"Are you ready?" Rachel called out into the school locker room. "We've got to go!"
"Keep your panties on Princess, I'm almost done."
The singer rolled her eyes as she walked fully into the room, and saw Santana staring at the full length mirror. "You look done to me, and Mr. Schuester is beginning to get agitated."
The taller girl looked at her in the mirror and gave her a small smile. "I think you're agitated."
"Well, yes, I am." Rachel flapped her arms in exasperation and sighed. "What are you doing?"
"Thinking." Santana said as she turned to look at her friend.
"Is it entirely necessary for you to do that here? Can't you do that on the bus?"
"I suppose." Santana shrugged.
Rachel looked at the taller girl and cocked her head. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. Everything's good."
"Santana." She said raising a brow.
"Rachel." The other girl replied as she walked towards the door.
"Something is going on. You're being weird."
"Nothing is going on. I was just thinking about… things and stuff."
"Things and stuff?" The Diva asked incredulously as Santana marched off down McKinley High hallway, and she jogged to keep up.
"Yeah. But they're good things and stuff, so don't worry about it."
"Are you sure?"
Santana stopped walking and gave her friend a smirk. "Of course I am. You need to stop worrying about me."
Rachel smiled back. "And why would I do that?"
The taller girl draped her arm around Rachel shoulder and they began to walk again. "Come on Short-Stack, we've got a competition to get to."
As soon as they stepped onto the bus, Rachel could see the relief across their teachers face, and Santana ushered her to the back of the bus where she took her seat next to Quinn.
"Hey." The blonde said, and took her hand as soon as she sat down.
"Hey back." She replied distractedly as she watched the blondes tongue brush across her lips.
"Everything alright?" Quinn whispered.
"I think so." She glanced to the seat in front where Santana sat. "I'm sure everything is fine." She turned her attention back to her girlfriend. "How are you feeling? You didn't have enough sleep again."
"I'm actually feeling okay. I think it's the adrenalin."
"Have you not been taking care of yourself, Fabray?" Santana asked, as she turned to kneel on the seat and dangle her arms over the back of the chair. "Sort yourself out, you dozy cow. Also, I call godmother."
"What? You can't call godmother like you're calling shotgun!"
"Why not?"
"Because you can't!"
"Not a valid reason."
"It's my damn decision who has responsibility for my child if something happens to me! And Rachel's higher on the list than you."
"Yeah, but Rachel's like the other Mom. I'm talking about if something happens to you and her."
"What about my Dad's?" Rachel groused.
"Okay, okay." Santana lifted up her hands in defense. "If something happens to the both of you and your Dad's – I have dibs."
"No! And Puck is her father, so you know…"
"Can I please be one of her godmothers? Please?"
"No."
"Why the fuck not?"
"Because you're sixteen!"
"Well, hopefully I won't be sixteen when you all die." The taller brunette reasoned.
"I am not talking about this right now." Quinn said glaring at Santana. "If you're serious, then maybe we should talk to Izzy about this too."
Santana puffed out her cheeks and nodded. "Yeah, that's acceptable."
"Oh, I'm so glad you approve." Quinn responded sarcastically, but gave Rachel a knowing smile.
Even though Rachel had found it very depressing – they had actually discussed who would take care of Lily Beth if something happened. They had figured out a plan, and Santana would be part of it, if she wanted to be – which she apparently did - It was a relief to know that their friend was already protective of Baby.
Rachel picked up her backpack from the floor and opened it up. "Brittany?" The taller blonde turned around and gave her a wide grin when she was handed a book of crossword puzzles.
"Sweet. Thanks Rach." Brittany didn't waste anytime getting to work.
Then she pulled out a book of serial killers and handed it to Santana.
"Thanks." The Latina said, and sat back down properly on her seat.
Then she pulled out a banana and her IPod; handing Quinn the fruit and one of the ear-buds. "So what shall we listen to?"
"Something with a beat." Her girlfriend said as she peeled the banana.
"Any particular decade?"
"Surprise me." The blonde smiled taking hold of Rachel's hand again, putting in the bud, and closing her eyes.
The singer allowed herself to watch Quinn's smiling face for a moment. She couldn't linger for too long in case someone caught her, but for a few seconds she was able to take in the beauty that was Quinn Fabray, and then she picked a playlist on her MP3 and pressed play.
Not winning at Regionals was a blow. And the ride home was utterly miserable, because, thanks to Sue Sylvester, everyone knew that this was going to be the end of Glee Club.
No one had spoken on the journey back home; Quinn had fallen asleep on Rachel's shoulder, Santana spent the whole time consoling a crying Brittany, and everyone else simply seemed lost and dejected.
Rachel had wanted to cry too, but she needed to keep an eye on her girlfriend. Santana's sister had told them that she thought she saw Mrs Fabray in the audience, but if that were true then the woman had not bothered to even say hello to her daughter, and after that the blonde began to look pale, and it worried Rachel.
The two girls had gone home after declining the invitation from Puck to go to The Barn and get wasted - On the grounds drinking away the sadness was probably not the best idea. And once they were home, she insisted that Quinn went to bed, and she didn't receive any arguments.
Rachel had only stayed up for a little while before she decided that she just wanted today to be over with and went to bed herself.
It was at five o'clock in the morning when she was shaken awake by Quinn.
"Rach?"
The brunette swatted the hands away, and mumbled, "Too early Quinn. Go back to sleep."
"Rach?"
There was something about the way the blonde said her name that caused her eyes to snap open, and to sit bolt upright, and be on her feet in a matter of milliseconds. "Is it happening? Is it time?" She asked hopping from foot to foot.
"I don't know." The blonde answered. And Rachel saw the scared look on her girlfriends face. "Something is happening though."
She stopped her fidgeting, put her hands together and breathed deeply. She couldn't be panicking right now. "It's going to be okay. We have planned for this. It's going to be okay."
Quinn let out a chuckle. "It sounds like you're trying to convince yourself, not me." Then she winced and held onto her stomach.
She wasn't going to panic. She wasn't going to panic. She wasn't going to panic! She wasn't going to panic!
Rachel grabbed hold of both of Quinn's hands and squeezed. "It's going to be okay."
David and Lucas appeared in the doorway of their daughter's room and took in the sight before them. "Is it happening Honey?" Lucas asked.
"She doesn't know Daddy!" Rachel shouted.
"Uh. Maybe we should get her downstairs. Rachel, sweetie, would you get Quinn's ready bag?"
The Diva glared at David, and shook her head. "I'm not letting her go. It's by her door."
The tall man wasn't going to argue with his daughter, and went to get the bag while his husband and daughter took Quinn downstairs.
When he joined them in the Den, Rachel was taking short breaths trying to encourage Quinn to do her breathing exercises, but all she got was the blonde shouting at her to stop blowing in her face - followed by several profanities.
"We should take her to the hospital."
"I don't need to go to the hospital!" Quinn screamed. Then her water broke, "Shit."
"I don't think you have much of a choice now, Kiddo."
"Your carpet." She said distractedly. "I got gross on your carpet."
"That's okay Honey. We'll clean it up when we get back."
"Dad, why are you still here? Get the car ready!" Rachel screamed at David, who just smiled at her.
"On it." He clicked his tongue and bolted for the door.
They all piled into the car, Rachel was in the back with Quinn holding her hand, still taking short breaths but at least now the blonde started doing them to.
Rachel pulled out her phone then pressed one of the keys and put the phone to her ear. After a few rings she got an answer.
'What? Do you know what time it is? I've only just got to sleep for crying out loud, Rachel'
"Quit your bitching Noah, I know exactly what time it is. Quinn's gone into labour. We're heading for the hospital now. In all likelihood it'll be a while before the baby comes out, but I thought you'd like to know now." She paused for a second. "Are you still drunk?"
'No. I'll be there. Where is there though?'
"General. We'll see you soon then." And she hung up before he had a chance of saying anything else.
She turned to the girl in labour, "He'll be there."
"He... Doesn't... Need... To... Be..." Quinn said in between breaths.
"He's an idiot, but he does seem to care about you and Baby. And he is the father."
Quinn just nodded.
Then Lucas ran a red light.
He'd waited for three minutes before his daughter realised they weren't actually moving, and shouted at him to move this rusty pile of crap. He silently thanked God that this giving birth thing didn't happen often - because he didn't think he could cope with Rachel in extreme bossy, and angry mode on a regular basis. Then he cursed his God seconds later as the blue and red lights flashed behind him.
When he pulled over and waited for the cop to amble over to the driver's side of the vehicle, he felt Rachel's eyes mentally stabbing him in the back of the head.
"It won't be long Sweetie." He said as the window got tapped.
"Sir. Do I need to tell you what you just did?" The middle aged policeman asked.
"No. I'm sorry. We have a... Uh... situation." He motioned behind him, and the officer bent down and saw Quinn panting and rubbing her swollen belly; he also saw a very irate Rachel glaring at him.
"Ah." He said knowingly. "Which hospital?"
"General."
"Okay. Follow me. There's at least four more set of lights between here and there that don't change for at least five minutes." He smiled at Lucas. "Don't worry Sir; we'll have her there in no time."
"Thank you so much officer."
Lucas waited as the vehicle pulled out in front of him and he followed it; thanking his God again for Rachel not saying anything. Then apologised to him for cursing him a few minutes before.
Puck had got there before the others. He was pacing back and forth outside the hospital, and sagged with relief when he saw them pull up.
The officer got out the patrol car when the Berry family exited their vehicle and walked up to the two men.
Lucas held out his hand and the man took it with a warm smile. "Thank you so much. Thank you. Our –" He faltered a moment. "-impending granddaughter thanks you too."
"Not a problem Sirs, and good luck." He said as he got back into his patrol car and drove off.
"Dad? Could you take Quinn in please? I need to have a word with Noah."
"Don't leave me Rach!" Quinn panted as she grabbed onto both of the men's arms.
"I won't be long. I promise."
"Okay." The blonde nodded sadly.
As her Dad's escorted her girlfriend into the hospital, Rachel took Puck to one side.
"Police escort. That's totally awesome." He grinned at the direction the police car had driven off.
"Yes Noah, it was very thrilling, I almost forgot about the girl in labour next to me. Tomorrow I hope to have a ride on a fire truck."
"Okay. I was just saying. And in an hour or whatever, when the baby's out, you'll think about it, and realise it was pretty cool." He nodded at her as if he'd made his case, and dared her to argue.
"An hour? How long do you think it takes to give birth?"
"I dunno. Like, two hours or something."
Rachel just gaped at him, and then shook her head. "It is entirely possible that we'll still be here this time tomorrow."
"Shut up! No way, you're totally lying. You just don't want me to be there when the baby is born. We all know that you want to be the father. But guess what, you're not."
"Okay firstly, if you don't believe me Google it. Secondly, maybe if you'd actually read those books I gave you, and supported her by doing more than handing her a few dollars you had spare every now and then, I wouldn't be the only who she can count on during this. Frankly Noah, you really have nobody but yourself to blame."
He looked down, and kicked a pebble. "Yeah. I know."
"By the way. She doesn't really want you in the room with her."
"What? But I'm the Dad here."
"I know. This is why I campaigned on your behalf to let you in. She finally gave up, probably due to my awesome powers of persuasion. Although she does have some ground rules."
"Which are?"
"Well. Firstly, you are not to speak to her. Secondly, you are not to speak to her. And thirdly, you must stay at least five feet away from her."
Puck looked crestfallen. "Way to campaign on my behalf Berry. Jeez, it's almost like you didn't want me to win."
"Considering the circumstances. I think I did pretty well."
"We both know you can be more persuasive than that."
"And how persuasive do you think I could be with an angry, scared pregnant girl, whose water's had just broke, and had been delayed to her journey to the hospital by the police pulling us over. Tell me Noah. Do you really think I have that much influence over her?"
"When you put it like that, I guess I should be grateful I'm in the room."
"Yes you should. Now tell me what you mean by everyone knowing I want to be the father of the baby?"
"Just that you're totally gay for Quinn Fabray, which is really hot."
She punched him in the shoulder.
"Ow Rachel, that hurt!"
"Yes well, I work out, and I have bony knuckles. But really what did you expect?"
"I didn't expect to be punched! But something is definitely going on with you two."
"How do you know something is definitely going on exactly?"
"Because I have eyes, and I know attraction when I see it. Not that I'm complaining or anything, it's now one of my top five fantasies." He winked at her and gave her a lurid grin. "Ow! Stop hitting me!"
She grabbed his arm and dragged him into the hospital. "Noah, just remember the rules okay?"
"Yeah. Okay. Could you loosen your grip please?"
"No."
Noah Puckerman liked to think of himself as a guy that laughed in the face of danger. Who kept a cool head when chaos was around him, and who didn't let anything get under his skin. When he looked at himself in the mirror showing off his Guns - which he did often - he saw what the ladies loved about him, but also, a badass.
He slumped back into his seat five feet away from the screaming pregnant girl and the scary small brunette after he'd thrown up for the eighth time in the space of the five hours they'd been there.
Rachel had text the other Gleeks - and Mr. Schuester two hours ago - And he did wondered why - and how - the Diva had their teacher's number, but didn't dare ask as she had the look of the devil about her. By half eight they were all outside – some of them still hung over - but the nurses said they weren't allowed in the room, so Rachel sent them home and they told her they'd be back later.
But they all just went down to the cafeteria for an hour before going back up. They weren't missing this.
Mr. Schuester, Miss Pillsbury, the two Mr. Berry's and the whole club were sitting uncomfortably in the waiting room chairs when Puck went out to give them an update, and to get away from the two girls. He'd made the mistake several times of not obeying Quinn's rules, and he's been screamed at, slapped, and at one point bitten. And that was just Rachel. Quinn wasn't so pleasant and she'd hit him in his sensitive man area whenever she could reach it.
Sometimes, even when he did obey and sat in his chair in the corner she would throw ice chips at his head, and man, did she had a wicked aim.
"How is she?" Mr. Schuester asked getting up and walking towards the boy. Slightly distracted by the red marks on Puck's forehead.
"Eight centimeters."
"That's pretty far along."
Mike, who had gotten out of his seat when Puck had come out, stood next to him and put his arm around the other boy's shoulder. "You look rough dude." He said with softness in his voice.
"Yeah. Feeling it bro. Who knew just waiting for a baby to come out would be so exhausting?"
"Imagine how Quinn feels? How's Rachel doing?"
"I was pissed when I found out she was going to be the birthing partner, but I seriously don't think anyone else could do it. She looks like she's about to pass out, but you know Berry, she'll do something great or die trying. Honestly, she's the only one Quinn calms down for, when ever I go near her… well, it's not pretty. And the language coming out of both of them is disgusting. I blushed. No, seriously, I did. I would not have believed Rachel knew some of those words. But she does man. She does."
"NOAH!"
Puck could see Rachel's head sticking out of the doorway with an angry look on her face.
"Coming." He gave her a forced smile, and she went out of view. He turned to his friend shaking his head. "She makes me want to pray. She's the only girl I actually want to be a good Jewish boy for. Because I swear, when she looks at me sometimes, I can see her plotting my death."
"She just stressed dude. Chill."
"No! She wants me dead. I know it."
"Actually, you know what? I think you're the one who's stressed. Real life sucks huh?"
"NOAH! I swear if you don't get in here right now, I'm castrating you."
Puck raised his eyebrows at Mike, as if to say 'See' and slinked back into the room.
At two thirty P.M - ten high school students, one high school teacher, one high school counsellor, and two kind of grandfather's were standing in front of the glass, peering in at the small new born wrapped in pink.
"Oh my God she's so cute! I want one." Brittany said with her forehead pressed against the window.
Santana looked up at her friend with a frown. "Don't even think about it."
"Why not?" The blonde asked the Latina.
"Because it's not a fucking puppy B."
"Santana, keep the language to a minimum please."
"Yeah." The cheerleader said dismissively.
Puck ignored everyone around him. All he cared about was the baby that he created a few feet away. Well, okay, Quinn did most of it, pretty much 99% of it actually, but he helped, by having sex with her. That was it really. But that little person in there has half of his DNA.
He was aware of someone standing next to him. Then a deep voice whispered, "Something isn't it?"
Puck had met David Berry several times now since Quinn lived with the family, and he was over there to check on the mother to be. He was often a little confused by how comforting the man's voice was to him. The guy could tell you anything, but you knew that when he said it, everything was alright.
"Yeah." He nodded. "She's so perfect and little, and… everything." He was utterly lost for words.
"That she is."
"I am so scared."
"Scared is good, Noah."
"Really?" He asked tearing his eyes away from the bundle to look at the taller man.
"Trust me - it is. It keeps you on your toes." David smiled. "But you'll be fine, Noah."
Puck took in a deep breath as he focused his attention back to his daughter. "Thanks Mr. B."
"Don't thank me." He patted Puck on the shoulder. "Enjoy this moment. It'll be one of the most memorable and happiest moments of your life. And I can guarantee to you, that you will find yourself smiling when you think of this."
Puck felt a hand touch his fingers and turned to see Rachel. "Hi." She said with a tired smile. And never before had he felt such an affinity to the singer than right at that moment.
"Hey." He said back and brought her into a hug - to the surprise of everyone - including himself. "How's Quinn?" He asked pulling away.
"Sleeping. I wouldn't be surprised if she slept for a day."
"Rachel. I just want to say I'm sorry for earlier. I was an Ass, but you were great in there. I couldn't have done it."
She hugged him again, and he couldn't stop himself from hugging her back. "The nurses have agreed to let us both in there, to hold her. If you want to that is?"
He wasn't sure what the noise was that came from his throat, but the wide goofy grin on his face spoke volumes.
The nurse handed her to Puck first, telling him how to hold her correctly. He smiled, and even if he wanted to, he couldn't stop. Rachel watched from outside, and turned to Miss. Pillsbury.
"Miss. I know you may think this highly inappropriate, but do you think you could distract the nurse for me? She said that we weren't allowed to take photos, which I think is completely unfair, because I want memories of this, and so does everyone else."
Emma smiled something like a wicked smile. "I could probably inform them of many ways they could make this place more hygienic."
"Thanks Miss." The brunette said, stopping herself from embracing the older woman.
Rachel informed everyone of the plan, and they all waited for the counsellor to distract the nurse. Then, a few at a time, they all went into the small room and had their photo taken with the baby.
Everyone except Puck, he just went and sat down on the armchair.
"It's all go isn't it little one." He said to his daughter after the rest of the club had their pictures taken. The way he looked at her made Rachel take a photo.
"Rachel!" He chided, quietly.
"What?"
He stared at her for a moment and then sighed. "I dunno. It just feels like you're capturing this moment, because I might not get another one."
"Why?" She asked with a frown.
"I don't know." He shrugged. "I just have a weird feeling."
"I think that's called fatherhood, Noah."
"No." He sighed. "It isn't that."
"You sound pretty certain of that."
"Quinn's Mom was here earlier."
"So?" Rachel didn't like where this was going.
"She told me she wants Quinn back. She threw her husband out. And now she wants her daughter back. She talked about putting Beth up for adoption." He looked at the singer, and the anger was evident. "It would be for the best, she said."
"What? What did you say?"
"I told her she would have to go through me if she ever tried to put her paws on my daughter."
"Good. Good." She nodded. "But Quinn wouldn't allow it to happen."
"You don't know her, Rach. She can get inside Quinn's head."
Rachel rubbed her face and groaned. "I can't think about this now."
"Well, I'd start thinking about it soon if I were you." He said and shook his head, but then looked down at the little girl in his arms and smiled. "Hello baby Beth. I'm your dad." He said to the pink bundle. "Please don't forget me."
"Noah."
"Wait your turn, Rachel."
"No. Listen to me." She said kneeling down putting her hand against his face, forcing him to look at her.
"What?"
"Please don't treat this like this will be your only time with her."
"Why not?" He snapped, but quietly so the baby wouldn't be disturbed. "It'll save me from the grief that will come later." Before she could say anything - he got up slowly and gently passed the infant to Rachel then stormed out.
She sat in the chair he'd just vacated, and started to rock back and forth gently.
"He's angry, I understand that. He thinks you're going to be taken away. And, I'm worried that will happen too Baby Lily-Beth. But you know what? Even if it does happen, your Dad will always love you," She said as she began to cry. "and so will I. All those people who came in to see you earlier, they'll love you too. Even Kurt; and I'd understand how you might be saying to yourself, well, he didn't seem to love me. But he does. Not wanting to touch you is his way of showing he cares. And more than anyone, so does your Mommy – especially your Mommy." She carefully removed one of her hands from the bundle and wiped away her tears. "But I don't want to think about what might happen."
She let out a sigh and carefully stood up, putting the baby back into the Fabray cot; and then took a picture of herself and Beth-Lily. When she looked at the photo on her phone, she spun around quickly, and saw the nurse glaring at her with a frown.
Damn.
Then she looked at the edge of the glass and saw thirteen people looking at her with embarrassed smiles.
Lousy look outs the lot of them.