If anyone is still interested…hopefully I can keep pace until the end…

As always thank you for reading.

-Mouser

Chapter 14

"Hurry up babe, if we are late, I'll never hear the end of it. She'll make a power point presentation and list all the reason why it's important to be punctual. I can see it now, One, the artist needs to know that the audience and or individual is just as committed as the performer in order to achieve a hundred percent of the "feeling". Two, the artist depends on ritual and a break in that can derail the whole production. Three, see babe I can go on and on and I don't feel like going through that again. We went through that sophomore year." Santana said in a sigh and a roll of her eyes.

"I'm almost done. I just need to put on my necklace."

Santana walked back to the room just to watch Quinn finish getting ready. "You know you don't have to be that here." She said as Quinn was clasping her pearl necklace.

"What do you mean?"

"That," she said as she pointed to Quinn's reflection in the mirror. "The 'Perfect' Fabray. We no longer live in Podunk. Everyone doesn't know your name here and the fact that you're not daddy's perfect little girl. You can be you, and you know I don't mean anything mean about it. I just want you to embrace all of you."

"I know babe, but the pearls just remind me of a happier time."

"Ok, now let's go woman, these heels are a bitch and I don't want to be one when we get there."

Quinn cleared her head of the memory and wished for simpler times. Getting ready to go out for dinner was not high on her list of things to do, but she promised Rachel and more importantly Santana. As soon as she was done she looked at her reflection and saw the dark circles under her eyes. Makeup would take it away, and she would put the "Perfect Fabray" façade in play for dinner and the plans afterwards and come home and cry herself to sleep.

Finn and Rachel arrived at her apartment on time, and they greeted each other with hugs and kisses. "I have a gift for you, but that'll be later on. Let's go before we lose our dinner reservations." Rachel said as she grabbed Quinn's hand and led her out of the apartment.

"You look lovely Quinn." Finn said as he opened the cab door for the three of them. "I think we need a picture," he said pulling out his phone. "Something to send to Santana in our next e-mail. Have you heard from her?"

"No." Quinn replied running her hand over her stomach.

"Oh, I thought you had a Skype call coming? I can't imagine either of you would miss that."

"Yeah something came up and I missed it. I'm sure she is doing fine."

"You're probably right Lima Heights can't be kept down." He smiled as he thought about Santana and her fiery ways. They weren't always the best of friends but having pissed off girlfriends changed their attitudes quickly.

By the time that they arrived at the restaurant Quinn had calmed her nerves to the point of wanting a nice dinner with good friends. Being seated at a lovely table for four the three friends started making decisions on appetizers and drinks. Before the waiter arrived to take their order, Puck walked up to their table. "Sorry for being late, I got turned around. Still learning the city."

"Rachel, I thought I told you I only wanted the three of us." Quinn said has she pushed her chair back to run to the restroom. She wanted to escape as quickly as she could. The bile that was building was going to escape. Just seeing Puck so soon was making bringing her back to the morning when she woke sore and violated.

"Noah, why are you here?" Rachel asked.

"Finn invited me. I thought it would be nice for the four of us to get together and when Finn told me it was Quinn's birthday I just thought that would be perfect. As I told you before Rachel I'm new and I want to meet people, plus I like Quinn."

Yes a little too much, she muttered under her breath. "Finn, when we talked I told you that Quinn only wanted the three of us. You should have told me that was going to change."

"I don't understand what the big deal is. Quinn is always nice to other people, why is she freaking out and why are you mad at me?"

"Look, Finn I don't know why, but I do know she asked for just the three of us to be here, and for us not to respect that after I told her I was is not cool. She is having a hard time with Santana being gone and something is bugging her, I just don't know what it was. I'm going to go check on her. Please get rid of him."

Rachel walked to the restroom and knocked on the door, "Quinn, sweetie let me in. I've asked Finn to make Noah leave. Please tell me what's going on. Quinn, I know something is up."

Quinn slowly opened the door, her makeup slightly ruined from the tears that came way too quickly. Tears that she wanted to hide to avoid questions.

"What's going on Quinn? Please talk to me."

"I really don't want to. Please just tell me he's gone. I just want to go home."

"Ok, look we are going to talk. If it's not tonight it'll be soon. I promise you when we get back to the table Noah will be gone. We can stay or go, that's your choice however, I do have one other thing to do before we go home. If you can at least stay for that, I would appreciate it and I won't push any further tonight. Deal?"

"Ok, fine. I know there is no use arguing with you. But can we please just leave."

Rachel simply nodded, but before she turned to leave the restroom she pulled Quinn close and hugged her and whispered, "I'm here."

"I know." Quinn responded and grabbed her hand and walked out.

After arriving back at the table Finn stood and tried to speak, but Rachel silenced him with a look.

"Finn, please go get the check and pay for our drinks. We will be leaving."

After leaving the restaurant, all three piled in a cab and went to the address that Rachel directed. They arrived at a building with the word Tricklock marked on the outside.

"What is this place Rachel?"

"Honestly I don't know. Santana asked me to get you here for your birthday. I'm assuming it's a gift for you. Let's go inside and ask for a woman named Sara Reed."

Upon entering the building the three friends found a woman waiting for them with a large portfolio in her hands. "Hi Quinn, it's very nice to meet you. My name is Sara Reed."

"Hi, Sara. I'm a little confused, how do you know my name and what exactly is this place?"

"My apologies, I thought Santana would have given you more information, but she did tell me that she wanted it to be a surprise." At the mention of Santana's name, Quinn arched her brow wondering how this beautiful woman not much older than her knew Santana. "This building is called Tricklock, as you can see from the outside. We are an art gallery for new artists to display their work. Usually, first timers. We have an exhibition of new artists twice a month. We work with high schools, universities, private institutions and every day artists that want to display their work. Every day we receive portfolios of people who want to display their work and it goes before a panel."

"I guess I still don't understand. Why am I here? I don't remember summiting my work to this organization."

"Yes, that is true. However you have a very persistent and dedicated girlfriend. She heard about our organization and submitted your work to us. You have a very good eye and the images you capture with your camera are very unique. The panel was very taken with your work. So much so that we want to display it, at one our exhibitions."

Quinn was on an emotional roller coaster, first at the restaurant with Noah showing up and then this gift that Santana had left for her. "I can tell that this is a lot to take in. I do hope that that you allow us to display your work. You don't have to give us an answer right away, but I am hoping this will sway the decision to yes," at that she pulled an envelope from her pocket and handed it to Quinn. Quinn immediately noticed Santana's hand writing. "Please if you'll excuse me I have some work to finish. You and your guests can look around if it'll help you decide."

Quinn looked at the letter and opened it.

Hey Babe,

First, please do not be angry at me. I know how you feel about your work, but babe it's time to get your work out there. This organization is a great place for your first show. And if you're thinking that you didn't earn it because you didn't do the submitting you know that's bull. All I did was take your current portfolio and dropped it off. Your work speaks for itself because it's so good. Just say yes and display your work. If you say no I totally understand but baby this is yours if you want it, because you earned it.

Happy Birthday baby.

Always yours,

Santana

P.S.

Always be mine?

Quinn just closed her eyes to hold back the tears. She loved Santana so much and her doing this to help advance her work just proved how much Santana was in this relationship and in way could she be mad at her.

"So I take it these are happy tears?" Rachel asked as she walked up to Quinn.

"Yeah, these are much different tears then earlier. Santana just surprised with one of the best birthday gifts. Even with her being over there, she's still here. Still making me smile and making me feel like I'm the only girl in the universe."

"Totally swoon worthy works. Santana is one smooth lady lover." Rachel said.

"Should I be worried Rachel? It sounds like you want a little lady loving yourself." Quinn teased her friend.

"No. She's all yours," at that Finn joined them.

"So I take it everything is better?"

"For right now it is. Excuse me for a bit guys I just need to go give Ms. Reed my answer then we can go home."

After telling Sara that she would indeed display her work, Quinn exchanged numbers with her so that they could begin the process, then she collected Rachel and Finn to head home.

Quinn had hugged Rachel and Finn at her apartment door and thanked them for the night. She was drained and wanted nothing more than to curl up in her bed and sleep. Tomorrow would be another day and she was sure Rachel would make her talk. It was a conversation she did not want to have, with Rachel before she had the opportunity to talk to Santana but she felt that she was going to need someone to help her through until Santana arrived home.