Why not take a crazy chance?

And worse yet, he knew it was making Quinn question everything that they had. Opting to turn his focus to her instead, making sure she knew that there was absolutely no choice to be made. It was her, and it would always be her no matter what his ex did or said. Trying to break his concentration she began to ask Finn why he’d left her a key, which only proved how delusional she was. That key had been left as a backup for himself, not a gift given to her to let her in any time she wanted to. Quinn had her own key, she was the one Finn wanted to feel like it was her place too and free to come and goes as she chose. Letting Margaret have it, telling her again in no uncertain terms that she didn’t belong here. Almost right away he shifted focus once again back to Quinn… making sure that she was comfortable and hadn’t lost faith in him was of the utmost importance here because if he’d lost her, then nothing else would matter. Not the presence of his ex-girlfriend, nothing else. Begging her to say something, anything that would give him hope or the slightest bit of insight into how she was feeling now, Finn watched Quinn intently as he hung on to her.

Her words made him take even more notice. Quinn simply wanted to know if he loved her. The tone in her voice, almost disbelieving, was enough to break his heart. She was saying it but preparing herself for the very worst… for what reason she always felt like she came in second best he didn’t understand. But his grip loosened on her, hands falling from around her to drop to her waist as Finn was prepared to answer her question. Margaret jumped in yet again however, dismissing the whole thing and with contempt in her voice called her Barbie… and a rebound. Finn turned to his ex again, fire in his eyes once more. “What don’t you understand about this, Margaret? We’re through, and we’ve been through for a very, very long time. So just shut up and stop talking, okay?” Turning back to Quinn, his eyes taking in the soft pools of hazel which were still watching him, pleading silently to answer her properly. “Of course I love you. I have from the first day I met you Quinn. You showed me what it was like, what it was really like to know true love. I don’t want anything or anyone to come between us, or for you to feel second class to anybody. I only want to come home to you.”

The immediate reaction from Quinn was sweet and soft, Finn leaned in towards her and placed his lips against hers with the most delicate kiss ever. She was his future and if this didn’t prove it, what he did next sure did. Margaret was growing more impatient by the minute, nonplussed by all of this and still believing she could have Finn anytime she wanted. “Oh you have got to be kidding me, Finn darling you’re coming off too needy now. Isn’t it best to let Barbie go and find some plastic Ken to prematurely grow old with and not string her along?” Though he could still hear her words as plain as day, they no longer held any weight for Finn as he affirmed his love for Quinn, kissing her right there in front of his ex. When he finally did pull away, Finn turned back to face Margaret with a smile on his face, but intent in his eyes. “Don’t you get it? You lost. You lost before you ever showed up here today.” Stepping forward, Finn took Margaret by the arm and began to guide her towards the front door. Making sure not to be too rough or hurt her, he did want to make it as obvious to her as he could that there wouldn’t be another time they’d see each other; this was truly once and for all it. Throwing open the door, Finn backed her out and handed her the purse left abandoned by the door there.

“Goodbye, Margaret. I hope you eventually find whatever it is you’re looking for. As long as it’s not here.” And with that, Finn Hudson shut the door on that chapter of his life one last time and turned back to face the still quiet blonde standing there watching him. Stepping forward to meet her once again, Finn reached out to take Quinn’s hand in his own to declare it one more time for her.

She absolutely needed to know, and although Quinn wasn’t an ultimatum girl, his answer could very well seal his fate. Even being as head over heels for him as she was, if it wasn’t reciprocated, she wouldn’t win in the end. After all, he’d loved Margaret, at least at one point. He’d planned a future with her. How was a woman he couldn’t pledge himself fully to supposed to accept that? Firm in her question, albeit it her hazel eyes swelling with tears and the quiver of her lower lip displaying so much uncertainty, Quinn’s stare never faltered. Neither did his, save from telling Margaret to shut up and once again trying to explain that she was wrong. He certainly got an A for effort, but Quinn was still begging to hear the answer she wanted. It was like a safety net-- that no matter how many times Margaret tried to trounce back into their life, that she would always be his first choice. her body shivered as strong hands wandered down to her waist, and Q licked at her lips, wetting them anxiously as Finn began to speak to her again. Her gaze widened a little, slightly stunned that he was admitting to loving her - and even more that he confessed it wasn’t something that had taken time, but that he’d felt that way since the very beginning. Tears poured over to glaze her cheeks; these were happy ones though as the blonde’s expression broke into a smile. Her hands rested atop his broad chest lovingly, it obvious how genuinely touched she was, especially as he assured she was the one to teach him what true love was. He had done the same for her.

Swallowing all of these fleeting emotions, a soft little sigh of relief escaped Quinn. She just wanted him to say he loved her, but now she was happier than she could have imagined, and felt better too, knowing he didn’t want anything coming between them either. She was his only choice, and she would see to it that he only came home to her. Always.

Grinning as Finn closed the gap with the most tender kiss possible, she wasn’t given the chance to respond before Margaret was again butting in, trying to make him feel bad about himself, his choice. Quinn this time was about to take up for him, but instead Finn surprised her once again by kissing her more eagerly right in front of her, the blonde returning the gesture wholly. She clung to Finn, at least until he let go to do what they should have in the first place: get rid of the witch. As he guided the woman out, purse and all rather firmly, the smile on Quinn’s face inched into a smirk, and she gave a proud little wave as the brunette was pushed out the door. “Good riddance.” She said it rather sing-songy, the glare thrown back her way by the other woman not even affecting Quinn this time. Finn’s words stuck with her, promising that he never wanted to see his ex again... and finally there was closure. Both for him, and Quinn. She wouldn’t feel she couldn’t compare anymore, or that she’d ever lose Finn to his former flame. Overwhelmed with relief, and no longer feeling she had to hold back a little to keep up her guard, Quinn smiled as Finn returned to her, taking delicate hand in his larger one and again declaring his love for her. “I love you too, Finn Hudson,” she promised, squeezing his fingers as her other hand cradled his jaw. Pulling her boyfriend in for a much deeper kiss than the others they’d shared that night, Quinn tugged on his lip with a little nip, before kissing him more ardently now. They’d had their moments of heating things up, but always a cool down came along. Not now. Now that the cards were on the table, she was intent to show him just how much she meant her own pledge.

Gently, Quinn backed Finn into the hallway and up against his bedroom door as she initiated another searing kiss. With a mischievous smile and glint in her eyes, she pressed her body flush into his, releasing a little moan. “I have a surprise for you, and you’ve earned it,” she husked, peppering his lips with her own before reaching around and giving his backside a playful little squeeze, a pleased expression on her face. Pulling back to retrieve her purse, Quinn fished out the lacy lingerie she didn’t know until moments before whether she’d get the chance to share with him or not. “Want to skip dinner for now? I have something else on the menu.” Arching an eyebrow his way, she once again closed the distance, as if to seal the deal, her inner prowess emerging and taking over unlike before. “I love you, and now we’re going to show each other just how much,” she murmured against his lips.

Quinn stopped his words when she reached out to take the flowers from him, busying herself by putting them into a vase in water. When his ex commented on how she knew he stilled loved her and she loved him, it struck Finn as bittery ironic how he would have given anything to hear those words six months earlier. Before he’d met Quinn. 

What was strange about this was how Quinn seemed to be listening to everything Margaret had to say and taking it. It was as if she’d expected Finn to leap into her arms and instantly resume the relationship with his ex. Then as Margaret placed her hand on his shoulder and reeled him in, the blonde’s reaction was as heartbreaking as anything else, stammering how she had to go. That was his heart leaving, heading out that door, and if Finn didn’t act quickly and decisively she and it would probably never be back. Pushing Margaret away and breaking the unwanted kiss, Finn let out a loud “Stop it!” Immediately rushing to get between Quinn and the doorway, he put his arms out to block her. “Please don’t go, baby, I don’t want this. I don’t want any of this.” Moving towards her, Finn wrapped his arms around Quinn instead, pulling her into a warm embrace and as fearful as he was of perhaps being too strong, he was even more fearful of her leaving anyways. “I don’t want you to go, Quinn.” Turning to face Margaret now, who was looking with a perplexed, almost bemused look on her face like this was really some big joke, Finn’s eyes burned with anger. “Get out, Margaret. GO.”

"No Finn, I’m not going to do that. And do you know why? Because you love me. And you NEED me. You always have."

Every word out of her mouth just made Finn feel sicker to his stomach. How had he spent so long with this woman and not realized just what a cold, manipulative witch she was? Was this all new or had he just been blinded to her until now? It had been Quinn that had shown him what real love was supposed to be like, and there was no way he was going to lose that now because of some self-righteous ghost from his past. “I don’t need you, and I don’t love you anymore.” Quinn had allowed herself to be pulled in against him, but now Finn took a step back, his hands still on her shoulders as he looked into her eyes, his own now brimming with tears. “I don’t know what you’re thinking now, Quinn, if you think I’ve got some choice to make or whatever. But just believe me when I tell you, there is no choice. There hasn’t been any choice ever since the day I met you. You’re the only one I want, you have to believe me.”

"If that’s so, Finn, then why did you leave me an extra key with your superintendent? Why did you make it so easy for me to get in?"

Nearly slamming down the vase Quinn dashed to the door-- she didn't want Finn to see this jealous side of her, nor did she want Margaret to know that her presence had any effect on her; she didn't deserve such satisfaction. Startled as Finn blocked the path to the door and engulfed her in his strong embrace, Quinn didn't fight the warmth of it, something she would miss if it was their last. She also didn't make an effort to return it; basically just allowing Finn to keep her from leaving as tears began pouring more adamantly now, coating her cheeks and her face in what she assumed was a blotchy mess. She loved Finn, she did, but if Margaret was going to be the perpetual baggage unloaded onto their relationship for years to come, she couldn't handle that. He'd pushed her away from the kiss and skimmed in just to save Quinn from leaving, but what if she wasn't there? Then would he have fallen under Margaret's spell all over again? Finn's pleads for her not to leave-- calling her baby and assuring that this wasn't what he wanted only made her lip tremble more pronounced as she tried to find the strength to say something. She didn't have the answers though, she wasn't sure what to say, and before she could come up with anything coherent, the witch spoke up again, completely disregarding Finn's demand that she leave.

Margaret insisted that Finn loved  her and needed her; Quinn knew the former wasn't true, but did he still love her? The thought had her heart crumbling all over again, though as he spoke up an insisted that neither was no longer true, Quinn's fingers instinctively curled into his chest. This woman was toxic, the last thing Finn needed or deserved, but it was a little liberating knowing that he no longer loved her, and that was coming from the teddy bear type of guy he was whom always tried to put things delicately to people. Not this time-- he'd stated so plainly. But did he love Quinn? They'd never said it aloud. Still uneasy, cloudy hazel eyes peeped up, tentatively meeting his own dewy brown ones, the tears lingering in them making her swallow hard as his hands gently guided their way to her shoulders. In that moment, briefly, it felt like they were the only two in the room. Finn again begged her to believe him-- he laid his heart on the line there, promising she was all he wanted, how there was no choice to be made. It was her. Quinn wanted to believe him and she mostly did, but lurking in the distance was the dark cloud she couldn't guarantee wouldn't rain on their parade again. Once again interrupted by Margaret barking - this time insisting that he'd left her a spare key to get in, Quinn's eyes flickered with anger at the woman. They couldn't even talk this out without her butting her head in, and she knew better than these preposterous accusations now. She was the only one with a spare to Finn's apartment, and knew good and well he wouldn't give them both one on the off chance that they might cross paths. This was going too far.

Quinn had half a mind to tell her off, but Finn stepped in to do so instead. She was proud of him for standing up for himself, rather than letting her once again rule the roost. Despite his orders to never come back though, Margaret wasn't budging, and it made Quinn nervous that no matter how many times she was kicked out of his life, the woman would never quit trying to wedge herself back in. Finn was worth that risk, but still remaining quiet and in a bout of fresh tears, his plea for her to finally say something had the blonde's lips parting to speak, even if nothing came out at first. Hastily wiping her face with feminine fingers, Quinn's resolve was again about to break depending on how he answered her question. She only had one thing she really needed to hear at this point, and it would determine whether she ultimately stood a chance or not. Again swallowing the knot in her throat, Quinn croaked demurely, the words uttered out with uncertain confidence.

"Do you love me, Finn?"

Today he was out taking care of a few errands, including a stop at the bank. One of the other places he visited was a small flower shop, where Finn stopped to pick up a small bouquet of white lilies for Quinn. One of the things he’d missed about being in a relationship for so long was being able to indulge his more romantic side; the truth was Finn enjoyed the little things like this. Things that would no doubt get him teased by Sam and Puck, but he didn’t care. They’d make Quinn happy, which was all that mattered. It highlighted one of the main differences between her and his ex-girlfriend Margaret too; Quinn would enjoy the sweet surprise while if he tried to get Margaret flowers all he’d get back would be a shake of the head and a sarcastic comment about wasting money. Not exactly the sentimental type… maybe that was a sign they were never going to work out anyways. Funny how at the time he considered her the one he was going to end up with, but now having spent time with Quinn and understanding what a true relationship was like, he couldn’t imagine it any other way.

Getting back to the building, he made his way up the stairs to his apartment and started to unlock the door. Realizing the door was open, he turned it slowly with some hesitation. Quinn was no doubt inside, but this was after all New York, and there was still a chance of a less welcome intruder. Taking a few cautious steps inside he saw Quinn from behind and instantly a smile came over his face as he held onto the flowers in his hands. He was going to be able to give them to her now instead of later on. But when she heard him behind her Quinn turned around, and the look on her face made his heart drop instantly, as did the way she croaked out his name. “Hi Quinn, what’s wrong?” That was when his eyes saw past her, to the second person in his apartment, someone he never expected to lay eyes on  again, much less right here in his own home. “Margaret? What the hell are you doing here?” The brunette woman sat up straighter on the couch where she’d been lounging, and greeted Finn with a smile. "Hi baby, I’m back. Miss me? I see you still don’t have any problems spending money, hmm?"

Finn was concerned as he saw his girlfriend, that much was evident, and the shock that struck his face as eyes landed on Margaret truly seemed real. Still, Quinn found it curious that she'd gotten into his apartment, and even more so that she was so comfortable and confident that he would come back to her. Cringing when Margaret greeted him as baby, her grating voice and already patronizing words made the writer wonder what Finn had been doing with such a woman in the first place. Observing his reactions through cloudy eyes, Quinn noted the way Finn's grip about the flowers - her favorite white lilies - was strengthening in frustration. Not once had she ever seen her boyfriend mad, but she wondered if the worst sides of both were about to surface. Perhaps this was a test, and although Quinn trusted him if he promised nothing had been going on behind her back, it still opened up an entirely new scenario. A lot of the reason she had been so tentative in their relationship and taking things in such slow stride was because she knew it had taken a while for Finn to get over Margaret, and a part of her wondered if he really ever had completely. Sure, he was happy with her but if left with a choice, would he actually pick Quinn? The fact alone that she was there reminded Quinn that she would always be his baggage, and until he was ready to get rid of her entirely, she wasn't sure how much she could devote to a future for them.

"No, I'm not okay... this isn't okay. I don't know how long she's been here, but longer than me. She seemed pretty comfortable when I came in to make dinner," Quinn answered softly, her cries silent, but tears still swept over flushed cheeks before she wiped them away with haste. "Apparently she's here to get you back, or something." She was trying to be strong, but the obvious shake in her voice had to have been giving herself away; gingerly she reached out, guiding the flowers into her hands and making her way over to the sink to put them in a vase and water. Whether they were hers or for Margaret she honestly wasn't sure, but she didn't want his ex especially to see her cry and gain any satisfaction from it. The tears began to flow more steadily, seemingly in sync with the water as it trickled from the faucet into the glass cylinder. Quinn again shuddered as she heard the clacking of high heels over the wooden floor, Margaret making her way over to Finn with one agenda in mind-- do anything to get him crawling back to her.

"Look, Barbie is pretty and all, but we both know your future is with me. I guess I just... needed some time to myself to realize. But I still love you, Finn, and I know you still love me too."

Quinn sensed the phoniness in Margaret's tone immediately, but she didn't know if Finn would, and her heart sank at the notion; what if he did still love her too? She wasn't even in the right state of mind to defend herself, but knew that her boyfriend would soon prove where his heart lie-- she would leave it up to him to defend her. Turning to set the flowers on the bar and trying to be nonchalant, swollen hazel eyes met his brown briefly before ducking back as she saw Margaret's hand wander to Finn's shoulder and then cupping his cheek to reel him in for a kiss. She couldn't watch this anymore.