CHAPTER TWO

FRIENDSHIP THAT BEGINS

PARK BETWEEN RACHEL'S HOUSE AND THE CENTER OF LIMA

WINTER 2010 - JUST AFTER CHRISTMAS

Rachel bowed her head against the snow flakes that were falling down on her. It was two days after Christmas, and she couldn't stand being cooped up inside her home. Her family meant well – but she just wasn't in the spirit to celebrate this year. How could she – seeing how Finn broke up with her, and refuses to forgive her for her stupid mistake of making out with Noah.

Rachel didn't blame Finn one bit. She knew the moment that she decided to even the score with making out with Noah that she would hurt Finn to the heart. After all Noah was the one whom got Quinn pregnant, while Quinn was still dating Finn. She knew that Finn wasn't over the hurt of his best friend and his than girlfriend betraying him.

But Noah was the only safe choice for her to pay Finn back for hurting her. She couldn't call up Jesse, and ask him to make out with her – then telling Finn. She didn't even want to open that world of hurt ever again. Kurt was gay – so he was automatically out. Artie was missed up with Tina dumping him for Mike – and he was currently dating Brittany. Mike was out because he was dating Tina. Rachel wasn't a cheater. Not again anyways. Sides she learned with Finn not to force a guy to cheat on their girlfriends.

Rachel still felt the guilt deep in her soul over Finn and Quinn. She would live with that guilt for the rest of her life.

Sam was with Quinn, so he was off limits. Noah was the only choice then. Sides she knew that Noah would help her without trying to bed her again. He understood her deep need to even the score with Finn – and he fully knew that Rachel would be confessing to Finn.

Finn looked so hurt and so betrayed. But, Rachel reminded him that she was betrayed when she found out that he lied to her countless times over him still being a virgin. All Finn had to do was tell her the truth then she would never have gotten so upset. She had all ready known that he had slept with Santana when she had foolishly thought that she was dating Jesse.

Everyone thought she was too needy. That she kept chasing after Finn because she couldn't stand to be alone. That Finn was her only hope of ever finding someone whom actually cared just a little bit about her.

But that wasn't the truth. She chased Finn because she just knew that she could never have whom she desired. She was willing to settle on life with someone that she just cared for. That she would be content in a marriage to Finn Hudson.

She didn't want to stay in her house any longer today because she just came to the realization that Finn was no longer hers to settle with. He had given her the star necklace, and asked her to remember whom she was whenever she felt down. That he could forgive her for her kissing Noah, but he could no longer allow himself to be used.

Rachel blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. She wasn't pitying herself for losing Finn – for losing the person that she had chosen to settle with. No she was fighting back the tears of realizing that she had been hurting Finn all along.

FABRAY HOUSE

(TWO DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS)

Judy walked into the living room and looked at her youngest daughter. "I have some news to tell you Quinn."

Quinn looked away from the movie that she was watching. She had a deep sense of foreboding. "What is it?" She calmly asked.

"Your father and I are getting back together." Judy said.

Quinn sighed deeply. "You'll regret this decision for the rest of your life, mother." She never left eye contact with her mother.

"We want to get out of Lima, Quinn. Out of Ohio." Judy said in the silence. "We have decided to move to Japan. Your father's company has decided to transfer him." She took a deep breath, "You aren't coming with us."

"I wasn't planning on it." Quinn said in a dead tone.

"Your father doesn't want anything more to do with you. He's disowning you." Judy whimpered.

"Good. I disowned him when he kicked me out." Quinn matter of factually said. "I managed to open my own saving account. His name is no way near my account." She blinked a few times.

"He's cutting you out of his will." Judy stated. "You will remain in my will of course. I'm going to be sending money to you every month. Enough to help with your schooling and medical bills."

"You don't have too." Quinn shrugged. "It's his money after all."

"No Quinnie, it's my money. It's the money that I inherited from my grandmother before I married your father. Deep down I knew that I would need it for my child." Judy said. "The money is yours."

"Thank you." Was all Quinn could say. "When do I need to be out of the house?"

"By the middle of January." Judy sighed. "I wish it could be longer, but your father wants us to be gone. He doesn't want you in the house when we leave."

"I understand." Quinn stood too her feet. "I'll start packing." She walked passed her mother, and towards the stairs. It was time to move on to the next part of her life.

CENTER OF THE PARK HALFWAY TOWARDS RACHEL'S HOUSE

Quinn was tired. She had managed to move most of her things into the storage unite that she had rented four days previous. She had moved most of the things herself – her mother helped some. Quinn didn't want anyone help with her leaving her family. But after the sixth trip she knew that she needed some assistance. She told her mother that she didn't want to talk about anything as they moved her life into a cold, and homeless storage unite.

Quinn had taken a break from packing up her life in the cold park – because he had stopped by the house. There was no way hell that she would be in the same room as him ever again. Those days were long over.

She didn't want anyone to find out her living situation until she was settled into an apartment. She would go apartment hunting after all her personal belongings were out of the Fabray house. That should be in another day or so. Quinn wanted to show everyone that she was fine being disowned, and abandoned. That she wasn't that pathetic pregnant girl. No; she was now a seventeen year old woman.

Able to stand on her own. Able to make the world tremble at her feet. Not just the hallways of William McKinley High school of Lima, Ohio.

Quinn let out a small laugh. She couldn't believe that she still thought that about herself. Hadn't last year taught her anything? Once you fall from the pedestal – there was no way in the hell you can get back up there.

She had been trying like crazy too since she gave Beth away. She had work off all the baby fat during the summer. She had gained her place back on the Cheerios. Not the captain-ship – no way would Sue hand that back to her. She knew that she would have to destroy Santana before Sue allowed her back on top.

Quinn fully had been willing too do that. She learned of Santana's special surgery over the summer – and she used it to knock her best friend and enemy off the top of the Pyramid. She had her captain-ship firmly back in her grasp. Santana was back in her proper place – behind her.

She had decided that she would be single for her Junior year. She wanted to reflect on every decision that she had made in her life. She wanted to go from the Head Bitch to just being Quinn. But then Sam came along. He just wouldn't give up trying to win her as his girl.

Quinn easily fell into the 'girlfriend' trap once more. She allowed herself to fall into the trap. It was easier to being with someone – than being alone. But she promised herself that she wouldn't allow her relationship with Sam to get to the point where she had been with Finn …. or with Puck.

There was no 'teasing and pleasing' with Sam Evans. Granted she allowed them to have some heavy make out sessions – but there was no petting allowed. Sam was patient. He fully understood her unease when it came to being intimate. He told her that he would never pressure her into sleeping with him.

Sam Evans was a good guy to settle with. Quinn found herself content in her relationship. She laughed gently as she felt foreboding overcome her. Now that Finn had dumped Rachel 'man hands' Berry – that means Berry will turn her attentions on Sam. Seeing how man hands has made it her life mission to steal every single one of Quinn's boyfriends.

Take Finn. Take Puck. Although Quinn had never dated Noah Puckerman – just had sex with him. Had his baby. Rachel had managed to steal Puck from her. Now that she was free once more she would be out to get Sam. Quinn sighed as she let out a small laugh. She was actually looking forward to Rachel's attempts of stealing Sam from her. Quinn had found herself bored when Finn and Rachel managed to get together at the end of last year.

Now that Rachel had proven how stupid she truly was. How selfish she truly was by her stunt to try to get even with Finn for his lying to her about his virginity. She knew that Finn would never get back together with Berry in a trillion years. He would of course forgive her …. but his feelings for her would never be the same.

"Bring it on Treasure trail, bring it on." Quinn whispered as she wrapped her arms tightly around her chest to try to block out some of the chill.

Closing her eyes briefly.

She jerked awake when a hand rested on her right shoulder, "Quinn?" A unsure, and concerned voice said close to her right ear. She blinked as her eyes took in the concern face of one Rachel Berry. "Get your hand off of me, man hands." She sneered.

Rachel removed her hand. Brushing aside some stray hair from her right side she smiled. "I see that you are feeling quite all right, Quinn, if you can insult me."

"Of course I'm quite all right." Quinn snorted.

"How long have you been out here?" Rachel asked.

"Why is it any of your business Rupaul!" Quinn demanded.

Rachel raised her hand and touched Quinn's face. "You are almost ready to be frozen, Quinn. It has taken ten minutes to waken you."

"Get your hands off of me man hands." Quinn barked. She was non nonplussed with what Rachel had told her. "I'll get out of the cold right now." She stood to her feet, than crashed back down onto the bench. "Ouch." She whimpered as she slammed her eyes shut from the spinning that the world had given her head.

"My house is closer than your car." Rachel stated. "Daddy will be here any minute now, you are going to take a hot bath, and then you'll be put into our guest room."

Before Quinn could say a word she felt another presence before her. She slowly opened one eye, and looked into the gentle smiling face of a tall African American man. Her training took firm hold of her than. There was no way she was going to act like a spoiled little girl in front of an adult. Sides even she wasn't a bitch enough to insult Rachel in front of her father. She sighed as she nodded.

Mr. Berry held out a hand for Quinn to take. She reached over and placed her hand in his huge hand. As his fingers closed around her hand, she felt something that she had never felt before from her father. Fatherly love.

"Here let me help you." His rich deep voice said as he wrapped an arm around her waist. "Ray; why don't you lead the way to the car. I parked within a quarter of here."

"Of course daddy." Rachel said and led the way to the parking lot. She ran around and opened the passenger side door. "I'm happy to see that you left the heater on full blast."

Mr. Berry smirked as he gently helped Quinn into the car. "You are my daughter after all, Ray, I knew better than too shut it off when you called and told me the situation." He leaned back out of the car and gently shut the door on the silent blond. "Are you sure?" He turned to face his daughter.

Rachel looked at the blond whom stiffly facing the front. "Yes." She nodded her head. She opened the back passenger door and got into the car herself.

Kristopher Berry gently smiled as he made his way around the car. "Good." He opened the drivers side and slipped in. "We'll be home in five minutes. Aunt Sophia has the bath all set." Backing out of the space he winked at his daughter.

"Thank you." Quinn softly said in her seat.

The two Berry's smiled in relief.

RACHEL'S HOUSE

RACHEL'S BATHROOM

Rachel pushed the door to her bathroom opened with her shoulder. She smiled pleased that her Aunt had obeyed all her commends. The overhead lights were dimmed to softness. Candles had been placed in key places and were lit. She could see the candle lights among the shadows off the walls. Soft music was playing from the iHome station on the table at the end of the jacuzzi tub.

"I'll leave you to it." She allowed Quinn to move past her into the room.

Quinn silently nodded.

Rachel closed the door behind her.

Quinn never knew how she ended up underneath the warm water. All she remembered was she was standing between the tub, and the sink one moment – and the next she was leaning back underneath the warmest water that she felt in her entire life. The smell of blueberries were trickling her nose. Closing her eyes she just allowed her body to relax as it warmed back up to normal temperature.

Once the water began to get cool did Quinn realize that she had to leave the warmth of the bath water. She slowly stood up and stepped from the bath. She wrapped a large terry cloth towel around her body, and made sure to turn the handle to allow the water to flow down the drain. Her brow winkled as she realized that her clothes were stiff with the cold. Sides they were not meant to be put back on.

"Okay then." She softly said. "I'm trapped in Rupaul's bathroom in just a towel." Shaking her head and glaring at the closed door. "Nice move man hands. Nice move."

She moved to the door and opened it. She blinked at what she saw. There were fresh clothes on the end of Rachel's bed. Her clothes. "What the -" A whisper sigh escaped her lips as she moved to pick up her favorite pajama bottoms. She found that her panties were among the clothes that were laid out. She slipped on her pajamas and wrapped her robe around her body.

She turned to the door and knew that it was time to get some answers.

UPSTAIRS HALLWAY

Rachel stood straight once more as the door to bedroom opened to show a glaring Quinn. "Hello Quinn." She said easily.

"What the hell are you playing at Berry!" Quinn growled low in her throat.

"Follow me." Rachel simply said. She turned and walked a few doors down the hallway. She paused with her hand on the knob. Looking over at Quinn whom had yet moved. Raising her right eyebrow.

Lifting her head high Quinn walked to Rachel. She waited for Rachel to open the door. What she found in the bedroom stunned her into a place that she had never been before. Inside the Berry's guest bedroom was … well her bedroom. "W-where …." She couldn't ask the question that was burning in her mind.

"I saw you moving boxes out of your house yesterday afternoon. I followed you and saw that you were putting things into a storage center." Rachel sighed. "I knew that you would never tell me anything …. so I confronted your mother. She told me what your father did too you." She shrugged. "I took it upon myself to make sure you had a safe place to call home until you come of age."

"YOU HAD NO RIGHT!" Quinn screamed.

Rachel held out a remote towards the TV that was pointing towards the door. She hit play.

"Quinn darling," Her mother's face appeared on the screen. "I want you to remain at the Berry's until your eighteenth birthday. I don't want you to find an apartment yet. One; no one will allow you to rent one – seeing how you are under eighteen. Two; I'm not going to co-sign for you." Judy licked her lips. "By the time you watch this … I'll be gone from the house. I'm leaving Lima today. Rachel and her father, Kristopher, stopped by the moment you turned the corner. They told me that they wanted to offer up their home too you. I trust them, Qunnie. I know that they will be able to keep you much safer than I ever could.

As soon as the Berry's remove the rest of your belongings, Quinnie, the house will be locked up. You won't be able to get in any longer. I'm having movers come next week for the rest of the things.

I love you. Even if it doesn't seem like it too you, right now." Judy wiped some tears from her cheeks as the screen went blank.

Quinn's face was blank.

"I'm hoping that you will remain with us until we graduate next year, Quinn." Rachel said looking at the side of Quinn's face. "I hope you will come to realize that this is your home. That this is your family."

"I have no family." Quinn said in a dead voice.

"You have Beth." Rachel softly said.

"Shelby has Beth." Quinn's voice harden even more.

"I will allow Shelby into my life – so you'll feel much easier to be near Beth." Rachel said.

"I'll be out of here on my eighteenth birthday." Quinn turned her eyes to meet Rachel's open brown ones. "I'm not remaining here one second longer."

"I wanted too offer my home too you; when you needed a place to lay your head last year. I was on the verge of offering it – when I over heard Mercedes offer you hers." Rachel sighed. "I want to offer you my friendship once more."

Quinn raised one eyebrow. This can actually work too my advantage. I can watch as Rachel tries to steal Sam from me. Even in her own home. "I'm tired." She answered.

Rachel blinked, "Of course." She waved her hand towards the bed where Quinn's comforter was covering what she knew were her sheets. She saw that her warm comfort blanket was at the foot of the bed.

Rachel turned too leave the room. "Rachel." She twisted her head to look at the tall blond. "I accept." Rachel's smile lit up the room.

Quinn realized that she just saw the real Rachel Berry smile. It's much better than that mega million smile she uses at school. Wait. Hold on there Quinn. Don't go down that road. She's still the enemy. Remember she's out to steal Sam from you. She watched as Rachel turned, and left the room. "I like that smile." She softly said at the closed door.

Quinn just knew that Finn had never seen that smile. She knew that Puck had. After all Rachel and Puck had grown closer when they dated for that one week at the beginning of her pregnancy. Puck had grown more protective of Rachel then also.

Quinn sighed as she turned to face the bed. She was tired. "Don't let your guard down, Quinn." She murmured to herself as she tucked herself underneath the warm sheets, and comforter. "You are the winner here, not the loser. You'll come out on top." She rested her head against her plump up pillow. She smelled the light scent of cranberries. Her eyes drifted close.

The last image in Quinn's eyes was Rachel's smile. She sighed as she fell asleep with her own smile on her lips.

RACHEL'S HOSPITAL ROOM

SPRING 2011

Quinn traced Rachel's lips. "I miss your smile, Ray. I miss it ever so much." She tried to think when the last time Rachel had graced her with the smile. It feel like forever. When in reality it had only been eight weeks.

Quinn tried to remember what had caused Rachel to stop smiling at her. "You knew even before I did; that I would demand something that you were not willing to give. That's why you stopped smiling at me." She traced the lips once more.

"You knew before I did that I would finally find a way to scar you for life." A lone tear rolled down her cheek. "It should be me in that bed. It should be me losing my sight."

"Q-quinn..." Rachel whimpered.

"Rach." Quinn cried with relief …. but also in pain.

"I'm scared." Rachel whimpered turning her head towards where Quinn's hand had forzen. She leaned towards the hand. "I'm in so much pain."

Quinn quickly wrapped Rachel into a gentle but firm hug. Making sure that Rachel's cheek rested against her heart. "I'm here. You don't have to be frightened anymore. I'm never leaving your side."

"I'm scared because of you." Rachel let out a rough sob.

Quinn stiffened. "I'm so sorry that I hurt you. I never meant to."

"I'm not scared of you because you hurt me." Rachel whimpered. "I'm scared for you." Her right hand reached up between them, and gently touched Quinn's jaw. "I'm scared that if you don't let this go then you'll never be -"

"Saved." Quinn finished in a harsh voice. "Perhaps I don't want too be saved, Rachel." She lashed out. "I don't deserve to be saved." She felt Rachel's hand lightly trace her jaw line and up to her cheek.

"I'm not giving up on you, Quinn, not ever." Rachel whispered. "That's my ever lasting promise too you."

Quinn leaned her cheek against the top of Rachel's head. She just stared down on the blanket at where Rachel's free hand was resting. She was lost in her dark thoughts.

END CHAPTER TWO