amieirish I agree, sex is an important part of relationship. It's not the only part, but it is a factor. Thank you. I'm glad that you're enjoying the story.

LaurenKnight13 I figured that nobody would be expecting it, which is exactly why I had to put it in there. Agreed, they're both to blame, neither one is really being fair to the other. But don't worry, I'll resolve it quickly. I like some drama but I don't want to drag it out unneccessarily.

Denethion Not even a little bit of drama? :( I have to put a bit in, otherwise the story will get boring. But I'm not going to make a big production of it, don't worry.

BlackShip007 Bet you weren't expecting her just then though, were you? And no, they'll get through this quickly.

DameonCain Yeah. I felt bad for Quinn too. But Rachel's not being completely heartless, she has her reasons.

LSpatz Don't worry, no breakups. Couples fight. And I imagine Rachel and Quinn will fight a fair bit but nothing too bad.

DarkBlueMint Maybe. But not without her reasons. Don't be too hard on her.

RachelBarbraBerry :) I don't think Rachel Berry has ever been known for her even temper or her restraint.

newlove aww, don't give up on them yet. I think they can make it work.

Guest You'll see.

gllover22 The bubble they were living in over the weekend has been burst. I think their feelings for each other are still there, still strong, this is just a reminder that they still have some obstacles to overcome.

Guest Rachel has her reasons, don't be too hard on her. :)

Fabraygron :) Relax, don't worry. They will be fine. Yes, that's exactly what I was trying to show, they've got a connection, they're building a solid base but there are still things that will trip them up.

Guest: You pretty much nailed every underlying theme and motivation right on the head. In your "rant".-People are going to react to things based on their own personal experiences and bias though, so try not to get too worked up about how they respond to the events.- It'll be fleshed out in later chapters but you were spot in in the reasons for their behaviours. I'm glad that you're enjoying the story. And don't worry, they're not going to be going at it like bunnies for the duration of the story. The weekend sexcapades, I thought, were an important counterpoint to what happened in the last chapter and to some things that will be revealed later. That being said, I do think that sex is an important component to a relationship so I will be writing more sex scenes.

samdarls Thank you.

wkgreen Reality bites sometimes.

Chapter 23

For the second time in as many days, Quinn found herself hailing a cab outside of Rachel's apartment in ill-fitting, borrowed clothes. The difference being, yesterday she hadn't cared about the side-long glances and the silent judgements from passerby. With anyone other than Rachel, she might have. She might have felt embarrased to have everyone around her, from the little old lady walking her dog to the two guys climbing out of a moving van knowing that she'd spent her night in a bed that was not her own. But, she'd known that what she and Rachel had shared was special. It meant something. It wasn't a one night stand. It wasn't cheap or meaningless.

This morning however she saw every smirk, every sneer, every knowing glance between complete strangers. She felt the weight of their judgement as a hot, tight knot in her stomach because she didn't have that inner-knowledge that what she and Rachel had shared was special, that it meant something. She felt cheap. She felt shamed.

She'd thought that the last two days had been leading up to something, the conversations, the quiet moments. She'd felt closer to Rachel just lying quietly in each other's arms than she had to anyone else. The teasing, the laughter, the sex. It had been easy and emotional and intimate. It had felt like they were building something more.

Then to see Rachel in the arms of a stranger, to see them kiss, to have Rachel move away from her and towards another woman, it hurt. It hurt more than Quinn would have thought possible.

And to then have Rachel just dismiss it, to not even take a moment to acknowledge why Quinn was upset. Tears of anger, of sadness, of pain, burned against her lids and she blinked rapidly, trying to clear them away. The last thing she needed was to break down crying in the middle of the street. It would only add to the looks of pity and scorn.

She breathed a faint sigh of relief as a cab pulled up to the curb in front of her and quickly slid inside. She murmured the address of her hotel to the driver and turned her face to the window, avoiding eye contact and hopefully not inviting conversation.

The cab pulled away from the curb and was soo zig-zagging through traffic. Quinn was too precoccupied with her thoughts to notice the many near misses, only vaguely registering the sudden stops and swerves as a faint change in motion.

She could admit that she had over reacted a little. Stripping down in front of Rachel's ex and then tossing the clothes at her was a little over the top. It had just hurt her so much to see that woman standing there, draped all over Rachel and smirking at Quinn like she was the one intruding. Her temper had flared and she'd acted immaturely. She understood that. And she'd tried to apologize for it but Rachel had kicked her out before she had the chance.

That was the hardest part. It made Quinn wonder if Rachel wasn't as in this as she'd originally thought. Maybe she was just using this as an excuse to end things.

The faint squeal of breaks and the cab sliding to a stop jolted Quinn from her thoughts and she shook her head roughly, trying to clear the cobwebs and bring herself back to the present. A quick glance around revealed the front of her hotel to the window on her right and the cabbie half turned in his seat, staring at her expectantly.

Quinn fumbled through her purse for some cash and slid it through the space between the seats then climbed out of the car. The sidewalk and the lobby of the hotel were bustling, buisness men and women in suits and tourists in jeans, tees and battered sneakers hovered about, checking in, checking out, hailing cabs and stopping to take pictures. Quinn paid them little mind as she weaved in and out between them, making her way to the elevator and slipping inside just before the doors slid shut.

Though it made her feel like a terrible person for thinking it, Quinn really hoped that neither of her friends were in the room right now. She just wasn't in the mood to deal with them, to be around people right now.

She slid her keycard into the lock and turned the knob when the light turned green. Slowly, quietly the door eased open and Quinn stepped inside, breath held, listening for signs of life.

When she heard the faint murmer of the tv she almost turned around and headed back out but the fact that she didn't have anywhere else to go kept her moving forward. She kicked off her shoes and dropped her purse in the entryway then continued on silently into the room.

Both Lara and Olivia were sitting on the couch, the tv was playing out in front of it but neither seemed to be paying attention to it. Lara was on her laptop and Olivia was texting away on her phone. They hadn't noticed her arrival yet and Quinn was half tempted to slip into the bedroom unnoticed.

That would be rude, however. It was bad enough that she'd pretty much ditched them since the first day they'd arrived in New York. To purposely avoid them would be pretty low.

Softly she cleared her throat. "Hey, guys," and murumred a greeting as she dropped down onto the armchair beside the couch.

"Quinn. Hey."

"Didn't think we'd be seeing you today."

Quinn nodded and averted her gaze. "Yeah...Rachel and I had a fight."

"A fight? It's been two days."

She didn't even bother to glare at her friend. "I'm well aware of how long it's been, Liv."

"Hey. Okay. Just saying."

Quinn didn't have to look to know that the two of them were exchanging worried glances.

"What happened?"

And that was the question, wasn't it? It had all happened so fast. Quinn's head was still spinning with it.

She let out a heavy sigh and dropped her head against the chair back, staring sightlessly at the ceiling. "It's so messed up," she muttered.

"You want to give us a little more than that?" Lara asked and Quinn felt a gentle pressure against her knee, a reassuring squeeze.

"Okay, where to start...so first thing is, Rachel's ex shows up. Only, maybe she's not so much an ex."

She heard Lara's deep intake of breath and Olivia's startled curse and can't help the faint smirk or small degree of perverse pleasure she gets out of their reactions.

"Wait, Rachel wasn't single? She cheated? With you?"

Quinn shook her head at Lara's rapid fire questions. "It's complicated?"

Olivia snickered. And then let out a yelp as Lara kicked or smacked her. Quinn grinned momentarily at their interactions before the situation settled itself back around her.

"They weren't official. They'd been dating but had broken things off. But they were still sleeping together."

"Fuck. Quinn."

"Wait, it's gets better. Anyway, so lady's at the door, hands all over Rachel, pecking her lips and bringing her lunch and Rachel's just standing there, soaking it all up." Quinn swallowed heavily and took a deep, steadying breath. "So I walk over, put my arm around Rachel and y'know..."

"Stake your claim?"

Quinn winces at Olivia's term but nods. It was exactly what Rachel had accused her of doing and though she had denied it then, she knew it to be true now. Her ego had taken a hit, seeing that attractive woman, hands all over her Rachel and she'd felt the need to slip in and take a little of Rachel back.

"Quinn-"

"I know, all right?"

But it hadn't been just about claiming Rachel. Sure, she'd put on a bit of a show for the other woman but she'd also done it to reassure herself. She'd needed to touch Rachel and feel the warmth and comfort that having her hands on her brought. She'd needed to re-establish that connection in the face of this other woman infringing upon it. Which she'd tried to explain. Except Rachel wouldn't hear it.

"Just let me get through this, okay?" she asked. "No interruptions."

"Okay."

"Sure thing, Quinn."

And so Quinn explained everything, the conversation, the confrontation and finally the fight between herself and Rachel. She recounted, almost word for word, everything that was said in the apartment, from the words of Rachel's ex to the accusations Rachel had flung at her to her own comments and finally to Rachel kicking her out By the time she was done Quinn was exhuasted and slightly hoarse from holding back tears.

It was only when she was finished talking that she could bring herself to look her friends in the eye. She lifted her head from the back of the chair and tilted it forward, bringing her gaze in line with theirs.

She watched them exchange a glance and then turn their attention back to her. The intensity of their silent scrutiny making her squirm.

"What?"

"Damn, Quinn," Olivia let out a low whistle. "That is just..." she trailed off with a shake of her head. "That's messed up."

Quinn let out a harsh laugh. She knew.

"It sounds really rough," Lara said softly, slowly. Quinn knew that tone and she turned to her friend, bracing herself for something that she wasn't going to like hearing. "But I think Rachel's right."

"What?" She glanced over at Olivia for some support only to find her friend wincing in sympathy but nodding in agreement with Lara. "What?" she repeated, just for good measure.

"You said that Rachel accused you of being jealous and possesive. And by your own admittance, you were kind of staking your claim and trying to show up the ex."

"Yeah but-"

"No interruptions."

Quinn opened her mouth to protest and then snapped it shut, nodding for her friend to continue.

"Normally, that would be kind of annoying. A little insecure. But really not all that big of a deal. But Rachel just got out of relationship with someone who was controlling. The moment you stepped up probably sent up all sorts of warning flags. Suddenly she's wondering if she just traded one unhealthy relationship for another. So yeah, kicking you out to get some persepective, totally justified."

Quinn stared at Lara, trying to take it all in. "Damn," she muttered after a long moment. "I'm an idiot." She slumped back into her chair and sighed.

"Yeah. Now what are you going to do about it?" Olivia asked.

"Huh?"

"How are you going to fix this?" Olivia said slowly, enunciating each word carefully.

"Me? Why should I be the one to-"

"Seriously? Are you really going to let your bruised pride get in the way?"

"My bruised pride? I-"

"Yes, she hurt you. Yes, it sucks. Should she apologize for it? Absolutely. But you're not without fault here either," Olivia interrupted. "And it's not really about who's right and who's wrong anyways. She's got her issues in relationships. You've got yours. But unless you guys actually talk to each other and work through them, you're not going to have a relationship."

Quinn let out a sigh as Olivia's words sunk in. "I hate you."

"You hate that I'm right."

"I hate that you're right."

"And that you have to apologize."

Quinn didn't bother to respond, she simply glared.

"So, plan?" Olivia prodded, unperturbed.

Quinn thought about it for a moment, pushing aside her hurt feelings and yes, her bruised pride and tried to come up with a plan of action. "Rachel has a show tonight. Before the fight I said I'd come see her perform," Quinn began slowly, working it over in her mind as she spoke. "We were going to have dinner and she was going to give me the grand tour. Well, us atually. She invited you two as well. Would you mind terribly if I uninvited you? If it all works out, we could all meet for drinks or something afterwards."

As expected, neither of her friends objected to being uninvited so Quinn could have an opporunity to work things out with Rachel. And in the meantime, they were happy to serve as her distraction, going out with her for a late lunch and some shopping so she wouldn't have to spend the rest of the afternoon thinking about how things would play out with Rachel later.

She made it through the next few hours with minimal stress, Lara and Olivia kept her entertained and occupied though lunch and shopping and coffee and some sightseeing. But now is was approaching evening and the three of them were parting ways. Olivia and Lara were heading out for dinner and Quinn was on her way to the theatre to meet up with Rachel.

The other woman's matinee show would have ended about five minutes ago, meaning that Rachel was probably just heading to her dressing room, preparing to get changed out of her costume and take off her makeup unwind after the performance.

Quinn reached the theatre and stood outside, staring up at the marquee as the crowd spilled out the doors, clutching playbills and chattering excitedly about the performance. She felt herself being buffeted on all sides as they moved past her but remained rooted on the spot. The boxoffice was only a few feet away, two bored teenage boys sitting in front of empty wickets, one texting the other staring off into space. A few steps, a few words and Quinn would be inside, heading through the halls of the theatre towards Rachel to make this right.

But Quinn couldn't seem to make her feet move. Every time she thought about it, her heart picked up speed, pounding loudly in her ears and her breath caught in her lungs and a nervous sweat broke out across her forehead. Because, what if she stepped up to that ticket window only to discover that Rachel hadn't reserved one for her like she'd promised?

The crowd thinned out around her, the stream of people turning into a trickle and then nobody at all. Now Quinn was alone on the sidewalk. She couldn't do it. She couldn't walk up there only to discover that Rachel was so angry with her that she'd abandoned their plans. It would hurt too much.

She couldn't just turn around and walk away though. Rachel was too important to her to just give up like that. For a moment she stood there feeling a growing sense of panic and uncertainty before a plan came to mind.

She turned on her heel and strode around to the side of the building, quickly locating the back entrance and took her place at the end of the long line of people waiting at the doors for the cast to exit. If she knew Rachel the way she thought she knew Rachel then the other woman wouldn't pass up the opportunity to greet her adoring public.

The door swung open a moment later and Quinn's breath caught in her throat as the crowd surged forward, only to let it go in a long, breathy sigh when she caught sight of a tall, dapper young man working his way through the throng.

Once, twice, three times Quinn's breath caught and she waited on pins and needles as the door swung open and three times she let out a sigh of dissapointment when it turned out to be someone other than Rachel.

After the third time, some of the crowd dispersed, drifting away to tell their friends about the autographs they'd collected and Quinn felt that panic mounting once again. What if she was wrong? What if Rachel had gone out the front entrance and Quinn had missed her. What if Rachel was now feeling that same dissapointment thinking Quinn had not shown up that Quinn had known she'd feel if she found out there wasn't a ticket waiting for her?

The door swung open once again and the remaining crowd surged forward, growing racous in their demands for a little bit of attention from the adored celebrity. Quinn didn't really pay the commotion any mind until she heard a familiar, lilting laugh cut through the din. Her head whipped around so quickly that she winced at the pull of it but the pain barely registered as her eyes landed on Rachel, smiling and laughing easily as she signed magazines and pictures and even cell phones that were thrust in front of her. She took her time with each person, chatting and signing and taking pictures, working her way down the line until she was steps away from Quinn. Close enough to touch, if she were to reach out her hand.

Her head was down, focused on the notebook she was signing in front of her, then her gaze drifted up, catching the eye of the woman she was talking to. Quinn watched, mezmerized.

And then Rachel was turning. Quinn's heart seized and her body tensed. Rachel's gaze tracked to her face and she froze for a moment, hesitance playing across her features before she stepped close, eliminating some of the distance between them.

"Quinn," she said softly, more of a breath than a word.

Quinn swallowed and tried to speak but found her throat dry and her tongue unweidly. She thrust the boquet of flowers she'd picked up against Rachel's chest instead.

"I'm sorry," she croaked as Rachel's hands came up to close around the stems automatically.

The crowd around them watched with interest but Quinn paid them no mind, her entire focus was on the woman in front of her.

"I'm sorry," she repeated, her voice a little smoother the second time.

Rachel nodded slightly. "The flowers are lovely. And I appreciate the apology but-"

Quinn flinched at the flat inflection in her tone. She knew it was unrealistic but she'd expected Rachel to be bowled over by her appearance and the flowers, to happily sink into her arms before agreeing to have a conversation. It was unrealisitc but it still stung a little when it didn't happen.

Rachel was going to make her work for it, which Quinn understood but that didn't mean she had to love it.

"Can we...can we do this in private?" she asked softly. "Let me take you to dinner and we can talk."

"Quinn..."Rachel trailed off with a faint shake of her head.

"Look, I understand that you're...hesitant to trust me after this morning. I get that. Okay? I really do. But please, please let me explain? I promise, if you hear me out and still don't like what I'm saying I'll leave you alone. But hear me out. Please?" Her eyes bore into Rachel's, willing the other woman to give in to her request.

After a long, tense moment, Rachel nodded.

It wasn't much but it was all Quinn needed and she couldn't keep the beaming smile off her face as Rachel fell into step beside her as the left the alleyway and headed down the block.

The smile only grew larger when, stopped at the light, Rachel reached out and laced her fingers through Quinn's.