Chapter 17 – New York

[07:01am] Good morning birthday girl!

[07:02am] Happy birthday, Rach!

[07:10am] Wait how did you know today is my birthday?

[07:14am] Facebook

[07:17am] No, it's not up there

[07:21am] Okay, I checked your wikipedia page

[07:24am] And here was I thinking you had remembered it from heart

[07:28am] Aww come on

[07:29am] I'll remember it from now on!

[07:30am] But anyway, why didn't you tell me it was your birthday?

[07:37am] I don't know

[07:38am] I'm not really excited about it this year

[07:39am] I'm thinking of skipping this whole birthday thing this year

[07:43am] That doesn't sound at all like the Rachel Berry I know

[07:43am] A whole day dedicated to you and you're not excited?

[07:44am] What's wrong?

[07:50am] It's just that usually I take the weekend of my birthday off to go travel somewhere with my dads but this year with the play I won't be able to go

[07:51am] And I'm tired and I miss them and stuff

[07:56am] Oh that sucks... I'm sorry

[07:59am] Yeah... Can we just pretend is not my birthday?

[08:03am] I'm sorry, but that can't happen Rach

[08:05am] Pleeease Quinn

[08:06am] But I've prepared surprises for you

[08:08am] What do you mean?

[08:14am] Well to start a whole (VEGAN) brunch should be arriving shortly at your house

[08:15am] The rest of them you will find out throughout the day

[08:21am] My ringbell just rang, your timing couldn't be more perfect

[08:22am] Quinn it will take me years to eat all this food omg

[08:23am] It all looks so delicious I can't believe it

[08:24am] Thank you so much!

[08:25am] And also gardenias! You're amazing, you're literally the best!

[08:28am] I'm glad you liked it!

[08:30am] But now, before you start eating, go to your mail box

[08:31am] There's a package there, waiting for you

[08:38am] I swear to God you're gonna be the death of me

[08:39am] Can I open it?

[08:42am] Of course, it's yours

[08:48am] Quinn, what's this?

[08:50am] It's the book of your life

[08:51am] I got your childhood pictures with your dads, and used all the pictures I had from High School together

[08:52am] There's also all the clippings from every form of press that has ever talked about you

[08:53am] Autographs from your favorite celebrities

[08:54am] And I even managed to get a picture of Kwini there :)

[09:01am] How long did you plan this for? Omg

[09:04am] Long enough!

[09:06am] God I can't stop thanking you

[09:08am] I'm gonna eat it all as I read my book

[09:10am] I hope you like it!

[09:13am] Can we Skype? I think it's only fair you share all of this with me

[09:16am] Alright but try not to be jealous of all my eggs and bacon over here

...

[10:53am] I was walking to class and a random girl stopped me to give me a huge balloon written birthday girl

[10:54am] I'm assuming this was from you too

[10:55am] And I don't even wanna know how you manage to get a random stranger to do that

[10:55am] But I hope it's from you otherwise this will be creepy

[10:56am] It could be my stalker maybe

[10:56am] I also don't know if I loved it or hated the fact that I have to carry this huge balloon around while everyone tells me happy birthday

[10:59am] Just shut up and enjoy the attention, I know you like it

[11:00am] And yes it was me, I have my ways!

[11:03am] I hate it when you're right

[11:04am] I wish I didn't have such a busy day so that we could talk more and you could guide me through the surprises

[11:08am] We can talk when you get home! Just relax and enjoy them, Rach :)

...

[01:02pm] How did you know where I was gonna have lunch?!

[01:03pm] I literally just decided!

[01:08pm] I didn't know

[01:13pm] But they gave me a cake in your name!

[01:17pm] I called all your favorites, so you could have gone to any of them and they would be ready!

[01:20pm] You're seriously unbelievable

...

[04:12pm] Quinn! My dressing room!

[04:13pm] There are so many balloons omg this is beautiful

[04:14pm] The whole cast was waiting for me and they sang me happy birthday and there was MORE cake

[04:15pm] You're giving me so much food that I might not be able to fit in my stage clothes!

[04:18pm] ... It will have been worthy though!

...

[09:20pm] HOW

[09:24pm] I see you liked your last surprise?

[09:28pm] Seriously Quinn

[09:29pm] How did you manage to get the whole audience to sing happy birthday to me?

[09:30pm] This was by far the most emotional moment of my life

[09:31pm] I cried like a baby

[09:38pm] God, I hope someone recorded that for me

[09:40pm] I'm on my way home

[09:41pm] Can we Skype again? I know we did it already today but I really wanna see you to thank you for all of this

[09:44pm] Sure, just hurry cause I gotta get to work

...

[10:40pm] God, I was stuck in traffic I'm so sorry

[10:41pm] Can you still Skype?

[10:46pm] No... I'm on my way already

[10:47pm] But hey, it's fine, we can skype tomorrow

[10:54pm] No, it's not fine

[10:55pm] God, I always mess up everything

[10:56pm] You manage to cheer me up all through the day

[10:56pm] And then when we're so close to ending the day I go and ruin it all

[10:59pm] Rach, you didn't ruin anything

[11:00pm] You don't even have to thank me, I did it from the bottom of my heart

[11:05pm] And then you go and say that kind of things

[11:06pm] God

[11:07pm] I'm just so upset because I feel like I failed the tradition I had with my dads

[11:08pm] And they could have come here since I couldn't go there, but they didn't

[11:09pm] Honestly sometimes I feel like they don't care anymore

[11:09pm] And then the one person I care about is too far and has exams

[11:10pm] But even then still manages to be the one to make my day better

[11:10pm] And God I really wish you were here

[11:11pm] Why do you have to live so far away

[11:16pm] Wait

[11:16pm] I'm the only person you care about?

[11:19pm] See?

[11:19pm] I ramble like crazy and you only focus on that

[11:20pm] As if you couldn't see it yet

[11:21pm] And I honestly think it's fucking endearing

[11:22pm] And I have no idea what do

[11:26pm] Rach

[11:30pm] Yes?

[11:32pm] Take a deep breath okay?

[11:32pm] Okay

[11:33pm] Tell me what you're trying to say

[11:40pm] I think I'm in love with you

[11:41pm] Wait no

[11:41pm] I don't think, I know

[11:42pm] God, Quinn, I'm so in love with you that it hurts me and I really can't stand being so far from you

[11:45pm] Good

[11:47pm] Good?

[11:49pm] Yes, because I'm in love with you too, silly

[11:51pm] You are?

[11:54pm] I've always been Rach, I honestly don't know why you never realized it

[11:55pm] I was in love in High School, when I couldn't deal with it and ended up treating you so badly

[11:57pm] I was in love while we weren't talking and I was trying to convince myself that I could love other people

[11:58pm] And I was in love when I found out you were the one for me, and started talking to you again to try and make you see I could make you happy too

[12:01am] Quinn why didn't you tell me all of this before?

[12:04am] I didn't want you to feel pressured

[12:05am] I knew you could fall in love with me naturally if I treated you like you deserved

[12:05am] I knew a part of you always felt something for me too

[12:06am] And that's why I didn't let you visit me when you wanted

[12:07am] I wanted to meet you once we both knew where our feelings stood

[12:09am] So will you let me visit you now?

[12:11am] You're in love with me?

[12:13am] That's correct

[12:15am] Then open your door

...

Rachel opened her door and her cellphone fell to the ground. She had expected to find another gift – a basket full of them, perhaps – but never Quinn herself.

"Aren't you gonna let me in?" Quinn asked with a sly smile, rocking on her heels.

"You're here," Rachel murmured, fluttering her eyes. She was in shock. She was almost sure she was going to fall to the ground if she didn't hold onto something. It didn't take her two seconds to decide to hug Quinn for the so needed support.

"I guess I am!" Quinn giggled, wrapping her arms around Rachel's waist and burying her face on the crook of Rachel's neck. Quinn could count on her fingers how many times they had hugged in High School, yet, she never forgot how sweet Rachel smelled. In that moment, it was even sweeter than she remembered. "Happy birthday, baby!"

When Quinn pulled away – too early, in Rachel's opinion – Rachel took a step aside to let her in. Kwini quickly smelled someone knew in the room and stumbled her way to Quinn, who squealed in delight, picking up the not-so-little-anymore dog.

"Oh my goodness, you're even cuter in person!" Quinn said, dropping kisses all over the dog's head. Rachel was still astonished, but shook her head trying to get herself to come back to reality.

"How did you get here?" She asked, grabbing Quinn's backpack and setting it on an armchair.

"I took the train," Quinn answered, as if it was obvious. Rachel felt her cheeks hurting from smiling so big, and licked her lips shaking her head once more and sitting down to be sure she wouldn't fall.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming?!" She asked, wiping her cheek. She shouldn't have taken off her makeup. She shouldn't have cried for missing Quinn's call. She wished she looked better, but Quinn still looked at her as if she was the most beautiful girl on Earth.

"I didn't know I was coming to be honest," Quinn giggled with a shrug, sitting on the edge of the bed in front of Rachel. Kwini licked her neck as she tried to continue talking. "I woke up today and had all of your surprises set up, but it didn't feel enough. I wanted something grant to end your day with. I thought all morning but couldn't come up with anything that I wanted to give to you more than a birthday hug, so... I called in sick at work, and here am I!"

"You are really here," Rachel muttered with a shy smile.

"Yes, and you've said that already." Quinn bit her smile, and Rachel's cheek flushed.

Quinn Fabray. Cheeleader Quinn Fabray from Lima, Ohio had come all the way from New Heaven just to wish her happy birthday. If she didn't think Quinn would have thought she was ridiculous, she would have pinched herself. They had talked for months but having Quinn right in front of her made everything real and her happiness was about to explode out of her.

"Can I- Can I kiss you?" Rachel asked, furrowing her eyebrows and fidgeting her hands.

"If you have to ask me that then I have definitely not done anything right in trying to get you during all those months!" Quinn grinned, grabbing Rachel's hand and pulling her to bed.

Before Rachel could argue, Quinn's lips was on hers and her world had stopped. She had no idea for how long they kissed, but once Quinn pulled apart she could swear her lips felt twice as big. They were swollen and sore and still, she just wanted more. She couldn't get enough. Quinn tasted too good and felt too good and God, how had she wasted all of her High School years fighting with Quinn about Finn? Finn had never kissed her senseless like that.

"Why didn't you come earlier?" Rachel sighed, wrapping her arms around Quinn's neck and laying her head on Quinn's shoulders. She closed her eyes and focused on remembering how incredible it felt to be laying on top of Quinn. She could use those memories once they were apart again. She never wanted them to be apart again.

"I told you, I needed to know you liked me back..." Quinn confessed, running her fingers through Rachel's hair. "I simply couldn't come here and have you so close and not be able to kiss you like I've wanted to for so long." She kissed the top of Rachel's head, and Rachel held her tighter.

"But you were coming today before I told you!" Rachel noted, dropping a kiss on Quinn's neck. Quinn shivered, and she smiled. Teenager Rachel would never believe this. She was kissing Quinn. Quinn loved her. She just made Quinn shiver.

"I couldn't wait anymore. It was torture," she sighed with a chuckle. It was over now. None of them had to hide or wait. "If you hadn't say anything I would just confess my feelings for you and if you didn't want me back I guess I would just try and live with it, but at least I wouldn't keep dreaming about the impossible anymore."

"And those feelings you say..." Rachel pushed, running a finger along Quinn's collarbones. She wanted to hear it. Quinn's voice had become one of her favorite things, and she knew that if she almost fainted reading those words on her cellphone screen – listening to them would just be good enough for her to die happy.

"I love you, Rachel Berry." Quinn said, turning her head to whisper closer to Rachel's ears. Rachel's eyes fluttered open to meet Quinn's, and she could swear she had melted inside.

"I love you too," she said with the biggest smile, dropping another peck to Quinn's lips.

"If only you knew how much I've dreamed of hearing those words coming out of your mouth!"

"And to think you used to try to make me believe you were not a softie..."

...

[03:42am] I love you

[03:43am] I literally can't stop saying it

[03:44am] And I'll never stop being able to thank you either

[03:48am] Just come back to bed, baby!