A/N: Yes I finally updated. I am sorry for the lengthy delay. I had severe writers block. I didn't know how to get where I wanted to go and do it naturally or at least as natural as possible. I think I finally did it, so let me know if you agree. I hope you like it. Disclaimer: I do not own GLEE or any of its characters. Glee belongs to its creators and FOX.

Ch. 8

I stood in front of the old brick apartment building a bag of luggage beside me pondering the events that had brought me to stand here today. It all started a month ago as I went to tell Carmen that I was dropping out of NYADA.

I stood perfectly still in front of Carmen, a woman I highly respected and was ashamed to be disappointing. Her face held no indication as to her reactions or feelings towards my surprising departure from NYADA, a school I had fought tooth and nail to get into. The pregnant pause after I'd told her I was pregnant was palpable and tense.

Finally she rested her folded hands on her mahogany desk, "Your pregnant and leaving NYADA?"

I nodded tears threatening to fall but I held them back, this was my doing and I couldn't cry over it in front of her. "Yes, my father's and I feel it is best if I move home, so that they can support me during the pregnancy and after."

She nodded, "I think it goes without saying that I am shocked by this news. Rachel you are by far one of the most talented students to walk these halls. You have good head on your shoulders and are a smart girl." My head dropped it hurt to have let my mentor down. "What surprises me more than this unexpected pregnancy is that you are dropping out of school, that you would so willingly leave a school that you fought so hard to get into the first time."

"I don't want too, but I don't know how I can continue, I can't take most of my classes because if I fell it could harm the baby and I don't know how I could afford going to school and paying for all my bills and rent without a job, it would be very hard to work with the NYADA schedule next year."

Carmen stared at me before leaning back in her chair, "Then don't leave. Take the year off Rachel, I will grant you a leave of absence. Take next school year to have your baby and get settle then come back to finish your schooling. Rachel you are good, very good and I am sure you could eventually land a role in a Broadway but you still have so much to learn and if you finish your training you will not only be on Broadway but I have no doubt that you will win a Tony."

Could I really do this, could I finish my schooling? Carmen was being unnecessarily generous to grant me a leave of absence from school, but even then I would still have a child to take care of. Could I be a mom and a student at the same time?

Carmen must have seen my hesitance because she said, "Take the leave and if in a year you still don't think you can finish school you can officially drop out."

I bit my lip before nodding, "Thank you so much, I'll take the leave and I promise not to disappoint you again."

"Oh Rachel you haven't disappointed me, everyone makes mistakes it's how you move on from them, how you learn from them that matters. I still expect great things from you Rachel Berry."

I was on cloud nine when I left NYADA. My dreams weren't totally gone. I still had a chance to graduate and that meant more to me than I ever knew. I wanted to have a degree in my craft, it just seemed right to be able to prove that I was a true student of theater and that I didn't make it to Broadway by luck or even just talent.

I gradually fell from my cloud over the next three weeks as I sat in my apartment trying to find a job that would let me not only pay my rent but save up money. My fathers had offered to pay for everything but I couldn't allow that, it was time for me to grow up and take care of myself. I had a baby on the way and I couldn't rely on my fathers to take care of us. They of course had been persistent so we agreed that they would pay for my hospital bills because I was still under their insurance and I would take over my rent. If I couldn't continue to pay for my portion of the rent then I would move home. They still wanted me to come home like originally planned but after my discussion with Carmen I realized that I wasn't ready to go back to Lima, I had left there to become something and I hated, I mean really hated the idea of going back unaccomplished.

Three weeks in and I had found a waitressing job that everyone hated because they didn't think I should be on my feet so much in my condition. It also just barley paid my rent each week not leaving much for savings or living. I needed a second job. The worst part however was watching Kurt and Santana going off doing their own dreams every day. They were both in summer school and came home every evening gushing about what they had learned or did that day. It was hard to be happy for them when I knew I could be doing the same.

Everything changed though when Quinn arrive for a visit. I hadn't seen her since the weekend before I went to Carmen. She had started summer school at Yale as well. I didn't really know why, it wasn't like she was Kurt or Santana who were trying to catch up after a year out of school, but then again it was Quinn and she was one of the most intelligent person I know. She is always reading new book or listening to music I have never even heard of, and she always knows what is going on in the world.

We had been relaxing and watching a movie when I just couldn't hold it in any longer and I told Quinn all about how I was feeling. "It's like I am drowning Quinn. I feel sick all the time, I am tired all the time. Work is so long and exhausting and the customers are rude, I've had three men slap my butt during the night shift." I started crying and Quinn wrapped me up in her arms. It was so warm and comfortable. "I feel awful because I keep getting mad and snapping at Santana and Kurt when they get excited about school. Yesterday Santana was so happy because she was going to be in the lead in her dance recital and I just yelled at her for rubbing it in my face that I couldn't dance right now. I was so horrible and she just hugged me when I started crying."

I buried my face into Quinn's chest as she stroked my hair and I calmed down. "I have a suggestion that I want you to consider, I wasn't sure if I should or if I was over stepping but now I know it is the right thing. Rachel I want you to come live with me this year."

I sat up so fast, had I just heard what I thought I did, "What?"

"I want you to come live with me this year. My mom wasn't happy with me living in the dorms, don't ask me why but she wasn't so she bought me an apartment just off campus. I really don't want to live alone, so I was going to get a roommate but I'd much rather have you than a stranger. Second there are advantages of living in New Haven that you don't have here. First it cost less to live so you can save money. You won't have any rent to pay since Mom bought the place."

"No I would pay you." I said quickly.

"You could try but my mom would never cash the checks, nor would I let her. You could also have a better job. I volunteer down at the local community and the vocal coach there is moving so they are looking for a replacement. I took the liberty of showing them some clips of you and they thought you were amazing, of course, all you'd have to do is go for an interview and give a practice lesson."

I didn't know what to say. Quinn without know I would do it, went out of her way to get me a job, she was going to let me life with her rent free. It was just too much.

"I know how much it hurts to see Kurt and Santana going after their dreams while yours are on hold and I know it will eat you up for feeling jealous, so I just thought it might be less stressful for you to live with me up away from New York and Broadway. It might be a little escapists but a little bit isn't bad, sometimes it just makes us more sane and able to deal with the future with a clear mind and perspective."

My heart swelled at the kindness Quinn was showing towards me, she had solved all my problems and I couldn't be more grateful. "Yes, I'll move in."

Santana and Kurt were a little upset that I was leaving but eventually even they admitted that they were nervous about helping raise the baby during their first year of school. I promised to be back and with my father's insisting on paying my portion of the rent, Santana and Kurt were able to keep the apartment.

So here I was standing out front of Quinn's new apartment. I felt her come up beside me, "You alright?" She said gently.

"Yeah, I just can't believe we are doing this. We are living together, who would have ever thought?"

Quinn laughed, "Certainly not me. Now come on and I'll show you your room and the nursery."

"Nursery?" Quinn just smirked at me "I didn't tell you this was a three bedroom?"

It was unexpected but as I walked into the building I felt like I was home.

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