A/N: Sorry it's been so long. I've been busy working and haven't had much time to write. Thanks for the continued support and reviews!

A/N2: What the hell have I been watching on Glee? Do the writers even remember Season 1? Do the writers sit around and think about the fact that they are alienating all of their viewers? Do they not want anyone watching for the final season? Aarrgh! For those of you frustrated with the show (if you still watch), these next few chapters have some Pezberry friendship to go along with Faberry.

Chapter 19

The semester was rapidly coming to an end. Quinn was overwhelmed with essays, study groups, and tests. Final exams were just around the corner and studying demanded most of her time. She hadn't been able to visit Rachel for a few weeks and she was getting antsy. The new intimacy between them made the distance even more frustrating than it previously had been.

She was currently ensconced in the library trying finish her research paper but kept getting distracted by thinking about her girlfriend. After Rachel had taken her on a quiet, romantic date to a concert in the park, they had become official. Quinn wanted nothing more than to call the tiny brunette and chat, but her paper needed a final proofing. She also knew that it was unlikely Rachel would be able to talk. Her little diva was also busy with her preparations for Funny Girl. In between rehearsals Rachel worked at the diner and somehow managed to fit in classes at NYADA. Quinn was worried about her. The little songbird would run herself ragged before school let out for the summer. Quinn was worried that Rachel would burn out before serious rehearsing for the play started.

They had kept in constant contact with Skype and texting, but it wasn't the same. There was a longing in Quinn's heart that wouldn't go away and it took a Herculean effort to concentrate on her studies instead of running to New York to be with Rachel. She shook her head to adjust her focus and went back to proofing her paper.

Hours later, Quinn just couldn't work any more. Her eyes hurt from staring at a computer screen, and she was exhausted and ravenous. It was almost time for dinner and her empty stomach was distracting her and her eyes wanted to fall shut. All she wanted was to eat a hot meal and to put in some ear plugs and take a long nap. Luckily she had finished; her paper was proofed, edited, printed, and saved. The blonde shut her laptop and left the library to head to dinner at the dining hall. A buzzing phone alerted her to a call and she happily opened it when she saw it was Rachel.

They talked as Quinn strolled across the campus towards her residence hall. Rachel was entertaining her with the latest gossip and anecdotes from the set of Funny Girl. They chatted for several minutes before the blonde told Rachel that she would call later; she needed a nap and some dinner.

Rachel was perched on her couch after a long day. She was in comfortable clothes and had a mug of hot tea. Santana sat a few feet away lazily reading a magazine. It had been a few days since she had last spoken to Quinn, so, on a whim, she picked up her phone and pressed the screen to call the blonde.

She pouted a little when the blonde cut their conversation short, but understood that Quinn needed food and rest. The soft reassurance that Quinn would call her later was all Rachel wanted before she ended their call.

Santana piped up from her spot on the sofa, "Q doing okay?"

Rachel sighed before responding, "Yeah, she's just tired from spending too much time in the library on a paper. She said that she would call later."

The Latina lowered her magazine and cleared her throat, "Look, Rachel, I know that you and Q are doing some gross lesbifriend mating ritual and that's cool...just be careful with her. She's loved you for a long time and if you don't want something real with her then you need to tell her." Her eyes turned hard for a moment before continuing, "If you hurt Q, then I'll hurt you, got it?"

Rachel sat dumbfounded for a moment before she gathered herself and said softly, "Santana, I have no intention of hurting Quinn or leading her on. I care about her deeply, so you have nothing to worry about."

"Good." Santana resumed flipping pages in her magazine and Rachel smiled a little at the girl's protective nature, even though it was directed at her. She glanced at her phone for the time and saw that she would still have a few hours before Quinn would call. She decided to settle in with some dinner and a movie on Netflix.

Although she had been hopeless in the kitchen when living in Lima, (she and her fathers were fully committed to take-out) she had been forced to learn in order to save money. She quickly threw together a vegetable stir-fry with tofu and a glass of water with some lemon. With a happy smile, she clicked on the television and sank into the sofa scroll through her movie choices. She was working her way through classic films and settled on a Judy Garland feature.

The joyful strains of "For Me and My Gal" were blaring through the speakers when her phone rang. Not even bothering to see who was calling Rachel picked up excitedly, ready to chat with her busy girlfriend. Santana, who had been on her way into the room to demand that Rachel turn down the volume on her stupid musical, stopped short at the look on Rachel's face. The last time the little diva had looked like that was when she received the news of Finn's death.

Santana was at Rachel's side in an instant, the urge to protect overwhelming her usual standoffish nature. The tiny girl was holding back sobs and shaking as she conversed with the person on the phone. After hanging up, Rachel extricated herself from Santana's arms and blindly raced to her room and began throwing clothes into a bag.

"What the hell, Berry! What's going on?" Santana winced at the harsh way she'd said Rachel's name, but it couldn't be helped. She always reverted back to bitchy Santana when under great stress. The little diva's didn't even look at her as she continued to pack. Her frustration growing, the Latina marched over to Rachel and grabbed for the bag, determined to get answers.

In a move that surprised them both, Rachel rounded on Santana. The look in the diva's dark eyes had her former bully backing up a step. Changing tactics, she grasped Rachel's shoulders and gently shook her. "Rachel," she said forcefully, "calm down and tell me what's wrong. Who was that on the phone?"

Rachel collapsed into Santana's arms and sobbed. In a choked voice she quickly explained that Quinn's roommate had just called and that Quinn had been a car accident and that the car was totaled. "She said it was m..mangled mess," Rachel's voice quivered at the word mangled before her body went limp with grief.

Santana kept a firm grip on the little brunette even as tears gathered in her own eyes. Rachel was starting to hyperventilate and there was no time to wallow in panic. After lowering the diva to the sofa, she quickly ran to the kitchen and grabbed a brown take-out bag from the table. Rachel took deep panicked breaths until her body calmed enough to function properly.

"I...I'm taking the next bus to New Haven, Santana. I'm meeting her roommate at the hospital." Rachel reached over and zipped up her bag, did a quick mental checklist, and grabbed one of Quinn's hoodies (it had been left behind after one of her visits).

"Give me five minutes, Midge. I'm coming with you."

A/N3: I was originally going to post this last month, but I didn't like where the story was going, so instead, I scrapped two chapters and had to rework some things. I like this much better. Reviews make my day!