Rachel Berry frowned; it had been a very strange week. Finn had actually quit Glee for football, Noah Puckerman had quit football, and Quinn Fabray had been taken off the Cheerios. She looked towards the football field, and saw Noah on the benches. Their relationship had definitely changed over the past week; instead of a slushie to the face, he had finally stopped the reign of terror on her. He looked so down, and before she knew it she was sitting next to him on the bleachers. "Do you miss it?" she questioned.
Instead of the direct hell no she expected from him, he replied, "Yeah...I'll miss it," he said, turning to look up at her. "I...I know I only started being nice to you because I wanted in your pants," he couldn't believe he was being this honest with her; it wasn't how he worked, "but after this week of hanging out with you....I...I think its what I have been looking for," he reached out for hand, and she took it. "I know...you still have some feelings for Finn, but-," she shook her head.
"After...after what he pulled for almost throwing a slushie on Kurt..I have lost respect for him," she said, squeezing his hand. "And...I know I am not as pretty as Quinn..."
"That's not true," he whispered, "there....there is another reason why I look at her," he said, and he let go of her hand. They were all being honest with each other, "I...I'll understand if you want to leave after you hear this...its just been trying at me for a while," she just nodded her head, and felt that this was a really tense subject. "Quinn...we kinda had a one night stand. That...that baby inside of her isn't Finn's," he expected Rachel to perform one of her natural storm outs. He swallowed the lump in his throat, "I..I tried to tell her that I would be there for the baby, but she is dead set on making sure that the baby is to be Finn's; she didn't want the baby to have a Lima Loser as a father...."
"You aren't a Lima Loser," Rachel assured him, "and as....shocked as I am to hear, I am still willing," she assured him. Before she knew it, his arms around her. Her arms went around his much bigger body, and she suddenly felt sure that she was making the right decision. He never knew that Rachel could be this understanding about something like this.
"Thanks," he said, pulling away slightly. He kept his arm around her, and saw Coach Tanaka getting at the people who actually showed up. He winced as he saw Finn there, and decided that now wasn't the time to watch him. "You wanna get out of here?" he questioned, and she nodded her head. He looked down at his watch and grimaced. He forgot all about picking up his little sister; the one important thing he promised his mom that he would do. "Shit," he murmured to himself.
"What?" Rachel questioned, as they continued to walk from the football field.
"Forgot about picking up my sister," he murmured guiltily. He wiped the guilty look on his face, and tried to retain his Puck cool. "Well..."
"I can come and be your alibi," she said confidently.
"You sure?" he asked, suddenly shocked. Not a one of his previous "girlfriends" ever wanted to meet his family.
"Yeah...I don't mind at all," he shook his head; he must be dreaming. Who knew Rachel could be this kind? He only seemed to notice the cool confident Rachel that was a star; not this new Rachel that had appeared. Before Rachel could open up the passenger door, he went over to her side, and opened it for her. She could see the appeal that the girls and cougars had of him. If they were going to continue this, she thought to herself, he needed to stop sleeping with the cougars. "Noah..." she whispered softly, "you...you aren't going to be doing those things for the Cougars anymore are you?" she couldn't stand that thought. She wanted something, and she knew that something wasn't coming from Finn. He made that decision when he didn't stick with Glee; or when he used her all those times to get her on his good side again. Puck saw the worried look in her eyes, and reluctantly placed his hand on hers.
"I am not going to do that anymore..." he whispered. She smiled brightly, and decided to break the tension like he had done this whole week.
"You wanna make out?" she asked, and that brought a smile on his face. He pressed a kiss on her lips, but pulled away.
"I gotta pick up my sister," he reminded her, "but we can make out later," he said with a wink. It was strange, she normally didn't fall for antics like the ones Puck pulled on people, but she felt like he had changed for the better. He hopped into the front seat, and turned the ignition. Before peeling out of the parking lot, he looked at her, "You...you sure you want to do this?" he asked. She nodded her head, and he pulled the car into reverse. "Why are you being so understanding about this?" he asked, running a hand through his streak of hair. "Most girls wouldn't even stick around at the mention of responsibility never mind taking care of a kid sister,"
"I understand...and I'm ok with it," she said.
"Thanks Rache..." he murmured. "I really wish I had gotten to know you before I decided that throwing slushies at you," he admitted aloud.
"Can't change the past..." she told him.
"But I can make sure that no one else does that to you again," he said darkly.
"You can't beat every person that does that..." she sighed. He just grunted in response, and continued to drive. "I'm sorry," she murmured, looking away from his face.
"For what?" he asked, softening the tone of his voice.
"For making you feel you had to choose between Glee and football," she said. When he got into a stop light, he looked at her. "As much as I love Glee...I know some people don't really want to be a part of it," He shook his head, and planted a kiss on her lips, effectively shutting her up. "Ok..." she said to him, and he gave her a cocky grin. When they arrived at the elementary school, Puck groaned. It was some sort of open house type thing today. Rachel saw the signs and just nodded her head, "Its ok...I can wait," she said, reaching into her purse to pull out some sheet music. Puck shook his head; there was no way he was going to leave her in the car. He reached behind them, and pulled out his football jacket.
He opened his door, and went to the passenger side, "Come on," he said, offering her the jacket, "Its cold outside," She walked out of the big truck, and he helped loop her arms through it. He grinned lightly seeing her in his jacket. She took a light hold of his hand as they walked into the elementary school.
"Thanks..." she murmured. "You sure that your sister is going to be ok with this?"
"I hope so," he said lightly, "Granted I haven't brought a girl home before...just expect a little awkwardness at first," he murmured. He took a deep breath as he got in front of his sister's class. There were plenty of people there with their kids, and from the looks of it, this was a second grade class. Puck's eyes scanned for his little sister, and they started walking over to her. "Hey Alex," he said, letting go of Rachel's hand. "I know Mom promised to be here...but she got-,"
"I know," she said, pushing her glasses up. "I understand," her eyes went over to Rachel, and she gave Puck a questioning look, "Who's this?" she asked.
"This..." he was never one for labels, but for Rachel's sake said, "is my girlfriend Rachel,"
"Hi," Rachel said, reaching out to take her hand, "Its nice to meet you,"
"You too," she murmured reluctantly back, briefly shaking her hand. Ever since their dad left, Puck had to play Daddy to his little sister. He had a job, he showed up to most of her of school functions, but never had the drive to do something for himself that wasn't short term. Alex knew that he was stressed out lately, but there was something different about him. He seemed happier, and more at ease. "We really don't have to stay here," she said to him.
"Alex..." he said in a serious voice, "you know Mom wanted me to stay and talk with your teacher,"
"I know..." she sighed.
Rachel pulled Puck aside, "What time is your Mom getting back?" He shrugged his shoulders, and she frowned. "Well..I'm going to tell my Dads that I am going over your place tonight, and I'll make you guys some food,"
"You sure?" he asked.
"Yeah...that way your Mom gets food when she gets home," Rachel said, "go ahead and go with your sister. Get your things done," he pecked her lips, and pulled away. Rachel walked over to one of the benches in the area and pulled out the sheet music for Glee. When she looked up for a moment, she saw one of Puck's rare smiles on his face before him and his sister entered the classroom. He looked good smiling. Maybe the two of them could work as a couple.
Before she knew it, they were out of the meeting. She put away her sheet music, and readjusted the big jacket on herself. She liked feeling warm like this; it was definitely better than the sweaters she normally had on. "Wasn't that painful was it?" Puck asked his little sister, as he felt his hand working its way over to Rachel's.
"No..." she groused. "I just wish Mom was here every once in a while,"
"I know..." he murmured to her. "Since its Friday, you can stay up and wait for Mommy to get home ok?" that made her seem happier, and she had more of a bounce to her step. "So...what do you want to eat for dinner?" he asked, as they started to make their way to his truck.
"I don't know..." she said, "my friends have dinner with their families...I wish we could just have a family dinner..." she pouted, and Rachel thought of an idea.
"Well...if its ok with your brother, you guys can come over to my house...Me and my Dads love to cook," she offered to them. Alex had a grin lit up on her face, and she turned excitedly to Puck.
"Can we please go?" she asked, hopping up and down. "Please Noah?" she asked.
"Alright," he groused, "you sure your Dads are going to be ok with this?" he asked, as he helped his sister up inside the truck.
"Of course it will be alright with them," she said to him, "you know where I live?" she asked, as he also helped her up into the truck. He nodded his head; he had helped a lot of people egg her house back at which would have been only a few weeks ago. Puck was starting to feel bad for all the wrong he had done to her and all the other members of Glee club. Maybe over time he could make it up to them over time.
"Noah..." Rachel murmured, gently placing her hand on his shoulder. "You ok?" she questioned. He nodded his head, and turned on his car. He looked over towards her, and let a smile grace his features. He hoped his mom found that alright; it was definitely not the norm for him.
"Yeah...I'm ok," he said, "just thinking about stuff,"
"What kinda stuff?" Alex questioned, bouncing in the seat lightly.
"Are you buckled up?" he asked sternly, and she nodded her head. He lightened the tone of his voice, "I don't know....adult stuffs,"
"Mommy said that you was just a teenager and not an adult yet," she said in a completely innocent voice. Puck just shook his head, letting his little sister live in ignorant bliss. She was still a kid, and doesn't even remember the father that left them so many years ago. He did though; it still hurt really bad to keep the memories. If his sister wasn't right next to her, Rachel would have taken Puck's hand as he drove.
"And Mommy also says that without me, life would be so much harder," he pointed out, making her quiet down. Rachel pulled out her cell phone, and texted one of her dads to let them know that they would be expecting company, and to make some extra. She then realized that she didn't have her car. He stopped at the school and headed towards the parking lot. Apparently he was thinking further ahead than she was. "You are sure-,"
"Yes I am sure..." she said to him. "I'll see you guys in a couple minutes. She hopped out of the truck, and thought that Puck would have driven off, but he stayed. He wanted to make sure that she got to her are alright. As she walked towards her car, she saw that Finn had gotten out of football practice. She was hoping that he would just ignore her. She was still very furious with the boy who she used to have the biggest crush on.
"Rachel?" Finn questioned, heading towards her. She hurried her pace, and got her keys out to unlock her car. "Rachel wait up!" he called out. She shook her head angrily, and unlocked her car door. Puck saw her face, and realized that something was up.
"Alex...do you want to drive with Rachel?" he asked, giving himself a good enough alibi to have him step in and interrupt Finn. She nodded her head, and they got out of the truck.
"I know you are mad still, but I have some news..." he started.
"Rachel!" Puck called with something else in his hand. She gave a sigh of relief as Alex and her big brother approached them. "You forgot your sheet music!" Finn looked at his best friend and the girl he had some feelings for. "And Alex wanted to ride with you," he motioned to his little sister.
"Sure hop on in kiddo," she said as she unlocked the passenger door. Alex waved at Finn before going towards the seat. "Finn we are kinda busy tonight, so we got to go. Noah...I'll meet you at my place ok?" she questioned before taking the sheet music from him, and placing a kiss on his lips. He grinned into the kiss, and stroked her hair before pulling away. Rachel mouthed thank you to Puck, and backed out and headed towards the house.
"What the hell is going on?" Finn asked, storming over towards his friend.
"Me and Alex are going over to Rachel's for dinner," he said through clenched teeth.
"That isn't what I meant and you know it," he growled, "you know that Rachel is off limits for your sexcapades," he was breathing heavily.
"Are you kidding me? You know..." all the pent up cool that Puck had set up for himself shattered at this point. Instead of being happy that he actually had a relationship, Finn was yelling at him. "You are supposed to be my best friend, and even you think that I am lower than the damn ground," he got in Finn's face, "I am not a loser," he groused, "and I will treat Rachel right," he ended with that, and went back to his truck. He gunned it away from the school and towards the Berry's place. He shook his head, and tried to calm down so he wouldn't be in a horrible mood when he got there. When he got there, Rachel was waiting outside waiting for him. "What's Alex-,"
"She is doing her homework in the house," she assured him. "Just wanted to shake off what happened in the parking lot," she said to him. After seeing the look in his eyes, she hopped up from her seat. She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Whatever he said is bull," she assured him, and felt his hands lay on top of her waist.
"He thinks I am just going to use you and then throw you out," he told her. "You know I am not going to do that right?" he questioned. Rachel nodded her head, and buried her body against his. "Thanks Rache," he murmured. He grinned at her, and pulled away lightly. "I'm sorry, don't mean to be down...so lets go inside," he said. She nodded her head, and hoped that her dads won't make a scene.
Alright going out on a limb here to see how I do with this particular fandom. Hopefully you guys enjoyed the first chapter. As a warning right now, my new job is demanding so I may be only updating a few times a week (maybe) anyways, let me know what y'all think.