I'll Defend You If You'll Defend Me?

30

Summary: Becky Jackson is trying to survive high school the best that she can. While Santana Lopez is struggling to accept herself and be proud of the person she has become. Can these two people become friends and help each other succeed?

Pairings: Santana Lopez and Becky Jackson. Other pairings: Rachel Berry and Santana Lopez. Brittany Pierce and Santana Lopez. Quinn Fabray and Brittany Pierce. Also other characters have small parts.

It's important to note, that I do not have Down syndrome, but I am "different". I know what it feels like to feel unworthy at time and like no matter what I try to do it's useless.

I hope you enjoy!

~ Becky ~

I opened the door and walked through it. I looked around. I was nervous for a second because I thought she didn't show up and that I'd have to call my parents for a ride home because Quinn left. Then I noticed her. She noticed me and waved me over. I walked right up to the table and extended my hand.

"Hello, Mrs. Puckerman," I said.

This time she shocked me. She stood up from the table, grabbed my hand, and firmly shook it. She smiled down at me. "Hello, Becky. Thanks for meeting me here," she said hesitantly.

"Sure. Thanks for the invite," I said and smiled shyly at her.

"Please sit," she offered as she left go of my hand. I threw my bags down and sat in the booth.

"How was your day," she asked. She sounded kind of intrigued. So I went with it.

"Actually not bad," I said, "I'm a little nervous right now."

"Why," she asked.

"Well, for starters, I thought you hated me."

"Becky, 'hate' is a strong word…"

"It might be, but that's how I felt. I…um…don't like lying to him!" I said.

"Him being my son?"

I nodded my head up and down.

"I'm sorry for making you do that," she apologized.

"Just so you know, I'm gonna tell him what happened between us later. I don't keep secrets with important people in my life," I said.

"And he's important?"

"One of the top three most important people in my life right now. The other two are my mother and father," I said.

"Of course. Lemme ask you a question," she asked.

"Shoot! Mrs. Puckerman, I'll always be as honest with you as I can," I said and smiled.

~ Quinn ~

From where I was sitting in my car, I had an excellent view of Mrs. Puckerman and Becky. I was so intensely looking at them that I jumped when my phone rang.

"Jesus!" I screamed.

I picked it up and said, "Hello?"

"Hey," Brittany said.

"Hey, sweetheart," I replied to my love.

"Did you get lost? One time I did and I managed to find my way to San's," she said.

"I'm actually at the diner."

"Are you eating without me," she whined.

"I'd never do that," I assured her with a smile.

"What cha doing there then," she asked.

I never wanted to lie to my wife, so I said, "I'm watching out for Becky."

"Um, why?"

"Because she's talking with Puck's Mom and I don't want her upsetting Becky," I said.

"Aww…you're adorable…and you're all mine…"

"Yes, I am," I replied with a light laugh.

"Can I tell you something," she asked.

"Anything, my love," I said as my hand rested lazily on the horn.

"I am so horny for you right now," she said.

I must have put pressure on the horn because it sounded. "Shit!"

Brittany laughed hysterically. "Ok, ok, come home soon, ya hear?"

"As soon as I see if Becky needs a ride," I told her.

"I love you, Quinn," Brittany said wholeheartedly.

"I love you too, Brittany," I replied with a smile.

Then she hung up.

~ Mrs. Puckerman ~

I smiled at her and then asked, "Do you love Noah?"

Without any hesitation or doubt, Becky said, "Yes, I do!"

"How do you know," I asked her.

"It's not just one thing, you know," Becky said.

"No, I honestly don't. Please tell me?"

I saw her take a sip of her Coke that had arrived at the table. I took a sip of my water while I waited.

"Well, you know I have Down syndrome, right?"

I nodded my head up and down.

"Well, when I'm with Noah, I don't feel 'different'. I feel like I belong with him and with the people we call our friends," she started, took a big breath, and continued, "Your son doesn't see what I can't do. He sees me for who I am. And he actually loves me. Can you believe that? I sure can't!" She chuckled a little.

I sat there quietly and just listened.

"Listen, I know that I'm not the type of person he usually dates, and I've made peace with that. I did because I know that he truly cares about me and for me. He protects me and I truly feel that his care and concern are genuine. He doesn't baby me. He tells me like it is and I do the same with him. Now can I ask you a question?"

I sat there stunned. "Um, of course, Becky," I said dumbfounded.

"Why were you so cold to me when we first met?"

"Geez, I…"

"Was that a fair question? I'm sorry…" she said and lowered her head.

~ Quinn ~

She's lowering her head. What should I do? Run in there? Sit here? Sit outside on the car? I thought.

"Get out of the car, but don't move. Let her deal with it first," I told myself. I quickly pulled my keys out of the ignition and jumped out of my car.

~ Becky ~

Stupid, stupid question. Nice going. I yelled at myself.

Then I felt her hand on my own. So I looked up at her.

"Becky, it's okay, it's a very valid question. You ready for my honest answer?"

"Only if it's honest," I said.

"Of course…I was taken aback by your appearance…"

"Why? I was in my Cheerios uniform like now," I asked confused.

"No, not your outfit…your overall appearance."

"Oh, you mean my Down syndrome," I said. This time I kept eye contact with her.

"Yes," she answered.

"What were and are you afraid about?"

"I'm afraid that he'll have to 'take care' of you."

"Ma'am, I take care of myself to the best of my ability," I said and gazed into her eyes.

"I am coming to see that, Becky," she said.

"Your son doesn't pity me or feel 'bad' for me. He helps me only if I ask him for help. If he just did stuff for me without me asking first, I wouldn't be talking with you now cuz I would have broken up with him. I take pride in how far I've gotten with the help of my family. I did a lot of things by myself and just because I have a boyfriend that's not going to change," I said proudly.

She nodded her head, smiled at me, and then asked, "Is this relationship gonna last?"

"I hope so. I don't know what the future holds for us. I did know that if I wanted me and Noah to work then I had to come here today and meet with you. You are a big part of his life. He cares about your opinion a lot, as he should. It broke him up after the conversation you two had that day. He never told me the whole thing, but I'm not stupid," I said.

"I know," she said and this time she lowered her head.

"Mrs. Puckerman, I love your son, plain and simple. I want to see where this goes. He's a good influence on me…"

"And you are a great influence on him, I can see. He actually told me he was going to do his homework when he got home yesterday," she said and laughed.

"We bring out the best in each other. Anyway, I know that it'll take some time to get used to me and I'll do anything and everything to help in that. I just want you to respect me and respect what me and Noah are building. I'm willing to work at our relationship."

"Wow! You really do love him, don't you?"

"Yes, ma'am, I do. And I'm pretty sure if you ask him he'll say that he is also or at least going in that direction."

Then she pulled out her cell phone.

"What are you doing? Are you calling the police?" I said super nervously.

"Haha! No sweetie, I'm calling my son," she said and smiled at me.

"Oh," I said, sighed, and then began to eat my dinner.

~ Mrs. Puckerman ~

I dialed my son's number and in a few minutes he answered.

"Hello?"

"Hey, it's me," I said.

"Hey, you, um, where are you?"

"I'm at the diner with someone who cares about you a lot!"

I quickly put the phone on speaker.

"Who?"

"Hey, baby," Becky said happily.

"Becky, where's Quinn?" Noah asked protectively.

"She's probably home by now," Becky answered.

"Are you okay, sweetheart," he asked.

"Yes, I am," she said.

"What's going on, Mom?" he asked me pointedly.

I took a deep breath and thought quickly about what I wanted to tell him. I thought of something so I said, "Well, I invited Becky out to dinner to chat…"

"Why am I not sitting next to her," he asked.

"I wanted to talk woman-to-woman," I said.

"Um, Becky, you should have told me," he told his girlfriend.

"I know, I know. Your Mom asked me not to, but I should have. Please don't be mad at me," Becky said with a shaky voice, "I just wanted to have your mother's acceptance of me and of us. I'd do anything."

"It's okay, Becky, I know you wanted her to like you and so do I…so Mom…what cha think?"

"I think Becky is an astounding person and you're beyond lucky to call her your girlfriend…don't ever forget it…" I said with a bright smile.

Becky immediately smiled at me and mouthed, "Thank you."

I nodded my head.

"So…we all good," he asked hesitantly.

"I am," Becky said first.

"I'm going to enjoy getting to know your girlfriend, Noah, bring her around a lot more often," I said with a smile.

"Score!" she yelled and raised her hands up in the air.

He laughed, but said, "Thanks, Mom…She means the world to me!"

"Hey, can I ask you a question," I asked him.

"Shoot," he replied.

"Do you love her?"

Becky sat up straight in the booth. She didn't look nervous. She looked excited to hear his answer.

"Yes, Mom. I love her. I love her more than myself and I'd move Heaven and Earth to make sure she is safe and happy," he said with a tone of voice I had never heard from him.

"I love you too, Noah," Becky said lovingly.

"Aww," I screamed.

"Ok, ok, sweetheart how are you getting home," Noah asked.

"I hadn't thought that far," she said.

"I have plans with my friend in ten minutes," I said.

"Sit tight, I'm on my way…" he started.

~ Becky ~

It was then that I turned my head to look at the parking lot. I saw Quinn sitting on the hood of her car. She waved at me and I waved back.

"Noah, Noah, Quinn's still here. I'll drive home with her," I said and smiled.

"Oh, okay. Tell her thanks. I'll see you tomorrow. I love you."

"I love you too, baby. Text me later," I said and blew him a kiss over the phone.

"Okay, Noah, I'll see you later," his Mom said.

"Wait, Mom!" he yelled quickly.

"Yeah?"

"I love you and thank you for accepting Becky and for knowing how much she means to me," Noah said humbly.

"You're my son, I would do anything for you. Treat her right, ya hear?" I instructed.

"I intend to," he said and then he hung up.

"Mrs. Puckerman, thank you so much. I truly appreciate it," I said with a lump in my throat.

She motioned to me to get up from the table. Once we were both standing she wrapped her arms around me and I wrapped mine around her. We both squeezed tightly.

After the hug ended, I gathered my stuff as I said, "I should probably go so Quinn can go home too. Thank you again. I'll see you soon."

"Okay, have him bring you over to the house for dinner one night," she suggested.

"Will do," I said, waved at her, and then left the restaurant.

~ Quinn ~

I followed her movement from the table to the front door of the diner. I ran over to her as she descended the stairs. At the bottom, I pulled her into a tight hug.

"How'd it go?" I asked as I led her to my car and opened up the door for her. I ran around to my side and got it.

Once I slammed the door shut, I turned to face her and she said, "She accepts me and what Noah and I are creating, which is what I wanted. She knows that we are in love and she's happy for us."

"Becky, that's wonderful," I said as I started the car. I drove out of the parking lot and toward to her house.

"Hey, Quinn," she asked.

"Hmm," I said as I tried to focus on driving.

"Thank you very much for waiting for me. I hope you knew you didn't have to. Noah was going to come get me…"

"Think nothing of it. I wanted to be there for you in case you needed someone," I said honestly.

"You're an amazing friend," she said. I glanced sideways at her and smiled.

"I can't wait to tell Santana," she said, "I'll call her later."

"Sounds good," I said, "Becky, if you ever need ANYTHING at all you let me know, okay," I said.

"I don't want to bother you…you just got married and you're beginning your life with Brittany…"

"Yes, I am, but our friendship means a lot to me. Britt understands. Actually she called while you were in there. The phone scared the crap outta me. She'd never tell me I couldn't help you or be there for you. Ok?"

"Ok…" she said as we pulled into her driveway.

Before she got out of the car she leaned over and pulled me into a hug.

"I love you, Quinn," she said to me.

I got emotional for a moment, but managed to say, "I love you too Becky!"

Then she gathered her things and got out of the car without another word. She walked up to her house, but before she went in she turned around and waved at me. I waved back.

Knowing that she was safe in her house, I drove off to be in my wife's arms.

Second Author's Note: So this is my thirtieth chapter! Thank you to everyone who has favorited, followed, and reviewed this story. I am enjoying writing it. I hope you are enjoying it. Thank you!