It was Thursday evening. Judy had informed her children to come straight to the Corcoran home after school.

The triplets were informed that Friday after school let out, they'd be going on a weekend trip with the Corcoran's.

The triplets mouths had dropped open in first shock than awe and settled on excitement.

Because in all their life they had never stepped one foot out of Lima and though it wasn't out of Ohio, it still caused excited chatter.

Shelby had watched on in curiosity as the triplets were practically vibrating with renewed energy.

Shelby listened as even Judy couldn't hold in her exuberance at the idea.

The brunette mother could see something happening before her.

Her gut was screaming at her to read between the lines.

No one should be that excited to go to another town in the same state.

As Shelby waited on the phone with the hotel, pretending not to hear the Fabray's speaking in hushed voices.

She couldn't help but feel a heavy weight press down on her heart.

They spoke to each other as if they had never known there was a entire world to explore, other than Lima, Ohio.

It was when Charlie said 'I wonder what it's going to be like?!' Excitedly than Sam followed with 'I can't believe we get to even go.'

Judy sounding so child like as she gushed just as enthusiastic as her children when she added 'Oh gosh, I don't know but I can't wait! This is so exciting!'

That caused Shelby's belly to knot up in worry.

Quinn was the only one sat in pensive silence.

She was hard in thought. Shelby didn't know what to make of it.

It wasn't until the blonde spoke that every ones excitement came to a halt.

"What about, Rachel? How are we going to get her to agree to go?"

"Honestly, I thought I'd talk to her. Hopefully it will go well. If not, than we'll have to cancel the trip. We can't leave without her." Shelby replied.

Every one nodded in agreement.

"May I speak to her first?" Quinn asked.

Charlie was the only one that knew something of a riff had occurred between her sister and Rachel.

She felt horrible about it because she felt it was her fault.

It saddened her to know that because of her actions, Quinn's progress with Rachel had come to a stand still.

Not to mention, the rumors going around school. Puck had been found beaten to a pulp.

An investigation was under way but the area he had parked at was not only not visible because of the nights darkness but also had no video camera's or anything for any evidence.

Puck himself was actually saving Rachel from being caught by claiming it was a couple big guys but if it wasn't that many guys to fight but just one he wouldn't have been beaten.

It was clear that Puck's ego was bruised severely and he didn't want anyone to think he was a punk.

So, instead of any suspect being a girl.

The police were searching for boys.

Puck had texted her and asked if she had seen who it was but she told him no.

That she had freaked out and ran.

He told her to keep her mouth shut.

So, when the police questioned her she went along with Pucks story and said it was a group of huge guys and that she ran before they could get to her.

Needless to say, she was very happy that Puck's ego was not only saving her from every one knowing what he was about to do to her but also Rachel.

She knew that he came down on her harshly because she could easily say she was about to basically rape if Rachel hadn't intervened.

It hit Charlie hard and within the last two days she had not only had a few nightmares that Rachel never came so Puck got to finish what he started but was also becoming skittish around boys.

Rachel's words were beginning to come to fruition and she had no idea how to tell anyone because she just couldn't.

Even though a part of her wanted to, it was becoming too hard.

"Of course, you can." Shelby replied to Quinn breaking Charlie from her thoughts.

With the go ahead from Shelby.

Quinn stood up and took a deep breath before heading for the stairs.

It had been two days since she stormed away from Rachel at the river court.

She didn't even sit with the brunette during lunch period the last two days choosing to sit with her siblings and Skyler during lunch.

It felt so foreign to her to be surrounded by so many loud rambunctious people in a large cafeteria compared to the companionable silence with Rachel.

She wasn't comfortable in the cafeteria at all.

If felt wrong. Not the eating with the group part but being in the cafeteria and not with Rachel felt utterly wrong as if she was missing a piece of herself.

Before the blonde knew it. She was standing in front of the brunette's bedroom door.

She took a moment to gather herself.

Than lifted her hand to knock before taking the handle and twisting than stepping in with caution.

The blonde was met with scathing eyes.

Rachel was once again sat on her desk chair and the room was still not put together.

Not that Quinn expected other wise.

It just felt like forever since the last time she had been in there.

She did her best to keep her calm façade but really she felt weak at the knees at the sight of Rachel.

It felt like de ja vue.

The brunette's long mane was over one shoulder cascading down.

Her face perfectly sculpted as always.

The blonde swallowed thickly than licked her suddenly tried lips.

Quinn wanted to throw herself at the brunette.

Crawl into her lap, snuggle her face into Rachel's neck to inhale her scent as deeply as she could and never move again.

But she didn't, she held her head high and held Rachel's stare.

"How have you been?" Quinn asked.

Rachel's eyes blazed at the question.

How has she been?

Really? That's the first thing Quinn had to say?

Rachel scoffed with a roll of her eyes.

She had been pretty fucking angry and pretty fucking miserable.

Not to mention in pain now that she realized her hand had become infected but the worst part.

The absolute fucked up painful worst part is the feeling of abandonment that had held Rachel hostage for the last two days without the blonde.

Rachel hadn't been able to sleep and didn't feel the hunger for food the way she normally had.

Her comfortable silence was once again missing a crucial piece to balance the peace.

The beast in her mind was laughing at her expense because once again she had been stupid and foolish by allowing someone to find a chink in her armor.

She knows it's her own damn fault for not pushing the blonde away more forcefully and she absolutely loathes herself for wanting/needing the blonde's presence.

It was boarder line pathetic.

Her anger had been through the roof the last two days.

She'd thrown a book at her teacher in class just because he had blonde hair and was sent to the principal's office where she received detention.

So no! She is not fucking ok but Quinn didn't need to know that.

"Listen, Rachel, about the other night. I'm sorry." Quinn began.

Rachel's eyes snapped to hers and she did her best to keep her features neutral.

Quinn was apologizing? It made no sense.

"I shouldn't have expected you to tell me things that obviously aren't my business. I get it. We're not friends. Hell, I'm not even sure if we're acquaintances. I just.." The blonde sighed.

"I guess I just allowed my own imagination to see something that wasn't there and that is in no way your fault. I'm sorry that I assumed."

Quinn took a deep breath as she began to feel her emotions stirring and her eyes pricked with tears.

"I suppose I just wanted it so bad to be true. To be considered your friend that I basically forced you into something you wanted no part of and I'm sorry. To be honest, I don't know why I feel so drawn to you or why I feel like.. "

Quinn hesitated but ultimately figured she should just bite the bullet. "Like I.. Like I need you.."

At those words Rachel's eyes widened a fraction and had Quinn been looking up into the brunette's eyes instead of on the floor. She would have seen it and what it meant.

Rachel felt another piece of her armor fall and clatter to the ground. Her breath was stolen.

The vulnerability and sincerity hit her so hard.

It whipped a lash at the beast growling in satisfaction that the blonde was finally giving up.

"I won't bother you again. I just wanted to come and say I'm sorry. I'll leave you alone from now on."

Quinn turned around and grabbed the door handle.

"Wait.." Rachel's voice whispered but it sounded explosively loud in the silent room.

Quinn eyes slammed shut at the sound.

It took every ounce of strength she had to keep her tears, her sob and body from trembling at the sound of the brunette's voice.

Rachel had no clue as to what body was doing when she stood up from her chair.

The beast began to growl once more as she stepped closer to the blonde who facing away from her.

"I.." Rachel wasn't sure what to say but her eyes were transfixed on the blonde.

She was only standing three feet from Quinn too scared to get any closer.

"Read to me?.." Rachel asked softly and Quinn couldn't hold it in any longer.

Her body began to tremble as her tears fell and slight whimper escaped at the soft vulnerable request.

Quinn turned to the brunette with such emotion that at the sight of Quinn in tears caused a ruckus of storms within the brunette.

Rachel felt herself yearning to wipe the tears away.

Rachel didn't like the blonde crying though it was a devastatingly beautiful sight.

Like a weeping angel.

It made Rachel want to cry to and her eyes began to water.

The two stared at each other and Quinn nodded that yes she would read.

Rachel walked over to the book Quinn had left in her room the last time with the page marked.

Rachel had to turn away towards the book or her tears were going to fall and she couldn't let that happen. She just couldn't.

She walked over to Quinn and held out the book.

Quinn's lips trembled as she tried to smile.

Rachel was hesitant but than reached out with her uninjured hand that was hidden from view by her large hoodie's sleeve.

The moment Rachel's hand took hers, Quinn felt peace engulf her and a shaky breath was released.

Rachel felt the beast within her howl in anger but once again it was lashed in to silence, when her heart rattled in the coal like cocoon that encased it.

Her stomach made an odd flutter.

She too felt peace wash over her as she guided the blonde to the bed.

They laid in their normal spots two feet apart as Quinn opened the book.

The moment the blonde began to read Rachel was enchanted and couldn't look away.

Quinn's voice was like a spell over Rachel's entire being.

Rachel couldn't leave even if she wanted to..


Quinn adjusted the brunette's duffle bag into the back seat of Charlie's car.

It was decided that to keep any bouts of anger by Rachel at bay.

Quinn would be driving Charlie's beetle while the rest of the group drove in Shelby's range rover.

Quinn stood up as she gazed across the drive way with a smile at a bickering Shelby and Judy.

"Shel, don't be such a guy, right now."

"First of all, that's fucking gross Jude. Secondly, I'm not acting like a guy. I just think it's pointless to use GPS when there are highway signs to guide us."

"It may be pointless to you but I think it would be helpful to the group as a whole."

"Come on, where is your sense of adventure?! Using GPS makes it boring. This will be way more fun or better yet freeing without it. Pleeeaassee!" Shelby begged with a pout.

"Something tells me I'm going to regret this but fine and stop with the damn pout!" Judy rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"Yeesss! Your the best!" Shelby said as she engulfed Judy in a hug.

"Yeah, Yeah. Let's just get going. I don't want to lose light and you better pay attention to where we're going, Shel."

"I am."

"I'm serious!" Judy pressed.

"I will! Jeez lay off mom!" Shelby snarked back.

"Do you want me to smack you?"

"Just get in the car, Jude!"

"Fine!" Judy huffed as she hopped in.

The excitement was palpable once again as Shelby started the car and waited for Quinn to be ready to pull off.

Charlie and Skyler were just getting settled into the third row of seats.

Sam sat in the second row with Skyler's hand held game and pouch of extra games.

Shelby and Judy obviously commandeering the driver and passenger seat.

Rachel was sat in the passenger seat of the beetle staring a the back of the range rover with a feeling she couldn't place.

It wasn't bad but it wasn't happy.

It was odd really because being this close to her mother and sister usually sent her over the edge but she felt almost... Calm?

Just as her thoughts were about to take flight.

Quinn hopped into the driver's seat with a lunch container that she sat in Rachel's lap.

"I made you some snacks for the road. I'm not sure if you've eaten today but it should be enough to last until we get there. I also brought plastic bags in case you get motion sickness." Quinn said as she started the car.

Rachel's stomach did a flip and her coal heart rattled again as dust particles shook from it and slither of her heart shined through a tiny crack that just made itself visible.

"Thank you.." She said in a small voice.

Quinn looked at her and smiled. "Always."

The blonde began to pull off after Shelby's range rover.


No! You can't say Mario kart is better than super Mario brother's! That's like saying the Wiz is better than Wicked!" Charlie fumed.

"The hell did you just say, blondie?!" Shelby shouted simultaneously as Judy fired..

"Don't dare such a filthy thing again!" Both women looking appalled at the mere suggestion that the Wiz was better than Wicked.

Sam bellowed in laughter as Skyler flushed in embarrassment for causing Charlie to fly off the handle about Mario brother's.

Skyler was truly enjoying this. The entire car ride had been nothing but laughter and jokes.

She couldn't help but secretly wish just like everyone else in the car that Quinn and Rachel could be present laughing and joking with them.

But she understood that this was the only way to get Rachel there with no fuss.

"Well, it's true!" Skyler fired back just to keep the debate going.

It was the first time she had seen any real light in Charlie's eyes in the last few days.

Something was off about her bestfriend but she didn't know what.

The one time she tried to ask what was wrong Charlie snapped at her than later apologized claiming she had her period.

It was all very odd behavior.

She hoped this little weekend getaway would help whatever was bothering the blonde.

If that meant more debates like this than she was more than happy to argue over something so trivial.

"First of all that game is ancient!" Skyler threw back.

"You take that back!" Charlie wailed in indignation.


Quinn and Rachel had been driving in silence for the last thirty minutes.

Quinn didn't want to cause any unnecessary arguments so she just enjoyed the peace of silence.

Rachel felt her stomach growl and her mouth was salivating knowing she had the food in her lap.

She tentatively (hoping not to seem too eager) unzipped the lunch bag and lifting the top.

Her eyes shined at all the goodies in the bag as soon as the aroma hit her nostrils and her stomach growled loudly in anticipation.

The brunette flushed and took a glance at Quinn but the blonde's eyes were still on the road.

Rachel took that as a sign to dig in.

When she pulled out the tubberware and removed the top.

She bit her lip as she was met with a bowl of deliciously smelling pasta.

Rachel fumbled with the utensils in her haste.

Her stomach doing the thinking for her causing her to completely forget Quinn was there.

She moaned and began shoving the food in her mouth greedily.

Quinn kept her face neutral and eyes on the road but internally she was beaming.

She didn't want Rachel to be uncomfortable.

She also had to thank her mother for doing the favor in cooking the pasta.

None of the Fabray children could cook.

How would they learn when their father even minimized their mother's time in the kitchen.

But thankfully they didn't have to worry about it this trip.

So when she asked her mom for help her mother was more than happy to.

While her mother handle the main course Quinn handled the snacks of fruits.

Chopped veggies. Cakes and candy bars for any sweet craving Rachel may have and drinks.

Quinn also did a good bit of research the night prior on driving long distances while pregnant.

She wanted to be more than ready for anything.


They all stood around staring at the flat tire of Shelby's Range Rover as if it were a foreign object.

"What are you waiting for? Change it." Charlie said to Sam.

"Me?"

Yes you, your the boy here." Charlie replied.

"Just because I'm a boy doesn't mean I know how to change a tire. Dad never taught me. You change it."

"He never taught me either." Charlie said as they looked to Quinn.

"Don't look at me! I don't even own a car." Quinn replied.

The triplets looked at their mother. "Don't look over here. I've never done it either."

Judy turned to look at Shelby as Shelby stared at the flat in confusion.

Trying to figure out how the hell you would even get the thing off.

It was bolted in for Pete's sake! Shelby than noticed every one staring at her. "What?"

"Do you know how to change it?" Judy asked.

"Really Jude's? Look at me. Do I look like some one that would know that. My assistant usually does it all and let me tell you she's phenominal at making margarities but I don't really know anything else she does beyond that but what I do know is that when she's around nothing goes wrong. Which is, why I gave her not only a very generous bonus but also severance pay along with a thoroughly written letter of recommendation just before we moved to Lima. She now makes triple times as much as she did with me. Because she works for the president." Shelby gushed happy for her friend. They still keep in touch.

Every one stared at her as if she just lost her head.

That wasn't the question but still it equaled no.

"Do you over share with every one or is it just us?" Judy asked with a furrowed brow of 'What the actual fuck are you going on about?'

"Everyone why?" Shelby replied as if it was an odd question.

"Never mind." Judy replied than everyone's eyes fell on Skyler.

"Don't look at me I've never had a flat tire."

Everyone groaned.

"We have to call road side assistance." Quinn offered.

"Ok. What's their number?" Shelby asked.

"Google it." Judy responded.

"Ok, what's the name?" Shelby asked again.

"I don't know. I don't know how road side assistance works." Judy responded.

"Where are we anyway?" Charlie asked.

All of them looked around at the large expanse of empty land and highway no another vehicle in sight.

"We would know if some one had heeded my warning about preplanning the trip! But nooooo! It wouldn't be as fun or freeing if we followed the rules." Judy mocked as she glared at Shelby.

"Hey! Forgive me for removing the stick from up your ass!"

"Do want me to kick your ass?!" Judy fired.

"Bring it on, Barbie!"

"Don't tempt me, Kardashian!"

The two older women's argument was cut shut when the trunk of Shelby's range rover was slammed shut.

All eyes widened in surprise when Rachel rounded the car with the car's personal jack and tools.

They watched in amazement as the brunette set everything and began jacking up the car.

Gasps were heard as well as 'Cool' from Sam.

Rachel then set to work removing the tire by first showing off how strong she actually was as she began removing the bolts first than the tire.

No one had noticed during the bickering that she had already retrieved the tire from under the car.

She rounded the car with the spare tire and began installing it.

After she got everything replaced she lowered the car with the jack.

Replaced everything back in the trunk than walked back to Charlie's beetle in silence.

Every one stared at her in shock.

"Thank you!" They all called out simultaneously to the brunette but she ignored them as she slid into the car and slammed the door behind her.

"My kid just taught me how to change a tire." Shelby swooned over how cool her daughter was.

"She taught all of us." Skyler spoke up.

"She really is remarkable." Judy said with a warm smile.

"That was really cool." Sam spoke next.

"Where do you think she learned it?" Charlie asked impressed.

"I don't know but she's just.." Quinn spoke in such a dreamy way that caught everyone's attention with the quality of severe affection in her tone.

Causing every one to smile as the realization that Quinn may have more than just platonic feelings for the girl. "She's just perfect!" Quinn gushed before she ran to the car.

"Did you see that coming?" Shelby asked Judy.

"You know what? I honestly didn't but it makes me happy." Judy said with a disbelieving shake of her head.

"What do you give it?" Shelby asked with a smirk.

"Hmm.. 8 months."

"Hell no, Rachel's a tough nut to crack. I say a year."

"I don't know my Quinnie is resilient."

"Can't argue with that but still hundred bucks says a year."

"Your on!" Judy grinned.

The two were last to get back in the Range Rover and before they knew they were back on the road toward Columbus.