A Safe Place Chapter 11, a glee fanfic

A/N- Okay so if there is one thing I don't like doing its writing AU. I have no problems with AU stories I have read many and loved many, but I avoid writing them myself. I nit-pic everything I write, erase and write again just to make sure my story seems in-character and like it could be completely canon given what we know about the character I am writing about. Well, after "Born This Way" every single Quinn fanfiction ever written by anyone has now become AU. Thanks a lot RIB. Not quite sure how I feel about this latest "character development" if one would dare call it that. I hate it, but like (not love) it at the same time. What I hate the most is it turned my head-canon and consequently my entire story on its head. I know this is not the place for a rant, but I have said that to say this. If it were not for the fact that I have already devoted 10 stinking chapters to this fic I would drop it, but I'm too far invested in it not to finish it now. I thank all of you who have read and reviewed, please continue to do so, and because of you I will try to continue with the same fervor and love for this story that I had when I believed it could be canon. Thanks for bearing with me through that, now onto Chapter 11! …although I wonder….was it straight up "Lucy"? Or was it Lucille or Lucinda? Something of that nature? And I do have to say I am proud of Quinn for owning up to it at the end rather than simply trying to convince the school that Lauren is just good with Photoshop. …..Anyway, right the chapter, In case you haven't noticed my shirt would have said "A.D.D." I have a severe case of it. From the way my chapters go off topic and Mercedes always has to steer Quinn back on course, you've probably noticed. So if I ever have one AU element in this story with Quinn, that would be it, projecting my short attention span onto her. But I can't help it….. 'cuz baby I was born this way.

ADD ADD ADD QUIRCEDES ADD ADD ADD

Quinn awoke the next morning to the welcome smell of a Sunday breakfast feast being prepared. She inhaled deeply, yes she could make out pancakes…or homemade waffles she wasn't sure which, eggs, fried potatoes…ooh that meant hash browns, coffee of course and….wait was that….yes, oh yes, it was most definitely bacon! Quinn padded downstairs to the kitchen and laid her eyes on what, in Chez Puckerman, would be considered a Jewish Nightmare. Every possible way Quinn knew of to prepare pork for breakfast was on the stove.

"Mrs. Jones, do you realize you are my favorite person in the world right now?" Quinn asked announcing her presence.

"Oh, good morning, Quinn!" Mrs. Jones said brightly as she sat down her spatula that had been flipping sausage patties to envelop Quinn, a girl who was still practically a stranger to her, in a warm hug. "Have a seat, breakfast is almost ready. What would you like to drink, sweetie? Milk, apple or orange juice?"

Quinn had just slid into her seat when the question hit her ears, she moved to stand again, "Oh, you've got enough to do, Mrs. Jones, I can get it myse-"

"Nonsense I'm right here," Mrs. Jones said a glass appearing in one hand while the other hovered near the beverage cartons placed on the counter, waiting on Quinn's decision.

"Oh, well, apple I guess, thank you."

"You're welcome, sweetie," Mrs. Jones said as she filled the glass and took it to Quinn. "And no more of this Mrs. Jones nonsense. Call me Felicia. Miz Felicia if you must."

"Okay, Miss Felicia," Quinn chuckled before taking a long swallow.

"No, 'Miz', get it right."

"Miz Felicia" Quinn enunciated.

"Perfect. Morning, honey," she said turning to give and receive a kiss on the cheek from Mercedes, then pecking Mr. Jones, who had followed behind Mercedes, on the lips while helping him fix his tie. Quinn couldn't help but watch in wonder how Mrs. Jones managed to do all this while keeping the ten dishes she was currently cooking from going up in flames.

As Mercedes settled next to her Quinn said, "Your mom is like 'Wonder Mom". My mom just looks like June Cleaver while she's cooking, with the high heels and dress, perfectly coiffed hair and the apron. And she can put together some great meals but she has to cook everything one at a time. Not like your mom, how does she keep everything from burning?"

"Well, when you come from generations of a family that loves to eat, you learn to cook," Mercedes said.

"Ain't that the truth," Mrs. Jones said, pouring Mr. Jones' coffee. "Alright, everyone help yourselves, this food ain't gonna eat itself," she added, announcing the food was ready.

Quinn tried not to let her eyes and taste buds get bigger than her two stomachs as she eyed the beautiful buffet before her. Getting a little bit of everything knowing she could always go back for more, she and her plate made their way back to the table and waited for everyone else to sit down.

As Mr. Jones took his seat, being the last in line, he held his hands out to either side of him, just as he had the night before at supper. All four of them joined hands and bowed their heads.

"Dear Heavenly Father," he began praying, "We thank You for this beautiful day You have created for us. We thank You for the food You've provided and for the skilled hands that prepared it," he smiled as Mrs. Jones squeezed his hand. "We pray that You will bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies and our bodies always to Your service. We pray that You will be with the service today, that You will use the pastor to preach the message Your people need to hear today, Lord and that it would touch hearts and change lives.

"And Father God, once again we thank You for the presence of Mercedes' friend, Quinn, and the blessing she has been to have in our home. We pray that You will bless her and the child she carries. Be with her, lead, guide and direct her in this uncertain time in her life.

"Forgive us where we have sinned, Lord and help us to forgive others as You would. We pray all of these things in Your Sons most precious and holy name, Amen."

"Amen," they all echoed softly. "Thank you," Quinn added, looking towards Mr. Jones who smiled warmly. Quinn wasn't sure what she had done to be considered a "blessing" to have around. Sure, they'd all had lovely conversation the night before at dinner, and Quinn and Mrs. Jones had compared pregnancy horror stories. Luckily, Mr. Jones, being a dentist, was pretty hard to gross out, even at the dinner table, and to Mercedes' credit she only blanched about three times. But even with that, all she really felt like she had done for them was move into their sons' room and eat their food. She began formulating a plan to fix that.

Sunday breakfast at the Jones' turned out to be a different affair than dinner. There was still plenty of talking but it felt more rushed as they all had somewhere to be soon. Mr. Jones finished first and excused himself from the table. Shortly after that he was walking out the door; being a deacon he had to be at the church for prayer meeting before the congregation arrived.

After they were done, she and Mercedes helped her mom to put away whatever food was left and place the plates and pans in the sink to soak. "They'll keep 'till after lunch, you girls go get ready."

Quinn wasn't sure what to wear. She really liked the purple dress that she had worn when she performed 'It's a Man's World', but it was quite formfitting and she thought it drew too much attention to her belly. Mercedes had said that no one at her church would judge her but at the same time Quinn didn't want to wear something that screamed "look at me, I'm pregnant". She settled for her favorite blue baby-doll dress, although Kurt had deemed them a "dead-give-away" as well. Well, that was then, when she could still hide it. Now the only thing she could wear to camouflage her stomach was a cardboard box with armholes cut in it. She laid the dress on the bed, and then stepped into the guest bathroom for a quick shower.

Twenty-five minutes later, with her dress donned, make-up applied and still slightly damp hair falling into waves Quinn retrieved her faithful gold slippers from the closet floor. She did grow tired of wearing them nearly every day, but they were comfortable and the sides were stretchy, and with the way she was retaining water and her ankles and feet swelling and shrinking at intervals during the day they were the one pair of shoes she knew would fit comfortably all day long. She scrunched her 'smoothing frizz control gel' infused hair in her hands and made her way downstairs to go to church.

At the church

It was just as Mercedes promised. She was greeted with smiles, hugs and warm "welcome"s to their church. They took their seats and it wasn't long before the choir director beckoned Mercedes up to the stage to perform the lead in the choral special.

"You know, God works in mysterious ways," Mercedes began, greeted with numerous 'amens' as she stepped up to the pulpit. "The choir and I have been practicing this song for weeks, but we couldn't quite get it right. And it just so happens, we're finally ready to sing it on a day that I know there's somebody out there that needs to hear it." She nodded to the director who brought the choir in with beautiful harmonization, paving the way for Mercedes' powerful voice to deliver the words, with the choir echoing her at certain parts of the song.

I just came from the throne room today, been talking with Him
And I was reminded where I am and where I've been
I've sailed many waters rough and deep
Oh, but someone has sailed each one with me
safely and surely I've weathered the storms with my dearest friend.

Oh I am safe thus far, He's brought me safe thus far
I'm in the ship with one who made the moon and stars
I praise him for mercy that can't fail
Amazing grace that still prevails
This is my story I give Him the glory safe thus far.

Mmmm, I've stood in the face of stormy seas as they rolled apart
I've rested in peace as He spoke to my trembling heart
And I really don't know what lies ahead
But I have no doubt no fear no dread
I'll still be standing telling my story safe thus far.

Safe thus far.

Quinn wiped a tear from her cheek before joining in the much deserved applause. She had heard that song a few times before in her life but never had she heard it the way she did that day. She enjoyed the pastors following message, but honestly she felt after that song she was "churched" enough to last her throughout the rest of the week.

Quinn told Mercedes more than once on the way home how much the song had meant to her and they were still talking about it as they fixed thick sandwiches for lunch from the previous night's leftover roast beef. "It's just been so easy to feel like I'm alone lately you know. That song reminded me that I never am. It was just exactly what I needed to hear," Quinn said with finality.

"I'm glad. Cuz you know every word of its true," Mercedes said. "Now…do you know what's exactly what I need to hear?" she asked.

"More Lifetime Original Movie?" Quinn guessed.

"Yup!"

"You're enjoying this far too much, are you sure you're not collecting all this for blackmail or a tell-all memoir?"

Mercedes fixed her with her sassiest "gurl, please" look and Quinn smiled.

"Okay, so I was nearly positive I was pregnant but in total denial until I had concrete proof. The only question now was how to discreetly get my hands on a pregnancy test."