Friendship Has No Age

Disclaimer: I never owned Glee.

Chapter 1: Little Buddy

The room was quiet save for the soft hum of the air conditioner. Noah sat on the couch his eyes staring blankly at the television screen. The images flickered and changed, but he barely registered them. His mind was elsewhere, trapped in a past he wished he could forget.

Suddenly, a loud crash from the television show echoed through the room, sounding eerily like a gunshot. Noah flinched, his heart pounding as memories flooded back. He could almost smell the gunpowder, feel the heat of the explosion...

"Uncle Noah?" A small voice pulled him out of his thoughts. He turned to see Tracy, Kurt's four-year-old daughter, standing in the doorway. Her eyes were wide with concern. "Are you okay?"

Noah tried to smile, to reassure her, but he knew he wasn't fooling anyone. "I'm fine, Tracy," he said, shaking slightly. "Just... lost in thought."

Tracy didn't look convinced. She walked over and sat beside him, her small hand reaching out to take his. "You looked scared," she said softly. "Like you were somewhere else."

Noah sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Sometimes, I remember things... things from the war. And it's like I'm back there, even for a moment."

Tracy nodded, squeezing his hand gently. "That sounds hard," she said. "But you're not there anymore, Uncle Noah. You're here, with us. And we're not going anywhere."

Noah looked at Tracy, her earnest expression making him smile despite himself. "Thanks, Tracy," he said, his voice filled with gratitude. "I needed to hear that."

As the television continued to play in the background, Noah found comfort in Tracy's presence. He knew he had a long road ahead, but with people like Tracy by his side, he felt a little less alone.

The house was quiet again, the only sound being the soft hum of the air conditioner. Noah and Tracy were asleep on the couch, their breathing synchronized in the peaceful sleep. The television was still on, casting a soft glow over the room.

Suddenly, Noah stirred, his face contorting in distress. He was having a nightmare, his body tensing as if ready to fight off an unseen enemy. Tracy, who had been sleeping peacefully against his side, woke up. She looked at Noah, her small face filled with concern.

Without a word, Tracy began to hum softly. It was a lullaby that her parents often sang to her, a soothing melody that always calmed her down. As the notes filled the room, Noah's body slowly relaxed, his nightmare receding under the comforting sound.

Meanwhile, the front door quietly opened, and Kurt and Blaine walked in, followed by Quinn. They had been out for the evening, enjoying a rare night out. As they entered the living room they stopped taking in the sight before them.

Tracy sat on the couch, humming softly to Noah, now sleeping peacefully. Her small hand gently strokes his arm, in his distress.

Kurt and Blaine exchanged a look, their hearts warmed at their daughter's kindness. Quinn standing beside them, smiled softly, her eyes filled with love as she looked at Noah.

They decided not to disturb them, quietly retreating to let them sleep. As they left the room, Tracy's humming continued in the quiet night.

The house was still quiet, the soft hum of the air conditioner the only sound. Noah and Tracy were still on the couch, Tracy's small hand still holding Noah's. The television was now off, the room bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight filtering through the window.

Suddenly, Noah stirred, a soft groan escaping his lips. His body tensed, his breathing becoming ragged. Another nightmare was taking hold, pulling him back into the horrors of his past.

Tracy woke up at the sound, her eyes immediately going to Noah. She could see the distress on his face, could feel the tension in his body. Without a word, she began to hum softly, the same lullaby she had sung earlier. The notes filled the room, a soothing balm against the terror of Noah's nightmare.

In the doorway, Kurt and Blaine watched their hearts aching for Noah. Beside them, Quinn watched too, her hand gripping Kurt's arm tightly. They could only watch as Tracy, their little girl, did what they could not - reach Noah in his darkest moments.

As Tracy's humming continued, Noah's body slowly relaxed, his breathing evening out. The nightmare was receding, chased away by the soft melody. When he opened his eyes, he saw Tracy, her small face filled with concern and determination.

Noah managed a small smile, his hand squeezing Tracy's. "Thank you, Tracy," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "You're my little hero."

In the doorway, Kurt, Blaine, and Quinn watched in awe, their hearts filled with warmth and gratitude. At that moment, they realized how special Tracy was, and how lucky they were to have her.

In the quiet of the living room, Quinn turned to Kurt and Blaine, her expression serious. "Puck hasn't taken his PTSD medication since you arrived," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kurt and Blaine exchanged a glance, surprise evident in their eyes. "But... why?" Kurt asked, his brow furrowing in concern.

Quinn shrugged, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. "I don't know," she admitted. "But it seems like Tracy is better at calming him down than I am."

There was a moment of silence as they all watched Tracy and Noah, the little girl's humming still filling the room. Then, Quinn turned to them again, her gaze steady. "Would you consider moving in with us?" she asked. "I think Puck could use more familiar faces around."

Kurt looked taken aback, his eyes wide. "Quinn, we can't just-"

But Blaine cut him off, his hand on Kurt's arm. "Kurt," he said softly, "Puck was Finn's best friend. We owe it to him to help."

Kurt was silent, his gaze drifting to Noah and Tracy. Then, he sighed, nodding slowly. "Alright," he agreed, his voice barely audible. "We'll move in."

Just as Kurt, Blaine, and Quinn were settling into their conversation, the front door opened, and in walked Burt Hummel. His eyes twinkled with amusement as he took in the sight before him.

"Well, well, well," Burt began, a teasing smile on his face. "Never thought I'd see the day Puck would be living in my old house. And with all of you, no less."

Quinn rolled her eyes, but there was a smile on her face. "Yeah, well, COVID-19 had other plans for us," she replied. "We all lost our jobs and Puck offered us a place to stay."

Burt nodded, his expression turning serious. "It's a good thing Puck bought this place when he did," he said. "And it's even better that we all decided to move back to Lima."

The room fell silent, the weight of their situation sinking in. Then, Burt's gaze shifted to the door at the end of the room. "Speaking of this old house," he said, walking over to it. "Did you know that what used to be the pantry now has two locks on it?"

Kurt, Blaine, and Quinn exchanged confused glances. "No," Kurt said slowly. "Why would the pantry need two locks?"

With a grin, Burt unlocked the door after Quinn handed him a key and swung it open, revealing not shelves filled with food, but a gun closet. "Because it's not a pantry anymore, Son," he said, his voice filled with pride and sadness. "It's a reminder of the world we live in now."

The room was silent again, the only sound being the soft hum of the air conditioner. Noah and Tracy were still on the couch, Tracy's small hand still holding Noah's. The television was now off, the room bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight filtering through the window.

Suddenly, the front door creaked open, and in walked Santana and Brittany, their faces filled with surprise as they took in the sight before them. "What the..." Santana began, her voice trailing off as she noticed Noah and Tracy on the couch.

Brittany the peacemaker, quickly shushed her, her eyes wide with concern. "Santana, be quiet," she whispered, her gaze shifting to Noah and Tracy. "They're sleeping."

Santana rolled her eyes but fell silent, her gaze softening as she looked at Noah. She remembered hearing stories about the war, and the horrors Noah faced. She knew what Noah was going through, and it broke her heart.

As Santana and Brittany quietly made their way to the kitchen, Quinn, Kurt, and Blaine emerged from the other room. Their faces were filled with surprise as they saw Santana and Brittany, but they quickly composed themselves.

"Hey, you two," Quinn greeted, her voice soft. "What brings you here?"

Santana shrugged, a small smile tugging at her lips. "We heard Puck was back in town," she replied. "Thought we'd come and see how he's doing."

Brittany nodded, her gaze drifting to Noah and Tracy. "We didn't expect to find him like this, though," she admitted, her voice filled with concern.

Quinn sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Yeah, it's been tough," she confessed. "But Tracy's been a big help. She's been able to calm him down when his nightmares get bad."

Santana and Brittany exchanged a glance, their hearts aching for Noah. They knew what it was like being haunted by the past, and the toll it could take. But also knew that with support, it was possible to overcome.

As the night wore on the house was filled with quiet conversations and shared memories. Despite the circumstances, there was a sense of camaraderie and unity. They were in this together and would do whatever it took to help Noah.

In the quiet of the living room, Noah stirred his eyes fluttering open. He looked around, his gaze landing on Tracy, who was still asleep beside him. A small smile tugged at his lips as he watched her, her chest rising and falling in time with his own.

Noah knew he had a long road ahead of him, knew there would be more nightmares, more flashbacks. But as he looked around the room, at the people who had come to support him, he felt a glimmer of hope.

He wasn't alone. He had people who cared about him, willing to stand by his side no matter what. And with their help, he knew he could face whatever came his way.

As the sun began to rise, casting a soft glow over the room, Noah closed his eyes, a sense of peace washing over him. He was home, and for the first time in a long time, he felt safe.

As the new day dawned, Noah began his journey toward healing, surrounded by the people he loved. It wouldn't be easy, but he knew he wasn't alone. And that made all the difference.

As the sun rose higher in the sky, the house began to stir. Brittany and Santana, having spent the night on the living room couch, were the first to wake. They stepped lightly, careful not to disturb Noah and Tracy who were still asleep.

In the kitchen, Kurt and Blaine, are preparing breakfast. The smell of coffee filled the air, mingling with freshly baked bread. It was a comforting aroma, a reminder of simpler times.

As they sat down to eat, the conversation was light. They talked about their plans for the day, Tracy's upcoming school project, and the latest episode of their favorite TV show. But beneath the casual chatter, there was an undercurrent of worry. Noah's condition weighed heavily on their minds.

After breakfast, Kurt and Blaine took turns visiting Noah. They spoke to him softly, reassuring him he was safe and loved. They shared stories of their past, hoping to jog his memory. Though Noah remained mostly silent, there was a spark that wasn't there before.

Meanwhile, Brittany and Santana spent time with Tracy. They played games, read books, and even attempted to bake cookies. Tracy seemed to understand the gravity of the situation. She was quiet, her usual bubbly personality subdued. But she was resilient, and with help, she shined.

As the day wore on, the house was filled with cautious optimism. Noah was showing signs of improvement, and Tracy was coping well. It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.

That night, they all gathered in the living room. They were a family, bound not by blood, but by love and shared experiences. And though the road ahead was uncertain, they knew they could face it together.

As they settled to sleep, the house was filled with a peaceful silence. It was a stark contrast to the chaos of the past few days. But it was a welcome change. For the first time in a long time, they felt hopeful.

And so, as the moon shone brightly in the night sky, they drifted off to sleep, their hearts filled with hope for the future. Their journey was far from over, but they were ready to face whatever came their way. Together.

Chapter 2 will be up soon.