Who: Quinn & @northsideclarington (mentions of @northsidesebastian)
What: Quinn tells Hunter that she wants to keep the baby, and he tells her about the conversation he had with Sebastian about this making their lives better. It’s official. The NSET are keeping their baby.
When: Jan 1, Late Afternoon (before Quinn and Sebastian’s convo)
Where: Hunter’s Residence
Triggers: Pregnancy
Quinn
For as many times as Quinn had felt nervous stepping outside lately, those old feelings of unease seemed to forget to follow her as she made her way to Hunter's. It had only been a few days since she had seen him and Sebastian, since they sat with her in the doctor's office as they learned about the life they'd created that was growing healthily inside of her. Since the beginning, they had options for how to handle this but she knew now what she wanted.
Actually, she'd known since the moment the doctor told her that she was pregnant, but she'd only now been able to admit it to herself. For as much as that decision scared her, she was sure about it. Quinn walked up to the door and had a moment to decide whether she wanted to knock or use her key. She had been the one to leave, but she'd put in her letter that she wasn't leaving them so she opted for the key, peeking her head in. "Hunt?" she called out tentatively. "It's me."
Hunter
After taking a much needed nap in the afternoon, Hunter had busied himself cleaning up a bit and doing some laundry before it would piled up to a dangerous level, then he took a shower and changed into a pair of dark gray slacks and a white shirt, trying to look presentable for when Quinn showed up later that night. In all honesty, he was scared to bits to what Quinn wanted to talk about with him, no matter how much reassurance Sebastian had knocked into his mind the night before about her making the right decision, and that it would be a good one for all of them, but specially for their baby. Was she coming over to cutting him off completely and she wanted to do that in person?
He was in the kitchen at the moment, making some tea to go along the plate of crackers and grapes he had fixed as well for them to share, when the sound of her voice, always such a sweet and warm sound, made him turn his head around and he walked up to her and held the door open wide. "Hey, Q. Happy New Year... again." He chuckled, then held her gently and placed a soft kiss on her lips before he let her go. "Come in. Tea's almost ready."
Quinn
Quinn couldn't hide the fact that her smile widened the second she saw him. No matter what they were going through, Hunter was one of only two people who could make her smile without even trying. It already felt better being back here. Noah's place had been great. Ryan was wonderful, and she'd loved spending time with the girls, but her heart knew when she was home.
"Happy New Year," she said with a smile, leaning into his lips, feeling this kiss that had a way of making everything else fade away. "Tea?" She grinned as she walked in, setting her purse down on the table as she followed him. "Did you switch from being a coffee man while I was away?"
Hunter
Hunter chuckled and shook his head. "You speak as if you had been gone for years. But no, I haven’t switched sides. But you shouldn't be having any excess of caffeine either, so tea it is for tonight. I also have a plate with crackers and some cheese and grapes." He took the kettle off the stove when it started whistling. "You're feeling okay? How's the little bun doing? Giving you a hard time already?"
Quinn
Quinn followed him into the kitchen and smiled as she watched him remove the pot and get tea poured for them. Then when he mentioned the snacks, she looked over at the plate and couldn't stop the excited oh! as she wandered over and picked up one of the grapes so she could pop it in her mouth. It was plump and bright, and the juice was so sweet it pulled a gracious hum from her lips. "That's so good," she said, swallowing the fruit and looking up at his questions.
Her eyes lowered for a moment when he used that nickname, little bun. Is that you, she thought, hand slipping to rest on the small of her still flat stomach. Our little bun. Then Quinn smiled and answered, "Just tired a lot. I slept until eleven yesterday morning, napped by one, and still fell asleep for the night by ten," she told him, lowering her hand so she could snag another grape. "I'm kind of thankful I'm on that leave from work so I have the ability to do all this sleeping not at my desk."
Biting half of the grape, she walked over so she could stand closer to him. "How have you been?" She asked, reaching up to brush her fingers through the longer pieces of his hair.
Hunter
Hunter was glad to see Quinn liked the grapes he had picked and seeing her eating them so happily made him happy, especially after watching her spill her guts out for days, not knowing then what was happening. "Yeah, all that sleeping done at your desk would've murdered your back, and you have to hang onto your full body strength. The first months are the more difficult, then your body finally catches up and you should be able to have your regular life back, as much as the belly size will let you."
He smiled at her when she ran her fingers through her hair and shrugged. "I've been good. Also glad to have had this day off. I'm going back on full schedule tomorrow, so it was nice to have a breather." He handed her her mug and grabbed his own. "You want us to go to the living room? It should be more comfortable there."
Quinn
He was a doctor so of course he knew about the medical sides but the way he spoke brought images to her mind of Hunter reading through pregnancy and baby books or websites, and the thought itself warmed her. "True but it would also be a good excuse to ask for back rubs," she said with a smile. Quinn nodded and took the cup that he offered her, smelling the familiar scent of honey vanilla chamomile. It was the only tea that really settled her stomach. For a moment, she wondered if it was her body reacting to the tea, or the baby.
Nodding, she popped the other half of the grape in her mouth and then walked over to pick up the tray of snacks. She wasn't done with those. She'd opted out of lunch with Ryan and the girls, feeling a little unease in her stomach earlier that day before it settled. Placing the tray down on the table, Quinn sat down in one of the chairs close enough for her to reach for the snacks and still bit her cup down on a coaster. She crossed one leg over the other and fixed her skirt before looking at him. "I um, I guess we should talk about things." It's why she'd come, after all. "About the baby."
Hunter
Hunter chuckled and nodded. "And eventually also ankle rubs. If you're doing this, do it right." He followed her into the living room and sat on the couch, taking a sip of his tea before he put the cup on the coffee table in front of him, and he crossed his own two hands together and nodded. "There's no need to tip toe around this, Q. So yeah, I think that's a good idea."
Quinn
Quinn smiled and she knew without even having to question it that he'd be attentive to her needs, even ones she didn't realize she had. "No, you're right." It wasn't the whole reason she came but it was something they needed to talk about. She took a breath and all of those perfectly practiced words suddenly disappeared. This one was going to have to come from the heart. Turning to face him, she started, "Okay. The thing is that I know we have options and maybe those options would make things easier for us." Not maybe, they would.
"But the truth is, Hunt, for as scared as I am right now.. and as unprepared as we are.. I don't want anyone else raising our baby." She'd stepped away to give them time to think but maybe it was her who had needed it more. Her hands went to her stomach, pressing gently against her mid-section. "I don't know how we're going to figure it out but I know we can, and I know I want to. I want this, and I want you, and I want Sebastian. I want our baby, and our family."
Hunter
Hunter could feel his own heart pounding inside his skull while he listened to Quinn talk, but the more he did, the more relaxed he started to feel. Even if he had left out that choice for her when they talked before, the idea of his child being raised by someone else was a bit daunting for him. Not that he would had protested had she chosen to do that. Luckily, she hadn't. He moved closer to her and held her hand.
"Quinn... It's not like he could split the baby in three parts. Things aren't easy with us just by being together, and it won't be easy with this baby either, but the one thing you should know is that we're with you, all the way. Everything you need from us, you will have it. Whenever I can't be there, Sebastian will, poor parenting skills included and everything, but he won't leave you alone. We never thought about leaving you on your own with this, whatever your choice had been. Me and Sebastian... We talked and felt that this is the way we can make our lives better. To matter, after all these years of not caring. We love you, and we love the little bun."
Quinn
Looking down at her hand when he took it, Quinn felt her pulse race since she'd gotten her part out. Now it was his and while her heart told her that she knew what he would say, it was the insecure part she tried to not pay attention to that made her worry. But as he spoke, his words soothed her, bringing the kind of comfort that she'd been looking for and failed to find because she'd been the one so unsure about what to do. But she was sure now.
"Easy is boring," she said with a smile, surprising herself by feeling something wet on her cheek. She wiped at the stray tear and quickly said, "Sorry. Hormones." Placing her other hand over his, Quinn nodded. "I love you too. Both of you, all of you," she corrected because it wasn't just the three of them anymore. It was four of them now. Quinn scooted closer to him and curled her arms around his neck, pulling herself close to him.
"We're really doing this," she said over his shoulder. "We're having a baby."
Hunter
Hunter chuckled and squeezed her hand gently. "It never it is, baby." He picked her in her arms and placed her on his lap, his arms holding her close gently. "Yes, we are. And it's going to be the most kickass, smart, snarky, and beautiful baby in the world."
Quinn
Quinn giggled, a soft sound that took away the rest of the anxiousness and uncertainty. It felt good to laugh like that again. If they were going to be scared, they'd be scared together. But the important part was that this was happening. They were having a baby. "Enjoy that while you can. You may not be able to pick me up like that in a few months," she teased.
Then she nodded at the way he described their little bun. Their baby would be all those things and more. "It's very possible this kid is going to take over the world," she said happily, knowing that with all of the best part of the three of them, there was nothing that could stop their bun. Leaning in, Quinn pressed her lips to his and for the first time since they'd found out she was pregnant, she let herself feel happy and excited. She had already messaged Sebastian and was going to see him when she finished here but for right now, she didn't rush the moment.
"Thank you," she whispered against his lips. For letting her think, for always being there, for loving them so much. "For everything."
The following was delivered to @northsideclarington and @northsidesebastian on Monday afternoon; a couple hours after the doctor’s appointment.
To my favorite men,
I don’t really know how I want to start this so I apologize for how messy I’m sure this is going to come across. I’m usually so well put together but I have a lot running through my head right now, so much I want to say, especially after the doctor’s appointment. I’ll do my best to say everything as simply and without emotion as I can.
First, it meant a lot to me that you were both there today at the appointment. and not just because it was about our situation. You know how much I hate feeling rattled and lately, the idea of going outside at all makes me.. nervous, I guess is the best word for it. I hate knowing they’re both out there and as hopefully unlikely as it is that either of them are waiting for me to walk out, I have been avoiding it as much as possible. (Silly, I know, but i’m working on it.)
Going to the hospital today for this appointment was one of those things that scared me but it was definitely not as scary having you both there. Thank you for coming and going through that with me.
Secondly, and the real reason for this note is-- well, frankly.. to let you both know it’s okay if this isn’t what you want. Between the three of us, we either never planned on having kids or weren’t ready for them. Trust me, I’m terrified of this but you both have an option right now that I don’t. You both have the option to walk away.
Now before either of you say anything, I want you to really think about it. I know without a doubt in my mind that if I asked you to stay and do this and raise our this baby, you would. Even if you guys hated every second of it. The three of us have been together for most of our lives, and I’ve loved you both ever since we were just three lost kids holding onto flower crowns and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
But we’re always going to have that. You two are my best friends in the world and that’s not going to change.
And in the spirit of those things, and of us and everything we have been, I can’t force either of you to do something you don’t want to do. I won’t. That’s not who we’ve been and I refuse to let it be who we are. So please take a couple of days and think about whether this is something you really want to be a part of. If it’s not, tell me. If you don’t want it.. consider this your way out. I don’t want either of you doing this out of obligation. I think we’ve all done enough of “what’s expected of us” in our lives and hated it. I won’t be one of those things and this baby shouldn’t be either. All of us deserve better than that and I know you both know that too.
Hunt, I’m so thankful that you’ve let me stay with you through all of this but i’m going to go stay with a friend for a couple days. I don’t believe you can really think if you see me every time you turn around.
I’m not leaving you guys so don’t take this message that way. I just want to do this right. If you’re in, be in because you want to, not because you have to. You don’t have to.
Your OB appointment will include a complete medical history and a thorough physical, including a pelvic exam, breast exam, urine test, pap smear and blood work. This is to check your overall health and identify any factors that put you at risk for pregnancy.
You are 12 weeks and 5 days pregnant. (Fetal age: 10 weeks and 5 days)
The first trimester began on October 02, 2019.
The second trimester (weeks 13-27) begins on January 01, 2020.
The third trimester (weeks 28-40) begins on April 15, 2020.
Your safe range to give birth: June 17, 2020 to July 22, 2020 (full term).
89 days have passed since the start of your pregnancy.
There are 191 days left until your due date.
Crown to Rump Length: 2.91 inches
Weight: 0.81 ounces
Heart Rate: 110-180 bpm
The big change with your baby this week is that a completely unique set of fingerprints have formed, meaning your little one now has it's first real distinguishing features. Your baby's vocal cords are developing around now. Your baby's ankles and wrists will form this week, so all the joints should now be in full working order. Your baby is starting to make some deliberate movements with them, but mostly he or she will still be a bit of a jumping bean. You'll be able to hear the heartbeat at your next appointment.
I’m... sorry about last night. I really don’t know what happened. I just went red with that gossip column and I really couldn’t stop myself. I already texted Noah and apologized to him for freaking out. I didn’t mean to lose control.. but thank you. Thank you for whatever you brought back from the hospital. I haven’t slept like that in days.
What: Quinn and Hunter break through the silence and briefly discuss the Elite Triad’s situation with the baby
When: Dec 27, Morning
Where: Hunter’s Residence
Triggers: Pregnancy
After wrapping her cast as she'd been taught, Quinn lowered herself into the hot bath that she'd hoped would help easy her sore body. The doctor said it was likely adrenaline that blinded her to the ways that she was truly in pain but now that she was somewhere safe, she would start to feel it. Especially waking up that morning, Quinn had felt every inch of it.
Quinn
After wrapping her cast as she'd been taught, Quinn lowered herself into the hot bath that she'd hoped would help easy her sore body. The doctor said it was likely adrenaline that blinded her to the ways that she was truly in pain but now that she was somewhere safe, she would start to feel it. Especially waking up that morning, Quinn had felt every inch of it. She was tired, unable to sleep through the night without one of her memories shooting her straight up in bed. For hours, she would sit with her back against the pillow, telling herself that she was stupid for being so shaken up. Bruce had only been there for such a short time. He'd hurt her and left, and he hadn't had the chance to force himself on her like he was clearly going to, so stop freaking out! But her head wasn't listening.
As much as she hated to admit it, Quinn was grateful for the gifts Marley had sent her. She'd been racked with guilt over the horrible things her mother had said to her friends, and all of that was internalizing, swirling inside, and blossoming in the reminder that she was pregnant and hadn't known for three whole months. How would she ever be expected to raise a baby if she hadn't even known one was there?
Once the water turned cold, she climbed out of the tub and pulled on a robe, avoiding her reflection so she didn't have to see the harsh bruise on her face. She drained the tub and unwrapped her cast before walking into the kitchen. She opened the package of tea leaves, looking up when she heard footsteps. Things hadn't exactly gone back to normal there either.
Pressing her lips together, she looked down into her cup and asked, "Do you want some tea? Or coffee?"
Hunter
Hunter had returned from his night shift just about an hour before he walked into the kitchen and saw Quinn standing there. He had walked straight into the bathtub, then changed into a pair of gray sweats and a black hoodie, then went into his studio to do some research on a case that had every appearance of becoming difficult as days would go by. He should had gone straight into bed, where Quinn was, but instead he chose to go to the studio instead. It wasn't like he was avoiding her- or was he? If he was, he really didn't mean to. But everything that had happened in the last couple of days had fallen on his head like a ton of bricks, and even if he realized it was ten times harder on Quinn, it was also a lot for him to process.
A baby.
They had barely patched up their relationship with Sebastian, and now... a baby. What were they suppose to do now? How would they handle that, as a group? And the other question: Who was the father, and would that answer change things even more? It was enough to give anyone a headache.
He heard the shuffle around in the kitchen and figured Quinn was already up, so he turned the lights off on his desk and walked out of the studio, and down the couple of steps that led into the kitchen, seeing her there, standing by the counter.
"Coffee would be fine, thanks. You want me to fix you some breakfast?" he asked and opened the fridge.
Quinn
Quinn had filled the teapot with water and set it on the stove top. She passed him a small half-smile as she turned to get the coffee brewing for him, shaking her head even if he couldn't see when he offered to make breakfast. "I'm not really hungry right now," she said. Sure, she'd had a few cravings - because now she knew what they were - but her last nightmare wasn't giving her much room in her stomach for food right now. "But thank you."
As soon as the teapot went off, she busied herself pouring the hot water in the cup and steeping the dry leaves in until it was the color she wanted. She added a little honey but continued to wander through the kitchen with all thoughts and no words. Quinn wasn't stupid. She knew what they were both things, what they all had to be thinking right now, but what was she able to say? How did she tell either of them that everything would be okay if she didn't know it would be?
Thankfully, the coffee finished brewing and she fixed up his cup before handing it over to him. "How... was work?" She finally asked, settling on something because the silence was awful.
Hunter
You could practically hear a pin drop from how silent the kitchen, and until the teapot whistled out loud that was all there was. Upon hearing Quinn didn't want anything to eat, Hunter poured himself a glass of orange juice and sat at the counter, the aisle now separating him from Quinn. Although it felt like there was much more than just that separating them.
He nodded as he took his cup from her and took a small sip before putting it down. "Long. I have a difficult surgery coming up. I have to study for it, how about that?" He chuckled softly, although it didn't really reach his face. He looked at her and shrugged. "How... are you feeling?"
Quinn
That must have been what he was doing when she woke up, Quinn thought. Whenever she spent the night, Hunter usually climbed into bed with her when he'd gotten home from work but when she'd woken up alone and his car was outside, she'd figured he was in his study. "That sounds big," she said. "If you need any help studying.." She let the offer hang there. It had been a long time since she'd helped him study but in high school, even college, she'd lay across his bed with his book in front of her, quizzing him for hours when he wanted it.
Then at his question, Quinn lifted her cup to her lips, taking a long and slow drink of the tea as she tried to decide what he wanted to know. Did he mean her physical injuries? Her emotional ones? Or about the pregnancy? She settled on something that would cover all bases, just in case. "Tired. I haven't really slept more than an hour or two at a time since.. everything."
Nightmares kept waking her up. "I, uh.. I called Sheriff Hummel and told him. He wants me to go to the station so I'll.. try." The truth was, she didn't feel safe leaving Hunter's. Her mother's body hadn't been found in the remains of Ivyhill, and Bruce was still out there.
Hunter
Hunter smiled softly and shook his head. "Thanks, but I should be doing this alone." He knew he had asked a very vague question, because there was a lot Quinn could be feeling bad about. "I can tell that you aren't. We could call the doctor and have him prescribe a mild sedative. If you want, of course." He took a longer sip of his coffee and nodded. "That's good. They have to be put under alert. That bastard is still out there. It can't be like that. Either they do something, or I will."
Quinn
Quinn nodded. She knew how Hunter got when he was preparing for a big surgery. He took every aspect of it seriously. This was another person's life, someone's child, and she knew he wanted to get it himself. At least the offer was there if he wanted help. Then a small grin caught the corner of her mouth. "Is that a comment about my appearance because I haven't worn any makeup in a week?" She at least tried to joke, even if it was small and probably not funny. At the mention of a sedative, something new hit her and she felt her arm move across her stomach.
"A sedative? Is that safe for..." But before the word even came out, she stopped herself, aware of what she was about to say. Dropping her arm, she turned to the sink and washed away the rest of her tea. "I uh, I'd rather if they.. did. You didn't-- He wouldn't blink if he killed someone. And if something happened to you, I--" She shook her head, not wanting to say more about it. I can't lose you.
Hunter
Hunter chuckled. "Not really. More like because you sleep next to me and I can tell." He noticed her reaction when he mentioned a sedative, and he leaned forward and put his hands on the counter. "It'd be prescribed by the obstetrician, which... you should also get soon." He stood up and drank what was left of his coffee and also put the cup inside the sink. "I can defend myself. He's only a psycho coward for doing that to a woman." He stood behind her and crossed his arms. "What are you going to do... about the baby?" Someone had to say something.
Quinn
Simple things like finding an obstetrician.. she hadn't even thought about that yet. Of course she needed to find a doctor. The hospital visit had confirmed she was pregnant and given her an ultrasound to find out how far along she was but that there was still so much to do. Tests, probably, and medications, maybe? She nodded in agreement and decided she could at least do that today. "If you know any good ones at the hospital.." Otherwise she would check online, call, schedule an appointment.
Quinn turned to look up at him after he dropped off the cup. She wouldn't argue about what Bruce was capable of but the last thing she wanted was Hunter going after him. Pressing her lips together at the question, Quinn let out a slow breath. "I don't know," she answered honestly. "I know we're not ready but I never felt comfortable with.. getting rid of it." It was every woman's personal choice and she wasn't sure she could do it. Sebastian would still need to be part of the conversation but that didn't mean they couldn't talk about their feelings without him around. "If we don't.. If no one- wants-.. I mean, there's.. other options.."
Hunter
Hunter nodded, unfolding his arms so he could put his hands in his pockets. "I know the right person for it. Dr. Hans Peterson, he's the best at the hospital. I could get you an appointment for Monday morning if you want me to." Hunter frowned and moved closer to her. "Come here" he said, pulling her into his arms and embraced her warmly against her chest. "I'd never asked you to get rid of it, nor I think Sebastian would either." He sighed. "If it comes to that... If you decide, if we three decide not to keep it, there's always giving it for adoption. If it comes to that." He kissed her forehead and looked at her. "For now, all that matters is that you're okay. And the baby too, okay?"
Quinn
For as much as Quinn didn't want to leave the house, she knew that she had to at the very least get checked out and if this doctor was the best, she would find a way to get herself there. "That would be nice, Hunt. Thank you." Leaning into Hunter's embrace made the growing anxiety start to calm, at least a little. She'd needed it more than she realized.
Closing her eyes, she let her head lean into his chest and listened to the thumping of his head. Quinn nodded, looking up only when she felt him move. It's too soon, she wanted to say. All this was happening too soon. But when her lips moved, what came out was, "I'm scared."
Hunter
Hunter looked right into her eyes, those eyes he had never stopped losing himself in, then he cupped her chin and placed a soft kiss to her lips. He wanted to say 'me too', but this was definitely not about him at all. "I know you are. But like I said, whatever happens, we'll do this together. All of us, okay?" He kissed her again and held her close. "And by the way, Darius keeps saying that he's sorry. I told him it wasn't his fault, but I can't really blame him for seeing it like that..." He chuckled softly and kissed the top of her head.
Quinn
Quinn nodded and in some deep down part of her, it was what she needed. With everything that happened, knowing that she wasn’t alone and it was still them. It didn’t quiet the part of her that needed to know from both of them what they would do. This couldn’t just be her decision. She almost wanted to ask Hunter right then but his comment about Darius drew her attention. She sighed, “He’s been apologizing since he sent me that picture and realized the guy was his father.” Curling her arms around him, Quinn leaned in and closed her eyes. “I’ll talk to him.”
