"Alright say cheese!" Rachel said before bringing the camera back down before taking the shot. "Jaxon look at mommy honey."
It seemed the boy had eyes on everything else but his mother.
"Jaxon." Rachel tried again but to no avail.
The blonde crouched next to the two year old and gently clasped his waist to get his attention. "Hey Jaxon, look at mommy buddy." Quinn tried. "Jax, hey look, look a plane!" The blonde said as she pointed enthusiastically.
Sure enough Jaxon's eyes shot to the sky in wonder as he gasped and pointed. "Ane! Ane!" He said as he looked at Quinn with glee and the blonde smiled back just as awed, matching his glee. Rachel immediately caught the shot.
"Yeah plane!" Quinn replied with a blinding smile.
They were at Susquehanna state park in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. They had made various stops along the way to Pittsburg.
They've eaten at many restaurants, shopped at various markets, and have taken a thousand pictures. Quinn had never had a vacation like it before. Charlie had been mesmerized by all the sights not ever having left Ohio.
Rachel had watched their separate reactions and felt a pang in her heart for how the tiniest thing made the sisters spark with wonder.
It was clear to the brunette that the two had needed this more then she herself could ever possibly understand.
"Let me see, Let me see!" Quinn said with excitement.
Rachel chuckled as she showed her the shot.
"Awww Look at that face and those chubby cheeks!" Quinn gushed.
The blonde's heart melted at the shot of the two of them together. The way his eyes shined vibrantly at her in the shot made her feel like she's the center of his universe.
"It's a perfect shot." Rachel said.
"Yeah..." Quinn said tenderly, her gaze still directed warmly at the camera. "He looks so much like you." She continued softly almost in awe.
"Yes and that makes me ridiculously happy."
"I bet." Quinn said as she lowered the camera. Her eyes turning to Rachel. "You know he's going to break a lot of hearts."
"I mean, he is my son so..." Rachel replied cockily.
Quinn burst with laughter. "Okay casa nova, no need to be modest."
"I never claimed to be modest. I speak the truth. My boy is a lady magnet." Rachel said as she dusted herself as if to say we're the shit and we know it.
"He sure is." Quinn laughed. "So where are we headed next?"
"Bloomsburg then Berwick then Wilkes-barren after that we'll be in Pittsburg. Before we start driving again I thought maybe we should eat. Sound good?"
"Sounds perfect."
"Hey Santana, Hey Brit. Did you guys already pick your costumes for Puck's party?"
Santana fought every fiber in her being not to growl in annoyance. Laura from the cheerios just ran over. Of all the parks in all of Lima the girl had to choose that one to get her morning run in.
"Hey Laura." Britney said nervously. "Um I'm not sure."
"Brit and I haven't decided yet. In fact, I don't even know if I want to go." Santana replied in slight annoyance.
"What? Why not? This is the biggest party of the-"
"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah biggest party of the blah, blah, blah! Just like his Christmas, new years, and every other holiday or weekend party he throws is the biggest of the year." Santana said with an eye roll. "It's the same thing every time just different decorations. I don't feel like being bored out of my mind. Honestly, unless Puckerman manages to out do himself and actually throw a cool party, I'm not wasting my time."
"Well then what are you two going to do for Halloween then?"
"First of all, that's for me to know and none of your business and secondly I'll do whatever the hell I want."
Laura looked nervous as she could clearly tell Santana was not in the mood.
"Well I guess have fun."
"Uh huh." Santana replied non committedly.
Puck clenched his jaw in aggravation. "I told you I'll have the rent by Friday."
"Friday, Thursday, Saturday! We are two weeks in the month and you still haven't brought me anything!"
"I'm going to I swear! I just had to pay my bills first okay!"
"If you don't bring me something by Friday, I will be back here!"
"I will, I swear!"
"I'm watching you boy." The landlord said before walking off.
Puck huffed in aggravation. He shut the door then stomped over to the messy couch covered in empty beer and soda cans, half eaten bags of chips with dirty clothes strewn every where.
The apartment is silent and so is he but he's stewing in anger. He had stood outside of Rachel's house for three days. He didn't leave once, using half full or empty bottles to piss in.
Still not a soul left or entered that house. He finally gave up and continued down his list but swore he'd head back there in a week to do another stake out.
Puck sat there with his thoughts growing angrier by the minute.
He couldn't understand how Quinn could slip under the radar so easily.
He thought he'd have at least a sniff of her whereabouts by now and not having even that is making for a bad combination.
He wanted to cuss her out for all the stress and problems she's causing him.
He couldn't understand why she's being so difficult.
He's the one that got her out of her situation with her dad.
He's the one that got them an apartment.
He's the one with a pool cleaning business.
So what right did she have to complain?
He's done everything for them and what does he get in thanks? Left with paying for all the bills and rent. Not to mention his car insurance and gas.
He couldn't believe the nerve of her! She basically ruined his life by getting pregnant and now she acts as if he's wrong?!
Like what the fuck is that?!
Just then there's a knock at his door. He sighed in annoyance. He yanked the door open in frustration. "I told you Mr. Dale I'll have your-"
Puck cut himself off as a beautiful brunette woman stood at his door. His smirk immediately sliding on to his face as his eyes traveled up and down her body salaciously.
"Sup hottie, you lost something because I can damn sure help you find it."
The woman stared back at him without an ounce of amusement. In fact, if Puck had been paying more attention to her face instead of her body, he'd have noticed her clear disgusted distain for him.
"I'm here to speak to a Mr. Noah Puckerman of Puck's pools. Is he in?"
Puck smirked with a nod. "Yeah that's me."
"May I come in?"
Pucks eyes shined in lust. "Yeah sure, you can definitely come in anytime you want."
He stepped back as the woman stepped forward, her heels clicking on the sticky floor. The woman's lip curled in disgust at the smell. Her eyes taking inventory of the place. Calculating and measured.
"So babe, what can I do to you." Puck said as his eyes stood on her ass in her black pencil skirt with a chuckle. "I mean, what can I do for you."
"You can start by answering a few questions for me."
Now if Puck wasn't so caught up in her body, he would have realized that the woman didn't give her name.
"I'll answer anything you want sexy."
"Good, do you live alone?"
"Hell yeah, this is my place."
The brunette turned around to face him and his eyes instantly shot to her breast in her white fashionable blouse that looked hella expensive.
"Are you up to date on your bills and rent?"
"Yeah, every things paid for." Which is obviously a bold face lie but to him the brunette didn't have to know that. "You don't have to worry about a thing. Just sit back and relax so I can show you a good time."
"You have a pool cleaning business is that correct?" The woman asked as he stepped closer to her, her perfume igniting his sensing.
"Damn straight, I'm an entrepreneur! I clean all the ladies pools and pipes... if you know what I mean." His said with a devilish smirk and small hip thrust, throwing in a wink for added affect. "I'm sure I can give you a decent discount if you feel the need to persuade me."
"Is your apartment the apartment that the high school party will thrown at? The apartment where there's an expected party every weekend?"
"Of course and baby you are most definitely invited."
The woman nodded as her eyes took in the apartment once more.
"When is this party exactly. From my understanding every teenager is talking about it. It sounds like it's going to be pretty big."
"This Saturday and hell yeah it is! Because the Puckster is more than pretty big if you catch my drift."
"Well then Mr. Puckerman, thank you for the invitation. I'll be more than happy to come to your party."
Puck's eyes shined. "That makes me very happy to hear and I promise you, it'll be a night you'll never forget."
"Oh I'm more than sure it'll be a night you will never forget."
With that the woman calmly made her way for the exit and Puck followed like a slobbering dog.
"Hey! I didn't catch your name hottie."
The woman stopped in the hall and turned slightly with a devilish smirk of her own that he swears he recognizes from someone else but he can't pinpoint who.
"Regina... Regina Mills."
"Regina Mills, damn that's hot."
"Mmm I'm sure, it'd do you good to remember that name." The woman said before turning on her heel and calmly walking away with a strut so full of confidence, Puck felt it go straight down south and coil in his belly.
He completely forgot all about Quinn and Beth.
"Look at that Charlie!" Rachel said as she guided the little girl to large window of the toy store.
Quinn was currently pushing Beth and Jaxon in the double stroller Rachel thankfully thought to purchase before leaving.
Otherwise poor Jaxon would not have been able to withstand all the walking, sights seeing, and shopping.
"What do you think? You want to check it out?" Rachel asked and Charlie's eyes shined at the prospect.
The little blonde immediately whipped her head to her sister excitedly.
"Can we Quinn?! Can we please go in?!"
Quinn smiled broadly. "Of course you can."
"Yes! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Charlie said as she rushed forward wrapping her arms around her sister's waist and Quinn and Rachel laughed.
"Alright go on, Rachel looks like she's ready to rush in."
Charlie gasped and released her sister then ran back to Rachel, grabbing the brunette's hand in excitement.
"Where are you going to be?" Rachel asked with a smile.
Quinn pointed to the book store next door. Rachel rolled her eyes good naturedly with a chuckle. "Of course you are."
"You know me. Plus I promised Jaxon I'd get him a book to read him a story tonight, didn't I big boy." Quinn said catching Jaxon's eye as the boy beamed up at her while he clapped his hands.
"Wead! Wead!"
"Alright but behave for Quinn baby boy." Rachel said with a kiss to his forhead.
Jaxon nodded.
"And Charlie stay next to Rachel at all times, okay?"
"I promise!" Charlie replied.
The group split up. As soon as Rachel and Charlie entered the toy store, Charlie squealed in delight. Rachel laughed as Charlie pulled her straight to to the aisles loaded with every toy you could think of.
Quinn entered the book store and Jaxon immediately began to point. "Ouk! Ouk!" He gasped as the book store that was definitely more aimed for children looking big and full with not only books but small train sets and large stuff animals.
The blonde melted at his eagerness. "I see, oh look at that Jax!" Quinn said in an awe like voice to encourage his wonder.
Soon they were scavenging for the perfect book for bed time.
Rachel watched as Charlie's excitement began hitting critical mass when the little girl spotted the section of Ryan's World toys.
Rachel was surprised to find that Charlie isn't into most of the stuff little girl's usually like. She seemed to have no interest in Barbie's or American girl doll's or anything of my little pony.
Charlie's taste in toys were sonic the hedge hog, some cute but kind of odd stuffies, and slime. Which honestly, Rachel has no idea what the point of slime is.
To be clear, this is her first interaction with said slime but at the moment she didn't care. Because out of all the time she's be around Charlie, this is the liveliest she's ever seen her.
Rachel can clearly see the longing in Charlie's eyes for all the toys she's shown interest in.
The brunette knows Quinn can't pay for it and she hopes that Quinn won't be too upset with her by the time they leave the toy store for what she's about to do.
"Hey Charlie, what do you say we get a cart because I don't know about you but I don't want to stand in that long line holding all these toys."
It took a moment but the confusion on Charlie's face morphed in to awe.
"Y-You mean we're going to buy something here?"
"Charlie, I mean we're going to shop for toys that you deserve. Now come on you goober, let's not waste time!" Rachel said as she grabbed the girl's hand. The two laughing as they rush back toward the entrance for a cart.
Quinn chuckled as she watched Jaxon waddle walk through the aisles, for every book he picked up he deserted for the next one he found fascinating.
Beth was asleep in her stroller. Quinn felt herself sigh a deep satisfying, full body sigh as she felt for the first time in long time like herself.
Content to just walk through aisles and shop without having to rush, without feeling paranoid constantly looking over her shoulder.
She felt relaxed like she could breathe not to mention getting to witness Rachel's adorable little boy steal the hearts of every person he passed.
He even gave a book to a woman with that charming smile causing the woman to giggle and coo after him.
Just then Jaxon stopped in front of a large soft looking recliner and began slapping the seat with one hand while holding his latest choice of book in the other. "Inn I go up!" Then he waddled back to Quinn slapping the knee of her leg.
"Is me inn, I go up!" He said pointing to the chair.
Quinn literally could feel her heart exploding with adoration as she smiled down at him.
There is something about hearing his voice and that face, add the baby fat and she could do nothing but surrender.
"You want to read on the chair?"
He nodded vigorously. "Yis!"
Quinn chuckled at his version of 'Yes'. "Okay little man let's read."
Rachel and Charlie entered the book store with four bags full of toys.
Charlie's face is literally glowing. Her entire being more accurately.
The little girl couldn't believe Rachel bought her all that stuff and was so nice to her.
As the two scoured the book store for Quinn and Jaxon. Rachel halted as she heard the blonde's soft voice telling the story of 'Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light' By April Scott.
The brunette poked her head slowly around the corner and Rachel instantly had the feeling of floating as her heart began to squeeze the breath from her at the sight before her.
The lighting in the corner of the room is softly lit with a warm glow from the lamp making it seem warm since there were no windows in the darkened corner.
Quinn is sat in the recliner with Jaxon in her lap his head resting on her chest. Beth's in the stroller sleeping peacefully next to them.
He's silent and clearly awe struck as he stares at Quinn's face as she reads completely enthralled by her story telling.
Quinn's eyes are on the book but you could tell she divides her attention between the book and Jaxon.
For every time she gets a little animated Jaxon lights up.
His eyes shoot to the page as he declares 'Eer! Eer!' Quinn chuckles with a loving motherly smile. "Yes, that is a baby deer. Good job sweetie."
Rachel feels her eyes glass with unshed tears at the fact that Quinn is being so gentle with her son, so loving. Rachel has never seen Quinn look so soft and radiant.
"What's wrong Rachel?" Charlie asked quietly.
The brunette looked down with a loving smile of her own.
"Nothing sweetheart, I'm just so happy to see them getting along. Now come on let's not disturb them. Let's pick our own books. If you want, you can pick a book you want me to read to you tonight for bed."
"Okay!" Charlie said with a smile and happiness shining in her eyes.