"All right, guys, I have one word for you," Mr. Schue said as he entered the choir room on Friday afternoon. He enthusiastically printed out the word LOVE on the whiteboard, surrounding it with a large heart. He turned towards the assembled glee club with a large smile.

"Is it love?" Brittany piped out from her seat next to Artie, not noticing the incredulous looks on everyone else's faces. "Totally gonna graduate now!"

Mr. Schue just shrugged it off and went on. "Valentine's Day is coming up. So, for this week's lesson, I want you guys to pick a partner. Because you're gonna sing to them what you think is the world's greatest love song." He ignored several eye-rolls that were coming in his direction. "Find a song that communicates all the things that love means to you. Now, partner up."

Finn raised his hand. "Mr. Schue? Can I say something?" Mr. Schue nodded and Finn stood and came to the front of the room. "I just wanted to point out that for the first time, the entire glee club has gone a week without getting harassed by any of the jocks." He paused as a few of the other kids applauded a little. "I think the fact that I lead the football team to a win at championships had something to do with it."

Ryan looked at him disbelievingly. "Um, correct me if I'm wrong here, but weren't we all part of that football game?" Mike and Sam nodded, also looking at Finn strangely.

Finn shrugged. "Yeah, but I'm quarterback and team captain. Fact is, I'm the closest thing the glee club has to a celebrity right now. And, just a famous athlete, I wanna give to a charity. You guys. So I'm setting up a kissing booth. For a dollar a smooch. And donating the proceeds to glee club to help us."

The entire glee club stared at him as he spoke. Ryan didn't say anything more, slightly impressed at the sheer audacity or sheer stupidity that was Finn Hudson's thought process. Mercedes scoffed at the tall quarterback. "Don't even act like you're trying to help this glee club out. You just wanna kiss a bunch of girls."

Santana was next. "You know, I've kissed Finn, and can I just say, not worth a buck," she said sassily. Everyone knew she and Finn had slept together last year. Someone let out a snicker at Santana's evaluation. "I would however pay a hundred dollars to jiggle one of his man-boobs."

"Don't you ever get tired of tearing other people down?" Finn frowned at her.

"No, not really," the Latina shrugged.

"Cause you always seem to be meddling in other people's business."

"Oh please," Santana rolled her eyes, looking around at the rest of the glee club. "You guys love me. I keep it real, and I'm hilarious."

"Actually you're just a bitch," Lauren said coolly. Everyone's eyes widened at the antagonistic response, and Mr. Schue started to intervene.

Santana immediately turned in her seat to face the large girl. "Okay, I'm sorry," she sniped. "You've just got eyes for my man."

"First of all, I'm not your man," Puck interjected.

"And Finn is right, all you ever do is insult us," Quinn added irritably. "A few weeks ago you said you were disappointed I didn't have a lizard baby."

Tina continued. "Five minutes ago you said Mr. Schue should be in a twelve-step program."

"Wait, what?" Mr. Schue gave Santana a shocked look.

Santana shrugged again. "You're addicted to vests."

Ryan decided this probably needed to end soon before Santana murdered somebody. "Yes, Santana, maybe you're right and I am destined to star on the Broadway musical biography of RuPaul," he said a touch sarcastically. "But I think should return to the topic of Finn's kissing booth. Don't you find that just a tiny bit arrogant, Finn?"

"Well, judging by the Valentine's hearts I've gotten all day, not really. So if anyone's going to do this, it should be me. You think you could make as much?" Finn asked challengingly.

Ryan rolled his eyes. "Unlike you Finn, I don't need a kissing booth to get someone to kiss me."

"I think that's enough of that," Mr. Schue said quickly. "Finn, if you think can make us some extra money, go right ahead. Now, everybody find your partners, and start thinking of what songs you're gonna do."

..

After glee Ryan went to his locker to pick up some of his things for his next class, and couldn't help overhearing a conversation between Puck and Lauren Zizes. He really picked up a lot of things. It really helped that no one really paid attention to him until recently.

"I suppose you want me to thank you for sticking up for me back there, but that makes it seem like I need someone to stick up for me," Lauren was saying.

Puck shook his head quickly. "Oh, no, trust me, I know you don't need me to stick up for you. I mean, you're all kinds of tough."

Lauren nodded. "That's true."

"How about you let me take you to Breadstix for Valentine's Day?" Puck asked hopefully. Ryan almost laughed at his tone. Who would have thought that Noah Puckerman, player extraordinaire, would be close to begging someone to go out with him?

"You seriously think it's that easy? I'm not desperate. So if you really want this, you'd best come correct 'cause I spell woman Z-I-Z-E-S, and I need to be wooed. You understand me? Wooed."

Ryan pulled his history homework out of his locker just in time for Puck to come up next to him. "Hey Berry."

"Don't call me that," Ryan said sharply, irritation flaring up.

"Okay, Ryan then, whatever," Puck said dismissively. "I need help wooing Lauren."

"And why would you ask me?"

"'Cause you got my Baby Mama to fall in love with you. Plus, you're into all that Broadway and romantic crap, right? So you've got the moves."

"I think I'll ignore that slightly offensive statement," Ryan said dryly, closing his locker door. "And don't call Quinn that, she doesn't like it." Quinn hadn't said anything, but he'd noticed her wince slightly whenever Puck called her his Baby Mama.

"Oh. Okay." Puck seemed sorry for a second before perking back up again. "So, what do you say?"

Ryan sighed. "Well, Lauren did say she wanted to be wooed, yes? Try giving her some candy, because we all know that girl likes her candy. And the glee assignment is the perfect opportunity for you to let her know how you feel by singing to her. Pick a good song, and express yourself."

"Hey, you're right," Puck grinned. "Awesome, thanks bro." He walked off.

Ryan turned around to see a couple of freshman girls watching him. Then he watched in bemusement as Quinn showed up and glared hard at the girls, causing them to scurry away. "What was that?" he asked curiously.

Quinn just sighed, rolling her eyes. "You really haven't noticed it yet?" she asked.

"Noticed what?"

"Uh, the girls who've been popping all over the place around you?" Quinn said sarcastically.

"What?" Ryan frowned. Now that Quinn pointed it out, there had been a lot more people talking to him lately. He'd assumed that it was because of his rising popularity with the basketball team, but he hadn't noticed that most of them were girls. "Is that a problem?"

"Ugh." Quinn rolled her eyes again. "Figure it out yourself."


That weekend, James went over to Shelby's house on his off day. He still needed to talk to Ryan about him and Shelby. He walked up to the house, and found Ryan outside, practicing basketball. He jogged up behind his son, catching the ball as it rebounded.

"No game last week?" James asked, tossing him the ball. Ryan shook his head, quickly shooting it in the hoop before catching it again.

"Last game of the season's next Friday," he answered.

"Look, I wanted to talk to you," James started, watching as the teenager lined up another shot. "Are you mad at me or something?"

The ball sailed through the air and hit the backboard. "Why would you think that?" Ryan asked guardedly.

James chased after the ball. "You've been a little distant lately, and you've been shooting me weird looks whenever I'm over for breakfast." Ryan didn't answer, so James pressed a little more. "You have a problem with your mom and me being together?"

"No," Ryan hedged. "I've actually wanted to talk to you about that. I already had a stern lecture in place for anyone who wanted to date Mom, but since you're my dad, it's different. I mean, I want you two together. It's just weird, you know? I know what you two have been doing, and I suppose it's a natural progression of your relationship." He reddened slightly.

"Okay, but…?" James prompted.

"It just seems like you're getting really serious."

"We are."

"That's just it," Ryan said. "And when it gets serious, people get hurt. And I don't want my mom getting hurt. Even if you're my father. Besides, what if you continue forward, and you end up just like my old parents? I like what we have now, and I guess I'm just worried that if things change between the two of you, then everything will change. And I don't know if it will be better."

James guided the two of them back to the porch, where they sat down. "I can't really promise you that we'll end up well," he said honestly. "I think we've both seen too many relationships crash and burn to do that." Ryan nodded morosely. "But I promise that I won't do anything to deliberately hurt your mom. I love her." James nudged his son in the shoulder. "You're kind of proof of that."

"I guess so. And I do understand that you're both adults, and this isn't exactly my business. And if you're both happy, then I am happy for both of you. I just need to adjust, I suppose," Ryan said.

"Of course you have a say."

Both James and Ryan turned to see that Shelby had joined them. "We talked about this," she continued, sitting down on Ryan's other side. "And we won't do anything you're uncomfortable with. This is your home."

"That's right," James chimed in. "And we're both very committed to this relationship."

Shelby nodded. "And no matter what happens, neither of is just going to up and leave you."

"I guess I'm okay with the two of you," Ryan conceded. "You're my parents anyways, I suppose it's no different than what kids with normal families have to deal with."

James snorted a little. "'Normal families'? Does that mean we aren't normal?"

"Not even a little bit."

"No."

Ryan and Shelby both spoke at the same time, breaking out into smiles as their words tumbled over each other. Ryan continued. "But anyways, as I said, it's okay. However, I do ask that you keep your… activities… neat and discreet. If I see anything you'll be responsible for any therapy that has to occur. Okay?"

"Sure, kid," James smirked. Shelby just nodded, reddening slightly. This was a very strange conversation for all involved.

"Okay then," Ryan said. "Now, I'm going to go upstairs, I have homework to do." He stood up and went into the house, leaving his parents on the porch bench.

"So, what do you think?" James asked Shelby as she moved closer to him.

"Nicely handled," Shelby told him, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you for talking to him. I'll let you know if I need you to handle the sex talk next."

"Wow, thanks," James said sarcastically, as he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her into his side.

"You're welcome."

"I wonder if my being his dad made things a little more confusing than usual," he mused. "I mean, if I were dating someone with a teenaged son, boundaries would probably be more set. But here, it's a little different, you know?"

"Yes, as he pointed out we're hardly a conventional family, are we," Shelby answered jokingly. "And you're right, maybe it's making things confusing. But we'll muddle through."

"Yeah," James agreed. They'd figure this whole thing out. "So," he said, changing the subject. "Valentine's Day this week. Have dinner with me?"

Shelby's lips curved into a smile. "It's been a while since I've had a date on Valentine's Day."

"Good for me then, it means I won't have anything to measure up to."

"Jerk."

"I'm sorry. Will you please go out with me?" He gave her his most charming smile.

Shelby rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "Fine. But only because I don't have anything better to do."

James grinned anyways. "Good. Now let's go inside, it's getting cold." James started to stand up, only to have Shelby pull him back down beside her. "What?"

"I know how we can stay warm," she said slyly, moving up to kiss him again on the lips. James smiled as he pulled her closer to him, feeling her body heat even through their clothes. He cupped one hand around her neck, threading it through her dark hair as he angled his head to deepen the kiss. She was right, this was getting him hotter than any heater would be able to. Her tongue darted out to swipe at his lips, and he eagerly opened his mouth, allowing her more access. A second later, he jumped in surprise as her hand found its way to his lap, pressing down slightly as he hissed in pleasure.

"Oh my god."

James and Shelby jumped apart at the sound of their son's scandalized voice. The two of them were flushed and panting, both from their activities and at being caught. Ryan clamped his hand over his eyes, disgust written across his features.

"Okay, I don't know what 'discreet' means in your language," Ryan said sarcastically. "But this?" He gestured at the two of them. "This is most decidedly not it."


On Monday, Quinn stood off to the side of the corridor, watching in disgust as Finn kissed girl after girl. Right after kissing Becky Jackson on the cheek, he rang a small bell and flipped a sign on the booth from The kisser is IN to The kisser is OUT. "Sorry, ladies," he told the line of girls. "Brush and floss time. Gotta keep up the oral hygiene if I'm gonna satisfy all of you. Sorry."

Finally she'd had enough. She walked up to Finn and pulled him around to face her. "I know why you're doing this," she informed him. "I'm the only girl in school who won't kiss you and you think that the peer pressure will get to me."

He smiled smugly at her. "Well, it is sort of uncool that you're too uptight to spend a buck for a good cause like glee club."

Quinn just rolled her eyes, humoring him. "I'm not kissing you again."

"What are you so afraid of?" Finn leaned down on the booth so their eyes were level with each other.

"Leading you on, hurting my boyfriend," Quinn said, folding her arms.

"Your boyfriend's a boy. Tell me you don't wanna kiss me right now."

Quinn leaned in. "I don't want to kiss you right now," she said confidently. She was perfectly happy with Ryan, and Finn had never turned her on anyways. Not like Ryan did. At that moment, Ryan showed up beside her.

"Hi Quinn, Finn. What are you two talking about?" Ryan asked, a touch too cheerfully.

Finn backed away slowly, keeping eye contact with Quinn. "Nothing, dude, I was just saying how it's too bad Quinn doesn't wanna give any money to glee club. It's just a dollar, after all."

"Ah," Ryan nodded, smiling slightly as he wrapped an arm around Quinn. She rolled her eyes again, this time in grudging amusement. Boys and their testosterone displays. Even Ryan wasn't immune. "Well, her money, her choice," he said lightly his tone not matching the hard gaze he was giving Finn. Then his smile turned mischievous. "But if you really think we should support your so-called charity event, how about I give you a dollar, and you can give me a kiss?"

Quinn couldn't laugh that escaped her at Finn's horrified look. Point to Ryan. Leaving the tall boy at the booth, she and Ryan went back to her locker. "Would you really have kissed him?" Quinn asked curiously.

"Probably not," Ryan admitted. "Not that I'm not open to homosexuality. But it's Finn." He shuddered theatrically.

That brought a new question to Quinn's mind. "Have you ever been attracted to a guy before?"

Ryan shook his head. "No. I don't believe in labels, but if I did I think I'd identify as straight."

"Okay. Good. Just thought I should know if I was going to have any more competition than I do now."

"I'm pretty sure you don't have any competition, Quinn," Ryan chuckled. Quinn just rolled her eyes. Boys.

..

"Dude, it didn't work."

Ryan closed his locker that afternoon after glee, turning to face Puck. "Well, while I commend your rousing rendition of Fat-Bottomed Girls today, perhaps that wasn't the best choice of song to use to woo Lauren," he informed the mohawked football player. The song had been sung well, but it wasn't exactly appropriate for Puck's purposes. "What did she say?"

"She said it made her feel like crap," Puck answered dejectedly.

"Well, I don't think girls take comments regarding their weight very well," Ryan told him. "She probably perceived your serenade as a dig."

"I've already tried giving her candy. She said they sucked. After she ate all of them."

Ryan sighed. This was very strange. He'd never thought he'd be asked for courtship advice by anyone, let alone Noah Puckerman. "Well, it sounds like she wants you to do some kind of grand romantic gesture. Something like when Lloyd Dobler plays the boombox outside of Diane Court's window in Say Anything."

"What's that?"

"Never mind. The point is, you need to do something to surprise her. In a good way," Ryan added. Everyone had certainly been surprised by Fat-Bottomed Girls. "Just something that will sweep her off her feet long enough for her to agree to a date."

"Well, I do have that candy ring I won from the arcade the other day," Puck said thoughtfully. "I can work with that."


The next morning, Quinn was in the ladies' room between classes when her new mortal enemy, Kenzie Larkin, walked in. She had just been relatively unpleasant before this year, but she had now graduated to Quinn's most disliked person in the school.

"Hey Quinn," Kenzie said sweetly as she came to the sinks, pulling out some mascara to apply to her eyes. "How is it, not being on the Cheerios?"

Quinn smiled tightly. She was fine with not being on the Cheerios anymore, but this girl just grated on her. Kenzie was exactly like all those popular, mean girls who had tormented Lucy in middle school. In short, she was just like Quinn two years ago. "It's actually a lot of fun, I have much more free time now."

"I'll bet," the other girl said smugly. Silence fell in the bathroom for a moment. "I can't wait to see the basketball game next week, Ryan is capital H Hot."

Quinn turned to the brunette cheerleader with cold fire in her eyes. "Yes he is. He's also my boyfriend." She made sure to put just the right amount of menace in her voice, and was satisfied to see Kenzie falter for a second before recovering.

"Well, I'm think he'd definitely think twice if a Cheerio showed some interest," Kenzie continued, smirking slightly as she continued with her mascara. "After all, he's one of the basketball jocks now, he should be with one of the cheerleaders. Which you're not anymore."

"Oh please," Quinn folded her arms and glared at the girl, wanting nothing more than to reach out and push her arm so that she stabbed herself in the eye. She could get away with it if she made it look like an accident. "Like he'd want anything to do with a skank like you. Stay away from him."

"Why? Are you scared?" the new head cheerleader asked tauntingly. "Face it, Quinnie, your time is over. You had your chance and you blew it. You were at the top of the school, and look at you now. You're in the glee club, you've lost the uniform, and it looks like someone's been letting herself go a little, or maybe it's just the baby fat," Kenzie said in a patronizing voice, with a pointed look at Quinn's waistline. "It's just a matter of time before your boyfriend dumps your ass. He seems to like all the attention. And I will be right here waiting in the sidelines."

With that, Kenzie sashayed out of the bathroom, leaving Quinn speechless. She'd been dealing with the not insignificant number of girls that seemed to be talking to Ryan these days, because she trusted her boyfriend.

Kenzie's words had cut hard though. This was what Quinn had been afraid of when she'd left the Cheerios. The roles were reversed now, and Quinn didn't have the status to keep up with Ryan. Kenzie had even made a dig about her weight, which was a weak spot that had played a part in that whole mess with Puck. And Kenzie was right, Ryan seemed to be enjoying the attention of all the other girls.

She straightened up, looking at herself in the mirror. She'd just talk to him later. They could work this out.

..

That afternoon, Ryan was at his locker, picking up a few books as he listened to Kenzie telling him about last week's Cheerios Regionals.

"It's too bad you weren't there," the brunette cheerleaders said, running her fingers idly up his arm. Ryan looked down at her curiously.

"Yeah, we had that game to go to," he said.

"I hope you guys win the game next week," Kenzie continued. "You're really good."

Ryan smiled at the compliment, humming in response. Half his attention was on the cheerleader, while the other half was still trying to decide what song to sing to Quinn for the glee assignment, when Quinn marched up to them. To his surprise, his girlfriend pulled Kenzie around to face her.

"You," Quinn barked. "Last warning. Back off of my boyfriend."

Kenzie just smiled at the blonde. "I was just talking to him, are you keeping him on such a short leash that he's not allowed to talk to anyone else?"

Quinn glared at the other girl, hands on her hips as they faced off. Ryan watched them warily, unsure of whether or not he should intervene. Again, he had the feeling that there was something here that he hadn't completely grasped yet. "Quinn –" he started.

His girlfriend held up a hand, cutting him off as she kept her hard glare on Kenzie. "Let's get one thing straight," she said. "I may no longer be on the Cheerios, but I was there since freshman year, and you know I know things. So if you don't want anything compromising to miraculously leak onto JBI's blog, you stay away. You piss me off, and you will find yourself at the bottom of the social pyramid so fast your head will spin. Got it?"

The look on the brunette girl's face clearly said that she did get it. Ryan didn't know what Quinn had on her, but it must have been good.

"And besides," Quinn continued. "You've been Cheerios captain for less than two weeks, and you epically lost the only competition you've been in. Not to mention a major injury occurred. I was captain for a year. We won a Nationals trophy in my freshman year, and we also won Sectionals this year." She looked at the other girl contemptuously. "Obviously it's gone to waste. Now leave," she ended menacingly.

With one last glare at the blonde, Kenzie left, leaving Ryan with Quinn. He looked at her incredulously. "What was that?"

"Nothing," Quinn replied shortly, spinning around sharply and walking down the hall away from him.

Ryan stood there for a moment before running after her. "Hey!" He easily caught up to the blonde. "Okay, I'm not completely sure what happened back there, but you're obviously upset. You've been really short with me all week, and I want to know what's wrong. I know it's hard that you're off the Cheerios, but you really don't have to take it out on me, or on the other cheerleaders."

"I'm not."

"Then what are you doing?"

"Why don't you ask Kenzie?"

"What?" Ryan stopped, confused. Quinn just kept on walking. And after a second Ryan chased after her again. "Is that what this is about again? Because I was talking to her?"

Quinn turned sharply to face him, and Ryan almost walked straight into her before catching himself just in time. "Look. All I know is since you joined the basketball teams, the other girls started noticing you. Then when you won State with the football team and I left the Cheerios, everyone seems to think you're fair game, and you," she jabbed a finger into his chest, "have just been playing right into them!"

"I have so not been 'playing into them,'" Ryan snapped back. "I'm just being friendly. How am I supposed to help it if they want to talk to me? What, am I not allowed to talk to anyone else anymore?"

"No, I'm not saying that!" Quinn threw up her hands in frustration. "Don't you see it? They're flirting with you! And you're just letting them!"

"I haven't –"

"Oh please. Jessica was just hanging all over you yesterday, and Rita was pretty much fucking you with her eyes! It's like watching goddamn Mambo No. 5! And don't even get me started on Kenzie Larkin," she spat out in disgust.

Ryan gaped at her. "So what? What do you want me to do about it?"

"Uh, tell them you've got a girlfriend?" Quinn seethed at him. "It's like you're actually enjoying having them flocking around you! I'm not stupid, I saw how you were grinning with her!"

"She was just saying she thought I was a really good basketball player, and that she hoped we won next week!" Ryan defended. It had been completely innocent, they hadn't been flirting with him. Had they?

Quinn arched a devastating eyebrow at him, and he shrank back involuntarily. "And when she was touching your arm, why didn't you stop her?"

Ryan's mouth opened and closed again, as he couldn't find words to defend himself. She was right, and maybe in the back of his mind he actually knew had been going on with all his admirers. It had just felt so damn good to be getting some positive attention from his peers for once in his life. And maybe he'd let it go too far.

And judging by the furious, devastated look on Quinn's face, he had. "I – I'm sorry," he said helplessly.

Quinn's jaw clenched as she looked at him. "Good. Just… I need some space, okay?" Without waiting for a response, she turned around, leaving him standing alone in the corridor.

He needed to fix this.

..

That evening, Shelby entered her music room just past ten. She found Ryan sprawled on the floor listening to some of her old tapes. "What are you up to?" she questioned, startling the teenager.

"Song hunting," Ryan replied, as he pressed the pause button on the stereo. "I need to find the right song to sing to Quinn, especially since I have made a major misstep in our relationship this week."

"Oh? Would you like to share?" Shelby settled down on the couch. "I did hear something about a little spat in the corridors today."

"Who told you that?"

"The teacher's lounge is a gossip pit," Shelby answered dryly. "I'm pretty sure none of the teachers watch TV anymore, just listening to high school drama is entertainment in and of itself. Not to mention the fascinating war between Will Schuester and Coach Sylvester."

"Huh," Ryan said thoughtfully. "Normally my money would be on Coach Sylvester, but the advantage seems to be with Mr. Schue currently."

"That's true." Shelby glanced at the tapes Ryan had taken out of her cabinets. They were the old-fashioned ones, the kind that had to be rewound to play them again. Most of them had songs that were recorded before CDs were popular. "What are you listening to?"

"Actually, they're homemade mixes," Ryan admitted. "I think you made them, but I've never heard these songs before." He pressed the play button, and music started streaming out. "I know it's you singing, but who were you covering? I don't recognize the song titles on the tape cover. Some of them aren't quite my style, but they're really pretty good."

Shelby listened to the tape for a few seconds, before recognizing the music. "I wasn't covering."

"Huh?"

"Is that the 1992 tape?" Shelby asked, and Ryan nodded. "I wrote those."

Ryan's eyes widened. "Original songs?"

"Don't sound so surprised."

"That's actually pretty cool," Ryan said, smiling. "Like I said, they're good." He smirked. "I like the lyrics in All of the Above."

"Yeah, well, I was nineteen when I wrote that one, it's not nice to judge," Shelby snarked.

"I can tell."

"Oh hush. It was a phase. Which ones have you listened to?"

Ryan thought. "I think I've listened to four songs," he answered slowly. "This is the fifth."

Shelby nodded, picking up the tape case. She remembered recording these in her second year of college for one of her theater arts classes. She'd made her own copy, this copy, just for fun. She'd written these songs throughout her late teens and early twenties, stopping a while before she'd entered into the contract with the Berrys.

"Did you write any more besides this?"

Shelby glanced at the box of tapes Ryan had been digging around in. "Yeah. Two more." She looked at the covers, before pulling out one tape, then another. She handed them to Ryan, who took them eagerly.

"Why did you write these?" he asked curiously.

"Music is good for expressing your feelings," Shelby explained. "That's the whole point. Otherwise it's just noise. And sometimes it's not enough to use another person's words. Sometimes you need to use your own. That's why."

Ryan nodded absently, and Shelby gave him a suspicious look. He had that expression where she just knew he was thinking up some sort of scheme. Then he smirked again. "What was running through your head when you wrote Planet Z?"

Shelby mock-glared at him as he changed tapes. "Maybe this was a mistake, I should take those back."

"No, don't." He waited as the tape started running, and then Shelby saw his expression change. "What song is this?"

"My Own Worst Enemy," Shelby said automatically, remembering the emotions that had led her to write this, and her second-guessing of every important decision she made. Mother and son listened in silence, both lost in their own thoughts. "I wrote it in 1995."

Ryan glanced at her. That was just after he'd been born. "Why?"

"Because I felt like I'd been sabotaging myself in every decision I'd made," she answered bluntly. Pretty much every single decision she'd made back then had been the wrong one.

"Did it help?"

"It was…cathartic, I suppose," Shelby admitted. Ryan nodded as she stood up. "Don't stay up too late."

"Okay."

"I love you."

"Love you too."


The next morning Ryan opened his locker, shuffling through some sheet music. "So, how did it go?" Ryan asked as he saw Puck walking up to him.

"She stood me up," Puck answered morosely.

"Oh."

"I don't get it. I've never been stood up before, why would she turn down a date with the Puckasaurus?"

"Well, maybe because you're kind of a jerk," Ryan retorted, rolling his eyes at the other boy's arrogance. "Puck, you call yourself a sex shark. And I think what you did to Quinn was despicable. You got her drunk and then you took advantage of her."

"I already know I'm a screw-up, okay?"

He closed his locker and faced Puck, who looked very remorseful. Ryan sighed, relenting. "You're not a bad guy, Noah. When it really counts, you come through for us. I remember when you quit the football team for glee last year." Coach Tanaka had purposefully scheduled football practice with glee rehearsals to force the boys to choose, but only Finn had chosen the football team. "You just need to find some way to get Lauren to see it. Be honest with her about why you want to go out with her."

"Fine." Puck looked around, speaking after a bit of hesitation. "Quinn's okay now, right?" he asked awkwardly. "I mean she has to be, it's been almost a year."

Ryan shook his head. "She's getting better, but I don't think giving away a child is something you get over very quickly. Are you over it?"

"Yeah, it's whatever," Puck said unconvincingly. "Does – uh – do you know if she knows how she's doing? You know… Beth."

"You should ask her that yourself," Ryan told him gently. It was Quinn's decision to let Puck know about Beth. She'd told Ryan that Puck had declined regular updates when they'd been finalizing the adoption.

"Right." He looked away. "I guess it's good that she has you now," he said begrudgingly. "She deserves better than Finn or me, anyways."

Ryan nodded, not knowing what to say to that. The bell for the first class of the day rang. "Good luck with Lauren, okay?" he told the football player. "I'm sure you can figure out how to get through to her."

Puck just nodded. "Yeah. Thanks, dude."

..

A few hours later, Quinn entered the choir room, where a few of the other kids were already waiting. Fortunately Ryan wasn't there yet. She'd been avoiding her boyfriend all day, not particularly wanting to see him with his legions of fans at the moment. She was a little ashamed of her outburst yesterday though.

Mr. Schue came a few minutes later, followed by Ryan, who glanced at her for a second before taking a seat next to Mike, obviously trying to respect her request for space. She wasn't sure how she felt about that. On one hand, she was still a little upset with him, but on the other, she did miss him next to her. She was pulled out of her thoughts when she realized Finn was actually talking in the front of the room.

"…kissed almost all the girls in the school and raised $323 for the glee club," he said tiredly. Quinn looked at him more closely, and he didn't look so good. She frowned slightly.

"All right Finn, thanks," Mr. Schue said. "That'll pay for half a ticket to Nationals, so, uh, still a long way to go." He patted Finn on the back, sending him back to his seat. "Now, I believe it's time to hear what the world's greatest love song is to Miss Tina Cohen-Chang. Give it up, everybody."

Everyone clapped, and Quinn heard Finn ask nobody in particular if it was getting kind of stuffy in the room. A few minutes later, Tina had been overcome with emotion and had broken down crying in the middle of My Funny Valentine, and everyone was looking around uncomfortably.

"Okay, that was powerful," Mr. Schue said, going over to check on Tina. "Almost too powerful."

Finn raised his hand. "Mr. Schue, can I be excused, I don't feel well."

Santana smirked. "Let me guess. You have a sore throat, your glands are swollen, and you're feverish."

"Yeah, which is why I need to go to the nurse."

"Sounds like you have mono," Santana continued smugly. "Also known as the Kissing Disease. Maybe you shouldn't have tongued all the girls in the school, huh?"

Quinn looked sharply at Santana to find a very happy smile on her face, which was rarely a good sign. Of course. Santana had probably given him mono. Quinn knew that Santana was immune to mono after all the times she'd caught it. Now that she thought about it, Kenzie had been looking a little peaky this morning too. Quinn smiled slightly. Looks like she had to thank Santana again. This was going to get really tedious soon.

After Finn had left the room, Ryan raised his hand. "Mr. Schue, if no one wants to go next, I'll volunteer. I have a song that I believe fits the assignment criteria perfectly."

Mr. Schue nodded. "Okay, sure. Go ahead, Ryan."

Smiling, Ryan took the floor. "I'd like to dedicate this song to my girlfriend." Quinn looked at him curiously, and he sent her a slightly lopsided smile. "I know that you were right yesterday. I haven't been a very good boyfriend this past week," he started. "And I'm truly sorry for that. But I want you to know that it doesn't matter. I don't see any of those other girls, because you're everything for me. I love you." He looked at the band, then back at Quinn. "For me, love means that everything else pales in comparison. And I think this song expresses what I want to say about how I love you." He nodded at Brad the piano player.

The strings band started playing a smooth rhythm, giving the music an old, classic 1950's feel. After a couple of bars, Quinn smiled in recognition, receiving one in return from Ryan as he started singing.

Are the stars out tonight?

I don't know if it's cloudy or bright

Cause I only have eyes for you, dear

Ryan closed his eyes as he crooned out Sinatra's version of I Only Have Eyes For You. Quinn couldn't keep the smile of her face as he sang. His voice was magnificent as always, and the rich tone he poured into the song made her thrill all over.

The moon may be high

But I can't see a thing in the sky

Cause I only have eyes for you.

His eyes met hers now, and she could almost feel herself swooning at the romantic song. He flashed her a smile as he went into the next part.

I don't know if we're in a garden

Or on a crowded avenue

You are here, so am I

Maybe millions of people go by

But they all disappear from view

And I only have eyes for you

Ryan's smile broadened as the band went into the instrumental, the music turning jaunty as he flitted forward, extending a hand out to Quinn. She stared at him for a moment before Tina pushed her up and into Ryan's arms. She laughed as Ryan twirled them around, dancing to the classic tune. She looked up into his eyes as they moved, his warm brown sparkling as he smiled at her. And finally she let it sink in that those girls didn't mean anything to him, because he loved her.

I don't know if we're in a garden

Or on a crowded avenue

You are here, so am I

Maybe millions of people go by

But they all disappear from view

And I only have eyes for you.

..

Ryan's performance was met with enthusiastic applause from most of the glee club, but Ryan only cared about the reaction of the person he was holding in his arms. Quinn was smiling softly, tilting her head on one hand as she looked at him. The bell rang, and the rest of the glee club filed out. Soon, it was just the two of them in the choir room. He looked shyly at Quinn. "So, what did you think?"

"It was perfect," Quinn told him, wrapping her arms around him. "I love you."

He smiled in relief as he wrapped his arms around her, resting his cheek in her hair. He hated fighting with her. "I love you too." He paused for a moment. "I'm glad you liked it, I know how much you like vintage songs."

Quinn smiled. "Sinatra's one of my favorites. I think I like you better though."

"I aim to please." He hesitated again. "I'm sorry. About not calling off the girls who were flirting with me. I didn't really figure out that they were flirting until you pointed it out, but I should have. I think I got carried away by all the people who were paying attention to me, and not the slushy type."

"It's okay," Quinn sighed. "And I'm sorry too. About blowing up. I shouldn't have done that. That girl just makes me so mad, though."

"Don't worry, I think you scared her off quite effectively."

Quinn smirked in amusement. "Yeah." She paused, smile fading. "I was just so upset because I saw you talking to Kenzie again yesterday, and after what she said that morning I just got so mad at her…"

Ryan stared at her for a moment. "What did she say?"

Quinn sighed. "She was just baiting me," she said. "She's had it out for me ever since Coach Sylvester made me captain in freshman year. And now that she's captain, she suggested that maybe you'd want someone with more status than me. Someone like her. Made a few digs about my weight, how I'm 'letting myself go'."

"Well, that's completely untrue," Ryan told her vehemently, scowling at the thought. "Don't listen to anything she says. I don't care if you're head cheerleader, or She's just jealous because she knows you're so much better than her. Trust me." He gave her a light kiss on the cheek. "And you know what? You're gorgeous."

"Thanks," Quinn answered softly, smiling at him. "I guess I'll have to get used to it for the future, when you have hordes of fans ready to throw themselves at the stage for you."

Ryan smiled widely. This was the first time Quinn had hinted that she thought they'd be together for the long haul. He was confident in their relationship, and he was fairly certain that she was too, but this was the first time she'd said anything.

"Yes, you are," he agreed. "But don't ever worry about anyone else, okay? Because," he moved closer, pressing a kiss to her neck, feeling her melt against him. "I," he moved his mouth lower, "am all yours, Lucy Quinn Fabray." He moved up to the spot just under her ear, leaving a trail of kisses in his wake, and she shuddered as he found the spot that always drove her crazy. "I don't see any of those other girls, because you're everything for me. You understand?"

"I understand," she breathed out, and he reluctantly pulled away. They were still in a public setting after all, and anyone could walk in at any moment.

"Breadstix tonight?" he asked hopefully. "Blaine and the Warblers are putting on a special show for Valentine's Day."

"Okay," Quinn answered, smiling, causing Ryan to swoop down for another stolen kiss.

..

"Place sure is packed," Santana noted, sliding into the booth Ryan had been sharing with Quinn.

"Hello, Santana," Ryan answered, taking a sip of his iced tea, no longer fazed by the Latina's antics. It was the evening of Valentine's Day, and he and Quinn were just finishing dinner at Breadstix. "Did you want something?"

"Nope."

"Good to know." The evening had gone pretty well, and he and Quinn had sorted things out. He glanced around idly. He'd seen Puck sitting with Lauren earlier, and was happy that things had worked out, even if he did think that it was a weird pairing. He never would have thought that the school man-whore would go for Lauren Zizes. His attention shifted back to Santana, who had a slight frown on her face. He followed her gaze to see Brittany sharing a bowl of pasta with Artie. "You really like her, don't you?"

"No I don't," Santana said automatically, before glaring back at Ryan. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"If you say so."

The two were quiet for a second. "Fine. If – and I'm not saying I do – I did, you know, like Brittany, it doesn't matter. She likes Wheels."

"She's with Artie because she knows you won't be with her," Ryan corrected. "And she's right. You can't be with her until you admit that you like her to yourself."

"That's because I don't!"

"Don't what?" Quinn asked, as she slid into the booth beside Ryan. She looked at him curiously, and he gave her a meaningful look. She nodded.

"Okay, it's all cutesy that you two can talk telepathically or whatever, but hows 'bout you clue the rest of us in?" Santana snarked. Quinn ignored her in favor of looking for Brittany in the crowd.

"Oh," the blonde nodded.

"What, 'oh'?" Santana grumbled.

"You should just go talk to Britts," Quinn said, taking a drink of her iced tea.

Santana stared at her. "What the hell? Did you tell her?" she demanded of Ryan, who held up his hands in defense.

"Oh, please," Quinn rolled her eyes. "We've been the Unholy Trinity for years, and I'm not stupid. What I am was the third wheel."

"I do not like Brittany that way," Santana insisted, after a surreptitious look around to check that no one was listening.

"Yes you do, and she likes you too, you just need to do something about it," Quinn informed her.

"That's basically what I've been saying," Ryan chimed in.

"Whatever," Santana grumbled, going back to her original table. Ryan turned to Quinn.

"You really think she has chance with Brittany?"

"Of course," Quinn nodded. "It's kind of obvious, they're always together, or at least they were before Artie. If Santana grows a pair and talks to B, I think they'd be great together. Plus she might be able to stop Santana from being such a bitch."

"True." The two were complete opposites and would probably complement each other perfectly. Ryan propped his head up with his arm against the table, staring appreciatively at the scoop-necked blouse she was wearing. "Want to get out of here?" he asked hopefully.

Quinn smiled at him innocently. "Still pretty early," she said. "Sure you don't want to hang out around here some more?"

He moved up closer beside her. "I can think of a few things we could do at home…" he suggested, trailing a hand along her arm. She just smirked at him.

"Get the bill, and we'll see what we can do."

Ryan lost no time paying for their dinner, and soon they were on their way to his house. Judy was having friends over for the evening. They quickly made their way up to his room, Quinn pulling him down to her level for a long kiss. "Is Shelby going to be out late?" she asked, pulling back for air.

"Yeah, she's with my dad," Ryan answered breathlessly.

Quinn smiled. "Good." She pushed him down to sit on the edge of the bed, before settling herself in his lap, moaning as his hardness pressed against her. Setting her hands on his shoulders she rocked forward, drawing a sudden gasp from him as his hands ran up her thighs. Quinn pushed his hands off though, smiling mischievously. "Hands off." Ryan groaned reluctantly as she caught his lips in another searing kiss, swirling her tongue in his mouth as she rocked on top of him.

"You're evil, you know that?" Ryan whimpered, as he struggled to keep his hands off her as instructed. Quinn smiled, trailing her lips up to his ear as she sucked lightly on his earlobe.

"Oh, I know," she assured him, grinding down especially hard and causing him to almost choke on his own tongue. "Just consider it payback for last week, huh?" She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him flush against her as she crushed their lips together, moaning as their bodies pressed up against each other.

"I – I already t-told you I was sorry about that," Ryan stuttered. She slowly placed a trail of open-mouthed kisses down his neck as she slipped a hand under his shirt, feeling his rapid breathing under her fingers.

"I know, and I forgive you," she told him, closing her eyes in pleasure as his dick pressed perfectly against her core. He thrust upwards into her, putting just the right amount of pressure on her clit, causing her eyes to roll back. "But like you said, I'm evil."

Ryan groaned again as she nipped on his pulse point before sucking at it, all the while keeping up her rocking on his lap as he bucked his hips into her erratically. "Oh god."

Sensing her boyfriend was about to come, Quinn moved her lips back up to his for a kiss before slowing her movements. Ryan whined in disappointment. She slowly pulled the shirt off, smiling as she let her gaze rove over his body. "You know, I really didn't like the way all those girls have been looking at you."

"It won't happen again," Ryan panted out, trying to run his hands up her legs again, only to be batted away. He moaned as Quinn dragged her fingers down his chest and across his abs. He bucked against her, frantic for more pressure. Quinn swore she could almost feel him throbbing against her even through their clothes. "I'm all yours, Quinn."

She hummed approvingly. "I like that." She ground down onto him, the tip of his cock pressing teasingly against her. Not for the first time, she wondered what it would feel like to let him completely inside her. She kissed him lightly, letting her tongue run over his bottom lip.

"It's true, I'm all yours, I swear," Ryan said desperately, leaning forward as he thrust up. Quinn smiled, licking along his neck again, torturously slow. "Quinn, please."

"Well, since you asked so nicely…" The blonde ground down, hard, causing both of them to gasp as Quinn sped up her rocking again. Ryan's hands came to rest on her waist, and this time Quinn allowed the touch, letting him pull her close to him. She let her head fall back as he kissed her neck.

Suddenly she let out a squeal as he gripped her thighs and stood up, depositing her on her back on the bed as he fell on top of her. Eyes met for a moment and then they were kissing again in a mess of lips and teeth and tongue, Ryan thrusting down on top of her.

"Oh god, Ryan, harder!" Quinn shuddered as her boyfriend's dick rubbed against her clit with a glorious friction. She was so close, and finally Ryan thrust up hard, hitting her sex perfectly, and Quinn leaned her head on his shoulder as her climax washed over her. With a deep groan Ryan hit his own finish, and he collapsed on top of Quinn, his weight settling pleasantly on her own body.

As they rode down their highs, Quinn tapped Ryan on the side, prompting him to roll over onto the bed. The couple spent the next few moments in silence, busy catching their breaths.

Ryan flipped over onto his side, staring adoringly at his girlfriend. She was so amazing, so perfect, and he couldn't believe how badly he'd messed up with his newfound popularity. He needed to do better. "I promise, it won't happen again."

Quinn just smiled, knowing what he meant. "Okay."

Ryan smiled goofily. Sometimes he still found it hard to believe that someone like her would pay attention to someone like him. He buried his nose in her golden hair. He smiled at the thought of going to sleep later with her scent in his sheets. "Happy Valentine's Day, Quinn."

"You too."

Then Ryan's eyes flew to the bedside clock. 10:11. "Oh crap, I think my parents are going to be home soon," he said, springing into a sitting position. He wasn't allowed to have Quinn in his room when Shelby wasn't home.

Quinn looked at the time as well. "And I need to get home."

He looked around the room to find his shirt, which was strewn on the floor. He quickly put it on as Quinn tried to get her hair back into a semblance of order. "You ready?" Ryan asked.

Quinn nodded, and the couple went downstairs. Ryan opened the door, and once he and Quinn were outside, pulled out his keys.

..

A few minutes later, James opened the car for Shelby, letting her into the passenger seat. "So, how did the evening rate?" he asked playfully as he got into the driver's seat.

"Hmm," Shelby said thoughtfully. "I give it an eight out of ten."

"What? Why?"

"I don't give perfect grades easily, it gives my students something to strive for," Shelby answered solemnly. James rolled his eyes, leaning over to give her a kiss.

"I'm not one of your students though," he said, leaning his forehead on hers for a second, before pulling back.

Shelby smiled at him affectionately as he started the car, pulling out of the parking lot. "That is true. I had a great time," she said sincerely. In fact, it had been the best Valentine's Day she'd had in years. "Thank you."

James beamed at her. "Well, the night's not over yet," he said mischievously. Shelby chuckled at him.

"Only if Ryan isn't home yet," she cautioned him. They had discussed her spending the night at his apartment, but she didn't think she could just leave Ryan on his own for the night without notice. She loved having Ryan, but there were times that kids put a damper on the romance department.

"Got it." A few minutes later, James pulled into Shelby's driveway. "Just in case he's in…" He leaned over the console again, pressing his lips against hers, moaning as she deepened the kiss, cupping her hand around the back of his neck. His hand came up to tangle in her hair before they broke apart, breathing heavily. Shelby smiled at him contentedly before glancing out the window to spot two figures on the front porch.

"Is that Ryan?" James asked.

Shelby nodded. "Yep." She glanced at the dashboard clock, which read 10:15. She got out of the car, followed by her – boyfriend? They couldn't quite find the right label. She stepped up to the porch, unnoticed by the two teenagers. Ryan was busy locking the door, and Quinn was looking the other way. She cleared her throat.

Quinn quickly looked towards her, eyes widening at the raised eyebrow Shelby sent her way. Ryan took a second to turn around, and he had a nervous smile on her face.

"Hi, mom." He peered around her to see James, who was next to Quinn, hiding a smile.

"Good evening, Ryan," Shelby answered nicely. "I don't suppose you recall the rule about not having girls over unsupervised, yes?"

Ryan gulped nervously. "Uh, yeah," he said convincingly. "That's why I was just about to drive Quinn home. In fact, I also remembered that I have a 10:30 curfew, which gives me just enough time to get her home and back." He smiled charmingly at his unimpressed mother.

Shelby kept her gaze at him for another moment before nodding. "All right. You do that. Good night, Quinn."

Quinn smiled weakly. "Good night, Shelby." The young couple started to hurry away.

"Ryan." Her son stopped and turned to look at her. "Just this once, okay?"

"Got it."

Shelby watched in amusement as Ryan drove off with Quinn. "Did you really have to scare them like that?" James asked teasingly, as he wrapped his arms around waist from behind.

"He knows he's not supposed to be alone with Quinn in the house, who knows what they get up to?" Shelby countered. Both Ryan and Quinn had told her that they weren't sleeping together yet, but they were teenagers. It was only a matter of time. Hopefully Ryan talked to her or James about it when it did happen.

On the upside, the house was all theirs. "Inside?" she asked.

James grinned, kissing her cheek. "Inside."


Hi everyone, it's almost been a couple weeks since the last update. I've been pretty busy with real life. Almost had to go to the hospital the other day for an allergic reaction. And I just got back home the other day after a nine-hour flight, and I'm pretty bummed out because I had to leave my family again for school. Classes start tomorrow, in about seven hours, actually, so updates will be slowing down again.

Anyways, hope you liked this installment. I managed to put in a serenade scene in this one, but there will probably be more in the future. I found Sinatra's rendition of I Only Have Eyes For You, and I thought it was perfect for this one. I also liked the song suggestions you guys posted in the reviews, and I'm already thinking of ways to work them in. About Ryan/Quinn's 'first time', we'll be getting there soon. Give it a few more chapters.

As always, mistakes are my bad. Thank you for your reviews, please keep on giving me long ones, I love hearing what you think.