Hey! Sorry for such a long wait for a new update. As you guys may or may not know, I work for a retail company, and this has been a pretty busy week for us and when I'm not working, I'm exhausted. But I really am happy with this chapter, especially the scene I added in :) Hope you enjoy it and review if you want me to keep going! If I don't update before then, happy Thanksgiving!
Chapter 7: Throwdown
Finn sat in the doctor's office with Quinn, waiting for the ten-week ultrasound to begin. He was still having trouble wrapping his mind around the fact that his girlfriend was pregnant with his child, especially since they'd never even had sex.
"I'm freaking out," Quinn said.
Finn took Quinn's hand. "Everything is going to be fine."
The doctor looked at Quinn. "Relax. At your age, there's very little chance of anything being wrong."
Finn sighed with relief. "Awesome."
"Okay, this is going to be a little cool to the touch," the doctor said as she put some gel on Quinn's stomach and began scanning it.
"Can you just be careful with my uniform?" Quinn asked.
The doctor looked surprised as she began scanning. "All right. Speaking of your ages, have you two given any thought to what you're going to do after the baby is born?"
That was what confused Finn. He looked at the screen, not believing that was his child. He was only fifteen, but he already loved this child. He wasn't sure if he was ready or if Quinn was the one. "Whatever Quinn wants is fine."
"Well, if it makes a difference, it's a girl," the doctor said.
"We're giving it up for adoption," Quinn declared.
It? It was a her! A daughter. Finn watched the scan a little more before Quinn threw him out so she could talk to the doctor. He went to the waiting room, where Mr. Schue was waiting. "Baby's fine," Finn told Mr. Schue. "No mutations or anything. Not even any cool ones. Thanks for taking us today. I was too freaked out to drive."
Mr. Schue gave Finn a sympathetic look. "Yeah, no problem. Hey. You doing all right?"
Finn hesitated. "Um, no. I mean, how am I supposed to take care of a real person? My mom won't even let me have fish."
"I thought Quinn wanted to give the baby up for adoption," Mr. Schue said.
"For now," Finn said. Then again, Quinn could change her mind at any time. "But we both know that's not my call. It sucks. Get all the stress and worry and none of the control. It's cool, Mr. Schue. You wouldn't understand."
"If you need to talk, I'm here," Mr. Schue told Finn.
x
Rachel could not believe Jacob Ben Israel. Threatening to run a story about Quinn's pregnancy? Rachel couldn't let him do that to Finn! He would be so humiliated! Jacob creeped Rachel out with his sex obsession. Ever since she'd made that comment about sex at the celibacy club, he'd seemed to think she was into sex and would do it with anyone. The truth was, she wasn't even sure if she was ready for sex. She just hoped he'd believe the underwear she'd bought at CVS was hers.
"Finn," Rachel said, going up to him. "Can I talk to you about something?"
Finn looked happy to see Rachel. "Rach! Of course you can."
Rachel leaned in. "I don't know how, but Jacob Ben Israel found out about Quinn and wanted to put a story on his blog."
Finn looked terrified. Rachel felt awful for him. "She's hoping to keep this covered up. Right now she's planning on giving the baby up for adoption and we're hoping no one will find out."
Giving the baby up for adoption? Now Rachel didn't have to worry about Finn being tied down to Quinn forever! "Don't worry, it won't happen."
Finn looked relieved. "Did you have to get him to stop?"
Rachel didn't want to share the details with Finn. "Let's just say I feel sorry for my dads 'cause they're probably going to have dipped into my college fund to pay for intensive therapy."
Finn smirked. "Oh, hardcore."
"I don't mind. I did it to protect you," Rachel said. All she wanted was for Finn to be okay. And sooner or later, she knew he would realize that she was the one for him.
"And Quinn?" Finn asked.
"Of course. We're all teammates," Rachel lied.
Finn patted Rachel's back. "Hey, I got to tell you, you really are awesome. I'm gonna make it up to you someday, I swear."
Rachel smiled to herself. All he had to do to make it up to her was be with her. Soon though, her thoughts were interrupted when Jacob Ben Israel came up to her. "I need another pair," he demanded.
"What's wrong with the ones I already gave you?" Rachel asked.
Jacob took the underwear out of his bag. "Look. They still had the tag on them."
Rachel couldn't believe what he was doing. "Put those away."
"I want Rachel Berry panties," Jacob demanded. "Okay, I expect delivery by tomorrow morning or the story of Quinn Fabray and the stork goes wide."
Rachel had to do it. She wasn't going to let him do this to Finn.
x
Quinn was yelling at Finn again. It felt like all she ever did was yell at him. "You are so insensitive. Bringing up baby names to me when you know I don't want to keep it. I can't keep it."
What was he supposed to do? "I know, but I don't get what you expect me to do about it."
"Not have an opinion," Quinn said as if she was stating the obvious.
She expected him to just do nothing? "Hey, this is happening to me, too."
"No, it's not," Quinn snapped. "You're not the one whose parents will burn her like a witch if they find out."
"You know, sometimes I wish you were a little more like Rachel," Finn snapped.
Quinn gave him an angry look. "Really?"
"Yeah," Finn said. If it wasn't for the baby, he would have broken up with Quinn and asked Rachel out. "She cares about my feelings. She sticks up for me. She sticks up for both of us. You know that she gave that Jacob kid a pair of her underpants just to keep him from posting on his blog about you being pregnant?"
"You think she did that for me? Just to be a good teammate?" Quinn asked.
What was wrong with her? "Yeah. That's what she told me."
"I know some guys cheat on their wives or pregnant girlfriends. Just don't do it with her," Quinn said before walking away. Little did she know, he already had.
x
Ever since Coach Sylvester had become a co-director of the Glee club, it wasn't as much fun as it used to be. She'd separated the group in half, deciding her group would do one number for Sectionals and Mr. Schue's group would do another. She'd taken Santana, Artie, Kurt, Mercedes, Tina, Mike and Matt for her group, and Rachel had to admit she didn't realize how much she missed having those people around. Before the groups practiced, all twelve New Directions members were hanging out in the choir room, just like old times, until Mr. Schue came in. "Hey! What are you guys doing here?" he asked.
"Just s-s-stopping by to say hello," Tina said as Coach Sylvester's group left.
"Oh, it's great to see you guys," Mr. Schue said. "All right, great news, guys. Brought the band with me, and I think that we have our number for sectionals."
"Mr. Schue, we don't like what this has become," Rachel sighed.
Mr. Schue began handing out the music. "Don't you guys see? That is how Sue wants you to feel. Giving up doesn't help anyone but her. Look, if it were up to me we would all perform together at sectionals, but it's not up to me anymore, okay? Sue's going to do her song, and we are gonna do ours. Sue's kids are singing about hate, literally. So, I thought we would try a kinder approach. All right, Finn and Rachel, come up here; you're gonna take the leads."
Another chance to sing with Finn? Rachel cheered up immediately. "Oh, I love this song! Okay, follow my lead."
Finn looked excited, too. "Don't wait for me."
"Guys, you guys really need to practice this, all right? Night and day, between classes, it has to be letter-perfect. Okay?" Mr. Schue said.
"You got it, Mr. S," Finn said as the music began.
Brittany, Quinn and Puck: Oh...
Oh...
Oh...
Rachel: If I should die before I wake,
It's 'cause you took my breath away
Losing you is like
Living in a world with no air
Oh
Finn: I'm here alone, don't wanna leave
My heart won't move; it's incomplete
Wish there was a way
That I can make you understand
Rachel: But how
Do you expect me
To live alone with just me
'Cause my world revolves around you
It's so hard for me to breathe
Finn, Rachel, Brittany, Quinn and Puck: Tell me how I'm supposed to breathe with no air
Can't live, can't breathe with no air
It's how I feel whenever you ain't there
It's no air, no air
Got me out here in the water so deep
Tell me how you gonna be without me
If you ain't here, I just can't breathe
It's no air, no air
No air, air (Rachel: No)
No air, air (Finn: No)
No air, air (Rachel: No)
No air, air
Finn: I walked, I ran, I jumped, I flew
Right off the ground to float to you
There's no gravity to hold me down for real
Rachel: But, somehow, I'm still alive inside
You took my breath, but I survived
I don't know how, but I don't even care
Rachel and Finn: So how (Rachel: How)
Do you expect me (Rachel: Me)
To live alone with just me (Rachel: Oh)
'Cause my world revolves around you
It's so hard for me to breathe
Finn, Rachel, Brittany, Quinn and Puck: Tell me how I'm supposed to breathe with no air (Rachel: Uh) (Finn: Oh)
Can't live, can't breathe with no air (Rachel: Uh) (Finn: Oh)
It's how I feel whenever you ain't there (Rachel: No air, air) (Finn: Air)
It's no air, no air
Got me out here in the water so deep (Rachel: So Deep)
Tell me how you gonna be without me (Finn: Without me, Yeah!)
If you ain't here, I just can't breathe (Rachel: Breathe, No) (Finn: No air...)
It's no air, no air
No air, air (Rachel: No)
No air, air (Rachel: No)
No air, air (Rachel: No)
No air, air (Finn: No more)
No, no, no, no air (Rachel: No)
No, no, no, no air (Rachel: No)
No, no, no, no air (Finn: Baby) (Rachel: No)
No air No air
Finn: No
Rachel: Yeah Yeah Yeah No
Finn, Rachel, Brittany, Quinn and Puck: No!
Tell me how I'm supposed to breathe with no air (Rachel: No air yeah) (Finn: No air)
Can't live, can't breathe with no air (Rachel: Woah woah) (Finn: No air)
It's how I feel whenever you ain't there (Rachel: Whenever you ain't there) (Finn: No breathing)
It's no air, no air (Rachel: No breathing No)
Got me out here in the water so deep (Rachel: So Deep) (Finn: So Deep)
Tell me how you gonna be without me (Rachel: Without Me) (Finn: Can't breathe without you Baby)
If you ain't here, I just can't breathe (Rachel: Breathe - No air)
It's no air, no air (Rachel: No No No)
No air, air (Rachel: Baby, No air)
No air, air (Finn: No)
No air, air (Finn: Hard for me to breathe)
No air, air (Rachel: Oh)
Tell me how I'm supposed to breathe with no air (Rachel: No air)
Can't live, can't breathe with no air (Rachel: No No)
It's how I feel whenever you ain't there (Rachel: No air )
It's no air, no air
Rachel: You got me out here in the water so deep
Finn: Tell me how you gonna be without me
Rachel: If you ain't here, I just can't breathe
Rachel and Finn: It's no air, no air
Brittany, Quinn and Puck: No Air (Rachel: No)
No Air (Finn: No, No)
No Air (Rachel: Oh)
No Air (Rachel: No Air)
Finn and Rachel: No Air
Another great duet. No matter what Sue's group performed, Rachel knew this would be good enough to win Sectionals. And Rachel loved the way Finn was holding her and looking at her during the number.
x
The next day, Rachel was walking to class when Quinn came up to her. "Listen here, treasure-trail, we're about to have a smackdown."
Had she found out about what Rachel and Finn had done? "I don't want to have a confrontation."
Quinn glared at Rachel. "Don't play stupid with me, stubbles. I'm having Finn's baby and you need to back off. I'm asking you as nicely as I possibly can. Leave him alone."
Rachel still couldn't tell if Quinn knew that Finn had kissed her behind her back. She decided to bring up something else. "You're right. I've helped you not because it's the right thing to do, but because I had romantic ulterior motives. But just so we're clear, you're the one who's cheating."
"Excuse me?" Quinn asked. The look on Quinn's face made Rachel wonder - had she cheated on Finn, too?
Rachel had to think of something, fast. "I have on good authority that you're Sue Sylvester's mole. And you can deny it all you want, but I know it's true."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Quinn said.
"Sue's not on your side, Quinn. She's not on anyone's side but her own. Can you imagine what she's gonna do once she finds out about your situation? She'll probably try to rip off your uniform with her bare hands. Every time you whisper in her ear, you empower her to do more damage to the glee club. And right now, glee club is all you have, and if I were you, I'd recognize who my true friends are. Oh, and I'd practice a little bit more. Because you obviously have a lot you need to express," Rachel said before Quinn left.
x
"We would just like to say that although we find ourselves on opposite sides, we hope you enjoy our number and we look forward to seeing yours..." Rachel said. Mr. Schue's group was about to show Coach Sylvester's group their number for Sectionals, and then the other group wold perform theirs.
"Get on with it! Enough with the jibba-jabba! Sing something!" Sue shouted.
"Sue, you can't talk to kids that way," Mr. Schue said.
Rachel Berry began the song before Coach Sylvester interrupted. "All right, that's it. Come on. She had her chance. Everybody up! We're leaving."
"I'm sorry. Is there a fire?" Finn snapped.
Mr. Schue and Coach Sylvester began yelling at each other. Rachel couldn't help but think that this was so unprofessional. Luckily, Finn spoke first. "Enough! I'm sorry Mr. Schue, Ms. Sylvester, but if we wanted to hear mom and dad fight, those of us who still have two parents would just stay home on payday."
"I agree," Mercedes said. "Glee club is supposed to be fun. And furthermore, I don't like this minority business. I may be a strong, proud black woman, but I'm a lot more than that. I'm out."
"M-me, too," Tina stuttered.
"Fellow glee clubbers, it would be an honor to show you how a real storm-out is done. I encourage you to follow my lead," Rachel said. As she left, everyone followed behind her, and Finn gave her a look.
x
"I can't believe Coach Sylvester did that," Finn said to Rachel. Coach Sylvester had found out about Rachel's deal with Jacob and gotten him to run the story. Finn had asked Rachel to come over to his house because he just needed someone to talk to.
"Me either," Rachel sighed. "I tried to stop Jacob, Finn. I really tried."
"I know you did," Finn said. "And really Rach, that means so much to me. I'm so lucky to have such a good friend like you."
"I'm so sorry," Rachel said again.
"People are going to be brutal," Finn said. "I mean, you know what this school's like. I'll probably get slushied."
"I'll always be there to help clean you up if you get slushied," Rachel said. "How's Quinn?"
Finn felt a sting of guilt. Maybe he should be with Quinn now. This probably was harder for her than it was for him. "She's upset, I'm sure."
Rachel looked down. "I'm sorry."
Rachel was the last person who needed to apologize for anything. "For what?" Finn asked.
"I know it probably upsets her to see us together," Rachel said. "Does she know about the auditorium? Or the bowling alley?"
Finn smiled as his mind went back to those days. Gosh, when he was with Rachel, it felt like they were the only two people on Earth. "No, she doesn't."
"We should keep it that way," Rachel said.
Finn sighed. He didn't like what he was suggesting now, but he knew it was the right thing to do. "I know you really like me, Rach," Finn said. "And I really like you too. But we can't just keep doing things behind her back. She could decide to keep the baby, and it wouldn't be right..." His heart was breaking and he was afraid to see Rachel's reaction.
Rachel looked sad too. She just nodded. "You're right. Maybe I shouldn't be here."
"No, I need a friend right now," Finn said. "My mom doesn't know..."
"I'm always here for you," Rachel said softly.
Finn gave Rachel a hug. Rachel hugged him back. Her hugs felt so good.
"I was thinking, how about in Glee club next week, we sing a song to Quinn so she knows we're all here for her?" Rachel said.
Even though he knew he shouldn't, Finn couldn't help but be impressed. Rachel and Quinn didn't have a good relationship, and Rachel wanted to do something nice for Quinn in this hard time. "That's a great idea," Finn said.
"Want to help me pick one out?" Rachel asked.
"Yeah," Finn said. They looked through Finn's computer and found a song before Rachel started to leave. As Rachel was leaving, Finn's mom was arriving home.
"Hi, Rachel," Carole said. "It's nice to see you."
"You too," Rachel said. Finn felt good knowing how much his mom and Rachel liked each other. But then again...
"How's Glee club?" Carole asked.
"It's great," Rachel said. "Finn and I did a great song together."
"That's good," Carole said. "I can't wait to hear you two sing at Sectionals."
"It'll be great," Rachel said. "I should get going now. Bye Finn. Bye Mrs. Hudson."
"Bye Rach," Finn said as he watched her leave.
"Everything okay, honey?" Carole asked when Rachel left. "You look a little stressed."
"Lots of homework," Finn lied.
x
The whole glee club liked Rachel's idea of doing a song for Quinn. Since it was Rachel's idea and Finn was Quinn's boyfriend, the Glee club agreed that they should lead it, but they all took part. Finn felt so bad seeing how stressed Quinn looked when they were on the stage singing. This would be a rough few months.
Rachel: You're not alone
Together we stand
I'll be by your side, you know
I'll take your hand
Finn: When it gets cold
And it feels like the end
There's no place to go
You know I won't give in
Finn and Rachel: No I won't give in
New Directions: Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through,
We'll make it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you,
I'm here for you
There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Finn: So far away I wish you were here
Before it's too late, this could all disappear
Finn and Rachel: Before the doors close
And it comes to an end
With you by my side
I will fight and defend
I'll fight and defend
Yeah, yeah
New Directions: Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you
There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on 'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through.
Finn and Rachel: Hear me when I say, when I say I believe
Nothing's gonna change, nothing's gonna change destiny
Whatever's meant to be will work out perfectly
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
La da da da
La da da da
La da da da da da da da da...
New Directions: Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through,
We'll make it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you
There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Keep holding on
Keep holding on
There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through,
We'll make it through.
At the end of the song, Finn took Quinn's hand with one hand and Rachel's with the other. He gulped when Quinn turned to Rachel. But he sighed with relief when Quinn didn't scold Rachel. Instead, she simply said, "Thanks for putting this together."
"You're welcome," Rachel said, looking at Quinn, and then at Finn.