Author's Note: Sorry for the delay in this chapter. I've never gone two weeks between updates and I totally suck because of it, I know. However, I wanted to finish the Support Stacie Author Auction story that I had to do and now that it's up, I can focus on this (and if you haven't read "Those Summer Nights," go read it!) And then I was inspired by "Bad Reputation" (because seriously, how awesome was that?) and wrote a one-shot called "Near Kisses" (go read that, too!) But my focus is back on the Seattle Puckermans now!
Puck flipped off the bathroom light, sending the bedroom into darkness, and made his way to the bed. Pulling the covers back, he climbed in and then felt for Rachel in the darkness. Pulling her flush against him, he sighed in contentment. It was only their second night in their new home and both Puck and Rachel were still adjusting to life outside their apartment.
They lay silently for a few minutes and other than the sound of a single passing car and a barking dog in the distance, they felt like they were completely alone from the rest of the world.
"S'quiet here," Puck softly said into the darkness.
"I know," Rachel acknowledged. "Besides my home in Lima, this is the only other house I've ever lived in. I think I've been used to the noise of having other people around all the time."
"Dorms, my apartment by myself, my apartment with Kim, my apartment by myself again, then living with you... Hell, my house growing up in Lima wasn't even this quiet because of Sarah's constant noises and my mother's fucking mouth."
Rachel shuddered, the idea of living in the same house with Maggie a horrifying thought. "I can't get over how completely silent it is here."
Puck chuckled. "No blaring TVs, no disgusting smells coming in under the door, no stomping from upstairs, no Mrs. Bern-fucking-baum."
"Noah!" Rachel admonished. "You know I liked that woman. She was a great neighbor."
"Yeah, babe, uh huh." Puck tugged Rachel tighter to him and laid an open-mouthed kiss on her shoulder. "She was just fine until she confessed to being a perverted creeper with her ear to the wall while I was making you scream my name every fucking night."
In the dark, Rachel groaned. "You mean that she accidentally heard us when we were in the middle of lovemaking? And must you always be crude, Noah?"
Puck ignored her question and instead, tilted her head towards him and kissed her lips. His hands roamed down her body, flipping her nightgown up to slide his hands along her lower back.
"Are you happy we moved?" he asked, his breath hot against her ear.
Rachel curled back into him, moaning slightly as his hands manipulated their way inside her panties.
"I am...so, so happy."
Rachel rolled so that she was on her back and Puck immediately pushed her gown up, sliding one hand up to cup her breast while the other hand made its way between her thighs.
"Guess what, baby?" Puck rasped minutes later as he twisted two fingers inside Rachel's body, causing her to lurch and moan loudly.
"Wh--what?" she panted.
"You can scream my name as fucking loud as you want...no one can hear us now."
Shuddering, Rachel wrapped her arms around him just as he entered her. A little while later, when Rachel's back arched and she cried out his name louder than he'd ever heard her before, he grunted her name at a near-shout as his eyes rolled back into his head. Yes, there were definite perks to living in a house.
Five days after moving, Puck had decided that the only thing he missed about the apartment was the easy commute. Seattle traffic out to their new house was a bitch and it usually left him pissed off and tense as hell by the time he got home. He was grinding his teeth from following a slow-moving asshole through their neighborhood when he walked into the house and kicked off his shoes (because Rachel had instituted a "no shoes on the new carpet" rule that drove him insane.) He felt the tenseness leave his body, though, when he heard singing coming from upstairs.
Grinning at the soft sound of Rachel's voice wafting down the stairs, he bound up the wood steps two at a time and found her standing in the empty bedroom that would become the nursery. Leaning against the door jamb, he crossed his arms and watched her. Her back was to him and she was facing the blank wall, softly singing while she moved her hands like she was miming.
"Babe?"
She turned around and flashed him a smile before crossing the room to slip herself into his arms. He kissed her hotly, his hands sliding down to grip her ass, before pulling away to nuzzle her nose.
"Whatcha doin' in here?"
Rachel turned and motioned toward the room. "Visualizing!"
Umm. Ok. "Visualizing what, exactly?"
Rachel slid from his arms and moved to stand in the middle of the room. "The furniture, the wall color, where I want the rocking chair and the changing table to sit, if I want a big, pretty rug, et cetera. There's so much to prepare for!"
Puck chuckled. "Babe, you're just now 13 weeks pregnant. We've got plenty of time. Besides, we don't even know what we're having yet so we can't plan for anything, really."
"But at my doctor's appointment in a few weeks, they should be able to tell what we're having so we need to be prepared!" She was wide-eyed, her eyes darting around the room as she pictured the crib and the curtains that would cover the window.
Puck stepped into the room and wrapped his arm around Rachel's waist. "So you want to find out? Don't wanna be surprised?"
Rachel chewed her lip and thought for a moment. "I do like the element of surprise. But I think I'd rather be prepared. So yes, I do want to find out early." She looked up at Puck. "Do you?"
"Dunno...I think so. I found out with...Quinn...and it was kinda cool knowing that the baby was a girl. I mean...it made it more real and...."
Rachel softly patted his hand, knowing he was again thinking about his baby girl from so many years before. Puck dropped his head and hugged her tight before saying into her ear, "I'm fucking starved. Let's go to dinner."
"That sounds wonderful! I think we should definitely go to Applebee's!"
"Applebee's, baby? You sure?" Puck was clearly skeptical and his brow crinkled in disbelief.
Rachel laughed. "Of course I'm sure. For whatever reason, I strangely crave Applebee's since getting pregnant. I think it only proves that this is definitely your spawn that I'm carrying."
Puck rolled his eyes. "That just means you're having a badass boy who wants to eat just like his Pops."
Rachel placed her hand on her stomach and smiled wistfully. "Perhaps…"
"Aight, I'm starved…let's go. We can talk baby on the way." Placing his arm around her wrist, he tugged her down the stairs and out the door. If she wanted Applebee's, he wasn't going to complain. After all, his goal in life was to make his pregnant wife happy (and their new house was only two miles from the local Applebee's and seriously, how awesome was that shit?)
A few days later, Rachel was at Seattle Musical Theatre, where she'd been a performer for five years, and was preparing for a Saturday matinee show. She had just finished slipping into her costume when her understudy, Michelle, walked into her dressing room.
"Hey, Rachel! Did you see what's coming up next? Auditions are being held for a production of "Grease" in a few weeks! I assume you'll try out for Sandy?"
Rachel didn't answer. A few weeks from now, she'd be nearing the halfway point of her pregnancy, meaning that by the time they performances started, she'd be heavily showing. While it saddened her that she wouldn't be participating, she couldn't dwell on it. After all, she had much bigger things to deal with and they were a lot more exciting than performing in "Grease."
Shaking her head, she said, "No, Michelle. I do believe that I'm going to sit this one out, actually."
Michelle gawked at the woman in front of her. Rachel Puckerman sat out for nothing. She was the star of the cast; everyone knew it and no one had a problem with it because she was exceptionally talented. Sitting out? "Rach? Are you quitting?" Michelle sat down in the chair next to Rachel, placing a concerned hand on her arm.
Rachel was touched by her concern but shook her head. "No, not at all. I'm just...well...I haven't told anyone here yet but I suppose I'll need to now. Noah and I are expecting our first baby."
Michelle squealed, jumping up to hug Rachel. When she pulled away, her cheeks were glowing and she looked into Rachel's eyes. "That's fabulous, Rach! I'm so happy for you! When are you due?"
"Not until December 23rd so we still have quite a while to go but I seriously doubt that "Grease" would be as riveting with a visibly pregnant Sandy on stage. Somehow, I think it would take away the believability factor of Sandy's obvious virginity."
Laughing, Michelle nodded. "You've got a point. I'm sad that you won't be in it but -- and don't take this the wrong way -- I'll probably get the lead for once!"
Rachel hugged Michelle close and said, "I'll put in a good word for you! You deserve it."
Michelle leaned back against the wall and watched Rachel apply lip gloss. "So when are you going to tell the director?"
"No time like the present, I suppose. I would hate for anyone to assume anything regarding my non-participation so perhaps I'll make the announcement now. We wanted to make it through the first trimester before we told anyone but I'm in my 14th week now and the baby appears to be healthy and strong so I am now comfortable with letting people know."
"So is Noah excited?"
Rachel nodded as she swiped a second coat of mascara over her lashes. "He's ecstatic. He's going to be an amazing father. I caught him reading What to Expect When You're Expecting the other night. He tried to quickly cover it with the latest issue of Maxim but it was too late. He still thinks he has to be tough and manly but as soon as we talk about the baby, he turns into a 5 foot 11 inch pile of mush."
"Awww...that's adorable! And you two are going to have one gorgeous baby," Michelle added.
Rachel turned to her. "Think so?"
Michelle smiled broadly. "Well, you're gorgeous and...have you seen your husband? Of course that is going to be one gorgeous child! Your baby is going to put all the other newborns at the hospital to shame."
Laughing, Rachel linked her arm in Michelle's and together, they went to find the director. It was time to spread the news about Baby Puckerman.
On a Thursday evening, early in Rachel's 15th week of pregnancy, she and Puck, along with Tina, were scheduled to have dinner at Nick's apartment. After Puck hopped out of the shower, he toweled off, cinched a big, blue towel around his waist, and padded out of the master bathroom and into the bedroom. When he stepped into the room, though, he found himself skidding to a stop. Rachel was oblivious to his presence, standing in front of the mirror in a pair of lilac-colored bikini panties and her hands were open and splayed, framing her belly. She felt Puck's presence and turned, her face red with embarrassment.
"I—I think I'm beginning to show, Noah," she said softly as she slid her hands over her stomach.
Puck's eyes slid down from her face, over her breasts, and down to where her hands rested. He could see it, too; the barely-perceptible swell of her normally-flat stomach between her small hands. His chest suddenly felt tight and he inhaled deeply in an attempt to even his breathing out. He was torn between uncontrollable lust and extreme tenderness. He was watching his hot as fuck wife stand there naked...but she was focusing on her belly. On their baby. On his baby.
She's so…fuck… Word failed him at that moment.
"Yeah, babe. I can see that," he answered huskily as he moved further into the bedroom to stand behind her. His hands slid down her arms, fingertips soft and barely brushing her before his fingers closed over hers. Rachel met his eyes in the mirror.
"I didn't expect to start showing yet but I read that it can happen at any time. And with my small frame, it's inevitable that I'd show early. There's really no place for the baby to hide." She turned and looked over her shoulder at him, her eyes dark with concern. "Are you still going to love me when I'm big and fat, Noah? Because now that I'm showing, it's only going to get worse. I won't be able to wear the sexy lingerie that you love. And all my dresses are going to look ridiculous on me."
Her big brown eyes, so full of worry, met his hazel ones in the mirror and he almost laughed at the ridiculous level of concern in them. Puck bent and softly kissed her temple, sliding his hands off hers and across the swell of her stomach.
"You're hot, babe. You always have been. And you'll be even more gorgeous the bigger you get. That's my kid in there…I've never seen anything so fucking beautiful in my entire life. And you better get some baby-mama lingerie because you'll be sexy as hell in it, no matter what size you are."
Rachel turned in his arms and looked up at him. Noticing the watery look in his eyes, her heart clenched. I am so lucky, was her only thought as she pulled his head down for a kiss. Puck's arms went around her waist and dropped to her ass, squeezing the cheeks tightly as he kissed her. When she pulled away, she whispered, "I love you, Noah."
Puck nuzzled her neck with his nose and responded, "Love you, too, babe. Now get some clothes on or I'm not responsible for what happens next."
Rachel arched her eyebrow upwards and smiled, "That sounds good, Noah. I'll text Tina and tell her we'll be late."
Slipping form his embrace, she grabbed her phone and typed out a quick message to Tina. Puck stared in disbelief. Rachel was never late anywhere. And she would never, ever, for any reason under the sun, postpone an arrival just to have sex. But when Rachel turned back toward him and slid her panties down her hips toward the floor, Puck realized that he was no longer dealing with his normal Rachel. Pregnant Rachel was a very different animal - and he was going to enjoy it. Scooping her up, he gently dropped her on the bed and pulled off the towel, sending it toward the plush berber carpet. Diving in after her, she spied the aroused look in his eyes and giggled. Maybe the fact that I'm starting to show isn't a bad thing after all?
An hour and a half after they were scheduled to arrive at Nick's, Puck and Rachel finally got there. When they walked into the apartment, hand-in-hand, Tina took one look at Rachel's flushed face and rolled her eyes. "I take it the pregnancy hormones that make you a horny bitch have kicked in?" Tina questioned with a laugh.
Rachel's mouth gaped and Puck sputtered with laughter. Nick just groaned from the kitchen and went back to stirring the huge pot on his stove.
"I...I..." Rachel stumbled over the words.
Puck put a reassuring hand on Rachel's shoulder, looked Tina in the eye and said, "Yes, Tina, they have. And I couldn't fucking be happier about it!"
Tina grumbled and added, "Like you two weren't bad enough before. My god...."
Rachel pulled out a bar stool and motioned for Puck to go help Nick in the kitchen. Tina sat down beside her and leaned in close. "So seriously? Do the hormones really make you worse? I mean...I've heard that but it's not like I have ever been pregnant and..."
Grinning, Rachel leaned in and whispered, "My goodness, Tina. You just...It's just.... I can't get enough! Noah and I have always had a healthy sex life but it's like I want him all the time. I'm afraid I'm going to end up chafing his...his...you know."
Tina snorted with laughter and Rachel hid her face behind her hands as she giggled helplessly. Puck and Nick both looked up from the stove long enough to give the women a curious look before returning to their normal conversation, which involved the latest sports celebrity to be revealed as a manwhore.
"I just...it's just incredible. It's like my senses are in overdrive because I can be at home and smell his scent on his pillow or on a shirt and I am just dying for him. Yesterday, I barely let him in the door when he got home from work. I would be mortified at my inability to control myself if it weren't so much fun! I mean, I've been ridiculously attracted to him since I was 16, obviously, but now..." Rachel looked up, staring lustily at her husband's side profile for a moment before glancing back at Tina. "But now? I can't even...."
"I'm jealous," Tina replied in a low whisper.
"Get pregnant," Rachel offered in return.
From the kitchen, she heard Nick roar "Oh hell no!" and glance her way. Rachel and Tina met each other's eyes and then erupted into laughter, realizing that Nick and Puck had heard everything they'd said.
With a predatory grin, Puck walked out of his kitchen and around to Rachel, where he wrapped his arms around her and whispered in her ear, "Glad to know you're so hot for me, babe. Wanna do it in the truck before we head home?"
Rachel reddened and smacked his chest but her eyes told a different story. "Noah! I--" Her eyes shifted to look around them quickly before she lowered her voice dramatically and whispered, "Ask me later."
Puck laughed and dropped a gentle kiss on her lips. I am so goddamn lucky.
Still to come in BWABS: The sex of the baby is revealed (or is it?), a trip home to Lima and a reunion with some Gleeks, a wedding, and a baby, of course!
