Chapter one.
The first time it had happened she was shocked. He'd been angry and bitter for two years before that day but he'd never laid a finger on her before. Now three years after the first time he'd hit her, she wished she'd never forgiven him. She wished she'd walked away and never looked back.
Rachel Berry looked in the mirror. She was twenty four years old. Living with her high school sweet-heart, now husband of six years, Jesse St James. They had a beautiful six year old son together named Liam. He wasn't planned but Rachel wouldn't give him up for the world. She loved that little boy more than anything else. Liam didn't resemble Jesse at all. His skin was golden brown like hers, his eyes were dark chocolate, like hers and his hair was a mop of brown, like hers. He was smart, he knew everything that was going on and sometimes that scared Rachel.
Rachel flexed her jaw and winced at the pain.
"Cracked. Not broken." She whispered to herself as she carefully and expertly covered the dark bruise forming along her jaw line, with foundation. She touched the large bruise on her cheek bone and winced at that too.
"Mommy!" Liam yelled running into the bathroom and carelessly launching himself at his mother.
"Ow! Bug!" Rachel winced, "Mommy's got sore ribs baby. Please be careful."
Liam immediately back off.
"Sorry mommy, love you." He pulled her so she was crouching in front of him and sloppily kissed her cheek, avoiding the damaged side.
"Love you too Bug." Rachel smiled, kissing him back.
They heard a car parking in the dive and the front door open. Liam's smile instantly turned to a frown with very worried eyes.
"Go to your room, pretend your asleep," Rachel pushed his hair out of his eyes.
"What about you mommy? Come with me?" Liam asked, tugging gently at her hand. Rachel kissed his forehead.
"You know I can't. I'll be fine, just like always. Now hurry," Rachel told him.
Five minutes later, when Liam was safely in his room, Jesse came up the stairs. Rachel was still in the bathroom trying to cover the bruises on her face. When Jesse walked into the room she tensed automatically, ready for a blow. Jesse just leered at her and squeezed her ass.
"Lets see it," Jesse snarled. Rachel turned to him and tilted her head so he could admire the handy work she'd done to cover her damaged face.
"Good. Now Puck and Beth are coming over for dinner. They'll be here at about six o'clock. So lets make sure to show them how happy our little family is huh?" Jesse poked a finger into her broken ribs, making her gasp in pain. She pushed his hands away from her.
"Why are they coming?" She asked.
"Because I invited them. Puck's always had a thing for you. Remember when her tried to get you to stop our wedding?" Jesse pushed her to her knees. Rachel remembered. It was the day she gave birth to her son, the wedding was four months later and Noah was there at the hospital, holding her hand as she gave birth. Jesse wasn't. He never showed up. It should have been the first sign. Noah told her not to get married. He told her that Jesse didn't deserve her. But she thought it was the other way round. Jesse had been drumming into her head that she didn't deserve him. So she told Noah 'No' and married Jesse. The day she married Jesse St James was the same day Noah Puckerman told her that he loved her.
Jesse unbuttoned his jeans and pulled his cock out. Pushing it into Rachel's unwilling mouth. Rachel shut her eyes tight, wishing it was anyone else and let him guide her on and off his cock by pulling her hair roughly and caused a searing pain through her already cracked jaw. Rachel had always thought that this particular act was to show your partner how much you loved them, maybe to surprise them and do something nice, just for them. With Jesse it was forced and something that made her sick to her stomach.
"After dinner I'm going to the bar so I won't be home until morning." Jesse smirked. Rachel knew this meant he was hooking up with some random bar skank. But she didn't have the energy to argue. Last time she'd said anything about his cheating she ended up in hospital.
"Deep throat me."
Rachel didn't do as she was told, which resulted in a back hander. She let out a pained whimper and clutched her cheek as she did as he asked.
"Rachel. You will always be mine. No one else wants you. I hope you know that no one will love you like I do." Jesse said, "You ahhhh …. Oh God…I'm gunna! You're useless. MMMMMMMMM" With that Jesse came in Rachel's mouth. He kissed her cheek and left. When Rachel was sure his car was gone she spat out his disgusting sperm and washed her mouth out thoroughly, she gave way to her tears and sat in a ball for a little while before doing what she did every day. She picked herself up, covered her bruises (with a ton of make-up and a fake smile) and goes makes breakfast for her son.
Puck woke up by his sister screaming at him.
"Get the fuck up Puck!" Beth screamed, "It's nearly two o'clock and your lazy ass is still in bed!"
Puck grumbled and pulled himself out of bed. He looked at himself in the mirror. He was twenty six years old. He lived in a five bedroom house with his sister. Who was now twenty. His job was nice and easy. He had taken over Burt's garage a few years back when Finn couldn't run it anymore because Quinn (his now Wife) was 8 months pregnant at the time. Finn was meant to take the garage back but Puck had done such a good job with it that Finn decided he would go into real-estate instead. Beth was at college doing a course in child care, which Puck thought was a bad idea because, being a Puckerman she didn't really watch her mouth and Puckermans were not known for their patience. But he supported her because she was his sister. Puck didn't sleep around as much, well, since six years ago. When he told Rachel she didn't need Jesse and that she should leave him. That he loved her. When Rachel cut Puck out of her life it hurt. It hurt more than he would have though it would. And for the past six years he had never had a girlfriend. And he found himself only attracted to brunettes. Which was a bit fucked.
"PUCK!" Beth screamed.
"FUCK SAKE I'M UP!" Puck shouted back just as Beth appeared in the doorway.
"Good," She smiled.
"Why've I gotta get up anyway? It's my day off Beth!" Puck grumbled.
"Well dear brother. Jesse has invited us to dinner at his house." Beth said.
"No way. No. Just…no. I am not doing that!" Puck shouted, spinning round to look at his sister.
"Yes you are. Rachel is my friend and we haven't spoken in a little while, I'd like to see how she is," Beth said, frowning at his impression of gagging., "What's your problem?"
"I don't like the sound of sitting around a dinner table with perfect Rachel and her perfect husband and her perfect life," Noah said, going back into his room with Beth hot on his heels.
"Oh I get it. You're still hot for her," Beth grinned, knowingly.
"Hot for her? Fuck, no. I never was!" Puck said, pulling on jeans over his boxers and pulling on a shirt.
"Don't give me that! You were so hung up on her!" Puck rolled his eyes, "Whatever Puck. But we are going. So be ready by six."
"I don't wanna fuckin' go," Puck grumbled as Beth knocked on Rachel and Jesse's front door.
"Too late now," Beth grinned as a small boy who looked just like Rachel answered the door.
"Are you who mommy talks about?" Liam addressed Puck.
"Um-" Liam cut Puck off.
"She said her first love was a man named Noah, is that you?"
"Uh, yeah, I guess so kiddo," Puck grinned.
"Liam…what have I told you about answering the- oh hey guys," Rachel appeared in the door way with a fake smile. Rachel put a dainty hand on Liam's shoulder.
"Beth," Rachel beamed hugging Beth and then turned to Puck, "It's nice to see you again Noah." She said quietly, placing a small kiss on his cheek.
Puck noticed that her smile was completely fake. Rachel ushered them inside to the couch. As Puck walked behind Rachel he noticed the way she had filled out a little, her curves were very incising and the steady sway of her hips and gorgeous curve of her ass was making his mouth water slightly.
"So the kid looks all grown up now," Puck commented from the couch..
"Have I met you before?" Liam asked from Rachel's lap.
"Noah was there when you were born Bug. He chose you name." Rachel replied for Puck.
"How have you been Rachel? We haven't spoken in ages?" Beth asked.
"I know," Rachel smiled, "I-I've been busy with Liam," Lie, "We should get together more."
Beth nodded. Jesse came down the stairs and wrapped an arm round Rachel.
"Behave." He whispered into her ear. Rachel looked up at him and nodded before dropping her gaze to the floor.
"Uh- dinners ready if you are," She stated quietly. Everyone sat down at the table and began eating the casserole Rachel had made.
The Puckerman siblings picked up on a few things while they ate.
Rachel was completely tense. She only ate like two bites of food. She had a ton of make-up on, which she really didn't need. And Jesse was running his hand up and down Rachel's thigh, every time his fingers when a little way under her dress she winced. Beth and Puck exchanged a worried glance.
When they were done they moved back into the living room with coffee's talking about Beth's new boyfriend Craig and about Jesse's new job at a law firm. Liam came running into the room and launched himself into Rachel's lap. Rachel cried out in pain as a single tear ran down her face.
"Bug that hurt!" Rachel scolded him.
Liam kissed her cheek, "Sorry mommy. Forgot about your broken ribs."
FUCK Rachel thought. She knew he son very well and he had done that on purpose. She knew Liam was just trying to get her help but she wished he hadn't. All he did was get her more punches for when their guests left.
Puck noticed Rachel's panicked look as she looked at the floor blushing.
"Rach, how did you break your ribs?" He asked.
"I…uh. Um. I was-" Rachel was cut off by Jesse.
"Clumsy bitch fell." He chuckled. Rachel let out a tiny fake laugh and nodded as she still stared down at the floor.
"Puck, I think it's time to go." Beth said looking at her watch. They said there good-byes and left, as soon as they were on the front step Puck got angry.
"What the fuck was all that?" Puck asked Beth.
"Shh, listen!" Beth said pointing at the front door. They could hear Jesse yelling.
"Your fucking son! He's a stupid little tell-tale! He needs to shut the fuck up around people if he doesn't want his precious mommy in hospital!" Then the sound of something hitting the wall.
"Fuck!" Puck whispered turning back to the door.
"No Puck. Leave it for now okay?" Beth pulled him back to the car.