ii.

Oh, the branches of every tree
bend like a cathedral over me ...

Christmas comes rolling over - the snows are starting to thicken the roads and Puck doesn't know if he should be more sad. They're in class and Puck makes it a priority not to listen to whatever Mrs Henderson's saying and it seems that Finn doesn't either. Dude keeps hitting his sneakers against the metal that holds up the table like it's his life job to annoy Puck. It probably is.

Ding! Puck hisses at Finn who now can ties up all of his hair back because it's so damn long (Puck secretly thinks he's like a pale horse when ties his hair up, but he doesn't voice it out ... yet) and Finn totally ignores him and does it agains. Ding!

So Puck throws the eraser he stole from weird smelly ol' Jacob Ben Israel to Finn's head and hisses again, "Dude. Can you stop!?"

Finn blinks dumbly and glances at the floor because the eraser literally bounces off of his head and hits the floor and Finn must think the eraser causes a fortune or something because now he's just searching for it, "I'm bored," he tells lamely, huffs out and gives up searching.

Ben Israel must have saw that event played out because now he looks like he wants to cry and flood the whole school with his ugly tears. Puck smugly smiles.

Finn taps the pen Carole bought for him when they went Christmas shopping last Saturday (yeah, Finn told stupid stories like that) against a paper on his mostly-doodle book (that was supposed to be a notebook for Mrs Henderson's class) and asks, "Wanna see the new horror movie after Christmas? My mom said she'd pay for it."

Puck considers this, and shrugs. "I don't know." He notes down a sentence from Mrs Henderson's whatever-speech because Mrs Henderson is kinda old and really paranoid and she might hate Puck and always accuses Puck for world-hunger and thus, always makes sure to check Puck's book by the end of class. It''s really annoying. "Man, Christmas gonna sucks egg."

"What do you mean?" Finn perks up, looking at his best friend. "Christmas is the best. I think my mom might even buy me a real drum-set this year."

Good for him, Puck bitterly thinks. He grumbles to himself and sinks deeper in his seat, "Dad doesn't like Christmas-slash-Hanukkah as much, because Ma always invite Nana Connie to our house which makes sense because the old woman is practically all alone during the festive days and Nana is Ma's mother, and Dad - well, he loathes Nana with every fiber of his being. He just can't learn to tolerate her, you know! Things are always hell during Christmas."

Puck's just really frustrated as he plays out last Hanukkah in his head. Dad ends up slamming more than one doors, Ma cried for the rest of the night and Puck was left to entertain Nana while she watched some sitcom from a dinasour era which Puck was hundred percent sure Nana lived her most life at.

Finn now looks fluster and lost - like he doesn't believe he doesn't know that one part of Puck's life - and scrambles out to repeatedly apologizes. Puck waves his hand off because he doesn't need Finn's pity and says, "I'll survive. So, what's with the movie?"

"Uh yeah - so would you like to, uh, come along? If you're not like, busy or anything."

"I'll ask Ma. She doesn't really like when I play out during the holidays you know. Something about family-bonding or stupid stuff like that."

Finn nods, playing with his new pen. "Yeah, I understand."

"I'll call you up, don't worry, if she gives the green light or anything." Puck notes down another sentence he listens from Mrs Henderson once he realizes the old woman's now eyeing him. "You said Carole's cousin's gonna visit?"

Finn's eyes literally lites up. "Yeah. Mom's cousin - Janice - and her husband is coming to visit, and I might think she would bring along her sister, Bree. Mom says Janice's husband, Arnold, works as a video-game programmer or designer or somewhere along those two. Mom says he might show me a few tricks and stuff, you know. It's gonna be cool."

Finn and him doesn't own a video-game set yet, but they're going to. None of them really have the money to buy anything, let alone a video-game set - so Finn suggests they might open a lemonade business when Summer comes along. Puck honestly couldn't wait.

Finn then looks gingerly at Puck with his half-smile that shows a dimple on only one side of his face and says, "I think I wanna grow up and be just like Arnold. That's a good job, right? I mean, m'sure lots of kids like to play video games. I'll be rich."

Puck snorts at everything, "When you're rich - I'll wear a golden underwear. I freakin' swear."

Finn looks triumph. "That's a deal."

Mrs Henderson hushes at them and Puck nearly jumps three feet back when he realizes that the old woman is literally in front of them and Finn just looks like the cops just caught him robbed a bank or something. Ridiculous! is what Mrs Henderson exclaims when she goes through Finn's book. Apparently, dude's been sketching more of The Hulk than writing out the notes on the board and Mrs Henderson is offended at her best. Puck gets away scot-free because he actually writes something (which surprises Mrs Henderson more than it should) and Finn frowns like the world is about to come to its end when he gets detention and Puck doesn't.

And because Ben Israel almost always gets detention too every damn time, Puck claps Finn's back and barks out, "Good luck, Hudson!" which makes Finn frowns until fifth period.

Puck couldn't be any happier.

.

Hanukkah went better than Puck thought.

Ma and Dad made a pact that Dad could 'go away' for a few days during Nana Connie's stay and be back after Nana return home from wherever it is she really came from. Puck admits that he's going to miss Dad for the few days, but Ma isn't crying and Dad isn't screaming and that's always good. Puck can live with that. In fact, right before Dad left, he even patted Puck's shoulder very, very nicely and smiles warmly like for the first time since forever and Puck feels really good. "Puck," Dad says his name and Puck smiles wider.

"Before I go, I think you might want to see my gift for you."

The last time Dad bought him a present for Hanukkah must be before Puck existed, which meant, never and so you can't really blame Puck for being overly excited. Puck watches Dad retreat his form to the closet and pulls out a six-string, beaten-down, second-hand guitar.

Guitar.

Puck's eyes almost bulges out from its place. He literally jumps on the ball of his feet when Dad comes closer. Dad just chuckles. "You like it, kiddo?"

"I love it!"

"Good." Dad says, and ruffles Puck's curly hair. " 'Cause I bought it just for you. Now I want you to promise you'd never, ever leave this out of your side. Take care of it, 'cause it's gon' end up bein' your best companion along this road of hell we called life."

"Of course!" Puck promises like a soldier, which earns him another one of Dad's rarest, purest smiles. "I'll never leave it out of my side, Dad. I'll take care of it. Forever!"

Dad chuckles some more and actually bends down to kiss Puck's temple. Puck just smiles at Dad when he lets Puck cradles the guitar. Dad left a few hours before Nana Connie arrives. Puck's glad there's no sneering and snarling and cat-fighting. He thinks all of his mind, body and soul combined could not take another one of Dad and Nana Connie's World War episode. What's very surprising, though, is that thirty minutes before dinner, someone rings the bell.

"Ma, who is it?" Puck asks from the couch, still fumbling with the guitar. It really is big for him. Puck wonders until what age that he can play it properly.

Ma skips to the door, "Oh, I just invited the Berrys over - since you know, your Dad isn't here and all. Don't you think it's good, honey - you can have a friend to talk to."

Puck now is just confused, "A friend?"

"Rachel?" Ma slightly frowns.

"Oh. She and I are not friends." Puck dismisses Ma, scoffing.

"Noah Elijah Puckerman, if I hear you say that one more time -"

"Fine, fine, Ma!" Puck's now practically yelling out. Man, you do not want to get on her nerve when she's all happy. "Rachel and I are best friends."

"That's much better," Ma seems satisfied - ain't she the most devil of all, Puck thinks - and opens the door. Puck peers from the couch as the Berry Parents stand by the door, beaming with their tooth all lined up. Young Berry slightly in front, in between the two of them - in her hand is -

Puck jumps from the couch, "Muffins!"

Snatching onto the basket, Puck bites down on one of the freshly baked muffins. Well, he assumes it's freshly baked from the feel of it. It's still all nice and warm and - SPAT!

Puck turns around to see Nana Connie's glaring down at him, "Rude."

Puck glares back at Nana Connie because you can't just go around spatting someone at the back of their head!

Ma just rolls her eyes in and bites her tongue and turns to the Berrys, "I'm sorry. This is my mother, Connie." Ma eyes him very hard - the stare that tells him he's probably going to be sent into his room and be punished until he's thirty or something. "Noah. Don't you have anything to say?"

I blink back at the Berrys, and take another bite of the muffin. The Berrys look at me with big smiles on their faces. "This is somethin' good, Mr and Mr Berry."

This time, it's Ma who spats him in the head. He yelps helplessly. "Apologize, Noah. I meant, apologize!"

Puck just grumbles out and swallows his muffin. One of the Berry Parents laugh, rests a hand on Ma's forearm, "Oh, it's quite alright Deborah. It feels good to know our muffins are well appreciated. And Connie, we've heard so much about you. I think we all must agree we now know the source of Deborah's absolute beauty." The Berry laughs and based on the light reflecting from Nana's whole face, Puck can safely say Nana likes them too.

Compliments! Puck thinks grumpily. It can get you anywhere.

"And mother, this is Hiram and LeRoy, and this is their wonderful daughter, Rachel Berry."

Rachel's wearing a cream-colored dress and has a headband with a big bow-tie (that's also cream in color) and sparkles - a lot of sparkles. Puck grimaces and watches as Rachel steadily extends her hand to Nana. "Nice to meet you. I'm Rachel Barbra Berry."

Puck almost vomits.

Once introductions have been passed along (finally!), Puck hadn't expected to hear Berry shrieks her head off and says, "I didn't knew you're interested in music!"

"What," Puck says, in mouth full of muffins.

Rachel points to the guitar Puck put leaning against their run-down couch. "Oh yeah," Puck finally put the muffins down, and skips towards Berry. "My Dad gave me for Hanukkah. He never gets me anything, so this is really special meaning - " Puck spats Berry's small hands when it reaches out to grab the guitar, " - no touch-y, touch-y, Capisce?"

Berry nods, and doesn't look too annoyed that Puck spats her hand. She jumps on the couch, admiring the guitar with her eyes. "Isn't this great, Noah? Now, maybe, we can perform something at JCC together."

"Woah, woah. Calm your horses," Puck slouches onto the couch next to her, cradling the guitar in his care. "I just got this thing today - I'm awesome, but no superman. I can't learn and catch with your... Broadway-ability right away."

Berry now looks like she wants to cry, "You think my performing ability fits for a Broadway standard?" Puck cringes a lot at her expressions - like, man, how does she produce these faces in just five seconds? That's impossible. And Puck only says that because there's no way in hell is he ever going to perform at the lame-ass JCC. Berry might, but she's boring - Puck? He's cool and awesome and if you need him to perform, book him a legitimate stage yo. Berry's eyes look brighter now, "Oh and Noah, it's quite fine if you don't know how to play. My dad is an excellent teacher - he's the one who taught me everything I need to know! I, myself, prefer piano unfortunately but a guitar suits you very well, what with you trying to carry out a so-called 'manly' character. I'm sure my dad wouldn't mind teaching you."

Puck raises his brow, interested. "Really? Your dad will do that?"

"Of course. We'd just have to talk to him very nicely. I'm sure he'll say yes!" Rachel nods her head excitedly.

"Well, okay then."

"So, did you name your guitar?" Berry asks again, now watches as he plays with a string or two.

Puck looks hesitant, "Should I?"

"If you want to, you can."

"Mmmm," Puck hums aloud, playing with the strings again. "I don't know - does James sound good?"

"James? That's your father's name, isn't it?"

Puck nods. "James Elliot Puckerman."

"I think that's a fantastic name." Berry tells him with all of her confidence. "Your father must inspire you a lot."

"Yeah, well." Puck looks down. He doesn't actually 'inspire' Puck to say the least, Puck feels like he wants to say. It's just - it's the first thing he actually got for Puck that Puck just feels obligated to name the guitar after him. When you phrase the word, it makes Dad seems like a douche dad, but he's sorta okay. He can be nice too - but only sometimes. Dad is so weird. "I guess."

"Well, I know both of my fathers are a true inspiration..." and then Puck just tunes out everything Berry says until Ma yells out for them to come and join the dinner.

Puck decides Hanukkah that year is okay.

.

Finn's really excited to see the horror movie that Carole allows them to watch, but Puck's just counting the moment for Finn to start pissing himself in the theatre because underneath all of that excitement - Finn's a complete wuss.

They're lining up to buy the 'corns (because Carole needs to use the bathroom really bad) when Puck finally 'fess up, "So, my mom's pregnant."

Finn stops half-way throughout explaining why he doesn't exactly watch Rugrats (and who doesn't watch Rugrats?! but Finn's a weirdo so that should explain stuff) and looks at Puck, trying to tell if his best friend's lying. In their usual cases, Puck would easily say that Finn's getting clever, that Puck is indeed lying. But now... Finn's just, "Seriously?"

"Yeah." Puck takes a step forward when the line shortens. "She told me yesterday. It's a shocker, definitely."

"Do you like, I don't know, hate it?" Finn mumbles out, kinda guiltily.

Puck shrugs. "No. But I don't like it either."

"Does your dad know?"

"I don't know. Ma never says anything and he'll be back this Saturday, I guess. Should I worry?"

"I don't know," That's right, Puck forgets. Finn doesn't know anything. "I mean, having a little sibling doesn't hurt, right?"

Puck shrugs some more. "I guess."

Finn then smiles a little bit, "Man, I would like a sibling. It would be nice not to be alone."

Puck considers, then punches Finn. The idiot yelps. "What was that for!"

"Dude. You don't need no siblings, a'right." Puck huffs out and shoves his hands into his jacket. Man, Carole takes lots of times in the bathroom. She can't really expect kids to pay right. Puck highly doubts Finn carries a penny. He knows he doesn't. "You got me. I'm your brother."

Finn nows looks hopeful. "Really, man?"

"Don't get all mushy, dude!" Puck spats him again, and kinda smirks when Finn winces. "But yeah. You're my brother now. And don't you dare forget that!"

Puck makes sure Finn doesn't.

Author's Note: I swear this all leads to somewhere. Thanks for sticking with me. And let us not forget Cory.