Disclaimer: I don't own Glee.
Rachel and Puck had their own little bubble. During school, the kept a comfortable distance so as not to alert the fellow glee-clubbers to their situation. The only one that knew what was going on was Quinn, who offered advice to the both of them when needed. When Rachel thought about it, she found it odd that Quinn had become such a confidante. They had spent most of high school hating each other and fighting between Finn and Noah. Sometimes, Rachel was worried that Quinn would announce to everyone what exactly was going on with her and Noah, but she dismissed it as soon as the thought entered her mind. Quinn had been an amazing friend lately and Rachel found herself leaning on Quinn a little too much. Quinn said she didn't mind but Rachel always apologized for being such a burden. The blonde would just shrug the thought away and continue talking to Rachel about her plans of the baby.
"I'm really considering Noah's idea." Rachel admitted one afternoon. The two girls were lounging in the back yard of the Berry residence. "My dad's said that they would support any decision I made."
"So you want to raise the baby… with Noah?" Quinn asked, her voice neutral. That was something Rachel loved about Quinn and this new-found friendship. The former cheerleader had never urged Rachel into any decision about the baby. She would simply offer her opinion and leave Rachel to make the final decision.
"I didn't say that." Rachel sighed. "I'm just thinking about it. But I'm thinking about adoption, too. I've already read through all of the information from the agency that the lady gave me. It sounds like a great choice. The baby would have a strong family, financially and emotionally. This baby would have parents that are ready for him or her. God knows, Noah and I aren't ready for this."
"It's okay to wait. You don't have to make the decision now. You have months before you have to decide this." Quinn told her lightly.
"I know." The girls slipped into a comfortable silence, something that wasn't unusual for them.
They were both thinking over everything that had led up to this. If you had asked either girl if they would be friends and talking civilly to each other, they both would have laughed in your face – although Quinn would have been a little more vicious and smacked you in the face with an insult.
The small brunette's hands ran over her stomach. It was protruding slightly, swollen. Quinn had told her it just looked like she had a big lunch and that it was hidden easily under her shirts. Rachel liked the way it felt. It made this whole thing more real. She had a baby in her stomach – well, not literally but you know what she meant. Noah and Rachel had created a baby. She loved the feeling. She loved the thought.
It had been a while since she had some alone time with Noah, the New Year's Eve party to be exact, so the two had relished every second they could get together. It was now February, one week until Valentine's Day. Rachel couldn't believe she was already three months along. This pregnancy was zooming right by her. She was already in her second semester.
"I think about what it would have been like if Puck and I had decided to keep Beth." Quinn's voice was quiet, vulnerable, as it pulled Rachel out from her thoughts and back into reality. "She'll be two soon." The blonde nodded sadly. "Sometimes I wish it had been an open adoption. I mean, it's not like I want her back, I know I gave her up for a reason, but I'd just like to know she's okay. A picture, an email, something to tell me how she's doing. I'm afraid that she'll grow up and wonder if I didn't want her. Will she hate me? Be grateful that she wasn't raised by two dumbass teenagers?"
"Quinn." Rachel reached over to hold onto Quinn's hand and the blonde squeezed it in response, using her free hand to wipe away the tears that had slid down her cheeks.
"I'm being silly." Quinn brushed it off. "I think that you being pregnant is bringing back some memories. Your hormones must be raging and I'm the one over here crying." She laughed lightly.
"It's okay." Rachel smiled. "I don't judge you, Quinn. You've let me gripe about everything. It's okay if you just want to talk. I'll listen. It's the least I could do after everything."
"Thanks, Rachel." Quinn nodded.
/
Puck let Mike drag him to a party that night. He knew it was a mistake. He should be spending this time with Rachel but he couldn't exactly tell Mike that he wanted to skip the party to hang out with Berry. He had tried to invite Rachel but she told him she wasn't up for any loud music and drunken footballers. She told him to go with Mike and have fun. They still hadn't made anything official, they were still just something, but he always made sure to tell her about his plans in case she needed something.
He was in the middle of a small poker game in the basement of the house when his cell phone started to vibrate in his pocket. He was a little worried when Rachel's phone number flashed across his screen but he was starting to break a sweat when he answered to find one of her dads were calling.
"Noah?" Puck recognized the voice to be of Stephen Berry, the nicer one, and Puck was grateful.
"Yea." Puck slipped out of the front door of the house to try and find a quiet area. "Is something wrong with Rach?"
"No. It's nothing really." Stephen paused. "Are you at a party?"
Puck looked back at the house. "I was just about to leave."
"Rigth." Mr. Berry didn't sound so sure. "I shouldn't have called. I'm sure Russell and I can take care of it." He told Puck.
"Is Rachel okay?" Puck asked before Stephen could hang up the phone.
"I'm not sure." Stephen admitted. "She locked herself in her bedroom. She's been crying for the last two hours. We can't get her to come out and she won't tell us what is wrong with her. I just… I'm desperate here, Noah. I don't know what going on in that busy head of hers. I just thought that maybe you could come over. You might have a better chance at talking to her than we would. I tried to call that Fabray girl but she's a church with her mother. If you're busy I can just try to get her to come out of her room again."
"No." Puck sighed and looked behind him to see Mike waiting impatiently. Apparently, Puck had halted the poker game when he walked outside. He blew out a breath and turned back to the phone call. "Fuck… I'll be there in ten minutes. Tell her to hold tight." He ended the phone call, not even caring he had let out a cuss word.
"You coming, Puckerman?" Mike asked and he was soon joined by Finn.
Puck fished into his pocket for his truck keys. "Hudson can replace me." He called over his shoulder as he jogged towards his shoulder. "Family emergency. Gotta go."
He didn't wait for their response before he was jumping into his truck and throwing it into reverse. Rachel needed him and he wasn't about to blow her off for some shitty party that was probably going to end soon anyways. The baby needed him.
