Quinn is excited.
She knows she and Rachel can't be together, not yet. She complained to Daddy about it but he'd just patted her head with a chuckle and said that finding each other when they were older would be part of Rachel and Quinn's fun.
Quinn doesn't think it sounds fun at all, but she knows it's how things are supposed to work. So even though they can't be together yet, it doesn't stop her from rushing around her room and making sure everything is set. Once she has everything arranged on the little drawing table in the center of the room, she hops on her bed and waits nervously.
At half past four the feeling slides into her, soft and sad, as if a small girl with brown hair and sorrowful eyes has climbed onto the bed with her. Quinn feels warmth tingling around her hand, and she knows Rachel is searching for comfort.
"Rachel?" her voice is a whisper.
"Mommy's mad at me."
It's only been two years, two years since Rachel scared Quinn so much that she screamed and ran into her parents' arms. Two years since she realized that she had a connection with someone she didn't even know, couldn't see except in her mind, couldn't speak to. Seven hundred thirty days filled with a constant presence, of comforting silence and the blissful knowledge of having a secret best friend, who would, one day, be Quinn's world.
Two years of too many moments like this. Moments when Rachel will come to her and put her hand in Quinn's, needing care and gentleness. Quinn is already sensitive, and being so attuned to Rachel makes it even harder to cope with the tears dotting her black eyelashes, and the haunted, wounded tone in her "voice." Quinn knows that Rachel's mother is pretty strict and yells a lot, but most of the time Rachel never talks to her about it, no matter how much Quinn asks. She just curls up in Quinn's heart and mind, aching for solace, and Quinn does whatever she can to offer it.
Taking a deep breath, she reaches out with her mind and envisions herself enfolding Rachel in her arms, giving her a hug. Then taking Rachel by the hand, she leads her to the little table.
"I-I got you a present." She picks it up with one hand. "It's a crown. It's silver, and it's shiny, and there's a little gold star at the very top. 'cause you're my gold star. Don't be sad, Princess Rachel. It'll be okay."
"Okay. I bet it's beautiful..."
Quinn nods to herself, and then picks up the match she'd stolen from the kitchen and quickly strikes it. She glances around, but when neither Daddy nor Mommy pops in to spank her for playing with fire, she lights the candle at the top of the cupcake and smiles.
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Rachel, happy birthday to you…"
She pauses, feeling Rachel's spirits lift with the song. "Make a wish, Rachel."
There is a brief silence, and then, "I wish Quinn would find me."
Quinn nods again and says, with all the resolve in her nine year old heart, "I will. I promise."