For all disclaimers, see Chapter 1.

nattitude Thank you. I'm glad the last chapter didn't dissapoint and I hope that this one doesn't either. :) Don't worry, I have a very clear idea of how this story is going to go and what I want to happen. I may make a few tweaks here and there based on the reviews but the story itself will not change.

LauraS: Thank you. I'm glad you're enjoying it and I hope that you continue to.

Jaely Well, don't worry they won't be in that stage for too long. :)

BlackShip007 Thank you. It's been fun to write. I hope that you contue to enjoy it as things unfold.

Chapter 4

Their moment was interrupted once again by the appearance of their waitress, this time she was hovering at the edge of the table inquiring whether everything was okay. It took every effort for Quinn not to growl at her and tell her to go away. Instead she just stared balefully at Rachel, who turned to the waitress with her brigthest show smile and said that everything was fine.

"...the food was delicious. But we're both done," Rachel cheerfully continued. "If you could just bring us the check please, that would be wonderful."

Quinn felt her lips tugging up in a smile at the petite singers verbose answer. A paragraph when a sentence would do. It was adorable. How had she ever found it annoying?

The waitress nodded once, offered a tight smile and dissapeared. Quinn slumped back in her seat as Rachel's gaze returned to her. Their eyes met and she felt it like a current through her body.

Neither said anything, both lost in the heated stare. This time when the waitress returned she didn't say anything, just slid the check across the table between them and strode away. The slight movement in their peripheral was enough to draw their attention however and they both reached for the billfold. Quinn got to it first, her fingers closing around the edge before Rachel could get a grasp on it.

"It's on me."

"No, let me. It was my idea that we get something to eat. I was having such a great time with you, I wasn't ready for the night to end."

Quinn felt a flutter of butterflies in her stomach at Rachel's admission.

"But if you hadn't suggested it,I would have."

"You bought me a drink."

"There's a big difference between a drink and a meal."

Rachel opened her mouth to reply then let it fall shut again as she failed to come up with a reply.

"Tell you what. You let me get this one and you can get it next time."

Rachel cocked her head to the side, styding her. "Will there be a next time?"

"I'd like it if there was," Quinn said.

"Really?" Rachel asked, sounding both cautious and hopeful.

Quinn nodded emphatically. "Yes, really. Look, I've made a lot of mistakes in my life. Many of them involving you," she admitted.

Rachel opened her mouth but Quinn held a hend up, stopping her from interrupting.

"Things are different now,yes, I know. But we can't re-write the past. And the fact is I've never really done right by you. So, like I said, I've made a lot of mistakes with you, not the least of which is letting you slip from my life. But I'm not about to let that happen again. I want to get to know you again. I want you to get to know me again. I just... I want you in my life."

It was as close as they'd gotten to the actually talking about what they'd been skirting around all night. And while it wasn't exactly an admission or acknowledgement of the attraction that Quinn felt stirring between them it was real and it was honest. She hadn't realized how much she missed Rachel until she'd spotted her sitting across the bar but the fact was, she had missed her. And now that she'd gotten the chance to see her, to talk to her, she wasn't going to take that lightly. Even if Rachel didn't return Quinn's feelings, even if all she wanted was friendship, Quinn would happily accept that if it meant more conversations, more meals, more time spent with this woman.

Rachel was apparently rendered speachless by her words, she sat there staring at her in silence. Quinn smiled softly at her and while Rachel was still distracted pulled the check across the table towards herself. She peeked inside at the amount, pulled a few bills out of pocket and tucked them inside.

It was until she had slid from her seat ad was standing at the edge of the table offering a hand to help Rachel up that her words seemed to catch up with the other woman. She could see the moment they hit and bit back a smile as she watched Rachel's face transform. Her eyes just lit up and a smile tugged at the corners of her lips until she was grinning broadly at Quinn, a huge, toothy smile.

"You really mean that?" she asked as she allowed herself to be hauled to her feet.

"I really do. I was stupid, letting you go the first time. I'm not going to let it happen again."

Rachel squeezed Quinn's hand in between both of hers as they left the restaurant. I'm glad that I ran into you tonight," she said, that broad grin still in place. "Because I missed you. And I'm really happy that we get a second chance. You're not going to be able to shake me so easily this time."

"I wouldn't dream of it," Quinn said, her tone was light but her words were completely sincere. "I missed you to," she added.

If possible, that grin of Rachel's only got bigger.

"You know, I used to wonder sometimes what you were up to," Rachel admitted.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I mean, the last time we talked was what, the middle of freshman year?"

Quinn thought back, trying to remember the last conversation they'd had. They'd started off strong, emailing and texting back and forth over the first few weeks but it had petered off some as they'd really gotten into their semesters. By Thanksgiving the daily messages had become weekly and by Christmas it had gone down to every couple weeks. By spring it was down to maybe once a month and by summer break contact had stopped all together. The last message Quinn remembered sending Rachel was an email telling her that she wouldn't be going home for spring break because she had a big project due. She couldn't remember if Rachel had sent a reply.

"At that point you were preparing for a student showcase and had some event thing going on with that stupid secret society you joined. Over the years I just couldn't help wondering, were you still acting? Had you given it up and gone into some other field? Had you met anyone? Were you happy?"

Quinn nodded. She had to admit, she'd wondered the same about Rachel, about all of her friends from high school. "I wondered about you too. I mean, I knew that you were Broadway bound but I wondered if you'd gotten your big break yet, if you were taking the stage by storm. I kept waiting to see your name in the paper, a glowing review of some new show or legendary revival."

Rachel didn't say anything, she just nodded and huddled deeper against Quinn's side.

"Hey, are you cold?" she asked, feeling the faint shivers coarsing through the smaller woman's body.

"A little, yeah."

Quinn wished she had a jacket so she could drape it across Rachel's shoulders and grinned a little at the cliche of it and then grinned a little wider as another solution occured to her. Gently she extracted her hand from Rachel's grasp, not mising the faint whine of protest that issued from the other woman's throat as she withdrew. As soon as she was free she draped her arm around Rachel's shoulder and pulled the petite frame tighter against her. She reached across their bodies and ran her other hand briskly up and down Rachel's arm to warm her. Just as she hadn't missed the faint protest she also didn't miss the light sigh or the way that Rachel immediatley relaxed into her embrace. It gave her hope that this wasn't one sided, that Rachel was experiencing the same pull and attraction that she was. And a warmth coursed through her that had nothing to do with the combined body heat.

"Better?" she asked and there was no disguising the husk in her voice.

"Mmm-hmmm," Rachel hummed and nodded, the sound hitting Quinn low in the abdomen and she bit her lip against a moan.

A moment later when Rachel's arm slid from between their bodies and settled low around her waist she stumbled, nearly tripping them both. She felt her cheeks flace at Rachel's low chuckle and the flush only increased when Rachel tightend her hold and squeezed Quinn's hip.

When her brain cleared of it's fog from that particular moment Quinn realized that she had no idea where they were going but she was pretty sure it was the exact opposite direction of her hotel. Not that she was in any hurry to head back there, she was just curious as to where Rachel was leading them. And with what intention.

Her heart fluttered rapidly in her chest at the thought of Rachel taking them back to her place. And it only increased when they turned down a block that was clearly more residental than commercial.

Quinn refused to let the thoughts settle. She didn't want to get ahead of the situation. Knowing Rachel, it was possible she was just displaying some warmth and hospitality, taking Quinn to her home rather than sending her off in a cab, alone at four in the morning.

But the harder she tried not to think about it the more insistant the thoughts became. Her breath quickened and butterflies stirred in her stomach, anticipation making her both giddy and nervous. They hadn't discussed it. But maybe they should. Because even if Rachel was feeling the same draw that she was, Quinn had no idea what it meant to the other woman.

Quinn wasn't even sure what it meant to her. Was it just a physical attraction or was it something more? They'd already established that they were going to rekindle their friendship but, could it possibly be more?

It was a fleeting thought but Quinn nearly stumbled under it's impact. All night she'd been so focused on the pull, the attraction but she'd never once considered what might lie beneath it. Suddenly though, she was hit with the prospect of something more, something better than just one night. She was surprised by how quickly the idea rooted and took hold but now it was all she could think about. And she wanted it.

She wanted lazy mornings in bed together and curling up on the couch, watching tv. She wanted to cook meals and run lines and to rush around each other trying to get ready for work in the mornings and bicker over who's turn it was to take care of the groceries that week.

She didn't even have to try to picture it, it was just there. This whole new future, a whole life for them, together. And she glanced down at Rachel, who was snuggled contently into her side, arm wrapped securely around her waist as they walked and she wondered if it was there for her, too.

Quinn felt Rachel's steps begin to slow and knew that they were nearing her building. She was torn between the desire to have this walk last a little longer, to remain wrapped peacefully around one another for just a little while and an eagerness for the next step, whatever it may be.

A moment later Rachel came to a full stop in front of the entrance of one of the buildings and Quinn felt her breath catch and hold in anticipation of what came next. Without releasing her hold on Quinn's waist or slipping out from beneath her arm, Rachel turned so they were facing each other.

"I had a really great time tonight," she said softly.

It was such a first date thing to say and Quinn couldn't help but wonder at her words. Had it been a firt date? An unintenional, chance meeting first date? It certainly felt like one, drinks, a meal. Conversation and getting aquainted. A romantic walk through the city at night to Rachel's doorstep.

"Me too," Quinn said, equally soft, completing the standard exchange. "I really hope that we can do it again. Soon."

Rachel nodded, her eyes shining in the darkness, reflecting the glow of the streetlight a few feet to their left. "I'd like that."

This was it, this was the moment.

Quinn licked her lips and caught Rachel's gaze tracking the movement. She slid her hand from Rachel's shoulder to the back of her neck, dipped her head and brought their lips together in a gentle kiss.