A/N: Hey all! Thanks so much for the reviews and the love for this story! It's almost to 60 reviews which is huge to me so thank you all for reading and liking it! Anyways, here's chapter ten! Hope you all like it and are kind enough to tell me in a review! Happy reading!
Will spent another fifteen minutes sobbing outside his apartment before he finally mustered the strength to go inside, realizing that Emma was not coming back. He lazily picked up his legs and drug himself inside his apartment, only to make it as far as the couch before he collapsed on top of it.
In order to distract himself, he turned on the television and flipped it to a mindless game show that would interest him yet make him not try very hard to pay attention. He sat down the remote on the coffee table and snuggled closer to the couch. He laid horizontally across it, arms clutching a pillow, resting his head on another one next to it.
He sighed deeply, as his eyes were still drying his tears. He blinked heavily and several still came pouring out. His heart ached and his head pounded, all to the realization that Emma was gone and she wasn't coming back.
As Will began to stare mindlessly at the screen in front of him, a loud knocking on his door directed his attention away from the show and over to the entrance of his apartment. He shifted slightly, resting on his elbows, not entirely sure if he should get up and answer it. However, the knocking became louder and more insistent to where Will couldn't take it anymore. He shuffled himself off the couch and made his way over to the door, not thinking to look in the peep hole before answering.
"Just a minute," Will called out as he made his way to the entrance of his house. He grabbed the handle and swung it open, only to be greeted by a furious looking Finn Hudson.
"Finn," was all Will could say before he was pushed roughly out of the way, Finn storming past him with wild eyes.
"How could you do this to me? I don't even understand," Finn said as he paced back and forth, causing Will to cautiously watch his movements, scared that Finn would attack him in his own home.
"Understand what?" Will asked, eyes wide in fear that he knew the truth.
"The baby! You got Rachel pregnant," Finn said as he roughly shoved Will by the shoulders, causing him to take a couple of steps back. Will's face suddenly changed from fear to anger at his actions. He took a couple of steps forward to regain his balance and brushed his arms in the process. He then rested them by his side, fists clenched together, ready to fight if he needed to.
"I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry for that night. I'm sorry for ruining everything," Will pleaded as Finn continued to stare angrily and upset at him.
"I trusted you and for you to go behind my back with my girl," Finn said as he pointed to Will's chest, inching it further and further to his shirt, almost touching the material, making Will feel like his personal bubble was being intruded.
"Finn, I think you need to take a step back," Will said, still clenching his fists at his side. He didn't want to fight Finn, but if that was the way he wanted to discuss things, Will wanted to be prepared. He wasn't a violent person, but he wasn't afraid to fight either.
"No, don't tell me to calm down," Finn shouted. "I've just come from the Lima Bean talking with Rachel, so I'm not going to relax," he added, arms waving furiously in the air.
"Can we talk about this rationally?" Will said as he tried to be civil as Finn's level of anger was reaching its peaking point.
"Rationally? You want me to be calm about this?" Finn said in disbelief.
"I know it's hard to accept, but we need to talk this out. I don't want to fight with you, Finn," Will said as he relaxed his fists, hoping that would ease the tension and show that he meant no harm.
"I can't talk this out. I couldn't with Rachel, so what makes you think I can with you?" Finn said as he finally slowed his pacing down, collapsing on the couch in the process. He continued to breathe heavily in distress, Will staring at him with sorrow.
"I get it. You're pissed at me and you have every right to be," Will said as he made his way over to the empty seat, Finn refusing to look at him.
"I just, why would you do that? With Rachel of all people?" Finn asked, as his voice shook with pleading confusion. This situation didn't make sense and the more he talked about it, the more bizarre it was for him to believe.
"I don't know," Will said quietly, feeling ashamed for such a lack of an excuse. "I don't have an answer for that. It just happened," Will said feeling the guilt in his stomach appear again, the familiar gnaw returning.
"Are you attracted to her?" Finn asked as he closed his eyes, afraid of the response.
"I, I think she's beautiful yes, but I'm not in love with her," Will explained as best he could. There was no doubt that Rachel was a beautiful girl in high school and now that she was in college, she transformed into an attractive woman. A women that had most of the qualities that Will liked. It was hard though as the baby made conflict between them, making him confused on what he felt towards her.
"Not in love with her? Dude, she's having your baby," Finn said, confused at Will's wording.
"Yes, but sometimes people are attracted to each other but are not in a relationship with them. They do stupid things without thinking of the consequences," Will said, realizing this was what young people called a hook-up. He felt sick that he had resulted to doing something he never did in college. He always thought it was stupid to be with someone in an intimate way with not even being in a proper relationship with them.
"So a hook-up? That's all Rachel is to you?" Finn asked, still hurt by the situation and even more so at Will's feelings towards her. Rachel didn't deserve to be treated like that.
"I guess, yeah. We're going to work on it, but falling in love is very far down the road," Will said, as he rested his arms on top of his knees, his head propped up by his hands.
"What about Emma?" Finn asked, realizing that a wedding for the couple was supposed to be happening soon. A wedding where he was supposed to be the best man and stand with Will at the top of the altar.
"I told her today and she didn't take it well. I'm not sure what's going to happen between us," Will said as he tried to hold back the tears at the thought of his fiancé walking out on him when she was preparing to talk to him about their wedding. Rationally, he knew he would not see Emma before he left to go back to DC, but he half hoped that she would stroll through his door any moment, wanting to talk and understand what was going on.
"I think your engagement is over," Finn said with a glare, feeling Emma's pain. He was in the same situation as her, whereas he wasn't going to marry Rachel, he was still planning on being with her after she realized Brody was no good. His hopes on that were vanished with this news.
Will shook his head silently, unable to come to terms with the day's events.
"I should go," Finn said as the awkwardness returned to the room. The silence was making it hard for him to sit by Will anymore.
"Finn, I really am sorry and I hope that with time, you can forgive me, forgive us," Will said as he watched Finn walk past him and to the front door. Finn just stared long and hard, deeply sighing as he turned the knob. He walked out in silence without looking back.
"Fuck," Will cursed out loud once he was alone, his anger echoing through his empty apartment.
He was alone, completely and utterly alone with no one to support him. Emma was gone, Finn hated his guts. Rachel was the only person that was willing to talk to him yet he wasn't ready to face her again today.
He sat back on the couch, staring deeply into the tan carpet. He began to wonder what the future held for him. Was his plan in life really to be a father with an eighteen year old girl? He found that very hard to believe as he worked so hard to win Emma's love over the past three years. What kind of mind game was God playing with him? Will sighed in frustration, kicking the edge of the table causing it to slightly move away from him.
He kicked it again, feeling the tension in him release, filling his body with a momentarily happiness. Before he knew it, the leg of the table was broken before him and his coffee table was standing on three legs. He felt a bit better but that relaxed feeling only lasted a couple of seconds when his phone buzzed in his pocket.
Rachel was calling. Why not add more fuel to the fire? He answered it after the third ring, giving her a gruff hello.
"Will? What's wrong? Talk to me please?" Rachel pleaded on the other end, sensing his stress level was at its tipping point.
"Everything's wrong," Will muttered out in muffled sobs, ashamed to be feeling like such a failure.
"Finn hates my guts and Emma walked out on me," he explained as he closed his eyes in pain. Rachel held the phone closely to her ear, breathing deeply on her own to stop the tears from falling. She felt his pain in his voice and knew that he was on the verge of a meltdown or had just experienced one. She needed to see him and needed to comfort him as best she could. This was the first step if they ever wanted to fall in love, showing support for each other in times of stress.
"Will? I'm coming over. We need to talk," she said sternly, knowing that he wouldn't want her over to see him like this. However, before Will could refuse, she hung up, leaving him with no decision or opinion of her presence.
Will placed his phone down on the end table and waited for her arrival. He knew it wouldn't be long though. The Lima Bean wasn't very far away from his house.
Fifteen minutes later, a soft knocking was on his door and Will once again sullenly walked over to answer it. Rachel sprung forward as soon as it was open and latched her arms around Will's neck, holding him close to her small frame.
Will was tense as she forced him into an unwanted hug, but after several minutes of her hand running through his head, he relaxed and gripped a little tighter. After a couple of minutes of just holding each other, Rachel broke away and led them over to his couch.
"What happened to your coffee table?" Rachel asked as she noticed it balancing on three legs, the fourth kicked out from underneath it.
"I kicked it out of anger," Will said quietly, staring at the mess he made. Along with a new desk, he now also needed to buy a new coffee table.
"It's going to be okay," Rachel said grabbing his hand in hers, lightly beginning to trace a pattern on his skin. She found that holding his hand comforted him, and she reminded herself to do it often as Will seemed to be on edge most days.
"I don't know if I can believe that," Will said with a small chuckle filled with hurt and pain.
"Yes, you can. Remember what you said to me back in New York?" Rachel said as she suddenly turned and grabbed his face in her hands, forcing him to look into her serious yet relaxed face.
"That you wanted to be a father so your child could look up to you," Rachel added, watching his face stare mindlessly at her.
"What you are doing right now, all this self-hating, it's not helping you," she explained, holding his hand a little tighter. "I feel it too but I remind myself to be strong and that I need to pull it together because soon I'll have to take care of another life. I can't do it if I'm going to feel sorry for myself. Can you?" she asked Will who was having a hard time concentrating on her face, the intensity of her eyes burning into his.
"No, but everything is so messed up right now, Rachel," Will said sadly. "Everyone is upset with us," he added, hating the fact that the people they once loved were all torn on what to do.
"We knew this would happen though, remember?" Rachel said as she recalled what they had discussed while in New York together, before they had made the decision to tell everyone about the baby.
"I know, I just didn't think it would suck this bad," Will said honestly. He knew the truth would be hard but he thought that he could be a man and take the results of their actions. He was wrong though and failed on so many levels.
"It will get better. My dads are starting to ease up. They aren't thrilled by any means but I think once they get used to the idea of spoiling a grandchild, they'll lighten up. Kurt is here for us and so is Quinn," Rachel explained, naming all the people who were supportive of their news. It wasn't very many but it was a start.
"Quinn? When did you talk to her?" Will asked, puzzled on when this conversation could have occurred. So many things had gone on this weekend that a phone call to New York was abstract to happen.
"Earlier today. I thought that since she went through a pregnancy on her own, she could help me. She knows what to do and what to expect. I have no clue on anything," Rachel said, sadly as she realized she really was clueless about what to do before the baby arrived. She hoped that would change though once she had her first appointment with the baby doctor.
"She's going to help you?" Will said, grateful that Rachel had a support system.
"Yeah, I'm going to visit her when I get home so we can really talk about what is going on," Rachel explained.
"That's good. It's good that you'll have someone to talk to when you need help," Will said remembering that he still had to return to DC to finish his term on the panel, where he would have absolutely no one to talk to. He wished that he could resign at this point but knew that he signed a contract stating his terms of agreement.
"You'll have me, Will and I'm sure Kurt wouldn't mind a call from you every once in a while either," Rachel said with a smile, hoping to make him realize that he did have people around for him that were supportive, even if they couldn't physically be there.
"I know, but it's just hard is all," Will said, not getting it out of his mind that a baby was a lifetime type of deal. It wasn't like after it was born they could ignore it and move on with their lives. They had to raise it and love it and watch it grow into a beautiful person.
"I know it is, but we can do this. This is just a bump along the way," Rachel explained as she kissed his hand lightly.
Will opened his mouth to say something but a knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. He sighed angrily and stared at the entrance, confused as to who would be over at his apartment. The day's events made him wish that no one else would come over. He wanted time to think on his own about everything and even though he hated being alone, it was what was best for him at the moment.
"Who's that?" Rachel asked just as confused as Will.
"I'm not sure. I one hundred percent think it's not Finn or Emma," Will said as he got up to answer the door.
"Shannon?" Will commented, confused by her presence once he opened it up.
"I'm here because of Emma so don't get too excited," she replied, a harsh tone laced in her voice. Will quickly averted his eyes away in shame, another person to know the truth.
"Emma? Is she in the car with you?" Will asked hopeful, that he could just see her one more time to try and explain. Shannon ignored him though and continued on.
"I'm only going to say this once, Will, so listen up. I've been asked by Emma to come and collect her belongings. She is too upset to even talk to you or even to tell me what's going on for that matter," Shannon explained, wondering what happened to make her friend bawl in the middle of the day in front of her house.
"She'll be staying in my house until you leave when the weekend is over and she wants no contact from you, is that clear?" Shannon ordered as stern as she could, hurting Will even more that she was taking her side. His only possible friend left and she had decided to help Emma.
"I didn't mean to hurt her," Will said, trying to explain.
"Whether you meant to or not, you did. I don't know what happened here but I know Emma doesn't want to see you," Shannon said as she moved past Will and further into his apartment.
"Coach, don't blame this all on, Will," Rachel said as she stood up from the couch, making her presence known. Shannon stared over at her confused, wondering why Will's former student was in his house, sitting on his couch.
"How do you have anything to do with this?" Shannon asked as Will glanced over to Rachel, fear written on his face.
"I'm pregnant with his child," Rachel bluntly said, causing Will to momentarily close his eyes in disbelief. Shannon was speechless and remained still, not quite believing what she heard was accurate.
"Nice going, Will," Shannon said heartbreakingly to him as she walked past the pair and into the direction of Will and Emma's bedroom.
Ten minutes later and Shannon was quickly making her way towards the door, caring an overnight bag and other necessary items that would help comfort Emma.
"Shan, let me explain," Will said quickly as Shannon made her way past him, ignoring his presence.
"I'm not interested. Don't try and contact me the rest of the time you are here, got that? Or Emma for that matter and if you try to come over, I'll throw your ass out," Shannon said bitterly, making her way past Will and finally out of sight.
"Will," Rachel muttered out, once silence began to creep into the room again.
"See what I mean, Rachel? Another friend lost," Will cried out openly. Shannon had become one of his closest friends since their first meeting, and to have her so mad at him, tore him up inside. It wasn't fair that he was losing so many people, especially so many people that he loved and cared for and would do anything for. It was a slap in the face to be rejected so quickly from them and it hurt him more than he thought it would.
Rachel stared at him with sorrow in her eyes. She wished she could do something for him, to make people not so angry at him, but she couldn't do any more than he could. She was helpless and a part of the problem.
"I'm sorry, Will," Rachel finally said. It wasn't much, but it was all she could think of that would offer some sort of condolence to him.
"I will always be here for you, please remember that when you go back to DC?" Rachel added with pleading eyes. Will sadly looked up at her, tear stained cheeks and red eyes. He tried to say something that would show that he wasn't such a coward and a cry baby, but he couldn't. His heart was breaking again and there was nothing he could say that would make it seem like his pain wasn't a big deal.
"Please, text or call me when you are ready to, okay? I don't want you to shut me out. We need each other even if you don't think so yet," Rachel said, walking towards him, a small smile of reassurance on her face.
"I will," Will said softly, nodding his head at her. It was the least he could do after she was being so calm and mature about everything. Will wondered how she was able to hold composure during this time, but he thought maybe because she didn't live here anymore, it made it easier for her to not have attachments to anything.
He, on the other hand, was suffering because his whole life was here and that was an attachment that was hard to break.
"I'm not sure if I'll see you before you or I leave, but hopefully soon? The first appointment is coming up and I would really like you to be there," Rachel said as she grabbed his hand, squeezing it gently.
Will just nodded his response, his throat dry from all the tears shed.
"I'll call you," he finally choked out. Rachel nodded in understanding. It was a start and that was all she cared about. She gave him one last look before she headed to the door, feeling that her time was up. He, however, looked so broken and exhausted. She walked back towards him, and pressed her lips gently to the side of his cheek. She may have over stepped her boundaries, but she didn't care.
Will needed love and if no one else was going to be there for him, she was going to give it to him.
"Please don't stress yourself out with school and auditioning," Will said after her lips left his face. She nodded her head in agreement, a small smile peaking at her lips, happy to see that he didn't pull away.
"I won't, I promise," Rachel said, as she finally pulled away from his embrace.
"Good bye, Rachel," Will said sadly as she walked over to his door, he standing a few inches behind her.
"Bye, Will," she replied back, hesitance in her voice. She didn't know what she was expecting but she felt that he wasn't done talking to her. He had a look of confession so she lingered her hand on the door for a moment before he finally spoke.
"I, I really am sorry for all this," Will added, hoping that she knew just how truly guilty he was and how much he wished that this wasn't happening.
"I know, it's okay, Will," Rachel said, knowing that he truly was sorry for everything that had happened. Rachel knew that from the tears that fell down his face every time she saw him.
"Get some rest," Will added, while Rachel finally nodded and turned the handle to the front of his door.
"You too, talk to you later," she said softly while Will nodded his head back and forth before she finally disappeared behind the wooden door.