Nate arrived early the next morning just like he said. Quinn was still dressed in sweatpants and an oversized sweatshirt. Her hair was curly and down and she had no make-up on. She made a coffee for Nate and a tea for herself sitting on the couch while Nate sat on the chair.
"Thanks" He said taking the coffee unsure where to start.
"I was going to tell you" She said deciding to go first "It just wasn't the easiest thing to bring up in conversation after what happened"
"So this is my fault?" He asked "That you didn't think I deserved to know"
"I didn't say that all I said was I wasn't sure how to bring it up" She argued.
"I wish you'd talked to me" He sighed putting down his coffee cup.
"Well you know now" She answered trying to keep her voice even.
"Have you decided what to do?" He asked.
"I'm keeping the baby, how involved you want to be is your decision" She replied.
"You know I want to be involved, you should have the apartment"
"I don't want it" She said quickly.
She knew there would be too many memories and she didn't want to stay there alone. Especially not now she knew he'd been with Serena there over the last month.
"I still want to provide for you both" He told her.
"And how does Serena feel about that?" She asked raising an eyebrow.
"It's not really got anything to do with her, it's between me and you" He replied.
"Well I'm happy for you to provide for our child but I don't need your help and I can find my own place to live"
"And how will you afford that, don't be stupid Quinn" He sighed.
"She can stay here" Chuck said coming into the living room.
"A baby here with all your drink and girls?" Asked Nate "I don't think so"
"Quinn can stay here as long as she likes and there hasn't been a girl or party here since she moved in" Chuck retorted.
"Oh so you're happy to look after her now moving in on my girl again" Nate said standing up stepping towards Chuck.
"Except Chuck's just been a really great friend to me not moving in on me, and I'm not your girl I stopped being that when you kissed Serena" She said stepping between them. "Now will you both sit down because there's a lot to be worked out and this baby is more important than your issues"
Chuck rubbed her arm reassuringly as he sat down on the chair opposite Nate. Nate reluctantly sat back down.
"Now I don't know what I'm going to do just now and where I'll live, I don't want to burden Chuck anymore but I'm not going to take hand outs from you either Nate" She told them both.
"You're not a burden I like having you here" Chuck told her and she smiled back at him.
"And for now I'm so grateful but with a baby it's going to be different" She replied.
"It's my baby too and I want to help" Nate said.
"And I want you to be in your child's life if that's what you want but there's got to be boundaries especially with Serena in your life because I don't want her to be a part of mine or my babies and I hope after last night you can respect that. We don't need all the answers right now but it needs to be worked out" She replied.
"We should tell my family" He said running a hand through his hair.
"You can tell them if you want to, I've got a scan next Wednesday at 2 if you want to come" She replied.
"I've got a meeting" He told her
Quinn just rolled her eyes.
"But I can cancel it" He added quickly "I want to be there"
"Well then I'll see you Wednesday" She replied and walked Nate to the elevator.
"Goodbye" He said.
Quinn moved back as he went to touch her arm.
"I want to forgive you Nate I really do but I'm not there yet, you being with her has made that so much harder to do, I'll see you Wednesday" She told him before the elevator door closed.
She took a deep breath determined not to cry. She felt like for two months all she had done was cry because of Nate Archibald and she couldn't keep it up forever. He had obviously moved on and she had to do the same.
"Are you ok?" Chuck asked as she sat back down.
Quinn just shrugged.
"It was never going to be an easy conversation and I don't know how we're going to work this all out but I know we will because we don't have a choice" She admitted.
"I meant what I said about you staying here" He said moving over to the couch to give her a hug.
"I know and it means a lot" She said resting her head on his shoulder feeling suddenly very tired. "But you won't feel that way with a screaming baby in your Batchelor pad"
"I care about that baby as much as I care about you" He told her.
Quinn sat up to look around at him.
"Aww" She giggled "You do have a heart"
"No I don't" He smirked "I just wanted you to look after this guy for me"
"Look after who?" She asked in confusion.
Chuck stood up and opened his bedroom door returning holding a tiny bundle of fluff.
"You got a puppy!" She squealed excitedly.
"Nate told me you'd never been allowed one" He shrugged "And I thought you could do with some cheering up"
"Can I hold him?" She asked excitedly smiling more than she had in a long time.
"It's a girl" He replied handing over the white bundle of fluff "She's a Pomeranian you have to name her"
Quinn smiled as the tiny puppy snuggled into her neck.
"I think Lola" She decided.
"I was thinking Jackie Daniels" He replied.
Quinn raised an eyebrow "Were you talking to Puck?" She asked.
"It may have been mentioned" He shrugged.
Quinn put the puppy down who went about exploring her new home.
"Thank you so much" She said throwing her arms around Chuck who hugged her back.
"Anything you need" He told her still holding her.
Quinn was distracted by Lola peeing on the carpet.
"Lola no!" She exclaimed before going to clean up the mess "Problem with puppies….toilet training"
"I have to go to a meeting" He said leaving her to clean up and play with Lola.
"I'll order in dinner later what time will you be back?" She asked.
"I'm not sure but I'll call you later, get ready and I'll take us out" He replied before leaving.
Quinn got dressed and put on her coat. She got Lola's collar and lead and took her out for a walk in the park where she was meeting Shelby and Beth. She spotted Beth's little blonde head at the top of the slide in the play park. Shelby was sat on a nearby bench watching her daughter play happily.
Quinn told Shelby everything that happened with Nate.
"You'll be fine" Shelby reassured her "You're ready for this Quinn you're one of the strongest women I know"
Just then Beth spotted Quinn and the puppy. She raced over throwing her arms around Quinn before bending down to the puppy who was jumping up excitedly.
"Hey sweetie" Quinn said fondly "This is Lola"
"Can I play with her?" Asked Beth.
"Sure honey just stay where your mom and me can see you and hold the lead tight" Quinn replied handing Lola's lead to an excited Beth who raced off Lola running alongside her.
Quinn smiled watching the two of them play.
"Do you think she'll understand?" Quinn asked.
"Of course she will, you're not sixteen anymore Quinn it's ok to live your life" Shelby replied "You did what was best then, but it's not the same situation now"
"I can't stay too late Chuck's taking me out for dinner later" She said checking her watch.
"That boy has been really good for you" Shelby told her with a smile.
"He's such a good friend" Quinn agreed.
"I think he likes you more than that" Shelby told her.
"Don't be silly" Quinn shook her head. "It's not like that with us"
Shelby's words stuck with her and Quinn felt stupid thinking about it. Chuck had always been her friend. He'd dated Santana and loved Blair Waldorf. He was Nate's best friend.
Lola was fast asleep at the end of Quinn's bed. Quinn pulled out a white cami top, her black wet look leggings and a pair of black heels. Her hair had grown out she curled it loosely and applied her make-up. She had no idea where Chuck wanted to go they never ate out so smart casual was a safe bet. She grabbed her purse has she heard the elevator open.
"Hey" She said greeting him with a smile.
"You look beautiful" He told her "Are you ready to go?"
"Yeah Lola is asleep" She replied.
"Arthur said he'd check in" Chuck said with a smirk.
Quinn giggled but she was happy about it she had been worried about leaving the little puppy alone. She knew it was silly but she couldn't help it and Chuck obviously knew that. She grabbed her fitted blazer and followed Chuck to the elevator.
He took her to a quiet Italian place she'd never been to. Chuck just ordered a bottle of still water.
"You can have a drink you know" She pointed out raising an eyebrow.
"I don't always drink" He replied with a shrug as he studied the menu.
"So how was your meeting?" She asked
"I'm opening a new club" He replied "It was just to run through the planning permission which we've had back so now it's just sorting the schedule for the building work and marketing ready for when we think the opening date will be"
"So what's your vision?" She asked.
"An escape into a world of fantasy" He replied with a smirk "Dark and sexual"
Quinn choked on her coke making Chuck laugh.
"Not something for the president of the celibacy club" He added.
"Did Santana tell you about that?" She asked.
"It may have come up" He replied.
"So clubs are your passion" She continued.
"I like the idea of giving people an escape" He answered "But enough about business how are you doing?"
"I'm good" She replied
Chuck just looked at her.
"Honestly I am" She insisted "It's been two months he moved on I just need to do the same"
"I still want you to stay" He told her "But if you really want your own space then there's a suite for you at the empire, I want to know you're both safe"
"Chuck that's really sweet" Quinn told him "But you've been too generous already"
"It's not the money I care about" He said taking her hand "You shouldn't be going through this alone"
"You know you've never told me much about you" She said changing the subject "You know everything about me"
"I'm Chuck Bass" He replied.
"Tell me something real" She giggled.
"I never used to like dogs, I've always been an asshole and you're the first girl I've been close to since Blair" He told her honestly.
Quinn didn't know what to say.
"I care about you a lot" He told her.
"I care about you too" She replied.
The waiter came over with their meals breaking the awkwardness of the conversation. Quinn moved on to talking about her day with Shelby and Beth and how much Beth had loved Lola.
"Shelby is right it is ok for you to live your life and not worry about people judging you" He reassured her.
"But here it's all about judgement, rumours and backstabbing it's constant high school" She pointed out.
"That's just the upper east side,not everyone" He laughed "And you're so much better than them"
"I feel awful Nate is your best friend and I feel like i'm coming between you" She admitted.
"I'd like to think we became friends a long time ago" He said "And you didn't do anything wrong, he did"
Quinn and Chuck headed straight home after. She felt so emotionally drained all she wanted to do was curl up and go to sleep. It meant so much to have a friend like Chuck especially with Santana being away on tour,she wasn't sure how she'd get through everything without him.