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Its the moment you've all been waiting for...

2x12

The Diner – Park Avenue – Sunday Morning

The girls were at their usual table at the Diner having breakfast together instead of their usual lunch. Santana was currently complaining to the others about the Carrie Underwood concert she was being dragged to that night by Brittany and Rachel.

"A Carrie Underwood concert, really!" Mercedes said, shocked.

"Brittany begged me to go when she heard Rachel could get tickets" Santana complained before glancing over at Rachel with a glare "Thank you for that by the way"

"What! You'll love it, Carrie Underwood is amazing. Besides I already promised to pay for dinner so hush" Rachel retorted, rolling her eyes at Santana. Rachel knew Santana was only complaining about the concert because she didn't want to seem whipped for going to a concert that she would hate but Rachel knew Santana would do anything to make Brittany happy.

"What have you guys got going this evening?" Rachel asked looking over at Quinn and Mercedes. Rachel had only been able to get four tickets and after Brittany had heard, there was no way anyone else was going besides her.

"An exciting night with a cranky toddler" Quinn quipped, as she bounced NJ on her lap. NJ had been fussy all morning because he was teething and nothing was calming him down. Rachel gave Quinn a sympathetic look then held her arms out. Quinn passed NJ over to Rachel hoping she would have better luck at calming him down.

"Matt and I are going to the ballet with some of the other executives at the Label" Mercedes answered next, once Rachel had NJ settled on her lap and was letting him chew on her fingers.

"Sounds super boring!" Santana groaned loudly before taking a bite of her burger. Quinn gave her a disapproving look. Santana was constantly teasing Mercedes about her relationship and sometimes Mercedes took it the wrong way.

"About as boring as a Carrie Underwood concert" Mercedes quipped.

Rachel gave Mercedes a look "Hey!"

"Sorry" Mercedes apologised before going back to her salad. Quinn and Rachel could see Mercedes didn't appreciate Santana's comment as they all ate in silence, the only sound coming from NJ's drooling as he tried to stick Rachel's hand in his mouth.

"So, I have to go soon I'm having my hair done before the ballet tonight" Mercedes relented finally speaking after a few minutes of silence.

"we've only been here twenty minutes" Santana argued, looking up at Santana. Rachel and Quinn shared a worried look, they could see an argument was coming if Santana wanted there to be.

"I know but I have a lot on tonight" Mercedes sighed, she put down her fork then starting putting on her jacket. Santana crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair, Rachel knew that meant she wasn't going to say anything else.

"Are we still on Wednesday night" Quinn asked as Mercedes took out some money from her purse and put it down on the table.

"I haven't mentioned it to Matt yet, I don't know if we are already doing something" Mercedes answered, she got up from the table, picked up her bag then looked down at her friends.

"We could change it to Thursday" Rachel suggested. Wednesday night the group had agreed to get together for some drinks, along with their partners. They wanted a night out but also wanted to use it as a chance to get to know Matt better so they wanted to be flexible on the night they did it.

"I'll have to get back to you" Mercedes answered, lamely.

"I'm sure you will" Santana quipped, rolling her eyes.

"I better getting going, Matt wants me to pick up something up for him" Mercedes said, she looked back at her friends. They could see she felt guilty for leaving but not guilty enough that she would stay and actual finish breakfast with them for the first time in 3 weeks.

"Another shirt" Santana mumbled. Rachel lightly kicked Santana under the table as a warning not to say anything else.

"I'll see you guys later" Mercedes rushed out, before leaving the table and walking out of the diner before any of them good even say goodbye.

Santana sighed "I really starting to hate her new personality"

The Playground - Central Park – Sunday Morning

After breakfast Rachel and Quinn decided to take NJ to the playground. Rachel wanted to spend some more time with Quinn because she knew Quinn didn't have any plans for the rest of the day. After taking NJ on the swings they decided to walk around the park because NJ was getting fussy again and would cry when ever Quinn put him down.

"You okay Quinn?" Rachel asked as the took a seat on a nearby bench. Quinn took a crying NJ out of his pram and started rocking him in her arms.

"Yeah fine, NJ's just really fussy, I think he has another tooth coming through. He just won't calm down" Quinn replied, with a heavy sigh. She tried to distract NJ with his favourite toy but he just threw it on the fall and continued to cry.

"I know poor thing, I'm sure he'll be fine once he has a nap or something" Rachel suggested, helplessly, she had no clue what would help NJ. Rachel took NJ from Quinn and rocked him gently

"Maybe I'm going crazy" Quinn sighed, tired. She leaned back on the bench and closed her eyes briefly.

"You're a mother I think it's part of the parcel" Rachel joked. She continued to rock NJ who eventually settled down and started to fall asleep in Rachel's arms. Rachel looked back at Quinn, who looked like she was ready to fall asleep as well.

"You really okay, do you want some help" Rachel asked. She put NJ back in his pram as he was slowly falling asleep then turned to her tired friend.

"No, I'm fine really I'm probably worrying for nothing" Quinn answered.

"As long as you're sure" Rachel pressed. She made a note to herself that she would check on Quinn before she went to the concert. Rachel would skip the concert if Quinn really needed help, although Rachel was sure Puck would answer that call.

Quinn nodded "I am"

Quinn's Apartment – Upper East Side – Sunday Afternoon

An hour later Quinn was back at her apartment once again trying to settle NJ. He had woken up from his short nap and would not stop crying no matter what Quinn did. She had given him some baby aspirin, a bottle and all his favourite toys but none of it was settling NJ down.

"Come on Sweetie" Quinn soothed NJ as she paced up and down her living room with NJ in her arms. Quinn checked NJ's forehead and noticed her was getting warmer. Quinn didn't care if she sounded over protective or overbearing she knew something was wrong. She took her phone out of her bag and shifted NJ to her hip as she dialled Puck's number.

"Noah its Quinn, I think that something is wrong with NJ" Quinn rushed out, worried "He's burning up!"

"Okay, take a deep breath… I'll be there as soon as I can" Puck answered. Quinn nodded even though Puck couldn't see her. She put down the phone and tossed it on sofa.

"It's okay NJ Daddy will know what to do" Quinn said as she continued to rock NJ in her arms.

Lenox Hill Hospital – Upper East Side – Sunday Afternoon

Half an hour later Puck and Quinn were sat in the waiting room at the hospital while a doctor ran some tests on NJ. Quinn had demanded to stay with NJ but the nurse pulled her from the room when she was getting in the way of the doctors. So instead of being with her son, Quinn was pacing outside the room while Puck looked on.

"Oh god, I should have brought him here sooner" Quinn cried, she put her head in her hands "This is my fault, I thought he was just being fussy"

"Quinn this is not your fault. When I dropped him off this morning he was fine, we didn't know something like this was going to happen" Puck reassured her. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close, Quinn welcomed the embrace.

"I can't help but feel responsible though" Quinn relented, with a sad sigh.

"And I'm here to tell you that you're not" Puck reassured her, he used the arm not around Quinn to wipe the tear falling from her face "Come on take a seat, you're not going to be any good to NJ if you pass out"

"Thank you"

The two took a seat next to each other and instantly grabbed each other's hand for support. They were sat in silence for a few minutes until Quinn's phone started to ring. Puck wondered if she had heard it when she made no move to answer it.

"Your phone is ringing" Puck noted, when the noise started to get to him.

"I know its Joe; I don't want to deal with anyone right now" Quinn answered, glancing over at Puck "Have you called Kitty?"

"No, she's at work she wouldn't be able to leave and would just worry" Puck argued. Quinn nodded in understanding, if either had been really listening to the other, they would have known they were both lying.

"I'm going to ring Finn though and let them know" Puck added, he let go of Quinn's hand and fished out his phone from his back pocket.

"Yeah course" Quinn nodded, distracted, he eyes were trained on the door her son was behind.

"You okay?"

Quinn waved him off "I'm fine"

Rachel and Finn's House – West village – Sunday Evening

At the same time, Rachel, Finn, Santana and Brittany were enjoying a few drinks before they went to the concert. Santana had claimed she needed to be drunk because she listened to country music for three hours. The girls were in the kitchen having a drink when Finn walked back in, having left the room the room a few minutes before when Puck had rung him.

"Okay well just let us know when you hear more… okay bye Puck" Finn finished off, before disconnecting the call and put his phone back in his jacket pocket.

"Everything okay?" Rachel asked, when she noticed the concerned look on Finn's face.

"They've had to take NJ to the emergency room" Finn replied, worried.

"What is he okay!" Rachel gasped, Brittany and Santana looked equally worried.

"The doctor was just there as Puck rung me, he's got a high temperature and an infection. They say he should be okay though" Finn added. While Finn knew, it was probably true, he had still heard the worry in Puck's voice as he told Finn what had happened. Puck and Quinn would no doubt be in a state until they brought their son home.

"Oh, poor little guy, he seemed fine this morning" Rachel sighed, remembering how she had just thought Quinn was overreacting when she said NJ was being fussy, Rachel felt guilty she had just waved it off.

"I think that's what freaked Quinn out the most. He told us not to come down though. He said they were probably going to bring him home soon" Finn explained.

"We of are course ignoring that so we can see NJ for ourselves and make sure Quinn isn't having a nervous breakdown" Santana argued.

"That okay with you" Rachel asked looking over at Finn, although she already knew the answer, just like them Finn would want to see his godson for himself to make sure he's okay.

"Of course, we can skip dinner and got to the concert straight from the hospital" Finn reasoned, everyone nodded in agreement so they quickly finished off their drinks then grabbed their coats and bags.

"Let's go then" Santana concluded, as they all started to leave "I call Mercedes on the way"

NJ's Hospital Room – Lennox Hill Hospital – Sunday Evening

"We have given Noah Junior some antibiotics which will lower his temperature and reduce the infection" The doctor explained to the relieved parents. Puck wrapped Quinn in a tight hug as they both let out a sigh of relief.

"So, he's going to be okay" Quinn pressed, looking back over at the doctor, who smiled kindly at the pair.

"He is, we want to keep him here until his temperature it at a rate we are comfortable with and then you can take him home. He'll need to take the antibiotics for a few more days but he will be fine" The Doctor explained further.

"Oh, thank god" Puck sighed, relieved.

"I know how hard it is when your child is sick but you did all the right things and your son is going to be fine" The doctor concluded. Quinn and Puck slowly nodded in understanding, while they didn't feel that way yet they knew the doctor was right.

"Thank you, Doctor, can we see him now" Puck asked, the doctor nodded and opened the door to NJ's room for them, the parents rushed inside so the doctor closed the door behind them. Quinn and Puck walked over to NJ's bed where the almost two-year-old was beginning to wake up.

"Hey little man" Quinn cooed, as she softly stroked NJ's face with one hand, her other hand holding on to Puck's.

XoXo

"Hey guys" Rachel greeted as the foursome walked into NJ's hospital room an hour later. Quinn and Puck got out of their seats to give each of their friends a hug.

"Hey, I thought I told you that you didn't have to come" Puck argued once he had pulled away from Brittany and took a seat back next to Quinn.

"We ignored you, we wanted to see the little man for ourselves before we went to dinner" Finn answered.

"Hey NJ, auntie Rachel wants a hug and kiss" Rachel soothed as she held her arm out for NJ. NJ reached for his auntie and Rachel pulled him close, she gave him a tight hug and a kiss before she passed him to Finn. He too hugged NJ then softly tickled his stomach, NJ didn't have anything on except his diaper and Finn could feel just how warm he was.

"He's okay then" Santana asked, looking over at Puck and Quinn with a thoughtful look. It didn't go unnoticed by her how close the two were sitting.

"Yeah doctor said we can take him home once his temperature is down" Puck explained.

"That's good then" Finn nodded as gently put NJ back on the bed.

"My turn now" Santana said reaching for NJ, Santana held him close but quickly passed him to Brittany when NJ reached his hands out for his favourite blonde.

"Where's Mercedes?" Quinn asked, with a soft smile as she watched NJ with all her friends. NJ had started to fall back asleep with his head laid on Brittany's shoulder.

"Already at dinner with Matt, it was at some fancy spancy restaurant and they couldn't give up their table" Santana quipped, with a roll of the eyes. Santana had been able to tell that Mercedes had wanted to meet them but after a whispered conversation with Matt that Santana couldn't hear, Mercedes had made up some lame excuse.

"Santana be nice" Rachel warned her.

"Well now that we've seen NJ we should give them some peace and let the little guy sleep" Finn instructed, as Puck took NJ from Brittany to lay him down on the hospital bed. Puck nodded at Finn in appreciation.

"Right you are Captain Hudson" Brittany teased, saluting at Finn as Rachel and Santana smirked at him.

"We'll drop by tomorrow when you are home" Rachel said, as they all prepared to leave, Quinn nodded them gave them all a hug goodbye. Quinn and Puck sat back down next to NJ's bed as Brittany closed the door behind them.

"Anyone else think it was weird that neither Joe or Kitty were with them" Santana asked, with a knowing look. Finn rolled his eyes but Rachel nodded in agreement.

"Maybe they didn't want to crowd NJ" Brittany argued, as she looped her arm through Santana's.

"Yeah, yeah or maybe when they were at their most scared they only found comfort in the other" Santana argued, with a grin. Finn went to the sidewalk to hail them a cab while Rachel and Brittany glanced over at Santana.

"Aren't you an optimist all of a sudden" Brittany joked, nudging Santana which made Rachel chuckle.

"I just don't like when people are being stupid" Santana relented with a shrug.

Four Seasons Hotel – Manhattan – Sunday Evening

"Rachel just text me, NJ is fine thank god" Mercedes sighed, relieved as she looked at the text message Rachel had just sent her. Mercedes and Matt had just finished their dinner after the Ballet, she'd been hoping that they could quickly go see NJ but Matt told her there was somewhere they needed to be.

"Of course, he is, it was just an infection wasn't it" Matt waved off, as he continued to type on his phone with one hand while he guided Mercedes across the road "Come on, my parents are dying to meet you so I said we would meet them at the Four Seasons"

"Your parents! I didn't think you wanted me to meet them" Mercedes asked, shocked, suddenly giddy at the thought that she was about to meet Matt's parents. She knew how important they were to Matt, so she took it as a big step in their relationship.

"Of course, I did, I was just waited for the right time. I told you Mercedes you're my future" Matt argued, smiling at her as they reached the entrance of the Four Seasons Hotel.

"Let's go then" Mercedes beamed.

"I like that dress on you, my sister was right classic colours look good on you" Matt praised, looking Mercedes up and down, Mercedes smiled shyly. Matt's sister had taken her shopping a few days before and bought her some clothes for upcoming benefits they were all going to. Mercedes was happy that Matt approved of the ones they had chosen.

Mercedes nodded, as Matt opened the door for her "Yeah she was right"

Madison Square Garden – Midtown – Sunday Night

"Oh, I do love Carrie Underwood" Rachel beamed as they walked out of the staple centre four hours later. For Rachel and Brittany, the concert had been amazing, Finn had managed to get through it with endless amounts of beer and Rachel dancing against him.

"It was a good concert, I suppose" Santana relented "So what does Finn get in return for taking you to a Carrie Underwood concert"

"I got him tickets to a Yankee's game and promised him a lot of sex" Rachel answered as she looped her arm through his and smiled up at him.

"Really Rachel!" Finn groaned, shaking his head.

"So, Brittany what did you have to promise Santana" Rachel asked as the group made their way to the back of the line that was waiting for Cabs.

"Nothing, Santana secretly loves Carrie Underwood – she wanted to go" Brittany answered, not realising what she had said. Santana liked to keep her love of country music a secret from everyone.

"I knew it!" Rachel yelled, pumping the air in victory.

"10 years I've almost managed to keep that secret" Santana groaned, giving Brittany a playful glare who just shrugged in response.

"Come on I'll treat you to dessert" Brittany laughed as she pulled a pouting Santana towards the cab that was waiting for them.

"They seem happy" Finn noted as Brittany and Santana got into the cab. Rachel nodded as she too watched the cute couple

"I think we're rubbing off on everyone" Rachel acknowledged with a smile "Maybe we should try it with Mercedes"

Finn wrapped his arm around Rachel "Come on let's get you some cherry pie"

Quinn's Apartment – Upper East Side – Sunday Night

"He seems a lot better, he's sleeping now but I'd like to stick around for a while just in case" Puck explained as he walked back into the living room after putting NJ in his crib. NJ's temperature had finally gone down so the doctor had told Quinn and Puck they could take him home.

"Of course, I was just making a cup of tea if you want one" Quinn replied, they two walked into the kitchen and Quinn switched on her kettle while Puck took a seat at her small table.

"Got anything stronger"

"There's beer in the fridge" Quinn waved her hand to the fridge, so Puck helped himself while Quinn finished making a cup of tea.

"I called Rachel, told them everything was okay. She's going to let everyone else know" Quinn told him, as she sat down next to him at the table, taking a sip of her hot tea.

Puck nodded "That's good"

"Thank you for today Noah. I'd have been lost without you. You kept it together when I was falling apart" Quinn affirmed. She put down her cup as Puck reached over and took her hand.

"I was falling apart on the inside" Puck quipped, before looking at Quinn with a serious expression. "I'll always be there for you Quinn. You and NJ mean so much to me"

Quinn meet Puck's eye "You mean a lot to me too"

XoXo

"Rachel?" Quinn answered her phone then next morning. She sat up in bed and wrapped the bed sheet more tightly around herself.

"Hey, I hope I'm not calling too early I just wanted to see how NJ is doing" Rachel said, but Quinn wasn't really listening as she looked down next to her at his still form.

"Quinn?"

"He's doing a lot better… Rachel I'm going to have to call you back" Quinn rushed out before putting her phone down. She put her phone down on her dresser then slowly turned to her left where Puck was already staring back at her. Neither of them said anything for a few minutes as they soaked each other in, eventually Quinn broke the silence.

"Hi"

"Hi"

Hope you enjoyed the chapter, the aftermath is up tomorrow :)