Disclaimer: Ownership is neither claimed nor implied.

A/N: Competition day…

New Directions arrived at the theatre ahead of their supporters. In the dressing room it was just as Quinn feared, none of the guys were comfortable helping Puck into his pants, especially once they caught on about his lack of underwear.

"Dude. What the fuck do you want me to do? Kill myself while I'm getting dressed?" Puck asked when Finn looked like he was going to refuse to help. "Having a broken leg isn't enough, you want me to break my neck as well?" he demanded. Puck shook his head. "Will someone go get Quinn? She'll help me."

"Better her than me, man," Finn muttered, "I don't want to look at your junk."

Quinn stormed into the room and glared at her team mates. "I can't believe you would all leave him to struggle," she exclaimed crossly. "You're all a bunch of inconsiderate assholes," she shouted, her fists on her hips. "Right. Get out," she ordered. Quinn looked round when no one seemed to be moving. "All of you. Get out. Now," she demanded, holding the door open for them to leave. Quinn glanced over to where Puck sat, his pants and shirt still hung in their garment bag.

"Quinn!" Finn Sam and Kurt exclaimed together. "We're not dressed yet either, in case you hadn't noticed," Finn finished for the group.

"Like I give a shit," Quinn retorted and stared at him. "You can come back in when we're done. Out. Now," she repeated still holding the door open, indicating with her free arm for them all to exit. The guys reluctantly left the room in various states of dress, but all well enough covered.

"Oooh, Scary Quinn," Puck whispered as she sauntered over to him with a big smile on her face. "I love it when you're being masterful," he said against her lips, drawing her close to share a long, hot kiss. Quinn stood between his outstretched legs, his hands on her hips, rocking her gently.

"Mmm," Quinn whispered back, her hands on his shoulders. "I know you do. How long do you think we can stretch this? Ten? Fifteen minutes?" she asked. "Not enough time to get you off and get you dressed I know that," she sighed.

"Puck? Quinn?" Mr Schue called through the slightly opened door. "Are you decent?" he asked.

They looked at each other and cracked up, trying to laugh silently. "We are so close to being indecent you wouldn't believe it," Puck whispered, kissing Quinn one more time. "Just a second Mr Schue. Quinn's just helping me with my pants."

Quinn looked down. "And how long is it going to take to get them fastened?" she asked. "I'm not going to be able to pin them at the top unless you start to think unhappy thoughts."

"I found a new buzz kill," Puck grimaced. "Works like a charm," he sighed and pictured Beth saying "daddy, this is my boyfriend". Yep. Like a charm.

New Directions waited their turn, nervously. They had to watch fifteen other teams perform before it was their turn, many of them good, some of them outstanding. Vocal Adrenaline didn't seem to be quite up there with the best though, something was lacking for them. Finally it was New Directions' turn. Puck had wanted to get set up behind closed curtains. Mr Schue thought it was best if the audience saw him come on with his crutches so they would realise why he was just sat there.

"Going for the sympathy vote Mr Schue?" Puck asked a touch bitterly.

Artie gave Puck a puzzled stare. "What am I? Chopped liver?" he asked. "You don't think wheeling me out every time has that effect? The token minority?"

"Dude, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that," Puck replied quickly, actually he did but didn't want to hurt Artie's feelings by saying it. He really liked Artie, he was a funny guy.

"No. What you mean is you're so used to walking out on stage looking normal," Artie snapped, "you don't want anyone to think you're a freak. Welcome to my world."

Puck at least looked shame faced. "Ok. Curtains open I guess," Puck sighed then took a calming breath, he nodded to everyone and then headed out on stage first.

As soon as Puck stepped out, before anyone started clapping, he heard a little voice from the front row. "DADDEEE," Beth yelled. Puck grinned and smiled towards the seats his family and friends were in. Before the lights went down in the auditorium, he saw Beth stood on his mom's knee waving her arms. "Mys daddee," Beth shouted again, bouncing up and down, excitedly. Puck gave her a little wave.

At the end of the set Mike danced off to get Puck's crutches for him. He stood with the team to take their bow, Quinn beside him, her hand on his butt. Both of them saw Beth getting really excited to see her mommy and daddy in front of her. When they left the stage together, Ruth had to console the heartbroken little girl.

As soon as they could, New Directions joined their friends and families to watch the last four teams. Beth happily sat on her mommy's knee and got kisses from her daddy too.

Three hours later the results were announced. Out of twenty teams New Directions had placed sixth. Not bad for only their second year of competition. Back at the hotel the entire group took over the main bar. It was closed to all other patrons, a party just for them.

"I think you all did amazing," Sarah told them for the fourth or fifth time. "Sixth is not too bad you know."

"But it's not good enough," Mr Schue replied with a determined look on his face. "Next year that trophy is ours," he said, looking round at the faces of his team, "right?"

"It sure is Mr Schue," Puck agreed, his arm round Quinn's shoulders.

"Absolutely," Rachel nodded, others added their own words of agreement.

"Party tonight, Beth's birthday party tomorrow then when we're travelling back on Monday, we need to get a set list together for prom," Mr Schue reminded everyone then raised his glass to them all. "To New Directions and the future," he cried, his toast was echoed by the adults with their drinks and the kids with their non alcoholic ones.

"We'll have to go up," Puck said to his friends. "Beth's had a really long day and she's getting cranky. And trust me, you do not want a cranky Beth at a party," he advised with a roll of his eyes.

"Good night," lot of voices chorused. Puck and Quinn waved to them all as they went towards the elevator, Beth pouted and hid her face in Quinn's neck.

"Noah," Sarah called. "Give me a call when she's had a bath and settled, I'll come and sit with her, you two come and party with your friends. Ok?" she offered.

Puck looked at Quinn. "Do you want to?" he asked.

"Maybe for an hour or so, that would be nice," Quinn replied. "Are you sure Sarah?" she asked.

"Of course," Sarah answered with a smile. "Spending an evening with my great granddaughter is one of the true pleasures of my life," she insisted, her words were totally genuine.

Quinn kissed Sarah's cheek and thanked her before they went up in the elevator to their room. Beth had her bath and was almost asleep by the time her bottle was warmed up. Puck helped Beth to hold it while she fed herself, drifting off a few times until he tried lifting the bottle away then she'd grab back onto it and start sucking again. Once she was finished and had been rubbed and patted on the back for a while, Quinn laid her in the crib, Puck stood at the end of it, gazing at her.

"A year Q," he whispered. "Can you believe we've had her a year?"

"No," Quinn whispered back. "It feels like yesterday," she added as she looked up at Puck shyly. "Did you love me?" she asked, her head bent hiding her half smile.

Puck gave the same half smile, his gaze still on their daughter. "Yes. Especially now," he replied, his smile getting a little bigger.

Quinn walked towards him, their hands met on the top rail of the crib. Puck pulled her towards him. Quinn landed in his strong arms, their kisses were hot and fast, his lips finding the pleasure point of Quinn's throat, making her swallow and gasp. Quinn ran her hands down his chest to the button of his pants, finding the zip harder to open.

"I want you so much. Right now. Here," Puck's voice was intense. "I will always want you. I will always love you. Do you want to stay here or call my Nana?" his breath hitched in his throat as her hand stroked the hardness he couldn't conceal.

"Stay here. Party for two," Quinn whispered against his chest, opening the buttons of his shirt. Her lips found his nipples that were almost as sensitive as hers.

"Let's take this over to the bed, before I drop my crutches and fall down," Puck grinned. "I want to do things to you that may be illegal in some states," he groaned.

"Promises, promises," Quinn murmured. "I'll call your Nana, tell her we've changed our mind so that she's not sat waiting."

Puck watched Quinn do a really stimulating strip tease while talking on the phone to his Nana. He waited till she'd sat on the edge of the bed, still talking with Sarah, to slide up behind her and place hot open mouthed kisses along her spine, making her shiver.

"Ahhh, yeah. I'm sure," Quinn's voice held a trace of 'no idea what I'm saying I only hope the words coming out of my mouth make sense'. She couldn't concentrate on anything except the lips on her back and the hand that was stroking her through the only piece of clothing remaining on her body. Quinn leant back, spreading her legs wider, allowing full access. "Night Sarah," she breathed before hanging up.

Downstairs at the party Finn asked Sarah if that had been Quinn or Puck on the phone. "Yes it was Quinn," she answered.

"Did she say when they're coming back downstairs?" he asked.

"Well, I don't think they will be," Sarah leant forwards to whisper conspirationally. "It sounded like they were getting very close and if I know my grandson he'll keep her busy all night. If you know what I mean."

"Oh," Finn replied, not entirely sure if Sarah was being serious or not. Knowing Puck like he did, he thought that Sarah probably was.

Upstairs in their room, Quinn and Puck were getting very, very close. Puck found a few new ways to make Quinn moan with his tongue alone. He made up for almost a full year of being second in line for access to her breasts. He made up for that last five and a half weeks of abstinence. The first time, she bit the pillow to deaden her scream, Puck looked up at her from his position between her thighs, his eyes alight with the joy of being with her. Puck lowered his mouth again, watching her, he hummed against her, the vibration travelling through her body extending the shiver of release she was just recovering from. Quinn thrust her fingers through the front of his mohawk, lifting his head.

"You better get up here Puckerman," Quinn panted. "I want you inside me now. Can you manage in this position with your leg?" she asked.

"We can try," Puck replied, using his right leg to propel himself up the bed and up her body. "Oh God, I have missed you so much," he breathed into her mouth. "Not being able to do anything with you, not even touch you, it's been torture. I love you so much Quinn Fabray," he groaned as he entered her. The second time, Quinn bit into his shoulder to mask the scream. Puck buried his face in her hair to muffle the sound he shouted out.

Sunday morning dawned with Beth waking very early. She stood in her crib bouncing against the rail shouting for mommy and daddy. Puck woke first, he sat up in bed and grinned at the birthday girl. He nudged Quinn, thankfully, before they'd gone to sleep they'd pulled on shorts and pyjamas. Quinn got out of bed to bring Beth in with them for a cuddle. They both sang happy birthday to her and hugged and kissed her. Quinn got very emotional. She remembered waking up a year ago, realising that her baby girl would be born really, really soon and still not knowing her future.

"When I woke up that morning I knew I was in labour," Quinn said softly. "I didn't want to admit it to myself never mind to you or your mom. Admitting it meant that I was so much closer to having to make the biggest decision of my life and I just wasn't ready to make it," she admitted. Puck kissed the side of her head, hearing the tears in her words. "I'm so glad we made the choice that we did. It's been a hard year but she is so worth it. I love her more than I could have ever imagined."

"I can't even imagine what the past year would have been like if we'd given her up," Puck said, he felt a lump in his throat and had to swallow hard. "Thank you Quinn, for being strong enough to do this. For staying with me, even though I've been an idiot at times. I love you and I love our daughter. And any other children we have in the future."

"We will won't we?" Quinn asked as she looked up at him. "Have more children I mean. I want at least another one. Or two. I'd love us to have a little boy," she sighed.

"Boy or girl, I don't care as long as you're safe and happy," Puck said with a smile. "You know what?" he asked and waited for Quinn to look back at him. "I think I would like you to start calling me Noah, you know, after we get married," he added. "Only the really important people in my life call me Noah, except Rachel," he mumbled and rolled his eyes. "I know I've always said I hate my name and I always did, till you sang that song in Glee, right before you left me. Remember?" he asked. "It's A Man's, Man's World or something like that? The way you looked over at me as you sang that line 'Like Noah made the ark' it was like, God, so sexy to hear my name on your lips."

Quinn smiled up at him. "I think I'd like that too, Noah," she breathed.

"Mmm," Puck moaned, "there it is again. That sexy voice. I'm going to be permanently hard you know."

"Good," Quinn whispered. "Always ready for me. That's what I like to hear."

"Let's concentrate on this little lady for today. We can think about that some more tonight when she's gone to sleep," Puck said firmly, taking a deep breath. "Mommy's going to get your present for you to open. Won't that be fun?" Puck cried and helped Beth stand up on the bed, he held her hands while she jumped up and down.

"Here you are baby girl," Quinn said as she brought a brightly wrapped gift to the bed and set it down. Beth sat down and patted the box. She played with the ribbon and touched the colourful balloons on the wrapping paper. She didn't make any effort at all to open the box. Puck and Quinn were getting impatient, trying to encourage her but Beth was happy playing with the box. Quinn answered a knock at the door. "Come on in," she said to Ruth, Hannah, Sarah, Judy and Saul. They'd all brought gifts for Beth.

Beth bounced excitedly at the visitors. Puck and Quinn's bed was strewn with brightly packaged gifts, so far Beth hadn't opened one. "I think you're going to have to help her," Sarah advised.

"Here Hannah, come and help Beth open her presents," Puck offered his sister. "Look what Aunty Hannah's doing, baby," he encouraged, Beth then became interested. She loved the talking bear from Saul, until it actually talked, then it frightened her and made her cry.

"That wasn't such a good idea, was it?" Grampy Saul asked, wondering why he'd been so stupid as to buy her something like that. "You can tell this Grampy business is all new to me, can't you?"

"Oh, don't worry about it," Sarah said, hugging him. "I bet she'll love it soon." Everyone nodded their agreement knowing Sarah was probably right.

Beth eventually opened all of her gifts. She really did love the little guitar that had been her special present from her daddy, sitting down to play it like daddy played his. Quinn passed Puck his guitar and filmed the two of them on her phone, Beth rocking and singing while smacking the strings of her miniature guitar, copying Puck.

"Hey, you're a real musician baby girl," Puck smiled, "just like your daddy. Right?"

"Piano lessons next," Sarah put in, her hand raised.

"Breakfast first I think," Judy replied. They all left for the little family to get washed and dressed ready for breakfast.

Puck, Quinn and Beth met up with everyone downstairs in the dining room, as usual the Glee kids round one table, parents and everyone else round others.

"What happened to you two last night?" Finn asked, a smirk on his face. "I thought you were coming back to the party once you'd got Beth settled?"

"We decided to take Pink's advice," Puck replied.

"What?" Finn's face showed he was puzzled. Others were giving the same confused look to both Puck and Quinn. "I don't get it," Finn admitted.

"We can always, we can always, party on our own," Puck sang, grinning.

"Raise your glass Puckerman," Santana quipped, lifting her glass of orange juice in the air, "'cos you are definitely all wrong in all the right ways."

"Thank you Satan," Puck nodded, acknowledging that she was most probably right.

"What time are we leaving for Beth's party in the park?" Mercedes asked.

"About eleven," Quinn replied. "Picnic lunch, Beth can play a little then back here for a nap. That gives us time to pack before dinner too."

"I'm really sad to be going home tomorrow," Brittany said, sticking her bottom lip out. "But I'll be happy to see my cat again. He might think I've run away."

"I'm sure your cat will be fine," Santana told her, holding her and on the table for a little longer than was necessary. She realised this and snatched her hand away. A few people had noticed though.

Beth's birthday treat was great. The weather was gorgeous and she loved running round in the fresh air and having lots of people run after her. Beth always made sure she knew where her daddy was though, sat on a blanket on the grass and repeatedly ran to him for a hug, especially when Uncle Finn was chasing her.

After dinner Beth was really tired. The packing was finished but Beth hadn't had a nap so she went straight to sleep after her bath and her bottle. Sarah this time managed to shoo Puck and Quinn out of their room and she and Saul settled in to mind the baby while they had fun for the last night in New York with their friends. Again they all congregated in the girls' room.

"What's been the best thing about this trip?" Artie asked, he wanted everyone's views.

"Shopping," came the emphatic instantaneous reply from Santana, Brittany, Mercedes, Tina, Kurt and Quinn.

"Seeing Broadway," Rachel replied dreamily.

"Break from school," both Mike and Sam agreed.

"FAO Schwarz," Finn and Artie said, nodding at each other.

"Come on then Puckerman," Santana encouraged, noting that he'd not yet answered. "What's been the best part of the trip for you?"

Puck glanced at Quinn, a little half smile on his face. "You really want to know?" he asked, looking just the slightest bit embarrassed.

"Yes, we want to know," Finn replied, "spill, what was the best bit for you?"

"I've got a couple of best bits actually," Puck admitted. "There's my baby's first birthday, that's really special. Getting Quinn back," he said with a flick of his eyebrows at her, Quinn rolled her eyes, some of the others looked puzzled, they didn't realise that Puck and Quinn hadn't been together for some of the trip.

"Did you and Quinn have a fight or something?" Sam asked.

Puck rolled his eyes. "No," he stressed the word. "I mean, oh Mercedes, just explain it to him," Puck sighed and shook his head.

Mercedes leant over and whispered to Sam not too quietly. "He means that he and Quinn are finally able to, you know," her eyebrows were raised and she pulled faces but still didn't actually say what.

"Oh Jeez," Santana scoffed. "What she means is that he means, since the accident they haven't been able to be together. And now they can. Get it?" she demanded, then seeing Sam was still confused, rolled her eyes. "Sex you dimwit," she growled. "They couldn't and now they can. Which is why we've hardly seen anything of them. At it like rabbits to make up for lost time," Santana rambled on, she stopped suddenly, Sam got it now, so did everyone else. No doubts.

"Yeah, thanks San. Subtle," Puck nodded at her and pulled a face then shook his head. "But my absolute best part?" he added with a smile, reaching for Quinn's hand. "Well, that was telling you all that we're getting married. You guys, you're all like family, we're like a family and it felt right for you all to know." Quinn smiled up at Puck, agreeing with him. "Here's the difficult part. We don't want anyone else at school to know about this yet. It's just for our families and Glee, ok? Can you keep it to yourselves? Just for a while?" Puck asked as he looked around and received the nods of agreement from all of the group.

The journey back to Lima the next day didn't seem as long as the journey to New York last week. On the way, New Directions created a set list for the prom. They all hoped they would be recovered enough to give a good performance. Puck was really hoping that his appointment first thing in the morning would mean the removal of the dreaded cast. He wasn't going to hold his breath though. Just in case.