A/N: Happy Weekend Everyone!


QUINN

Santana, Puck, and I are debating baby names. This discussion has been ongoing for the better part of a month, but somehow it never gets tiring. It's been a mostly civil process, with only two instances of the silent treatment being invoked. Things seem to be falling into place better than I could have hoped.

Santana had initially balked when I told her that Puck deserved to be a part of this process too, but she has come around without too much of a fight. For his part, Noah has done an admirable job of accepting that San and I are really, truly together. The first few days were a little rough, a volley of insults being fired from the precision weapon that is Santana's tongue every time Puck made an inappropriate sexual comment about her and me. He finally quit it after my fiery girlfriend had turned ice cold and asked to speak to him alone. Whatever she said did the trick, because since then we've existed in relative harmony.

"I don't understand why Jackie Daniels is such a terrible name," Puck insists.

"You're an idiot, Puck. That's the worst of your shitty suggestions yet," Santana snaps back at him.

"Guys…"

I give them both a warning look to get them to cool it.

"Come on, Quinn. That's the worst name suggestion of all time!"

For some reason I suddenly remember Finn looking proud of himself as he dropped a note on my desk.

"Actually, Finn suggested the name Drizzle. For real," I reply to San with a smile.

"No way," Puck says, looking incredulous.

"Yes way. He thought it was brilliant because Gwyneth Paltrow named her kid Apple."

Both Puck and Santana burst out laughing together and I know I've averted an argument.

"But seriously guys, we need to really think about names because we only have like 7 or 8 weeks left until she's here," I chastise.

"Q, she'll have a name, don't worry."

"Yeah, a kick ass, perfect name. I'm actually a little concerned that our little girl is going to be too awesome. I mean how is she going to fit in when she's 100% cooler and more badass than any of the other kids?"

Puck actually looks serious about this, but I laugh until I notice that Santana has a similar look of concern on her face.

"He has a point, Quinn. We're going to have to teach her to tone down her awesome somehow."

"You guys have to be kidding me. Can we worry about naming her first? Or perhaps we could worry about the fact that she still has to actually be born, which is going to be an excruciatingly painful affair for me. Or maybe we should show some concern that we're teenagers about to raise a kid with two moms and a dad in O-fucking-hio. Or, you know, definitely worry about her being too awesome. That should totally be the number one concern here," I snap sarcastically.

Puck and Santana look at each other, abashed.

"Sorry," they mumble in unison, giving me sad puppy dog eyes.

I want so badly to stay mad, but the two of them are freaking adorably contrite. I shake my head as a slow smile spreads across my face despite a valiant effort on my part to fight it off.

"You guys are dorks. Forgiven dorks. But dorks just the same."


SANTANA

So Sue has returned to her full douchebag glory in one swift, although not altogether surprising, asshole move. Our competition season is long over, yet for some reason we're still having 3 hour practices complete with psychotic yelling and unnecessary body shaming.

It amazes me that this woman can be so supportive and protective of this squad at times, but still uses her words to viciously tear us down on a regular basis. Still, nothing she has ever said reached me in a personal way like her declaration that she's going to crush the Glee Club as a judge at regionals.

Ever since sectionals I have felt a weird defensiveness for this ragtag group of weirdos, which was only compounded when they rallied to my defense after I went all Blood Sport on my cousin and her lame ass friends. I can't let her do this without putting up whatever fight I can.

I nudge Brittany and link my pinkie to hers as soon as practice is over and lead her over to Coach.

"You can't do this, Coach. We've worked too hard to go out like this."

Sue turns and looks at me in shock.

"I really hope you aren't serious right now, Frida Kahlo. You were allowed to join that club in order to bring it down and now you have decided to betray me to defend it?"

GOD this bitch completely infuriates me. Frida Kahlo is hideous and I'm not even Mexican! I miraculously avoid snapping at her for insulting me and focus on the real problem here.

"Why do you even care if Glee exists? It obviously didn't affect our ability to kick ass and take names at Nationals. We don't NEED the extra money. You are just being unnecessarily vindictive. This underhanded bullshit has got to stop!"

I can see Britt's eyes widen at my language and tone. She's generally anti-conflict, but I think she's actually concerned that I might completely lose it when she releases my pinkie and grabs my hand fully instead.

"Listen to me and listen good, Lopez. The Glee Club is done. If you want to stay in that uniform, choose your words very carefully from here on out."

Brittany squeezes my hand as if to say "drop it." I feel the hot wave of anger I know so well rise through my body. I bite back my urge to tear into her and instead choose my words carefully, just as she said I should.

"You once told me that I'm strongest when I care most. And I think you know just how true that is. So you should hear this: I care about this club a whole shit ton more than you can imagine. I will do anything—AN-Y-THINGto keep this club alive."

I march away abruptly, feeling the sudden urge to cry hit me like a ton of bricks. I get to my Cheerios locker, but don't bother trying to open it. Instead, I lean my hands against the cool metal and hang my head.

The frustration is almost too much. I want to lash out at something so badly, and settle on pounding the bottom of my clenched hand sharply against the locker, letting out an exasperated growl at the same time.

Brittany walks into the locker room, her mouth twisted to the side in concern. I look at her and feel my shoulders immediately sag. She walks over and straddles the bench, then grabs my hand and pulls me down to sit with her.

"It's gonna be okay, San."

"How do you figure? Sure I care a lot, but there's really nothing I can actually do. Threaten to quit Cheerios, maybe. But that's only going to work so many times before she just lets me quit. And I'm almost certain she actually knows how much I need this now. Quinn and I…I'm pretty sure we're not as good at hiding our relationship as we like to think we are. And now that we're keeping the baby…Britt…I don't know what to do. We're going to lose the Glee Club and I'm going to have to just be this stupid prop cheerleader that Sue can use as a puppet just so that I can try to shield us from some of the ignorant hate that is bound to be waiting for us."

Brittany looks at me with such empathy and love that the tears return. She pulls me against her and lets me sob softly into her shoulder for a bit before pulling back and looking me in the eye.

"Listen, Santana. Whatever happens with Glee is not on your shoulders. You've done more than anyone could ask of you to try to save it. Everyone realizes you're stuck between a Schue and a Sylvester, which is like a hundred times worse than a rock or a hard place. You can't take the responsibility for saving a school club from warring teachers onto yourself, okay? And if you don't want to be a Cheerio, you don't have to be. You're right, people are probably going to make snide comments. But you have an entire Glee Club and a whole bunch of Cheerios that will stand beside you and fight alongside you if necessary—because they know you'd do the same for them. You aren't alone. Quinn isn't alone. Puck isn't alone. You have each other, and you have us. I can't wait to be Aunt Brittany to this kid, and I can't wait to tell her stories about how much her moms and her dad loved her before she was even born. You know I'm definitely going to be coolest aunt ever. Kids love me. "

I can't keep the smile from my face when I picture a little miniature Quinn playing with Aunt Brittany. It's a beautiful image.

"And can I tell you something else, Santana?"

I nod, sniffling.

"You are going to be the best mom there ever was. For real, just the absolute best. I know your mom and dad are technically going to be the baby's guardians until Quinn is 18, but we both know you guys are going to raise her together from day one. You two make the most incredible answer to any equation I've ever seen, seriously."

I laugh a little bit and then smile at my best friend. It was on this very bench five months ago that she told me exactly what I needed to hear about Quinn and me. She's really something else.

"I love you, Britt. You've…you somehow make all of this craziness make sense. I don't know where I'd be without you," I confess honestly.

"I love you too, Sanny. And I'm guessing you'd probably still be doing some really terrible mathematical problem solving," she replies with a slight grin. "Now let's get changed so we can go meet Quinn at her appointment."


QUINN

Santana and Britt are supposed to be here for my sonogram, but they haven't shown up yet. Puck keeps reassuring me that they'll be here soon, but I really want them to see this and I can't imagine what could possibly keep San from missing it.

Me: Where are you guys?

It's the third text I've sent in the last 15 minutes. This time, instead of just Santana, I text Britt too. As soon as I hit send my name is called and I reluctantly get up.

Just as I'm led into the room I hear a commotion behind me and suddenly my two best friends come bursting through the door.

"Did we miss it?!" Brittany is looking wildly around as if there should be a giant movie screen with an image of the baby projected on it.

I smile happily, relieved that they're both here.

"No, they're backed up, we just got in here. I was texting you, where were you?" I ask my question in San's direction.

"Sorry, beautiful. I accidentally left my phone in my Cheerios locker. I had a little scrap with Sue today and it threw me off a bit."

Santana walks to my side and quickly casts her eyes at Puck, Britt, and the ultrasound tech before evidently deciding that she doesn't care who sees her kiss me. It's a gentle, apologetic kiss, and I love her so much for it. Puck and Britt both smile, and Puck kindly averts his eyes instead of staring in his normal manner.

"Okay, are we ready to see your little one at 32 weeks?" the tech asks, holding up the ultrasound wand thingy expectantly.

We all nod silently, nervous anticipation settling in.

The cold gel hits my belly, followed by the wand, and we immediately hear a strong, steady heartbeat.

Santana squeezes my hand, and I see Noah and Brittany wrap an arm loosely around each other in a casual hug.

"Annnnnd…there she is! 10 fingers, 10 toes!"

The tech holds her hand in place and turns the screen that we can get a better look at our little DJ.

There is a collective intake of air. She's so big.

A couple of print outs are produced and passed around. The tech rattles off her estimated size and weight to more nodding. Santana pulls out a pen and scribbles the information on her hand.

"Thank you," Santana says quietly.

The tech gives our little group a big smile.

"Overall, everything looks great. She's big, she's got a strong heartbeat. She looks to be right on pace to be born at the end of May, maybe early June. Have you picked a name yet?"

My two co-parents and I exchange looks and Brittany laughs before answering for us.

"I've been listening to them argue over this for weeks, trust me you don't want to start that debate up right now. But, just between you and me, I'm pushing kinda hard for Brittany Susan Pierce. It's a pretty fantastic name."


SANTANA

Puck is complaining, yet again, that he doesn't have an equal say in the naming process because Quinn and I will always back each other up against him.

"That's not true!" Quinn insists.

"We obviously haven't been "backing each other" up, doofus, or we'd already have a name. We've vetoed each other's options too," I inform him, quite reasonably, I might add.

"San, don't call him names."

Puck makes a smug face in my direction and I scowl at him.

"Why don't we each pick our favorite two names and then we can have the kids in Glee vote. I think that's the fairest way for us all to have a say," Puck suggests stupidly.

"No way! We can't let a group of kids we might never speak to after high school name our kid. That's ridiculous. Quinn, tell him we're not doing that."

"Well, I mean, we don't have to let it be a binding decision, babe. We can let them vote and get some input and see if it at least helps. We're obviously stuck," Quinn replies with an uncertain shrug of her shoulders.

I huff in annoyance.

"Fine. But Puck you now have zero ammunition about how we always side with one another, because clearly Quinn is now on your side," I intone sarcastically.

Q throws her head back in frustration and lets out an irritated sigh.

"Jesus, Santana. This is a team! All three of us! You can't make me feel guilty every time I agree with Puck on something!"

"Okay, okay. This is a fantastic idea, and I just can't wait to see the results!"

I say it in a too-sweet voice and Quinn rolls her eyes at me in exasperation.

"You're a baby."

"I am not."

Puck's eyes go back and forth between us in amusement.

"Yes, you are. You're being a child about this."

"Well, technically, I am a child, so…"

"Seriously? That's seriously what you want to go with right there?"

Noah Puckerman's short laugh burns through me and my petulance turns into actual anger.

"You know what? You guys name her. She's your fucking kid anyway."

With that I hop up and leave, slamming the door behind me.

I've made it down the stairs and out my front door before the guilt fills me. I know what I just said hurt Quinn. She's been trying really hard to make sure I feel like I'm an equal in this totally fucked up parenting situation.

Only my pride keeps my feet moving at first, but soon all of my emotions boil up inside of me. I start running, picking up speed until I'm nearly sprinting. My legs carry me as fast as my lungs will let me go, and before long I'm at the elementary school that I transferred to when my parents finally made enough cash to move us from the ghetto.

This is where I met Puck.

I sit on a swing on the playground and let my toes push me back and forth. I hate that I've basically just proven my own snarky statement true. I am a child, and a temperamental, immature child that. My chest squeezes as I think about what Quinn must be thinking and feeling. I'm ashamed, but I can't seem to get my butt up to go home and face the music.

I don't know how long I've been sitting here when my phone suddenly buzzes in my hand. I can't believe I haven't noticed I've been holding it all this time.

Q-Ball and the Kid: Please come home. It's getting dark.

My eyes tear up and I cry quietly into my hands for a minute. I abruptly stop and run my now running nose along the back of my hand, ever the classy bitch.

Just as I stand up to head home, headlights wash over me from the parking lot and I freeze. I'm in a playground at night, all alone. I'm pretty sure whoever is coming here is not someone I want to meet.

The lights click off and I'm relieved to hear Puck's voice.

"Yeah I found her. We'll be back in a bit."

He puts his phone in his pocket and continues walking towards me without a word.

Puck stands in front of me for a moment with an apprehensive look on his face before stepping around me to sit on a swing. I take a deep breath and sit back on the one I just vacated a minute ago. We toe-push ourselves in silence for a minute.

"I remember when you first moved here. We were…what? 8 or 9? You seemed like the coolest girl in the world. Every other girl had cooties, but you…all of us guys wanted to be your friend. You could actually keep up at recess and you didn't mind getting a few cuts and bruises. Plus, you were from Adjacent, which most of us had never even seen because our parents were too scared to drive near it. Then we started to grow up and you just kept on being cooler than everyone else. We all got awkward, but you just kept being Santana Lopez, only suddenly with boobs, which really just made you one thousand percent cooler in my book. Next thing I know we're in high school and you are basically out of everyone's league, including mine, because you look like you just walked out of Maxim magazine and into the wet dreams of every single guy in school, once again, including mine."

I scrunch my face in disgust and Puck laughs before continuing.

"Anyway, you spend all of freshman year being this smokin' hot, untouchable babe who's always with another smokin' hot, untouchable babe. I must have gotten whiplash a hundred times watching you two walk down the hall in those damn skirts. Playing football on the worst team imaginable with you hotties on the sideline was no small feat, either. By this point I've come to accept the fact that you're completely uninterested in me, but I figure, hell, I'll give it a shot with your sidekick and see what happens. She kisses me, then takes off looking for you. You two exchange some terse words and you chase after her."

My eyes sting at the memory and I wonder what his fucking point is in bringing this shit up.

"The next thing I know you're all about getting you some Puckgasms and you couldn't be more of a bitch to your BFF if you tried. And stupid Puck here thinks, 'Man, they must both be really into me and now they're fighting over me. I am The SAW.' But the thing is, when you guys reunite, I suddenly notice that you guys look at each other how I look at Quinn. Then the fight happens and slowly I begin to wonder, because I've never seen Quinn so distraught. Not even when she found out she was pregnant. Then one day you're all annoyed with something the Jewish girl in Glee is saying, and I see Quinn reach her hand out to calm you and as soon as you feel her touch, your whole body relaxes, just like that. And, just like that, I realized that there was definitely something between you two. Because I've known you since you were a little kid, and I've never seen anyone take the fury out of your eyes with just a touch."

Puck shakes his head and laughs a little.

"Anyway, my point here is that I've known you a long time, and I've always thought that you are easily the coolest girl I know. I know I get under your skin a lot because you're mad that I got Quinn pregnant, and I deserve that, I know I do. Any idiot with two eyes can see that you love each other and belong together, and I don't want to come between you guys at all, but please give me a chance to be a part of this. You and Quinn are awesome, and I know you don't need my help, but I just really want to be a better human being than my father. I don't ever want my kid to wonder how I could live in the same town as her and not be a part of her life. So please, Santana. I'm begging you."

I look at him in surprise, unsure how this is where we ended up. I didn't say anything about him not being a part of this.

"Puck, I…I know you need to be a part of this. I accepted that a long time ago."

"No, I know that, dude, but…we can't have petty fights like this that lead to fights between you and Quinn. If push comes to shove, she will choose you. Every time. And she should, honestly, because she loves you and because you're going to be an amazing parent. So if she thinks this can't work because we can't get along, then it won't and I'll be sent packing."

Puck's face is so sincere and open I feel like I'm almost looking at a stranger.

"She wouldn't do that to you," I say quietly.

"She would if she thought it was best for her family. You and that little girl are her family now."

I consider this for a moment, because I can suddenly see what he is saying. Quinn would protect us by any means necessary. Sometimes I see that flash of motherly protectiveness in her and it's always kind of shocking because I associate it with grownups, not my best friend. I sigh.

"You're probably right. I'm sorry, Puck. I know what I said was pretty shitty."

He nods, not refuting my statement.

"Yeah, it was. Quinn was pretty hurt. I'm sorry too, I'll do my best to not irritate you so much."

"Good luck with that," I say teasingly. "Can you take me home now? I need to talk to Quinn."

"Can I get a hug first?"

I roll my eyes, and then stand and embrace Puck tightly.

"Thanks for being awesome, Santana."

"Thanks for coming to find me."

"Yeah, well, we're family now."


QUINN

When Santana walks back into our room I feel a violent clash of emotions. I'm so mad at her, but also so worried. She's standing quietly by the door, looking small. I get up and quickly move in front of her, wrapping her in a tight hug before kissing her with feeling.

Just as quickly I back away and sit down.

"You scared the shit out of me, San. You can't just run off on foot like that and stay out when it's getting dark. What if-"

"I know, baby. I'm sorry. I was too ashamed of myself to come back right away and then I just felt so guilty I couldn't face you. I'm so sorry for what I said, Quinn. You know I don't really feel that way," she's staring at her feet as she apologizes, clearly repentant.

"You know, at first, I actually kind of questioned whether you feel that way or not, but Puck insisted that I was being crazy and that you love this little girl as if she were your own. And I couldn't help but remember your face when you saw her for the first time, or at the most recent sonogram, or when you first felt her kick, or when you drum for her. I know you love her, Santana. But you can't say shit like that and run off, okay? I really need you."

"I know. Puck and I talked and…I think we're good. I'm sorry I worried you and made you question my commitment to this at all, but I'm here and I love you and we're going to do this."

Santana looks certain, her back straight and her shoulders squared. I get up and walk to her, giving her a passionate kiss before pulling away wearing a grin.

"Okay then. Let's do this.