A/N: So this is chapter twelve. Obviously. In this one, Rachel finds herself with a new friend. Anyway, there is a bit of a time skip, only because i have a lot planned for this story and i want to skip the boring, stuff that will be the same every chapter. Hope you like it.

Chapter Twelve

Something was different about Rachel. Everyone could tell. Shelby. Noah. Santana. Blaine. Jesse. Finn. Quinn. Even Brittany. They could all tell something was wrong with the small fourteen year old.

For the past two weeks, Rachel has been severely withdrawn. Considerably more so than usual. She'd always be in her room, the door shut and she wouldn't be seen again until dinner. She barely interacted with the Corcoran family, looking down at her lap when she was spoken to or simply only nodding her head.

Shelby was beginning to get worried. Despite what Miranda had told her, she wanted so desperately for Rachel to acknowledge her with more than just a small nod or a tiny smile.

And Rachel knew it.

Every day, after the door shut in Miranda's office, she'd collapse on the sofa and pick up the pencil waiting on the table before writing in the notebook.

-Mom's upset again-

Miranda would nod, smiling sadly before declaring that they start. For two weeks, Rachel was a little proud. She'd managed to make a small croaking sound!

She wasn't anywhere near being able to speak yet, and she knew it would take a while, but she was hoping she could at least say some basic things by Mom's birthday.

~TIME SKIP- Six Weeks~

Rachel had worked out what she wanted to be able to say. By Shelby's birthday, she wanted to be able to at least whisper 'Happy Birthday Mom, I love you' in to her mother's ear. Best case was that she could say it out loud. They worked on single letters first, starting with 'I' as it would be easier on Rachel.

Miranda had consulted with Rachel's doctor, who had been thrilled at the young girls intention. Despite the fact that Miranda wasn't comfortable keeping such an improvement from Shelby and Rachel's family, she kept quiet. Why ruin Rachel's surprise. Besides… She fully intended to get her hands on a copy of the photo that was sure to be taken of Shelby when Rachel finally speaks.

Shelby had become more concerned as the days passed. Miranda had scheduled more session with Rachel, the two of them now meeting five times a week, and on weekends the session's having been bumped up a couple of hours.

She should be concerned right?

For the first time, Quinn was sleeping over at the Corcoran's. Her parents were out of town, having left for Boston to visit her older sister, and the Fabray's were adamant that Quinn stay with Brittany. The only problem was that Brittany's parents had taken her for the weekend to visit Brittany's grandmother. And the Fabray's refused to allow Quinn to stay at Finn's.

"Why don't we just ask Ms Corcoran? I'm sure if we explain the situation…"

"Judy, I will not ask that woman to put up with our daughter alongside her own. The whole town knows something is going on right now, and we don't need to add stress to her."

Quinn had been sitting on the stairs, listening in with her phone to her ear.

"Maybe they'll have to take me with them. I don't want to go. Boston is so boring, and Charlie's kids are all under the age of seven. I'd have no one to hang out with."

"Hold on a sec Q."

Quinn sighed as Santana put down her phone.

"Well what else are we going to do? Should we take Quinn with us?"

"No. There's no room in the car, and she'll just be in the way."

"Q?"

Quinn shook her head, breathing in as she held the phone to her ear.

"Yeah?"

"Give the phone to your parents."

"S?"

"Just give your phone to your dad."

Sighing, Quinn stood from the top of the stairs and entered the living room. Immediately her parents stopped speaking, only to glance at each other when Quinn handed them her mobile. Quinn stood, her hands fidgeting against each other as her father spoke.

"Hello?"

"Oh, yes well we are."

"No, no, no, I'm sure we can find…"

"Well… If you're sure?"

"Thank you, I assure you she'll be on her best behaviour."

"Yes, goodnight to you too Ms Corcoran."

Quinn looked up, wide eyed as her father handed her phone back.

"Tomorrow, you'll have a bag ready for four days, five to be sure. Ms Corcoran will be picking you up from school and will be bringing you back here to pick up your clothes. You'll be staying with her until we return. You'll be on your best behaviour and won't cause any more trouble for Ms Corcoran than she already has to deal with."

Quinn, eyes still wide with shock, nodded slowly, turning on her heel after saying goodnight and tramping up the stairs.

She was sleeping over at the Corcoran's. For almost a week. This was big.

It was even bigger than she expected. Literally. The only place she'd ever been was the hallway leading from the front door to the kitchen, and the living room. But after she dumped her bags neatly in the corner of Santana's room, she was given a tour. They had three bathrooms. One upstairs, one downstairs, and one in Shelby's room. Santana's room was at the end of the hallway, Blaine's right next to hers. Puck's was downstairs, across from the other bathroom and next to the kitchen. Rachel's room was directly next to Shelby's, the door closed when Quinn arrived. They had a basement, but there was no door. It had been taken off its hinges and the lights were always on. The room was heated. It had bean bags and sofa's, a large TV and a baby grand that was covered with a sheet. Santana only showed her it for a moment, before dragging her up the stairs. She had just ascended when she stopped mid-step.

Rachel had just walked down the stairs. Quinn's hazel eyes met Rachel's brown ones. For a moment, Quinn thought Rachel would turn and run back up. But she didn't. She smiled shyly, turning away and entering the living room with her white board tucked under her arm.

"Keep away from Rachel."

Quinn turned her head, looking at Santana with a startled expression. But for once, Santana was threatening or being malicious. She was warning her.

"Unless she approaches you, which is highly unlikely, just stay away from her."

Quinn nodded, climbing the stairs after Santana, but taking one last glance at the girl sitting on the lounge.

That night, dinner was quiet. Quinn had greeted Shelby warmly, thanking her and assuring her that she'd do what she could to make her stay there as stress free as possible. Shelby simply smiled at Quinn, placed her hand on the girl's cheek as she passed and laughed.

"Can I keep you?"

Quinn smiled, locking eyes with Rachel as the younger girl peered at her from the doorway. Rachel followed her mother, passing Quinn with a small glance before settling at the dinner table.

Quinn had settled in Santana's room, having been insistent that the other girl take the first shower. Looking around her friend's room, Quinn spotted several framed photos. Standing, she picked up one of them, smiling softly at the image in her hands.

Little Rachel and Santana, Rachel clinging to Santana's back, both of them with large grins.

Putting it back down, she turned, rolling her eyes as Santana pulled a face at her before she entered the bathroom. Standing under the pulsing water, she sighed in contentment.

The Corcoran's had better showers then she did!

Stepping out and pulling on her Tweety bird pyjamas, Quinn entered back in to Santana's room, looking around. Santana must have gone downstairs.

That night was… Different. Usually Quinn would spend the night in her room, surfing the internet and listening to her iPod. This time, she was seated in the Corcoran's living room, watching Santana and Puck argue over a movie, Blaine rolling his eyes before he threw a pillow at one of the two, and Shelby smile, glancing up the stairs every few minutes. Quinn, having laughed as Santana pouted over Puck's winning the movie argument, stood.

"I'm just going to go get my phone. My mother said she'd text me tonight."

Shelby nodded, smiling at the girl and following her up the stairs with her eyes. Quinn entered Santana's room, picking her phone up from the table where she'd put it last before turning on her heel to leave. But something made her stop.

A noise. What was that?

She looked toward the bathroom, the light coming in through the bottom of the door. Staring at the door, she narrowed her eyes, concentrating.

"I… I… I llloo…"

Was that… Was that Rachel? It couldn't be though… right? She didn't speak. She hasn't spoken since she'd arrived in Lima. Pulled from her thoughts, Quinn looked up startled as the door opened, staring wide eyed at the exact same expression on Rachel's face.

Rachel looked frightened. Scared almost. Shocked was a definite.

Before Quinn could explain, or respond, Rachel grabbed Quinn's hand, pulling her from the hallway in to Rachel's room. Too shocked to take in the room itself, she jumped back as Rachel's whiteboard was thrust in to Quinn's face.

-You can't tell anyone!-

Quinn stared wide eyed, her mouth wide open as she struggled to come up with a response. Shaking her head, Quinn finally choked out something to say.

"You… You can speak!"

Rachel covered Quinn's mouth with her hand, looking at her door quickly before back at Quinn. Her eyes widened, and her hand quickly dropped. Rachel lifted her whiteboard, scribbling on it quickly before showing Quinn.

-They don't know. It was going to be a surprise. For mom's birthday-

Quinn read the words, looking up at Rachel and then sighing. Sitting down, she licked her lips.

"I… I don't understand. Shelby would be thrilled, ecstatic, regardless of when you speak."

Rachel nodded, but bit her lip as she wrote.

-I can only speak a little at the moment. Some noises and a few letters. I thought… Since it would take so long anyway, I can give mom a surprise. And… I wanted to be able to speak again. I might need my voice one day, and it won't be there for me to use.-

Quinn furrowed her brow, reading over Rachel's words. Thinking, Quinn licked her lips.

"Okay… Okay… What can I do to help?"

Rachel looked up at Quinn in surprise, wide eyed and lips parted.

"What? You expect me to just let you do this on your own? Sure, you have a doctor, I assume, but I mean someone who doesn't know anything. Someone who can just help you to speak again. I can do that. You're my best friends little sister. Let me help."

Rachel stared at Quinn, and it took a moment for Quinn to realise what she'd just said. Rachel Corcoran was an enigma. No one knew anything about her, no one but her family and doctors had interacted with her. And here Quinn was, holding a conversation with the girl. How surreal.

Finally, Rachel smiled. It was small, but it was genuine.

Rachel thinks… She may have just made a new friend. The first one she'd ever had since she was five. How surreal.

A/N: I hope it was good to read. Please review. Laters.