lA/N: Just something I put together after watching episode 20. So it kind of contains spoilers/will only make sense after episode 20 'Theatricality'.

Will also make a lot more sense after reading my story Twenty two, as this is set after then. It might explain a bit.

And this is a small Faberry one-shot. But only a little bit of Faberry. Might turn into a two parter.

xoxoxoxox

"I'm so sorry, Rachel. I'll call you."

It's funny how far words that quiet can carry in a space this big. But even as I sit here, high above them, in these balcony-view seats, I can hear her. I expect an echo to fill up the void her words have left, as Mercedes stares at the scene in front of us, her mouth a little open.

"Damn. That is… that's rough." She whispers, and I watch Rachel, wondering if she knows we're up here. She doesn't seem to have noticed, and now I feel horrible, like I've been eavesdropping.

"Intense." I agree, nodding slightly. "Can you give us a moment?"

"Who? You and Rachel?" The look Mercedes gives me would almost be laughable, but I close my eyes for a moment. I breathe.

"Yes." I look at Mercedes, hoping she doesn't ask too many questions. "Me and Rachel."

"And you're going to be nice, right?"

"Of course. Now, please?"

Mercedes nods, and heads to the exit. I work my way down the stairs, and to the main door of the auditorium, the big one at the back. I take a few steps, as quietly as I can. I don't want to startle her.

Rachel still hasn't moved when I'm only a few feet away, and I try to make myself noticed.

"Rachel?" My voice is soft, but clear enough to be heard, but she doesn't move. "Rach?"

"I know you're there, Quinn." There's a sniff as she tries to rein in her tears, one hand wiping her cheek.

"Oh."

"You're not very good at sneaking up on people. I don't advise taking up burglary as a profession."

"It's not all that easy to sneak when you're pregnant." I shrug, even though she still isn't looking at me. But she does move. Rachel's head moves down a little, and to the side, sort of half facing me.

"God. It seems so… selfish. To feel like this when it is nothing like…" Finally she looks at me, her eyes flicking to my (now quite obvious) stomach for a moment before meeting my own. "Compared to your life, this is stupid."

I smile a little at her bluntness, but shake my head. "No. It's definitely not stupid."

And just like that, Rachel faces the front once more. "I guess you heard then."

"We were still in our spy positions." My voice wavers, my guilt showing as I move to sit next to her, feeling huge in the tiny gaps between the chairs. "Sorry."

A small shrug. "I feel a little better that you didn't just… leave." There's a pause, and it's weighted. And so I'm the most patient that Quinn Fabray has ever been, and wait for her to say something. "I really thought this would be different."

She sounds so tiny, and fragile that I just want to take her into my arms and tell her things to make her smile. Instead I just turn in my chair as best as I can, my arm resting on the back of my seat, almost touching her shoulder.

"Not what you were expecting, huh?"

"No. I mean, she's right. I wanted the slow motion run, that cuts into an intense and emotional hugging scene. Preferably with some kind of tear-jerking instrumental in the background. But I guess that's just…"

"Your little Rachel Berry mind over-planning again?"

"Exactly." Rachel sighs, her shoulders drooping. "Apparently it's a family trait."

"Who knew?" I try and quip, but it's not very successful- and a little inappropriate. My hand quivers, wanting to touch her, to offer some sort of comfort. Though things are a little weird between us lately. I can't figure out how to act towards her anymore.

"I just want a mom, Quinn. Why is that so much to ask?"

My heart tightens in my chest, my arm reaching around Rachel's shoulders, whilst my other hand moves towards my baby bump. Her words stick in my mind, repeating as Rachel falls into my shoulder, relaxing into the kind of hug. I feel her shake in my arms. It's almost a shiver, and her tears are all but silent. It's not the kind of crying I expect from the tiny diva I hold in my one-armed hug.

"It's not. Believe me, it's not."

Sniffling a little, Rachel pulls back to look at me. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I know I have a mom, but it doesn't feel like it." I shrug. "Sometimes, on really bad days- when I'm tired, and hurting, and feeling ill… and Puck's being a bit of an ass- I get really lonely. I just curl into a ball and… all I want is my mom. She was never there when I needed her."

"Oh, Quinn…"

"But at least I've had one." The words spill out of my mouth quickly. "I mean, sixteen years is a long time to go without."

"I can't figure out if this is what I want." Rachel shakes her head, and I scoot as close as I can. "I'm just not sure if I'm ready for this yet."

"Well, then take it at your own pace. If it feels wrong, slow it back down." I shrug, and her head goes back to resting on my shoulder. "Just because you know who she is, you don't need to rush things."

"You're right. I can see how it goes." Rachel whispers, and I breathe in deeply. She smells amazing, and my eyes close. For a moment I forget, and my head turns into her, my lips coming to rest on her forehead. They stay there until Rachel moves, pulling away to look at me, but staying close. Too close for me.

"Quinn…"

"I know." I sigh. "You said… we said no. I'm sorry-"

And then suddenly it doesn't matter how sorry I am, because her lips are on mine, and they're the softest thing I know. Her arms come up, around my neck, pulling us closer, and her tongue runs across my lower lip. I'm about to open my mouth, let her in, but-

"Rach…" My voice hardly works, a whisper as I pull away. Straight away I'm pulled back, her hands in my hair. I feel a slight tug as she pulls at my ponytail, letting my hair loose. "Wait-" I try again, pushing her away from my mouth. Instead her lips turn to my neck, trailing kisses down to collar of my blouse top. "Rachel!" I almost squeal, my hands now inbetween us.

"But Quinn…" The tone kills me. She sounds hurt, rejected. "I thought this was what you wanted."

"No! Well, yes. But not like this." I sigh, and take her hands in mine. "I know this is a lot to deal with, but I don't want to be your… way of coping."

Rachel frowns a little, but nods. The vulnerability she's giving off is killing me, and I wonder if I can really leave her alone like this. She met us here. She should be getting the train home.

But that's not going to happen.

"Oh." Rachel's simple reply comes. "Then how do you think I should cope? With Jesse?"

"No. God, no. I think you need to talk to your dad's. Tell them what happened. We'll talk afterwards, okay?" Rachel nods, and so I stand, holding out my arm for her. "Are you coming?"

"Coming where?"

"I'm driving you home."

"Really, Quinn. You don't have to. I have a train ticket-"

"Stop fighting me, Berry. You can't resist me."

Rachel takes my hand, meeting my eyes as she looks up, cracking the smallest of smiles. "No. I don't think I can."