Quinn sat stiffly, poking at the half finished crispy trout with almond butter and orange mostarda. "What did I do wrong?" she looked over at Rachel giggling as Finn said something charming too low to be heard. Apparently, it involved the new to-go bowls they served the endless salad in.

Vanessa frowned. "Nothing. He's not into you. You'll find someone else."

Quinn shook her head. "I can't. I need someone to be the baby's father. It's him." The words fell out sadly.

"Quinn. You know that's wrong. Now let's focus on what's right. Like the free trip up to Denver or the fact that my first cinematography job will be for Mutt Lange! Can you believe that?" She beamed for a moment but stopped when Quinn didn't.

"My life is a mess. I can't eat with them. She pities me, V! Everything I work for and its nothing." She rose, tossing the napkin on the plate.

"Not true. You are Miss Teen Ohio USA." Vanessa replied, knowing where this led.

"I wish I had a twin. At least we could commiserate together." She turned to Vanessa tossing down a dollar. "You are my only friend. Without you, I am alone." And with that she stormed out, dropping two twenties and the bill on the podium as she left.

Vanessa shrugged at them as she hurried past. What she didn't see with Rachel's sigh and everyone else's deep set frown.

Quinn drove furiously out and down the highway toward World Harvest Church. Vanessa watched confused as the road tore by. "Q, where are we going? I thought we were heading back to Lima."
"I am going where I am wanted," she said as the tears streamed down. Flying down Jack Nicklaus freeway, she sniffed and mumbled, 'When I mess up, I get up.'

Vanessa sat silently, unsure. "You are going to church on a Saturday afternoon?"

She nodded. "There is a service there at 7pm so the councilors are there now. I just want to talk to one." Otherwise, I will do something I will regret.

Vanessa looked at her shocked, handing her to go napkin that was in the side pocket. "Okay, so what about the flight back?"

"I –" Then Quinn realized what she was going to say. "We will make it. I'm sorry. I have to do this." Otherwise I am worse than a hypocrite, I'm Brittany.

Brittany knocked on the door of Kurt's house. A honk from Santana's Dad caught her attention. Glancing back, she saw him point to his Rolex and smile. She smiled, touching her wrist as well. He nodded as he backed out.

Such is my life. He is the nicest person I've ever met but he's as rigid as those doctors were. Then she chuckled. Of course, he is one. Time to do this! I will never understand the need to show up Ms. Rachel Berry. She's not half as smart as me or half as talented.

Charcoal clouds darkened the seemingly beautiful day. Focusing quickly on the image in her mind's eye, she sat aside Rachel and all her weak demands and fake perfection, remembering the journey that brought her here to Lima last year

And you made my journey that much harder by being involved in something you had no business in. It was my life, you fooled with! She raged silently as she rang the doorbell. The plain oak front door flew open. Before her stood Kurt clad in solid black unitard. A vest covered entirely in black sequins seemingly one size to small rested on top. A sequined black silk tie hung tightly about his neck. His right hand bore a black sequined glove. "Brittany; thanks. I wasn't sure you'd come."

"You asked me if I could dance. I said yes. I can do 'Single Ladies'. I can teach you how to do it too." The fake dopey grin formed as she waited at the door. You are as bad as the rest. Self-important—

"Are you going to come in or not?" Kurt asked, slightly annoyed.

Shifting her mint candy colored duffle, she nodded and walked in. It's rude to come in without a specific invite, she thought without breaking the bright cherry smile.

The house was a uniform bone white and tan wood with tasteful accents scattered about. Worn red curtains hung over the windows. Portraits of father and son hung prominently along the walls. On the metal and glass kitchen table laid, 'Car and driver', 'Sports Illustrated', 'ESPN magazine,' 'Vogue' and 'Cosmopolitan'. She smiled. Shifting the bag to balance better, she headed into the stairwell beside the open door and its wiggling knob, trailing Kurt by mere seconds.

Tina was waiting down there. Yet the room itself brought back dark memories. Bland dark tan floor, worn and scuffed with age and use. Off white walls, meticulously cleaned yet still tired. A worktable with a MacBook on it. No MacBook in Ripley house. Of course, the employee part of the 'retreat' had them; that's for damn sure. Two weeks was too long. I never want to see baby blue walls or Brattleboro, Vermont ever again. Steel four tier wire racks held various things from white boxes with black star patterns to laundry to the stereo. It sat next to the stair well, preloaded with CDs and Kurt's iPod attached to it.

"It smells like bleach. Was Mr. Clean here," She chirped with an appropriate glance.

"Now that would be next week," Kurt shot off the cuff.

Tina chuckled. Kurt stared at her confused then realized. He grinned at Brittany. "So how hard is Beyoncé's 'Single ladies' dance?"

An inward chuckle echoed as she stared at him appraisingly. "It's easy, really. Let me get dressed and I'll show you." Dropping the bag down onto the floor, she unzipped it and retrieved her black leotard. Turning away from them, she disrobed swiftly.

"Um, Brittany? There is a bathroom next to washer if you want to change," Kurt said more amused than anything. Tina just stared, stunned.

Brittany turned around completely naked and shrugged. "I'm fine. You have problems?" She replied causally. Well, I know you're gay now. The rumors were true.

"No. But doesn't shaving there hurt?" he asked as she stepped into the leotard, pulling it up.

"No more than anywhere else. It's sensitive and I use baby oil," Brittany looked over at Tina already in her black leotard. "S-Same here," she agreed, blushing.

Finished dressing, Brittany zipped up the bag and tossed it to the side. Kurt looked at her oddly. What? I'm not a proper princess. The dopy smile hid the snark well. "You ready for me to walk you through it?"

"Yeah, please."

Standing in the center alone, Beyoncé's music weaved around her. However in her mind's eyes she was back with Dr. Lennox, standing in the open 1930's baby blue room called the 'theater'. She wore her umber toned hair in an updo and always carried a cane with her went she walked even though she was youthful looking.

"If you do not dance, you have no purpose," she spoke with a German accent as she walked around Brittany analyzing everything. Brittany stared straight at the floor, apprehension dripping off her. The gray sailor dress was threadbare and blood stained but it was hers. "And we do not keep things here that have no purpose."

Looking up at the aging baby blue walls and the assembled girls, bored, in old, beat-up costumes, orderlies sneering with lust in their eyes, she sighed, shaking.

"You see, your fight for survival starts right now," Dr. Lennox said in to her right ear from behind her. "You don't want to be judged, you won't be. You don't think you're strong enough? You are!"

Brittany gulped, breathing heavy. I can do this. I will do this. I will escape and be free.

"You are afraid. Don't be," she walked around the back whispering into Brittany's other ear. "You have all the weapons you need. Now Fight!"

"Again!" Dr. Lennox shouted pounded down the cane as she walked away.

Brittany moved like a sensuous ribbon fluttering in the wind. The moves and hand gestures came as easy as breathing. The fluidity entranced everyone. Then Brittany focused, remembering she was not trapped in Ripley house able to transfix people with her dancing while trying to plot her escape. She was in a whitewashed basement in northwestern Ohio. The 'Single ladies' song was just about done. From the delight on Kurt and shock on Tina, she knew it was a mirror image of Beyoncé herself. That was the goal. Perfection in execution. I only wish I could get Rachel out of there. Away, so I could be free. I won't be trapped by her. Or anyone else again.

Kurt stopped the music from moving to 'If I was a boy'. He marveled, his lips an 'O'. "Amazing! So walk us through," Kurt requested, anxiously. Tina nodded vigorously.

A feeling of peace and victory settled in the back of Brittany's mind. This is victory. I am not crazy. I am brilliant. More than anyone else. More than anyone else.

Burt walked inside the house, relaxed. Walking over to the TV, he turned it the Discovery channel. Mike Rowe was narrating a repeat episode of 'Deadliest Catch', talking about the Cornelia Marie.

As he walked into the kitchen to grab a beer from the fridge, he noticed basement door open, the same song was playing from when he arrived. Standing there quietly, drinking the beer, he heard the song repeat. That's odd.

Walking down the stairs, he saw Kurt and the two ladies doing synchronized dance moves. And he was in that girly getup again. What is going on? Reaching over, he hit stop. Everyone turned around, shocked.

"Dad!" Kurt said, winded. "You're home early."

The crystal ballroom exploded. Shards of glass and metal rained down in her mind as Brittany suddenly became aware that they were back in Kurt's basement. His dad clad in an unbuttoned red and green plaid shirt and black undershirt, old blue jeans and a worn, soft, mud brown ball cap had shut off the music for some reason. Now what! She looked up, hiding her emotions under a blanket of passivity.

Walking over to them, he appraised them, focusing on Kurt. Tensing up, she balled her right fist up ready in case he did something untoward. There is nothing wrong with being gay. Or living life by your own rules. Or even following a deity who people keep insisting loves me. Yet, everytime I needed him, where was he? I had to do it myself. So no you won't do anything, she thought at she stared at him, impassive.

"What are you wearing?"

Kurt looked down, then quickly up at his dad, who stood less than a foot in front of him. "It's a unitard," he answered swiftly, fear in his voice. "Guys wear them to workout nowadays." He heaved, still red faced from all the dancing. "and do sports. They wick sweat from the body."

Burt snapped the top of the unitard and nodded, understand something unspoken. Brittany glanced over at Kurt then back at Burt, frowning. That was so uncalled for. What the hell is wrong with you? What does it matter what he wears?

"F-Football!" Tina blurted out. Kurt looked over at her with mild relief.

"Yeah, all the guys in football wear it. Very jock chic." The nervousness in his voice caused the words to jumble and stutter.

Leaning forward to see the look on their faces, Brittany held her controlled blankness. Really, that's the best lie you could come up with? I'm impressed! She laughed inwardly as the mental image of Finn and Puck in those outfits flashed before her. A brief, tiny grin formed and vanished before anyone really noticed. But I have one far better. You owe me! "Totally! Kurt's on the football team now. He's the kicker. That's the smallest guy on the field; right?"

Shock washed over Kurt as his gaze swiftly met hers. Tina leaned over staring as she spoke. Nervous hesitation reformed. "Yeah, yeah! Brit and Tina were helping me with some conditioning work." He fidgeted with the black tie as he spoke.

Burt nodded his head in disbelief. "Humph. Really? You know, I played in JC before I bust up my knee popping wheelies on my dirt bike." He turned to look over Tina before looking back at Kurt.

It would have worked if you haven't acted like you were lying," Brittany retorted in her mind as she turned to face Burt, arms folded under her bust, the frustration and anger seeping in her gaze. He doesn't believe a word you say. Realizing that she frowned, she stared down at the ground, focusing on a green tree in the wind. This isn't the place for action.

"Cool!" Kurt said, fidgeting with the tie again. "I guess we'll have something to talk about then." Nervous laughter followed. Brittany shot a brief glance before looking impassive again.

Burt nodded then looked over at Brittany then to Tina. "So one of the two of you his girlfriend?"

Brittany looked away, hiding the eye roll and sour expression that came when Kurt slapped Tina on the butt. Cocking her head as he held that nervous smile pulling Tina to him. She held this fake grin as she obviously played along. If you haven't figured out the obvious yet you're as dumb as those orderlies when we set fire to janitor's closet. Stone room and they thought the building would burn down. A derisive smile formed as she watched Kurt hold her tightly to him.

"Her, but we are not ready to be exclusive just yet." Tina nodded numerous times as Burt stared still disbelieving.

"Just keep the music down. I can't hear myself think up there," Burt said with a quick nod before walking off to the stairwell.

Relief flushed Brittany's face as she nodded. Good, now we can finish before I need to have to explain to the Graverobber why I was late for our appointment.

Burt paused at the stairwell, staring down at the floor briefly in pensive thought. "Hey, Kurt." Kurt looked back at him from looking at Brittany. "Be sure to get me a ticket to your first game."

He nodded as the horror of what happened swept over him. Once Kurt could hear Mike Rowe narrate, he turned to Brittany. "How am I supposed to do that? I'm not even on the team."

"Coach Tanaka is looking for a new kicker," she said in her saccharine voice. Tina nodded as she extricated herself from his grasp.

Kurt shook his head. "I don't know. Puck is the one who throws me in the dumpsters."

"So what do you have to lose then?" Brittany asked, staring at him sharply.

Kurt sighed. "Nothing. I'll go Monday."

Brittany walked over to her bag. Pulling out her phone, she glanced at the time. "I've got 30 more minutes. You want to practice some more?"

They both nodded yes. Brittany walked over to the stereo. As she activated it, she said, "Again!"

Finn reflected as he stared out the passenger window. Rachel was driving him back to his house so he could get an overnight bag. Apparently, Rachel already had one. All she needed was her cheer duffle from the CheerHouse which Coach Grace would give her when they met at the plane. But that was the exact point. How did this get so messy? I love Rachel. Well, I do but I don't know how to express it in a way that would end up with her lists and other cute things she does. There is a 5 bullet point note taped to the glove box listing maintenance items. I don't want this to fail like with Quinn. If I tell Rachel now, she'll get clingy and lovey. It's awesome but then tomorrow a calendar with dates and heart dotted I's will appear. Am I ready? The Rachel head cat mini-calendar in here says no. Then again, Quinn kept shutting me down. She would fall into a mess and call begging and pleading. I would dig her out of it, and get shut out again. I want to tell Rachel how I feel. That it's real and forever. That I'm addicted to her scent, her smile, and her songs even the Broadway ones which make no sense.

He looked over at her singing softly to herself as she managed the traffic. So now it's all messy because I can't tell her yet. I want her to know that no matter what we will remain together.

"Finn?" Rachel remarked exchanging glances between him and the road.

"What?"

"You've been staring at me for the last five miles," she said with an undercurrent of concern.

"I…like you."

Rachel stared at him until she heard the honk of a semi rolling by. She quickly straightened up. "I like you too. How are we going to handle Quinn?"

"Talk about the beauty pageant?" Finn suggested, looking out at the land shooting by. There she goes. That got her to complain about how pageants objectify women because she was in it so she knows but still fame and presence come from that which society craves. But that's what I love about her. She's so smart and out there. Yes, she shares her opinion with everyone. How she knows she's better at certain things. She is! Then, it's the singing. So much of her in the singing.

Quinn never shared much of herself, except the crowns, and her family and the odd wish she had a twin. Well we did go to that formal dance. I was there for her coronation in Columbus. Yet, the only time I learn anything new is when she is in a crisis. It's tiring and I'm not letting Rachel get sucked in,

"Sucked into what?" Rachel chirped, confused. "Quinn's problems are her own. She brought them on herself. I even gave her a helpful list that she ignored. I can't help her." There was some disappointment in the last words as she returned her focus to the road.

The tension oozed from Finn like overflowing molasses. "I was concerned you would try to help her now, considering…"

Frustration crinkled the corner of her eyes. She glanced at him, her lips pursed before turning back to the road. "It was for V. There was nothing behind it. I know what her jealousy looks like. I just never thought I would take the brunt of it. I can't be friends with her like that. She has to take the next step. A real one or we are done."

Finn groaned. "I believe she is pregnant."

That elicted a hard look and a heavy sigh. "When did you do the deed with Miss Hypocrite? That day in the shower or earlier?"

Finn gasped. How do you know about the shower? No I never did it. I finally saw her naked but that was it. Actually, I have never done it. "I didn't."

"You don't have to lie to me, Finn," came the sharp rebuke. "This is important. If we are going to be together, we have to be honest with each other."

Then a groan echoed inside his mind as he stared at her chocolate hair crowning her head in her usual quiet hairstyle. If I did that, we wouldn't be discussing Quinn.

"Honest?" He paused, breathing calmly, his mind racing. "Would you?"

"I thought we were—oh," she said sharply until she caught his cute yet lecherous look. Her face flushed crimson as she held his stare for a few moments more before returning to the road. Silence reigned for miles as she glanced back at his grin.

Finally, she pulled over into the parking lot of the Burger King in Lima, and turned to him staring. The electricity charged the air around them. "Yes. But I'm not attractive like Quinn. And I don't have the -" She stopped when his lips connected with hers. He slipped his fingers through her hair as he brushed softly against hers. Breaking he whispered, "You are beautiful. Luminous, Rachel."

"I'm not her. And she is accusing you. Something happened," Rachel remarked, worry in her eyes. Finn brushed an errant hair from her eyes. "Yes, a hot tub. Honestly, until that day in the shower, I had never seen her naked." His eyes lit up again in amusement.

"You are not seeing me naked! That honor will go to my boyfriend." The serious playful look said volumes. "If she's not pregnant, then I see no problem with that."

A small squeal filled the car as she hugged his neck. After letting go a few seconds later, she asked seriously. "Did you want to?"

"All guys do. But all guys don't know her. We do. And after meeting you, not anymore." Finn connected with her, his large hand in hers. Then he grinned again, that lecherous one. "Although if we keep these trips up, we might."

However, the playful smile seemed forced suddenly. I pushed it too far. Oh shoot, that's not what I meant. "I meant with you. Not her. Never her."

A genuine smile formed again. "I don't want children until I have my career and I'm 25. So you better bring something," she chided. However, worry sat in her eyes still.

"We need to go, I need clothes. You need your cheer duffle and we need to get there early enough to watch Quinn whine when she realizes we are taking part of your squad," He smiled a half smile. Yet even though she laughed, the tension was there. Is this good or bad tension? I don't know.