TITLE: Carry On

SUMMARY: The pregnant scare wasn't a scare after all. Rachel turns out to be pregnant with Brody's baby. As Rachel realizes that her dreams for her career at NAYDA may be over – due to her pregnancy she couldn't dream of ending the pregnancy. The only place she feels the safest is in Quinn's arms.

CATEGORIES: Family, Friendship, Hurt/Comfort, Drama, Romance, Humor, Angst, Crime, Spiritual, Suspense, Tragedy

RATING: T

PRELUDE:

Quinn's POV

"I'm pregnant. The baby isn't Finn's." Your world turned up side down. Now you know how it would have felt like if you had said those words three years ago. You swallow. "Oh." Was the only thing that could come out of your mouth.

She's looking into your hazel eyes with scared, and sad chocolate brown eyes. "I was going to ..." she couldn't get the word out. You reached out, and griped her right hand tightly into your own. "I just couldn't." She whispered as a lone tear rolled down her cheeks.

"I understand." You whisper. That's as loud as you think that your voice can go in this moment.

"I couldn't be at the loft any longer." She was speaking once more. "Santana has been great about this. She held me when I was scared. She took me to the doctors. She held me when my world ended." She took in a breath. "She was there when I told Kurt. That the baby I'm carrying isn't his nephew or niece. That the baby wasn't Finn's."

You swallow. You wished you could have gone back to Sophomore year; and realized that you were pregnant. You wish that you had been brave enough to confide in Santana. You just knew that she would have been there for you; just as she is now for Rachel. Even though you knew the baby's father was Puck. The same Puck whom had an on going relationship of sorts with Santana at the time. Santana would have been there for you. She would have protected you.

"How do I tell Finn this? This will crush him." She let out a whine.

"He'll understand. He'll still want to be with you." You swallowed around the lump lodged deep in your throat. "He loves you Rach. You are his end game after all." Your soul died as you spoke.

She looking into your eyes. Searching for something. You are trying so desperately to build up that shaky wall that always came crashing down whenever she was in your line of sight. "Finn isn't my end game." Her breath hits your face. How did she get so close? When did she get so close? Had she always been this distance from you? You blink as you try desperately to take in her words.

Rachel's POV

You see her struggling to gather herself together again. To pull herself back within herself. But; you couldn't allow this too happen. If this happened then you felt like you would lose her. You couldn't lose her. You just can't. "I need you Quinn." You whimper.

Her hazel eyes blink lazily. "You have me, Rach. You have always had me." Her tongue peeked out to lick her bottom lip.

"Just don't hide away from me. Ever again. Please Quinn." You beg as you step even closer to her. Her hand was still on your arm. Your right hands were still gripping one another. "I can't do this without you."

"You won't have too." She whispered promised. "I'm not going anywhere." She closed her eyes.

You couldn't stand it any longer. You wrapped your arms around her. Pushing your slim body against her own. Pushing her future into her dorm room. Your foot shut the door behind you. Away from any prying eyes that had been watching your interaction.

Quinn's POV

Your arms move so the palms of your hands could cup her cheeks. Your fingers are sprayed and you can feel the line of her cheekbones. "Whatever you need, Rach, I'm here for you. I'm going no where." You meet her brown eyes with your hazel ones.

"You can tell Finn for me." She teary wised cracked. "After all I owe you one for telling Finn that Puck was the father of Beth instead of you." Her eyes lowered as fresh tears fell down her cheeks. "Too soon." She hiccuped.

You wrapped your arms tightly around her; and pulled her against you once more. You could tell that she couldn't stand on her own any longer. You'll be her strength. Just as she had been yours all those years ago. Although she never knew that you drew strength just by the mere sight of her during your pregnancy.

You feel the shake of her legs against your own. You gently pick her up, and carry her bridal style over to your bed. Bending you place her on your unmade bed. The bed that you had previously been sound asleep in before the knock on your door awoken you. She wouldn't let go of your back; you have no choice to but to fall against her. Making sure that you don't put your full weight on her as you laid your body fully on top of hers.

Your fingers undo her coat buttons as her fingers massage your long sleeved cotton shirt. You finally get the last button unhooked, and you feel her cotton shirt as you push her coat to the sides of her. You stare into her tired eyes as you lift yourself slightly up; so you could push her coat off of her body; and away from her arms. You just manage to stay on top of her as you get her hands out of her coat sleeve.

As soon as you hear the coat drop to the floor. "Do you need to use the restroom before we fall asleep?"

She breathes in your face. "N-no." She just clings to your skin even that much tighter.

"Okay." You whisper as you run your right hand through her soft raven hair.

"Just hold me all night, please." She whimpers.

"Of course." You whisper as you stroke her hair with one hand; while the other hand was pulling the covers up to cover you. You just beginning to realize how cold your dorm room was. The heater was broken. Yet again.

Rachel's POV

You were so exhausted. It feels like everything has finally caught up to you; all at once. You feel that now that you were in Quinn's arms it was safe for you to just let go. It is safe not to be in control. You haven't felt this safe since leaving Lima. Since the moment Quinn had left your site as the train speed it's way out of Lima, Ohio towards New York. You know right in this moment that the heart break you had been feeling as the train speed you away from your life; from Finn wasn't about losing Finn. It was truly losing Quinn that made you feel like you were going to die. That you couldn't catch your breath. No matter how you desperately tried to rein in hard wracking breathes you had to keep breathing.

Your dorm room was too small. It was very overwhelming …. then your room mate came barging in. She took one look at you and announced that she was going to be fucking whatever boy or man she chooses to bring into the room. With or without you being in the room. Then she waltzed out without telling her her name. You wanted to call Quinn and tell her about your roommate … but you didn't. You couldn't bare to hear her voice on the phone …. knowing that she was a few hundred miles away – still in Lima, Ohio.

Then Kurt came to New York; and saved you from your dorm. The moment you found out what hotel he was staying at; you grabbed your things out of the dorm; and moved in with Kurt. He helped lesson the loneliness you had felt all summer. You knew with Kurt by your side you could survive being away from your fathers, Finn and Quinn in New York. You finally had your best friend back; and you two were going to find a apartment to share. You began to feel like you were home once more.

But you knew something was missing. You thought it was Finn. He had kept in contact with you all summer at all. But; then he showed up out of the blue. You were thankful that he was alive of course. But then you had moved on to having feelings for Brody. This older man whom actually found you attractive and wanted to be with you. Whom didn't know anything about your past in Lima, Ohio. Whom didn't give a damn about his damn reputation. He was past that. It was easy to be with Brody then it was to be with Finn. So it was easy to say good bye to Finn.

You were so busy with Brody, saying good bye to Finn, NAYDA, living in New York that you never found time to contact Quinn. You managed to push the thing that had been missing from your soul to the back of your mind. Until the film came around. You couldn't believe that you were about to do a nude scene for a student film without really thinking about it. Without listening to Kurt's sound advice. Even with Brody walking around naked in the loft didn't faze you one bit. Oh God; what you put Kurt through. You were smirking at how uneasy he was with Brody being naked in front of him at the kitchen table. How insensitive could you be?

Kurt knew what you desperately needed. Whom you desperately needed. You were just surprised that he also included Santana in the SOS call. You just needed Quinn. It was nice to hear what Santana had to say. But; truly it was Quinn whom truly helped you see reason over the nude role in the student film. Only her words were swimming around your head as you kept trying to talk yourself into doing the scene.

It was only Quinn's voice you truly heard during 'Love Song' her voice bending with your voice. It was only the two of you. You fought tears as you sang the song with your arms around her. You just was in New York with you. With your skin touching her skin. That she was real.

She went back to New Haven that night. You had Brody move in the following day. You didn't even allow Kurt to have a say. You just had Brody move into your room; and your bed. Then you went back to Lima for Mr. Schue and Ms. Pillsbury's almost wedding. You saw Quinn. Every time you tried to make your way to her; she would get into a deep conversation with Santana. You were on the stage singing with Finn when you just watched Quinn and Santana dance together. You told Finn that you wanted him that night.

That night was the biggest mistake of your life. You left the room as soon as you knew Finn was sound asleep. You went back to New York that night. You lied to Brody. Your life had been in a whirlwind and you just keep adding more and more things to the wind. You weren't even all that upset when you learned that Brody was a paid male hooker. You didn't even care if he carelessly gave you an STD.

But your world stopped when the doctor confirmed that you were pregnant. You felt all your dreams come crashing down at your feet. Just as they did when you chocked on your NAYDA audition. Your first thoughts were that nothing and no one was going to stand in your way of Broadway. But; then Beth came to your mind. With Beth an very young and scared pregnant Quinn flashed though your mind. You just knew that you couldn't end your pregnancy at any cost. That this innocent little being that was even growing inside you was depending on you to protect him or her. That this innocent little being whom had no choice on his or her life yet was depending on you to make the right choice.

You knew that you could count on both Santana and Kurt in your time of need. But; they didn't make you feel safe. You just needed to feel safe. Without a thought you left the loft; and somehow made it to the train station. You used your Metro pass and soon you were outside of Quinn's dorm room door. You didn't even realize that it was past midnight – and that she was probably sound asleep. Or she was out on a date. Or studying. Or she was inside sharing her bed with someone. You didn't care. All you needed was Quinn. So you raised your hand and knocked.

As soon as the door opened and Quinn appeared before you; you just quietly whimpered and threw your arms around her. Holding her tightly you felt like you were safe once more. You finally felt your feet land on solid earth once more. You had felt like you were free falling since the moment you left Lima, Ohio the day after graduation. Being in Quinn's arms felt like home. A home you never wanted to leave ever again.

Quinn's POV

You felt her shiver underneath you. You run your hands on her hips up to her shoulders, then back down once again. "I'm sorry that it's so damn cold in here. The heater is busted. Again." You sigh at the end of it.

Her teeth is clattering. "It's not due to the heat. Everything has hit me all at once is all." She whimpered lowly. "Moving to New York. Meeting Brody. Kissing Brody. Finn showing up at my door the moment after kissing Brody. Trying to make it work with Finn. Chasing after Finn to Lima. Breaking up with Finn. Having Brody move in. Sleeping with Finn meaning cheating on Brody. Finding out that Brody is a male hooker. Now finding out I'm pregnant with Brody's baby." Her hand feels so cold on your cheek.

You lean into the hand. But; you quickly come back to your senses; you bring a hand up to draw her hand back to underneath the covers. "Keep your hand underneath the covers. It'll help you warm up that much faster." You whisper in her ear. Hoping your hot breath would warm her skin quickly.

She hummed.

"Do you want me to get all the blankets and pile them over us?" You husk out. You feel your body prepare to move. Her hand tightens against you.

"No. I just need you. Just you." She whispers in your ear as you feel her hot breath on your right ear.

"Okay." You whisper back. Your body moves back the few inches to meet her's on your bed. You wrap your right arm across her thin waist. Your left one is massaging her collar bone; and her neck. "Do Kurt and Santana know you are here?" You ask suddenly worried that you may be getting a frantic call from Kurt about Rachel missing.

She breathes as she closes her eyes. "I had to get out of the loft. I don't know if I said anything. I just had to get out of the loft. I had to get to you so I could breathe again."

You lean over her and grab your phone. You open it and saw no new messages. "I'll let them know you are safe." You said as you opened a text to Kurt. Rachel is with me. Don't come to New Haven. I'll bring her back to New York when she's ready. You press send. Leaning back across her you place your cell back on the table.

Her hand places over yours as you move back. She holds you in place. "Stay." She whispers in your ear. You simply breath into her face. "I'm never going anywhere." Leaning in close you kiss her forehead. I love you.

"I'm scared." She whimpers. "What am I going to do?" Her hand is shaking on your hip.

"You are going to lean on me." You whisper as you gently stroke her cheekbone on the right side. You kiss her face all over. "You are going to let me be there completely for you." You kiss the right side of her lips. You are going to allow me to love you. "You are going to carry on." You place your head on her shoulder; just on her collar bone.

"I'm going to carry on." She whispers as her eyes drift close. "With you beside me, everything is going to be okay." Her breathing evens out. "I love you Quinn. You are my best friend." She sighs the last.

You lean forward, and place your lips against her neck. "I love you too Rach; but more than a friend." You whisper as you silently watch her sleep. Your arms around her tighten as you gather her closer to you. You just want to protect her. Vowing that you'll never leave her side …. even when she meets her true soul mate. "I'll always love you." You close your eyes as you fall asleep.

END PRELUDE

Author's Note: I have decided to tell this story in each characters POV. I have decided to use the 'You' instead of 'I' because it flows better if the person is telling their part of the story from outside themselves. Whenever the person is only talking to one other person then I'll be using 'she' and 'he' – but when there are more then of course I'll use their names.

I'm trying my hand on writing 'real life' style. I do have a solid plan on the plot for this story. But; I have decided not to write point a to point b style (which is my normal style) – but I have decided to write point a zig zag to point k than zig zag to point c then zig zag back to point a.

The pregnancy scare stayed with me; and I knew that I would love to write a 'what if Rachel was actually pregnant in her freshmen year of NAYDA. While dating Brody and hooking up with Finn at the almost wedding'. I know many people go with the obvious choice that Finn would be the father. (I'm no way in any form a Fincele fan. Even if Corey had remained alive for the end of 'Glee' & if R.I.B could have had their original ending to the show (Rachel coming back to Lima after staring as Fanny Brice to marry Finn & have them remain in Lima with Finn being a teacher). I really loved the idea that Brody could have fathered the baby. Especially after it turned out that Brody Wesson was a male hooker.

As a die hard Faberry fan this story is of course Faberry Endgame.