Disclaimer: I own neither Glee nor any part thereof. No money is being made off of this story and is intended only for entertainment purposes; therefore it falls within the parameters of "Fair Use"

A/N: Almost a week without an update. I know, I suck. Stupid job always interfering with my hobbies. What are you gonna do? As always, reviews have magical effects on my ability to find time to write. Just sayin…

Chapter 9

Serious Conversations

Twenty minutes into their gaming session, Artie could see that Puck wasn't even slightly in the mood for Mario Kart so they switched over to Call of Duty. They teamed up and made short work of all the random teams they kept getting paired against. They often found that they only teams that could give them a real challenge were groups of their friends. Puck called Finn while Artie called Mike. Mike said he had plans with Tina today and was too busy. Finn had just simply said he was "workin on something" and refused to elaborate or log on. Sam's family was still having a hard time financially so Sam didn't even have an X-Box much less and X-Box Live account or any free time to spend playing video games. Kurt didn't play, nor did Blaine as far as they knew. Neither of them really wanted to talk to or deal with the non-Glee members of the football team, so they eventually settled for doing the unthinkable, playing story mode.

Three missions in Artie had something on his mind but wasn't really sure how to broach the subject since he and Puck don't really talk about things. "Hey, can we pause for a minute?"

"Yeah, man, you gotta take a leak or something?" Puck replied.

"No, I need to talk to you about something."

"Dude, we can talk and shoot things at the same time. Cover me."

Artie sighed and pulled the battery pack out of his controller, forcibly pausing the game. Desperate times. "I need to talk to you about Quinn," he said.

"Dude! This is the Man Cave! We don't talk about chick shit in the Man Cave!" Puck started getting loud.

"Well, we don't about 'chick shit' in public either," Artie said, "and that pretty much the only places we ever are, but we need to talk about this.

"Whatever. You guys are friends. Who gives a crap?"

"Yeah, we are friends, but I think we're going to be more than that, probably pretty soon."

"So what?" Puck spat out, clearly bitter. "Good for you. What do I care? Why are you telling me this?

"I'm telling you this," Artie said, "because I know you do care. I don't know the full extent of your relationship with Quinn, but we're bros and I know that at least once upon a time there was something between you."

"Yeah, dude, something called a baby. Just because we don't get to raise her doesn't mean there isn't some kind of bond still there. Probably always will be."

"So that's all there is then? A bond shared by parents?" Puck looked frustrated like he was tired of the inquiries but he also looked like he had something on his mind. "Hey, man, it's me alright? You don't always have to be Puckzilla around me, okay?"

"Alright, dude, listen up cuz this is only time we're ever having this conversation. You got it?" Puck said. Artie nodded. "I love her. She's the first girl I ever loved, and that's not something that goes away, y'know? Like I'm sure Tina still means something to you, right?"

"Yeah," Artie replied.

"But Q doesn't love me, she never did and because of what I did, getting her pregnant, she probably never will. I know that and sucks for me and shit, but that's fine cuz I'm happy with Lauren, she rocks my fuckin world. So I dunno, dude, if Quinn makes you happy then I guess go for it or whatever, just be sure to do better by her than I did. I mean, I guess that's not saying much, but you know what I mean."

"Thanks, Puck," Artie said plugging the power pack back into his controller.

Puck turned his attention back to the game and started playing again. "Just fair warning though, bro. You hurt her and…" Puck popped a wicked no-scope headshot on an enemy on screen and then looked back at Artie pointedly.

"Dude!" said Artie.

"Just sayin."

X X X X X

Quinn had arrived at the coffee shop early this time, both as a reaction to be so late the last time and because of who she was there to meet. Quinn had decided on her self-imposed exile that it was time to screw up her courage and make this apology, and finally, once and for all, put the past behind her and move forward with New Quinn, but now she found herself insanely anxious. As she'd told Artie, she had a mental outline of the conversation that she'd wanted to have, but she was suddenly unsure that it was good enough or worried that Rachel would want to deviate too far from her intended remarks. She knew it was just nerves but somehow she couldn't help it. This was a situation where she had absolutely no idea what sort of reaction she'd get and that always made her nervous.

When she saw Rachel enter the shop, Quinn called out to the brunette, "Rachel." Quinn saw the other girl looking around the shop for her, not seeming to notice when she looked more or less right at Quinn. She raised her hand in the air and repeated her call to Rachel, who looked even more lost. Finally, Quinn got up from her seat and walked up to her.

"My word, Quinn," Rachel said in surprise at this New Quinn. "I have to admit that due to certain issues in my life I had forgotten that you cut your hair when we were in New York, so adding in this new style of dress, the pink hair, and the glasses, I hardly recognized you."

Quinn smiled and said, "That's part of what I'm going for, so thanks. I've got us a table over here. Can I buy you a beverage?"

"It's been suggested by many that I should limit my caffeine intake, I think due to my perceived high-strung or uptight natures and they charge entirely too much for a bottle of water so," Rachel reached into her bag and pulled out a partially consumed one liter bottle of water, "I brought my own. Shall we sit?"

"Yes. Right over here," Quinn ushered them to her table where they took seats opposite one another. "Thanks for coming to meet me today, Rachel."

"You're very welcome, Quinn. I must say that I was somewhat surprised to get your message this morning and I was intrigued as to the nature of the invitation, and am even more so now that I see what could almost be described as an entirely different person that the girl I knew just a month ago."

"Well, if that isn't the perfect prompt, I don't know what is. I am a different person, or at the very least, I'm trying to be. That old person, she didn't make me happy so I'm trying to be someone better, and part of that means righting my past wrongs which of course means setting things straight with you. I struggled with how to go about it since just saying 'I'm sorry' didn't seem remotely sufficient for making your life hell for the last three years. I mean, I am sorry. Everything I've done to you was completely unwarranted. From the mendacious rumors to the pornographic doodles to the hateful monikers, I was completely out of line." Rachel sat silently not quite sure what to make of this situation. Quinn continued, "Like I said, I don't really think that is really sufficient to make up for three years of torment, so I also have a couple of things for you." Quinn reached into a shopping bag that she had with her sitting on the floor next to her and picked out the smaller of the two objects. "I spent several hours this past Sunday sifting through all the pictures that I took in New York and I found this one and thought you'd really like to have it." Quinn placed the silver framed picture on the table front of Rachel. In the frame was a picture of Rachel and Kurt standing close together, Kurt's arm around Rachel's shoulders. Both were mid-belly laugh, Kurt wiping a tear from his eye.

"Quinn this is amazing. Did you take this?" Quinn just nodded. "This is great. Thank you so much." Rachel clutched the frame against her chest.

"You're very welcome. The second thing I want to give you will be a little less obvious why I'm giving it to you, but…well." Quinn reached back into the bag and grabbed the other item and placed the red, white, and black garment on the table between them.

Rachel looked at it confusedly and said, "It's a Cheerios uniform."

"Don't worry," Quinn said reassuringly, "I'm not recruiting."

"I should hope not as you would find yourself quickly rebuffed in such an endeavor."

"I'm done with Cheerios. I'm not going back out next year no matter how much Coach Sylvester may beg or threaten or cajole. When we walked off the team last year we had to return all of our uniforms, but when Sylvester kicked me off the team sophomore year, she never asked for my uniforms back. I returned most of them but I held onto one of them, this one, as a sort of security blanket, I guess. It also happens to be my very first Cheerios uniform, and it's my last tie to the old Quinn Fabray, so then I think it's only fitting that I give it to you, the person I most wronged with the power this uniform afforded me."

"What do you want me to do with it?" Rachel asked.

"You do whatever you want with it," Quinn replied quickly. "If you want to deposit in the dumpster out back, do that. If you want to burn it in effigy, do that. If want to hang it from the wall in your house and throw darts at it, do that. If you want to deface the thing and mail it to Coach, I'll give you her address." Rachel couldn't help but smile at this last suggestion. "It's a symbol, Rachel, or if you would prefer, a metaphor."

"And metaphor's are important," Rachel finished her catchphrase. She looked over the proffered uniform. "Quinn, while I'm certainly happy to accept your apology for your past actions, I'm not sure what to think about all of this. It seems every step forward we take in our often volatile relationship is followed almost immediately by at least two steps backwards."

"Fair enough," Quinn responded, "I certainly see where you're coming from. Look, Rachel, this is just about me making apologies and trying to make amends as best I can. I'm not expecting forgiveness here because God knows I don't deserve it."

"Forgiveness is an act of mercy, Quinn," Rachel said, "It's not about who does and doesn't deserve it, and while I wish to forgive you and in time I almost certainly will, I can't help but have doubts about this being some sort of set-up for something else. Which is not to say I doubt you sincerity or that I am impugning your word…"

"It's just reflexive at this point, I understand. In the entire time that you've known me, I've done frighteningly little without an ulterior motive of some kind. My past is my cross to bear Rachel. You shouldn't feel bad about reacting the way you do. I have no illusions about you and I. I don't expect forgiveness nor do ever expect that we'll become best friends overnight… or ever. I just want to make a lasting peace in Glee Club, at least peace between you and I. I don't hate you, I never did. I was jealous of you and your ability to be so at home in your own skin no matter what anyone says which is something I'm just learning how to do." They both sat silently for a moment before Quinn added, "I'm just going to say this and let time be the proof you need to believe it: this isn't a set-up. I'm not out to get you anymore. I'm not going to try to take anything away from you. It's certainly not about Finn. I am well and truly over him."

"So is it true then?" Rachel asked.

"Depends on what 'it' is," Quinn replied.

"I'd heard a rumor that you were dating Artie. I know that's a bit more personal than is strictly befitting the current level of our relationship. You can elect not to answer if you so choose."

Quinn just smiled and shook her head slightly. "Those gossipy bitches."

"Who would you be referring to, Quinn?" Rachel asked with a knowing smile on her face, fighting off laughter.

"Our mutual friends, the two-headed gossip monster known as Kurtcedes and don't bother denying they were the ones that told you because they're the only ones that knew."

"I notice you're not denying anything either."

"No," Quinn said simply, "not denying anything. I mean, we still aren't officially dating per se, but we are beyond being just friends. We aren't labeling it right now, just enjoying each other's company. And he's how I know I am well and truly over Finn. After spending just a month with Artie, I know I could never again be with someone that doesn't challenge me intellectually."

Rachel sighed heavily and said wistfully, "Yes, that must be nice." There followed a very pregnant silence between them. "Speak your mind, Quinn."

"Okay, this is so not my place to say, but here goes. I don't know why you're back with Finn, but just promise me you aren't going to let him hold you back from your dreams. You deserve so much more than to end up here in Lima as Mrs. Finn Hudson."

"No, certainly not. I am going to New York after graduation. Finn understands that and he can follow me there if he so chooses, but I think we both know that he will not."

"Good, I'm going, too."

"What?" Rachel asked.

"Don't worry, Rachel. It's a city of 8.5 million people, I'm sure if you want to avoid me it won't be even a little bit difficult for you. Might be harder for me to avoid you, what with your face showing up on billboards and bus stops due to your inevitable stardom," Quinn said teasingly.

"No, it's not that. It's just that three months ago, you were the one resigning yourself to staying in Lima and being the future Mrs. Finn Hudson, and now all of a sudden you have ambitions for yourself after graduation. When did all this start?"

"Well, it really came to fruition at Nationals. I pretty much fell in love with The City, but honestly, and this yet another thing I owe you, because it started on Prom Night."

"Prom Night?" Rachel questioned.

"Yeah, after I slapped you, you said that I was the prettiest girl you'd ever seen but that I was much more than that. It was the tiny little seed of an idea that took root in my mind. It was the first time anyone had ever suggested that I had any sort of individual worth unto myself. Then the break up with Finn, then New York and the haircut. After that I pretty much felt like a new person. I still don't know what this new person is going to do with her life, but I know where I'm going."

During this whole speech Rachel smiled very brightly at Quinn. "It's good to know you now value yourself properly as a human being Quinn and I'm glad that you have the beginnings of a dream for yourself. I am ecstatic that I played some part in helping you find this," Rachel paused. "I'm still not sure if I want your Cheerios uniform."

Quinn simply said, "You can leave it here if you want, but it's yours now, not mine."