Here I Stand

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Glee

Chapter 1: Bearing It All

Twenty-nine-year-old Noah Puckerman was standing naked in the middle of Kurt Hummel-Anderson's living room. As he repeats for the third time that night, "Kurt, I love you, and I'm gay!" Kurt still hadn't said a word in response. Then he grabs Noah's hand and takes him to his bedroom, away from the crowd of people.

Soon, the others heard Kurt yell, "Puck, are you crazy?! My dad and Carole are here!"

Noah said, "I don't care, Kurt! I have been trying to tell you all night that I love you, and you kept blowing me off! It was the only way I could get your attention! Kurt, I tried to be straight after I was raped! I can't do it anymore! I can't stand by and watch you mourn over Blaine! When I am right in front of you, ready to love you! Kurt, I dumped Quinn to be with you! Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

Soon the only sound they heard was the bed squeaking, which caused Santana to exclaim, "Wankie!"

After giving Santana fifty dollars, Burt told Quinn, Ha, it looks like my son finally got one of your boyfriends."

Quinn chuckled before she said, "He'll be worse than you were when Liza Marie dates, Mr. H."

Then Carole said, "God, I hope I'm still around to keep you and Puck in line by then; otherwise, she won't have a chance."

Soon, Quinn picks up Noah's clothes before peeking in on him and Kurt making love. Then Burt cleared his throat and asked, "Quinn, would you have liked it if Kurt did that to you when you were dating Finn?"

This made her jump; then Noah shouted, "Thanks, Mr. H., now shut the door!" Soon, Quinn and Burt entered the living room as Rachel came in with two-year-old Liza Marie.

Before Kurt and Noah get dressed, they hear Liza Marie asking, "Where are Papa Nono and Dada?"

Then Burt said, "They're talking in the bedroom and will be out soon, Squirt."

Soon the two men were dressed and came out of the bedroom holding hands. Before Noah says to Liza Marie, "Little Princess, I'm not your papa yet, and we became boyfriends today,"

Liza Marie smiled before asking, "Did Grandpa Burt pay Auntie Tana?"

Then Kurt asks, "Dad, did you bet Santana money that I'd be dating Puck or something?"

Santana said, "No, not exactly. More the other way around. He lost, and I won."

Noah puts his hand over Kurt's mouth before he can say anything and whispers, "Princess, chill out, or you won't get to ride Puckzilla again tonight." This makes Kurt calm down before they all sit on the couch, and Liza Marie sits on Noah's lap.

At one point during the night, Liza Marie was asleep, and Quinn said, "Puck, I'm sorry I gave Beth away, and I know you two just became a couple. But I want to make it up to you by being your surrogate."

Noah looked over at Kurt before saying, "I'm up for it if he is."

Then Liza Marie says sleepily, "Queenie, can I call you Mama Queenie now?"

Quinn looks at Rachel, who nods as Quinn says, "Sure, Liza Marie."

After the party, as Kurt and Noah lay in bed that night. Noah said, "I can't believe you didn't stop me from taking my clothes off in front of your dad, much less Carole! I mean, I said I didn't care, but I'm glad Liza Marie didn't see that."

He looked Noah up and down before saying, "Puck, I was so shocked, I couldn't say anything at first!" As he touched Noah's scars for the second time that night. He continues, "I mean, Sarah and Quinn told me you were saying, 'I'm sorry, Kurt, over and over again when you were awake in the ICU. Then, after you were released, you kept repeating it in your nightmares. I thought you would realize you didn't love me. Or that you still haven't fully healed from what happened to you. I mean, I found myself falling for you a month after Blaine died. Yet, I didn't want to admit that to myself."

Soon, they heard Liza Marie screaming, "Papa Nono!" repeatedly.

Noah hurriedly put on his boxers and sweatpants before heading into her bedroom. He said, "Papa Nono's here, Little Princess." Then he laid down with her and started singing My Little Girl by Tim McGraw as Kurt laid on the other side of her.

Soon Liza Marie was asleep, and Noah looked at Kurt before saying, "Kurt, I missed so much with Beth. I know I'm not Blaine, but when she called me Papa Nono tonight, It got me thinking, Maybe she's my second chance at fatherhood."

Noah looked at Liza Marie and said, "You know? Before Blaine died, he told me she would call me Papa Nono to see how I would react. She called me that in front of Santana and your dad once. Ha, I bet that's when they made the bet. God, Princess, I can't believe this is happening. I was so afraid that you would throw me out or something."

Kurt kissed him before saying, "And miss the chance to tame The Sex Shark? Never!" They soon found themselves in bed again, cuddling as they fell asleep.

Kurt wakes up to find Noah brushing his hair out of his eyes and kissing his lips the next morning. He asks, "What happened overseas, Puck?"

They stare at each other before Kurt says, "I'm sure everyone has asked you about it, and you've said you'd never answer."

Noah sobbed as he stared down at the bed. "I woke up naked and chained between two pillars. Then, while someone was holding a knife to my throat, a guy shoved his cock up my ass. When I wouldn't stop screaming, another guy began whipping me until I passed out. When I awoke, I was being raped all over again. I tried running and fighting back, but I was tackled before being raped again. I was soon drugged and raped for days on end. I don't remember eating. I just remember being raped. I had dreams about you taking revenge on me for all the crap I'd done to you. Then, later in the hospital, I fantasized about being your boyfriend. I didn't find out about Blaine until a week after I had been rescued."

Kurt pulls Noah closer and says, "You know, last night. I saw Dad trying to hide a smile as you took off your clothes in front of everyone. It's a good thing he didn't see Puckzilla. He might have stopped you. My butt still hurt from last night. You are much bigger than Blaine, and I thought I would need an ice pack. Although I hate that you were raped, I'm glad you helped me get over Blaine."

Noah kissed Kurt and said, "God, I thought Quinn's eyes were going to pop out of her head when she saw me riding you, and your dad scaring her was hilarious. Before he did that, I was about to ask her if she wanted to join us." They then heard Liza Marie get up and get dressed.

As they left the bedroom, Noah pulled Kurt close and said, "The first time I saw you after I came home, I tried to deny my feelings for you. I never thought this would happen to me. You know, if I had come out in high school, your dad would have killed me, and if the girls I dated hadn't tried to kill you first. I bet Finn might have killed us both."

Kurt says, "No, they wouldn't, and Beth would be with us instead of Shelby. Plus, Liza Marie would be our daughter too."

Noah puts his forehead against Kurt's and says, "God, babe, you never would have met Blaine if it weren't for me. I know I can't replace him in your heart, babe. But I will do whatever it takes to be the man you need."

Kurt said, "You already are, Noah. You are the man I need. You don't have to do anything. I've seen the change in you since you came home. It reminded me of when you were with Quinn in high school."

"I'm better than the person I was, babe," Noah says, glaring at Kurt.

Kurt is then picked up and carried into the living room. Soon Burt says, "Puck, I noticed Kurt stopped going to Blaine's grave since you returned home, and he had a smile on his face."

Burt added as he heard Liza Marie giggle. "I also noticed that you two were no longer yelling at each other, and he said you reminded him of me."

"Mr. H., I doubt you would have done what I did last night," Noah says, smiling.

Then he adds, "By the way, I heard you and Mrs. H. gave my dad money to leave my mom alone."

Burt says, looking down, "I gave him the money to leave her alone when she was in my shop. Jake told me awhile back. He dies long after that."

As Liza Marie entered the room, Noah glanced at her and said, "Mr. H, I don't have a father, and I don't want to talk about him anymore. I don't want anything to do with him because he ruined our lives. He abandoned us to be with Jake's mother, and Sarah hasn't recovered from it. My mom is the only person she talks to these days, and I'm lucky if she wishes me a happy birthday on Facebook. Mr. H., you and Mr. Shue were the closest things I ever had to a father when I was a kid. Blaine might not have ditched Liza Marie, but I have bonded with her since she was a baby. Even though my name is Noah, she calls me Nono because I constantly say no to her. I did that with Sarah too. She called me Nono for the same reason."

Then Liza Marie said, "Papa Nono, you aren't like bad G' Pa, and I'm your Little Princess now. I love you more than the stars in the sky; you are my heart. You reminded me of the Hulk, and since you came home, Daddy hasn't cried himself to sleep. Papa Nono, you healed Daddy's heart, and I knew you would be boyfriends soon. You healed our family and made us happy again."

Noah picks up Liza Marie and holds her in one arm while holding Kurt in the other. He then sits down on the couch with them on his lap and says to Burt, "Mr. H, I don't know what the terms of the bet with Santana were, but I have a feeling you didn't stop me because you were told not to."

Burt chuckled and said, "More like dared not to, or I wouldn't have gotten the money Santana owed me. I'm just glad your back was to me; I laughed because of the look on Kurt's face. I knew Kurt would react like he did, so it wasn't that hard not to stop you. Ha! Quinn had the same look on her face when she peeked in on you two. I bet I know why you were carrying Kurt in here too. I hope I don't see him sitting on an ice pack next month."

Then Liza Marie glares at Burt and yells, "Grandpa Burt!"

Chapter 2 will be up soon.