Disclaimer: I do NOT own rights to any of the characters from Glee. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
A/N: Well – I was going to hold off on posting this chapter until tomorrow but it turns out that 1am actually is tomorrow so what the hey!
This is actually what the second part of Chapter 25 was going to be had I not cut it off early. Still – considering I hadn't written any of it at the time I posted the last Chapter I think I can be forgiven.
Chapter 26 - Conversations
The Navigator piloted by Mercedes, tracked Burt's truck on the short journey from the Hospital to the Hummel house.
Pulling up outside the house, the group watched as Burt hopped out of his truck and approached the driver's side window.
"I'll give you girls a ride home if you like...", said the older man looking to Mercedes and Quinn.
Both girls nodded, grateful for the offer.
"Noah... I trust you can get Kurt inside and put to bed? We'll talk when I get back."
Puck gulped at the ominous tone in the man's voice but nodded at the implied order. Popping open the back door, Puck hopped out and and proceeded to pick up a sleepy Kurt from the back of the Navigator.
"Bye Kurt...", said Mercedes as she hopped out of the driver's seat and into the back of the Navigator, Burt taking up her place.
"Bye 'cedes...", mumbled a sleepy Kurt as he rubbed at a tired eye.
"We'll see you tomorrow?", asked Mercedes looking at Puck who shrugged Kurt's book bag higher up on his shoulder.
"Probably..."
'If Mr H doesn't smother me in my sleep...'
The girl nodded and closed the door behind her before the Navigator pulled away from the curb and disappeared around the corner.
Sighing and hefting the small boy closer to his chest, Puck mumbled,
"Come on Spider Monkey – let's put you to bed."
Puck was able to get into the house without issue using Kurt's keys from his bag.
Carefully, given that he didn't have a free hand to switch on any lights, Puck carried the now lightly sleeping Kurt down to his basement bedroom.
Gently laying the boy down on his bed, Puck watched the boy fondly.
'I now have Kurt...'
The thought brought a smile to Puck's face as he relished in the fact that he could now show Kurt exactly what dating Puckzilla was all about. Well not right now obviously because Kurt was sleeping off a hit of Percocet.
Thankfully this time the drugs had kicked in fast and made the brunette very tired – there would be no repeat of the pool cleaning incident from the week before.
Quickly stripping off the brunette's shoes and socks, Puck scoffed when he found himself taking care to fold them.
'Noah Puckerman badass sock folder...'
Scrunching up the socks into little balls which he then fired across the room in defiance, Puck turned his attention back to Kurt who had begun to snore softly.
Quickly unbuttoning the brunette's shirt, Puck had to remind himself to keep his eye on the job at hand, as he uncovered more and more of Kurt's torso.
"God do I want him...", Puck murmured as he shook his head.
Ignoring his urges, the half-back removed the shirt quickly, cursing under his breath as the material snagged on the cast running from Kurt's wrist to his mid-forearm. A moment later, Kurt's pants were removed too.
Standing back and looking down on the sleeping boy, Puck couldn't think of anything in his life that had ever looked to beautiful.
'Shit... there was that damn word again...'
But there was no escaping it – Kurt wasn't handsome – he wasn't rugged – he wasn't pretty – none of those words did justice to the little kicker.
Kurt was beautiful.
"You're beautiful...", he murmured as he lifted the boy, clad only in a pair of tight black briefs that moulded to his frame as if they'd been painted on.
Pulling down the sheets, Puck laid the smaller boy down and pulled the sheet up to rest just above his breastbone. Leaning over he placed a gentle kiss on Kurt's forehead before murmuring,
"G'night Spider Monkey..."
Not expecting and not receiving any reply, Puck silently retreated back up to the main level of the house to await his execution.
Puck was engrossed in an episode of Deadliest Catch – man did he love that show – when he heard the front door open and close.
Quickly shutting off the TV, Puck waited for the inevitable – he wasn't to be kept waiting long as Mr H entered the Den and sagged tiredly down into the couch opposite the jock.
The silence stretched long enough for Puck to begin to think that Mr H had fallen asleep before the man's voice caused him to jump.
"I've been trying to figure out something Noah – maybe you can help me understand. How do I justify letting my son continue to see you?"
Puck gulped as he looked at the older man who opened his eyes as he tiredly scratched at the stubble on his chin.
"I- I'll find somewhere else to live...", Puck said softly, already running through options and realising there were no potential candidates to turn to, "... but whether Kurt wants to see me or not isn't up to you."
Puck met the older man's eyes in defiance – he would not give up Kurt – not after everything he'd done to get to this point.
"You're having a baby."
Burt's voice was level and calm and if anything tired more than anything else.
"Yes sir."
"I won't even pretend to understand what exactly is going on between you and my son. But I need you to understand something – if you even think of toying with Kurt's feelings, I will end you – do you understand?"
It was in that moment that Puck realised that his badass reputation amongst the teenagers of Lima amounted to less than nothing in the grand scheme of things. That reputation – which he'd fought so hard to hang onto for so long – now meant less than shit and Puck came to realise what true menace was and that his own brand of menace was nothing more than a poor imitation.
"Yes sir."
Burt sighed and rubbed at his eyes even more seeing the jock's defeated posture,
"And I'm not kicking you out Noah – relax already."
Puck looked up at the man in surprise,
"You're not?"
Burt shook his head,
"No I'm not. I made a promise to my son to help you in any way you needed – my obligation doesn't stop just because of this. Besides somehow I think if I tried to kick you out, my son would leave with you... he's fallen for you hard son."
"Thank you sir. And I know – I've fallen for him just as hard."
Burt sighed and looked at the half-back.
"I think if I'm going to have this conversation then it needs beer – c'mon."
With that Burt levered himself up off of the sofa and wandered through to the kitchen.
Puck sat in shock for a moment. He was alive – he still had a place to stay – but mostly he was just pleased to be alive!
Realising that he'd been sitting for several seconds and was keeping the older man waiting, Puck hurriedly got to his feet and made his way into the kitchen.
Burt had already fetched a couple of bottles of beer from the refrigerator and taken up his usual seat at the head of the breakfast table by the time Puck arrived.
Looking at the second bottle like it might bite him, Puck jumped as Burt chuckled.
"Take it, Noah... go on."
Not being one to look a gift horse in the mouth, Puck snatched up the bottle and popped the cap in one smooth – well practiced motion.
"Not your first time at the Rodeo I see...", said Burt while Puck sat himself down looking sheepish before swallowing a large gulp.
"No sir...", said Puck wiping his mouth with his sleeve.
Burt rolled his eyes before taking a draw from his bottle,
"Don't let Kurt catch you wiping your mouth on your new suit – trust me on that."
Puck snorted as the man looked truly scared for a second before his usual implacable mask fell back into place.
"Y'know son – there are very few people in this world that call me Sir – telemarketers and my Bank Manager and that's about it – my name's Burt... or Mr Hummel if that's any easier."
"Sure thing Mr H...", answered Puck feeling more at ease with the conversation.
Burt cringed at the new moniker but supposed it was an improvement.
"So... the baby."
Puck's face paled as he nodded morosely.
"What's going on there? Are you and this Quinn girl planning to keep it?"
Puck shook his head,
"No Si... Mr H. Q and I came to an agreement that the baby – it's a girl – would go up for adoption. We're both too young to be parents and we'd probably suck at it anyway."
Burt looked thoughtful as he nodded and took another draw from his beer.
"Why do you say that?"
Puck snorted before placing the bottle down in front of him and worrying the label between his fingers,
"What kind of role models do I have? An absent Father and an alcoholic Mother. Nah, the kid's better off never knowing I exist."
Burt could see the despondency in the jock's posture which was slumped and defeated.
"You don't know that – you could end up being a great Father. Take me for example, I was terrified when Ellie told me she was expecting."
Puck looked up to meet Mr H's eyes which were alight with passion as he talked about his family – it was obvious that it was the most important thing in the older man's life,
"I had no idea what I was going to do – whether I could even cope – what did I know about being responsible for this entire new person that I was bringing into the world? I couldn't even work the stove properly..."
Puck remained silent and took another swig from his bottle, glad for the slight alcohol buzz which took the edge off the despair he could feel bubbling up.
"It was my own Father that set me straight one day a few weeks before Ellie's due date. He sat me down in this very kitchen and looked me straight in the eye and said 'Son. You can choose to be a good Father or a bad Father but what matters most of all is that your child has a Father either way."
Puck considered the man's words before asking,
"So you think I should raise my daughter?"
"Oh God no!...", Puck looked up in shock at the man's sudden vehement reaction, "... You're obviously too young right now – both of you. What I was saying was that eventually, when you're older and wiser don't let your own upbringing handicap you in what you think you can or can't do."
'One day I could be a good Father...'
Puck smiled in gratitude at the older man as Burt reached over to the icebox and drew out another pair of bottles – sliding one the length of the table.
"So... this thing with the Hudson kid?"
Puck chuckled and then groaned in relief as he held the ice cold bottle up to his swollen eye.
"Yeah... that could have gone better...", he admitted.
"Can you blame the kid for being angry?", asked Burt looking to see whether the jock understood what exactly he'd done wrong.
"No... no I can't blame him for being angry – I can blame him for hurting Kurt though – but that's a reckoning for another day."
Burt didn't advocate violence but he was pleased to see the protective streak in the half-back when it came to his son. Maybe his boy had picked right after all.
"I take it the thing you had with the pregnant girl is over now? I won't have you taking advantage of Kurt..."
Puck raised his hands in surrender,
"Definitely over Mr H – no need to worry on that count. It was one night thing, that if either of us could take it back, I think we would without hesitation."
"Good answer...", said Burt with a smile toasting the boy and draining the remainder of his beer from the bottle, "... do right by Kurt and we'll have no problems."
"Thanks Mr H."
Burt placed his empty bottle down on the counter and appeared to debate whether to reach for a third or not.
"Damn Kurt and his lectures...", Burt chuckled at Puck's incredulous look, "... apparently I drink too much."
Puck chuckled imagining the brunette taking his Dad to task over his drinking habits. Folding his hands in front of him on the table, the older man resisted returning to the ice box and stared enviously at Puck who still had half of his second bottle to consume.
"Now that we've gotten that part out of the way – living arrangements. I met with Raymond after the funeral this morning. He's got his lawyers working on the required papers to transfer your guardianship to me."
Puck's jaw dropped before a sudden horrified thought crossed his mind,
"Uh... Mr H – you're not going to adopt me or anything are you?"
Burt smiled widely deciding to needle the half-back a little,
"Of course! But don't worry we'll let you double-barrel your surname. How does Noah Hummel-Puckerman sound to you? Or Noah Puckerman-Hummel? Very distinguished."
'Oh shit... how do I tell him?'
"Uh... Mr H?... I don't... I don't know... I'm dating your son..."
Anything Puck might have said was derailed a moment later as Burt's booming laughter filled the kitchen as he pointed at the jock's shell-shocked expression.
"Oh that was priceless!"
Realising he'd been played – again – Puck glared ineffectually at the older man as he calmed down.
"Sorry Noah... I couldn't resist. No I can assure you that I have no intentions of adopting you. You'll remain Noah Puckerman."
Puck's tense shoulders relaxed visibly at the reassurance and he sighed in relief.
"That was not cool Mr H!"
Burt waved him off,
"Of course it was – for me at least – c'mon give an old man his fun once in a while!"
Puck chuckled seeing the genuine good humour sparkling in the man's eyes.
"No – what Raymond and I have discussed – if you agree that it's what you would like of course – is that I would take custody of you until you turn 18 and Raymond will cover your 'running costs' for lack of a better term."
Puck was floored – that was... that was quite honestly more than anyone had ever done for him in his entire life.
His throat thick with emotion Puck ducked his head,
"I- I don't know what to say..."
Puck could hear the smile in Mr H's voice as he replied,
"Just say that you want to stay with us and I'll work to make sure it happens."
"I want to stay...", said Puck with conviction looking up to meet Mr H's eyes, "... thank you."
"Good. Now if you stay, you'll have to share a room with Kurt – and there will be some ground rules."
Puck nodded readily, he was prepared to put up with just about anything, as he took a swig of beer.
"Rule Number 1 is if you are going to have sex with Kurt – hang a tie on the door handle."
Puck sprayed the table with his drink in shock as he started to cough uncontrollably.
"What? Mr H – I'd never..."
Burt cut him off teasingly,
"I think my son would be very unhappy if he were to hear you were never going to have sex with him."
Puck's face was so red right now he was sure he could probably be used in place of a lighthouse to ward ships away from the rocks.
"I... one step at a time?", offered Puck weakly and Burt chuckled heartily.
"OK, I can live with that – Rule Number 2 is that Deadliest Catch must be watched each Tuesday at 8."
Puck smiled and nodded – that was a rule he was happy to adhere to – the programme was awesome.
"And finally Rule 3 is that the upstairs room at the end of the hall is off limits to everyone."
Puck was startled to see that the laughing and joking Burt Hummel of the past few moments had been replaced once again with the deadly serious version he'd come to hold a healthy amount of fear of.
"Yes Sir – upstairs room off limits – got it."
Nodding in satisfaction, Burt got to his feet and rounded the table, placing a hand on Puck's shoulder.
"Good. Welcome to the family, Noah."
Feeling his eyes filling up involuntarily with tears which he fought to keep from escaping, Puck ducked his head and whispered,
"Thank you sir."
"Good night, Noah."
And with that Burt was gone.
Puck sat at the kitchen table for several minutes after Mr H had retired, swirling the little liquid left that was left in the bottom of his beer bottle around and thought over everything that had happened to him.
He'd lost everything. His Mom was dead. His Dad had skipped out. His sister was torn away from him. His daughter to be given up for adoption.
And then he thought of everything he'd gained.
Kurt. Mr Hummel. Mercedes and Quinn's friendship. A place to stay – a stable place where there'd be no drunken arguments – no being hit over the back of the head with a bottle – no Jeff.
'Motherfucker... quite literally I guess...", Puck snorted at his own sudden inappropriate humour.
Puck had been concerned that Raymond would breeze into town, sort out his guardianship and transport him back to Omaha like a piece of luggage. So much so that now that he knew what was in store he felt like a giant weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Raymond had turned out to be alright – for an old dude – and his taste in PA's was not to be denied, that Melissa chick was hot as Hell.
'Hey – no harm in window shopping as long as you don't try to shoplift'
Glancing up at the clock on the wall, Puck saw it was getting late. Downing the remainder of his bottle of beer, he gathered up all the bottles and lined them up by the sink.
Switching off the kitchen light, Puck felt his way down the corridor to the basement door – wincing as the hinge creaked in the stillness – Puck crept down the steps mindful not to disturb the sleeping soprano.
As he stripped off his suit, Puck thought back to the conversation with Mr H. The older man had all but given Puck carte blanche to seduce his son – though he wasn't entirely certain if the man was being serious or not.
Not that Puck was in any hurry to have sex with the soprano – not that he didn't want to – but he'd never had a proper relationship before and he didn't want to screw it up by repeating shit he'd pulled in the past.
He'd do this right and leave it up to Kurt to decide when and if he wanted anything like that to take place. And then he'd pound the soprano into the mattress and make him beg for release.
Stripping down to only his boxer shorts and slipping under the sheets, Puck sighed as his tired muscles relaxed against the feel of the soft cotton sheets.
Smiling gently, Puck wrapped himself around Kurt's smaller frame, spooning the boy from behind and adjusting his cock with one hand to line it up with the crack of the brunette's ass for comfort.
Yeah – he could definitely get used to this. Nuzzling the back of the soprano's neck and inhaling deeply of the boy's scent, Puck let sleep take him.
A/N: Nothing really to be said other than I hope you enjoyed the chapter.
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