A/N: hey guys! thanks for my reviewers last chapter! i hope i get some more for this one! :)
anywho, you guys all find out what's wrong with brittany in this chapter. and there will be another one to follow up once rachel and puck get back to Lima. next chapter is long. VERY long- maybe the longest in this whole story but i actually really love it. i think it's my favourite chapter that i've written so i'm excited for you all to read it.
i write chapters before-hand. just little ideas so i know where i'm heading with this story so i had to change this chapter alot with the rachel and brittany conversation; i've edited, struggled, re-written it, multiple times. it's taken me 2 weeks just to finalize it and i'm still not to sure about it so i hope you guys let me know what you thought!
on another note, so you guys don't get confused- in this chapter, rachel is 7 months pregnant. it gets confusing with the weeks/months thing but i assure you- she is seven months along. (the pregnancy timeline is confusing seeing as how i'll say three more months until mason is due and you'll think she's six months. but that's not true. hope it's not too confusing!)
anywayyy! here's chapter twenty-one! hope you all enjoy it! PLEASE let me know what you think! reviews are very encouraging! :D
..
Chapter Twenty-One
Rachel sucked in a deep breath as her eyes snapped open. She looked around in the dark and heard the heavy rain outside as she tried to regain the thought of her surroundings as her stomach lurched. She let out a little whine as she realize she was going to throw up and sat up, clamping a hand over her mouth. Immediately, the nausea was replaced by a painful jab in her ribcage and then down to her pelvis.
Rachel huffed out in pain, bracing her hand on the mattress but it landed on Puck's back. He groaned slightly but didn't wake up and the pain subsided slightly. Rachel swallowed thickly, her heart racing as she stared down at her belly- big and round. Her breath was ragid and she was worried.
What the hell was that?
She sucked in a shallow breath as the pain started again. It lasted about 5 seconds before fading. Rachel nervously glanced around, trying to find the clock to see that it was 3AM and she felt the pain again.
"Noah," Rachel shook her husband, her voice full of worry and panic, "Noah, wake up."
"Baby- sleep."
"Noah!" Rachel let out a sob she didn't know she was holding in and she shook him again, "Baby, wake up please."
"Rach?" Puck groaned out, "Baby, you have to sleep."
"Babe, Noah-" Rachel felt the pain again and she grabbed onto Puck's arm while her knee bent slightly in pain.
"Rachel?" Puck turned on his back, quickly sitting up and placing a hand on her back.
Rachel gritted her teeth as tears poured out of her eyes. The pain was growing and all she could think about was the baby. Puck asked her a question but there was thudding in her ears and she was hoping- praying- that the baby was okay.
She couldn't lose her.
"Noah, we have to go to the hospital," Rachel sobbed out, clutching at her stomach.
"Why? What's wrong?"
"The baby-"
"What baby?" Puck shook his head, confused.
"Our baby!" Rachel informed, shaking her head as she turned to her husband. The pain was fading but she felt dizzy, "Mason, Noah! I'm pregnant!"
"No you're not," Puck shook his head, "Rach, we haven't even had sex yet...?"
"I'm pregnant though!" Rachel insisted looking down at her belly to see that it was flat. She grasped the fabric of her shirt, "Where's my baby? What happened to Mason?"
"Rach-"
"No! I'm pregnant! Where's Mason? Where's- where is my baby? I need her- I need Mason! Noah, what happened to our baby?" Rachel shouted, tears pouring out of her eyes.
"Rachel!"
"Where's my baby!"
...
Rachel gasped as she woke up. Instantly her hands went to her belly, holding her bump tightly. She felt Mason kick her and Rachel took a long breath in, letting it go as she tried to calm herself. Her heart was beating frantically from the nightmare she had just had and she could feel the cold sweat lining her body.
She had been getting nightmares more frequently lately. Nearing the third trimester, Dr. Coleman said it was normal but if she couldn't sleep to come back to the doctors office. She didn't know which was worse, having a nightmare and waking up in the middle of the night, only to be awake for a few good hours before finally getting back to sleep- or being paralyzed in the dream, not being able to wake up and having to go through the nightmare.
She's had both of those types over the last few weeks- the worst one being where Puck died. She usually got over them, talking with Puck when they woke up and him assuring her that they were all fine. But she knew she was alone this morning, not feeling Puck bring her closer when she woke up a few minutes ago.
She looked beside her, noting the empty space beside her. She figured he woke up and was outside, seeming as how she couldn't see him in the narrow 'hallway' to the kitchen, and relaxed against the back of the bed- still trying to even her breathing.
Rachel heard the trailer's door open and shut, and then footsteps. She glanced down at her feet, smiling lightly to the blonde, still feeling the fast beat of her heart.
"Morning! Puck and Finn just left on the bikes," Brittany smiled to her, leaning on the wall, "Mind if I come snuggle?"
Rachel shook her head, moving over slightly and lifting the blankets. Brittany crawled in, pulling the blankets over her and turning on her side, propping herself up on her elbow. The mattress shifted again and she looked to see Dexter crawl up near her feet.
"Sorry about last night," Brittany mumbled, playing with a loose thread on Puck's pillow.
"It's okay," Rachel shook her head, ignoring the nightmare she just had to focus on Brittany. Mason was moving around in her belly and was kicking up a storm, "We're girls- I get it."
Brittany smiled and looked at Rachel, "I just... I feel weird, you know?"
"I'm here if you want to talk about it," Rachel offered, "Even if you don't, I'll be here to just sit with you until you need someone."
"Thanks, Rach," Brittany smiled again, looking down at the blanket and swallowed thickly, "You and Puck are really good together."
Rachel smiled, "Yeah."
"When did you realize he was the one for you?" Brittany blurted out, her eyes snapping up to Rachel's.
Rachel sputtered for a moment, surprised by the question. She figured that it was something the blonde needed to know- something that may be helpful to her own present issues. Once that thought came into mind, Rachel took a slow breath, shrugging slightly with a smile on her face.
"A couple days after the boys won their homecoming game," Rachel nodded, remembering back to her junior year, standing on the field after WMHS scored a touchdown and won the football season. Brittany smiled to her, but her eyes were still filled with worry so the brunette continued, "It was- I think a month or two- after I told Noah that I wasn't having sex until I was married. I thought for sure he was going to break up with me."
"Really?" Brittany asked, raising an eyebrow.
Rachel nodded, "Yeah. I guess I just figured since he wasn't going to propose to me then and marry me the next day that he wasn't going to just be celibate until we did get married, you know?" Brittany nodded and Rachel continued, "But when I told him, he freaked out a little bit. He hardly touched me, I guess because he didn't want me to think he was pressuring me. But he didn't break up with me."
"Is that how you knew?"
"No," Rachel laughed and shook her head, "My father's were gone for a weekend and he was staying over and I think it was the first night when we had a fight because of my decision to wait. And he made a stupid comment and when I tried to kick him out, he refused to leave and said to me that we had to yell it out because he was never going to leave me anyways; that I was stuck with him and he'll wait until we're married."
"That's cute," Brittany smiled.
Rachel nodded, "Yeah. So when I woke up the next morning, I was just watching him sleep and I remember my dad saying..." She furrowed her eyebrows trying to remember, "That he knew my father was the one when he just stayed up and watched him sleep."
Rachel began to smile and continued, "When Noah woke up, I guess he could sense that I was watching him and he made some joke and I just realized that I could wake up like that every morning and have no complaints."
"That could be a movie," Brittany admitted.
Rachel laughed and shook her head, "Noah and I fight way too much for the movie to be popular. People would get fed up and leave the theatre. But even though we fight like cats and dogs," She looked to the blonde, "I know he'll always be there with open arms. Around him, I can be myself, Brittany. We sure have had our ups and downs- but every relationship is like that."
Brittany contemplated Rachel's little speech for a moment before she licked her lips and said something Rachel was not expecting.
"I think I'm in love with two people."
"Oh..."
"I'm not cheating on him," Brittany shook her head and looked back to Rachel, "I promise you, I'm not. He's such a good guy and I love him. I do. But before him, there was someone else."
Rachel nodded, trying to wrap her mind over the blonde's words. She turned on her side to see the blonde better; propping herself up on her elbow and placed her other hand on her belly, feeling Mason shifting as well. Brittany sniffed lightly and glanced around before looking back to Rachel with her teeth digging into her bottom lip and her eyes becoming blurry.
"I really do," Brittany whispered out, her voice cracking, "I mean, he laughs at my stupid jokes, and he understands me when I make no sense. He makes me so happy, Rach."
Rachel nodded, "Britt-"
"I know I have to tell him," Brittany cut Rachel off, "I mean I should, right? Even if I'm not quite sure?"
"I think that you should tell him," Rachel agreed, "It's the right thing to do, Brittany. I mean, if you were in Finn's position you'd want him to tell you the truth, right?"
"Yeah," Brittany sniffed and wiped the pad of her thumb under her eye, collecting some of the tears that had fallen, "It's just I don't want to hurt him; and the other person just came back and it's just all so uncertain..."
"Okay, so... Was Finn almost like a rebound from your previous relationship?" Rachel asked, biting her lip with worry for her best friend.
"Oh God! I'm sorry I'm talking to you about this," Brittany shook her head and sniffed again, "This must be so awkward for you!"
"It's okay," Rachel nodded, "We're friends too, Brittany."
"Yeah, but you're his best friend!" Brittany hiccupped, "I just don't have anyone else to talk to about this; you're basically my only friend right now, Rach," The blonde shrugged sheepishly. Rachel frowned and wiped some of Brittany's tears away, "I don't have anyone who can relate to what I'm going through. And the other person was my best friend before I got with Finn so it just kind of ended after."
Rachel nodded, "Brittany, you can always come to me; no matter what."
"Please, don't tell Finn," Brittany begged through tear-filled eyes, "I need to tell him. I... I just need to tell him when I'm ready."
"Your secret's safe with me," Rachel agreed but winced slightly, "Just... please, don't wait forever, okay?"
"I promise I won't," Brittany nodded and bit her lips to try to calm herself.
"Do you want to talk about the other person?" Rachel asked after a moment of silence, "I mean, what made you think about them?"
Brittany sighed and turned to lay on her back, brushing her hair out of her face, "Finn told me he loved me."
"That's what happened?" Rachel nodded in understanding.
"The moment he told me it just kind of-" Brittany made a weird gesture with her hands. She took a moment to take some deep breaths while Rachel waited patiently, rubbing her belly as she watched Brittany sigh and lick her lips, "I mean, I always knew that he and I were friends. I could tell him anything without thinking twice and then when he told me he loved me and his eyes were just so bright... I just thought that that was me seven months ago.
"I mean, when I told my best friend that I loved them- they just kind of... I dunno!" Brittany shook her head, "They just ran away! And when he told me he loved me, I realized that I still had feelings for my ex. Because in that moment, I thought of them- not Finn. And it just broke my heart."
"I'm sorry," Rachel whispered, feeling at a loss of words for her friend, "I'm sorry he doesn't love you like Finn does."
Brittany snapped her eyes to Rachel and her chest collapsed as more tears began building. Rachel frowned and leaned over, hugging Brittany closely. Brittany mumbled something but Rachel couldn't hear through the tears. She knew Brittany was holding more stuff back but wasn't about to push the crying blonde in her arms right now.
"Sh," Rachel hushed Brittany, cradling her head to her chest and rocking back and forth as best as she could, "It's okay- everything will work out."
...
Rachel laid on the mattress, Brittany asleep in her arm's as she heard the two fourwheeler's come back onto the camping site. Dexter heard and got up, wagging his tail happily as Puck and Finn talked loudly.
Rachel placed her book down beside her, waiting while Puck came into the trailer. Dexter jumped out and Puck left the door open, taking his muddy sweater off and then his muddy biking pants. Rachel smirked as she saw his boxer-clad body bend to the small table and grab a sweater before turning to face her and stopping in his trail.
His eyes looked at the two girls in the bed before he smirked, "Oh, I like this. I think I've had dreams that started out this way."
"Me pregnant with a blonde drooling on me?" Rachel scoffed playfully, showing him the reality of his 'dream'.
Puck narrowed his eyes at her, "Whatever. I heard them fighting all night-"
"Yeah, why do you think she's here?" Rachel whispered.
"When did this happen?" Puck whispered, pulling the sweater over his head and fixing it around his hips.
"Right after you guys left," Rachel whispered back before narrowing her eyes at him, "Thanks for letting me wake up alone, by the way."
"Finn wanted to go for an early ride," Puck shrugged, coming over and lying down on the bed beside Rachel after he moved her book, "Wanted to talk to me about..."
His eyes looked to the blonde clutching Rachel's waist tightly, surprising both him and Rachel that Brittany could wrap her small arm's around the brunette's expanding waistline. Rachel nodded to him and relaxed against him slightly.
Puck nodded and after a few minutes of silence, he smiled and leaned forward, pressing their lips together quickly, "Mornin', baby."
Rachel smiled, "Good morning."
"How'd you sleep?"
Rachel frowned, remembering her dream, "Not very well. I had a horrible nightmare."
"Hey, you guys?" Finn called out, stepping into the trailer and stopping when she noticed the three people in the bed, "Uh..."
"Oh yeah," Puck nodded with a smug smirk, "Sorry dude, they're with me now."
"Ha ha," Finn narrowed his eyes at his friend before looking to his girlfriend, "I was looking for her."
"Well, she's here," Rachel voiced, "She came in after you guys left."
"Is she okay?" Finn asked, stepping further into the trailer and coming towards the three.
"She's... well, yes she's okay," Rachel nodded and looked down at the sleeping blonde, "Sleeps like a dead person."
"Yeah," Finn smirked, sitting on the edge of the bed and leaning against the wall, "I'm surpised she's not snoring."
"Hasn't snored yet," Rachel laughed lightly, "She's been asleep for maybe an hour."
Finn nodded and placed his hand on her leg, rubbing lightly, "Britt."
Brittany started to wake up, her hands tightening around Rachel's waist as she whined quietly.
Finn smirked and Rachel rubbed her back, "Brittany, Finn's here- wake up."
Brittany blinked awake and looked up at Rachel. She darted her eyes around, seeing Puck second and then Finn. Finn smiled unsurely to her and Brittany sucked in a breath before letting go of Rachel and rubbing her face with her hand.
"Sorry," Brittany mumbled towards Rachel.
"No, that's fine!" Rachel smiled, "I'm a cuddler too, so it was nice to be cuddled against."
The blonde sat up and ran a hand through her hair, "How was your guys' ride?"
"Muddy," Puck stated and laughed, "Finn got stuck. I had to push him out."
"Shut up!" Finn shot out, his eyes sparkling with laughter, "You dared me to go through that puddle! I didn't know it was that deep!"
"You need a shower," Rachel informed to Puck, "I don't want mud in my bed."
"You've already got it," Puck smirked, leaning forward and connecting their lips.
"Want to go for a ride?" Finn asked Brittany.
Brittany paused for a moment, looking to Rachel who smiled at her before looking back to Finn and nodding, "Sure. I'm going to borrow one of your sweaters though."
"That's fine," Finn smiled, standing up and offering a hand to Brittany who took it.
The two started to make their way out of the trailer before Brittany turned back to Rachel with a small smile on her face, "Thank you, Rachel."
Rachel gave her a smile back, "Anytime. Just remember what I said."
Brittany nodded and the two boys looked between the girls before the blonde couple left the trailer. Puck tugged Rachel towards his chest and wrapped his arms around, placing his hands on her belly. Rachel smiled and crossed her legs in front of her as she sat back against Puck. Mason was kicking Puck's hands and he placed a kiss on her neck.
"Did she keep you up?" Puck mumbled against her skin.
"Not for very long," Rachel shook her head as Puck kissed a trail of kisses along her neck.
"What was your nightmare about?"
Rachel sighed, her mind going back to the terrible dream she had, "It was before we were married," She shook her head, "But I thought we were and we didn't have Mason and you didn't even know who she was..."
Puck heard the crack in her voice and hugged her tightly, "I'm sorry, baby."
"I just really wanted to wake up with you this morning," Rachel whispered, placing her hands on top of his and curling her fingers inbetween his. Mason kicked lightly and Puck smiled against her neck, "We both did."
"Tomorrow you will," Puck promised, rubbing their hands on her belly.
"It was like Mason wasn't real. I need her to be real," Rachel shook her head before leaning it back and looking at Puck's shoulder, "She's my life, Noah. It was scary to think she wasn't... real or that she wasn't here."
"Mason's in there, baby," Puck smiled at her, applying a small amount of pressure onto her belly and receiving a kick back, "See? She's real and in 12 more weeks, she'll be here."
"Three more months," Rachel nodded, relaxing her neck and leaning her head onto Puck's shoulder.
"Alot to do in those three months," Puck kissed her neck again, "Ready for it?"
"Bring it."