AN: Warning - Character Death and this chapter will be quite sad.

Apart from that I just wanted to give you guys a heads up that the tale is almost done...although I'm sure you all have realised this. I'm not sure just how many chapters will be left, but rest assured we will have a few as soon we will go into the adult years of the pairs lives.

Chapter 26:

November 27th 2073

Your own mortality is not something you often thing about, not when you're young anyway. There is always a sense of you being bulletproof that the very idea that you could possibly die or be seriously injured if you aren't careful when doing something, well, let's just say that it is not often thought about at all.

But as we get older, the fragility of our mortality starts to become more apparent as we begin to realise that the irony of life is that no one ever gets out of it alive. Robert Heinlein said that.

It had been a few days now and there had been no word about Bell except that she was still under observation and the second night she nearly stopped breathing.

Lu-Lu was worried and rightly so. Bell meant a lot to her, not only was she her best friend she was her confidant and her link to her memories. More importantly Lu-Lu enjoyed spending time with her since life at a retirement home could get quite lonesome; especially when one's family no longer care to visit. Which luckily for Lu-Lu she knew that her family came even if she couldn't remember them sometimes. But she had seen it happen, some of her peers at the home were left there and forgotten. Mothers who had dedicated their lives to their children, left, abandoned, forgotten in home. Fathers who were once able to be agile and move quickly now confined to slow movements and creaking bones. People who were once able to speak with such gusto and such wisdom now unable to speak without a stutter or a waiver in their voice to show how feeble they had become.
They were all in a type of prison that they could never really leave if they were deemed unwell enough.

Lu-Lu remembered well a friend of hers from high school who grew old and died with her family in their family home.

"It's just the way our culture works Lu," Tina had said, "Most Asian families do this, the oldest leaves the home to work hard and send something back; not that I ask my son to do that of course; and the youngest looks after the parents in their old age, of course they do work and we move with the times but it is far too strange for us to leave our elderly in a place where someone other than family will look after them,"

Lu-Lu remembered smiling at that memory; it was a rather nice one.

Anyway, to continue, the nurses had to keep her under observation as well to make sure she didn't make a scene or hurt herself in the process of panic attacks when things seemed to overwhelm her, and more importantly they had to make sure that she was up and eating.

Today Lu-Lu decided that she'd stay in her room as she didn't feel like moving much. Nurse Mary had come to see her earlier but let her stay in bed today.

It was getting closer to lunch when she heard a familiar voice from outside her door.

"I beg your pardon, but you did what?" a woman asked angrily.

"We had to sedate her, I am so sorry Bell but she was becoming frantic and that's not good for her," Nurse Mary said.

"I told you guys I would be fine and that I didn't need to be in observation, I'm on a mission and I do my best to never break my word,"

"Be that as it may, you have to understand where we are coming from,"

"I do understand, but you should have just told her that I was away on a check-up for a few days,"

"Bell, we thought you weren't going to make it, she is your wife it didn't feel right of me not to tell her,"

Bell sighed, "Can I see my wife now please?"

"Yes, I'll take you to her, but we'll see how her memory is going, the past few days she's just been quiet and recluse,"

"Understandably,"

Lu-Lu heard Nurse Mary knock on her door, "Lu-Lu, are you up? It is almost lunch time," Nurse Mary asked as she opened the door.

"Was that Bell I heard?" Lu-Lu asked as she sat up.

"Yes, she's here to see you if you're up for it,"

"Give me a few minutes, I need to dress,"

"Okay,"

After a few minutes Lu-Lu was dressed and standing up, "You can come back in now," she called out.

Nurse Mary walked in followed by Bell.

"Hello Sweetie," Bell said with a smile as she walked in with her cane.

"Oh Sweetheart what happened?" Lu-Lu asked as she slowly walked up to Bell and gave her a hug.

"Old age and sometimes when I have a spell my leg plays up, it's been that way for a while now ever since my accident,"

"When I was texting and driving,"

"Well yes, actually you were distracted and talking on the phone while driving, anyway that was a long time ago, are you up for a story today?"

"Yes, Rachel and Quinn, I need to know what happens next," Lu-Lu said with a smile as her stomach growled a bit, "After lunch,"

"Good idea,"

-page break-

During lunch the two had a deep conversation about the happenings of life with Lu-Lu checking and making sure that Bell was definitely okay. Which Bell assured her she was and stated again that she was on a mission; which of course only partially appeased Lu-Lu's worried mind but it'd do for now. After their meal they both went up to the conservatory to continue the story.

"So where to next?" Lu-Lu asked as she sat down on the lounge chair next to Bell who had just sat down on an arm chair.

"Well the story starts to jump a bit," Bell said.

"Jump?"

"Yes, the last entry for their High School year is very sad and that's what we'll be reading now, after that there are glimpses of their adult years, the main parts, the author of the story sometimes forgot to write certain things down but big events will be there for the most part,"

"Ah,"

"Shall we?"

"Yes, lets,"

June 15th 2012

This was it, today was the day that High School was over forever and Rachel couldn't be happier as she literally skipped out of the school with Quinn laughing behind her.

Their parents not too far behind them.

"It's summer, it's summer and I'm going to tan, school's over, school's over and I won't be back again," Rachel sang in a childish melody as she skipped and danced towards Quinn's car.

The last couple of weeks had been good, New Directions had won Nationals, the Football team actually won their season that year almost everyone was heading off to college and there was going to be a big party at Puck's house tonight to celebrate the seniors leaving.

Now you'd think that Rachel would shy away from attending after what happened the last time; but this time she had Quinn by her side and she felt that this time she could attend and not have to worry about her safety plus she also had Tina, Brittany and Santana who were going to mostly be by her side during the evening.

"Rachel look out, you're about to hit…" Quinn started as Rachel, who was still skipping happily and singing, crashed into the car and unceremoniously fell to the ground, "my car,"

"Ow, that was embarrassing," Rachel said as she felt her cheeks heat up in embarrassment as she stood up quickly and brushed her skirt.

"You really should watch where you're going,"

"I'm happy, give me a break,"

"Yeah, yeah," Quinn said as she pulled Rachel into a hug.

"Well girls congratulations on making it through High School," Hiram said as he took a photo of the pair, "So what do you plan to do now?"

"Have sex," Quinn said bluntly making Hiram cough, LeRoy gap and Judy raise an eyebrow at her as Rachel squeaked.

"Quinn!" Rachel squeaked in a decibel that was so high it could probably crack glass as well as Quinn's ear drum.

"Ow, squeak,"

"You, me, what?"

"Oh my god that squeak, stop it,"

Rachel let out a breath as she glared at Quinn.

"I wanted to freak out your Daddy, I never had a chance to before and right now he doesn't want to kill me…oh wait he's glaring, help me," Quinn started and squeaked in turn as she ran behind Rachel, "I have your daughter to protect me with her puppy dog pout,"

"Nice try," Hiram said, "But he's the sucker, I'm the badass,"

"I beg your pardon I most certainly am not the sucker," LeRoy started as Rachel turned and looked at him with her puppy dog eyes, "Oh my god she's so cute, where would you like to go tonight Sweetie, we'll take you anywhere you like to celebrate,"

"Yes, you're totally not a sucker,"

Judy just laughed.

"So real plans you two," Hiram asked.

"How do you know that that's not the plan?" Quinn asked.

"Because you two are restarting your relationship and there's no way in hell you two would move that fast no matter how much your hormones want to because you two have said baby steps,"

"I, dammit,"

"Aha, so plans?"

"Well we're going to get ready for the party, no drinking, and no texting or calling while driving,"

"No drinking alcohol at all please, I know that no matter what we say you kids find a way to jimmy open everything, and while I do not condone this, well, it's part of your High School experience, parents can't deny that they did the same thing," Judy said quickly as Quinn nodded her head to indicate that she heard her.

"Exactly, but we'll be safe, I promise, and we won't drink, then after the party we enjoy a bit of summer vacation and then bye, bye, Rachel," Quinn said with a sad look on her face.

"Don't give me that look," Rachel said softly, "You're going to New Zealand and you're backpacking, what if something happens?"

"I'll be safe, I promise,"

"Okay I have to ask, why New Zealand? Why not Europe?"

"I don't know, I just like the look of the place and I want to do the treks and all that jazz,"

"Are you going to hold a Kiwi?"

"Are you talking about the bird, the fruit or the people?"

"Huh?"

"Apparently if you say something like I like eating Kiwi's it comes across as cannibalism or endangering wildlife because Kiwi is the name of the people of New Zealand as well as the bird,"

"I thought that they called the fruit that?"

"They add fruit to the end,"

"Anyway, are you going to hold the Kiwi bird?"

"I'm not sure, maybe if a eco-sanctuary allowed it maybe,"

"Okay, oh, try not to party too much while there, I heard they can be more rowdy than us,"

"I will probably be exhausted to party, but okay I'll try not to,"

"Good,"

"So back to your place?"

"Yes,

-page break-

It was later that afternoon just before dinner time that Quinn and Rachel were just sitting on the couch in the living room. Rachel was napping, Quinn was reading as she let one hand run through the brunette's hair.

Judy, Hiram and LeRoy were cooking in the kitchen and for once didn't want the girls to help out as part of their special treat.

About fifteen minutes before the meal was ready, the phone went.

"Quinn can you get that please?" Hiram called out, "I know Rachel's partly asleep,"

"Okay," Quinn called back as she picked up the phone, "Hello? Berry Residence,"

"Hi, is Rachel Berry there please," a woman asked.

"Uh, yeah, who is it?"

"Emeraldine, a friend of hers mother,"

"One second," Quinn said as she looked down at Rachel and began to tap her awake, "Sweetie a woman named Emeraldine wants to talk to you, oi, Rachel, wake up,"

"Wah huh?" Rachel started as she tiredly opened her eyes and slowly sat up.

"Phone for you,"

"Oh thank you Quinn, hello," Rachel yawned as she took the receiver.

"Hi Rachel, it's me, Emeraldine, Cassie's mother," Emeraldine said.

"Oh hi, hey, how are you?"

"I'll be okay,"

"Ah, um, so how is Cassie? Is she doing okay?"

Emeraldine was quiet for a moment and Rachel knew then what had happened to her friend, but she couldn't say anything.

"Rachel, Cassie she, um, this is really hard for me to say,"

Rachel couldn't say anything.

"Cassie, passed away last night, she went peacefully in her sleep, but she wanted to let you know that she missed you and she wished that you had more time together; I felt it was important that you know that," Emeraldine said as she cried.

"So she's gone," Rachel stated more than asked as the numbness set in.

"I'm sorry to bring you sad news, she was, she wanted you to know, we were there with her when she passed and she said that you had to know,"

"I'm sorry for your loss, your daughter was one of the best friends I've ever had, and I, I'm so sorry,"

"Me too,"

With that Emeraldine hung up the phone and all Rachel heard was a dial tone as she slowly and numbly put the phone down. Her lips trembling.

"Rachel?" Quinn started as Rachel broke into sobs, "Rachel,"

"She's gone," Rachel cried as she held onto Quinn tightly.

"Who is?"

"Cassie,"

"Oh my god,"

"Why? Why'd she have to die?"

Quinn was stunned as she pulled Rachel into a tight hug. She was by no means as close to Cassie as Rachel was, she was going to be honest about that, but the red head had a way of worming herself into your heart that she couldn't deny that hearing of her passing stung worse than almost anything that Quinn had ever felt before in her life.

"Hey girls dinner's almost…Rachel what's wrong?" Hiram asked as he walked into the living room.

"Daddy she's gone," Rachel cried as she flung herself into her father's arms and he held her tight.

"Oh baby I'm so sorry," Hiram said as he patted her back although he wasn't fully sure just yet as to who she was talking about.

LeRoy, upon hearing his daughter cry, ran to the room and looked bewildered followed by Judy.

"What happened? Rachel? Baby, what happened?" LeRoy asked as he tried to see his daughter's face and softly touched her back.

But Rachel couldn't answer so Quinn did for her.

"Cassie's gone," was all the blonde needed to say for all the adults to understand.

"I'm so sorry," Judy said as she patted Rachel's back before making her way to Quinn and holding her.

"I'll be right back," Quinn said almost emotionless as she got up, out of her mother's hold, and left the room so she could call Santana, "Hey S, is Brittany there with you?"

"Hey Q, yes she is, what's up?"

"Rachel and I aren't going to come to the party tonight,"

"What? Why?"

"Um, one minute," Quinn went back into the living room as she looked at Rachel who was sitting numbly on the couch, "Rachel?"

Rachel looked at her.

"Sweetie, I'm on the phone with Santana, I'm just telling her that we're not going tonight, are you okay with me telling her and Brittany why?" Quinn asked.

"Yeah that might be best, I can't," Rachel said as she sniffed and then a new wave of tears fell from her face, "It's not fair,"

Quinn just kissed the top of Rachel's head and softly said, "No it's not,"

When she left the room again, she put the phone back to her ear, "You still there S?"

"Yeah, what's going on?" Santana asked.

"Cassie died last night,"

"Oh shit,"

"Yeah, listen um, Rachel and I, we're not going, um, I need to be here with her, can you tell Brittany and perhaps tell Tina too, I'm a bit in shock about this too, um, look, I know this is the last night and we're supposed to be happy and party but, I, but,"

"Stutters and B were very good friends with Red too and they have a right to know, I got it Q go comfort your girl," Santana said as she hung up the phone.

-page break-

About a half hour later there was a knock on the door as Hiram went to answer it and saw Tina, Brittany, and their parents standing outside.

"Mr B, may we come in?" Brittany asked teary eyed.

"Yeah, come on it," Hiram said as he let everyone in.

Brittany went over to the couch where Rachel and Quinn were still sitting stoned face as Tina joined them.

"Where's S?" Quinn asked.

"She's on her way, I had to go home first and tell my parents where I'd be," Brittany said.

"You could have called them,"

"I know, I,"

"Couldn't process,"

"Yeah,"

"This isn't fair," Tina said as she sat down too, tears falling from her face.

"No, it's not," was all Quinn said.