"Pucccck!" Quinn squealed, thrown over his shoulder haphazardly. The long lace train of her wedding gown trailing the floor.
"I've gotta carry my woman over the threshold!" He said, slightly tipsy. He was trying to unlock the door to the house, fumbling with the keys.
"We've lived in this house for two years! I think we will be fine!" She giggled.
He pushed the door open and stepped inside, tripping over her train. The duo tumbled to the floor, Puck landing on top of her.
"I love you Noah Puckerman!" Quinn said, her eyes closed, her smile stretching across her face.
"I love you too Quinn Puckerman." He said, brushing a stray strand of hair of her face. The wedding had been grand and elaborate, they had saved every penny for years, to give Quinn her perfect wedding. Beth had been the flower girl, beautiful in a white dress, just like Quinn. It had been perfect. The hours of dancing had smudged her makeup, dark and smoky around her eyes. Her perfectly coifed updo had begun to fall, sending tendrils of hair every which way. "I'm sorry we couldn't afford a honeymoon."
Quinn gently cupped his face, her small delicate hand against his rough, rugged cheek. "It's ok. My favorite place is wherever you are."
He brought his head down to hers, and kissed her softly. Her mouth eagerly accepted his, ready to consummate their marriage. He tenderly kissed her neck, moving down to litter kisses across her collar bone. She moaned, slightly arching her back. His mouth moved to the 'V" of ample cleavage her gown showed, his mouth fighting the stiff lace of the gown to touch her milky, soft skin. She stood up laughing, her head fuzzy from the wine. She unbuttoned the three small pearl buttons at the nape of her neck, letting her dress fall to her waist. "I love you Puck" she murmured as he scooped her up, carrying up the stairs to their bedroom, for their first night as man and wife.
Puck woke up suddenly, his neck stiff. He had fallen asleep in the rocking chair in the baby's room, his dreams going to where they often went while he had been held captive, memories of Quinn. His mind had cycled through all the big ones, the first time he saw her, the birth of Beth, their first official "date", proposal, their wedding. Quinn had kept him alive, his heart aching for her. He had wanted nothing more than to run through the front door, scoop Quinn up, kiss her, run his hands across her belly, swollen with their child. Instead he had been thrust into a harsh, ugly reality. Had Quinn's heart ached for him? Did she dream of him, thoughts of him making it all worthwhile? She had just looked at him, her face ashen and down, pleading with him to understand. What should he believe? He shook his head. "Snap out of it Puckerman" he muttered out loud. Suddenly, the house felt hot and cramped, suffocating him with memories. He left, veering his truck onto Interstate 75, unsure of where he was even going.
He ended up at the hospital, on the 4th floor, in front of the big glass window of the nursery. Puck stared at the baby through the glass. He glanced nervously down the halls, making sure he didn't run into Finn or Quinn. With her scrunched-up nose, and long eyelashes she was the spitting image of Quinn, except for the fuzzy cap of dark curls. She seemed like a good baby, while others cried shrill cries, machines beeped and buzzed, and nurses shuffled by, she slept soundly.
"She's beautiful, isn't she?" A nurse called from the window. "She has your dimples." She wheeled the bassinet closer to the window.
"you think?" Puck asked.
"Would you like to hold her?" She asked.
Puck hesiteted but nodded. It's like his body was on auto-pilot making him hold the infant, something he'd wanted to do since he saw the little swiggle on the ultrasound, what seemed like an eternity ago. He sat in a rocking chair, and the nurse handed him the swaddled infant. "I'm going to miss Ella when she goes home, she's such a good baby." The nurse said. Ella squirmed for a minute in Puck's arms, and opened her eyes just a bit, peering at him.
"Hey Ella. . . Hi Pretty girl!" Puck cooed, his voice quivering. He felt like he might cry. Ella peered up at him, in awe of his voice. The baby gripped his pointer finger tightly. He smiled. "I knew you were a girl, from the moment we knew you were in there. I told your mom. Luckily, she didn't name you Begonia." The tiny infant yawned. "I'm sorry you had to be born into this mess. I don't know what to believe, but Ella, I'm never going to leave you again." Ella closed her eyes for a brief minute, fighting sleep. "I love you pretty girl." Puck said, cradling the infant close to his chest.
"Puck?" Quinn's melodic voice said from the doorway.
"Quinn. . . I. . .I was just leaving.' Puck said, standing up.
Sadness crossed her face. "You don't have to. I just came down to feed her."
He placed the baby back into the bassinet. "It hurts Quinn. It just hurts."
"Puck, I promise you, I never did anything. That night. . ."
She was so close to him, he could smell her soft scent, faintly of vanilla and spice.
He bowed his head, trying to stifle the tears. "I . . . I need time."
Quinn touched his cheek gently. "Take as long as you need. I feel like I've waited a hundred years for you, but I'd wait a million more." She said referencing their song.