sometime around midnight...

she stares at herself in the mirror. she can't believe she's about to do this but what choice was she given. she's angry but also nervous. she prepped herself for the last 2 hours for this and the nerves still won't go away.

taking a deep breath she put on her coat. walking to her door she double checks that she has all that she needs. she leaves her place of solace and locks the door behind her. immediately making her feel even more on edge. stepping out on the streets of New York at mid night is not a good feeling to her, especially alone.

she flags down a cab than fires off the address. reaching her destination, she looks up at the building and narrows her eyes. it's show time. she enters the building heading straight for the elevator.

after pressing the button of her intended floor, she glances down to the piece of paper with a room number on it. exiting the elevator she makes a left walking down the hall, she spots the door. she takes once last deep nervous breath. the door opens.

"I didn't think you'd show but definitely worth the wait."

7:45AM YESTERDAY MORNING, BETH'S SCHOOL...

"Ms. Fabray?"

"Principal Turner, how are you?"

"I'm doing very well. how are you?"

"I'm good." she bends down at eye level with Beth. "give me a hug, honey." they embrace. "I love you, baby. have a good day."

"I love you, too mommy. thank you for my hot chocolate." Beth replies with a big smile.

"your welcome, baby. behave yourself, ok?" Quinn says with a smile.

"I will."

"Ms. Fabray? if you'll follow me, please."

As she sits, the office door closes behind her. Principal Turner walks past her and takes a seat at his desk. Quinn has never really like the man. than one day it was solidified, when she picked up a silent Beth from school. it wasn't until they were already a few blocks away, that Beth told her everything. she still doesn't understand how he's still principal.

Principal turner had grabbed one of the male students in her class by the arm and dragged him to his seat, than shoved him to sit down so hard the chair pushed back with a squeak against the floor. all the while screaming in his face to "SIT HIS ASS DOWN AND DON'T MAKE A MOVE!" those words exactly. Again, she still couldn't understand how he was still Principal.

she knows this because she promised Beth she wouldn't be in any trouble if she told her the bad words. Beth, also demonstrated as Best she could while Quinn was on her Knees acting as a double.

Quinn was furious but Beth was bawling her eyes out. begging Quinn not to say anything because she was scared he would do the same to her. her daughter was very shook up by it. Quinn wished so badly that she could transfer Beth to a different school but she can't because that's her school district. so, unless they moved. she was stuck there. she and Beth made a deal, though. that if another parent or teacher or principal were to ever do something like that to Beth than all bets are off.

"Ms. Fabray, I'm sure your aware of why I asked you here."

"No, actually. I'm not."

"Well, it seems there's been a few complaints."

"About what, exactly?"

"Some of the teachers as well as parents have an issue with the way, Beth is being taken care of."

"Excuse me? in what way are they referring to."

"Apparently Beth's clothes have some wear and tears. also, her clothing looks a size too small. she squints in class as if she needs glasses." Quinn feels her chest tighten at every word coming out of the mans mouth. she tries her best to hand wash Beths clothes with the laundry soap from the dollar store but those things have barely there soap and terrible fragrance.

"That's not all. she also had a altercation with another student Karen Santini. in which Ms. Santini said that Beth brought about the issue-" Quinn interrupts immediately.

"That's a lie! my daughter told me exactly what had occurred and how those girls kept pulling at her clothes and hair and calling her homeless! if you remember correctly I brought it to your attention and you dismissed it as children being children! my daugh-"

"Ms. Fabray that is neither here nor there. the fact is here and now. Now, these parents as well as other student witnesses make your daughter the guilty party here."

"who are the witnesses?"

"Ms. fa-"

"NO! who are the witnesses?"

"Amanda greene, Sarah Thomas and Lindsay fletcher but that doesn't chang-"

"wow, Carla's 3 best friends?"

"we don't know that."

"oh yes, you do. there inseparable-"

"Ms. Fabray if you will allow me to finish." Quinn closes her mouth but that doesn't mean she likes it. " thank you. Now, since I have so many complaints I have no other choice but to suspend Beth from school-"

"WHAT?! YOU CAN'T DO THAT SHE'S 6 YEARS OLD-"

"I'm terribly sorry Ms. Fabray but there's only so much I can do."

"Principal Turner that can not be all that you can do. I have to work, ok? I could lose my job if you I miss even a day! I don't have a baby sitter, there has to be something that can be done! I'll speak to the parents-"

"that won't work Ms. Fabray. they barely tolerate your daughter. how do you think they'll feel about you."

"THAN TELL ME WHAT CAN I DO?!"

"shush, shush." Principal turner gets up from his desk and sits on the chair next to Quinn. he takes hold of her hand and pats it sincerely. "calm down. sometimes there's things out of our control Quinn. However, I'm sure you are a smart woman and you are determined to do anything for your daughter, yes?" Quinn nods "I'm sure we can fix this." Quinn sighs in relief and looks him in the eyes gratefully.

"what can I can I do? I'll speak to the teachers and the parents. I'll speak to the kids-" Quinn says

"that won't be necessary Ms. Fabray." he places his hands on her bare knee just below her skirt. Quinn jerks into a standing position.

"what the hell do you think your doing?!"

"As I've said your a smart woman. a sexy smart woman. if you want this little problem to go away. I'm sure we can reach common ground. I caress your back you scratch mine?" he says this as he winks with a smirk and immediately Quinn wants to throw up. she can not believe her daughter is attending this school. she feels fear stab her chest at the fact that she has to go to work from here and leave Beth behind.

"your disgusting!" she says with so much venom it's as if she produced it. she gathers her things and as she preparing to leave. her insides knot at his words.

"it would be a shame if socially services were to hear about this..." he chuckles "A troublesome child acting out in class over trauma at home. her clothing it's self will be immediate grounds of removal. also, stating that you have no baby sitter will beg the Question of family if you even have any. you seem to also work a lot. that would imply your never home. so, who stays with Beth when you aren't around to take care of her?" he stands and walks towards Quinn "there have also been numerous occasions when you have been over 2 hours late of arriving on time to pick up your daughter." he stands right behind Quinn pressing himself into her back. she whimpers in disgust. "it would most definitely be a shame for poor little Beth to become a ward of the state." he says with a smile.

Quinn is frozen in place with him pressed against her. she wants to get out but her body won't function. it isn't til he stiffens even more against her and hums in approval against her ear that her body snaps out of it. she turns the handle to the door and before she can pull it open. he takes hold of her wrist.

"you have until this afternoon to decide. like I said your a smart woman. I think you know what choice is the right one." he lets go of her wrist and she opens the door in a rush.

she hears his voice behind her "have a good day, Ms. Fabray." he chuckles. Quinn rushes out of the school with her heart pounding in her ears and her body on auto pilot.

she has no idea what's happening around her. she didn't hear or even acknowledge Rachel's "good morning." the blonde doesn't realize Rachel's even there. all that's playing on repeat in her mind are his word. SOCIAL SERVICES, REMOVAL, WARD OF THE STATE.

how did they get here. how did she allow them to get here. she and Beth have gone up against many obstacles but never one of this magnitude. never one where it puts them in jeopardy of separation. never one where she'll never come home to her daughter's smiling face.

how could this happen? why did this have to happen? the blonde looks down at the floor to a mess of scattered broken glass. she hears a voice but can't really make out the words "did I do that?" she asks her self in thought "I don't remember dropping that." she thinks again.

she looks up to see her boss. sweaty and red faced with veins popping out his neck. he looks furious. he points to the ground and she looks down at the floor again. "I did do that. oh god he's going to fire me!" she thinks.

"FABRAY!" he smiles.

"oh god why is he smiling? I'm fired." she panics in thought.

"take the rest of the day off. be back tomorrow ready to work." with that he walks off. Quinn stares after him. eyes wide and mouth flapping like a fish. she feels tugging and her arms being slid into sleeves. she turns behind her to see Rachel helping her into her coat. "why is she always saving me?" she thinks.

her mind is still going a mile a minute. she knows she's in Rachel's car and she heard the diva mention something about her house but that's all she got.

she's some what in the loop, when they reach where ever the brunette was taking them and when she got out the car. she was too scared to make eye contact with Rachel in fear of how the brunette would figure out what happened and be disgusted with her for staying put while he technically groped her.

she doesn't know where the diva is guiding her until she sits on the most comfortable bed she's ever sat on. she immediately feels safer. she hears Rachel's voice better. "I'm going to take your shoes off and I want you to lay down and take a nap. I'll wake you around the same time your shift is suppose to be over. so, we can keep your scheduled time to pick up Beth."

Quinn's heart melts but aches at the same time. she can't believe she is so blessed to know this woman. "get some sleep, sweetie. I'll be back soon. if you need anything, I'll be downstairs working on my business plan."

the minute she feels the diva is far away enough, she silently cries. she cries so hard and so much her head starts to ache until she succumbs to sleep.

4 hours later has her ashamed of her self again but also warm inside. she can't believe she busted Rachel's lip. she feels absolutely horrible. she has to figure what to do to make up for assault on the poor brunette but not this second. no, right now she feels like she's just a big mush.

the scene before her has played out so many times in her head but this moment, while it's actually happening did not prepare her for thunderous emotions engulfing her.

Rachel Berry just made her daughter squeal. the hugs that are being exchanged are to sweet. she can't express what she's feeling, other than she's about to cry and than reality punches her in the got like the asshole it is.

"Ms. Fabray?" Principal Turner comes from behind her and she tenses. "I was wondering if I may have a word with you?"

Quinn give a small nod than turns to Rachel. "when did she get so close?" she thinks. her insides are in knots again when she looks at the diva but Rachel doesn't return the eye contact. she's just looking at Principal turner. "does she find him attractive?" she silently thinks.

"could you keep an eye on Beth for a minute, Rachel?" the diva still doesn't make eye contact and it hurts the blonde. especially since she knows what an asshole he really is.

"of course." Rachel replies.

the blonde and the Principal walk away. "we'll be right here where you can see us and WE CAN SEE YOU!

Quinn looks back at the brunette. "huh? maybe she doesn't like him." the blonde thinks. she's pulled from her musing.

"so , I've given you time to make a decision. so, I'll make this quick. meet me at the motel Palamino on 125th, tonight at midnight. I'll make sure to get there before you. if you decide not to come, I'll know my answer. so, expect social services to be at your door or at this school and even your job to remove Beth.

"however, I know your a smart woman and you'll be there and any other time I need you there." he says with a smirk. he slips Quinn a piece of paper. "I'll see you tonight. don't keep me waiting." she nods.

she can not believe he had the nerve to pull her away from Beth and Rachel to confirm his needs. she feels the piece of paper burn her palm. she feels nauseous and disgusting again. she also can't look at Rachel. she doesn't feel like she deserves Rachel's hug, right now or holding her daughters hand. she made the right choice denying Rachel's offer for a ride home, right?

she doesn't want to drag Rachel into any more of her problems. so, she and Beth walk home. she's a block away from her house but she has to make a stop first. she gets to the building she needs and climbs the stairs. she knocks on the door til it opens and Marisol is shocked but happy to see her.

"hey, I'm sorry to drop in like this but it's an emergency. could you watch Beth for me tonight and I'll pay you Friday?" Quinn asks

"Aye! of course, loca! you don't have to ask or pay me." Marisol pulls her into a hug. another one the blonde doesn't feel she deserves. "don't worry about any clothes you left her bag from last week. we have everything we need, come in Beth."

"thank you, so much Marisol. you don't how much this means to me." Quinn says emotionally.

"don't mention it, mija. now, go on."

Quinn gives Beth a hug and a kiss goodbye. letting Marisol know she'll be back in the morning. she immediately rushed downstairs and back outside. she goes to catch the bus. she has to get what she needs for tonight before it gets to late. she pays her fair and takes the window seat at the back of the bus and stares out the window as the world passes by. wondering why this had to happen to her...

1:56AM RACHEL BERRY'S HOUSE...

she groans and turns over blindly reaching for her phone. she checks the caller ID but doesn't recognize the number. than presses the END button to hang it up. she turns over dozing off back to sleep. her phone blares to life again. WHAT THE FUCK?! DOES ANYONE HAVE IDEA WHAT TIME IT IS?! she snatches her phone off the night stand in a huff. HELLO? she says in frustration.

"Rachel?" it's said in such a small voice and filled with trembled emotion, that the divas heart breaks before she even realizes who it is. she hears a sob and immediately knows who exactly she's talking to. she would recognize that sob anywhere.

"QUINN?! WHERE ARE YOU?! WHAT'S WRONG?! The brunette jumps out of her bed and is in her car in record time. driving down the street before anything else is said. she is already terrified and doesn't even know what's going on yet. all she knows is she has to get to Quinn and Beth...