IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE

People always told Rachel Berry to relish every moment. To really soak up the good, and let go of the bad. When her dad passed away a year ago, she learned to live every moment to its fullest. So she would, and so she did.

She pulled up into her driveway, sighing heavily as she parked the car. It was a long day. A long, tiring day. But the thought that her beautiful wife was inside waiting for her, made it all easier. Rachel unbuckled her seatbelt, and stepped out. She straightened out her pencil skirt, and adjusted the collar on her jacket.

Rachel loved her job. She did. No, she didn't live up to her teenage dreams and make it big time on broadway. She ended up working as a music teacher in a high school. That was never on the agenda when she went to high school, just 5 years ago, but then again... Neither was Quinn.

She slipped her old rusted keys into the key whole, and opened the door. "Honey, I'm home!" She called, laughing at herself afterward. It was a cliche type greeting, but she could practically hear Quinn smiling from in the kitchen.

"In the kitchen." The blonde called back. The soothing voice instantly calmed Rachel. She smiled gratefully and slipped off her open toe heels. Rachel walked through the house, eventually making it into the kitchen.

"Smells delicious." The brunette said, finally seeing her wife. Rachel stepped behind her and pressed loving kisses to the back of her neck, letting her lips linger. The two girls had been married for three years now. After high school, neither of them left Lima. But they weren't bitter. They loved the idea of staying close to home, close to family. And over the course of bonding, romance was built. They started casually dating a year after graduation. Then casual turned into serious, and the rest is history. They have the perfect marriage. Still the impulsive, sex in bathrooms, type marriage.

Quinn hummed lowly at the feelings of Rachel's lips on her neck. "That's because it's your favourite." She said, proudly. Quinn turned around to face Rachel, kissing her lovingly on the lips. It didn't last long, but it was enough to communicate their love.

Rachel moved to start setting the table, keeping up casual conversation as she did. "How was work?" Quinn asked, still standing over the stove.

"It was... Work. Stressful as always. These other teachers are up my ass, trying to pretend like the arts don't matter." She said, realizing halfway through how much she sounded and was turning into Mr. Schue.

"Deja vu," Quinn said playfully, moving the pan off the burner. "Just like he did, I'm sure you'll convince them otherwise. The arts matter. It's what made us fall in love." She said adorably, scrunching her face the way that drove Rachel crazy.

The brunette grinned and nodded. "You're right, god you're always right." She finished setting off the table, then brought the food over. Once both girls were seated, they eyed each other and smiled. "I missed you today." Rachel said, breaking the silence.

"Every other day?" Quinn asked, with a smirk to show that she was just teasing. "I know babe, I missed you too." They leaned over the table, kissing again. This time, they allowed themselves to get carried away.

Rachel giggled into Quinn's lips before breaking it. "Lets save that for later." She said, smirking before she continued eating. Quinn sighed heavily, chuckling as well as she continued eating. Throughout the dinner, it was filled with crunching, small compliments, and plans for the weekend.

"Oh, funny story." Rachel started, swallowing the food in her mouth, finishing off her plate entirely. Quinn looked up with interest and nodded. "One of the kids I told you about, Jeremy, must be talking about me at home. His mom showed up today after school. She didn't bring Jeremy, but she brought her daughter. She couldn't have been older than 12 months." Both girls smiled, sharing a look as Quinn imagined how cute the girl must have been.

"What did she say?" Quinn asked

"Nothing bad. To be honest, when I saw her, I was worried. Jeremy doesn't really participate in class, and he seems to act like he's above it all. But his mom was just full of thank you's. she said I've saved her son." Rachel's face lit up, even without a smile.

Quinn silently awed, then grabbed Rachel's hand. "That's amazing baby. I know this job was never what you imagined, but you're saving people. You're showing them the power of music. The power of song." Rachel nodded, giving Quinn one last kiss before helping clean the table. They cleaned in silence, Quinn fearing what Rachel would say next.

"The little girl was so cute." Rachel said to the room, and she leaned against the wall, eyeing Quinn.

"I can imagine."

Rachel sighed, her eyes dropping. "I know we don't talk about it, but-"

"Rachel baby." Quinn interrupted, facing her. "Not tonight." Quinn shook her head and walked past Rachel, heading toward the living room.

Rachel furrowed her eyebrows and shook her head, chasing after her. "It's always not tonight, Quinn. Last month, it was not tonight. Last year, it was not tonight. I'm sick of waiting for your honest response. Just tell me. Do you want kids?" Rachel asked, desperately waiting for the answer, yet hating herself for asking in the first place.

Quinn licked her lips and parted them, as if ready to speak. "Not tonight." She repeated, then walked out of the room again.

"Quinn!" Rachel shouted, her eyes desperate. "This house is too big for just us. I love you, and I'll always love you, but something is missing. A baby. I want to have a baby with you. Why are you avoiding this?"

Quinn turned around, now facing her wife as she tucked hair behind her ear. "I'm not avoiding it, Rachel! Haven't you figured by now that I don't want kids. The reason why I've always changed the topic was because I couldn't stand looking you in the eye and saying no."

Silence filled the hallway as Rachel's eyebrows shot up. She always figured that was the truth, but hearing it come from the blondes mouth with such confidence hurt more than she had ever imagined. "What can I do to change your mind? Make more money? Be married longer? Buy a bigger house? Move? What Quinn? Tell me, and I'll do it." Rachel begged, walking towards Quinn.

The blonde grabbed Rachel's moving hands, their faces inches apart. "Nothing. There is nothing you can do, because I don't want kids," she said once more, trying to get the point across.

Rachel was speechless in that moment. "Well I do." She stated, more to herself as she tried figuring this out. "I don't know if I can sacrifice my being a mom, so I can still be your wife."

Quinn's eyes widened as she shook her head, chuckling lightly. "Come on Rachel, don't be dramatic." She said, rubbing her temple. "You love me, and won't leave me just because I won't give you what you want most.'

"I'm stronger than that Quinn, I can stand up for myself. I want this, and you don't."

"Fine." Quinn challenged. "Then show me, leave." She said, testing the brunette. Quinn knew Rachel wouldn't leave. Yes, the two fought about this subject a lot, it came up a lot. But it never got like this. Rachel never begged, and Quinn never said no. At least not out loud. She was afraid this would happen, but was positive the next morning it would be okay. Everything would be okay.

Rachel scoffed and shook her head, looking down. "I need some air." She said, then stormed to the front door. Rachel slipped on her shoes, grabbed her purse and opened the door. "I can't deal with the idea that my wife doesn't want to start a family with me. That's the /one/ thing that's missing in my life, and you won't give it to me. Very selfless of you Quinn, thanks so much for making me feel like the luckiest girl alive." Then, she stepped out and slammed the door.

Quinn jumped at the sound, and surprisingly stood alone in her house. She didn't realize how big and alone it was without Rachel until this very moment. She sighed and looked down, her eyes watery. Quinn hated fighting with Rachel. But this was a topic of concern. It was their biggest difference, and it would happen sooner or later.

Rachel got in her car and drove. Drove to no where, drove anywhere. Her tear filled eyes was making her vision blurry, not to mention the rain. It wasn't driving weather, but she barely noticed. Then her phone rang. Rachel grabbed it from her purse, the name Quinn showing on her screen. She clenched her jaw and answered.

"What?"

"Rachel baby, please come home. It's raining, it's dark, and it's late. Plus this house is really quiet without you. I'm sorry." Quinn said in one breath.

Rachel looked over her shoulder to see if she could make a u-turn so she could go back home. "Quinn, this is a big issue for me. You know how much I want kids. You knew that when we got married."

"I know, I know. Look, I'm willing to talk about this with an open mind. But not until your beside me on this couch."

Rachel exhaled softly with a smile, shutting her eyes for a brief second. She didn't realize that she was running a red light as she said, "okay fine. I'll be t-"

The line cut off. A truck, coming crossing the intersection hit her, pushing her car into a pole. Rachel lay there, phone in hand, seat unbuckled and bleeding from her head. Her eyes were shut and the radio was on.