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"I thought I told you a green apple, this is clearly red."

"No, you said an apple, you didn't specify a freakin' color."

"Well I figured that after nine years of knowing each other you would at least know my favorite foods by now."

"I do know your favorite foods, but ever since you got knocked up they've changed."

"Oh so its my fault? Because I'm knocked up everything is my fault?"

"I didn't even say that-"

"Because I wouldn't be knocked up if it wasn't for you!"

"Oh so now everything is my fault?"

"Exactly."

Puck snorted as he sipped his coffee, he and Quinn having spent the last ten minutes listening to Beth and Balen argue back and forth. It had been like this for the past two weeks now, Beth's hormones raging as she alternated between ramming her tongue and fist down Balen's throat. Her mom had tried to be supportive while her dad had remained distant, neither parent wanting to get in the way of Beth's warpath to the bathroom or fridge. While her parents had been residing at arm's length poor Balen had been bearing the brunt of his girlfriend's mood swings, having endured being jerked around between make out sessions and all out brawls but still hanging in there.

"You're enjoying this far too much," Quinn said lowly as she joined him at the table, "I mean I'm worried."

"Please, Beth is fine-"

"Not about Beth, about Balen! Did you see what she did to that banana today when she discovered it was rotten?" Puck shook his head as Quinn shivered, her daughters emotional roller coaster one that terrified even her, "I mean I get it, trust me I do, but I've never seen or heard her talk or act like this!"

"I know," Puck agreed, "It's like she's giving birth to George Carlin." Puck and Quinn both grimaced as they imagined momentarily what that would look like, more screaming from above interrupting them as they shook their heads and re-focused on their breakfast.

"Well I hope you're going easy on him at the shop," Quinn mumbled as she poured herself a cup of coffee, "I mean he's already dealing with one Puckerman, it's the least you could do for him."

"Oh please," Puck chuckled, "he's too stupid to even realize when I insult him."

"Puck!"

"Quinn, he almost set the place on fire!"

"Well you were the one who handed him a blow torch!"

"Yeah, in hopes he would ignite himself, not my shop." Quinn rolled her eyes as she sipped her coffee, having heard nothing but moaning and groaning from her husband while Balen had worked there. So far the two working together had resulted in fire, bloodshed, and one unexplainable "accident" involving gasoline and Burt's pocket knife. While they denied any involvement in the slicing of Balen's thumb Quinn knew the two men had been taunting and torturing poor Balen the whole time he had been there, Burt and the man child claiming they were "testing him." Despite the hospital trip and stitches Balen had continued to show up at the shop everyday and prove himself to Puck and Burt, working tirelessly through the menial and sometimes degrading chores they made him do. Despite their circumstances Quinn could tell her husband was coming around to the kid, his complaints about Balen having slowed and his bad attitude towards the boy forced out only for show when they were physically near each other.

"Look, you've been screwing with him for two weeks now and he's yet to give up. Don't you think he's earned a little of your respect?"

"No," Puck denied flatly, pretending he hadn't been impressed by Balen's work ethic and persistent attitude, "He still has a long road to travel down."

"Well you could make the trip easier by lightening up Puck, honestly you think you could sympathize."

"Don't even start-"

"Because you and I both know that-"

"I swear to God if you say it-"

"You and Balen are the exact same person."

Puck groaned as he shook his head quickly, grabbing the paper off the table and averting his attention to the front. It had been a hard two weeks for Puck, not just because Balen had been interfering in his "me time," but because he had had to accept the fact that his wife had been right all along. He had been denying the similarities blindly for weeks now until he witnessed Balen turn on his charm, able to convince a woman she should change all four perfectly good tires for new ones all with the wink of his eye and the arch of his brow. It was then that reality checked Noah Puckerman hard, smacking him in the face with it's back hand and making him realize he was watching his younger self adjusting the bolts on her wheels. There was one difference though that Puck had noted, one that had made him hate his doppelganger even more, and that was Balen's patience. Insults, commands, and objects had been hurled at Balen for the past few weeks and yet he had taken them all in stride, putting up with Beth and Puck without ever once having complained. He had the capacity to understand Beth's condition and the strength to put up with Puck's, the young boy having stuck to his promise and stepping up for Beth and their baby's sake. His recent change had not only surprised and pleased Puck but it had earned Balen the approval he had so desperately been trying to get, not that Puck would ever admit that out loud to anyone.

"I'm not even commenting," Puck grumbled, seeing Quinn's grin but pretending he hadn't.

"You know it's true Puck, I know you do, so please remember that the next time you yell at him ok?" Puck cursed her silently as he took a swig from his mug, the pounding of feet down the stairs causing him to turn his head to find Balen.

"Sup punk?" he asked casually, Balen moaning as he reached across towards the fruit bowl.

"Screwed up again but what's new right?" Balen chunked the apple down and fumbled around for another, Quinn nudging her husband with her foot as she nodded to Balen. Puck sighed as he turned to the young boy, searching for something "inspiring" to say while gritting his teeth.

"Balen," he barked, not having meant to be so angry sounding but not thrilled to have to bond with the brat.

"Sir?"

"It uh, it'll-it's-things get better," he bit out awkwardly, Quinn stifling her laugh as Balen contorted his face in confusion, "I mean she-you-it won't be this way forever, ya know? You'll get through it just uh, you know, just hang in there." Balen nodded slowly as Quinn hid behind her paper, Puck's awkward comment making them all uncomfortable.

"Er-thanks?" Balen responded lightly, standing quietly between the two parents.

"BALEN!" The young boy sighed as he looked up, Beth calling for her boyfriend as she waited for her breakfast. Balen looked between the stairs up to her room and the door to his freedom, pausing a moment as if contemplating his choices. No matter what she did or said he knew he had to go back to her, he always went back to her, so after a few seconds he headed upstairs to Beth and tried once more to please his baby mama like he knew he should. After his departure Puck snatched the paper out of Quinn's hand and began smacking her with it, Quinn squealing while Puck growled.

"Not exactly the inspirational talk I had in mind, but it'll work."

"I hate you."

"I love you."

"That was damn stupid, why'd you make me do that?"

"Oh come on, it was sweet in an apish kind of way!"

"No it wasn't! Now he thinks I like him!"

"You do like him!"

"The fuck I don't!"

"Puck come on," Quinn said as she scooted her chair closer, "You do like him, I can tell."

"Bullshit," Puck snapped, "You can't tell because it's not true."

"Bullshit," Quinn shot right back, "I can tell because it is true. I mean for one you don't call him names anymore-"

"I just did-"

"Yeah, to his face," Quinn corrected, "You used to call him a bastard every chance you had and now the only time you insult him is when you feel like you have to prove your hatred." Puck rolled his eyes as Quinn continued pointing out his changes, making a mental note to do every one of them from now on.

"You don't complain as much about him at the shop anymore like you used to-"

"Because the kid finally learned the difference between a torque and crowfoot wrench."

"You also stopped groaning when he comes over-"

"Yeah, cause he maintains the beast for a few hours."

"And I caught you actually smiling at him the other day."

"I had pepper in my teeth, I was merely cleaning it out."

"Face it Puck, the kids grown on you," Quinn smiled smugly, Puck pushing away from the table as he headed to the door, "You can run but you can't hide!"

"That's fucking creepy and I still hate you!"

"Well I still love you!"

"Come on Balen, today son! We got three people waiting and only one car ready, now let's get moving!"

Puck watched as Balen scurried throughout the shop, running Burt his tool while trying to finish the chores Puck had given him. Sure, he knew the things he was asking were almost impossible to do, no one having been able to unclog that bathroom sink for a year, but he liked watching Balen dance. Well that, and the fact that somehow the little shit had actually figured out how to unclog the drain. What used to be entertaining had now become impressive to Puck, the older twin now pushing his younger self around just to see what he was made of.

"Coming, I'm coming," Balen yelled, rounding the side of the car and slowing down once he met Puck, "Ok, what's next?"

"I need you to change the oil in these three over here and then rotate the tires on the third got it?"

"Yes sir," he nodded, turning quickly and heading towards the first automobile. Puck watched as he carefully opened the hood and tinkered around, the gentleness of his movements fascinating Puck and making him wonder how he'd be with a baby.

"What's he up to now?" Burt asked over his shoulder, Puck awakened from his thoughts as he turned to his boss.

"Oil change, simple enough," Puck answered casually, "Quinn says I need to take it easy on him."

"Well…" Burt trailed off, Puck furrowing his brow at the older man's hesitance.

"Oh not you too," he groaned, Burt sighing as he removed his hat.

"Look, I get it I do, but I mean we injured the kid-"

"It was an accident!"

"Puck you used him as a dart board-"

"He agreed!" Burt scratched his head as he shoved his hat back on, shaking his head in exasperation as he turned.

"All I'm saying is he could've quit then, and before that time and before all the others, but he didn't. He does more work than we do and he get's paid less than we do. He's sticking around for something isn't he? And besides, you could've fired him and you haven't, why do you think that is?"

"Cause I agreed to give him a month thank you very much," Puck said defensively, Burt rolling his eye as he walked away.

"You keep telling yourself that!" he called behind him, Puck cursing him as he walked off. Puck turned back to Balen as he continued working, ignoring the voice telling him to help the kid out and walking towards his office.

The hours ticked by as customers came and went, Balen helping attend to each while running errands and doing small jobs here and there. He was exhausted, Puck could see it, his hair wet and matted with sweat and his face flushed pink, yet he continued sliding back and forth beneath an old truck. Puck had decided to finally give him his well deserved break when he saw Balen pause and slide out quickly, flipping open his cell and whispering quietly.

"Hey, you ok?" Puck strained his ears as he listened in, laughing to himself when he realized it was Beth.

"Yeah babe yeah, I can pick up more but right now-no I said I could, but I'm busy rig-baby I'm at work I can't-damn it!" Puck watched as he chunked his phone by his feet in frustration, sliding underneath the car and banging around.

"Hey," he called loudly, Balen peeking out and nodding quickly.

"Sorry I-sorry." Puck groaned as he got up from his desk, walking out into the shop and leaning against the truck Balen was working on.

"I wasn't yelling at you for that," he said lowly, "I was just wondering-you alright?"

"Peachy," Balen muttered sadly, clanging below the automobile as Puck tried to find the right words.

"You know I meant what I said today," he said quickly, "It uh-I mean it will get better."

"Yeah," Balen hollered, Puck growing frustrated with the kids short answers.

"You know what fine, you wanna be a jackass when I'm trying to help-"

"I'm not being a jackass! Jesus Christ what's with you Puckemrans!" Balen pushed himself out from under the truck and stood up, slinging his wrench down as he yelled, "I mean it's never enough is it? If it isn't one thing its another! I'm one person, I can only do so much!" Puck stared at Balen in utter amusement, wanting to smile at the kids balls but holding back and keeping his stern exterior.

"Shit, I mean-damn it I'm sorry," Balen said quickly, realizing who he had just yelled at and trying to retreat quickly, "I didn't mean-"

"Yeah you did," Puck nodded, crossing his arms and walking towards him, "Balen-"

"I shouldn't have done that, it's just-I can't-I shouldn't take this out on you, it's unprofessional and I apologize."

"Cut the shit," Puck finally laughed, "Come on, be real here."

"I'd like to it's just…I'm kind of afraid of you and what you'll do to me." Puck continued to laugh as he looked at Balen, the young boy unsure of Puck's motives and watching him closely.

"Look, as much as I can't stand you or this situation we're in, I-er-I understand what you're going through."

"How could you?

"Hello, teenage father right here!" Puck waved, Balen nodding but continuing on.

"But I mean didn't Mrs. Quinn's dad abandon her? I mean you didn't have someone's father breathing down your neck." Puck went to speak when he realized Balen was actually right. Puck had gotten lucky when it came to the whole parent department, only having to face his mom about the news of his impending fatherhood. He had gone through nothing like Balen, or Beth for that matter, and the new revelation shed a different light on Balen that Puck couldn't help but respect…a little.

"No you're right," he said painfully slow, "But I have dealt with crazy pregnant chicks." Balen grinned a little as he wiped his greasy hands off, leaning against the truck with Puck and sighing in frustration.

"Look I know this is what we get," he said softly, "These are the consequences and stuff, whatever, but I just feel like I'm doing this and that and it's not good enough or its never right. I mean I'm trying, I swear to God I am, but I just feel like I'm failing at everything I do. How am I supposed to take care of Beth and our baby and all this responsibility if I can't even pick the right apple?"

"Bale-"

"And Beth, Jesus Beth, I mean I love you daughter but she's driving me crazy Mr. Puckerman! I mean she's constantly yelling and worrying and accusing me of all this stuff I'm not even doing!"

"Balen-"

"And then there's school and my friends and all this secrecy! I don't know what I can or can't say, Beth has me on lockdown so I'm petrified to speak-"

"Balen!"

The young boy jumped at the sound of Puck's voice, growing quiet instantly and turning red.

"I didn't mean to do that, damn it so uncool-"

"Would you chill the fuck out for a second? Jesus you're wound tighter than Berry-"

"I don't know who that is."

"Berry? Rach-nevermind," Puck dismissed, facing the kid as he rested his hands on his shoulders, "Look, for starters, stop worrying so damn much. I know it's easy to get all caught up in everything but you can't do that. You can't control what could be coming or what might happen, so calm down and focus on the present. Everything else is gonna fall into place for you and Beth, I swear."

"But-"

"Shut your mouth when your talking to me got it?" Balen nodded as Puck went on, "Second, it's not like we won't help you guys out. I mean yeah, you two are gonna have a lot to deal with but you won't be dealing alone. Your dads are gonna take care of you just like Quinn and I are gonna take care of Beth."

"But I'm supposed to take care of her-"

"And you will, but you won't have to do it alone. And speaking of Beth," Puck grinned, "Right now she's in a-er-fragile state should we say, which means you should know two things: One, she's always right and Two, she's always right. Never argue with your baby mama, and never refuse to super size their meals-"

"What?"

"Just trust me," Puck nodded, "All you can do now is just support her, whatever she wants. I know, it's basically handing over your balls and taking it, but right now it's all you can do." Balen sighed as he took it all in, rubbing his face tiredly as he looked at Puck.

"Was Mrs. Quinn this crazy?"

"Are your dads gay?" Balen chuckled as Puck sighed, "Nah, it wasn't necessarily that she was crazy, I was just kind of a douche bag."

"How?" Balen asked curiously.

"Well I didn't really know what I wanted," Puck answered, "I mean I was sixteen, I was a kid, and having a kid wasn't really on my agenda. But then again when you're sixteen you don't really know what you want, ya know?"

"Tell me about it," Balen muttered.

"I mean I still had all these wild oats to sow ya know? I wanted to have it all, the girl and the baby and all the other girls without babies. I tried to play both and in the process almost lost it all."

"Well what made you change?"

"Quinn threatening to drop me like the sack I was," Puck answered casually, "She broke up with me and told me she would let me be around but I had to get my act together. It worked too, I mean it sucked but it helped me get my priorities straight. Ya know, figure out what I wanted."

"Figure out what you wanted," Balen repeated slowly, his mind racing as he thought, "Well-I mean-do you think Beth and I need a break?" Puck looked at Balen's confused expression, now feeling as if he had trapped himself.

"Uh-well-"

"I mean it's not that I want it or something, but maybe I should give her space? Let her figure her own stuff out ya know? I mean like you said, we're both sixteen and we've been together our whole lives. Maybe she's realizing she doesn't want me anymore? And plus I don't exactly know what I want either...well I do, but then Beth yells at me and I start questioning it and...I dont know, what do you think?" Puck froze as Balen stared, knowing he should say something wise and encouraging but he had nothing. He wanted to tell him to fight it out with Beth and that things would work but he couldn't say it, seeing himself for the first time in Balen and actually understanding him.

"Uh-well-I mean everyone's different," he chuckled nervously as he patted Balen's shoulders, "I mean it's crazy and the situations...Like I said, do what she wants ok? She'll tell you if she needs a break ok? So-yeah, clearly I've done enough-"

"Hey Mr. Puckerman," Balen called, Puck grimacing as he faced the young boy, "Thanks, for the talk uh, I needed that." Puck nodded as he turned, his stomach knotting as he walked away. While he had tried to talk to Balen and offer him support Puck felt sure he had done the oppisite, wondering how things would turn out when they arrived home.

"Jesus Beth would you just back off? I'm tired of you always yelling at me!"

"Well Jesus Balen would you just grow up? I'm tired of you always acting so immature!"

Puck and Quinn snuggled on the couch while watching their movie downstairs, leaving the two soon-to-be parents to go head to head upstairs.

"It's like I never do anything right!"

"Because you don't do anything right!"

"And the battle continues," Quinn murmured, flipping the channel as she rested against Puck's chest.

"You know I talked to him today," Puck smiled nervously, Quinn whipping around quickly as her eyes bulged.

"Oh no, what did you do?"

"Nothing, Jesus!" Puck exclaimed, "I uh gave him a pep talk like you wanted!" Quinn arched her brow as she stared at her husband, Puck sticking his hands up innocently while defending himself.

"Swear on my life I didn't say anything stupid...I don't think."

"Well what did you say?"

"Just that things would be ok and that we're here for them and...you know, all that crap, blah, blah, blah."

"Oh," Quinn said surprised, "Well that was sweet."

"I have my moments," Puck smiled cheesily, Quinn shaking her head as he leaned in for a kiss, "So what I'm thinking is we should-"

"Screw you!" Puck and Quinn turned to see Beth and Balen charging down the stairs, the two still fighting as her parents hid on the couch.

"Damn it Beth, I can't even get a word in anymore!"

"Because nothing you say matters, your argument is automatically invalid!" Balen groaned as he rubbed his hands over his face, exhausted from his day and the constant bickering with Beth.

"I told you, nothing happened and if you would listen you would know-"

"And what, I'm supposed to believe you?" Beth shreiked, "You lied to me before, you're probably lying to me again!"

"Like I said, she kissed me last time! And I was gonna tell you but you found out first!"

"Whatever!" Beth snapped as she flung his cell phone at his chest, "Just keep sexting your other girlfriend and I'll just be here carrying your kid!"

"Are we sure what she's carrying is human?" Puck whispered as he and Quinn watched from the couch, keeping low to be avoided as they hid under the blanket.

"Beth baby please, that was last year! Can't we let it go?"

"I can't let it go when you keep flirting with her!"

"You won't even let me explain!"

"There's no explanation needed! She texted you the color of her panties, the hell Balen?"

"Oh there's no coming back from that," Puck moaned, shaking his head knowingly while sighing.

"I didn't ask! I didn't even text her! She sent it to me, I swear!"

"Right, she just randomly starts talking about her underwear!"

"You'd be surprised," Puck mumbled, Quinn shooting him a glare as he shrugged, "Some chicks are sluts!"

"You would know!" Quinn shot back, Puck pouting as he turned back to the scene.

"See, I can't even talk to you! You always just assume you know everything!"

"Well when you've pulled this shit before!"

"I never cheated on you!"

"You might as well have!"

"Jesus Christ Beth what do you want?"

"I don't know!"

"Well can you figure it out and stop blaming me for everything!"

"Well everything is your fault! Our relationship, this baby-"

"Here we go, pulling that pregnancy card again-"

"Don't you dare mock me!"

"Well don't you dare accuse me!"

"I hate you!"

"Don't say shit you don't mean!"

"Like when I said I loved you?"

Silence filled the room as Beth's words rang out, the young girl immediately regretting them as she covered her lips. Her anger had gotten the best of her and now she wished she would have listened to her boyfriend, watching as his face dropped and his expression changed. His eyes were dark and his lips were quivering, Beth wondering if he was more angry or sad. She waned to apologize and tell him she hadn't meant it but her legs wouldn't budge and her pride wouldn't fade, Beth only watching as Balen crumbled.

"Beth I don't know what to do anymore," he said slowly, slumping a little as he stepped towards her, "I mean I get that you have a lot going on, but this isn't how its supposed to be."

"No one said this was easy Balen," Beth shot back, not liking his tone or the way he was looking at her.

"Yeah but it isn't supposed to be this hard," he said softly, "I mean I-what do you want Beth? From me, from this…you're not even happy anymore and I'm lost as to how to change that." Beth remained silent as he stared at his shoes, fumbling uncomfortably while muttering to her.

"Beth we just kind of got thrown together in this you know? And while I wanna have this baby I don't want to force you into something you don't want."

"Balen-"

"Shit," Puck muttered, knowing exactly where he was going and wishing he could reverse the whole conversation he had had.

"Beth do you want a break?" Beth's breath hitched in her throat as he asked, a sharp pain aching in her chest as she tried to steady her heart.

"I mean is that what you want?" she asked timidly.

"I don't know...is it what you need?" he asked, "Because I've given you everything else and none of it makes you happy." Beth watched as he avoided her eyes, fumbling with his hands and staring at the floor while she tried to read his mind.

"I-I don't know,' she said softly, "I-"

"Maybe we just need time, you know? To figure this out on our own ya know?" Balen whispered, "It's not that I want it-"

"Right," Beth said defensively, now growing angry with her boyfriend, "I'm sure you don't."

"Beth please-"

"No, it's fine," she said stubbornly, "If you want a break then let's take a break. Let you have all the time you need to figure out whatever it is you need to." Balen finally met Beth's watery eyes as she wiped her cheeks, not about to admit he had just broken her heart.

"It's not like I wanted this, I just think we need some space ok? And I'm gonna be here, I promise I will, for doctor visits and checkups and all that stuff alright? But, just for now, I think this is best." Balen grabbed his things as he stepped towards Beth, planting a kiss on her forehead as he hugged her tightly, "I love you Beth." He turned quickly while avoiding her parents eyes, heading towards the door and exiting swiftly. It took a few moments for anyone to speak, finally Quinn breaking through the stunned silence as she called to Beth.

"Baby," Quinn said as she pulled the covers off, slowly moving off the couch and walking towards Beth, "You alright?" Beth didn't say anything as she stood there, crossing her arms and tapping her foot.

"He'll come back," Beth assured herself, nodding as she pursed her lips, "He'll be back."

"Honey what was all that about? What happened?" Quinn asked softly.

"I found all these texts from Mindy Creedy again and I thought-I-but it's ok," Beth said certainly, "He knows I was just having a tantrum, it's ok, he'll be back he always comes back." Puck finally moved from the couch as he moved towards his daughter, watching the young girl sit at the kitchen table to wait.

Minutes turned to hours and hours faded into the dawn as Beth waited patiently, Balen never coming back to her that night.