"NO! I can't do this! No!" Quinn yells in her sleep. Finn immediately knows she's having a bad dream, she'd had at least once a night for the last week.
"Hey, Quinn, wake up you're having a bad dream," Finn says, gently shaking her and trying to get her awake.
"Oh Finn, it was awful, the baby and …" Quinn says, bursting into tears.
"Shh, hey, it's okay. It was just a dream. I'm right here," Finn says, while trying to calm her down.
"But it was so real…and awful…" Quinn says, as she continues to cry.
"Well, it was just a dream, don't worry, it's okay. Do you want to talk about it? "
"I don't know," Quinn answers, she's trying to stop crying but just can't.
"You don't know, well in that case, why don't we just try to go back to sleep?" Finn says, desperately hoping that they both will be able to fall back asleep quickly.
"Okay," Quinn says, finally starting to calm down a little.
"Okay, let's just go back to sleep. It's okay, I'm right here," Finn says as he puts his arms around her and holds her. Within in a few minutes she's fast asleep again. "If only I could fall back asleep that quickly," Finn thinks to himself.
GLEEGLEEGLEE
The next morning, Finn walks downstairs to the kitchen to talk to his mom while Quinn is still upstairs finishing getting ready for school.
"Hey, sweetie, what's up?" Carole asks, already realizing that Finn has something on his mind.
"Mom, can I talk to you about something?" Finn asks as he makes himself a bowl of cereal and then sits down beside his mom.
"Of course sweetheart, is something wrong?"
"It's Quinn, for the last week she's been waking up in the middle of the night at least once because she has a bad dream. Is that like normal for someone who's pregnant?" Finn asks, his voice full of concern.
"Well, bad dreams are common during times of lots of stress and pregnancy is definitely stressful. I had my own share of strange dreams when I was pregnant with you so I don't think there's anything you need to worry about."
"Uh, so are you saying this might continue for awhile, like until the baby's born?" Finn asks, dreading the thought of possibly having to deal with this every night for the next three months.
"Finn, I honestly don't know. I hate to tell you this, but really the only thing you can do is to continue to be there for her and comfort her."
"That's what I've been doing, but it seems like it doesn't help, she still has bad dreams and wakes up crying, she cries all the time, she gets angry at me for the stupidest reasons, and she's demanding, always wanting me to do something for her or get stuff for her. Mom, don't get me wrong, I really love her, but I'm really starting to get sick and tired of all this," Finn says, letting out all of his frustrations.
"Honey, you know she can't really help it. I know this isn't easy for you, but it's not like it's easy for her either. If it makes you feel any better these are things that every father-to-be has to deal with," Carole says, trying to comfort Finn.
"Yeah, except for Puck," Finn mutters under his breath.
"Finn," Carole says with a warning tone in her voice that he knows means don't even go there.
"I know, I know it was my choice to stand by Quinn and the baby, and don't get me wrong I don't regret it for a second; it's just that it doesn't seem fair that I have to deal with all of this! I mean, it's technically Puck's kid and I'm the one doing his job for him. It's just not fair!"
"No, it's not fair, but life isn't always fair. The fact that you chose to forgive Quinn and stand by her and the baby, that you're willing to raise a baby with her as if it were your own daughter, that just shows how much you love Quinn and I know she loves you all the more because of it. Besides, yes, Puck gets to miss out on having to get up with Quinn in the middle of the night, but he's going to miss out on a lot of great things too."
"Like what?"
"Like being there with Quinn when the baby's born, being the first person to see her, to hold her. He's going to miss out on raising his daughter, you're going to be the one she calls 'Daddy,' not him."
"Yeah, well, he made his choice," Finn says, not wanting to admit that he actually feels a little sorry for Puck.
"Yeah, he made his choice and you made yours."
"Mom," Finn says, trying to get back to his original reason for wanting to talk to her. "I know you said that Quinn can't help the bad dreams, the mood swings, and being all emotional and stuff, but do you think that maybe you can talk to her?"
"Finn, Quinn is free to come to talk to me anytime, but I can't force her to."
"Yeah, I know and I told her that awhile ago, but I guess she just doesn't feel comfortable coming to you, but I think if you came to her she'd be willing to talk to you."
"Finn, I can't make her talk to me."
"Mom, please, at least just try to talk to her. I can tell she's has questions that she wants to ask you and that she's scared about having to give birth and about being a mom. She just needs someone to talk to, a woman to talk to. She knows she can always talk to me, but I'm a guy, so I've obviously never been pregnant, given birth or been a mom, but you have. Mom, I think if you talk to her she'll feel a lot better about everything. I know she'll still act all crazy and stuff, but I think if she talks to you she won't be scared anymore and will be reassured that everything is going to be okay."
"Finn, I will try to talk to her, but like I said I can't force her to talk to me, okay?"
"Thanks, Mom," Finn says smiling.
GLEEGLEEE
Late that afternoon, shortly before Finn is supposed to be back from basketball practice, Carole walks upstairs into Finn and Quinn's room, Quinn is sitting on the bed working on homework.
"Hey, sweetheart, what are you doing?" Carole asks, walking into the room carrying a basket of laundry.
"Just working on some homework," Quinn answers without looking up from her textbook.
"Oh sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt," Carole says as she puts away their clothes.
"No, it's fine. I'm working on math homework, so any interruption is greatly appreciated. Seriously, when in my life will I ever need to use Geometry?" Quinn laughs.
"Can't say that I've ever used it since high school myself," Carole says, as she sits down on the bed beside Quinn. "Quinn, Finn says you've been having trouble sleeping lately."
"Yeah, I've been having nightmares and waking up in the middle of the night crying, but that's kind of normal, right?" Quinn asks, trying to hide any hint of concern in her voice.
"Yes, Quinn, everything you're going through right now is normal, the mood swings, the nightmares, the cravings, the aches and pains, swollen ankles, these are all side effects of pregnancy that every pregnant woman has to deal with," Carole says trying to reassure Quinn. "Quinn, you know if you have any questions or anything you're welcome to talk to me."
"Yeah, I know, Finn's told me that several times. There have been a few times when I've wanted to talk to you, but then I remember that the baby I'm carrying isn't even technically your granddaughter and I feel embarrassed about everything," Quinn says, breaking down crying.
"Honey, you have no reason to feel ashamed or embarrassed. And you know what, just like Finn considers your baby to be his daughter, I consider her to be granddaughter. Besides, if I would've had a problem with this whole situation I wouldn't be allowing you to live in my house and I definitely wouldn't have encouraged Finn to raise the baby with you."
"True, guess I never thought about that," Quinn says, pulling herself together.
"So, do you have any questions you want to ask me? Obviously it's okay if you don't, but since I'm here I figure I might as well ask," Carole asks, hoping Quinn doesn't feel like she's forcing her to talk.
"I don't know how to explain it, but I'm scared, nervous and kind of excited all at the same time, if that makes any sense at all," Quinn says.
"That makes perfect sense."
"Right now, to be honest, I'm scared about being a mom more than anything, even more than the whole giving birth thing. I mean, what if I screw up and end up ruining her life?"
"Quinn, I hate to tell you, but you will make mistakes. Parents aren't perfect you know, we make mistakes too. But I don't' think you have to worry about ruining her life, I know you and Finn are going to be great parents."
"Yeah, but the whole idea of being responsible for someone is kind of scary. I mean, the fact that Finn and I are going to be solely responsible for this little girl is just mindboggling."
"Yeah, being a parent is a huge responsibility, but don't let that scare you because it's a blessing too. I can honestly tell you that there is nothing I love more than being a mom. And although, I want you and Finn to raise your daughter yourselves, I also want to you to know that if you ever need any help or advice, I'm always here for you."
"Thanks, Carole," Quinn says as she leans over to hug her.
"You're welcome, sweetheart," Carole says, as she gets up to leave.
"Carole," Quinn says, stopping her before she walks out the door. "You're gonna be there right?"
"Be there for what?"
"Be there with Finn and me when the baby's born."
"If you and Finn want me to be there, then I will be there."
"Well, I want you to be there and I'm sure Finn probably wants you to be there too."
"Then I wouldn't miss it for the world."
"Carole, thanks again for talking to me and everything. I mean you've been so great through all of this and you've supported us ever since Finn told you I was pregnant."
"That's what being a mom's all about, loving your kids and always being there for them no matter what. As long as you and Finn remember that, I know you guys will do just fine," Carole says, walking back over towards Quinn to give her another hug.
"Yeah, well my parents could definitely learn some things from you on what it means to be a good parent. Anyway," Quinn says, tryinh not to think about the situation with her parents. "I just hope I can be even half as good of a mom as you are, you've done an excellent job raising Finn all on your own. He's the absolute sweetest guy and he means everything to me, I love him so much," Quinn says, the tears starting to fall yet again.
"Thanks, Quinn that really means a lot to me. And you know what? Finn thinks the world of you too. And like I said you're going to be an excellent mom, you've got nothing to worry about," Carole says, hugging Quinn one last time before walking out of the room.