"Move your damn head, Berry!"
"Ease up on her, Santana, she's eight months pregnant," Carole spoke up.
Hiram peered over his husband's shoulder. "Well, she is right. Rachel, darling, we can't really see through your head. Could you just lean a little left?"
"Really?" Rachel asked exasperatedly as she shifted slightly. "Can everyone see now?"
"Where is it? I can't see it!" Brittany cried.
"It's right over there, Brit," Blaine said patiently, pointing to the center of the screen.
"It's the thing that looks like a jellybean, sweetie," Kurt said beside him. "The one that's moving."
"I see a foot. Is that a foot? It totally looks like a foot!" Rebecca said excitedly.
"Yeah, Ma, that's a foot. Can you take it down a notch?" Puck said.
"Wow, he's beautiful," Leroy said in wonder. "Honey, just gorgeous."
Rachel looked up at her fathers. Both had tears shining in their eyes as the kind and patient ultrasound technician carefully worked the machine over her stomach. Everyone had come down to Kentucky for her eight-month checkup. It had been quite an event planning it, first starting out with the grandparents and then growing to include the godparents. By the time Santana and Kurt were invited along, Puck had had to negotiate with Rachel's doctor to get the last appointment of the day so that her entourage didn't disrupt the rest of the entourage.
Her eyes eventually drifted over to Puck, who had insisted on his customary stool next to Rachel so he could hold her hand. This was as stressful for him, if not more, but he had agreed to do it since it was what she wanted to do. It was the last big appointment like this before the final count down to baby began. They would have weekly appointments after this, ones that only he would be there for until she went into labor and the herd gathered back here.
It had been a long talk trying to decide if they would stay in Lima or go back to Kentucky. At first, Rachel had considered changing doctors, but when Puck had weighed that against the constant hovering from everyone, she had elected to head back to her house on the base They still had choices to make after the baby came, but he had his job here that he was back working that he liked well enough that kept him busy. Besides, they both knew they could use the time to bond a little more with just the two of them. After the baby was born, it would never be like that again.
"Alright, Rachel, everything looks healthy. Keep doing what you're doing and call the doctor if you see any signs of labor. Both you and Noah know what you're supposed to look for," the tech announced as she flipped off the machine. "I'll have printouts ready for you at the front desk. Unless you have any questions for me, you can get dressed and set up your next appointment with reception."
"Okay, you heard her, guys, everyone out," Puck commanded, dropping Rachel's hand reluctantly to start shuttling everyone out of the room. "We'll meet you guys back at the house."
"But Noah, I think..." Carole started before Burt stopped her with a gentle touch to the wrist. The two exchanged a look before Finn's mom nodded. "That sounds great. We'll see you there for dinner."
One by one, everyone filed out of the room until Puck was left alone with Rachel. He turned his back while she changed out of the dressing gown and back into her customary sweats that she had taken up as her uniform. Puck helped her clasp her silver Star of David necklace back around her neck and waited patiently as she pulled her hair back into a ponytail.
"You ready, Gorgeous?"
Rachel beamed up at him. "Have I told you how great you are?"
"Some, but I'm always up for compliments when it comes to the Puckerone," he teased her. Rachel looked a little worn as he rubbed his hands up and down her back. "Seriously, babe, you want me to have everyone head back to the hotels? I know you're exhausted."
"No, I'm glad they're here. It's just there's a lot of them," Rachel said with a small shake of her head. "I know that everyone wanted to see it, but I'm rather glad it's just going to be the two of us after this. That poor nurse, honestly, it's a lot to take."
"You're telling me," he smiled as he moved his hands down to rest on her stomach. "He's been pretty active today, huh? He was doing flips while he got camera time there."
"Loves to perform like his mother," Rachel replied proudly. "Speaking of mother, have you thought of any baby names?"
Puck shook his head at her. "Nice try, Rach. Have you thought of any baby names? This one is your decision. It's your kid. I'm not makin' that call."
"Well, it obviously has to be something Hebrew for the first name. He is Jewish, after all."
"Of course," he smiled affectionately. "So what did you have in mind?"
"How about Joshua?"
"That's my middle name."
"I know," she retorted proudly. "I want to name him after you. Joshua Finn after both his fathers."
"And for a last name?"
"Berry," she said confidently. "That's my last name and it will be his. He'll have part of both of you with him. Berry gives him a part of me, and it will carry on my family name. Our next one can have your name."
Puck couldn't help but grin. "Next one?"
"Shut up!"
"Rachel wants to have my babies," he teased her. She squealed like a little girl as he tickled her stomach. The baby moved beneath his fingers, causing both of them to start laughing again. "I think the baby wants a song. What do you think, Joshua? Up for a song?"
"Way up in the air, you're finally free, and you can stay up there, right next to me. All this gravity will try to pull you down, but not this time," Rachel sang as Puck slipped behind her, weaving his arms around her waist. She rested her head against his chest and finally let herself just breathe. "When the sun goes down and the lights burn out, then it's time for you to shine. Brighter than the shooting star so shine no matter where you are. Fill the darkest night with a brilliant light 'cause it's time for you to shine. Brighter than a shooting star so shine no matter where you are tonight."
"Gazing through my eyes when the fire starts and fan the flame so hot, it melt our hearts. All the pouring rain, we'll try to put it out but not this time," Puck sang as they swayed back and forth. The rest of the world didn't exist when they were like this. He knew they needed to hurry along and deal with the waiting nurses and their families and just life in general. But for these precious minutes when they were singing, even the history with Finn didn't exist. It was just Puck and Rachel and this baby. It was just their family. "Let your colors burn and brightly burst into a million sparks, but all dispersed and illuminate a world. That'll try to bring you down but not this time."
"When the sun goes down and the lights burn out then it's time for you to shine," Rachel sang.
"Brighter than the shooting star, so shine no matter where you are," Puck replied in harmony. "Fill the darkest night with a brilliant light 'cause it's time for you to shine."
"Brighter than a shooting star, so shine no matter where you are," they sang together. "Tonight."
Song Credit: Shooting Star by Owl City
Author's Note: Sorry this one is so short, but I wanted to give you a little something sweet to tie you over. This week is super busy, but I will get you an update this weekend, I promise! Thanks for the reviews as always!
