Please put the pitchforks and torches down! I'm sorry about the wait!
Disclaimer: Ryan Murphy still won't give me any rights to the show.
Chapter 10: Truths Revealed
(Monday of "Sectionals" Week)
"Quinn, can I speak with you for a moment?" Rachel asked quietly before her fellow Cheerio could leave the choir room. They had just finished taking their Glee Club picture for the Thunderclap, and the other students were rushing out to try and grab some lunch before the bell rang.
"Ah, sure I guess." Quinn said, folding her arms across her chest as she waited for the last person to leave. Rachel waved goodbye to Puck and Santana, the latter of which quirked a brow before sauntering out of the room, sure Berry could take care of herself. Mr. Schuester debated on rather leaving them alone, but he wanted to pass by the teacher's lounge to see Emma before his next class, so he just shrugged before leaving.
"What'd you want to talk about Berry?" Quinn asked, her old bitchness back in her voice. Rachel had to suppress and eye roll, but she figured if Quinn was getting back to her pre-baby self, than it was a good sign. Even if Rachel was Quinn's number one target most of the time.
"Puck asked me to give this to you last night." Rachel said, moving over towards the door, where her bag was. She pulled out the envelope that held the $400 Puck had given to her, with the request that she pass it onto Quinn. To say he didn't want to stir up any trouble by being the one to hand over the money would be an understatement.
"What's this?" Quinn asked as she opened the envelope and saw the money. She was confused as to why Puck of all people would be giving her money.
"Well, Puck figured that Finn would be useless to try and help you pay that doctor's bill. And he feels it's the least he could do, since it was half his fault you got pregnant in the first place. I think he hopes that by doing this, you will bury any remaining resentment you might hold towards him. Of course, he would never actually say any such thing aloud, but I think he doesn't like that you still seem to be angry with him.
"Which, to be honest, is a little juvenile of you Quinn. You were just as responsible for your situation as Puck was, and for you to lash out at him was uncalled for. He tried to step up to the plate, even though you spurned him; so hopefully, this will patch things back up so that the two of you can be friends." Rachel said, not being able to keep herself from glaring at the blonde cheerleader.
She still felt awful for the fact that she hadn't revealed this huge secret, but she also couldn't get over the way Quinn had treated Puck. Sure, Rachel didn't want anyone to have Puck's child, but to treat someone so badly when they tried to offer help was asinine.
"He…he really gave you this to give to me?" Quinn asked, staring down at the white envelope as if it would provide all the answers.
"Of course he did. He's been working hard for the past month to earn enough to pay off your bill so that you didn't have to worry about it anymore. I felt he should only pay half of it, but he said he didn't want you to have to be troubled with it." Rachel said, her own new found bitchness getting the better of her.
She just…really didn't like Quinn Fabray. And even though she hated herself for not being able to like her, Rachel couldn't just magically change her feelings. Even though the other Cheerio had gone through a very traumatic experience, she'd been horrible to Rachel since the very beginning of freshman year, and Rachel didn't know if she'd ever be able to move past that.
Especially not when Quinn was making no effort to change or hide her own dislike for the girl. Rachel knew that if they both didn't share friends, that they would still be bitter enemies, Finn or no Finn.
"I would refuse, but I can't keep trying to prevent my parents from finding the bills. Please tell Puck that I appreciate his help." Quinn said before flipping her hair over her shoulder and storming from the room. Rachel rolled her eyes at the other girl, not understanding why Quinn felt like she owned the world.
Shaking her head to get rid of thoughts about the petty girl, Rachel grabbed her bag and flounced out of the room, heading to the cafeteria. Neither Cheerio noticed the lurking orange fro that was hiding, a maniacal smile on his face.
Spotting Puck's mohawk, Rachel quickly made her way over to him and her friends, glad she would get to spend a little time with them before her dance class. Before she could sit down, Puck reached out and pulled Rachel into his lap, getting a small shriek from the diva before she landed on him.
"Hey babe." Puck breathed into her ear, making Rachel shiver as he wrapped his arms around her stomach.
"God, you guys make me want to hurl." Santana said, pretending to do just that, which earned laughs from the rest of the table.
"You're just jealous I got her first, Lopez." Puck shot out, smirking at the Latina over Rachel's shoulder. The brunette rolled her eyes at her friends as she leaned back against Puck, letting her bag drop to the floor at their feet. She couldn't prevent her hands from sliding down his, loving the feel of his skin against her fingertips.
"I did what you asked, Noah." Rachel said quietly, leaning her head back on his shoulder so she could look up at him.
Puck glanced down at her and gave a small nod, showing he heard her, before he lowered his mouth to hers; the two ignored the renewed sound effects from Santana. They only had a few minutes before class started, so they weren't going to let anything stop them from having their time together.
/*/
Finn was almost to the choir room for Glee rehearsal when he was stopped by the school's gossip hound, Jacob Ben Israel. He tried not to show his irritation, knowing he wasn't going to be able to get away from the crazy freshman until the boy asked his questions.
"Finn Hudson, Quarterback and all around nice guy of McKinley High, how does it feel to be lied to by two of your closest friends and your precious girlfriend?" Jacob asked, his voice so high pitched in his excitement that you would expect him to be a girl.
"What are you talking about?" Finn asked, his face taking on his 'I'm so confused' face; which, really, was very much his everyday facial expression (just saying). Jacob let out a (terrifying) laugh and pulled out a recorder.
"I was on my way to question my love on the rumors of her bathroom activities as of late when I stumbled on the beautiful Ms. Berry having a very interesting conversation with one Quinn Fabray. Would you like to hear it?" Jacob asked, holding up the recorder invitingly. He could not wait to get to his computer and post his newest blog, which would reveal the scandal to the entire world.
"What?" Finn asked, still confused. Jacob rolled his eyes at the dimwit before he pressed the play button and held the device up next to Finn's ear, so that even the stupid footballer couldn't mistake the voices that sounded from the recorder. Jacob watched in elation as Finn's facial expressions began changing, going from confused, to even more confused, to angered.
"Why would Puck give Quinn money?" Finn demanded, which earned him a disbelieving look from the blogger. Finn really was that stupid!
"Because he knocked up your girl Hudson, that's why." Jacob said, lowering the recorder back down and putting it back in his pocket. He groaned at the football player's caveman tendencies, when Finn grabbed Jacob's shirt tightly and lifted him up until he was standing on his tiptoes.
"Quinn would never do that! Don't go spreading these lies around!" Finn said angrily, not believing anyone would want to spread such rumors around about his darling Quinn.
"Get a clue Hudson, Puck and Quinn did the dirty and that's how she got pregnant. If you don't believe me, ask them yourself!" Jacob retorted as he pushed the tall boy away, pulling his shirt back down to smooth out the wrinkles. He watched as Finn stormed off, undoubtedly going to the source to get the lies proven just that, lies.
/*/
Rachel giggled as she and Brittany spun around the choir room, waiting for the club to start. They were presently waiting on Quinn, Finn, and Mr. Schuester; meaning the others were either watching the two with amusement or talking amongst themselves.
Puck was one of the ones watching the cheerleaders spin around the room, admiring the way the skirt flared up around Rachel's thighs, exposing the tan expense of skin to his perusal. Unfortunately, he was pulled out of watching his girlfriend when Finn stormed into the room and headed straight to him, his face contorted into anger. He found out.
"Please tell me that it's not true Puck, that you'd never sleep with my girl?" Finn asked, well demanded, as he towered over the seated jock.
Puck sighed before he stood, knowing he deserved Finn's anger and the rage that would surely follow. Rachel had stopped at Finn's angered words, moving over to stand next to Puck, her heart clenching at the look on Finn's face.
"I-" Puck said, but apparently that was all the evidence the taller boy needed, as he snapped his fist back and punched Puck straight in the face. The more muscular jock took the punch, knowing he deserved it; he also took the ones that followed, even when Finn tackled him to the ground and continued to reign down blows.
Rachel let out a startled yell at the first punch, leaping back away from the two so as not to get hit herself. She turned to the stunned others, knowing they had no idea what in the world was going on.
"Someone needs to find Mr. Schuester." Rachel said, making it clear that she didn't care who went as long as they hurried. Tina gave a quick nod before dashing out of the room, hoping she'd be able to find the teacher before either guy got too badly injured.
"Okay, that's enough!" Rachel said, pulling on Finn's arm to try and dislodge him. But Finn was in a completely red haze, not noticing the small girl on his arm at all. Mike and Matt moved in to help Rachel pull Finn off, but before they reached her Finn accidently elbowed Rachel in the temple, making her crumple against the struggling pair.
"What the hell did you do?!" Puck yelled, pushing Finn off him when he saw Rachel go limp. Finn's eyes widened in shock as he saw her prone body, kneeling down next to Puck to see how injured she was.
"Baby, wake up." Puck said, pulling the slight girl into his arms. Rachel's head lolled to the side, revealing the side of her face, which was already red, meaning it would soon be sporting a bruise. Puck glared at Finn and pushed him away roughly, cradling Rachel closer to him.
"Get away from her." Puck bit out to Finn as he tried once more to see what had happened. He looked up when Mr. Schuester came running into the room before skidding to a halt, not really sure what was going on.
"What happened?" William asked as he made his way over to the group, which had crowded around the couple.
"Finn hit her." Puck snarled, glaring at the other footballer before looking back down at his girl when he felt her start to move.
"I didn't mean to!" Finn said, his face showing how much he clearly regretted it. Puck just ignored his (ex) friend, concentrating on the fallen brunette. Mr. Schuester crouched down next to Puck, examining the blooming bruise at Rachel's temple, knowing how much that must have hurt.
Everyone's breath seemed to ease when Rachel's eyes fluttered open before locking onto the bright hazel gaze above her, giving a small smile before she frowned. Her head was killing her!
"What happened?" Rachel asked, echoing Mr. Schuester's own question. Puck helped her sit up, still keeping her in his lap in case she fainted or something. What? Rescuing your girl was badass, okay.
"That's what I'd like to know." Mr. Schuester replied as he stood. The rest of the students moved back away from the couple, also not knowing what really happened. One minute everything was fine, than the next Finn was attacking Puck and accidently hitting Rachel.
The diva pushed off Puck, slowly getting to her feet, her hand going to her face as her brain seemed to bounce around her skull. Puck shot up, wrapping his arm around her as he led her over to a chair, not wanting her to stand for too long.
"Okay, I think some explaining needs to happen." Mr. Schuester said, closing the door and turning back to peer at his students. Puck just kept alternating between glares at Finn and worried looks at Rachel, and Finn looked ashamed of himself. Well, ashamed for hitting Rachel, not for attacking Puck.
"I um…I think I know what happened." Quinn said, stepping forward, her voice shaking. She'd been late to rehearsal because she'd been cornered by Jacob, demanding answers to the real paternity of her almost baby.
Finn glanced up at her, but when he saw the shame and guilt on her face, his eyes filled with tears and he stared down at his hands, not believing Quinn had actually betrayed him with his best friend.
"By all means, please enlighten me." Mr. Schue said, not understanding why his students were fighting. They had seemed to all grow closer together as time went on, especially when Rachel rejoined the group, so he was at a loss as to why Finn would attack Rachel or Puck.
"I-I li-lied about w-who the fa-father was." Quinn's voice was very quiet, and no one would have even heard her if it wasn't absolutely silent in the room. Her proclamation earned gasps of surprise as everyone put the pieces together, glancing from Puck to Finn. Puck kept his gaze averted; knowing he'd already caused enough damage as it was.
"What do you mean?" Mr. Schue asked, although he knew what she obviously meant.
"Finn wasn't…Puck-" Quinn couldn't finish as her voice got too choked up. She stared down at her hands, not believing she'd ever been so stupid. Finn scrubbed at his eyes, standing up from his seat and heading towards the door.
"I can't be here anymore! I can't deal with you, with any of you!" Finn said angrily. Rachel's eyes widened before she shot off her chair, her headache momentarily forgotten.
"Finn Hudson you will sit back down or so help me I will make the rest of your life a living hell!" Rachel shouted, hands on her hips to show how serious she was. Finn glanced back over to her, wincing a little when he saw her temple slowly turning bluish-black.
"I can't Rach, I just…can't." Finn said. Rachel marched over to him, having to bit her lip as dizziness filled her head. She would not let one mistake ruin the Glee club's chances at sectionals!
"Finn, if you leave this room, I will have my father get you arrested for battery." Rachel said, her voice showing how completely serious she was. Finn looked confused, so Rachel pointed to her bruise.
"What? Why?" Finn asked, turning fully towards the small spitfire, not understanding why she would do such a thing.
"Because I am not going to let personal dramas get in the way of us winning at Sectionals. Now sit down before I make you." Rachel glared at him until Finn sat back down, having never seen this side of Rachel Berry. To be honest, he was scared for his life.
"If everyone would just sit down please, things need to be explained." Rachel said, pointing to Mr. Schuester and Quinn, until they too sat. Rachel took a deep breath before she pulled a chair to the front of the room, sharing a small, sad smile with Puck before she sat down.
"Yes, as it turned out, Finn was not responsible for impregnating Quinn." Rachel said, giving a little nod as if replying to a voiced question. She took another deep breath before looking at Finn, her face showing her own regret.
"Noah was the father." Finn's face darkened again.
"How could you not tell me, Rach? I thought we were friends?" Finn demanded, hurt filling his heart until he thought it would just shrivel up and die inside his chest. Rachel looked down, her eyes filling with tears before she met his angry gaze.
"Finn I…I've wanted to tell you since I found out. But…I didn't want to add to the pain you were already in."
"But I deserved to know!"
"Yes, you did Finn. But not from me; from Quinn and Noah. I found out the night Quinn…that night, and I didn't want you to hurt any more than you already were."
"But I thought I lost my baby! You should have told me! Instead I look like an idiot who mourned a baby that wasn't even his!" Finn went to stand, but was roughly pushed back down by Matt.
"That is the very reason I remained silent! No one deserves to go through that hurt and then to have the truth revealed! You loved the baby as if it was your own, and you felt it's…her loss deeply. I wasn't going to add to that when the truth wouldn't have changed anything." Rachel said, gripping her hands tightly in her lap as she glanced over at Puck before turning back to Finn.
"But-"
"NO! You don't know what I went through Finn, what Puck went through. God…after you left him that night, he came to me and told me the truth." Tears started to stream down Rachel's cheeks as she remembered the distraught boy who'd climbed through her window. Puck slouched in his chair, uncomfortable with the fact that the entire Glee club was about to hear about one of his most vulnerable moments.
"I have never seen Noah so…broken. I tried to be angry with him, I did; but, how can someone be mad at a person who was completely shattered? Sure, I felt slightly betrayed, even though we weren't together when they slept together; and I was so angry that he'd done this to you Finn, but I could never hurt him more after that night.
"I don't know how exactly you reacted, but Noah…there aren't words for that night Finn. I'm so sorry I didn't tell you, but I comforted a broken man that day and I couldn't do more damage. Even if you thought you needed him, he needed you to get through it. He loved her too Finn, even though Quinn wouldn't let him have anything to do with her." Rachel had to stop to wipe at her eyes, trying to pull herself away from the heartbreaking memories of Puck's breakdown.
"Finn, you should know that Puck wanted to tell you the truth from the day he found out about Quinn. But she refused to acknowledge him or his wishes, and she's the one who really lied to you." Rachel glared at Quinn, who shrunk down in her chair when their eyes turned to look at her.
"I know that…things will never be the same; and they shouldn't be, as you were betrayed by two people who you trusted and loved. But I won't allow this to get in the way of our chances at Sectionals, Finn. And before anyone jumps on the Rachel hating bandwagon, it's not just about wanting to win.
"Sectionals represents us, the Glee club, and I refuse to allow anything to tear us apart. We will get through this, as we'll be sure to overcome even more disasters in the future. But for right now, we're going to go to the auditorium and practice our "Proud Mary" number while Mr. Schuester creates our set list." Rachel stood from her chair and approached the hurting teen, wincing a little as her head began pounding. Not letting it deter her, she kneeled in front of him and grasped his large hands in hers.
"I know you're hurting, Finn; I know you're entire world has just imploded on you in the span of minutes. But you cannot abandon us when we need you the most. Glee is your home, my home, our home; we're each other's' family and we must be there for one another. Look around Finn, this club is made up of more than just Quinn, Puck and I; it's made up by your friends and they're counting on you to be able to push your anger and hurt aside for the next week to get things done.
"Besides, you're not that innocent either. You led me on when you joined Glee, you even kissed me on more than one occasion. I'm not saying their actions are excusable, because they're not, but you need to own up to your own role in all this." Everyone looked surprised at her words and Finn lowered his eyes, not liking that little news being out in the open. Rachel crossed her arms over her chest and waited for his response, not willing to let herself crumbled into dust, as she felt close to doing.
Finn glanced around the room, taking note of everyone's (besides Puck and Quinn) hesitant nods and looks of sympathy. It was clear to him that at least they hadn't known, that they hadn't held such a large truth from him. Looking back down at Rachel, he removed his hands from hers and stood, making her have to move back quickly to avoid falling over.
"I'll do this, for them and myself. But us, we're no longer friends." Finn said, looking at the three 'liars' before grabbing his fallen bag and heading towards the auditorium. Rachel bit her lip to try and stop herself from crying, knowing she'd hurt him almost as much as the others had by keep their secret. But she would not have changed her mind; it was not her secret to tell.
"Ah…alright, let's get going. Rachel, maybe you should go see the nurse for some ice. I'm sure she's still here." Mr. Schuester said, not really sure what to do. How had everything gotten ruined so quickly? How come Finn and himself were lied to about their respective other's pregnancies? He just didn't understand any of it.
The members slowly rose to their feet, shooting looks between each other and at the three who remained seated before slowly making their way out of the choir room. Mercedes and Kurt lingered by the door, wanting to hear more juicy gossip, even while they were still reeling from the last batch.
Rachel walked over to Puck and ran her hand over his mohawk, trying to sooth him. She glanced over at Quinn, who was weeping into her hands, but she felt no sympathy for the other Cheerio. The only thing she'd felt such an emotion for with regards to the blonde dealt with her losing her baby; that's it.
"I'm sorry Noah, I shouldn't have said all that." Rachel whispered, hating the pain her boyfriend was in. Puck let out a heavy breath before he leaned back and pulled her into his lap, burying his face in her silky locks.
"S'ok. I had it commin'." He muttered, hating how hurt he actually was. Were had all these freaking emotions come from? He just…hated that he'd thrown away his oldest friendship for a night he regretted more than anything else in his life. Puck didn't know if he would ever get his friendship with Finn back; which he was man enough to admit (at least to himself) that he wanted.
"He didn't have to attack you. Physical violence solves nothing." She huffed, making him chuckle a little before sobering.
"That's how guys handle their shit, babe. I'm just pissed you got caught in the crossfire." Rachel rolled her eyes, cringing a little as her head began pounding again. Would this headache ever leave her in peace?
"That's because you're a bunch of cave men." Rachel said before wiggling her way off his lap. Puck watched as she straightened out her uniform before reaching for his hand.
"C'mon, I didn't give that speech just to hear myself speak." He sighed in resignation as he allowed her tug on his hand until he stood and grabbed his bag. The two eavesdroppers scurried down the hallway when the two headed towards the door, glancing over to the distraught girl before sharing a look. They silently agreed to let Quinn be and made their way to the nurse's office, knowing the next week wasn't going to be very pleasant for anyone.
/*/
Rachel carefully packed her clean uniform and pjs into her overnight bag, taking care to make sure she remembered undergarments and her white sneakers. Going into her bathroom, she seized her traveling toiletry bag and grabbed everything she'd need, hoping Puck wouldn't mind her intense routine. When she was sure she had everything, Rachel grabbed the bag and headed downstairs.
"Where are you off to so late, sweetie?" Leroy asked when he saw his daughter make her way down the stairs, as he'd been heading up to bed. He and his husband had been furious when they'd seen her face, but after she'd assured them (repeatedly) that it had been an accident, they'd stopped threatening to call the police.
"I'm…I'm going to Noah's, dad." Rachel said firmly. Even though the two men were extremely laid back and trusting in her, she knew they wouldn't like knowing she was going to stay the night at her boyfriend's house. But she refused to lie to them.
"Oh. And why is that?" Hiram asked as he made his way from the living room, knowing Leroy could be very overprotective.
"I just…I think he needs me, daddy. After today, with Finn finding out the truth, I feel like he might…do something he'll regret. And I can't just let him be overcome with his misery; I have to do something to help him." Rachel said quietly, knowing her daddy would understand. The two men glanced at each other and Leroy sighed, hating that his little girl was growing up and becoming a woman.
"Alright, dear. Just…be careful." Hiram stressed the last part, the image of a pregnant Rachel sending fear shooting through him.
"I will. I love you both and I'll be back tomorrow after school." Rachel said, kissing them each on the cheek before grabbing her purse, coat and keys. The men watched in sadness as their princess drove away, knowing they were losing her. But that was a parent's journey, to raise their children and then to release them to the world, so the Berry men pushed down their own melancholy and headed upstairs.
/*/
Rachel took a calming breathe as she pulled up to the Puckerman house, knowing she was on the brink of crossing a line she wasn't sure she was ready for. Not any sexual line, but an emotional one. Would Puck welcome her when he was in the state she imagined he was? Would he push her away and retake on his 'badass' persona with regards to her?
Having no answers to the swirling questions in her mind, Rachel pulled out her phone as she shut the car down and stepped from it, grabbing her overnight bag. She bit her lip as the phone on the other end kept ringing, thinking he'd opted to simply ignore her. When he finally answered, Rachel had to stop herself from sighing in relief.
"S'up babe? I was just putting Eli down." Puck's voice was gruff, showing how difficult such a task really was. Not only had he had a shit of a day at school, but he'd had to work and his ma had been called in, so he'd had to babysit the sis. Not the way he'd wanted to end such a fuck ass day, that's for sure.
"I…uh, I wanted to make sure you were alright, Noah." Rachel said, her voice wavering a little as she bounced on her toes. She heard him sigh and knew he was probably rubbing his hand through his hair, as was his habit.
"Yeah, Rach, I'm fine. Don't worry about me." Rachel's lips twitched as she rolled her eyes, knowing he got uncomfortable whenever his own personal feelings were called into the light.
"Come open the door, Noah." Puck's face scrunched up in puzzlement, thinking the little diva had finally gone mad. But he knew her, as scary as that was, and knew Rachel wouldn't request such a thing unless there was a reason.
"Fine, I'll be down in a minute." Puck grumbled, figuring he'd have another round of talking to endure with Berry before he could go to bed. He was surprised she'd actually come over so late (late for her) when she could have simply called him. But hey, maybe he'd get laid or get to fool around! That'd be awesome.
Rachel clicked her phone shut before she stuffed it back into her purse as she waited for her boyfriend. Butterflies sprang up in her stomach, making her even more nervous than before. Why was she so unsettled? It wasn't that she was afraid of actually having sex with him, as that wasn't the case at all; Rachel was just worried that he might reject anything but that.
Even though Puck had been admirable in his restraint when it came to her, as he hadn't pushed her to go farther once, Rachel still tiptoed around him when it came to his feelings. Puck wasn't one to reveal his emotions, even to her, and she was scared that if she pushed too far, too fast, that he'd completely withdraw from her. And Rachel was beginning to realize that her own feelings for the footballer were a lot deeper than she'd ever imagined they could be, and she didn't want to lose that or him.
"You know it's almost midnight, right?" Puck asked as he opened the door, giving her a questioning look even as he reached out and pulled her into the warm house, not liking her standing out in the Ohio winter. Rachel sighed in pleasure as she found herself pressed firmly to his bare chest, her mind immediately wondering away into the gutter she'd never admit to having ever occupied.
"I am aware of the time, Noah." Rachel murmured as Puck reached behind her to lock the door, before he wrapped his two muscular arms around her small frame. He noticed the bag slung over her shoulder, but not wanting to jump to conclusions and then be bitterly wrong, he didn't comment.
"So what's up?" Puck asked when she pulled away, clutching her bag tighter to her shoulder as her eyes trailed up his broad chest to his throat, until she finally reached his face. But she was distracted once more, this time by his parted lips, imagining them on her own. Puck smirked when he saw her face begin to flush and where her eyes were trained; he ran his tongue over his lips and bit back a chuckle when her eyes tracked the movement.
"Rachel?" The brunette snapped back to herself, flushing even more when she saw the smug look on his face. Clearing her throat, Rachel pushed her hair out of her face and glanced around, feeling a little awkward now that she was here.
"Uh…I just wanted to check on you. After today, I figured you'd probably be in a…mood." Rachel said carefully, not wanting to get his hackles up with careless words.
"You came to babysit me so I don't do anythin' stupid?" Puck questioned, his voice growing firm with his irritation. Rachel rolled her eyes at him and gave out a huff, her hand going to her hip.
"Yes, if we want to be blunt about it. You're not known for your impeccable coping skills, Noah. I just don't want you to do anything that you'll regret in the morning. Stop being such a baby." Puck's lips twitched as his amusement rose and his annoyance diminished. His girl was fucking hot when she got riled up about something.
"So are you gonna tuck me in and read me a bedtime story?" Puck asked with a smirk, nodding to the bag he'd ignored so far. Rachel knew he was being childish to get on her nerves, but she was better than that; she would not rise to such lame remarks.
"If I have to." Puck full on smirked when she answered curtly before starting to ascend the staircase. He watched her go, her tight jeans making the view very enjoyable; that is until she turned to quirk a brow at him.
"Are you coming Noah, or am I going to be warming your bed all by myself?" He was up the flight of stairs in seconds, making her have to muffle a giggle behind her hand. She did not need Eli to wake up and start asking questions, as Rachel wasn't sure she'd be able to look the ten year old in the face.
"Let me get ready for bed and then I'll join you." Rachel murmured as they approached the bathroom door. Puck's throat suddenly developed a frog, so he just nodded and continued on to his room, not sure why he was suddenly so nervous.
He was a stud, the sex god of McKinley; yet, now that Rachel here and apparently going to stay the night, he felt like he had back at Jew summer camp before eighth grade. Why the fuck was he so uneasy?
Rachel rushed through her nightly routine, forgoing a shower, not wanting to take too long or wake Eli up. She exited the bathroom in her pjs, a tank top-short combo, and silently let herself into Puck's dim room.
Her boyfriend was leaning against his headboard, trying not to look edgy. As unbadass as this sounded, Puck wasn't sure he was ready to go all the way with his girl. It's just…today had been a fuck of a day and he didn't want her to feel like she had to sleep with him just to keep him in check. He wanted her to want him because she couldn't control herself, not because she feared he was going to do something stupid.
Rachel sat her bag down on his desk before she crawled into bed, sliding under the covers until she was pressed up against his side, her head resting on his shoulder. Her left hand trailed across his chest in lazy patterns, relishing this close contact that didn't have to evolve into anything if she didn't want it to.
"Tell me the truth Noah, how are you doing?" Rachel asked quietly, wanting to keep the peaceful atmosphere unbroken. Puck ran his hand through her hair, enjoying just having her in his arms. But he knew his girl, and she wouldn't leave him be until he was honest with her.
"I dunno, Berry. I…it sucks that Finn found out, but I'm a little…relieved, to be honest." Puck muttered.
"Relieved?"
"Yeah. I dunno. I just, I'm glad that the truth's out there, ya know? I hated lying bout it, even after we lost her." Puck shrugged, really uncomfortable baring all, even if it was to Rachel. Badasses just didn't get all mushy and Puck was worried he might actually end up getting emotional again.
"That's understandable. Do you think you'll ever be friends again?" She didn't just ask for the sake of the Glee club, but because she knew how much they both cherished the friendship. Even when they were fighting or whatnot, they always knew they'd have each other's back. Now, Rachel wasn't sure if Finn would pull Puck out of the way of oncoming traffic, let alone make peace.
"Seems doubtful. I broke the number one rule of the bro-code, and that's not forgiven lightly." Puck wouldn't admit it, but he was crushed about betraying his oldest friend. Finn hadn't deserved his and Quinn's treachery, no matter how large a douche he could be.
"I'm sure everything will work out in the end, Noah; you just have to have a little faith. It's bleak now, but I think you'll work it out." Rachel said, leaning her head back so she could look up at him. Puck glanced down at her upturned face, her bright doe eyes sparkling with her certainty; not being able to help himself, or wanting to, Puck lowered his lips to hers.
Rachel sighed into the kiss, moving closer to him so they could deepen the kiss, his tongue sliding into her mouth to get his fill of her taste. Puck wrapped an arm around her, holding her against his warm chest as he devoured her mouth, finding a peace with her that he could never find on his own.
Pulling apart, Rachel snuggled back down against him, laying her head on his chest and wrapping an arm around his middle. Puck kept his own arm around her, the other lightly stroking the arm around him. It was clear that he wasn't getting laid tonight, and Puck was alright with that. When it did happen, the little vixen would have his complete and utter attention.
/*/
Rachel awoke a few hours later, still snuggled up next to Puck's large frame. Her body was overheated, unused to sleeping next to another; she silently slithered from the bed, taking care not to awaken Puck. She grabbed one of his hoodies, knowing she'd be cold once her body cooled, and made her way downstairs for a glass of water.
Thankful for the small light they left on in the entryway, Rachel was able to make it down the stairs and into the kitchen without having any accidents. Grabbing a cup from the cabinet, Rachel opened the fridge to get the water pitcher Leah kept and poured herself a small glass.
Glass in hand, Rachel seated herself at the breakfast table, pulling the hoodie on and pulling her knees up to her chest, under the hoodie. The day had been overwhelming, to say the least. Now Finn knew the truth, hated her along with Puck and Quinn, and Rachel didn't know if they would win at Sectionals on Saturday.
Not only did they have all the drama to deal with, but Mr. Schuester still hadn't made a final set list, besides "Proud Mary". She just didn't understand how he expected them to win when he has given them a very small amount of time to practice and perfect their performances. Hadn't his own Glee club won Nationals back in the day? Shouldn't he know the time and effort it takes to succeed?
Sometimes she thinks they're just a way for him to relieve his glory days and that he is completely unqualified to run such a club. To be honest, Mr. Schuester was a poor Spanish teacher who happened to be in Glee when in high school; how did that make him trained to run the one club that actually meant anything to her?
"You're up late." Rachel would have fallen out of the chair in fright if Leah Puckerman hadn't quickly reached out to steady the small girl. Her heart pounding, Rachel stared at Puck's mother with wide eyes as the older woman casually seated herself across from her.
"M-Ms. Puckerman! I thought…I thought you were working tonight." Rachel's face went scarlet, even though she knew her and Puck hadn't done anything to be ashamed about. But when one is seated across from their boyfriend's mother in their pjs and said boy's hoodie, shame was quick to take root, no matter how uncalled for it was.
"Yes, they called me in for a few hours. I'd have said no, but the overtime is good, as Eli has wanted to start taking dance lessons to be just like "the Great Rachel Berry"" Leah said with a laugh as she air quoted her daughter. While she made decent money as a medical technician, extra money always came in handy; especially when she had two talented kids.
"I, uh, I can explain why I'm here. It was a bad-"
"Your dads called me, Rachel. Don't worry about it. I don't know exactly what happened, but I know Finn's been Puck's friend for years now. I'm just glad he has you to keep him from lashing out." Leah said, patting the diva's hand reassuringly.
"N-nothing happened." Rachel felt the need to clarify, not wanting her to think she was a harlot or something. Leah waved it away with a little laugh.
"Honey, I know my son's anything but a virgin, and what the two of you do is your business. Just, be careful. Alright? I'm too young to be a grandmother." Rachel gave a jerky nod, her face flushing a deep red.
"Of course, Ms. Puckerman. But we really didn't do anything. It didn't…it wasn't the right time." Rachel felt embarrassed, but not having a mother to speak with, she found herself desperately wanting to confide with her, even when she was Puck's mother.
"I've told you to call me Leah, Rachel. And I'm glad you're not rushing into anything. I love my boy, but he doesn't always think with his brain." Leah chuckled. Rachel bit her lip before leaning against the table.
"I know it might be a little awkward, but I don't really have anyone to talk to-"
"Honey, you know you can talk to me about anything, even Noah." Leah reached out and gripped her hand, giving her a small smile, which made Rachel relax and squeeze her hand back.
"I just…I'm worried that we might be moving too fast. I don't mean Noah's rushing me, because he's not…but we've only be together for a few months and I don't know if that's too fast." Rachel muttered, still embarrassed to be speaking with Leah about this.
"Rachel, all you should be worrying about is if it's the right time for you. It doesn't matter how long you've been with someone; it's about feeling comfortable enough in the relationship to move to the next level."
"I am, comfortable that is. I'm ready to go there with Noah. I mean, I'm not even a virgin, so it's not that big of a deal, I guess. I just…I'm worried that if we start doing that, then that's all we'll do and our relationship will end."
"Honey, it's always a big deal, no matter how old or experienced you are. And you know I love you like one of my own, but baby girl, you over analyze things too much. Noah isn't going to break up with you because you sleep together; he wouldn't be with you if that's all he wanted, you know that." Leah said with a slight shake of the head, thinking about her son's well-earned reputation.
"I guess so. Only, the last time we did, he turned into a complete and utter jerk and began bullying me." Rachel muttered, thinking about the way Puck had transformed over that summer. Leah leaned back in her chair, a brow quirked at this new piece of information.
"You and Noah have had sex before?" Rachel's eyes widened in alarm, having forgotten for a moment who she was talking to. Before she could start backpedaling, Leah gave out a little laugh.
"I should have known really. I'm sure the reasons for his behavior change, which I'm guessing happened the same time he started becoming "badass", had to do with something other than you two." Leah said, remembering the summer Noah had become Puck; the same summer his absentee father had shown back up to shake their world once more.
Rachel gave a miserable shrug, not knowing what to think anymore. He'd been so different once school had started back up, and she'd always thought that losing his virginity had unleashed the darker side of his personality. She'll never forget the feeling of the freezing horror of her first slushie, received on the third day of eighth grade by the boy she'd given her most personal gift to.
"It'll be alright, honey, I know it. You should wait until you're completely sure it's what you want, and then it won't be so scary. And remember to be careful." Leah said, standing. She placed a light kiss on Rachel's forehead before moving towards the stairs to go to bed.
Rachel watched the closest thing she had to a mother, feeling a little weight lifting from her shoulders. Leah was right, when she was fully ready, it wouldn't be scary. She felt so deeply for Noah (she was too scared to say the L-word) that when they got to it, it would be perfect. Besides, nothing could be worse than their first time, right?
Feeling reassured, Rachel placed her glass in the sink and returned to Puck's room. She hoped he never found out she'd blabbed to his mother about them being together, as she knew he'd be mortified; not only that Leah knew, but also because Leah tended to latch onto the idea of the two of them getting married and she'd probably view this as "destiny".
Pulling the hoodie off, Rachel carefully got back under the covers, hoping not to wake him. She sighed in contentment as she resettled next to him, willing to get overheated again if it meant being near him.
Puck had managed to turn on his stomach while she was gone, so Rachel made herself comfortable against his side; she was startled a little when his arm snaked around her waist. But when the boy didn't say anything, Rachel allowed herself to fall back asleep, feeling safe and cherished.
/*/
The following week was as Rachel had predicted: tense and uncomfortable. Finn refused to speak with any of "The Three", which saddened Rachel greatly as she'd loved having Finn as a friend. She might have wanted something more at one point, but at that moment, she just missed her friend and felt ashamed for keeping such an important secret from him.
But not only is Finn upset, but so are Quinn and Puck. The blonde is often seen crying and it was getting difficult (and annoying) to have to pull her out of her misery to perform. She was getting on Rachel's last nerve with her waterworks, and Santana had promised the diva she'd speak with Quinn before the brunette went all Rachel Berry on her ass.
For his part, Puck felt like shit. He hated himself for sleeping with Quinn and knew Finn had every right to hate his guts; even while knowing Finn wasn't the innocent victim he was playing. The quarterback should have never gone after Rachel while still with Quinn; if he hadn't, Quinn would've never gone to that party or slept with him. That Puck was certain of.
At least he had his other friends and his girl. Mike and Matt had been shocked and angry with him when they'd learned the truth, but after some guy time (involving beer and pizza), they'd come to understand his own side of the story.
They still didn't approve of his actions, because who could, but they decided to not take sides. Instead, they split their time between the two boys and made sure not to mention the other unless they were brought up by their friend.
The other Gleeks had also taken this approach, as they'd been verbally spanked by one Rachel Berry until they knew not to take sides. None of the party members were in the right, even though Quinn and Puck were definitely the most in the wrong; and Rachel wouldn't allow the club to split so close to competition. She felt like she constantly had to wrangle people to get them to work, as Mr. Schuester seemed to be in his own little world of marital problems.
Added onto that, as if they didn't have enough to deal with, Jacob posted his blog Tuesday morning for the world to see. Now, not only did they have to deal with the backlash inside the Glee club, but the entire school knew the secret now and weren't shy about letting their judgments known.
Puck had almost been suspended, twice, as he'd resorted to his old ways to deal with it: kicking asses. People quickly learned to leave him alone, as several students had black eyes and sore ribs as testament to his reaction to being questioned or talked about.
Rachel gave a sigh of relief when Saturday finally arrived, knowing they would either win or lose; but at least she'd only have a few more days of school before winter break. The diva didn't think she'd manage to survive any longer than that, being the rope in the tug-a-war between the Gleeks; while also worrying about her boyfriend ending up suspended or even expelled. Sometimes her life really did have too much drama in it, even for the resident diva.
/*/
(Saturday of "Sectionals" week)
The bus ride to the competition had been loud and enjoyable, even while the tension remained thick. The clubbers were determined to put the drama aside for the day and to give it their best, and Rachel jumped into the spirit quickly, pulling everyone into conversations and laughter soon filled the air.
Puck was once more amazed at his girl, at how she could put aside her own feelings to make sure everyone was comfortable and they would perform at their best. No one would ever be able to accuse the short girl of not letting the show go on.
Mr. Schuester was relieved when his students began talking, knowing everyone was still confused and angry about the secret that'd been revealed on Monday. He was definitely worried about them pulling together, but he took this as a good sign that they would in fact be able to do just that.
"Alright guys, so we've drawn the last slot of the day." Mr. Schuester said as he and Ms. Pillsbury rejoined the seated club members. The woman had agreed to come, as the female chaperon, despite the fact that her wedding was that evening; this caused many eyebrows to be raised from the Gleeks, even though they kept their tongues still, not wanting to offend the doe-like woman.
"We're going last? Isn't that bad?" Tina asked worriedly. Rachel glanced around at their scared faces and jumped to her feet before Mr. Schuester could respond.
"Hardly. This is good news. My extensive auditioning for community theatre has taught me that we either want to go first or last. If we're first, then everyone has to measure up to us, and if we're last, then we're the freshest in the judges' minds." Rachel said, giving a bright smile as she stood next to Ms. P.
"And did you ever get any of those parts?" Kurt asked doubtfully. Rachel lifted her head higher.
"Actually I did, thank you very much." Rachel responded to the snotty fashioniesta, hands going to her hips in annoyance, which earned amused looks from the others.
"Come on guys, Rachel's right." Mr. Schue said, not wanting an argument to arise, as tensions were already high without adding this to the mix. Ms. Pillsbury lightly clapped her hands and smiled.
"Yes, the glass is definitely half full of some very good things right now." The students looked around at each other, panic still lingering in many of their faces.
"They're right, guys. I mean, we're here now, right? No reason not to go in with some positive mojo." Mercedes said and received nods and smiles in return; the clubbers slowly got their confidence back. There was no turning back now, after all.
"Alright, I want you to go take your seats. I'm going to make sure our clothes are put away in our Green Room." Mr. Schuester said, signaling for them to get going as he walked over to the two Berry men, who had everyone's costumes in their car. Rachel waved to them before taking Puck's hand and sauntering off towards the auditorium, not letting anything get her down.
/*/
When two of the Jane Adam's Academy girls began singing "Defying Gravity" in a duet, Rachel felt her heart sink down into her stomach. There was absolutely no way this was a coincidence. Of all the possible ballads to choose from, the girls on that choir group would have never chosen such a number on their own. No, the McKinley Glee Club had been sabotaged, that she was positive of.
Glancing around, she saw all her fellow clubbers had depressed and shocked looks on their faces; Kurt looked especially upset, as he would have been singing that song as a solo. Huffing in irritation at the entire scene, Rachel quickly stood from her aisle seat.
"Where you goin' baba?" Puck asked as he looked up at her. He would never, ever admit it, but he was actually disappointed that they were obviously not going to win now.
"I'm going to go fix this, Noah. Feel free to join me or stay, but I can guarantee you that they'll be singing another of our numbers; or the deaf school will, no doubt." Rachel snapped before she flipped her hair over her shoulder and stomped over to her fathers. Puck watched as the three exited the room, and he debated with himself before he leaned over to speak with Matt.
"Text me and let me know about their songs." Puck said and received a confused look from the other guy before he too stood and made his way to their appointed Green Room. When he entered, he saw Rachel was typing furiously on her "Hot Stuff" laptop, which he had to guess her dads brought.
"What're we gonna do?" Puck questioned out loud as he closed the door behind him. The Berry men gave him claps on the back as he shuffled closer to the crazy girl, knowing he'd have to step lightly so his head remained on top of his shoulders.
"Well, obviously someone leaked our set list. And I'd bet my signed Barbra Streisand album it was Coach. I'm sure all our songs are going to be played, so we have to come up with something else. A whole new set list." Rachel replied as she continued to search through the internet.
"Can we do that? Make a new list on such short notice?" Puck asked as he sat down next to her, a hand sliding down her back in soothing circles. Rachel just nodded, her eyes never leaving the screen.
"Yes, I'm positive we can. The worst thing we could ever do is to simply give up. Now, what should we sing. I'll have to speak with Kurt about the ballad, see if he has anything else in his repertoire. But we need something we can sing as a group."
"It can't be anythin' Broadway, Berry. It has to be something Finn can sing to, since he's the male lead." Rachel turned to him with a bright smile, thrilled that he was actually willing to help her. At her expression, Puck scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.
"What about The Rolling Stones? They'd suit Finn very well, I think." Hiram said, coming to the poor boy's rescue. He knew Puck like he was his own, and he'd never be comfortable talking about show choir business. No matter how long he dated the queen of glee.
"Yes, you're right daddy! They'd be perfect!" Rachel said, sending another smile over her shoulder before turning back to her laptop. Puck gave him a grateful look, which just caused the two men to snicker. Puck pulled out his phone when it vibrated, seeing a text from Matt telling him the Jane Adam's girls had done "Proud Mary"…in wheelchairs.
"You're right, babe. They're doing "Proud Mary" now. Get this, they're even doing it in wheelchairs." Puck shook his head, not believing the juvie girls would seriously not question the choices of songs.
"I knew it! I can't believe Coach would stoop so low! It's so irritating that there are four Cheerios in Glee club and she still is out to get us." Rachel gave another huff, scowling at the computer screen as she selected a song. The men all looked at each other, amused at the short diva's response.
"Is there anything else we can do, darling?" Leroy questioned. Rachel sighed before turning to look at the three most important men in her life.
"Yes, actually. If you could request for the Glee club to come join us, that would be wonderful. If Mr. Schuester says its unsportsmanlike, remind him that the other teams are cheating as we speak." They gave a nod before leaving the two alone.
"What song did you choose?" Puck asked when she turned back.
"I think Finn and I would do well on "You Can't Always Get What You Want." It's got both our ranges and is easily turned into a male-female duet." Rachel replied as she pulled up the song lyrics in the different ranges of clubbers.
"Hmm. Are you trying to say something with the song?" Puck asked, hating that he'd needed to get it out there. But with Finn now a free man, he had the very unbadass fear that she'd drop him and chase after the giant. Rachel glanced at him, confused, before shaking her head.
"No, Noah, I'm not. It's just a song that'll showcase our talent well. I've got everything I want already." Rachel said, leaning into him to press her lips against his. Puck felt stupid and like a girl, but relieved none the less.
"I cannot believe them! What ass-"
"Mercedes!" Mr. Schuester called out as they all came stomping through the door. Ms. Pillsbury looked completely confused and they were lucky she didn't start cleaning the room with her travel toothbrush in her anxiety.
"Sorry Mr. Schue." Mercedes mumbled as she threw herself down on a chair. Rachel and Puck turned to see everyone, and their teammates faces were a mixture of dismay and anger.
"It's not over guys, we can still win this." Rachel said firmly and pointed to her computer.
"How are we gonna do that? They've stole our entire list!" Santana said angrily, the Latina fuming. She really wanted to go cut some bitches, but knew Mr. Schuester would have a cow if she did.
"Of course they did because you gave Sue the list! You don't want to be here—you're just Sue Sylvester's little moles." Kurt said angrily, glaring at the four Cheerios. Puck grabbed a hold of Rachel, who'd jumped to her feet in outrage at such an accusation, knowing she'd do more damage than they could withstand at the moment if left to attack the gay boy.
"I have never done such a thing Kurt Hummel! How dare you accuse me of such!" Rachel shrieked so loud Puck winced, the sound bouncing around his head, threatening a headache. How she could withstand it with the giant bruise (covered by makeup), he'd never know as his brain was beginning to throb.
"Guys, stop it. I gave Sue the set list, as was our arrangement for her leaving us alone. It's my fault, and I should have known she'd do something so…distasteful." Mr. Schuester said, trying to calm everyone down before another fight broke out. Rachel glared at Kurt for another moment, until the boy lowered his eyes, even though he'd been speaking about the others and not Rachel.
"Mr. Schuester's right, we all need to just calm down and take a breather. Arguing about it isn't going to get anything done." Puck spoke up as he released her. Rachel straightened her skirt and blouse before squaring her shoulders.
"Yes, as I was saying, I've come up with a song that we can sing as a group. I've pulled up all our ranges, so that we can each learn our parts. We'll need to come up with choreography, but at least we have a song. Now, Kurt, do you have anything else in your repertoire to pull from?"
"No, nothing that I've been practicing on." Kurt admitted with a sigh.
"I hate to admit it, but you're our star, and if anyone can go out and belt it on the fly, it's going to be you. So you'll have to sing the solo." Kurt said resignedly. Rachel shook her head, even though her mind was yelling at her to accept.
"No, we, we agreed." Rachel tried to turn the job down, but the boy just shook his head.
"It's the only way we have a shot at winning." Mercedes spoke up. Rachel glanced around at everyone, and even Mr. Schuester gave a nod.
"Well, I do have something that I've been working on since I was four. And it'll actually go very well with our situation." Rachel said, earning chuckles from the others.
"Then I guess we have our ballad and our group number. We should close with "Somebody to Love", it's a real crowd-pleaser and we already know that choreography." Quinn said.
"Yes, great. Alright, let's get our parts memorized while Mike, Matt, Brittany and Santana come up with dance moves for the group number." Finn said, feeling like he should say something, anything. He'd been silent for most of the trip, but he didn't want to let the group down, even when he couldn't stand to be around three of them.
"It's going to be choppy." Mike admitted, glancing around the room.
"Good. We're best when we're loose." Rachel said, signaling for everyone to begin. The group separated as the 'dancers' worked on outlining choreography and the others crowded Rachel's computer to learn their parts. Rachel stepped over to Mr. Schuester, who gave her a bright smile.
"I'm very proud of you, Rachel. This could have ended a lot differently if you, all of you, hadn't stepped up to the plate." Mr. Schuester said, surprised the diva had actually been able to pull it off. He felt a little lost, as he should be the one leading, but was thankful his kids seemed to know what they were doing.
"We'll get through this, Mr. Schue. But I need you to go speak with the lighting and sound technicians, to get our cues on point." The director nodded and patted her on her shoulder before leaving. Ms. Pillsbury glanced around, not really sure what to do with herself.
"I think I'll go get something for everyone to eat." Rachel gave the councilor a smile and nod, turning back to her teammates. Mr. and Mr. Berry smiled proudly at their princess, delighted in the way she was growing up. They hadn't spoken of her overnight stay, even though Leah had informed them nothing had happened, but they were glad Rachel was finally coming into her own. She was finally becoming the woman she was always meant to be.
/*/
That night, the Glee club (including Finn) celebrated their hard earned victory at Santana's house with a loud, karaoke included, gathering. Unfortunately, according to Puck, there was no alcohol, as San's mom was home, but the party was still enjoyable, even for the mohawk wearing guy.
In the end, Rachel was able to get everyone to agree to do a 'thank you' number for Mr. Schuester that they'd perform on Monday, before break. They decided to just use dance moves from their previous performances, so all they had to do was practice the song and arrange the choreography, and they were good to go.
Puck thought the whole deal was stupid, but it put that giddy look in his girl's eye, which usually lead to heavy making out/petting episodes, so he just went with it. There was no way he was losing the chance to mack on the brunette, and he needed to make up for his lack of trying to get in her pants last Monday. He was looking forward to resuming that quest, having had enough emotional crap for the rest of his life.
If Finn didn't want to be his friend anymore, then what-the-fuck-ever; Puck had more friends and a kick ass girlfriend, so he was perfectly fine without Finn around. He refused to acknowledge the ache in his gut, because he was a dude, and dudes did not feel crap like that. Nope. Didn't happen. He hoped it'd diminish over winter break, because he was really tired of the damn thing. Not that it was there or anything. Nope. Denial is a man's best friend.
AN: I know, it's a short chapter, but I've completely been wiped out guys. I'm so sorry, a lot of stuff has been going on lately, the least of which was my laptop died on me, which had the chapter on it, so I had to rewrite it. Also, I may have been compelled by Klaus to become obsessed with him, so I apologize for it.
I know I lost lots of readers because of the wait, so anyone who actually read this, thanks! And please review, let me know what you think. I'm not really happy with the chapter myself, so I'd like to know what y'all thought.