(Shelby's point of view)

"Ok munchkin. Time for bed." Beth pouted.

"No, so soon? Please, half an hour more?" She begged.

I could never resist that face. Who am I kidding? I glanced at the clock.

8:55PM.

"Ok. You can stay up until 9:30. It's our little secret." I said winking.

"Yesss!" She hugged me and lead me over to the couch to finish watching the Incredibles 2 on demand. I snickered, remembering when they came out with the first one.

I didn't realize that I was daydreaming until Beth jumped up screaming "Catch him! He's going to get away!"

Apparently, the bad guy with the screen control was getting away.

I got up, popping another thing of popcorn in the microwave.

I let the faucet run to get a glass of water, humming Just around the river bend.

"I love that song!"

I jumped.

"Beth, I thought you were watching the movie."

"It went to commercial." She said following the scent of the popcorn.

I nodded, continuing to hum when Beth started singing along.

What I love most about rivers is

You can't step in the same river twice

I smiled, leaning over the counter towards her, taking the next part.

The water's always changing, always flowing

But people, I guess, can't live like that

We all must pay a price

Beth grabbed a spatula, something that Puck used to do, as she sang where I left off.

To be safe, we lose our chance of ever knowing

What's around the river bend

Waiting just around the river bend

I stepped in.

I look once more just around the river bend

Beyond the shore where the gulls fly free

Don't know what for what I dream the day might send

Just around the river bend for me, coming for me

The microwave dinged. I smiled as Beth took the next verse.

I feel it there beyond those trees

Or right behind these waterfalls

I turned on the faucet, chucking.

Can I ignore that sound of distant drumming?

I chimed in.

For a handsome sturdy husband who builds handsome sturdy walls

And never dreams that something might be coming?

Just around the river bend

We moved around the island in the kitchen.

Just around the river bend

Both of us held hands and sang together.

I look once more just around the river bend

Beyond the shore somewhere past the sea

Don't know what for why do all my dreams extend

Just around the river bend, just around the river bend

I was no longer in the kitchen with Beth. I was wearing the most beautiful dress on stage with the spotlight on me.

Should I choose the smoothest course

Steady as the beating drum? Should I marry Kocoum?

Is all my dreaming at an end?

Or do you still wait for me, dream giver

Just around the river bend?

I had tears in my eyes, but I quickly wiped them when Beth started clapping.

"You have a pretty voice." She said, hugging me.

I planted a kiss on her forehead.

"Thank you love, and you do too!" I said taking the popcorn out of the microwave.

"Here. Take some popcorn, I'll be right out." She beamed, taking the bag of popcorn, and resuming yelling at the TV.

(Quinn's point of view)

RING RING

My foot started tapping on its own accord after the third ring.

"Hey, I'm unavailable at the moment. You know what to do."

Beep.

I sighed and hung up.

It was going on day 3 at my mother's house and just when I thought that this month was going fine, I answered Puck's phone only to hear a female on the other end of the line.

"Hi. Is this Noah Puckerman's phone?"

I froze.

"No, wrong number." I said before hanging it up.

My palms became sweaty. I couldn't think straight.

Was Puck cheating on me? I mean, I knew that the sex wasn't the same since it happened, and yes sometimes I ignored him and made our marriage about everything but him, but he had to know that I loved him, right?

Did I show him that I loved him?

Nervous and feeling sick to my stomach, I fought to put my coat on. I started to feel the room spin, but I wasn't about to give up and face him just yet, so I did what every other woman would do.

I wrote a note about getting some air and I left.

…..

I turned on all the lights, ignoring the stacks of mail and the landline flashing with unread voice mail messages.

I had no time to waste.

I went straight for the walk-in closet in our bedroom, looking for stray hairs on his jackets, eyeing them for lipstick, perfume, anything that would let me know that he was cheating.

I went through his drawers, his pockets, and his 'man pouch.' Nothing. Frustrated, I listened to the voicemail messages as I eyed his mail.

The first message was from Mike, our former glee friend, who was now head dancer on a movie set.

I can't believe that you have a landline and you don't use it. Useless trying you here, but I'm desperate. Call me? And say hi to the family for me?

I smiled, saving the message and moving on to the next.

Quinn, I need a favor. I wouldn't ask if I didn't need to, but my boss is hosting a party and I wanted to invite you as my plus one-

I rolled my eyes as I deleted the message from my dad.

The next message matched the same number that called him earlier. I recognized the voice.

Hi, this message is for Noah Puckerman. We were calling to check in with you to confirm your contact information and to schedule an appointment for our next session.

I slid to the ground, hugging my knees in relief.

"Not what you expected right? Always waiting for Puckerman to screw it up?" San asked nonchalantly stepping over the discarded mail.

"How'd you find me here?"

"Not important. What is important is your responses to everyone and everything." She said, joining me on the floor, resting her hand on mine.

My eyes fell to the ground.

"He's not cheating, Quinn, he's in therapy." She admitted, with a sudden warmth in her voice.

My eyes shot up and found hers.

"He didn't want you worrying about him. He noticed that the miscarriage changed you, and he wanted to figure out what that looked like for your marriage and your family moving forward." She said.

I winced when she said miscarriage out loud. She must have noticed because she started rubbing circles in my back.

"I don't understand. Why did he tell you?" I asked, feeling a little hurt.

"He didn't. I was with a girlfriend in that part of town when we ran into each other. He was leaving the place, and I was coming in to meet up with a friend who works there. I figured I'd be nice and let him tell me when he was ready. I guess he didn't want to avoid the elephant in the room." She said shrugging.

Wow. I felt like a jerk. An ungrateful, paranoid, insecure, bitchy wife. All this time, my husband was hurting, and all I could do was think about myself? San read me so well.

"Hey, look at me! You didn't know, and before you reacted, you wanted to find more information. I get it. Trusting Puck is huge but know that he doesn't sleep around anymore. Not even for a second. He wouldn't risk losing you again."

Before I knew it, I captured the feisty Latina in my arms.

"What would I do without my best friend?" I whispered, so thankful and full of emotion.

"That time was free." She said, making the air light between us like she always does.

I let her go, and she helped me off the floor.

"I believe Puck is waiting for you." She teased, glancing at all of his texts on my phone.

I smirked.

That was definitely an understatement.

…..

When I pulled up to my mother's house, I saw him through the window, sitting by the fireplace with a book in his hands.

He didn't see when I walked in, but I was determined that he wouldn't forget this night.

I tossed my keys and took off my scarf.

I gently sat on the arm of his chair and let my arm lay across his shoulders.

"I wasn't sure if you were going to come back." He said quietly, facing the fire.

"I'll always come back to you." I whispered placing a tender kiss to his forehead.

He turned to face me before pulling me in for an equally tender kiss.

"I love you Quinn." He said caressing my cheek.

"I love you Noah" I said in the softest voice before pulling him out of that chair.

We stood mere inches apart, holding each other, matching our breathing and dreaming for the first time in a long time since I had a miscarriage.

We stood there swaying to the radio, when May I have this dance by Francis and the lights came on.

May I have this dance?

He pulled me closer to him, singing along.

Can I say something crazy, I love you?

Give me both your hands, to make it up to you

Let me spin and excite you

Puck spun me, and gracefully took the lead as we danced. I rested my head in the crook of his neck, breathing in his scent with my eyes closed.

You've got your, your mother's eyes

You've got your, grandmother's ring

You've got your daddy's discernment

Girl you did your thing, oh give me one more

He suddenly stopped and gazed into my eyes.

"You're so beautiful Quinn." He said sweetly.

"And I'm all yours." I whispered against his lips.

He smiled before picking me up and leading us back to the guest room.

I was 110% certain that my mom restocked the condoms that we had like she promised.

That thought soon disappeared as we felt the warmth from our love turn into a flame that consumed us both.