Disclaimer: I don't own Glee.

Read on, oh faithful ones...

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Chapter Thirty Six

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Mouse slept restlessly the first night. It was odd not being in her own room at home, not hearing Candy's usual lullaby of The Lion King CD on repeat in the background, not listening out for Sarah to come home either drunk or with yet another man, or both. She ended up turning her iPod to the soundtrack for The Lion King and trying to trick herself into thinking that she was at home. It didn't work instantly, but she did end up managing a few hours sleep.

She settled in to her classes surprisingly quickly, even though she was nervous and worried about making an idiot of herself. Mouse even made friends, organised study groups with her classmates, and went with Akiko to the clubs they'd both signed up for.

Before she really knew what had happened, two weeks had passed and she was reaching her planned drive back to Lima to visit Puck and Candy. As she'd promised, she'd spoken with Candy every night to hear about his day, and more importantly, to make sure that Sarah was actually looking after him. Sarah had taken Candy's phone the last time Mouse had called, stating that Jane had better be coming back because she had plans for the whole weekend. She'd promised to be there as early as possible on Saturday morning.

"Are you sure you don't mind dropping me off?" Akiko asked, her bag over her shoulder.

"Of course not; the theatre's on my way," Mouse replied with a smile. "Do you need help with your things?"

Akiko shook her head. "I can carry it; I'm used to the weight," she added, hefting the box filled with a selection of her theatrical outfits a little higher and heading out of their dorm room.

Mouse followed after her, closing the door behind her. Within fifteen minutes, she had dropped Akiko at the theatre for her dress rehearsal and was on the road heading for Lima.

A part of her couldn't wait to be back home, while another part seemed to be permanently fixed at the university, worrying about her upcoming assignments and classes for the week.

Mouse looked at herself in the rear view mirror briefly. "Keep it together. Breathe," she told herself, her voice firm and demanding. She forced herself to breathe in and out, in and out, and concentrated on the road and turned the radio up loud.

...

"Mousie!" Candy called excitedly, waving from the front door.

Mouse smiled at her brother, turning off the ignition and getting out of the car. Candy knew not to run outside when people were driving cars, so he waited impatiently for her to come to him instead. Mouse didn't exactly run, but she might have power walked. She hugged Candy just as tight as he hugged her, and she was surprised to realise that he was a little taller than he had been just a month ago.

"Hey, sweetie. How are you?" she asked, stroking his hair gently.

"Good," he replied, his voice muffled against her skin.

"I'm glad to hear that. Have you had breakfast yet?"

He shook his head. "Mummy said to wait for you."

Of course she did, Mouse thought to herself.

"Is Mum home?"

"She's sleeping," Candy replied. "Sweet can have waffles?" he asked eagerly.

"Did Mum replace the waffle-maker?" Mouse asked, remembering the charred mess that had become of the waffle-maker the last time Sarah had decided to cook while inebriated.

Four scouring pads still hadn't been enough to clean the appliance and she'd had to throw it out. Sarah had said she'd replace it, but that was almost two years ago now, and there was still no waffle-maker.

Candy's face fell and he shook his head.

"How about pancakes instead?" Mouse offered, hoping he wouldn't mind the alternative, and that there were still eggs and milk in the fridge. Mouse really hoped that it wasn't the same carton of milk and eggs she'd bought before leaving for university.

"With choc chips and strawberries!" Candy said happily.

"Uh, let's see what's in the pantry first, okay, sweetie?"

Candy nodded and grabbed Mouse's hand, leading her through the lounge room to the kitchen. The lounge room was clean, with most of Candy's toys in his plastic box in the corner, though his Pixar blanket was spread out on the floor with a few of his figurines set up, all facing the window expectantly.

The kitchen looked clean, but as Mouse looked around properly, she could see the recycling bin overflowing with empty alcohol bottles, and several more bottles sitting in the kitchen sink.

"Why don't you get dressed, Candy? I'll see what I can do about breakfast," she said with a quick smile.

Candy nodded and left the kitchen. Mouse opened the pantry, blinking at the sight of more alcohol bottles. Candy's box of cereal had been moved down a shelf to fit in Sarah's alcohol, and there was no sign of the flour or emergency long-life milk Mouse had kept in the pantry. She opened the fridge with trepidation, her heart sinking when she saw three things growing mould. She didn't dare open the carton of milk when she saw that the expiry was over a week ago.

Vaguely, Mouse heard the front door open and close, and Sarah's car drive away a moment later. She grit her teeth and clenched the fridge door, wishing that her mother would take just an ounce of responsibility for her children and not run away at the idea of a confrontation.

"Ready!" Candy announced, smiling brightly.

Mouse composed herself and closed the fridge door, turning to smile at her brother. Candy's clothes were wrinkled and stained, like they hadn't been washed at all since she left.

"Candy, sweetie, what have you been eating?"

"Mummy brings food home for dinner. I had pizza yesterday and the day before!"

"What about breakfast?"

Candy's face reddened. "Mummy says I shouldn't complain."

"Oh, sweetie, no. You're allowed to complain. Always, okay? You are going to school, right?" she asked, suddenly worried that Sarah wasn't even doing that.

Candy nodded firmly. "Puck takes me to school. He brings me lunch too. I get to sit with Katie in the backseat and she sings with me."

"Puck? Why... why didn't he tell me?" Mouse murmured, her voice soft.

It didn't take long for her to understand why he hadn't told her: Puck hadn't wanted her to worry. If she'd known this was happening, she would have left the university to come home, her scholarship be damned. Even now, part of her was wondering if she could defer her study while on a scholarship, if she could try to study from home instead, if she could get custody of Candy when she'd just turned eighteen.

"Mousie?" Candy said, tugging on her hand. "Are you okay?"

She forced herself to smile and nod. "Just thinking, sweetie. Why don't we go out for breakfast instead? BreadstiX makes waffles," she added.

Candy's eyes widened and he nodded happily, rushing to the front door.

"Don't run, sweetie," Mouse called.

She emptied the fridge into a large black bag, then gathered up the bottles from the sink to put in the recycling bin outside, and carried the three full bags out. Tipping the bottles into the recycling, Mouse was surprised to see several envelopes float down as well. Reaching into the bin, she gathered the envelopes and winced at the sight of the harsh red lettering for final notices from various utility companies. One was void of red lettering, but her heart stopped all the same when she saw the logo of William McKinley High on the envelope. Mouse ripped open the envelope and unfolded the letter inside.

Dear Mrs. Franklin,

Candon has been coming to school in dirty clothes for several days now and I am concerned that he has not been eating in the morning, as I have found him trying to steal another child's food during morning tea.

Could you please contact me at your earliest convenience so we can discuss Candon's future? He is a bright boy and I want him to succeed in life, and I'm sure you do too.

Regards,
Mrs. Nancy Komp

The letter was dated almost two weeks ago. Mouse felt a wave of sickness roll through her body. She wondered if Mrs. Komp had called Child Protection Services yet. Candy couldn't go through that, he wouldn't understand why, and he probably wouldn't be able to see his friends - or her - again. He would think they'd all left him alone and didn't love him anymore.

"Mousie, hurry!" Candy called impatiently.

"Be right there, sweetie," Mouse replied, taking the empty bin back inside.

She opened the final notice envelopes, determined the total sum, and headed upstairs to her mother's room. Sarah had several stashes of money hidden away that she didn't think Mouse knew about. Mouse figured that it was high time her mother paid for groceries and her own bills for once.

"I just need to go to the bank and then we'll get breakfast, okay, sweetie?" Mouse said as she closed the front door and headed down to her car.

"Okaaayyy," Candy said with a long sigh.

"I'll be as fast as possible," Mouse promised, waiting until Candy had clicked his seat belt on before reversing out of the driveway and heading into Lima.

Paying all of the bills at the bank took fifteen minutes. Mouse had forged her mother's signature enough times that she was able to pay all four of the bills without being hauled away for impersonation. She just hoped the bank teller wouldn't ask for ID, though she was fairly certain they hadn't believed her to be who she said she was. It probably didn't help that Sarah's cash stunk of alcohol as it had been hidden away in empty bottles. Sarah would be going home to smashed glass in her bedroom, but Mouse didn't care. Candy never went in their mother's room, so he would be safe from the glass, and he was all she cared about.

With the bills paid and some money leftover, Mouse did as promised and took Candy to BreadstiX for breakfast. They had a large meal of waffles and milkshakes, Candy's eyes going as wide as saucers when he saw the food and drinks.

Mouse texted Puck to thank him for taking Candy to school every day, and to tell him that they were at BreadstiX having breakfast. Mouse tried to determine how much money she had left to spend on groceries and how she could cook things in a way that would allow Candy to eat proper food instead of whatever junk Sarah brought home.

He could use the microwave with some basic instructions, Mouse thought, her gaze going to the restaurant window as she saw Puck's car pull up.

Puck was inside less than a minute later - Mouse didn't even think he'd locked the car behind him - and he looked over to them, relieved and worried all at once. Mouse tried to smile, to be supportive and not worry Candy, but she felt tears spring to her eyes because she had thirty dollars that smelled like alcohol to try to spend on a month's worth of groceries, her brother was eating breakfast for the first time in god knew how long, he was sitting across from her in the cleanest clothes he had which were still covered in stains, and her boyfriend looked worried because he'd tried to keep her brother alive and healthy.

Puck sat beside Mouse in the booth a moment later and pulled her into a firm hug. "I'm sorry, babe. I've been trying, but Sarah won't let me in the house, and I'm so sorry," he whispered, holding her as she trembled and shook and tried to get herself under control again.

"Mouse? Puck?" Candy asked, his voice and bottom lip trembling.

"We're okay, Candy. Just happy to see each other," Puck said, forcing a smile on his face.

Candy didn't look as though he believed Puck, but he kept eating, watching them determinedly.

Mouse breathed out shakily and pulled away from Puck, kissing him gently on the lips. "Thank you. Also, hi."

Puck smiled, more genuine this time, and kissed her back, brief and chaste. "Hi."

"Puck, waffles?" Candy asked around a mouthful of food.

"Don't talk with your mouth full, sweetie," Mouse reminded him. "Do you want waffles? You can share mine if you'd like; I had a quick breakfast this morning," she added.

Puck nodded and stole Mouse's plate. "Did you get your homework done, Candy?"

Candy looked troubled at the question. "Sweet ran out of paper."

"Why don't you come over to my house and Katie and I can help you out?" Puck offered.

Candy looked between Mouse and Puck. "Can sweet go to Puck's, Mouse?"

"Of course. I'll stay home so I can do laundry for you. I'll even cook lots and lots of food so you can have something nice instead of pizza, okay?"

"Mouse isn't coming?" Candy asked, looking appropriately devastated.

"We've got a washing machine and kitchen," Puck offered.

"I don't want to add to your mother's water and electricity bills, Puck," she murmured.

"I don't think she'd care if it meant that Candy was being looked after. She's tried to get him from Sarah as well, y'know."

"What?"

"Katie came home crying because she found out Candy hadn't eaten all day, so Mum went over to see if he was all right, but Sarah refused to let her inside and threatened to call the cops."

"If she'd done that, then the police would've taken Candy away from her."

"Yeah, that's what Mum figured. She didn't think Candy would do well in the system. I started taking him to school and giving him lunch the next day," Puck said. He had another bite of the waffle, swallowing and hesitating a moment before saying his next thought. "You can adopt someone at the age of eighteen in Ohio."

"Yes, but I'd also need Sarah's permission, along with my own house, and I'm pretty sure a steady source of income is needed as well," Mouse said, sipping at her milkshake.

"I've got a steady source of income," Noah said. "Some of the guys at LLL have family in construction; I could have a house built in three months."

Jane spluttered and choked on her drink. "What? How? How would you pay for it? And... what?!"

Noah pushed the last of the waffle around on his plate. "Mum's got some savings to help out, and ever since Santana dumped me for my credit rating, I started getting back on track with my money and savings. I mean, it wasn't for the right reasons back then, but it is now. I've saved enough since I don't have to pay rent or bills at home; Burt helps me fix my car for free; and I don't go out or buy anything, so it's all just sitting in the bank. I can get a home loan and have the construction started next week."

"You've already looked into this, haven't you?" Jane asked; no one just knew that kind of information off the top of their head without some kind of research involved.

"Yeah. I mean, I asked a few questions here and there, had an appointment at the bank on my day off, but... I want to do this. I want to help Candy more than a fifteen minute drive to school and giving him a packed lunch. I mean, if the housing market wasn't so ridiculous in Lima, I would've already rented a place so I could move out of home."

"Fuck," Jane breathed quietly, realising that Noah was completely 110% serious.

She'd been looking into adoption and foster care since she turned thirteen, but had never saved enough money from her odd jobs as it always seemed to go on bills or groceries or clothes for Candy, who had seemingly outgrown every item of clothing a mere week later. Jane had never really thought that she'd ever be able to save up enough money to buy a house.

"I... I don't know what to say," Jane said, feeling adrift and caught up in her emotions.

Noah took her hand and squeezed it gently. "It doesn't have to happen right away. Think about it, talk with Candy. I just... I want to do what's best for him."

Jane smiled at him, eyes watery. She wiped her eyes before Candy noticed her tears and looked over at her brother. "That's all I've ever wanted."

Noah smiled and pressed a kiss to the back of Jane's hand gently.

...

Candy went with Puck after breakfast, Mouse promising to join them at the Puckerman residence as soon as she'd finished shopping. Candy and Katie were doing their homework when she arrived, Candy chattering away happily and writing his words with careful concentration. Mouse thanked Mrs. Puckerman for the use of her kitchen and spent the afternoon focused on organising enough meals to last Candy two and a half weeks. She'd just have to come back to Lima earlier than she'd anticipated to make sure he had enough food for the rest of the month.

"You can add some more water and rice to that stew; it'll give you another two meals at least," Mrs. Puckerman commented as she headed into the kitchen to get sandwiches for lunch.

Mouse looked from the recipe on her screen to the pot on the stove uncertainly, though she tried not to show it.

"Trust me, dear; I raised two hungry children for a long time. No one will know the difference," Mrs. Puckerman said, not looking at all offended at her indecision. "You're welcome to leave it, of course, it's just a suggestion."

Mouse nodded. "Thank you."

As Mrs. Puckerman left the kitchen, Mouse added another cup of water and a cup of rice to the stew, hoping it would be okay.

As she kneaded dough on the counter, a song came on the radio and Mouse couldn't resist from singing along, her voice soft and lilting as she kneaded and turned the bread, twisting off pieces to roll them into small balls for bread rolls.

"Closed off from love, I didn't need the pain.

Once or twice was enough, and it was all in vain.

Time starts to pass, before you know it, you're frozen.

But something happened for the very first time with you:

My heart melted to the ground, found something true,

And everyone's looking around thinking I'm going crazy.

"But I don't care what they say, I'm in love with you.

They try to pull me away, but they don't know the truth.

My heart's crippled by the vein that I keep on closing.

You cut me open and I keep bleeding,

I keep, keep bleeding love,

I keep bleeding, I keep, keep bleeding love,

I keep, keep bleeding love.

"You cut me open.

"Trying hard not to hear, but they talk so loud.

Their piercing sounds fill my ears, try to fill me with doubt.

But I know that the goal is to keep me from falling - "

"Hey, do you need some help?" Puck asked from the doorway, smiling at the sight of Mouse singing and dancing with her hips.

"With singing or cooking?" Mouse asked Puck with a grin.

"Either," he replied, moving over to press a kiss to her lips, drawing her in close.

"Mmm... I don't think I'll get much done if you keep doing that. You can add cheese to the balls instead," Mouse said.

"Cheese to the what?"

Mouse laughed at his expression. "Add cheese to the dough balls; I'm making bread rolls. Well, I'm trying, at least," she added, frowning slightly.

"I'm sure they'll be fine. If not, then we can toast them and use them as croutons for the soup. Stew? Whatever's on the stove," Puck amended.

"Good idea."

"I do have them sometimes," he said, winking.

Mouse rolled her eyes, but she grinned anyway. "Get to work, Puckerman."

"Ma'am, yes ma'am," he said with a salute, taking the small cubes of cheese to add to the balls of dough, wrapping the dough around them again.

Mouse continued to work, both of them singing along to the radio, standing side by side.

...

End of the thirty-sixth chapter.

Thanks for reading!