A/N Long chapter ahead lol. It doesn't answer any questions but it does set up the events to happen later in the story. Enjoy!
Danielle: Sorry it took me so long to respond to your review! I agree this sort of story could have happened and I guess that is why I ventured to write it. Hope you are still enjoying it and thanks again for the review!
Char: thanks for the review- glad you like the story!
Rachel told Finn and Beth that they were welcome to stay the night because it was getting late. Finn thought about leaving but when he saw Beth asleep on the couch next to Bentley he decided to take Rachel up on her offer.
He helped her take the kids up to bed and then came back downstairs to talk to Puck.
"I guess now is as good a time as any to talk about Beth," Finn said.
"Yeah, I was meaning to bring that up," Puck said. "Look Finn, I'm really sorry about all the stuff I said before. I really appreciate what you have been doing for my daughter and I know I freaked out at you when I found out she was staying with you but truth is I'm grateful that you stepped up to the plate when I couldn't."
"That means a lot Puck," Finn said, "and I was glad to help out. I love that little girl like she was my own Puck and I love getting to spend time with her. She is the closest I've ever been to being a father and she is just such a perfect little girl."
Puck sighed. He wanted to tell him, oh did he want to tell him.
"Yeah she is perfect isn't she?" Puck said as he blushed as only a proud father could. "She really is the best of me and Quinn and I love her so much. I know you love her too and I want you to be a part of her life. I know it was tough on you having to find out after five months of believing she was yours that she wasn't. I know I screwed up and that Quinn and I really broke your heart by what we did. I blame myself for that and I'm just so thankful you have forgiven me and that we are able to be friends again. I know sometimes I made it seem like it was your fault but I don't blame you for anything that happened with Beth. I don't even really blame Quinn. I know she wanted you and not me at first but I chose to leave and not come back. It was all my fault and I can't blame anyone but myself."
"Don't blame yourself Puck," Finn said. "You made a mistake but it is over now. I saw the way Beth looked at you. She is so excited to have her daddy back. That is all that matters now that you are back in her life. Forget about the past because I'm sure Beth already has."
"I just hope Quinn can forgive me," Puck said.
"I'm sure she will be just as happy as Beth that you are her father again," Finn said.
"If she wakes up," Puck added softly as he walked into the living room.
"She'll wake up Puck," Finn said as he tried to make himself believe it. "She has to."
"I owe her an apology and if she doesn't wake up I don't know what I'm going to do," Puck said. "How am I supposed to tell our seven year old daughter that her mom is not coming back? I don't want to have to do that. Beth has been through too much and she can't lose her mother too. I can't lose Quinn. I don't know Finn but I have so many things I want to say to her, so much I want to tell her. I still love her and I think I always will. I guess I have these unresolved feelings and I feel like I just need to talk to her."
Finn looked at Puck and knew that once again the two of them had their sights set on the same girl.
"I feel the same way Puck," Finn said. "Seeing her again just brought back these unresolved feelings and I don't know I think I love her too. I think I always will. I don't know if I necessarily want to date her again but I think I need to talk to her about how I feel."
"So once again, you and I are after the same girl?" Puck asked with a hint of concern in his voice.
"I guess so," Finn said with the same concern in his voice.
The two other times both of them were interested in the same girl it ended badly. First with Quinn and then with Rachel and both times it seemed to end with Puck being the bad guy who the girls used to cheat with and Finn being the heartbroken boy who was cheated on.
"You have a kid with her though," Finn said. "If anyone deserves to be with her it is you."
"I can't do this to you, not again Finn," Puck said. "Every time we fight over a girl you end up hurt. I'm determined to make it bros over hoes this time. I know we both love Quinn but I can't and won't let her get between our friendship. If it means neither of us dates her again then so be it."
"Puck, the circumstances are different," Finn said. "You and Quinn have a daughter together. You guys deserve a chance at being a family and I won't stand in the way."
"Look I don't want to talk about this stuff Finn," Puck told his friend. "We'll let Quinn decide. Maybe she won't want to date either of us."
Finn laughed. "I doubt it," he said.
It was quiet for a few minutes before Puck spoke up. "It won't happen the same way as last time Finn," he said as if he was trying to convince himself more than he was Finn. "I promise you that it won't."
"You've grown up Puck," Finn said as he smiled at his friend. "We both have and I'm sure Quinn has too. I know it will be different this time. I know neither of you will hurt me again."
"I promised you that day you confronted me about almost sleeping with Rachel that I would never hurt you again," Puck said to Finn as serious as he had ever said anything in his life, "and I won't. You are my best friend Finn and I swear to you on my life that I will never let a girl come in between us again."
"I know you won't," Finn said. "Besides if things don't work out with Quinn, Rachel is available. Don't think I didn't notice her wearing your tee-shirt this morning. I know you two must have been together."
"Oh about that," Puck said. He didn't want Finn to know he and Rachel had a one night stand. It wasn't that he wasn't interested in Rachel because he was but both of them had other people on their mind. Puck figured that Rachel still wanted Finn and Rachel thought that he still had feelings for Quinn. The truth was Puck found himself in love with two girls. He knew he had to find out how Quinn felt before doing anything with Rachel because of Beth. He wanted to give his daughter a home and a family. He owed it to Beth and to Quinn. He also knew that Rachel still loved Finn. They had so much history together and well he didn't know it but they had even more than just history. He knew that Finn still loved her too and even though he loved Quinn, Puck thought that Rachel would always be the one he wanted. At the same time however, Puck also knew that Quinn would always belong to Finn and that part of him would always want to be with her.
"Puck, are you okay?" Finn asked.
Puck realized he had zoned off thinking about everything. "Yeah, I'm fine," he said. "Finn what I wanted to say was that the thing with me and Rachel, it was just a one time thing. Both of us have had a lot on our mind and we just needed one night."
"You still love her don't you Puck?" Finn asked.
Puck sighed. He couldn't lie to his best friend. "I do Finn, but I love Quinn too," Puck admitted. "I have so much on my mind and so many different feelings to work out with regards to Quinn and Rachel that I just don't know what to do. You love her too Finn, I know you do."
"I love them both," Finn told his friend. "With Quinn I don't know how to describe it but I just can't get her off of my mind. Even after everything happened I could never get her out of my mind and I never stopped loving her. With Rachel, I don't know man but there is just something there. I love her too and even when I was with Quinn there was always something about Rachel that made me attracted to her. If I had a chance to do it over again I don't know what I would do or who I would choose."
"You'd choose Rachel if you knew the truth," Puck mumbled.
"What?" Finn asked.
"Nothing," Puck said. "It's just funny that once again we both like the same two girls, the two girls that have meant the most to us, the two girls who we have both had ups and downs with. Quinn and Rachel are two very special girls Finn and I think we are lucky to have both of them in our lives. It is just picking one over the other that makes it all difficult."
"I'm with you on that one Puck," Finn said. "I wish I could take both of them and make them one person."
"That would be hot," Puck said.
Finn laughed at what Puck said. "You would say that," he said.
Puck smiled at Finn and then realized he didn't even talk to him about Beth like he intended.
"Finn I got to tell you something," Puck said. "It's about Beth. It is kind of the reason I wanted to talk to you in the first place."
"Oh okay," Finn said.
"Right now the only things keeping me in Lima are Quinn and my daughter and I don't know what is going to happen with Quinn," Puck said. "When she wakes up, we'll have some decisions to make but until then I'm going to stay in New York and I want Beth to stay with me."
Finn was shocked when he heard that. He didn't really want Puck to take Beth to New York but he knew he had no choice. He was her father and although it was going to crush Finn with how much he would miss her, he knew he couldn't say anything.
"Yeah, okay," Finn said. "You don't have to ask, she is your daughter and not mine."
"I know Finn," Puck said, "I just thought I should let you know because of how you have been taking care of her. I wish I didn't have to do this Finn but I think my life is in New York. I want to bring Quinn and Beth here with me when the time is right. I have to stay here for a few more weeks to close everything up with this case I am working but as soon as I am done I'll be home to get Beth and her stuff if Quinn isn't awake yet. I have to stay here but I want you to take Beth back to your house until I come home. Can you do that for me Finn?"
"Of course," Finn answered, "but I think you should let Beth stay here with you. I mean you two just reconnected and I'm afraid she might think you will never come for her. I can go back to Lima and bring her stuff back. Let her stay here. I think that will be the best thing for both of you."
"You really are the best friend anyone could ask for," Puck said as he hugged Finn. "I owe you so much."
"You don't owe me anything Puck," Finn said. "Just be a good father and we can call it even."
"Deal," Puck said.
"It looks like you two have definitely gotten over your issues," Rachel said as she appeared in the living room after Bentley finally fell asleep.
"Better than ever," Puck said as he smiled at Finn who smiled back.
"Rach, I'm going to get going first thing in the morning but Beth is going to stay here with Puck. I'll be back with her stuff in a few days," Finn said.
"Okay," Rachel said, "but you really are welcome to stay as long as you like when you come back."
"Thanks Rach," Finn said, "but the job needs me back."
"I understand Finn," Rachel said as she showed him to the guest room. "Just promise after you bring Beth's stuff by that you won't be a stranger in the future. I've missed you and I wish we kept in contact after the break-up."
"I should have called you Rach, but I don't know I guess I still missed you so much," Finn admitted. "I never wanted us to break-up and I never stopped loving you. I promise I won't be a stranger. I miss you too."
Rachel smiled and then said goodnight to Finn before she went to bed herself. She knew he would be gone before she was up in the morning and she hoped that when he came back she would have the courage to tell him the truth, the truth that she had avoided for four years. She hoped that when he came back with Beth's stuff she would have the courage to tell him about Ian, to tell him that Ian was his son.