A/N: Chappie Three! Mmkay, so finally the Finntana is getting started! You may cheer! Enjoy :)
"Nope."
"Too Frilly."
"Too many sparkles."
"Not enough sparkles."
"Looks like one of Quinn's maternity dresses."
Santana threw each one of the unsatisfactory dresses on her bed, and couldn't help but smile as Quinn grabbed the dress and gave it the once-over.
"This IS one of my maternity dresses!" She said indignantly and gave her a mocking evil eye, to which Santana replied without taking her head back out of her huge closet.
"Then take it back. Or burn it. Or give it to Kurt and let him destroy it with clippers from the garden. Better for everyone."
"You're mean when you can't find the right fashion."
"I'm mean all the time Q. Now help me!" She hissed, throwing another piece of clothing on the floor.
Despite the clothing induced mess, her room fit her demanding personality. The building itself as well. She lived in the penthouse suite of Hotel Tantamount, the fanciest hotel in Chicago. Ah the things you can accomplish when you are loaded.
Santana was even nice enough to let Brittany's homosexual friend Kurt decorate the entire room. From the Persian rugs on the floor, to the blood red walls, to the black silk canopy atop her bed and the royal black and white striped bedding set, to the pile of pillows where she sat counting her money. Every detail was completely her, and absolutely perfect. He had done such a perfect job; she let him become part of her inner circle of mobsters. For his overly feminine sense of style, he wasn't afraid to brandish a gun. Everyone won.
"How about this one?" Quinn grinned, holding up the silky black dress, with the white glittery border on the bottom, with one strap of white crushed satin on the left side. "I figured you could make it your own with your signature black tie and pin up your hair with that jeweled brooch your father bought when he went abroad."
"Hmmm… Not bad. Glad I thought of it-"
A pillow hit her square in the face.
"Real mature, mommy. Your simply the worst influence on that baby of yours." She blanched, sweeping her ruffled hair behind her ear.
"Your one to talk Miss. Gangster Queen. When you have children, maybe you can teach them the ABC's while showing them how to smoke a fag and their arithmetic whilst they powder up some Blue Lady brand cocaine." Quinn retorted without missing a beat, and Santana was reminded why Quinn was her friend, they could have a ball, going at each other's throats one moment and laughing about it the next.
"You're damn right that's what I'd do." She said, completely serious. "Now get dressed because the Queen orders her Lady to come tonight to the Ball. Her Royal Highness commands it." She said in the fancy British accent she imagined the Late Queen Victoria to have had and laughed, though the laugh fell a little when Quinn shook her head.
"I can't risk the baby being born, I have to stay in the house, the only reason I'm here is because your arranging a driver to take me home and plus, this isn't too physical."
Santana pouted
"You're missing out. I guess Britt and I will just have to go out and have fun without you." She tempted, but ever the responsible one, Quinn simply smiled with her pretty coral lips and nodded
"Indeed you will."
Quinn changed the subject then. "So how are you going to seduce this …Finn fellow? I know your beautiful and all, but he's married. And what exactly do you plan to do after you make him stray from his wife?"
"Easy, he's a man, he'll be drunk and I'm the most desired woman in this city. I can wink and he'll be all over me." She stated as if it was obvious
"And there's two ways this can end up going. Option one, he'll wake up beside me and be so ashamed of his adultery he'll run away in shame and never take this case again."
"Option two?"
"Option two is I can use him to get rid of the competition. I can use him as my little mole, infiltrate the competition…" She raised an eyebrow at Quinn, who was nibbling her lip a little. "Are you worried for Puck?"
"N-No! What? No."
"Sure you're not."
"I simply worry that my daughter will miss her father. She loves Sam, she just knows that he's not her daddy." Quinn confirmed, cradling her inflated stomach with her arms, then she turned to Santana. "Well, aren't you going to prepare? Your hair needs a good washing, and you need to butter your skin smooth and don't even get me beginning on getting that button hook on your dress to clasp properly!"
"Well, at least I know she's okay." She grumbled in reply as she allowed herself to be dragged into the main bathroom to be painted up and prodded at. Having just a moment to put two fingers to the head and mime shooting herself. Quinn looked at Santana and shook her head mock empathizing.
"You are just the worst kind of person."
And Quinn proceeded to push her into the bathroom to set her curls.
-Police Department-
"Are you prepared for your mission Mr. Hudson?" Emma asked softly, adjusting the red satin handkerchief that was tucked into the fancy suit he was wearing. It was sharp and crisp, the jacket and the pants matched perfectly. He had to admit he was rather sharp in this pinstripe business. He even felt… good… wearing it. Even his hair, which was normally kept natural, if not tousled a bit by Rachel, was slicked back in a rather smug manner with ladies hair product. He lightly touched his hair, which was dented with comb tracks and smiled into the oval mirror he was sitting across from. A fella could get used to this kind of look.
"He'd better be." Sue, the ever so sly demon put in from the leather sitting-chair she currently occupied. She actually stepped up, pushed Emma aside and fixed his collar.
"Look boy," She began and he almost frowned at the way 'boy' seemed to be an insult. "I know what your not-so-housewife does when your not home. She allows herself to be seen with women who lack the self-esteem to keep those over filled river-band jugs in their whore-wear." Finn blinked, how did she know his wife did- "If you actually manage not to completely screw this assignment up, then your wife will be singing in great performance halls in the Big Apple, where people would actually want to hear her voice,"
Sue continued wryly, cracking her knuckles, stepping back and smirking a little, but still sounding ever so serious. Finn had to wonder how for the life of her Sue knew these things.
"Although from the times I've met her, it seems like a stretch. The only person so much more physically unappealing, emotionally unstable and mentally grating to me is the ginger who is looping your tie around that thick neck of yours. Who knows though, maybe those skyscrapers will drown out the noise of her complaining and actually funnel out less than ear splitting noise. So I wish you good luck." She finished and left, barking at the poor Academy Recruit to get her a cup of coffee. Black, extra scalding hot.
Finn and Emma blinked a few times. Sue was certainly… something.
"Um… Mr. Hudson… What happens if you things go wrong?"
He hugged the tiny woman, who was like a second mother to him. The poor thing was simply too delicate to be around this kind of work.
"I'll be fine doll. I've done worse then cavort with some mob boss before," He said then gripped her shoulders and felt the need to add, "Doll, we work with Sue Sylvester. She's so tough she could make Big Al himself cower in fear. If I can handle sharing an office with the woman who brought back the dangerous Spanish Influenza to the United States 'Just to mess with all the people that annoy me' I can handle anything this Santana Lopez can throw at me."
Emma giggled softly, covering her mouth with her hand.
"Okay, you've got me there. Have as much fun as you can working with this case…"
Then she wiped her hands with a handkerchief, saluted him, and then wiped again.
-Time Skip-
Finn found himself hanging around the outside of The Oriental Swan, hesitating. When was Sam gonna be out? Why was he lollygagging? Should he go in and see if the poor rookie was okay?
Before he could even ask another mental question, Sam came out, clutching a royal purple jewel bag in his hands, looking rather nervous, Sam tossed the bag to Finn and Finn inspected it. It was rather heavy, but small enough to slip in an inner pocket in his jacket, it also had a rather fancy embroidered "S" on the front, in a fancy curvy script.
"I found the guy, and took care of him Boss. You are now Finn McClain and lucky for me he was counting diamonds outside. I simply locked him in the waste bin out back until you could get in." Sam reported, looking more at ease as he spoke.
"Very good, Now I'm gonna need you to stick around in case I need some help. But could you please send my wife a phone call? I believe you know the number. Tell her I will not be home tonight and that she cannot go to that place, because I can't escort her home."
Sam nodded and went off immediately to call. Finn stared after him and chuckled quietly.
"Good man… Too jittery though. He looked like he would get shot at any moment.
He stepped up to the curtain, which he couldn't help but notice had a cheap tacky swan stitched on with some Chinese characters that may have said Swan…. Or perhaps Orient… or something. He could never quite comprehend that wacked language.
He opened the curtain as discreetly as he could, which led to a staircase going down. He warily climbed down and, following Sam's direction, he knocked on the door three times, then paused, then knocked three more times, then kicked the door gently on the base.
"What's the Password?" A voice thundered from the inside and a slot just eyelevel opened up, where dark blue eyes peered up at him.
"New Directions." He said back, hoping he had gusto in his voice that made him seem like a regular.
He heard no response, just the clack of an opening lock and then the creak of an opening door.
A woman, her face painted white, her lips red and her eyes lighting up opened the door, where a much taller man stood beside her. He left and the woman handed him a drink, then bowed in the respectful manner he imagined the Chinese had to bow to one another.
'She must be Tina Cohen-Chang.' He decided. Even she looked uncomfortable with this getup and act as he was. However, the other patrons laughed uproariously at her respectful bows and her geisha like appearance.
"Wercome to the Orientar Swan!" She spoke through her teeth. He felt embarrassed for her and awkwardly sipped his Moonshine as the on-lookers turned away. He had to admit this place was pretty fancy, the jazz band was playing the tune people wanted to hear, as the hearty negro woman in the sparkly red dress belted out lyrics in-between breaks in the music.
"You know I don't mind if you talk like I do." He said gently to the nerve-wracked Tina.
"Thanks you know. I truly hate talking like that. It makes me feel even shyer than I normally do… But as my husband feels the need to point out, an Asian themed speakeasy needs to have "something special""
"That must be rough…"
"Yep. So you looking for a special lady? I hear you're the fella that Miss. Lopez is looking for." At his confused look, she clarified. "She made sure I had a picture so I can take you to her. You're a lucky man. She doesn't give that much attention to just anyone."
For some reason he didn't feel the need to correct her.
"I believe I am."
He smiled and she smiled back.
"Okay, she's in the back."
She led him through a literal maze of men who were forsaking the law and their souls for wine, women and the swing of the nightlife. He understood the desire for the partying ways... If he wasn't with Rachel…
No.
He didn't regret his marriage one bit.
Not at all.
Finally they reached a table (Finn noted that it couldn't be too soon for Tina, who's "authentic" Chinese shoes looked like they were killing her) and she bowed that authentic Chinese bow for a crowd that laughed and cheered for it. The most beautiful woman in that table gave Tina an almost pitying look and dismissed her with a nod. Finn, with a jolt, recognized her at once.
Santana! Santana Lopez!
P.O.V Switch
Santana grinned widely as she caught who was approaching, Finn. With Tina. Who for once looked like she wasn't totally uncomfortable with the whole over-acting Chinese character she was forced to play. She caught snatches of their conversation and couldn't help the genuine smile on her face when she saw him coax the girl to speak proper English. He actually seemed… nice… and not like the other guys watching the other Asian waitresses stumble in their uncomfortable shoes bowing low and handing out drinks.
She shook her head once and stopped eavesdropping so she could quickly dust blush on her cheeks and she swiped a fresh coat of red lipstick. She admired herself in her compact. Perfect.
He was there just as she put her compact away. She couldn't help but stare pitying at Tina. The poor thing looked simply exhausted and she nodded to dismiss the poor woman.
She smirked and rested her hand casually on her chin, looking up coolly at the man who just recognized him. Giving him a once-over she concluded that the picture didn't do him justice. He was actually much more handsome in person.
(She didn't know it but he had the exact same thought—not that he expressed it other than a shy and wary smile)
Oh. This was gonna be easy. Well if the stare that was trained on her was any indication.
Quinn's P.O.V
"Puckerman?" I muttered in confusion, I had the door open a crack and saw that it was indeed him, the man who had gotten me pregnant, and simply refused to stay away. No matter how much I said I wanted him to.
"The one and only milady." He smirked and shoved his foot through the crack, forcing it open and grabbing my hand.
Ugh. He doesn't understand the word NO.
I yanked my hand away. "What are you doing here anyway? I thought you'd be at that Oriental place. Like you always are."
"Always, isn't that a slight exaggeration?" He saw our daughter sleeping on the couch and his look softened.
"I just wanted to see my baby…"
"Make it quick then." I replied curtly as I tried not to stare at him as he gently tousled Beth's dark curls and smiled softly at her cute little sniffle.
Don't get me wrong, I don't exactly hate Noah, he just put me in an awkward position. I had always wanted to be one of those famous women. Like Marie Curie or Mary Shelley, doing all those fabulous things for the world. Instead I was swept up in a passionate night of alcohol and partying and ended up in the bed of a notorious womanizer. That's how I got swept up in all this drama. My parents were ashamed at their daughter procreating before marriage and they abandoned me on the street without so much as help with my suitcases. I met Santana then. If it hadn't been for her, knowing who I was and letting me stay in her suite. I never would have gotten a house, and I never would have met my husband. But what I could have been… other than just a full time housewife and part-time bootlegger. It's not the life I was destined to live…
"Will you at least do me the favor of lifting her up and bringing her to the nursery? I'm not feeling so well…" I put in, and I couldn't help but notice how his eyes looked shimmery, had he been crying? Did he really miss Beth so much?
"Sure Q." He muttered quietly and hoisted her gently by the shoulders and we went upstairs quietly.
"Nice house."
"You've seen it before."
"Well yes, but the last time I've seen Beth here was when you and your big-lipped husband first moved in."
"My "Big lipped husband's" name is Sam."
"Do I look like I care?"
He didn't.
I rolled my eyes and slowly opened the door. Our daughter simply loved animals, so her side of the room had framed photos of horses her father had seen on the track, little stuffed trinkets that she slept with and all sorts of miniature farm supplies, for a small barn fort she had so desperately begged Sam to build for her. On the side of the new baby was a simple layette, yellow and blue. We were hoping for a boy, but if we did have another girl, the colors would be suitable for her.
"Pretty room." Puck said simply and lowered Beth in the little bed, where she turned on her side and sleepily clutched the doll Santana had bought for her. He kissed her forehead and I had to admit to myself that he might be a reckless man, but he was a good father to Beth. And not entirely bad.
"Can I maybe… come around tomorrow night?"
I actually felt myself smile a bit.
"You mean after you visit the horse track?"
"Something like that." He shrugged, but for some reason I felt it had to do with a lady. No way was he going to sleep with some hussy right before seeing our baby.
"Bring pictures." I chirruped sweetly, wondering what he would do and why I even cared.
A/N: Hehehe So they met. But yes, I lied. If anything it was mostly a quick dose of Quick. But the next chapter is all Finntana, and the chapter after will have massive Puckleberry Finn. And we MAY even see where Artie fits in this. If you guess correctly you get a sneak preview of one of my favorite scenes in the next chapter. so What is Artie in my little world? R&R :)