A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed, and just for you guys here's an update only two days after the first. Now I can't promise that every update will be this soon, but I'm hoping to crank another one out in just a few days. It's actually almost finished but I've got work taking up most of my time. Maybe some of you guys can guilt me into a quicker update ;) Enjoy…..Oh and I don't own glee, unfortunately.

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag, drifting throught the wind
Wanting to start again. Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
Like a house of cards, one blow from caving in

"You are a proud, successful, actress. You aren't that same cowardly pushover you were in high school. You've changed, grown." It was a mantra of sorts as she stepped into the atrium of the tall building. Chestnut locks fell freely about the determined, impish features of Rachel Berry as she stepped into the elevator. A set of perfectly straight, white teeth worried her bottom lip, belying her calm demeanor.

As she waited for the doors to close she glanced at her watch for what would seem the fortieth time and groaned. She was early. Nearly an hour early, actually. Well, punctuality was important, wasn't it? Clasping the small clutch protectively in front of her she steeled herself with a few deep breaths as the elevator stopped smoothly and the doors slid open.

"Hey Q, the Midget is here." Just those simple words transported her back in time and suddenly she was standing at a row of lockers with Karofsky heading towards her, complete with slushy in hand. She could've sworn she felt the icy sting of the beverage cascade over her skin before a feminine timbre called out, " Satana! We just had a damned conversation about professionalism. I swear one of these days I'm just going to find another assistant."

The blonde emerged from the office glaring at the latina who merely smirked in response from her place on the comfortable looking sofa, " Yeah, yeah Tubbers. Tell it to someone who actually believes you could get rid of this." A hand made a splayed gesture down her body and Quinn snorted with a laugh, shooting one more glare in the woman's direction before walking over towards the singer.

"Rachel. It's good to see you again." She blinked rapidly at the use of her name and lifted her gaze to the blonde in disbelief. "Q-Quinn." Cursing herself for stuttering, she lifted her chin and regarded those laughing hazel hues with a stiff smile, " You too. I'm a little early. I apologize, I thought that the punctuality from one such as myself would be.." "

"Damn, she still talks in paragraphs," came the remark from Santana and it put a bit of spark back into those chocolate hues and she stood up straight, " Unlike you, I have surpassed the need to express myself in the grunts and mental facilities of a caveman." Quinn laughed heartily while something akin to respect prompted a grin from Santana, " Well then, someone grew you a backbone over the years Manhands. Nice to see a little fire every now and again."

Do you ever feel already buried deep, six feet under scream
But no one seems to hear a thing
Do you know that there's still a chance for you, cause there's a spark in you

A hand found its way to the small of the shorter woman's back as she ushered her inside and after only the briefest of pauses she allowed Quinn to lead her over to the couch, settling primly on the edge of it as she crossed her legs. Surprisingly she found herself captive to the warm gaze of the blonde and it unsettled her.

She wasn't used to seeing anything more than cold indifference or even what she assumed to be hatred pouring from hazel hues. Wary of the implications, she smiled slightly and chanced a glance at the latina who was flipping through a magazine with a bored expression. " You look well. Both of you."

Seemingly surprised at the shortness of her words, Satana answered, "You say that as if you're surprised Berry. You're not the only one to make it out of Lima." There was satisfaction in her gaze as Rachel did as expected and sputtered, " I wasn't implying that I was surprised that you'd made something out of yourself Satana, merely that this is not what I expected when-" Huffing a laugh, the photographer reached over to place a hand over her own, "Rachel. Relax. She's just trying to get you worked up." Shooting a look at the pleased latina, "Off to the office with you Satan. I believe there's some paperwork to be filed somewhere in there."

Knowing she had her, the black-haired woman muttered, "Bitch," on her way to the office, slamming the door for emphasis, leaving Rachel to jump slightly. Neither woman noticed that Quinn still had her hand over the brunettes and she squeezed it gently.

Suddenly feeling awkward, Rachel pulled back and asked, " She's still kinda scary." Quinn merely smiled, and for the first time since she'd arrived Rachel noticed that it was genuine, and lit up her hazel eyes, prompting a small smile from the actress in return. " She's not so bad once you crack into the shell a little bit."

You don't have to feel like a waste of space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow

She was beginning to notice that the woman sitting in front of her bore no resemblance to the Quinn Fabray she'd known in high school. There was a warmth when she smiled, whereas in those days it never reached those intriguing hues. There had been a chilly calculation. It was as if the teenager had been all but detached from the outside world, never allowing anyone or anything past the confines of the cheerleading uniform that had held her power. There had been a few months, when she was pregnant where they had all gotten a glimpse of the real Quinn, but it had disappeared along with the adoption of Beth.

So into her intense perusal was Rachel that she hadn't noticed that Quinn was still speaking, and she shook her head before tuning in, "…done well for yourself."

Tilting her head, delicate brows creased in confusion before a light blush flagged her cheeks and she smiled somewhat awkwardly, " I must apologize Quinn, I was thinking and didn't hear what I assume was the compliment you just paid me." Quinn laughed easily and said again, " I was just asking if you'd kept in touch with anyone in Lima in all this time and that you've done very well for yourself."

Rachel nodded and smiled slowly, " Thank you Quinn," she said sincerely and quickly bypassed what might've been an awkward moment, " Actually, I really only kept up with a few people from Lima. My dad's of course still live there, and as far as I know both Puck and Finn still reside there as well. They share responsibility for an automotive repair shop if my memory serves correctly."

Bottom lip was held captive for just a moment before it was released and she gathered her thoughts, " Mercedes is here in New York, which I'm sure you are aware." Quinn nodded, the diva was more like a sister to her, even if they spent precious little time together. " Brittany is here as well, on tour with some dance crew from Los Angeles."

The conversation continued on, and neither woman noticed the latina now rooted to her place in the doorway. She'd opened the door just enough to eavesdrop on the two, but she'd never expected the information she'd just heard. Without thinking she slung open the door and turned towards the two surprised women, though Santana only had eyes for Rachel as she asked, almost pleadingly, " Brit is here?"

Chestnut curls flew with the force of her head snapping up, and she was almost fearful as she responded, " Y-yes?" Then mentally cursed herself for her trepidation, consequently hardening her jaw in pride.

Satana eyed her for a moment before cracking an entirely false smirk, " Don't worry Berry. I don't bite….hard." She winked, getting a very miniscule bit of her stride back as she regarded the brunette. However, it was now obvious at this point that she was out of her depth and very uncomfortable.

Maybe you're reason why all the doors are closed
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road
Like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow
And when it's time, you'll know

Cue Quinn. " Errr…you said Brittany is here?" It was almost like watching a tennis match with the speed of which the diva's chocolate hues moved back and forth between her two old tormentors and she sighed softly before focusing on the easier of the two, Quinn. " Yes. Brittany has been here for a few weeks now. They've got some big competition going on and rehearsals have been hectic. We've gotten together once or twice." She eyed the latina warily for any sign of impending doom before wondering aloud, " Is it just me or has the ungodly pink elephant entered the room when I wasn't paying attention?"

Satana released an audible breath, prompting the blonde to go to her, lowering her voice discreetly in some attempt for privacy, " Are you alright S?" Santana looked as though the breath had been knocked out of her and her hands trembled before she smoothed them on her skirt and nodded, a tremulous smile appearing on her lips, " I'm just fine Tubbers. Why don't you get back to your riveting conversation with the brown-noser." A weak attempt, but again Quinn didn't push and merely let the brunette retreat back into her office before she turned around, regarding the diva who looked utterly confused.

Settling back onto the seat across from Rachel who had yet to tear her gaze from the doorway, she murmured, " Don't worry about her, she'll be fine." It was the diva's turn to scoff, however false it might've been, " Please Quinn, like I'm worried about that pit bull. I'm sure whatever is wrong with her was her own doing."

That put Quinn's back up, but she wouldn't allow it to show. She was different now, had matured, or so she told herself and spoke quietly and calmly, " Actually, you might be interested to know it was Brittany who hurt her, not the other way around."

The disbelief must've shown on the brunette's features, because the blonde's brow rose in silent challenge. " You expect me to believe that sweet, innocent Brittany that would never hurt a living thing on this earth somehow acquire the unholy power to hurt the head bitch?"

Laughing with very little mirth, Quinn supplied, " Actually, if you'll remember correctly that was my title, not Santana's." She was growing impatient with the diva's lack of forgiveness, even if it was for the woman now hiding in the office, " If you'd get your righteous head out of your ass for a minute you'd notice that we've grown up, and I've said not one thing to you since you've been here to make you feel anything like I did in high school."

Rachel shot back without thinking, " You sure as hell haven't apologized for it either have you? And you might not have elected to spew unnecessary insults in the time that I've been here, but I noticed Satana did as soon as I entered the room."

Quinn sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, willing a quiet moment to calm herself. " That's just the way Santana is. It's the way she chooses to show she cares. Have any of those insults been anywhere near as cruel? Whether you'd like to believe it or not, we have grown up, perhaps some of us more than others."

It didn't take much for Rachel to slump tiredly in her chair, having the grace to blush in shame for her actions, " I apologize Quinn. I came here today in an attempt to put our past behind us and move forward, and all I did was plant myself directly back into McKinley High and revert back to the repressed diva I used to be." She was just now realizing that Quinn was being truthful. She hadn't uttered one insult the entire time Rachel had been in her studio, and lord knows she'd been given the chance. She hadn't done anything even remotely damaging or revolting until she'd picked a fight with her.

She leaned forward and repeated the action from earlier, laying her hand gently over Quinn's, " I am truly sorry. Now please, tell me about Santana and Brittany."

You just gotta ignite the light, and let it shine
Just own the night, like the Fourth of July
Cause baby you're a firework, come on show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!", as you shoot across the sky-y-y
Baby you're a firework, come on let your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!", you're gunna leave 'em fallin' down-own-own