"Don't fucking move, either of you," the man says, swinging the gun back and forth between the two of them. He can't be too much older than they are, but the hardened look in his eyes and the gray around his temples suggest a man aged beyond his years.
He doesn't move, neither does Rachel, they know how this goes, it isn't the first time they've had a gun held in their face.
"I'm Finn Hudson," he says calmly. "This is my wife Rachel, what's your name?"
"Are you fucking kidding me?" The man says, taking a step forward until the gun is pressed to Finn's forehead. Finn takes a deep breath, his eyes closed for the few seconds it takes him to compose himself.
"What do you want from us?" Rachel says.
"What do you think? I want your bags, both of them."
"This is a big place, I'm sure there are other places you can find supplies,"Rachel reasons.
"Yeah, but this is easier. Now stop running your goddamn mouth and hand the bags over, now, and move very slowly."
"Okay," Finn says, taking his bag from around his shoulders while Rachel does the same. "We don't want any trouble."
At that he grabs both bags, exactly what they were hoping for. There's a reason they always keep their guns on their bodies, they draw them, fixing them on the stranger while his hands are temporarily occupied.
"Come on man, you don't have to do this," The man says, holding his hands up, his face desperate."I'll give them back lets just forget this whole thing okay?"
"Something's not right here," Finn says, knitting his brow in confusion.
"I know he... Rachel doesn't finish as a very surprising sound emits from behind their attacker. The man squeezes his eyes shut in embarrassment, and a smirk reaches Finn's lips.
"Oh my god," Rachel beams, lowering her gun, Finn keeps his held on the man but there's no way he's pulling that trigger now. "Can I see it?"
The man lets out a low groan and turns sideways, exposing the baby strapped to his back, it's only then that Finn finally lowers his gun.
"What the hell were you thinking?" Finn says, "What if we would have shot you? That kid would be toast."
"How was I supposed to know you two were packing?" the man says. "When you're desperate you do what you have to."
"Where's his mother?" Rachel says.
"Her mother is upstairs sleeping. We got here last night. We didn't think we'd see anyone," The man explains, "When I saw you from the window I had to take a chance, and I didn't want to leave Beth alone."
"Her name is Beth?" Rachel says sweetly, letting the infant wrap her fist around her finger.
"Yeah, we didn't think women could even have kids anymore, with the virus," He says. "I guess she's kind of a miracle."
"Of course she is," Rachel says, lighting up as the child smiles at her.
"Rachel, you do realize that this guy was holding a gun in our faces just a second ago right?" Finn says.
"It isn't loaded," The man explains. "Honest. Here, you can see for yourself," he continues, pulling the trigger several times, only clicking noises escaping.
"Look, we can forget this ever happened and be on our way, but we need our things," Finn says.
"How about I do you one better?" The man says. "We can give you a place to stay for the night, it's getting dark, you're not going to make it out of the city tonight, and it's a lot warmer up there."
"What do you think Finn?" She says, her eyes still fixated on the baby, he understands the fascination, she always wanted a child of her own. And she hasn't seen a baby in years.
"I don't know Rachel," Finn says uneasily. "What if he tries to kill us in our sleep or something?"
"Come on I'm standing right here," the man protests.
"Finn, would it really be any more dangerous then camping outside in the cold?" She argues. "It would just be for the night, then we can make a fresh start in the morning." He knows that he can't say no to her, not looking into those big hopeful eyes, and he doesn't want her sleeping in the cold again unless they absolutely have to.
"Only if it's okay with your wife," Finn says, caving.
"She's not my wife," the man says, "We didn't even know each other until a couple of years after the outbreak, but I'm sure she'll like the company."
"If we're going to be staying you can at least tell us your name," Finn says.
"Puckerman," He replies, reaching his hand out for Finn to shake. "Noah Puckerman."
The space is tiny, and even more dilapidated than it is on the outside, but it's warm, or at least warmer than it is outdoors, and there is a single mattress in the corner where a young blonde woman sleeps like a fallen tree.
"She hasn't slept well in days," Puckerman whispers over to them, "She'll probably be out for another few hours."
He must have spoken too soon, just then the blonde shoots up in bed, a gun clasped in her hand. "Who are you?" she fumes, shooting her gaze between the the of them, aiming the pistol. "Puck who are these people? What do they want?"
"Calm down Quinn," Puck says gently. "This is Finn and his wife Rachel, they just need somewhere to stay for the night."
"And you decided this without asking me?" Quinn seethes, still pointing the gun.
"I had to, they were going to shoot me," Puck says.
"We weren't going to shoot you, we weren't going to shoot him," Finn argues to Puck, then Quinn.
"Wait, where's Beth?" Quinn says, frantically looking around the room. "Where is she Puck?"
"She's fine, I have her right here," Puck says turning so she can see the baby.
At that she puts the gun down and gets up from the mattress, marching up to him, she takes the baby out of her carrier and holds her close. "Yes baby, mama's here, mama's right here," she coos, bouncing the child in her arms. "God could you be any more of an idiot?" Quinn snaps, turning her attention from the baby in her arms to Puck.
"I saw their bags and I thought they might have medicine," Puck explains. "We looked all over and we didn't find anything, I thought maybe they got the last of it. If Beth gets sick there's nothing we'll be able to do."
"We don't have anything either," Rachel says. "We looked, we barely even found any food."
"How long have you two been traveling?" Quinn says, softening.
"Not long," Rachel says. "After the outbreak we stayed in our house for as long as we could. There were others there too, my parents and his mother, after they died it was only us," she continues sadly.
"You were both immune?" Quinn says. "What are the chances of that?"
"We were the closest thing to lucky we could be during that time," Finn says. "At least until an armed gang forced us out."
"Where are you going now?" Quinn asks.
"We're going to try our luck in DC," Finn says. "We think if there's a base or a shelter somewhere in the country then it has to be there."
"Do you really believe that?" Puck says, a bit bitterly.
"We have to," Rachel says.
"Well, you have a place here tonight, but first thing in the morning you have to move on," Quinn says. "We can't risk our daughter's safety, we'll be here until the end of the winter, and the less people taking up space in this sardine can the better."
"We understand," Finn says. "Thank you."
"We really are eternally grateful," Rachel adds.
"And you and I will have words later," Quinn says, narrowing her eyes at Puck. He only smiles at her, the deepest affection on his face, Finn can understand, even with the shadows of fatigue marring her face and her light green eyes, and what's probably years of grime darkening her haphazardly cropped blonde hair to a dull dishwater color, she's incredibly beautiful.
Later that night they sit around a crackling fire, built in a wastebasket in the center of the floor, eating a small meal, baby Beth sleeps on the mattress while the four adults get to know each other. They've both missed it, being around people their own age, or really just people in general.
"You look very familiar to me," Quinn says to Rachel as she eats. "I mean I'm sure I've never seen you before now but still."
"Oh," Rachel says, embarrassed. "I was an actress, on the stage mostly but I transitioned to movies before... you know."
"That's it," Puck says, a bit excitedly. "You're Rachel Berry."
"I was Rachel Berry," she says. "Now I'm just like anyone else trying to survive. I'm sure I don't even look the same."
"You kind of do," Puck says, narrowing his eyes a little.
"You're still pretty," Finn says, kissing the top of her head, making her smile.
"I have an idea," Puck says. "Why don't you sing something? Like a little spur of the moment concert."
"Oh god," she says burying her face in her hands, feigning embarrassment. "I couldn't, I mean I haven't sang in ages."
"You're such a bad liar," Finn says playfully, nudging her, causing her to roll her eyes and smirk. She sings all the time, it's the only way she can entertain herself anymore.
"Come on, how many people can say they got a personal concert from Rachel Berry?" Quinn says. "But not too loud, we don't want to wake Beth."
"So I guess it's been decided for me," Rachel says.
"Damn straight, sing already girl," Puck says.
"Okay, if you absolutely insist," she says standing up before them.
Just a small town girl, livin' in a lonely world
"Holy crap I love this song," Puck says as she sings, low but clear, beautiful.
She took the midnight train goin' anywhere
Just a city boy, born and raised in south Detroit
He took the midnight train goin' anywhere
A singer in a smokey room
A smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on
And he sings too, not too loud, the two of them together. Finn always loved to sing with her, almost everything has changed, but not that.
Strangers waiting, up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlights people, living just to find emotion
Hiding, somewhere in the night.
Working hard to get my fill,
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin' anything to roll the dice,
Just one more time
Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to the feelin'
Streetlights people
Don't stop believin'
Hold on
Streetlight people
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to the feelin'
Streetlights people
"Don't Stop believing?" Quinn says as Rachel finishes, sitting back down. "Interesting choice."
"I guess that song has always sort of meant something to us," she says, shrugging. "Especially now."
"So Finn, what did you do before everything went to shit?" Puck says.
"Actually I read about your wedding in people, you were an orchestra percussionist right? Isn't that how you met?"
"How the hell do you remember that?" Puck says.
"Shh, let him answer," Quinn says.
"Yeah, it was her first show," Finn explains. "Rock of Ages. I was in the band."
"Oh, that explains the Journey fascination," Quinn says.
"What about you?" Finn says. "What did you guys do?"
"I was a drama teacher in Connecticut," Quinn answers.
"I was a construction worker in Chicago," Puck chimes in.
"And now we're breaking bread with a real live celebrity, all it took was the world coming to an end," Quinn says, a bit of sadness behind her eyes.
"I like to think the world has a way of bouncing back," Rachel says. "Just look at Beth."
"You're right," Quinn says, smiling fondly at her sleeping child, a new life born in a world of endless death. "She's all that's good in this world."
Stay Tuned Folks!