Song: "Second Chance" by Shinedown

Characters: Quinn/Mike

Spoilers: Preggers, possible Journey

Rating: K+ or PG for brief extreme language

Genre: Hurt/Comfort

Summary: Quinn accepts the fact that her parents don't want her anymore, nor will they again.

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee, Quinn, Mike, or "Second Chance"

Author's Note: This one is going to be longer than the others, because there is more of a story between the verses.

A/Nx2: Sequel to "Perfect"

A/Nx3: I'm aware Halley's Comet isn't supposed to appear again until 2061, but just go with it here.

My eyes are open wide.
By the way, I made it through the day.
I watch the world outside.
By the way, I'm leaving out today.

The smell of hospitals hit me as soon as I woke up. For a moment, I tried to remember why I'm here. Oh yeah. My eyes snapped open when I remembered Beth isn't in my stomach any longer. She isn't even mine anymore. Slowly, I slid my eyes shut again, recalling what the nurse had said before she knocked me out.

"We're putting you on anesthesia so you can rest awhile. You really need it after the blood loss and broken ribs." I could feel the ribs right now, and I'm also just kind of nauseous. Then I spotted Mike watching me from the chair next to the bed. I opened my mouth to ask the question, but he beat me to it.

"Hey, babe. Doc says you're doing great. And no, your parents haven't come. But I made sure they were notified."

Another bit of my heart broke off. I tried to mouth "Thanks, Mike," to him, but no sounds came out. He saw anyway. For a moment, I panicked as I started to feel like I was drowning. Then I saw some paper and an envelope sitting on the tray attached to my bed. Mike saw me looking at it and pushed the tray over immediately. Despite the ache inside, I smiled at how perfectly in sync our hearts and heads are. When he noticed the slightly blank look on my face, he fished a pen from his pocket.

Slowly, because, God, everything was starting to hurt, I reached over and pulled him closer to kiss him softly. Mike smiled and I felt just a little bit happier.

Momentarily, I pondered what to write. Then, maddeningly slow, I managed to scrawl:

Dear Mother and Father,

My eyes are open wide- I see what you've done to me now. I could have forgiven you before, but now I see I don't want to.

By the way, I made it through the day. Not that you care or anything, but I thought maybe you should know.

Mike grabbed my wrist gently and then shook his head.

"Later," he whispered sternly. I sighed, irritated in knowing I can't write right now.

A few days later, in fact the day I'm set to be released, Mike woke me up at two in the morning. He has been staying with me the whole time, only leaving for showers and fresh clothes. Carefully, he guided me to the window. I looked up at him questioningly. I haven't spoken a word since she was born.

"Just wait and see," he told me. I turned back to the window. A moment later, a brilliant blaze of light shot through the sky like a blast of fire. Delighted at the beauty, I sucked in a breath of astonishment and admiration.

Mike whispered in my ear, "Halley's Comet. I thought you'd like to see it."

I really wanted to speak right then, but I still couldn't. So I just hugged his tall figure tightly for a long time. Then I turned and got back in bed, and reached for the paper that still sat on the tray. He came over and said, "I'd write for you if you would talk." I shook my head.

"Come on, Q."

Again, I shook my head.

"Please."

"No," I finally spat at him. He jumped. Even I was surprised to hear my voice. That wasn't supposed to happen. Mike looked at me carefully for a moment, and then just nodded.

"Fine. Don't blame me if your hand falls off." I smiled victoriously. After returning my attention to the paper, I wrote:

I watch the world outside sometimes while I'm stuck in here. It's soothing to know that the people passing by don't all have the problems I do. It makes me feel like I still have a shot at life. By the way, I'm leaving the hospital later today. Again, I know you don't care. But just so you have some warning if you run into me at the store or something.

I just saw Haley's Comet shooting.
Said, "Why are you always running in place?"
Even the man in the moon disappeared.
Somewhere in the stratosphere

There I paused, wondering how to phrase what I wanted to say next. It was going to sound crazy. My parents hate me anyway. So who cares? I thought.

I just saw Halley's Comet shooting through the sky. It was absolutely beautiful, I have to tell you. Something about it, something about the brilliance of the sight, made me ask myself, "Why are you always running in place?" For the last nine months, all I've been doing is hating myself and wondering if you'll ever forgive me. But now I see it's time to move on. There is no point in hating myself any longer, even if you would beg to differ, and you won't forgive me. So I am moving on. Also, I'd like to say that the man in the moon just disappeared. You remember how Dad would always say there was a man on the moon just for us? And he'd make up stories about him? Well, that man, that symbol of my childhood, just died for me. And because of this, somewhere in the stratosphere, my world is changing epically. And I'm happy.

Tell my mother, tell my father I've done the best I can
To make them realize this is my life, I hope they understand.
I'm not angry; I'm just saying
Sometimes goodbye is a second chance.

"Quinn. Please. Let me write." Mike looked at me pleadingly. I sighed and handed the paper to him. Although I would never admit it, my hand ached just from that little bit of writing.

"Tell my mother; tell my father I did the best I could. To be perfect, to be their angel daughter; also, to make them realize that this is my life. I think I succeeded on the last one. I hope they understand that while I don't hate them (even if I should), and I'm not angry with them (I think), I don't regret what I did anymore. Although my life has been seriously fucked up, it has forced me to say goodbye to them. And sometimes goodbye is a second chance."

His brow furrowed as he jotted everything down. "Is this good?" he asked.

I did the best I could to be perfect, to be your angel daughter. The whole time I also tried to make you realize that this is my life. I think I succeeded on the latter count. I hope you understand that while I don't hate you, and I'm not really angry with you anymore, I don't regret what I did any longer. Although my life has been seriously messed up, it has forced me to say goodbye to you. And sometimes goodbye is a second chance.

"Nice edits. It definitely wouldn't gone over well if you used all my original words," I said. Not that it's going to go over well anyways, but still.

Mike smiled his beautiful smile. "Anything else?"

"Yeah. Just give me a sec."

Please don't cry one tear for me.
I'm not afraid of what I have to say.
This is my one and only voice.
So listen close, it's only for today.

"Tell them not to cry for me. I don't think they will, but if they do, it's pointless. I don't care. I'm not afraid of what I have to say. There's no reason I should be afraid to tell it how it is. This is my one and only voice, after all. And I'm going to fucking use it while I can. But listen close. It may only be for today that I can use it."

A moment later, he handed me the paper again.

Please don't cry one tear for me. You probably won't, but if you do, it's pointless. I don't care. I'm not afraid of what I have to say. There's no reason I should be afraid to tell it how it is. This is my one and only voice, after all. And I'll be using it while I can. But listen close. It may only be for today that I can use it.

"Great. Give me a bit more time. There's more I need to say," I informed Mike, and he grimaced. I wondered he offered to write if it made him irritated. But hey, at least my hand isn't aching now.

Tell my mother; tell my father I've done the best I can.
To make them realize this is my life, I hope they understand.
I'm not angry; I'm just saying
Sometimes goodbye is a second chance.

I bit my lip. "Tell them again I did the best I could. But it is my life after all and maybe one day they'll understand that it was partially their pressure to be perfect that led to this. I don't blame them. I'm just saying that sometimes goodbye is a second chance."

"Jesus, Q. Trying to write a book?" he moaned.

"Maybe. And don't take the Lord's name in vain. Now shut up and write. You wanted to," I growled at him.

Again, I'd like to say I did the best I could. But it is my life after all. Maybe one day you'll understand it was partially your pressure to be perfect that led to this. I don't blame you, though. All I'm really trying to say is that sometimes goodbye is a second chance.

Here is my chance.
This is my chance.

"Add that that this chance is sitting right here in front of me. And while it's kind of sad that it must be a goodbye, I'm taking it," I instructed him. He eyeballed me for a moment, and then resumed his work.

"Here," Mike said, handing me the paper yet again.

This chance is sitting right here in front of me. And while it's kind of sad that it must be in the form of a goodbye, I'm taking it.

Sometimes goodbye is a second chance.
Sometimes goodbye is a second chance.
Sometimes goodbye is a second chance.

"Can you add one more thing?"

"What?"

"Just say 'I know you're tired of reading this by now, but sometimes goodbye really is a second chance," I murmured. "Then it will be perfect."

I smiled when he gave it back one more time.

I know you are tired of reading this by now, but sometimes goodbye really is a second chance.

With all the flourish I could muster, I added a bit.

You don't have to respond to this. I wouldn't mind it if you would though. But don't feel obligated. I still love you, despite everything.

Your Daughter (whether you'll admit it or not), with love (I am serious),

Quinn Annabelle Fabray

For no good reason, I smiled. This felt like some sort of closure, even if they haven't read it yet. After sealing the envelope exultantly, I reached over and grabbed Mike and kissed him full on the mouth.

My second chance was taking me places. And Mike was coming with me.

Okay, so that might be a little confusing. But I hope you liked it anyway. And if at all possible, pleasepleaseplease review. I can't tell how happy it would make me.