A/N: Wooo! Summer is almost here! One last final tomorrow and then I am FREE! And a SENIOR! Class of 2011 baby! Haha. Here's another chapter. Sorry it's taking so long. I actually have quite a bit of stuff written (like a few oneshots and up to chapter 12 for this story) but I have a few spots I'm trying to clean up and polish in all of them. Darn perfectionism! Anyway, hope you enjoy this and have a great end of the school year.

-GLEE-

The ride back to Lima was uneventful. Quinn managed to ride in the ambulance without having a panic attack and the rest of New Directions seemed to be following in baby Maddi's tiny footsteps by sleeping the entire journey home. It was nearly five thirty when the bus pulled in to McKinley High's parking lot to find several cars and anxious parents waiting to greet their children.

The small cluster of adults began to clap as the kids stepped off the bus with Will holding up the Regionals trophy in victory, Emma right behind him with a picture of Puck, Quinn, and the baby to show. They had decided right before leaving that they would bring along a photo to show off, allowing the absent members of New Directions still be a part of the homecoming celebration without the stress of overcrowding another hospital.

"There she is! Our favorite shining star!" Leroy Berry cried as his daughter made her way towards he and his partner.

"We knew you could do it." Harriet agreed proudly. "It's not a surprise, but still an accomplishment."

Rachel beamed as she was pulled into a three-way embrace. "Thank you both."

"So, I hear you did pretty well this weekend." Finn's mom grinned as he made his way over to her.

Finn shrugged, a smile of his own appearing. "We did okay."

"Come here," she pulled him into a large hug, her arms wrapping around his body tightly, before pulling back and kissing his cheek. "My boy. I'm so proud of you Finn."

He glanced down at the pavement, his cheeks going red. "It wasn't that big of a deal."

"I didn't just mean about the singing. After everything that's happened this year you've become so mature and responsible. You've done great sweetie and I just wanted you to know that."

Luckily Finn was saved from any further embarrassment or emotional conversation when Rachel walked up.

"Hi Mrs. Hudson."

"Rachel," Finn's mother grinned and pulled his girlfriend into a warm hug. "Congratulations sweetheart."

"Thank you." Rachel smiled. "I just wanted to come over and say goodnight to you and Finn."

Carol Hudson smiled. "Well that was very sweet of you honey. Next time I promise I'll be there."

"My fathers would love it immensely if you came along with them. We have a lovely car that's very comfortable for travel."

Finn's mother grinned down at her. "That sounds perfect Rachel. Tell them to feel free to call me anytime to work out the details."

"Alright," Rachel said beaming. "Well, I should be going. Goodnight Mrs. Hudson."

"You too sweetie."

"Bye Finn."

As she turned to walk off Finn reached out and grabbed her arm. Without a single word he leaned down to press a quick, tender kiss to her lips before she could question him.

"See ya."

Rachel nodded slowly, her face still a bit dazed from the kiss as she headed back to her fathers'.

After a few more minutes of chatting with the other parents Finn stuck his duffle bag in the trunk of his mother's car and climbed in for the short ride home.

Finn was quiet for a few minutes before he glanced over at his mother.

"Mom, how do you know when you're in love?" The hesitation in his voice was evident and his eyes became focused on his shoes.

His bluntness really shouldn't have been such a surprise to her; Finn had always been very straightforward when he wanted to know something. Still, Carol Hudson couldn't help but be a little shocked when his question was asked. But she stuck to the path she had always taken with her son and answered him in just as direct manner.

"Well, first of all I think it's something you can't rush." She answered slowly. "Because when you really love someone, you don't have to think very much about it. If you feel like it's forced even a little bit then it probably isn't real love. But when I think about the meaning of love I see it as not being able to go a minute without thinking about a person. And wanting the best for them, even if it's not necessarily what makes you happy. And just…looking into the future and seeing yourself with them, despite the place or anything else, just content with the fact that they're by your side. And wanting nothing more than just to be with them."

Finn sighed. "I just…I can't get her out of my head." He confessed quietly. "And when I'm with her I can't breathe and when I'm not around her I want to be. And sometimes I'll just completely zone out thinking about her at the weirdest times. Like the other day at basketball practice I was so out of it that I missed Puck throwing the ball to me and it knocked me in the head. That's never happened before, not even when I was dating Quinn." A frustrated sigh escaped his lips, clearly upset with himself over his confusion.

"Did you love Quinn?"

He paused a moment, thinking his answer over carefully. "I think a part of me did, a little. But nothing close to how I feel about Rachel."

"Were you in love with Quinn?"

"Is there a difference?"

His mother smiled. "Of course there is Finn. You love me, right? But you're not in love with me. You love your Nana, but you're not in love with her."

Finn nodded as the difference began to dawn on him. His mom was great, and his Nana made the best mashed potatoes and really itchy sweaters, but he didn't want to build a life and a start a future with them. (Although he hoped that they both stayed in his life for, well, ever. Because they really were pretty cool) He wanted that with Rachel.

"No." he finally said, the surprise in his voice evident. "I was never in love with Quinn. I loved her, yeah, part of me always will." But the person he couldn't picture his life without was a girl who seemed a little nutty, was never afraid to speak her mind or be herself, and had a strange love for show tunes. She was passionate and headstrong and beautiful and brave….. He was in love with Rachel Berry.

Holy shit.

He was in love with Rachel Berry.

-GLEE-

"How are we doing in here?" A friendly looking brunette who looked to be in her twenties poked her head into the hospital room where Quinn, Puck, and the new baby were situated. The woman wore a long white coat with her name stitched across the top left and a small teddy bear was clipped to the stethoscope hanging around her neck.

"Hi Dr. Ross." Quinn smiled at the doctor as she made her way over to the bed.

"Are you guys situated alright?"

Puck nodded. "All good."

The doctor smiled. "Good. Quinn, I wanted to give you a quick exam in a few minutes and have Madeline receive a check up tomorrow morning. From what your files say you're doing very well and if all goes as planned you'll be able to go home tomorrow or the next day."

Quinn's face lit up. "Really? I'm so ready to not be in a hospital anymore!"

"I'm sure." She laughed. "Okay, well, I'll see you in just a few minutes then."

As Dr. Ross closed the door behind her Puck turned to Quinn nervously.

"So, I kind of have a surprise for you."

Quinn looked at him suspiciously. "Okay… what is it?"

"Well, I know it's kind of weird living at my house and stuff, but since we don't really have enough money to get our own place-"

"Puck, it's okay. Believe me, I understand." she interrupted.

He frowned. "Yeah, but still. We're gonna be a real family now, and it would be kind of weird for us to all be stuck in my room. So my mom and I have been fixing up that apartment over the garage and she said we can pay half of what renting an apartment would cost." Puck shrugged. "Surprise babe."

"You got us our own place to live?" Quinn's eyes immediately filled with tears.

"I know it's not perfect," he added hastily. "But as soon as I can get enough money together for something else we can move-"

Suddenly her arms were around him, her lips pressed firmly against his. She was grinning when she finally pulled back. "Noah Puckerman you are amazing. I love you so much."

Obviously relieved, Puck let out a breath. "I love you too mama. Don't worry; I got big plans for us."

Quinn smiled. "I can't wait."

-GLEE-

A/N: Love it? Hate it? Tell me! Reviews are fun! Weeee!