Title: Life Goes On
Author: msathenaxf
Disclaimer: Neither Glee, or any of its characters, belong to me. But I really love them and am borrowing them for my own amusement.
Author Notes: For the purpose of this story, I am assuming that Quinn, Finn, and Puck are all seniors in the current season. The others are either juniors or sophomores. I don't think their official grade levels have been mentioned yet.
Finn
For five months, he had been a father. Five months of terror and excitement rolled into the already tumultuous life of the average American teenager. As if high school wasn't confusing enough as it was.
And then the truth came out, and it turned out he wasn't a father but his best friend was.
He and Quinn broke up that night and then he broke a knuckle in the fight with Puck. It pissed Finn off to no end that Puck didn't even try to defend himself. Guess he knew how much the beat down was deserved.
The rest of Finn's senior year was painful and awkward and full of a fury that he had never really felt before. One night after glee rehearsal he kissed Rachel. His humiliation was complete when she gently pushed him away. She said that while she understood that he was hurt and angry, she couldn't support him in that way.
Rachel was happy to be his friend but until he had come to terms with this betrayal, he was in no position to begin a relationship. It wouldn't be fair to either of them. Once he was a little calmer, though, she would be more than happy to reassess what they were to each other. However, Finn would also have to accept that she would still be supporting Quinn and Puck through the pregnancy. She was angry, too—everyone was—but glee club was all the young parents had left. And if there was anything that the freaks of glee club understood, it was being alone.
So the rest of high school passed in a blur. Finn ignored his ex-girlfriend and childhood companion with a determination that astounded even Rachel. And with all Mr. Schue's optimism, even he knew not to pair any of them up for duets. Finn focused on getting through each day and looked forward to August 19th—the day he would arrive on campus at Ohio State University.
Then came graduation. He sat in the hard chairs and looked around at his excited classmates. He saw his mom waving to him and snapping photos every chance she got. And when Principal Figgins announced the name of Darcy Ewing, he did his damndest to stare at his shoes. Because he knew who was coming next.
Finn remembered overhearing Brittany say that Quinn's parents were forcing her to walk. Turning in his seat, he sought them out in the audience. They were clapping, looking everywhere but at their daughter who was next in line to receive her diploma. He turned back to his ex-girlfriend; her swollen belly visible even under the loose gown, Quinn's eyes were downcast and she was obviously ashamed of her situation, and hated being up there for everyone to see.
Then when her name was announced, he heard the loudest cheer yet coming from one area of the bleachers. It was beyond him how nine people could make that much noise. Finn assumed it had to do with using the diaphragm, or years worth of cheerleading. And he couldn't help but join in. He watched Quinn waddle across stage, and screamed his heart out. She had made it. And despite how much she hurt him, he was proud of her.
And she heard him. Finn knew she did. Quinn lifted her chin and cried as she accepted her diploma and a hug from Mr. Schuester.
Four days later she went into labor. It was the most crowded birthing room the doctor had ever seen. Puck and Finn held Quinn's hand and the adoptive parents were gathered in another corner, crying and cheering. One of the nurses tried to get Finn to leave, but Quinn's heart rate skyrocketed and he refused to budge.
When it was all over, Finn left them alone to say good-bye to the baby. Quinn offered to let him hold the newborn but he flinched away. He couldn't lose her twice.
But in the end, he had wandered down to the nursery and looked at her through the big window. Rachel met him there and held his hand while he said a silent farewell to the little girl who was, for all intents and purposes, his. He left the hospital and didn't see Puck or Quinn again until the end of summer.
It was Mr. Schuester, of all people, who arrived on his doorstep three days before Finn was set to leave town. This was a surprise for a lot of reasons. Everyone knew that Mr. Schue was going through his own domestic baby drama and, besides, when did teachers ever come to your house?
Finn was still pissed at both Quinn and Puck. He was scared about leaving home. There were so many feelings running through his bloodstream Finn didn't know what to do with them. But Mr. Schuester pointed out that Finn would always regret it if he didn't at least say good-bye to them.
He didn't have to forgive them, didn't have to like them. But he should at least visit them on his way out of town and say good-bye and good luck. There was a very real chance that Finn would never see them again; life could change so much, as he well knew. If for no other reason than to close that chapter of his life, he should at least try to see them one last time.
So, he gave Quinn a lingering hug and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. He wished her luck in school. He stopped short of saying have a good life. It seemed a little too permanent for him and he wasn't quite ready to let go that much. At Puck's, he shared a Coke and watched some of the baseball game. They didn't talk much, except for Puck's awkward apology and Finn's rushed farewell.
And as Finn drove off to a brand new world, they both felt the pain of losing a brother. Because despite everything they had been to each other, Puck and Finn knew that they were only parts of each other's pasts now.