A/N: Thank you so much for replying to me. I needed a little feedback so really pleased to have got it and really appreciate your comments, it's hard to keep going sometimes.

xxx

They followed a similar routine over the next week. Rachel would find excuses to take Quinn out, although it was often Quinn that selected the location, Rachel was always the instigator. She wasn't blind to the fact that Quinn never suggested meeting up, she was always the one pushing to spend more time together and Quinn was at times quite resistant, but she was determined to keep trying, she'd spent years trying to be Quinn's friend after all, doing this now wasn't much different, except her heart ached more when Quinn said no or made an excuse. She hoped it was worth trying, but even her own resilience was being tested.

"Did you ever think we'd be doing this together?" she asked as they walked by the seafront. She could see the pier and found herself leaning forward, trying to make out if it was busy.

"In high school?" Quinn stopped at a kiosk and turned back to Rachel with two ice creams before realizing her mistake and handing one back to the seller.

"Yes, school, when we chased Finn and I dreamt of being a star." She watched as Quinn greedily ate her ice cream, she looked so happy and carefree and Rachel realized how happy that made her.

"I'm normally good with the vegan stuff..." she sounded a little deflated and Rachel put a hand on her arm.

"You're the first person I've ever dated that has even tried." She wasn't sure if this was dating right now, but Quinn didn't object.

Instead Quinn grinned and they carried on walking. "No, I never thought we'd be who we are now, doing this. It's nice, but yes you were always going to be a star, that was obvious. I liked being friends at the end of high school, but I wasn't a good friend, I didn't know how to be."

"And now?"

"I still can't answer that. My best friend is a position in need of filling."

"You're a loner Quinn Fabray." Quinn gave Rachel a look that was probably meant to be questioning but Rachel could only describe it as smoldering. "A very sexy, charming loner."

"I'm not lonely when I'm with you." Quinn spoke softly and the words were nearly carried away on the waves, but Rachel heard them and she took Quinn's free hand, squeezing it softly before interlacing their fingers as they continued on their walk. Friends or lovers? She wasn't sure what Quinn needed from her, but being with her was enough for now.

"Do you have time to go to the pier?" Rachel was giddy with excitement, but it soon faded as Quinn shook her head.

"I can't. It's nearly five and Rick will kill me if I'm late."

"Another time?"

"Sure."

"Great. I'd love that. I've never been."

"I'll take you, I promise, but now I'm going to have to say goodbye." She hovered in front of Rachel for a moment as if conflicted, but the moment passed and she moved away towards her car.

"Have fun." Rachel called after her.

"No chance of that." Quinn winked at her. "I'll call you."

Rachel waved as she left. Wondering if she would call. It had been one of their better times today, Quinn was relaxed and being herself, and for once Rachel thought she was getting through, but the physical distance between them and the notable lack of intimacy was killing her. She'd tried a couple of times to go for a hug or a kiss but before she got close Quinn would move away as subtly as she could. The handhold today was a big deal and the memory of it made Rachel's heart flutter.

xxx

It was only her second week, although it had felt like longer. It wasn't perfect with Quinn, but she thought they were getting to know each other better and that was something, except now Kim was in town and things were certain to change. Rachel had been so busy filming and taking Quinn out that she'd forgotten all about it. She loved Kim, in a love to hate kind of way, and right now she wasn't happy to have her as a distraction, she wanted to focus on Quinn and knew Kim would force her to concentrate on work. She didn't manage to hide her frustrations as she collected her from the airport and was now trying to cope as Kim made herself at home.

"So where's your Hollywood dream?" Kim asked as she puffed up the cushions on the couch ignoring Rachel's huffiness and taking a seat. "I thought you'd be inseparable and that she'd be dying to see me again!"

Rachel was still busy tidying Kim's bags out of the way when she answered. "She...we..." she gave up and threw the bags to one side. "I messed up and we kinda broke up, but didn't. I don't know but I'm having dinner with her tonight, we're friends."

"Friends? The two of you, really?" Kim scoffed.

"Yes, of course, but I want more. She thinks I slept with her under false pretenses, which I kind of did, but it wasn't really like that, but yeah I messed up and then that picture of Jesse didn't help."

"Oh that little shit!" Kim slammed her hand against the couch. "I'm so angry with him, I've been fielding calls on that the last two weeks! St James is a menace, he's been so evasive that people are saying you two are so on that marriage could be looming."

"No fucking way!"

"I can issue a statement, but it won't do any good. I just said you are old friends and figured it'd actually be a good thing they were interested in that story. You know with you being a lesbian and all."

"I'm not a lesbian."

"So you keep saying. Perhaps thats why Quinn dumped you." Kim said flatly and Rachel just stared at her, mouth agape.

"She didn't and I'm not, oh fuck, so maybe I am. I just really like Quinn, I always have and nothing else really matters to me right now. Jesse is going to get his ass kicked when I see him next." Rachel narrowed her eyes as she thought of lots of delightful ways to get revenge on her so called best friend.

"If you want her so much then go out and get her." Kim rolled her eyes at Rachel's drama.

"I'm trying." She huffed.

"Rachel Berry, if you were really trying you'd have already u-hauled into Quinn's place by now. I know you well enough to know that, so don't bullshit me. If you aren't together...well it's something you aren't telling me."

"I'm trying to respect Quinn and take it slow." Rachel said a little more calmly.

"She's resisting?"

"She is." Rachel sighed and fell on the couch next to Kim. "It's Quinn. I've known her a long time and she is, well, she is complicated and difficult and so many things. I need to earn her trust again."

"Sounds like she has all the control."

"It's not that, god why do you always have to be right? And so annoying?"

"That's what you pay me for baby girl." Kim wrapped an arm around Rachel's shoulder and gave it a little squeeze. "and if you want Quinn Fabray then I'm on your team. We'll get that girl, make sure she joins us on Sunday, but for now tell me how is filming going?"

"Awesome. I love it. It's so challenging and sometimes so boring, but then the cameras roll and I love my character, she's so dark and witty."

"The director treating you well? I heard he can be a bit of a bitch."

"That's true, but he's okay with me, for now at least. Derek has been late twice and it didn't go well for him after that. I don't want to talk about work though, how's home? I miss it although it's nice to not be stuck in the New York winter to be honest."

"It's bitter in the city. I'm glad I'm here too. We have a bit of press tomorrow, nothing too challenging and a promotional photo shoot that they want to get set up for the advertisers. When are you seeing Quinn?"

"Later." Rachel looked at the clock aware that she needed to start getting ready soon. "I suppose you could join us?"

"I'll go see my friend tonight. We have an early start though, so don't be out too late."

"Yes, Mom."

"Ugh! Rachel?" Kim made Rachel look at her. "Push her a little. Don't let her be in charge, okay?"

Rachel nodded, she knew what Kim meant, but she wasn't sure if it was the right time to push Quinn into anything because apart from their own issues, she was so stressed about the awards ceremony and the magazine shoot and Rachel knew only too well that Quinn didn't react well when she was pushed.

xxx

"Kim says Hi."

"No, she didn't" Quinn laughed as she took Rachel's coat and handed it to the waiter.

"Well, maybe she didn't, but she asked after you."

"I expect she's happy we aren't together anymore." The words fell from Quinn's mouth and she instantly wanted to take them back when she saw the look on Rachel's face.

"She wasn't, she isn't." Rachel stammered as she tried to duck her head, desperate for Quinn not to see her face.

"I shouldn't have said that." Quinn spoke softly but assuredly as she reached out and took Rachel's hand, this time she didn't pull it away when she felt that same spark, this time she squeezed it instead. "I shouldn't and I didn't want to make you sad, okay?" she added, shaking her head.

"It's okay. We're going out Sunday, I thought maybe you'd come? I'm not really a party girl and Kim can get a bit wild, but I...um...you don't have to or anything. Just..."

"I'm walking the carpet remember?" Quinn shrugged. "I could join you after maybe, but I don't know what time. I'm supposed to do the after parties and network. Are you sure Kim will be okay with me turning up?" Quinn rubbed her temples, the idea of a night out with Rachel and Kim didn't appeal to her at all, not after she'd been blinded by cameras and interrogated by reporters anyway, yet the idea of not being there seemed worse right now and having something to get her through a night of media and lies would make it easier.

"She will, yes. You have to come. We'll be out late and Kim likes to party hard! So I'll need you to rescue me or god knows where I'll end up."

"God knows." Quinn mumbled, the thought of Rachel being in a state frightened her. "I'll be there." She affirmed.

"Yey." Rachel clapped her hands together jubilantly. "I hope Sunday isn't as bad as you keep imagining, I'm sure Chase..."

"Chase will be a dick, he always is."

"Well, when you are done with him, we'll be sure to have a great time." Rachel said before picking up the menu and flicking the pages. Quinn had again found a place with the perfect menu.

xxx

A little later and they'd gone back to Quinn's for coffee, it was becoming clear that although meals out were nice, Quinn didn't really relax when they were in public, so Rachel had managed to create several excuses over the last few dates as to why she should come back to Quinn's afterwards, coffee was usually a winner, but she'd even come up with a random request to borrow a coat that she knew wouldn't fit her, still Quinn played along and it was the thirty minutes at the end of the night that Rachel enjoyed the most, because she could feel she was slowly breaking down Quinn's resistance, but for some reason tonight she wasn't having any luck. Quinn was uptight about the weekend and kept complaining about Chase. With a heavy sigh, she gave in and rose from the couch, leaving her hand out for Quinn to take. "thank you for tonight."

"It was fun, I've enjoyed spending time together." Quinn looked taken aback at Rachel's sudden departure.

"You have? Just I thought you weren't and I'd like to see more of you, but I was worried that you didn't want to." Rachel stopped talking when Quinn's finger pressed softly against her lips.

"I still like you. I want to spend time together."

Rachel raised her hand and gently took hold of Quinn's, removing it from her mouth. She arched forward desperate to taste the soft pink lips that she had been missing the last few weeks. Her eyes flicked to her target and she noticed Quinn's tongue dart out and wet them, she almost groaned with desire, but just as she was about to close her eyes, Quinn took a step back yet again and Rachel felt the tug in her chest.

"Sorry." Rachel ducked her head, she couldn't look at Quinn now, being rejected was becoming too frequent an occurrence.

"I'm not sure we should. I'm sorry, it's just too confusing and when I kiss you..."

"You forget everything?"

"I do."

"Failing to see why this is bad." Rachel quipped but then saw Quinn's face and softly added "It's okay. I'll wait. I'll see you Sunday." Rachel picked up her purse and hurriedly made her exit, she felt the tears stinging in the corner of her eyes and was trying desperately to hold it together. Just as she pulled the door open she felt Quinn's fingers wrap around her wrist. She froze at the touch, her eyes locked shut as she desperately tried to carry on breathing.

"Rachel." Quinn said breathily from behind her, she could feel her moving closer, the fingers on her wrist moving to her waist and Quinn's uneven breath was now ghosting against her ear. "Rachel." She said again, her body now pressed against the brunettes from behind. Rachel felt like her heart was about to leap out of her chest, hearing her name fall from Quinn's mouth in that way only left her wanting, she let herself fall into Quinn's arms.

"Quinn." her own voice cracked as she said the woman's name almost pleadingly. "I want to move on, I need you to forgive me."

Quinn moved her hands so that they were now flat on Rachel's stomach, pulling her body closer and holding on a little tighter, she rested her chin on Rachel's shoulder, their faces almost touching. Her voice was still barely above a whisper and her breath was warm on Rachel's cheek. "I forgave you already Rachel. I need you and I'm trying."

Rachel felt like she was going to melt into a puddle of goo and was glad to be in Quinn's arms or she'd probably have fallen to the floor.

"I need you too." Rachel replied, knowing it was now a lot more than that, she'd figured her own feelings out, she just didn't know how to make that clear or how to express them to Quinn when she was so reticent and now definitely wasn't the right time.

They stood like that for several minutes, Rachel had closed her eyes and was taking comfort in the sound of Quinn's heart beating against her back, wishing that the moment didn't have to end, but the door was still open and a passing neighbor disturbed their peace.

"I'll see you Sunday." Quinn eventually let go of her grip on Rachel's waist and without looking back Rachel walked out of the door, knowing that if she did look then she'd have not been able to control herself, they'd made a step forward, it was small and she didn't want to ruin it and give Quinn the opportunity to reject her again. Quinn had given her some hope and tonight that would have to suffice. Shakily she turned the key in the ignition and put the car into reverse, when she finally chanced a look back, she saw Quinn still watching her, a strange look on her face that Rachel hadn't seen before, but it was nice and made Rachel smile back shyly as she drove back home.

xxx

A/N: The awards ceremony is next and some old faces appear. Quinn will be tested.