Disclaimer: I do not own anything Glee related. Neither do I lay claim to either of the two songs contained within this piece of fiction. One is Bad Reputation - Joan Jett, the other is Blackbird - The Beatles.
A/N: This piece, and I cannot believe it is at Chapter 37 is almost finished. I have so enjoyed writing it. Thank you for sticking with it, please just be patient a little while longer for the conclusion.
The girls walked into the choir room. Walked wasn't the right word. Slinked? Every step deliberate, hips swaying, like supermodels. However it was they got in, the boys stopped talking, started swallowing and didn't even think of blinking.
"Please tell me that costume is coming home with you" breathed Puck, his eyes never straying from Quinn's body, his tongue almost hanging out. The black wet look skin tight leggings cut so low that her heart tattoos were showing, a very tight black shiny pvc bra was all that she had on the top. Her black thigh high boots had 4" steel stiletto heels. Her hair mussed up, tousled. All the girls were in similar dress, each choosing an individual look. "Remember the Madonna costume and how much use that got? This is even better." he whispered to her as she came to stand in front of him. Each of the girls went to stand in front of their guys, Santana stood between Kurt and Blaine. Quinn winked and blew a kiss at Noah, she was ready to start her performance.
As the music started each of the girls danced, almost a lap dance on their guy.
"I don't give a damn 'bout my bad reputation
You're living in the past it's a new generation
A girl can do what she wants to do and that's
What I'm gonna do
An' I don't give a damn ' bout my bad reputation
Oh no not me
No no no no no
Not me me me me me
An' I don't give a damn 'bout my bad reputation
Never said I wanted to improve my station
An' I'm only doin' good
When I'm havin' fun
An' I don't have to please no one
An' I don't give a damn
'Bout my bad reputation
Oh no, not me
Oh no, not me
I don't give a damn
'Bout my bad reputation
I've never been afraid of any deviation
An' I don't really care
If ya think I'm strange
I ain't gonna change
An' I'm never gonna care
'Bout my bad reputation
Oh no, not me Pedal boys!
Oh no, not me
An' I don't give a damn
'Bout my bad reputation
The world's in trouble
There's no communication
An' everyone can say
What they want to say
It never gets better anyway
So why should I care '
Bout a bad reputation anyway
Oh no, not me
No no, not me
I don't give a damn 'bout my bad reputation
You're living in the past
It's a new generation
An' I only feel good
When I got no pain
An' that's how I'm gonna stay
An' I don't give a damn
'Bout my bad reputation
Oh no, not me
Oh no, not
Not me, not me"
As they ended the girls were either sat astride their boyfriend (facing him in Quinn's case, her back to him in Mercedes' case) lay over his lap (in Rachel and Tina's case), Brittany was stood on the arms of Arties wheelchair, gazing down at him. Santana was draped across both Kurt and Blaine, all three of them looking slightly uncomfortable. "Wow, ladies. That was…." Mr Schuester shook his head as he applauded them. "Interesting. Certainly interesting." He looked away and raised his eyebrows, blowing out a breath. "Will, you damn idiot, rock is clearly not the way to win Regionals" he thought to himself. "Stick to what you know, show tunes and pop songs."
"Fabray, that outfit is definitely coming home with us and it is most definitely on my top ten list. Is it time to go home yet Mr Schue?" Puck asked, still without taking his eyes off Quinn.
"Down Puckerman, get your mind out of the gutter. And no, it's not time to go home yet, it's only 10.30." Mr Schue stated, his eyes rolling.
"Damn." was Puck's only response.
Two days later, after school, Quinn and Noah set off to pick Beth up. She was coming to stay over night and spend the day with them on Saturday. Another two weeks and she would be staying for the whole weekend. As soon as they arrived at Shelby and Beth's house they jumped out of the truck and went to the door, Quinn now managing to show less restraint. Shelby opened the door to them, Beth leant straight toward Noah, as usual, giggling when he blew raspberries on her neck. "Hey Monkey Face, you ready for our sleep over?" he asked, as always using the silly voice. All of Beth's things were waiting to be packed into the truck. Her travel cot, her favourite toys, her overnight bag, her stroller, her car seat and her changing bag. Shelby passed on a few last minute pieces of advice then reminded the young couple that she was only at the other end of the phone if they needed her. At any time. No matter how small they thought the problem was.
"You've no idea how hard this is, to let her go." said Shelby. She then realised exactly what she'd said, "how stupid of me, of course you do." she laughed.
"I know what you mean though." Quinn reassured her. "We'll take good care of her, promise. And she'll be back by 6 tomorrow evening. Ok? And you can call us too. Any time."
Shelby hugged Quinn, then Noah, still with Beth in his arms. She kissed Beth, lots, before they loaded up. "Go. Quick. Go now, before I start crying." Shelby laughed, waving both hands and blowing kisses. They waved back and set off for home.
As soon as they arrived back home and set up the cot in their bedroom, they felt like a family. All of Beth's things, just for overnight filled their room.
"How would we have possibly managed? All of this stuff is just for one night?" Quinn said, shaking her head.
"Well, we could always have renovated the basement. It's set up for two bed apartment down there. We've just never bothered doing anything with it." Puck shrugged.
"What? I've lived here how long and you've never thought to mention this to me before? We could have been living down there, independently, with more privacy all this time and you're just sharing this with me now?" Quinn rolled her eyes and breathed out a groan. "Sometimes I just can't believe you."
"It never occurred to me that you'd want to live in a basement." Noah shrugged his shoulders again. "We can talk to Ma about it if you want."
"Yes, I want." Quinn nodded her eyes wide. "Come on little lady," she said, picking Beth up, "let's go downstairs and see Sarah and Nana Esther."
They ate dinner with Beth sat at the table in her highchair between Noah and Quinn. She chattered away, comfortable in her surroundings, while eating her food. She wasn't a fussy eater and ate everything that the grown ups ate. Sarah kept her giggling by making faces at her from the other side of the table. Sarah had enjoyed every Sunday visit that Beth had made over the last couple of months and was so looking forward to her staying for the night. Now she felt like an aunty.
"Errm, Ma, D'you think we might be able to get the basement renovated soon?" Noah asked. "I know it's something we've put off for years but if we do the work ourselves, get it how we want it, maybe we" Noah indicated between himself and Quinn, "can move down there." He shrugged, "It'd give you a guest room up here too." thinking that might be a sweetener.
"Yeah, Noah just told me about it tonight. I can't believe he never mentioned it before. I never knew it was there. I thought the basement was only your storage area." Quinn told Esther, her voice indicating her amazement.
"I always assumed you didn't want to live down there, I didn't know that you didn't know….didn't know…." she thought about how many didn't knows she'd said then, "if you see what I mean."
Quinn nodded that she did. "Do you think it's a possibility then? I mean, I know we'll be going away to college soon, but it'll mean we have somewhere to come back to during breaks. And for maybe after college till we find somewhere more permanent too." Quinn hoped that she was giving good enough reasons for it to happen. And she still hadn't even looked round the place yet.
After dinner Noah and Quinn left Beth with Sarah and Esther while they went downstairs to look at the basement apartment. It was very dusty, murky and needed to be emptied of several years worth of stored junk. It also needed decorating. Badly. From the looks of the wallpaper and paint job the place hadn't seen any improvements since the '70s. The general layout was good though. An open kitchen/living area, a bathroom, one large and one small bedroom. Both bedrooms had built in closets. An outside door that Quinn knew led out onto the driveway would mean that they could come and go as they pleased. "Why did you think I wouldn't be interested in this place?" she asked again, amazed what had been under her feet the entire time she had lived here. "This place could be amazing. We could get Kurt in to design the décor. Rope all of Glee Club in to help paint. If there aren't any structural problems we could be in here before we finish school for the summer." Her enthusiasm was infectious. Noah couldn't imagine now why he had thought she would refuse to live in this part of the house.
"You really want to do this Q?" he asked, pulling her into his arms. "Turn this into our little love nest?"
"Damn straight" she replied, using one of Noah's frequent answers. "I'm going to ring Kurt and Mercedes to come over right now, they'll have decorating this organised in no time." She turned away to call Kurt. "Hello there Mr Hummel, house doctor extraordinaire. How are you?" she began in an exaggeratedly bright tone as Kurt answered his phone. "How can you possibly tell I need you to do a job for me? Wow, you're good. No, I'm not trying to butter you up. I've always said that you have such style. We-ell," she drew out the word. "The reason I'm calling is that I have a project for you to guide and advise me on. A decorating project. A whole apartment. Can you come over, like now to take a look? Bring Mercedes with you. Yes, Blaine can come too. Oh, no, you don't need a different address, we're at home. Yeah, thanks Kurt, see you soon." She hung up smiling. Noah was watching her, shaking his head.
"You're good Fabray, you're damn good. You even flirt with gay guys to get what you want," he was amused at how easily she had roped Kurt in, just a couple of words of flattery and Kurt was eating out of her hand. "I've never watched or heard you in action before on other people. Is this how you get me to do exactly as you want?" he asked, a feeling settling on him that he had just witnessed his own recurring downfall. "God I am so pussy whipped." he breathed, shaking his head in disgust at himself, then realised he wasn't upset by it. At all.
They headed back upstairs to talk to Esther about their plans. Esther totally approved them. She said that she would get a contractor round this week to make sure everything structural was sound, pipe work, water, wiring etc. If they got the go ahead they could decorate and move in when they wanted.
Beth was playing on the floor with Noah when Kurt, Mercedes, Sam and Blaine arrived. Quinn let them in. They exclaimed at how much Beth looked like Quinn except with Noah's eyes. Beth hid her face in Noah's neck, shy at these new people. After a while Kurt couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. "Right, Fabray, spill. Where and when do you want me to check out your décor?" he asked.
"Right here, right now." she replied.
"I thought you said it was an apartment?" he queried, looking round the room, puzzled.
"It's the basement apartment, downstairs." confirmed Noah, Beth still in his arms, she was playing with the front of his mohawk and patting his cheeks, smiling at him.
"Puckerman, that is about the cutest thing I have ever seen. You so suit having a baby in your arms." Kurt felt he had to point out.
"Well, maybe one day." Noah replied a little sadly, looking at Quinn. Kurt realised what he had said so very brightly changed the subject.
"Show me this place then." Kurt demanded, so they all traipsed down the stairs. Noah carrying Beth, Quinn following and the others trailing behind. Kurt looked round nodding. "This is amazing. It could be amazing." he had a look in his eye that said he was imagining the place looking very different. "What sort of budget are you thinking of? Would I have free reign? What's the timescale? And when do I start?" Kurt fired the questions at both Quinn and Noah. They glanced at each other before answering.
"Cheap as possible. Free reign? Mmm, not sure about that, maybe run a few ideas by us first and we'll see how we go. And as quick as it can be done. My mom's getting someone in next week to check out the wiring and stuff. Once we get the go ahead, you get the go ahead. Ok?" Noah answered all of Kurt's questions. They went back upstairs. Quinn and Mercedes went to the kitchen to organise drinks and snacks. They heard Beth start to cry. Quinn realised she'd heard a thud first. She ran back to the family room where they were all gathered. Noah was knelt on the floor with Beth stood hugging into him, rubbing her forehead on his shoulder. Noah's hands looked huge across her small back. "Hey baby, you ok now?"
"What happened?" Quinn asked breathless. "Is she hurt?"
"No, she just tripped up, she's fine" he looked down at the little girl stood snuggled in his arms, "aren't you Monkey Face?"
Beth sniffled and turned her huge tear filled eyes to Quinn while still drawing the comfort from the warm shoulder she was leaning against.
Kurt started singing to Beth. She turned her face towards the beautiful sound. She turned around totally and sat on Noah's knee, he was still knelt on the floor, she rested her head against Noah's chest and stuck her thumb in her mouth. All thoughts of tears forgotten.
"Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise"
Quinn, Noah, Blaine, Sam, Mercedes and Beth were all mesmerised by the beautiful sound. Quinn and Mercedes looked at each other and at the same time said "Regionals." They both burst out laughing. "Kurt, that has to be the solo for Regionals. Sung just like that, no music. Maybe have the guys in the background with a few harmonies, but that song. Brilliant. Simple. Perfect." Quinn praised. Mercedes, Blaine and Noah agreed with her. Kurt looked extremely pleased even if a little embarrassed.
"Why thank you Quinn." he said in a soft voice.
After they left Quinn and Noah gave Beth a bath and helped her settle down to sleep. She was reluctant at first. They sang softly to her and eventually she drifted off. They stayed in their room with her, listening to her breathing. They were snuggled up together in their bed, his chest tight up to Quinn's back just enjoying the experience of being able to drift off to sleep with their daughter right beside them.
When Beth woke up the next morning, she was a little unsettled at first but soon came round. They took her out after breakfast, doing the usual Saturday morning stuff. One Saturday a month Noah didn't have to work because he worked some evenings through the week. The other Saturdays he worked the full day. Burt was more than happy to accommodate Noah changing his shifts to suit being with Beth, especially now that Finn had decided to start work for Burt too. Quinn and Noah shopped for the family, and then later they decided to go to the park because the day was really nice. They loved seeing Beth playing with the other kids. They watched her intently, smiling at her. Once she fell over, Noah went running to pick her up. One of the mothers there said quietly to Quinn, "He's such an attentive daddy, where did you find him?" her tone a little envious. "Your little girl is beautiful, she looks so like you but she looks like her daddy as well." Quinn couldn't respond, she just smiled at the woman then turned her eyes back to Noah and Beth. She could hear him chatting to their daughter. "Come on then Monkey Face. Have you played enough, ready to go home and get some lunch?" Beth nodded, her head laid on Noah's shoulder, her thumb in her mouth. When Noah walked past Quinn, Beth saw her and smiled round her thumb. The grin so cheeky it made Quinn laugh.
"Puckerman, she has you wrapped so tightly round that little finger of hers it's a wonder you can walk upright." Quinn laughed.
"Just like her mother then, isn't she?" he replied and turned to drop a swift kiss on Quinn's lips.
After spending the afternoon planning the apartment as Beth napped, they packed up ready to take their little girl back to her mommy. The drive there was fun because Beth stayed awake. They arrived back in good time and Shelby invited them to stay for supper with Beth. She told them she wanted to talk to them once Beth was in bed.
"I have a proposition for you" Shelby said as they sat drinking coffee in her kitchen. "How do you feel about Beth staying one night over the weekend, every weekend. There's still the full weekend coming up soon, but apart from that, maybe pick her up on Friday or Saturday depending on your work Noah and drop her off the next day." She looked at their faces, "So? What do you think?"
"Are you serious?" breathed Noah, he looked over at Quinn who could only smile, with tears in her eyes and nod, "we'd love it. Wow. Absolutely. Yes. Wow." He couldn't form a full sentence.
"We'll get some things to keep at home then, rather than carrying all of her stuff there and back, it makes sense." Quinn finally managed, her voice husky.
"Good. I'm pleased that you want to do this." Shelby smiled at them both, tears not too far away for her either. She felt comfortable at letting her little girl spend time with her birth parents, they'd shown her time and time again that they really loved her, they hadn't just given her up without a second thought, she was the most important thing to both of them. "So we'll arrange for Saturday until Sunday for next week, yes? And the weekend after for Friday until Sunday."
"I seriously cannot wait." Quinn told her.
"Me either." confirmed Noah. "Things are looking really special right about now." he thought. "The apartment, Beth staying every week. Just waiting now for college acceptances then we're set, we'll know where our future will be going."
A/N: Sorry that this one is a long one.