Chapter 6:

"She's cute." Clem linked arms with Rachel as they walked back to her hire car. "So that's Quinn."

"That is." Rachel was still feeling bad about walking out like that.

"And she is why you're in Lima. Makes sense now."

"I'm in Lima because I needed a break. I didn't even know Quinn was here until I got here."

"Needed a break! Past tense, you're ready to come back."

"I didn't say that. I'm just..."

"It's Quinn." Clem finished for Rachel. "Its pretty obvious you like her."

"I've known her a long time. It's not that simple." Rachel was getting increasingly uncomfortable. She'd been enjoying Quinn's company, even if the conversation had been a bit stilted over dinner. Now Clem was here, she'd left Quinn behind and Broadway was back on her mind. "So this part?" She changed the subject back to work, she knew that was all Clem cared about anyway.

"It's a dream Rachel, it's more, it's the ticket. You have to do it."

"I'm not ready." Rachel stopped at the car door.

"You can't leave her?" Clem motioned back to the house where they'd left Quinn just moments before.

Rachel wasn't sure if that was it or not. "She's a friend."

"She's a very attractive friend."

"She is also very straight."

"You think so?" Clem laughed. "Just like you were until you stole Santana's girlfriend?"

"Shush." Rachel's eyes flashed in alarm although there was no one nearby to hear them. She sometimes hated that Clem knew so much about her, but it was better that way. She needed an assistant that she could count on and Clem had been exactly that over the years.

"Lacy was the prettiest girl I ever met, well apart from Quinn." Clem did her best Rachel impression, which wasn't very realistic but the words had been spoken in the past. Rachel had said them more than once.

She'd lived with Santana for a while in New York when she first got out of Lima. It had been an interesting experience, she could barely keep track of which girl Santana was dating. Then one morning Lacy was sat in their kitchen and that was the moment Rachel saw girls a whole lot differently.

Lacy smiled and Rachel couldn't stop grinning back at her. They shared a coffee and a week later the same happened. Santana would leave early for college and Rachel and Lacy would drink a coffee. Then Lacy was there more often when Santana was out at work. Weeks passed and Rachel still stared. One night Santana phoned to say she'd have to cancel their date and Lacy asked Rachel out for a drink instead.

When Lacy took her hand on the walk back to the apartment Rachel felt her heart explode. She went to say goodnight, but found herself leaning in for a kiss. Her skin tingled and her head rushed. She couldn't wait to see Lacy each day, but each time she was with Santana and her heart broke a little. She hated what she was doing behind her friends back, but couldn't resist when Lacy would kiss her and tell her not to worry. She lied to herself and they both lied to Santana.

Two months passed and Rachel wanted more. She wanted Lacy to herself. She got her wish the night Santana walked in and found them together.

Santana moved out and Rachel got Lacy, but it didn't last a month. Rachel had just landed her first role and she found that once they had freedom the thrill was gone. She promised herself never to get involved with someone in a relationship again. It caused too much heartache.

"Lacy is the past."

"And Quinn is the future?" Clem stopped and looked at Rachel searchingly. Not sure where her bosses head was at.

"Quinn is an old friend. A new friend. Nothing more and she's married."

Clem seemed satisfied with the answer and climbed into the car.

"Then lets talk over this script. Byron is hot on this. It took a lot for me to convince him it was better that I was the one that came here. He was ready to fly in."

"I couldn't have faced him."

Clem was right. The script, although rough, was what she'd dreamt of. She could cut her teeth on something serious, something that would define her and it was just the right time in her life. She didn't have to think at all, it just felt right.

They took the first flight on Saturday morning and she spent the week in New York, wrapped up in meetings. She got back to Lima late the following Sunday and found herself back at Quinn's door.

xoxo

Quinn had spent the whole week wondering if she'd even hear from Rachel again. The moment she'd closed her front door behind the departing Rachel and Clem she sucked in a deep breath. It was the end and she knew it. The end of what she wasn't even sure.

She still couldn't get her head around Rachel being gay. They'd spent plenty of time together, they'd talked about relationships, but for some reason Rachel had hid that from her, or perhaps she'd ignored the signs. She wasn't sure of anything anymore.

Clem had irritated her more than she liked, the woman had the measure of Rachel and was obviously an important part of her life. A life Quinn realised she knew very little about. She'd been looking at Rachel as if she was still in High school and ignoring the fact that fifteen years had shaped them both a lot since then.

Quinn couldn't get over the fact that Clem had walked into her home and in seconds took Rachel out of it. The next morning she pulled on her new trainers and got outside for a run. She found herself turning the corner towards Rachel's house, outside was an unfamiliar car, Clem stood by the door, a suitcase by her side. She was glad Clem was leaving, but then she saw Rachel rushing down the path, her suitcase dragging behind her. Quinn felt her stomach roll and quickly turned back out of the street. She didn't know why she ran away, she just knew she couldn't deal with anything right now.

xoxo

When Rachel wasn't in school on Monday, Quinn texted her, but nothing. She heard from Miss Hanson that Rachel was busy in New York. It stung a little that Quinn hadn't been told first hand, but of course Rachel would have contacted the school. Perhaps she'd got Clem to do it and Quinn doubted Clem would have bothered to contact her even if Rachel had asked her to.

Rachel had a life in New York, one that Quinn didn't belong to. The time they'd spent together had been fun and perhaps they could keep working on being friends. She felt at a loss though and when Greg called, she agreed to all he said. He moved back in that night and she was trying to be there for him, but really she was glad that he was around and she didn't feel so lonely. They'd eaten dinner together each night since and spent the weekend walking, talking and remembering the better times they'd had. He was almost enough to fill the void that Rachel had left behind.

Quinn sighed as she checked her phone again.

"You okay?" Greg looked up from the book he'd been reading. They'd somehow slipped back into their usual Sunday night routine. He was comfortable. Quinn was bored.

"Too many papers to mark." She pushed the pile she'd been working through off her lap. "I'm going to take a bath." Truthfully she knew she just wanted to be on her own. She'd enjoyed having her house to herself. With Greg back in situ it felt crowded.

"I love you Quinn."

Greg's words were filled with a hope she'd given him. "I love you too," she replied automatically.

She'd just dunked her head when she heard the door. Figuring it was her Mom she quickly began to dry herself off.

xoxo

Rachel was more flustered than she could fathom. She'd not replied to Quinn's text because she wanted to see her and to talk face to face. They were friends now she reminded herself as she made her way to her house. This was big news, a big opportunity.

She'd fooled herself into thinking she needed Quinn to take over the glee club, she didn't want to leave Lima and for all her efforts to go to waste. She knew already that Quinn would say yes if she asked her.

When she stopped kidding herself she knew that what she really wanted was to know what Quinn thought of the opportunity she was getting and how Quinn felt about her leaving. She entertained the idea that Quinn might ask her to stay, that she might find a reason for Rachel to be in Lima, but that thought didn't last long.

Rachel knocked the door for a second time. She could see the lights were on and Quinn's car parked in the drive. As the door opened she hurried her words.

"Quinn. I'm so sorry I didn't call, but..." she stopped when she finally looked up to see a strange man staring back at her confusedly. His eyes searching her face before a smile grew at his lips. She was instantly drawn to his deep blue eyes and thought he looked a little familiar. Her brain finally connecting the dots she realised he was the man in the photo. Quinn's husband.

"I know you," his grin grew.

"Is Quinn here?" Rachel felt her skin prickle, she'd not expected to see him at all.

"You're her! You are! I knew it." Rachel frowned. Greg was a little too pleased at recognising her. She'd met plenty of fans that acted this way and she always found it off putting. They'd think they knew her, but they just knew the roles she played. Reaching in her bag she pulled out a pen, ready to sign something, but he just smiled at her with a silly grin that she was beginning to find irritating.

"Quinn. I'm looking for Quinn Fabray… I mean Andrews."

"Rachel Berry!" he exclaimed, still ignoring her question. "Come in. Come in. I feel like I know you. Quinn has talked about you since the day I met her. Wow and you're here! At my house."

He called it his house and Rachel was thrown.

"Quinn?" she repeated. Her cold gaze catching Greg off guard.

The smile left his face as he became more self aware. "I'm sorry. Please," he grimaced. "I'll go get Quinn. Gosh I'm such a fool."

He seemed genuinely put out and she softened. "You must be Greg?" she turned on her charm and he smiled back at her warmly. He seemed nice. A little too eager, but maybe that is what Quinn liked about him and what she needed.

"It's nice to meet you at last. Let me grab Quinn, come in. Take a seat," the smile that lifted half his mouth lingered as he looked at Rachel one more time before heading back inside.

"Rachel?" Quinn appeared within seconds. Her hair wet and dripping down the fresh t-shirt she'd obviously just pulled over her head.

"I should have called." Rachel couldn't help but feel like she shouldn't be here, but seeing Quinn lifted her spirits. "I wanted to see you."

"Did he upset you?" Quinn took Rachel's arm and pulled her into the kitchen. "I'm sorry, Greg can be strange and he said he upset you or something."

"He…he was a little odd." Rachel smiled shyly. Her eyes meeting Quinn's and she found she couldn't hold her laughter in.

"I didn't know you were coming. I'd have..." Quinn stopped short, not knowing what she'd have done. Seeing Rachel had taken her by surprise. She opened the fridge before grabbing two glasses from the cupboard.

"He seems nice." Rachel sat down at the table and took the juice Quinn offered her. They'd not spoken all week and now it seemed as if both their worlds had changed exponentially. She hadn't expected to find Quinn's husband here. She didn't expect to see Quinn fresh from the bath, looking more beautiful then she remembered either. It hit Rachel then that she didn't want to just be friends. She wanted more and now it seemed so far beyond her grasp.

"How was New York?" Quinn had one eye on the doorway, obviously aware that Greg was loitering.

"I'm sorry I rushed out like that."

"It sounded important." Quinn dismissed her apology quickly.

"I should have, I um, it really was important. I had to go back to New York, so you see, well I got offered a part and I'm taking it." Rachel blurted out her news and found herself looking at Quinn as if she was expecting something in return.

"I'm happy for you Rachel, truly." Quinn squeezed Rachel's hand. "You deserve to be out there on that stage, not here in Lima, not here." Quinn's words were almost a whisper and Rachel strained to hear. "You don't belong here."

"You said before." Rachel said, her eyes focussed on the glass she was gripping a little too tightly. The words stung more this time. Quinn didn't want Rachel here, it was that simple. Greg was back, Rachel needed to be somewhere else. "I should go."

"I didn't mean you had to leave Please, stay, have something to eat, you must be hungry?" Quinn tried, but Rachel was already making her way out to the door.

"I'll see you at school."

"You're coming back?"
"I have a club to run, they don't need me in New York just yet. Anyway, I've let those kids down this week and we've a lot to catch up on."

"Right." Quinn swallowed thickly. She couldn't stop Rachel now.

"It was nice to meet you, Greg." She called out to the man sat watching the game in the living room. She noticed his feet up on the table. This was his home, his and Quinn's. Rachel really didn't belong here.

xoxo

"It's regionals tomorrow!" Rachel announced as she stood in front of her group. They'd managed to scrape it through sectionals in the first few weeks of her tenure, but they were a lot better now. This was the big challenge but it didn't worry her, she'd found something in each of them and they'd all worked so hard to get this far.

She wanted them to make it so much, but she knew she'd be saying goodbye to them all within a month because she had to be back in New York.

Rehearsals were set to begin and she felt more than ready to get back on stage. The glee club had given her something, they'd reminded her what it was like to dream. She remembered the person she used to be and she liked that.

Rachel was left with a question mark over Quinn, one that she felt would never go away.

Quinn had stopped by the choir room twice since that night at her house and Rachel had been short with her, saying she was busy, but knowing really that she just couldn't face Quinn right now, her feelings were all mixed up and she was worried she'd say something she'd regret.

"We're going to win this." Jimmy jumped up and took hold of her hands. She could feel his energy and she got a flashback to how she used to feel when it was her in front of her friends, when they were making their journey together. For so long she'd followed the script, repeating her lines every day, somewhere along the way she'd forgotten to test herself and now she was remembering how amazing a new challenge could be. She looked around at her group of misfits.

"Thank you, all of you. You've helped me see that making a dream is as important as living one. You're all so important, so talented and you can really win this, I know you can."

"One last rehearsal." Mischa was on her feet and the music began to play. Rachel watched them with an overwhelming sense of pride, she could feel the tears well in her eyes as her smile filled her face.

When the song was over they split into their own little groups, talking about the plans for the competition and then as the bell rang they made their way to their classes.

Rachel didn't move. She stayed seated at the piano and wondered why she'd not learned to play properly.

"Hey." She looked up to see Quinn watching her from the doorway. The blonde looked a little forlorn as she rested her head against the wooden frame and waited for Rachel to respond.

"I thought we were going to be friends?" Rachel felt her voice crack, she'd tried to keep her distance, to work out what she was feeling but she'd missed Quinn.

"We are." Quinn stepped into the room, nodding her head. "I'm sorry I was hard on you coming back here. I just watched them all sing and wow, you're an amazing teacher Rach. They...well you've given them all some hope and a chance. I wish I'd seen you that way at High school."

"We're still at High school." Rachel shrugged.

"I shouldn't have been so cold the other night. I am happy for you. I want the best for you Rachel. Can you hate me for that?"

"I could never hate you."

Quinn smiled and took a seat on the stool next to Rachel. She began to play the music that had been left out. "Are you ready for tomorrow?"

Rachel shrugged, it was out of her hands now, she had to trust the glee club. "Will you come to watch us?"

"I'm..." Quinn couldn't. She'd made plans with Greg. Everything had been moving so fast that she'd forgotten it was competition time. She'd been so busy trying to fill her head with things other than Rachel and yet she couldn't stay away from the choir room. "I'll try and make it." She finally promised and she knew she would try and find a way.

"I missed you." Rachel put her hand on top of Quinn's stopping her from playing another note.

Quinn's eyes rested on where Rachel's hand lay on top of her skin. "I should go." She stood up quickly almost tripping as she made a hasty escape.

Quinn was outside the main doors to the school before she stopped. She quickly sucked in a deep breath and let it go slowly. The reason she'd been avoiding Rachel was becoming a little too clear to her now, but she knew it didn't matter. Rachel would soon be back in New York. That was how things were meant to be.

xoxo

"She ran off." Rachel sighed. Kurt rolled his eyes at her and for a moment she hated that she could see him on the screen.

"And tomorrow is about winning or about finding out why Quinn Fabray is still a major fascination of yours?"

"We win. Quinn is…oh shut up Kurt."

"Touchy!"

"Maybe I like her but, I can't like her."

"Oh I'm always right Rachel. Talk to her."
"I can't." Rachel shook her head vehemently. "I have to concentrate on helping these kids win tomorrow."

"You'll be fine." Kurt reassured.

"I'll call you after."

"You'd better!"

Rachel signed off but despite trying to focus on last minute plans, she was still thinking about Quinn.