Author's note: Sorry again for the delay. H1N1 is the bane of my existence.

Yet again, I hate writing Quinn. I hated writing this. But it really is necessary, so thanks to those of who are sticking through this angst filled part. It'll get better, I promise.

Quinn watched as Puck's face softened for a brief moment. He leaned forward, reaching a hand out to her. She let out the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, and smiled with relief. Suddenly his expression changed, and he jerked his arm back. The corners of his lips turned down and a deep crease formed between his eyebrows.

"Why now?"

She stretched out and laid her hand on his knee, "Puck-"

Shifting his leg away from her touch, he spoke in a voice barely above a whisper, "Noah."

"Huh?"

"My name, it's Noah."

Cocking her head slightly to one side, she waited for him to explain. He drew in a deep breath, and let it out slowly before continuing.

"I just think it's strange. You say you might love me-"

"I said maybe I could love you," she interjected.

"Yeah, whatever, and that's my kid in your belly, but you won't even call me by first name."

She crossed her arms over her chest and let out a small puff of annoyance.

"What has that got to do with anything?"

He stared at her for a long minute with narrowed eyes, studying her face carefully.

"Forget it," he said with a quick shake of his head, "you didn't answer my question. Why now?"

"What do you mean, why now?"

"Damn it Quinn, you know what I mean."

Her mind was racing. She couldn't afford to blow this. Santana wasn't stupid, eventually she'd put two and two together and the truth would come out. Finn would hate her for lying to him, and Santana would hate her for sleeping with Puck. If she didn't find a way to get Puck on her side she was going to end up completely alone, and that was simply unacceptable.

"Because you're the father of my child," she said softly.

His face contorted into an angry sneer. "Funny, that didn't seem to bother you when you lied to Finn. You didn't even have the guts to tell me yourself."

"That was… I was… I didn't think you'd…"

"What, you didn't think I'd man up? You didn't think I'd take care of you, of both of you?"

"No… " she cried desperately. She was panicking now, her breath coming in short gasps. It wasn't supposed to work like this, she knew he wanted her. He should be jumping at the chance she was offering him. Instead he was sitting in stony silence, his eyes fixed in an icy glare. She could see the muscles in his jaw twitching. "I… I was scared. I didn't know what to do."

"Scared of what? Losing your precious reputation? Losing your perfect boyfriend? Face it Quinn, you never wanted anyone to know the truth about us."

She leaned to the side and slumped against the sink cabinet. Drawing her knees up to her chest, she cradled her head in her hands and stared at the white and blue tile on the floor.

When she didn't answer him, he reached back and gripped the sides of the bathtub. Pushing himself into a standing position, he looked down at her and shook his head sadly.

"That's what I thought," he said quietly as he stepped around her and walked out of the small bathroom.

"Pu- I mean, Noah… wait, don't…"

Turning, he looked at her from the hallway. "Don't what, Quinn?"

"Don't go."

He let out bitter laugh. "Go where? You're in my house, remember?"

Quinn hugged her knees closer to her chest and tried to fight back the tears that were threatening to spill over. She had absolutely no idea what to do. He was right, of course, she hadn't wanted anyone to find out that he was the father, and she hadn't really cared about his feelings at all. But honestly, why should she? She was the one whose parents were going to disown her, she was the one who was going to get fat and ugly.

He sagged against the frame of the door. "Fuck… please don't start crying again."

"Pardon me for being upset," she snapped, "it's not like my life is in ruins or anything."

"Jesus Quinn, what the hell do you want from me?"

She started to lecture him on using the Lord's name in vain, but stopped herself, figuring that would only irritate him more. A single tear escaped, burning a hot trail down her cheek.

"I don't know," she said miserably.

Puck opened his mouth as if to speak, and then seemed to think better of it. He slid down the door frame until he was sitting next to her, but he remained silent, his gaze fixed on a blank space of wall. She could see the thoughts passing like shadows behind his eyes, and she was surprised by the twinge she felt in her heart when she realized he wasn't thinking about her.

When he spoke, his voice was quiet but firm. "You need to tell Finn the truth."

"Who are you to tell me what I need to do?" she said angrily.

"It's all going to come out sooner or later," he said calmly, "Finn may be dumb enough to believe the hot tub thing, but eventually someone's going to tell him how dumb that it is. The longer you wait, the worse it's going to be."

"He's going to hate you, you know."

"Maybe…" he said, sighing, "probably."

"And what if I don't tell him? Are you going to?"

Puck paused before answering her. "No… I should, but no." He shifted his eyes back to the blank wall and continued. "I'm going to tell Rachel though."

Quinn's entire body stiffened with rage. "You're going to do what?"

He winced at the acid in her voice, but he repeated his statement slowly. "I'm going to tell Rachel."

She stared at him incredulously. "You can't be serious?"

He turned his head away from her, and said nothing.

"What, do you actually like her?"

Staring at the ground, he shrugged his shoulders.

Quinn laughed cruelly. "You're an idiot. You think she actually likes you? She's in love with Finn. If you tell her the truth, she'll have everything she needs to get exactly what she wants."

Puck turned and glared at her. "Rachel isn't in love with Finn."

"Oh really? And you know this, how? Did she tell you that? Please, this is Rachel Berry we're talking about. The girl would sell her soul to get a solo if that's what it took. Do you honestly think she'd think twice about lying to guy who's thrown slushies in her face in order to get the man she wants?"

Puck flinched and she saw doubt flash in eyes.

"You're wrong," he said, shaking his head.

"Not likely," she said coolly, "but even if I am, do you really think she'll want you when she finds out the truth? Rachel Berry wouldn't have even looked twice at you if she thought she had a chance with Finn. Face it Noah, you're just her consolation prize."