards. It was so fun. I swear it was as if were back in college again." Rachel explained.

"Rachel, are you sure you're okay? After everything that happened? Did she even tell you why she stopped talking to you?" Kurt asked cautiously.

"Well, no, she didn't tell me why. She said she wasn't ready to tell me, and I'm respecting that."

"I'll make her ready to tell you…" Santana started, but was stopped by Rachel's glare. "Sorry."

"So you're telling me that you are just going to be friend again and you don't even know why you stopped in the first place? Rachel, that's a big deal."

Rachel sighed, "I know Kurt, and we aren't just jumping back into a friendship. I need to be able to trust her again, and in order to do that, I need to hang out with her. If it would make you guy feel better, you can come out to lunch with us tomorrow. It's on me." Rachel really wanted them to be okay with her and Quinn hanging out again. She really wanted to make it work.

Kurt and Santana exchanged looks and both nodded promptly. "Okay, we'll go. But you have to pay for cab fare, too."

Rachel clapped her hands in excitement, "Perfect! Deal."

I hope you liked this two-for-one. I felt bad for the lack of updates. I promise I will get better with the updates, but I ask for a little patience too. I love you guys. See you next time!