Author's Note: So Chapter Eight is here! Things start to unravel as Katie begins her life on Earth and her parents deal with their own separate feelings toward one another. Quinn is cautious to give her heart to Finn after she conceived 'their' child with another, his best friend, Puck. Finn tries to help her with Katie, by being a calming influence. Instead, he cannot help let the underlying feelings of hurt and regret affect the new relationship he has with the littlest member of McKinley High's Glee Club.

Kurt decides to put a plan into action to bring the lovebirds together, with the music of Ingrid Michaelson and a large helping of Bolognese.

Sneak Peek for Part Two: Finn also tries to find a creative outlet to deal with the new loves in his life; fatherhood and Katie.

Song(s) Included:

"Tiny Dancer" – Elton John

This chapter takes place between 6:00am and 7:00am

Chapter Eight: A Thousand Sweet Kisses (Part One of Two)

"Click!"

Finn watched his subject closely, squinting as he struggled to capture the beauty of the scene. Taking his eye to the lens, Finn watched Quinn carefully attach herself to a brave, new sense of motherhood, basking silently in the summer's glow. She stretched out her arm along the vast, green lawn, holding her blooming baby trustily in place across her. Katie's hair had been kept tidily underneath Quinn's hand as she watched carefully as she brushed her fingers along the now dark hair that curled slightly along her baby's forehead.

Finn crouched down, re-focusing the lens and smiling as Quinn caught sight of him and began to playfully accuse him of invading her privacy. She lay still, musing over her baby as Finn tucked in beside them neatly. Quinn stretched out her palm, smiling as Finn littered her skin with light, sweet kisses.

The sun broke their silence, piercing their vision as the rays cast shadows along the grass. Quinn held Katie tighter as soon as a cool slither of wind crept over them until she folded herself into Finn open arm. Finn tucked an arm around her waist, hooking his fingers around the waistband of her jeans.

Quinn smiled, tracing a careful outline along the edge of Katie's dusky pink onesie. Finn held her tiny finger, watching the gentle curve along her mouth as she rolled along Quinn's stomach. Quinn laughed quietly as her long, black eyelashes brushed along her daughter's pale white skin. Quinn snatched away the camera, holding it above her head, her finger poised over the capture button. Finn smiled, leaning over and resting his head along her shoulder. Quinn smiled, rolling Katie over her stomach until the sun was burning her rosy cheeks.

"Click!"

Quinn pursed her lips, tracing the outline of Finn's defined muscle which lay hidden underneath his sports jersey. Finn stole away their baby, carrying her carefully in the crook of his arm. Quinn smiled, tucking her head underneath his arm and brushed her fingers along the edge of his chin until he stole away her hand. He pulled it across his chest, spreading his fingers over her hand. Quinn folded her arms tightly around his waist, watching the dew slip from the blades of grass. Finn smiled, tracing the outline of her palm.

"So now I've got the baby and the boy, what's next?" Quinn pulled the edge of his t-shirt until it passed his belt buckle. Finn brushed away the flaky residue from her eye, tucking a gentle blonde curl behind her ear. Quinn waited patiently, tapping her fingers along the evident muscle that stretched against his arm.

"Probably a shower, we smell a little funky" Finn pinched the skin between both nostrils and released Katie from his grip, holding her courageously along his arm. Finn smiled, pulling at the sticky tape until it fell apart, examining the uncomfortable odour.

"Especially this one" Quinn held her hand awkwardly against her forehead, focusing on the diluted light that fled through the gaps between her fingers. Finn watched her poised expression carefully. Quinn smiled, tracing the outline of his chin as Finn lay back and closed his eyes.

"I keep thinking I'll wake up and this will have all been a dream" Quinn whispered quietly until the wind stole away her quiet voice, her perfect world quickly dissolved as they lay comfortably content as the sun passed over their stretched out forms. Quinn realised abruptly that the place where they lay was one created entirely of fiction. She released her hand from around Finn's neck and rolled along the grassy lawn. She smiled, twisting her fingers between her braid as she watched the clouds disappear into thin slithers of dust.

Holding her hand over her eyes, Quinn felt the starched, white cotton that stretched along her cold, metal hospital bed and she knew she was back in her room again, under the fierce protection of Finn, who it appeared, had not left her side.

"So it was a dream, huh?" Quinn smiled, watching Finn stand over her awkwardly. Finn gripped both sides of the plastic basket, pulling it up to the bed. Quinn leant over and smiled, pressing her fingers along the dusky pink blanket. Finn excused himself politely, littering her forehead with sweet, little kisses. After she watched her boyfriend slide through the gap between the door, Quinn turned her attention to the baby that lay untouched beside her bed. Stretching out her arms, Quinn slipped her fingers underneath her baby's head, complete with her slithers of dark hair. Tentatively, she carried her baby to her chest and she began a gentle sway.

Quinn smiled, listening quietly to the mumblings as Katie pursed her perfectly rosy lips. She laid back and wrestled with the starched pillow. Quinn felt a sudden strong grip around her littlest finger, staring down, she quickly realised how much her baby had grown over the short space of two hours. Katie squeezed tighter as she struggled to keep her eyes open, her thick black eyelashes lapping against her near invisible cheekbones. Quinn smiled as a tear rolled carefully along her cheek, marking her uncared-for skin with a thin, pale streak.

Finn groaned as his chocolate bar teetered against the glass, fixed between the thick metal coil. He stole away his change from the slot and began to kick the bottom of the machine. After limited success, he began to examine the construction of the unelaborate vending machine. Realising the plan, Finn tried again and smiled broadly as he took the bar in his hand, proud of his small triumph. He tore into the silver paper, breaking off a square and biting into the rich chocolate. He promised his mom that he'd call as soon as Katie was well enough to be allowed into Quinn's hospital room although he cursed himself quietly for neglecting this small but important task.

Finn smiled, holding the main door open for some waiting patients. Taking the silver foil from his pocket, he threw it quickly into the trashcan beside his bench. He watched the remaining dark slithers of the night sky disappear as he waited for the sunrise. Finn took his phone from his pocket; he began to scroll through his phonebook, looking out for 'Mom'.

He smiled, holding his phone to his ear. He listened to the monotonous blaring and waited patiently for his mom's warm, comforting voice. As soon as his mom picked up, Finn's voice wavered quickly until she could barely hear a word.

"She's out, Mom. Yeah, you can see her properly without all the tubes" Finn pulled his phone away from his ear, laughing as he could still hear his mom's delightful screams.

Carole smiled as she pulled the covers from the bed and stole her dressing gown from the hook behind the door. Carrying the phone, along with her slippers downstairs, she glanced over her son's baby photos. She smiled, dragging her fingers along the dusty glass. Musing over her son's childish smile, Carole smiled carefully until her son talked along the line again.

"So what'd you think, Mom? Did your son do good?" Finn smiled, letting a tear slide down his cheek as the sun peeked over the roof and along the bench until it reached his feet.

"My son did fantastic" Carole laughed carefully as she traced her fingers along the edge of her chosen photograph, satisfied with her son's success as she continued to praise him. Finn smiled, trying to avoid the blinding sunlight. He smiled as his mom ended the phone-call, returning to her household chores. Finn smiled as he waited by the automatic doors, throwing his phone back into the pocket of his jeans. He brushed past reception and stood by the crowded elevators, tapping his foot against the length of the skirting board that lined the hospital floors.

Quinn smiled, still holding Katie carefully in her arms. She struggled to move her aching hands; instead she resorted to tracing the outline of her daughter's small, pink palm. Quinn laughed as a long trail of dribble trickled down the edge of her hand, watching Katie's contented smile that still lay hidden through the soft, pink blanket.

Finn stood silently amongst the crowded elevator, watching his reflection casually along the mirrored walls. He smiled casually, trying to weave his way through the crowd. Throwing himself willingly down the corridor, he looked out for her door and smiled when it slowly creaked open. He pulled up his chair and watched them both carefully, entranced by the baby-heart's natural rhythms. Quinn tried not to stir quickly as she noticed the flat imprint that stretched the length of his hand.

"Where did you go? I was just about to send out a search party" Quinn's voice cracked slightly as she watched him lift his head from the crisp, white duvet. Finn laughed quickly as he ran his index finger along the inside of her pale, white arm. Quinn held Katie's head carefully in her outstretched palm, stroking the delicate hairline that darkened slightly at the corners which led to her elf-like ears.

"I was talking to my mom, about Katie" Quinn smiled, trying to trace the thin love-line that lay in long, delicate branches across Katie's palm. Katie furrowed her brow, clenching her fingers tightly around her mother's hand. She managed to grin mischievously, watching the blood quickly drain from her fingers.

"And?" Quinn whispered calmly with her calm, sweet tone. Finn folded his fingers together and rubbed them together along the back of his neck. He smiled gingerly, watching Quinn sit upright with Katie resting carefully against her chest.

"My mom has said we could stay together at my house. Burt has offered to make my room bigger so that the crib and everything can fit properly" Finn whispered proudly, excited at his brand-new plan.

"I got $500 from my Grandma Julie and there should still be some money left in my bank account, which should get us started" Quinn stretched out her arms and smiled. Finn opened his hands and smiled as he felt the soft wisps of baby-hair. Quinn laughed, watching them contentedly. Finn stole away a smile and began to stretch out his arms, waiting for Katie's delicious baby smell to invite him into a devilish comfort. Quinn relented and held her daughter over his arm and supported her head with the palm of her hand.

Finn smiled, kneeling along his legs and cooing gently until Katie stared at him carefully with the usual childish curiosity. He examined her too, her mouth eventually folded inwardly at the corners, curving deliciously into an awkward smile. The room fell unusually silent, free from hushed whispers and screams of pain. Quinn smiled, leaning over to inspect the careful bond which eventually dissolved intricately inside her thoughts.

"She likes you. I mean, she hasn't smiled like that before" Quinn smiled, tracing the outline of her daughter's smile. Finn focused his attention along the careful smile stretching generously across the corners of Katie's mouth.

Quinn folded her arms into Finn's lap, brushing her fingers along the denim. Finn struggled carefully, taking Katie's littlest finger and rolling it gently along the pad of his finger. Katie wriggled uneasily between her blankets. Quinn shuffled from the bed and tidied away her things, tucking her hair across her left-hand shoulder. Finn still watched Katie with his supreme curiosity, enamoured by her every premature movement.

"I have to go to the bank. Can you look after Katie until I get back?" Quinn asked quickly, her voice worn and husky. Finn flicked his head quickly, raising a curious eyebrow. His hand twisted slightly under the strain of holding Katie for so long. Quinn slipped beside him along the bed and held onto his hand quickly, separating his fingers out along the stiffly laid bed-sheet.

Quinn watched his carefully protective stare, musing over her brand-new life.

"Don't worry. I'm not hurting anymore. I'll be fine" Quinn smiled, trying to reattach the clasp of her bag.

"Fine, don't be long. I want to us to be a family as soon as possible" Finn smiled, holding the tiniest finger on Katie's hand, laughing quietly as she struggled quickly under his thumb. Quinn laughed, folding her coat over her arm and littering Finn's neck with light, sweet kisses. Finn held her hand quickly, squeezing the edge of her fingers until they were quickly flushed of their colour.

"There isn't anyone else for me apart from you" Quinn whispered into his ear, pursing her lips deliciously as she lifted her head up into the sunlight. Finn watched her disappear quickly, lifting the door from its lock and slipping through the gap effortlessly. She swept up her hair and tucked it between her fingers, threading it quickly through her spare black hair-band. She smiled carefully, watching her reflection meticulously as she brushed past the crowds of patients gathering along the already busy corridor.

Unzipping her bag, Quinn filtered through the necessary equipment and took out her car-keys. Walking down the corridor, she smiled and waited at the elevator doors. Tapping her foot along the skirting board, Quinn cursed herself quickly as she threw her keys back into her bag after realising quickly that her car was still in her driveway, neglected and gathering dust between the large wheels of the cherry red compact car. Quinn held the button down and laughed as the doors slid open, giving way to her friend. Kurt smiled back, holding her arm carefully as he guided her to a chair. Quinn muttered softly, gripping his hand tightly until her nails created sharp, little indents along the veins that lined his fingers. Kurt snatched away his hand and took out a small paper bag from his deep coat pocket.

"What is this?" Quinn raised her eyebrow and laughed, folding the bag open and pulling out a baby-pink onesie. Kurt smiled, trying to hide his pride quickly. Quinn brushed her fingers over the darker pink thread, holding out the onesie along her arms.

"We bought for it, Katie. Before she came out" Quinn smiled, remembering the time before Katie came, where she was just a large lump around her stomach, moving and stretching her skin as taut as a drum; before she became a real person, a living being, lying in her mother's arms. Quinn held his hand and watched his awkward smile.

"I'm glad I asked you to give Rachel that makeover. I wouldn't have chosen anyone else" Quinn smiled, leaning over and resting her head along his rough, pointed shoulder-pad. She glanced up at the time and tucked away the onesie into the paper bag, running for the open elevator. Kurt snatched away her hand and accompanied her into the crowded box of an elevator.

"I see you've left Finn alone with the baby; do you think that's a really good idea?" Kurt laughed as Quinn hit him hard across his chest, watching him retort slowly with the pressure as her hand folded quickly into the folds of his jacket.

"He's very good with her. I'm lucky to have him around. Anyone else would have run, he didn't. He stayed" Quinn smiled, trying to hold on the strap of her bag, she squeezed his hand tightly as Kurt watched for the bright white light along the panel of buttons.

"I mean why hasn't he killed me for having sex with his best friend? He's up there, in our room, with another baby that he thought for seven months, was his" Quinn laughed weakly until they were outside where she snatched a packet of tissues from her bag. Kurt held her arm and guided her to the outside of his car, unlocking the door quickly and throwing both their bags into the front seat. Shutting the door behind him, Kurt pulled Quinn into his arms and squeezed her tightly, watching her tears trickle along the bridge of her nose.

Kurt laughed quietly as Quinn held onto the cuffs of his dark-blue jacket. Quinn rested her cheek along the large fleece-lined collar, smiling as Kurt separated out her fingers along the quilted material that lined his Marc Jacobs jacket.

"Just cry, if you want to cry" Kurt held her hand and smiled, opening the passenger door. Quinn smiled, hanging her arm around his waist and sliding into the passenger seat. Kurt held his hand over the gearstick, smiling as Quinn leant out of the window, twisting a stray hair between her fingers. Kurt laid his arm along the sill of the car-window, brushing his opposite hand along the steering wheel.

"Where were you going before we met in the elevator?" Quinn bowed her head and took out her purse, snatching away her card and lodging it neatly between her fingers.

"If Finn and I are going to start our little family, we need some money" Quinn smiled sweetly as the sun burnt against her skin, changing the tone quicker than expected. She wrinkled her nose, holding her hand to the level of her eyes as the sun threaded through the gaps between her fingers. Kurt watched her still, occasionally glancing along the road for his own assurance.

"We'll pull in here, there's a ATM further up the street" Quinn nodded kindly as Kurt pulled into an empty parking space, waiting until the passenger door was quickly flung open. Kurt took his bag from the foot-well and held onto Quinn's hand tighter than before. Quinn enjoyed the attention even if it was short-lived as Kurt ushered her to the empty ATM vestibule.

Watching the thick white words flash across the screen, Quinn brushed her brow quickly and returned to Kurt's side.

"They've cut me off. They've taken my money so I would have to go back to them and give up Katie" Quinn shook her head and returned to the passenger's side of the car. Kurt obliged her silently, opening the door and sitting by her side with her hand in his lap. Quinn held her stare along the street until it changed quickly at the corner, following a different direction. She noticed a familiar shock of blonde hair swinging along the back of a stranger who skulked along the pavement, hidden from Quinn's view, until now.

Quinn brushed past Kurt, who struggled to hold down her arm. She knew she had to be silent, treading carefully along the paving slabs. Quinn smiled, tapping the woman carefully on her shoulder. The woman turned around and she was instantly recognisable; Judy Fabray.

"Why'd you do it, Mom?" Quinn snapped, spitting out the last couple of words for perfect emphasis.

"I was thinking of you, you're not able to look after yourself, a baby would only further complicate things" Judy retorted quickly, straightening out the hem of her skirt. Quinn watched her calmly as Judy folded her arms tightly across her chest. Kurt smiled, trying to integrate himself within the conversation.

"We seemed perfectly fine after she was sent to ICU" Quinn folded her arms, attempting to walk to Kurt's car. Judy stood silent, pursing her lips in thought as she watched her daughter stumble along the sidewalk. Kurt held onto her arm, letting his bag swing carelessly along his legs.

"Your father and I will give you the money if you move back home with us and forget about the baby. That is our only condition" Quinn turned quickly, watching her mother with tears trickling along the bridge of her nose. Kurt held onto Quinn's fingers tightly, trying to register a broken connection. Judy Fabray pursed her lips calmly, holding onto the corner of her bag, trying to rescue the broken clasp. She took out a large brown envelope and held it sharply over Quinn's hand.

"No, no amount of money is worth a lifetime without my baby" Quinn sighed, pressing the envelope at the left-hand corner. Judy smiled hopefully, tracing the outline of the large wad of money with the tip of her well-manicured nail.

Quinn rushed to Kurt's car, trying without success to open the passenger's door. Kurt smiled, obliging her request and returning to his own side. Quinn held her bag, clutching it tightly to her chest, watching her mother walk along the sidewalk sullenly.

"I don't deserve her" Quinn smiled, unzipping her bag quickly and musing over the picture that lined her purse. She brushed her fingers over the grainy black and white sonogram, tentatively examining the delicate features that created her daughter's elfin face and tiny, premature body. Quinn smiled, pursing her lips carefully as her fingers caught the edge of the sonogram. A streak of blood trickled down the length of the picture. Quinn gasped, sucking on the tip of her finger until the dripping eventually subsided.

Finn would've easily said something comforting and equally endearing by now as she sat in the car, sucking her finger with her own childish innocence. He'd speak to her softly, with his warm voice that sometimes only she could hear under the stress and anger that Katie had unintentionally given them.

Quinn lay her head against the cool glass, watching the traffic pass by until the loud horns drowned out her quietly introverted sobs. Kurt tried to keep his focus on the road but with the occasional twist of his head; he could also carefully watch over his best friend. Quinn smiled, still licking the tip of her finger. Kurt watched with bated breath as he manoeuvred the large vehicle along the narrow stretch of road.

Finn still held Katie in his arms with hesitation, speaking tentatively whilst Katie held his attention. Finn managed to shift his weight so that he was lying comfortably with his head leant against the back of the cold metal headboard.

"When you grow up in a town where everybody knows everybody, you're gonna hear some things like "Your mom's a teenage harlot" or "Your dad's a badass" but don't listen to them. Your mom is the best person I know. She'll be the one who's always got your back" He smiled carefully, watching the new tears glisten along her round cheeks. Katie pursed her lips and began to shriek between her toothless gums. Finn tried to cajole her back into sleeping contently in his arms, lifting her carefully along his chest and rubbing the small of her back in small, smooth circles.

"No, don't do this now. Your mom isn't back yet. Wait till she's here, then you can scream the house down" Finn acknowledged Katie's restless shape, folding her back into his arms. Trying to rock her back and forth and to find a sense of unattainable normality in the consistent rhythm, Finn began to hum a part of a familiar tune. Katie pulled on his available fingers, feeding them into her mouth. Finn groaned as Katie's dribble slithered down his finger.

Finn smiled, trying to calm her down with his gentle words. Katie still screamed shrilly, clutching onto the edge of her blanket. Finn groaned, pulling her closer into the crook of his arm. Katie could smell the sweat on his skin and grew even more agitated. Finn held out his finger, hoping she would latch on soon. Katie squeezed the edge of his hand quickly, opening her mouth around his littlest finger.

"What am I going to tell Finn? He's going to know something's up when I come back without the money" Quinn shook her head, walking slowly along the crowded corridor. Kurt managed to keep her calm until they came through Reception, holding her hand tightly around her wrist. Quinn looked out for their door, holding her hand over the handle. Kurt pulled her from the doorway and sat her down along the bank of seats.

"Tell him the truth. Your mom was making you choose between living back home and your baby" Kurt instructed her to lean forward, pressing his palm along her back. Quinn broke into a smile, rubbing her temples with her index fingers. Her hair tangled between her fingers, knotting against her hand as she spoke shakily.

"Yes but what if he thinks I'm lying? I mean I'm hardly a saint when it comes to telling the truth" Quinn smiled, tracing the outline of her palm as Kurt nudged her shoulder.

Quinn looked up at the door and opened out her hand; Kurt took it quickly and hooked his fingers around the door handle. Finn listened to the click of the door and smiled, reaching out for her arm. Quinn bowed her hair and smiled, sitting beside him quietly. Finn watched her fold her hands into her lap, tears rolling down her cheek. He glanced at Kurt, who nodded quickly, opening out his arms. Katie wriggled underneath his hands, smiling as his soft cashmere sleeves brushed against her arms. Kurt squeezed between Finn and sat perched by the window, crossing his legs neatly.

"I have to tell you something" Quinn still held her hands carefully in her lap, staring blankly at the bare white wall. Finn smiled, shuffling across the bed, trying to steal away Quinn's hand. Quinn allowed him to squeeze her hand tightly, still focusing her attention on the cracking paint trailing down the wall.

"My mum decided to take $1,000 from my bank account. She wouldn't give me it back unless I gave up Katie and went back home" Quinn whispered hoarsely.

"I take it you haven't got the money" Quinn nodded, trying to swallow down her tears. Finn released his hand, brushing his fingers through his hair. Quinn tapped her feet against the cold, hard floor, letting the blood disappear from her cheeks until her sun-kissed complexion was dulled by her white pallor.

"I would've lost you forever" Quinn shrunk back, still watching the wall until Finn bent down in front of her, lifting up her chin with ease. Quinn tried to turn her attention towards Kurt but Finn already pursed his lips to speak before she could divert her attention.

"Forever can never be long enough for me, to feel like I've had long enough with you" Finn dragged his fingers awkwardly along her cheeks; Quinn caught his fingers quickly and smiled.

"If your mom did it, we can. Right?" Quinn smiled, pressing her lips against his forehead. Finn laughed slightly as her lightly scented hair brushed against his cheeks. He reached for her hairband and tugged gently, pulling out the remaining strands. Quinn dragged her fingers through her hair and shook her head from side to side. Finn stood back and laughed, musing over the picture of his "daughter" sleeping soundly in Kurt's arms, unfazed by the world.

"She is never going to be mine, is she?" Finn whispered suddenly, staring down at Quinn as she flicked up her head. Quinn smiled in shock, standing up to meet him. He watched her carefully, skimming the bed-sheets discretely with her fingers. She moved towards the window and scanned the parking lot below. Several babies had been born and she had watched them enviously, whilst she was in labour.

"Only if you want her to be, I'm not pressuring you into staying. In fact I was shocked that you have for this long, I ass-" Quinn gasped as Finn was now by her side, gritting his teeth hesitantly.

"Assumed what? Quinn, you can't keep making these insane assumptions. You knew I'd stay, in your heart; I couldn't leave you when you needed me the most. Believe me, I wanted to, but I loved you too much to just forget what we had shared together" Finn stood over her, squeezing the edge of her fingers tightly. Quinn still stared up at him, unsure of her status within the argument.

"Loved? You said "loved", you've made a mistake. Finn, please say it was a mistake" Quinn beat her fist against the windowsill, watching as Finn quickly disappeared through the door. Finn paused, pulling his head through the door's opening.

"It wasn't a mistake, Quinn. Not this time" Finn nodded abruptly whilst Quinn still stood by the window, choking back on her tears. Kurt cleaned the "sleepies" from his eyes and held Katie closer than before. Quinn watched them quietly, breathing deeply as she contemplated her secret jealousy. Kurt noticed quickly, stealing away her hand and squeezing it gently.

"I guess he didn't take it so well" Quinn smiled, trying to explain what had happened through the clear wall of tears. Kurt tried to rock Katie back and forth, still listening to her shaking voice with a concerned smile.

"It wasn't that. He doesn't love me anymore" She whispered bitterly, between loud, inaudible sobs. Quinn sat between Kurt and the opposite wall of the low windowsill.

"I don't know what happened? He suddenly flipped; it's probably to do with all the stress he's been under lately" Quinn watched Kurt leave his chair, taking out his phone one-handedly. He ushered Quinn over as Katie began to wriggle between them, Quinn sobbed as her daughter clung to her blouse, tucking her daughter neatly underneath her chin.

"It's okay, baby-girl. It's just you and me now, that's the way it's supposed to be" Quinn cowered over her baby protectively, shaking her head as her tears trickled along Katie's hairline. Katie began to sob loudly, hanging tightly onto the collar of her blouse.

"Katie, don't do this now. You know there are people who are better than me at this" Quinn began to whimper quietly, cupping her hand around her daughter's head and taking the wisps of hair between her fingers. Katie still struggled irritably, tugging onto her collar tighter. Quinn snatched away her hand and began to kiss her warm, little fingers. She slowly pursed her dry, cracked lips and began to hum a line or two of a forgotten song which eventually turned into a verse.

"Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music man
Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand
And now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand"

Quinn laughed contentedly as the screaming stopped, leaving the room once again in silence. Katie's cheeks were warm with stress, burning red with anger as she lay unusually content in her mother's loving and protective hold. Quinn supported her head as she lowered Katie to her knees, resting her carefully against her arms. Quinn smiled, allowing the corners of her mouth to dimple.

"Your mom's not bad" She whispered as she pressed her lips calmly against Katie's small, pink ear.

Finn beat his fist against the steering wheel, burning with frustration. He still sat in his car, parked in the exact same spot as before. Questions lay on his lips as Finn screwed up his hands into tight fists, attempting to punch the dashboard again. The tears reached the edge of his nose, dripping into the palm of his hand as he bowed his head. Guilt burnt through his heart, simmering down to a flicker as he reached down to open the glove compartment. Smiling, he snatched away the black and white sonogram and mused over the spidery flicker of Quinn's baby. As he lay back against the worn-out seat, he dragged his weary fingers over the blurred, unfocused picture, remembering the night that he was given it.

He was already upstairs, dressing for bed in his shrinking sports jersey and his customary pair of tattered jogging bottoms. Quinn slipped past him, pulling open her designated drawer, lifting out her spotted pyjamas and placing them carefully on the bed. Finn brushed past her, taking his toothbrush from the glass on the windowsill. Finn squeezed a generous amount of paste onto his brush and took it to his mouth. Quinn slipped her pyjama vest over her bump and pulled up her woolly socks to her ankles. Taking a hair band from her wrist, Quinn pulled back her hair and tied it quickly at the nape of her neck. Finn spat out the residue and examined his teeth clearly in the mirror. Quinn shouted abruptly, folding her legs out in front of her as she rubbed her bump generously.

"Quinn, what is it? What's wrong? Is it the baby?" Quinn groaned again, rubbing her bump further. Finn tried to pull her up, hoping her pain would quickly end. Quinn held onto the edge of her stomach, stumbling as she and Finn made it slowly to the doorway. Finn led her down the stairs and sat her by the door as he composed a short but sweet letter to his mom, who was still asleep upstairs. Quinn groaned as another ambiguous pain fled up her side, pulling Finn's hand over her stomach.

Quinn realised as she looked down at her legs that she was still dressed in her pyjamas. Rushing upstairs, she stood calmly over the dresser as she pulled open one of the drawers, looking for something suitable to wear. Taking a baggy cardigan and a pair of jeans, Quinn began to undress. Finn smiled and noticing his girlfriend's absence, pulled himself up the stairs. Quinn was quickly pulling her arms through her cardigan sleeves, watching him take her hand gently.

After they had exchanged warm glances, Finn pulled open his car door and waited until Quinn was sat beside him in the passenger's seat. The car slowly pulled out of the drive and set out down the quiet, suburban street. Quinn smiled, resting her head casually against her palm, watching Finn concentrate fully on the road ahead of them. She silently admired his concentration, threading her fingers intricately through her hair.

Quinn led Finn by the arm into the hospital, holding another hand underneath her stomach. A doctor attended quickly to them, leaving his judgement and quick wit behind as they directed the couple to a small side-room. Quinn was instructed quickly to lie on the bed, pulling up her vest as she watched Finn take his seat beside her. The doctor tapped at her stomach carefully, pursing her lips as she pressed further. Quinn squeezed the edge of her vest as Finn took her arm with careful ease. Finn nudged her carefully, folding his hand between her fingers. The doctor generously applied the petroleum jelly across Quinn's stretching bump, watching her shiver quietly under the cold gel.

"What's wrong? Are we losing the baby?" Finn watched the monitor attentively, the black and white picture flickered occasionally as a calm beat disrupted the mundane atmosphere. Quinn laughed, rubbing the thick glass screen carefully. Finn rested his fingers along her arm, pressing the soft stretching skin. Quinn listened carefully for the calm heartbeat, pulling out her hand from underneath her rounding stomach.

"It's just Braxton Hick's. It's very common in women who are carrying their first child. You have nothing to worry about" Quinn smiled, waiting for the thick petroleum jelly to be rubbed off, as Finn tapped her stomach delicately. Pulling her vest over her bump, Quinn watched Finn stare adoringly at the screen beside the bed, waiting for the small, significant flickers to dart across the screen in their black and white glory. The doctor nudged Finn and held out a perfectly neat sonogram, ready for him to hold onto. Quinn smiled, pulling her sleeves over her arms, listening quietly until the doctor ushered them out of the room.

Finn held the sonogram carefully between his fingers as they made their way to Finn's car. Quinn opened the passenger door, sliding onto the seat quickly. Finn fastened the sonogram picture carefully onto the car's visor.

Finn stuffed the picture back into the glove compartment. He managed to pull out of the crowded parking lot, watching the blur of cars brush past his modest vehicle with ease. Finn drove up to the gate, anxious with worry as his hands shook, clasped firmly around either side of the steering wheel.

Quinn listened to Kurt, who sat upright on the bed. She smiled down at Katie, who lay folded up in her blankets. Kurt noticed quickly that she was still distracted and folded his arms, watching Quinn purse her lips, cracking under the pressure of speech. Quinn smiled eventually, tracing to the outline of her initial across Katie's creasing onesie. Kurt reached over and pulled on her hand, spreading out her fingers and smiling.

"I'm fine, Kurt. Me and Katie are going to be fine, alone but fine" Quinn laughed shyly, holding onto the cuff of her cardigan. Kurt smiled, shaking his head, opening out his phone.

"I have to go, my dad's waiting outside" Quinn smiled, leaning into Kurt who held out his arm, squeezing her waist tightly. Kurt examined her carefully as her smile broke into a distant frown as Quinn folded her arms across her blouse and waved to him fondly as he disappeared out of the door.

"Everybody leaves" Quinn smiled, lifting the thin, heavy covers from the bed and lying down across the cold, straight mattress. Pulling the cot towards the bed, she dragged her hand across the thick plastic lining, dangling her fingers over Katie's mouth. Katie managed to pull on her finger tightly, squealing as she could see her momma's smile through the blurred plastic cot.

Kurt threw his satchel down on the kitchen table and rushed upstairs to the landing, looking out for Finn's bedroom door. He smiled, noticing the football poster on the wall, stretching across to his own doorframe with its crusting sellotape. Peering around the door, he smiled and walked through to Finn who was lying on his side, hugging his pillow tightly.

"Mercedes and I are going back to the hospital in a couple of hours, when you're done sulking maybe you want to come and join us?" Finn threw the cushion across the room, rolling over onto his other side, staring at Kurt who had took his place, leaning against his doorframe.

"Go away, Kurt" Finn noticed the photo frame on his bedside table, slamming it down against the wood. A slither of glass fell on the floor piercing the thin thread of the carpet.

"Fuck. Look what you made me do" Finn lifted the frame and stared at the star-like break against the glass. He turned the frame over his hand, twisting the hooks and pulling out the photo.

"She was pretty there" Kurt observed the tattered photograph, neglecting the fact that Finn had just sworn at him.

Quinn was sitting cross-legged on the grass, pulling apart the daisy she held in her hand, collecting the petals on the picnic blanket. Finn was still holding the camera in his hand, twisting the lens to focus the picture. This was their second date and by both their accounts - it was going "well". Quinn had been a lady; laughing at his awkwardly juvenile jokes, brushing up against him as the day grew colder and twisting him essentially around her finger. Finn had been the gentleman; handing her his football jacket when she needed it, towering her as they bought their picnic lunch and telling how beautiful she looked in her pretty, white sundress.

Finn smiled, tucking into his peanut-butter and jelly sandwich. Quinn noticed the jelly dripping down his chin, trying to wipe it away with the edge of her finger. Finn leant forward, laughing as Quinn finally tidied away the leftover jelly. Wiping away the final traces of jelly from her fingers, Quinn smiled, leaning forward, holding the tip of his chin in her hand. Finn held her hand, watching her dusky pink nail polish shine carefully underneath the sun.

Quinn smiled, pressing her lips against his, hoping for the common spark of a new romance to brighten. Finn smiled awkwardly through the milky-white gap, still trying to navigate his hands through the glossy curtains of her dark-blonde hair.

Finn folded the photograph, tucking it into the top drawer of his bedside table. Kurt watched him quietly, musing over several ideas that were still running through his head. Finn waited at his window, tracing the thick black lining with his thumb. Breathing hard, he brushed away his tears with the back of his hand. His voice gently cracked under the pressure of compressing his emotion.

"I can't go. I haven't forgiven her yet. It's not like I don't want to, I just can't" Kurt nodded, sliding through the door, throwing something on the bed. He raised an eyebrow, stepping lightly over the mess taking up the space in Finn's bedroom. Opening the wardrobe, Kurt rifled through the clothes hanging up.

"When you're ready to forgive Quinn, I suggest wearing this" Kurt held up a navy-blue shirt and smiled, opening out the collar. Finn smiled awkwardly, walking towards the bed, examining the package lying on the duvet.

"Where does Quinn keep her clothes?" Kurt asked as Finn pointed towards her designated drawer. Kurt filed through the baby-doll dresses and soft woollen cardigans, admiring the classic collars and girlish hemlines. Pulling out a cream blouse, he rubbed his chin, thinking of what to pair it with. Finn looked over the drawer, smiling carefully, pointing to a patterned skirt which was first in the layer of clothes. Kurt nudged him, slightly shocked at Finn's underlying fashion sense.

"It looked good on her" Finn mumbled, laughing as her perfume still lingered on the fabric. Kurt smiled, scrambling through the rest of her clothes, setting out the outfit alongside the brown package. Finally pulling out a rust coloured cardigan, Kurt arranged the outfit neatly, straightening out the creases with his long, porcelain fingers.

"What is all this for?" Finn smiled, his mood simmered slightly into indifference.

"I'm not telling you anything. I promised Mercedes that this would a surprise" Kurt smiled back, squeezing his shoulder tightly.

"Okay, would you mind getting out of my room so I can get some sleep? I've been up for hours" Finn smiled, ushering Kurt from his room, gathering up Quinn's clothes and hanging them over his arms.

"Sure, I still need to christen my Adele album" Kurt waved his goodbyes and walking down the corridor to his own boudoir.

Finn struggled underneath the covers, smiling once his wriggling died down and he was finally comfortable. Quinn still stuck to the back of his mind like a pain that wouldn't lift. Closing his eyes, Finn found a place where his dreams would linger, sprouting like a bud into something real.

Finn still squeezed his mom's hand, walking up to the preschool gates. Carole laughed as he clung to her leg as they made their way through the tiny hallway. Lifting her son in her arms, Carole walked into his brand-new classroom, choosing a brightly-coloured chair, only suitable for a child. Sitting him down, she noticed quickly that his left shoelace was left untied, bending down she twisted the lace between her fingers. Finn looked around the crowded room, still nervous about the day ahead. His eyes focused on a lonely, blonde haired girl, dressed in a bright-red ladybird raincoat, drawing fiercely with a collection of mismatched coloured pencils. This was Quinn Fabray at four years old.

Once his shoe was tightly laced on his foot, Finn raced towards her table, wanting to eagerly say 'hello'.

"What's green and says "Hey, I'm a frog?" Quinn neglected her drawing for a second, watching the awkward four year-old at the edge of her table.

"A frog" Silence cut the air until Quinn suddenly erupted into laughter, walking up to him. Finn smiled as she pulled him into the chair beside her and offered him a selection of colours.

"I'm Quinn and I'm going to be a ballerina" Quinn threw her drawing across to him; it was a ballerina, dressed in a perfect pink tutu and glittery tiara. Finn smiled, reaching for a blue pencil, eager to add his own touch.

"I'm Finn and I want to be a soldier like my dad" Finn began to scribble a cape around the ballerina's neck, adding a mask to finish off the drawing. Quinn snatched away her picture and stared at the new superhero cape. She stole the crayons from his hands and tucked them at the other side of the table.

"She's a superhero now. Like Superman?" Quinn finally smiled and handed him back the crayons. Finn watched her nervously, tapping the coloured crayon against the table. Quinn pointed to the drawing and smiled.

"Colour it again, with stars and some flying boots" Quinn took his hand and ducked down underneath the table, reaching for her lunchbox. Finn smiled back at his mom, who sat chatting to Mrs Lopez and proudly waved back at him.

He felt the sudden squelch of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and laughed, Quinn was sitting beside him, sipping on her juice box.

"We can share, my momma says that's how you make friends" Quinn nodded, hoping he would respond. Finn smiled, nibbling at the corner of his sandwich.

"Thanks. My mom made me cheese" They both shook their heads and returned to their lunch. Quinn squeezed the last slithers from her juice box, tucking it into her lunchbox.

"You're my best friend. We're going to get married and have a dog called Marmaduke" Quinn smiled, delighting in her plan, Finn shuffled towards her awkwardly.

"Okay" Finn wiped away the jelly from his face, returning to their drawing. Quinn took a bright red colouring pencil and began to draw a pair of boots to replace the bright pink ballet slippers.

"I like dogs" Finn remarked nervously, watching her hair tumble onto the table. Quinn rushed over to her mom and begged her gently to redo her plait. Her mom smiled and took her onto her knee, twisting the matching red band between her fingers. Finn pulled up his chair and joined them by the window. Quinn laughed, holding out her hand for Finn.

"Momma, this is Finn. We're gonna get married" Quinn's mom turned her head and introduced herself as Judy, Finn smiled in return.

"That's my mom" Finn smiled, pointing to his mom, who was still gossiping lightly with Mrs Lopez, who held a very sassily dressed girl on her knee, her daughter, Santana. Quinn waved frantically over at Carole, who laughed, waving her arm around just as wildly. Finn waited patiently for Quinn, who jumped from her mom's lap and re-joined their table. Quinn ushered him over and they both returned to their drawing, musing as children do, over their collaboration.

Once they finished colouring, the choice of whom the drawing belonged to was argued lightly.

"We could share it?" Quinn began to sign her name neatly at the side of the page, Finn marvelled at her girlish handwriting.

"We could hand it in. So that everyone can see it?" Finn asked Quinn who sat in silence, musing over the idea. She finally pushed the paper over to him, holding out her pencil. He glanced over at his mom, who was still clearly engrossed in her own conversation. Quinn urged him to sign his name.

"I can't spell yet" Finn admitted quietly, Quinn stared at him before leaning over and smiling.

She pursed her lips and began to write his name, adding a small child-like heart beside his signature. Finn smiled, taking a bright yellow crayon from the packet and drawing an absurdly large star beside her name.

"Because you're pretty like a star and your hair shines" Quinn laughed and jumped from her chair. Finn stopped talking, hoping she hadn't left him at the table. She hung her arms around his neck and squeezed him tightly. Finn hadn't experienced hugs like this before – apart from the nightly embraces he shared with his mom before he went to bed. He could smell the apples in her hair and the jelly on her breath. He closed his eyes tightly, hoping that if he couldn't see the hug end, it wouldn't.

They never left each other's side – drawing and chatting privately amongst themselves. Quinn would draw a ballerina and hand it over to Finn, who later changed it into a copy of a well-known superhero. Finn talked about his dad and how he missed him, Quinn took his hand in these instances, and silently glad she had helped her new best friend in some way. Quinn would tell him about her dreams and how much they would mean to her when they would finally come true. He would agree with her wholeheartedly, always hoping she would let him come and watch her dance in her bright-pink tutu.

Once the day was over, Finn joined his mom at the gates, smiling as she asked him about what he'd been doing. Quinn noticed him quickly, letting go of her mom's hand quietly. She ran up to him, pulling him into a warm, friendly hug. Carole laughed as she marvelled at their companionship.

"Mom, this is Quinn and we're gonna get married" Finn squeezed her hand tightly, looking up at his mom, who stared at them both in disbelief. Quinn tucked her hand inside her ladybird coat, swinging back and forth on her heels.

"Pleased to meet you, Quinn" Finn smiled, hugging her tightly as Judy finally found her. Judy picked up her daughter and carried her away to their car, gently scolding her. Quinn struggled to wrestle free; instead she resorted to screaming until her mom put her down. She ran to Finn, who still stood with his mom. She cried quietly into his shoulder, he laughed at her politely.

"Hello, little star" He smiled, letting her cling to him tighter.

"Please don't go and leave me. We're supposed to get married and have a dog" Quinn's little voice echoed through his ear as they hugged each other tighter than before.

"We have to hide then you can never go home" Finn looked out for a suitable hiding place, instead pulling Quinn behind his mom's legs. They sniggered amongst themselves, holding each other tightly in order to squeeze into the smaller spaces. Judy rushed over and quickly noticed her daughter behind Carole's legs, her bright red coat bursting through the gaps.

"Quinny, we have to go now" Judy ushered her out from Finn's embrace, pulling her trembling body towards her and rushing towards her car. Carole leant down and addressed her son softly.

"So what's going on, Mister?" Carole grabbed his hand and guided him to their rusting people carrier. Finn smiled, still watching Quinn being walked to her mom's own brilliant silver Mercedes. She waved back, the shine of her red coat glistening brilliantly in the moonlight.

"Mom, I don't think I can marry her because she is an angel and normal people can't marry angels because then she'll lose her wings" Finn stuttered, accepting his childish fate. Carole shook her head, quietly proud at her son's new-found friendship. She knew the little girl who had made such an impression on her son, would be visiting their house more often.

Something banged against the floor, waking him up. Rubbing his eyes, Finn threw off his covers, walking towards the light. Quinn was busy, scrambling through her drawer. He ignored her quietly; instead it gave way to heavy, agitated breathing. Quinn glanced over her shoulder, holding one of her sweaters clenched firmly in her hand.

"I need to get Katie's stuff ready, she's coming home" Quinn threw the remaining clothes into her bag, running to the door. Finn watched her disappear; listening for Kurt's muted screams as Quinn explained why she had come back to their house. Leaning against the doorframe, he smiled slowly, observing Quinn who had taken the baby carrier from his mom's room.

"Hey, did you get permission to take that out of my mom's room?" Quinn quickly turned around, struggling to contend with both the baby carrier and her bag full of clothes. Finn chased her out onto the landing, barely able to catch his breath. Quinn threw the baby carrier down on the floor and folded her arms tightly across her chest.

"Yes, Kurt said I could since it's my baby's only car seat" Quinn lifted the seat along her arm, walking carefully down the stairs, brushing past Kurt slowly as he took her bag of clothes and joined her at the door.

"So she's really coming home?" Finn held back slightly, smiling privately. Quinn nodded quickly, listening to the satisfying click of the door. He sat at the bottom step, leaning against the wall. Smiling quietly to himself, Finn held his hands firmly, his eyes burning with tears.

Author's Note #2: This along with the next chapter will be a two-hander. Hope you liked it! I really enjoyed writing the little snippet of pre-school Quinn/Finn and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much. So this is the end of Part One - Read + Review! (please?)