Another possible story line I've been pondering over. Depends on the feedback I get back. This will probably be updated less frequently than COGH, but let me know what you think.

Disclaimer for this and future chapters: none of the caracters (or show) is mine; only the cheesy lines and errors.

-TWiM

Chapter 1 - The Odds of Today

Cascading dark brown hair catches her attention. She lingers but then remembers she has a duty; she can't let herself be distracted by beautiful shining hair. The line at the bank is a snake - long and full of curves. She's standing at the end of the line. Quinn notices the person with the hair has caught the majority of people's attentions as she walked through the doors. She sighs, turns back at her daughter in her arms and smiles.

The baby coos and makes some indescribable noise. It makes Quinn smile, like always. The line moves an inch, maybe, and Quinn picks up the green and pink car seat to take a step forward, at the same time keeping the baby in her arm safe and the bag over her shoulder from falling. She sets it down again and tries to analyze how much longer this will take.

"Um, excuse me?" She turns at the poking on her left shoulder and is surprised to find the woman who stole the attention of half the bank. "Hi, I'm sorry for bothering you but -" the brown-eyed woman smiles unapologetically and says, "she's a cutie," and points at the baby Quinn is cradling. "I couldn't help myself, I love kids."

Quinn notices she's being real and is suddenly shy, ducking her head for a second. Pride then, surges from within, for having created this perfect being and she can't help it but turn fully to give her complete attention to this woman. "Yes, yes she is, isn't she?" Adoring hazel eyes fall upon the barely there blonde hair resting atop of the round face. She's getting tired, she ate not long ago.

"Definitely - she looks just like you." The woman draws a lock of hair behind her ear and the says, "I'm Rachel, Rachel Berry." Extending her hand at Quinn, the woman expects her name too.

"Quinn. Fabray." Quinn says and shakes the hand being thrust at her. Out of everyone in this place, this woman came up to her because of her gracious daughter. She feels like the room is watching their interaction with excrutiating attention. "And this is Beth. Beth Fabray Puckerman."

"Your husband is one lucky man. You're beautiful and you gave him the most darling baby I've ever seen." Rachel Berry tells Quinn Fabray while taking a risk and grabbing onto the small pale fingers of baby Beth. The baby looks confused but soon smiles when Rachel makes an adorable ugly face.

Quinn shakes her head. He wasn't her husband. He wasn't even her friend. But he insists in staying around and helping take care and Quinn sees the honorable side of him, so she agreed in letting him give her his name. She wasn't in love, wasn't even into it, but she was drunk and she did feel fat. She doesn't feel like telling a stranger her sob story but doesn't feel like she can not tell this woman part of the truth, "I'm not married. She is a blessing though."

The brown eyes warm over and pour adoration at the little girl, "I bet. And I apologize, I didn't mean to make assumptions. I only said that because a woman like you-" She stops in her tracks and smiles sofltly, not even showing teeth. "Uh, the line's moving."

Quinn stumbles as she tries to turn, walk, and grab the carseat all at the same time. She's most definitely affected by this person's presence though she doesn't quite know why. Sure, she's astounding - her eyes are both sultry and inviting, and her smile is like a ray of sunshine, but she has never before felt this attraction toward a person. Much less another woman. She feels an insane pull, and then reasons that most people who interact with her probably do too.

"Can I help you with that?" Rachel offers gently. She opens both palms at Quinn and looks at the carseat intent on helping. It'd be for a second - grab it from her hand and then take three steps forward. Quinn doesn't really need the help, and any other person she would've denied it, but this time she welcomes it.

She hands it over and Rachel takes it like she has just been handed the most important job in the world. "Thanks," Quinn says and focuses on walking forward and not falling. "She was asleep in the cardeat when I got here but then she started fussing so I picked her up."

"It's not a problem, Quinn." Rachel speaks from behind her, her voice sounds jovial and excited. "So how old is Beth?" Once the lin stops moving Quinn notices as Rachel shuffles to stop and wait next to her.

Side-eyeing her, but with a smile on her face, she responds, "8 months today actually."

Rachel's eyes widen in surprise and her mouth drops open, "No way!" She looks elated, "happy 8th month, Beth!" She tells her, looking into Beth's eyes, as if she could possibly understand her. Beth seems to, and laughs. Quinn's lips automatically smile.

"Thanks," she tries not to sound so... So... Enamored but it's to no avail.

They talk for a good two solid hours while at the bank. The line moves about ten feet but there are still twenty or so people in front of them. Quinn wonders why the hell it's taking so long today. Even if this is one of two banks in the small town of Lima, it's never taken this long. Still, she finds herself a little thankful because she's met this great company and she's been something else. Quinn finds out that Rachel Berry is actually from Lima but is visiting town to see her parents. She lives in New York now, where she just graduated from a school for the Performing Arts: NYADA. Quinn asks her how long she'll be in town and Rachel tells her that she goes back next month to start reheasing for the small play she was cast in at her Senior showcase, and start auditioning for bigger roles.

Quinn is awfully glad Rachel talks more than she does. That way she doesn't have to tell her about dropping out of college when she found out she was pregnant, or how now she has to leave her baby with her friend during the day to work and with her mother at night to go to school.

It seems like Rachel can read her mind though because she says, "I talk so much. I haven't given you a chance to talk much, have I?" She looks ashamed for just about a moment, and then she urges Quinn, "did you go to McKinley? Because I went to Carmel and I've never seen you there."

Quinn can definitely talk about high school, "yes, I did. I would've remembered you too, I think." I probably wouldn't like you back then, if you talked this much. Now Quinn was a changed person. She appreciated people that could fill in her silence. "I was captain of the Cheerios." She says, the one thing from high school she's proud of.

"No way that's you!" Rachel exclaims and appraises Quinn. Quinn looks away from her and then Rachel is amending, "I didn't mean it like that. I meant, you look different; grown up. You used to be... A terror, from what I hear?" Rachel is careful with this question, to make sure she doesn't offend Quinn.

The blonde woman laughs quietly and Beth's eyes shimmer in glee at her mother's laughter, "Yes, I definitely was. Don't worry, I'm a lot nicer now."

Rachel looks at her right quickly, watching Quinn's profile up close, and then faces forward again and allows Beth to be distracted by her fingers again. She's hesitant, and speaks with closed eyes, "I know this may sound strange and way crazy but..." When she opens her eyes again Quinn finds herself wishing for her never to close her eyes again, "do you think I could treat you and Beth to some frozen yogurt?"

Surprised doesn't even cover it. Quinn looks at Rachel in awe at the question and considers it in her head. She looks around: the line seems to be taking longer and the bank is packed. She really doesn't want to spend her day here, and this errand can definitely be run another day and time. But, on the ther hand, she doesn't know this woman. She's a stranger - nice and beautiful, but a stranger nevertheless. She looks at Beth staring back up at her as if begging her for it, even though Beth doesn't even know what frozen yogurt is. So really, Rachel is asking her.

"Oh my God," she hears Rachel say. She turns her head and watches as Rachel's hand flail around in front of her desperatly, "I'm sorry. That was completely inappropriate of me - I, I - you know what? Just - forget I asked..."

Quinn thinks this babbling side of Rachel is rather endearing. She interrupts her softly, "That sounds good. We could go for a frozen yogurt right now."

Rachel's eyes meet Quinn's and she asks, "yeah?" Insecurity showing with one spoken word.

"Of course," Quinn gives her her best smile. She looks at Beth and asks, "isn't that right?" and then back at Rachel, "we love froyo."

"Really?" Rachel asks for reassurance once again but her excitement is already showing. She looks back at the door, "I have my car and the place is close - I wouldn't mind driving you both there and back. I mean, I'm not assuming you don't have a car. I can see you have one because you have this carseat," she lifts said object in her hands and continues talking. Quinn has to struggle to keep from straight up laughing at her. Not because she's making fun of her but from sheer cuteness alone. "Which probably means you have a car. I'd just like to drive you girls. But I'd totally understand if you wanted to just drive yourself because I'm a stranger and you don't know that I'm not a murderer yet. Which I'm not!" She finally stops to breathe in and take a look at Quinn. She looks amused. Beth is also just staring at her. "Oh gosh, sometimes I don't know when to stop talking. I was doing pretty well earlier, I think," Quinn agrees with a nod but really Rachel's been talkative from the moment she turned around. "But I'm sure I've scared you off. It's okay - you can leave if you want, make an excuse about another commitment. I'll totally understand." Rachel looks pretty serious about this, and the look of pure sadness in her eyes makes Quinn's heart twitch uncomfortably.

"You haven't scared me off," she says simply and smiles at Rachel to reassure her.

Rachel's eyes dart back up to Quinn and she looks just oh, so relieved, "really?" She doesn't give Quinn time to respond. "Great! Do you want me to wait for you to do what you have to do? I can wait." She points at the lounge chairs provided with determination.

Quinn assesses the line once again and says, "not a chance. We should just go now. I can do this," she emphasizes 'this' with a hand motion, "another day." When Rachel gives her a look she says, "promise."

The confidence in Quinn's voice is enough to make Rachel start moving. She's bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet, "Okay, well, let's go then!" She reaches forward to also grab the matching bag to the carseat, and pries it away from Quinn's shoulder. "I can take this too."

Quinn thanks her quietly with a nod and decides it's safer if she just focuses on Beth right now. She avoids looking at Rachel because this woman is charming, at the least. Quinn bites her bottom lip when Rachel holds the door open. She doesn't know how else to thank her besides saying, 'thanks' over and over.

Rachel guides them all toward her car, a black Audi A4. "Here," she opens the back door. "I'll walk over to the other side and help you with the car seat." She shows her a quick flash of a smile and then makes her way around the car as fast as she possibly can. Opening the door, she sticks the top portion of her body inside the car and settles the car seat behind her own seat so Quinn can keep an eye on her if she wants. The seat is fastened and she comes back out to let Quinn know she can set Beth down. Quinn sits at the edge and scoots closer with Beth, and then carefully places her on the seat. Rachel watches at how cautious she is and smiles. Quinn straps the seats' belts around her baby and kisses her forehead once before scooting back out.

Somehow, by the time she's back out, Rachel's already on her side again and opening the front door.

"Thanks," she frowns slightly but also smiles.

"Not a problem," Rachel chirps and then walks over to the driver's seat.

"Do you want music or AC or windows or -" Rachel asks.

Quinn just smiles over at her, "however you usually drive. It doesn't matter."

With a nod and a smile, Rachel turns on the radio to the top 40s station, and the AC on the low setting. It feels cozy in the car within the minute, and Quinn likes the smell Rachel picks for the car freshener; it must be vanilla something. She looks back at Beth to make sure she's okay.

"So, does Beth like frozen yogurt?"

"I've never given her some before... I wasn't sure it's okay."

Rachel laughs as she signals to turn right, "I think it's safe as long as you don't give her too much." She glances at Quinn who's already looking at her, then faces forward again, "I wouldn't know though." And she starts laughing at herself, which makes Quinn laugh too.

"You made it sound like you were an expert."

"I know but I'm really not, I promise."

They come to a stop in front of an outdoor mall. One of those packed with people floating from store to store, shopping and spending money on frivolous things. The parking spot Rachel picked is right in front of the frozen yogurt shop and she gives Quinn a blinding smile, "this is my favorite place. I come here all the time."

Quinn smiles back and looks at the shop, 'Fro U.' She giggles and irks an eyebrow at Rachel, "original name. It's a pun; I love puns."

"Right? Come on. I'm dying to try this new flavor I heard they got. Grapefruit."

Rachel gets out and opens the back seat. She looks at Quinn over the car and Quinn nods as she makes her way around, giving Rachel silent permission to remove the car seat out of the car.

"I can't get over just how adorable she is," Rachel says as she hands the preciousness over.

"Yeah," Quinn muses, "she's my one perfect thing."

Rachel frowns at the statement trying to understand, and presses a button on her car keys to lock it. It beeps. They walk up three steps and Quinn stops, "oh, I'm sorry. I left her bag in the car can we-?" she points toward the car.

Rachel immediately stops and says, "oh, I can get it. I'll be quick!"

"That's okay," Quinn tries to stop her halfway, but Rachel is already by the car and opening the door.

"It's no problem at all Quinn. I want to help."

"Thank you, then." Quinn says when Rachel is in front of her again. "You're... Refreshing." She blurts it out before she knows what she's saying. Rachel's eyes widen for a split second and then she smiles at Quinn, suddenly embarrassed and shy. Her cheeks are tinted a pretty pink and her dimple is fighting to come out. She drags a lock of hair behind her left ear and looks down. Quinn has never thought anyone looked more beautiful.

"I'm just... You're - I mean, Beth is... Captivating."

Quinn narrows her eyes at Rachel playfully and responds, "she appreciates that."

Rachel exhales exaggerately and motions for Quinn to go in first. Quinn passes by her with the carseat and Beth in front of her body. The scent Quinn leaves behind makes Rachel stop and take a deep breath. She catches the action and shakes her head, and follows Quinn inside.

"So how does this place work? Just by weight?"

"Yeah!" Rachel shakes her head excitedly, "pour as much yogurt as you'd like then add fruits or candy and then weigh it."

Quinn strolls over to the yogurt selection and looks at her choices: Avocado, Peanut Butter, Original, Strawberry, Chocolate - "which one is your favorite?"

"I'm particular about the Peanut Butter flavor, but today I'm going for Grapefruit." She wiggles her eyebrow and smiles, moving around Quinn to get them both large cups. Quinn is about to protest it but Rachel is already holding both in her hands, "so did you decide?"

"Peanut Butter for us is good."

Rachel nods and pulls on the Peanut Butter lever, and looks at Quinn as if making sure this is making Quinn happy. Quinn grins and looks down, noticing Beth has been quiet for a while; she finally fell asleep. "I'll have some strawberries and some... Mmm, some coconut, and definitely the peanut butter cups, and the gummy worms, and the sour candy. Strawberry syrup and sprinkles."

Rachel's eyes fly from Quinn to Beth and back to Quinn in amusement, "I'm sorry, I thought we were getting you some yogurt, not a child". And laughs.

Pale cheeks burn up, "Sorry -I like candy. A lot."

"Don't apologize, I think it's great. Mine looks really bland and boring compared to yours. Maybe you could help me?" Quinn lights up at the suggestion and now holding onto the car seat with a closed left fist and her yogurt with the other hand.

"Alright, let's see. Try some pineapple chunks, the, uh, the sour candy too because that stuff is great, the chocolate and caramel syrups." Quinn looks into Rachel's very colorful cup and looks satisfied. "I don't even know if that'll be good, but it could work!"

Rachel places both of their cups on the scale and hands over a credit card. Quinn thanks her and she waves it off, "not a big deal. I'm dying to try this."

Finding a spot by a window, Rachel sets both cups down on the orange circular table and waits until Quinn sets the carseat on a chair first. Then they sit together and dive in their respective yogurst at the same time. "Wow, this is really good." Quinn offers.

Rachel purses her lips, makes a show of tasting the yogurt and then says, "I definitely agree. You should do this for a living - creating froyo masterpieces."

Quinn laughs, "That's genius."

"I thought so. Maybe I'll keep you around just for that." It doesn't get any more direct than that and Rachel feels the shift in Quinn's mood as soon as she says it. "I just meant we should hang out when I'm in town."

Quinn shifts uncomfortably in her seat and lies, "I understand. You'll be here for another month right?"

"Yeah, and if it's not too forward or weird, I'd love to spend time with you and Beth. I need friends back at home since all my high school friends left Lima..." Rachel suddenly feels the need to explain herself even though she doesn't know why.

Thinking about it throroughly, Quinn admits, "I'd really like that." It makes Rachel smile and look at Beth. The baby is still half asleep but looks like she could start crying at any moment. Quinn excuses herself for a second and grabs Beth in her arms. She rocks her until Beth seems to calm down and then sets her back down. She feeds Beth a little bit of her yogurt and Rachel watches with rapt attention how Quinn is so good with her daughter.

Meanwhile, Quinn is silently thinking if it's possible for a woman who has always identified herself as straight to harbor a crush on a woman she's known less than four hours. She tells herself that she can't go down that path - the repercussions would be too much and she has her daughter to think about; she doesn't even know if Rachel is into women or not. She's getting way ahead of herself. Beth reaches for the hand holding a spoon again and Rachel chuckles at her, making Quinn smile. "She really likes this."

"It's good stuff," Rachel responds. "And she's smart."

The yogurts are gone too soon for Rachel's taste, and Quinn silently wishes her cup was bottomless so she would have a reason to stay.

The car ride back is mostly Rachel asking Quinn about how she juggles the baby and school and work. Somehow, she managed to get it all out of Quinn without making Quinn feel like crap for it, and truly Quinn felt really good talking about it to someone who doesn't know everything about her. Rachel still didn't seem to judge or pity her, and that was awesome.

"Thanks... For," she takes a long breath and looks back into her Taurus to check up on Beth, "for a surprisingly unexpected and yet fun afternoon."

The brunette with the long hair smiles and fidgets with her car keys; she parked her car behind Quinn's and helped her with the bag again. After setting Beth down and making sure she was really asleep, Quinn met Rachel halfway between their cars.

"Thanks for letting me treat you guys. And see," She throws both hands up, "I'm not a murderer! Yay!"

Quinn laughs out loud for the first time. Rachel had realized that Quinn was shy and not one to be loud and obnoxious like she was, but she bet silently that Quinn would have a beautiful laugh. And it is - it's girly and kind of all over the place. Rachel likes it a lot and promises herself that if Quinn ever wants to hang out again, she'll make her laugh like this more often. She understands that being a single mom has probably weighed down on the gorgeous hazel-eyed mother in front of her, but she makes it her mission to remind her that she is a good mom and deserves to be happy.

"Do you think I could get your number so we could hang out again?"

Looking back once again, Quinn nods and faces Rachel, "of course. I'm hardly free like today but we can probably figure something out." Rachel thrusts her cellphone at Quinn and waits as the blonde pushes her contact info. "And I'm sure you'll get annoyed of me always being with Beth when we do hang."

"Never," Rachel promises with a shake of her head and a genuine smile. "I'd like to get to know her too. If that's not... Weird or anything." She narrows her eyes and looks at Quinn with an extremely vulnerable gaze. "I get it that you guys are like a package. And it doesn't bother me."

"Well, good." Quinn looks behind her once again. Really having to go even though she doesn't want to. She has to feed Beth again when she gets home and then put her to bed. She wasn't planning on today turning out the way it did, but she's not complaining. It's rare she meets nice potential-friend strangers and Rachl really seems to care. Quinn realizes she's the type of person who gets easily involved emotionally with strangers and that altough some would look at it in a weird way, Rachel uses it to her best. "I really should go now. Mom's waiting at home and if I take any longer she'll start bothering me-"

The phone in Rachel'a hand is lifted and she says, "I'll call you."

"See you later, Rachel Berry. It was nice to meet you." Quinn tells her and offers a wave before getting into her car and driving off.

Rachel stands on her spot for a moment contemplating how her day turned out. She doesn't even remember what she went to the bank for. She just knows she made a new friend and met the cutest baby on earth. Glancing at her phone, Quinn's name and number are still on the screen blinking. Lima never fails to surprise her. Finally hopping into her car, she turns on the radio and air and goes home with every intention in calling Quinn soon.