Sophomore Year:
Quinn Fabray knew that everything that happened was a punishment, she wasn't a good enough daughter, a good enough friend, a good enough student, a good enough girlfriend. She hadn't mean to sleep with Puck, she wasn't lying when she told him that she felt fat that day, but that wasn't the only issue, her dad was on her case despite joining Cheerios during her freshman year she still wasn't the perfect little Christian girl her father wanted like her sister Frannie had been. Quinn could only take so much of the yelling before she texted Puck asking if he was around and had anything to drink, and being Puck he did, so she went over her house and they started drinking wine coolers. Once she was pleasantly numb and had some liquid courage she confessed to Puck that she was feeling stifled in her relationship with Finn and while she loved being friends with him she didn't know if she loved him, from here on out it gets fuzzy because for whatever reason Puck takes her confession and an ok to start making out with her, which definitely was not something she was interested in. She remembers pushing him off and reminding him about Finn and how she's still in a relationship with him and Puck just pushing more alcohol on her and she just wants the world to stop for a moment and be as happy as she is in her current alcohol hazed state so she accepts. After that she doesn't remember, she remembers vaguely Puck pressing himself into her and not being able to say no and feeling trapped, he falls asleep after he comes and she immediately leaves because she just feels so disgusting and she needs to take a shower and go to bed and pretend like this never happened.
She hates how she has to recount her daughter's conception to Finn after Rachel announces to the Glee club that Finn is in fact not the father, she hates even more that she has to do it Mrs. Hudson, who is the only adult that's looked at her with an ounce of respect since she's gotten pregnant. The three of them sit in his kitchen while she quietly explains what happened that night. Finn's looking even angrier then he did in the choirs room and Mrs. Hudson to her surprise doesn't look angry, she looks empathetic and Quinn can't understand why because she just lied and almost ruined her sons life. Their conversation ends as awkward as it began and she goes to Finn's room to pack the few belongings she has because she can't stay here anymore, not when she feels as guilty as she does. As she tries to leave Mrs. Hudson tries to stop her, she tries to say that they'll get Quinn some help and talk to a counselor. And Quinn knows that she's referring to the fact that she believes that Quinn was raped. But Quinn can't believe that she was raped because that's what happens to girls in an ally or those who get kidnapped, that's entirely different then her case of going over to Puck's house and getting drunk and ending up having sex. Later down the line Quinn does realize that Beth's conception wasn't consensual and that's why she can't be alone in the same room with Puck without feeling like she wants to vomit, or why every time she drinks she gets angry and defensive, or why she's so uneasy in tight situations.
And that's how Quinn ended up where she is, sleeping in her car in her high school parking lot. It's not ideal by any means, but its better then living with Finn and constantly feeling so guilty for what she did to him and Puck invited her to live with him but she just can't, something about her makes her feel uneasy and she doesn't trust him. She knows as the winter months approach she's going to have to find somewhere else to stay because living in her car during the winter months in Ohio certainly isn't going to be good for her or her baby, but it'll do for right now. Normally she tries to stay inside the school until after all the clubs are done, specifically Cheerios because she can't run into Coach Sue and have her look at her like she's a disappointment again. But Cheerios practice is running later then normal today and she's really tired and she just wants to take a nap, and she's finally perfected the art of sleeping in her car, so she chances it and heads out to the parking lot and moves her car to a more discrete location in hopes someone doesn't find her.
She's scared shitless when someone knocks on her window and startles her out of her sleep, she grabs her pepper spray that's attached to her key chain, she figured she'd have to have some kind of protection is she's going to be sleeping in a parking lot every night. When she rolls down her window she certainly isn't expecting to see Kurt and Mercedes there.
"Can I help you?" She asks because it's not like they have any meaningful relationship and she hasn't spoken more than a few sentences to either of them the entire time she's been in school with them.
"We've noticed for the past couple of days that your car is always here still when we leave Cheerios practice and not that we were stalking you or anything, we just happened to notice, and so today when we got and your car was still here we decided to wait and see when you left, and we'll it's almost six and you're still here…" Kurt rambles before Quinn cuts him off. She's tired and while she didn't peg Kurt for a rambler he's starting to annoy her.
"Are you going somewhere with this Hummel?" she bites. She knows she should be nicer to him because he's chill and also hates Rachel Berry and despite the fact that her dad says gay people are sinners she really likes Kurt.
"Quinn are you sleeping in your car?" Mercedes questions, Quinn's thankful that she's blunt, though she isn't exactly thrilled that she now as to tell the two of them that she is in fact sleeping in her car because they found her asleep and if they've been watching her the past few days then it's clear that she's not going home.
"Yeah", Quinn hates admitting defeat and people seeing her at her lowest because that's how people learn that she's not the all intimidating HBIC that she really tries to make herself out to be.
"Quinn you can't sleep in your car, it's not safe." Quinn knows that Kurt means well because she too knows that she shouldn't be sleeping in her car, she really can't deal with him being patronizing right now.
"You don't think I know that! But it's not exactly like I have anywhere else to go. I can't stay with Finn after lying to him and I just can't stay with Puck!" She snaps
"Stay with me", Mercedes tells her calmly and Quinn's shocked because it's not like her and Mercedes are friends and while the idea of sleeping in a real bed with heating and getting a real meal, she doesn't know if she can chance it.
"Mercedes you can't just spring this on your parents. I know that it's not the greatest idea but I got myself into this mess and it's not too cold yet, I'll be fine." She hopes that reminding them that by cheating on Finn with Puck that they'll be reminded that she isn't worth helping and that she can do it on her own.
"I already talked to them about it earlier in the week when Kurt and I originally suspected you were sleeping in your car, my brother moved out to go to school so we have an extra bedroom that you can sleep in. Plus I know you feel bad about sleeping with Puck, I know a lot of Glee members were worried about the two of them in this situation and how they'd react, but Kurt and I realized that no one was really paying attention to you and how you were doing and just because you screwed up doesn't mean that people shouldn't care about you." and Quinn almost cries because she's been trying to act tuff this whole time and like she good do this on her own, but in reality she's terrified and she's struggling to keep it together. She knows it has the potential to be awkward because it's not like she's friends with Mercedes but anything's better then sleeping in her car or going to a shelter.
So Quinn agrees and a smile graces her lips as Kurt lets out a small squeal of excitement and Mercedes laughs and sighs in relief, before asking if Quinn would prefer if she drive her or if Mercedes drives with Kurt. Quinn ever the practical person says that she'll drive Mercedes home because it doesn't make sense for Kurt to drive all the way across town just to drop her off. Quinn quickly rearranges some of the stuff she has from home and allows some space for Mercedes to put her stuff in the back and takes the blankets off the passenger side seat.
The drive to Mercedes house is a little awkward, neither girl really knows what to say and Quinn just slightly wishes that she had let Kurt drive Mercedes so that way she could plan on greeting Mercedes family correctly and making a good impression. Mercedes can tell that Quinn's nervous by the why she keeps biting her bottom lip and running her teeth over it and how she keeps playing with the radio.
"You don't need to be nervous Quinn, my parents know that you're pregnant and they're cool with it and aren't going to judge you." Quinn knows that this probably true but her track record with adults looking at her not as a disappointment these past few months isn't great and she doesn't want Mercedes parents to look at her the same way.
"I'm not nervous." Quinn knows that it's failed attempt to keep her self-image up and that if she's going to be living with Mercedes that she's going to have to let her guard down, but Quinn feels like everything is happening so quickly and she needs to keep this façade up if nothing else. When they pull up to Mercedes house she feels her stomach drop because this is it and she has to make a good impression and she has to get them to like her or all bets are off and they could kick her out again. She leaves her stuff in her car minus her backpack just in case Mercedes parents change her mind. Packing everything she could as quickly as possible was a traumatic experience she doesn't really want to repeat.
Despite Quinn's nerves her meeting with Mercedes parents goes surprisingly well and they don't rescind their offer of letting her live with them, if anything their more adamant about it after meeting her. They give her the grand tour and while it's not as big has the house her parents live in, it feels so much more like a home. There are framed family pictures everywhere, but not like the professional ones the Fabray's took, just normal shots that family members or friends took of the four of them together. Their house seems lived in and certainly not like a museum like her house felt. When she they show her the room she's going to be staying in she almost cries, they've clearly stripped some of elements of Mercedes brother and made it generic and allowed for some customization on her behalf. She does start crying when Mercedes mom puts her hand on her shoulder and asks if she's ok when she notices Quinn start to shake while trying to keep her emotions together. Quinn's never felt love like this before and quite literally doesn't know what to do because her dad hates her and she can't remember the last time her moms even shown affection towards her let alone hugged and tried to comfort her.
After a highly emotional first night at the Jones' house Quinn settles in quite nicely and realizes that they are so much different from her family but in a good way. Their loving and no one's yelling or questioning her every move and outside of the occasional beer she sees Mercedes dad drink there doesn't appear to be really any alcohol in the house. She still feels slightly indebted to them for taking her in so she tries to give them the hush money her mothers been sending to her so that way she won't contact police or anything and tell them that they kicked her out or talk to anyone at church about it. Mercedes parents are stubborn and won't accept because despite being Christan's themselves they don't believe in kicking out children and the way Quinn's parents treated her. Quinn knows she has to do something because she can't let the guilt continue to eat away at her like this so she starts cooking and baking. Mercedes parents are shocked at first because, they certainly weren't expecting anything from Quinn, but they learn that she's a pretty good cook and while they're afraid to ask why, it clearly makes her feel better so they let cook dinner at least once a week and back something on weekends.
Living with Mercedes also means that Quinn has gotten a healthy dose of one Kurt Hummel, originally thought she would be introducing on their time or find them annoying to hang out with, but she's pleasantly surprised when she finds that she enjoys hanging out with them more than she ever did her Cheerios friends, minus Brittney and Santana. She feels like she can be herself and she's not putting on the HBIC act or the good Christan girl or anything else anyone expected from her. Plus they both hate Rachel which is always a plus for Quinn who really can't stand the girl, Kurt and Mercedes hate her in particular because somehow she always talks Schue into giving her yet another solo and Quinn starts realize how lopsided Glee is when it comes to singing solos. Anytime Kurt or Mercedes try to fight for solo she always makes sure to make them up because their her friends now, plus she would much rather here either of them sing something than hear Rachel sing yet another Broadway song. Despite essentially being the Three Musketeers, there is one thing that still makes Quinn uneasy and that is sleepovers. Ever since Mercedes and Kurt joined Glee they have a bi-monthly standing sleepover where they hang out gossip and eat junk food, ever since Quinn started living with Mercedes she's been invited to go but she just can't bring herself too. She knows that it wouldn't cause an issue and in reality the both of them have been hounding her about coming for weeks, but she can't help but feel like she's taking away from their best friend time which she wants them to have.
But about halfway through the third month of Quinn living with them, right before Thanksgiving Break she agrees, their having a sleepover at Kurt's house and she's excepted to bring herself and her best pair of pajamas. Quinn knows its illogical and that Burt's never met her and it's not like she bullied Kurt specifically but she's terrified to meet him. The Cheerios were not exactly nice to Kurt before he joined up and they're the ones who started slushing and she hopes that Kurt hasn't told his dad any stories or Carole for that matter because she knows that they're dating and while she's happy for them, she's afraid that Carole told Burt the whole baby saga and he already hates her and he hasn't even met her yet. Despite plenty of reassurances that Quinn does not in fact need to bring anything except herself and her pajamas and maybe a movie, by the end of the work he tells Quinn to bring her famous brownies because she's relentless and he'll never pass up the opportunity to eat some of Quinn's baked goods or cooking and his dad does love sweets. The night before the sleepover Quinn stays up til well after midnight making brownies and some cookies just in case Mr. Hummel doesn't like brownies, the next day she tries not to think about it because Beth already makes nauseous without the prospect of meeting someone's parents and the added stress doesn't help, she can feel the baby kick now, it makes her a little uncomfortable at first but she grows to love it because somehow she's learning to love this little baby that she swore a few months ago ruined her life. The only time she has an issue with it is when Puck figures out it's happening, she doesn't know how, but at some point he figured when the baby starts to kick and can recognize based on look on her face when it's happening. The first time he puts his hands on her stomach without asking she has a panic attack during Glee and Mercedes and Kurt have to help her out of the room and bring her home. Later that night Quinn confesses that it reminded her of what happened when her and Puck had sex and how disguising and terrified she felt. Something clicks for both Kurt and Mercedes and they realize that maybe there was something deeper going on when it came to their hook up.
Burt Hummel loves that his son has finally found friends that love and accept him for who he is, he knows that Kurt's gay and that he wasn't always your stereotypical little boy, but Burt loves him all the same. The Glee kids tend to be the ones his son brings home the most, though there are view Cheerios who have dropped by once or twice and a young man named Mike Chang who was on the football team with Kurt briefly. Despite all the sudden expansion of Kurt's friendship circle, one person seems to have risen above the ranks and become Kurt's best friend and that was Mercedes. He's meet Mercedes a couple of times and thinks she's a great friend to Kurt and he never minds it when she sleeps over for the weekend or sleeps over her house. In the last few weeks he's noticed another name come up with same frequency as Mercedes and that was Quinn Fabray. He's familiar with the Fabray family and he knows what they believe in and he knows that they don't take kindly to people like his son or Mercedes. He met Russell once when he came to pick his car up from his shop, he seemed like a dick then and he assumes he's still a dick. This makes him nervous about Quinn, that she'll be just like her parents and this will all be some elaborate plan to humiliate Kurt, he knows that Quinn used to be part of the Cheerios and was their leader. But he's trying to keep an open Kurt cause he knows that his son is smart enough to make his own friends and he trusts his judgement and does believe that kids may not end up exactly like their parents.
When he see's a small Volkswagen Bug outside his house at around a quarter to five he yells for Kurt because his friends are here and he knows that he has to make himself scarce because his son doesn't think he's cool. He's surprised when Kurt stops and tells him that he wants him to meet Quinn, he knows this must be important to his son because he gets a 5 minute lecture before the doorbell rings about how Quinn isn't like her parents and to not be judgmental.
When his son opens the door he isn't surprised to see Mercedes already decked out in pajamas carrying a sleeping bag and pillow, what he is surprised to see is a very well put together Quinn Fabray holding a pillow and a plate of baked goods. He invites the pair inside and introduces himself to Quinn who is nothing but lovely and well spoken in response, it not a little bit awkward and nervous. The trio quickly head down to the basement and he makes himself comfortable in the living room. Quinn feels like she can breathe for the first time today because her first meeting with Burt went well, he insisted she call him that, and he didn't seem put off by her and said she had a nice handshake. She knows she still has to make it through dinner with him, but she's feeling much more confident that he doesn't hate her and approves her friendship with Kurt. She's never been to Kurt's house before, and like Mercedes it feels much more homely and like people live there. The trio settle into the basement nicely and set up their spots for the evening, Kurt and Mercedes are going to share his bed and Quinn's going to get the futon because the two of them notice that Quinn doesn't take well to being touched suddenly and while she's grown to expect it from them, they want to make her as comfortable as possible. Once everyone's sleeping area they move into Kurt's favorite part of the night which is spending Russell Fabray's hush money on things he would definitely not approve of, when Kurt and Mercedes learned that Russell was sending Quinn money to not talk to people about what happened the two suggest that Quinn spend on things that Russell wouldn't approve of as like a fuck you to him.
Dinner goes surprisingly smooth, Quinn is a pleasant dinner guest and is one of the most well behaved and well versed teenagers he's ever meet, she's not as loud or emotional as his son or Mercedes but their dynamic works he thinks none the less. He does wonder how much of her is a performance or a façade she learned to put on by her parents. He knows that the Fabray's are wealthy people and that they frequently attend high class social events and parties and he imagines that because they brand themselves as the perfect family that Quinn has been taught how to be the perfect daughter as well. He can't imagine the kind of pressure that that kid must feel to up hold her family values and if she even wants to. He briefly wonders how her parents are taking her whole pregnancy he can't imagine that a family presents themselves like the Fabray's do had taken to well to their daughter's teen pregnancy.
It's been about two hours later and its half time during the Bengals game, they're a terrible team, Burt knows that their a terrible team but baseball seasons over and it's not like there is anything good to watch on TV so he'll continue to support the time. It's half time when he gets up to get another beer, they really are that bad and he needs something to make watching this game less painful. When he turns around his surprised to see Quinn Fabray standing in the back of his living room near the kitchen staring at his TV longingly, he knows she's a cheerleader and wonders if she's football fan as well because he too looks at the Bengals game longingly because they haven't play a good game in years.
"You a football fan kid?" He asks popping open another beer and leaning back against his counter.
"Yeah my dad used to take me and my sister to football and baseball games growing up. He always used to get so mad during games because of how terrible the time was." She told him letting out a watery laugh. Burt doesn't miss the way that Quinn uses past tense with her dad and he hopes it because they haven't found time to go recently or that he's boycotting games because they team is terrible and not because of a strained relationship with her dad. He wonders how her parents are taking this whole thing, he can't imagine two highly conservative and religious parents have taken well to this whole teen pregnancy thing. His curiosity gets the better of him and he asks.
"So how'd your parents take this whole thing. I know that you've been spending a lot of time with Mercedes and her family?" He knows that Kurt has mentioned how whenever the trio hangs out its usually at Mercedes house.
"Umm not so well. Finn told my dad by singing You're Having My Baby and once my dad picked up what was going on he brought us all into the living room to talk. After yelling at me about how much of a disappointment I was and how much better my sister was he set the microwave timer and told me I had thirty minutes to get out and that he didn't want to see me again. Finn was really great during the whole thing, he helped me back up my stuff and dragged me out of the house before they could say anything else. I'm pretty sure my mom was too drunk even understand what was going on let alone try to stop him." And Burt's heart absolutely breaks as the kid in front of him tries to keep it together and clearly isn't doing a very good job at it.
"Hey your parents are wrong! You are not a disappointment, you're a good kid who happened to mistake."
"I know I should hate them for what they did, but I really just miss my mom and dad" And Burt freezes because he's never had a daughter before and really isn't sure how to proceed in these kinds of situations so he pulls her into a hug, and he wants to throw up when she flinches and stiffens at first, but now she's gripping onto his flannel and letting out some of the most heart wrenching sobs he's ever heard.
"It's ok Quinn! It's ok! I know your parents suck and it's ok to miss them!" Her sobs are getting louder and Burt's panicking because he clearly isn't doing a great job consoling her so he blurts out the next best thing that comes to his mind which is "fuck it, I'm your dad". That gets her to stop crying as she lets out a watery laugh as she looks at up him with blood shot eyes and so much hope.
"Really?" She asks him, Quinn is unable to fathom an adult wanting to devote anymore time need be with her. Because her dad has to be right, because that means he threw her out for no reason and that he clearly must hate her.
"Really".
After that night Burt makes sure that Kurt invites Quinn over to the family dinners they have once a week, at first Kurt seems a little bit confused but he doesn't question it. Quinn absolutely loves Hummel family dinners, much to Kurt's dismay because they're supposed to be high schoolers who are too cool for their parents, Burt's thrilled as Quinn slowly starts to become more comfortable around them as she starts to open up her life and who she really is. Like how everyone excepts her to follow in the footsteps of her mother and to become at stay at home mother and wife but how Quinn wants to go to college and work, and she may have let slip that her parents used corporal punishment a little too frequently. Along with family dinners Quinn always has an open invitation to stop on Sundays to watch football or random days in the spring when there is a baseball game on, something that Quinn takes full advantage of.
Burt was able to get someone to look after the shop for him, which means he's sitting in Columbus getting ready to watch Kurt and the rest of New Directions perform at regionals. He had been unable to make it to sectionals, much to his dismay, so he made sure to get off for regionals, especially after hearing Quinn, Kurt and Mercedes excitedly talk about it over dinner for the last month. He absolutely loves their set list, he is a big classic rock guy, and he loves getting see everyone perform. Though he did wish that Schue would feature more kids, from what he's heard from the trio Mr. Schue leaves most of the solos for Finn and Rachel with Mercedes belting out the last notes. Kurt's never had a solo or duet at sectionals and Quinn apparently hasn't even sung in Glee Club since her audition, though she seems much less pressed about it then Mercedes and Kurt.
After the first several groups performed and the competition broke for lunch, Burt's waiting in the lobby because he and Kurt are going to go grab lunch, when Kurt and Mercedes coming running from backstage talking over each other and mentioning something about how Quinn's mom showed up and that she went into labor. Burt's heart sinks into his stomach because he knows its too early, according to Quinn she's only about 8 months and her mother showing up certainly isn't a good thing he imagines. So he rounds up any of the kids who don't want to ride over on the bus and starts driving towards Columbus General where Kurt said Quinn was going. They wait around for several hours until Kurt and Mercedes come out saying that Beth was here. He watches all the kids jump up and take shifts going back to visit Quinn, all except for Puck who he knows is the baby's dad which confuses him, later over the summer when it's around the time of Beth's conception and Quinn shows up at his house absolutely distraught and uncomfortable he learns why he wasn't allowed back there that day.
After all the kids make their visit Kurt pokes his head out and tells him that Quinn wants to see him. Quinn looks absolutely exhausted but he doesn't know if he's ever seen her smiling so much at the same time and her eyes light up as he walks into the room. He watches as she excitedly lifts up Beth and introduces her to Burt before handing her over to him. Burt's not an emotional man but even he'll admit her cried that day because he's starting view Quinn as one of his own kids and this is something akin to him getting a granddaughter and he knows that Quinn is putting the baby up for adoption, but he still chalks this up to one of the best moments of his life.
"Hey Mom, can you run down to the cafeteria and grab me something to eat, I'm starving?" Quinn asks her Mom, she's been watching her glare daggers into Burt's back for the last five minutes now and she needs to talk to Burt alone.
"Are you actually hungry or are just trying to keep your my mom from mentally stabbing me?" Burt asks with a chuckle, he didn't miss how Judy kept glaring at him and seemed uneasy by his presence. He wants to believe that its because he's middle class and not Christen, but he imagine that it has more to do with Kurt and his sexuality.
"My mom wants me to move back in with her. She says she gonna sober up and try to be a better parent." Quinn blurts out, she had been shocked when her mother had shown up at the competition asking her to move back home and swearing that she would get sober.
"Quinn that's great! I'm so happy for you!" Burt really is happy for Quinn, he knows how much it would mean to her to have one of her parents back in her life. Though Burt's still weary because he's well aware of Judy's alcohol problem and how uneasy Quinn feels at home.
"I mean she is my mom and I at least owe it to her to try and have a relationship with her. Right?"
"Listen I know that your parents are kind of shitty and that they have failed you in so many ways, but your mom saying so she's going to get sober sounds promising and she threw your dad out so you only have one parent to contend with." Burt muses, sitting down next on the edge of her bed.
"I'm just scared." Quinn whispers out, playing with the thin hospital sheet that lays over her.
"I think I'd be more concerned if you weren't scared. After everything your parents have put you through, you have a right to be anxious about going back to live with them. But here's the important thing that I need you to know, you will always have a place at the Hummel home, if you ever feel unsafe or if you just need to get out you are always welcome to come over. Plus I'm still expecting you to come family dinner once a week so don't think your getting rid of us that easily." He smiles, seeing Quinn's anxiety dissipate a little bit.
"Thanks Burt! You really are a great dad."