This whole thing is dedicated to tjcrowfoot, my awesome muse. Thanks for being such a pushy bitch (told ya) and encouraging me to write something so far out from what I usually would – a Puck/Santana major story line – and giving me the most helpful feedback and advice. You truly are wonderful and I thank you.
Also, please forgive me if there are any weird lines near the bottom. I have no idea how they got there and they will not go away. In short, I hate Word.
..xo..
[Six Months Later.]
"I think we need, what, four pitchers of Bud, one of Corona and one of … what the fuck kinda girly ass beer you drink, Hummel?" Puck asked as he looked away from the Applebee's waiter.
"You disgust me," Kurt replied to Puck before turning to the waiter. "White peach sangria, please."
The waiter smiled and shot Kurt a wink before turning to Rachel. "And you, ma'am?"
"Just a water. Oh, and maybe an unsweetened tea. And a lemonade. Wait. No. Not lemonade, I read in a magazine that the tartness could give me really bad heartburn. So just the water. And the unsweetened tea. Thank you, Gregory."
The old group had gathered together for a celebratory dinner – Mercedes had just passed the Ohio Bar Exam. Kurt, Brittany, Mike, Tina, Mercedes, Quinn and Sam had all made it to the dinner to join Santana, Puck, Finn and Rachel. Artie was stuck in Columbus at a tech conference but had called Mercedes to congratulate her.
"Geez, Goodyear. Like you don't spend enough time in the bathroom anyway. Should just move your class in there and kill two birds with one stone," Puck muttered as he tried to shoo their waiter from the table.
Santana reached over and slapped him up the back of his head. "Would you kindly shut the fuck up?"
"I'm, uh, sorry, ma'am," Gregory cut it. "But we don't have any unsweetened tea."
The whole table groaned loudly. Great. Kid was going to piss off pregnant and more irritable than usual Rachel.
Puck kinda wished he had popcorn.
"Excuse me?" she asked in a sugary-sweet voice.
"Rach …" Finn said softly as he moved his hand to rub her lower back.
"We don't have any unsweetened tea," he repeated. "I can get some raspberry or some sweet tea for you."
Rachel shifted so Finn wasn't touching her anymore. "What do you mean you don't have any unsweetened tea?"
"Well, I …"
"You nothing. I have been dining at this establishment since it opened in 1998. And every time – every single time – I come in here, I order a water and an unsweetened tea. And do you know what my waiter or waitress brings me every time I order them?' She paused, eyes wide and eyebrows lifted. "That's right," she plowed on. "They bring me a water and an unsweetened tea. Now, Gregory," she continued, a huge, obviously fake smile plastered to her face. "What I would like for you to do right now for me is wander on into the back – do not pass Go, do not collect $200 or Kurt's phone number, and get me a goddamn glass of water and an unsweetened tea!"
"Yeah. Everyone's definitely staring at our table now," Sam whispered to Puck.
And then Rachel burst into tears.
And Puck slammed his head to the table.
"She was a lot more fun when she wasn't so fat," Brittany whispered to Santana.
And then the Latina's head joined her … friend's … flat against the wooden surface of the table.
-x-
An hour later, Finn was helping Rachel lower herself into their bed. Well, really, she was kinda lifting herself to be lowered, as the mattress was high, but that was neither here nor there.
"Finn?" she asked softly as she looked into his eyes. She brought a hand up to caress his cheek softly, her eyelashes fluttering slightly.
He thought he was definitely getting lucky tonight.
"Yeah, babe?" he whispered as he brought his lips closer to hers, his hand sliding down to caress her belly before moving up to cup her cheek.
"Am I fat?"
Oh. Shit.
How in the hell should he answer that? She hadn't asked him so far during this pregnancy. She did last time, with Hadley, but that seemed like so long ago that he couldn't remember the answer that had gotten him laid.
And he really wanted to get laid.
He wished, in that moment that seemed to go on forever, her eyes searching his, a dangerous frown almost forming on her lips, that he had a Twix.
Those dudes in the commercials always said the right thing when they had the chance to chew on a Twix bar.
"N-no. Of course not, babe. You're-you're pregnant …" he stalled pathetically. And then it hit him. "That's our little boy or girl in there, babe. And the more you grow, the more he or she grows. And that means he or she is healthy. And that's what we want."
"Aww, Finn," Rachel breathed, her hand moving behind his neck to pull him down to her. She inched over on the bed so he could maneuver himself beside her. "I love you," she whispered before bringing his lips down to meet hers.
He needed to write that shit down for next time.
-x-
"God, that was lame," Santana said as she unlocked the door to the apartment she shared with Puck and walked inside. "Five fricken' hours of listening to Mr. Bigwig Asshole Boss Man telling us all that we're not pulling our weight. Fuck that noise. I'm there almost every fucking day," she bitched at no one. "Fucking idiot, tool, dipshit."
"Who're you talking to?" Rachel asked as she stepped out of the small kitchen.
"Holy fuck, Hudson!" Santana cried as she placed her hand over her heart. "What the hell are you doing here? Shit," she dropped her voice down. "The midget isn't here, is she?"
"No," Rachel chuckled, her hands running over her protruding stomach. She continued to remind herself that she only had six weeks left. She hoped.
She really missed seeing her feet.
And watching Finn … service … her.
"Where is she? You didn't leave her with Puck, did you? I mean, I know he's pretty awesome with her and all but seriously, Rachel … tell me you didn't leave her alone with him."
Rachel chuckled again and shook her head. "Noah and Finn are doing some landscaping over at the house and Hadley just had to stay and watch. And help. And before you ask, Sam and Kurt are there as well. Sam's trying to help the guys out since they're short staffed with the college kids still in school for a few more weeks and it's prime weather for planting or something. I have no idea."
"What's Kurt doing there?" Santana asked with a smile on her face.
"Watching."
Then both girls erupted into giggles.
"Seriously, though, I came to bring you over to the house. We're going to grill out. Finn got me vegan hot dogs! You can try one if you want to."
"Rachel, buddy, you know I like my wieners to be all meat."
"You're as vulgar as your boyfriend," Rachel muttered before grabbing her purse.
"My what?"
"You heard me. Now get your behind downstairs and into the minivan, please."
"First, he's not my boyfriend. Second, I hate your car," Santana grumbled.
"I'm not even going to respond to either of those statements. Keys. Lock. Out. Now."
"Yes, mom," Santana muttered under her breath.
But she did as she was told.
-x-
"So," Finn said to Puck as he and Sam moved a brick slab. "You tell her you love her yet?"
"First," Puck said as he moved his own slab, "fuck you. Second," he grunted as he dropped it to the ground, "fuck you. And third," he continued as he wiped the sweat from his forehead, "she won't even admit to being my fucking girlfriend. Yeah, sure, Finn. I fucking told her I love her this morning."
"Don't need to be a dick about it," Finn muttered.
Puck blew out a harsh breath. "Yeah. I know. Sorry, dude. It's just … you and Rachel … you got it right the first time, you know?"
"What the hell are you talking about, man? Rachel and I … we took, like, fifty mulligans, dude. Need I remind you that you were with Rachel after the first time I was?"
"You weren't dating her before I got with her," Puck denied. "You just … kissed her a few times. Right? That's not dating. You got with her after me."
"And then I fucked it up," Finn argued.
"Is that the time you dumped her because she wasn't cool?" Sam asked as he took a drink of water.
"Please don't get started on the Rachel and Finn Saga. It's worse than Twilight," Kurt said from the blanket he and Hadley were sitting on. "Now, this dress," he said as he directed the little girl's attention back to the Glamour he held open in front of him, "is for women who don't care what anyone thinks of them because they think highly enough of themselves as it is."
"It's orange," Hadley said as she wrinkled her nose. "I can't like that."
"Me either, kiddo. Me either."
"Don't corrupt that kid!" Puck called out.
"You do enough of that on your own, Puckerman," Kurt called back before turning back to the magazine and the little girl he was charged with entertaining. "Now, let's talk about accessories."
"Doesn't that worry you?" Puck asked as Sam nodded in agreement.
"Nah," Finn said with a shrug. "We want her to be into dresses and stuff. So, you know, Kurt's the perfect person for her to learn fashion from."
"What about Quinn?" Sam asked.
"She wore a cheerleading uniform to school every day that she wasn't pregnant. Not much to go on," Puck responded. Then he paused and looked at Finn and Sam. "Shit. We're turning into chicks. Beer run?"
"Sam and I will go," Kurt said as he stood from the blanket and moved to meet the other men. "We can pick Quinn up from work on the way back and I can supervise him while he attempts to buy the correct booze for you borderline alcoholics."
"Fuck off, Hummel," Puck muttered.
"Uncle Noah! Swear jar!" Hadley shouted as she stood, balled up fists going to her hips.
Finn thought she looked just like her mother.
"Noah, really," Rachel said as she and Santana walked into the back yard, "We'll be able to send Hadley to Harvard with all the money you donate to the swear jar."
Finn was about to comment when he cell phone went off. It was his mother, screaming bloody murder that she thought she saw a rat and Burt was out of town getting parts and he needed to get the hell over there now to either catch it or kill it. "Sorry, babe," he said as he kissed Rachel on the forehead. "As soon as I get back we can start the grill. I'll bring Mom."
She nodded and squeezed his hand before heading towards the blanket and her daughter. "Well, Miss Hadley. Why don't you show Mommy what you've been looking at?"
"Okay!" the little girl squealed before plopping back down on the blanket.
Santana smiled softly as she watched Hadley place her tiny hands on Rachel's stomach. The little girl's eyes lit up, presumably at a kick, and pressed harder, causing Rachel to chuckle and gently relieve some of the pressure.
Puck glanced at his … girlfriend (Fuck it. Even if neither of them said it out loud, she was his fucking girlfriend and everyone in town knew it. Except maybe her.) from the corner of his eye and noticed the tiny smile crossing her lips.
He knew she wanted that someday even if she didn't know it yet. He saw how she acted with Hadley, how she sometimes stared at Rachel's belly. Or her wedding ring. Or her wedding photos.
And there was one time he swore he saw her glancing at a bridal magazine.
Though she would never admit it.
"Nice little family moment going on over there," he said quietly, his eyes switching between watching Santana and watching Rachel and Hadley.
"Whatever," she said as she rolled her shoulders and looked over at him. "It's all so … domestic. I don't know how she can stand it."
"Liar," Puck chuckled as he wrapped and arm around her. "You know you're dying to have a family like that."
"Fuck you," she spat. "You don't know anything about me."
"Please," he scoffed. "I know all there is. You want a family. You want a husband, a kid or two, a yard and probably a dog too. Don't try to fool me or yourself."
"I do not," Santana replied hotly. "Fucking around is great."
"You haven't fucked a guy who isn't me in three years," he told her, his body turning full towards her and his eyes narrowing. "And don't even try to pretend you have. We're in a fucking relationship, okay? Like it or not, you're my girlfriend."
"Don't you dare say that! I can fuck whoever I want to and you don't have shit all control over it!"
"Uh, guys …" Rachel said softly from her spot across the yard.
"Yes I fucking do, Santana. How many times do I have to tell you you're my girlfriend and I know you?"
"God, Puck! Just … shut the fuck up! It's not like I want that shit right now …"
"But some day you do. And you want it with me. If you didn't we sure as shit wouldn't be having this fight right now," he responded, his voice trying to go soft but, really, he couldn't speak gently when he was this fired up.
"So what if I do? Huh?" she shouted as she turned to face him as well, her stance aggressive. "So the fuck what if I wanna have a family with you? What do you suppose I should do about it, Mr. I'm-Never-Fucking-Settling-Down? What the fuck do you want from me?" She reached out and shoved him hard, repeating, "What the fuck do you want from me?"
"I want you to fucking marry me, okay? Jesus, woman!" He threw his arms out in frustration.
She stared at him in stunned silence.
"I love you, you crazy bitch, okay? But, you know, thanks for sharing the fucking sentiment. You know what? Fuck it," he muttered before storming off the deck and heading for the wooden gate, unlatching it and (unnecessarily) kicking it open.
Santana heard him all but rip the door to his truck open then slam it shut a second later, the V8 revving up and the squeal of his tires as he peeled out of the Hudson driveway.
She took a few deep breaths, trying to hold back the tears, her eyes moving over to see where Rachel was attempting to stand up with the (useless) help of her four year old.
She wouldn't sob, she promised herself. But she couldn't stop a few tears from coursing silently down her cheeks. Her eyes shut as she tried to block out the last couple of minutes. They only reopened when she heard Hadley say, "Uncle Noah owes lotsa monies to the cuss jar."
She tried to laugh but, damnit, it came out as a broken sob. And then another and another.
"Momma, is Auntie Ana gonna have a baby too?"
And then her knees gave out and she fell to the deck, huge sobs overtaking her body, her mind unable to get any thought across aside from, "What the fuck did you just do?"