Rachel parked the car in the driveway. She figured she'd have around a half hour before Puck was to show up. That gave her plenty of time to prepare for this pretty big step for both Beth and Puck. This was the first time since Beth's birth that Puck would be seeing her in the flesh and Beth would be reunited with her father.
"Beth is upstairs napping," Hiram informed her.
"Noah is coming over to see Beth."
"Will he be staying for dinner? Nonsense, of course he is," Hiram said. Rachel smiled at her daddy's behavior. This also gave her time to figure out things with Puck. During the last two Summers they had dated but they ended it before she left. She really wanted to be his girlfriend. She was aware that he hooked up with nearly every women in Lima. She wasn't worried about him being faithful, she knew that he could be.
"Oh hey, Rachel," Clint greeted walking into the kitchen.
"Hello Clinton. How was your day at school?" Rachel asked with a bright smile.
"It's Clint, Rachel. And it was school," he responded rolling his eyes.
Clint loved Hiram and Leroy. They were the only parents he knew. His biological parents left him when he was only a year old with the Berry's, giving them full custody. Rachel had quickly became his sister. He had followed her around on every visit. They stayed in contact after they got older. Sure there were days when they annoyed each other, but that was family for you.
"You didn't give Pops a heart attack did you?" Hiram asked. Rachel looked at them, trying to figure why Clint would do such a horrendous thing. "He got his permit the other day. I won't go near a car until he learns, especially after you," Hiram laughed, pointing at Rachel.
"I was the perfect student," Rachel huffed.
"She really was," Leroy said, kissing his husband. "Clint wasn't so bad either."
"I was an epic driver," Clint boosted.
"Has he spent time with Noah while I was gone?" Rachel asked, faintly hearing Beth fussing.
"Who's Noah? I don't know any Noah's," Clint smartly said, following Rachel. Their fathers had filled him in on what was going on with Rachel and Beth. He had even helped decorate the nursery for who he would like to consider his baby sister. He was going to help with Beth over the next two years.
"Puck," Rachel answered, quickly making her way up the stairs.
"Just a few times at Temple. It's not like any cool people in this town are Jewish."
"I won't tell him you said that," she laughed, picking Beth up.
They were so engrossed with Beth that they hadn't heard the doorbell or hear Hiram yell up the stairs. They sure didn't hear the footfalls on the stairs. It wasn't until Puck cleared his throat that they jumped a part frightening Beth. Clint greeted Puck on his way out.
"I didn't mean to scare her. Can I try?" Puck asked, hesitantly stepping closer. Rachel nodded handing Beth over. Her lips formed a smile, watching Puck gently rock her in his arms, cooing in her little ear. Beth nuzzled into Puck as he softly sang to Beth.
Rachel was surprised with how easy Puck went into father mode. It was something she had only ever saw on rare occasion when he was with his sister Daniela. The longer she watched father and daughter the more she felt like she was intruding on them. She just didn't think Puck would be okay with Beth by himself. She wouldn't make a situation happen where he could freak out.
"She's adorable," Puck gushed, lightly tickling her side, her little giggles were music to his ears. He was amazed on how much she looked like him, but Quinn as well. She was the perfect mix. "I didn't want to give her up, but it was the best thing I had done. I can't thank you enough for that." Rachel walked over to give him a hug.
Puck was her friend and in a panic about finding the right family for his baby girl. He wasn't letting anyone have her. Because of how picky he was with families, they didn't have anyone to adopt Beth when she was born. That's when Rachel stepped in. Shelby had been talking about wanting another baby. Rachel instantly thought about Puck and Quinn. Beth needed a home and Shelby wanted a baby. It took very little persuasion on her part with her mom and Puck was thrilled that Rachel would do such a huge favor for him. It was a win for everyone.
"It was the only way I knew that you would still have some hold on her. Shelby isn't going to remarry, not now. Even before this, having me and even Beth was enough for her. Beth was close to you, but yet she wasn't. Do you think that maybe Quinn will ever come around?" Rachel asked, taking Beth to change her diaper.
"I have no clue, Rach. She has spent the last few months acting like Beth didn't happen. She's missing out," Puck shrugged. "I tried to get you out of it, but my Ma expects you tomorrow night for dinner. Beth too, if you want to bring her, that is," he quickly threw out, taking the dirty diaper and tossing it in the bin.
"Would you be okay with having Beth there?" Rachel asked, placing Beth on her hip.
"It'd be cool," he replied, stuffing his hands in his pockets. Rachel smiled seeing through his facade. He wanted Beth there.
"Dinner still at the same time? I'd hate it if we missed out." Hearing those words brought a smile to his face and he realized since saying Rachel could bring Beth, he could breath again.
"It is, but come whenever. You're always welcome at the Puckerman house," he winked, taking Beth and heading downstairs, Rachel right behind him.
Dinner had been filled with talk about what Rachel had been up to in New York, over the Summer since she had stayed. She was very vague on it because she didn't want to talk about her mom. She told them about the Broadway shows she had went and seen. Which of course lead into going on and on about how she was going to be up on any given stage for the Great White Way. Clint rolled his eyes at his sister. He heard that speech more than once over the years and he had faith that she would be the one to take Broadway by storm. He had even vowed to be sitting front row center for her Broadway debut.
"Babe, we've got it," Puck chuckled, sending her a wink. With his little comment from his spot by Beth who was seated between Puck and Rachel, so that way they both could feed her, Rachel sent him a glare. It was Rachel's idea and Puck wasn't going to deny being close to Beth. The connection as father was still there and stronger than ever. Just like when she was a baby, he would do anything for her.
"So Puck what did you do this summer?" Hiram asked. Rachel shot him a glance wanting to know if he had easily moved on from her, like he so easily had done during the school year when she wasn't around.
"Family and cleaning pools," he shrugged. It was nothing fancy. No family vacations. He spent time with his sister when his mom had to work and he had his own business. Just this Summer he hadn't jumped into bed with any of the cougars. Summer's were for Rachel and he wasn't about to break that.
"Any extracurricular activities?" Rachel asked. Puck had gotten the hidden message under her words. He smirked, sending her a wink. He could easily mess with her, but he was afraid that she would reject him access to Beth.
"Nope," he stated. He didn't miss the smile on her face. Maybe this could be the start of something beautiful.
Rachel had given Puck the luxury of helping bath Beth and letting him put her to bed. Seeing Puck's face light up at the suggestion, made her day.
"I'm gonna head off," Puck said, coming to stand in her doorway. "Thanks for tonight."
"It's was nothing really," Rachel told him from her spot on her bed. "I'll see you tomorrow?" She asked.
"Yeah of course. Just a warning, you might want to bring an extra set of clothes. There's a good chance you'll get the good ol' McKinley welcome with a slushie facial."
"Is there a chance you can do that?" She asked. She didn't want some random student tossing a slushie on her. At least with Puck doing it, she could feel a little better about it because he would be more gentle about it. As gentle as one could be.
"Maybe," he replied with a shrug. "Night Rach," Puck told her stepping from her room.
"Night Noah," she replied with a smile.
I really wanted to bring Clint in. I loved him and even though he was part of VA, I would have loved to learn more about him. So I thought that a good little twist is to have him as Rachel's brother. I can go further into his past, if you want me to. Also I'm using this time before Clint turned into the ass he was on the show. I hope you all like this little twist. Thank you for the love shown so far with this story.