Chapter 25

Cabs in New York City at the end of workdays were always slow going but then Brittany wasn't in any real hurry. Samantha had a short production meeting after rehearsal that Brittany didn't need to be at so the plan quickly changed to the director meeting them at the restaurant. Then Quinn had called to say she would also be late.

With traffic a mess, and since everyone else was going to be delayed, the girls decided to walk the three avenues and a bunch of blocks to avoid the ticking meter. Thankfully they were south of the Broadway box, the area of Times Square where the big New York theatres lived, and were able to easily maneuver their way cross town and up without hordes of tourists to dodge. The weather was starting to show signs of spring so the walk proved to be nice.

What the walk wasn't; was chatty. It hadn't been a very two-sided conversation, as Rachel had simply listened while Brittany had talked about how she thought the day had gone. This wasn't something Brittany was very used to with the relationships in her life. Whether her people in LA or her family back in Ohio it was typically Brittany who stayed silent and was the sounding board for everyone else. The fact that Rachel Berry was quickly becoming her sounding board was further reason to do something nice for her new friend. And helping Rachel have more friends seemed the perfect gift for a woman who seemed to have everything else she could want.

No one would believe it but Brittany S. Pierce was pretty savvy. One night at the apartment with the thee of them wasn't going to erase years of bad feelings between Quinn and Rachel so the more Brittany could get the two of them to socialize the more things would change for the better. A little enthusiasm and a quickly dialed cell phone and dinner became four instead of three. The fact Rachel didn't argument was a good sign that Brittany was on the right track to getting this new truce, between old rivals, to stick.

...

Rachel was enjoying her tea and making small talk with Brittany when Samantha arrived. Standing up from the table she crossed to the redhead and gave her a hug. Brittany followed suit as Rachel took her seat. The difference between the two polite gestures was that Brittany's 'hello' had lingered and Samantha seemed to have welcomed the extended attention. Rachel even noticed a very quick, but nonetheless telling, closing of eyes as she leaned into the embrace. It was only a matter of hours before Rachel was certain something would develop between these two new friends. "So how was the meeting?" Rachel asked politely as Samantha took her seat.

"Does this mean the work talk clock has started?" Brittany inquired.

Samantha nodded. "I think it does. It went well. Rachel, they will be emailing you tonight some new script pages, including a new edit to the song at the end of the first act."

Brittany looked over nervously. "Does that mean new dance?"

"Not necessarily. There is something lacking in the build up into the big fight. I want to see how what the boys put together plays out in rehearsal tomorrow before we commit to a large number of changes. By the way Rachel, on an unrelated note I found a very polite way to point your potential suitor in a new direction."

"Very appreciated."

"And even if Jeremy didn't get the hint Robert did so he and his boyfriend will help things at their end."

"I can always count on Robert to have my back."

Brittany pouted. "I still don't understand why you wouldn't just try and give Jeremy a chance."

"Brittany, trust me. He's not my type." Rachel said enjoying more of her tea.

"Fine. Since Quinn's going to be a little late should we order some wine and a little something to share while we wait for her?"

"Sounds perfect." Samantha said smiling.

Rachel watched as the two women started to look over a menu that she had memorized and since Rachel didn't need to weigh her options she spent the time noticing Samantha sneaking tiny looks in Brittany's direction. Rachel couldn't be a hundred percent sure but she even thought she caught Brittany do the same once.

...

They had just finished a delicious appetizer when a tall, slender, blonde appeared at the table. From Brittany's reaction it had to be their fourth. Quinn was physically how Samantha had pictured the woman with whom both Rachel and Brittany had gone to school but it was in the way she carried herself that Samantha found she was surprised.

Samantha considered herself an observer of people. It was this skill that made her a good actress but an even better director. There was an openness to both Rachel and Brittany that their friend's body language didn't convey. Samantha had recalled they had both told her the friend from school was an attorney but this was more then professionalism. It read like a protective aura. If Quinn were a character in something Samantha was working on she would say Quinn was either emotionally damaged by something in her past, highly protective of her present, or simply untrusting of new people. Whatever it was, Samantha was looking forward to learning about another person from Lima, Ohio. After Rachel and Brittany said their hellos Samantha stood and shook Quinn's hand. "Hello. I'm Samantha."

"Quinn. It's nice to meet you."

"You as well."

Brittany tapped the empty chair. "Grab a seat."

"Thanks Brittany." The lawyer said as she sat down next to both Rachel and her other old high school friend. "I am so sorry for keeping everyone waiting. We had a last minute witness and my co-counsel and I spent most of the day taking full advantage of the judge's recess in order to try and figure out our next move."

"Do you have an area of focus?" Samantha asked as she took a sip from her wine glass.

"I run the gambit but mostly basic litigation. It's a new firm for me so I am putting in as many billable hours, on as many cases as they give me, so I can prove myself."

"My father was a solicitor in Wales before he moved to London to raise me. I've always found the practice of law a fascinating profession."

Quinn politely smiled. "Hardly as interesting as what the three of you do."

Rachel laughed. "Exactly the opposite. The three of us play in a giant sandbox all day while you are actually trying to change the world for the better."

"Not always."

"Nonsense." Brittany interjected. "When we had dinner you told me about the client you brought with you from Arizona. The women's charity."

"Sadly Brittany, for everyone of those clients I am required to work for five others that aren't as upstanding."

Samantha nodded sadly. "That was the other reason my father found it easy to walk away from his work while my mother toured the world performing. He grew tired of having to represent the guilty."

"Even good people can make mistakes and deserve to have help presenting their side but back in Phoenix I nearly quit my job more then once for similar reasons."

"That's not just reserved for working in law. Even I have had my moments when it comes to professional obligation verses what feels right." Rachel offered up.

"That is something we have all felt from time to time." Samantha agreed. "It's one of the reasons I left acting."

Quinn reached for her water glass and took a sip. "How long were you a professional actor before you left?"

"Since the age of nine. I started on the stage in the UK and then my mother moved me from London out to LA in my late teens. I walked away in my early twenties. It wasn't worth it after the attention on my off-hour activities started over shadowing my professional work. I wouldn't wish that kind of scrutiny on my worst enemy."

Rachel nodded. "It's the one upside to my specific successes. Although the Broadway followers are a rabid fan base they tend to be generally polite and there isn't the need to know every detail of my life."

"Back then it was very hard to live openly without risking the loss of my entire career. Having a mother who was in the business didn't help. She was constantly throwing me on the arm of one friend of a friend or another. It got to the point I called one of my "publicity boyfriends" by the wrong name during a televised press interview. I completely crumbled afterwards. About a week later I marched into my agent's office and told them to stop renegotiating my contract renewal for the show. I rode out the rest of the season and the day after my last episode filmed I was on a plane to New York. I never went back."

"I'm so sorry." The look of sadness on Brittany's face wasn't helping Samantha's professional control where the dancer was concerned.

"I never want to be that successful." Rachel said as she shook her head. "Then again I would have to have a love life for them to write about."

"Something tells me that kind of popularity creates a frenzy that attracts all kinds of scrutiny not just who a person dates." Quinn offered.

Samantha picked up her glass and took a sip. "That is true. I watched friends who liked to party develop full-blown addictions. The first taste of a magazine cover with a headline about having partied a little too hard would fuel the need for more coverage. They would keep it up until they ended up spending large amounts of their fortunes on doctors and rehab instead of vacations and clothes. I never wanted that kind of media attention. It's why I love the theatre. I can still do my art without as much focus on my life."

"Did you care what people thought?" The air of curiosity from Brittany had a tone that made Samantha wonder more then she wanted to allow herself to wonder.

"I would like to think I could have carried less. At the time it seemed to have little to do with being ashamed and everything to do with the obligation I felt towards the people I worked with and who I personally employed. In those days the country was split so evenly down the middle on those issues that coming out would have meant not only destroying my career, which would have made it impossible for me to pay those who relied on a percentage of my income, but it also would have had consequences for the series. In the end I walked away anyway which I suppose was a sign that those ideas were more my mother's then mine but then I was barely twenty one at the time."

Quinn seemed to take in what was said. "That was why you left before the show reached its peek. It always seemed out of nowhere to me."

Samantha laughed. "A closet fan."

Quinn blushed a little at having outed herself.

"That's exactly why. I couldn't pretend anymore since being famous wasn't something I had signed up for. My mother did whatever she was told to elevate her career. I just didn't have the drive to be the image they wanted to sell. My happiness was more important."

"How incredibly brave." Rachel said sincerely.

Samantha shrugged. "Some would say stupid. In fact, many did."

"Rachel is right. Brave." Brittany said reaching over and touching the top of Samantha's hand with hers.

The contact was warm and wonderful but far to intimate considering Samantha was trying to ignore her ever-growing attraction. Reaching her hand in the air Samantha tried to wave down their waiter. "We should order."

…

Talking about career gratification and Samantha's acting had lead Quinn to asking questions about the project the women at the table had been working on.

"Tonight wasn't supposed to be about work." Brittany scolded.

The sadness on Brittany's face made Quinn feel bad. "Oh, I'm sorry Brit, I didn't know."

"It's okay." Her old friend said immediately perking up, "it's only that if you get us started we can't seem to stop and that wouldn't allow us to get to know each other better."

Samantha took that moment to try and change the subject. "You're right Brittany. So Quinn, I see these two every day, tell me about yourself. You moved here from Phoenix. Are you in a relationship?"

Well that hadn't been a direction Quinn really wanted to go down again but for Brittany's sake. "I just finalized my divorce a very short time ago."

"I'm sorry." Samantha said taking her glass.

Her apology was so incredibly sincere sounding that Quinn felt bad she was about to blow the need for her sympathy out of the water. "Don't be. As I told these two it was for the best. And what about you?"

"My last girlfriend and I split about a year and a half ago. She wanted me to move with her to LA and I couldn't bring myself to leave New York."

Quinn watched Brittany shift uncomfortably in her seat. Since it couldn't be learning there had been a girlfriend after previous topics earlier in the evening Quinn decided it must have been mention of long distance relationships. A wave of guilt regarding Santana washed over Quinn as she scrambled to come up with a change of topic.

Before she could think of anything Rachel jumped in. "Dating in this city is impossible. Everyone always has somewhere they have to be and in my line of work the options are slim pickings because of the hours I keep."

"Well if you gave Jeremy a chance." Brittany offered.

"Brittany, subject dropped."

The dancer pouted and then laughed. "Okay, okay."

Quinn didn't want to ask because she really didn't care the answer but if it kept the conversation off long distance relationships and therefore off the mere thought of Santana then all the better. "Whose Jeremy?"

Samantha finished chewing a bite of her dinner and explained. "He works on the show we are working on but he has been gently redirected out of Rachel's orbit."

"Which Rachel is very grateful for," the brunette said as she bowed her head.

It had been the one thing about Rachel that Quinn had been surprised to learn. In school Rachel was about two things, her career aspirations and a perfect man to compliment her life. She had grown up to be a beautiful woman. She was successful. She was wealthy. She was well respected in her field by not only her peers but also her critics and yet Rachel Berry seemed to have forgotten the other half of the puzzle that was once her perfect life.

Maybe it wasn't fair to judge Rachel based on the dreams of a teenager. Perhaps, like Quinn felt about her own life, being alone was far more satisfying then having to go through life with another person and yet, when Quinn looked at Rachel Berry, she couldn't help but see an air of loneliness about her.

…

Rachel caught sight of Quinn yawning as the plates were removed from the table and with that the perfect opportunity had been presented. She had been looking for a way to give Samantha and Brittany some alone time so when the yawn started Rachel down the same path she didn't fight it.

"Sorry about that." Quinn said after Rachel followed suit. "It was a long day."

"For once, I had an easy day, but my body is still dragging."

Samantha leaned into the conversation. "Well we should get the check and call it a night then. We can't be keeping you two from getting your rest."

Quinn played things perfectly without knowing what she was doing. "Don't cut the evening short because of me."

"Or me." Rachel blurted out before Quinn could continue and end up leaving Rachel the third wheel. "You two stay. I'm going to head home and read over those pages. Oh and the meal is already taken care of."

"What?" Brittany interjected.

"No arguments." Rachel scolded. "It was my pleasure. The next time someone else can pick it up."

Samantha raised an eyebrow. "You realize I am going to hold you to that."

Brittany got up from the table and moved to Rachel giving her a big hug. She then did the same to Quinn. Samantha and Rachel had given one another a hug as well while Samantha and Quinn started to shake hands and then ended up following suit. It had been a very nice evening and if Rachel was right it was about to get even better for her roommate.

…

Exiting the restaurant Quinn took in the nice night and then awkwardly turned to Rachel. "Thanks for picking up the check."

"I was happy to do it."

"Well it was nice of you."

Rachel found she was unable to stop herself from smiling awkwardly. "Thanks."

"You're welcome."

The two stood on the sidewalk for a moment neither of them talking. Once again they had turned into teenagers. Rachel decided to break the silence. "Look, it's a nice night. I was thinking of stopping at a place I go to from time to time and grab a drink before bed. If you want to join me for a little walk and a glass of wine you're welcome to tag along."

"I thought you were tired."

"I am. But I so seldom get to have a weeknight to myself. It will be nice to feel like a nine to fiver."

Quinn seemed to consider her options. "I could stand for a little more time out before heading back to the apartment."

"Great."

"Great."

As they walked towards the main avenue Rachel was silently lost in thought. This had been the second time that day she had noticed she had found it easier to stay quiet then be her usual chatty self. Earlier in the day it had been about allowing Brittany to share so Rachel might learn more to help her little matchmaking project. Now was a whole other story.

Spending time with Quinn Fabray at the apartment it had been one thing because it was just the three of them. Now walking in public down the streets of New York with the head cheerleader Rachel was trying desperately to think of something to talk about that would make her life seem interesting without seeming to brag. She was a known Broadway star and yet she still felt unworthy of Quinn's, what was it, friendship? What was it about Quinn Fabray?

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:

Just wanted to say thank you to those folks giving feedback on the story. It means a lot. For those of you who didn't read my comment in the review section – this chapter and the next were directly inspired by some of the feedback I had been getting. I had no intention of this particular evening being something that played out on the page but as people commented about certain things I knew it was a necessary addition to the fic and would be especially helpful down the line with what I have planned for the ladies. So thank you for helping me make this story better. And thanks for all the wonderful comments. Hope you are all still enjoying it. And here is a tiny story spoiler alert: Chapter 26 will pick up right where the evening just left off.