"Can you pick me up?"

Her voice was weak and hoarse at the same time. He could hear the tears in her throat. Still, just her voice made his heart beat faster.

"Sure" he exhaled. "What's the address?"

She whispered it and hung up. Santana looked up at him.

"Where you going?" she yawned.

"To Connecticut."

"That's a three hour drive."

"I know."

"You're so whipped."

Puck shook his head and grabbed his keys. Maybe he was. Maybe he was just in love.

"Can you watch Lily until I come back?"

Santana shook her head violently.

"No, don't leave me with a kid. It'll die."

Puck smiled.

"You'll be fine. Just don't call her it and feed her if she wakes up."

…

She looked like something out of an old movie as she waited for him. It was night now and dark. The glow from the windows only partially lit her tiny frame. His heart stopped beating for just a second. Just looking at her was enough.

"Thank you" she whispered.

"Anytime" he smiled, because it was true.

"I didn't know who else to call."

He nodded, started the engine again and drove off. Quinn stared out of the window. He could tell that she hadn't been crying, her make-up was intact and her eyes not puffy. Maybe she hadn't said no after all. Maybe there was another reason why she wanted to come home.

"Are you okay?" he asked carefully.

She nodded.

"Yeah, actually, I am."

"And how did it go with Matt?"

"Don't ask."

He couldn't stop himself from smiling. Quinn noticed and punched his arm.

"Stop grinning" she growled.

"Ouch" he said, pouting his lips.

She shook her head and turned up the music. Puck realized too late that he should have changed the CD. He had been listening to White Blank Page for three hours straight. He had it burned on its own CD. Just that one sonf.

"How about some radio?" he asked awkwardly after Quinn had tried to change the track and realized that it was the only one on the CD.

"No" she whispered. "I love this song."

…

"You're not wearing a ring" Puck said.

He was stating a fact, but Quinn closed her eyes and tried to breathe.

"No."

"So, he didn't ask?"

"Puck…"

"What? I'm just making conversation."

"Talk about something else."

"Are you getting married?" he asked.

"That's not a different subject" she sighed.

"It kind of is."

"Nope."

He shrugged. She could tell that he didn't want to make her angry, that he just wanted to know.

"Let the awkward silence begin then" he said, shrugging.

Quinn smiled and shook her head.

"You're weird" she said.

"And you mean that in the most affectionate way" Puck filled in.

"Of course."

She didn't want to cry anymore. She wanted to sit in this car, with Puck, listening to Mumford & Sons forever. Forever. Because here, nothing hurt. She didn't feel like shit. This car was sanctuary and she never wanted to leave it.

"Thanks again" she whispered. "For picking me up."

"Sure" he said, smiling. "You're my family. I do anything for my family."

"We're family, aren't we?" she asked softly.

"Yeah" he breathed.

"You and me and Lily."

She tilted her head against the cool windshield. Everything was going to be okay. As long as she didn't get out of this car.

…

But they arrived at the house, just like she had known they must. Puck turned the engine off, but she didn't get out. Outside, it was cold.

"Just tell me" he said. "Just tell me so that I don't have to hear about it from someone else."

"Puck…"

"I won't be difficult. I'll even buy you a wedding gift."

"He asked me and I said no."

Puck looked confused and relieved at the same time. She loved that she could see exactly what he felt in his eyes. They showed every emotion.

"Why?" he asked.

"Because my mom would love him."

Puck laughed. He understood. He got it. She laughed too.

"And what happens now?" he asked, his eyes hopeful.

He placed his hand over hers on the seat. His hand was warm, not clammy and cold like Matt's. That was why this was so much harder. She shook her head.

"I didn't do this for you" she whispered. "I did it for me."

Hurt. His eyes screamed of hurt. But she couldn't help it. He nodded slowly.

"Alright."

She tried to find words, but ended up with nothing. White Blank Page still played in the background. But tell me now where was my fault, in loving you with my whole heart.

…

He drove over the speed limit. He blasted the music so loud it hurt his ears. Cars around him honked as he swerved round them without caution. Shit. Shit. Shit. He parked outside Santana's apartment building and closed his eyes tight. Shit. He hated this. He hated her. He hated everything.

"I hate her" he whispered.

Santana patted his cheek. Her long nail chipped his skin.

"No, you don't."

"No, I don't."

"Do you want a drink?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

Puck shook his head.

"No, I have to go home."

Santana smiled.

"Well, at least I didn't kill the kid!" she said happily.

Puck snorted and lifted Lily out of the sofa she sleeping on.

"Thanks" he said, kissing Santana's cheek. "Thanks for the help."

She shrugged.

"Anytime."

Puck opened the door as Santana called his name. He turned around to face her. She sat on the couch, her legs folded under her. For one second, she didn't look like Santana Lopez, internationally known pop star/sex symbol. She just looked like Santana, a girl in her twenties wearing sweats and no makeup. His friend since childhood.

"What?" he asked.

"Maybe she needs more time" she said.

"I've given her twelve years" he replied. "Time has run out."

"Hello" she said.

She was dressed in jeans and t-shirt. The snow was pouring down. It was march. It wasn't supposed to snow in march.

"Hey."

He lifted Lily out of the car. She was in a bad mood today, so was he.

"How are you?" Quinn asked, shivering in the cold wind.

"Don't."

"What?"

"Don't pretend that we are friends."

She flinched and then shook her head.

"We are friends."

"No, Quinn. We were never friends" he said, his voice full of mocking laughter. "Don't you get it? It's either all or nothing with us."

"It doesn't have to be that way" she disagreed.

He nodded.

"Yes, it has. So, I'll come here and pick up Lily. I'll smile and ask about the weather, but that's it. Let's not pretend anymore, Quinn."

He could see that he was hurting her, but he didn't care. She couldn't feel as bad as he felt. It was impossible.

"It's all or nothing" he repeated. "And you, Quinn, you chose nothing."

He handed her Lily and placed her bag on the wet pavement.

"We're not nothing" Quinn said. "We're a family."

He shook his head.

"Tell yourself whatever you want."

He said because he knew it would hurt her the most. And he wanted to hurt. To feel like shit. So that she would realized that she loved him too. Not too much, just the right amount.

"Bye" he said.

And left.