Chapter One:
Trust Is The Beginning

Quinn's POV

"No Quinn. You don't understand. I understand perfectly that you love me and believe me when I say I love you, but I have to marry Finn. That's final so stop telling me not to."

"Why do you have to? Oh wait, you don't. Nobody is putting a gun to your head and threatening to kill you unless you marry him. Why are you doing this to me? To yourself? To Finn for God's sake? You don't even love him. Not the way you should, but your still going to lead him on and make him believe that you love him."

"I swear to you Quinn, I really don't want to marry him, but some times shit just happens. Okay?"

"NO! Not okay! Everyone always thinks I'm such a bitch for breaking his heart by cheating on him, but here you are doing the same thing to me. Except in this situation, you're getting married to someone else! Somebody you don't even love. Do you know how stupid this is? We love each other. I want to show it to the world. I want you to be mine. It's that simple. Why can't we be together?" I was desperate. How could she do this?

"It is not that simple, Quinn. The world out there isn't a friendly place and you're not ready for it. Trust me when I say everything is so complicated right now it's hard for me to find which way is up. It's like I'm going in circles trying find a way out of the hole I'm digging, but I keep going further hoping to come out on the other side. The thing is, there is no other side. There is no way out of what I got into. I made a stupid commitment to the wrong person and now here I am. There is nothing you can do. There is nothing I can do. It is how it is and now I have to marry Finn. If you don't want us to get married, then don't come to the wedding."

"What? What did you do that's so bad where you can't even be with me? You don't even talk to me in public anymore. Just tell me what's going on. That's all I want to know. Please tell me. I can't deal with all the lies anymore. Everyone I have ever loved lies to me. I'll come out with you if that's what you want. I'm sorry if this is because I kept us a secret. Just don't leave me alone. Tell me what's going on." She just shook her head at the mirror, not even bothering to look at me. "Whether it's my friends, family, or you, it all hurts the same to know that everyone is keeping secrets." I was sitting on the floor in the bathroom crying my eyes out while she just stood there looking in the mirror. Regret was written all over her face. I just wish I knew why.

"Don't cry about it. Crying is just really unattractive. Trust me." She said it angrily, venom dripping off her tongue as she said it. With that she walked out on me. She just left me there to sit in tears on a dirty bathroom floor. Without an explanation what-so-ever.


Rachel's POV

I was pushing her away from me, as far away as I could. I didn't want to end that conversation in such a bad way, but it had to be done. She shouldn't be near me anyways. I only screw things up. I spotted Puck in the choir room and I called out to him as I entered. He was just strumming on his guitar, not any particular tune, just strumming away.

"I need you to do me a favor Puckerman."

"What do you need Rachel?" I was truly surprised he even considered. He doesn't do anything out of the kindness of his heart. Usually.

"This is going to sound really crazy, but I really need you to do it since I can't." He nodded and I continued. "I need you to take care of Quinn. Be the big brother she doesn't have. Be there to protect her when I can't. It isn't healthy for her to keep hanging on to me when I'm getting married to Finn."

He looked at me wide-eyed. "Why the hell do you need me to do that? She hates me for getting her drunk and then pregnant. She's not going to want my help. Why can't you two just be all lovey dovey. Just don't marry Finn. It's not like you have to. He's just a stupid boy, I know for a fact that Quinn loves you and I know you love her back. What's really going on?"

"Can I trust you not to tell anyone?" He nodded. "Even Quinn. She especially can't know. I don't want her to know exactly how stupid and worthless I am."

"Of course, but you're not stupid or worthless. You're my Jew-bro. I would know."

"You'll take that back soon enough. You have to swear on my freaking Jewish nose you won't tell anyone. Not Quinn, not Mr. Schue, not Finn, and not my parents."

He held up his hand, not mockingly, he was completely serious about it. I was surprised he could even be serious, but it was a nice surprise. "I swear upon your Jewish nose that I will not tell a single soul. I promise."

I turned around so I was facing away from him. I pulled my shirt off so I was left with just my bra on and my back exposed. And not just my back, but the intricate ink design that I got done many years ago.

It, the tattoo, had started with a common design of a snake wrapped around a sword blade. On the handle of the sword was one word in Latin. "Iustitia" It meant 'Justice.' The snake always represented our sneaky ways of bringing justice to those who avoided proper punishment. The sword always represented strength. The strength to hold up the code.

The design showed fire burning from the handle and up towards my neck, but not quite touching it. On either side of the sword was my name. On the left side, my name ran down my back with all of the letters facing the right way and on the right they ran down, but were turned backwards to create a mirroring effect. On the left though, the letters were tattooed on with green ink while the letters on the right were tattooed on with red ink. It was to show equal parts good and bad. To show we were all equal. We enforced equality.

"You, but why? I've heard of that group, the Justice crew." He said as moved his thumb over the Latin words. "Why would you, are you one of them? Are seriously telling me you're one of those killers?" I nodded slowly and pulled my shirt back on. "How could you be so stupid? They're murderers. You could go to jail for being associated with those freaks."

"You think I don't know any of that? Of course I do! Trust me when I say I'm not proud of joining, but I felt alone and they said they could help. I wasn't the smartest eleven year old. Alright? So get off my case."

"Eleven?" He asked surprised.

"Yes Puckerman, eleven. I was only eleven when they recruited me. I was so happy that someone, anyone would accept me that I didn't give it a second thought when I agreed to be a part of their crew. I wasn't even the youngest though. There was a little boy who couldn't have been more than seven and he already had his back tattoo and was dead set on doing what he needed to do. He had just killed his parents because he was told to."

"What was so bad that you just had to join a group of killers?" He was angry. I don't blame him. Innocent people die at our hands, but it is the way it is. We do as we're told and we live.

"Middle School. Everyone hated me because of my fathers and my 'I'm better than everyone' attitude. I was shunned on a daily basis and picked on. Nobody wanted me and my dads were too busy with work all of the time. My own mother was never around. So excuse me if I wasn't feeling too good about myself and I made a mistake. I was just a kid. Trust me when I say I'm paying for it now." I huffed out.

"Whatever Berry. I'll take care of Quinn, but this is for her. Not you. I don't want her image of you to be ruined. It would break her. I was wrong about you. You really are a worthless idiot." I nodded and he walked out. I waited a minute before making my own exit.


Quinn's POV

Puck asked me to be his 'date' to Rachel and Finn's wedding. He knows I don't want to go, but he said it's important that I do. He said I need it for closure and that he would always be there for me. I think someone put him up to this, but he seems genuinely concerned for me. Also, Rachel and I haven't talked for two weeks. She and Finn announced they would be getting married in a week. They said anyone who would like to attend was welcome. Hence Puck asking me to be his date.

I noticed that he too hadn't been talking to her as much as before. I never did tell him that Rachel broke my heart, yet somehow he just knew. It also seems that he knew more about the situation, whatever the situation is, than I do. He's constantly glaring at her, but it isn't all glare. He looks at her with a small sense of anguish. As if there was an battle in his my mind. Between hating her and feeling sorry for her. I don't really know when I got so good at reading people, but reading him was easy. It was most likely from us being so close to one another since I had his child.

Two days before the 'Finchel' wedding, I told Puck I was going to try once more to stop her from marrying him. He grabbed me roughly by the arm and told me not to.

"Don't bother talking to her. She's worthless, just another idiot. Trust me." I turned around so quickly that my hair whipped him in the face.

"What did you just say?"

"She is worthless! Just another idiot! Trust me!"

"No." I said it so quietly I could barely hear it myself.

"What?"

"I said no. That's exactly what she always said and she broke my fucking heart. I'm not going to trust anybody anymore. I just get stepped on whenever I trust somebody else. So no. I will not trust you."

I began to walk away from him and she down the hall at me. I stopped and faced him once more. "She is a worthless idiot. If you don't fucking believe me, that's your problem. Just ask her and she'll tell you herself!"

That's exactly what I did.


Rachel's POV

"What do you want Quinn?" I thought I got Puckerman to keep her occupied, but apparently not since she managed to get me alone in the choir room. He was supposed to keep her away from me.

"Why are you marrying Finn?"

"We have been over this. I have to marry Finn. That's it. Now leave me alone." I tried to walk away, but she caught my wrist and pulled me back. "Let me go. I can't tell you anything yet. You'll find out more about a week after the wedding. That's all I can tell you. Trust me."

"That's all you ever say. 'Trust me.' Why should I? You told me you liked me and I told you I liked you too, but I was afraid and you said I just needed to trust you. I did and then I fell in love with you. When you said it back and I asked, 'Forever?' you said 'Of course, trust me.' And I did, but me trusting you has gotten me nothing except for a breaking heart. So I'm sorry if I don't trust you right now."

I tried to pull away, but she just tightened her grip on my wrist. I was afraid she was going to bruise it.

"Please Rachel. Just tell me what's going on. I love you. Don't keep me in the dark." I couldn't take it. It was breaking my own heart to see her so desperate. If I really wanted to get away from her I would have to destroy her.

So I did.


Quinn's POV

"Newsflash Quinn. I don't love you. You're annoying and clingy. I'm getting married to Finn. I love Finn now! Get over it and stop hounding me. It's pathetic." She rolled her wrist out of my grasp and left the room.

She just left me here, all alone. And she doesn't love me...why doesn't she love me. She told me she would love me forever. She's such a fucking liar. How could she break my heart? The fucking bitch! God damned Puckerman was right. It shouldn't hurt this much. I feel like I'm dying. I should hate her now, but I can't. I won't ever be able to stop loving her. Fuck. She legitimately stole my heart. She probably has it resting in her pocket right now. Why does it have to hurt so bad?

I began to cry and I continued to cry for only God knows how long. Reluctantly, I got up to make my way home. I was walking down the hall when I heard voices. Angry voices coming from one of the dark abandoned class rooms. I peered in and saw Rachel sitting on top of a desk with her head down. Puck was yelling at her.

"You said what?"

"I told her I didn't love her. Alright! I get that it was harsh, but it had to be done. Look. They gave me a target when I started my freshman year. They said I was old enough to be serious about it. I was old enough to understand that life isn't perfect and this is my test to show I am committed. They told me my target was one Finn Hudson. I'm just doing my god damned job. I wasn't supposed to fall in love with the beautiful blonde goddess that is Quinn Fabray. I never meant to hurt her, but it had to be done. So back off."

"Fine! What do want me to do?"

"Just fucking comfort her! Let her know she isn't alone. Next Wednesday Finn and I will be all over the news. I'm sure of it. Make sure she sees it and then explain everything to her. I'll give you a letter that I want you to read to her."

"Yeah, okay. Just remember I'm not doing this for you. It's all for her so she can let go of your worthless ass."

"Thank you."

"Yeah. Whatever. No matter what you say or do in the future, I will always hate you. Nothing can change that. And from what I'm assuming will be happening next week, so will everyone else around here."

"Make sure she knows I'm sorry." I watched as Rachel handed him an envelope. "You can read it now if you want. I know you don't really trust me. I'm going to go home now. See ya around. Maybe."

Rachel got up and was walking towards the door to leave. I ran down the hall and hid behind a row of lockers so they wouldn't see me. I wish I had never stayed to listen because now I know she still loves me and she is still going to marry that barbaric giant named Finn. And that only makes it hurt worse. I was about to go in the other direction when I heard Puck yelling to Rachel.

"What if she doesn't believe this. What ever this says. She's not from the same area of town that we are. I need proof." I watched as she walked back towards him.

"You aren't going to read it?" When he shook his head she continued. "Take out your camera phone then." He did and she took her shirt off. Hey! Nobody is allowed to see her strip until I have first since we never got that far. She always told me she wasn't ready. And did she have a tattoo?


Rachel's POV

I took my bra off after my shirt and turned around so no part of the tattoo was covered. "Take a picture of it and the letter explains what it means. I hope that letter helps you better understand why I never quit. Good bye Noah. Sorry for any trouble I have caused." He took the picture and stuffed his phone and the letter in his back pocket. I put my bra and shirt back on and turned to look at him in the eyes. "Make sure you don't tell her anything until after Wednesday of next week."

"Sure."

With that I left to go home and rest up. Tomorrow was my last day a never-been-married girl and the Justice crew was throwing a party. It was my last chance to let loose and have any kind of fun. I was definitely going to take advantage of such an opportunity. Even if it meant I was going to miss school.

At the party everyone congratulated me for not backing out and giving up. They all made speeches on how proud of me they were. I was just disgusted with myself. This isn't what my dads wanted for me. I know that for sure. When they find out I know they'll be disappointed in me because if I had a child and they did what I'm going to do soon, I would be ashamed to even say I knew them.

The day of my wedding, Puck came to visit me right after I finished putting my dress on. Luckily, I had not yet applied my make-up because I started to bawl my eyes out as Puck kept trying to come up with excuses to keep me from marrying Finn.

"You could call the police and tell them where the whole crew meets up in exchange for immunity."

"It won't work Puckerman. There are people a part of us that are closer to you and I than you think. You see a couple of us daily. If I don't do what I was told, then more than just one person will get hurt."

"You're pathetic. What happened to your attitude of taking what you want?"

"It left me when they threatened everyone important to me or Quinn! That's what. They're going to kill my dads, Shelby, and take little baby Beth and raise her the way they want to unless I marry and then kill Finn. For some reason they have some sorta beef with him and want him dead. So I'm gonna do what I have to in order to save my parents and an innocent child. So don't call me pathetic!"

"B-b-beth, they're g-gonna take her?"

"Yes! Somebody that has actually met her already will take her, kill Shelby and my dads, and then kill me if I don't follow through with the plan. So leave me alone. I'm already beating myself up about all of this. I don't need you helping me with that!"

"I didn't know. Why didn't you tell me? I could have helped some how. I would done anything! She's my daughter." He got quiet at the last part and I felt bad for telling him, but it hurt more to keep it from him. "If you do this, do you promise that she will be okay? Nobody will hurt her?"

He was vulnerable. Beth was the one thing he would do anything for. Even put his hate for me aside just to save her life. I knew she wouldn't always be safe. Not with the other people so close to them. Them being Quinn, Noah, and by association, Beth. I knew this, but I had to reassure him. "Yes Noah. She will be safe. I promise."

"Okay. Then I guess I support your marriage, but not what will happen afterwards. Promise me it's only for all of their safety. That you aren't doing this just for shits and giggles."

"I promise."