A/N: This is a chapter which makes the story deserve its M-rating. No real sex, though.
Also, about the prom episode: Do I really have to say anything? The Puck/Becky storyline had me in tears (still has), and the Puckurt of it was so fucking adorable. And by the Puckurt of it, I mean the Kurt saying something and Puck saying something right after, as well as the concerned look Puck gave as Kurt walked up to coronate the new prom queen. But Puck and Becky though… I loved how he treated her as an equal. He never talked down to her. Imagine how special that must have made her feel…
I'm crying again. I am very emotional this week. Time of month. Too much information, I know. Anyway, here's the next chapter! Enjoy it, and ignore me.
There was nothing Kurt loved more than waking up in the arms of one Noah Puckerman. It happened rather often lately, which wasn't that strange. But seriously; waking up in the strong, protective arms of his boyfriend was such an encouraging way to start the day.
Usually it only made it worse to get out of bed, though. Puck would wrap is arms around him even tighter and mumble something about school not starting in one hour and a half. That being said, Kurt had a lot more on his plate before school than Puck did.
This morning was no different. It was Monday, and they had school. It was six thirty am, and Puck wondered why he had even bothered showing up first day of high school in the first place. But then he took a good look at the boy in his arms, and yeah… That was a good reason to go to that school. For whatever reason, Puck thought Kurt had always been that very good reason.
Sure, he used to toss him into dumpster like he hated him and his entire being, but truth be told, now in the aftermath, he could easily admit how pleased he was by having his hands on him at all. He also remembered how he, almost unconsciously, had made sure to drop him rather gently compared to what his teammates had done. So he wouldn't hurt him. Or wrinkle his clothes. God knew that bill wouldn't be pretty when he had to compensate for that.
Kurt squirmed in his arms. Puck had no idea how the kid managed waking up this early all by himself. But then again, so had he. But this was just a one-time occurrence on his part. Kurt seemed to wake up this early every day, except for on the weekends. And that being said, Kurt had plenty more reasons not to look forward to school than he did.
Wiping sleep out of his eyes, Kurt twisted so he could take a good look at his boyfriend behind him. Surprisingly he found him wide awake.
"Morning," he mumbled sweetly, snuggling into Puck's chest, nuzzling his neck a little. Kurt was so cuddly in the morning.
Puck let out a chuckle. "Morning," he said, as he rubbed his back comfortingly, - "Sleep well?"
He could feel Kurt nod under his chin, grinning wider at this. Kurt looked up at him with the most angelic facial expression. "Why are you up so early?" His voice was soft, almost concerned.
Puck gave a sweet smile. "I just woke up," he said, - "Had to stay awake, watch you sleep."
Kurt gave him a light slap on the arm. "Cheesy," he mumbled.
He felt Puck's chest rise and fall rapidly underneath him as he laughed. "You're saying something."
Kurt gave a slight yawn and sat up slowly. Puck was still lying in bed, just admiring the broad of his boyfriend's back. The instant urge to grab him and cuddle with him some more hit him, but he managed to resist. Yes, he actually did have resistance in him that he could use if he really, really, really tried.
Kurt put his legs down and hissed ever so slightly at the coldness that ran from the floor through to his feet. He rose up and walked over to his bathroom, just knowing he had Puck gazing at his butt.
Puck let out a groan as Kurt slammed the bathroom door shut behind him, and hurriedly sat up in bed, just to get some sort of a 'kick' to even bother going to school… Yeah, right, as if he ever got that kick.
But Sarah needed to get to school. So therefore he just lazily stepped out of bed, ever so slowly, slumped over to his part of the closet and pulled out a random pair of jeans and a sweater. It was getting cold in Ohio already.
Then he walked over to Kurt's couch where Sarah was sleeping. They knew that if they were to stay there for another month, Carole and Burt would find the girl a proper bed and make room for her somewhere. Puck was glad. Meant he would have a lot more alone time with Kurt.
He shook the little girl's shoulder gently. "Hey, time to wake up," he said groggily. Oh yeah, it was so convincing when he was even more tired than the sleeping girl in front of him.
Sarah let out a long yawn and rubbed at her eyes. "Five more minutes," she mumbled, and Puck let out a chuckle. He was fine with it.
While Sarah got her five extra minutes of beauty sleep, he decided to stalk right into Kurt's bathroom… and holy mother of god!
"Oh my god!" Kurt's scream was even more high-pitched than it usually was as he yelled for Puck to get out, as he immediately turned around and covered his junk with a towel…
And that was when Noah Puckerman realized that he had just seen Kurt Hummel naked. Butt naked. And this was wrong and so fucking right in so many ways, that he couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
"Sorry," he laughed, and he could almost hear the blush forming on Kurt's face, - "Didn't know you'd be naked."
Fuck, had he said that in front of his sister? Thank god, she was still asleep! Damn, she was a heavy sleeper. Much like her brother.
"Can you please knock next time?" came Kurt's hurried voice from the bathroom, and a small sense of relief fell over Puck, that Kurt wasn't mad or any more uncomfortable than what was bearable about the situation.
"Sorry," Puck said again, and a pause appeared between the two, - "You're okay right?"
He still couldn't shake the thought… He had seen him naked. The small muscles of his chest he had seen before, but his bare ass, the firm muscle of it, as full and perfect as he had imagined, and not to mention what he had just barely gotten a glimpse of before Kurt wrapped the towel around him… Wow, he'd known the boy had been packing, but this was above his expectations.
"I'm fine," came Kurt's comment, and Puck looked down on himself, noticing the encouragingly growing bulge in his own pants. Damn, he needed the bathroom right away now or else he would come in his jeans.
Kurt exited the bathroom ten minutes later, and Puck frankly didn't care that Sarah was still asleep. "You okay?" he asked again. His voice was somewhat concerned now, which was a ridiculous contrast to the boner he was growing.
Quite right, Kurt had the biggest blush on his face. He nodded. "Yeah," he nodded, looking up at him with a shy smile, - "Yeah, the bathroom's yours now. I'll…" he hesitated, letting his eyes drift to Puck's crotch, only to look right back into his eyes again, - "I'll take care of Sarah."
Puck gave an awkward grin, partly because Kurt had been staring at his crotch and realized what was going on in that department, and partly because it would be like a fucking heaven to get rid of that boner in the best way possible.
So, sue him, he walked right into the bathroom, locked the door (unlike some certain countertenor he happened to both date and love and live with), pulled down his pants and underwear and wrapped his fingers around himself. And oh, that's a great feeling. Biting his bottom lip in the process, he started stroking. Softly and gently to begin with, imagining Kurt's pale body. And fuck, he already had to bite his lip just a bit harder not to let out a moan. He was gonna pull a Finn and come early today, and it would be fucking humiliating, but also a practical solution, he figured.
So he stroked just a bit harder, letting the fresh image of Kurt's naked ass in front of him, so round and firm, cross his mind. And he imagined him bending over, and stroked a little faster. This time the moan couldn't be held back, but he knew Kurt had taken Sarah up for breakfast either way.
So he continued, imagining Kurt spreading his legs wide for him, giving him the perfect view of the tightness between the cheeks. And he imagined himself getting up behind him, imagined trailing kisses down the pale body, touching him, wrapping his fingers around the boy's length, and feeling him responding to his touches. The real touches on his own body resembled those of his imagination, and as the image of him pushing in there, letting the tightness embrace his manhood, crossed his mind, he came with a vengeance. And that was the best fucking orgasm he'd had in a long while.
He supported himself with the wall for a moment, before wiping himself clean and pulling up his pants and underwear. He washed his hands and walked downstairs. Hesitantly. And that was when he remembered: He was the first. The first one to see him. The first since him. And it felt kind of right, but also so fucking wrong.
PKPKPKPKPKPKPK
Kurt was seated by the kitchen table when Puck came upstairs. Sarah had just finished her breakfast, and had now gone to pack her bag for school. Puck sat down beside his boyfriend and put his hand on his knee.
"You're beautiful," he smiled, pressing a gentle kiss to the boy's cheek.
Kurt smiled and took the hand that was on his leg. Puck took a deep breath, knowing now was probably the time to say something. "Is this weird…?"
Kurt shook his head. "No," he said, looking into Puck's eyes to let him face the sincerity of his words, - "No, it's not actually."
Puck gave a frown. He hadn't really been expecting that. "Then why are you being… distant?" he asked.
Kurt gave a crooked smile. "I don't know," he said, thinking for a while, - "Maybe because it isn't weird. It feels natural."
The relief Puck was feeling at that moment was probably evident. "So it doesn't remind you of…?"
Kurt shook his head again. "No," he smiled, - "Not at all."
Puck was beyond relieved. No, more than that. He was happy, actually. Really, fucking happy. And he actually had no clue why.
But he just wrapped his arms around his boyfriend and pulled him close for a second. It was a rather blunt sort of behavior, but it fit in some way. Kurt was a little taken off guard, but he gladly snuggled up against his boyfriend's built chest for a few seconds.
"If it is any help," Puck whispered, - "You are so fucking hot."
PK
Puck met up with Shelby in the teachers' lounge that day. He didn't even know why, but he did. It felt right. He'd been waiting for a week; it was time to get to talk to her again. And he did. In a not so charming way. Hey, it's Noah Puckerman we're talking about here.
So yeah, he might have been throwing out some comment on how she should get some alone time for a while, seeing as she, even though she's still the hottest teacher at McKinley, apparently hasn't gotten enough time to fix her appearance lately.
It's a douchy thing to say, and come to think of it, he has never insulted a woman before in his life when it comes to her appearance. But what is it that you won't do just to see your daughter?
"Let me and Kurt babysit for you for a couple of days while you are out doing things that you like," he offered.
Shelby gave him a look that seemed to last for a few hours, before she let his guard down. "You know," she said, - "You're right. I've had no alone time in a while." She nodded thoughtfully, and continued: "Fine. You two babysit her. But if anything bad goes down, I will find out."
Puck nodded and he was sure the smile on his face was a little too happy for an ordinary babysitter. But when push came to shove, he wasn't just the babysitter. If this was the look on Kurt's face, then it would be weird.
PKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPK
During lunch he walked over to his boyfriend, and sat down beside him. "Hey," he said, with a somewhat sly smirk on his face.
Kurt gave him a funny look. "Now, you look rather happy. What's up?"
Puck let out a chuckle. "Guess what?"
The countertenor sat back a little, the funny look on his face now a bit more confused. "No, what is it? Tell me."
"Okay," Puck said, now leaning against the table, - "I got to talk to Shelby today."
Kurt's eyes widened and a smile showed across his face and his voice got even more high-pitched than it usually was. "You did? Oh my god, that's great! What did she say?"
Puck took a deep breath. "I'm baby-sitting Beth for a couple of days."
Kurt's smile grew even wider. "You are? Puck, that's fantastic!" he exclaimed, wrapping his boyfriend into a hug, taking him off guard for a bit. "And I can take care of Sarah for those two days, it won't be any…"
Puck cut him off. "I actually planned on asking Finn about that," he said, causing a somewhat confused look to appear on Kurt's pretty little face, - "Because I want you to come with me."
Kurt's eyes softened. "Puck," he said softly, - "She's your daughter. I wouldn't wanna be a burden or anything."
"You won't be," Puck assured, - "As a matter of fact, you don't have a choice in this matter either. Shelby only agreed if I brought you."
Kurt looked a little surprised, but he calmed down quickly. "Well in that case, I guess we will only have to ask Finn."
Puck nodded, thinking for a minute. "You don't think he will fuck up, do you?"
Kurt shrugged. "You tell me, he was your best friend long before he was my brother."
Puck let out a sigh. "We have no choice but to trust him, do we?"
Kurt gave a small smile. "Guess not."
Puck grinned. He really didn't mind. Kurt was great with children, and Finn would probably manage with Sarah for a couple of hours.
PKPKPKPKPK
Puck and Kurt were getting ready to go to Shelby's when their door rang. Kurt all but ran downstairs and Puck found it rather adorable how enthusiastic he managed being about almost everything. It was sort of… refreshing. Oh fuck it, everything Kurt did was adorable. He heard Kurt open the door, but he felt somewhat uneasy about the fact that he wasn't speaking anymore. Usually when he went to open the door, the visitor was met with a cheerful "Hi! It's so good to see you!" or something like that. Not this time.
"Kurt, is everything alright? You…"
Puck stopped in his track. Right there, in the doorway, stood Rebekah Puckerman. The woman who was supposed to be his mom.
"Mom…?" he asked, a little hesitant, as if he still couldn't quite believe she was really there.
It was then that he noticed she looked somewhat sober.
"Hi Noah," she said, her voice a thought softer than the last time he saw her.
He frowned as if he couldn't quite believe her, but he still took a couple of steps forward. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice a bit harsher than he had meant it to be.
"I'm here to pick up Sarah," Rebekah said, and by that she just simply stalked by them, and headed for the living room.
Kurt just looked after her, with a somewhat shocked facial expression. It wasn't until then Puck comprehended what was really happening.
"Are you seriously doing this right now?" he asked her.
"I'm sobered up now, Noah," Rebekah said, and she almost sounded sincere, - "Sarah needs her mom."
Puck shook his head in disbelief and walked after his mom. "You can't do that!"
His mom ignored him. She knelt down beside her daughter, who was seated in front of the TV, watching some weird show Finn had put on for her. Finn nearly jumped out of the couch at the sight of Puck's mom. Not because there was anything special about her, but because her being there… Well, it was just weird after she kicked his best friend out of the house.
"Come on, Sarah," Rebekah said, as friendly as she possibly could.
Sarah looked at her in a confused manner. "Mom?"
Rebekah gave a small smile. "Yes, it's me…" She seemed hesitant, - "You're coming home with me today."
Sarah's expression grew, if possible, even more confused. "Why?"
Puck and Kurt approached the living room, and all they could really do, was stand there and regard the ridiculous scenario that was taking place in front of them.
Rebekah looked like she had given up for a second, and Puck spoke up: "Mom's not drinking anymore."
His voice was dry, and he gave his mom a death glare that said that he would come right back and get Sarah the moment his mom started drinking. Not a minute later. And he would know.
Sarah looked like she was thinking for a moment, before she turned to her brother. "Are you coming home with us?"
Her eyes were big and brown, with a soft sense of hope in them that Puck couldn't for anything in this world disappoint. So he gave his mom a questioning look, even though he already knew the answer. However, he wasn't going to be the one to let down his baby sister. His mom would take good care of that, if she had the heart to do it. Oh, who the fuck was he kidding? Of course she had the heart to do it.
"Noah's gonna stay here for a little bit longer," Rebekah said firmly, and Puck rolled his eyes at her as she just simply pulled Sarah into her arms as if she was some sort of a rag doll and headed for the exit door.
"Are we never gonna talk about this?" Puck asked his mother, - "I can't stay here forever, you know."
His mom gave him a glare, and said: "You can come back when you've changed your mind."
And by that she was off. Puck was still somewhat dumbfounded. "Are you okay?" Kurt asked softly, and reached for his boyfriend's hand.
Finn approached them. "Yeah, you look like somebody woke you from months of sleep…"
There was a silence before Puck broke it: "What the fuck just happened?" The words were speaking slowly, as if he really let himself let it sink in.
Kurt gave him a sympathetic look. it was pretty bad. Puck shook his head in disbelief, and now he looked a little more back on earth.
"I can't believe I just let that happen," he let out a dry chuckle, and dragged his hand through what little hair he had.
"Don't blame yourself for this, man," Finn said quietly.
Kurt shook his head in agreement. "No, this is not your fault. There was nothing you could do."
Puck shrugged. "Whatever? Let's get going, Kurt."
Kurt let out a frustrated sigh as his boyfriend walked out towards the truck. He gave Finn an apologizing look. "Take care here," he said, and Finn gave a concerned nod.
"I will."
PKPKPKPK
Kurt and Puck weren't as different as many people maybe should believe. One thing they had in common was their abilities to hide their true emotions for people they didn't want to recognize them. But for each other, on the other hand, they were completely open. It was one of the many things that made their relationship so special.
Puck was seated by the steering wheel. "Want me to drive?" Kurt asked gently, and Puck shook his head.
"No, I need to drive now."
Kurt gave a weak smile and nodded. "Okay," he said.
Puck usually didn't like it when people showed sympathy or empathy towards him. It made him feel like a wimp and it was not cool. But there was just something in Kurt's concern that was… He didn't know how to address it, but it actually didn't make him feel so totally lame. Kurt's concern wasn't pitying, it was just… well, concern. And he could totally be cool with that. From him, anyway.
So they drove away, and Kurt immediately started talking. And it was nice: "This is hard, isn't it?"
Puck gave a small smile and shrugged. "Yeah."
Kurt inhaled deeply and placed his hand on Puck's thigh. "I can't believe you haven't even gotten the chance to talk about it."
Puck shook his head. "It's insane," he commented, not really sure how else to put it.
There was a long silence, before Puck broke it. His voice was a bit rougher now: "Sarah isn't safe with her. Who knows what that woman can do?"
Kurt looked at him for a moment. He had to do something about this. That was his first instinct. He had no clue why he felt like he should, seeing as none of this was any of his business, but he so desperately wanted to help. His boyfriend had done so much for him over the course of the past few months, and it would be insane if he hardly did anything in return. So he said the only reasonable thing he could come up with:
"Tonight, after we've been babysitting Beth, we are going to your mother's place," he said firmly.
Puck looked at him as if he was crazy, but Kurt just shook him off, by telling him to watch the road.
"Are you insane?" Puck asked, as if it was just a completely common question, - "She'll kill us. Or… kick us out. It won't work."
"She has to, Puck," Kurt said softly, - "She's a coward otherwise."
"Well, that's pretty much how she actually is!" he snapped, before he sighed and shook his head in disbelief, calming down ever so slowly. "Sorry."
Kurt shook his head. "It's fine."
PKPKPKPKPK
So, Beth had seemed like a totally cool baby to deal with when Puck and Kurt had been there with Shelby. Now, that Shelby had gone, however, that was not the case.
The kid cried for what seemed like forever, and there was nothing neither Puck nor Kurt could do that seemed to help her. She was seated in Kurt's lap and had been crying for good ten minutes straight, when Puck reached out his arms. "Hey, let me take her," he said.
Kurt willingly handed the baby over to him, and as if miracle just stroke, Beth stopped crying instantly. Kurt could just regard his boyfriend and his daughter with wide eyes.
"She likes you," he smiled.
Puck scoffed. "Only person in this world that would have chosen me over you."
Kurt gave a sad smile at this. It was weird actually; earlier he hadn't been big on complimenting his boyfriend too much because he was afraid of boosting his ego. Now, on the other hand, his mind had changed somewhat. Sure, Puck had a big ego to some extents, especially regarding his extremely good looks. But other than the concrete physical advances, he seemed to feel downright bad about himself sometimes. And Kurt wasn't having it.
"It's not weird," he said, gesturing to Puck who was holding Beth ever so gently in his arms, rocking her slightly, - "You're incredible with her."
Puck looked at him for a second, as if wondering if he really had said what he had, before a genuine smile appeared. He gave a short, almost formal nod. "Thanks."
Kurt smiled, and got up and into the kitchen to get dinner ready. He contemplated whether or not to ask, but decided in favor of it: "Was it just because of Quinn?"
Puck frowned. "You mean…?" he gestured to Beth, not really capable of even mentioning giving her up right now.
Kurt nodded slowly. "Yeah?"
Puck nodded. "Pretty much. She wasn't ready, you know…"
Kurt nodded. "I see," he said, chewing slightly on his lip, - "That was very noble of you."
Puck chuckled him off. "Right…"
Kurt hoped he secretly believed him. He wanted him so badly to believe him.
PKPKPK
After they had been babysitting, they made good on Kurt's promise about heading off to Puck's place to have a real talk with Rebekah. They needed to know what was really going on here, and more importantly, Puck needed to know that Sarah would be safe, no matter what.
"You nervous?" Kurt asked, as they were sitting in their car, heading for the Puckerman household.
"Hell no," Puck denied, and Kurt gave a small smile. Puck rolled his eyes. "Fine," he said, - "A little. But it's cool." He shrugged. "I can handle this."
Kurt let out a sigh. He knew he could. He just wished he wouldn't have to.
The Puckerman household looked like it always had looked; like an ordinary American family household. Maybe a little less wealthy or refurbished than the other houses in the neighborhood, but no one would be able to guess that there lived a woman who for many years had been out drinking as often as she possibly could, leaving her son, who she later had abandoned, to take care of his eight years younger sister.
Puck inhaled deeply, and let it all out in one breath. "Let's go," he said, as he took off his safety belt.
"Sure you want me to go in with you?" Kurt asked.
The Jewish boy gave him a look that asked him, once again, if she was completely insane. "Why are you asking?"
Kurt sighed. "Come on, Puck," he asked, - "This has been a giant elephant in the room for a while now."
He didn't really know why he started talking about this all of a sudden, but it had been tearing on him in some way. He had just not wanted to think about it.
"What?" Puck asked, sitting back in his seat, looking completely relaxed for the first time during the car ride. "Spit it."
Another sigh escaped the brunette. "Your mom's basically forcing you to choose between me and her," he stated, giving Puck a sad smile.
"So?" Puck asked, - "Don't you think I've thought about that?"
Kurt took a shaky breath. "I've seen how it's been tearing at you. How it's tearing at you now."
"Oh my god…," Puck shook his head in complete disbelief, - "Don't think I'm gonna leave you, cause I'm not."
Kurt gave him a loving smile, and then nodded. "Fine," he said, - "I just don't wanna be a burden…"
Puck grabbed a hold on the boy's hand. "I'm not leaving you," he repeated, - "Look," he shifted uncomfortably in the seat, - "My mom's not necessarily pissed about me being bi or gay for you or whatever it appears that I am…"
Kurt gave a small chuckle. He loved how totally unconventional his boyfriend was when it came to them as a couple. Puck continued: "She turned her back on me because she couldn't handle another child."
At Kurt's questioning look, he added: "Otherwise she would have been totally uncomfortable by having Sarah with the two of us, see? Called us bad influence or whatever." Kurt nodded understandingly. Puck was right. "I'll talk to her now, and you're coming with me. I know exactly what to say."
Kurt nodded again and they both got out of the car. As they were nearing the terrace, Kurt asked: "But if you know so well what to say, why I have to come with you?"
Puck shrugged, and gave him a grin. "I don't know," he said casually, - "Moral support or whatever you wanna call it."
Kurt's smile widened a bit, and they headed for the door, and Puck rang the bell. "What are you gonna say?" Kurt asked quickly, in a whispered voice.
Puck gave him another look, this one more sincere. "The truth."
Kurt didn't get to ask further, before Sarah appeared in the doorway. Both the boys were quite relieved. They had expected Rebekah, who probably would have shut the door on them immediately. Sarah was a perfect way out.
"Noah!" she exclaimed, and threw herself into her brother's arms. She smelled like one of his mother's favorite Jewish recipes, which could only mean two things: Either his nana was in town, which was unlikely, because then he would have gotten phone call by now about how much of a bitch his mother was. Oh yeah, his nana was a cool lady. Or option number two: His mother was actually sober.
"Hey there!" he said, planting a kiss to her cheek. It was weird. It felt like they had been away from each other for ages, when it had actually only been a couple of hours. "Mind if we come in?" he asked. It was a pretty unfair position to put his baby sister in, he knew that, sue him. It was the best way to actually get his plan through smoothly.
The little girl nodded, and the boys walked in, slipping off their shoes in the narrow hallway. "Where's mom?" Puck asked, surprising himself a little as to how he referred to Rebekah as mom so carelessly still.
He walked inside, and found his mother in the kitchen. She had obviously heard them coming, seeing as her face had been reduced to one firm, slightly pissed of facial expression with a hint of shame in it. Oh yeah, he knew her all too well.
"Hi," he said hesitantly, as he sat down slowly in front of her by the kitchen table, not very different from how he'd done the day he got kicked out.
She gave him a weak nod, and pushed her food to the side, indicating that she was finished. "Figured you'd come," she said, her voice a hint darker than it usually was. More firm, and Puck was actually relieved. That meant she was sober, and actually knew completely what she was doing.
It wasn't until then that Puck really took in the essence of his home, and a small lump formed in his throat. It occurred to him how much he'd missed all this. He gave a soft smile, and started talking:
"Glad to see you're getting better," he said.
"Flattering will get you nowhere, Noah," his mother said, and it sounded completely idiotic, he knew, but he was happy his mom actually had the drive to even talk back to him.
He gave a small chuckle. He did better at putting up with her bullshit. He had to play his games wisely now, if he was even hoping for the least bit of a chance at making Sarah completely safe.
"Mom…," Puck said, and Rebekah lifted her gaze slowly to look at him, - "What is this all about? You've put up with everything I've done; when I knocked Quinn up you let her stay here, every time I failed or got caught cheating, you had my back and tried to make me better, motivate me, and when I got to Juvie you didn't even lose your grip."
His mother's gaze remained cold. "So," Puck said, repeating his earlier spoken words: "What happened? Why is this so bad?"
Kurt had gone out in the living room to play with Sarah, which was actually a good solution.
Rebekah sighed and leaned back in her chair. She dragged her hand across her face. "I can't deal with any of this anymore, Noah," she said.
"Deal with any of what?" Puck shot back, his voice a bit firmer now, - "Another child? Okay, I am gonna be straight forward with you…" Fine, so maybe he wasn't so good at playing his games wisely after all, - "But you've been the child here. I've been taking care of Sarah ever since dad bailed on us. Have you forgotten that? And I've also made almost half the money."
Rebekah took a deep breath, and Puck knew it meant she knew he was right. "Please, mom," he said, - "You have to let me back into your life. And don't ask me to break up with Kurt before I do, because I won't. Then I'm better off without you. But Sarah needs me."
Rebekah let out a sigh. "I know you're right," she said dryly, and Puck was happy with that admission. Then, what was the problem?
"I'll come up with a solution," Rebekah said finally, but she seemed to change the subject a little: "I'm sorry. I was drunk and I realize now that what I did was wrong… You were just so much responsibility."
Puck's jaw fell. That was it? I'm sorry? Not that he wasn't happy about it. It was actually more than he had ever been wishing for, but still… That was all it took? He couldn't forgive right away obviously, but he would get there.
He nodded. "Cool," he said, - "That's it?"
Rebekah shook her head. "No," she said, - "I'm ready to try again."
Puck frowned. "You're taking me back, or…?"
"I don't know," Rebekah said, - "Do you want me to?"
Puck nodded weakly. "Sure," he said, - "Of course that's what I want."
Rebekah nodded and twirled her fingers together in front of her. "We're trying again," she said, - "You're trying to be better. At everything. School, and don't get yourself in much trouble. And I will try to stay sober. But one thing, you should keep in mind."
"Anything."
Rebekah gave him a firm nod. "I'm only taking you back because Sarah can't do without you…," another deep breath was taken, - "And neither can I. I need you to take care of me. Make sure I don't drink again."
Puck nodded slowly. Secretly, he hated the woman. Hated how selfish she was. But she took him back, so that must have meant she loved him in some weird way, didn't it?
"And," Rebekah said, looking a bit uncomfortable all of a sudden, her light getting some emotion, - "Remember that night right before your dad left? When he came home after having been drinking? When I was pregnant and he was about to…"
She couldn't say the words. She was much like her son in that way; didn't like seeing herself as the victim. Who liked that anyway?
Puck just nodded solemnly, and a shiver went up his spine. How could he forget? He probably still had scars somewhere. Covered by some from fight club of course, but still.
Rebekah gave a small smile. "You probably saved me that day," she said, her dry voice somewhat dreamy now, - "And you saved Sarah's life."
Sarah's laughter rang from the living room, and Puck had to bite his lip for a second. "Thanks mom," he said after a long while, - "You'll not regret this."
He got up from his place by the table. "I'll go back to get my stuff."
Rebekah nodded, and as Puck was about to bring Kurt with him and head off, she said: "Noah?"
He turned back. "What is it?"
She gave a new smile, this one more genuine. Almost like the one she'd had when both she and his father had been happy, and he wasn't drinking so much. "I'm sorry."
Puck gave a small smile too. "It's okay," he lied.
"Kurt!" he called after his boyfriend, - "We're going back to your place to get my stuff."
He could hear Kurt jumping off the floor, and heading with rapid steps towards him. "Really?" he mouthed as they were standing in the hallway, slipping on their shoes.
Puck nodded. "Yeah, I'll tell you everything on our way home."
Kurt's smiled widened and he planted a loving kiss on his lips. "I'm so happy for you, Puck."
PKPKPKPKPKPK
"Do you think I should tell him?"
Puck and Kurt were in Kurt's room, packing Puck's stuff. Burt had just been downstairs, saying goodbye to the jock, and telling him it was nice having him there. It was a somewhat odd feeling. He felt almost… he didn't even know the word. Appreciated, maybe?
"Tell who what?" Puck asked as he threw his Letterman jacket on the bed, leaving it to Kurt to fold it neatly and put it in his bag.
"My dad," Kurt said, - "About what… What happened to me?"
Puck let his guard down, as well as the clothes he was carrying, and immediately stalked over to his boyfriend and wrapped him into a warm embrace. He didn't quite know why, but whenever Kurt started talking about what had been done to him, he just wanted to hold him forever and never let him go. He wanted to protect him, make him feel safe and cherished and loved again.
Kurt let himself fall into the embrace of his boyfriend. He knew it was selfish, but he got weirdly emotional over all of this. He was happy that Puck could move back with his family again, but what he was not so happy about, was that now he wouldn't have his boyfriend to comfort him or hold him whenever the thought of his rapist stroke him. He had become so needy after Puck moved in.
"I'll miss you," he said, cursing himself right after having said the words. How pathetic was he.
Puck tightened his hold on him and kissed the top of his head. "Call me or visit me whenever you need me," he said, - "I'm not far away, you know."
Kurt gave a soft laugh and tightened his grip as well. "I'm sorry," he said, letting himself be soothed by his boyfriend's caresses of his back, - "I love you."
Puck laughed a little, and eventually let go of him. "To answer your question," he said with a smile, - "I don't know… Would he have another heart attack?"
Kurt shrugged. "I don't know," he said, - "He got quite worked up over the Karofsky thing and he didn't even know about the kiss."
Puck gave a frown. "Then no," he said, - "I know this is not the correct advice I should be giving, but no… I don't think you should tell him. For as long as you can deal with me by your side alone, I don't think it would be a good idea."
Kurt nodded slowly. "I think you're right," he said.
PKPKPKPKPKPK
Puck had quite a lot on his plate now; his mom, his sister, his pool-cleaning business which hadn't been going too well since he started dating Kurt… For obvious reasons. So yeah, he kind of hired an assistant who was about thirteen years old. He found him outside the temple. He also had Beth and Shelby, and Kurt, but he was no burden. He was anything but a burden actually.
So while the Glee Club went its run, with the new kid Rory trying to fit in, Kurt's father running for congress against Sue and Santana and Brittany dealing with whatever it was that they were… Damn, the Glee Club was getting kind of gay. Like he was the one to talk. While it went its run, he went his run.
But he was quite happy with it all. It sort of felt like his life had purpose. And Kurt was wonderful in every way. Even when Puck said with a guilty conscience (yeah, he actually had one), that he had to go to Shelby's place alone, Kurt didn't complain.
So of course Puck headed off to the Hummel/Hudson household after to make it up to him. And Kurt wasn't pissed. At all. Which pretty much summed up how incredible he was.
Mercedes, Santana and Brittany bailed on the Glee Club that week, which sucked. They were pretty much screwed now.
However, that didn't mean the club couldn't still be friends, and they remained friends. Actually, they remained such great friends that Brittany threw a part that weekend for both the Troubletones and the New Directions.
The party was pretty much the same as the party Rachel threw, which was pretty great, actually. At least it turned out to be great eventually.
Puck wasn't drinking tonight though, which was pretty weird actually, because he didn't even mind. Kurt's family was out that weekend, and Finn would be staying at Rachel's, so he and Kurt would be having the house to themselves once they got home.
PKPKPK
Kurt was being surprisingly clingy when they hit the Hummel/Hudson household. Not that Puck was complaining.
"Baby…," he said as they got themselves locked inside, - "How much have you been drinking?"
"Mmmm…, don't remember…"
Kurt had turned to sucking on the mohawked boy's neck now, and Puck had suddenly forgotten how to speak languages. A low moan escaped his throat, because Kurt's lips were feeling rather amazing. As if he needed a reason anyway.
They headed for Kurt's room, and before either of them was even aware of what was going on, they had laid down on the bed. Kurt practically pulled Kurt on top of him, and pulled him in for a passionate kiss. Damn, the boy was stronger than he looked.
The kiss quickly turned into a make-out session, as Kurt allowed Puck's tongue slip into his mouth. Kurt let his hands go from around his boyfriend's neck and down his chest. He let them trail down his body until they reached his hips.
The smaller boy bucked his hips upwards, and Puck let go of Kurt's mouth. The boy was already growing a semi-hard erection.
"Baby, what are you doing?" Puck asked, completely serious now, hoping Kurt was getting it. Not that he wasn't turned on. Hell, if he had been having the least bit of a drink by now, they would both probably have been undressed. But he was sober, and maybe that was a good thing in this case.
"Make me forget…," Kurt mumbled, as he clumsily pulled Puck's shirt upwards.
Not really knowing why he did, Puck let the shirt slide off him. Kurt bucked his hips some more, creating some kind of friction, and to say that Puck wasn't getting hard from it, would have been a lie.
But still… Puckzilla was screaming for attention, and Puck's brain was screaming for some sense to go down.
Forcing himself to ignore the attention-seeking organ in his pants, Puck grabbed a hold on his boyfriend's face, and caressed his cheek ever so gently. Looking into his blue eyes for some kind of answer or reason, he said: "Baby, you're not ready for this…"
Kurt wasn't having it. He for whatever reason pulled his shirt off, and why the hell did he pick today not to wear any other layers? "Don't you want me?" he asked, his voice still somewhat tired.
Puck let out a sigh. "Of course I want you," he said, planting a kiss to the boy's lips, - "But Kurt, look at me."
Kurt did as he was told.
"If we do this tonight, you won't remember it tomorrow. And we have no condom and we have no lube. I won't have you regretting this tomorrow."
Kurt looked up at him, and for a weak second, Puck thought he could see some kind of clarity in his eyes which seemed so lost.
But he must have been wrong, because the only shaky words that came out of his boyfriend as he pulled away, and lay down on his side of the bed, was: "You don't love me."
Puck let out a desperate growl. Great. This was so fucking great. He never could get it right, could he?
"Please, baby, don't talk like that…"
"You don't love me…," Kurt's voice was weakening, and even though he was laying with his back turned towards him, Puck knew he was crying.
And despite how angry he was with him right now for making him feel like this, he wanted nothing more than to wrap him up in his arms and just hold him. Hold him and let all the pain go away.
And as that thought stroke his consciousness, it occurred to the jock that he couldn't even be mad at his boyfriend. Because this, and his hysterical behavior, was not his fault. It was him. The man who had hurt him so badly back when he was fifteen. And he hated him. He hated him for everything he had done.
"Baby, you're not making any sense," Puck said, daring to lie down, and wrap his arms around his boyfriend. Kurt tensed for a moment, but to Puck's relief, he didn't push him away.
"Get some sleep," Puck whispered in his boyfriend's ear, letting his lips trail over the sensitive spot of his neck, tasting the salt wetness of his tears there. He pulled him closer, and was glad his erection was finally cooling off, or else all of this would be some major form of hypocrisy, - "I'll take care of you."
Kurt cried himself silently to sleep that night. In the haziness of his drunken state, he felt anything but lovable or cherished. Not even by his own boyfriend. How damaged had he become?
PKPKPKPK
It was six thirty am when Kurt's eyes slowly fluttered open. He had a pounding headache and his stomach was twirling but he couldn't get up for some reason. What the hell happened last night?
He remembered being at Brittany's place… And he remembered making out with Puck in their hallway. And he remembered going to his room… Oh god.
He let his hands go to his face, bracing himself for the tears that were about to fall over what had probably happened, that he couldn't remember.
That was when he noticed that he was still wearing pants, and that he wasn't feeling any type of pain aside from the headache and stomach-ache that usually come with the hangover.
Nothing happened…
And then he remembered what kind of person Puck really was. And what he had done, or more specifically, hadn't done last night. He had waited. He'd been aroused, he remembered. He could feel his erection, and he'd been harder than him. But he had waited. Stopped him even. And he had been disappointed. Whiny, even… Oh my god, what had he done?
That was when he realized why he wasn't able to get up. Puck had his arms wrapped around him in a gentle but firm embrace.
And that was when Kurt's tears started falling. He didn't even know what kind of tears they were. Tears over everything, maybe? Tears of relief for how Puck had been, tears of despair for what he had been put through those years ago, but mostly they were tears of gratitude, and shame for how he had been acting the previous night.
Puck woke up to the sound of his boyfriend's soft sniffles. Oh my god, was he still crying…?
"Baby…," he soothed, rubbing his back gently.
Kurt was immediately alarmed by the raspy voice and gentle touches from the man behind him. He turned around slowly and wrapped his arms around his neck, sobbing softly into his shoulder.
"Baby, I'm sorry," Puck whispered, taken a bit off guard by the boy's embrace. He also didn't quite know what to say.
He felt Kurt shake his head, and then the smaller boy said maybe the two words he'd not expected: "Thank you…"
He tightened his hold on him. "For what?" he asked gently.
"For everything."
He didn't need to say more. Noah Puckerman was sure as hell not the brightest kid in Lima, but he was far from stupid. And he knew what that comment meant.
It meant he had finally managed doing something right, without screwing anything up.