So I haven't really posted anything in a while because my intention was to leave it as it was in chapter 7. I did however start to write another chapter, and kind of left the word document up on my computer, adding to it, changing it, being really indecisive about how I wanted this story to go. 5,603 words later I realized that I should probably post it. So here is a particularly long and eventful chapter.

The two women pulled apart only for the need for air.

"I guess taking it slow isn't an option for us" Quinn joked

"Yeah, it would probably be a good idea if we tried though" Said Rachel, her cheeks flushed and a smile stretched across her face

Quinn nodded in agreement and led the brunette into the living room.

"I'll be right back, I'm going to go make us some coffee. Would you like something to eat?"

"No thanks" Rachel replied taking a seat on the couch "coffee sounds good though"

With that Quinn disappeared into the kitchen.

Looking around, Rachel couldn't help but admire Quinn's house, it was big and beautiful, and just being in it made Rachel feel like she was discovering this whole new side of Quinn.

The front door swung open with a bang

"HEY!" came a loud voice, causing Rachel to jump and turn to see who it was.

She instantly recognized the person as the same woman who came running after her the night of Quinn's book signing. Charlotte was carrying in a bunch of shopping bags, holding three or four in each hand and her keys in her mouth.

"I couldn't find any of those damn granola crap bars you like..." Charlotte looked up, realizing she wasn't talking to Quinn, but to Rachel. "Well hi there! This is certainly a surprise! Quinn didn't tell me you were coming"

"She didn't know." Rachel answered moving towards Charlotte "Here, let me help with those" as she took a few of the bags from the other brunette

"Thanks, I picked up a few things for Quinn while I was at the store. I'll just drop them off and be on my way"

Quinn stuck her head out of the kitchen, "Hey Char, bring them in here."

The two brunette's made their way into the kitchen, setting the groceries on on of the counters.

"Charlotte this is Rachel, Rachel this is Charlotte"

"We've met" Rachel stated "actually Charlotte chased me down the night of your book signing, that is how I got your address"

Quinn glanced over to Charlotte "Really?"

"Well you know, I was getting worried about how much time you spend with these animals, if anything ever happened to me I'm afraid you would forgot how to speak English and just make farm noises" Charlotte joked.

"Thanks... I think" Quinn laughed

"I'm going to go though, leave you two ladies to catch up" Charlotte said and started to head for the door

"Wait, have some coffee with us" Rachel insisted "I'm sure you have some stories about Quinn I'd love to hear"

Quinn's eyes widened and her face turned red

"I most certainly do" Charlotte said coyly and sat down at the kitchen table

The three women sat and talked, soon coffee turned into wine, and all three were laughing at the stories Charlotte was telling.

"There was this one time, Quinn was driving in her "beat up car into town, and all of a sudden the back of the car caught on fire"

"Oh no not this story" Quinn buried her face in her hands

"How did the back of the car catch on fire?" Rachel asked amused and a little shocked

"Well that is where the engine is on those cars, and she panicked, and drove the flaming car into a nearby gas station!"

"NO WAY!" Rachel said "the whole station could have blown up!"

"Oh I know, luckily it didn't, a brave worker there put out the fire in her car. Then I get this awful phone call from Quinn, saying she needed me to pick her up because she was having car trouble. I get there and there are fire trucks, and ambulance, and police cars everywhere"

They were all laughing at the story

"Car trouble was an understatement" Charlotte finished and looked at her watch "I better be going, I have a hot date tonight. How long will you be in town Rachel?"

"I um, have to leave tomorrow, actually"

"What?" Quinn asked, all humor leaving her voice

"I have to get back to new york and..." Rachel tried to explain. Her voice was small, knowing this would come up eventually

"I really do need to be going" Charlotte cut her off, not wanting to be there for when the shit hit the fan "Have a safe trip. Quinn, call me"

With that Charlotte was gone, and the Quinn and Rachel were sitting in silence. Rachel couldn't tell if Quinn was more angry or sad

"Quinn, I wish I could stay longer..."

"I know, you have a life and career in NY, I can't expect you to stay around here. I just thought maybe I'd be able to have you for more than one night, that isn't enough for me" Quinn's voice was full of disappointment.

"I wish we had more time too." Rachel said as she reached her hand across the table to cover Quinn's, but the blonde quickly moved it from her reach, stood from her seat and walked towards the doors leading to the backyard, keeping her back to Rachel.

The brunette winced at this movement, feeling hurt and rejected. She knew Quinn would be upset "I really am sorry" she stood and moved behind Quinn, wrapping her arms around the blonde from the back.

"Its okay, it is just hard to picture us together, when we live so far away"

Rachel felt as if she had been stabbed in the gut She really didn't want a long distance relationship, but moving out here was not really an option either. "Maybe you could come to NY?"

Quinn turned around in Rachel's arms to face her "I could visit," Quinn offered

"I was thinking something, a little more permanent" Rachel ventured nervously

"Like, move to NY?" Quinn asked

"Yeah, move to NY, come live with me" Rachel said with more confidence

Quinn didn't want to leave her life in NC. She had her dream home, friends, well at least one friend, and more than anything, she didn't know if she was ready to move in with Rachel, or if Rachel even knew the gravity of her offer.

Rachel saw the blond struggling with the idea "We can talk about it more later, you still haven't showed me the rest of your house"

Quinn was glad for the change of topic "what would you like to see?"

"The bedroom"

The next morning Quinn woke up to the sight of Rachel wrapped in her sheets laying next to her. Her heart swelled and she felt happier than she ever thought she could

Rachel's eyes slowly opened to see Quinn gazing at her, "Well good morning"

"Good morning." Quinn replied happily

"What time is it?"

"around 6. what time do you have to leave"

The mood fell.

The last thing Rachel wanted to do was leave. Last night had been amazing for her, she had never felt so complete, she had never wanted anyone as much as she wanted Quinn.

Tears formed in Rachel's eyes as she looked up at the blond, still not giving an answer to Quinn's question.

"Hey, its okay" Quinn took the smaller girl in her arms "this isn't the end you know. Now that I have you, I'm not letting you go"

"I'm not leaving today" Rachel stated

"what? I thought you said you had to go"

"I'll make a few calls, I'll make it work. I'm not ready to leave yet."

Quinn smiled "I'll go downstairs and fix us some breakfast. Come down when you're ready"

With that Quinn got out of bed, put on some shorts and a tank top and headed out of the bedroom.

Rachel quickly grabbed her phone from the nightstand. 6 missed calls, 5 text messages and 2 voicemails. All from Jesse, her manager.

Instead of checking his messages, she hit send and called him

"Where have you been?" Jesse questioned sounding frantic.

"You know exactly where I am, what is going on? what is up with all the calls?"

"Your understudy broke her leg, and can't go on for you tonight, I need you back here asap!"

Rachel sighed. This was bad. This was very bad.

"Jesse, I need more time here, is there anything you can do?"

"Like what? put on a wig and pretend to be you?"

"There is no need to get snippy, I'm not leaving today. They will have to figure something else out"

"Rachel, if you don't make it back for tonight's show, they WILL replace you permanently"

"WHAT! can they even do that!"

"Yes, and they've already threatened to" Jesse sounded exhausted, hoping that Rachel would make the right decision. "You have to decide if you are going to put your personal drama aside or let it threaten your career"

"Quinn is not just "personal drama" Jesse!" Rachel was angered by the entire situation "Let them replace me, they still have to pay out my contract, and it isn't like I'm struggling to find work. I get scripts, and offers all the time! Who do they think they are giving me an ultimatum!"

Quinn could hear the yelling from downstairs, not able to make out what was being said, but she could tell it was heated. So she crept up the stairs to check if Rachel was okay, she got to the bedroom door when she heard...

"You can tell that sorry excuse for a producer, that Rachel Berry doesn't respond to threats like that, and if he has a problem with that then he can shove that role up his..." Rachel was cut off by the voice on the other end of the phone. "I am completely calm... now. Jesse, I want you to have my assistant fedex some of the scripts that have been sent to me in the past few weeks. She has the address of where I am staying. Then put out a press release saying that I left the role because of creative differences, then leak to tabloids what really happened."

Quinn couldn't believe her ears, Rachel had just left the show she had been working on.

Once she heard Rachel close her phone, she stepped inside of the room. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, Showbiz has its downsides, it's time for me to move on to something new anyways"

"Breakfast is ready, why don't you come down and we can sit outside and eat"

"Sounds great"

As the girls sat outside, enjoying the crisp morning air, Quinn was wondering if she should push Rachel for more information about what happend on the phone this morning, but before she could say anyting Rachel spoke up.

"Quinn? What does your week look like?"

Quinn laughed "pretty much what we're doing now. After all the work I did promoting the new book, I have a lot of time to just enjoy being home"

"Would you mind terribly if I spent the rest of the week with you?"

Quinn leaned over and kissed the diva "I can't imagine anything more perfect"

The two girls smiled at eachother.

"Can we ride the horses?" Rachel asked "I've never done it before, and I feel like my experience here would not be complete without doing so"

"Sure, we can do that."she said as Rachel sat herself in Quinn's lap "I can't believe I get to keep you for a whole week"

Rachel ducked her head down and kissed Quinn "it's going to be great"

The rest of the day was spent taking the horses around the propery, strolling the market together, picking up vegan friendly food for Rachel, and having conversation after conversation, really getting to know eachother again.

When the sun went down, Quinn lit the fireplace in the living room. Rachel was upstairs changing, and Quinn was now pouring a couple of glasses of wine.

When Rachel made it downstairs, seeing the fireplace, and Quinn lounging on the sofa with her drink, Rachel couldn't think of a more perfect scene.

"Hey you" she greeted the blond as she took a seat next to her.

"Today was really great wasn't it?"

"Yes, it was" the small brunette smiled and snuggled into Quinn

"I'm really glad you came."

"me too, I made the right decision"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, earlier this morning, Jesse, my manager, told me that if I didn't come back immediately that I would lose my place in the show"

"You chose me over a role on broadway?" Quinn had suspected, but hearing Rachel say it out loud was almost shocking

"I chose having a personal life over dealing with a producer on a power trip, I don't want you to feel guilty about it"

"I wish you didn't have to make that choice"

"Me too, but there is no where else I would rather be right now than with you" Rachel said sweetly and kissed Quinn deeply. "Have you given anymore thought to what I had proposed?"

"You mean me moving to New York?"

"Yeah, I realize it was a bit unexpected, and we would be moving super fast, but I can't stand being away from you for so long"

Quinn sighed. She felt the same way "I want a million more days like the one we had today, moving to New York is a big decision though. I'm not sure I'm ready to make it yet"

Rachel nodded. She understood, she really did. "well we have the rest of the week together before I go back, and then maybe you can come see me in New York soon after?"

"Absolutely. We can make this work for a little bit before we have to make decisions like that" Quinn assured her as she rubbed circles on her back.

The moment was interrupted by Quinn's phone beeping

"It's my mom, she has the worst timing"

"Go ahead and answer it"

Quinn hit the accept button and put her phone on speaker

"Hi mom"

"Sweetheart! I heard that Rachel is visiting you!"

"She is, and you're on speaker so say hi"

"Oh! Hello Rachel!"

"Hi Judy" Rachel greeted back

"I hope my daughter is showing you a nice time"

"She is, a very nice time"

"Mom, how did you know Rachel was here? Quinn asked suspsiciously

"Well, Charlotte told me of course! I called your business line, and she answered and gave me the 311"

"411, mom, the 411" Quinn corrected rolling her eyes.

"Sure honey, the 411, anyways I was just calling to say hi, and to congratulate Rachel"

Quinn raised an eyebrow at this, shooting a questioning look at a guilty looking Rachel.

"For what mom?"

"Well for her upcoming movie role of course!, I saw it on Ryan Sea-buscit's show"

"Seacrest, mom, he isn't a horse" Quinn corrected still confused

"Thank you Judy, that is very sweet of you, I didn't realize they had released the information yet" Rachel said, then mouthed an 'I'm Sorry' to Quinn.

"Mom, I'll call you back" and with that Quinn hung up her phone.

"What was that?" she questioned

"I'm sorry, I was going to tell you, I was waiting for the right time, and to be fair, I just found out this morning that I had gotten the role"

"Wow, well that really is great. Congratulations!" Quinn was excited for the brunette, giving her a kiss

"We start shooting in a couple of weeks, it isn't a big movie or anything, but it will really boost my career, and that is why I want you to move to New York with me so quickly, I'm going to be shooting this film for the next few months, and I want you there every step of the way"

"Is there anything else you want to tell me?" Quinn said with humor in her voice, trying to change the subject of moving to new york.

"I love you" Rachel said

"I love you too" Quinn kissed her little diva

"I'm Beth's God mother"

"I assumed as much"

"A year ago I ate a piece of bacon. It was an accident, but I ate it. I cried for the rest of that day"

Quinn gasped in fake shock and horror. Both girls laughed.

"I have a cat, and I'm afraid your dog will eat her"

"Won't happen, he is vegan like you" Quinn joked

"I own all of your books"

Quinn nodded, enjoying Rachel's string of confessions

"This isn't the first time I've been to your house"

"What?" Quinn was surprised

"I was here a year ago. I sat in my car outside of your house for hours, contemplating whether or not to knock on your door."

"And you didn't?

"No, I did"

"I'm confused"

"You weren't home." Rachel laughed but Quinn didn't

"Wow, I think it just hit me how much time we've wasted"

Rachel nodded in agreement

"I was serious about wanting you to come to New York"

"I'm not sure I can just leave everything here and move. It is a bit more complicated than that"

"I know, it is just hard knowing that we can't spend every night like this"

Quinn pulled the brunette closer into her "yeah but we should enjoy the rest of this week, we can figure the rest out afterwards"

The week was going fast and it was just a few days before Rachel was supposed to be heading back to New York. Rachel was outside on the phone with her manager, setting up a meeting with a few producers. She had gotten a quite a few offers once the word got out that she was available. She still wasn't ready to leave Quinn, but she knew she probably never would be, and business had to be taken care of, she was really just begining her career, she couldn't just drop it all now and move to NC. After finishing her phone calls, Rachel headed back inside.

Quinn had gone to the stables, at the other end of the property, to tend to the horses, leaving Rachel alone in the house for a little while. The brunette, had been there four days and still hadn't seen the whole house, and she was dying to see the inside of Quinn's office. I'm sure she won't mind Rachel thought as she opened the door and stepped inside the room.

The office didn't look like the rest of the house, it looked proffesional and studious. The rest of the house had a quaint charm to it, this office was sophisticated from the wood paneling, to the huge mahogany desk. Book shelves along the walls, filled with hundreds of books. Rachel moved around the room and took a seat at the desk. On top of it had Quinn's computer, a few leather journals, some scattered books and papers, and framed pictures. She opened up the drawers in the desk, out of curiousity, out of boredom, just because the temptation of seeing what was inside the drawers was too strong.

The first drawers had scattered pens and pencils, the drawer below that had printer paper, tape, some other office supplies. This is boring Rachel thought and opened the last drawer. What she found was surprising, it was a small velvet black box, a ring box to be exact, and inside of it was a diamond ring, a beautiful one.

Holy crap she is going to propose. She put the ring back in the drawer and hurried out of the office, not knowing what to think of what she had just found.

Later that night, Quinn had prepared dinner and the two women were enjoying a candle light dinner. Quinn couldn't help but notice how nervous Rachel looked.

"Everything okay?" she asked

"Hmmm? o yes everything is great, perfect, awesome" Rachel replied too eagerly

"Are you sure, you seem a little on edge?"

"Well I guess I am a little nervous, I mean I've done a lot of thinking about us the past few days"

"Me too, and I have something to ask you"

"Wait, Quinn, before you start I just want to say that the past few days have been amazing, and even though I want nothing more than to be with you all the time, I think we need to take a step back, and really think about what the next LOGICAL step in our relationship is, and I just don't think that what you're thinking, no matter how romantic and well intentioned it is, is an appropriate next step for us..."

"Whoa, whoa slow down. Take a breath. I forgot how much you like to ramble. What are you talking about?"

"The ring. You were going to propose and I think that..."

"What? What ring? Propose?" Quinn was so confused. Not understanding how Rachel had made such a big assumption.

"The ring I found in your desk drawer in your office..."

At this Quinn visibly stiffened. "You went through the drawers?" she asked her voice was calm, she wasn't angry.

"Yes, and while the ring is lovely, I just don't think we're ready for that yet"

Quinn was now laughing, and laughing hard, nearly fall out of her seat.

"I must say Quinn you are taking this very well" Rachel said, taken aback by the blond's reaction

"Oh, Rachel" Quinn was trying to control her laughter "That ring isn't for you"

"Oh, well I guess I look pretty dumb right now"

"No, just adorable"

"May I ask why you have a huge diamond ring sitting her a box in your office then?"

At this Question Quinn's laughter stopped. "Charlotte gave it to me" Quinn kept her eyes on the table. "While we were together"

"Did she propose?" Rachel didn't realize how serious her relationship with Charlotte had beed

"Yes, and that is when our relationship ended" Quinn went on to explain "I loved Charlotte, I really did, but there was always a part of me holding out to find someone who made me feel as strongly as you did. What I felt with you had been so intense, I just didn't need Charlotte like I needed you, I guess you were the only one that made me feel that way"

Rachel wasn't sure what to say, so she reached her hand to Quinns and whispered "you have me now"

"I have you for the week" Quinn corrected and then instantly regretted it. Watching Rachel move her hand from hers was enough to know that she had really blew it this time. "I'm sorry..."

"Don't" Rachel cut her off "You're right, as much as I want to think we have a future after this week, its hard to tell because I have to leave, and you don't want to come with me"

"Wait a second, I never said I didn't want to come with you, I said it was too early to be making that decision" Quinn corrected her angrily

"I don't understand you Quinn, you keep saying how much you love me, how strong your feelings are, and how much time we've already wasted, but then you turn around and say we are moving too fast. Explain it to me please" Rachel was raising her voice, demanding answers that Quinn obviously didn't want to give.

"It isn't that easy Rachel, you want me to change everything about my life, you want me to move, and you never even considered moving here"

"I can't have my career here, Quinn, you know that" Rachel was getting frustrated, still not getting the answers she wants. "You said, you would have done anything, remember? you said that if I would have stayed and tried with you in ohio that you would have done anything. What changed?"

"Nothing." Quinn snapped, getting up and moving out of the room, but was followed by a persistant Rachel. The brunette knew she had hit a nerve and was not about to give up.

"Something clearly has Quinn, don't you trust me?"

"No" she said fiercely turning around to face Rachel. "You can't just show up, make a big romantic gesture and then expect me to pack up and move in with you. I want to be with you Rachel, but I don't know that I can trust you not to bail on me again"

The look on Rachel's face was of pure hurt. "I see" she said holding back tears "Well, I guess this is the part where I am supposed to storm out right?" she asked her voice sounding stronger than she felt. "Well I won't leave Quinn, if it takes me the rest of my life, I'm going to earn that trust back. So get used to it" and with that Rachel pulled Quinn into a fierce kiss filled with need and urgency.

When they pulled back Quinn had tears in her eyes.

The last few days of Rachel's visit had been good. The diva stopped pushing the issue of Quinn moving to New York, and they simply enjoyed getting to know each other again. Even though, Rachel had only been there for a short time, it felt like they had been living together for years, they both were just so comfortable in eachother's presence.

As Rachel was packing the last of her things, she tried to suppress the aching question of when she would be able to see Quinn again, they hadn't talked about any upcoming trips for either of them to see on another.

Quinn walked in to the bedroom, where Rachel was neatly placing her clothes into a suitcase.

"Hey" the blond offered

"Hey you. I'm almost all packed"

"I wish you didn't have to go"

"When will I see you again?" Rachel asked

"Soon, I promise" Quinn said as she walked up behind the brunette and wrapped arms around her waist

It wasn't soon though, It had been months actually. Once Rachel had gone back to New York to work on the movie she had been cast in, she was spending 15 hour days on set. Quinn had been wanting to visit Rachel, but everytime she had started to make plans something came up with work. Her latest book had been a very big success and she was now in the works to turn her series into a series of movies. Charlotte was convinced she was going to be the next J.K. Rowling.

The two girls still found time to talk to each other every night. They even fell asleep on the phone together. They used Skype to video chat, and once in a while Quinn would send sweet handwritten letters. Distance was making their relationship almost impossible, but they were taking it one day at a time.

"Hey baby, I thought you were going to miss our call tonight" Rachel said excitedly as she answered her phone.

"I just had a busy night, I don't think I can sleep without you breathing in my ear anyways" Quinn joked "Are you at home?"

"Yeah, I just got home a little while ago, I had dinner with some of the cast" Rachel replied as she changed into her bottoms and peeled off shirt. She had become very good at changing while holding the phone, one fo the perks of a long distance relationship. "What about you, are you home?"

"No, I am taking care of some business, this movie deal is having me run around all day meeting with studios, and costume designers, casting directors, I have such a headache"

"Wow, this is moving pretty fast, I didn't even realize all of those people were in Charleston for you to meet with, I just assumed you would have to do all of that in Hollywood or something"

"Oh, no you're right, they aren't in Charleston, They are in New York, since that is where my books are set most of the time, that is where the shooting is going to be."

"Wait a second..." and before Rachel could finish that thought, the doorbell rang. "Quinn if that isn't you at my door, I am going to cry"

At this Quinn laughed "Well hurry up and find out!"

Rachel ran to the door, unlocked and unlatched it, flinging the door open and jumping into the blond's waiting arms. "You're here!"

"Surprise!" Quinn offered and then carried Rachel back into her apartment, kissing her deeply.

After hours of "catching up" the two girls lay in bed, wrapped up in eachother.

"So let me get this straight, you were here in New York all day and didn't tell me"

"I wanted to surprise you, and its not like I have to go back right away, we have plenty of time together"

"How long ARE you staying?" Rachel asked half excited, half nervous to hear the answer

Quinn smiled coyly "guess"

"a week?"

"no"

"the weekend?"

"no, longer"

"two weeks?"

"you are never going to guess it" Quinn stated "The movie is going to start production before you know it, and its not like I have a reason to stay in Charleston anymore..."

"Quinn" Rachel's tone was serious "How long?"

"I'm moving here" she said

Rachel didn't say anything, she couldn't even move.

"Rach, are you okay, I thought this was good news?" Quinn was panicking, this was not the reaction she was expecting

"You... are ... what?" the brunette finally got out

"I am going apartment hunting tomorrow, I'm obviously keeping my house, but I'm going to be here all the time. I don't want you to think that this is just for the movie, These last few months have been great and lonely all at the same time, and I just can't be away from you much longer. Please say something, you are really freaking me out"

"Why are you going apartment hunting?" was all that Rachel asked confusing an already troubled Quinn

"Do you not want me here?" was the conclusion she jumped to

Rachel snapped out of whatever daze she had been in and quickly answered "No, I want you HERE. I want you to live with me in THIS apartment"

Quinn smiled from relief, and then in a swift motion swung her pillow at Rachel's head

"OW! What the hell?" Rachel yelled and laughed

"You scared the crap out of me! I thought you were upset!"

"Come here baby, I'm so glad you're going to be moving here" Rachel said lovingly and leaned in for a kiss

Quinn closed her eyes, puckered her lips and moved closer to Rachel when she felt the impact of a pillow on her cheek.

"YOU ARE IN TROUBLE NOW!" The blond said and grabbed her pillow and chasing after Rachel.