Hey, thanks for all the reviews! You guys rock :) I had to cut this chapter in half because I noticed just as I was about to post it that I'd messed up the POV at the end. Grrr. Upside, the next chapter will be up as soon as I've fixed it.

Chapter title is from the Avril Lavigne song: Keep Holding On.

Chapter Thirteen:

Whatever's Meant To Be Will Work Out Perfectly.

When the song was over she forced a thank you out through her closing throat and then fled the auditorium before any of them could see her give into yet more tears.

Rachel called after her but she didn't know if anyone tried to follow because she ran - and even carrying what could grow to be a ten pound baby she was still fast - down the empty corridors until she was locked in the bathroom behind the gym.

She was still there fifteen minutes later, sitting on the closed lid of a toilet with a wad of damp, crumpled tissues in her hand, when a beep signalled that she had a new text. As always the first name that sprang to mind was an impossible one. How had they even made it this far without exchanging cell phone numbers? But then again this thing might have felt like it had been going on forever but they'd only been anything worthy of note for . . .

Oh, God, a chuckle hurt her raw throat as she realised this was actually their one week anniversary. Another chuckle, this one bitter and hurting even more when she realised they'd been broken up for more than half of it. The most intense relationship of her life and it had only officially lasted three days!

Maybe she just wasn't cut out for intense. Bland and predictable might not have held the appeal it did a month ago, but at least it was reliable and she and Finn were just heading into their seventh month to prove it. Speaking of her boyfriend, that was probably him checking she was okay now.

Her frown deepened when she saw it from Santana instead. Did she really want to read it? She couldn't imagine it said anything particularly nice and she was so exhausted any anger she might normally feel would just to turn to increased melancholy and she just didn't have the energy for more tears.

Curiosity winning, she pressed read anyway.

Just read JBI's 'breaking news'. Very interesting. You two are gonna give me whiplash. Not that I believe it for a second but I'm willing to let everyone else believe it, for now ;)

What and . . . what?

There was more breaking news about her? Hadn't that slimy little bastard already ruined her enough for one day? There was no way she was going to text back asking for details, because this was still Santana and she was likely to mess with her just for fun – she already was if that wink was anything to go by – but Quinn had to find out somehow and soon what Santana was going to let everyone believe for now.

She didn't have the internet on her phone, her Dad wouldn't allow such easy access to the evils out there on the World Wide Web, but she couldn't wait until she got home. She had Cheerios practice before that and she needed to know what was going on, to be prepared for it, before she faced anyone else.

The computer science lab would be locked by now but, hey, she had a key.

She saw a few groups of kids on the way there, it was a game night and that always meant loiterers hanging out in the Cafeteria or the Quad, those students who saw no reason to go home just to come back a few hours later. Most of them stared at her as she passed before clumping to talk about her like she couldn't hear them. Or maybe they just didn't care anymore if she did.

She heard snatches of: "But how did she get pregnant if she's a . . ." and "Bet he ain't even the dad, everyone knows that Berry's a tranny . . ." and "But why let that freak blackmail her? I'da just broken her jaw so she couldn't tell anyone . . ."

Still frowning over that one, because . . . what? she sent up a silent prayer of thanks that the hallway leading to the computer science lab was empty and unlocked the door with her master key. She played with the bank of light-switches a few times until she had only the area right at the back illuminated. That should help her escape detection but she wasn't that worried about being caught. If it happened she would just say that the door had been open when she arrived and no teacher was going to be upset with her if she explained she was using her free time before practice to do her homework. They'd probably give her an Outstanding Student Award or something.

With that in mind she pulled out her history essay - which she did need to type up at some point - before firing up Google and typing the name of Jacob's blog into the search engine.

It only took seconds to load and then she was looking at the Recent Entries page. Her name was in the headlines and the tags of the last two entries and she bit her bottom lip hard enough to sting before clicking 'Read More' on the oldest one.

Jacob's 'articles' were never very long - no doubt designed that way to keep the limited attention span of the McKinley High students - and this one was no different. Amid a few of paragraphs of what Jacob probably thought of as great literary prose were the facts (as he knew them). Quinn Fabray, President of the Celibacy Club, was pregnant. The father was Finn Hudson, also a member of the Celibacy Club. The exact nature of the conception was speculated but there was no mention of hot tubs so his source definitely wasn't Finn or anyone he might have trusted that fabrication with. It called into question her future on the Cheerios and her standing as 'Queen Bee' but most of it was just flannel and his over-excited imagination running away with itself.

Not that that mattered. By tomorrow everyone in school would have read this. They'd all know she was pregnant. They'd all think she was a hypocritical slut.

She felt tears coming again but she slammed them back with the heels of her hands, pressing them into her eyes until she got control of herself and then clicked on the link for the latest Breaking News.

Folks, it would appear that we have been lied to as the ongoing saga of Christ Crusader, Quinn Fabray and her Unplanned Teen Pregnancy continues to unravel.

Sources close to Quinn Fabray have informed me that, contrary to popular belief, she is not in fact to blame for last week's scandalous kiss with the beautiful Rachel Berry.

Naturally on hearing this I dug deeper for the real scoop and managed to corner the stunning Miss Berry for an interview.

JBI: Is it true that you were in fact the initiator of last Tuesday's passionate lip-lock with one Quinn Fabray in the girl's bathroom?

RB: No!

JBI: Really? Because I have two sources that say you were and that you made Quinn Fabray cover for you by threatening to out her current condition. That condition being . . .

RB: Fine! It was me! It's all my fault!

JBI: So you admit . . .

RB: Yes! Can you leave me alone now please?

JBI: Just a few follow up questions, Miss Berry.

RB: Fine. Make them quick or I'm going to be late for sixth period.

JBI: Why did you try and kiss Quinn Fabray at the alleged time?

RB: [Blushing erotically] I've always wanted to. We were . . . in a suitable position, in a locked bathroom together, and I took a chance. It was misguided. However it was NOT while she was being sick! It was after, when we were about to leave. So if you're going to write any of this in your horrible blog please at least include that. I will not have people thinking I tried to molest the girl while she was vomiting!

Quinn, smiling at the computer screen, suddenly jerked back from it, startled by a door slamming closed and feet rushing towards her.

Rachel looked just as surprised to come face to face with her as she rounded the last of the partitions. "Oh. I didn't know you were in here."

Heartbeat settling back down, Quinn quirked an eyebrow. "You blushed erotically?"

"Uh, I don't know." She was blushing now, but it was more cute than erotic. "I haven't read it yet. I was actually just coming to do so."

Quinn nodded her head to gesture her closer, asking quietly, "Why didn't you go home and read it?"

Rachel pulled the wheelie chair at the next station over so that they could sit beside each other. "I talked to Finn until he had to go to practice," she sounded nervous about the admission but Quinn couldn't fault her honesty. "And then I checked all of the bathrooms to find you, but you weren't in any of them. I was just going to check the parking lot to see if your car was still there when I passed Santana and she told me my 'interview' was up. She smiled at me, it was very disturbing."

"Yeah, no one has a vicious smile quite like Santana."

"No, it was almost friendly! That was what was so disturbing about it. So I came straight here to read it." She paused for several seconds before asking hesitantly, "So what does it say?"

"That you blushed erotically while talking about kissing me," Quinn teased.

Rachel glared at the computer screen. "I never told him to say that!"

They read the rest of the 'interview' together.

JBI: So kissing Quinn Fabray has been a long standing fantasy of yours?

RB: Yes, I suppose you could say that.

JBI: And so when she didn't return your affections you . . .

RB: Grew angry, yes. I was severely disappointed and I was scared that she would use it to make fun of me in front of everyone, which she did, in Glee Club, and so I took defensive measures before it could spread to the whole school.

JBI: Which were?

RB: I'm going to be late for sixth period!

JBI: Miss Berry, please answer the question.

RB: I told her that if she didn't clear my name and make it apparent that in fact she had tried to kiss me, I would tell the whole school she was pregnant.

JBI: So you already knew of the illegitimate pregnancy?

RB: Yes. All of Glee Club did.

JBI: But you were the only one willing to use it against her?

RB: Yes.

JBI: Because she spurned your advances?

RB: Yes!

JBI: So you blackmailed Quinn Fabray into telling the whole school that she tried to kiss you, just to get revenge?

RB: Yes! Can this be over now please?

JBI: But why didn't Quinn Fabray just crush you like a bug like she has so many times before?

RB: Honestly? I don't know. She probably didn't think anyone would believe it anyway. I mean, you'd have to be pretty stupid to think that Quinn is a lesbian at all, let alone one that wants to kiss me!

JBI: So when you tried to kiss her, did your, like, lips actually touch?

[The talented Rachel Berry refuses to answer any more questions]

So, you heard it hear first folks, Quinn Fabray is not a lesbian but the more depressing news is that the gorgeous Rachel Berry is.

"I never told him to say that I was a lesbian!"

"I think he actually has a bigger crush on you than I do."

They turned from the screen at the same time to smile at each other.

"So, as subtle grand gestures go . . . you've just set the bar ridiculously high. First the song, now this. I'm never going to be able to top them the next time I piss you off."

Rachel smiled, "You could organise a pep-rally, have the marching band play while you tell everyone that, actually, you tried to kiss me in the bathroom and was just blackmailing me into saying I blackmailed you."

Quinn nodded a few times as she processed the idea. "Yeah, I think the easier plan is to just not piss you off anymore."

"If only."

Smirking at that, she leaned over to give Rachel a soft kiss on the lips. "Thank you. For both. But aren't you worried about everyone thinking you're gay now?"

Rachel shrugged, "A little. I don't think I'm quite ready to come out because, well, this school is barbaric, but Kurt's already done so and while we're not friends I do take a little comfort from that."

Quinn looked at her knees. "Now you're making me feel bad."

"No, don't." Rachel put a hand on her shoulder. "I did this because I wanted to, ready or not, and you have more than enough to deal with already. You don't need the added pressure right now. Maybe after the baby's born . . . or not, it's up to you, but right now you don't need it and I'm sorry I put you in that position in the first place."

Quinn closed her eyes for a moment before looking up to catch Rachel's. "We're in this together. I can't come out, but I'm still with you one hundred percent."

That didn't get the happy reaction she was hoping for. In fact, Rachel looked away, back at the computer screen before dropping her eyes to stare at the mouse like it was going to sprout legs and run away.

"What's wrong?"

"That's exactly what I wanted to hear."

"Then why aren't you blushing erotically and kissing me?" she asked, attempting teasing but coming up nervous.

Rachel turned back to her, her face serious, and took her hands in her own. "You don't need any more complications in your life, Quinn. We both already knew that but I guess it took everything blowing up in our faces for me to really understand it."

"What are you saying?"

"That you don't need a secret female lover right now as much as you need a friend. And I would like to be that friend."

A twinge of panic tightened her chest. "That's not what I want."

"I know. It's not what I want either, but it's for the best. You need to concentrate on you and the baby and Finn and you can't do that if you're more focused on trying to hide our . . . thing."

"Not thing, relationship!" she said, because, fuck it, if there was ever a time for laying her cards on the line. "We have a relationship, Rachel! This might only be our one week anniversary but that doesn't mean it's not real."

Rachel smiled, cheeks colouring a little, "I hadn't even realised. Sorry. It's not like I don't think about you every minute, it's just so much has happened in the last week that . . . I guess I forgot about the big milestone."

Quinn's eyes narrowed, was she being sarcastic? She didn't sound like it but . . . maybe getting excited about a week was a little girly, especially as they hadn't been together for most of it.

Ignoring her doubts, she pushed ahead. "I have Cheerios practice in a little while and then the game tonight but I thought we could maybe do something after, together, to celebrate."

Rachel looked uncomfortable again. "You're still on the Cheerios?"

"Yeah. Mr. Schue passed all of the cheerleaders this afternoon, apparently there was a make-up test," she rolled her eyes. "And Coach needs me to keep the status quo. I'm pretty sure she just hasn't had a chance to check out how much trouble she might be in discrimination-wise if she drops me just for being pregnant yet, but I'm trying to think positive."

"You should."

"You don't look like you're thinking very positive right now."

"I'm only going to make your life harder, Quinn."

She couldn't deny that. Look how much harder things had been just in the last few weeks because of Rachel. But look how much better it had been too! It was a mixed bag and if she had to feel this attraction anyway, then she wanted it all, otherwise what was the point?

"I don't want to be just your friend."

Rachel seemed to take a moment to compose herself before saying, "Maybe not, but it's for the best, for now."

Anger or maybe desperation, or both, flooded her. "Rachel, I won't just be your friend!"

Rachel was suddenly equally annoyed, "Well, I'm sorry my friendship alone is so unappealing to you."

"That's not what I meant!"

"It sounded like it!"

Jesus Christ! (Sorry, J) How could she possibly have even more tears to come out?

Rachel's arms were around her neck in an instant, pulling her close over the gap between their chairs.

"I'm doing this for you, Quinn? Do you think I want to let you go?"

"Then don't!" she sobbed into Rachel's neck, hating herself so much for showing this much weakness but she couldn't help it. It was like the baby had a tear duct in each hand and was squeezing them with abandon.

Today had been horrific already and the thought of Rachel not being there at the end of it . . .? She couldn't deal with that!

"Listen to me." Quinn shook her head against her neck. "Listen to me, sweetheart. You need to focus on you and Finn and the baby right now and I am going to be there every step of the way, I promise." Rachel kissed the side of her head and held her tighter. "But I can't do that if I'm constantly second guessing your feelings for me, or getting jealous over Finn, and that's what I've been doing. That's why we didn't even make it a week."

"I'm sorry," she mumbled against Rachel's neck.

"You have no reason to apologise. You were already in this situation before I started having feelings for you and I knew what I was going in to. Admittedly I didn't think it through, but that's my fault not yours."

Quinn sniffed a few times, pulling herself together, and possibly wiping her nose on Rachel's cardigan at the same time, before sitting back enough to make eye contact.

"Do you regret it?"

"No."

It was the look of conviction in her eyes more than the word that made Quinn believe her. "So what now? I can't be your friend, Rachel."

"Why not?"

"Because how would we be? The rules in school still have to stand and outside of school . . ." she trailed off because admitting she couldn't hang with Rachel outside of school without wanting to kiss her was just too embarrassing.

"We'll figure it out."

"I don't think we can."

Rachel folded her hands in her lap, looking hurt and resigned and annoyed all in one carefully controlled expression. "Okay."

"Okay?" She allowed herself to hope. "Okay, you'll come and watch me cheer at the game and we'll go on our second date afterwards? Breadstix do a few vegetarian options . . ." Rachel's eyes brightened a little, a tiny smile curling her lips and Quinn felt her confidence grow. ". . . we could get take out and go back to our spot."

The smile curled downwards. "In the freight yards? Quinn, as much as I love the fact that we have 'a spot', it's not exactly . . ."

"We can go to your place then!" God, she sounded desperate. "We can get enough for your parents too. Plus I owe your Dad an arm wrestling match."

Rachel returned her grin. "Can we do that just as friends?"

"That depends. Can we be the type of friends who go up to your room after dinner and kiss on your bed and maybe sneak their hands under your shirt a little now that they know for sure you're wearing the appropriate underwear?"

Rachel chuckled softly, shaking her head no.

"Are you sure? This might be the last time you get to make out with the head cheerleader and I know you like the uniform."

"I do. It's very sexy on you."

Quinn felt familiar warmth pool in her stomach as Rachel's eyes casually trailed down her body, her heated gaze lingering where the red pleats of the skirt met her pale thigh before looking back up. The look on Quinn's face caused Rachel to giggle, at first, but she was holding nothing back this time, letting her eyes speak for her whole body and it must have made Rachel nervous because she made a show of clearing her throat and looking away as she added,

"But it might surprise you to learn that I enjoy seeing you out of your uniform even more."

"What?" she blurted, and she had no idea what her eyes were saying now because how did you express the desire to laugh, scold and pounce on a girl all at the same time? She grinned, "You really were sneaking peeks in the shower, weren't you?"

"Oh, Barbra! No, Quinn!" Rachel giggled again, sounding scandalised by the idea. "I meant I like seeing you in regular clothes. You always seem more relaxed when you're not wearing that uniform. What's gotten into you today to make your mind so unusually lewd?"

"You're trying to give me the 'Let's just be friends' speech and I'm trying to convince you that just being friends is a terrible idea," she replied easily. "Now, I haven't had time to put together a pro and con list yet—" she smirked as Rachel glared at her "—but consider this the big finale to the make-believe PowerPoint presentation I just gave you."

With a little tug Rachel's chair swivelled around and rolled the few inches needed to put them side on. Keeping a grip on the chair, her other hand slipped beneath soft hair to the back of Rachel's neck, applying just enough pressure to encourage Rachel to lean her way, close enough so that . . .

She brushed her lips over Rachel's, just revelling in the feel of having them against her own again for a moment and giving the girl a chance to say no or pull away if she wanted.

Only for a moment though . . .

To be continued, real soon.

Thanks for reading.