A huge thanks to jlz_1 for the help with this chapter.

3.

Holding her friend close to her Santana could feel Rachel's body shake with every breath she took as all around them the flurry of activity continued. Cops, FBI agents, newspaper reporters and people off the street had all come together in Battery Park with one aim in mind: to find the missing Gabriel Berry.

"How long has it been?" Rachel asked, her voice nothing more than a whisper.

Santana ran her hand through Rachel's hair. "Don't do this to yourself."

"Please," Rachel pleaded. "I need to know. I need to know how long my little boy has been out there, alone and scared and with God knows who."

"Nearly five hours," Santana breathed. The guilt she was feeling was eating away at her, but she knew that she couldn't let it consume her; that she had to remain strong and in control of her emotions for Rachel and Gabe's sake.

Pulling herself away from her friend Rachel buried her head in her hands. "I can't…I need to know where he is, I need to know who has my little boy."

"We'll find him," Santana insisted, her voice stronger than she felt.

"I need to be doing something. I can't just sit around and wait for news. I have to be looking-"

Gently grabbing Rachel by the shoulders Santana pulled her friend back towards her. "The whole of New York is looking for him. What Gabe needs right now is for you to look after yourself so that you can be strong for him when he comes back."

"What if he never comes back?" Rachel asked.

"You can't think like that," Santana warned.

Wiping at her eyes Rachel watched as the blonde FBI agent from started to make her way towards her, talking into her cell phone she stopped halfway across the park. Rachel watched her intently, hoping to learn something but the agent's facial expressions gave nothing away. With a nod of the head Samantha closed the phone and approached Rachel.

"Ms. Berry," she smiled kindly.

"Call me Rachel, please," Rachel insisted. She hated the formality of Ms. Berry, something about it made the situation seem so much more terrifying than it already was.

Samantha nodded, sitting down next to her. "Rachel we've had a lot of interest from the Amber Alert. Most of them were the usual delinquents and false sightings but there have been a number of calls all placing Gabe at the same place, with a woman. What leads us to believe this could be a positive lead is that fact that all callers gave a very similar descriptions."

"A woman?" Rachel asked.

"Yes, a middle aged, dark haired woman wearing a grey pant suit and large sunglasses," Samantha added.

Rachel swallowed past her fear. "Where…where was he?"

"They were seen at a grocery store a few miles from here," Samantha answered.

"And he was alright?" Rachel asked, needing to know that no one had harmed him.

Samantha nodded. "All eye-witnesses report that he appeared unharmed. Now we've pulled CCTV from the store, the image was grainy and our techs are working on clearing it up. However at first glance the young boy appears to fit Gabe's description, he's wearing different clothes but that's to be expected."

"Can I see it?" Rachel asked.

"Yes. Once we have the modified version from the techs we would like you to come down to our office and take a look at the tape, let us know for certain if it is Gabe," Samantha explained.

Standing up Rachel nodded. "I'm ready."

"The tape is still with the techs," Samantha reminded her.

"They know that time is important, right? That this tape has to take priority because Gabe is still out there, they know that, right?" Rachel babbled nervously.

Pacing backwards and forwards in front of the bench Rachel was desperate to do something to help, because just sitting there waiting for someone else to bring her baby home wasn't enough.

"Rachel. Star," Eli Berry called out as he practically ran towards his daughter, his husband trailing behind him.

Turning around Rachel practically collapsed into her father's arms. "He's gone. Someone has taken my baby."

Holding his daughter tightly in his arms Eli Berry whispered words of support and encouragement into her ear as he just let her cry; something that he had learned needed to be done.

Five years ago Eli and his husband Richard had been through a living nightmare when their teenage daughter had been violated in the most horrendous of ways. Willing to do whatever it took to help Rachel get through the darkest period of her life they had picked up their lives and moved to New York. And together they had supported her as she had given birth to her baby boy; their grandson an amazing, innocent, beautiful gift that had come from a horrible situation.

Now nearly four years later they would be there to support her and love her, just like they always had as she herself now faced every parent's biggest fear, as family, strangers and friends alike put their lives on hold to search for the missing three-year-old.

"He's gone," Rachel hiccupped.

"We'll find him," Eli vowed.

Burying her head deep into her father's chest Rachel clung onto him as if her life depended on it. "It hurts Abba, it hurts so badly," she sobbed, using the familiar term of endearment that she had addressed him by ever since she was a little girl.

Eli Berry; or Abba had always been the calming influence in Rachel's life, keeping her grounded whilst still allowing her to dream big. Whereas Richard Berry; or Daddy had been the fun outgoing father who had danced and sung through every milestone with her. Both making sure that Rachel never doubted her father's love for her; or that she never doubted that they would move heaven and earth to make her dreams come true.

Having two fathers had always been the way of life for Rachel, just like having no father had become Gabe's way of life.

A way of life that could be about to change as a tall, tanned man with a Mohawk entered the chaos of Battery Park, his eyes scanning the crowds for a familiar face. It wasn't until he spotted Santana and Finn huddled together on the bench, the tall man trying desperately to comfort the petite Latino that he realised his suspicions were right; Gabriel Berry was the son of Rachel Berry, the same Rachel Berry that had disappeared without a trace the day of their High School graduation leaving him heartbroken and confused.

Approaching the bench Puck watched as his one time, best friend tried to comfort his one time, girlfriend.

"Finn?" Puck begun, his voice sounding nervous, uncertain and so unlike him.

Hearing the familiar voice Santana felt the fear in her stomach grow, knowing that the last thing Rachel needed right now was a physical reminder of the past.

Without saying a word she stood up and grabbed Puck by the arm, dragging him out of the crowd and away from Rachel.

"Santana. What the f-"

"Shut up and listen," Santana growled. "You are going to turn around and walk away. You will complete your job in New York and then you will leave and never come back."

Standing his ground Puck pulled his arm free from her grip. "Rachel I…I just want to talk to her. I just need some answers."

"Her son is missing. Do you really think what you need is important right now?" Santana asked.

"No," Puck admitted sheepishly.

Santana tapped her foot angrily against the pavement. "At least we finally agree on something. Now the only part I want to see of you from now on is your back as you walk away."

"I'm not going anywhere," Puck vowed.

"Yes, you are," Santana hissed.

Puck could see that Santana was desperate to get rid of him. "Why are you so keen to get rid of me? I know that Berry and I hardly parted on the best of terms but once upon a time we meant something to each other. Surely that has to count for something?"

"No. The past is exactly what it is. The past," Santana practically shouted.

"I just want to be her friend," Puck said, not really knowing how to explain why he was really there. All he knew was that there was something about the picture of Gabriel Berry that had brought him to Battery Park, and he wasn't about to leave until he found out what it was.

"San," Finn interrupted, worried that his girlfriend was about to say or do something she might regret.

Whipping her head around Santana turned to face him. "What?"

"Let me talk to him. You need to go and be with Rachel. She needs you more than anything else right now," Finn reminded her.

Santana knew what he was saying was right but she was scared that if she left Finn and Puck alone that Puck might trick Finn into revealing something he shouldn't. "She needs you too and Puck, well he just needs to go."

"Why are you fighting me so hard on this?" Puck asked.

"Because you're an ass," Santana replied.

Puck shook his head, shocked by her animosity; he knew that they had never exactly been the closest in High School but neither had she and Rachel. In fact Santana and the rest of the popular kids had tormented Rachel throughout most of her High School years, until Puck stepped in to put a stop to it.

He also knew that fighting with Santana wasn't going to get him anywhere, so shaking his head he smiled gratefully towards Finn before heading back over towards his truck, to sit and wait for an opportunity to get the brunette Diva alone.

Glancing over at the park he tried not to look too suspicious as he sought out Rachel. He watched as she was comforted by her father's until a tall blonde approached her and after a brief conversation lead an obviously broken Rachel towards a black, clearly official car that drove her away from the park with Santana hot on her heels.

He sat there for a further five minutes watching as Finn wandered around aimlessly, obviously wanting to do something to help but not knowing what. Exiting his truck once more he made his way over to his old friend.

"Please don't ask me to betray Santana and Rachel," Finn asked, as he sat down on the bench next to his friend.

Puck decided to try and get to the truth another way. "Coffee?"

"Yeah. Coffee sounds good," Finn agreed as he led Puck out of the park and into the nearest Starbucks.

Sitting down Puck placed the two large white mugs on the table as he sat opposite his childhood friend. "So Berry has a kid?"

"I can't-"

"Oh come on, it's hardly a secret when it's all over the National news now is it?" Puck pointed out.

Finn nodded. "You have a point there."

"Gabriel yes?" Puck asked.

"Gabe," Finn corrected, a small smile gracing his lips as he thought about the young boy; a smile that quickly disappeared when he remembered that Gabe was out there somewhere, missing and alone.

Puck watched as Finn's eyes clouded over. "How long have you known?"

"About two years," Finn admitted. "I found out when Santana and I moved to New York; Santana knew before though, turns out she used to visit regularly," he added, revealing more than he probably should have.

"The news reporter said the kid is three years old. That would mean that Berry fell pregnant not long after she left Lima," Puck guessed.

Looking down into his cup Finn tried to avoid the question. "How is the construction coming along?"

"What is it you and Santana don't want me knowing?" Puck asked.

"Nothing. It's just Rachel she's…she's been through a lot and San well, she's really protective of her and Gabe and she will do anything to stop them both getting hurt," Finn explained.

Puck took a large gulp of his drink. "Wow. The Santana I knew in High School didn't care about anyone but herself. Especially not Rachel Berry."

"They're really close, closer than I've ever known Santana be to anyone else," Finn explained smiling as he thought about the bond between the two women. Although it still confused him sometimes he also found it endearing to see that Santana could care about someone other than herself.

He also found that the bond between Santana and the young Gabe Berry gave him hope for the future, seeing the way she was with him allowed him to believe that maybe one day they would have children of their own.

Puck could see Finn closing up before him. He knew that if he kept hounding then the Quarterback would close up completely and he would never get to the truth.

"So you and Santana Lopez, eh? You never said anything when we met last night," Puck smirked.

Finn shrugged. "I hadn't seen you for nearly two years. I guess I just wasn't ready to share."

"A bit late for that," Puck smiled, referring to the fact that they had both dated and had sex with Santana.

Finn glared at him, his eyes practically burning a hole in Puck. "Mature. Real Mature."

"Woah. Did you leave your sense of humour in Lima?" Puck asked with smile, trying to get Finn back onside.

"One of my best friends three year old boy has just been taken by God knows who, so please excuse me if I'm not in the mood for jokes right now," Finn explained.

Puck nodded. "What's Gabe like? As crazy as his mother?"

"He's like the coolest kid on the planet," Finn smiled. "He's obsessed with drums which is really cool. He has this miniature set that San brought him for Christmas and let me tell you, the kid can play. He's going to be a superstar one day."

Hearing Finn talk about the Berry offspring made Puck want to meet him more than ever, but he knew that before that could happen they had to find him first. "Do the cops have any idea who might have taken him?"

"No," Finn stammered.

"What about Rachel?" Puck wondered.

Finn shook his head. "No. None at all. The FBI have taken her to look at some CCTV footage that might have captured Gabe and whoever took him."

"That's good right?" Puck asked.

Swirling the dark liquid Finn bit his bottom lip. "I hope so. Because if they don't find him soon I'm not sure Rachel will be able to take it. Not with everything else."

"Everything else?" Puck asked.

"I shouldn't have said that. I really shouldn't be here," Finn announced, standing up and practically running out towards the road.

Running after him Puck grabbed the Quarterback by the hand and made him stop and face him. He knew that violence wasn't the answer but he was fed up of being lied to. Santana and Finn knew something about Rachel and Gabriel Berry, something that they were desperate to keep from him and he needed to know what it was.

"I've had more than I can take of you and Santana lying to me. I want answers and I want them now," Puck demanded.

"I don't know much more than you do," Finn admitted.

Puck's eyes narrowed. "But you know something."

Despite Santana's warnings to the contrary Finn had always felt that Puck had a right to know about Gabe; that Rachel Berry had a son, a son that Finn had always believed to be Puck's son too. But he also knew that this wasn't a conversation they should be having on a busy New York Street.

"Not here," Finn breathed as he motioned towards where Puck's truck was parked.

Once inside the truck Puck was starting to get restless, waiting was something he was never good at. "Spill Hudson."

"I don't know everything. In fact I don't really know a lot. Santana and Rachel are really secretive and odd when it comes to what happened before Rachel left and who Gabe's father is," Finn began, shifting nervously in the seat.

Puck watched as Finn traced his fingers across the lolly stain on his shorts, almost as if it held the answers to all the unanswered questions.

"But," Puck prodded.

"Something happened. I don't know what but before Rachel left Lima something terrible happened, something that bonded her and Santana in a way none of us ever would have thought possible. It was so awful that I know Rachel still has nightmares about it now," Finn explained.

Puck's mind was reeling as he tried to think back almost five years ago. "Graduation night."

"What about it?" Finn questioned.

"Whatever happened, I bet it has something to do with that night," Puck elaborated.

Finn turned to face his old friend. "Isn't that the night you and Rachel-"

"Yes. But something happened after that. Rachel, she wasn't acting herself, she was all erratic and crazy…not her usual brand of crazy either. It was an almost feral type crazy. I tried to get her to calm down but she flipped out on me. I went to go and call her father's but by the time I got back she had disappeared. Next thing I know she's left town. I tried to call her but all of her numbers weren't working and her house was for sale. I've always wondered what happened and where she was and now…I need to know what happened that night," Puck breathed, his head spinning with the horrible possibilities.

"Do you think Gabe could be yours?" Finn asked.

Puck shrugged his shoulders. There was something about the image of Gabriel Berry that wouldn't leave him alone, something that made him feel drawn towards the kid. "I don't know but one way or another I plan to find out."

"How are you going to do that? Because let me tell you now Rachel and Santana are both closed books when it comes to that line of questioning," Finn informed him.

"I don't know," Puck admitted. "What I do know is that before we do anything. We have to find out who took the kid and bring him back because with her kid still missing, there's no way Berry is going to be ready to answer my questions."

Finn looked across at the park where a large crowd still gathered. "What if no one finds him?"

"I don't…I can't…" Puck's voice trailed off as he tried not to let his mind go there. He had to believe that Gabriel Berry would be found, both for Rachel's sake and for his. He knew that if the boy was never found then he would never know find out if the little boy was his or not. And more than anything in the world Noah Puckerman needed to know if Gabriel was his, just like he needed to know what it was that happened all those years ago that made Rachel leave Lima, taking the secrets of Graduation night with her.