The Promise

Summary: Quinn is drawn to the musician she passes by at the Harvard SquareT stop. Little does she know that the mysterious woman selects each of her songs especially for her. Quinntana with Faberry and Quinncedes friendship. Quinn's POV. Inspired by The Promise by Tracy Chapman. Future fic.

Chapter 1

Quinn moved to Boston after graduating from Yale. She really could have moved anywhere. Mercedes, her best friend, tried her best to lure her out to Los Angeles, saying, "But Quinn you can go to grad school out here! USC and UCLA are great law schools! And why on God's green earth do you want to be a lawyer! Screw your father. You need to go to Art School here in Los Angeles." If it wasn't her texting ad nauseam, Rachel would be FaceTiming her, persuading Quinn to move to New York City. She did apply to USC, UCLA, NYU, Columbia, even Yale. Her alma mater did have the best MFA program in the country. However, there was something drawing her to Boston. She didn't expect to get into her reach school.

Quinn had gotten into all the schools she applied to. She finally decided to move in with Rachel (much to Mercedes' chagrin) and attend Columbia. Rach was up visiting Q for her spring break. They were about to head out for lunch when she stopped by the mailroom, throwing her mail in her messenger bag. It wasn't until they were seated at the only vegan restaurant in New Haven that she saw it- a letter from Harvard Law School.

Quinn couldn't open it. She handed the white envelope with perfect script over to her friend. Rachel said, as she accepted the package, "Harvard? Quinn! I didn't even know you applied here." Rachel gingerly opened it and read the letter aloud:

Dear Ms. Fabray,

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the Harvard Law School Class of 2019!

As she read the words, Rachel jumped up down, proclaiming, "My best friend got into Harvard Law School!" She rushed around the table to hug her stunned friend, saying, "Quinn I am so proud of you!" After a beat, she realized that Quinn wasn't going to be her new roommate. Quinn was moving to Boston.

When it was time to move, Mercedes, Sam, Rachel, Jesse, Kurt, and Blaine came to help. Quinn had gone to high school with all of helped her thru the most difficult time of her life: a teenage pregnancy and giving up her baby for adoption. Quinn decided on open adoption so she could be in Beth's life. She was one of the reasons why she felt a pull to Boston. Beth's adoptive mother, Shelby Corcoran, was a professor at the Berklee School of Music. She would be that much closer to her 6-year daughter.

After the last box was moved into her one bedroom apartment a couple of blocks away from Harvard Square, she took everyone out for dinner. They were all excited and so proud of their friend. She had overcome so much. She was dealt a really difficult hand, with the pregnancy, compounded by her father disowning her and kicking her out of the house. At least, her mother came around right before Beth was born. She never saw her father or older sister again. Coming out basically burned that bridge.

Quinn had actually fallen in love with Rachel. It wasn't until the summer after her Freshman year at Yale that she confessed her feelings to the brunette diva. Going to Yale was the best decision she ever made. She was finally feeling comfortable with who she was. Quinn had been in love with Rachel for so long, all the way back to their Sophomore year at McKinley. They did date their Sophomore year of college. Quinn had always thought that Rachel was the one. But, Rach couldn't match the love that Quinn had for her. It was a painful decision but Rachel was the one to break-up with her. Rachel told her that she deserved someone who loved her with the intensity of a million watt light bulb. It was the exact same way that Quinn loved her. Rachel said that she could feel how much Quinn loved her and she wished that she could love Quinn just as much. She knew that she didn't deserve Quinn's love when she could not reciprocate in return. Yet, they were each other's best friends. After some time apart, Quinn came to forgive her. She was grateful that Rachel was honest, even though it hurt like hell. She wouldn't want Rachel to settle for her, when she wasn't in it for the right reasons. Love, above all, is the only reason. Rachel would always hold that niche in her heart reserved for first love. Since their break-up, Quinn had gone out on a couple of dates, even having a girlfriend for a couple of months. But, if she was being honest with herself, she wasn't completely over her first love. She wondered if she ever would be.

Quinn was the only single one left amongst her friends. Mercedes and Sam were going to get married in next October. Kurt and Blaine had been engaged forever. It looked like Rachel and Jesse were heading toward the same direction. It wasn't for the lack of her friends trying. In the beginning, it was because the pain of losing Rachel was unbearable. Six months after the break-up, Kurt set Quinn up on her first blind date, which ended in disaster. She went to Singles Mixers with her ex-girlfriend, which was awkward to say the least. Mercedes went speed dating with her, when she and Sam were "on a break." Blaine helped Quinn with her profile for . Even Sam tried, getting her a few dates with his model friends. Two years later, she was still single. It was the longest she had ever been without a significant other. Rachel was her first everything. Well, almost everything. The first time she ever had sex, she got pregnant. Rachel was her first girl kiss, first woman she ever had sex with, first one to fall in love with and the first one to break her heart. Quinn knew that she needed this breathing room. She needed to discover exactly who she was. In high school, she had a persona to hide herself away. She created this perfect person: the best daughter, the head cheerleader, the valedictorian, the beautiful girlfriend. It took so much effort to be all these things when all she wanted was to be herself. She wouldn't allow herself to be "that" because she wouldn't let herself be gay. Being away from Lima, starting her new life at Yale was a huge step. Being without Rachel was the biggest step of all.

After dinner, they found a piano bar and decide to have a couple of drinks. As expected, all the couples congregated, leaving Quinn on the outside looking in. It is a scene that is familiar to Quinn. After a while, Rachel slid an arm around her best friend.

Quinn, you okay? You look a little lost, little lamb. What's wrong?

Quinn smiles at the nickname that is reserved for Rachel alone.

Just remembering today, that's all, Quinn admits, casting her eyes downward.

Why? What is today, Quinn?

Rachel pulls Quinn's chin up to look in her sad, tear-rimmed eyes. Then, she thinks for a moment before it hits her. It was exactly two years ago that she broke up with Quinn. Rachel can still see the hurt in her friend's eyes. It breaks Rachel's heart, knowing that Quinn is still in pain over their break-up. While she had moved on and found love with Jesse, Quinn hadn't. Rachel looks at Quinn before pulling her away from the group to the patio outside.

Rachel. Wait. It's nothing, Rach. Let's just go back inside. I'm sorry. I…

Quinn, I am the one who should be saying 'I'm sorry.'

Well, Rach, I am sorry too. Sorry that my love wasn't enough.

Sweetie, that's what you think?

Quinn chokes out a sob before holding on to Rachel tight.

Quinn. Quinnie, listen to me. It wasn't you. The problem is with me. I know how much you love me. I love you too. It's just that my love isn't the same as yours. Honey, don't cry, okay? Your perfect person is out there somewhere. Maybe she is here in Boston!

Quinn looks at Rachel's face and can see the hope in her eyes through the tears.

You really think so Rach?

Of course I do. I believe in love. Even more than that, I believe in you. No one deserves love and happiness more than you do, Quinn. I want nothing more for you than to find her.

Rachel gives Quinn a fierce hug, whispering in her ear, "I wish I could stop hurting you."

Quinn just smiles because she wishes that Rachel could stop hurting her too. She gives Rachel a kiss on the cheek and leads them back into the noisy bar.

Kurt got the first round of shots making a lovely toast:

To Lucy Quinn Fabray, the only girl I know who can successfully pull off babydoll dresses. Smart as a whip, kind and beautiful inside and out. I love you, Quinn. We all love you.

That night, they got snoggered. They just caught the last green line train out of Fenway. Thirty minutes later, they tumbled off the T, onto the subway platform. It took Quinn a moment to steady herself. She noticed a musician, singing, with her guitar case open. She was really good. Rachel actually was the one who said it, "Wow, this girl is amazing." It took a second for Quinn to recognize the song she was singing, Fast Car by Tracy Chapman. She had never heard a voice like that, so soulful and moving. Quinn reached into her purse for her wallet. She dropped a $10 bill in the open case, eliciting a smile and nod from the beautiful musician. It was then that hazel eyes met dark brown ones. She was gorgeous to boot. Quinn was transfixed by this mysterious woman. She wanted to know more about her. Unfortunately, Rachel grabbed Quinn's hand, yelling: "Broccoli! We need broccoli!" Quinn knew that when Rachel started yelling out vegetables, the crying would commence shortly there after. Kurt came up beside the two of them, saying to Quinn, "Q, we need to get her out of here ASAP, before she starts singing Don't Rain on My Parade. Let's go!" Quinn knew that he was right. Once Rachel Berry starts belting out show tunes while drunk, it would take a small army to contain her. All Quinn could do was smile back at the talented woman, hoping that someday soon, their paths would cross again.