Disclaimer: Don't own a thing (possibly plot and out-of-character moments, possibly)

Author's Notes: Ah, Hot Mess, Pregnant Rachel's craziness ensues. A bit of Finchel and a bit more PuckleBerry at the end. Next chapter will have a certain level of PuckleBerry, and then it'll be a bit more one-side 'love troubles' and there's some upcoming Quinn drama.

Thank you to everyone who likes the story, and has alerted and reviewed. You're all amazing!! I should be pumping out a few chapters this weekend/early next week, let's cross our fingers. Have a WONDERFUL weekend my fellow Gleeks!

OH! And the storyline is going to be a bit tipsy-turvy so, so just hold on tight for the ride!! ((Sorry, early morning, late night, and lots of work in between))

Happy Readings! R&R

((PS: Can anyone explain to me what happened to all the scene breaker lines?? Because I might start crying, they all went away!! And now I have just spent the better part of an hour trying to fix it... Gr.))

December 16th, 2009, Wednesday

"Ok! Ok! Move along, pregnant lady coming through." Rachel stopped in the middle of the hall, glaring at Kurt's head. The soprano turned and sighed. "I thought we were allowed to say these things considering the fact everyone knows."

"Oh, Kurt." Tina moaned, shaking her head as she dipped her head down.

"What? I thought that it was socially acceptable?"

"Kurt, seriously, just, no, no more. No." Rachel held up her finger. She felt as if she was scolding her neighbor's dog for chewing up the newspaper.

"Well, it is a fast pass to get through the hallways." Kurt rolled his eyes. "You would think that I could use you to my advantage."

"Technically you're using her unborn child." Tina stated.

"Don't participate Tina." The Asian Rocker rolled her eyes and swung her head from left to right.

Rachel had her head down, her hand covering her eyes. "Do you know I can not walk into any room without everyone looking at me or talking about me? 'There goes the queen of the freaks with her bastard child'."

"Who said that?" Kurt made a nasty face. "Because I'm pretty sure Finn would kill them."

"I don't even know. I think it was Robert Mackie, but it could have been Tyler Locklear." Rachel shrugged. "Do not tell Finn about it. He's been on the war path since Thursday."

"Then let him tell everyone it's his." Tina sighed. "Are you still afraid he's going to turn around and walk away from all of this?"

"No." Rachel looked away as both Kurt and Tina gave her looks. "No, I do not think that, it's just, you know, this is a lot to handle, and I'm used to the ridicule and the slushies and the general unpleasantness of the high school student body. Finn is naïve and a little foolish."

"Yeah, well, you should let him do whatever he wants." Kurt folded his arms, stopping to turn and face Rachel. His open mouth closed instantly as an eyebrow shot up far into his forehead.

"What?" Tina asked, turning to look in the direction Kurt was looking. Rachel spun around, her eyes widening. "Why is Quinn talking to Puck?"

"Maybe he's trying to do damage control?" Kurt offered.

"What damage control? She was the one that outed Rachel and she's been super bitchy." Tina shook her head.

"Maybe he's telling her Finn's the father?" Kurt offered once again.

Tina gasped. "Maybe he's telling her he's the father." Rachel and Kurt both looked over to Tina.

An airy laugh filled the air, causing both sopranos to turn and watch as Quinn giggled, placing her hand on a smirking Puck.

"Are they flirting?" Kurt asked, his hand going to his mouth. "He's gone to the dark side."

"They're just talking." Rachel scoffed, turning on her heel. She clenched her fist, her jaw tightening ever so slightly. "They are friends."

"You are being very calm about this." Tina stated, her eyes still on the blonde and mohawked duo.

"I am not going out with Noah, he can do whatever he wants with whoever he wants." Rachel shrugged, rolling her neck. She looked over her shoulder, glaring in the direction of a smirking Puck and flirty Quinn. "I told you guys, I am not getting wrapped up in all this Finn and Noah drama. It's just me and baby Drizzle."

"Uh! I thought we veto-ed that name." Kurt shook his head. "Drizzle?"

"We are calling it that for the moment, calm your ass down." Rachel bit out, causing both Tina and Kurt to take a step back. "Uh, sorry. I've been a little testy lately."

"I thought the mood swings were getting better?" Kurt whispered hastily to Tina. She shrugged, watching Rachel carefully. The brunette rolled her eyes, flipping her hair back. She gently clutched her books close to her chest.

Seriously, she was fine. Puck, Finn, all of them, could do whatever they wanted. She didn't care. She really didn't. In eight months she would be the one pushing a watermelon out of her 'va-jay-jay'. She would be the one looking like hell (utter hell), while everyone smiled and congratulated each other. Everyone would be excited and laughing and holding the baby, and she would be a beached whale, in a hospital bed, with her fathers probably still not talking to her.

At least this is what she had figured out as she and Mercedes watched a birthing video borrowed from Mercedes' cousin. It was safe to say that she (as well as Mercedes) had never been more terrified in their lives. It had also made Rachel feel, just the slightest bit resentful towards, well, everyone.

"Are you ok?" Tina gently placed a hand on Rachel's shoulder. "Did you have another dream where we all mistreated you?"

Rachel looked at Tina and then at Kurt. The dreams were actually getting the slightest bit out of control. She had one almost every night, which had caused her to seek refuge in the fact that she could sleep at school (there was no need to call Finn every time she had a bad dream). The doctor told her it was probably due to her stress levels. It was hard lying to him when asked what was going on in her life.

Teen pregnancy was not nearly enough for Rachel. She had to deal with Finn and Puck. Cheerios. An entire student body. And Glee. And, truth be told, Glee sucked. If Quinn and Santana weren't being absolute bitches, Finn and Puck were on her like white on rice. She never got a moment to breathe.

And everyone had opinions. No one thought she was getting enough sleep (the bags were rather terrible). And why isn't she eating lunch (she was finally able to go three days without even thinking about wanting to throw up)? Did she pick out any names (she had a whole seven months, give or take, hello!)? And, her favorite, when was she going to tell her dads?

She would be officially in her second trimester, in two weeks. According to Dr. Bernard she would be experiencing her energy return (hopefully), a break in the morning/all day sickness (thank Jesus!), and the baby would be more visible on her eighteenth or twentieth week ultrasound visit.

And even though no one would say it to her face, she knew she was starting to show. In the right clothing, she had the perfect little (minuscule) bump. Such as the outfit she was wearing, which consisted of jeans (with a belly band to hide the fact they were unbuttoned, for comfort reasons more so then anything else) and a gray turtleneck. Ok, so, it wasn't like she was showing a great deal or anything, but it was something. It was real.

"Rachel, sweetie, do we have to take you to the nurses'?" The brunette shook her head, sighed, and began walking down the hall.

"No, I'm fine, just pondering."

"Why don't you stay at my house tonight?" Kurt smiled brightly. "We can do facials, manicures, and then watch 'How to Catch a Predator' with my dad. Maybe you'll sleep better."

"I want to come too!" Tina looked at Rachel, her black/blue haired head nodding. "We can get Mercedes to come too! And maybe Artie! Even though I'm pretty sure he won't want to do a facial."

"Guys, it's Wednesday, I don't really think it would be too smart for you guys to be up all night." Tina and Kurt both gave her big, round eyes. "Friday night?"

"That would give me the proper amount of time to prepare." Kurt look up in thought as Tina smiled brightly.

"Yay!"

"Ok, ok, can we please get to lunch now? I would like to have time to eat." Rachel shook her head, smiling.

Kurt nodded his head, his voice filling the air around them with possible plans and preparations.

Mercedes and Rachel were wandering around the empty halls, trying to get to Mercedes' locker to get her Algebra book. Rachel was shaking her head as Mercedes rolled her eyes.

"You can not get mad at me for forgetting a book. You let Quinn steal your planner." Rachel gasped.

"We said we weren't going to be discussing that anymore."

"That's what you get for scolding me in the parking lot." Mercedes stuck out her tongue, her laughter filling the hall as Rachel stuck her tongue out as well. Both girls were laughing, pausing as they rounded the corner.

Mercedes swung herself backwards, as Rachel stood frozen. It was Mercedes who grabbed the brunette's shoulder, bringing her back around the corner.

"Is that Finn? Talking to Santana?"

"You know, first Noah, and now this, this baboon!" Rachel whispered harshly, sticking her head around slightly. Mercedes looked at the back of her friend's head, her own head being shoved over Rachel's head.

"Can you hear them?" Mercedes whispered. Rachel shook her head.

"Santana looks flirty and Finn looks miserable." She tilted her head. "See, this is exactly why I wanted to ignore both of them."

"Did you ever find out what Puck and Quinn were talking about?" Mercedes looked down at Rachel who made a face.

"No! He said it was nothing important and not to worry my 'pretty little head' about. He needs to be thanking some star in the sky that I didn't kill him." Rachel's whisper was violent.

"Maybe it was about a class?" Mercedes suggested, pushing her head a littler further forward to get a better look at Santana and Finn.

"Pf, yeah, ok."

They watched as Santana began twirling a strand of her hair, her hand moving over his chest. Mercedes' mouth dropped open as Rachel's eyes widen.

"Seriously! I'm going to kill both of those stupid, dumb, Cheerios!"

"I thought you were ok with Quinn and Puck." Mercedes said mockingly. She growled as Rachel nudged her. "Fine. But I will be bringing this back up!"

"What are you two weirdoes doing?" Both girls flew backwards, hands on their chests, and gasps filling their lungs.

"Noah!" Rachel made a low noise, slapping the football player squarely in the chest. He simply laughed, moving so he could peak around the lockers.

"Ah. Hudson is having a chit-chat with Santana. I get it now."

"Hey! At least he looks miserable. You were all up in Quinn's personal space." Rachel jabbed her finger in his chest, causing Puck to raise an eyebrow.

"I told you it was nothing. She was just doing that cheerleader, manipulative, flirting thing."

"What did she want?" Mercedes intervened.

"She was trying to loosen me up so I could give her the dirt on you. She wanted to know why I was spending so much time with you and if I knew the father."

"She didn't think it was you?" Rachel questioned, her tone hostile.

"Apparently, and these are her words, not mine, I 'have better taste then that'." Both Rachel and Mercedes' mouths hung open once again. "I told her that my tastes were top notch, that is true, but you were actually too good for them."

"I can manipulate that into an insult, you know that, right?" Rachel was pointing at herself. Puck laughed, nodding his head. He gently leaned forward, his hand sitting on her shoulder and his lips pressing against her forehead.

"I'm well aware of the crazy, Berry."

"Are you joking?!" The three looked at each other, moving to pop their heads from around the corner.

"No, I'm not joking!" Finn threw his arms in the air. "And you can spread that around all you want! Just leave her alone!"

"Oh shit." Puck stated. He was the first to move back around the bend, his hands moving to both girls' shoulders. "He told the biggest mouth in the whole damn school."

"Mercedes, go save him." The diva looked at Rachel.

"Are you insane? You go!" Both Rachel and Puck looked at Mercedes. "Oh, yeah, I guess, yeah." Mercedes sighed. "Dammit."

She took a deep breath and went around the bend. Rachel sighed, leaning forward so that her head was resting on Puck's chest. He chuckled, one arm loosely hanging around her shoulders.

"Hey guys! Girl, you lookin' hot, what's up?" Mercedes' voice was loud and crisp, hanging high in the air.

Rachel laughed, her hand covering her face in-between her face and Puck. "Oh my."

"See, I didn't cause this much drama."

"Yeah, well, had I learned the word 'no' I wouldn't be dealing with any of this." Her head lifted up, their eyes meeting. "Period."

"You think you would have actually said no to your witless wonder-boy?" There was the slightest playful tone in his words.

Rachel opened her mouth, closed it, sighed, and then shrugged.

"Would you have said no to me?" Her eyes moved from the spot on his chest that she had been focusing on. They moved up his chest, over the collar of his letterman jacket, and across his face, only to crash with his baby browns once again.

"Noah." She tilted her head to the side. "You would have never asked."

"What if I asked now?" His eyes were swimming in hers.

"You can't--"

"Ok, here you go. I am going to my locker, none of you move." Puck looked over to Mercedes and then slightly up at Finn who was looking at the two with a curious gaze. Mercedes, noticing the two herself, simply threw a confused look over to Rachel.

"I told Santana." Finn croaked out. Mercedes looked up at him, then over to Rachel and Puck, and then turned her head and began walking to her locker without another word. Finn seemed to be the only one following as Mercedes disappeared down the corridor.

Puck allowed his arm to drop from Rachel. He cleared his throat, folding his arms, trying to look as bad-ass as he could. He felt he was probably not completely succeeding.

"We heard. She's kind of loud."

"She really is loud, like, no matter what you're doing." Puck added, causing both Rachel and Finn to look at him. "I didn't mean it like that."

Finn shook his head. "She just kept asking why I was always hanging out with you, and if I knew you were pregnant this whole time, and why I would rather be with you than Quinn. And, I just, lost all my patience and told her that you were smart, pretty, and carrying my child."

"You said all that? Really?" Rachel shook her head. "Not that I'm surprised or anything." Puck scoffed. "But, I mean, you, well, and standing up to, you know, I just thought, you're so, I really don't know." She stopped talking. "I have no idea what I'm trying to communicate here."

Finn sighed. "You're surprised I had the balls to admit that you're mine." Her eyes widen as Puck made a twisted sort of face. "No, I mean, yeah, you're mine, in like, a friendship way, but you're totally having my baby. I meant the baby's mine." His arms folded over his chest defensively. "Leave me alone."

"She's not yours, man." Puck stated, his voice low.

"Well, she's not yours either." Finn countered, his eyes narrowing.

"Uh, hello, she's right here, and she sure as hell doesn't belong to either of you." They both turned to see an angry sort-of pout on Rachel's face.

"Ok, I got my book, now, what," Mercedes paused, the tension slipping into her atmosphere. "Uh, ok, well." She cleared her throat. "What happened?"

"I belong to everyone, apparently." Rachel shook her head. "This one wants to know if I'll sleep with him. That one is being possessive. They're both fraternizing with the enemy. And I want a chocolate milkshake."

"You want a chocolate milkshake?" Came three confused voices.

"Yes, I do, I don't even know where it came from. But I really want one."

"Ok Rach, come on, let's get you a milkshake. And on the way home, you can explain to me this whole production you got going on for yourself." Mercedes placed a comforting arm around Rachel's shoulders, shooting the boys a perfect 'I don't know what the hell is going on' type of look.

Both boys mirrored her expression.

December 17th, 2009, Thursday

Rachel sighed, closing her locker door and turning to walk to her morning class. Upon turning, a tall brooding figure stood in front of her, causing her to freeze. Her hand went to her mouth as she stared at him.

"I, um, I kind of don't know what to do." Finn's voice was a forceful calm, his head and shoulders soaked in a bright blue substance.

"Oh my god!" Rachel grabbed his hand, weaving through the laughing, gossiping students in the hall. Finn simply allowed her to pull him into the closest bathroom, barely bothering to notice it was a girl's bathroom.

At least she had the good sense to lock the door.

"Who did this to you?" Rachel pulled a chair over from the wall, pressing it close to the sink. "What happened?"

"I don't know. It was Tyler Leagh, he popped out of no where; mentioned something off handedly about impregnating you." Finn shrugged, his eyes watching as Rachel very delicately ran her fingers through his hair. "There have been a lot of off handed remarks about me impregnating you."

"Well, yes, that is what happens when you tell Santana you're the father."

"She was annoying me." Finn stated, almost mono toned. Rachel smiled, nodding her head.

"I know she was." She grabbed a cloth from her bag (that she had managed to drag along with Finn to the bathroom), and began wiping his face. Her fingers gently closed his eyes, one hand going to rest on his upper chest. "You know--"

"If you so much as think that I'm going to walk away from this situation, I will sue you for custody." Rachel blinked and then sighed. Finn's threat was as empty as her swimming pool in December, she knew it and he knew it.

"I just wanted to make sure you were ok." That wasn't exactly the truth, but oh well.

"I'm fine." He opened his eyes, his hand moving over hers. "You said yesterday one of us wanted to sleep with you."

"So?" Rachel shrugged, the cloth moving to once again close his eyes. "I was angry and temperamental. I wasn't sure what I was saying." That wasn't the truth either.

Finn's eyes shot open, his body moving upwards, causing Rachel to move slightly back.

"Rach, come on. I know I'm not the brightest bulb in the box, but, cut me some slack."

She looked at him, moving her shoulders to shrug. She stopped, however, moving so that she could sit on his lap, her hand still working the cloth.

"It's nothing Finn, it's just, I don't know, boys being boys."

"You want to sleep with Puck?" She stopped wiping his face. "I mean, because he's way more experienced then me." Finn shrugged. "Whatever makes you happy."

There was no malice in his words. There was no happiness, no approval, not even a hint of sadness. She could hear a bit of strain in his tone, as well as a bit of walking on egg shells. It was assumed that he was trying to tell her what he thought she wanted to hear.

It wasn't what she wanted to hear though. She wasn't sure what she wanted to hear. Maybe Tina was right, Rachel should go find a rich man and have him take care of her and her baby. Hell, the panhandling idea was looking better everyday.

"I don't want to sleep with Noah. I don't want to sleep with you. I don't want to sleep with anyone." Rachel's voice was full of defeat. "I am pregnant." She placed the cloth down, watching Finn watch her. She lifted her shirt slightly. "I have to wear these weird belt things because it's uncomfortable buttoning my jeans. Most of the time I want to hug a porcelain bowl and just throw up until I feel completely empty. I'm tired, I'm moody, and I have to pray to some higher being that I won't faint in the middle of class or fall out of bed after having yet another bad dream. So, what the hell is so wrong with you and Noah, that you two find, any of this, attractive? I wish the two of you would just go away, sometimes."

Finn sighed, his head falling backwards over the sink. Silence fell over them, Rachel going back to her task of removing the sugary substance from Finn's face, hair, and neck.

"You're smart." Rachel looked at Finn, her hands still moving over his hair and face. "You're way too good for Lima, Ohio. When you sing, it's like, amazing. You know all these big words and you're always trying to teach us something new. Even if you are a little bossy." Her eyes narrowed, causing Finn to grab her hand. "I can see that. Puck, he can see that too. Kurt, Tina, Artie, Mercedes, they see that. And, you used to be able to see that, but, you don't anymore."

Rachel, who had paused, allowed her hands to drop. She started to move, to stand, but Finn's hands flew to her hips, holding her down. Brown caught brown, and she felt her resolve slipping. Tears sprang to her eyes, her head shaking.

"You can barely tell time. When did you become so perceptive?" Finn smiled at her, his hands tightening, shifting her body to face him better.

"I guess when you stopped." Rachel coughed out a laugh/half sob.

"Wow, I'm very impressed." She nodded her head and looked his face over. "You're going to need a change of clothes."

"Um, I think I'm just going to wear this for the rest of the day. I feel that the slushy attacks aren't going to be stopping anytime soon."

Rachel smiled, her hands moving to wipe her tears. "Ok then, well, good luck to you."

Finn nodded his head, sitting up with Rachel still on his lap. "Yeah, thanks." He gave her a bit of a hug. "I guess I'll be seeing a lot of you today. Someone's going to have to help clean me up."

"I'll send Kurt." Finn made a face. "He's better at it then I am."

"Yeah, good luck to you."

"Hey." Rachel looked up, smiling from her seat in the library. She was taking a breather from the mad-house that was the cafeteria. Solitude seemed to be a saving grace for her these days.

"Hey. How'd you find me?" Puck shrugged, moving around the table to sit across from her. "Beyonce got a big mouth."

Rachel rolled her eyes, but nodded none the less. "What may I do for you?"

"It has come to my attention that what I did yesterday was inappropriate." Rachel raised an eyebrow. "I wanted to send you my sincerest apologies, because you have been really stressed out lately, as per your consistent dreams and your doctor's diagnosis." Puck looked at his hand and then back up to Rachel. "I am truly sorry for my under developed thought process."

The brunette looked at Puck, moving to grab his hand. His speech was written in a handwriting that she knew all to well.

"Did Kurt tell you want to say?"

"Uh," Puck shook his head. "No."

"For all that is good and pure. Noah." Rachel placed his hand back on the table, leaning in her seat. "Why would you listen to Kurt, I'm not mad at you. I'm not even stressed. You're allowed to ask me questions, even if they aren't exactly appropriate."

"Hummel thought I should rectify the situation before it spun out of control." Puck rolled his eyes, huffing. "I'm such a pansy. I'm turning into him and Hudson."

Rachel covered her face. "You are not a pansy."

"Puh-lease. It's written across my head in black sharpie. I should be banging Cheerios, and rocking the football field, and the basketball court. I should be going out to all the parties and singing with all my star power and bad-ass moves."

"Then why aren't you?" Rachel asked.

"Because you have some weird magnetic pull on me. And you're like, totally pregnant. I've watched you throw up more times then I have ever thrown up in my whole life. And you're with Finn."

"Is he telling you we're dating, again?"

"No, he's not, but just watching you two, dude, I think someone needs to slap me." Puck folded his arms.

"What do you want me to say? Tell me. Do you want me to tell you that Finn and I act the way we do because we slept together and we're now having a baby? Do you want me to tell you that I'm in love with you? That I'm in love with Finn? Maybe that I'm really in love with Kurt and I'm just trying to ignore the fact that he's gay? Artie, Mike, Matt, they're all great candidates too, right?"

"Rach,--"

"No, what do you want me to tell you? I like you Noah, I do. And if I wasn't pregnant, or the Cheerios weren't all up in my business, or Finn actually stayed with Quinn, and you didn't pelt me with slushies, who knows. Just like if Finn had just fuckin' left Quinn, I could easily have been with him. That was not how it worked out. I am sorry that I slept with Finn, and that somehow it is hurting you now. But it's not happening now, is it? It was then. And right now, I just want to be able to hang out with you, without it feeling like I have to choose between you and Finn. I want to be able to hang out with him, without it feeling like I am choosing between you two." Rachel shrugged, moving to stand up. "And if that's not good enough, then leave me alone. Both of you."

Puck flew out of his seat, grabbing Rachel and twisting her so that he could see tears running down her cheek. He pulled her into him, hugging her tightly.

"I'm sorry, ok? I'm really sorry. I get it, you're pregnant, as much as we're around for you, this is something you have to do on your own, in the end. I get it." He closed his eyes as a strangled sob was muffled by his chest. "I'm here for you, ok?"

Rachel nodded her head. "I wish this wasn't me. I wish this was happening to someone else. I don't want to be pregnant. I don't want to be noticed. I want everyone to leave me alone."

Puck held her tighter, his mouth opening to breathe in the scent of books and her shampoo. He was really in shock the librarian didn't come to check on them (or at the very least kick them out).

"It's ok." He looked down at her. She was looking at him, her eyes red, her face a deep pink, her nose looking a lot like Rudolph, everything was just a hot mess. "It's ok."

He could see it in the way her face scrunched up that she was going to be crying some more. His eyes moved over her face, taking in the sadness and puffiness that was more than evident. Leaning down, he kissed her forehead, her cheek, the corner of her lips. And then, he kissed her on the lips.

His mouth captured hers, pulling her closer to him. He didn't force her to open up to him, the simple pressure she was adding was enough.

He knew he was entering dangerous territory. Finn would kill him. But he was Noah Puckerman. He wasn't going down without a fight.