A/N: so as you might have guessed this is an AU fic and set slightly in the future. But im not going to tell you much more then that as all will be revealed…gradually, so stick with me, my story gets better .

I will be swapping between Quinn's and Rachel's POV. Thoughts are in italics, as well as flashbacks.

Disclaimer: Don't own it, im just a name and character thief

Chapter 2

"Who are you and why the hell are you following me?"

Rachel never relented in the pressure she held against the blonde stranger. As the blonde gasped for breath but didn't answer right away, Rachel gave her another not so gentle nudge.

"I asked you a question!"

"Rachel…it's me…it's Quinn, I'm Quinn" The blonde managed between wheezes.

Rachel stared at her for a moment contemplating her options. The woman seemed to know her name, but it could be a guess. Rachel is a common enough name. Could be mistaken identity, but Rachel doesn't believe in coincidence like that, particularly in her line of work.

So either the stranger really does know her or she is merely pretending to. Rachel glanced back to the entrance of the alley. It was well concealed on an empty street, no one was passing by. She had been thorough when she allowed the blonde to follow her here, making sure there was no one else on her tail. There was no way the blonde woman was a professional, she was far from subtle.

Rachel looked into large hazel eyes trying to decipher them. The green and gold flecks began to swim as tears filled her eyes. Rachel could barely keep up with the emotions swirling in their depths. Shock, fear, pleading, hope? Happiness? Who is this woman?

Wanting a longer answer this time, Rachel eased her weight off the woman slightly. The taller blonde, took a relieved intake a breath. Filling her lungs with much needed oxygen.

"I'm sorry 'Quinn'; I require a more thorough explanation. As you may have gathered by my reaction, I don't know you, and am therefore understandably confused and sceptical that you would think that I would recognise you. Now that I have ensured that you are on your own, I think perhaps we should start at the beginning and clear up this little…misunderstanding.

Why were you following me Quinn?"

By now the blonde, had returned to her normal pale complexion. Her breathing had evened out though remained a little wheezy. If Quinn hadn't been sure this was Rachel before, the altogether longwinded speech, was a dead give away.

"Rachel, I'm your friend, Quinn. We've known each other for years, we live…lived together. I…don't you remember...?" A neutral expression was her only response.

"God, this is like some horrid dream and I'm so ready to wake up now." Quinn spoke to herself.

"Though I don't consider myself particularly apt in social relationships, I do know it's not considered normal practice to stalk 'friends' for ten blocks without making your presence known."

Was it really ten blocks? Quinn wondered to herself.

"Care to elaborate on your behaviour, Quinn? Or perhaps better yet, could you provide some proof that we are as close as you claim to be. For at the moment this relationship is looking a little one sided and I'm more inclined to perceive it as stalker-like or perhaps something more sinister with a specific agenda."

"I…um…your favourite Broadway play is Les Mis, you've seen it seven times. You sing Don't Rain on my Parade in the shower…everyday! You've had an aversion to ice cold beverages ever since high school. You…you have a tattoo of a gold star inside your left elbow-"

Quinn wracked her brain for the little random facts she knew about Rachel. She would never forget them, she wouldn't let herself, she would think of as many as she could everyday. Trouble was that now they were spewing from her mouth like verbal diarrhoea in no particular order.

Rachel held up her hand to silence the woman. More than a little unnerved by the more intimate facts about herself being yelled at her by a blonde stranger.

"Well so far, Quinn, I think we have established that you are quite possibly the creepiest stalker roaming the streets today. Though I am slightly flattered, I need to decide how dangerous to me you are and take the appropriate action."

Rachel reached inside her coat pocket for her phone. Oh crap, I'm going to jail, I'm going to jail. But this is Rachel, I know it…. Why can't she remember?... How is she even alive? Buy some time, Quinn. Stall her before you're carted off to jail or some mental institution for stalking your dead roommate and never see her again to find out.

"Wait! Rachel…I…I have a picture! Of us!" Rachel halted punching digits into her phone and raised an eyebrow at the blonde.

"It's in my purse, may I get it?" Quinn said gesturing to the bag under her right arm with a tilt of her head,

Rachel knew better than this. She was not about to take that chance.

"No." Quinn's heart sank. "I'll get it if you tell me where it is." That sinking feeling lifted slightly as if she had just been handed a buoyancy aid. She clung to it. Hope shinning in her eyes.

"In the inside pocket is by purse. The picture is tucked the pouch next to the bank notes."

Rachel deftly switched them arm holding the blonde to the wall, and blindly reached inside the bag never taking her eyes from Quinn's.

She found the purse by feel, and held it against the wall by the blonde's head as she fumbled to get the picture with one hand. Finding a laminated strip she teased it out of its pouch, almost ignoring the blonde as she began speaking again.

"It's one of the few pictures I have of us, of you. You never let me take any with my phone or camera. Funny for someone who always told me they wanted to be a Broadway star, you are very camera shy." Quinn let a shy smile slip across her face. Rachel didn't miss this, nor did she miss how charming that smile was. Shaking away the thought she glanced up at the picture she had now freed.

It was without a doubt a very happy looking version of her smiling back at her as if she was in mid laugh. She was sitting on the back of a park bench and half keeled over in a laugh while hugging the blonde in question from behind, who had an equally giggly expression on her face. She couldn't help but notice how beautiful the blonde looked all smiley with the sun making her blonde hair look golden.

She scanned the picture intently, looking for signs it was photo shopped, but found none. Either it was real or it was the best manipulation she had ever seen.

She took in the details, the park, the weather, the clothes, the emotions. The moment looked familiar, like a half forgotten dream, yet every time she tried to grab hold of that feeling and re-trace it, it would slip through her fingers like water.

"I think we should talk" Rachel spoke in an almost whisper.

"I think we should"

I know they are short chapters at the mo. The best way to make the longer is to review. Reviews will feed my work starved imagination :)

Oh and to 'normalab' yes i was trying to subtlety elude to Beth, well spotted

'writing is love' big hint in this chapter, you're on the right lines ;)