Disclaimer: Ownership is neither claimed nor implied.

A/N: You know that day when you wake up and you know that everything in your life has fallen into place? Yeah, Quinn laughed when I asked her that question too...

"Hey, good to see you," Jake cried as his brother hugged him, slapping his back. "Looking cool in that uniform, bro," he grinned, just a little bit mockingly. "The ladies fall at your feet or what?" he asked, attempting to look impressed.

"Some do," Puck admitted with a shrug. "Usually they want the flyboys though, we mere mortals, the ground crew who do all the grunt work, we aren't exciting enough," he admitted. Not that Puck was particularly bothered about that, he wasn't. Puck had sown enough wild oats through high school to feel like he was missing out on anything. He managed, he got enough interest and when he didn't, he had his memories and his hand to fall back on...

"What about Finn…"

"Tell me one more time…"

"If you come over on Friday, you get to have sex with me..."

"I'm not here for a patch, I'm here because I love you…"

"You're my first..."

"You're sure no one knows about us..."

"It would be kind of rude to let the bridal suite go to waste, poor Mr Schue..."

"Dude. Hey, Puck," Jake called, snapping his fingers in front of Puck's vacant eyes. "Where the hell did you go?" he asked, laughing at his brother.

"Sorry, phased out there for a second, it's the training," Puck lied, he couldn't admit he was still sappy in love with one Qui…holy shit. Puck's chin hit his chest. "She's here? And you didn't tell me?" he demanded, looking at Jake with scared eyes. "Holy crap. Every time I think I've gotten her out of my system she just appears again, like freakin' magic," he whispered, almost to himself. "And I'm right back where I started." Puck watched her move, it was like watching a slow motion hairspray commercial. Awesome, just freakin' awesome.

Quinn walked down the hall, carefully placing one foot in front of the other, looking neither left nor right, her hands on her hips a la Head Cheerio. Quinn's skirt swished saucily above her knees as she strode, her long, blond hair swung, her funky necklace bounced between breasts that Puck knew, from vast past experience of those particular breasts, he knew they must have the assistance of an amazing push-up bra to look that fucking awesome. Not that her boobs weren't awesome enough already, they were, but they weren't usually quite so...prominant, defined. Puck had a sudden thought. "Maybe she had a boob job like Santana, no, Quinn would never do that to herself". Puck gulped as she stopped right in front of him, her stylish, peep-toed wedges bringing her closer to his height. "Puck," Quinn breathed, her hot breath floating over his throat making him swallow hard. Puck stayed totally still, he just allowed his eyes to flick down to look at her. Quinn knew the moment his eyes connected with her. Slowly and deliberately she licked her lips. "Did you come for the careers convention too?" she asked, then took a deep breath in, just to absorb as much of him as possible. It didn't hurt that it shoved her boobs even further into his line of sight. "God this bra is awesome," Quinn thought, "it was so worth the money."

"Errm, yeah, I yeah," Puck stuttered, swallowing madly, he knew he was salivating, he could almost taste her, he wanted to lick her, her perfume surrounded him, he wanted to sniff the air like Hannibal Lecter did when he told Clarice Starling what perfume she wore. Oh God. Now eating her was in his head. And the amazing, unique taste of her. And the sounds she made when he did that to her. For her. Oh crap. Quinn watched the flush on Puck's cheeks, saw the glaze in his eyes, saw him gulp, she held in a smile as she moved her body slightly so that she gave him the best angle to view her assets, but just subtly enough for it to look like an accident.

"Quinn. Quinn, there you are," a weirdly accented male voice called. A stranger jogged towards them, waving to try to catch Quinn's attention. "Darling I couldn't find you," he added as he reached them, he sounded ever so slightly patronising, just a little bit possessive and too freakin' close to Quinn for Puck to even think about liking the guy.

"Dick," Puck immediately thought. "This your new guy, Q?" he asked, his voice deceptively smooth, Puck actually felt like a thousand red hot needles were penetrating his skin. It hurt. It physically hurt.

"This is James Grayson," Quinn replied, her hand landing just a touch flirtily on the new guy's chest as she turned to smile at him. "He's from England," she added just in case Puck and Jake were too stupid to work out the accent for themselves.

"You must be…" James fished, holding a hand out to Puck.

"Her first. First love, first lover, father of her child," Puck introduced himself without even thinking about giving his name, he took great joy in the instant that shock and surprise smacked the prick right between the eyes. "You didn't tell him about us? About Beth?" he asked Quinn facetiously. "Actually, Jimmy," he added, leaning towards the newcomer as if to impart a secret. "If she'd had it her way, it would be children, not child, don't you remember how you begged me to get you pregnant again? No? It's not that long ago, you haven't forgotten that, surely," he mocked, loving the distraught look on her face.

"Thank you, Puck," Quinn hissed sarcastically. "James, let me introduce you to Mr Schuester," she said as she turned to face the slightly puzzled guy and led him away.

"So you're over her, right?" Jake murmured and looked at Puck in amused disgust. Puck didn't reply, he didn't have to, the pout said everything. "Ah crap," Jake muttered as Marley walked past and blanked him. Again.

"S'up there, dude?" Puck asked, slightly concerned about his little brother.

"Oh, nothing," Jake sighed as they both walked towards the choir room. "She broke up with me and now she won't even talk to me," he said, full of self-pity.

"Why, what happened?" Puck asked, curiously.

"I er, I might have cheated on her slightly," Jake mumbled, his head down.

"Cheated on her?" Puck cried. "Why? Why would you do that?" he demanded.

"Look, I didn't want to, it just happened," Jake answered with a shrug. Puck gave Jake a look, he didn't have to say anything. "God, stop looking at me," he cried. "Seriously. Stop," he shouted, frowning at Puck. "Look, it was not my fault," he explained, his words faltering in the face of Puck's sceptical sneer. "It wasn't," he insisted. "You know what it's like. Marley wouldn't, Bree would," he shrugged, mumbling his excuse. Jake looked at his big brother. "Oh come on, you never stayed faithful to any girl you dated. Or played. Or just fucked," he reminded Puck.

"Except her," Puck whispered, his eyes still locked on Quinn's ass as she pranced and danced around excitedly, talking animatedly with Tina, Mercedes, Rachel and Santana, all while hanging on to The Prick's arm.

"Seriously?" Jake asked. "You never cheated on Quinn?"

"Never. She's the one," Puck sighed. "I just wish I'd had the balls to tell her."

The auditorium was packed with McKinley High seniors all waiting to hear from former students, hear them big up their career choices. On one side of the stage were the students who had chosen the college route, on the other, the students who had chosen employment. Puck sat in his uniform, looking very smart, proud of his career, proud to serve his country. He caught Quinn's eye and gave her a little wink, a friendly little gesture, there was nothing sleazy or skanky about it. Well, not much anyway.

"Noah Puckerman," Ms Schuester, the former Ms Pilsbury, called as she clapped.

Puck stepped forward to the podium to give his view. "I didn't join up right after graduation. I took a year out, saw something of the country, had some experiences," he told the audience. "I joined the Air Force when a life changing event caused me to rethink my whole lifestyle and it's the best thing I've ever done. I feel like I belong, I have a great bunch of guys I work with, train with, it's hard, it's physical but you get to do some exciting, extraordinary stuff, stuff you wouldn't do out in the real world," he explained. "I get the chance to travel the world, work in different countries, to help people in need, it's an amazing career for the right people. Thank you," Puck finished and stepped back finding his seat again, he knew there would be a question and answer session later, Ms S had already told them that.

"Quinn Fabray," Ms S called and applauded as Quinn stepped up to the podium.

"Thank you," Quinn said with a nod to Ms S. "Originally, when I was accepted to Yale, it was into their Performing Arts program," she explained. "Then I had the accident, I'm sure some of you might remember me scooting up and down these halls in my wheelchair," she said, a little self-mockingly, Puck thought. Quinn waited a few seconds, heard a mumble of agreement then moved on. "So when I actually arrived in New Haven and got settled in, first thing I did was change my major. Not being able to walk for a time had changed my outlook so much, altered my perspective of how life should go, could go, could go wrong, that I knew my goal in life was to help people, help them overcome, especially kids. So I am actually studying Child Psychology, my aim is to become a therapist, to help kids through the tough times, help them get back on track, get their lives back," she finished, full of positive thoughts.

An older woman followed Quinn. She was a teacher to special needs kids, a truly rewarding career. Next came a firefighter then a police officer then a couple of accountants, Puck got bored and stopped listening. "Her ass looks so fucking kissable," he told himself as he watched Quinn shift a little on her stool, turning to the side as if deciding whether she should leave the stage. Puck knew she must be feeling it in her back, being sat for all that time, he remembered the hours and hours of therapy, the x-rays, the doctor visits, he'd been there with her through every one and he also knew that her back wasn't as healed as she liked to pretend. "Excuse me," he whispered to the people beside him as he edged past them. Puck walked across the stage to Quinn, the person talking didn't even falter, he had no idea. "Hey," he murmured and assisted her to settle better on the stool. It was slightly higher than really necessary, Puck knew from past experience that Quinn struggled on these tall stools so he stood beside her, his arm around her back giving her something to lean against. The career day continued on around them.

"Noah that was so chivalrous," Ms S said breathlessly as the stage cleared, as people dispersed to wander among the students so that they could ask any question they wanted. "It's wonderful to see you two together again, you always suited each other, complimented each other," she sighed, her smile wide, her hands tucked together under her chin.

"Oh, no, Ms Schuester, we aren't together," Quinn denied with a breathless laugh. "Puck just helped me, that's all."

"Oh," Ms Schuester replied, smiling with that blank, hopeful smile she used all the time.

Puck didn't say anything, he just smiled, he'd felt the jump in her heart rate when Ms S said what she did. He'd both felt and heard the ragged indrawn breath, caught the faint sound of a desperate groan as his hand passed gently over the top part of her back, felt how she couldn't help but gravitate towards his touch. Some things were just there to savour. And that moment was one of them.

"So how was today?" Judy asked. "Did you see him?"

"Yes," Quinn sighed. "He was there," she muttered and felt every emotion and feeling that she'd kept wrapped up all day, she felt everything flutter through her. When his hand had stroked across the top of her back, God she'd barely been able to stop herself from undulating towards him, she'd barely been able to hold back the moan. The feel of his hand was still imprinted on her back.

"Hello James," Judy said, turning to her nephew. "How was it today, actually seeing the school that you're going to do your teaching in?" she asked.

"It was a bit odd, Aunt Judy," James replied. "Some of the kids are a bit high strung, too. I met Mr Schuester of course, he's happy to be my mentor for the next six months," he added. "Are you sure you don't mind me staying here with you?" he asked.

"Absolutely," Judy replied with a grin. "I'll enjoy the company. Do you still like to go dancing?" she asked, hoping that the answer would be yes.

"Oh yes, I love it," James replied. "Latin, ballroom, modern, any, all, I love dancing," he twittered, clapping his hands together.

"Fabulous," Judy cried excitedly. "We can go to the country club on Friday and Saturday nights, they hold dances then, you don't mind your old aunt as a partner, do you?" she asked sweetly, fluttering her eyelashes at him.

"My ballroom champion aunt, you mean?" James laughed. "Of course I won't mind, I'd be rather insulted if you took someone else," he added then hugged Judy. "This is going to be great," he sighed.

Quinn left them to it, thankful to be off her mom's radar for a while. Four more days at McKinley for the careers convention then she could go back to New Haven and forget all about him again. Well, not exactly 'again'. More like try to forget about him for once. Like she'd ever managed to get him out of her heart or her mind. Ever.

"Hey baby," Quinn murmured when she entered the nursery. "Have you been a good boy for Grandma?" she asked, leaning over the crib. Quinn loved the beaming smile that lit up her son's face whenever he saw her, when he heard her voice. "Ooh you're getting to be such a big boy," she grinned as she picked him up. "And I bet you're ready to get your diaper changed, right?" she said, carrying him to the changing table. "Guess who mommy saw today," she said as she stripped off her baby's damp diaper. "Your daddy, that's right, I saw your daddy," she smiled. "And your uncle Jake too," she added. "You look so like your daddy, you have his eyes, thank God you don't have his dopey smile," she added as she pulled the little pants back up. "You have his hair though," she sighed. "Who'd have figured his hair actually grew in that stupid mohawk, right? It's probably why he shaved it like that in the first place."

Quinn went down with the baby in her arms. She found her mom and James in the kitchen still. "Bloody hell, now I've actually seen the bloke in the flesh, he's the absolute spit of his dad, isn't he, the poor little bugger?" James burst out. "Never mind sunshine, at least you're healthy," he teased, chucking the baby under the chin.

"I assume that means he looks like Puck?" Quinn asked, hating when her cousin started talking in phrases she just didn't get. James nodded. "Well, he still doesn't know so just keep it to yourself, especially if Jake Puckerman is in any of your classes," she reminded him.

"Who is this Jake exactly?" James asked, he'd met so many kids and teachers through the afternoon that he couldn't keep them straight in his head.

"Jake is Puck's brother," Quinn explained. "Jake Puckerman, Noah Puckerman, Noah's just always gone by Puck," she shrugged.

"I know which one you mean, the one who was talking with Captain Scrumptious when he couldn't keep his eyes off you and did his best to warn me off you, is that right?" James asked, amused beyond measure. Usually he was so camp he didn't worry any man by chatting to his wife or girlfriend, they could usually tell at fifty paces that James was not interested in women. But not today apparently. Maybe it was McKinley High that had wiped off his vibes.

"Yes," Quinn giggled at James' description of Puck. Captain Scrumptious, yes, she could totally go with that. "Do you want to get the door?" she asked James as she sat down to feed her baby, bringing him close to her breast.

"Good afternoon," James said seriously to the four girls and one guy who were stood on the door step. "Could you wait one moment, I'll see if Ms Fabray is taking callers today," he said, his tone very formal, very British, very condescending. Then he burst out giggling. "Sorry, I couldn't resist. Come in, she's in the kitchen," he managed through his giggles.

"Hi," Quinn called as the girls came in first. "Look Oscar, it's Aunty Tana," she said, looking down at her son's face. "He won't be long," she told the group, rolling her eyes at the salacious wink from Santana.

"You just got your boobs out to tease me, didn't you," Santana said to accompany the wink. "This kid doesn't need to eat that, he needs a steak, look at him, look how big he's gotten," she cried, leaning over and smiling at the baby, he smiled back, his tongue still working Quinn's nipple. He grinned for a second or two then snuffled and went back to sucking determinedly.

"I want cuddles when you're done," Rachel demanded.

"Me too," Mercedes and Tina shouted together.

"You can keep them," Kurt called from the other side of the kitchen. "But look at this, look what I brought him," he cried, pulling a creation out of the bag he'd brought in with him. "The ultimate in baby chic," he told James quite seriously. "As long as he doesn't spit up on it," he muttered, stroking his hand over the velvet and tweed outfit.

"Where do you find stuff like this?" Quinn demanded, amazed at the fairly awful outfit. She really did not think that this one would make it into Oscar's wardrobe.

"I make them," Kurt announced and came to sit beside her on the wonderfully cushioned window seat. "I sell them by the thousand at Brooklyn Flea Market," he told Quinn. "It completely funds my life at NYADA," he sniffed, Kurt was actually quite proud of himself.

"Congratulations," Quinn cried, sitting Oscar up and patting his back for a while. Rachel fell for the little boy all over again when he burped daintily then gave her the most beautiful smile. "You're really a designer," she praised Kurt, Kurt preened.

"Oh can I hold him?" Rachel begged, reaching out for the baby. "I'm surprised, I thought Noah would have been here, I thought as soon as you te...you didn't tell him, did you?" she accused. She knew, the second she saw Quinn's face, she knew she'd chickened out of telling Puck that he was a daddy.

"Well, it's not my fault," Quinn claimed, her cry bringing looks of disbelief from everyone in the kitchen. "It's not," she insisted. "I walked up to him, I started talking to him and I got distracted," her voice had set off loud enough, normal, but it had faded to a mumble for the last few words though.

"Distracted?" Mercedes cried. "How old are you?" she demanded.

"Twenty," Quinn murmured with a pout when it seemed like everyone was waiting for her reply.

"That's right, twenty years old," Mercedes confirmed, "and don't you think that you and Puck have spent enough years dancing around each other to be truthful now? Don't you think he deserves to know? Because I do," she insisted.

"You're right. You are," Quinn agreed, pacing up and down the kitchen with her hands in her hair. "I should call him, ask him to come over, shouldn't I?" she asked, biting her lip. "I can't, I don't have his number," she realised and felt a surge of relief sweep through her.

"I do," Santana, Mercedes and Rachel all answered together.

"Me too," Kurt, Tina and Judy added.

"Mo-om," Quinn cried. "How did you get his number? When? Why? Why would you even have his number?" she demanded.

"Oh like I didn't know who the daddy was before you even told me," Judy exclaimed, exasperated with her daughter's procrastinating. "I asked for and got his number from...a very reliable source, when you first told me you were pregnant," she explained nervously.

"Who?" Quinn demanded, a cross, angry look on her face. "Mom, who gave you the number?" she asked quietly.

"Monica," Judy whispered, looking away from her daughter with shame in her eyes.

"You got his number from his mom?" Quinn cried. "Why?" she asked loudly. "Did you tell her?" she demanded.

"I might have," Judy mumbled. "Well I didn't know you'd wait this long to tell him, did I?" she cried, defending herself. "I thought you'd have told him before Oscar was born," she explained.

"And I would have except every time I called his number it was answered by a girl," Quinn shouted. "So I deleted it. He's just the same, he won't ever change he'll always be that sleazy, sex mad, scumbag with his eye on the next pretty girl to cross his path," she pouted. Quinn took a deep breath and wiped her hand over her face. "I'm sorry mom," she apologised. "I think it's my own guilt that's making me blame others for my own failings. I apologise," she said quietly. "I'll tell him. I will. Tomorrow, I promise."

"Hey," Puck said quietly as he finally found his brother hiding out in the auditorium the next day. "I've been looking for you," he told him. "I was thinking about what you said yesterday. I mean, I know you cheated on Marley and you figured it was justified because she won't sleep with you and you feel that your physical needs are more important than her right to choose when and where she takes that huge step, right?" he said, checking if Jake was picking up on the inference of his words. "But can you honestly, hand on heart, say you think that your needs should come before her beliefs?" he asked, taking a seat at the piano.

Jake didn't speak, he couldn't speak. Slowly he shook his head. He still felt like crying if the mood was right. Not that he'd admit that to anyone, certainly not to Puck. Maybe to Marley, he could admit it to Marley. He could tell Marley anything, everything. He could tell her his hopes and dreams of becoming a dancer, talk to her about the years and years he'd spent doing ballet, jazz, tap, he wouldn't even think of telling most people that his most favourite role was Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake, of telling them that he loved dancing all the classics but he loved Siegfried most of all.

"See, I know, if I'd been a better person, I maybe wouldn't have lost Quinn, maybe she would have given us the chance to raise Beth ourselves," Puck sighed. He still wondered. It kept him awake some nights, wondering how things might have been if only he'd played things differently. "I picked out a song for you to sing to Marley, help you apologise for being a complete and utter dick," he informed the pouting teen. "Listen," he suggested and turned on the piano stool to face the keys. Gently, Puck started playing.

"Hey,
Show me one man that's never made
Mistakes
And I'll pay
All of my time and every dime
I've made
But today
The best of intentions
I lay at your feet
And I need you to see past
The worst part of me

Tired of taking my aim
When I keep on missing
There's gotta be a better way
Gotta be a better way
When every little word I say
Keeps getting twisted
Or coming out wrong
So baby hold on
I'm trying to hit the mark
But I'm shooting with broken arrows
It's like I'm shooting with broken
Arrows

No
I may not be a saint
But I've got a heart of gold, yeah
And like a telephone
Connection ain't clear
But I hope you hear my soul
You gotta know

Yeah, the best of intentions
I lay at your feet
And I need you to see past
The worst part of me

And I'm tired of taking my aim
When I keep on missing
There's gotta be a better way
There's gotta be a better way
Seems like every little word I say
Keeps getting twisted
Or coming out wrong
So baby hold on
I'm trying to hit the mark
But I'm shooting with broken arrows
It's like I'm shooting with broken
Arrows
It's like I'm shooting with broken
Arrows, yeah
It's like I'm shooting with broken
Arrows
Broken arrows

I'm drawing it back now
And the target is you
And I don't know what else I can do

Tired of taking my aim
When I keep on missing
There's gotta be a better way
There's gotta be a better way
Seems like every little word I say
Keeps getting twisted
Or coming out wrong
So baby hold on
I'm trying to hit the mark
But I'm shooting with broken arrows
It's like I'm shooting with broken
Arrows, yeah
It's like I'm shooting with broken
Arrows, yeah
It's like I'm shooting with broken
Arrows
Broken arrows"

Puck turned at the sound of a muffled sob behind him. He'd been so lost in the music, lost in the song, he was vaguely aware that Jake had joined in with the harmonies, it totally didn't surprise Puck that Jake knew the song, he was as big a Daughtry fan as Puck was. Puck caught a glimpse of Quinn hurrying through the backstage area heading towards the exit.

"Go," Jake urged. "Go make sure she's ok," he advised Puck.

Puck leapt up and ran. "Quinn," he called, hoping that if she didn't stop then maybe someone would stop her when they knew he wanted her. No such luck.

Quinn sat down when she reached the top of the bleachers, trying to catch her breath. "Crap, how out of shape am I?" she asked herself as she shook slightly, totally unused to the exercise.

"I don't know," Puck's voice behind her startled her. "I thought you were quite sprightly for a twenty year old ex cheerleader," he teased.

"How the hell did you get up here before me?" Quinn demanded.

"I climbed," Puck answered with a shrug. "It's a military thing, if there's an obstacle in front of you, climb over it or get under it, don't waste time going round it. And I'm the assault course champ at Hanscom," he added with pride. Puck turned and looked over the edge to the ground below. "Piece of cake," he smiled and shrugged again. "So, you want to tell me how I managed to piss you off this time?" he asked, taking a seat beside her.

"That song, it was just beautiful and I'm still a little hor..." Quinn stopped talking abruptly.

"I wouldn't say that," Puck grinned and nudged her with his shoulder. "A little slutty now and again, but only in a good way. Quinn, you are definitely not a whore," he corrected. "Me either, not any more," he announced proudly. "I don't sleep around all the time, I don't have a few girls in tow, if I spend time with a girl it's just her, not her friends too. I still keep it casual though, I don't usually do second dates but if they don't put out on the first date I don't go getting all upset about it, I just accept it," he said. "Who'da thought, huh? Noah Puckerman, all grown up, right?" he mocked himself. "What about you? You and the English Patient?" he asked.

"James is my cousin," Quinn corrected Puck's assumption with an embarrassed laugh. "And he thinks you're gorgeous by the way," she added, further dispelling any idea that James was in any way interested in her. Or any woman. Puck waited, he knew that there must be more revelations to come, no way was the song that emotion provoking, as nice as it was. "And there's something you should know," she sighed, her heart almost beating out of her chest. "I ah...I..." she stopped and took a deep breath. Quinn tried to start again. "Puck I have to...there's something I have to tell you," she eventually managed.

"Go on," Puck encouraged, he could feel the excitement bubbling up inside him. The dick was her cousin. Her cousin. Her fucking cousin. Halleluja, yes thank you there is a God. Puck couldn't help the glimmer of a grin showing on his face. "You can tell me anything, you know that," he said, watching the emotions play across her face.

"Well, you remember last year?" she asked then rolled her eyes at herself. "Great start, Quinn," she whispered to herself. "Last year at Mr Schue's wedding?" she added, being more specific. "The Valentine's one?" she clarified even more. Puck nodded. Of course he remembered, it was the last time they'd slept together. "Well," she began again nervously then stopped and gulped. "You remember how we snuck into the bridal suite?" she asked, she was almost hyperventilating. Again Puck nodded, he was feeling nervous now too, his heart was beating like mad. "I erm, I, Puck I have something to tell you..."