Author's Note: Having only recently got into Glee, I have decided to take this steady. The concept of 'One Night' is that like the series 24, it is set over 24 hours and each chapter represents every hour that has passed by in Glee Land. I know the song I have chosen for Quinn is probably not the most Glee-like, but I thought it seemed to fit in with the storyline. If anyone can suggest, if possible, any other songs for Quinn to sing, then that would greatly appreciated and I could easily edit the parts.
From, Faerygal189
Chapter One: Love Me?
Quinn Fabray, the now extinct leader of the Cheerios and the Celibacy Club, skulked down the halls towards Sex Ed. Not that she particularly needed it anymore, that ship had clearly sailed. She was now eight months pregnant with Finn Hudson's apparent baby, and Quinn was also dealing with the consequences; the constant gossip, Puck pestering her for news about the baby and with Finn, trying to get his head around the situation. The Glee Club, mainly Kurt and Mercedes, who both once considered her to be an ice-queen, seemed to have to likened to her now gentle and maternal personality. Finn, not one to remember everything in Biology, struggled to get his head around how and when the baby would come into the world. Quinn, however hard she tried, couldn't tell her boyfriend all the ins and outs of pregnancy.
Quinn glanced up to the door; Room 103 – Miss L. Burton. Her blonde hair trailed down her back as she walked into the crowded classroom, everyone turned to watch her walk to her seat, raising a questioning eyebrow. Her round stomach struggled to let her slide into her seat, turning to the side as she took out her equipment. Miss Burton, a stern 40 year-old unmarried woman, who everyday would arrive on campus, covered in cat hairs which didn't go down too well with all the students allergic to the little furry monsters. Entering the crowded classroom, wearing a questionable attire of bright blue stockings and a brighter purple dress, Miss Burton set her briefcase down on her desk quietly. Quinn took some time to copy down the lesson title from the board; 'Who Brings the Contraception?'
'Well it's obvious, isn't it?' Quinn thought to herself quietly, trying to concentrate without the jeering from her classmates. With her bright eyes glancing down at the page, Quinn ran her fingers casually through her hair.
"So…class?" Miss Burton, whose dark hair was curled into an 80's perm, tapped the blackboard with her messily manicured hands. Quinn shrunk back into her chair and held her bump comfortably. With her hair hooked round her shoulder, Quinn's mind trailed off into some unknown atmosphere. Miss Burton's mumblings didn't help, along with her sporadically flailing hands.
She and Finn, and the baby who grew surprisingly fast inside her. Rachel Berry, Quinn's nemesis and most recent friend, showed surprising concern whenever she would be absent from Glee Club or struggled with homework. 16 and pregnant wasn't the best way to end the semester but Quinn didn't seem to care, which surprised her friends.
Going back the lesson that was written clearly in pale white chalk, 'Who Brings the Contraception?', like she knew. The one time she had ever given herself to a guy; it ended in her getting pregnant. It's not likely she would do it again, until she was comfortable. It was obviously a male thing to do; they would always act as if they wanted or needed more responsibility, so why not bring the 'stuff?' Quinn wasn't about to let her feminist views get in the way, so she slumped back in her seat again.
"Miss Fabray, would you care to enlighten us?" Miss Burton, her perm at full height and eyes at full glare, walked confidently towards her. Whilst Quinn's eyes darted towards the ground, Miss Burton's concentrated on her student's dormant gaze. Quinn smiled, tucking a stray strand of her long blonde hair behind her ear.
"Erm, the guy should, they're all about having more respon…" Quinn smiled, shuffling through the pages of her exercise book, rubbing her bump with her spare hand. Quinn laughed as she glanced up at her teacher's beady eyes.
"Yes?" Miss Burton pressured her wayward student for a proper answer, Quinn meanwhile had other ideas. Other classmates began to construct paper aeroplanes, chatting amongst themselves and projecting spit balls towards unsuspecting nerds. None of the Gleeks shared her lesson and so Quinn was alone and desperate for a quick and well-worded escape.
"Could I please go to the bathroom?" Quinn pointed toward the door; Miss Burton nodded her head and smiled. Throwing her equipment into her bag, Quinn ran to the bathroom determinedly.
Meanwhile, Miss Burton crouched down over Quinn's chair, rubbing the hard, damp, plastic seat. Creasing her eyebrows, Burton took her phone from her briefcase and began to dial furiously. The class stared at her blank expression, grinning and laughing during their less than detailed discussion about contraception.
Locking the cubicle door, Quinn stared at the blank, white walls of the toilet. Finn would probably be in English by now, learning about yet another Shakespeare play that needed analysing and connoting. Quinn began to realise the truth behind why she wanted to give her baby girl away. She didn't want to be a screw-up mother; it wasn't that she didn't want their daughter. Every scan, every movement, Quinn would just sit or lie down and relax calmly. Finn seemed dismissive about the subject, his mind was other things such scholarships and his down-paid job. He loved her, with or without their baby that grew inside her. Finn wasn't stupid, he knew what came with fatherhood; constant feedings and changings, not being able to socialise as often, and having to pause his education for their baby girl who wouldn't be self-efficient until she reached eighteen.
Quinn leant against the back of the cistern and groaned. Mr Schue, their choirmaster and school confidante, was just down the hall and was willing to help. His life had taken a sudden down-turn; he left his wife and her scheming sister, every one of his students were either failing or close to it. Spanish was always a challenge to teach but like any other day, the time he most enjoyed was composing the numbers as part of the Glee Club.
Quinn knocked on the music room door and smiled. Mr Schue was resting his head against the piano keys tiresomely. Unlocking the door, Mr Schue seemed startled at Quinn's sudden appearance. Sitting herself down, Quinn had found it difficult to think about anything other than the impending birth of her daughter and Terri Schuester, the woman who wanted her so bad.
"Mr Schue? I need to say something, well not say sing?" Mr Schue nodded and rushed to the piano, tapping lightly on the ivory keys. Quinn explained the reasons behind her choice of song; Mr Schue smiled as he was familiar with it guiltily. Martina McBride, his musical icon for many years, was now being played at his fingertips.
"Okay, ready?" Quinn nodded and took in a deep breath, before closing her eyes and letting her voice burst through her rosy-red lips;
"In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
but the truth is plain to see
she was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
in my daughter's eyes"
Quinn finished her piece and turned to walk out, when Mr. Schue enamored by the performance he had just witnessed, told Quinn to stop where she was. Quinn understandably shocked, smiled weakly. Mr. Schue smiled, taking the sheet music from the music stand. Quinn rocked back and forth on her heels nervously.
"Great choice of song" Quinn laughed as she stuffed the music quickly into her bag, she had no idea Mr. Schue had a keen interest in Martina McBride. She didn't even know what to do in this particular situation either.
"Thanks, Mr. Schue" Opening the door and walking silently down the corridor, Quinn took her phone from her bag and begin to dial quickly; Finn's number was quick to guess as she had it memorized quickly enough. Her trembling fingers tapped gently against the keys.
"Hey Finn…" Quinn groaned as the answer phone tone kicked in, her boyfriend was obviously enjoying English far too much. Storming down the halls, Quinn looked out for Room 18 – Mr. S. Ryerson. Mr. Ryerson wasn't likely to let Finn escape so Quinn had to become extra careful, trying to ask for her boyfriend. She let out a gently weak smile as she came to the full English classroom. Taking a deep breath, Quinn quickly knocked on the classroom door.
"Excuse me, Mr. Ryerson…Mr. Schuester wants to see Finn Hudson" Finn poked his head over the other eager English students, who seemed to be enjoying themselves. Throwing his copy of 'A Winter's Tale' quickly into his bag, Finn ran for the door. Quinn laughed as he grinned awkwardly, before saluting his class.
"Hey, what does Mr. Schue want?" Quinn rolled her eyes and smiled before opening her mouth, Finn glanced down at her concernedly. Quinn smiled, rubbing her boyfriend's cheek lightly.
"Nothing, I wanted you. I've started" Finn raised his eyebrow and smoothed out her creasing t-shirt. Quinn held her stomach carefully, trying to walk towards her locker. Throwing her bag into her locker, she walked down the hall. Realizing she had left her overnight bag in her locker, she rushed back and pulled it out. Finn held the handles tightly, swinging the bag to and fro with a nervous quiver.
"Okay, that's cool" Finn muttered in slight disbelief, his hand was still clutching hers tightly. Quinn smiled, Finn tried to calm himself down with deep, casual breaths and some slow muttering. Quinn laughed as her boyfriend had begun to hyperventilate against the row of lockers. She hadn't expected such a reaction; the strong, muscular football player was weakening at the thought of Post-Human Reproduction.
"Finn, we're gonna be fine" Quinn smiled; her fingers had begun to unfold the collar of his shirt. Lifting her hand to his cheek, Quinn laughed through another painful contraction. Finn smiled, trying to overcome his hyperventilating with positive thinking and a calm head.
"Guess we should we going?" Quinn nodded, walking past the crowded classrooms slowly. Finn took her hand, squeezing it gently as they passed through the large glass doors. Leaving the main school building, Quinn noticed a slightly odd sight out of the corner of her eye, the whole entire Glee club standing outside in full costume.
"We weren't going to let you leave without singing something" Artie wheeled himself forward, smiling brightly under his dark brown fringe. Kurt and Mercedes, still inseparable, grinned with their milky whites showing. Rachel, however, rushed forward to hug her new best friend warmly and wish them well. Quinn enveloped her in a warm, friendly embrace. Mr. Schue didn't seem to be attending; finally he had let them do this specific accompaniment unaccompanied. Lending a supportive glance to one another, the club began.
"I know a girl
She puts the color inside of my world
But she's just like a maze
Where all of the walls all continually change
And I've done all I can
To stand on her steps with my heart in my hands
Now I'm starting to see
Maybe it's got nothing to do with me
Fathers, be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers, be good to your daughters too…"
After the finishing note, Quinn held her bump, trying her hardest not to cry, although it was becoming difficult. Finn clapped his hands and smiled, embracing the small frame of his girlfriend who stood beside him. Kurt came forward, joining hands with Tina and Mercedes, each bowing quickly. Puck stood stubbornly at the back, clutching the neck of his guitar. Rachel smiled and rushed toward her, with open arms.
"Please, don't name it 'Drizzle'" Rachel pleaded with her quickly; Quinn laughed and nodded her head. Hugging her tightly back, Rachel giggled as they parted ways.
"Finn, we need to go, like now!" Quinn, still holding his hand firmly, gently apologized to Rachel before hugging Kurt and the rest of the Gleeks. Tina handed them a large leather-bound photo album, smiling brightly.
"For the baby, so she'll be able to remember you and Finn" Quinn rifled through the pages, glancing at the photos taped to the crinkled paper. Month's worth of photographs, all there in one giant book of memories. Sonogram photos, that Finn had donated, Yearbook photos, Glee performances and much more as Quinn looked over them. Finn glanced over her shoulder, rubbing her stomach with his trembling hand.
"Go, bring us a baby" Kurt shouted, he had grown more understanding of the relationship between Finn and himself, they were nothing more than just good friends. Still, he did glance his way as the group rehearsed various routines and numbers, but it had not grown into anything along the scale of Quinn and Finn.
"Kurt, what are you saying?" Mercedes cackled, clutching her stomach calmly. Quinn laughed weakly, through the tears. Kurt hugged his friend, complimenting her choice of attire. Quinn stepped back nervously, giving the Glee Club a final wave.
"I'm not gonna go all Rumpelstiltskin on them" Kurt smiled in Quinn's direction, he knew all the rubbish she had had to put up with over the past eight months, it wasn't a particularly nice ordeal.
Quinn walked quickly towards Finn's car, squeezing his hand tightly. Opening the rear car door, she slipped into the backseat gently. Finn pulled his seatbelt over his chest and turned to face his pregnant girlfriend, who was smiling away. Finn turned the volume dial from the radio, blasting the booming sounds through the open windows. He wasn't being insensitive, this was Finn's daily routine, and it was a completely casual affair.
"Finn, I need to tell you something" Quinn twisted a strand of hair round her index finger and glanced out the window dreamily. Finn pulled down the rear view mirror and smiled at her reflection, he still didn't turn the volume down at least until the song had finished.
"Yeah, babe" Quinn smiled, this was it. She pursed her lips and took a deep breath. Finn waited for a quick response. Quinn flattened her large bangs absently, before opening her mouth.
"I'm going to keep the baby" Finn nodded his head, not entirely prone to hearing the entire conversation. Quinn leant back against the seat and laughed, trying to conceal her dulled pain that was now burning up through her spine. Finn's mouth dropped as the revelation seeped through his brain, a tiny grin reached to either side of his cheekbones. Quinn managed to see out of the corner of her eye, his relieved expression. Quinn's fingers traced the folds of her t-shirt as she watched the outside world pass them by whilst they were sitting, relaxed in silence.
"How was English?" Quinn smiled, knowing that this question would throw him for at least five minutes, trying to think of an educated answer to show Finn had actually been listening. Finn took in a deep breath, trying to figure the whole Shakespeare notion out in his head. Quinn sat back quietly and waited.
"Okay. It was basically about this guy who thought his wife was having his best friend's baby" Quinn shrunk slowly, seeing an all too familiar parallel with her own story surrounding the pregnancy.
Finn raised his eyebrow, before turning into the hospital car park. Quinn watched as the paramedics were already rushing around another patient. Unlocking the car door, Quinn waddled out into the sunlight. Finn was constantly beside her as they walked in the crowded reception. Her golden hair trailed down her back, gently teased and tousled with great care, leaning over the counter, Quinn smiled at the wily receptionist who was lying across her chair asleep.
"Hey!" Quinn shouted, trying to wake the woman from her nap. She was obviously shaken, but took out her large admissions book from the drawer below. Quinn smiled as she answered the questions that needed quickly answering.
Suddenly an orderly entered with a wheelchair, Quinn slipped into it comfortably. Finn followed after nervously, through the busy corridors towards the Maternity Ward. Hearing the screams of nearby mothers-to-be didn't help her nerves as she was wheeled down the hall slowly.
"You just wait there, Miss Fabray" Finn smiled supportively as Quinn lifted herself onto the bed. Crossing her legs, she pursed her lips thoughtfully, Finn stood nearby, staring out on the world below. The patients piled in quickly, trying to escape the queues fervidly.
Her large bump curved perfectly down to her hips, the t-shirt she was wearing clung to her body tightly. Fin folded his arms and leant against the wall, grinning proudly. Quinn rubbed her stomach, leaning back against the headboard quietly.
"So this is it?" She nodded, her light blonde curls bounced around her shoulders. Finn pulled the nearby chair closer to the bed, ready and prepared. Puck's image was firmly in the back of her mind, but it still persisted. Now the damage was done, Finn had a right as the innocent party, to know what happened between his best friend and his girlfriend.
"I need to tell you something and it has something to do with the play you're reading" Quinn gripped his hand tightly, whilst tears gently slid down her cheeks. Finn leant forward, his forehead rubbing hers.
This was it, the moment of truth.
Author's Note #2: Apologies for the not-so great first chapter, I must have more faith in myself but alas it's not to be. I hope you like my choices in songs; I thought the John Mayer rendition of 'Daughters' was appropriate for the Glee Club to sing. I also hoped you noticed the comparison between Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale' and what is going on in 'Glee'. Anyway, please come back for the next installment, the next hour of Quinn's labour of love and then her real labour respectively. I also can't wait for 'Glee' to come the United Kingdom on December 15th, personally I think it's just as exciting as Christmas Eve, waiting for presents!