A/N: Huge thank you to everyone who has followed this story or reviewed. Your feedback definitely helps, and as a reward for your awesomeness, I've decided to hold off on naming the baby until you guys get a chance to give your input. Feel free to put your suggestion in a review, a PM, or if you feel really crazy, go ahead and send them to me on tumblr (solvethebomb). I hope you enjoy this chapter, and not to worry, the next is almost finished. So get those recommendations in soon! Happy Tuesday.
SANTANA
When the Glee kids find out about Sue's plan to finally destroy the club, all hell breaks loose. I watch their wallowing with a sad helplessness, feeling somehow responsible for their misery. It's hard to believe that not long ago I hated every single one of them. I can't even remember why anymore, but I think it had something to do with the fact that they're all willing to put doing what they love above being popular. They have a certain courage that I'm not sure I'll ever possess.
Even now, I've been carefully plotting how to spin the rumor mill once Quinn has her baby. The fact that her shitty parents booted her out helps a lot, actually. My awesome parents and Q have devised a plan to ensure that her as-yet-to-be-named baby girl is properly provided for. In essence, my parents are going to take financial responsibility for the baby until Quinn is able to provide for her, sometime after she finishes college. For now, they'll also be the baby's (and Quinn's) legal guardians until Q is 18, but they'll probably remain in that role for the baby until Quinn is fully prepared to take custody. There's been a lot of paperwork. All I really know is that I love my parents to death for being willing to do whatever it takes for Quinn to keep her kid.
All of this will help explain why Quinn and I will essentially be raising her kid together, with Puck too, of course. Quinn told me that he wrote her a long letter apologizing for how he treated her and for how irresponsible he was. I've known him a long time, and I've never known Puck to change his behavior for anyone. Suddenly though, he seems to be willing to make the effort to not just be present, but also be a good role model. He's actually quit all of the partying and cutting class and beating kids up and stealing stuff, from what I can tell. Most importantly, he has guarded my and Quinn's relationship as if his life depends on it. I'm a skeptic, but I want to believe he's really changed. I guess we'll find out.
Sue hasn't spoken to me since our disagreement last week. She relays all comments through Brittany, except she says them pretty loud and I can always hear her. The squad is confused as all hell, but whatever. I stand by what I said. This vendetta is pathetic, but I still don't have a plan to stop her.
Overall, this has been a crazy few weeks, and as I plop down into my seat in the choir room, I feel myself dreading the looks of sad defeat in the eyes of my fellow Glee clubbers. I keep my eyes cast to the floor, even as I sense Quinn quietly sit down next to me. I don't look up until I hear Mr. Schue start explaining that we're doing a Journey medley for regionals. I feel my heart jumpstart, because I know we can kill those songs.
"Not only that, but to help us keep perspective, we're going to kick this meeting off by helping one of our own with an important part of her journey. Quinn has asked that we help her, Santana, and Puck name the baby."
I look up in surprise; I hadn't realized Quinn had actually asked him. I'm suddenly curious what they'll choose though, since we certainly haven't been able to decide on our own.
"They've each selected three names, and we're all going to vote. So without further ado, can you guys go write your name choices on the board? I'll hand out slips of paper."
The three of us get up and head to the board, but I stop when I hear Finn say my name.
"Umm, why is Santana getting to put up choices? If she's putting names up then I think we all should."
I feel something flare in my chest that I can't place. Anger, yes, but there's more to it. Hurt, maybe? Disappointment? I know that, to an outsider, it doesn't make any sense. I turn to look at Quinn, unsure how to handle this, when Puck speaks up.
"Seriously, dude? Santana has been there for Quinn when no one else really was. Did you know she hasn't missed a single sonogram appointment since Quinn moved into her house? Or that when Quinn hyperventilated Santana was the only reason she didn't get hurt worse? And that bullshit fight she was in? That crazy bitch threatened to hurt Quinn and the baby, so San beat her stupid face in. Santana deserves to pick a name more than I do. All I did was screw up. So shut it, okay?"
Puck has walked over to put an arm around my shoulder and guide me to the board. I give him a thankful smile and Quinn smiles at us both. The other Glee clubbers are looking at Finn likes he's a huge idiot, which of course he is, and he doesn't bother trying to reply.
"Now, you guys can put up to three names on your piece of paper, but they'll all get equal weight, so you can't order them. If you only want to vote for one, then by all means just write one. I'll collect up your votes when it looks like everyone is done," Mr. Schue explains.
We finish carefully writing our names on the board and then sit together, separate from the group as they vote. I look at the board and read the names again:
Puck: Lily, Beth, Lorelai
Santana: Valerie, Ryder, Skylar
Quinn: Michelle, Kate, Emily
I know for a fact that Puck picked his names entirely from song names from the Rolling Stones, KISS, and Styx. They aren't terrible name choices, now that I'm reading them on the board, but I think her name needs meaning.
My names were all chosen after rigorous research because they represent qualities I want little DJ to have when she's growing up. Valerie means "Strength," Ryder means "Warrior," and Skylar means "Scholar." With the parents this little girl has, I'm pretty sure she'll live up to all of these names. I wish I could explain that to the group. I haven't actually even fully explained it to Puck and Quinn.
Quinn's choices are a kind of a combination of mine and Puck's methodology. I know that Michelle is from a Beatles song that Q apparently loves, Kate means "Pure", and Emily means "To Excel." I'm pretty sure the last two names also have old-timey songs associated with them, but I don't know what they are. It's so Quinn to pick such classic, popular names though.
Mr. Schuester starts collecting up all of the scraps of paper from the group. Quinn looks over at Puck and me and smiles that big, megawatt smile that I love so much. She's so excited that I feel like a jackass for not going along with this idea in the first place. I'm all for anything that makes my girl this happy.
"Okay guys, it looks like everyone voted for at least one of the names on the board, except for one of you, who voted for "Quinntana," "Santittany," and "Brittany S. Pierce.""
I let out a sudden, single laugh and turn to look at Britt. Everyone else in the club turns to look at her too.
"Best names, by far," my brilliant bestie states with a shrug.
Every single person in the room shakes their head with a smile. Quinn turns to me with a grin that I return with a soft laugh. Brittany really is going to be the best aunt ever.
"Okay, Finn, drum roll please!"
Hudson hops up and jogs to sit behind the drum set. He starts the drum roll, and I hold my breath.
QUINN
Santana has been in Sue's office for 20 minutes in a last ditch effort to stop the inevitable crushing of Glee club. We're supposed to be leaving shortly for regionals. Every now and then I can hear a raised word or two, but mostly I just hear garbled disagreeing. I'm nervously awaiting the emergence of my girlfriend, knowing she's going to be upset and disappointed. Reasoning with Sue is pointless when she's hell-bent on achieving her mission.
All Santana would tell me is that she has to try. I don't think she even has a plan, or a scheme, or a bribe. She has no cards up her sleeve on this one. The girl who refuses to ask for help, who believes that showing weakness is the worst imaginable flaw to expose, is in that office begging the most horrible person on earth for a reprieve for the Glee club. I'm proud of her, but also bummed for her. I know that I'm going to have either angry Santana or resigned Santana on my hands for a while. Angry Santana would actually be preferable, because her fiery temper usually passes quickly once the subject of her ire is no longer available to insult. Plus, the comments she makes in her anger are generally hilarious. Resigned Santana is just depressing, and there is no telling how long it'll last.
I shoot to my feet when the door swings hastily open and Santana storms out, slamming the door shut behind her. She takes me in for a second, drawing a deep breath. Her eyes close as she shakes her head and drops her chin to her chest.
Without really considering that we're standing in the middle of the hallway, I wrap my arms around her and pull her close, rocking gently. She leans into me without hesitation. We jump apart in shock when Sue's door swings back open.
"So, preggers, I hear you are keeping your ill-conceived fetus. That true?"
"Yes, Coach Sylvester. I have decided to keep my daughter," I reply with an irritated sigh.
"Huh. Well, good luck with that. I'm sure you two will raise a great kid. Hopefully I'll see her on the Cheerios one day. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an appointment to bring doom upon one William Schuester and his endless parade of hideous sweater vests."
Sue steps around us and strides off without another word. Santana and I gape after her, in complete and utter shock.
"Did she just…?"
Santana is lost for words.
"I…think…so…?"
I've got nothing better, and we look at each other for a long second before we both start laughing like complete idiots.
Sue Sylvester just wished us luck in raising a baby as if it was completely normal for her to do so. I feel like I've just walked into some weird, upside down Twilight Zone. Santana told me months ago that she suspected Coach had some sort of inkling as to the nature of our relationship, but she's never said anything quite so…blunt…in support of us both before. I don't think San will forgive Sue any time soon for destroying the Glee club, but this is definitely a mark in the plus column.
"Let's go catch the bus," Santana finally says, and we head toward the parking lot.
DJ hasn't stopped moving the entire ride to regionals. Every now and then I feel a slight cramping in my lower back that moves towards the front of my stomach. It doesn't last long though. I think there is just a lot going on in there today. The baby definitely feels like she's shifting.
Pretty much everyone in Glee has put their hands on my belly to feel her sudden kicks, and the entire group has harmonized songs for her. We're in surprisingly good spirits considering what we're going up against in a little bit.
When the group has finally quieted down, Santana turns to me, her eyes soft and serious, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Thank you for waiting for me today. Seeing your face always makes me feel immediately better."
I smile at her and take her hand in mine, glancing across the aisle at Kurt and Mercedes, who are engaged in an animated conversation.
"Of course, babe. And just so you know, no matter what happens today, you are the hero of this club. Most importantly, you're my hero."
Santana looks away, adorably embarrassed. I want to kiss her so bad, but I'm pretty sure that would not go on unnoticed.
Brittany bounds back to us and squeezes into our seat with us.
"Hey Britt, what's up?" Santana asks with a giggle.
"Nothing, I just wanted to be near you guys. Something tells me I should stick close to you both, particularly Quinn. And when something tells me, I listen."
San and I exchange a confused glance before Santana shrugs and just accepts Britt's weird assertion like she normally does. I trust my girlfriend's instincts and accept it as well.
The three of us laugh and sing together for the rest of the drive.
SANTANA
The second I hear Rachel Berry start singing I feel the hairs on the back of my neck rise and goosebumps cover my skin. She's so fucking talented. For the first time, I allow hope to fill my chest. We're really good. Maybe, just maybe, Sue will see that and feel guilty screwing us just to beat Mr. Schue.
When the curtain rises, the cheers bring an unexpected smile to my face. We join in with Finn and Rachel. It sounds amazing. One song down, and we totally killed it.
We jump into our mash up of "Anyway You Want It" and "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'." The crowd is on their feet, clapping. I turn to Quinn as choreographed and see her eyes positively glowing with happy excitement as she shimmies her shoulders. I feel her joy run through me. Puck kills his little solo and before I know it we're already to the part of the song where we get to freestyle and go crazy and then we're on to "Don't Stop Believing"
Once again, fucking Berry and that voice. I'm nervous. I have gained a lot of confidence in my voice, but I have to follow Rachel. All at once I'm singing with Puck and I give him a big smile. We are killing this competition right now. We jump around like crazy people during the guitar solo and I see Quinn place a hand against her stomach. Her happy smile pushes away the flash of concern I feel, and in seemingly just seconds the song is over.
We run out the stage exit, completely caught up in the wave of excitement from nailing our entire set list. I'm one of the last people down the stairs and I feel a sudden cold fury when I see Judy Fabray, suddenly back from the abyss and talking to my Quinn.
I want to lash out and pull Quinn away from her, but I know Q wouldn't want that. Instead I give a slight squeeze to my girlfriend's hand as I pass, throwing a quick glare over my shoulder at the prodigal parent who hurt her daughter immeasurably.
I step just inside the door and listen in, leaning just far enough to see the back of Quinn's head. I don't have to turn my head to know that the person who has slipped their hand in mine and is standing quietly next to me is Brittany.
"What are you doing here?" Quinn asks, sounding truly shocked. "Is dad okay?"
My heart clenches when she asks about her dad. That guy is such a dick, but he's still her dad. She loves them even though they've treated her so badly. I close my eyes and will myself to stay where I am.
"I came to hear you sing," her deadbeat, asshole mother responds. "You were wonderful. I'm so sorry I missed all the other times you've performed. Were there a lot?"
Quinn glances back and makes the briefest eye contact with me. I can't read her at all, except to see the blank, confused expression on her face.
"I left your father. Well, I- I kicked him out actually. He was having an affair with some, uh, tattooed freak."
There's a brief, quiet pause. Quinn is silent.
"Quinnie…"
Quinn hates that nickname, unless Brittany says it along with "the Pooh." I cringe immediately when I hear it.
"I want you to come home with me. I can turn the guest room into a nursery."
Pure, unadulterated fear and hate fill me.
Fuck. This. Bitch.
Quinn has a family. She can't leave us.
"Oh sweetie, say something."
I'm consumed with anger until I hear Quinn's soft, surprisingly calm voice.
"My water just broke."
QUINN
Santana is around the door and between my mother and me in a flash. She takes my hand and leads me to the bathroom without so much as a glance at my mom. She allows Brittany inside and then snaps the lock in place. I go into a stall and clean myself up while Brittany and Santana wait.
"San, it's early. She's too early."
"Only slightly, babe. She's fine. Plenty of babies are born at 36 weeks and have no issues at all. Are you feeling contractions?"
"Kind of? I think? They don't hurt very badly if that's what this is."
I've been feeling a dull ache every 15 minutes for a while now, but it's not particularly painful. I know contractions slowly get worse, but I figured they'd be more noticeable than this.
"How long ago did it start?" Santana asks.
"I don't know, when we were on the bus I guess."
I emerge from the stall and look at my two best friends. Their calm faces quiet my growing nerves.
"Okay, well since this is your first time, this could take a while. I think we should go to the hospital just in case though."
I frown.
"But I want to be here when we win."
San and Britt shake their heads at me. Santana opens her mouth to argue with me, but before she makes a sound I feel a much stronger contraction that steals my breath away.
I double over slightly and suck in a sharp breath at the pain. Santana and Brittany immediately move to my side and grab my hands. The pain passes in a minute and I get a meaningful "I told you so" look from my girlfriend.
"Okay, okay. Let's go to the hospital."
Santana smiles and then kisses me, her hands gently cupping my face.
"We're going to finally meet our little kicker, Q. I'm going to be with you the whole way, I promise."
I lean my head against hers and take a deep breath before putting an arm out to pull Brittany into a three-way hug. A small nervous shiver runs through me, and my two best friends respond by giving me a little squeeze.
Brittany pulls back and looks at us with a grin.
"I knew I should stick close. Let's go do this, yes?"
