A/N: Sorry for the long time between updates there is not much to say except I don't have the time I once did to write. I also had some writer block with this chapter. I hope you like what I have come up with. I think it finally came out how I envisioned it. This is a little different than my other chapters as it is a single POV from Quinn's side. As always reviews are greatly appreciated. Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or any of its characters. Glee belongs to FOX and it's creators.

Ch.32

Quinn didn't know what to say to Noah as he leaned against the doorframe of the room. She was shocked to see him here in Spencer's apartment. "We've been looking for you for days." He finally said, though he didn't move any closer to her.

"We?"

"Your mom, the Berry's, Lopez's, Pierce's, my mom."

"Why?" Quinn blurted out before thinking. She was stupid however, why would anyone look for her, especially after finding out about her past. How weak she had been, what a trouble she was to her father to deserve such harsh punishment.

Noah looked incredibly sad as he shifted his weight, "I really wish I knew who messed you up so much that you think you aren't worth looking for."

Quinn looked away, the pity and pain in Noah's brown orbs too much to handle. "You just said it yourself I'm fucked up."

He sighed deeply as he plopped down next to her leaning on his right elbow facing her. He looked tired to her, more than tired. Had she been the cause of the exhaustion on his handsome youthful face? She didn't want to be, he looked at her earnestly but didn't say a word, like he knew the next step what up to her and her only. It was so hard to though, to turn herself inside-out, show the scars visible and invisibile.

"You're mom's a mess." He finally reviled, "Hasn't slept in days."

"She betrayed me". Quinn bit her lip hard trying to rein in her emotions. The idea of Judy distraught, comb the small towns of Ohio for her made her cringe with guilt.

"By reading the journal?"

"Yes, she and the Berrys' had no right it was mine, my secrets." Quinn clamped her hands together knuckles turning white, "I can't live like that again."

"Like what?" Noah seemed generally curious, so unlike there last encounter where he'd through a mile high ice wall between them.

"In a place I can't trust." It was the truest statement Quinn had ever made.

Noah leaned back on both elbows now, eyes to the ceiling, "I get it. My Dad he left us when I was younger. It sucked but it was for the better.

Quinn looked at him, she wished she could see his chocolate eyes; that she could see the stories they held. The muscles in his neck tightened and flexed as his jaw clenched a moment. People would ask if I wanted him come home, I didn't, don't still. Its hard you know how do you explain that your better off that your family's better off without your dad without revealing all the shit that happened?"

An aching feeling seized her heart and wouldn't let go like a vice grip on pole, not Noah too flashed throw her mind, a thought as terrifying as being locked in a closet.

"It was mainly my mom. He'd just back hand her or verbally degrade her whenever he got mad or drunk. Sometimes he'd go after me too. Mom didn't know until later. I kept it from her. He'd punch me in the stomach mostly but sometimes in the face. A broken glass or I didn't get his beer fast enough, or I made to much noise. I hated him for what he did to me but mostly what he did to Mom. Then Sarah was born and I was so terrified for her."

Noah turned now and stared at Quinn tears coming down his cheeks. "Then one day Mom came home early from work and saw him slap me. I've never seen her so mad. They had a huge fight and the next morning he was gone. I was so happy but at the same time pissed because Mom had to take care of us alone and she had to work more. Her life got harder while mine got better. I knew it was better for her without him, but sometimes I hear her crying, she messes him. Not the wife beater but the kind man he'd been when I was a baby; I remember that man but she does more and she aches for him."

There was a long pause. Neither said a word. Quinn struggled; could she confide in Noah? He'd been though what she had at lease in some ways; of course, so had Paul and look at how that turned ended. Noah wasn't Paul though, he was gentler, his eyes softer, the anger less intense. Paul's was hidden raging deep within until it boiled and erupted. Noah's bitterness flowed steadily, spilling over in little ways all the time. He cold be jerk jock but he was never cruel or malicious like Paul had been. Noah had been healing for awhile where Paul stayed vengeful, Noah was moving on from his terrible lot in life, where Paul couldn't let it go and used it as an excuse to pass on the hatred to others, a "it happened to me and now I'm going to do it to you" mentality.

"You don't have to share but if you want" Noah shrugged while giving Quinn his signature trademark dopey smile. Quinn rolled her eyes, he was such a goof ball sometimes. Her chest lightened a moment as she felt a squeeze on her hand, glancing down there were there hands intertwined, ivory with bronze. As she realized how perfectly there hands melted together Quinn finally made a choice, a choice to let someone in, to start to heal. She'd rather be Noah than Paul any day and if she was to let all the hurt and pain, the anger and fury, the depression and hopelessness go, she'd have to let it all out.

And so she did.

She told him about the names and degrading comments, about the hours left on her knees reciting the Bible, about the cigarette burns, the belt, and the closet. Then when she was done with that she expelled the agony of what Paul had done to her and the aftermath that had left her feeling so worthless and disgusting. "He just threw me out like his empty bottle of scotch." Tears fell unhindered down her now ruby red cheeks. At some point Noah had pulled her into him so she buried her face into his chest. Sob after sob wracked her body as she let out years of pain and confusion. Eventually she must have fallen asleep because she groggily woke up her face still in Noah's chest, the smell of waffles and bacon filling her senses. "What time is it?"

"Eight in the morning. You fell asleep and slept all day yesterday." Noah's deep voice reverberated in his chest. "How do you feel?" Quinn swifted her head up to meet his concerned eyes. The way that he was looking at her now, it wasn't what she'd expected to see, there was no pity, no there was something else but Quinn couldn't place it. It reminded her of how Judy would look at her sometimes from across the kitchen table, yet it was different some how. It sent a warm shiver through her.

"Exhausted." She found herself admitting easily. You'd think she would feel well rested but now her body ached with exhaustion.

"I'm not surprised."

"Spencer, I stayed and extra day, he'll get in trouble." She suddenly remember sitting up straight.

"Don't worry about that, extenuating circumstance you're all good and so is Spencer." Quinn sighed and settled back down. It was odd being held by Noah, warm and comfortable, safe. She'd never felt that way with anyone not even Paul. She fit under Noah's arm like she was made to be there. His body wrapped around her without crushing or suffocating her. She relaxed and then her stomach grumbled. Noah chuckled and Quinn could feel it in her own body, down to her toes. "How about some breakfast?"

The two made there way out to the kitchen where was Spencer was cooking the waffles and bacon. Quinn moved quickly to the man who was like a grandfather to her and hugged him tight. "Thank you, thank you." She whispered to him. He just squeezed her tight and then ushered her to her seat. They ate quietly the three of them and it was peaceful. Finally Spencer brought up the topic that Quinn had been dreading.

"Are you going home, home to Judy?"

Quinn rubbed her forehead, "I…I don't know."

"For what it's worth my little Grace, I think you should. Your mom loves you. I could tell from the moment I met her, and a woman doesn't spend days looking for there child if they don't care." Spencer reached over and caressed Quinn's cheek, " I know you've been hurt in the past, unbelievable so, it's hard to let someone else in again, especially someone who means so much to you, but darling I think you need to take this chance."

Quinn shut her eyes, revealing in the feeling of the old mans gentle touch. "I'm afraid, what if I'm to damaged for her to love?"

"Not possible." Spencer said firmly but not unkindly.

"I agree with the S Man here. Judy loves you now and she'll only love you more when you too finally talk things out. I don't know much, but I've heard the adults talking this week and she's suffered the past 10 years to Q. Give it a chance and if it doesn't workout, well you have me, you'll always have me." Normally Noah's words would have been taken with a grain of salt but as she looked into his eyes Quinn knew that Noah had never meant anything more in his who life.

So an hour and half later Quinn found herself standing at the door to Judy's converted garage apartment, Noah standing behind her. She hesitated as she reached for the doorknob but the pressure of Noah's hand on her shoulder gave her an extra spark of courage and she opened the door and walked in. "Mom," she breathed as she saw Judy sitting on the couch tears running down her face, a picture of a toddler Quinn and a young Franny laughing together at the park clenched in her hand. Judy turned and gasped "Quinn."

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