Sorry for the wait between updates, I hope you all enjoy.

I Love You So

'And now he's touching me, seriously? I didn't sign up for this.'

She chalks it up to him just being excited/nervous to see Beth again, really, it's the only reason she's showing up with him anywhere right now. He keeps annoyingly running his fingers through his mohawk as well, so yeah, he is definitely nervous. Quinn knows because she is too.

She walks with Puck up to Shelby's front door to her apartment. Apartment B. She smiles because she thinks Beth would probably get a kick out of that.

Then, it all happens quickly, the door opens and she's faced with Shelby once again. Damn it if Quinn doesn't jump a little at the startling resemblance to Rachel. It's very unnerving with everything that's been going on between them. She pushes thoughts of Rachel away to get through the formal greetings and then everything melts away at the sight of her.

Beth. Beautiful, wonderful, gorgeous little flower. She sits alone on a blanket littered with toys. Quinn makes her way over to her first, the tightening in her chest give way to the tears. The ones she's been crying for a year and better couldn't give her any relief, but seeing this perfect angel again, she can feel it. All the pain and anguish she's been keeping inside, gone, at the sight of her creation.

She really is perfect in every way, Quinn thinks.

Kneeling, she tries to greet the little cherub, "Hi, Beth,"

She gets a blank stare and no answer. "Whatcha got there, a bunny?" she asks.

"…later on, okay." Quinn only catches the end of Puck's last sentence before he makes his way over to them on the living room floor.

"Whoa, she really does look just like you. Hey, hi Beth, it's Papa, wanna play?"

Quinn internally cringes when she hears him use that epithet when she doesn't have the right to use her own. It's really disrespectful and she wants to let him know but it'll have to wait until later.

Meanwhile, she'll bask in the little time she has tonight to visit with Beth. She tries to get Beth to play with her little pony toy with her but she isn't having it, and then out of nowhere, Puck has her up in the air and she's actually laughing as he swings her around. She awkwardly gets to her feet trying to cover up the intense hurt she feels that Beth has warmed to Puck but not her.

"She just needs to see you guys a little more, she's a really playful baby usually." Shelby says as she watches Puck as he carefully flings Beth around, getting a few giggles out of her.

After a few more minutes, Beth is all tuckered out and Shelby let's them come help put her to bed. She shows them around her room just in case they ever have to get anything for her later on.

She shows them out after giving them both a big hug and thanking them for coming by. Quinn and Puck both thank her more for allowing them this opportunity.

"What was that? You told Beth you were her 'Papa'? You can be such an insensitive…ugh!"

The stupid look on his face, as if he didn't realize just makes her even more angry about it.

"Like really, how dare you? You're not her dad just as I am not her mom, got it!"

"Look Quinn, I'm sorry if that hurt your feelings but I want that little girl to know that I'm there for her. I feel Papa isn't as forward as Daddy, besides it could just be short for Puck, you know Pa-Pa-Puck."

"Are you serious? And just what is she supposed to call me huh?"

He doesn't say anything as he lets her into his pickup. Quinn knows that he doesn't have any excuse for doing what he did, and on top of that he tried to justify it.

"Exactly what I thought. Take me home right now Puck, before I do something that you'll regret."

He exhales a lengthy breath as he cuts his eyes at her, "Alright." Is all he says before starting up and taking off, heading back towards Lima Heights.

Rachel goes to her locker to grab her English textbook before first period. She's feeling chipper today since she had a restful Sunday after such a stressful and painful Saturday. She doesn't know of she can stand to talk to Quinn so soon after what she did. As she thinks of Quinn, somehow she can sense her arrival. Rachel turns around, to face an approaching blonde-haired Quinn, donned in a pretty dress equipped with a cardigan to boot.

'Well, that was fast. Let's just see if her insides match her outsides this time, though.'

Rachel turns back around, slams her locker shut and walks away quickly. Quinn saw her, but she doesn't dare try to talk to her just yet, she has to tell her when the time is right, preferably during free period before Glee.

She grabs her English book and drifts down the hall, steely expression in place, never once allowing anyone the opportunity to see her react to their stares. They stop in their tracks once again at her sudden change in outward appearance. These people really need to get out more.

It's after snack when she notices, the little shiny stud there in Quinn's right nostril. She replaced the ring, and if she had to say, this is a welcome improvement. The stud gives her a more subtle edge. It's true, she loved that grunge look on Quinn, but she hated the attitude that came with it.

She begins to stew on the few steamy moments they've had with Quinn dressed dangerously in all black. Rachel feels a little inappropriate reminiscing about Quinn while sitting right next to her in class, especially since she broke up with her over her new lifestyle. She misses her dearly, but somehow what Kurt told her this summer stuck and she refuses to go back to being treated like crap by her significant others.

It's fourth period, Quinn opens her notebook, and she begins writing down a short note to Rachel.

Rachel, I know we aren't really talking right now because you have every right to be angry with me, but I have something important to tell you. Please, meet me in the second floor bathroom next period. Please? -Quinn

She folds it neatly, and then takes a deep breath before gently sliding the note over to Rachel.

Rachel watches Quinn's hands intently as they fold the paper, she watches the note as it slides over, coming to a stop right in front of her.

She lets it sit there, wondering what Quinn could possibly have to say that's so important she had to write her a note in class about it. As she goes to pick it up, Mrs. Weitz begins to address the class, it seems they have to partner up for the next assignment due Friday.

"We're partners." She whispers to Quinn with a curt nod in her direction, not once facing her. It's not a request, it was purely a statement. Regardless of their failed romance, Quinn is a very good student, and if she wants an A, Quinn is the girl to partner with. Besides, she knows this is something Quinn would want anyway, she just wants to make it seem that she has no choice in the matter. She has no idea why.

The bell rings and Quinn watches as Rachel gathers her things, she places the letter in her front pocket. They both go to their lockers, still, Rachel hasn't opened the damn letter. Quinn takes a deep breath, she doesn't want to cry over something like this, it's just, the old Rachel would have beamed at her over a written note in class. She would have opened it immediately. Has she ruined everything to a point of no return? Maybe not, because Rachel still wants to be her partner for this new History project. That means something, right?

'This locker is a mess already so soon in the year? I could really use another shelf in here.'

Rachel restacks her textbooks and cleans up a little trash from the bottom of her locker, she's in no rush because she has free fifth period. As she straightens up some of the old papers from the bottom shelf, she sees Quinn's lighter. She found it in her pocket one day and she put it in her locker to return to her but then everything happened and they were over and now all she has is this lighter…and the note Quinn gave her a few minutes ago. She turns around, Quinn's gone, but she already knew that. Her eyes trace over the words in the note, she wants to meet in the bathroom. It has to be important.

"I know I don't deserve it, but thanks for coming."

"Even though I'm still angry about Saturday, I kind of promised to still talk to you. Granted, that was before you outed us to your mom out of anger, but I'll be the bigger person today."

"Rachel," Quinn drawls.

Rachel does not need to hear things like that here at school. Quinn needs to get to the point quickly or she'll have to leave in order to preserve her dignity.

"You have no idea how badly I regret hurting you like that, but it really wasn't directed towards you. I wanted to hurt my mom, for whatever reason, but I really didn't mean to hurt you and I'm so sorry for putting you through that Rachel. I wanted to tell you this when I came back on Saturday, but you weren't hearing it, you were right not to."

"Okay, so, what? Am I supposed to just forgive you? You change your clothes and-and your hair, but did you change anything else about yourself? Because I would rather you stay in all black as long as you did do something about the self destructive path you were on."

"Yes!" She has to remember to keep her cool with Rachel, she sometimes just finds herself becoming so defensive and lashing out at her, but she catches herself this time. "I did Rachel. I'm making a change, I realized it that day, how much I really do need you in my life, I think even more now..."

"Why, even more now?"

It just dawned on Quinn, Rachel could really be bothered by this news. She hopes she doesn't blame her, seeing as it's her biological child that's bringing Shelby back into her life to drum up old feelings.

"There's something you should know, it's about Shelby," Quinn pauses, she sees the look of shock displayed across Rachel's features.

"What Quinn, what is it?" Rachel questions. If she's back…

"She's back in Lima and she's allowing me and Puck to visit Beth. I've seen her already. Yesterday." She says stiltedly. This information could be harmful for their reconciliation if there is one to begin with. Quinn is nervous for how Rachel takes the news.

Her heart rate has picked up significantly. Rachel leans against her hands on one of the sinks. This is a shock if there ever was any, she thought Shelby would have gone and never looked back in order to live out her dream of what she thinks a good mother would be.

"T-that's a surprise. I bet you and Puck are happy, huh? To get to see your daughter again after so long." Rachel stammers. She cannot get a hold on one particular feeling about this. First, she's a little apprehensive, but then she's happy for Quinn and Noah at the same time.

"I am, but, are you okay? I know that you guys don't have a great history, that's why I wanted to let you know that she might be around. I didn't want you to just see her out somewhere and feel emotionally assaulted one day."

"Because you know what that feels like." Rachel looks up just in time to catch the hurt look on Quinn's face that breaks her heart into a million pieces.

The return of Beth is going to be a difficult journey for Quinn and she's going to need the support. Quinn calling Rachel here now just shows that she's here for her in regards to Shelby, and this is a good start for them in the right direction.

The bell rings for sixth period and neither of them moves to make an exit to get to class on time.

"Could you give me a ride home today? We can get a head start on the history assignment that way."

"Sure,"

Quinn is still a bit in awe of Rachel, she probably always will be, the way she can bring lightness to the heaviness in their relationship. It's all she ever does, bring light by shining the brightest in all aspects of her life.

"Hey guys!" Mr. Schue clasps his hands in front of himself as he excitedly addresses the Glee club.

"So, how'd everyone's weekends go? The Beatles are the way we're going for sectionals, so let's practice the first song. Finn, Rachel, here's the sheet music, let's go through the vocals once before everyone else joins in."

Rachel stands to go up to Mr. Schue at the piano, Finn gives her a kind smile so she smiles back at him. They run through the song once and Finn keeps smiling at her throughout.

"Excuse me, Mr. Schue?" She interrupts the song.

"Yes Rachel," He answers unenthusiastically.

"While I enjoy performing duets, I really think this song would work better as a solo. No offense to Finn but I just feel my voice sounds a lot better without his scratchiness overlaying it."

Rachel doesn't miss Finn's marred expression, or Quinn's badly hidden smirk either.

"Is this okay with you Finn? Rachel may have a point here, let's hear it once with just Rachel from the top. Brad," Mr. Schue signals for Brad to start the song over again.

He starts to play the opening chords of... But they are immediately interrupted by Emma Pillsbury knocking on the open choir room door.

Mr. Schue walks over to her waving his hand, goading Rachel to continue on singing, and she does.

He glances back towards the group a few times while talking to Mrs. Pillsbury and Rachel catches his eye before he turns to Quinn.

"Quinn, Rachel, Noah, they want to see the three of you in Principal Figgins' office. Rachel narrows her eyes, she feels as if she might not enjoy this office visit. The fact that Quinn as well as Noah has been called along with her, means this has something to do with Shelby.

Quinn wonders just what the hell is going on, why are they being called to the principal's office?

"What is this?" Quinn asks as soon as she's through Principal Figgins' door. She knew Shelby was involved in this, but what is she doing at McKinley?

"Hi, guys. Rachel, how have you been?" Shelby tilts her head as she stares intently at Rachel.

She automatically grips into her own forearm to give her hands something to do because she feels so nervous. "Um, hi, I-I've been good."

"Good." Shelby nods to herself. "Well, have a seat, I asked Mr. Figgins to step out so that I could talk to you three."

"About what exactly?" Quinn questions again.

Shelby takes a deep breath as she perches herself on the edge of the desk. "Well, since I'll be here for a while, I decided to take a job, here, at McKinley."

Rachel knows that her mouth is open, but she doesn't care. This is preposterous! Why couldn't she go work at Carmel again or something?

"Wait a minute, where's Beth?" Puck finally speaks up to ask a very important question.

"Noah, she's fine. I put her in daycare here in town for the hours I'll be working, and afterschool, you and Quinn could come by to see her. You too Rachel…if you want."

She has no choice really, Beth is biologically Quinn's family and Shelby is her biological mother, so she'll definitely visit her. When, is the real question.

On one hand, she'd love to see Quinn interact with her daughter, but if Noah is there too, somehow it'd feel like intrusion on her part. If Quinn had given her baby to anyone else, she wouldn't even be here right now. She takes a quick glance over at Quinn, she looks as concerned as anyone should be in this situation.

Quinn feels wrong for getting her hopes up, seeing as this has got to be hard for Rachel. She's going to have to see the woman that opted to stay out of her life after meeting her, everyday at school. There has to be some law against doing that to somebody. She cannot see herself refusing Beth at any point in her life, regardless the situation.

A warmth envelops her left hand, it's Rachel's. She loves the fact that she's trying to soothe her when she's the one that might need it more. Really, they're both going to need each other to get through this.

After that impromptu meeting in the principal's office, Quinn walks with Rachel back to their lockers hand in hand down the empty hallway.

"Remember, you're taking me home," Rachel pokes Quinn in the arm with her finger.

"Rachel, jeez, that was less than two hours ago when you asked. I know I'm a few months older than you, but I'm not senile."

Rachel laughs lightly, "I was just making sure,"

Quinn smiles, she loves Rachel's laugh, "Well, I-"

They drop hands as soon as they see Finn propped up against Rachel's locker.

"Hey," He straightens up when they get a little closer.

Quinn pretends not to see him as she opens her locker to get her bag, making sure not to forget her history book. She diddles around in there a little longer in order to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"Hello Finn, what are you doing here?" Rachel asks curiously. He better not be trying to get back together again, today has been too much already.

"I wanted to talk to you."

"About what? Sectionals? The song thing wasn't personal, I just thought-"

"No, Rachel, I get it, you're still angry at me about what I said and what happened this summer but I still think that we can work things out."

"Finn," She warns.

"Aw, come on, you know it's true. Tell me you didn't get that feeling when we were singing that song during glee. It was like before, and that's what scared you, that's why you didn't want to sing it with me, you felt it too much."

Rachel lets out an exhausted breath. Yes, it was true, Rachel had felt something singing that song, but not for Finn. It was all about her and Quinn, so singing that song with Finn just felt wrong and inappropriate.

"Ha, see? You can't even deny it, you felt something didn't you?" He looks so delighted with himself, Rachel doesn't know how to tell him he's completely off-base.

"And so what if I did Finn?" She knows Quinn's listening, she thinks she still deserves to suffer a little for her behavior this past weekend.

Quinn cringes, so Rachel still has feelings for Finn after all. Santana was right, she has to work hard at fixing things before Finn shows her up as usual.

"That still doesn't erase what happened between us Finn."

'What's wrong with his face?' Rachel cannot believe she used to like it when his face got all scrunched up like that, but now he just looks constipated.

"But I still love you," He whispers as he leans down closer, he shoots a glance towards Quinn, and Rachel admires his respect for his ex-girlfriend.

"I'm sorry Finn," Rachel says, whispering as well. "I can't tell you what to feel, how to feel or when to feel it, but, I can tell you this, I don't feel the same way that you do."

'Oh thank God," Quinn almost collapses from relaxing after being so tense a minute ago.

"But you said you felt something, when we were singing the song,"

"I-I know, and I did, but it wasn't for you specifically. Actually, it wasn't about you at all. I'm really sorry."

"Wait a minute, what? Who? It better not be Puck again Rachel, I swear to God,"

She can already see that vein in his neck protruding, "Finn no," she takes a step toward Quinn, "Look, I have to go. Quinn and I have a history project to work on. I'll talk to you later."

"Okay, we will talk later. Bye Quinn." He grumbles before stalking off.

Quinn turns sharply as he disappears down the hall. "That was, interesting," she says.

"Interesting? How? That was just Finn being himself, the exact way he fooled me into falling for him the first time. But I'm older now, and I've learned a little about everyone I know around here. I know he was just fishing for something that wasn't there to get me back for whatever reason. It's hard for me to accept when he says he still loves me because he never really showed it."

"Are you sure about that? He went after you while still with his pregnant girlfriend. And then everything that happened last year, I think he does love you."

"He doesn't love me any more than he loves you I'm sure. Besides, he had sex with someone else twice without telling me the truth."

Quinn freezes, how will Rachel react to her little indiscretion with Mack? Now isn't really the time to bring it up though, she'll tell her one of these days.

"How is what he did this summer any worse than what I did to you?"

Rachel feels a little offended for Quinn. Does she think unintentionally hurting her is the same as Finn's complete disregard of her feelings on more than one occasion.

"Quinn, how can you even compare? You wanna know how different you are, what makes you better?"

Quinn feigns nonchalance by shrugging and keeping on walking towards her car as Rachel walks alongside her.

"Last year, you, Quinn, a girl that wasn't even really a friend at the time, came through for me. Not for the entire glee club, just me. Personally. You did something that not one of the others, including my current boyfriend at the time, would ever do, you stood up for me. I'll never forget that. And that is what makes you better than all of them to me."

They approach her little red beetle and Quinn has to blink several times to keep her tears inside, she shouldn't cry over something so small, but then there's so much waiting to burst out at any given moment. She opens their doors, keeping silent still, afraid her wavering voice would give her away.

'The fact that Rachel Berry thinks I'm better than anyone else, how did this happen? It seems I was a better girlfriend back when we barely talked, and that's really screwed up. I have to make things better for her even more now, live up to the potential she thinks is in here somewhere.'

She swings open her car door and steps inside, she waits until Rachel is settled before starting the engine.

"You haven't said anything in a while, what are you thinking about now?"

"You."

"Oh really? Tell me, what you think about me?"

Quinn smiles at Rachel, ever the egomaniac, but for good reason. "You want me to tell you how much better you are than everyone else I know as well?"

"No, I-"

"You are though, and you know it. That's what sets you apart, you work hard and demand that everyone do the same. You're better because you've worked at it, and you don't rub it in everyone's face in a condescending way. Though you have your moments, you try and inspire everyone else around you to work to be better themselves, just so that you can have somebody to talk to up there. And me? I think I've always wanted to be the only one up there talking to you, but I was too afraid of what that meant, especially when Finn started clumsily trying to make it up your ladder."

"Ha, I like this metaphor,"

"It's just the way I see you. And as much as I hated it, you were better than me at something that I couldn't challenge you on, no one could. It made me dislike you, in a way that I can't explain because it really wasn't dislike. It was something quite the opposite,"

"You made fun of me because you liked me, it makes sense, in a schoolboy crush kind of way."

Quinn had never thought of herself as a schoolboy with a crush. "Huh," It does make a whole lot of sense now that she looks back on it.

They pull up into Rachel's driveway,

"My Fathers aren't here, so we have um, maybe two or three hours before they come home and you cannot be here when they do." Rachel checks to see if any of their neighbors are outside to see them go into the house. They could tell her Dads if they ask.

Out of respect, Quinn feels that she shouldn't go into Rachel's house without her parents' permission. "Well, maybe we can do this later, at my house then."

"No, I'm taking a little break from Judy since you hate seeing us together,"

"Rachel, I don't-" Quinn starts but then there's a calming hand on her shoulder and she shuts her mouth.

"Anyway, we're here now, let's go inside."

Quinn reluctantly opens her door and follows Rachel up to her doorstep.

"Alright so, I've got the markers and paper, and also lots of glitter! Let's get started."

Quinn rolls her eyes as she looks over the arts and crafts goods Rachel just dumped on the floor in front of her. "Okay, we can use this, this, but not that."

"What's wrong with my glitter?"

"Your glitter is what's wrong with your glitter."

"I just don't see the problem with it."

"Well, maybe I don't like using glitter."

Rachel gasps, she has never heard such a thing. "How can you not like that special sparkle that a little glitter gives to your projects Quinn?"

"I just don't? I've done plenty of projects without the use of glitter, I think we will do fine without it now."

"But I love using glitter," Rachel whines as she pets the container of rainbow colored glitter.

"Sorry, but I actually hate it Rachel. It gets everywhere, on your clothes, skin, in my eyes! I can't stand it!"

Rachel withdraws, she has never done a project without glitter. "M-maybe we should work on this another time, when we're not so hostile about shimmery powder."

"Maybe," Quinn mutters as she continues to outline their work. She looks up briefly to find Rachel still frowning, her bottom lip is so cute sticking out like that.

Suddenly she starts to laugh.

"What?" Rachel wonders what is so funny, Quinn was the one having a hissy over using the glitter.

"Oh God," Quinn continues to laugh, the work is pushed aside as she rolls around on the floor holding her sides.

"I really don't see what's so hilarious about this," Rachel cannot help it, the corners of her mouth begin to lift, and soon enough she's laughing along with Quinn.

"We just had an argument…over glitter!" Quinn howls, tears are forming in the corners of her eyes, she's laughing so hard.

Rachel takes a deep breath in order to calm herself, "Yeah, we have been bickering a lot lately. We've been acting more like a couple now that we're not together."

That sobers Quinn right up, "Maybe it's a sign that we should, I don't know, try again?"

As much as she wants to believe that Quinn is better, now that Beth is back, there's still a chance that she could regress again. She stands up, walks over to her vanity, and begins playing with her little trinkets as she thinks it over. All she needs right now is for Quinn to open up more and actually talk to her about what's going on.

"I think that,"

Quinn follows Rachel's every move, she can tell she's pushed her too soon.

"Oh, no, I'm sorry, it's too soon." She retracts.

"Quinn, would you let me finish? What I was going to say was," She turns to face her, "I think that we should start over, completely, as friends first, okay?"

Quinn lights up, "Really?" she asks.

Rachel nods.

"Thank you! I mean, you don't know how much this means to me. I'm going to be a good friend to you, I already like you,"

"Enough to talk to me?" Rachel raises her eyebrows, Quinn isn't getting off that easily.

"What? Yes, I-I mean, what do you want to talk about?"

"We need to talk about everything that's happening, Shelby coming back…and Beth,"

Hearing Beth's name come from Rachel's mouth, hits her hard. The way she speaks so gently, as if Quinn would break if she spoke too loudly. It takes her back to last night when she saw her again for the first time. The tears come fast and hard, she really couldn't hold them in any longer.

"Oh my God, Quinn I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up." Rachel rushes over to where Quinn is still sitting on her carpet. Quinn gets up onto her knees and tightly wraps her arms around Rachel's legs. Rachel gently cradles her head as she cries into the front of her dress.

Quinn pulls back to look up at Rachel, "She's so beautiful Rachel. I love her so much, but she doesn't know me. Why doesn't she remember me?" She cries.

"Oh Quinn, she will, you just have to give her time. Come on, let's get you up, we can sit on my bed."

"Okay," Quinn allows herself to be led to the bed, she doesn't protest when Rachel starts to remove her shoes.

"There, now we can lie down." Rachel says as she sets aside Quinn's shoes.

They both climb on top of the comforter and recline side by side on Rachel's bed. It's silent aside from Quinn's sniffling. She turns onto her side in order to breathe through at least one of her nostrils.

Their current positions remind Rachel of that night at Quinn's house. The night of their first kiss. "You want to know something?"

"Yeah?"

"When we were up there in your room that day, it was the first time that I actually thought I'd have a chance with you."

"Why is that?"

"I don't know, it was something in your eyes when you looked at me, like you felt me. I guess it was because you understood what I was going through and wanted nothing more than to end my pain. Instantly, it all just clicked into place and that's when I knew,"

"You knew what?" Quinn finds it to breathe through the pressure in her chest.

"I knew that...that you loved me and that I could love you in that way too."

"Did you ever?"

"Uh huh,"

"Still?"

"Yes."

Yes. It's simple, but it's true. She still loves Quinn, just because she does. Love isn't something that happens overnight and it damn sure takes a long time to fade and even then it never goes away completely, so yes, she loves Quinn and she deserves to know. She is loved, and maybe it'll help her through this.

Yes. That one single word was vital for Quinn to hear right now. It means so much, Rachel has to know, that this means the world to her. The fact that she can still love her despite knowing how horrible she can be, it's everything no one else has ever done, and it's everything she dreamed she'd never have. Which, she sort of doesn't, not completely anyway. And that's what needs to fixed, she needs Rachel to be assured that she only has the best intentions when it comes to her.

The only other person she would make this effort for is her daughter, but Beth is a given. Rachel is someone that has been and can be hers to keep, not in a possessive way though, just someone to call her own. Most everyone wants that deep down she thinks, to have that one person you want around all the time that wants you around just as much.

Rachel is that to Quinn.

Quinn feels herself being enveloped in a warm embrace from behind as she continues to cry. Her tears begin to subside as sleepiness overtakes her and she feels herself drift off.

Rachel is jolted awake by the heavy handed knocking on her bedroom door.

"Oh crap!" Rachel releases the hold she has on Quinn only to have her arm yanked back down around Quinn's waist.

"No, Quinn wake up, my Dad is home!" Rachel shakes her awake to make sure she knows what's going on.

"What? Oh man, I knew it wasn't a good idea, but I couldn't stay awake."Quinn hops off the bed and starts to put on her shoes.

Rachel puts a hand on her arm to stop her, "Hold on, let me talk to him. I guarantee you he'll understand."

She walks over to her door, twisting the knob and allowing her father to come in.

"Rachel, I thought we discussed this, Quinn isn't allowed over for a while and it hasn't even been a month yet and you've disobeyed us already. And on top of it, she's upstairs, in your room, neither of your parents are home…" He raises his eyebrows at his daughter.

"Dad, no, we weren't…we have a history project due Friday and we're partners. We we're only working on it until we started talking about…something serious, and then we fell asleep."

"Right, is that the history project there?" He points to the craft items strewn across her floor.

"Yes, we still have a lot of work to do,"

"Well, you said you have until Friday, so, Quinn I think it's time for you to go home now. You can come back after school until the project is finished and then on Friday night, you and your mother can come over for dinner. How's that sound?"

"That sounds great Mr. Berry and I'm sorry we didn't ask permission first, we just got the assignment today."

"Quinn, it's not like we don't approve of your relationship with Rachel, we just feel that you've been making some poor decisions lately. We don't want to see Rachel hurt, you understand?"

"Yes sir,"

"Okay Dad, that's enough, Quinn and I are just friends now, and I can take care of myself when it comes to my love life thank you."

"Hey, it doesn't matter whom you bring home young lady, they're going to get a talking to from your dear old Dad. You know the routine. And after everything that has happened, I have every right to be cautious, okay?"

"Okay, just, let me walk Quinn out. Is that okay with you?"

"It's fine, have a nice evening Quinn."

"You too, Mr. Berry."

Rachel grabs Quinn by the arm and leads her down the stairs and to the front door.

"God, that was intense, your Dad can be pretty frightening when he wants to be."

"He's harmless, neither of my Fathers mean you any harm Quinn it's just, I'm their only child. I'll be going away to college soon, but they don't seem to realize that I'm growing up and can make my own decisions regarding the people I keep around."

"I don't want them to have to worry about me though, I want them to trust that I do care about you and I want what's best for you too."

"Well, make sure you're early for dinner on Friday, and bring them a bottle of red wine."

"Alright, so now what? Am I supposed to ask my mom to come with me? She'll probably have something better to do-"

"Quinn, did you forget that I'm her new favorite person? She wouldn't skip dinner with me at least." Rachel jokes.

"Very funny."

They finally say goodbye to each other outside at Quinn's car. Rachel hugs her and she feels that two weeks is too long between hugs for her. She would prefer numerous hugs like this every day.

Quinn's phone rings as she drives away from Rachel's house. She checks who it is when she comes to a stop at the corner. It's Mack, she wonders what it is, because she never calls her.

"Hello?"

"Hey, where were you today? We missed you under the bleachers."

"Oh, well , I'm taking a break from smoking, I'm trying to make things work with Rachel, so..."

"I get it. I could tell she wants what's best for you and we can all admit that smoking is bad for you, so, more power to you for quitting before it gets bad. I've been smoking since I was twelve, believe me, it gets bad."

"Twelve? God, I hadn't even started my period yet."

"Yeah, well I was an early bloomer and I had a lot of older friends,"

"Jeez, well, anyway, that's why I've been M.I.A. today and I probably will be even more now that Beth is back in town and I'm allowed to see her."

"Are you shitting me? Quinn! That's awesome! I'm so happy for you man."

Quinn laughs, "Thanks, so what's been up with you today?"

"My Dad called, he says he's getting out in two months. He has a girlfriend in Arizona and he's going to go live with her out there."

"Aw, wow, so he's not going to stay here in Lima with you?"

"Well, that's the thing, he wants to take me with him."

Quinn didn't expect to hear that, and surprisingly, she feels she'll really miss Mack when she's gone. They've sort of developed a bond over the summer and she'd like to think that they're friends now. This is going to be a little difficult, but Quinn knows Mack will keep in touch over time.

"That's, wow, um, are you going to go with him?"

"He told me she had a nice house out there, and anything would be better than the craphole I live in right now. I guess, I'll see what happens when he gets out you know. But all signs are pointing towards me getting out of Lima, and that was the plan all along right?"

"It is, but what about school? Are you going to go to some new high school for senior year?"

"Yeah, not exactly, I was thinking about getting my GED when I get there and start at community college right after. Quinn, you have to admit, I wasn't going to graduate from McKinley at this rate anyway."

"No, you could've done it, I would have made you."

"I am nowhere near as smart as you or Rachel, and I barely go to class, so…"

"I think, that I'm gonna miss,"

"Aw,"

"Getting cigarettes from you."

"What? You bitch! You're gonna miss me, I know it. I showed you a good time when we hung out, and we've got two more months, I've got to do something, and you're gonna help me."

"Uh, help you do what?"

"I don't know yet, but it's going to be big. And don't worry, I'll make sure to take the blame before jumping trains."

Quinn hangs up the phone with Mack, she suddenly feels like a cigarette, she starts tapping her fingers on her steering wheel, itching to open that locked glove box to get one out and light up.

She sits there, where she has pulled over to the curb during her phone call, trying desperately to keep control over herself. She wants to call Mack back and have her talk her down, or maybe Rachel, but she refuses to depend on them to keep her together. Minutes go by, and her resistance is wearing down, she snaps and yanks her keys from the ignition to use them to unlock the glove box. Her hands are shaking and she cannot get the right key into the lock.

Her phone ringing almost makes her jump out of her skin, she gives up on the lock and picks up her phone.

"What do you want Puck?"

"Q, I'm heading over to Shelby's, I was wondering if you wanted to come too."

Quinn takes a deep breath, thank God for her little girl. She's the only one that could really get her through this.

"Yes I want to come, where are you?"