Thanks again for the wonderful reviews! This chapter is one of my favorites, because it's my first time writing a holiday involving all the gleeks! It's kind of intense though, so read, review, and let me know what you think! Thanks again loves!
"Pass the tissues."
"Get them yourself, I'm too tired to move."
"They're right beside you Puck."
"What?"
"I said they're right beside you!"
"What, I can't- I hurt too much to argue with you!"
"Well I hurt too!"
"Well I hate cold weather."
"Well I hate you."
November had arrived and along with fading colors and sharp winds it had also brought the flu, each member of the Puckerman household having been struck with the nasty virus. Quinn couldn't stop vomiting her breakfast, Puck wouldn't stop moaning about his ear infection, and poor Beth had been taken to the hospital the night before with a startling high fever. Their house which had been mid baby proof was now lined with prescription bottles and half filled glasses of orange juice, the setting more like a toxic war zone than a place to habitat.
Along with cold weather came cold stares and whispers, as news of Beth's pregnancy hit McKinley high harder that Balen's fist to a basketball player's face when he called her a MILF. While her best friends had remained supportive and by her side the same couldn't be said of the rest of her student body, Cheerios having vandalized her locker with "slut" and "white trash" while the football team made sure to jab Balen every chance they got. It wasn't just her peers that had begun treating her differentlt either, a few of Beth's teachers having become short and uncooperative when she asked for assignments early because her doctors appointments interfered. Some would sneer and others would just shake their heads as they told her they couldn't help, Beth having cried in Emma's arms almost daily for the first few weeks. While her status might have fallen and her social life sucked Balen and her had become closer and stronger than ever, both having stuck to their words of changing their ways for the other.
It wasn't just the Puckerman family that was struggling with rough times either, Balen's family having to deal with their own type of virus as well. Kurt and Jacob had been at each other's throats lately over their son and his baby mama, every day that checked off of Beth's due date calendar bringing more stress and problems to their family. Kurt thought Balen should be allowed to stay with Beth occasionally on the nights before appointments while Jacob had insisted their "shacking up" was infuriating. Kurt allowed Balen an extra hour past his curfew while Jacob pushed it up. Kurt wanted to start contributing to the doctor's bills while Jacob insisted they pay the later ones. While each struggle seemed small within itself the fighting and arguing had taken it's toll on the young couple and their son, the living room couch now Jacob's bed while Kurt paced the floor above. Balen hated seeing his parents this way and guilt would spread through his chest every night, knowing it was his fault and praying there was a way to make things better again soon.
"It won't stop ringing!" Puck groaned as he rubbed the side of his swollen head, his ear infection having gotten worse it seemed overnight, "I just want to sleep."
"I told you to let me put the drops in but nooooo, you're so big and bad you don't need them," Quinn snapped as she leaned over and snatched the tissues up, throwing Puck an evil glare as she settled back in.
"The drops were cold! They hurt when you put them in!"
"So you choose looking like Frankenstein instead of enduring a little pain for relief?" Quinn asked as she blew her nose, "I mean that's just stupid."
"What's stupid is how ridiculous you sound," Puck mumbled as he yanked the tissues back, "Like you're reading Hebrew over there."
"I can't help that I'm stuffed up!"
"What?"
"I said I can't-never mind," Quinn groaned as she settled back into the bed, more than fed up with Puck's loss of hearing, "Just forget it and go back to sleep, I'll deal with you later."
"Fine," Puck pouted as he scooted under the covers, vengefully wiping his nose on Quinn's pillow before rolling over, "But I can't wait to see how you plan on cooking Thanksgiving dinner for everyone while you're all gross and icky."
"I'm not gross and icky, you're gross and icky," Quinn shot back childishly while adjusting her aching body, "And I'll be able to host dinner just fine thank you, some stupid little cold isn't going to hold me back from life."
"I can't help that my eyes are puffy Quinn, and I can't very well work properly in the shop with distorted vision," Puck retorted at her jab, his illness having kept him home from work for the whole week, "I mean do you really want me hacking off my hand or something?"
"One less body part I'd have to keep off my ass every night," Quinn murmured from under the covers, the angry gasp that echoed from the other side of the bed making her smile in victory.
"Don't even pretend like you don't like it," Puck snapped proudly as her jerked the covers, "If I remember correctly you were putting it there the other night…"
"And look where that got me, stuck in this God forsaken bed with this God forsaken headache while you keep rambling on about your God forsaken pain," she grumbled as she snatched the covers back, "Nothing good comes from sex with you."
"I'd like to veto that statement, your argument is invalid and irrational."
"You're invalid and irrational."
"But you love me."
"I don't."
"You do."
"Bite me."
"Ok." Quinn couldn't help but laugh as she heard her husband roar while rolling on top of her, his stomach resting on her back while his mouth disappeared into the crook of her neck.
"Puck! Stop!" she cried in between giggles while flailing her arms behind her, the bigger man now rolling left and right as he smothered her into the mattress, "I can't breathe! I can't breathe! And you're making my nose run!"
"Ow! Damn it!" Puck shouted as he quickly rolled away, Quinn's hand having smacked into his wounded ear and causing a sharp pain to shoot down his face.
"Crap honey sorry!" Quinn sniffled as she sat up, Puck wincing in pain as he held his head, "I didn't mean to honest."
"What?"
"I said I-"
"I can't hear you!"
"I'm sor-"
"What?"
"Oh forget it," she groaned as she rolled her eyes, scooting closer to Puck and pulling his hand down, "Let me see how it's coming along-"
"Don't touch it! Don't touch it!"
"I have to now calm down!" Quinn began examining her husband's ear as he flinched underneath her fingertips, any and everything causing his head to pound.
"Is it looking any better?"
"Is Balen your biffle?" Puck sighed as Quinn forced herself out of bed, dragging her feet towards the bathroom and grabbing the drops she prescribed him, "You have to let me put them in, it's almost closed up and then I'll have to put a wick in."
"That sounds terrible."
"Almost as bad as your ear looks, now tilt so I can help you-"
"Easy, easy man hands-"
"Who's the one in control of your ear right now?"
"What I meant was man those hands, how lovely-"
"Shut up."
"What?"
"I hate you." Quinn continued to scoot around the bed as she followed Puck, trying to make him pause for a moment so she could put the drops in his ear.
"Stay still!"
"I can't!"
"You're being such a girl."
"Isn't that an insult to you?"
"Not as much as it is to you."
"What?"
"Damn you Puck!"
"I'm sor-"
"Would you two shut up?" Quinn and Puck stopped fidgeting around to turn and find their daughter standing in the doorway, eyes puffy and hair frazzled with a tiny sliver of baby bump protruding from under her shirt. She was fifteen weeks now and what had once been a swell had now began forming into a nice round mound, her transition into maternity pants one that involved many tears and coaxing.
"Sorry honey, your dad's being a baby girl."
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Are to-"
"Oh shut the hell up both of you," Beth moaned from the doorway, her parents startled by her language as she shuffled into their room.
"You still having trouble sleeping?" Quinn asked sweetly as Beth crawled in between her parents, their daughter letting out an inaudible noise as she sunk into the pillow.
"I'm so cold, but no matter how many blankets I put on nothing works. Not. A Thing." Puck laughed a little as he pulled the comforter around his daughter, tucking her in the way he used to before pecking her forehead.
"Sorry darling, guess none of us is getting any better."
"And laying in this bed together and letting it fester isn't gonna help much either," Beth yawned as she stretched, "But it took far too much effort to get down here so I'm staying." Beth closed her eyes as she snuggled into her dad's arms, Puck using the moment as an excuse to avoid Quinn and her ice drops.
"Well you came just in time, mom was about to explain on how she plans on tackling Thanksgiving dinner."
"Yes, for everyone but you."
"Are we still gonna do that?" Beth called from beneath the sheets, tossing around until she faced her mom, "I mean look at us, we're hot messes."
"A little cold isn't going to ruin our holiday," Quinn insisted as she settled beside her daughter, "Besides, it's our first one with everyone finally in town and I don't want to miss that."
"Still, there's a lot going on," Beth said as she cocked her brow, "I mean what with Balen's dads, Tina quitting her job, Mi Ma Jean's health problems and Mercedes breaking up with Paul-"
"And don't even get me started on Burt," Puck chimed in, "Dude has been super weird lately, all giggly and cooey, like he's a newlywed or something."
"Exactly, and all of these things are the reasons why we need to have a big celebration!" Quinn forced out excitedly, "Give everyone one night to just have a good time and not have to worry about anything." Puck and Beth shared a worried look as Quinn shrugged them off, now climbing back out of bed and beginning to gather her clothes. The truth was she knew Puck and Beth were absolutely right, nothing having been working out lately for the clan of friend and family. From a car accident involving Mr. Schue and Emma's daughter Avery to Puck's sister Sarah flunking out of grad school because of missing so many classes things had slowly been spiraling out of control, no one knowing how to help or support the other as they all tried their best to hang on.
"Well I admire your spunk kid," Puck said as he offered Quinn a wink, "Just be prepared for a disaster. That many people in one room? Oh it's gonna get serious." Quinn dismissed them both as she headed into her bathroom to change, thinking about Puck's words and how she prayed he was wrong.
"Ok so headcount, me, you and Beth-"
"Jacob, Kurt, and Balen-"
"Finn, Rachel, Emory, and Michaela-"
"Artie, Tina, and Ellie-"
"Mr. Schue, Em, and Avery-"
"Your mom, Sarah, Mercedes, Paul-"
"Scratch Paul, they're done remember?"
"Right, which leaves last but not least Burt and Carole."
Quinn and Puck sighed as they finished their list, twenty one people preparing to fill the Puckerman house in less than half an hour.
"That's a shit load of people," Puck said as he raised his eyebrows, "Do we even have enough turkey for all of them."
"Do we even have enough room for all of them," Quinn grumbled as she looked around the dining room, her and Puck having added two small foldable tables to the end of the kitchen table in hopes of squeezing everyone in.
"Well we can shove the younger kids at the counter, I'll take one for the team and eat in the living room if need be-"
"Oh no, no you're not," Quinn said as she shook her head, "You're not leaving me alone with all of our friends and family, nuh uh."
"But you're the one who initiated this whole fiasco-"
"And you're going to be the one who helps me finish it," Quinn said politely, smiling at Puck as she tapped her pen, "Now I need you to run in the kitchen and check the squash casserole, it-" The items in Quinn's hands fell clumsily to the floor as she covered her mouth quickly, shaking her head to Puck as she darted for the bathroom. Unfortunately for Quinn her illness had lingered on and plagued her all week, Puck having to cook everything while Beth set the table and organized. She had reached the commode just in time as Quinn flung herself to the floor, unloading the contents of her stomach while trying to catch her breath. She wiped the sweat off her forehead as Puck's heavy feet entered the tiny bathroom, one hand reaching behind her neck and gathering her hair as the other rubbed her back.
"You need to slow down Quinn, you can't even get over this bug because you're so busy rushing around."
"I'm fine," the tiny blonde groaned as she coughed, Puck handing her a wet hand towel as she flushed the toilet, "just stressed."
"Well stop it, everything will be fine," he said encouragingly while pulling her up, "Why don't you go take a nap until they get here."
"I still need to-"
"Go-"
"Puck-"
"Now Puckerman!" Quinn growled as he pushed her out of the bathroom, his hands resting on her shoulders heavily as he guided her to their bedroom.
"You know I don't like you," Quinn whined as Puck lightly pushed her onto the bed, throwing a blanket over her body while grinning, "I mean I only keep you around 'cause you pay for things."
"And I only keep you around 'cause you're good looking," Puck finished as he bent down and kissed her cheek, "Now that we're even get some rest ok? I've got everything under control." With a firm smack to her backside and chuckle at her expression Puck headed out of the room, Quinn calling after him with other things he needed to do.
"And check the macaroni…and add tomatoes to the salad…and don't forget to turn the bread!" After a few moments of silence Quinn got back up, tiptoeing to the door and pressing her ear against it. After hearing nothing she gently cracked the door and peered out, the hallway empty as she sighed in relief. She quietly closed the door back and locked it, making her way frantically into her bathroom and crouching down under her sink. Body wash, magazines and toilet paper were all chunked to the tile as she began scrambling around inside the cabinets, desperately searching until she felt relief wash over her as her hand found the white and blue box.
She wasn't sneezing as much and her coughing was all but gone, her temperature back to normal and her throat clear, yet her gag reflex was on overdrive and her back and stomach had been aching for days. Quinn knew the symptoms and remembered them well, knowing that this wasn't just the flu and that if it was what she thought she had more to worry about then having enough mashed potatoes and gravy for her guests.
It wasn't like her and Puck had changed their minds on having another baby or anything, but with Beth's pregnancy and everything that had come with it their plans had sort of been put on hold. Quinn just didn't see how they would be able to help Beth raise her child, as well as having another one of their own, although Puck swore he would find a way. She didn't blame Beth or anything for the situation whatsoever, seeing it as God's way of saying that maybe Quinn and Puck were through with having kids. Besides, two babies in one house was a bit much, and the idea of their son or daughter being younger than their grandchild had kind of started rubbing her weird, so Quinn hadn't thought much about babies at all…until now.
She looked down at the stick in her hand and exhaled deeply, closing and locking the bathroom door before taking the test. She waited anxiously with her watch as the hand ticked away, each minute that passed making her more and more anxious for the results. Finally her watch read two and Quinn flipped over the test, her breath hitching painfully in her throat as the doorbell rang out loudly through the house.
"…and then the doctor's said I had just broken a rib and that I'd be fine."
The table all sat stunned as Avery wrapped up her story about the accident, a few slightly disgusted at the graphic details while the rest shared awkward glances. Thanksgiving dinner had been nothing short of a disaster, beginning with Emory knocking over the dessert table and getting worse with the fight Rachel and Fin had over cleaning it up. To make things even more weird was the horrifyingly awkward dinner conversation that everyone had been forcing on one another, no one knowing what to say so the topic of the weather lasting ten minutes too long.
"Well we're just thankful you're alright," Quinn smiled politely as she tried to shift the topic, Mr. Schue thanking her with a wink as they all ate their meals.
"So Mr. Schue how's glee doing this year?" Rachel asked as she cut up Michaela's turkey, "We're going for the big win at Sectionals right?" The look he and Emma shared was one filled with sadness and worry, Mr. Schue simply smiling and waving his hand as he tried to change the topic once more.
"Ah you know, we'll see how things go." The table looked confused together and all turned to Beth, Quinn and Puck's daughter quickly looking down and avoiding their eyes as they searched for an answer.
"Aw come on Mr. Schue, don't be so modes-" A knock on the door interrupted Finn's comment, Mr. Schue thanking God as Quinn hopped up quickly to answer. She opened the door and was surprised to find only Kurt and Balen, the young boy looking sullen as his father wiped his watery eyes and smiled brightly.
"Well Happy Thanksgiving Mrs. Puckerman!" he forced out excitedly, handing her an apple pie while pecking her cheeks, "Mm, it smells good in there!"
"Er-Kurt, thank you but-"
"Sorry we're late, traffic you know," Kurt quickly pushed past her and began sliding off his coat and scarf, hanging them hastily on the hook as he motioned for the others to come on, "But I'm ready to dive in so come on, come on!" Quinn was more than confused as she turned from Kurt to Balen, the young boy offering a half smile as he stepped inside.
"Hey Mrs. Quinn."
"Balen, hi sweetie," she said as she pulled him in for a hug, "Well everyone's in the dining room-"
"Marvelous, let's get to it then-"
"But Kurt wait," Quinn called as she reached for his arm, asking him the question she knew he'd been dreading, "Honey where's Jacob?" Kurt swallowed hard as he made sure to keep his smile intact, a hollow laugh escaping his lips as he sighed.
"Oh you know how his family is, wanting to get some time with their son too, so we agreed to make everyone happy and see our own families this year. No big deal, just making sure we cover our bases!" Quinn nodded as he tugged on her hand and motioned for Balen, "Now come on, we're already late!" The three of them entered the dining room and were met by happy exchanges, the sweet hellos and waves quickly followed by concerned glances as they all noticed the absent member.
"Now you all ignore us and get back to what was happening, go on and finish, I'm dying to catch up." Silence filled the air as they all looked around, no one really wanting to recap the uncomfortable dinner they'd been having.
"Well you're just in time actually, Burt and Carole were about to make some sort of announcement." Heads turned towards the two elders at the end of the table, hands still locked as they grinned widely.
"Well it's not really that big of a deal," Carole blushed as she swatted at them.
"Nonsense, it's huge," Burt said as he smiled, "Now don't get me wrong, I know how this group of people does with weddings." Half the table turned to Puck and Quinn and half the table turned to Rachel and Finn, memories from the crashing of one and conceiving at another replaying in all their minds.
"Stop looking at me!" Rachel and Quinn said in unison, flicking their forks at their friends.
"It was one time!" Rachel cried out.
"And I'm not the one who shouted "I object" down the aisle!" Quinn snapped.
"Uhm, you're welcome," Kurt said as he sat down beside Balen, "And anyhow Puck stopped those nuptials long before I did."
"Hey!"
"Well then consider my actions payback for yours," Rachel shot at her friend smoothly, "You disrupted Puck's, I disrupted yours."
"Yeah but I actually wanted to marry Jacob."
"And I wanted to have another baby!"
"Where's Jacob anyways?"
"So wait till the reception!"
"No one even knew what we were doing!"
"Finn was a groomsmen, he was missing from the lineup!"
"You've really held onto this haven't you?"
"No seriously, where's Jacob?"
"Announcement here!" The table grew quiet as Burt called out, putting a stop to the back and forth bickering, "Now, as I was saying-"
"Oh God, you're marrying Robyn?" Finn joked, the table laughing for the first time all day while Puck and Balen winced.
"No, God no," Burt said as he chuckled, "No offense Puck."
"Ha ha, none taken," Puck said uneasily as he gulped down his water, Balen shifting nervously as he wiped sweat from his forehead.
"Though you should watch out, apparently she's in town," Quinn said as she pointed her knife at Carole.
"No!"
"Oh yeah, Puck saw her the other night at a bar."
"No we didn't," Finn interjected, Puck, Quinn, and Balen all stiffening suddenly.
"What?" Rachel asked confused, looking between Puck and Finn for answers, "What bar?"
"Uh," Finn mumbled as he looked around pleadingly for answers, "Not a bar, no, we uh-we went to-"
"Wait, was this the night you came home late?" Rachel interrupted, "I thought you said you and Puck were having "heart to hearts" with Balen?"
"Wait, what?" Kurt asked as he jumped in, "You were with Bale-I thought you guys said he fell asleep? You went to a bar?"
"Dad you and Uncle Finn took Balen to a bar?" Puck, Quinn, Finn, and Balen all sat silently as their faces turned red, Puck choking on a piece of lodged turkey while Quinn wondered when it had gotten so hot. The table of friends and family were now all glancing around at the four culprits, everyone confused and trying to catch up as they waited for a reply.
"Finn?"
"Dad?"
"Quinn?
"Son?"
The four of them could only stare at each other as they began to sweat, no one moving until one voice shattered the silence.
"I got drunk with Puck and Uncle Finn and made out with crazy Robyn!" The silence that filled the room was loud, so loud that a ringing filled Puck's ear as his mouth drooped open stupidly and his stomach splattered on the floor. It was as if no one was breathing or moving or thinking, the revelation that just hit them causing a momentary lapse in everyone ability to live. He silence was momentary, although Puck wished it wasn't, because soon after the ringing stopped the loud clanging of silverware on china awoke them all abruptly as the fallout began.
"WHAT?" Kurt, Rachel, Quinn and Beth shouted simultaneously, each of them standing as they began yelling.
"You got my son drunk!"
"You let the awful woman touch him?
"How dare you let our nephew do that!"
"Balen what the hell?"
A look was shared between the three guilty suspects, one of understanding and dread, of brotherhood and guy code, one that only they could grasp. They each groaned in unison as they stood to their respective yelling matches and began trying to fight back, Puck trying to calm down Kurt and Quinn as Finn fought his wife and Balen worked on Beth.
"How dare you Puck? How could you not tell me that?"
"I don't know Quinn, maybe he kept it like you kept the fact that you knew my son was wasted!"
"Now hold on, hold on-"
"Finn how much more irresponsible are you gonna be? Honestly, it's like raising three children!"
"I didn't know he mauled Robyn either! I just thought we got him tipsy!"
"I didn't maul Robyn, she mauled me! Beth please, try to understand-"
"Silence!" Burt yelled as he stood, the arguing adult and kids all turning as they faced the older man, "Now everybody needs to calm down!"
"But dad-"
"I said silence!" he yelled once more, sighing in frustration as he wiped his forehead, "Now-now just what the hell is going on?"
An eruption of yells met Burt as they all attempted to fill him in, his hands going up quickly as he quieted them all down once more.
"Stop that, stop yelling all at once," he said as he adjusted his hat, pointing his finger at Puck and nodding for him to talk," Explain."
"Look, Quinn and I knew the kid was having a rough time-"
"And we felt responsible because we gave him bad advice-"
"So I thought I would talk to him and try to help-"
"We've been there before so we thought we could do something-"
"So you get him drunk?" Kurt and Rachel yelled.
"Not on purpose Kurt, but me and Finn just wanted him to loosen up, have one night of no baby drama or girlfriend problems-"
"I was hurting too!" Beth chimed in.
"You eased your pain Beth, a thousand bucks worth of ease!"
"I'm still not understanding how Robyn got involved!" Quinn yelled.
"Neither am I and I was there!" Finn added. Puck looked to Balen as he threw the floor over to him, the young boy looking to Beth and sighing.
"Look I was a mess ok? I was missing you and I-I don't know I wanted to forget about you and how bad you made me feel-"
"So did I Balen but I didn't go make out with someone else!"
"I know babe I know! And I didn't want to, I barely remember it! And I'm not saying being drunk is an excuse and the fact that we weren't together doesn't make it any better-"
"It doesn't-"
"But in that moment I wasn't thinking ok? I was screwing up and making a mess because that's what happens when I 'm not with you, I don't' know how to do anything without you." Beth watched as he sat back down beside her, grabbing her hand and pulling her close.
"I'm not proud of it ok? I've felt guilty this whole time trying to keep it from you, but I knew if your mom found out she'd be mad at your dad, and if my daddy Jake found out he'd be mad at my daddy Kurt, so I kept it to myself but I couldn't anymore, it was too much to bear, and I'm sorry." The group of adults all stared as the two teens talked it out, feeling a little foolish at their bickering ways.
"I hear ya Bale," Mr. Schue said as he sighed, "I know how you feel about keeping stuff…Glee club was disbanded." The group shared a gasp as they all stared, no one expecting that announcement as he frowned.
"Well if we're sharing here, I'm the one who caused our accident," Avery spoke up and took her turn, the focus now shifting to the young girl.
"And I'm the one who lied to cover it," Emma added.
"Emory's teacher thinks he may be autistic," Rachel mumbled as she avoided Finn.
"And we've been fighting because we didn't notice," Finn murmured as he crossed his arms.
"I didn't quit my job I was fired," Tina said softly as she avoided their eyes.
"And we're moving out of state for her new one," Artie informed them.
"I didn't break up with Paul because we were wrong for each other," Mercedes said sadly as she scoffed, "He broke up with me because I cheated."
"Jacob's not at his parent's house for Thanksgiving dinner," Kurt whispered as tears filled his eyes, "He and I are separating."
"I didn't flunk out of grad school because I missed too many classes, I quit," Puck's sister Sarah chimed in.
"Because I've been diagnosed with ovarian cancer," their mother finished.
"And I'm not sick with the flu," Quinn spoke up lastly as she fumbled her fingers, "I think I'm pregnant."
