"I need a favor."

He turned around to face her. She tried to look confident, but he knew that she wasn't. He could tell by the way she was wringing her hands.

"No" he yawned.

"You don't even know what I'm going to ask you!"

"Nope."

He sat down on the bleachers and drank from his bottled water. She didn't want to sit down, he could tell. She frowned at him. People usually didn't say no to Quinn Fabray.

"Look, my grandparents are coming in to town and my dad told them about the baby. And he told them we're still together."

Puck snorted.

"Then just tell them that we're not."

"I can't."

She fidgeted on the spot. Puck tilted his head to one side. He had never met her grandparents, but he had met her father once. That was enough.

"They'd kill me" he said.

"No" she told him. "No, they really wouldn't. They just don't want me be to be a disgrace. Well, more of a disgrace."

He shook his head in disbelief.

"Look" she begged, her voice frantic now. "I'll even pay you. It's just for a few weeks. All you have to do is come to few dinners, I promise."

"How much?"
"What?"
"How much will you pay me?"

She rolled her eyes.

"Whatever you want."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

…

"Remind me why you're doing this again" Santana drawled.

She sat on her bed, cross-legged, reading a magazine.

"I need money" Puck told her.

"For what?" she snorted. "Planning on going to college?"

He threw a pillow at her.

"Shut up" he sighed. "You're supposed to help me look good."

"That" Santana sneered "would be impossible."

He rolled her eyes at her. She wasn't helping. Maybe she was right. Why was he doing this? He could earn money in easier ways. He was putting himself in danger. Who knew what the Fabrays would do with him.

"Wear a white button-down and dark pants" Santana told him.

He rummaged in the back of his closet and came out with the shirt he had bought for Burt and Carole's wedding. It needed ironing.

"Are you going to act in front of her family? Like kiss and shit?"

"I doubt her grandparents would approve of kissing" Puck said. "I already knocked her up once, might be best not to touch her."

"Might be better to stay the hell away from her all together."

Puck rolled his eyes at her.

"Thanks for the support, San."

"Anytime."

She got up, pushed him out of the way and started searching his closet. She came out with a pair of black slacks that Puck had worn only once. They were awfully preppy.

"Here" she said, handing them to him. "And don't say that I never help you."

…

Quinn was cold. And nervous. Her feet hurt, but there was no place to sit. The arrivals hall of the airport was crowded, people wanted to welcome their friends and families home for Christmas. Her grandparents were flying in from Connecticut.

"There they are" her father murmured.

He looked clammy and nervous. No one could make Russell Fabray look nervous. No one but his mother.

"Mother!" he called.

Out of the crowd came Claire and Joseph Fabray. Quinn's grandmother wore a fur coat, wrapped tightly around her thin frame. Her hair was the lightest shade of silver and piled up on her hair by black hair clip. She wore red lipstick and dark eye shadow and had a gaze of steel. Quinn felt herself shiver as her grandmother's eye landed on her.

"Russell" she said, her voice calm and hard at the same time.

She kissed his cheek.

"Hello mother" he said.

"Judith, nice to see you."

Quinn's mother had to stand on tiptoe to kiss her mother-in-laws cheek.

"Quinn."

Her grandmother's kiss felt like a breeze of cold air. The lips didn't touch Quinn's cheek.

"Hello" Quinn whispered.

She hadn't met her grandparents in a few years. And suddenly she couldn't remember if she used to call her grandmother "grandma" or "gran" or just Claire.

"How was your flight?" Judy asked.

Her voice was high and chipper.

"It was crowded" Joseph muttered.

"Let's just go home" Russell said, his smile sliding off his face.

…

Joseph Fabray wasn't someone that you looked at twice. He was medium height and though he had once been a marine, he now filled out the waistband of his pants. Next to his wife, no one noticed him. He was CEO of a big company that had run in the family for a long time. Quinn had overheard her mother telling one of her friends that Joseph wouldn't have been able to keep his authority if Claire hadn't been his wife. Something about her scared people half to death. That was why Judy had cleaned the house for days. She had hired a cleaning company, but after they left, vacuumed the floor again. The whole house smelled of air freshener and home baked cookies.

"I thought you were moving into a bigger house" Claire commented as she sat down on a chair near the fireplace.

"Well, we were. But well, with Katherine at college and Quinn leaving soon, there wasn't really any point" Judy told her.

There was an edge to her voice.

"Just because it's just the two of you left doesn't mean that you have to compromise."

Quinn looked around. She lived the one of the biggest houses in all of Lima. It was newly renovated, had a huge garden and decorated in the newest style. This house was her mother's baby.

"We'll think about it again" Russell nodded.

Judy gave him a look and pursed her lips.

"Good" Claire said. "Where are we eating tonight?"

"Here" Russell answered. "Judy made her wonderful roast chicken."

"We're eating in?"

"Yes."

The silence that fell was so full of condescendence and disappointment that Quinn shivered.

"Is Katherine coming home?" Joseph asked.

He had always liked Katie the best.

"No, not today. She'll be here on Friday, for Christmas eve."

"Oh."

"But Quinn's boyfriend is coming tonight" Russell added, smiling brightly as if he loved Puck.

In reality, they had only met once and it hadn't been a good meeting. As her guardian, he had to sign the adoption papers. During the whole meeting, her father had never exchanged a word with Puck, not even looked at him. Quinn hadn't either, she had been too weak.

"How nice" Claire said.

Quinn could hear the sarcasm dripping off every word.

…

Puck stood a long time on the doorstep, debating if he should ring the bell or just go home. He owed Quinn nothing. It would have been different if they were still dating or even friends. But they weren't. She was just a girl that had had a baby sophomore year and he was just the guy that had knocked her up. They never spoke, not even if their friends hung out together. He owed her nothing, but in the end he raised his hand and placed in on the door bell.

"You're late" Quinn hissed.

Puck wanted to turn around and leave, but she grabbed his arm. Her grip was firm.

"Sorry" he muttered.

She didn't respond, just dragged him with her into the house. It was warm inside and it smelled wonderful. Oh well. At least he would be able to eat some good food. Maybe it would be worth it.

"Just smile a lot" she whispered as she took his leather jacket and hung it up.

He felt naked without it. The well-ironed shirt made him feel like somebody's dad.

"What are we having?" he asked, trying to sound relaxed.

She ignored him and stomped away into the living room. He followed. God, this house was insane. He hadn't been here in a while, but he was pretty sure the whole bottom floor had been remodeled.

"This is Noah" she announced.

Puck spotted Judy Fabray. She wore bright red lipstick and looked a bit frantic. He spotted Russell Fabray, one of the men that Puck detested most. And he spotted the grandparents. The old lady had a haughty look and examined him up and down. The old man nodded at him.

"The chicken is getting cold" the grandmother told him.

Puck quickly sat down. Quinn kicked his leg. He had clearly done something wrong. What, he didn't know.

"What?" he mouthed.

She just rolled her eyes. Puck stole a glance at the time. It was 7:15. Only approximately two hours and fifteen hours until he could go home and play XBOX.

…

"Tell me about yourself" the old lady ordered him.

Apparently her name was Claire, but Puck wasn't stupid enough to call her that.

"What would you like to know?" he asked.

Quinn was stiff next to him. He had never seen her like this. She hadn't smiled once through dinner, not even once, not even in a fake way. It freaked Puck out.

"You're Jewish, I presume."

"Yes."

Claire pursed her lips and wrinkled her nose, as if he smelled bad.

"We're a very traditional, catholic family" she said.

You don't say.

"I know."

He probably should give longer answers, but he didn't know what to say. All his confidence was gone. And Quinn wasn't exactly helping things.

"Let's not discuss religion over dessert" Judy insisted, a smile plastered over her face.

"You're right, Judith" Claire nodded. "Tell me something else, Noah. About your family."

"Well, erm, I live with my mom and my sister."

"And your father?"

Puck tried to catch Quinn's eye. She looked away.

"He left when I was a kid."

"Oh, what a pity."

"Yes."

Puck took a sip of water, wishing for the hundredth time that he had been served something stronger. The adults were drinking wine. A lot of wine. The empty bottles that Russell carried out to the kitchen took up a whole countertop. Puck wondered how it could be that none of them were drunk. If his family had been drinking this much, they'd been dancing on top of their chairs with ties around their foreheads.

"How about college, Noah?" the grandfather asked.

"What about it?" Puck smiled, trying to joke.

Nobody smiled.

"Where are you planning on going?"

"Actually, I don't know yet."

"Quinn is going on a cheerleading scholarship to University of Notre Dame" Claire said.

Puck again tried to catch Quinn's eye. She still looked away. Wasn't anyone going to tell Claire that Quinn had quit cheerleading?

"Yes" Quinn whispered.

Her voice was horse.

"It's a very good school" Russell agreed.

Judy nodded vigorously.

"Very good."

Quinn nodded too, still facing her plate. She normally wasn't a chatterer, but never this quiet. And never this uncomfortable. Quinn Fabray could make anyone feel small and worthless. She could with one smile make someone else feel like the most important person in the world. Not tonight, though. Not tonight.

…

Puck thought that the dinner was over after dinner. He thought he would be able to go home, but no. No, it was drink time. Judy and Claire drank sherry and the men drank some super expensive whisky, that Puck betted tasted just like the crap he used to steel from the store that cost 9,99. Quinn drank water. Her small fingers were clamped hard around the glass. Her knuckles turned white.

"You should have gotten married."

Claire said it between two sips. Everyone froze. This was they all had waited for, had dreaded. Quinn sank lower into her chair.

"Mother…" Russell mumbled.

She ignored him.

"You did everything wrong" Claire continued, eyeing Puck and Quinn carefully. "Quinn, you can't imagine the disappointment I feel. Intercourse before marriage?"

Quinn said nothing. Her eyes were blank, empty.

"And you," Claire said, turning on Puck. "You should have married her. And you should have kept the baby. That would have been the right thing to do."

"Mother…" Russell tried again.

"Quinn, look up from your hands, you silly girl. You humiliated us all. "

The words made Quinn flinch, like someone had hit her. She finally looked up at her grandparents.

"I'm sorry" she whispered.

"Sorry?"

"Yes."

Her voice was hoarse and frail.

"I'm going to bed" Claire suddenly announced.

She stood up and left the room. Her husband trotted behind her, waving goodnight.

"I'd better go" Puck murmured

None of the Fabrays moved. Therefore, he got up, placed his empty glass on top of the dishwasher and went out into the hallway. There, Quinn caught up with him. She looked older and younger at the same time.

"Good night" he said, trying to sound hearty.

"She didn't buy it."

"What?"

"She knows were acting."

"How do you know?"

"I just do."

Puck sighed. He was tired.

"Look, I'll call you" he said.

"Okay."

He extended his hand to pat her cheek, but changed his mind. Instead he put on his hat and went out in the cold December night.

…

"Her family is fucked up."

Puck snatched up the last jellybean and popped into his mouth. Santana made a face at him.

"You met her parents, what did you expect?" she scuffed.

"She's lying to them, saying that she's going to some catholic school on a cheerleading scholarship."

"So?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why do you care? It's a job, right, Puck?"

Santana looked bored. Or hung-over. Maybe both. Puck still felt weird about the night before. He had hated leaving Quinn in the hallway. He had wanted to scoop her up and take her home with him. She needed someone to take care of her, but there was no one who would.

"It's weird" Puck shrugged.

"Life is fucking weird."

He shrugged again. Santana burped.

"When are you going there again?" she asked.

"Don't know yet."

"Is it worth it?" she asked, carefully. "Getting pulled into her family like this?"

"I guess I should have thought of that when I skipped the condom."

"Maybe."

She examined her nails. Puck examined her.

"You're not telling me something" he said.

She met his eyes.

"I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"I just can't, okay?"

"Is it about the grandparents?"

Santana looked away.

"I'm just saying this. Russell Fabray is an asshole. Do you know how people usually become assholes?"

He bit his lip.

"How?"

"They get raised by other assholes."

Puck met her eyes. They said nothing for a while. Santana's jaw was set. She wasn't going to tell him more.

"Her family is fucked up" Puck repeated slowly.

Santana only nodded.

….

Quinn escaped the house before anyone else woke up. She pulled on her jacket and a hat and a scarf and went out into the newly fallen snow. It was colder than she had expected, but she kept walking. She met no one, she heard nothing but her own feet on the ground. When she walked for almost an hour, she stopped. The air was clean. She could breathe again. She could finally breathe. She shut her eyes and pulled out her phone. She had erased his number ages ago, but she knew it by heart. She was still standing with her eyes closed when he picked up.

…

Her grandfather ate breakfast when she got back. He looked anyone else in his robe and with his hair all tangled.

"Morning" he said.

"Morning" she whispered.

Her fingers were frozen. She put them other the tap and blasted water over them. All the time, she felt her grandfather watching her.

"You took a walk, Quinny?" he asked.

She nodded with her back to him.

"Yeah."

"Look, why don't you sit?" he asked. "I need to talk to you."

Quinn slowly turned. She pulled out a chair and sat down. Joseph poured her cup of coffee. It was too strong and to hot. It burned her tongue.

"I know your grandmother is tough, Quinny. But she's just looking out for you."

She nodded. He nodded back.

"I know" she whispered.

"You surprised us last year. That's why we're reacting like this."

She nodded again.

"Okay."

He patted her hand. She wanted to snatch hers away, but she didn't.

"Good girl" he smiled.

As she left the kitchen, he hummed a melody to himself.