A/N: First of all, I'm sorry for the late update, again. But in my defence, I did relocate to a different country this week. So when I usually write fiction, I always go with descriptions or emotional states first, and the dialogue seems to follow from that. However, this time around the dialogue came first. Perhaps it was the lack of Faberry interaction in the last chapter or the fact that I had been thinking about a way to make them interact until the next chapter where they will actually be meeting in person again. Whatever the reason, I quite like the way this chapter turned out. So thanks for the follows, faves and the reviews. I hope you enjoy reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Chapter 5: Intentions

As the winter neared, life in New Haven was getting more and more enjoyable for Quinn Fabray. Fall had always been her favorite season after all, she loved watching the leaves fall on the ground, the crunchy noise they made while she walked, the weather slowly progressing from cold to freezing. She loved the rain, the loved the rainstorms and she definitely loved the snow. Even though her midterms were upon her with full force, the blonde was happy exactly where she was.

It was one Friday afternoon when her phone started buzzing furiously. She had ignored it the first time, thinking it was a text and that it could wait until she was done with her readings for the day, but the continuous buzzing let her know that someone was actually calling her. She answered immediately when she saw the caller ID. A wide smile spread around her face. Before she could even say hi, the voice at the other end of the call was already speaking to her.

"I have had the most interesting conversation with one Santana Lopez the other day." Quinn tried to contain her smile as she realized Rachel had indeed taken up her suggestion to talk to the Latina. At that point, she didn't even think about scolding the brunette about not saying hi.

"Really? So you finally called her?" she asked, genuinely curious. Hope it didn't go too bad. What if it did? What if she listened to me and regretted it? What if she called to tell me that she's mad at me? It was bad advice. I should keep my mouth shut-

"Yes, Quinn, and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised by her behavior. She wasn't as bad as I thought she would be, kind even." - wait. Kind? What…?

"Santana? Kind? Now I know you are lying." Her voice was light, making sure the brunette knew that she was kidding, but the confusion was clear. She heard the brunette sigh at that.

"Well, not kind perhaps, but pleasant? For once, we had a conversation without it turning into a spat." That's… not suspicious at all, the blonde shook her head to clear her mind of all the things that could go wrong if Santana had an ulterior motive.

"That's… nice." As soon as the words left her mouth, Quinn knew that she was far from being convincing. She wasn't even surprised when she heard the brunette's worried voice mere seconds after that.

"Quinn? What's wrong?"

"Are you sure she's not plotting something against you?" There was a moment's silence then. Then the brunette's voice exploded in Quinn's ear.

"Quinn Fabray! Are you inisuating that people can't be nice to me without plotting something against me?" Quinn cursed herself mentally for unintentionally offending the brunette. It was really the last thing she ever wanted to do.

"No, Rach…"

"What is your angle here Quinn? Because if I remember correctly you were quite nice to me recently as well." Quinn Fabray knew that the brunette tended to lash out when she was hurt. And honestly, at that moment, she was more angry with herself for making Rachel feel insecure than hurt because of her words. Here I go again, fucking up the one good thing in my life, she thought with a frown.

"Rach… I don't want you to get hurt again." Because I've already hurt you enough, she wanted to add, just let me protect you from all hurt from now on. But those were the words she couldn't say. Those were the words that would complicate an already complex situation.

"Well, you sure are doing a great job at that." Those were the last words Rachel told her before the line went silent.

The brunette's voice was harsher than Quinn remembered it being when she replayed the conversation over and over in her mind later that night.

Rachel Berry hated the fall. She hated the way she always seemed to forget her umbrella when she needed it the most, she hated the way the humid weather effected her already high maintenance hair, she hated the way she never seemed to get warm enough and she definitely hated the way the dark sky put her in a foul mood.

The argument she and Quinn had earlier on the phone was not helping to improve her mood either. Deep down, she knew she was being irrational. She was just letting Santana get to her with that comment about the secret. Quinn had only been watching out for her. She should have been happy that she now had someone to look out for her, someone that she could rely on. Quinn would never let her get hurt again, she knew that. She just needed to remind herself of the fact every once in a while. I really hate this distance thing, she thought, definitely not helping with my trust issues.

So it was finally 3 am when the brunette decided to do something about her problem when it became apparent that she could not go to sleep no matter what she did. She sighed, relieved, when the blonde answered her call.

"Yes?" Quinn sounded quite awake and impatient.

"That wasn't fair to you." Rachel admitted, swallowing her pride. She needed to sort this out, I need my sleep before my classes damn it!, and she would do anything to do so.

"And?" The brunette frowned. Quinn was not making this any easier on her. But at least her voice sounded softer this time, encouraging even. So she went on.

"I apologize. But you have to stop assuming that everyone is out to get me, Quinn. I'm paranoid enough for the both of us." This earned the brunette a chuckle from Quinn. She was about to continue when the blonde cut in.

"I know. And I have to apologize as well, Rach. It's just… It's Santana, you know. I mean I know that you both ended up on good terms by the graduation and I know I was the one to suggest that you get in touch with her but still… I was such a bitch to you in highschool for the most time and I don't want to see you hurt like that ever again. Rach, I care about you." Rachel's breath caught in her throat. She cares about me, she thought, she really cares about me. Then she frowned to herself, trying to think logically. She is my friend and friends care about each other, right? She realized she had to say something soon when Quinn cleared her throat, urging her.

"I- I know. I know you intended well." I care about you, too. So much. More than what would be appropriate for friends probably.

"So, we're good? You're not gonna hang up on me again, will you? I didn't even think it was possible to perform a storm-out on the phone, to be honest." With that comment about the tiny diva's signature storm-out moves, the tension surrounding the phone call dissipated. They would be fine. They were always fine.

"Well, I do have my talents."

"That you do, Rach."

"Quinn?"

"Yes, Rachel?"

"I care about you, too."

"Hey."

"Hey! How's life in NY?"

"Life. Is. Boring." Rachel replied as she threw herself on her bed. Her day seemed to be getting longer and longer. Though she'd never admit it, the ever-energetic diva was having a hard time keeping herself optimistic.

"What's wrong?" Rachel's features softened at the soft and worried tone of the blonde. How does she always do that?

"I have an unreasonable amount of homework to deal with in just three days and there would have been even more if it weren't for my superb organizational skills." Even her retort back was delivered with less rigour than she usually managed. Life at NYADA, although it was really fun, was physically exhausting. Maybe I should just clone myself. But my Rachel-clone wouldn't be allowed to attend classes, obviously. I don't need more competition than I already have. Yeap, cloning it is. She was brought back to the earth by a certain blonde's voice.

"Can I help? Tell me what I can do for you and I'll do it." And Rachel knew that it was the truth. She didn't know exactly when her unbreakable faith in Quinn was born, but she did trust her. And she knew Quinn would always keep her promises.

"You already are." Way to go mind. I really do need a filter sometimes.

"What do you mean?" Quinn's voice sounded almost hopeful then. No, not hopeful. Why would she be hopeful anyway? I'm reading too much into things.

"You're distracting me from my misery right now and it helps." Rachel replied, trying to keep her voice extra non-chalant.

"Rach?"

"Yes, Quinn?"

"If I'm distracting you from your misery, does that mean I make you happy?"

"Yes." You make me happier than you'll ever know.

It was later that night when the brunette's phone went off again. Without even saying hi, Quinn cut to the chase. She was driving herself crazy trying to figure out what had happened a few days ago. "You know you still haven't told me what you and Santana talked about, right?"

"It was nothing Quinn. Really." Nothing? Nothing?! Damn if I let Santana get to you before I do. And then she'd never have a chance with you, ever, because I wouldn't let you go. Wait… what? Oh well…

"Well you didn't seem to think so at the moment. So, tell me all about it. I promise I'll be open minded about Santana's intentions." Or at least make sure that they are honorable.

"God, you make it sound like she's secretly trying to court me Quinn." Rachel said, her tone all too cheerful to be angry.

"…" She IS psychic.

"Quinn?!"

"Well… You just never know with Santana…"

"You are unbelievable. I will be storming off this conversation now. Don't call me until you're ready to be mature about this."

"But Rach…"

"Bye Quinn." This time, it was Quinn who ended up huffing and stomping her foot on the floor even though there was nobody around to see.

The next morning, Rachel ignored the first five calls and eight messages Quinn sent her. Not wanting to send the blonde into full panic mode, she answered the sixth call, deciding to show some mercy.

"Are you still mad at me?" Quinn's voice was small, but hopeful.

"…" Not gonna make this easy on you Fabray. Let's see you grovel for once.

"Come on Rach, I have apologized to you profusely over the last hour. I don't think this is fair considering that I was only thinking about your well being and emotional state. I have been hearing about Santana's 'conquests' for too long not to be worried about something like that. I mean anyone with eyes can appreciate your figure and I think even though she can be quite sadistic towards you at times, Santana actually likes you as a person so I don't think I was being that unreasonable. So please just talk to me or help me God I will continue texting until your phone breaks down and we both know how much you depend on that appliance." Oh my God… Is she…

"Quinn?" … she was rambling. Quinn Fabray rambles now. Wow.

"Rach?"

"I think you were just rambling there for a while."

"…"

"But I do forgive you, so it's all well."

"You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

"I think it was this gorgeous blonde head cheerleader, who also happens to be one of my greatest friends who once suggested that 'it's all about the teasing, but not pleasing'."

"You are insane, you know that right?"

"You love me for it, though."

"Yes, I do." If only you'd meant it. When they ended the call, they were both smiling to themselves.

"So I decided to call up Santana on my own and ask her what happened when you two met. Just thought you should know."

"To be frank, Quinn, I am surprised that you haven't already done so."

"So you're okay with it?"

"Would it stop you if I weren't?"

"It would."

"Really?"

"I wish you would stop underestimating our friendship one of these days, Rachel."

"You have my blessing to call up Santana and pester her for the details of our coffee date."

"So it was a date then?"

"You're too easy, Fabray. Too easy. I can't believe you ever made head Cheerio."

"Q! It's been a while. How's that stick up your ass doing?"

"Ah, Satan, as pleasant as always. I knew I shouldn't have taken Rachel's word on it."

"So you're already on a first name basis with the midget? That's new."

"Shut up. We both know that you only act as if you dislike her, so drop the act, will you? And she's not that shorter than you, you know?"

"Oh no, you did not just go there, blondie."

"So, how was your coffee date with Berry?"

"It was… enlightening, to say the least."

"How come?"

"Well now, it wouldn't be half as much fun if I just told you before you saw it for yourself, would it Q?"

"San!"

"It was lovely talking to you, too, blondie. Don't wait too long to call again."

"SAN!"

"Why does Santana seem to know something about you that I don't know?"

"That was the interesting part of the conversation Quinn. If you hadn't so immaturely caused me to put an end to our conversation I would have told you that after we had talked about living in NY and how hard it was to make it here, she had inisuated that I had a secret that she was privy to and I simply do not know what she could be meaning by that. I was hoping that you would be able to extract that information from her but clearly, you have failed."

"She is up to something. I can just feel it."

"Quinn?"

"Yeah?"

"Your paranoia is showing." The brunette hung up after that.

Quinn just shut her eyes, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling in her stomach.