Author's Note: have been inspired by everything Faberry! And I was happy to be a sideline fanfic reader until the cluster fuck that was 3x15/3x16. I wont embarress myself by posting anymore chapters unless you want them so make sure to let me know what you think!

Chapter One: Just One Day

It's been nine days since my wedding. It was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. But now I just remember it as the day I discovered what heartbreak really was. One simple call from the police and Sue Sylvester (because of course Sylvester would have 'spies' working for her in the police force), shattered me in a way I still can't comprehend.

"It's Quinn."

Those two words ruined me. They gripped at my skin and pulled it in every direction, like it was trying to rip me open and crawl underneath. I knew in that moment that she was gone, that I had lost her forever. And what makes that fact grate on my conscience a little bit harder is realising that she was never mine to lose in the first place.

Quinn was never mine. I had no claim on the woman, which really means that I don't have a right to be mourning like I am. I saw more composure from her mother during the funeral than anyone else in attendance, and if anyone had a right to grieve it would be Judy Fabray – she screwed up her relationship with Quinn just as much as I did. One could even look upon my behaviour as disrespectful to those who actually knew Quinn, but if I am being completely honest... I simply don't give a shit.

I will mourn for the woman that meant so much more to me than what I would care to admit. She was the voice in my head, constantly challenging me, always expecting better of me and I loved her for it. Just her presence used to elicit a reaction from me. She gave me such strength, such conviction to fight through the hell hole of high school and I never understood that until she died.

I understand so much about her now and it makes me sick. Sick in the fact that I chose to ignore her. I knew that there was more to our relationship than a 'kind of' friendship. And now I have to live knowing that I caused the heartbreak I am now consumed by. That this rotting feeling is all my own doing, and frankly... I welcome it.

I hope it kills me. It's the least I deserve.

I'm shocked out of my reverie when I feel my knees bending. It appears that in my state of self indulgence I sought out the auditorium. My place of solitude. I can fill the space with my heartbreak, not having to worry about being judged or facing the wrath of Santana and I find a small slither of comfort in that. I feel my lips tweak gently at that thought, Quinn would have liked that.

My fingers slide along ivory keys, they're cold. I used to like feeling the chill run up my fingertips, but I've been cold for nine days and I don't know how much more I can take. This feeling, it's flowing through my bloodstream with a vengeance. It's rotting away at me. I am certain that Hades himself could not sear me with a greater pain than the one I am feeling now.

But this is my punishment, a gruesome reminder of what could have been.

I don't know how long I've been sitting here. I could be minutes or days. I don't know. I don't care. But I am of sound enough mind to hear his lugging steps making their way up the aisle of the auditorium; the irony is not lost on me. Finn. Nine days ago I cherished the sight of my fiancé. But now, just knowing that I am sharing the same space as him makes my skin crawl. I can almost feel bile rising up my throat.

He is what I'm choosing to blame. He blinded me, made me some naive school girl that got swept up by the idea of high school sweethearts. He never wanted New York. He wants Burt's crappy tire shop. He was going to let me sabotage my dreams for Lima. I know that it's not fair for me to cast all the blame on Finn, and deep down I know I don't hate him. But right now, in this moment, to aid my grief... I hate him.

I hate him so completely that I'm almost shocked.

"Rach."

He's closer than I thought.

"Are you still not talking to me?"

I haven't talked to him in nine days, why would I want to start now?

"Rachel. I can't fix this if you don't tell me what's wrong."

I watch him walk around the piano so that he can see my face. For some reason he takes the small smile tugging at my lips as a good sign. I'm just smiling because he actually got something right for once: he can't fix this.

"Look I know with Quinn dying and stuff it's been hard for you but I think it's time to start moving on. You need to heal Rach."

And my whisper of a smile is gone. There is no healing from this.

"I miss my fiancé and I still wanna get married to you Rach. I know that with the whole Quinn-dying-thing we had to call it off, but...but maybe if we start re-planning it...it could take your mind off it. Ya know?"

And I hate myself a little bit more. How could I have not seen how wrong Finn is and how right Quinn could have been?

I take a deep breath and look at him. Really look at him. Sure he's attractive, in that dopey school boy sort of a look. But he's so tall. Too tall even. He doesn't challenge me, he never did and he never will. He doesn't even remember that I'm vegan...or Jewish! Quinn knew all of that stuff, she didn't even have to try and she knew.

I let out a breath of expired air and drop my gaze to my hands. I can see the mediocre engagement ring he brought me – doesn't look nearly as fantastic as it did nine days ago. With a gentle tug I finally free my finger from the burden and place the ring on top of the piano. I square my jaw, tighten my shoulders, harden my eyes and stare up at my ex-fiancé.

"Now fuck off." It's the first words I have spoken to him since Quinn died and I intend them to be the last.

I watch his face contort immediately. He finally seems to have grasped what is happening. I watch as he screams and yells and looks around for chairs to kick but I block it all out. My investment in this interaction has expired so I just sit back and wait until he wears himself out. It doesn't take as long as I thought it would. But as I hear his heavy feet stomp up the aisle and exit the auditorium I feel nothing but relief. This moment is the happiest I have been in the last nine days.

I smile again. Quinn would have liked seeing that.

I'm still in the auditorium, I don't even know if there are still people at school. If there are, they must know I'm in here. It's become an unspoken rule that nobody is to talk to Rachel Berry...ever. Santana's the only one ballsy enough to try and I actually do listen, but I never have anything to say back. I think she gets it though.

Yesterday, she came and sat with me. She brought me lunch too. And she told me that if Brittany had died instead of Quinn then she would be in the exact same state. I don't know why, but that little bit of information brought me more comfort than anything else in the last nine days.

I feel my fingers playing a familiar chord. It's all I've been playing since she died and I find myself wishing that in some alternate universe this song could come true. That I could love Quinn, simply just love her. I smile at the thought and let the song fall softly from my mouth.

In another life
I would be your girl
We'd keep all our promises
Be us against the world

In another life
I would make you stay
So I don't have to say
You were the one that got away
The one that got away

I stop as my throat closes up. Sobs rip through me, just like they've been doing since she died. This is all I know now. I have desperate songs of hope, of one more day to truly take in the essence of Quinn Fabray and I know I'll never get it.

"The past is like a handful of dust. It filters through your fingers, disappearing little by little. I wish, for one day, I could go back. In another life I would do things a different way."

I hear those words cut through my sobs and I sober instantly. Whipping around from my piano chair I see Sue Sylvester in all her tracksuit glory sitting in the front row of the auditorium. I watch as she stands slowly and makes her way up to the stage. She hasn't taken her eyes off of me and I can't seem to look away. This is one of those moments when you can feel the air crackling with greatness, like something big is about to happen. I always wanted my own great moment, but now that it's actually happening... I'm scared.

"It's a good song Rachel."

I just nod. What else was I supposed to do?

"Do you mean it?"

I nod again. Of course I mean it. To see Quinn again, feel Quinn, actually make Quinn mine. I would sell my soul to the devil for one more day with her.

"And you're in love with her."

It's not a question but I feel myself nodding anyway. I'm pretty sure that over the last nine days everyone has deduced that I was...am head of hells in love with Quinn Fabray.

"And you want one more day with her?"

I go to nod again but feel a frown pull at my face.

"I want forever with her."

"I can't give you forever Rachel. That is well above my pay grade...but I can give you one day."

Is this actually happening? Sue Sylvester promising me one more day with Quinn Fabray. A girl that has been dead for over a week. Maybe I've gone crazy in my grief and this is all a figment of my imagination.

"Coach Sylvester, if this is some sick joke or a hallucination I would very much like to be left alone to grieve."

I go to turn back to the piano but the smile of Sue's face halts my action and all of a sudden I believe her.

"This is neither of those things Rachel. I am offering you twenty four hours to be with Quinn, you were robbed of such a beautiful thing and you deserve an answer to your what-could-have-been."

I know I'm about to become a masochist but once again... I don't really give a shit. I nod, stand up from the piano stool and make my way to where Sue is standing.

"Twenty four hours Rachel. No more. No less."

I smile and nod.

Then nothing.