This is set after they've finished high school and Quinn didn't get pregnant until afterwards. I would really just like to know what you guys think, and maybe tell me if you think this story is worth continuing! Anyway, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee blah blah blah

The moment Beth was born is the thing he thinks about every night before he falls asleep. The way she cried, the way she fit perfectly into Quinn's arms. The smile that they shared. He thinks about it so he'll dream about it. That he'll see his little girl every night, but only in his dreams.

He can't bear to say good-bye to them. He was promised a few extra weeks after Beth's third birthday, but they needed someone and always that someone would be him. He's too good. He can remember Quinn one night after they put Beth to sleep, exhausted and tired saying, "Baby, you're too good. They're going to take you away from us you do know that, right? I may be selfish, but I need you." And she rolled away from him, not speaking another word to him until the next morning. It was the first time Quinn spoke her mind about the idea and it was the last.

So now it's two years since she said that comment, and he's been away from them for almost a year. Every time his leave comes, something goes wrong and he gets called back in again. They've promoted him to be an Army Ranger. Something he did not want, but something he was made to do. It meant the frontline, and it almost certainly meant he might not be coming home. He didn't receive a letter from her after he told her that he would be overseas some more, for over a month. He called, but she never picked up. He called Rachel and she told him that she was all right; she just needed some time to recover. She did have herself and Beth to look after.

He rolls onto his side so he can grab a photo from his wallet, grinning at the picture. It's Quinn and Beth in the backyard, playing with the hose. Quinn's drenched to the bone, Beth giggling as she pours the water over her mother's head. It's been a year, a year since he's touched both of them. It's been a year since they made love. It's been a year since they've held each other. He hears the helicopter in the distance and sits up, hoping and praying that it might be the mail. Perry walks in, grinning ear to ear as he throws a letter to him and Puck catches it skillfully, not even bothering to look at the sender before opening it.

He can smell her when he pulls the letter out and a photo drops out. He picks it up, turning it over. Beth's hair has grown to her shoulders in brown ringlets, her eyes, the same shade of green that Quinn has, sparkles as she stares at the camera. Quinn has her on her hip, her arms that have gotten thinner wrapped around her protectively. Puck can see the toll of him being over here has on her. She's cut her hair short, it's messy and she really isn't smiling. He knows it too well. It's that smile she would use whenever she would take him over to her parents to have dinner. It's the smile that shows them that she's fine, she's happy when she really isn't. He sighs and sits up in his bunk, grabbing his torch to read the letter.

Noah,

He's startled. The handwriting isn't Quinn's and she never titles it with Noah.

It's Rachel. Quinn's lying in bed as I write. She hasn't been feeling too well, so she's asked me to write for her. The picture of Beth and her is at the park, just yesterday. I brought Tyler along too and I think we may have a match made in heaven! Obviously Quinn didn't write that, but I really think that our children should get married one day, Noah! They' d be cute and maybe we can all go to Temple together! Anyway, Quinn wants me to tell you that she's finally unpacked the last box and found a stash of your Playboys. She plans to burn them sometime soon. There hasn't been much going on... Beth demands coco pops every time at breakfast, thanks to you. You really didn't need to tell her that you had been eating them all your life and they are the best thing in this world. Quinn is also wondering when you'll have access to go on Skype, because Beth keeps calling for you during the night and clutches to your picture. Also, can you tell Finn to get on Skype too? He hasn't been very lively lately and I'm ready to give him a smack. Also, Puck just wondering when are you coming home? I know Quinn won't read over this because I'll send it before she can see, but Puck, Quinn's been really distant lately. She doesn't leave the house very often, only to buy groceries and whenever Finn comes home and you don't, we don't see her for days. I know this is probably out of line, but you decided to make a family with her and then all this happened. You need to come home. It's been too long.

Lots of love,

Q & R

Xx

Puck looks over at Finn's bunk, watching him grin as he reads his letter. Puck hangs his head as he thinks. Family or this. He loves it though. He loves the adrenaline rushes. He loves being in control, he loves being the squad leader, but he hates leaving. He hates being lonely. But what's he going to do? He would choose Family over everything, but these guys are his family now. He has no qualifications; he has nothing to fall back on when he goes back to Lima.

Before he can even grab his pen to write a reply there's an explosion in the background, shaking the tent and sirens go off. He kisses the picture of Beth and Quinn, sticking it in his helmet and suits up with the rest of the boys.

Quinn lies in bed; her back aching as Beth climbs in, snuggling up underneath her chin. She wraps her arm around her, kissing her head as she reaches over to grab the remote.

"What do you feel like watching, Bee?" She whispers, tickling her stomach. Beth's giggles fill the air and she can't help but feel a little better.

"Wiggles!" She whispers excitedly.

"I'll try find them." Quinn murmurs, flicking through the channels and pauses when she sees a report on the news about the soldiers over in Afghanistan. She turns up the volume, sitting up as she watches the report.

"Breaking news on CNN. Taliban forces attacked green zone base camp, Tango, last night, leaving the American and British forces defenseless. It is unknown how this happened and it is unknown how many have been killed during the fight. All we know is that it's ongoing. We'll update in an hour."

She sat, horrified as pictures of the fighting filled the screen. Beth had been tugging at her shirt, trying to get attention as she watched. When she finally looked down at her, saw the spitting image of Puck in her face, she started to cry.

"What's wrong, mommy?" Quinn shook her head, wiping the tears and reached over to grab her phone.

"Baby, go get changed for me, okay? We're going to Aunty Rachies." Quinn said in a broken voice and Beth nodded, sensing her Mum's mood and hurried off to her room. She watched her go, hiding the sob that came out of her mouth until she left the room. She knew she would be back soon to help her get changed so she slid off the bed, groaning at the pain shooting through her back and stomach. She ignored it and before she could call Rachel, her phone was ringing.

"Rachel." She whispered.

"Did you?"

"Yeah. Can we come over?"

"Yeah. Perry's wife is coming too."

"Okay." She whispered and hung up.

Beth picked out one of Puck's dresses that he had bought for her. He bought it when she was only one and he was smitten. They couldn't afford it, so he worked his butt off and he got it for her in the future and she wore it everywhere. He hadn't seen her wear it yet and Beth used to wear it everyday in hope that Puck would come home that day, but never did. She stopped wearing it soon after Quinn stopped staying up on the couch at night, just hoping she would get a call. Quinn dressed in a pair of shorts and one of Puck's shirts, helping Beth into her dress and drove over to Rachel's.

Their house was modest; it was Burt and Carole's old house that they left to Kurt and Finn. Kurt moved to New York and said the house was Finn's, so they made their life there. They had a beautiful baby boy, Tyler, and he had Finn's nose and Rachel's lips. He looked like Finn's father, mostly.

Quinn kept her emotions in check for Beth, but she knew that Beth could tell something was wrong. She left her to stay with Tyler in his room and sat with the wives. Rachel was watching the news report, pausing to see if she could see any of their husbands. Yvonne, Perry's wife and Rachel's boss brought out some wine as she sat with Quinn and poured both of them a glass. All of their phones were placed in the middle of the table, all of them watching them just in case.

Puck's chest heaved as he pulled Finn across the dirt. He had been shot, but he didn't know where. He needed to get him out of the fire so he could assess the damage. When he finally managed to find a dumpster to hide behind, he sat Finn up and slapped him. He groaned.

"Stay awake, idiot."

"Fuck." He groaned in response. He gripped Finn and searched for the bullet, letting out a sigh when he found it in his body armour.

"I've never been so fucking happy to wear this stupid thing." Finn breathed out and Puck chuckled.

"Not so stupid anymore now, huh?" Finn nodded and Puck hit his helmet, a sign of brotherly love and looked around the dumpster, hoping not to find a gun pointing down at him. He saw the boys down a little way, up against the cars and shooting. He grabbed Finn.

"Come on." They raced across, getting behind and started firing back. Puck was never satisfied when he saw his bullet fly across and hit his target, but he knew it was for good. These men wanted to kill him and his family. They wanted to spread pain and horror to the American people and he had to stop that. He was fighting for his country and he was doing them proud.

Quinn's pain in her stomach started to grow until she had to grip the table for support. Rachel, being the closer observer that she is questioned her, but Quinn just dismissed her, telling her it was cramps. It was weird though. She had just finished her period, well she thought she had and at strange moments, she would bleed. She didn't think anything of it at first, thinking that her period was just being temperamental since it was for a bit after Beth was born, but it hurt every time it came. Not the usual cramps. She dismissed it and got up to grab a cup of water, but before she could everything went black.

It was two days after the attack and there were cameras everywhere, telling Puck that obviously the girls at home knew what had happened but they needed to know if they were okay. Being an important rank he was allowed to use the satellite, calling Quinn's cell. On the second ring she picked up, letting out a sigh of relief.

"Baby." He breathed into the phone.

"Noah?" It was Rachel. He frowned.

"Rachel? Where's Quinn?"

"Are you okay? Is Finn okay?"

"Yeah, Finn's fine. Just bruises, Perry too. Where's Quinn? Can you put her on?"

"Noah, I need to tell you something." Rachel interrupted him, her voice broken and quiet.

"What is it?"

"Quinn's got cancer."

Reviews are always welcome! :)