'I needed to believe that there was still justice, that even in a world full of grey and spin and compromise, that if you choose to do wrong and you prey on good people, someone will stand up to you. Someone will take a stand and fight back. How can one person cause so much pain, so much hurt, But the people who do are only fighting their own demons, that is the realisation that came to me, I was lucky to be okay, a few bruised ribs, and a limp, but with the state championships postponed, It was okay, If I could only get Rachel to see that… We were in a good place, I was happy, and I was… in … I was happy. And as far as I could tell, so was she. Russell tried to break me, but he only made me stronger, with each blow. And I was ready, for the title of a state championship, for a scholarship offer far from Lima, Ohio; the abusive sperm donor and my drunk mother. But at one point, it wasn't about me, bruised ribs and all; Rachel was battling something deeper, and I realised that in all of our own hurt, we must put on a brave face, and fix the people hurting around us; because without them, we will always be broken. Justice, will always come to those who deserve it, and the world is full of grey moments, but as long as you are surrounded with a moment of happiness, everything will turn out okay.'


Two weeks had passed since the showdown with Russell and Quinn was trying to show everyone that she was fine, sure it hurt when she walked without her crutches but she was still walking and she wasn't held up in some hospital bed in pain or worse.

"How's it going?" She slipped into Rachel's bedroom, the brunette turning and glaring at her, picking up her white board she scribbled.
'My audition is in 12 hours, I am on a speaking ban, unless something's happened to Barbara?!'
Quinn chuckled lightly "oh come on baby" she sat beside the girl on the bed "You'll be fine, okay, now please just talk to me…" She whispered and tucked a strand of dark hair behind the girls' ear as she kissed her cheek.
"Fine... but… If anything happens…" She warned Quinn who rolled her eyes again
"You're going to be perfect baby" She replied with a strain as she sat down on the bed, the bruising across her ribs still sore. Rachel winced and went through her desk drawer finding some of the gel Quinn had been told to apply on the bruised area. "Lay down…" Rachel instructed, hitching the blondes shirt up and Quinn smirked "If you wanted to get me naked, all you had to do was ask" She teased, in which Rachel scoffed; and without warning began applying the cold gel causing the blonde to hiss.
After massaging it all in Rachel flopped onto the bed beside her girlfriend with a content sigh and nuzzled against her nape lightly peppering kisses up and down the column of the blonde's neck, the girl in question panting lightly beneath the brunette, who's flurry of kisses quickened in pace and became nibbles, light sucks across the taut skin.
"Rae…." She groaned, trying to keep calm, they'd only been dating a while and she didn't want to push the girl into anything she didn't want; besides she was mentally in this relationship a lot longer than the other girl. She sat up with a grimace, Rachel pouting and fixing her messy locks.
"Did I do something wrong?" She whispered, confused
"No… No… Not at all" Quinn smiled at the girl softly "But I want our first time to be special, and right now isn't" Rachel went to interrupt but Quinn spoke up "It's not baby, not with me all bruised up, and one of your dad's could walk in at any second…"
"But… My walls are sound proofed they won't hear anything" She whispered nipping the girls earlobe but Quinn still shook her head, despite the knotting feeling in her stomach.
"Why don't we watch a movie, and just cuddle before tomorrow?" Quinn suggested, a knock on the door echoing throughout. Giving Rachel an 'I told you so' glare, in turn receiving the finger from her girlfriend "Come in" Rachel sing songed, crossing her arms as she sat up against the headboard. Hiram poked his head through the door, as if to check if the coast was clear before walking in with a smirk "I don't want to know, I don't care to know… As long as I don't witness anything, it's okay…" He smiled cheerfully "It's like me and your dad say, If the hat's on the door, you know the score…" He winked and Rachel groaned "Ew! Daddy! Gross!" she paled and Quinn chuckled as Hiram winked again but at her this time. "We were just wondering if the two of you would like to join us downstairs for some Thai food and a movie?" . After agreeing Rachel quickly kissed Quinn again before skipping over to the door, holding it open for her girlfriend who was back on her crutches.


The next morning, The day of her audition, Rachel was stood with Kurt in the dressing room backstage, running through warm ups.
`"Happy" Kurt called out, Rachel smiling brightly. "Sad" The brunette pouted, widening her eyes. "Surprised" She gasped holding her hand to her mouth in feigned shock. Kurt paused to think of another word "Thoughtful". Rachel brought her finger to her chin looking up at an imaginary 'thought bubble'. Stifling a giggle Kurt's last word was presidential, but both teens looked at each other as they burst into a fit of giggles. Quinn hobbled into the room and handed the girl a bouquet of Gardenia's and Irises "Secret love?" Rachel asked slightly confused as Quinn smirked "Yes, they do mean secret love, but they also mean good luck and Irises mean good news, because you will get in" tilting the smaller girls head upward in a delicate kiss "Break a leg…" she whispered before being shooed out by Kurt, who turned to Rachel.
"We are both great stars, destined for greatness on Broadway, and in New York… Our first step to stardom being NYADA, good luck miss Berry" He smiled and hugged the girl tightly before going on stage, and blowing 'Not the boy next door' out of the water.

Rachel stood backstage nervously wringing her hands as she watched Kurt, she knew he was a brilliant performer, what if only one of them got in, She needed to get in, She needed New York City, and Broadway.
"Rachel Berry." The voice rung out, cold, bored. She sighed nervously and looked up at the ceiling
"You are a star Rachel Berry. Millions of moments have led up to this one, All you have to do, is be yourself" She muttered before walking out on stage, standing in the centre, soaking in the glare of the spotlight. "My name is Rachel Berry, and I will be singing 'Don't Rain on My Parade' from my favourite musical 'Funny Girl'" She paused as the music began behind her. Looking out to the audience Quinn winked at her.

"Don't tell me not to live, just sit and putter… Life's candy and the sun's a ball of butter. Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade…."

Her voice was wavering. Nervous. Quinn looked at Kurt who shrugged, this was Rachel they were talking about, it was going to be okay. It was going to be okay.

"Don't tell me not to fly, I've simple got to.. Life's candy and the sun's a….."
Rachel stopped, Quinn's mouth agape, Kurt gasping into the palm of his hand.
"I'm so so sorry… Please.. Let me just start over one more time…" Rachel nodded, the older woman waving her hand as the band began to play again.
"Don't tell me not to live, just sit and putter… Life's candy and the sky's…. a…."
Rachel stopped again her eyes brimming with tears.
"This can't be happening" Kurt whispered
"I am so sorry.. I know this song backward, I know it backward" She insisted as Carmen began packing her belongings away. "Please, one last chance, please…" Rachel rushed forward.
"No" Carmen stopped the diva in her tracks "You get 8 bars, I gave you 16, Do you know what happens when you forget the words on Broadway?" She asked "They give your part away, this audition, is over." She began exiting the auditorium, Rachel stood on stage, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Please… Please… No… Wait.." her voice cracking as she dropped onto her knees, "Please, you have to believe me…" she sobbed, but the woman had gone. Quinn rushed onto the stage, ignoring the burning pain in her chest, scooping Rachel onto her lap and soothing the weeping girl in her arms.


It'd been two days since the girls' audition, two days since she'd choked.
Quinn sighed, she was finally walking, and even running lightly but she still had this huge weight on her shoulders. Rachel hadn't spoken to her, or anyone for that matter since it happened, and Quinn just felt like it was all her fault. "Q…." Santana called out chasing after the blonde. "Quinn! Slow down…. Esperar!" she yelled, Finally catching up and grabbing Quinn by the shoulders "Coach Sue wants to see us…" She raised a brow "I don't know" She sighed when Quinn gave her an exasperated look and dragged her captain over to the coach's office.

"Ellen. KD Lang…" She greeted the two girls, both rolling their eyes.
"Totally Ellen" Quinn mumbled as she sat down in the seat "How can we be of assistance coach?"
"I'm letting you know, State is in a week and a half, and I've got some scouts coming to see you, Columbia, Cornell and NYU"
Santana fist pumped "They're all in New York" She smirked happily "Britt got into Julliard for dance" She replied and Quinn smiled "Tell her I said congrats!"
"Okay enough with the lady loving talk, I'm bored here, I'm just letting you know to play your best… My last team lost at state because my last captain was too much of an ass…" She looked at Quinn, Russell used to play for McKinley when he was a teen, back when Sue coached the boys soccer team, long before the girls team even existed. "Yes Coach" she seethed through her teeth before getting up without struggle, anger pumping through her veins of being compared to the Russass. "I'll see you at training tonight." She nodded before walking out.

Meanwhile at her locker Rachel was standing, looking up at her picture of Barbara, thinking about how she failed her idol. She sighed shakily shutting it, and Kurt was there leaning against the locker beside her.
"Can I just say… for the record… Carmen Tibideaux is a total bitch, I mean she should have let you start over.."
Rachel shook her head, finally speaking "She did." Her voice raspy, unused.
"I mean a second time, but then again" He waved his hand up in the air as he led Rachel toward their shared class "You killed the beginning of the song, I…" He paused "I wouldn't be surprised if you get accepted just from that!" He smiled squeezing her shoulder but the girl just pulled away.
"We both know what happened Kurt, we were both there…" She sighed looking at her friend, black bags under her eyes, which looked dead and cold, sans the usual Rachel Berry sparkle "I really, really appreciate what you're doing, but.. I had my chance, I choked. I choked on the song I've been singing my entire life…" she stressed "And it's over, and there's no one to blame but myself…" Rachel whispered "I need to go to the bathroom… Okay… I'll see you in there" She wiped her eyes, and walked off to the bathroom, weakly, she just didn't know how to feel, she hadn't spoken to Quinn since before the audition, even after the girl calmed her down, she said nothing, not a word, not a text. She felt so angry, at herself, how could she have been so stupid. She sighed, once she arrived at the bathroom she splashed her face with cold water in order to reduce blotchiness.
Quinn was exiting a stall and spotted her girlfriend "Hey Rae" She smiled softly at the girl, who didn't turn around but instead just glanced up at her through the mirror. "Baby talk to me…" Quinn whispered walking up behind her and wrapping her arms around the girls' waist, but Rachel just pulled away. "What is wrong with you… you're acting so …. You're being stupid!" Quinn snapped her anger from earlier just bubbling over.
Rachel's mouth dropped, bobbing open like a fish before closing again.
"Stupid!" She yelled "Stupid?! Stupid is watching all of your friends make plans for their future and realising that you have none. At all. No plans. No college. Nowhere to go. All I have here, is you, and I have no idea what I'm doing!" her voice broke after that and she let out a strangled sob and Quinn stood there taken aback at what the girl had just said.
"All you have… All you have?" she tried to remain calm "You have two dads who love… and support you, two people who will care for you no matter what Rachel! And you know what that's the hell of a lot better than a drunken mother, who doesn't give a shit about you, and a father who beats the shit out of you." She seethed, getting in the girls personal space, looking down at her to intimidate the girl. Rachel gasped in shock Quinn never officially told her what happened, saying the bruising was due to an intense training session, Santana backing up that fact. "He beat you…" she shook her head in disbelief "No… No… you would tell me…" Rachel looked at Quinn her eyes filling with fresh tears "Why didn't you tell me!?" she was trying to yell, to scream, to be angry, but she couldn't be. Her arms looped behind Quinn's neck, pulling her into a tight embrace as she murmured words of apology for being so selfish, and self-centred, realising that then and there, Quinn had needed her more than she needed the other girl, and she was too self-involved to care.


Things were better, Rachel had just learn to accept her mistake and move past it, whilst supporting Quinn with the demons she was battling. Santana and Brittany decided to drag the couple out to begin shopping for prom outfits.
"I'm not wearing a dress" Quinn shook her head "My calves are not calves for a dress…" She sighed pinching the bridge of her nose "Besides, They'll probably be all bruised up from state, anyway" She replied as Rachel was about to argue Santana agreed "Yeah Britts and I decided I'd look totally smoking in a sexy jumpsuit" She smirked and Brittany nodded
"Yeah, and It's be sexy to watch her strip for me…" The blonde without a filter smiled "But me and Rachie are going to look like princesses in our dresses… Right Rachie?"
"It's Rachie and I Brittany but yes we will" she smiled and Santana scowled, but Quinn hit her arm.
Being dragged through a thousand different stores was really starting to get to both soccer players and they sat down sighing loudly, bored of dress shopping, both of them already having chosen their outfits. Santana having going for a backless, black jumpsuit with a low plunge at the front. Quinn going for a tight blazer, white shirt, and tight trousers that resembled skinny jeans, deciding to choose her tie to match Rachel's dress… Whenever she finally chose it.
"I'm not coming out…" Rachel called out from her dressing room. Santana sighed and rubbed her temple "Britt… I'm getting hangry, don't make me go all kinds of Lima Heights here!"
Quinn looked up and walked over to the changing room knocking on the door but Rachel refused to open the door. Santana unable to take any more pounded on the door until the girl let her in, slamming the door behind her.
"What is i-.." Santana trailed off as she took in the sight of Rachel, she was wearing a light peach dress, clinging to every curve, her hair trailing down the right hand side of her head, and onto her shoulder. "Wow…." Santana mumbled slightly enthralled by the girl "Quinn's going to buss a nut when she sees you in that…"
Rachel looked at Santana and shook her head "I look ridiculous… I don't even know what… Buss a nut means.." she wrinkled her nose and Santana laughed softly.
"Berry… I am saying this in the least, sexual way possible because you're dating my best friend and I'm dating the most beautiful girl ever.… If I saw you in this… I would…" She smirked "Good choice…"
Rachel blushed and licked her lip "thank you… Santana…"
Santana was just about to leave the changing room before turning back to Rachel "Oh… and… Be ready tomorrow at 8am, okay?" Santana instructed the brunette before slipping out the door, shrugging as Quinn sat up looking confused at what just happened. "It was nada, don't worry.. I'm into blondes" Santana winked and moved over to Quinn who scrambled to move down the bench but ended up on her ass. Santana cackling as the two girls came out of the changing rooms confused.
"Good now we can eat!" Santana clapped happily.


The next morning Rachel climbed into Santana's car.
"Are you going to kill me?" She asked scared and Santana laughed
"No you idiot, but… I overheard Kurt telling Blaine that, that Carmen Tibiwhatever woman was really harsh to you at your audition, so I did some research and it turns out that she's doing some kind of class this weekend over at Ohio State, and I think you need to talk to that bitch…"
Rachel was shocked by the sentiment "Santana that's really sweet.. why would you do this for me?"
"Because…." Santana shrugged "Q's kinda like… in… lo… like with you, and I would have told her to do this for you, but on Sunday's she goes to church with her mom…" She quickly corrected herself as silence took over the pair.
"Thank you" Rachel whispered after a while "I mean.. I don't know if it will do anything, but maybe I can re-audition…."

When they arrived they were directed to the auditorium where Carmen was holding the master class.
"Miss Tibideaux" Rachel walked down the runway to where she was sat at a desk with purpose. Santana opting to stay out of it. "I would love a chance to speak with you"
The woman turned to Rachel and sighed "I haven't returned your calls Miss Berry, and I have listened to the voicemails, but you do understand, every second you spent trying to harass me for your case… Is another second you are taking away from somebody with the talent to actually perform…" Rachel stood there in shock of what the woman had just said "Now if you excuse me I have a master class to prepare for…"
"I understand that … But I would just like to let you know… That I won't give up." She smiled "I know that you didn't either… You auditioned for Julliard 4 times if I'm correct?" She raised a brow at the older woman "So I would like to let you know, I will be seeing you next year, and every year after that until I get into NYADA." She nodded at the woman curtly before turning on her heel "thank you for your time."