Disclaimer: Ownership is neither claimed nor implied.

A/N: A fright for Puck...

At the end of January, Puck made his usual by pass of the computer as he walked into class, to give Quinn a secret hello. Beth saw her daddy and shouted to him as always. "DAAADDEEE," she called loudly and grinned at the screen with her nose scrunched up. Beth was sat on Puck and Quinn's bed with her lamb in her hands.

Puck waved to her and smiled then glanced back. "Beth, where's mommy?" he asked, stepping up to the computer and sitting down in front of it.

Puck watched Beth make a motion to the side with her hand. "Sa'der," Beth answered then hugged her lamb tighter, still grinning and giggling at her daddy. Puck waited a few seconds, he glanced around his bedroom. No Quinn.

"Is Grammy there, Beth? Can you shout Grammy?" he asked, Judy had arrived this morning before he had left for school.

Beth shook her head energetically. "No," she replied. "Mommeee," she called. "Chinkle, chinkle little tar…" she warbled, her little feet waving back and forth in front of the laptop.

"Beth, I need you to stop singing for a minute please, stop singing and listen to daddy. Beth, listen to daddy," Puck said firmly. "Can you tell daddy where mommy is?" he asked, he was really calm, he didn't want to get Beth upset but he really needed to know where Quinn was. The class was waiting to start, all ears and eyes were on him, the teacher could hear the concern in Puck's voice. Puck took his phone from his pocket to call the house. "Beth, can you see mommy?" he asked again as he pressed the speed dial number for the house.

"Sa'der, mommy der," Beth answered then grinned, her shoulders hunching up to her ears. "S'Beh," she pointed at herself.

"That's right, you're Beth," Puck agreed, "and you're a very big girl, I bet you can shout for Grammy, right?" he encouraged. "Is Grammy downstairs? Can you shout Grammy?" he asked. The phone was ringing and ringing, no one was picking up. Puck was getting really worried. He turned away from the computer. "I've got to go home," he murmured to his teacher. "I've got to make sure they're ok."

"What's up?" Quinn asked breathlessly. Puck turned around and saw her climbing onto the bed.

"Jeez Quinn, where have you been?" Puck demanded quietly, sitting back in the seat, his hand at his chest, Puck's heart had suddenly started beating so fast he thought it was going to explode. "Way to give a guy a heart attack, where were you?"

"What?" Quinn asked. "I can't go to the bathroom now?"

"Bathroom?" Puck repeated, his voice just a little louder than he'd intended, he heard sniggers behind him. "You couldn't have left a note or something? Where's your mom anyway, why is Beth with you? I called but no one answered," he threw questions at her, the relief in his eyes only visible to Quinn.

"Yeah, bathroom," Quinn responded, her wide green eyes jumped out of the screen at him. "You try sitting here with something that size," she made a shape with her hands, "laid on your bladder and try and hold it. Not happening. I'm fine, ok? My mom had to go pick up Isabelle, Frannie's had an accident, she's twisted her ankle or something, Peter's taking her to the hospital to get it checked out. I can be left alone you know, I'm not totally dependent now, I can even get dressed look, woohoo," she explained with more than a touch of exasperation. The thing that was irritating Quinn the most about the situation was the amount of cotton wool that Puck tried to keep her wrapped in.

"Sarcasm is not appreciated," Puck replied before stepping away from the computer, "just so you know, and we'll talk about that when I get home. See you later," he added then looked round at the classroom full of smirking students. "And once again, my life has a freakin' audience, blah," he thought.

"We can actually start the class now?" Mr Speight asked as Puck went to his seat. "Thank you. Anyone remember where we were? Yes Quinn?" he acknowledged her from the computer.

At the end of class Puck asked for a few minutes to talk to Quinn. He had thought about it all lesson. "If you're going to the bathroom can you put, I don't know, maybe a tissue on the pillow or something, then at least I'd know," he requested. "Don't forget we have to see Dr Chin this afternoon. I'll pick you up after school, ok? Bye," Puck waved as he stood. He looked to the door and saw Finn waiting for him. "What?" he asked, knowing full well that Finn wouldn't tease him about his concern for Quinn.

"Nothing," Finn replied although his smile said differently. "I just watch you sometimes and I can't believe you're the same guy who joined Glee two years ago," he added and shrugged. "Let's face it, you were an arrogant asshole. You slept with anything with a pulse, including my girlfriend and you never batted an eyelash. I sometimes wonder how I missed the signs about you and Quinn," Finn admitted and glanced at Puck again. "There were hundreds of them, thinking back. And I missed every one. I think I deliberately missed them actually. That time you were 'baking'," he laughed and used air quotes, "baking my ass," Puck and Finn both laughed at that. "When I gave Quinn my baby blanket and you were awful to her, I realise now that it was because you wanted her to tell me you were the reason she was pregnant, not me. And when you told me to sell my Xbox, that I didn't deserve to have Quinn as my girlfriend, you were right. Even though nothing had actually happened between me and Rachel then, it was like I was morally cheating on Quinn," he said quietly then stopped walking, Puck did too and turned to look at Finn. "Now that it's real. Now that it really is me, I get it. I never felt that way about Quinn even when I thought I was responsible for her. I just felt scared. With Rachel I don't feel scared, I feel…I feel…I don't know, not scared but ready to take care of her, of the baby."

"Good," Puck nodded, he patted Finn's shoulder. "That's how I felt about Quinn from the very first moment you told me she was pregnant and that she was keeping the baby," he admitted and half smiled at Finn, "and you're right, I was an irresponsible asshole, but I only slept with all those other girls because I couldn't have Quinn. It's always been her for me. Always. From the very first second I saw her in freshman year, I've always known I would do anything for her. I mean, look at me, eighteen years old, married with one child and another on the way, steady job, a house. Would you have thought even one of those things was possible two years ago?" Finn shook his head at Puck's question. "Nope, me neither."


Puck arrived home after school and ran straight upstairs. "Are you ready?" he called. "Our appointment is for four thirty," he reminded Quinn as he picked Beth up and kissed her cheek. "Hey baby," he whispered before putting her back down. "Want me to carry you down?" he asked Quinn with a hidden grin. She shook her head as he knew she would.

"No, I'm good. Dr Chin says I can walk about a little," Quinn reminded Puck. "You can carry Beth though."

The three of them descended the stairs and found Judy in the kitchen with Isabelle. "Oh, hello. I never heard you come in," she told Puck. "Are you going for your appointment?"

"Yep," Puck grinned. "Today's the big reveal day. If the baby is laying in the right position that is," he corrected himself. He really hoped that they would find out the sex of the baby today. Puck had really convinced himself that the baby was going to be a boy, he certainly wouldn't be disappointed with another girl though, not if she was as cute as Beth anyway.

"Sarah's coming over in a few minutes, I have to go help Frannie, she has a cast on. She broke her ankle," Judy told them. "Good luck anyway, let me know what Dr Chin says, ok?" she called after them, they nodded to Judy as they left the house.

On the drive to Dr Chin's office Quinn asked Puck not to make such a spectacle of her again in class. "It's bad enough that I'm laid in bed while the class is going on and I'm usually in pyjamas without you freaking out every time I go to the bathroom," she complained.

"I'm sorry, but I got so worried when Beth was sat there all alone," Puck apologised. "I asked her where you were and when she pointed it looked like she was pointing to the floor at the side of the bed, she certainly didn't point towards the bathroom," he tried to excuse himself, "and I did freak out a bit. I just feel so helpless, like I can't do anything to make this easier, you know? I am sorry though and I'll try to be a bit more relaxed," he promised.

Quinn leant over to kiss his cheek as he drew up at the traffic lights. "That's all I'm asking for, that you try," she said and smiled. "I love that you're so concerned about this baby."

"I'm concerned about you too," Puck reminded her, "you're a package deal right now." Puck smiled back as the lights changed. He drove on. They reached Dr Chin's office a few minutes later. "Can I carry you in?" he asked, stood in Quinn's open door, blocking her way.

"No you absolutely can't. I can walk about a little so just chill," Quinn's reply was quick and firm. Puck grinned expecting that response from her.

"Quinn Puckerman to see Dr Chin," Puck informed the receptionist quietly as Quinn went to sit down. "We have an appointment," he added just as quietly and waited till it was confirmed then went to sit with Quinn. He looked around the waiting room, there were a couple of other dads in there today, both of them way older than him and Quinn. One of the dads was eyeing them up intently as if wondering where he knew them from. Puck sent a narrow eyed look back, daring him to ask, hoping that he wouldn't.

"Quinn Puckerman?" the nurse called, she smiled as Quinn stood, "this way please."

Well versed in routine appointments, Puck never even stood up or asked if she wanted him to go with her. The first part with the nurse was the usual weigh in, the sample tests and the stuff that didn't involve partners. He saw the light dawn on the older man's face as he heard the name being called out. Not a very common name, Quinn Puckerman. Puck raised one eyebrow and stared at the guy, stony-faced, almost daring him to ask about Beth and the trial. "So. Puckerman, eh?" the guy asked, his wife dug him in the ribs and shushed him. He ignored his wife. "The school kids with kids, right?"

Puck immediately turned into 'bolshie teenager Puck' instead of 'responsible daddy Puck'. "So?" he asked, attitude written all over him.

"Don't you think you're just a bit irresponsible, having kids at your age?" the man demanded and puffed out his chest looking towards the other dad in the waiting room, seeking his agreement.

"Don't you think you should keep your opinions to yourself? I'd have thought you'd have been able to learn restraint at your age," Puck retaliated.

The guy didn't like that at all. "I don't appreciate my taxes paying for your mistakes," his sneer was unmistakeable. "Living on welfare, the country keeping you, maybe you should learn how to use contraception."

"And maybe you should learn not to judge everyone by your own standards," Puck ground out. "I don't have to explain anything to you but your taxes do not keep me, my wife or our daughter, I work for a living. I may only be eighteen but I bet I'm way more responsible than you were at that age. And my kids are not mistakes."

The guy's wife turned beet red and apologised. "I'm so sorry about that, he doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut. How is your daughter, after the kidnapping and everything? I thought it was awful when that guy took pictures of you in your room," she spoke very quickly, nervously until she finally ran out of breath.

"She's fine, she doesn't remember it," Puck replied, his tone much nicer towards the woman than her husband. The other people in the waiting room must have thought it was an open forum because they started asking questions about the kidnapping, the trial, Beth, how they'd felt at the news of the miscarriage being broadcast. Puck was inundated with questions and with advice. He was thankful to see Quinn return although it didn't stop the flow of words coming their way.

"Mr and Mrs Puckerman, Dr Chin will see you now," the receptionist called quietly. As they stood, Puck looked up at the clock, he glanced at the receptionist and gave her a grateful smile, the receptionist winked back, they were definitely getting in to their appointment early.

"Thank God for that," Quinn muttered and rolled her eyes, she let out a sigh as they walked down the corridor towards Dr Chin's room. "How did that all start?"

"The miserable guy started as soon as you went in to see the nurse, when he heard your name and realised who we were. Asshole," Puck grumbled. "Forget that, are we ready for this?" he asked, his grin was infectious, Quinn nodded, Puck dropped a little kiss on her lips. "Let's do this," he whispered as he knocked at Dr Chin's door.

"Come in," Dr Chin's distracted voice came through the wood. He turned as the door opened. "Quinn, Noah, sit down. How have you been Quinn? Much pain?" he asked, Quinn shook her head.

"Not much, not like there was a few weeks ago, it sometimes feels like there's something pulling inside, like a torn muscle or something, but it's uncomfortable rather than painful," she replied.

Puck looked at her in surprise. "How come you never give me an answer like that? I ask you and you tell me that you can't feel anything," he complained, frowning, feeling a little put out.

"Because you're not my doctor and you would worry," Quinn answered then turned back to Dr Chin.

"Come on then Quinn, up on the couch," Dr Chin grinned and shook his head, he really did like this pair. His fingers gently touched and pressed the tiny curve of Quinn's tummy. "Mmm, things feel fine right now, good for dates, excellent," Dr Chin nodded. "Let's have a proper look. Are you ready for this? Do you want to find out what you're having?" he asked.

"Oh yeah, we do," Puck sighed with relief at hearing Dr Chin's assessment, "if we can anyway."

"You've got a full bladder, right Quinn?" Dr Chin asked.

"Any fuller and I'd be having an accident on your couch," Quinn grimaced.

"Let's see if this baby looks as good on screen as big sister Beth, huh?" he asked, smiling. "Just give me a second to take some measurements…" Dr Chin's voice trailed off as he concentrated. Puck's grip on Quinn's hand tightened. "Excellent, it's looking all good here. No danger signs, nothing to make me worry, good stuff. Right, are you ready to see your…" as he turned the monitor their way, "…son?" he finished, grinning at both of their faces.

"It's a boy? Really?" Puck asked. "We're having a boy? Wow. A boy," he repeated, Quinn couldn't speak, she smiled and cried at the same time, her teeth in her lip. Puck couldn't hide the glint of tears in his own eyes. He shook his head in wonder. "Our son," he whispered to Quinn before their arms went round each other, hugging close.

On the drive home they just kept grinning at each other with the occasional murmured "a boy" between them. As they pulled up on the driveway, Sarah came out of the house with Beth holding her hand. "Well," she asked, her eyebrows raised. "Do we know what Baby Puckerman is yet?"

"We do but we'll wait till mom gets home from work and we'll get Judy and Frannie to come over," Puck answered with a huge smile. "It's no good giving me that look Nana, we're not telling yet."

"We have to get Grammy online too," Quinn insisted. "She wants to know what we're having as well."

"Did Dr Chin say anything about how things are going?" Sarah asked, desperate for at least some information.

"Yes, he said everything is going really well and I can start going back to school, mornings only for now. I need to ask my mom if she can pick me up at lunch times. We can drive in together but I'll need to be picked up. I'm still not allowed to drive yet. Or join in any of the routines for Glee. It's a good job Jenna was willing to take my place," Quinn stopped talking suddenly, a frown on her face. "I really hate that I'll have to miss Regionals, it's only a few weeks away and Dr Chin doesn't want me to push things that far. I'll more than likely miss both of the competitions this year," she pouted.

"I'd rather you miss out on the competitions than put yourself at risk" Puck replied, his arm round her shoulder. He kissed the top of her head. "It sucks being paired up with Jenna though, she doesn't feel like you when I have to lift her or spin her. It's not the same."

"What was the Glee assignment for this week? Reggae?" Quinn asked. "I have an idea for a song you can sing. It might be quite a loose interpretation on the meaning of the song but it could work, we'll check it out after dinner, ok?"

"I'm always up for singing with you," Puck smirked, his eyebrows flicking up then down leaving Quinn no doubt he didn't mean a single thing about singing.

"Down boy," she laughed as Puck's arms wrapped round her from behind. "Dr Chin was still adamant about this body being a 'No Puck Zone'," she reminded him and indicated with a sweep of her hand up and down her body.

Puck groaned. "I know, but it was nice to dream for a second. Till you shot me down," he mock grumbled then kissed her head again, laughing. "I don't think I've ever gone this long without. Only for you babe, only for you," he murmured very quietly against her hair.

Quinn's head went back as she looked up at him. "Because you love me?" she asked, grinning.

"No one else could do the things you do to me and still live," Puck answered.

"That confirms it. The song that I was thinking is exactly the right one," Quinn said with a decisive nod, she felt so smug.

"Are you going to tell me what it is?" Puck asked

"No. You'll find out after dinner, then you can sing it to me. And tomorrow you can sing it in Glee, when I'm actually there," Quinn sounded so grateful to be leaving the house even for school.

After dinner the family gathered. Judy, Frannie, Peter and Isabelle came over, Abe and Saul joined them. John had been invited to hear the news too and Grammy was online, her face very close to the camera on her laptop giving a weird experience to anyone who glanced over. Hannah was playing with Beth while Ruth and Sarah made coffee and brought cake in for everyone.

"Can we get on with this?" Grammy complained. "I can't understand why you'd want to know anyway, in my day you waited till the baby popped out then you were told what you'd got."

"You don't have to listen if you don't want, Grammy," Frannie advised, "we can always turn skype off…" she said as she headed on her crutches towards the laptop set up facing the family.

"No no, no, don't do that, I want to hear, I was just saying," Coraline shouted, waving her hands about frantically as if that could stop Frannie from disconnecting her. Coraline really did want to know what the baby would be, she was just getting a bit bored of being ignored in the corner. "And what did you do?" she asked Frannie as she noticed the crutches.

"I broke my ankle, I fell over on it," Frannie replied, looking down at the cast on her foot.

"Well, you will wear those ridiculously high heels," Peter commented. "I've been telling you for years that you're going to break your neck or something." Frannie stuck her tongue out at Peter and pulled a face. "So mature," he commented before doing the same back.

Once everyone was seated, Quinn and Puck stood before them and with not too much ado, Puck made the announcement. "It's a boy," he said then let out a big sigh as he grinned and hugged Quinn. He bent to pick up Beth who had come to stand at his feet. "You're going to have a baby brother, is that exciting?" he asked her.

"Baby. My baby," Beth smiled, hugging her daddy. "My big girl," she called, suddenly realising that 'baby' was a step down from 'big girl' and she didn't like being called a baby again. Beth pouted and looked cross.

"In mommy's tummy," Puck tried to explain to Beth, pointing to where the baby was inside Quinn. "A baby brother for you," he added, trying a different tack.

"My not like it baby," Beth insisted. "My big girl."

"You are a big girl, that's right. And soon you'll have a baby brother so you'll be an even bigger big girl," Quinn told Beth with enthusiasm.

"She won't get it," Coraline's voice came from the computer. "She's too young to understand. Have you thought about names? Winston is a very good name. Your Grampy was called Winston. I think you should consider it," she said and gave such a stare, trained mostly on Puck, that they felt she was actually saying don't consider the name, just use it.

"Well, Winston isn't exactly a Hebrew name, Grammy," Puck replied and almost winced knowing that he would be hurting her feelings. "And there's a lot of things to consider, like what will go with Puckerman. I can tell you right now though, the poor little thing is not going to get stuck with either Noah or Yusef…" he was cut off by cries from both his mom and his Nana.

"What's wrong with Noah?" Ruth demanded.

"What's wrong with Yusef?" Sarah demanded at the exact same time. "It was good enough for my father."

"And that's why we aren't going to choose a name from the family," Quinn insisted. "We'll do the same as we did with Beth, find a name that no one else in the family has, it only ends up offending one person to please another. Agreed?" she looked at Puck for support.

"Totally," he agreed. "And now we're going upstairs, we have homework to do for tomorrow. Grammy!" Puck cried and burst out laughing as he heard her response to them doing homework. "We really are going to do homework. Dr Chin has still put a veto on that. And yes, before you ask the guy really, really hates me. Peter, that's so not funny."

Puck, Quinn and Beth went upstairs. Quinn found the song that she'd been thinking of and played it for Puck. He listened and nodded. "Yep, it's a good one. Says it all," he agreed. Quinn downloaded the lyrics then they had a couple of goes at it, Quinn standing in for the harmonies.

"I think you should sing it with the guys," Quinn said from her position, knelt behind Puck as he sat on the end of the bed, her arms round his chest. "Dr Chin didn't say we couldn't make out, did he?" she asked, her head appeared over Puck's shoulder. "He only said we couldn't have sex. Wanna have some fun with me when Beth goes to bed?" she whispered, her eyes were alight, a big smile on her face.

"Oh yeah, I think we can manage that," Puck agreed and grinned before kissing her. "What time is it? Is it bed time yet?" he asked, Quinn laughingly shoved him in the shoulder as she told him no.

After Puck had bathed Beth and she had gone to bed, he and Quinn spent a long time exploring each other, having fun without taking things too far. They had really missed being this close. They both wished they could be even closer but they weren't willing to take the risk. They were both satisfied with what they could have.


"Welcome, welcome, welcome," Mr Schue called and smiled at Quinn, his arms held wide to engulf her in a hug. "It's so good to see you. Are you feeling ok?" he asked.

"I'm fine Mr Schue," Quinn laughed, hugging him back. "I'm only here for a few hours a day just now but I'm fine."

"And Regionals?" he asked hopefully, holding her now at arms length.

"No, sorry, still under doctor's orders for that, but Jenna's doing a good job, right?" Quinn smiled at her friend who nodded back at her.

"I'm enjoying it actually, I wish I'd joined sooner, it's fun," Jenna replied.

"Ok, did anyone have a go at reggae?" Mr Schue asked looking round at his students.

"Yep, we found a song yesterday, we're ready to do it for you. Guys? Are you ready?" Puck asked and looked at Finn, Artie and the other boys who all nodded. "This is loosely interpreted, but I mean it," he winked at Quinn. The band started playing on cue. (*Puck, #guys)

*"I don't know how many stars there are
*Up in the heavenly sky
*I only know my heaven is here on earth
*Each time you look into my eyes

*#You're all I need to get by
*#No one else can make me cry
*#The way you do baby

*My beautiful bird
*You have flown away
*I held you too tight
*I can see

*#You're all I need to get by
*#No one else can make me cry
*#The way you do baby

*You are the book
*That I'm reading babe
*You are the song that I sing
*You are the four seasons of my life

*#But maybe tomorrow
*#You'll change your mind, girl
*#Maybe tomorrow
*#You'll come back to my arms, girl

*You're all I need to get by
*No one else can make me cry
*The way you do baby

*#You are the book
*#That I'm reading babe
*#You are the song that I sing
*#You are the four seasons of my life

*#But maybe tomorrow
*#You'll change your mind, girl
*#Maybe tomorrow
*#You'll come back to my arms, girl

*#Maybe tomorrow
*#You'll change your mind, girl
*#Maybe tomorrow
*#You'll come back to my arms, girl"

The band had done a wonderful job, especially with the trumpet section. As they finished singing, the guys were all laughing, the girls clapping. Quinn stood and hugged Puck. Puck looked over to Jenna. "Sorry Jenna, you're great and everything but I'd rather be singing and dancing with Quinn," he looked down into Quinn's smiling eyes. "Maybe tomorrow, huh?"

"Should we tell them now?" Quinn whispered. Puck nodded. She turned in his arms. "You know we went to see Dr Chin yesterday, right?" she asked, blushing, all their friends nodded. "Well, we had the scan and…" she looked at Puck, "IT'S A BOY," they called together, to the cheers and applause of the whole team.