First, the reviews. This story doesn't even deserve as many reviews as it has, you guys are insane, and I'm so appreciative and thankful for that and all the sweetness you left. Second, the reviews. I don't think I've ever laughed and cried that much at the same time as I did reading those. From you guys updating me on everything to even writing for me, I was completely blown away by all of it. I miss you all and love you even more, so much sometimes it aches. Thank you, thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Anyways I'll stop rambling and let you have the next chapter. I broke it up so it wouldn't take forever long to read, so I hope you like and enjoy!
"Just suck in a little bit more sweetie-"
"Mom, if I suck in anymore I'll combust."
"Suck, ha-"
"Shutup, Balen."
"Suck it, Beth."
"Yes Beth, suck in so I can get the zipper up please-"
"Quinn, the hell is with my damn tie-"
"You know you've been so moody today Beth-"
"Because you keep talking to me like I like you Balen!"
"Quinn, muh tie-"
"Puck, muh nerves-"
"All I'm saying is you could be a bit nicer-"
"Balen I swear to freaking God-"
"It's Sunday Beth, you can't swear on the Sabbath."
The Puckerman house had been filled with growing voices and frantic movements that morning as each of it's members scattered around clumsily half dressed, everyone preparing haphazardly for Burt and Carole's wedding that afternoon. Quinn had been trying desperately to keep things together all day as she zig zagged between bedrooms, Puck, Beth, and Balen seeming to be on some covert operation to bring her down as they flailed about obnoxiously with their own dilemmas.
"Mom this dress isn't going to zip up any higher," Beth snapped exasperated as she jerked away in annoyance from her mother's grasp, Quinn's arms falling limply in defeat to her side as she sighed.
"Well Beth I don't know what to do with it then," Quinn moaned as she surveyed Beth's backside, "I mean we can pin it together temporarily but you'll be able to see it."
"Well I'll just let my hair down to hide it, it's not a big deal," Beth groaned as she fell onto her bed, "Carole won't mind if the bridesmaids don't match exactly will she?"
"I guess she can't now," Quinn whispered under her breath as she turned to the door, stepping into the hall and coming face to face with her husband as he struggled still with his tie, "What are you-"
"I don't know what to do with this!" Puck whined as he yanked his tie away, Quinn fighting off her urge to ram it down his throat and taking it instead.
"Oh for God's sakes Puck-"
"Mrs. P, it's the Sabb-"
"Balen stop reminding us what today is, are you proud because you learned a new word or something?" Puck griped as he leaned around his wife to stare at his doppelganger through Beth's bedroom door, Balen's face falling slowly as pouted.
"Geez, try to bring the tone down a bit and I get my ass gnawed-"
"Then maybe you should stop talking," Beth murmured from her sheets as she rolled to face her boyfriend, Puck laughing to himself in the hall as Balen stuck his tongue out in defense.
"Ok, there," Quinn announced triumphantly as she patted Puck's tie flat, "Now don't touch it, and stop fidgeting with the collar."
"Yes ma'am," Puck grumbled as he turned away, Quinn glancing at her wrist and watching as another minute added to her tardiness.
"Carole's gonna kill me. I was supposed to be there to make sure things were set up and I'm already a half hour late, I'm not dressed, my hair is a wreck…" Quinn trailed off as she threw her hands up, looking down at herself and wondering where to even begin.
"Just go ahead and leave," Puck called as he headed down the hall and into the bathroom, "I'll get the kids there." Quinn cocked her brow as she crossed her arms, Puck pouring and swishing mouthwash back and forth in his mouth as he shrugged.
"Look sweetie I love you, and thank you for trying, but knowing Beth she'll have another meltdown and need to be talked off the ledge."
"I can alk, I can elp," Puck gurgled as leaned down to spit into the sink, "Really, we'll be fine. Trust me."
"Puck-"
"Quinn, just trust me," he reiterated as he ran his hand across his lips, "I got this." Quinn glanced at her husband then back at her watch as she contemplated her next move, shifting her weight from one foot to another before nodding her head.
"Beth has to be there at two, not any later you understand?"
"Si."
"Because we're gonna have to fix her dress and her hair, I don't even know what we'll do with mine-"
"Quinn go, I'll have her there ok?" Puck stressed as he rubbed her shoulders, pulling her in before pecking her forehead, "Now go get your stuff and hurry. I love you, have fun."
"Oh it'll be a freaking blast," Quinn growled as she rolled her eyes, Puck smacking her backside and making her squeal as she headed down the stairs.
"Beth," he shouted loudly as he headed down the hall and for his daughters room, "I'm gonna take you and Balen to the church in a bit, so get your stuff together and-" He stopped abruptly in her doorway as he stared at the scene in front of him, Beth bent over and squatting in front of her bed as Balen held both her hands.
"Beth-"
"Dad! Hi!" she snapped excitedly as she shot her head up, plastering a huge grin across her face before laughing, "What's uh, what's up?"
"Honey, what are you doing?" he chuckled in confusion as he leaned against the doorframe, "You alright?"
"What-oh this? Yeah!" Beth exclaimed as she slowly leaned up, "I was just, you know, doing some, like, these new, they're like stretches."
"Stretches?" Puck asked as he shifted his eyes from Beth to Balen.
"Yeah, to stretch, you know," she tried to explain as she nodded, "Stretch it, this, right Balen?"
"Wha-right, yeah, all the kids are doing it these days," Balen chimed in as Beth dug her nails into his skin, Puck not fully understanding what she meant but chalking it up to girl. Or pregnancy. Or both.
"Well, ok, but darlin' I don't think the stretches are really gonna help you fit anymore in that dress," Puck bit out carefully, "I mean I think you're belly's pretty much gonna stay the same."
"Right, no, of course," Beth giggled awkwardly, Puck perplexed by her sudden change in mood and beginning to walk towards her.
"You sure everything's alright," he asked again as he reached for her shoulder, "Nothing baby related or-"
"No, no! I'm good!" Beth almost yelled as she nodded furiously, "No, nothing baby at all, not at all! I would let you know, of course! No I'm just, you know, I'm good, I'm great! We're fine, we're ok." Puck continued to stare through his daughter as he glanced her and Balen over, the young boy swaying weirdly as he nodded.
"Oooook, well, I'm gonna get finished getting ready then," he said slowly as he backed out of the room, "Don't do anything…weird." Beth forced out another laugh as she waved her dad away, the sight of a finally empty doorway causing her to unleash her breath.
"Jesus Christ," she sighed deeply as she sat on her bed, one hand pulling at the material under her stomach as the other clenched Balen's hand.
"Beth this is ridiculous!" Balen began, Beth unraveling her hand from his and shoving it towards his face.
"Lower your voice!" she growled lowly.
"Beth this is ridiculous!" he tried again, sitting down quickly beside her and leaning in close, "Your dad isn't stupid, he's gonna figure it out soon enough! Not to mention your mom will totally be able to tell when you pop a squat in front of her!"
"Don't say pop a squat, Balen," Beth agitatedly replied, brushing a few strands of loose hair out her eyes as she scrunched her face, "And anyways I can handle it."
"Beth I don't understand, why can't we just tell your parents you're having contractions?"
"Because I can handle it."
"You can handle-Beth stop it, you're being crazy-"
"And you're being stubborn-"
"Says the girl trying not to give birth!"
"I'm not trying to not give birth, I'm just-I'm-oh shut up Balen!"
"No I won't! This is insane Beth, we need to tell our parents what's going on!"
"We can't!"
"Why?"
"Because we've ruined enough things for them ok?" Beth yelled as she shot up from the bed, Balen surprised at her quick movements as he watched her walk, "I mean I don't know if you've noticed, but we kind of have a way of ruining things babe."
"Beth, what the hell are you talking about?" Balen asked in frustration.
"I mean Balen come on, haven't we done enough?" Beth cried out as she paused, "We're always getting in the way! Mom and dad and their plans to have another baby, you and your dads-"
"Beth those things weren't our fault," Balen said lowly as he felt a twinge of guilt, "We didn't cause those things to happen."
"Not completely, but it's not like we didn't add to them," Beth argued back, "I just-I'm tired of always messing things up for everyone."
"Beth, you're not messing anything up, you're having a baby," Balen tried to stress as he stood, "And it's not just you I'm worried about here! You think I give a damn about some wedding?"
"No, but I do, and I won't get in the way," Beth fought back.
"Beth that's the stupidest thing you've ever said-"
"Really," she asked lowly as she pointed towards him, "Cause I'm pretty sure saying yes to having sex with you comes in first."
"I'm not laughing, this isn't funny," Balen said as he grew stern, "Something could go wrong or-we don't have good luck Beth!"
"Obviously!" she hollered as she pointed to her swollen belly, "Look, don't worry ok?"
"Don't worry-Beth our baby could be falling out of there any minute-"
"It won't fall out, God didn't you learn anything from those classes?"
"Yeah, I learned when you're in labor you go to a hospital-"
"I'm not in labor, I'm just having contractions-"
"The fucks the difference?"
"That they're still a good bit apart, which means we have awhile ok?" Beth informed him as she headed for her bathroom.
"Beth what are you thinking? You'll just walk down the aisle and stand at the altar? What if you have one while you're up there?"
"I'll tough it out," she answered casually as she ran a hand through her hair, "Grip my bouquet or something."
"And what happens if your water breaks? You think Carole's gonna want that goop on her gown?"
"Don't be gross Balen, and don't say goop," Beth corrected as she contorted her face, "And like I said, it won't ok? I'm fine, I can make it through the ceremony."
"And what happens when your mom and dad find out you've been having contractions the whole time and didn't say anything? They'll be pissed."
"Only if someone opens their mouth."
"I don't like this at all, Beth."
"Well I didn't ask you, Balen." The young boy could only shake his head as he turned away from her and headed for the stairs, Beth instantly feeling guilty as she chased after him.
"Balen wait-"
"I can't believe how insane you've become-"
"Balen stop-"
"Could you at least consider how I feel for once? It's my kid too you know, I should have some say as to how we do this."
"I know, you're right-"
"All you ever do is boss me around and tell me what to do, what words to say and how to say them-"
"Goop is disgusting and should never be used to refer to my body-"
"I'm just saying!" Balen yelled, Beth taken aback at his tone.
"I'm sorry ok?" Beth whispered lowly as she tried to quiet her boyfriend, "Look, I understand you're worried and concerned, and I love you for it, but even if we did go to the hospital all we'd be doing is waiting around and being bored out of our minds anyway. This way we're at least entertained!"
"What if something happens?"
"Nothing is gonna happen!" Beth tried to reassure him as she rubbed his shoulders, "I promise you Balen, right after the ceremony I'll tell mom and dad ok? I mean the minute we're heading back down the aisle I'll let them know-"
"But-"
"And if I feel funny or something doesn't feel right I swear I'll be honest ok? I feel fine, we're gonna be fine Balen," Beth promised as she smiled, "Let's just get through the next few hours ok? Please?"
"Beth-"
"Please?" she begged as she puckered her bottom lip out, "Please let's just do this for everyone ok?" Balen stared down as he tried to figure out how to respond, half of him convinced Beth had clearly lost her mind and half of him seeing her point.
"Alright, we still need to get your dads and Finn, you guys ready?" Puck called as he bounded up the stairs, Balen's eyes still locked with Beth's as he contemplated what to say.
"Yeah Balen, you ready?" Beth asked as she arched her brow, Puck weirded out by her intensity as he watched the two communicate silently.
"Yeah, yeah I'm good," Balen nodded as he grabbed Beth's hand.
"Sweet, let's get this thing rolling then."