Disclaimer: I don't own Glee. I would never be so cruel as to make you guys wait till April 13 for the next episode LOL. I also don't own 'you'll never walk alone', obviously.
AN: Yes you read the title right, the mohawk is making a comeback baby, oh yeah!
Make Me Forget
Chapter 19 – The Return of the Mohawk
Puck awoke one morning to the sound of someone knocking obscenely loud on the front door. Rachel shifted under his arm in annoyance.
"Noah it's for you," she muttered sleepily and Puck looked over at her rubbing the sleep from his eyes. How did she know it was for him? Rachel nudged him with her leg, "Go."
A little freaked out by the fact that pregnancy was also giving Rachel psychic abilities, Puck slid out of bed and wearing only his sweats trudged down the stairs to the front door. Puck swung the door open to see Finn, Kurt, Matt and Mike standing there grinning at him.
"Guys, it's way too early for this," Puck muttered yawning but his eyes snapped open when Kurt shoved a sock in his mouth.
"Get him!" Kurt cried out and Finn moved first grabbing Puck's arms and trapping them behind his back as Matt and Mike tackled his legs out from under him.
They forced him onto his stomach while he struggled to break free, unable to call for help due to someone's sock in his mouth. Puck prayed to high heaven they were clean. Kurt came around and tied Puck's hands behind his back with rope, and then they tied his ankles together. Puck spat out the sock and sighed, ceasing to struggle knowing it was futile. His friends were idiots. They picked him up and triumphantly carried him out to Artie's van where Artie and his dad were waiting, throwing Puck in the back before taking off. Puck lay there on the floor of the van and didn't bother to point out how many road rules they were breaking. Dating Rachel had turned him into someone with a sense of propriety.
"So where are you taking me?" he asked calmly and the others grinned, proud of themselves for pulling off his kidnapping.
"You are getting a haircut," Kurt announced importantly and Puck stared at him in disbelief. They went through that whole charade of kidnapping him just to take him to get his hair cut? Puck thought it once before and he thought it again, his friends were idiots.
"And that meant you had to kidnap and hogtie me?" Puck asked incredulously and Kurt looked down at him haughtily shrugging.
"Well it is certainly more fun," Kurt informed him and Matt and Mike sniggered. Puck was glad they were enjoying themselves because once he got free he was going to be kicking some serious ass.
"You belong to us for all of today," Artie called out from somewhere near his feet.
"But Rachel..." Puck's mind automatically moved to Rachel and the baby and that she would have to go a day without him there.
"Happily agreed, she is sick of you moping around the house," Kurt filled in for him rolling his eyes and Puck frowned.
"We get that you are going to be a dad, but that doesn't mean you have to stop being a kid," Finn spoke up with his pearls of wisdom and Puck looked up at his best friend and rolled his eyes.
"Ok fine, you can take these ropes off, I won't try and escape back to Rachel," Puck promised and after hesitating a moment the boys untied him. Puck rubbed his wrists absently then asked, "Can I call her at least?"
"Bro you are so whipped," Finn laughed shaking his head and Puck punched him in the shoulder before breaking out into laughter as well.
Puck admired his new haircut in the mirror. The sight of his newly returned Mohawk nearly brought a tear to his eye. Kurt huffed in the background.
"I still say you should have gone with the short and spiky look," Kurt muttered, upset that he hadn't gotten his own way.
The hairdresser, who was pretty and in her mid twenties, stood behind him admiring her handiwork, and also the young man who sat in the chair. She liked what she saw.
"You really pull that look off," she complimented him, flirting ever so slightly but Puck didn't even notice; well he did notice but he definitely wasn't interested.
"I know," Puck said feeling more like his old self already and the hairdresser smiled prettily.
Finn, Artie, Mike and Matt were across the road at the arcade playing video games and Kurt was reading through a magazine critically. Puck stood up and moved over to the desk to pay and the hairdresser leaned across the counter making sure her top dipped. Puck didn't even glance down.
"So any special plans for today?" she asked taking the card he handed her and swiping it through the machine. She was taking her sweet time.
"You will have to ask my friends, I'm just along for the ride," Puck said shrugging as he typed in his PIN number quickly, not liking how close the hairdresser was coming to him over the counter top.
"Well," his hairdresser ripped the receipt off and handed it to him making sure their hands touched before she whispered, "I might have something for you to do if you were interested."
Puck smirked.
"I'm not, thanks for the haircut," he assured her, and then he looked at Kurt and jerked his head to the exit, "Come on Beyonce."
The hairdresser looked from Kurt to Puck and her mouth widened in understanding as Kurt threw down his magazine and sauntered over.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't realize you were a couple," the hairdresser apologized and Kurt looked at Puck in surprise while Puck shook his head in exasperation.
Turn a woman down and of course, you're gay. Kurt opened his mouth to protest, but Puck really couldn't be bothered correcting her outrageous assumption, instead he wrapped an arm around Kurt and fluttered his fingers at the hairdresser as he and Kurt left the store. Once they were out of the door Kurt grabbed Puck's hand between his thumb and pointed finger and removed the offending item from his shoulders.
"I don't appreciate being used to fend women off you," Kurt growled poking him in the side and Puck frowned. He wished the girls and Kurt would stop poking him...ah crap that sounded bad, luckily he didn't say it out loud. Kurt strutted off down the street and Puck jogged to catch up to him.
"Sorry Kurt I didn't mean to use you as my human shield," he apologized and Kurt paused and turned to him a small smile on his face.
"Rachel and the baby has been so good for you, the old Puck wouldn't have apologized to me in a million years," Kurt commented and Puck felt a little embarrassed to be receiving compliments like that. He loved Rachel and Puckleberry, but he still liked being a badass as well. Puck hoped Kurt wouldn't reveal how much of a softy Puck had become.
"Yeah well, I'm sorry," Puck apologized again quietly and Kurt smiled.
"Apology accepted."
"So where to next?" Puck asked wanting to change the subject and Kurt grimaced.
"Somewhere I really don't want to be," Kurt grimaced and Puck gave a grin. That meant it involved something manly. The day was looking better already.
Kurt shrieked as Puck's paintball got him right in the thigh. Puck burst out into laughter at the sight of Kurt hopping around on one leg cursing him profusely. Today was turning out to be quite an awesome day, first a haircut and now paintball and after the guys were talking about hitting up Pizza Hut for a feast. Puck spun only to have Finn's paintball hit him square in the chest, winding him slightly. Puck narrowed his eyes at Finn, raising his gun.
"Your ass is mine Hudson!" Puck growled and Finn gave a goofy grin, preparing to run.
"Oh the images," Kurt sighed a little dreamily and Puck and Finn both turned to him in shock. Kurt grinned and shot both of them in the chest before darting off under the cover of trees.
Puck and Finn turned to each other, horrified that they had been tricked by Kurt Hummel.
"Let's get him," they said at the same time and then ran off after Kurt, unfortunately they were ambushed by Mike who was part of Kurt's team.
They had decided to work in pairs; Artie and Puck, Kurt and Mike and Matt and Finn. Kurt cackled in the distance as Puck and Finn were attacked by Mike who was a surprisingly good shot, and then Kurt joined in shooting them with gusto. Puck wondered where the hell Artie was, Artie was supposed to be his backup.
"Retreat!" Puck yelled turning tail and Finn raced after him, even though they weren't on the same team. They ran into Artie and Matt who were busy shooting each other, laughing.
"Where were you man? We just got hammered; by Kurt!" Puck yelled at Artie who turned to him looking a little guilty for not being there to have his back.
"You were outsmarted by Kurt," Kurt corrected them from somewhere hidden and Puck turned and shot off a paintball in the general direction of Kurt's voice and Kurt shrieked again.
A loud horn rang out indicating that their allotted time was over, and Puck, Finn, Artie and Matt raced back to the meeting area to find Kurt and Mike already there. Kurt was grinning with content. He had only been hit once and that was by Puck, the others were covered in multi-colored paint. It was clear to all that Kurt and Mike were the winners. The group then headed to the nearest Pizza Hut to hit up the buffet. Puck couldn't remember the last time he had hung out with the guys just like this. They laughed and joked, talked about school and football and Glee. After eating their fill they dropped him back at Rachel's house and Puck, got out the car and stopped to look back at them.
"Thank you for today guys," Puck said clenching his fist and hitting each of the guys in turn, even Kurt joined in.
Puck was glad for friends like these.
Noah woke up one night to find Rachel missing from their bed. Worried, he threw back the sheets and swung his legs out of bed listening for any sounds of her. He could hear a soft voice singing from the nursery and Noah moved to stand in the doorway of the nursery seeing Rachel sitting on the rocking chair staring blankly out of the window. She was singing 'Sweet Caroline' softly, her hands around her stomach. Noah was alarmed to see the tears running down her face. He slowly came around to crouch in front of her.
"What's going on babe?" he asked softly wiping the tears from her cheek and Rachel's chest started heaving and her breathing became choked and ragged.
"I can't sleep, I'm having a nervous breakdown," she told him pressing a hand to her chest and Puck didn't know exactly what that meant. He sort of hoped she would just cry; he had a lot of practice comforting her when she cried, but this empty stare and silent tears was something else. Something he was so not prepared for, and it terrified him.
"Okay," Noah said softly trying to be understanding and Rachel tightly clutched his hands in hers; it was shaking.
"What if I can't do this Noah? What if I'm a terrible mother? What if I never become a star? What if this is the best my life is every going to be, a mother at sixteen stuck in Lima forever," Rachel started talking faster and faster and her voice started getting high pitched, and Noah realized that she had been freaking herself out. He silently cursed himself for not seeing sooner.
"Rach, seriously, you can do this, I know you can. Just the fact that you are Rachel Berry means you can do this. You aren't alone, you have me and your dads and my mom and the Gleeks," Noah reminded her, speaking slowly so that she could take in everything he said and Rachel's eyes started to look calmer. Noah stood and pulled her to stand with him so that he could wrap his arms around her, brushing his lips across her forehead. He whispered in her ear, "I love you Rachel. We can do this babe; we're getting out of here. You, me and Puckleberry, we're going places."
He said it with so much conviction Rachel couldn't help but believe him and she felt herself relax for the first time in two weeks.
Puck cornered Kurt the next day at school at Kurt's locker. Surprisingly Adam wasn't with him; usually those two were joined at the hip. Whoa a mental image Puck didn't want to revisit; ever. Adam came striding up the halls stopping to give Puck the 'guy nod' and drop a kiss on Kurt's lips before heading to his class saying he would see them at lunch. It was still kind of weird to see Adam and Kurt kiss but Puck was getting used to it.
"I need your help," Puck didn't beat around the bush and Kurt raised an eyebrow curiously.
"I'm intrigued, continue," Kurt invited him while primping himself in his locker mirror. Puck hadn't met a guy who loved his reflection more than Kurt Hummel.
"Rachel's been a little depressed lately, she needs some cheering up," Puck was at a loss for how to cheer her up and Kurt heard the quiet desperation in Puck's voice. He held up his hand.
"Say no more, I'll take care of it."
"Thanks Kurt," Puck said meaning it and Kurt gave him a salute before heading off to class.
Puck trudged to class, still worrying and Finn gave him a look when he sat down next to him. Quinn was in the class too but she was sitting beside Brittany and they were chattering about some new formation Coach Sylvester was having them try. Puck was glad to see that Quinn looked almost completely recovered. She still lived with Miss Pillsbury, her parents had offered to let her move back home but Quinn had refused. Quinn looked happier, she smiled more now, Puck was glad.
"What's wrong bro?" Finn asked him and Puck shook his head. He didn't know whether he wanted to talk about this with Finn of all people; even though Finn had more of a reason to be wary of Puck when it came to girlfriends. Puck figured he had to speak to someone and Finn always had a way of making Puck feel better. Plus they were getting closer as friends again and Puck really wanted his best friend back.
"Rachel's doubting herself about being a mother," Puck muttered, resting his notebook on the table, and then he sighed, "I really want to cheer her up."
"Rachel's easy to cheer up," Finn commented grinning and Puck resisted the urge to punch him, not liking how Finn knew how to cheer Rachel up when Puck had no idea. Finn looked pleased with himself as he pointed out quite simply, "through music. We should sing her a song."
It was moments like these when Puck realized that Finn was not as dumb as he looked.
"Brittany, can I copy your answers?" Finn asked the blonde cheerleader next to him and Brittany handed over her piece of paper covered in love hearts, rainbows and random words that Puck was sure had nothing to do with history. Finn took her answers thankfully and started copying them down. Quinn caught Puck's eye and rolled her own eyes.
Finn wasn't as dumb as he looked; but he sure wasn't smart either.
Rachel sat on the bleachers watching the football team practice for the game Friday night. Her eyes followed Puck around the field, her gaze fixed on his number 20. She was still feeling slightly depressed by her situation. She loved Noah, she truly did, but the closer her due date came the more she started to freak out about having to take care of a baby at sixteen. Not only that but Rachel was starting to notice the looks she was getting; from kids at school, from teachers, strangers in the street, they all looked at her face taking in her age, then her pregnant belly and then their faces would turn to pity. They were pitying her. Rachel took a deep breath. She was Rachel Berry; she refused to wallow in self pity.
"There you are," a voice called up to her and Rachel realized that Quinn was walking up the bleachers towards her, flanked by Brittany and Santana who were both grinning at her.
"Hey guys," Rachel greeted them trying to sound upbeat and Quinn bit her lip at the lack of enthusiasm Rachel's voice had.
"Come with us," Brittany commanded holding out her hand and Rachel took it without question. She trusted all the Glee members with her life.
"Where are we going?" Rachel queried as the three carefully led her down the stairs. Rachel waved at Puck who just waved back, confirming he could see she was in capable hands. Behind her back Santana gave Puck the thumbs up that operation 'Cheer Up Rachel' was in play.
"No questions, I am under strict instruction to transport you," Quinn quipped giggling before pretending to seal her lips and throw away the key. Brittany did the same while Santana placed an arm around Rachel's shoulders grinning.
"First you are going to get ice cream, and then a mani and pedi and after that...well that's a surprise."
Rachel was feeling much happier by the time the three Cheerio's drove her home. The ice cream had been divine, and her toenails and fingernails were painted an adorable color pink. It was fairly late, around six. They could hear Disney music filtering throughout the Berry house and Rachel paused to look at them curiously.
"What is all this?" Rachel asked in wonder as they reached her front door and Kurt opened the door wearing a bright blue shirt and a smile answering her question for her as he tugged her into the house.
"Your baby shower darling."
Rachel walked into the house and gasped in awe. Balloons were literally everywhere, covering the floor, hanging up around the room. There were photos of her and Puck as little kids up everywhere, streamers, a pile of presents, tables with food, and in the middle of the living room were the girls of Glee along with some extra visitors; Dianna, Hannah and Miss P.
"He...here's the guest of honor, lets ge...get started!" Tina clapped her hands for attention and Rachel found herself moved onto the couch in the living room as the games began.
First they all tried to guess how big Rachel's belly was with a piece of string. Brittany had a piece much too long and Rachel had to laugh at Brittany's crestfallen expression when she realized how way off she was. Hannah won that game. The next game was hosted by Mercedes, guess the baby food flavor, and Dianna and Kurt tied. The last game was a board of baby photos of everyone at the party and they had to guess which baby picture was which person. Miss P won that game. Rachel hadn't had this much fun in all her life. She had never really known what it was like to have girlfriends and mother figures and Rachel just felt completely blessed to know these women, and one man. Rachel was giggling and eating cake when her dad's arrived home.
"Why are you always here? Don't you have homes to go to?" Alan Berry complained jokingly when he walked into his house to find it full of teenage girls, Kurt and Dianna and Miss P.
Richard hushed his partner and hurried to greet Dianna and Miss P inviting them into the kitchen for some wine and the two women accepted their offer. Rachel stood up to hug her dad's hello then she checked the clock. Puck should have been home already.
"Take a seat Rach," Mercedes called to her and Rachel did so obediently. One by one they brought the presents over to her.
"This is from me and Kurt," Mercedes explained handing her one gift and Rachel ripped it open to find a collection of designer baby clothes. Rachel gave a one armed hug to Mercedes then Kurt.
"We bought them online," Kurt added standing over her and eyeing the clothes greedily, "They are the latest designs, Puckleberry will the best dressed baby in all of Lima."
"This i...is from m...me," Tina came forward next with a square looking present and Rachel opened the present to see a Baby Album and a baby's first year calendar. Rachel was overwhelmed already. She felt herself start to cry happy tears as she hugged Tina.
"And this is from moi," Quinn announced handing Rachel a simple white bath filled with products for baby bath time and Rachel hugged her thankfully.
"This is from me," Santana interrupted the pair and Rachel peeled back the wrapping paper to see a soft blanky with a rabbit toy attached.
Santana took the blanky and held it up and everyone ooohed and aaahhed at 'Puckleberry' embroidered into the blanky.
"Santana, it's perfect," Rachel was hard out sobbing now as she hugged Santana and Brittany came forward with her present.
"And this is from me," Brittany handed over her gift and Rachel opened it to reveal a couple of baby books that she could read to the baby.
"These are my favorites," Brittany whispered to Rachel like they were sharing a secret and Rachel smiled fondly.
"This is from me and my mom," Hannah came running at her and thrust the blue giant bunny into Rachel's arms and Rachel snuggled into the soft toy. Hannah leaned over and gave her a hug and a kiss. Dianna came hurrying from the kitchen to kiss her cheek too.
"Last but not least, this is from me," Miss P gave Rachel her present and Rachel opened it to find a couple of blankets, baby singlets and new born toys. Rachel thanked Miss P, before getting to her feet, feeling her heart swell with joy.
"Thank you so much everyone, you don't know how much this means to me, how much it means to have you all here," Rachel gushed, making her speech and the Gleeks surrounded her into a group hug.
There was a knock on the front door and the whole party froze then turned to Rachel, secretive smiles on all their faces.
"Rachel, that's for you," Quinn said knowingly and Rachel gave a smile as she waddled to the front door and swung it open to reveal Puck, Finn, Matt, Mike, Artie and Mr Shue standing there looking like a barbershop quartet, except there were six of them, but they were all dressed in matching pants and button shirts. Mr Shue gave the signal and the group erupted into an acapella song that brought tears to Rachel's eyes.
When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid, of the dark
At the end of the storm, is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark
Walk on through the wind,
Walk on through the rain,
Tho' your dreams be tossed and blown.
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone,
You'll never, ever walk alone.
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone,
You'll never, ever walk alone.
They had barely finished the song when Rachel flung her arms around Noah's neck and kissed him with everything she felt for him. It took some not so subtle coughs to finally part them, but looking in each other's eyes Noah and Rachel were hopeful that everything would work out. They weren't walking this path alone.
"Hey is there any cake left?" Matt interrupted Puck and Rachel's moment and everyone burst into laughter except Matt. When no one answered him he folded his arms across his chest, "Seriously, is there cake left or not?"
"So how much of this was your doing?" Rachel asked him as she led the way up the stairs after everyone had left and Noah smirked as his eyes remained on her butt as she walked. They made their way into their room and Noah shut the door behind them. Alan had relaxed the open door policy; especially considering what happened that one morning.
"Baby shower was Kurt's idea, song for you was Finn's, I came up with the song choice and Mr Shue assisted in pulling us from our classes today so that we could rehearse," Noah explained what they had gotten up to today without her knowing and Rachel placed a gentle kiss on his lips. They both changed into their pajamas; well Rachel changed into a nightdress, Noah preferred to go commando since they had a closed door option now. Rachel couldn't stop her eyes raking lustily over his tanned form. They snuggled into bed together and Rachel lay on her side facing him, her legs tangling with his.
"Thank you Noah, I love you," Rachel told him lovingly and Noah pressed a kiss to her forehead, his hand moving to rest on her stomach.
"I love you more," Noah murmured back and Rachel grinned cheekily.
"Not possible," she retorted, a challenge in her voice and Noah chuckled caressing her cheek with his hand before telling her fondly,
"Shut up Berry."
One week to Regional's and everyone was on edge. Rachel was coming up to seven months now and her stomach looked like she had shoved a beach ball up her dress. She was finding it a lot harder to keep standing for long periods and dancing was becoming more difficult but Rachel was adamant that they were winning Regional's and she strove to do the best she could in every song. Puck had once made the mistake of trying to tell her that maybe she should sit out one or two of the songs; he had spent a couple of nights on the couch much to Alan's amusement, and was nursing a sore foot due to Rachel stamping on it with her hard soled shoes.
"This is the dress rehearsal, and I am handing out costumes, so put them on, no questions," Kurt commanded importantly strolling around the room to hand out his creations.
Puck stared down at the costume Kurt had just given him. Finn and Matt where undoing their pants to change into the costume and so Puck started to do the same but was stopped by Mercedes scream of alarm.
"Puck stop!"
Puck paused undoing his pants and frowned.
"What? I'm wearing underwear," he retorted grumpily. He had learned his lesson from the last dress rehearsal. Apparently he was the only guy who liked going commando and everyone bar Rachel hadn't appreciated seeing his junk.
"No girls can be in the room when you take off your pants, it's a new Glee Club rule," Brittany announced perkily from where she stood with Santana pulling on their dresses. Santana and Brittany smirked at each other, sharing an amused glance with Tina and Mercedes.
"Huh?"
Puck scratched his head in confusion. Rachel came in having heard Brittany's announcement and she rolled her eyes coming over to kiss his lips. Puck's hand automatically went to the rise of her belly caressing it gently. No matter how many times a day he touched it, he couldn't get enough.
"The joke is that you are such a baby making machine that you can get a girl pregnant just by taking off your pants," Rachel explained with a smirk and it was Puck's turn to roll his eyes.
"Fine, I'll go change in the bathroom," Puck huffed and stormed off to the bathroom. He was pleasantly surprised by Rachel coming in after him. She undid his pants for him pushing them down, adding her underwear to his pants and Noah popped her on the counter, already turned on, as he started kissing her neck. Sex at school at the Glee dress rehearsal with his pregnant sophomore girlfriend in the men's room, Noah didn't know whether to be impressed with himself or disgusted. Rachel moaned when his hand slid between her legs, stroking her gently.
"What about the new Glee Club rule?" Noah asked her softly, smirking against her neck and Rachel chuckled.
"I'm already pregnant, doesn't apply to me," she retorted offhandedly and Noah laughed at her sneakiness. Noah knew he loved this girl.
After her tryst with Noah, Rachel sat quietly on a toilet watching as the others busied around readying themselves for the dress rehearsal. Kurt had already done her makeup and hair, all she had to do was put on her dress and she would be done. Brittany was sitting on top of the sink shaving her legs, she looked kind of awkward perched there but she was making it work. The girl had great balance but Rachel supposed that came from standing atop a pyramid every week.
"Kurt this is the ladies room," Santana huffed trying to get a spot in front of the mirror and Kurt raised an eyebrow at her haughtily.
"And?"
"Nothing your majesty," Santana muttered moving to another mirror and Kurt smiled smugly.
"Quinn, I love that color on you," Kurt commented glancing at Quinn in the mirror and she fluttered her eyelashes at his reflection, showcasing the green eye shadow.
"Thanks Kurtie," Quinn said breezily, like it was no surprise. It really wasn't, Quinn looked beautiful in everything and she knew it.
"Damn Tina, don't you have any color in here?" Mercedes cursed rummaging through Tina's make up bag and Tina shrugged. She seemed distracted. Rachel had noticed lately that Tina seemed more on edge. At first Rachel had chalked it up to Nationals being less than a week away, but Tina didn't seem to have any worries while in Glee.
"Is something wrong Tina?" Rachel asked hesitantly and Tina looked over at her.
"I don't really have a stutter," Tina blurted out and the whole bathroom fell silent. Tina blushed under their close scrutiny and Rachel shook her head.
"I don't understand," Rachel finally said and Tina sighed sinking to the bathroom floor.
"When I was a freshman I was too afraid to talk to anyone so I pretended to have a stutter in class so the teachers wouldn't call on me. My first day of school some jocks heard and made fun of me," Tina paused here and Rachel rolled her eyes knowing that it had to have been Puck, Tina gave a small smile, "Artie came rolling over, he stood up for me. He said that we should be friends because 'us freaks need to stick together' and I was happy because I had a friend. I didn't want to lose him by confessing that I didn't have a stutter."
It was so odd hearing Tina speak without stuttering.
"So you've been pretending to have a stutter for two years?" Santana asked in disbelief wondering what else the Glee Club were hiding from each other. Being in Glee was better than a soap opera.
"Should I tell Artie?" Tina asked them and Quinn nodded firmly.
"Tina, if there is one thing that I have learned from all this it is that secrets don't stay secrets for very long, you should tell him," Quinn told her wisely and Rachel nodded.
"What if he hates me?" Tina gasped worriedly and Quinn shrugged.
"That's the risk I guess."
"We'll support you Tina," Kurt assured her patting her shoulder in what he hoped was a comforting manner.
"You have to tell him," Mercedes told her and Tina looked at all the other girls who all nodded their agreement. Tina took a deep breath. No more lies.
Rachel stood anxiously waiting outside the choir room. Inside Tina was telling Artie the secret she had been hiding from him for two years. The girls had informed their other halves the serious news and now all ten Glee members were seated in the hall outside the choir room waiting to see what happened next. Puck and Finn were sitting side by side on the floor, with Matt and Mike next to them, absently tossing a football up and down the line. Santana sat next to Mike resting her head on his shoulder, Rachel was leaning against the wall knowing if she tried to sit she would have trouble getting back up, Mercedes and Kurt were flipping absently through Mercedes design book while Quinn and Brittany whispered to each other softly. The door swung open and everyone froze as Artie came rolling out of the room. He looked incredibly angry. He didn't pause his momentum, he just continued down the hall not sparing a glance at anyone.
Rachel, Mercedes and Kurt moved to go after him but Finn stopped them.
"I'll go," he offered getting to his feet and brushing off his pants, "I think I can relate."
Tina's soft sobs came from the choir room and the girls plus Kurt ran in to comfort her and Finn looked down at the guys.
"Come on, let's try and talk some sense into him," Finn told them jerking his head in the direction that Artie went and Puck, Matt and Mike all got to their feet and followed after Finn. They found Artie sitting under a tree just staring out into the distance. When he heard them approach he discreetly wiped any evidence of tears from his face. Puck tossed the football up and caught it awkwardly hoping this wouldn't turn into a big guy cry session. His badassness was in enough jeopardy as it was.
"She lied to me, for two years," Artie said to them, not bothering to look at them and Finn, Puck, Matt and Mike all looked at each other, wondering which of them should go first. When no one else moved Puck ran a hand through his hawk.
"She did it because she likes you Artie," Puck pointed out and Artie finally looked up at him, pain in his eyes.
"And that makes it right?" Artie asked in disbelief and Puck shrugged looking down at the ground. He never claimed to be good at this touchy feely stuff. Puck looked over to Finn passing over the baton metaphorically.
"At least she told you the truth man, she wanted to be honest with you, she wanted to be real with you," Finn was way better with getting in touch with feelings and expressing them. Artie looked thoughtful.
"That's an admirable quality," Matt added nodding his head seriously and Mike punched his arm.
"Dude stop reading your mom's word of the day calendar," he hissed and Matt rubbed his arm indignantly.
"I didn't, I stole the line from Rachel," he retorted smartly and Mike rolled his eyes turning to Artie.
"Tina is a cool chick Artie, so she lied about a stutter, big deal. That doesn't change who she is, that doesn't change that she's suffered through slushie attacks that she didn't have to just to be friends with you. And dude? She's like, head over heels for you, you don't want to throw away a good thing," Mike made his speech looking very impassioned. Artie was staring up at him, taking in his words seriously.
Puck, Finn and Matt looked over at Mike in surprise. He was good for a pep talk. They would keep that in mind the next time their team was down in football. Artie glanced down at his hands, still not saying a word and Finn sighed thinking that they weren't getting through to him.
"Look we aren't asking you to get back together with her, we are just saying that she did the right thing telling you, so at least give her a chance, at least try to forgive her," Finn pleaded then he shrugged and added, "Besides, there are worse things she could have lied about."
Awkward.
"You guys are right, thanks. I love her, I'm not turning my back on us," Artie agreed and the guys all grinned at each other, happy to have been able to help. A silence fell over them and Puck decided to diffuse the awkward moment.
"Can we talk about something manly now before we all grow vaginas?" he asked and Finn laughed clapping him on the back, Artie even smiled and Matt and Mike burst into laughter turning Artie's chair around and heading back to rehearsal.
When they reached the choir room they found all the girls and Kurt crowded around Tina. Artie purposely pushed himself towards her and the other Glee members parted like the Red Sea to let him through. When he reached her, Artie hesitantly took her hand but said nothing and Tina broke down into tears and cried onto his shoulder. They weren't perfect, but it was a start.
"Sorry I'm late, what did I miss?" Mr Shue asked strolling into the choir room to find the group in half done make up, and all the girls and Kurt a little teary eyed while the boys looked uncomfortable and Mr Shue sighed with resignation, "Is someone else pregnant?"
AN: Poor Mr Shue having to deal with his sexually active student's lol damn that was a long ass chapter.
NEXT CHAPTER: Quinn and Finn go to Rachel and Puck for some advice. And the team head to Regionals. I haven't written much else so I'm not sure what goes on, but I do know one of the Glee kids (not a boy) punches someone. And I am pretty sure that Quinn and Finn try and get some hanky panky in while they are at Regionals, though, I haven't written that yet. I'm sure the other Glee kids would love to get involved helping them defile each other. They all like to be up in each others business and what not.
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