A/N - So with the path i want this story to take I'm jumping the time line to just after everyone finds out puck is the father. Oh and i seemed to have forgot this. Disclaimer: i do not own anything other then a bought copy of the first season of glee. I make no money nor do i wish to with anything i write about the show. This is for fun and to be creative.

Chapter 3 -

Mercedes was never really a morning person. Most teenagers were not morning people. But waking up to the sounds of a pregnant women with morning sickness, not fun, and did nothing to help her want to face the day. Groaning and pulling herself out of bed she made her way to the bathroom she now shared with Quinn. By the time she reached it the sounds coming from there had stopped. Knocking on the door she asks "Quinn? Are you okay in there?" Hearing the toilet flush she waited. The door opens and Quinn steps out. "I'm fine now Mercedes. If nothing else at least i don't need an alarm clock anymore. Every morning i've been waking up like this."

For the past week, ever since the glee club had won sectionals, Quinn had been living here with Mercedes. Once word had gotten out about Puck being the father Quinn couldnt live with the Hudsons anymore. Which everyone had understood. Although many were surpised when Mercedes had offered Quinn a place to stay. While it was true Mercedes felt bad for what Quinn was going though, what she wouldn't admitt to anyone is that she had talked her parents into letting this happen so she wouldnt feel guilty about having told everyone the secert.

As Mercedes and Quinn started getting ready for school Mercedes grabbed her phone and sent or morning text to Kurt. It had been weeks since she had last heard from Kurt. She wasn't sure if he still had his cell phone and got her messages or not. So under the belief that he had his cell phone and just wasnt able to respond for some reason she sent a morning text everyday to Kurt. Today's text was more emotional then they had been for a few weeks, once Mercedes accepted that she couldn't force could to write her back.

"Hey white boy. Hope your morning started better then listening to prego Quinn vomit in the bathroom. Heading to school soon. Going to sing a solo in Glee today. Hope your doing good."

While it may appear to some outside observer to be not be a touching text Mercedes felt tears in her eyes again. Her solo at Glee today would be for Kurt.

Stepping out of Quinn's car, Mercedes still found herself looking around the parking lot for Kurt's baby. Even knowing that she wouldn't find it. She still had no idea what happened that night Kurt had a talk with his dad. No one could get a hold of or find Burt, Kurt's father. He owned a few car repair shops but no one had seen him at any of them. He never answered at his house either. Mercedes hoped the guilt of whatever it was he had done was eating away at him. "Would serve him right for being a bigot. Its not like Kurt had done anything wrong."

Walking though the parking lot besides Quinn they both looked over and saw the meat head jocks throw someone in the dumpster. "At least Kurt hasn't had to deal with that for awhile" thought Mercedes. Walking past the trash cans she spotted Puck making his way into school. For the last few weeks Puck had been different. He wasn't nicer but he stopped being a jerk to people.

Living with Quinn had given her new insight to the "badass" jock know as Puck. He had many bad sides to him but it seemed he did take the whole baby thing seriously. Mercedes and Quinn had had a few late night talks about everything puck had tried to do to convince Quinn he would be a good dad. While She didn't agree with taking the money for the bus to sectionals, she had to respect Puck putting family first. Good thing Quinn put a stop to that one but it was still kinda sweet in a supid way.

But the way Puck was walking and held himself was different. He no longer had the cocky strut to his steps and he kept his head lowered. Something was going on with him but even Quinn wasn't sure what it was.

Puck walked though the doors to the school for another day of hell. For the past few weeks his life had started to fall apart one piece at a time. First Quinn refusing his help with the baby. That hurt more then he let one. He wanted to make sure that his kid didn't end up like him. He would never be a deadbeat loser like his old man was.

Santana telling him that she was with Britt and was cutting Puck off didnt help his mood. So much for being a sex shark Puck thought. And once the truth behind Baby-gate came out no one else wanted to take the chance and sleep with him for fear they would get pregant next.

To top off everything, what really made is life hell was home. His mom found out what Puck had done. Ever since then she looked at Puck with disgust even contempt. His little sister even looked at him differently. She was too young to understand everything but Puck was sure she overheard some of the shouting match's between son and mother.

Something was sure to give sometime soon. Pucks mom had been saying that all Puck ever did was screw up. That Puck would never amount to anything and that every day he became more and more like his father.

Puck lost all of his friends with one stupid mistake he made. "Hell," thought Puck "Ive lost more then just friends. My rep. My kid. I'm even losing my mom and sister because of this." Puck wasn't sure what could make his life worse then it already was but he just had a feeling that this roller coaster of torture wasn't over, in fact he was sure it had just started.

Mercedes was very happy that School was out for the day and that it was time for Glee. Mercedes had been holding in alot of feelings for weeks and it would be nice to get all of it out. Sitting down in a chair she waited for Glee to start. Going over and over the song in her. Mr. Shue had said that they would start off Glee with warm ups and a run though of some of the songs he was thinking of for regionals but that she would have time to perform before they left. Mercedes was okay with this. Even though it would help to get this off her chest she knew that she wouldn't be able to do much till she stopped crying after she was done signing. Even time she practiced she would cry when she was done.

She looked around and saw that they were only waiting on thier teacher now. Puck sat off to the side slightly away from the rest of the group. That was new as well. Most of the time he sat behind Santana or Quinn. Now its like he is keeping himself apart from everyone.

Mercedes wasn't at all surprised to see Rachel and Finn sitting next to each other. Finn felt that the only one who hadn't betrayed him was Rachel, since the rest of the club didn't bother to tell him that he wasn't the father. Of course seeing Rachel pissed Mercedes off. The only time she had ever commented on Kurt being missing was when she said that they don't have 12 people for sectionals. It had been a near thing with both Finn and Kurt missing from the performance. Good thing Finn showed up and they were able to dismiss one of the fillers. That Jacob kid, annoying though he is, at least did a good job of filling in for Kurt since he didn't have to sing. Mercedes guessed that all that running from the jocks and climbing out of the dumpsters had at least taught him how to move somewhat. Mr. Shue was still looking for a 12th member to round them out.

At that moment Mr. Shue walked into to start things off. Even during warm ups Mercedes glared at thier teacher. He was more worried about getting the 12th member then in finding out what happened to Kurt and getting him back here here he belonged. That and spending all his time flirting with Ms P. Mercedes was still amazed at how self centered everyone in this school was. Including that overly stupid puck-head Karofsky. He had the nerve to come up to Mercedes and ask where Kurt was. Guess he still prefered to pick on the gay kid and wasnt getting his kicks from tossing Jacob.

Finally they were done running though a few of the songs they were thinking of using and Mr shue motioned to Mercedes to come in front of the group.

"Mercedes has a piece she wants to preform for us. So before we head home for the day let's see what she's got."

Getting up in front of everyone Mercedes felt the tears building up already. Fighting them up she let the opening music wash though her and prepared herself.

"Lost in the darkness
Hoping for a sign
Instead there's only silence
Can't you hear my screams?"

Everyone looked surprised to hear what song she was singing. It was completely different from what she normally would sing. But the lryics were so completely in tune with what she was feeling.

"Never stop hoping
Need to know where you are
But one thing's for sure
You're always in my heart"

While most of them looked only surprised by the song choice she used. A few of the gleeks had other emotions showing on their face's. Britt looked sad and like she too was thinking and wondering about Kurt. Rachel looked almost ashamed of herself. "Serves her right"thought Mercedes. But the strangest reaction was Pucks.

[Chorus:]
"I'll find you somewhere
I'll keep on trying
Until my dying day
I just need to know
Whatever has happened
The truth will free my soul"

He was looking right at her but seemed to not see what was in front of him. Zoned out and lost in his own world. from the look on his face it didn't seem to be a good place where ever he was at.

"Lost in the darkness
Tried to find your way home
I want to embrace you
And never let you go"

At this point Puck looked over at Quinn but she was just watching Mercedes with a sad smile on her face. Of course they had talked about Kurt being missing. She was the only one, aside from britt, that Mercedes had told about what she knew had happened. Quinn had been just as shocked at Burts behavior as she had been.

"Almost hope you're in heaven
So no one can hurt your soul
Living in agony
Cause I just do not know
Where you are"

At this point Mercedes couldn't stop the tears from starting to flow. Britt was openly crying on Santanas shoulder, while Santana tried to comfort her, rubbing her hand in circles on Britts back. Rachel still looked ashamed. Everyone else looked like they were fighting back tears as well. Except for Puck. He just looked lost again.

[Chorus]

"Wherever you are
I won't stop searching
Whatever it takes me to know"

[Chorus]

As the music died down and the choir room grew silent Mercedes looked down and whispered "Kurt i'm still here for you. Call me and I'll be there."

When she looked back up she saw Puck grab his stuff and walk out. "Well Mercedes, that was a great song choice. Despite it being out of what you normally sing you did the song justice." Mr. Shue told her. She just nodded, grabbed her stuff and left without a word to wiat by Quinn's car.

Puck sat in his beat up truck fighting back the tears in his eyes. Repeating to himself "I'm a badass and badass's don't cry!" After a few minutes his eyes clear up and he angrily wipes away the one tear that escaped his control.

Pulling out of his spot he headed towards the exit of the school when he saw Mercedes walk out the doors still crying softly. He almost stopped to see if she was alright but Quinn came rushing out and pulled her into a hug.

Puck had to admit that watching and hearing her sing and given him alot to think about. Aside from Finn he had never really had any friends. And after betraying Finn like he had and hearing that song he realised that he didn't have anyone who would miss him now if he vanished like Kurt had.

Pulling into the driveway at home he got out and headed inside. All thoughts of losing himself in virtual violence left his mind when he saw his mom standing by the staircase putting a 2nd bag by the door. The disgust in her face was so strong he almost didn't know who she was.

"Noah. i was wondering when you'd get here."

"Whats going on ma? Whats with the bags? Where's Sarah?" He asked dreading what he was about to hear.

"Your sister is staying at friends tonight. I didn't want her here for this. No matter how hard i try and set you straight and raise you good, all you keep doing is making mistakes. I'm tired off putting up with them. You keep getting into fights at school, when you go to school. And now you've gone and gotten Quinn, your best friends girlfriend, pregnant! Then lied to everyone, including me, about it. Just like your father did to me, lying and fighting and sleeping around. Well that was the last straw. I may be too late to fix you but I'm not about to let you ruin things for your sister. So i packed your stuff. Get out of this house."

With that she walked into the kicthen ignoring his reactions and chocked sobs. But she was right. He may have ruined everyones lives so far but he should try and spare his sister. Grabbing the bags and heading out side he got in his truck and drove off. "Ive lost everything now. No home, family or friends left." Driving till the he couldnt stop the tears he pulled over and sobbed non-stop till he fell asleep.

A/N The song i used int his story is "somewhere" by within temptation.