Quinn wasn't held at the institution against her will so after a few days Santana came and picked her up. They spent the ride singing along to rock songs on the radio and eating fries. Before Quinn knew it, she was back in Lima. Santana drove past the school and the police station and the church. Quinn watched it and gritted her teeth, this place wasn't going to ruin her anymore.

"Mom made lasagna" Santana said.

Quinn nodded.

"Awesome."

It was Santana's way of asking if she wanted to live with her. And Quinn's way accepting.

"Home sweet home" Santana said as they parked.

Quinn took a deep breath.

"My third home this year" she smiled.

"Aren't you lucky?"

They exchanged a look and got out of the car. Quinn could see Mr. and Mrs. Lopez setting the table. They seemed to dance over the floor, grinning at each other. Quinn could almost hear the cheesy Latino music from the stereo from just looking at them.

"They're happy, right?" Quinn asked. "Your parents?"

"They're stressed as shit, working their asses off. But yeah, I guess they're pretty happy."

"I want that."

"Me too."

Santana picked Quinn's bag up and lead the way to the kitchen door.

Santana's house was perfect for Quinn's recovery. It was never quiet. There was always a TV on or a fight going on or dishwasher screeching. And there was always something to do. Laundry or cleaning if Quinn felt compulsive, dance around in Santana's room if she felt down or gossip with Mrs. Lopez if she felt lonely. She didn't have the time or mind to think about issues. There were too many things going on.

"Three weeks to graduation" Santana kept repeating, like a mantra.

Since her breakup, she was even more eager to get out. When they went to bed, if Quinn felt scared or Santana sad, they would talk about California. About the apartment they would rent, halfway between their schools. About the beaches and cute boys (and girls) and movie stars. If being occupied didn't help, that always did. The power of hope was still so strong.

"Three weeks to graduation" Quinn echoed.

She hadn't spoken to Puck in weeks. It was part of their deal. He smiled at her in the hallway, but when Santana and he hung out, they were always at his place. One day, she thought, one day, she might talk to him again.

"Do you think Kitty will like California?" Quinn asked.

Santana snorted.

"She's a kitten, she won't know the difference."

"We will, though."

"Yeah, we will."

Quinn stared into the darkness of Santana's room.

"Three weeks until graduation" she repeated.

He watched her from the other side of the cafeteria. She was eating alone, reading a book. Santana was ill. She had no one else.

"Why don't you just say hi?" Finn asked.

He didn't get it.

"I can't."

"Why?"

"We're giving each other space."

"For how long?"

She looked beautiful. Mrs. Lopez was evidently feeding her carbs because her face was rounder, not as gaunt. It suited her, made her cheekbones less scarily sharp.

"Until she's better."

"You might not be around her when she's better" Finn said.

"I know."

It was painful, watching her from afar. Every facial movement made his heart skip. He hadn't spoken to her in forever but he could still look at her. It was his secret pleasure. Soon, he wouldn't be able to do that anymore. Soon, she was moving out of his reach.

"What if she starts dating someone new in California?" Finn asked.

"Then good for her."

"Good for her?"

"We're not right for each other right now."

Finn looked confused, but Puck didn't pity him. He envied him. Finn's biggest problem was that his on-and-off girlfriend was moving to New York. Sure, they were going to struggle, but he wouldn't have to worry about her killing herself.

"I don't get" he shrugged.

"I know" Puck sighed. "No one does."

"Does she?"
"Yes."

She had finished her lunch and got up. He watched her leave and even if he was going to see her soon in Biology, it still hurt.

Hannah appeared on Santana's doorstep one afternoon. She was wearing her school backpack and her precious school uniform.

"Hi!" she said brightly.

Quinn couldn't help but smile back.

"Hi, Han."

"Can I come in?"

Quinn stepped aside and let Puck's little sister step into the Lopez house.

"Does your mom know you're here?" Quinn asked carefully.

"Nope."

"Oh. Maybe you should call her."

"Nah."

Hannah pulled off her thin jacket and hung on a peg on the wall. Then she went into the kitchen and sat down.

"Do you have any snacks?" she asked.

"What?"

"I'm hungry."

"Oh."

Quinn opened a cabinet and found some pop tarts.

"Han, I'm glad you're here, but your mom's gonna worry."

"Puck was supposed to pick me up from school today but he forgot."

"He forgot?"

"Yeah, he does that sometimes."

Quinn hid a smile as she poured Hannah a big glass of milk.

"Then you should probably call your brother."

"He won't remember that he forgot me yet."

"Alright."

Quinn sat down next to her. Hannah gulped down half the glass of milk at once. A thin white milk mustache lingered on the top of her lip.

"Why are you moving away?"

"I'm going to school."

"Yeah but why are so moving so far away?"

"Have you heard of California? It's warm and sunny and beautiful."
"Isn't Ohio beautiful? Puck's going to school in Columbus. That's only a two hour drive. I googled it."

Quinn patted Hannah's cheek affectionately.

"Why did you move out?" she asked, staring intently at Quinn.

"It just didn't work out."
"I think it worked out great. You made me snacks and helped mom with the cleaning and Puck was happy."

Quinn bit her lip. She didn't know what to reply. Yes, those things had all been great, but it wasn't worth it in the end.

"It's just better like this. Santana is my best friend. I can be pissed at her, but it doesn't matter."

"You couldn't get pissed at Puck?"

"Don't say that word."

"You did."

"Well, I'm eighteen, it sounds better when I say it" Quinn winked.

"Don't change the subject!"

Hannah looked determined. Quinn noted all the features that reminded her of Puck and stored them in her mind.

"Your brother and I, we were never just friends. There was always something else."

"Yeah, he's in love with you."

Quinn laughed. It sounded so normal in Hannah's voice.

"I miss you, Han. You're like a little sister to me" she smiled.

Hannah's face softened.

"If you marry my brother, you'll be like my sister for real."

Quinn snorted and sighed at the same time. If things were as easy as Hannah saw them, life would be a whole lot easier.

"Drink up your milk" she said. "And then, you call Puck."

"Can I stay?"

"If he agrees, then yes."

Hannah beamed.

"He never says no to you."

The Glee Club preformed at graduation. Quinn stood amongst her classmates and watched it from afar. She hadn't been a part of the club this year. Watching them, all together, made her regret it, but she also knew that she never would have managed to stay devoted. Rachel and Santana sang a duet. Quinn felt proud of her best friend. She was the best one up there, at least in Quinn's opinion. Yes, Rachel was destined for Broadway and Mercedes had pipes, but Santana had something else. Charisma, maybe. Puck was up there too, but Quinn tried to avoid looking at him. It was the last Glee performance ever and even if Quinn wasn't a part of it, it made her chest feel tight.

Principal Figgins held a boring speech about something that Quinn couldn't concentrate on. She watched the crowd instead. She saw the Lopez clan, all 40 of them, that had some to celebrate Sanitas big day. Puck's mother was in the front row, Hannah perched on her lap. Rachel Berry's dads were videotaping everything with a huge camera that Quinn guessed they had borrowed from some hip film crew. They were all there, all but Quinn's. Her parents weren't there. She hadn't asked them to come, hell, she wasn't even sure she wanted them to be there. But it would have been a nice gesture. Something like I'm sorry we've disappointed you, but we love you. But no. Russell and Judy obviously had more important things to do. Whatever.

"How great was I?" Santana whispered, sliding back into the crowd.

She had a faint trickle of sweat running down her forehead and her cheeks were rosy. She looked elated.

"Average" Quinn whispered.

Santana elbowed her in the side. Someone hushed them. It was time for the valedictorian. Mike Chang. He spoke about passions and love and desires. Quinn didn't listen to this speech either, but she was still moved, just by the fact that he was up there. Someone she kind of knew. God, she was getting sappy.

"And I hope that each and every one of us will find our passion at college" Mike concluded.

Quinn clapped until her palms ached. She had dreamed of that speech, of being the valedictorian, since she was nine. That dream had been lost the day the pregnancy test was positive, but she still had written the speech in her mind. It had been very different from Mike's, not as cliché but less heartwarming. But of course, she was happy for him. It was just another one of her dreams that didn't come true.

"Last minutes in this crappy school" Santana whispered.

Quinn nodded. She turned her head and watch Puck. He was wolf-whistling Mike. She missed him. So much. She was here, eight feet from him and she already missed him. How would moving away help things?

"Class of 2012" principal Figgins announced. "Congratulations!"

Quinn didn't know who started it but suddenly hats were in the air, girls were screaming and cameras were clicking. It was over. High School was over.

Puck saw over his mother's shoulder that Quinn hovered awkwardly near the Lopez family, smiling and looking uncomfortable. He couldn't believe that her parents hadn't showed.

"Hey" he said, patting his mom's arm. "I'll be back in a sec."

She nodded, looking at the pictures she had taken of him receiving his diploma. He went over to Quinn. Maybe it was against the rules, but rules could be bent.

"Congrats" he smiled.

She jumped.

"Hi."

She had cried. It scared him. Any sign of weakness in her made him terrified.

"Are you okay?" he asked carefully.

She nodded.

"Yeah. I just got emotional when you guys performed."

"Oh."

He wanted to wipe the lingering tears of her cheeks but that wasn't just bending the rules, it was down-right breaking them.

"Judy and Russell didn't show then?" he asked.

"Nope."

"Idiots."
"Probably for the best though."
"Probably."

She was leaving in a few days. She and Santana were moving early to try and find a place to rent. He was going to work here all summer before going off in the fall.

"This town is going to be boring without you two" he said.

"It'll be normal" Quinn smiled.

She seemed nervous, her guard up.

"I got you something" he said, digging in his jeans pocket under the disgusting robe.

"You shouldn't have done that" she replied.

"It's okay, it's kind of old anyway."

He watched her tiny, agile fingers as they unwrapped the parcel. The silver cross, the one he had gotten her for Christmas, lay inside.

"Wow" she whispered.

"I thought you should have it back."

She seemed to weigh it in her hand, looking uncertain.

"I don't know if I believe in God anymore, Puck."

"Maybe you don't. Or maybe you just need to find a way to believe that's your own – and not your dad's."

She nodded. It was a weird conversation to have in the middle of the football field, on graduation day.

"Is this goodbye, for real?" she whispered.

"I don't know, maybe."

She lifted her hair so that he could fasten the locket around her neck. It was cool against her hot skin. His fingers made her shiver and sweat the same time. Was she spiking a fever?

"Take care of yourself" he said, serious and joking at the same time.

"I'll try."

"Okay, okay."

He had already gotten a tan. She wanted to feel skin again. Just one more time.

"Don't…" he began, but fell silent.

"Don't, what?"

"I was going to say something that broke the rules."

"Like don't fall in love with someone else?" she asked, smirking.

He smiled too.

"I stopped myself."

She embraced him, wrapped her arms tight around his back and breathed in his smell.

"I won't" she whispered.

"Don't say that."

"Okay."

She let her lips brush his cheek.

"Take care of yourself" he said again.

"You've already said that" she smiled.

"Oh."

She let go of him. She felt like crying, but she had to be strong now. It was hard enough.

"Bye" she said softly.

"Bye, Quinn."

She swallowed hard as he walked back to his mother. She cupped her hand around the silver cross, clinging to him in the only way she could.


Six years later

A hard knock on the door woke Quinn up. She sighed loudly. It was the sixth time this month that Santana had misplaced her key. Quinn grudgingly got out of bed, wrapped herself in her new robe and staggered into the kitchen. She unlocked the bolt and opened the door.

"I'm going to glue that freaking key to…" she began.

It wasn't Santana.

"Hi Quinn" Katie Fabray said.

"Hi" Quinn replied.

She wasn't really awake yet. She didn't know what to say.

"Can I come in?" Katie asked.

"What? Oh, yeah, sure. Of course."

Quinn stepped aside and let her sister in. The kitchen was neat but Santana had left an unwashed plate on the kitchen table. The OCD in Quinn wanted to hide it.

"Did I wake you?" Katie asked. "I thought you might have work so I wanted to catch you early."

"I'm off today."

"Good for you."

They both hesitated, watching the other. Katie looked, in lack of a better word, grownup. But she was of course, she was twenty seven, almost thirty. She wore a business suit, a tight skirt and a black jacket. Her hair was cropped short, just under her ears. She had lost weight, but still seemed rounder. It had been six years.

"I'm sorry for just dropping by" Katie said. "I was in the area."

"It's fine" Quinn assured her with a bit too much feeling.

They were interrupted by Santana, coming out of her room. She looked like hell, mascara all over face, her hair a tangled mess.

"Tough night?" Quinn asked nervously.

Santana didn't respond.

"Katie? Shit. I almost didn't recognize you."

"Hello Santana" Katie responded politely. "And I go by Katherine now."

"Katherine?" Quinn mumbled.

"Yes. I feel that my full name suits me more. Katie sounds like a little girl."

"Well, Katherine then" Santana corrected herself. "How very unexpected."

Quinn shot her a look.

"I'm in the area for business and thought I'd say hello."

"I'm glad you did" Quinn said.

Katie gave her a smile. Quinn couldn't tell if it was fake or not, she couldn't remember what Katie's smiles used to look like.

"Katherine Fuckin' Fabray, never thought I would see you again" Santana snickered.

Quinn gave her a death stare but she was too hung over to even notice.

"How about we grab some breakfast?" Quinn asked her sister. "I know a great place."

"Sold" Santana agreed. "Let me just shower first."
"You stay here" Quinn said menacingly.
"But I'll miss all the fun…"

"Shut up."

Katie raised her eyebrows. Maybe she wasn't used to saying foul words anymore.

"Let me just get dressed" Quinn told her.

Quinn waved at Matty and sat down at her favorite table, the one nearest the lake. Katie followed.

"What's this place?" she asked.

"My favorite" Quinn answered just as Matty came up to them.

"Hiya Q, the usual?" he asked.

He bent down and kissed her hair .

"Yeah" she replied. "Thanks."

"And your friend?"

"She's actually my sister" Quinn told him.

"Sister?" Matty asked, looking surprised. "Sorry, I've never heard of you."

He extended his hand to Katie. She shook it.

"I'm Katherine Fabray" she said.

It sounded so formal.

"I'm Matt and what can I bring you for breakfast?"

"Just coffee please."

Matty looked displeased. Quinn knew that he took it like an insult when people turned down his food.

"They make great omelets" she tried.

Katie shook her head.

"I already ate, thanks anyway."

Matty nodded and disappeared.

"He seemed to know you very well" Katie commented.

Quinn wondered if she should tell her the story of how they met but it was too long. Maybe later. If they got on well enough.

"Yeah" she agreed. "I come here a lot."

"It's a great place."

"It is. And it's really coming along, too."

Katie nodded. She looked around, inspecting the deck facing the small lake.

"You said that you are here on business?" Quinn asked.

"Yes. My company is merging with a Los Angeles insurance company. We're signing the contracts this afternoon."

"Your company?"

"I'm senior partner."

"Wow, well done."

Katie smiled and this time Quinn knew it was real. It was the satisfied smile. The one she used to sport when she had written award winning essays.

"And you, what do you do?" Katie asked.

"I'm a teacher" Quinn told her.

"Really?"

"Yeah, really. It just dawned on me one day. And I love it."

"Good for you, I guess."

"Thanks."
A short silence fell while Matty served them. Quinn's big plate of pancakes looked just as good at it always did. Today, he had added a handful of fresh picked strawberries on top.

"For luck" he whispered as he moved passed her.

She smiled. Food was Matty's answer for everything.

"Where do you live?" Quinn asked.

"Cleveland. I moved there four years ago when my husband got a job there."

Maybe she shouldn't have felt such surprise but Quinn couldn't help it. She quickly scanned Katie's fingers, no rings.

"You're married?"

"Divorced" her sister told her.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Don't be. We weren't right for each other. I'm not upset over it."

"Why didn't you invite me to your wedding?" Quinn asked before she could stop herself.

Katie looked taken aback.

"We weren't speaking, Quinn. We haven't spoken in years."

"I know, I know. But it was your wedding!"

"It wasn't a big deal" Katie said, shrugging. "Just me and Daniel and two witnesses."

She hadn't invited their parents.

"Come on, Quinn" she went on. "It's not like you would have invited me to any major events of your life."

"Maybe not."

Quinn took a bite of pancake. Perhaps she would really need that luck.

"When did you get divorced?" she asked, mostly to have something to ask.

"Two years ago, I guess. Michael was two then."

"Michael?"

"My son."

Quinn choked on a strawberry.

"You have a kid?"

"Yes."

Katie dug in her purse and retrieved a small photograph of a dark-haired boy with a gap between his teeth.

"He's four?" Quinn asked.

"Yes."

She was an aunt. She had been an aunt for four years without knowing. For some reason, it was hard to wrap her head around that.

"Does mom know?"

"About Michael? No, why would she?"

"It's her grandson, Katie."

"Katherine."

"Sorry."

"We were our grandparents' grandchildren and look where that got us" Katie sneered, taking a sip of her coffee.

"Mom would never do that. She's not evil, she's just… weak."

"You speak to her?"

"Now and again."

"And dad?"

"No."

Katie nodded, twirling the picture of her son between her fingers. Quinn finished her plate. Matty came to clear their table.

"Tell Puckerman that if we can't find a replacement, he'll have to take the bartender shift tonight as well."

"Okay" she said, still feeling dazed from the revelation of Michael.

"Puck?" Katie asked. "He works here too?"

"He and Matty own this place."

"And you're still dating?"

"Yes or no or…" she didn't know what to say.

Katie cocked her head to encourage her to continue.

"You know, when everything broke loose, he wasn't actually my boyfriend. It was some kind of charade that I made up."

Katie laughed.

"Jesus, Quinn…"

"I know but I was scared and young. He went along with it though."

"He must have really liked you."

"Yeah, I guess he did."

"Did he come with you? After High School, I mean?"

Quinn shook her head.

"No. He went to Ohio State. We made a deal that we wouldn't keep contact. I missed him terribly though."

"But you weren't dating?"

"No" Quinn answered, smiling, knowing how strange this would all sound. "He met Matty there. They started planning opening a restaurant but Ohio seemed to dull for them."

"I bet."

"They transferred their sophomore year to a school here in LA but it took him eight months to come and talk to me."

"That must have been awkward."

"No, not really. We were just friends for a while. Then he asked me to marry him."

Katie raised her eyebrows in shock. Quinn smiled at the memory; Puck standing on one knee on the dirty carpet in his small apartment.

"And the rest is history?"
"No, not really. I said no."

"Wow. Had you moved on?"

"No, I was scared shitless."

"What he did do then?"

"We took it slow. He took me out on our first real date, ever. To this place, they had just bought it. Matty cooked and we ate at this table."

"When was that?"

"Four years ago, I guess."

"And now?"

"And now, I'm not scared anymore."

They walked slowly back to Quinn and Santana's apartment. The sun was blazing down on their exposed faces. It was going to be a beautiful day. They had handled all the basics. It was time to deal with the rest.

"I sent you letters" Quinn said.

"I know."

"Did you read them?"

"Yes. I still have them."

"You didn't reply."

"No. I couldn't. The wounds were too deep, too fresh."

Quinn nodded. She could understand that.

"Have you gotten help?" she asked.

"My ex-husband helped me a lot, but no, I haven't gotten any professional help."

"Maybe you should consider it."

"It's been so many years, Quinn."

She nodded again. She had no business making complaints about Katie's choices. She didn't know her sister anymore. Quinn wondered if she had ever really known her.

"I'm glad you came to see me" she said.

"I'm glad you don't hate me."

"I never hated you."

"I hated you."

Quinn bit her lip.

"I know."

"It wasn't your fault" Katie began. "I just hated you for escaping it. I hated you for being so beautiful. For being able to hide your pain. For having someone who loved you."

"Mom and dad didn't love me more than they loved you."

"I'm not talking about them. I'm talking about Puck. He would have sacrificed anything for you. And Santana. I might hate her to bits, but she really does care about you, doesn't she?"

Quinn nodded.

"Yes."

Katie nodded.

"I was envious of that. Then I met Daniel and he made me understand love. Real love."

"Why did you break up?"

"In the end, we didn't work out, but I'll be ever thankful to him. He helped me so much."

"And your son? Did he help you?"

Katie seemed to consider it.

"Yes. I guess so. Having a child, makes you put yourself second. Michael is more important than me."

"I wish I can meet him someday."
"Maybe someday."
Quinn nodded. She hadn't expected an invitation to his birthday party.

"Does he know that I exist?" she asked.

Katie nodded.

"Yes."

That was good enough, good enough for now.

"Here's my car" Katie said.

A black, shiny Mercedes was parked a block from Quinn's apartment. Katie must make a lot of money.

"Good luck signing the contracts" Quinn smiled.

"Thanks."

"Maybe, if you're in the area again, we can have dinner?"

"I'm not going to be here soon again."

"Oh."

"But if you ever come to Cleveland…"

"I'll call."

They stared at each other. Quinn wondered how they were supposed to bid each other farewell. Hugging had never been their thing.

"Bye Quinn" Katie said, extending her hand.

Quinn shook it.

"Bye Katherine."

She clambered into his bed, nuzzling her face into his chest. He was still asleep after working late last night. She could smell the cigarette smoke and sweat on his skin. She should let him sleep, she really should, but she just wanted to be close to him.

"Is it morning?" he mumbled.

"It's lunchtime" she whispered back, leaving kisses on his chest.

He bent down his head and found her mouth. She let her fingers wonder down his stomach, over his warm skin, as he rolled on top of her.

"Good morning, beautiful" he mumbled into her lips.

"Hi" she mumbled.

She should be used to his kisses but she wasn't. They made her feel warm and safe and happy. He did, not just his kisses. He made her calm. She loved him more than she dared admit to herself.

"Do you wanna have a baby?" he asked.

"Is this really the right time to talk about this?" she asked, smirking and taking off her shirt.

"Is there a better time?"

Her nails dug into his back as he moved down her body, placing kisses wherever he could reach. She was pale as the moon, he was tan and strong.

"Katie has a son."

"Katie who?" he mumbled, his mouth against her thigh.

"Katie Fabray, my sister."

He stopped. She made a disappointed noise as he stretched his neck and looked up at her.

"Your sister?"

"She came to see me this morning."

"How about you start with telling me that" he snorted.

"Don't stop" she protested, kissing his mouth with such force that he lost his breath.

"Tell me about Katie first."

"There's nothing to say. We ate breakfast, she has a kid, and an ex-husband."

She took his hand and placed it on her chest.

"Can we not think about my sister right now?" she asked, smiling.

"You brought her up."

"Shut up and kiss me" she whispered.

He didn't need asking twice.

She made him brunch which was very sweet since he was the one who owned a restaurant. Matty was head of food of course, but Puck had picked up some things from him. He wasn't terrible in the kitchen anymore.

"Hey, how about that baby?" he asked her, kissing her neck.

She was wearing one of his shirts. Her hair was tangled. He loved her like that.

"I'm making you food" she told him. "Don't distract me."

"I can't help myself."

He moved her hair and kissed her throat. She made a noise of pleasure.

"I want three."

"Three? I've already delivered one kid of yours and it hurt like hell. I'm not doing it three more times."

He began unbuttoning her shirt. Her skin was smooth and cool under his fingers.

"It'll be worth it, right? Two blondes and a brunette. Two boys and a girl."

She rolled her eyes.

"You're not the one that has to go through 20 hours of labor."

"I'll hold your hand" he offered.

"Gee, thanks."

Her shirt was open now. He slid his hand around her bare waist and pulled her closer. He could never get enough of her. Nearly two years without her had nearly killed him. He made up for it now.

"Come on" she struggled. "I'm going to burn your French toast."

He turned her around her and kissed her mouth. She tasted like strawberries.

"Let's get married" he said because that was his thing.

It was the line he had used to propose four years ago. Now, he used like a metaphor for "I love you" since those three words were too empty.

"No" she said because that was her thing and her way of saying that she loved him back.

"Let's move in together then."

"That's a new one" she remarked.

"I've been thinking about it. You and Santana have been sharing a place for six years. I've been living in this dump for too long. We're not that young anymore. Crappy housing arrangements aren't hip anymore. It's just sad."
She laughed and went back the stove.

"Sure, you find us a place and tell me where to put my stuff."

"Really?" he asked.

She shrugged.

"I don't want to listen to Santana banging girls through the wall all my life."

He grinned.

"Great!"

"I'm working tonight. Come over and I'll take my break to eat with you" he suggested.

She nodded.

"Around eight?"

He turned the stove off and pulled her closer.

"The food will get cold" she mumbled.

"Too bad."

He carried her back to bed.

He got her her favorite table again even though the place was busy tonight. She read a novel and drank her wine slowly as she waited for him. He was serving drinks, a smile on his face as his hands worked. As she watched him, he met her eyes and held up one finger, one minute. Okay. She could handle that.

"Didn't even know you had a sister" Matty commented as he placed the pasta in front of her.

"We're not that close."

The dish smelled wonderfully.

"Thanks Matty" she smiled.

"Anytime, honey."

He was tall and gangly, not really the build for chef. Girls fell over their feet to snare him but he uninterested. Quinn had tried setting him up with her friends but all he ever remembered from the dates was what they had eaten.

"Hi babe" Puck mumbled, pressing his lips against her temple.

"Hey."

He had carried his own plate out from the kitchen. It was twice the size of hers.

"I was thinking" he began. "That you should move in with me."

"With you? In your apartment?"

"Yeah, I mean, it's big. It's too big for one."

"I've been telling you to get a roommate for years now."

"And now I'm finally getting around to it."

He grinned, pleased to death with himself. She rolled her eyes.

"Your place hasn't been renovated since forever."

"Then, we renovate it!"

"I thought Hannah was starting college out here in two years and that she was going to live with you."

Hannah Puckerman had had her mind set on California for years now. Every time she visited, she fell more and more in love with everything. Quinn couldn't blame her.

"She can get a dorm. Or stay with Santana!"

"Stay with Santana" Quinn giggled. "Yes, that's a perfect role model for your baby sis. How to get two STDs in one night 101."

Puck took a big gulp of her wine.

"She's not that bad, Quinn."

"Santana? No, I mean, she actually had sex with that Mandy girl twice."

"Whatever. Hannah can work herself out. Okay?"

She swallowed.

"Is this for real?"

"Yeah" he shrugged. "Why not?"

There were a thousand things that could go wrong. They could fight or run out of money or hate each other. She fingered the silver cross around her neck like she did when she was nervous.

"Okay" she mumbled. "Okay."

Puck's smile was so big that she could almost see the pasta he had just swallowed. He leaned over the table and kissed her. She pressed her forehead against his.

"Let's get married" he whispered because that was his line.

"No" she said, because that was hers.

But she really meant maybe.