AN: You guys are awesome! I am SO sorry I got behind on my days. I am hoping to get Day 9 up tonight as well. Please R&R! :o) p.s. I'm not Jewish, but I researched Hanukkah. If I screwed up something in this tradition, I didn't mean to!
Eight Lights of Hanukkah
"NOAH!"
"Huh? Wha–?" Puck jerked awake to the sounds of his sister yelling and bouncing on his bed.
"Wake up, Noah, it's the last day of Hanukkah!" Nina squealed excitedly.
She was literally vibrating with happiness. Puck just had to laugh at her. She had been like this every night for a whole week.
"Seriously, squirt? It's Saturday," Puck grunted, getting out of bed. "Okay, okay, I'm up. Let's go eat."
Puck shuffled and Nina bounced downstairs where their mother was making sufganoit.
"Morning, Mom," Puck mumbled, as he reached for one of the fried jelly doughnuts.
"Good morning, dear," she replied. "Your friend, Rachel Berry, called for you this morning."
Puck's head shot up at the mention of Rachel's name. His mother, Sarah, smiled knowingly, and Puck suppressed a groan, hoping she would at least wait until he'd eaten before the interrogation.
"What did she say?" Puck asked casually.
"She told me that you invited her to spend Hanukkah with us, and while she had previously been detained, she would like to join us this evening," she said with a completely straight face.
Puck fought the urge to laugh at his mother's words, knowing she probably repeated what Rachel had said word-for-word. That was Berry, though; she always used twelve words when four would do.
"Who's Rachel?" Nina asked curiously.
"She's a friend from school," Puck answered, trying not to stumble over the word friend. To him, she was much more than that.
"Oh, cool," Nina shrugged. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, like she just realized something. "So she's coming over tonight? Is she pretty? Does she like Hannah Montana? Is she Jewish? Why is she coming?"
Puck's head was spinning at all of the questions that tumbled from Nina's lips. "Whoa, Nina, chill," he said, chuckling.
"You're not answering me," she pouted.
"Okay," Puck hesitated, trying to remember the questions she asked. "Yes, very, I don't know, of course, and because her fathers are out of town."
Nina's eyes widened at Puck's answers. Usually he never answers her, but this time he told her everything.
"Okay! Thanks, Noah," she smiled before turning back to her doughnut.
Puck reached over and ruffled her hair playfully which made Nina giggle. Sarah smiled at her two sweet children. She was so proud of them both.
"I'll probably just pick Rachel up in a few hours," Puck mentioned as he put his dishes in the sink.
"That is very sweet of you. The weather could get really bad tonight," Sarah said. "What are you doing until then?"
"Playing video games with Finn," Puck responded. "I'll pick up Rachel on the way home."
"Okay, dear," Sarah replied. "Be safe."
Puck smiled at his mom and kissed her cheek. He ran back upstairs to shower and get ready for the day. He texted Rachel to tell her he'd pick her up at 4, and then he was out the door twenty minutes later.
"Hey, man!" Finn cried when he opened the door to let Puck in.
"Hey," Puck said, still shivering from the cold. "Ready for some Call of Duty?"
"Yeah, dude, you wouldn't believe it! Tom and Renee got me the new Call of Duty game for Christmas!" Finn said excitedly.
Puck raised his eyebrows. That was pretty decent of the Carvers. He knew how hard it had been for Finn and Quinn giving up Olivia like they had. These parents seemed to be pretty cool at least.
Finn set up the game and tossed a controller to Puck. "So, how is Hanukkah going?" he asked absently.
"Pretty standard. We light the candles, say our blessings, and then eat our weight in latkes," Puck shrugged. "Nina likes to play with the dreidels."
Finn nodded thoughtfully. "That's nice."
"Yeah, it's cool. So, Berry is coming over tonight," Puck added casually.
He wasn't sure why he added that, but for some reason, he needed to know Finn's thoughts on it. Finn looked a little surprised, but he smiled.
"Really? That's cool, man. You guys seem to be getting along okay," Finn said.
"Yeah, it's weird. I am really starting to like her again," Puck admitted.
"So, just talk to her," Finn shrugged.
"She said she is glad we're friends," Puck observed.
"That's good," Finn said absently, staring at the game.
He was no good at giving advice. Puck told him as much.
Finn laughed, "Sorry, dude, I'm not too good when it comes to that!"
Puck punched him lightly in the arm, "Well, thanks for trying."
He shifted uncomfortably. This conversation was getting a little too girly.
"Now let's quit talking about this girly stuff. I need to shoot some people up."
Finn grinned, "It's on."
They played the game for awhile before Puck realized he needed to go pick up Rachel.
"Have fun tonight, man," Finn said seriously.
"Yeah, yeah," Puck waved him off with a smile.
He made it to Rachel's in record time, and stood on the front porch blowing warm air into his hands while he waited for her.
"Come on, Berry, a man could catch his death out here," Puck muttered to himself.
Catch his death? Seriously, who talks like that? He'd been hanging out with Rachel too long. He rolled his eyes.
Rachel finally opened the door, and all he could do was stare at her. She looked beautiful in a tight black sweater and dark washed skinny jeans with black knee high boots.
"Do I look okay?" Rachel asked tentatively when she noticed him giving her a once over.
"Yeah," Puck sputtered. "You look really…beautiful," he finished rather lamely.
Rachel beamed at him. "Thank you, Noah."
"I really appreciate you allowing me to come over this evening, Mrs. Puckerman," Rachel said politely when they'd reached Noah's house.
"Oh, honey, call me Sarah," Mrs. Puckerman cooed.
"Thank you, Sarah," Rachel replied graciously.
"Noah, dear, take Rachel's coat," Sarah prodded.
He took her coat and their fingers brushed. He saw her blush, and as much as he wanted to touch her again, he knew he'd have to behave tonight. Instead, he watched as Nina bounced over to where Sarah had sat Rachel down.
"Nina, this is Noah's friend, Rachel," Sarah introduced.
"Hi! Noah said you can sing. Will you sing something?" Nina said.
"Well, I don't know," Rachel hesitated.
Puck watched his sister pull out the puppy dog eyes. He'd have to remember later to give her props for perfecting the pout he'd taught her. His eyes turned to Rachel who was chewing the fool out of her bottom lip. He smiled and nodded to her, encouraging her to sing something.
"Okay, well, how about I sing a Hanukkah song after we light the Menorah?" Rachel asked.
Nina's eyes sparkled. "Like, in Hebrew?"
"Yes, my daddy taught me when I was about your age," Rachel said.
"Yeah!" Nina cried. "Come over here, Noah, it's time to light it," she pressed.
Puck exaggerated a sigh and trudged over to the Menorah. Nina and Rachel exchanged an eye rolling, and Sarah chuckled at his antics.
"Okay, I'm ready," Puck sighed, winking at his little sister.
Puck took the lighter as they gathered around the coffee table. They were quiet as Puck recited the first blessing, "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukkah." (1)
He glanced over at Rachel and noticed her eyes were closed in reverence; she was moving her lips, saying what he guessed was the blessing in Hebrew. He smiled and continued with the second blessing.
"Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, who wrought miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season." (2)
He then lit the Shamash. He nudged Nina who took the Shamash and began to light the other eight candles. Sarah and Rachel shared a small smile as Nina began to recite:
We light these lights
For the miracles and the wonders,
For the redemption and the battles
That you made for our forefathers
In those days at this season,
Through your holy priests.
During all eight days of Chanukah
These lights are sacred
And we are not permitted to make
Ordinary use of them,
But only to look at them;
In order to express thanks
And praise to Your great Name
For your miracles, Your wonders
And your salvations. (3)
Nina smiled in satisfaction as she lit all the candles. She turned to Rachel.
"Will you sing now?" she asked quietly.
Rachel nodded, and they all moved to situate themselves. Puck made his way over to the couch where Nina had plopped down on Sarah's lap. He motioned for Rachel to just sit on the edge of the coffee table, which she did after some inner turmoil about sitting on a piece of furniture that wasn't appropriate to normally sit on. Finally, she settled in and opened her mouth to sing.
Maoz tzur yeshua-si
Lecha na-eh li-sha-beyach
Tikone bais ti-fee-lasi
Vi-sham todah ni-za-beyach.
Li-ase ta-chin mat-beyach
Mee-tzar ham-na-beyach
Az eg-more vi-sheer meez-mor
Chanukas ha-meez-beyach
Az eg-more vi-sheer meez-mor
Chanukas ha-meez-beyach (4)
Puck didn't care that he didn't understand a word of it. He was mesmerized. He looked over at his mother and sister and saw that they were equally enthralled.
"What does that translate to, Rachel?" Sarah asked curiously.
Rachel recited softly, "O Rock of my salvation, with delight we praise You. Restore the Temple where we will bring offerings. When You will eliminate our enemies, then I shall sing at the rededication."
"Wow," Nina said in wonder. "That was really pretty, Rachel."
Rachel smiled at each of the Puckermans. Tears sprung to her eyes.
"Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your family for this one night," she said softly, voice thick with emotion.
Puck saw his mother choke out a sob. He caught Nina sniffling as well. He looked at Rachel, and she smiled at him. He knew he sounded like a girl, but Puck would happily let Rachel be a part of his family any day.
AN2: Here are the footnotes to my research in case anyone is interested. :o)
Footnotes [take out spaces in web addresses]
1 First Blessing. Found at: http:// Judaism . about . com/od/chanukah/qt/hanukablessings . htm
2 Second Blessing. Found at: http:// Judaism . about . com/od/chanukah/qt/hanukablessings . htm
3 Hanerot Hallalu. Found at: http:// Judaism . about . com/od/chanukah/a/hanukahanerot . htm
4 Song: "Maoz Tur" (Transliteration). http: // Hanukkah . / hanukkah_songs . html
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