A/N: The Rachel chapter has two parts. I know, I know. First I said there were two, and then only said there were three parts, and there really are, but technically it's four. The third is split into two because I like it better this way. So yeah, it may seem like four parts, but in reality it's three.

But I digress, Part One of the Rachel chapter is subtitled: 'Seven Times that Rachel says her Name and it Actually means Something'; Part Two is subtitled: 'Three Times Rachel says her Name and it Means Something More'. The progression in the last three times is what made me split it into two separate parts. I would've kept it as one significantly longer chapter, but I didn't think that would go with the extremely short previous chapters. Besides, the final part will be close to the length this part is on its own.

Quinn (3a/3)

-Rachel- Part One or Seven Times (out of Ten) that Rachel says her Name and it Actually Means Something

When Rachel says her name Quinn doesn't know how to feel. At first she lashes out and orders slushy facials and calls the other girl names: Manhands, Treasure Trail, RuPaul, Berry. Anything but Rachel. It's quite ironic that even with all the antagonizing, the smaller girl continues to call her by her name. In fact, she never calls her anything but "Quinn," and the blonde doesn't know what to think about that.

-One-

While she was the Head Cheerio Quinn thinks that Rachel calls her by her name to show her her strength and that she'll never let anything get to her. And, while this is true, it's actually because Rachel's not a bitch; she's not going to make fun of someone else just to make herself feel better. This makes Quinn jealous. She wishes she could have the smaller girl's confidence.

"Quinn." Rachel nods as she passes the blonde on the way into the bathroom. She says it as if she were using the bathroom for anything other than to clean the red slushy off her body.

Quinn hates it when Rachel says her name.

-Two-

When news gets out that Quinn is pregnant, the blonde starts toning down the harsh nicknames but still continues to say them. Rachel doesn't care; she takes all the insults in stride and continues to call the blonde her given name. She even offers Quinn her friendship, which the blonde ignores because she's sure the little diva has ulterior motives and somehow wants to bring her further down the food chain than she already is. But it's not only that, she wants to be like Berry and have the confidence and strength to go through the pain, torment and challenge, and get to the top on her own.

She doesn't want to admit it, but it's hard, and she can never be like the brunette, she doesn't truly have her strength or confidence. Soon, when the tribulations wear on her and she can't bear dealing with everything alone, it's Rachel Berry who comes to her and reminds her that she isn't alone and she doesn't have to be.

"Even though you are constantly pushing us away and trying to deal with this by yourself, you don't have to. You have friends and we're here for you. And while I'm not sure how reassuring you may find this, since you do not consider us friends, I'm here for you, Quinn."

Maybe it was the fact that Rachel was the only person to ever try to talk to her, or maybe it was the fact that, in spite of everything, the brunette continued to call her Quinn, but she did find it reassuring, and she started to accept the help her friends were offering her, albeit very slowly. She allowed Puck to help her with the baby, she accepted Mercedes offer to stay at her place, and acknowledged the budding friendship between her and Rachel.

The blonde thinks that when Rachel says her name it sounds like an angel allowing her to start something new.

-Three-

After her pregnancy she and Rachel are friends. It's nice but everything isn't all sunshine and sparkles.

Rachel starts going out with Finn. Again.

Sure she and Finn are now on good terms, but Quinn can't help but think that that somehow goes against the friend code or something. Isn't there some rule about going out with your friend's ex or something like that? But then she remembers that she shouldn't have the right to judge since she's probably broke every rule when she slept with her best friend's boyfriend who was also her boyfriend's best friend.

Yeah, maybe she can let Rachel slide.

Still, when she hears Rachel say Finn's name she can't help notice how it's different than when Rachel says her name.

"Finn!" Rachel squeals as her boyfriend picks her tiny body up and spins her around. It sounds like rainbows and laughter and something like love. Quinn looks on from her place slightly to the side, an amused smile adorning her face. Finn puts the brunette down and he puts an arm around her waist and begins to pull her down the hall. Rachel walks with him, but stops short so she could look over her shoulder at the blonde.

"Quinn," she says, and it sounds like happiness and something like friendship. She waits until Quinn begins to follow before looking forward. She doesn't see the glossiness of the reinstated Cheerio Captain's eyes as tears begin to prickle at the sides. She doesn't see the way the other girl grabs at her chest like there was a sudden ache she was trying to smother. She doesn't see the blonde turn on her heel and walk in the other direction, eyes downcast as the first drop of liquid hits the floor.

Quinn thinks that hearing Rachel say her name should make her feel happy, but it only makes her feel sadness and an unexplainable pain.

-Four-

When Rachel breaks up with Finn and she's crying into Quinn's chest asking, "Why did he do this to me?" the blonde feels torn. She shouldn't be happy that Finn cheated, or that he had been lying about it for so long, but she is. It makes her feel sick because she's at ease even as her shirt is soaking wet with tears from the girl in her arms. She comforts her friend with words about how "boys are stupid," and that "Finn didn't deserve such a wonderful girlfriend."

She thinks that she shouldn't be okay with having the smaller girl nod against her chest saying, "Thanks, Quinn," because she shouldn't think that Rachel looks beautiful—and definitely not like a man—even when her face is full of tears and her eyes are swollen and red.

She thinks that Rachel saying, "Quinn," once more as she wraps her arms around her back to bring them closer together shouldn't sound so much like hope.

-Five-

A year has gone by and Quinn and Rachel are closer than ever. It's the summer before senior year and they are baking a cake. Rachel didn't want anything to do with it at first, but considering the occasion, she's allowed Quinn to play the "Best Friend Card" to convince her to help.

Even so, the brunette is glaring at the blonde for assigning her this certain task.

"I find it extremely unfair that you are having me kill these baby chickens."

"Rachel," Quinn sighs exasperatedly, "They're already dead." She laughs at the look of horror on her friend's face.

"Quinn!"

"I didn't mean it like that! I mean the eggs aren't even fertilized so they don't actually have baby chickens—"

"—They're called chicks." Rachel interrupts matter-of-factly.

"But you just said… never mind. Look, I asked you this because it's for my mom's birthday. I wouldn't have you killing chicks," she rolls her eyes as she says the word, "for my own joy. I think I'm over tormenting you for my amusement."

"I know, but it's still hard." She's cupping an egg in both hands tenderly; afraid that holding it between her fingers will crush its fragile shell.

Quinn looks at her friend with that emotion that's been continuing to build inside her, and pulls her into her arms. "We'll do it together then." She whispers the words against the smaller girl's hair and feels a nod against her chest. The blonde leads them over to the mixing bowl where she had been preparing her dry ingredients.

"Together," Rachel mumbles; the egg now in one hand.

"Together," Quinn repeats and places her hand around the other girl's. "On the count of three."

"One."

"Two."

"Thr—" Crunch! "Oh my gosh." Crash! "Rachel!"

"It's everywhere!" Splat! "Help me-Eep!" Thud!

-Ten Minutes Later-

"I'm sorry I destroyed the cake."

"It's okay."

"And your mixing bowl… and your baking pans… and all of your eggs…"

"It's okay."

"I'm sorry I panicked."

"It's okay. I mean you ended up falling in the end…"

Rachel glares and crosses her arms, "It's just I thought you meant on three and not after three. So when you weren't squeezing, I got scared and squeezed too hard. And then it got on my fingers and I just... why are you smirking?"

"I told you you had man hands."

"QUINN!"

Quinn thinks that when Rachel says her name it sounds like warmth and best friends… Even as she's being lectured on "the appropriate nicknames one is allowed to call a friend." And that "No, there is not an affectionate way of saying 'oompa loompa.'"

-Six-

When Quinn's grandmother passes away, the news comes the morning of her AP US History exam. Her mother asks her if she wants to stay home, but Quinn decides against it. She doesn't really remember her grandmother, so while it hurts, she knows she'll be okay.

It isn't until halfway through her exam that she remembers everything about Grandma Ellie: her first train ride, her first fair visit, her first pet dog… Then she remembers that Grandma Ellie was the only family member who offered her a place to stay after she was kicked out (though she's sure her sister would've offered if she had known). The memories flood through her mind and it's so sudden she nearly blacks out.

"Excuse me!" She runs out of the class, light headed and dizzy, to the nearest bathroom before collapsing to the ground in tears.

Rachel finds her not too long after. "Quinn," is all she says before sitting on the ground beside the blonde and pulling her into her chest. She doesn't say anything else while Quinn cries; she doesn't even mention the AP exam they both happen to be missing. She just sits against the bathroom wall holding the blonde until she stops crying.

Quinn feels it this time when Rachel says her name. It feels like sadness and comfort and something like family.

-Seven-

A new guy joins glee and he and Quinn are vying for Rachel's attention. Quinn and the New Guy—she hasn't even bothered remembering his name, that's how much she despises him—are currently singing against one another—much like Santana and Mercedes were about Puck.

It's getting heated and New Guy smiles at Rachel. He smirks at the blonde when he sees her smile back. Quinn growls and slams her palms on the piano, causing all the music to stop abruptly. She looks around embarrassedly and storms out of the choir room; making sure to slam the door loudly as she leaves.

The door opens and she stops the pacing she's been doing for the past five minutes, but continues to clench and unclench her fists. She begins speaking, because she already knows who's behind her even as her back is turned.

"He's not good for you. He's got the wrong motives and I can see it. I can see it when he looks at you from the way his eyes trace up and down your body. I can see it when he tilts his head to the side just so he can try and catch a glimpse up your skirt. And I can see that he doesn't really care for you the way I do… because you're my best friend and I don't want to see you hurt." She adds the last part quickly, because her confession was starting to sound like the wrong kind of confession; or at least it would be for that time.

"Quinn, I…" The brunette is avoiding the blonde's gaze, but she can see the emotion when their eyes do meet. Rachel quickly looks away and pulls them back inside the classroom.

Quinn feels accomplished and she smirks at New Guy. Rachel hasn't let go of her hand the entire practice or stopped the shy smile that's appeared on her face.

The words are whispered and she barely catches them, but she hears them all the same: "Thank you."

This time Quinn feels it even though it wasn't her name. It feels like affection and pride and something she can't describe.