I apologize for not updating sooner, a few other things needed my attention, thank you for sticking around.
The Pierce's van was perfect for the trip, the three rows gave everyone a spot, with his experience driving his family's van Matt was the automatic driver. Quinn and Mike opted for the back row with Beth, and though she said it sucked because they were captain's chairs and she couldn't cuddle, Santana chose the middle row for herself and Brittany, Mercedes ending up shot gun with Matt.
Luis was having Burt Hummel check everything, from tire pressure to the roadside safety kit in the van. "Are you sure you don't want us to follow?"
"It's a date, not a family outing." Santana reminded spinning in the desk chair.
"Triple date?"
"Double, Matt and Mercedes are just friends."
"I just worry, Quinn will have the baby with her and your pregnant, what if something goes wrong?" Luis asked.
"Nothing will go wrong with the van." Burt promised from the office door. "She's in great shape."
"See Papi, no worries." Santana promised. "Thank you Mr. Hummel."
"You're welcome Santana." Burt cleaned his hands. "Have you planned out your route?"
"GPS." Santana admitted standing up.
"You might want to print out directions just in case, also they do have a road map in the glove box." Burt said trying to be helpful.
"Papi I promise it's less than a two hour drive, I'll check in, the other parents are okay but if you back so will they."
"Brittany's parents are okay with this?" Luis asked gesturing to the van through the office window.
"Of course, they know I won't let anything happen to Brittany or the van." Santana scoffed.
"It's not just as your father, it's as a doctor I worry." Luis pointed out.
Santana rolled her eyes "Papi..." Burt remained at the door to give them their privacy but step in if needed "I need to do things on my own, something so I know I have some control of my life. And I'm trying to be a good girlfriend, Brittany wants to go to the zoo, she's never been out of Lima unless it's for competition or doctor appointments."
Luis sighed glancing over Santana's shoulder at Burt who gave him a nod. "Alright." Santana squealed hugging her father "But, you call when you stop and you call when you get there."
"I will Mrs. Chang." Santana couldn't help but tease her dad, Luis gave her a squeeze chuckling.
"Smart ass."
"I can't believe you let him go with them." They didn't know he was back in the house, he'd forgotten his jacket. Mike frowned standing in the entry way listening to his dad. "Why did you agree to this, why wasn't I consulted?"
"They're his friends and she is his girlfriend." Mike heard his mother say, even when she was arguing her voice remained soft.
"Not one but two of the young ladies got pregnant by young men they were not dating, why is he hanging around people of this caliber?" his father scoffed.
"They are his friends Michael, and yes mistakes were made but they are children, in need of guidance and understanding when something goes wrong, not this." Mike peaked around the corner just in time to see his mom shake her head and gesture at her husband. "Where is the compassionate man I know you to be at work, or used to be. You have changed since you have become administration, you didn't see a junkie you saw a person who was pushed to their limits and turned to something they thought would help them and not destroy them."
"He is my son, I want the best for him, she is not the best for him." Michael said frowning.
"How do you know she isn't?" Julia challenged. "I was the one who went to dinner with them, Quinn is still the same sweet, intelligent girl who's been coming over here with Brittany and Santana since freshman year. And seeing Michael with her and that baby I know he will be a good father who treats his wife well."
"That is not his baby." Michael muttered.
"Does it matter? Does it really matter? She is a gift, did you know that Quinn was slowly killing herself? I didn't." Julia said ashamed of herself "I missed the signs, you missed the signs, what kind of doctors are we that we didn't see it? Quinn was starving herself to be thin to be on that cheer team, Santana too." Julia said, Michael looked surprised "Both those girls were saved by getting pregnant."
Embarrassed he'd missed the signs Michael asked "How do you know this?"
"Because when I realized we were missing out on our son I started pulling back from work to spend time with him and now when our son talks I listen to more than just his grades, I listen when he talks about his friends, the football games, Brainiacs and even that Glee Club." Michael rolled his eyes "He lights up when he talks about it." Julia shook her head "You should listen more."
"He's doing it because it looks good on college applications."
"He's doing it because he enjoys it." Julia corrected "And you will be civil to Quinn and the rest of Michael's friends or you will be sleeping at the office."
Mike couldn't help but smile at his mom's ultimatum as he backed quietly out of the door, maybe she would understand his love of dancing.
The girls were together when he picked them up at Quinn's house, "Hi sexy." Mercedes teased Mike as he stepped out of the car.
"Stop calling my man sexy and get your own." Quinn shoved Mercedes shoulder, chuckling Mike kissed Quinn blushing when Mercedes smirked at him. "Ignore her." Quinn swiped at Mercedes again as the girl laughed walking away with the baby. Cupping his face Quinn kissed him again. "Good morning."
"Good morning." Mike smiled. She didn't need to know what he'd overheard but he would tell her, just later, after the zoo.
"Are you okay?" Quinn asked, sensing a shift in his mood.
"Better now." Mike smiled dropping down for one last kiss, taking her hand he tugged her to the car "Let's get our snacks for the road trip."
"Quinnie!" Judy hurried down the steps with a fat legal sized envelope in hand.
"Mom?" Quinn waited, Mike at her side, opening the envelope Judy pulled out a few bills "I broke down most of these, I want you to have a good trip, get everyone something on your father." Judy smirked shoving the bills back in before handing Quinn the entire envelope.
Peaking in the envelope Quinn gasped "Mom!"
"It was one of the many things your father left behind when I kicked him out." Judy explained, "He knows I'm keeping it, it was the trade off to get his clothes and the jewelry he bought her." Judy continued explaining to Quinn. "Just take it and have a good time."
"But..."
"No, you take it and have a good time." Judy closed Quinn's hands over the envelope.
"Umm..kay." Quinn hesitated but folded the envelope tucking it in her purse.
"Call me before you leave and when you get there." Judy kissed her cheek hugging her. "I'll see you tomorrow night."
"See you tomorrow night." Quinn gave her mom a squeeze.
Santana had the directions printed out and a map laid out on the table, black sharpie in hand she read off the directions marking them off as she went along, anything to make her dad feel better. "All done Papi, better?" Santana asked gesturing to the map.
Luis nodded "Better."
Folding the map Santana handed it to him asking. "Are you okay with Quinn and the baby staying the night so we can leave out early."
"The earlier you leave the less traffic you run into." Luis nodded "Plus it'll give you a full day at the zoo so you can take your time, you and Quinn don't need to be pushing it." he reminded.
"Quinn's already back to running Papi." Santana shook her head.
"Okay then you need to be careful for my sake," Luis kissed the top of her head "and since you're not driving try and nap during the drive."
"I promise."
"Look who I found at the front door." Maribel smiled carrying a sleeping Beth into the dining room, Mercedes waved at Santana followed by Quinn and Mike.
"Where's B?" Quinn glanced around.
Santana pointed to the stairs "Napping."
"Okay," Quinn nodded "Mrs. Lopez may I speak with you?" Quinn asked gesturing to the living room.
Maribel nodded following Quinn into the next room, waiting until they were in the living room Maribel spoke up "If this is about what I think it is, it's fine, papers were signed and the cash is legally your mother's."
"Okay." Quinn nodded.
"As Santana would say, I gots this." Maribel smiled at Quinn who gave a slight giggle as Maribel's Santana impersonation. "Why are you still looking like you want to throw up my dear?"
"She gave me an envelope and told me to spend it." Quinn dug it out of her purse showing Maribel the cash inside. "I don't want her to get in trouble for giving me this."
"It's fine." Maribel assured Quinn. "Now, I'll keep Beth with me and you kids go road trip snack shopping."
The snacks looked exactly how Maribel thought they would, her dinning room table looked like a 5 year old was let loose to buy whatever snacks they wanted. There were a few odd snacks among the usual candy bars and chips, the boys and Brittany were tossing bags of trail mix and jerky back and forth to get the ones they wanted to fill the cloth store bags they were using for the snacks that didn't need to be chilled, while the girls were making up the ice chest with the food that needed to stay cold. Quinn was borrowing a plastic container for her chocolate covered bacon.
"So are we watching a movie?" Mercedes asked tucking her snacks into the ice chest.
"Of course." Santana laughed "Movie and then the boys go to Matt's."
"Footloose?" Mike looked up from his bag, Santana chuckled at his excitement.
"Maybe next time." Santana laughed as Mike and Brittany hi-fived.
"Chick flick?" Matt asked.
"Not horror, that's for sure." Santana muttered tucking her churros into her and Brittany's ice chest, the churros, like the bacon, had their own plastic container too.
Once the ice chests and bags were packed they left them on the dining room table before joining Santana's parents in the living room, Luis smiled up at Quinn, Beth was sleeping peacefully on his chest. "Just leave her, she's fine." Maribel promised.
"O..Okay." Quinn was trying her best to prove she could take care of Beth on her own but Maribel tended to step in and remind her she didn't have to do it all by herself. Santana, Brittany and Mercedes shared the couch, Matt sat on the floor in front of Santana's legs just like he always did, he had the best spot for popcorn and drink accessibility.
Mike wrapped his arms around her as she sat with him on the love seat, laying her arms over his she leaned back closing her eyes. "Tired?"
"Mm." Keeping her eyes closed Quinn nodded before softly asking "Are you okay? You've been quiet all day." Mike couldn't help but chuckle "Quieter than usual." Quinn corrected giving his arm a light slap. "Talk to me."
Giving her a squeeze Mike rested his chin on her shoulder. "Mom and Dad were arguing this morning."
"It's because of me isn't it?" Quinn sighed.
"No." Mike lied. "Dad's working a lot and mom wants him home."
Quinn rested her head against his, she didn't completely believe him. "You lie badly."
"I've been told that." Mike couldn't help but chuckle "Don't worry about it, Mom's on our side."
"Okay, but no more bad lying." Quinn lightly bounced her head against his.
"Promise." Mike kissed her cheek.