A/N – So I really can't understand the character assassination for Quinn that's going on in the show. I get that she's conflicted but outright villainy and bipolar issues are just so inconsistent. Anyway, back to the story. I have a feeling everyone's just skipping this part and reading it first J

Get It Right

How much I care!

Quinn's finger flexes on the camera button and she captures Rachel standing there, looking directly at her. She knows that she'll develop the picture and keep it, even if looking at it would still hurt. And she could at last confirm that she was right in her assumption that Rachel did look absolutely beautiful through her lens but more than that, she finally looked so much like the Rachel Berry she remembered from before. The one who would stomp out of Glee club if no one gave her enough respect or a solo. The Rachel Berry she had fallen in love with even before she realized what being in love meant.

There's a sparkle in Rachel's eyes even if her expression is neutral. For a tiny, infinitesimal moment, she thinks that Rachel is there to tell her that she loves her too. But Quinn pushes that thought out of her mind the second it forms because there was no conceivable reason for Rachel to change her mind and it was probably Rachel just feeling indebted and wanting to thank her or worse extend her friendship.

But she does not want to hear thanks or any other platitudes or offers of friendship. She knows Jackson had chosen that path with her. He had accepted the fact that all she could give him was her friendship and platonic love. And Quinn had actually considered doing the same with Rachel. Only, she knew herself and what she could or could not handle and Quinn had to admit that she would never be able to be in close proximity to Rachel and not show her affection.

At least now with this last chance, she'll get to say her goodbye to Rachel face to face and maybe get a hug that would allow her to wrap her arms around the brunette and hold her close for the very last time. It would never be enough but Quinn had to admit it was all she deserved.

Quinn knows that she should ask Rachel why she's there but does not trust herself to open her mouth knowing that declarations of love are still hovering on the tip of her tongue. So she bites down on her lower lip as she holds her camera to her chest like a shield. Not protecting herself from Rachel's charms but putting some barrier between them because she still so desperately wants to reach out to the brunette. But instead, she just stares at Rachel, trying to commit her visage to memory.

Rachel's always been beautiful in Quinn's eyes yet she never had the courage to tell her. Instead, she had used Rachel's insecurities to hurt her because it made her feel better; not about herself but knowing that Rachel was hurting as much as she was inside. It's her other major regret in never saying the words out loud and codifying that singular fact; because out of anyone, Rachel had always been beautiful without and within.

For the first time ever, Rachel hadn't prepared anything. Not going over what she wanted to say, like picking each word carefully or even reviewing the different scenarios in order to prepare for all possibilities. She used to always have a plan. However, when she had been with Finn, there really had been nothing to plan for. Her life had revolved around his, and each day became so similar to the next that planning for change seemed futile. So she stopped looking forward or expecting things to change or be better. Except now, there were all these possibilities before her, decisions to be made and an actual future to plan for.

If she were being honest with herself, she just really felt a strong need to see Quinn. The feeling building up within her ever since Quinn had walked away from her dads' front porch in Lima. Bit by bit, slowly but surely, the need within her grew such that she had expected to see Quinn at the airport and when she didn't, her anticipation still grew such that she then expected to see Quinn at the hotel. And each time when Quinn didn't show, she would feel a stab of disappointment that eventually became a constant ache.

The sentiment she was experiencing had been almost overwhelming when she had gone for the audition but yet, she had tried her utmost to ignore it because she was so afraid of trusting her feelings again. It was only when she realized what Quinn was giving up for her that she decided that it was something she could not ignore any longer. It was incomprehensible to her that Quinn would go so far as to give up her career just so she could keep her promise to stay away from her. No one had ever done so much for her and asked for nothing in return; no one except for Quinn who had even offered her love.

She knows about sacrifice having finally realized she'd given up most of herself for Finn but even then, she had kept hold of some semblance of her life before like her music lessons. It was a small tenuous link to her past dreams but at least she had that. Quinn was voluntarily choosing to walk away from her future because she had made a promise to her. No one had ever done anything remotely close to that for her ever and it had been the last needed push for her to finally admit she needed to see Quinn.

Getting Jackson to drive her over was easy. She just wasn't sure what she wanted to say to Quinn because she's so frightened that she truly does not recognize what love could be. Rachel loved her dads and she loves Kurt deeply but admitting that she's never really been in love was difficult for her. She's sung about it so many times but to finally realize she's never before experienced it was as humiliating as staying with Finn because she thought she had no other choice.

However, she's here now and maybe all she needs is to just take the plunge and make the first move. It helped tremendously that Quinn looked as scared as she was feeling. It meant that they were both still unsure but at least Quinn had opened the door and she was not going to waste that chance as she smiles tentatively and asks her question.

"Can I come in?" It's not like she was going to actually say no to Rachel's request but the time she was taking to process the fact that Rachel Berry was standing in her doorway looking beautiful and vulnerable and just plain amazing, was so drawn out. Adding to that, hearing her voice asking to come in was so completely distracting such that all Quinn could do was nod and step aside such that Rachel could actually gently push open the door herself and step across the threshold.

Rachel always knew that Quinn had good taste but the apartment was stunning and yet exuded a sense of home. The colors bright but not jarring and the furnishings understated. It was spacious with big bay windows overlooking the ocean and dark hardwood floors. Surprisingly, she felt comfortable and realized that if she had to pick out a place for herself, she would want it to look exactly like Quinn's.

But, the only problem with the entire situation and the only thing Rachel can focus on currently, are the huge number of boxes scattered around the place. Most of them already taped shut and just a few remain open. Then she spots the Academy award sticking out of one of the boxes in the corner. A symbol of how well Quinn had done and what she had accomplished yet Quinn had packed it away, seemingly giving up her dreams. And Rachel feels the tug in her heart, knowing what it was like to give up something precious but more than that, she does not like the possibility of never seeing Quinn again; the thought of that happening actually causing her some pain.

She remembers feeling something similar when she gave up her dreams of Broadway, but she had been so blinded then, ignoring how she felt in lieu of what she convinced herself was the right choice. Maybe just letting go and finally following her heart was the answer after all. She had made herself change her direction and focus ten years ago.

The mistakes she had made in the past was because she had specifically chosen a different path and this time, she's here not because she's chosen to be but because she feels such a strong need to see Quinn and to figure out what she wants to do about it. Maybe it was time to just let go and follow her instinct.

She turns around to face Quinn, finally accepting that this is truly where she wants to be but she needs time to figure everything out and accept that things can change and enemies can become more than friends and dreams can be saved by love. All their conversations have always never started at the beginning and Rachel needs that to change right now.

"Why are you leaving?" Her question tinged with curiosity and a trace of sadness underlying her tone. Rachel wants answers, so many of them, all the questions fighting for prominence in her head. But she knows that she needs to finally start at the beginning with why Quinn was choosing to leave LA and to be honest, leave her.

Rachel finally sees it so clearly in her head. She knows she needs to lead up to a verbose description of how the words Quinn had written made her feel so many different things. How they spoke to her and made her realize that she wanted more and more importantly, she deserved more that what she let herself settle for. And Rachel really needed to know if Quinn meant all the things she wrote, not only the beautiful story she had written, but each and every word she had inscribed at the back of the script she had sent over.

As soon as Quinn had opened the door, Rachel finally realized that all her emotions coursing through her were not overwhelming but just so unfamiliar. She had relied on settling for what was available instead of fighting for what she wanted such that she could not recognize anticipation or finally understand that the kisses, hearing all of Quinn' words and seeing Quinn, all of it made her unbelievably happy. It took her a while to place the emotion but once she did, it became so apparent.

Rachel's question is unexpected and Quinn does not really know how to answer it truthfully without confessing all of her feelings. She knows she can get away with a white lie because apart from Jackson, almost no one else could really tell. She doesn't want to lie to Rachel but she doesn't want to hurt her either.

Quinn takes a deep breath as she looks to the side, "I've been working nonstop for the past six years and I felt I needed a break. It seemed like a good time." She places the camera in the box closest to her, still avoiding Rachel's piercing eyes because she has a strong hunch that maybe Rachel could tell as well, when she finally looks up to see her standing there her arms crossed and one foot tapping almost impatiently as if daring Quinn to lie to her again.

However, she does not want to embarrass herself or Rachel and she knows she needs to divert the brunette. "What are you doing here?" Her voice is at least strong and a little bit defiant as she uses her time tested defense mechanism to question back. Quinn still can't look directly at Rachel without revealing the strong feelings coursing through her as she crosses her arms and looks down at her feet.

She most definitely does not want to test her own self control because just having Rachel there was already making her forget all her promises to stay away and not touch her or kiss her or tuck that strand of hair behind her ear as her tongue slowly, languorously found the pulse point on Rachel's neck. She shakes her head, blinking and prays that Rachel isn't a mind reader as well as a lie detector.

"I came to see you." Rachel's voice is clear and full of emotion she cannot place. " I wanted to see you." Naturally, for Quinn, her avoidance mechanism only worked if the other party was also hiding something and Rachel seemed happy to be absolutely honest right now.

Although, Quinn didn't want her to feel beholden or to receive her thanks, she wanted more than she knew Rachel was willing to give her and she knew she wasn't going to get it so maybe her only recourse was to finally break herself free. Kind of like what Jackson had tried to do for her when he pushed her to go after Rachel.

Quinn is fully cognizant that she had been unfair to him, knowing that he still had feelings for her yet she still chose to hang around with him and her leaving now was kind of a thank you to him as well. Not to mention it was definitely a way to get Rachel out of her system at the same time. "I really…I just need to get away." She slowly enunciates each word, still not making eye contact because she feels like crying, but at least it's as close to the truth as she can handle.

Rachel shakes her head at Quinn's words, not wanting to accept them, "From me? You want to get away from me?" She stares at Quinn, willing Quinn to look at her and when she does, Rachel can't help but notice how beautiful and expressive her eyes are. But more than that, she finally let's herself recognize all the raw emotions she can discern in them.

When Quinn looked at her, it was as if she was extraordinary, exceptional, like she was the one. She could see love and hope in Quinn's eyes but also fear and sadness. It was so intense and yet, it also gave her courage to continue.

"Because you told me…No, you promised me that if I showed up for the screen test, I wouldn't need to see you and you wouldn't even direct your own script?" And that I'll never hear you invoke my name or look into your eyes or have you look at me that way. Or that you're never going to kiss me in a way that makes me feel that I'm finally living my life again and planning for a future.

She remembers all of Quinn's words, each and every one of them. Not only the words Quinn had spoken to her but the ones she had written down as well. Even if she had wanted to forget her past, Rachel couldn't forget that night. She remembered everything about that night from the taste of Quinn on her lips, to the feel of her body as she pulled Quinn closer to her. How the feel of Quinn on her skin, her arms encircling her, made her feel stronger and so alive. How, for that short amount of time, everything coalesced in her mind and it all made sense, all her insecurities melting away, replaced with a sense of purpose of knowing exactly where she belonged and with whom.

"Yes." The word comes out in a whisper because acknowledging her sacrifice was almost too much to bear but Quinn says it regardless. Rachel deserved the truth as much as she deserved to finally live her dream. Quinn turns around, finally facing Rachel, because she can't help but stare at the brunette.

"And you're willing to give up on everything, your script, your dream?" Rachel's voice is earnest as she tries to understand the enormity of Quinn's decision.

Quinn does not know how to explain that it all meant nothing to her if she couldn't share it with Rachel. How everything she had done in the past ten years was indirectly due to her need to finally make it up to the brunette and she had finally managed to do just that. Only, in her dreams, she would be the one standing beside Rachel holding her hand because that had been her main objective all along. "I…" Quinn cannot say the words because she does not want to pressure Rachel into feeling indebted.

"That was never really my dream. I mean..I love directing and I know I'm good at it." She lets out a breath and shakes her head as if trying to get all her chaotic thoughts out. "But it was never just about that, you know?" The question is rhetorical and Rachel stays silent as Quinn's voice goes softer like she's revealing something private.

"And writing that script was more about …it was for you." It's as much of a confession she will allow herself as Quinn sighs and wraps her hands around her middle, trying to contain all the hurt she feels because she knows that it'll be something she'll have to learn to live with.

Rachel knows she needs to do this correctly, not just accept the words at face value but understand their meaning as much as recognizing their context. She needs Quinn to say more but she understands that she needs to be honest with Quinn as well and to do that; she'll have to finally trust herself. And know that she's not doing this to prove a point or to prove that she's right or that Quinn's wrong. Rachel wants to do this because she knows it'll actually make her happy.

"What if I …what if I don't want you to leave…"Quinn's not sure if she's hearing Rachel correctly so she takes a step closer only to see Rachel take two steps forward as well such that they're barely a feet apart. Rachel can see the rise and fall of Quinn's chest and wants to reach out and place her hand on her heart, to feel it beat beneath her finger tips, to realize that it really did belong to her.

Quinn had admitted as much in her writings as well as in her every interaction with Rachel and most telling, when she chose to walk away from her dream of directing her own script, giving it up so easily, just because. And she finally accepts that the strongest emotion reflected in Quinn's eyes was love for her, pure and without reservation.

It wasn't difficult to identify once she opened herself up to the possibility that she deserved to be loved and in return, she could also possibly love someone like Quinn. Someone who had loved her without condition and who actually wanted her to be happy even if it meant their own unhappiness.

"What if I tell you that I maybe could fall in love with the person who wrote these words?" Quinn sees Rachel holding up her screenplay, only it's not the copy she had sent to the studio but the original one she had kept, the one which she had used as a diary of sorts when she felt like she needed to express her inner most thoughts and work out her feelings about everything and in particular about one special person.

She never expected anyone to read it except that Rachel had but Quinn doesn't feel ashamed or even worried because out of anyone, Rachel was the only person that she would have wanted to read her words and know her inner most thoughts. She's never been brave when it came to Rachel, always pulling back and never saying what was truly on her mind and in the end, always hurting Rachel directly or inadvertently.

Quinn knows that she'd never been able to express all of her feelings out loud and to share what she wanted so it was only fair that she finally got the chance to make it right for Rachel.

"Maybe?" It's that one word that gets her undivided attention though. Quinn thinks she's hallucinating but she sees Rachel standing before her, her expression open and honest and Rachel's words are echoing within her. And she realizes is that she didn't want to deal with maybes or what ifs any longer.

Quinn wanted yes and forever and completely. She knows her heart cannot withstand another rejection but she also needs to put everything on the line for Rachel and show her that she had chosen her, would always choose her because she loved her beyond measure. It wasn't about winning or losing but finally letting go and being as emotionally naked and honest as she could. She needed to believe and trust that everything would work out because they were finally talking to each other, not at cross purposes but to find common ground.

For the first time in a long while Rachel breaks into a smile, not a small one, out of politeness or the painful one she would wear when people would ask her what she did for a living or why she didn't sing any more. Or even the wide one she wore for Finn's benefit so he wouldn't suspect that she had been so very unhappy. No, this smile was genuine, unencumbered of the past and completely focused on the one possible future that has suddenly become so clear in her mind. She knows exactly how this scene has to play out.

She wants to touch Quinn but holds herself back, her hand tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear as she sees Quinn's eyes follow its movement. They're finally attuned to each other but Rachel wants to have this memory, a start for the both of them that would forever overwrite all of their past mistakes.

"Yes." She can see Quinn nod at her word, deep in thought as she bites on her lower lip."It's a maybe because I'm not so sure I can love someone who is just willing to give up her own dream. I mean, I am well versed in making a similar decision, as you know."

It still hurts to think about how much time she's wasted but the pain is insignificant now in comparison to the hope and anticipation she feels bubbling up within her. To know that it's not too late to start over but more than that to actually know that someone like Quinn loved her and wanted to be with her.

Rachel feels anticipation and such joy but also some trepidation that she may be too late and Quinn won't change her mind but she pushes that feeling aside as she looks at Quinn, smiling.

She sees Quinn's eyes widen as she takes another step forward. "I lost my way. I was so caught up in believing I knew what love was, what loving someone meant that I didn't realize that I was completely heartbroken."

Quinn had been right ten years ago to say that she would be heartbroken, only it was because of Finn and not because of Quinn. Rachel acknowledges that she had been, for so long. Always thinking that that was how she should feel because she didn't know any better or experienced what true love really felt like.

Quinn feels Rachel's words reverberate against her skin and she has to control herself from reaching out. Instead she closes her eyes and just concentrates on Rachel's voice. "I gave up what I knew I wanted for what I thought I needed." It's never easy to admit the colossal mistakes she's made but she knew Quinn wasn't going to judge her because right now Quinn couldn't even look at her, at least not yet. So Rachel finally let's herself reach out.

Quinn feels Rachel's hand caress her cheek and she leans into the touch, her hazel eyes blinking open to meet brown ones, "I know what I want now." The words are so softly spoken but Quinn hears all of them so clearly as she finally recognize the look on Rachel's face. Its acceptance and wonder with the underlying hint of love.

This time, it's Rachel who tiptoes upwards, closing the gap between them and meeting Quinn's lips. Their third kiss so very different from the first two.

The first kiss had been borne out of opportunity, Quinn acting on instinct and need, choosing to grab the chance because she didn't know if she would ever get to kiss Rachel again. It was a stolen kiss that signified her intentions and showed Rachel that she was wanted in so many different ways. It was a kiss that in hindsight, made everything after it possible in both their eyes although it took some time for them to acknowledge it.

The second kiss had been Quinn's way of putting her heart on the line, opening herself up to Rachel and showing her vulnerability. It was Quinn finally being as honest as she could to herself and to Rachel. She could never express herself verbally and showing Rachel was the only thing she could really do. It was about giving Rachel the opportunity to decide what she really wanted. And for a short amount of time, Quinn had thought that Rachel had not wanted her even as the memory of the kiss had been forever ingrained in her consciousness.

The third kiss had taken Quinn by surprise, starting out slow and building into a something more, a glimpse of things to come, of finally seeing the beauty in each other, a small taste of what love could actually be. Rachel finally pulls back and smiles as Quinn moans her name in protest for the missing contact.

"What do you want, Quinn?" It's the only question that she wants to hear from Rachel right now because she's finally, absolutely, completely sure that Rachel's going to acquiesce to her wishes.

"You. I want you."

Rachel does not answer her verbally but the kiss is enough of a yes that she finally she's got it right.

End Part 9

I am travelling for the next six weeks and will actually be on three different continents. While I will be writing, I also have a ridiculously packed schedule so updating may be spotty. I could leave this story here but I think I can write a few more chapters as well as the interludes that I wanted to do. Anyway, tell me your preference, it'll be like a poll…..