Disclaimer: Ownership is neither claimed nor implied.
A/N: A secret is only a secret if you can keep it...
The day after prom Quinn and Puck arrived at school on time in Puck's new car, despite his numerous suggestions to take off somewhere to christen the back seat. Mercedes called out to them as they got out of the car. "Hey, king and queen," she teased. "Where did you two disappear to last night?" she asked, her lips pursed and one eyebrow hiked up. "I mean, couldn't you lay off for one night? Like actually stay with your friends?"
"We were at the hospital," Quinn told her friend. "My sister gave birth last night. Oh it was totally amazing," she gushed. "We were both in the delivery room with Frannie, Peter and my mom. Peter fainted so Puck had to take over for him," Quinn started to explain, Puck cut her off.
"Yeah, and look at this," Puck pouted. He pulled his shirt up to show the bruising on his chest. "Same fucking place. Exactly the same. Must be in the genes," he grouched. "Peter's fine, he missed the whole grabbing and clawing part, he was on the floor in a dead faint," he explained, not sounding entirely calm, in fact, Puck sounded incredibly pissed. "That's what I'm doing next time Fabray, I can tell you that, fainting. Yeah and Peter can take over for me, he can get the bruises," he informed Quinn. "And it's Uncle Noah not Uncle Puck, oh no, not allowed to be Uncle Puck, got to be Uncle Noah," he muttered. Puck noticed that both Quinn and Mercedes were laughing at him. "What?" he demanded.
"You," Mercedes laughed. "Your face," she broke off, unable to say another word.
Quinn tried very hard not to laugh, she could see that Puck didn't appreciate it, he wasn't seeing the funny side, but she couldn't help it. There he was in the middle of the parking lot, his shirt pulled up to his neck, showing off his abs and chest to everyone walking by and he was completely oblivious.
"Wow. Dude. What happened to you?" Sam asked, seeing the bruising. "Did you get into a fight?" he added as he put his arms round Mercedes from behind, kissing the top of her ear, waiting for Puck to answer.
"No. Worse than a fight," Puck told Sam, his finger pointing to the bruises. "This was caused by a woman. Not just any woman. No. The woman who is going to be my sister-in-law. All because her husband is a pussy and couldn't stand the pace," he grumbled. "In the same fucking place, that's what I can't get over. Exactly the same place. Look."
"I don't get it," Sam said then looked at Mercedes questioningly. "Same place as what? Does he always talk in riddles or is it just me that doesn't understand half of what comes out of his mouth?" he asked.
"Last year, in the delivery room, Quinn did exactly the same thing," Puck explained. "Same bruising, same place. And crushed my hand too, don't forget that. Yeah and you think it's just the women that hurt during labour. Not true my friend, not true," Puck announced, he was really getting into his stride. "That's something the baby books don't tell you about. Not at all. Not a mention of the daddy getting attacked by a crazed hormone fuelled vicious attack mommy. No, because that'd make damn sure no man ever entered the fucking delivery room again," he stated, absolute certainty in his tone. "And this one wasn't even my kid. That's what makes it worse. I was stand in for her daddy because he was on the floor. Out cold. Fucking pussy. I'm telling you Q, when our next baby comes, Peter is going to be stood in front of me taking the pain like a man, if he faints again I'll just hold him up."
Quinn and Mercedes were laughing so hard they almost couldn't stand up. Puck still sounded so outraged. Sam looked horrified. "You were there? In the room while someone was giving birth?" he asked, the expression on his face said it all. "Gross, dude. I mean, I get that you were there with Quinn when Beth was being born, she's your baby after all, but someone else's baby? Really gross man."
"You have no idea," Puck sighed and shook his head. "Some things just can't be unseen."
"Awww, you poor traumatised thing," Quinn's laughing attempt at sympathy did not go down well. Puck gave her a disgusted look and started to walk away, letting his shirt fall to cover the undeniably painful looking bruising.
After a few steps Puck turned and walked back to Quinn. "You know, there is a way to make this up to me," he suggested quietly, his tone just verging on husky.
Mercedes thrust her fingers in her ears and began singing out loud. "I don't want to hear this Puckerman," she cried then sang again.
Puck looked at Mercedes and shook his head before turning back to Quinn. "Does she think the only thing we ever do or talk about is sex?" he asked, he glanced down at the front of his pants. "My dick would be worn away by now, broken from over use," he whispered with a huge grin, Quinn couldn't disagree.
"What can I do to make it up to you?" Quinn asked, still smiling.
"You can convince your mom that you really need your old bed. I still really want that bed," he murmured as he drew Quinn into his arms, his lips against hers, swaying just a little. "Beth was made in that bed, I want the next one to be made in it too," he whispered then kissed her, "and the next," he added and kissed her again, "and the next."
Quinn leant back in his arms, a bemused smile on her face. "Four? You want four?" she asked.
Puck nodded. "Yeah. Four little Puckermans," he replied quietly, a huge grin on his face.
"I like it," Quinn whispered, "and I'll talk to my mom. I don't think she'll have a problem with it. She does really like you now anyway."
They walked through the doors together into the hallway, hand in hand. A banner hanging from the ceiling pronounced them king and queen. Students lining the hall stared as they walked by. Puck and Quinn glanced around uncomfortably, not enjoying the attention at all. They made their way to the choir room, thankful of the escape.
"Where did you get to last night?" Finn asked the second Puck, Quinn, Mercedes and Sam walked through the door.
"Oh don't get him started," Mercedes advised, "he'll just chew your ear off about pain and fainting."
Finn looked confused. Quinn decided to answer for Puck, keeping to the relevant facts. "We went to the hospital and saw our niece being born," she told everyone, her face lit up again, totally unable to hide the excitement. "We actually watched Isabelle coming in to the world. It was so beautiful," she sighed.
As expected all of the males, without exception, including Mr Schue looked at Puck with pity. "Why would even you do that?" Finn asked. "I get that you had to be there for Beth being born, but someone else's baby? What did the husband say about you being there? I mean, I wouldn't want any other guys in the room when my wife gives birth. If I ever have a wife. Or children," he finished, still giving Puck a weird look.
"Oh that's not the worst part," Puck replied and went off again, showing his bruising and telling them about Peter fainting. "The next time I'm in the delivery room it had better be you laying on that bed Fabray, that's all I'm saying," he grumbled and held his hands up in a 'finished, done' way, then crossed his arms over his chest, his expression looking like the matter was anything but finished, done.
When Puck and Quinn entered the lunchroom the place fell silent. Everyone stared their way. Puck and Quinn stared back as they joined the queue. "Ever felt like a bug under a microscope?" Puck murmured to Quinn.
During lunch a number of students came up to them to congratulate them on being prom king and queen. "I wish they hadn't done this you know, the teachers," Puck sighed then shrugged. "I mean, we already stand out from the rest of the students at school, we live together, we're engaged, we're parents and now we get king and queen without even running for it. Can you imagine what they're going to do next year after we," he nodded his head, his eyebrows raised, "you know, October?"
"I don't care. Not a bit. I love our life and I wouldn't change a thing," Quinn murmured into his shoulder. "I still can't wait to be Mrs Puckerman," her voice was so low that even Puck struggled to hear it. "I'm just surprised that the secret hasn't got out yet. I thought Brittany might have forgotten it was supposed to be a secret. Maybe Santana is keeping her on a tighter leash than we thought," she mused. Quinn sat in silence for a few moments, thinking. "Have you noticed something weird about them both lately? Santana and Brittany?" she asked. "Something's definitely going on there and they aren't telling me. They used to tell me everything," she frowned, not liking being kept out of the loop.
"Errrrm, in what way?" Puck asked, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.
"You know," Quinn accused, seeing the shifty look on Puck's face. "Whatever it is that's going on, you know. That's not fair Puckerman. Tell me. Please," she begged. When that didn't work, Quinn resorted to the sad face with the bottom lip stuck out a la Beth. That didn't work either.
"I can't tell you," Puck replied, wondering how he could get out of this without making Quinn mad at him. "It's not my secret to tell, please, don't ask me to. Ask Santana. If she wants you to know she'll tell you. Ok?" he almost pleaded.
"You share secrets with Santana," there wasn't a hint of a question in Quinn's tone. There was the stirring of anger, but no question. "The girl who has tried her absolute best to come between us and you expect me not to ask you about it? What planet are you on?" Quinn demanded, she looked around the lunchroom for Santana but couldn't see her. "Oh you better believe I'm going to ask Puckerman. And it better not involve you," she growled as she stood up and walked away.
"Oh, hey Quinn," Puck tried to call Quinn back, she ignored him. "Fuck, I'm screwed," he whispered to himself, his head in his hands, his elbows on the table. "Why can't life just be easy for once?" Puck asked whoever had just sat down at the table with him. Puck had no idea who it was, he had just caught the shadow out of the corner of his eye and felt the bench rock.
"Because then it wouldn't be life," Shane, the huge linebacker from the football team, replied."It would be a TV show."
"Hey Shane, how are you?" Puck asked.
"Not as bad as you obviously," Shane answered as he smiled at Puck. "Trouble in paradise? Already? Before the wedding?" he asked.
Puck's head snapped round. "What? Before what?" he demanded, glancing round to make sure no one was listening.
"The wedding, your wedding," Shane replied and looked at Puck as though he had two heads. "What? Isn't it true? Is it just a rumour? I thought Quinn had booked Cherelle? That's what she was saying at breakfast anyway," he added, shaking his head in confusion.
"You know Cherelle? To have breakfast with? How?" Puck asked puzzled, he still hadn't answered the question though.
"Cherelle is my 'sister'," Shane answered, using air quotes, his face displaying that he wasn't entirely comfortable with the information he was passing on. "Charlie was my brother and now Cherelle is my sister. She said that when she was doing Quinn's hair and make up for prom yesterday Quinn booked her for your wed…." he stopped abruptly when Puck shushed him.
"Shhhh," Puck hissed, shushing Shane. Puck looked around again to see if anyone nearby was listening. "The only people who know about that are our families and Glee club. We want it to stay that way for now too," he hurriedly told Shane.
"Ahh," Shane said, pulling a face, looking down uncomfortably.
"What?" Puck asked, his hands going up to cover his eyes for a second. "You've already told people. Right?" he sighed and nodded in time with Shane. "Yeah. Makes sense. My life just doesn't get any easier does it? Fuck," he whispered almost to himself. "Oh well. Damage control. How many people did you tell?" he asked, trying to keep positive. "There can't be that many," Puck thought to himself.
"Errm, well, there's the football team. And the basketball team. And the hockey team. And the Cheerios…." Shane replied, his words trailed off when he saw the look on Puck's face. "Dude I'm sorry, I didn't know it was a secret. Nobody said it was a secret."
"And when exactly did you start telling people about this?" Puck asked, thinking back and seeing a different cause for the stares this morning when he and Quinn walked down the corridor and when they'd walked into the lunchroom.
"Errm, when I came in early to use the gym," Shane admitted, and he really did look apologetic. He really was sorry, he liked Quinn and Puck, admired them, he wouldn't have intentionally hurt them. "I'm so sorry. I wouldn't have…"
Puck cut him off again. "Don't sweat it dude, it's not your fault," he sighed reaching for his phone. He selected Quinn's number and called her. "Hey babe. Problem. Meet me in the choir room as soon as," he said then ended the call without giving Quinn a chance to speak.
Quinn arrived in the choir room seconds after Puck, she looked panicked. "What's wrong?" she asked, out of breath, "Is it Beth?"
"No. Babe, no, Beth's fine," Puck reassured her, he took Quinn in his arms as she sagged in relief. "I'm sorry for worrying you like that. It's not Beth," he repeated. Puck's hands rested on Quinn's shoulders, he bent a little and looked her in the eye. "They know. All of them. The secret's out," he said quietly.
"Brittany?" Quinn sighed, almost resigned to the fact that her friend had let her down. Puck shook his head. "Who?" she asked, wondering who else hadn't been able to keep their mouth shut.
"Well, actually, in a round about way, you," Puck replied, a weird sort of smile on his face. "Yesterday, when you booked Cherelle? Did you tell her it was still a secret?" he asked. Quinn shook her head. "No. And do you know who her brother is?" he queried. Again Quinn shook her head. "Shane Henderson. From the football team. And he's told a lot of people because he didn't know it was a secret either. Explains the open mouthed stares this morning when we came in doesn't it?"
"Oh well," Quinn shrugged, trying to remain positive. "What will it hurt? We still get asked questions about Beth and living together so we'll just get asked questions about this. We can chose to answer them or not."
"Yeah. You're right," Puck agreed, rubbing his hands up and down the tops of her arms, more to comfort and soothe himself than her. "Did you see Santana yet?" he asked.
"Well. I saw her. She didn't see me. Neither did Brittany," Quinn replied quietly then looked up into Puck's face, he was nodding. "They seemed to be too busy. With each other."
"So now you know," Puck heaved a sigh of relief.
"What I don't get is why she went hell for leather after you, even trying to split us up so that she could have you when all this time she's been in love with Brittany? It doesn't make sense," Quinn pondered, she was genuinely puzzled.
"Think about it," Puck urged. "She only wanted me because I'm with you. She wasn't jealous of you because you were with me, she was jealous of me because I was with you. She knew she had no chance with you. She's only just admitted to herself that her preference is girls but it's always been there. I was the easy guy to be with. Everyone but you knew all those other girls were just because I couldn't have you. Even Finn knew that, deep down," he explained.
"God sometimes life is too complicated," Quinn whispered, stepping closer to Puck for a hug. She needed a hug to make herself feel better. "All I know is that I love you, you love me and we both love our daughter. That's enough for now. And no, I'm not going to mention to Santana or Brittany that I know about them. They'll tell me when they're ready."
"Good," Puck murmured quietly as he hugged her tighter. "I suppose we better get to class then?" he asked, his look told Quinn that he'd skip class if she would. But she wouldn't.
"Yep. I have English. What about you?" she asked.
"Gym. I'll just be in the weight room, working on upper body stuff. I need to see the therapist before I start with weights on my leg, I don't want to do any damage and be back in a cast," Puck replied, sighing.
He walked with Quinn to her classroom then left her with a kiss outside the door. As soon as Puck entered the locker room the silence descended. He wondered if he should bring up the giant elephant in the room or if some other dude would start asking questions first. Finn, Sam, Mike and Shane were all trying to get his attention. Puck deliberately ignored their efforts. He wanted to see what people would ask, if they would ask, if they had the balls to ask. Yeah they did.
"So," one of the basketball team who's name always escaped Puck began, "did you knock her up again? Is that why you're doing it?"
"No, Quinn is not pregnant," Puck replied, he wasn't going to add 'yet'.
"Don't you think you're a little, well, young?" another guy asked, looking round the locker room for support, Puck heard the murmurs of agreement from other dudes.
Puck sighed heavily, looking through his bag for something, anything so he didn't have to make and maintain eye contact. "Puckerman, this is the cowards way out. Just stand up and be a man. Grow a fucking set," he advised himself silently then dropped his bag to the floor. Puck took a moment to look round the gathered group of seniors and juniors. "Ok. Let's do this. What do you want to know?" he asked.
"Don't you think you're too young?" the question was repeated by a different voice.
"What do you do first thing in the morning?" Puck asked the guy. "What time do you get up? Do you have a job? What do you do at night, or on the weekend? Want to hear what I do?" he demanded, his voice getting a little louder with each question. He saw quite a few nods. "Ok. I get up at six with my daughter. I give her a bath while Quinn gets breakfast ready for all of us. When we've eaten and got ready for school, it depends on the day whether we drop Beth off at my Nana's, Quinn's mom's or if one or the other of them comes to our house to watch Beth there. Then there's school. A full day here then home, if I'm not working that evening. If I am working Quinn makes dinner so that it's ready for when me and my mom get home and we all eat together. Once we've finished up, cleaned up it's usually time for Beth to have her bath and get ready for bed. I read to her while Quinn does some homework, then it's supper time and bed time for Beth. Then we both get on and do homework. Sometimes we watch TV for a bit then go to bed and start again the next day. And the weekends. I work all day on Saturdays so I don't get to see Beth much then. Sunday I like to spend all day with her. And next week, when summer break starts, I'll be working five days a week, right up till school starts again in September. Does that sound like an irresponsible life?" Puck demanded. He was met with numerous shakes of the head. No, he didn't think so either. "I bet at nights all you assholes are out, playing video games, drinking, partying, am I right?" he asked, he got some nods and some non committal murmurs that he took as agreement. "What responsibilities do you have? Any?" he queried. "I do. I have a lot of responsibilities, financial and emotional. And I wouldn't change a thing. Not one thing. I'd rather be the man I am today than the stupid kid I was two years ago before Beth was even a cluster of cells. Yes, me and Quinn have grown up fast because we've had to. But it's made us better people because of it. We're ready for the commitment, for the future because we are each other's future," he said, a little breathless at the end of his long speech. He looked around again at the group of guys all looking right back at him. "And yeah, we do plan to have more kids."
There didn't seem to be anything left for anyone to say. They all got it. Puck and Quinn weren't irresponsible kids, they weren't just playing house, enjoying the fun side and ignoring the hard work. They were doing it all. Being parents. And for the right people, that life didn't sound too bad. Not too bad at all.