Title: Keep Holding On
Fandom: Glee
Genre: Family, Romance, Friendship, Angst
Status: WIP
Pairing(s)/Character(s): mainly focused on Quinn and Rachel with plenty of mentions of Puck and Finn; potentially elements of couplings between all four characters
Rating: overall, T
Spoilers: through 1.06 "Vitamin D;" AU afterwards but with mentions or references to songs and possibly situations
Summary: Much later in their lives, they'll look back and shrug, remarking that it takes a village to raise a child. A series of related but non-chronological flash fic vignettes.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from FOX's Glee whatsoever. Playing in the sandbox; please, don't sue me. Nor do I own any songs or lyrics used.
Note: Originally, I had planned for the series title to be "Never Say Never" after the song by The Fray with the title for each installment being a line from the song. Then I saw the clip of the Glee cast performing Avril Lavigne's "Keep Holding On" and I decided to change it. Title for each installment will come from either song. Also, since this story is composed of vignettes that simply take place in the same universe, dealing with specific characters, I have no end planned so there will be no cliffhangers. Each part can be read as an individual story but some may have references to other parts.
Just Hold a Smile
The first time Quinn Fabray felt guilty about the false reality she'd created was when Finn gave her his tattered baby blanket. For a split second, she had started to falter but then she realized that she'd made the right decision. Finn was going to be such a good father.
She knew he wasn't truly happy or excited about the baby, but then again, neither was she. Yet he was trying. He was there for her. He was there for her in ways she never expected.
She's thirteen weeks into her pregnancy, out of the danger zone, when she finally decides that she has to tell her parents. She doesn't tell Finn because she thinks they'll take it slightly better if he's not there. She prays harder than she ever has in her life—harder than when she was waiting for the results of her home pregnancy test.
Her father is furious and calls her fornicator and a wanton whore. Her mother just cries. She expected something like this. What she doesn't expect is her father telling her to pack a bag and get out.
She also didn't expect to retort, "But Jesus loved whores, Daddy. Remember Mary Magdalene?" as the tears begin to roll down her face.
He looks pained for a moment before telling her that right now he can't stand to look at her and storming out of the living room. That is what causes her to cry in earnest. She looks at her mother, who's hanging her head in her hands, "Mommy?"
Her mother lifts her head and Quinn can see in the disappointment in her eyes. Her mother starts to open her mouth then presses her lips together before shaking her head.
Quinn just stares out into space for a minute, processing what has just happened. Her chin trembles and she inhales sharply. She swallows, turns, and heads upstairs to her bedroom to pack a suitcase. The tears steadily run down her face as she packs several things: some clothes, her diary, a family portrait, her teddy bear, and Finn's baby blanket. She has her backpack on her shoulder and a suitcase in her hand as she descends the stairs. Her mother is still crying on the sofa.
Quinn holds her head high, "Mommy?" Her mother looks up, startled. "I love you. And I'm sorry."
Again, her mother starts to say something but all that comes out is a choked sob.
It takes everything inside of her for Quinn to not breakdown. She repeats, "I'm sorry," before walking out the door. As she walks to her car she switches to autopilot. She doesn't remember driving to Finn's, only him opening the door for her to immediately collapse in a fit of tears in his arms.
Sitting at the dining room table with Finn and his mother, she rehashes what just happened with her parents, barely realizing that this is the first that Finn's mother has heard of the pregnancy. When she finishes her story, Finn's mother reaches out and places her hand over her own and offers to let Quinn stay there.
It is the second time that Quinn feels guilty about this whole situation.