A/N - Buckle up and hold on! The roller coaster is about to get nasty!

Chapter 12 – Truth Hurts

Quinn took a deep breath, deciding that the 'ripping off the band-aid' approach was going to be the best. "Rachel, um…" Her stomach twisted in knots, making her want to throw up. "Rachel, the night we spent together four years ago… you, ah… you got me pregnant."

Silence. Complete and utter silence engulfed the room.

Rachel shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. "What? Excuse me, w-what did you just say?" she breathed out, her eyes widening. She had to have heard Quinn wrong. That was the last thing she'd expected to hear. Maybe… possibly… Quinn admitting that she's had feelings for the singer all these years and decided to give her son the middle name 'Berry' so she could always remember her - Not… that!

Quinn took a deep breath and swallowed hard. Her throat tightening at having to repeat herself, so she took a quick drink from the glass of water on the coffee table, then repeated, "That night we were together… you got me pregnant."

Rachel sat in utter shock, her mind quickly calculating time. Jaxon was three… which was the precise age a child would be if he had been conceived during the night the two women had been together.

But this was impossible, right? There was no way she could have gotten Quinn pregnant.

But as her eyes caught sight of a photo of Jaxon hanging on the wall, Rachel could now clearly see the resemblance and felt stupid for not putting it together on her own. But how was she supposed to know that she actually was able to… uh, father… a baby?!

Rachel became dizzy with all these thoughts tumbling around in her mind. She slowly turned to look at the woman sitting on the other side of the couch. "Are-Are you saying that… Quinn, you're saying that Jaxon is my son?" she managed to stammer out.

Quinn bit her bottom lip, wringing her hands together. She looked Rachel in the eyes and said straight out, "Yes, Rachel. Jaxon is your son."

The singer leaned forward and buried her hands in her hair. "How?… I mean," she scoffed, "I know how babies are created, but… I've been told by doctors that I'm completely sterile, that it would be impossible for me to ever get a woman pregnant."

Quinn shrugged her shoulders. "Well… they were wrong."

Standing up quickly, Rachel began pacing back and forth, completely lost in her thoughts. She stopped in front of the tall bookcase where several candid pictures of Jaxon were displayed. One was of him and Quinn down at the beach. He had the famous Berry mega watt grin, and sand all over his cheeks. Quinn was laughing next to him, her eyes glowing with love. Rachel felt tears run down her face at the beautiful little boy in the photos. Next to it was a small picture of Jaxon as an infant. Even then he had a lot of dark wavy hair! She smiled as she gazed upon the life of her son.

Her son.

She just couldn't believe it. She was a mother. Her heart soared. It was a dream come true for her.

But then a painful ache began in Rachel's heart as she looked at snapshots of her son's life… A life that she hadn't been in. A life she hadn't even known about.

She turned and looked at Quinn, searchingly. The blonde's eyes were soft and pleading for Rachel to say something, but the singer's happiness quickly spiraled into anger. She bit her lip and stared down at the floor for several minutes, trying to reign in her emotions. Gradually she looked back up, suddenly very aware of the fact that Quinn had kept her son away from her for over three years. Three years!

Rachel could feel her emotions building.

Quinn had kept Jaxon from her all this time! She hadn't even told the singer that she was pregnant in the first place! All this added to Rachel's hurt and anger.

Her jaw tightened and her dark eyes hardened as she gave Quinn a pointed look, growling between clenched teeth, "Let me get this straight…"

Quinn flinched at the hard look in Rachel's eyes and the coldness of her voice.

"…Four years ago, you and I had an amazing night together and I ended up getting you pregnant. But when you found out about the pregnancy, you made the conscious choice to not tell me, to not even look for me."

"Rachel, I-" Quinn began, but Rachel cut her off, her dark brown eyes shooting daggers.

"No, Quinn!" Rachel yelled. "You decided on your own that I shouldn't be a part of our child's life. You didn't even give me a choice! You took that away from me! How could you do that?!"

Quinn looked down at her hands. She knew she'd made a huge mistake when she chose to keep Jaxon's existence from Rachel, and had always known that when they eventually had this conversation, the singer was going to be pissed. "I'm so sorry, Rachel."

Rachel just shook her head, her hands balling into fists. "Quinn, I… I can't believe you did this to me! And to top it off… when we found each other again, and had the most mind-blowing sex…" She bit her lip and looked up at the ceiling, trying to reign in her emotions. But it was impossible. "For hell's sake, Quinn! We've been back in each other's lives for weeks now. And you still didn't think it was a good idea to tell me that you gave birth to my son?!"

Quinn flinched like she'd been slapped. "We were drunk that night, Rachel, I-"

"Last night…" Rachel breathed out through her nose. "Last night… is this why you stopped before… before you fucked me again?! Your conscience finally caught up to you?!" She was glaring at Quinn, feeling such an intense anger toward the blonde woman. She couldn't stand to be in her presence any longer. It was a complete 180 from what she'd been feeling this past week, knowing Quinn was in her life again. When they were together, Rachel felt like everything in the world was beginning to make sense. She'd even begun to have hope for a life with Quinn. But now the blonde had completely shot that plan all to hell. She scoffed, shaking her head. "You know… Maybe the reason you didn't tell me you were pregnant, was because… for all I know, I wasn't the only one you were fucking at the time!"

SLAP!

Rachel's head whipped to the side, her cheek burning from Quinn's handprint. Slowly she turned her head back to glare at the blonde.

Quinn's face was red with rage, her breathing hard. "How dare you!" she hissed.

"Come on, Quinn, tell me…" Rachel grit out through her teeth. "Tell me that I was the only one you were fucking at the time."

Quinn swallowed. She looked away, biting her lip, guilt written plainly on her face.

Rachel scoffed. "You're such a whore."

"Look who's talking… the woman with a new slut on her arm every night," Quinn bit out. "For all I knew, I was just another notch on your king-sized headboard."

The two women stood glaring at each other, the tension in the room thick and scorching.

"How in the hell could you keep my son from me?!" Rachel demanded.

"It was a one night stand, Rachel!" Quinn's own stubbornness flared. "The only thing I knew about you back then was that you were a rock star who had thousands of girls fawning all over you. You even bragged in interviews about how many girls you'd slept with! I had to make the decisions based on the facts that I had. And I refused to have my son be raised around your lifestyle."

Rachel balled her hands into fists again, making her nails dig into the flesh of her palms. Her rage was barely contained at the moment, and she was trying her damnedest not to lose it, but she was hurt and mad and felt robbed of something that she'd always wanted but never thought she would ever be able to have. "My lifestyle? Seriously, Quinn?! You didn't tell me I had a son because you didn't like my lifestyle?! Who the hell gave you the right to make that decision?!"

"I thought I was doing what was best for him," Quinn faced Rachel head on, defending the actions she'd chosen in the past-whether they had been right or wrong. "I was in shock and scared, so excuse me for not jumping up to go hunt your ass down. Especially when I woke up the next morning only to see a lame-ass note! 'Thanks for the ride, Quinn. I had fun.'" She mocked the brunette's stupid note.

Quinn's explanations only sounded like excuses to Rachel and not a validation as to why she didn't even try to look for her. She couldn't hold back the anger as she shouted, "That's bullshit, Quinn, and you know it! You were being selfish!"

By now, both women were in each other's faces, battling their own overwhelming emotions.

Rachel felt her rage reach its boiling point and she knew she had better get away from Quinn before she lost it completely and did something she knew she'd regret. She turned around and headed toward the front door, where she stopped. In an instant she was back, standing only a few feet away from the blonde. She glared into those hazel eyes that she'd been dreaming of for years-but now everything was different. "You will never take him away from me ever again, Quinn. Do you understand? I demand to be a part of his life," she said forcefully.

Quinn swallowed and nodded. "I agree, Rachel. He does need you in his life."

Rachel stomped back to the front door and as she left, she turned. "Bring him to the park that you were at the other day, tomorrow at 11. I want to spend time with my son. And I swear, Quinn, if you…" Rachel couldn't even finish the sentence.

Quinn quickly nodded, clearly see the fury written all over the singer's face.

As the door slammed shut, Quinn let out a long breath and fell on the couch and cried.

~~~~~QR~~~~~

As soon as Rachel fell into her car, she let out a frustrated scream. She was so pissed off at Quinn, she could barely see straight.

Back at Rachel's house, Cassie had come home early and was in the kitchen making popcorn when she heard the front door open, then slam shut. Moments later, Rachel stomped into the kitchen looking like she was going to murder someone. "Hey, Rach. Um… I take it dinner with the sexy blonde didn't go so well," she said cautiously, a little unnerved by the singer's obvious anger.

Rachel didn't even bother with polite conversation as she bluntly told her best friend, "I have a son." She opened a cabinet door and pulled out a new bottle of vodka. She didn't even take the time to get a shot glass, she just opened the bottle up and drank straight from it.

Cassie stood by the counter in shock by the news, not sure what to even say. The only sound in the room was the popping of the popcorn as it cooked in the microwave.

Rachel took another gulp then carried it with her as she headed up to her bedroom.

It was going to be a long night.

~~~~~QR~~~~~

Quinn didn't get any sleep at all. The look on Rachel's face when she'd told her about Jaxon was heartbreaking. She had never seen so much emotional pain in someone's eyes before and it crushed her. Rachel's anger, though completely justified, was venomous and tore straight to Quinn's soul.

She tossed and turned in bed all night long, seeing Rachel's wounded expression when it morphed into anger and then rage. Overall, Quinn felt like shit.

It was still early enough in the morning that Quinn knew Jaxon would still be asleep. She pulled on a robe and headed downstairs to make some coffee. When she walked into the kitchen she was surprised to see Santana and Brittany sitting at the table eating breakfast.

"What are you guys doing here?" she asked. "I thought you were away having a romantic weekend at some hotel."

Santana looked up when she heard Quinn. Seeing the baggy eyes and drawn face of her best friend, she exclaimed, "Holy hell, Q! You look like shit!"

"I feel like shit," Quinn mumbled as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

"What happened, Quinn?" Brittany asked, concern heavy in her voice. "Didn't Rachel come over last night?"

"Oh yeah!" Santana drawled, a big smile covering her face. "Did you and the dwarf have marathon sex again? That would explain why you look like you haven't slept in days."

Quinn plopped down at the table and sighed. "Yes, Britt, Rachel did come over last night. No, San, Rachel and I did not have any sex. She was however, completely pissed at me when she left."

"You finally told her about Jaxon?" Brittany guessed.

Quinn took a sip of her coffee and nodded. "Yeah. And she was very hurt. Then her hurt quickly escalated to anger. She is furious that I never told her about Jaxon. And even more angry that I didn't tell her these past few weeks. And I betrayed her when we had sex a few weeks ago-"

"Whoa! Hold up!" Santana dropped her fork onto her plate, making a clanging sound. "You had sex with her a few weeks ago?! I thought you saw her for the first time only a few days ago!"

Quinn rubbed her forehead, feeling the building pressure. "Yeah. The night of the Halloween party when I told you I hooked up with some stranger? Well… that stranger was actually Rachel."

Both Santana and Brittany's jaws were on the floor.

Quinn continued, "The thought that the gorgeous brunette was even Rachel was ridiculous. But too much alcohol and loud music… and then she was suddenly standing in front of me like a fantasy. It all seemed so surreal. Even when we got back to her house and the clothes were flying, I still considered it too good to be real."

Santana's lip curled, "Gross, Q! We don't need the details of your romps with the hobbit."

"Wow, Quinn," Brittany said sadly. "You really hurt her."

"I know, B. I know." Quinn banged her forehead on the table. "Rachel is so much more than I ever thought she was. She is nice and considerate, she's funny as all hell. You should have seen her with Jaxon last night. He took right to her, he wasn't even shy. They played with his toys and laughed and sang and had fun. It was just… amazing. It was a beautiful sight and one I had always dreamed of… but had resigned myself that it would never happen. But it did happen, and I completely screwed everything up."

Just then, they heard Jaxon calling from his bedroom.

"Looks like my little man is awake," Brittany squealed and ran out of the kitchen.

"So what are you going to do, Q?" Santana asked, popping a piece of french toast in her mouth.

Quinn took a sip of her coffee. "Before she left, she told me to bring Jaxon to the park today so she could spend time with him. Hopefully her anger has had some time to fizzle out."

"Or maybe the more time she has to think about it, the more her anger will just keep growing."

Quinn's mouth hung open as her empty cup landed on the table. "Thanks a lot, S! Now I'm freaking out even more! I would hate to see her anger worse than it was last night."

Brittany walked into the kitchen carrying a sleepy-eyed Jaxon. He was wearing his Mickey Mouse pajamas and rubbing his eyes.

"Good morning, Jax," Santana said, standing up to wrap her arms around the little boy and Brittany.

Jaxon's chocolate brown eyes focused on the Latina and immediately brightened. "Hi, Tana!"

"I'm sorry I have to leave you guys so soon, but I need to get to work," the Latina said, kissing Jaxon and then her girlfriend goodbye. Before she walked out the door, she caught Quinn's eyes and said, "You made your bed, Q. Now you have to sleep in it."

"I know," Quinn sighed, knowing her best friend was right. She turned to her son, who was sitting in his highchair and eating some cereal Brittany had poured for him. "Hey, Jax?"

The spoon was halfway to the little boy's mouth when he looked over at his mother. He lifted his eyebrows, telling her that he was listening, as he stuffed the spoonful of cereal into his mouth.

"Do you remember Rachel from last night?" she asked.

A huge grin covered his face, full teeth and all. Brittany had to cover up her laugh when some cereal fell from his mouth and on the table. Jaxon nodded. "'Chel!" He swallowed his food then turned to his aunt. "Britt Britt?!"

"Yes?" Brittany loved seeing the excitement radiating from the small brunette.

"'Chel sing wif me and we play airplanes she fun she threw me in air. I was scared but she catch me, she eat 'oodles, and she so pretty," Jaxon said, all in one excited breath. His face was alive with wonder and his hands were gesturing all over the place. He looked like Rachel more than ever at that moment.

Quinn patiently waited for her son to finish telling Brittany all about his night with his new friend. When there was a brief pause, Quinn cut in before Jaxon could begin again. "Jaxon, Rachel wants to go play at the park with us today. Does that sound fun?"

Jaxon's eyes widened and he began bouncing up and down in his highchair. "Me out! Me out!" he called as he tried to push himself up.

Brittany saw the little boy about to fall out of his chair, so she quickly steadied him, then lifted him up and out, setting him down on the floor. But before either woman could say a word, he took off out of the kitchen and headed toward his bedroom.

Quinn and Brittany giggled at his theatrics and began cleaning up the breakfast dishes.

Not even five minutes later, Jaxon came tearing back into the kitchen butt naked, carrying a pair of jean shorts, a white t-shirt with a sports car on the front and a diaper. "Help peas!" he cried, running up to Brittany. "Me go park with 'Chel!"

Brittany giggled. "Can I come too?" she asked sweetly.

Quinn had never seen Jaxon's eyes grow so big. He enthusiastically nodded then turned to his mother and exclaimed, "Mama! Britt Britt come park with me! Play with 'Chel!"

She smiled. "I think that's a great idea, Jax. How about while Brittany gets you dressed, I'm going to go change into some park clothes too."

"'Kay, but hurry!" he called after her.

~~~~~QR~~~~~

Rachel woke up the next morning and stared up at the ceiling thinking about the events of the previous night, realizing it hadn't been a dream - she really did have a son. She had a son who was biologically hers.

But then there was Quinn. Quinn, who hadn't even bothered trying to contact her, instead all she did was make one selfish decision after another, making sure that Rachel would never know about Jaxon.

Rachel's heart swelled at the thought of her son. It was incredible how much he looked like her. He was so adorable… and he was hers. Rachel sighed, a smile on her lips.

After lying in bed for a while longer, she pulled herself up and into the bathroom to get ready for the day. She took a long shower, soaking up all the hot water and letting it pound out the tension in her muscles. She needed to go to the gym to get a good workout. Since the band had been back from their tour, she didn't get the amount of exercise that she normally did running around on stage every night. And she could definitely tell the difference. As she got dressed she made a mental note to call her trainer to set up a hard workout session.

Rachel walked into the kitchen and saw Cassie sitting at the breakfast bar eating scrambled eggs, bacon and toast, reading some trash magazine.

Cassie looked up when Rachel came in and wasn't quite sure what to say after her best friend's announcement the night before, so she just tried her typical way of easing the tension - being a blunt smart ass. "Hey, Rach. You look like shit."

Rachel ignored the blonde as she grabbed a plate out of the cupboard and sat down across from her friend. After a few quiet minutes, she spoke, "I have a son, Cassie." She looked up at the ceiling, willing the threatening tears not to fall. "He is the sweetest little boy who likes to sing and play with airplanes and he really likes noodles. He looks everything like me, down to the curl in his hair and his cute little pout." She took a deep breath, still trying to hold back the tears, but failing. She looked over at Cassandra tearfully. "She kept my son from me. How could she do that?"

The blonde set her fork down and reached over to place a hand on top of Rachel's. "Did she tell you why she did it?"

Rachel wiped the tears from her face. "She said she was scared and that she didn't think I would care because of the way I bragged about the number of women I fucked, and my wild rock and roll lifestyle."

Silence fell on the room while Cassie thought about what she should say to her friend. Finally she decided on the truth, "I hate to say this, Rach, but… I kind of understand where she's coming from."

Rachel looked at her incredulously. "What the hell, Cassie?! I thought you were on my side!" she exclaimed.

"Hold up, Rach," she said, raising her hands in defense. "I'm just saying that if I had a one night stand with a guy, who happened to be a well known womanizing rock star, and he got me pregnant, I would have been scared shit-less. And I probably would have done the exact same thing she did."

Rachel scoffed. "Are you serious right now?! It doesn't matter what my life was like, I should have been told that I had a son! That is my right as a parent. But she didn't tell me! She even tried to prevent me from finding out about him! None of that is even remotely understandable, Cassie!"

Cassie took a deep breath and sighed. "No. None of that is completely understandable. In fact, what Quinn did was wrong and selfish. But you have to try and realize, Rach, that an unexpected pregnancy is something no one can navigate through sanely, especially if they're alone. I saw what my mom went through when her prick of a boyfriend, who she thought loved her, got her pregnant. And then the moment she told him about the baby, he was gone like a bat out of hell. So, all I'm saying, Rachel, is that I know Quinn screwed up big time, but you are going to have to try to look at it from her point of view and cut her some slack."

"Cut her some slack?! No. She doesn't deserve any slack. She kept my son from me! It's unforgivable!"

Cassie knew she was probably pushing her best friend too far, so she decided to back off a little. "What's your son's name?" she asked with a small smile.

The first sign of light finally appeared in Rachel's eyes. "Jaxon," she announced proudly. "Oh, and get this… his full name is Jaxon Berry Fabray."

Cassie's eyes widened. "Seriously?"

Rachel nodded and huffed out a short laugh. "Yeah."

"If he's anything like you, Rach, I can't wait to meet him. I bet he's a handful, and a complete diva like his mother."

Rachel took a sip of her orange juice and shook her head. "Just when life was slowing down between tours, it gets interesting."

The lawyer laughed. "It never slows down for us; however we've never had to deal with baby mama drama before. I have a feeling it's going to be one hell of a wild ride."

~~~~~QR~~~~~