Almost three months. 3 months and no memories. At this point, Quinn was getting worried. Nothing was triggering a memory. Not a smile, a story, a picture, a home movie. Rachel was still the same girl she was when she woke up 2 and a half months ago. So today, Quinn was going to demand answers.
She knocked on Rachel's door, 8 am, with a cup of coffee.
"Come in." Rachel said from the other side of the room.
Quinn smiled and walked inside. "'Morning."
"Good morning." Rachel said, laying in her bed still, looking way too comfortable to move.
"So I have a proposition. And it all depends on how you're feeling. I say, today we go to the doctors, so they can run some tests and see how your memory is doing. Then, I can drop you off at the school and you can teach one class. Three is too much, and too overwhelming. We need to start slow."
Rachel's eyebrows shot up. To be honest, she had totally forgotten that she even had a job. Her life right now seemed simple, easy. Wake up, have breakfast with Quinn, share a story, cuddle on the couch while watching a movie, call her dads, dinner, then go to sleep. She didnt even want to remember at this point. She appreciated and enjoyed her life enough as it was, she didnt care for her memories. But clearly, something from her life was missing. Work. "Oh.. I... Teaching is tough for someone who doesn't remember anything. I don't know the first thing about music, or about any of my kids."
Quinn nodded and quickly sat beside Rachel, holding onto her knee. "I promise you, if you feel ready for it, it will be okay. The kids know your condition, and are completely sympathetic towards it, and will help you. And as for the music part, you have that scarred in your bones. Memory or not, you are a musician. You have the voice of an angel, you can pick out a note from any instrument, and can play the piano. Trust yourself."
The brunette bit on her lip and shut her eyes tightly. "I guess I have to at some point, right?"
Quinn nodded in response.
"Okay. I'll get dressed. Then we'll go to the hospital."
Quinn grinned and nodded. "Take your time." She said, before stealing a sweet, short kiss on Rachel's lips. It still felt as good as the first time, and thankfully it was becoming a consistent thing. They haven't made out since that night half a month ago. But that night they were both high off of the sexual tension, and almost needed the kiss to cool off. But this time, their pecks showed that they were both in it for the long hall.
The blonde stood up, and walked off. She went into the car and waited.
Rachel nervously drank her coffee as she got dressed. She put on a professional looking pencil skirt with a blazer and a white shirt underneath. She put her hair in a high pony and smiled at herself. She looked good in work clothes, she decided. Rachel walked downstairs, and slipped on a pair of pointed toe heels that seemed to match.
When she got the car, and sat in the passenger seat, Rachel exhaled. "Okay, lets go."
Quinn chuckled lightly and nodded. She turned her head to look at Rachel and stopped the car before even going anywhere. "Wha... What are you wearing.." She started, her voice shaky and breaking in the oddest spots.
Rachel furrowed her eyebrows and looked down at herself. "It was the only work type clothes I could find. What's wrong with it?" She checked herself, as if to look for the hole.
"No... Take it off. Change!" Quinn demanded, banging her head on he steering wheel, causing it to honk.
Rachel couldn't see her wife's face, but she was positive that Quinn was sobbing. "Quinn..." Rachel started, touching her shoulder. "What's wrong?"
Quinn shrugged her arm off, and forcefully stepped out of the car. She slammed the door shut, and shook her head. "I am not taking this car anywhere with you in that outfit!"
"Why?!"
"Because I can't stand the thought of you getting into another accident wearing the exact same outfit!" Quinn screamed, shutting her eyes as tears quickly raced down her cheeks.
Rachel's eyes widened as her lips parted. Oh. She looked down at herself, and come to think of it, she noticed a small blood stain on the white shirt by the collar. "This is what I was wearing?" She whispered, stepping closer.
Quinn just barely nodded, choking on her tears, her head down.
The brunettes heart broke for Quinn. "I'll change, Quinn, I'll change." She promised, walking over to her. Rachel lifted her chin and finally looked at her. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She whispered before connecting their lips lovingly.
Quinn's eyes were shut as she kissed Rachel, tears falling from her cheeks. Her arms loosely wrapped around her waist as their lips moved in sync. It really wasnt the time for another make out session, but this moment was just beautiful. So heart breaking, yet out of total love and fear of losing one another.
Rachel slipped her tongue down Quinn's throat, her hands finding the blondes hair, tugging slightly.
Quinn giggled into her mouth before finally pulling away. "We're going to be late." She whispered heatedly against the girls lips, panting.
Rachel groaned and nodded with a laugh. "You always leave me wanting more, Quinn Berry-Fabray." Rachel commented, separating their bodies. "I'll change. Shouldn't be longer than 5 minutes." Rachel said, blowing her another kiss before disappearing into the house.
Within half an hour, the two were at the hospital. They walked in hand in hand, just out of comfort for Quinn. She was still a little shaky from the mental breakdown earlier. Of course the kiss helped a great deal, but she didn't think she would ever see Rachel in that outfit again. Especially with her having no idea about its importance.
"We should be next." Quinn said with a nod, as they sat down in the waiting room.
"Okay." Rachel said simply, smiling. She looked over at Quinn and cupped her cheek. "Are you okay?" She asked sadly.
Quinn eyed her and smiled lovingly. "Yes I am, thank you."
"I'm sorry." Rachel pouted.
"Don't be. You had no idea." Quinn insisted, smiling again.
Doctor Pane interrupted a moment as he called, "ahh, Mrs and Mrs Berry-Fabray." He called in he lobby. "Come in."
Both girls stood as they nervously walked over to the same room Quinn spent 30 days anxiously awaiting for a positive answer.
Rachel took a seat on the bed, it felt like home to her. It was odd. Yes, she had grown to love living with Quinn, and she did really like Quinn, and the odd yet adorable relationship they started. But this is where she woke up. This is her very first memory.
"So how are we feeling Rachel?" He asked, smiling at her.
"Better." Rachel said with a nod and a smile. "Quinn and I are now an official couple. Rocky, yet we're working on it. We're slowly trying to get things back to normal, and day by day I meet someone knew, and hear a new story."
"But she hasn't remembered anything on her own." Quinn joined in, bringing the negative part of the story. "And I'm nervous that something is wrong. If she was going to remember, shouldn't it have happened by now?"
He nodded, agreeing with her. "But Quinn, the day Rachel woke up, I told you both that there was a chance that she could never remember."
Quinn chuckled and shook her head. "I know you said that, Doc, but this is my wife we're talking about. She's practically invincible."
Doctor Pane sadly shook his head. "I'm sorry Quinn, but not everyone is invincible in moments like this." He informed her. And Quinn knew it was true, but she had been living in denial for the past few months. And hearing it said so bluntly with no excuses or shame stabbed her right in the heart.
"I know." She whispered sadly.
"But, we will run some tests as promised, and see how the progress is coming. Rachel, if you could just come in this room with me, and we'll ask you a few questions, take some blood and do a scan."
Rachel nodded, jumped off the bed and followed Doctor Pane into the back room.
Quinn was left alone with her thoughts. She sighed heavily. Something about this room brought back a panicky, scared, uptight version of herself. A version of herself where Rachel's life was on the line. And that if she died, Quinn would never forgive herself. She couldn't move on if Rachel had died here. Something interrupted her from her depressing thoughts.
The phone rang. Quinn furrowed her eyebrows and dug out her phone. Finn. This is the second time he's called in 2 and a half months. It was nice that he cared enough to call in the first place. Rachel was his true love after all, his fiancé. And that truth is the reason why Quinn has made no move to officially introduce the two.
"Hello?" She asked, picking up.
"Oh hey Quinn. I was hoping Rachel would pick up. Not that I don't love talking to you. It's just, I haven't had the time to talk to her since her accident." He explained, mumbling.
"It's okay Finn, I get it." She said, interrupting his run on sentence.
The blonde heard a muffled chuckle come from the other line. "So how is she? Last time I called, she just moved in and things were weird."
Quinn sighed and nodded. "Now, she loves the house, yet things are still weird. I mean, we're a couple again. Officially. Today at the hospital was the first time I've ever heard her refer to us as that, so that's progress. But she still hasn't remembered anything, and I'm starting to worry." Quinn didn't know why she was telling him all of this. She never liked Finn all that much. At all actually.
"Wait, hospital? Why? Is she okay?"
"Yeah, she's fine. I just wanted our doctor to run some tests. I just want to make sure everything is working, and that there is some progress being made."
Finn nodded and hummed out his response. "Well, I'll call back in a few weeks. And maybe I'll come into town and visit. I would love to see her." He said, which made Quinn clench her jaw. Though her and Rachel were head over heels in love during their marriage, Finn always brought back her high school jealously. The way he thought he had her just by his crooked smirk. But he didn't. He had nothing.
"Oh no, it's fine. No rush to stop by." Quinn tried saying casually.
He chuckled, clearly seeing right through her fake attempt to keep Rachel's at arms length. "Well tell her I called and that I'm thinking of her." Then, he hung up.
The nerve on that guy. He actually called Quinn, dropped a few bombs that Rachel is still very much on his radar and says he might 'stop by'. She breathed heavily, trying to calm herself down.
But before she could punch a hole in the wall, Rachel came back with a smile and a lolly pop. "What's with the candy?" Quinn asked, standing up.
Rachel shrugged and chuckled. "I was afraid of the scanner." She confessed, then skipped out of the room.
Quinn giggled and rolled her eyes. Doctor Pane came to her and said the results should be in within the next few hours and that he would call her.
The blonde pulled up to McKinley. "So this is it." She informed Rachel, nervously looking out of the same window.
Rachel exhaled loudly. "I don't know if I can do this." She said.
Quinn shook her head. "You're Rachel Berry. You can do anything. And if something happens, call me, and I'll be right there." Quinn said with a nod.
Rachel turned back to face Quinn and nodded with a scared smile. "Thanks." She said, and leaned in for a sweet kiss. Rachel stepped out of the car and looked at the school.
"I love you." Quinn desperately called out.
Rachel furrowed her eyebrows sadly and turned to look at her. She offered a soft smile before walking off, avoiding her needed answer. She wasnt ready, in fact, she was no where near close to those type of serious feelings.
When Quinn got home, she sighed. The house was quiet, the house was quiet again. And she hated it. She spent an hour writing in her third book. And for once, she's sure that this is her best yet. Because in this one, she actually gets the girl. In the first two, she wrote about the struggles of watching the love of your life with someone else. And the struggle of knowing that she deserves them more than you, because they're better for her than you are. But this ones happier. This one celebrates how good it feels to finally find her, to finally have her.
Only one class today, Rachel would do it, she knew she could. She shut her eyes before stepping into the class room.
"Mrs. Berry!" They all chanted, huge grins on each of their faces.
Rachel giggled, blushing softly. They all seemed so happy to see her. "Hi everyone." She said, placing her stuff on her desk. "Before I take attendance, I just want to explain what happened to me. I'm sure most of you know the gist, but none of you know my side."
They all sat in anticipation, sympathy on their faces. "3 months ago I was in a life threatening car accident. One that could have easily taken my life. Thankfully I was left in a coma and a few broken bones. But there were some technical difficulties when I woke up. I forgot... Everything. Every single memory I have ever made, every person I've ever known, and every song I've ever sung. And guess what? I still don't remember anything. So right now is absolutely terrifying. Because I'm looking at all these young faces, hoping it'll trigger a memory, but I'm coming up blank. So I'm so sorry if I'm not the same teacher you remembered from 3 months ago, but I'm going to try." She said with a nod and a soft smile.
The girl in the front row, and the guy beside her both nodded with a smile. "We actually made you a card." The boy said with a grin, revealing a huge Bristol board with what looks like over a thousand signatures and over a hundred sweet comments.
Her eyes filled with tears as she carried the poster, awing. "This is... Thank you all, so much. This is perfect, I appreciate it so much." She said, placing it down.
After going through attendance, and being a little better with names, Rachel started her class. "So this is music class. And I can only hope that I've taught you that singing is a main form of music. For me, it's the key one, but I don't know about you guys. So, today I thought maybe I would sing for you." She said, almost in a question. And by the look on her students faces, she assumed this wasn't the first time she did it.
But it was. Rachel hadnt sung since the accident. She wasnt aware of her own voice, or the talent she had. She was about to be very overwhelmed with her talent, and upset that she never did anything with it.
She sat on her desk and debated a song to sing. Eventually she decided to sing I Won't Give Up by Jason Mraz.
When I look into your eyes
It's like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise
Well, there so much they hold
And just like them old stars
I see that you've some so far
To be right where you are
How old is your soul?
She was almost overwhelmed by the power of her own voice. She was singing quietly, but the noise that came out of her mouth instantly brought her to tears. And by the time the chorus rolled around, half of her students were too. They've heard her sing before, but this time was all the more special. Because they were apart of her own discovery of her voice.
Well I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up
Rachel continued singing the song, and the closer she got to the end, the angrier she was singing. She was so frustrated when she was singing. Yes she sounded beautiful, and it took her breath away, but what she imagined when she was singing caused major confusion. The song was beautiful, and only one person should come to mind when singing it. But she saw two people. Quinn, and Finn. And they were both there standing at the finish line waiting for her.
I don't wanna be someone who walks away so easily I'm here to stay and make the difference that I can make
Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use the tools and gifts, yeah, we got at stake
And in the end you're still my friend at least we did intend
For us to work we didn't break, we didn't burn
We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in
I had to learn what I've got, and what I'm not, and who I am.
She sang at the top of her lungs as a cloud of tears swarmed her cheeks. She wanted Quinn. She wanted Quinn completely. She wanted to jump into her arms, tell her she loved her and that she remembered every moment they shared together, but she didn't. For some reason, though never meeting him, Rachel was curious about Finn. He was always at the back of her mind, even when she didn't want him there.
I won't give up in us
Even if the skies get get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up.
The last note in the song was so desperate. So broken and lost. She had given up. In that very room, Rachel realized just how far away from the finish line she actually was.
Quinn was in the kitchen preparing dinner when the front door opened.
"I'm home." Rachel called.
Quinn smiled and walked over to her, wife #2 apron on her as always. "How was it?" She asked nervously.
Rachel eyed her, her eyes already filling with tears at the question. "Just hug me." She begged.
The blonde nodded and stepped into her, hugging desperately onto the brunette. "It's okay baby, I'm here."
"It wasnt bad, but I was just overwhelmed. I was faced with the reality that I still don't remember anything."
Quinn pulled away from the hug and nodded. She kissed Rachel's forehead. "I should get a call from the hospital any minute now, with hopefully the answers to all of this. Why don't you shower, get into pajamas, and dinner will be ready by the time you come back down."
Rachel smiled softly and nodded. "That sounds nice." She said, and began walking off.
Quinn walked back to the kitchen before she heard Rachel say, "I sang today."
Her eyed went wide, as she went to go find her again. "You sang? Like... Sang sang?"
Rachel nodded with a smile.
"How did it feel?"
"Empowering. Amazing. Incredible. Yet heartbreaking and confusing."
Quinn nodded with a sad smile. "That's normal, it's okay. I'm so proud of you. Now go, relax."
Rachel smiled and nodded. When she saw Quinn disappear into the kitchen, she quickly ran down into the basement. She grabbed one of the three books, and ran back upstairs into her room.
Once unchanged and into the bath, she flipped it open. She frowned. It was book two. Rachel wanted book one, that was where she left off at. But it was too risky to turn back now.
Quinn was busy making dinner when the phone rang. She eagerly ran over to it.
"Hello?" She answered.
"Hi Quinn, it Doctor Pane."
She nodded, her eyebrows arched. "Oh, hi doctor. I'm guessing her results came in. Please tell me it's good news."
Rachel smiled sadly as she read through it. Reading about the love triangle between the three of them wasnt helping her current state of confusion.
I sat in the back of the choir room as I watched Rachel sing another solo. It sounds like I'm complaining, but I'm not. Rachel's voice is like silk. It's beautiful, it's mesmerizing, and I could listen to it for days. That's not what bothering me. The fact that she's singing it to Finn is the problem. Finn my ex boyfriend, Finn her current boyfriend, Finn. Finn the guy. Finn, not me. He doesn't deserve her. Finn doesn't understand the true beauty behind what is Rachel Berry. He doesn't see the way she looks down when she's lying, the nervous way she tucks her hair behind her ears, or how she shuts her eyes when she's laughing so hard. He doesn't notice the little things. And she doesn't notice me. I feel like my whole life is turning into some sort of twisted love song. But in this case, I don't get the girl in the end. Because even though Finn doesn't deserve her, neither do I. I've been cruel, and she would be a fool to be with me.
"So you're saying its all mental?" Quinn asked, furrowing her eyebrows.
She could tell the doctor was nodding. "It's hard to explain. But in the scans, it seems like all her memories are being blocked by what looks like a gigantic wall. I think the reason why Rachel doesn't remember anything is because somewhere deep down, she doesn't want to. She's not allowing herself to go to that desperate state of emotion, in which she begs for her memories back. She seems to be just living. That wall, are her thoughts. And for some reason, she's her own obstacle. She hasn't remembered because she doesn't want to."
Quinn's eyes watered as she dropped the phone. She quickly scrambled to get it, thanking the doctor, before hanging up.
She continued reading through, resting in the bath. And before she knew it, Rachel was halfway through. That's when she read something quite interesting. Something that literally made her sit on the edge of her seat.
Valentines day. The day of love. That one day of the year that fantasies become your reality as your lover attempts to impress you from all different angles. Or, clearly in my life, the day that that the love of your life confesses to being engaged. That's right. You've heard it here first, ladies and gentleman. Rachel berry is engaged to Finn Hudson. As in, engaged to be married. I knew it was going to happen sooner or later. I've never seen them apart, they talk about having kids, and haven't had a dramatic break up all year. The truth is, it was about time. Of course, it broke my heart. The second she announced it, then stared at him lovingly, inviting him into an intense make out, I had to leave the room. Close your eyes, imagine everything you've ever wanted, now imagine someone breaking all your hopes and dreams right in front of you. Open your eyes, welcome to my life.
Rachel's eyes widened, that couldn't have been right. Quinn said they weren't that serious. Quinn said her relationship with Finn was practically a fling. She impatiently flipped a bunch of pages.
I tried to tell Rachel to end the wedding. To end all things Finn actually. I practically told her to leave him, or her dreams will never come true. And it was in that moment I realized just how attached she really was to him. "Finns my soulmate." She told me.
Rachel shook her head. No. She flipped more pages.
Apparently, somewhere along the line, I became Rachel's go to friend. There she was, basically laying out her entire future in front of me. Their kids names, the flowers at their wedding, their honeymoon, what she's getting him for their 10th year anniversary. And I knew there was no way of getting her out of this Finn bubble.
And she flipped twenty more.
She came to me crying today. I couldn't even see her properly, her own tear filled eyes was making my own sight blurry. "He left. He's gone. He went off to the war, and didn't even let me fight fomeh in. Fight for us. I don't know what I'm supposed to do now. Finn is the only person for me. I don't want anyone else." She told me, inviting herself in. She proceeded to tell me that she felt empty without him. That his leaving meant that her plans and dreams were smashed. Because he was her dream, and he left her. I felt for her, I felt so bad for her, that I hugged her. I promised Rachel in that moment that I would be there from now on, and I would. Because I knew that if Finn stayed, they would be married with kids right now. And I wouldn't have the girl.
Rachel slammed the book, anger in her eyes, along with tears. Quinn lied. She lied about everything. She took advantage of her own weakness in the past, and used it to make to her advantage. Now Rachel didn't even know if her feelings were real.
Quinn angrily slammed the phone on the table. She was furious, yet so sad that she couldn't tell which was overpowering the other. Rachel didn't remember because she didn't want to. She wasnt allowing herself to. Obviously if she had an open mind, they would be continuing on with their fairytale, but no. Rachel clearly never loved Quinn, and never would.
Rachel doesn't remember because she doesn't want to.
Quinn lied to Rachel because she was threatened of Finn jumping in and stealing her again.
I'm so sorry, but this had to happen.
Up next: a huge fight, causing one of them to storm out in tears.
