Saturday, November 20th, Mansfield, Ohio, Shelby Cochran's House
"Ready?"
Puck took a deep breath. "Yeah." He slid his guitar out of the back of Rachel's car. He nervously run his hand over his Mohawk wondering for the hundredth time if he should have shaved it off before seeing his daughter for the first time.
Rachel was already at the door knocking when Puck reached her. She turned and smoothed her hands over his shoulders and down his chest, straightening his collar and soothing his nerves. Shelby opened the door and immediately pulled Rachel into a tight hug before waving them in. Puck entered, Rachel and Shelby's voices fading as he took in the house his child lived in.
The foyer was hard wood though he saw carpet further in. It was immediately obvious that a baby lived there. There was a child seat and diaper bag near the door and a tiny jacket hanging on the coat rack. There was a tinkling lullaby playing further in and a much sweeter music to his ears; a gurgling laughter.
"Come on in. Beth is having tummy time right now."
"Tummy time?" Puck questioned.
"It's where she plays around on her belly for a while."
"Oh." They walked further in and Puck's heart slides up into his throat at his first sight of his baby girl. She lifts herself up on tiny arms to look at them for a moment before falling back down and shaking the rattle at a small purple bear. Puck started when he felt Rachel's tiny fingers unbuttoning the pressed collar shirt he'd worn. He frowned slightly at her when she slid it off his shoulders but Rachel just smiled and laid it aside before tugging him down to lay beside Beth.
"Hi Beth. It's sissy Rach. Say Rachel, Beth, say Rachel." Rachel gently teased the baby's nose.
"Aa, Aa, Aa!" Beth happily gurgled. The R sound escaped her still.
"And Daddy. Can you say Da-de?"
Beth looked questioning into the face of her father, this new person, a male, that had lain down beside her. Then she smiled and said, "Da-da-da-da-da-da-da."
Just like that the tiny baby had completely captured her father's heart. Rachel got up and went to speak with her mom but Puck barely even noticed; his entire world was centered on a giggling baby girl.
Rachel and Shelby walked back in to see Noah on his back rocking the little baby girl on his chest back and forth as she giggled happily beating her tiny fists on her daddy's chest in joy as they played rocking horse. Rachel sighed, she'd never seen Noah look so happy or smile so big. Shelby smiled and decided that yes Noah could have unrestricted access to the baby if he'd like which seemed very likely. Meanwhile though, "Oh I have to get a picture."
Shelby ran for her camera while Rachel reached for her phone as well. "Baby's first time playing with Daddy."
"I know it's just so precious."
Puck chuckled and returned to the game with his daughter. His daughter! He placed one big hand on his daughter's back almost completely covering the soft expanse. The little girl placed both hands on her daddy's face and cooed.
Once the women were done; Shelby reached out to Puck's guitar still leaning against the sofa, "Were you intending to play something for us?" Puck looked up and nodded. Rachel reached down to pick Beth up and let Puck roll to his feet.
He picked up the guitar and checked the tuning before sitting next to Rachel and Beth on the couch. He remembered the last time he saw his baby girl. The last time he thought he'd ever see her.
"Gotta hold on easy as I let you go.
Gonna tell you much I love you
though you think you already know.
I remember I thought you looked like an
angel wrapped in pink so soft and warm.
You've had me wrapped around your
finger since the day you were born.
Beautiful baby from the outside in.
Chase your dreams but always know the
road that'll lead you home again.
Go on, take on this whole world.
But to me you know you'll always be, my
little girl.
When you get in trouble that crooked
little smile will melt my heart of stone.
Now I look at you and I can't believe
how much you've grown. I whisper I
love you, so soft and low. You look
at me and seem to say Daddy love you
more.
Beautiful baby from the outside in.
Chase your dreams but always know the
road that'll lead you home again.
Go on, take on this whole world.
But to me you know you'll always be, my
little girl.
Someday, some boy will come and ask me
for your hand. But I won't say 'yes' unless
I know, he's the half that makes you whole,
he has a poet's soul, and the heart of a man's
man. I know he'll say that he's in love.
But between you and me. He won't
be good enough!"
Beautiful baby from the outside in.
Chase your dreams but always know the
road that'll lead you home again.
Go on, take on this whole world.
But to me you know you'll always be, my
little girl."
As the last note died he finally lifted his eyes from Beth who was enthralled with her daddy's voice to Rachel who had these huge brown eyes trained on him filled with tears.
"Wow." Shelby breathed and Puck turned to see her looking so similar to Rachel it was scary. Her eyes too were filled with tears but she quickly dashed them away. "That was really good Noah."
"He writes his own songs too." Rachel piped up.
"Oh really." Shelby looked at him in surprise. "That's very impressive and believe me I am not easily impressed."
Puck grinned and sat his guitar aside to hold the baby against his chest she sighed softly against his shoulder wrapping chubby arms around his neck and shoulder. He rocked her softly as the conversation turned to music. They talked until Beth fell asleep against Puck's chest and after tucking the little girl in they talked for another hour making plans for Thanksgiving next week which will be held at Rachel's house as it's the largest.
"Well Puck I think we can safely say that you're welcome to come see Beth at any time. You're still young but you're going to be a great father. Though I do hope you and Rachel will wait a few years before you give me any grandchildren." Shelby said as she walked them to the door observing Rachel smoothing Puck's shirt and straightening his collar as he stared down at the petite brunette in quiet adoration. They both looked up in surprise.
"Mom! Noah and I aren't…" She looked up into Puck's warm hazel eyes and trailed off almost sadly, "..together."
"Really?" Shelby her eyes calculating, murmured, her voice pitched quiet enough that you'd think she didn't mean them to hear but just high enough that they did. "Could have fooled me. Well it's only a matter of time." Then in a louder tone "Well you guys have a safe trip home. Call me when you reach your father's Rachel." She backed away and closed the door and immediately darted to a window to see what happened next.
Puck smirked and shouldering his guitar offered his arm to Rachel. "Shall we?"
Rachel blushed and took his arm letting him lead her to her car and helping her in.