A/N: Cripes, I can't believe how long it's been since the last update but sometimes Life has a way of dictating how it should be and not how you'd like it to be. I start Uni again soon but still hope to have an update within the next two weeks or so.

I do however now have an awesome Beta – Lovely Blonde Belle – which means my story should make a lot more sense from here on out. Here's hoping.

My song for this chapter is Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours".

Disclaimer: Not mine, never has been, never will be.

Whilst we wandered around Walmart, it did cross my mind whether or not this is what I'd be doing in an alternate universe, on a Saturday afternoon, at age 25. Would I really be telling my nearly nine year old daughter to not run down the aisles, or loading the trolley up with dog food, people food, laundry detergent, and tossing back every other packet of Lays and Cheetos Puck throws in. In fact would it still be Lima or somewhere far more exotic? Am I destined to this place regardless of situation?

I didn't know, but this morning, in the diner, was one of the best experiences of my life. I mean, it wasn't in a showy spot, it wasn't done for dramatic effect or Puck marking his territory, as was his wont as a teenager, just two people enjoying themselves, despite all the crap we've been through.

Back then, after Charlotte was born, we carried on with school. The last thing either of us wanted to do was to set her a bad example by dropping out. We may have started a family earlier – a lot earlier – than most, but that doesn't mean we were feckless or morons. Knackered yes, stupid no. I was already an honor roll student and Puck, for all his mind-numbing poser behavior, was actually rather smart under the mohawk.

The struggle to find more time in the day never abated and surprisingly (or not, depending on your point of view) Puck knuckled down with his grades and even started getting As and Bs, as well helping organize the football team, with Finn and a Sue Sylvester clone coach, into some semblance of a winning side. Add in Glee and his schedule was busting at the seams, but he worked at the Hummels tire shop on alternate week-nights to help with all necessities. Diapers, onesies, toys, he loved buying them all, particularly anything sheep related. He said lambs were a very important part of our story, whatever that meant.

As a direct consequence, his sex shark reputation was shot to pieces, particularly during sophomore year. He was still one of the most gorgeous guys in school but running on adrenaline and Red Bull, as well as already being a father, didn't make for the most appealing of propositions, so most of the girls moved onto other jocks and Puck pouted.

We'd already decided that for the time being, we were going to focus on Charlotte, school, Glee and getting out from under his mum's feet, which left no time for any attempts at a relationship together so when he'd sulk and whine at the lack of opportunity with others, I'd just roll my eyes and wish I had enough energy to care about romance or sex. Occasionally, we would make out but that was more a case of having some human interaction that wasn't loaded with "what ifs". We loved each other but being in love would take more energy than either of us had.

We wouldn't have managed any of it without Puck's mum though, Mrs Puckerman really is an amazing woman. She helped me learn to nurse Charlotte far more easily than the hospital staff did. She let me share Puck's bedroom, "No point shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted, is there? Plus it saves on room." helped us set the cot up, let the baby items take over most of her house and even bought me my own frying pan, just for bacon, although it was stored out in the garage, along with said bacon in its own mini fridge. Her words of wisdom were "Better you make it here than buy from McDonald's, save your money." How she knew that, I'll never know as Puck would never have discussed it with her and I hadn't.

She makes the most amazing salted beef and even showed me how to make it, as it was "Noah's favorite meal, and a good wife should always know her husband's favorite food. It gives her the upper hand." The fact I wasn't even dating Puck at this point which I reminded her about, didn't faze her, she just smiled and said "God always has a plan, my dear, never forget that."

When the idea of a zeved habat came up for Charlotte, I knew that wasn't what I wanted nor was a christening. Through a google search in the school's library, I stumbled across something known as a name day. A celebration of the child's birthday and name but minus the organized religion aspect. That was definitely what I wanted for her. I raised the idea with Mrs Puckerman (I still can't call her Ruth, however much she asks me to), Puck and Rebekah at dinner that same night.

After much dissection of the day's events and what we were planning with Glee, around the kitchen table, I cleared my throat and spoke.

"November 4th is Charlotte's day." I said, slowly eating my chicken soup, I wasn't quite sure how this would go over.

"No Quinn, her birthday is May 15th." Rebekah corrected me.

"Beks, I'm sure Quinn knows when she gave birth, she was there you know?" Puck said, rolling his eyes.

"Don't be rude to your sister, Noah", Mrs Puckerman said. "What do you mean, Quinn?"

"Well, I'd like to celebrate her birth but don't want to select her religion for her. I know you'd like her to be Jewish but I'm Christian so it doesn't follow the matriarchal line, according to my research. Whatever my own issues with the church I was raised in, I still don't agree with making such a personal decision for her, especially without her input."

"She's a baby though, Quinn." Puck said, giving me a rather puzzled look.

"I know, that's my point. I want to raise her knowing both your religion and my own without suggesting that either one is the most important or relevant. You never know, she might decide to become Jewish, she might not. It's something that she can choose when she's ready. She's still not in full control of her limbs, digestive system or even what she wears but will be eventually. I feel her choice of religion should come the same way." I explained with much trepidation.

Mrs Puckerman said nothing, instead opting to chew on some bread, Bekah looked utterly baffled and Puck tilted his head at me then nodded.

"You're right, Quinn. Does this mean..."

"Wait. Did I just hear you say I was right? Do I need to get my diary out to commemorate this acknowledgement of my superior thoughts?" I interrupted, sticking my tongue out at him.

"Shush woman, a man's speaking"

"Really? Where? Is he in the fridge?"

"Mama, seriously. Let me finish, else we'll never get to the chocolate cake and we know how much you like cake." I kicked him under the table, crossed my arms and harrumphed but didn't argue his point, given he was right.

"So, it'd be a day we celebrate just once or every year? Can we have a party to celebrate? Can it be a pool party? Will you wear a bikini? Does anyone have to come to help us, in a rabbi/priest sense? Will we get to pick godparent substitutes?"

"Well some people celebrate it every year, but we can decide either way. We don't have to have anyone officiating and some kind of godparent substitutes would be great, but we'll discuss that later, although I was thinking of asking Finn and Ms Pillsbury actually. A party does sound like a good idea but not a pool party. I've just given birth, there's no way I'm wearing a bikini. Kurt and Mercedes would probably love to organize it here, if you're okay with that, Mrs Puckerman?"

"Sure. I actually really like your idea Quinn, I was curious about what you might decide upon. She's my first grandchild, earlier than expected, but you're right, I would've liked her to be raised Jewish but as you're her mother. I like and appreciate that you're going to bring her up with both so thank you for that, and letting me know. I just hope she loves her Bubbe as much as I already love her."

"Of course she will. You're her only grandparent and I couldn't have picked a better one if I tried. Honestly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for understanding me and everything you've already done."

Both of us started tearing up at which point Bekah and Puck started gagging so we composed ourselves and carried on with dinner. After the cake, we sat in the living room and continued our name day discussion as well going more in-depth about Judaism and Christianity, whilst feeding Charlotte who had finally woken up then playing with her.

We still have wonderful discussions about religion actually, neither trying to convert the other. We didn't go to services any more but as she says, "God's ears are always available, remember? Be it in temple, church or a parking lot."

Definitely an amazing woman who shattered my prejudices but above everything, she gave me a home, our daughter stability and started the deepest appreciation for latkes, kreplach and sufganiyah, although the latter in much smaller quantities as well as opening my eyes to a less closed off viewpoint.

So his mum was fine and I made friends with Rebekah. As I was the youngest Fabray daughter, and treated accordingly up until they found out about my pregnancy, it took a while to adjust to her.

She was incredibly sweet, sensitive but with the Puckerman smirk down pat and would always ask to braid my hair, as if I was a real life Barbie doll, hence the constant side braid during my pregnancy.

Puck said it was because his mother refused to buy any Barbie dolls as "they promoted Aryan ideals and the Nazis weren't defeated for no reason" and she wasn't going to do perpetuate that notion as a good Jew. I could kind of see her point, which was ironic, given my previous status and inhabitation of the original real-life McMansion.

Braiding my hair was just one way we bonded. Whenever Puck was home, we would get the board games out and regress. We would play Monopoly, Operation, and all the various games that my parents wouldn't buy or let me play with as it didn't suit their ideas of what a Fabray child should do.

Rebekah and I would always team up against him, whilst he'd complain "it was three against one" pouting, which hadn't even crossed my mind at but as Rebekah put it "that's because we rule" and who was going to argue with that logic?

I'd often help her with homework, particularly algebra, much like Puck. It wasn't like I had much of a social life any more, even after Glee. No one would employ a pregnant teenager either so my time had to be passed somehow. Oddly enough, it turned out that she had an aptitude for maths but her teacher was focusing on everyone rather than the individual so when Rebekah fell behind, she just didn't have the resources to help catch her up. We managed to do so within two months, thereabouts, and after that, she was flying high and no longer struggling.

I suppose that helped Mrs Puckerman soften a little too; after all I might be making her a grandma earlier than she'd have liked but at least I was doing something constructive around the house.

Towards the end of my pregnancy, before Regionals, there was a grey, miserable and windy Saturday when Mrs Puckerman was at Temple, then she was visiting her friends. Puck was at the Hummel garage and Rebekah had decided she was stricken by a cold and refused to leave her bed. At this point, I'd realized how isolated I was, particularly rattling around by myself, so I phoned Kurt, followed by Mercedes to ask if they wanted to come over and hang out but both phones went straight to voice mail. Sugar, who did that leave me?

Well I could have called Artie and Tina, in an attempt to get to know them better but Puck's house was barely pregnancy friendly, never mind wheelchair friendly. Brittany I know wouldn't come over without Santana, and quite frankly she could go die in a fire for all I could care. The other Cheerios were definitely not an option. Matt and Mike weren't exactly a pair I could see myself hanging out with, never mind Puck's potential problem with it which left me with Rachel and Finn.

It almost made me want to call Puck and ask him to come home, despite the fact we needed the money. Oh well, Rachel gave everyone her number whenever they joined Glee so it was there to be used. Just had to dial the number but only managed the 419 part several times but hung up after that. Surely there was something to do around the house?

Nope, all homework and housework was done. Rebekah was sleeping and having checked her forehead, it seemed she was genuinely sick.

Damn it, I was bored and even Berry word vomit and awkward Finn tension had to be better than watching a marathon of Maury Povich repeats, especially the baby daddy ones. I hardly needed to watch that now, did I?

1 – 2 – 3 RIP

"Hello, Rachel Berry here" she shrilly answered.

"Hello, Manhands". I said, vaguely jokingly.

"Quinn, is that you?" At least she got that right.

"Yea..." I managed to squeak out before being cut off by her. "Don't interrupt me, I know it's you Jacob. This harassment has to stop, I swear. My dads are very active in ACLU and will have no problem contacting a lawyer on my behalf. I refuse to change my number again, especially as the last four digits on this one spell out star..."

"Oh my god, Rachel. Shut up!" I loudly said.

"Quinn?" she asked.

"Yes, it's me." I huffed.

"Umm, hi. What's the problem? Mr Schue gave us the weekend off although I appreciate that you decided that I was the one to go to for help. As I told you before, you're a little sharp but if you want to practice with me, I can help you and show you how to control your diaphragm better. After all, I do have a whole life's worth of experience compared..." At this point, I could feel my ears beginning to bleed so interrupted her again.

"Jesus Christ, if you don't shut up for more than a minute, you won't have a life any more, Berry. That's twice I've had to interrupt in a call that hasn't been more than three minutes and twice I've had to blaspheme no less. Now shut up and listen. I'm bored witless, Puck is working, Kurt and 'Cedes aren't answering their phones so are probably together doing their thing somewhere, and after much self discussion, I've ruled out the rest of the Gleeks so that leaves you as my best offer. You or the janitor but I think Brittany has dibs on him. So, fancy coming over and getting to know each other a bit better? There's gotta be something more to you than just your voice or your permanently soaked panties for Finn."

"I object. They're not permanently soaked and did you learn that from Noah? That doesn't sound like something you'd say."

"Because we're such bosom buddies?" I asked disbelievingly.

"But yes, Puck appears to have rubbed off on me a little, damn it. So are you coming over or is the holder of your heart, gag me now, doing something with you? In which case I don't need the details."

"Are you sure, Quinn? My dads are away as is Finn. His mum took him to see his aunt and cousins out of town or something. He didn't seem to know himself, come to think of it." Eye roll, like that's a surprise.

"I was going to make some new Myspace videos but am sure my fans have plenty to go through. Besides it can't be that healthy to spend so much time alone plus it'd be good for Glee for the two strongest females, character wise, to get along better. Would you like me to bring anything? I'm going to the health food shop anyway as I doubt Noah has the right tea for my voice and my vocal coach..."

"If you don't mind actually, that'd be great. Can you get the biggest bag of Reece's pieces and the biggest bag of Flipz you can find, please? If you can manage some Mountain Dew too, that'd be fantastic. Puck took the last can this morning and I can't leave Rebekah on her own to do a quick shop myself. I'll give you the money when you get here. Do you know where Puck lives?"

"Yes, Noah showed me when he introduced me to his mother. She seems like a very nice woman but didn't take to me, for some reason. Does she like you?" I laughed. At this point, Mrs Puckerman and I were slowly working a way to some kind of rapport and understanding but not fully there.

"It's complicated. Okay so I'll see you in a bit, and don't bring any sheet music or I will cut you. Seriously don't, the baby only seems to like Puck singing at the moment and seeing as she's bouncing on my bladder, I don't need her upset too."

"Aww, isn't that sweet? I've read that playing music, singing or talking to a baby in the womb can make them smarter. They call it hot housing. My daddies told me they made my surrogate play classical music as well as the great Broadway songs, which may explain my rapport for Barbra Streisand and-"

"Yes well, we'll see. I'm going to have a quick nap so just knock a few times but don't ring the bell. Rebekah needs to sleep this thing off."

"No problem. Toodlepip." and she hung up.

Toodlepip? Had Rex Harrison taken over her soul for the day or something? Was it talk like a 1950s British guy day? If so, how did Puck not know about it? He knows the damn pirate one.

As it turned out, away from the spotlight and insanity of trying to bring Broadway to Lima, she was just another insecure teenage girl, which surprised me.

She mellowed a little after the initial awkwardness of us spending time together willingly away from the club. We ended up discussing Puck and Finn as well as arguing who was the better kisser. I still maintain it's Puck, he certainly knows how to use his tongue and doesn't slobber like some overgrown puppy doing a washing machine impersonation. Could definitely see the appeal for Rachel though. I even managed to get her to try Reese's pieces, which she'd never had before and to think I thought I was sheltered!

She had also brought with her a few DVDs, which was just as well, as the only ones I could find were Puck's and they were either action/shoot-em-ups or porn, which I didn't want to watch, never mind with Rachel. We decided upon Grease and Rachel assigned each Glee member a character.

She was Sandy, Finn was Danny (obviously), Puck was Kenickie (obviously, again) and I was Rizzo apparently. We had quite a "heated discussion" about it, particularly as I'd always been Sandy before and I was blonde, but she said seeing that I was the pregnant one, I had more in common with Rizzo, even if she only had a scare. Puck was sex obsessed and would probably spend the summer working at the garage, Finn was the popular one who embraced the other side of the social spectrum. Rachel was the perpetually innocent one and Jesse was the douchebag that no one remembered the name of and/or didn't like, not forgetting using him as someone to hide her feelings behind.

We were so animated that Rebekah woke up and came downstairs, still looking mildly tired and sick. Without preamble, she asked why Rachel was there, especially as Puck had broken up with her, hadn't he? I explained that she was now dating Finn, which made me realize how disturbingly incestuous Glee turned out to be, and that I invited her over.

She just looked at us both blankly, shrugged, asked what we were watching and crawled into my arms, hugging both me and the bump, which was when Rachel took a picture of us. It's still one of my favorite pictures, framed and sitting in the apartment.

The embarrassing film fest continued on until Puck came home with pizza, extra cheese of course, which Rachel kind of picked at, trying to remove all the meat and cheese until I took the slice from her, I hate seeing food being wasted, and offered to make her something more suitable but she refused, saying she had lots of vegan food in the freezer at home and should probably make a move anyway. She had to ring her fathers and Finn amongst other things, which I spaced out on.

From then on, Rachel and I made tentative moves towards being friends, particularly as Finn and Puck got their bromance back on track, so we'd end up having to spend time together anyway. Ridiculing her didn't seem as much fun any more, seeing as there was rarely an audience and having had it done to me too throughout that year, I realized it wasn't all that pleasant.

Being pregnant though was one of my favorite life experiences so far, if not just for Charlotte but for the fact that I could eat food without purging afterwards or that awful Sue Sylvester master cleanse routine. Not the most obvious reason to have a baby but thinking about pregnancies, I really want another child. Sure, giving Charlotte a sibling would be great, but for myself and Puck too.

Our previous pregnancy wasn't tainted as such but it wasn't a happy time. She wasn't made in love, however delusional I get, I was trying to pass her off as Finn's, was homeless twice and for so long, I tried to detach myself from the emotional connection because my plan was to give her up, not raise her. Obviously she's the most loved kid now, how can she not be with so many aunts and uncles? But the next one will be made out of love, will be Puck's from day one, a mother with a stable living arrangement and a father who, for all his faults, makes sure his family is looked after.

For years, we've had to deal with this misconception that we're only together by dint of having a child together, as if that's all we've ever been about. Usually it's Santana throwing that insult out, whenever I tell her to back off from Puck, but like a dog with a bone, she doesn't give up. Why she can't accept that Brittany is the one she loves and meant to be with, I'll never understand.

Daydreaming whilst walking about Walmart is never a good idea, looking at the trolley. Charlotte's put a ridiculous amount of toys in, Puck has snuck more snacks in and there seems to be a scooter poking out. We don't even have room for all this stuff. Better go find the culprits. Oh look, Billy Joel's Greatest Hits. That's definitely a purchase. Now where are the devious duo?

Not down the candy aisle, nor the snacks aisle. Maybe the freezer section? Not there either. Oh I know, where else? "Noah, Charlotte, is this an appropriate way to spend your afternoon?"

They both jumped.

"I was just showing Lottie how to kill the zombies in this game."

"Yeah mum, it's not a big deal. We have to be prepared if it ever happens."

I put my hand to my forehead, sighed and told them to move it.

"You're certainly your father's daughter and I'll talk to you about this later, Puck. Let's go, we've got to pay for all this, pick Betsy up, see your bubbe and Bekah again and then go home finally. You've got your school project to work on..."

"But Muuuuuuuuum"

"No buts madame, it needs doing and you're doing it today. Besides, you might as well do it whilst

your father's making dinner. We all know how long that will take him."

"Hold up, I'm making dinner?" He says, bewildered puppy dog expression on.

"Yes, and it'll be great. We'll make dessert together later, if you do." I say, whilst hoping he gets my meaning.

"Huh?" I raise my eyebrow and see Charlotte looking between us like she's watching a tennis match. "Ohhhh, ok. Yes, dessert. Definitely. Charlotte, would you mind rushing down to the chiller section and grabbing a couple of spray creams and whatever cake you fancy, please?"

"Sure, chocolate or fruit?"

"No, no, lady's choice."

"Okay!" and she skipped off.

"You realize if she ever works out why you want cream, she'll need therapy?" I say, giggling.

"Babe, she has us as parents, she'll probably need therapy anyway." he says, and I softly thump him on the chest.

"I missed you earlier by the way." I say, stroking his face.

"When? We weren't in the games bit all that long" he looks down at me.

"The last six months? Every time you're not around? I don't know. When did we become that couple? I don't get it, especially since I'd spent most of our teenage years fighting my attraction to you." I look up and kiss him, gently but probingly, which becomes a full on grope and make out session in the middle of a busy supermarket.

"Ahem. Parents." I can hear Charlotte coughing and realize how mortified she must be and go bright red. A quick glance at Puck shows even he is blushing slightly but he turns it around for all of us.

"Ah yes, Charlotte. Was just showing your mother here how to give mouth to mouth resuscitation. We should always knows CPR too. First aid is a very important life skill. We'll have to sign you up for a class or two at the community centre."

"Whatever you say, Dad. Let's go already. The sooner I do this project the better, right Mum?" She says mockingly.

"Yes darling, and all the sarcasm in the world won't make me change my mind."

"Ugh, I hate you."

"Sure you do, baby. I'll remind you of that when you next ask for your allowance." I say, walking off to the shortest queue, hearing her run after me and smile. She might be definitely Puck's daughter but she's also mine. Tonight's going to be great, I can just feel it.

A/N 2: I hope my Jewish/Yiddish story aspects are correct. I did do a lot of research around it and namedays do exist. It's something I personally know about, having celebrated it all my life but not in the same context as Charlotte has one. Mine's more a second birthday, much like the Queen, but with the added bonus of mine being in the summer, which as a Winter baby thrills me no end.

Mrs Puckerman hasn't been fully developed on the show so took some liberties with her. I don't see why she'd have mean to be Quinn so given the story's already AU, I went with a nicer version.

As a reader and reviewer incentive, my 25th reviewer will be able to suggest a Puck/Quinn or Finn/Rachel prompt, which I'll write a oneshot about so review! Review! Review!