A/N: This is a long one. :D

Chapter 11

A Good Start

"What's the matter, Finn? You let four people walk to first base. That's not like you at all."

Rachel watched Finn and his teammates practice baseball that Saturday morning. She usually spend those hours vocalizing and practicing her solos for glee, but one afternoon she heard Puck berating Finn to focus when in the field, so she decided to check up on him. And, she confirmed that he was indeed very distracted.

Finn didn't look at her. Instead, he took a big bite of his burger to occupy his mouth.

"Really? You don't want to talk about it?" she asked.

He shook his head slowly.

"Is that 'no, you don't want to talk about it' or you 'don't don't want to talk about it'? 'Cause that would mean that you do actually want to talk about it."

Finn looked at her, his eyebrows furrowed. "Stop confusing me, Rach."

She sighed and leaned forward from across the table. "Will you please just tell me what's wrong? I might be able to help you."

"See, that's my problem. You're always the one helping me." Finn spoke with a low voice, but it was firm.

Rachel straightened her spine. She didn't expect that.

"I can't even name a time when you needed my help," he continued. "I know I'm dumb as a rock, so I can't help you with anything about school. You're a way better singer and dancer than I am, so I don't see how I could help you with that either. And then…"

Finn shook his head and stuffed his mouth with fries and coke.

"What?" she asked softly. He didn't stir. "Finn, please. And then, what?"

"Nothing," he said.

"It's not nothing. What's wrong?" Rachel was getting a little bit annoyed now.

"Just forget it, okay. I don't want to fight."

Rachel's eyes widened. "Oh, so now, I'm starting a fight?" She exhaled her exasperation in an effort to calm herself. "Fine. Let's not talk, then." She quietly took a bite of her burger.

Lunch ended with both of them not speaking a word to each other. When there wasn't anything left to do but leave, Rachel took out a pen and scribbled some words on the receipt. She pushed the paper across the table to Finn. He took it and read it: I'm going to school to get my car. I'll walk. See you whenever.

Rachel stood and grabbed her wallet. She spun without another word and started to walk.

"Rachel, come on!" Finn called. She didn't stop, so he ran to catch her. "Hey, come on," he said grabbing her wrist. She looked at him but she said nothing. "It's a long walk, Rach."

"I'll catch a ride," she said snapping her arm away from his hold and started her march to the road.

"From your knight in shining Mohawk, maybe?"

She stopped on her toes and rotated to face him. "What?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "I heard you call him that." Finn turned and walked to his parked car. And, as if a magnetic field forced her to, Rachel followed.

"This is about Noah? You're having a jealous fit over Noah?"

He didn't answer. He went to sit on the driver's seat, but he didn't start the engine. Rachel opened the door to the passenger side and quickly sat beside Finn.

"That was nothing. It was a joke. I was teasing him, that's all." Rachel was calmer now. She spoke to him like he was a hysterical baby and she was trying to soothe him.

"He dealt with the kid that slushied you. That's why you called him your knight?" he asked, turning to her.

"Yes, but…"

"It should have been me," he said looking away.

"Finn," she began. "I don't care about that. Besides, it wasn't for me that he did it. It was for Quinn."

He laid his forehead on the steering wheel before saying, "Do you know how useless I feel?"

"You're not useless," Rachel whispered as she rested her hand on his back.

"I didn't even do anything. God! I'm such an idiot!" Finn was talking to himself this time. He was reliving the moment when Rachel was slushied and he just stood there. He didn't even run after the asshole who did it. He didn't even try—at the very least try—to find out who did it. He just went on with his life like it was all a bad dream.

And then, Puck—his best friend, Puck—went and did all the things that he should have done for Rachel. His ego was completely shattered. It was humiliating. It was like Babygate all over again.

Rachel didn't know what to say. She knew this was not just about her; it was about Finn and the way he sees himself. It was hard to stomach what the other kids said about him when word got out that the baby was not his. They laughed harder when everyone learned that Puck was the one who got Quinn pregnant—his best friend, Puck. Finn's ego couldn't be more wounded. And now, this: Puck gets the spotlight again.

Rachel knelt on the seat and wrapped her arms around Finn, her right cheek on the back of his head.

"I'm sorry, Rach," Finn murmured. "It should've been me. I should've been the one protecting you."

Rachel moved back. She sat on her legs, still facing him. "Yes, it should've been you," she said softly.

He turned to her, forehead still planted on the wheel, his eyes watery.

"But, it doesn't matter to me that you didn't do anything," Rachel said as she ran her fingers through his hair. "I would have asked you to do something if that's what I wanted. You're with me. That's enough."

"It's not," he said, unthinkingly.

She began to tear up, too, but she smiled. "Are you kidding me?" Rachel said, letting out a laugh. "I get to kiss you. I get to have you in my arms. That's too much. I don't know however I deserved that."

Finn smiled as he leaned back against the seat, his eyes closed. He believed her… he always did. But he still didn't feel right.

"Thank you, Mrs. Puckerman. It was a really good meal. And, I had a really good time today," Quinn said as she, Puck and his mom walked to his truck.

"And thank you for bringing Baby Summer here," Puck's mom said. She had the baby in her arms, asleep from playing the entire afternoon.

Quinn and Summer spent the entire day at the Puckerman household. His mom was so excited to have them over because it rarely happened. She had cooked a huge meal and had set up a playpen for her. Her friend from work came over and brought her two-year-old son so that Summer could have a playmate. Quinn watched her daughter have so much fun that even though she would rather not stay long, she ended up waiting until she got tired.

Puck played with his daughter too. Quinn watched them and for a second she imagined them being together. Her, Puck and Summer. They could be a family, and her baby could have a normal and happy childhood. Summer could have a chance to grow up with her mom and dad beside her everyday. But, this was a fleeting thought.

Quinn cared about Puck and sometimes when she looked at him, she could see a future with him. He has been trying so hard to show her that he could take care of her and their child. She has never seen him as responsible as he is now. But, when she sees him with other girls she realizes that he's still the same sex-hungry Puck he had always been. He could never be faithful to her, she thought.

Puck brought Quinn and Summer back to the Schuester residence. Doodle, Will's mom, had offered Puck a drink before he went on his way. He obliged and spent a good few minutes in the house, having conversation with the old lady while Quinn tucked the baby in her crib.

Will's parents liked Puck. He was always courteous and very gentlemanly when around them. Sure, their first impression of him wasn't good—what with how he looks, Mohawk and all—but that was eventually overturned by Puck's attitude towards them. He had always been very respectful and always showed his appreciation to them for taking care of Quinn and Summer. But, they knew how Quinn feels about him and they never interfered when it comes to her relationships.

Puck was half-way to his house from the Schuester's when his truck began to sputter. It jerked a couple of times before the engine finally died and he was immobile in the middle of the road. "Crap," he muttered to himself. He got out and pushed his truck towards the sidewalk. He propped the hood up and leaned in, trying to find out what the problem was.

Ashley was on her way home from school. She and the Cheerios spent all day practicing their routine. She drove past the truck and only then noticed that the person with his head under the hood was Puck. She decided to turn around and give him a hand.

She parked her car on the same side. Puck took notice and straightened himself, watching Ashley get out of her car and walk towards him. He sighed annoyingly.

"Hey, stud," she said as she came closer.

"Come to make fun of my loser truck?" he said, wiping his greasy hands with a towel.

"Aw, come on. Don't be like that," Ashley said in a teasing tone.

"What do you want?" Puck asked flatly.

"I just want to help. I know a little bit about cars, maybe I could take a look."

He was quiet, unmoving. This blank stare from him made Ashley uncomfortable. She shifted her weight and crossed her arms, something that she does when she finds herself in a position where she's not in control.

With a sigh, she apologized. "I didn't mean to be rude to you. I wasn't in any position to judge you because I don't know you."

There was silence. Puck didn't stir. Ashley's eyes wandered at the view behind him, she wasn't brave enough to look at him.

"You know about cars?" he said, breaking the silence.

Ashley met his gaze and smiled a little. "Yeah, a little bit."

He nodded and gestured a hand towards the propped hood.

"Okay," she said with a smile. She peered in, leaning against the truck without a care for her clothes. She stuck her head so far in that she was on her tippy-toes.

Puck raised an eyebrow, leaning back a little, eyeing her behind. Ashley was wearing a baby pink Juicy Couture sweatpants, with the word 'JUICY' spelled across her rear, and a white racer-back tank top. This is a grab-worthy ass, Puck thought. He might have done it too, were it not for her voice snapping him out of his trance.

"Hey," Ashley said straightening herself. Puck tore his gaze from her butt before she could turn to him. "Do you have a flashlight?" she asked as she looked at him.

He simply nodded and walked to get the flashlight from inside the car. Ashley, then, asked him to hold the light for her. He obliged, and it was torture. Puck was in the best position to stare at her chest as she leaned in. There was an instance when she was tugging something and her boobs jerked with her. He felt his energy drain. At one point, Ashley even asked him if he was alright because the light started to shake.

"Here we are," Ashley announced, pulling something out.

"Oh, thank God," Puck exhaled as he went beside her, grateful that the torture was over.

"Well, it's not really good news," she began as she held the thing up for him to see. "You totally wrecked your clutch disc. Not only is it burnt, but it wasn't secured very well. And, that's really dangerous."

Puck took the disc while Ashley snapped the towel away from his hand. She wiped her hands as she walked to her car. Puck followed.

"Uh, thanks," he said. "Sorry you got dirty."

"Oh, it's okay. I have moistened towelettes. You want one?"

He raised a hand as a signal of decline.

"So, we should call Kurt's dad to get your car towed… 'cause that's not going to run."

"Right." He was about to turn to get his phone but Ashley already dialed the number and soon enough was discussing about the truck with the person at the other end of the line.

"That was Kurt. He said his dad is still out towing another car, so you have to wait for a few minutes."

"Yeah, thanks," he said.

"I could wait here with you if you want," Ashley offered with a smile.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Of course, silly. So, where'd you get this truck? It's pretty old." She leaned against the side of the vehicle, facing the road.

"It was on sale," he said patting the truck as he settled beside her.

"You bought it with your own money," Ashley assumed.

"I'm guessing that wasn't the case with your car," he countered.

She turned her body to face him, resting her elbow on the truck. "You're guessing right. It's mommy's little gift for her little girl."

He smirked as he turned his body to face her. "Not so little, if you ask me."

She laughed. "I know what you mean," Ashley said glancing at her car.

"Do you?" Puck said with a low voice and an eyebrow in the air. I'm-such-a-stud mode was definitely on.

Ashley picked it up on her Jerk Radar and groaned. Puck saw this and his smirk melted away. She flicked him on the shoulder.

"What?" he asked, a bit hysterically.

"Stop trying to seduce me, Puckerman! It's not going to work. Ugh!" And she stomped past him, on her way to her car.

"Wait," he called, turning to follow.

"I like you better when you're not a jerk. Stop trying to be sexy. I see you when you talk to Quinn and Rachel and all the other glee kids, and I like that version of you. Why can't you just be you when you're around me?"

He was a bit surprised with her lashing out at him like this that he didn't get to answer instantly. She waited, though. Well, at least she didn't storm off, he thought.

"I don't know…" he finally said.

"Is it not possible at all for you to just talk to me without trying to get into my pants?" She paused, hoping that he would say something. A couple of seconds passed without a peep from him, and she continued. "I'm Artie's cousin, who wants to be your friend. Maybe you could try and get used to that idea. That's all I am. I'm not the popular girl. I'm not the hot girl. I'm just Artie's cousin."

He took a deep breath and let his shoulders fall. He nodded. She smiled.

"You're the second girl who called me a jerk to my face," he said.

"Tch. Someone beat me to the punch," she said with mock disappointment. His lips curled up in reply.

Ashley sat at the hood of her car while Puck leaned against the back of his truck so that they were face to face.

"So, what'd you hear about me?" Puck asked.

"Everything, I guess. You were the one who got Quinn pregnant. At the time when she was dating Finn. Who happens to be your best friend. You slept with, I don't know, half of the moms in town…"

"You probably also heard that I was…"

"The school bully," she finished. He dipped his head. "You threw kids in the dumpster. You splashed them with slushies. Including, Artie."

Puck could hear her disgust at him when she said Artie's name. Looking back, he realized that she was much more accepting of him fornicating all around than making Artie's life a living hell.

"I'm… sorry about that," he said.

"Yeah, I know." She had a friendly smile when he looked up at her. "There's the truck," she pointed.

Puck glanced at where she pointed, and returned to her. She was already getting ready to leave.

"Thanks for the help," he said.

"Sure," she said. She was about to enter her car but held off and turned to him. "This was a good start, Puckerman."

He nodded once. His smile stayed as he waited for her to get into her car, and eventually drive away.

A/N: Next Chapter: The Cheerios Routine