The Little Princess

by Serena The Drama Queen

Kurt's daughter, Tracy goes to live with Puck and Quinn after Kurt and Blaine die and she shows everyone how brave she is.

The Little Princess

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee.

Noah and Quinn Puckerman received a call from Burt Hummel, Kurt Anderson's father. As Noah answered his phone, concern etched his features. "Mr. H., is everything okay? Is Mrs. H. okay?"

All Noah heard initially was sobbing. Then Burt's voice cracked: "Kurt and Blaine are dead. They were in a car accident, and Tracy was in a coma. We're at the George Washington University Hospital. Please come quickly."

Noah hung up the phone, adrenaline surging. He and Quinn hurriedly dressed and drove from the Washington Navy Base, where Noah was stationed, straight to the hospital. The corridors blurred as they navigated the maze of emotions—fear, grief, and disbelief.

In the waiting room, Carole sat, tears streaming down her face. Her anguish mirrored their own. And then Noah noticed Burt entering, his steps heavy, shoulders sagging. Noah approached him, their shared pain a silent bond.

Burt enveloped Noah in a desperate embrace, sobs wracking his frame. "I can't lose Tracy, too," he choked out. "She's my little princess, Puckerman. First, I lost Kurt's mom, then Finn, and now Kurt! I can't bear losing her. Why did this happen? Why didn't I insist on Kurt flying to Washington?"

As they entered the ICU, Tracy lay amidst a tangle of tubes and machines. Her fragile form seemed swallowed by the sterile surroundings. Noah's heart clenched—helplessness washing over him. They didn't know if she would make it through the night.

After Tracy was moved to a hospital room, Noah made calls to their friends, sharing the devastating news. Kurt and Blaine's funerals loomed, and the weight of loss pressed upon them all.

Tracy remained in a coma for a week before she woke up. She clung to Noah and Burt, unwilling to be alone. Noah stayed by her side, while the others returned to Lima, Ohio. Her grandparents hesitated to leave her, but she was still too weak to travel.

The nurse noticed that Tracy had no nightmares when Noah was with her. So, he slept in her hospital bed, acting as a silent guardian against the darkness.

When she finally returned home, Noah took her to his house on the base. The nights were restless—Tracy's fear palpable. Noah gave her a Hulk doll, hoping it would bring comfort and keep her from wandering into their bedroom.

And then came the news: Kurt and Blaine had chosen Noah and Quinn as Tracy's godparents. Noah wondered why Kurt hadn't picked Rachel and Jesse—after all, Rachel was her biological mother. The choice puzzled him.

Noah juggled his responsibilities. His dreams of becoming an Air Force pilot shifted—now he was a medic. Witnessing Kurt's struggles with Dave Karofsky changed him. He believed being a medic was a way to pay it forward—to ease unseen battles.

One day, after returning home from work, he noticed Quinn sitting at the kitchen table. Her gaze was fixed on a letter, a box of toys, and a photo album. The images captured Kurt, Blaine, and Tracy—a testament to love, loss, and the fragile threads that bound them all.

Quinn handed Noah the letter, and he read it aloud, the words echoing through their grief-stricken home.

Dear Puck and Quinn,

If you're reading this, it means that Blaine and I are no longer here. Quinn, I hope you're not facing this alone, and I hope that Puck hasn't sent a similar letter.

We've entrusted you with Tracy's guardianship, we were wary of Rachel's influence. Her celebrity status turned her into an overbearing public figure, and we believe Tracy would thrive better under your care. Tracy being Rachel's biological daughter, deserves a childhood free from nannies and the weight of our past.

Quinn, I feel bad about Puck missing out on fatherhood with Beth. I know it's a loss he carries, and I hope you'll help him navigate it.

Now, you have the opportunity to be Tracy's parents. Despite the Air Force's frequent moves, we trust that you're what she needs most. If anyone questions our decision, assert that it remains strictly personal.

Yours truly, Kurt.

Noah said, "I can hear Rachel now, saying, 'I am her mother. Tracy should be with me.'"

Quinn stated, "That's exactly what she said when you were named her godfather. Rachel and Jesse left before Blaine's lawyer named me godmother. Mercedes was also mad about that, saying she was Kurt's best friend in high school, not me. Mr. H took me out of the room after that, and we watched the others storm out, one by one. Santana was the last to leave and dragged Brittany out by her wrist as she yelled in Spanish. Then Tina and Artie told us they gave their money to a charity specializing in suicide prevention in Finn's name. Plus, they set up a trust fund that Tracy can't touch until she is eighteen. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this sooner, but I wasn't sure when it would be the right time to tell you. I mean, with Tracy still having nightmares, and you dealing with a shift change at work."

Soon, Noah took her into his arms and said, "It's okay, babe; these last six months have been rough on us all. Out of all of us, I think Tracy is the strongest. I see many people dealing with PTSD daily who have struggled for years. Tracy is the most amazing person I have ever met. She reminds me of Kurt, and when I told my superiors about her, they thought it would be a great idea if she came to one of the group therapy sessions, maybe they could help her."

"I don't know, Puck," Quinn says as she prepares dinner. "What if one of them has a panic attack in front of her or something?"

"If anything goes wrong, I'll be there with her," Noah says as he wraps his arms around her and kisses her neck before Tracy giggles.

Noah chases her around the living room and repeatedly says, "I'll get you."

Before finally catching her, he falls to the floor while tickling her. As Quinn watches out of the corner of her eye, she whispers, "Thanks, Kurt."

A week later, as Noah walks into work with Tracy, she squeezes his hand and says, "Daddy Noah, I'm scared."

Then Noah picked her up and said, "I'm right here, Squirt. And I won't let anything happen to my little princess. Okay?"

Tracy sucked on her thumb as she said, "Okay, Dada Noah."

Soon, Noah settled Tracy on his lap in a room filled with men—bandages wrapped around their heads and arms, rendering them mummy-like. As the men shared their stories, Noah observed Tracy. Her tiny fists clenched as she listened intently to their tales. One man, in particular, described his near-death experience and the accident that had changed his life.

Tracy inquired, "Did you see a bright light? or Sense that you were in a dream? Observe people tending to your injuries, trying to rouse you?"

The man nodded. "Yes," he replied. Then he turned the question back to her, "What happened to you?"

Tracy spotted a toy diesel truck with miniature cars nearby. She used them to recount her own story. Noah watched, recording it on his phone, and later sent the video to Burt.

When she finished, the others were surprised that she wasn't crying. Noah mentioned that the accident had occurred six months ago. They responded that Tracy was the bravest girl they'd ever met.

Quinn entered, ready to take Tracy home before Noah's hospital shift began. But Noah's boss, Rick Gilliams, intercepted Quinn. "Look," he said, "I know you had reservations about bringing her here, but I thought it was great. Next week, we'll have a patient who hasn't spoken since his accident. None of his therapists made progress, but I think she could be the one to break through. Consider it, okay? And it might benefit her, too."

Back home, Quinn received a text from Burt along with the video Noah had sent. As she watched it, memories of her car accident—the one that nearly paralyzed her—flooded back. She turned to Tracy immediately. "What helped you move on?" she asked.

Tracy smiled. "Dada Noah sang the same song he sang to Aunt Beth when I was in the hospital," she said. "It made me want to stay so I could be his little princess."

Later, when Noah returned from work, Quinn shared Tracy's words. He asked, "So, what are you saying, Quinn? Does Tracy want to be our daughter?"

Quinn corrected him gently. "Not our daughter, Puck. But your daughter. Tracy stayed to give you a second chance at fatherhood. I'll always be a mother, but I know I robbed you of bonding with Beth. Tracy has given you another opportunity."

At their next meeting, they encountered a furious man, restrained by orderlies. Tracy stepped forward. "Let him go," she commanded. The orderlies complied, and the man's struggle ceased.

Approaching him, Tracy said, "You're safe now. These men want to help you."

The man scoffed. "No one can help me!"

Tracy's voice trembled as she spoke, her eyes reflecting memories too heavy for her young age. "I watched my dad and Papa die!" she exclaimed. "The people who pulled me out of the car wouldn't even touch them! They both asked for help, and the people who helped me acted like they didn't hear them! They waited until their cries fell silent before doing anything. And the names they called them—the horrible names! They said I needed a mommy and daddy!"

The man beside her wept openly. "I watched my boyfriend die the same way," he confessed. "I tried to get him help, but I heard people say, 'He's a fairy. He could fly out of there,' and they did nothing."

Tracy turned to Noah, her gaze unwavering. "Before I died," she continued, "those same horrible people said the same things about my parents! I didn't want to return until my dad, Noah, promised to keep me safe from them. I felt terrible for Daddy Noah because people said he wasn't a good dad. But he is an awesome dad. His daughter has become my aunt."

Another man, new to the group, shared his pain. "My girlfriend broke up with me before my accident," he revealed. "I wasn't supposed to live, and I was mad at God for saving me."

Noah noticed his boss, Rick Gilliams, mouthing, "He's the one I told Quinn about last week."

Tracy caught this too. "You stopped talking," she addressed the man, "because you wanted it all to be a bad dream. But deep down, you knew it wasn't. You felt that saying anything would make the pain in your heart worse. Am I right?"

The man nodded silently. "Yes," he admitted.

Tracy lowered her gaze. "I pretended to be asleep for three days," she confessed, "because I didn't want to be here either. But when Dada Noah told me about how he felt when he had to give up my aunt, it made me stop pretending. I wanted him to be my new dad."

Unbeknownst to Tracy, Burt and Carole stood behind her. Carole's sobs escaped, and Noah watched her hug their daughter. Burt clenched his fists, his emotions raw. Tracy sensed it and took one of Burt's hands. "I'm sorry, Grandpa," she whispered. "I didn't want to cause you pain."

Burt's tears flowed freely as he fell to his knees. "It's all my fault," he confessed. "I missed you so much. I asked your dad to bring you here because I couldn't wait to see you."

"Bullshit, Grandpa!" Tracy's anger flared. She clenched her fists. "Language, Little Princess!" Burt chided.

Rolling her eyes, Tracy retorted, "Shut it, Grandpa. You and Dada Noah have said worse! Besides, Dada Noah and you used to be like those people who wouldn't help! Now, Dada Noah helps heal people who were hurt."

Her gaze shifted. "I wanted to tell you and Daddy Noah what happened so many times," she confessed in the room.

Then she addressed the other men. "I am not brave," she admitted, "I was too scared to say anything."

Rick stepped forward. "You are brave, Tracy," he affirmed. "You listened to stories that would give most kids nightmares. You helped every man here see that it gets better. And one of these men hasn't talked for as long as you've been alive."

The man she'd just helped nodded. "Yeah," he agreed. "It was like you said. I wanted it to be a dream."

Tracy turned to Burt. "Grandpa," she apologized, "I'm sorry I got mad at you."

Then she faced Noah. "Dada lied," she said. "I didn't want to be with Mama Rachel or Pooper. Since I saw a picture of you holding Auntie Quinnie when she was pregnant with Aunt Beth, I wanted to be your and Mama Quinnie's daughter. I loved my dad and Papa, but I was tired of mean people being mean. You and Mama Quinnie are tougher than Dada and Papa. I didn't want to be with Auntie Cedes because I saw how people looked at her when she was with someone of another color than her, Dada Noah. I might be only two years old, but I know hate killed my dad and Papa. Hate made bad men hurt those men. It's also why Mama Quinnie gave Aunt Beth to Nana Shelby. I'm just glad Mama Quinnie stopped hating you."

Following the meeting, Noah, Tracy, Burt, and Carole made their way back to Noah's residence. Noah then escorted Tracy to her room, revealing, "Your parents had intentions of relocating here. They were set on residing here and had planned to disclose this to Grandpa Burt and Nana Carole upon their arrival."

Tracy responded, "I'm aware, Dada Noah. Dada and Papa discussed it before the tragic truck accident."

Burt entered the room shortly after, stating, "Puckerman and Little Princess, it's time for transparency. Let's hear it from both of you."

Tracy covered Noah's mouth, saying, "Dada and Papa intended to move here to be nearer to you and Nana Carole. That's the reason for our journey here, G'pa."

Upon their return to the living room, they overheard Quinn and Carole sharing a laugh. "What's the source of amusement?" Burt inquired as they joined them.

Carol shared, "Quinn was recounting the time when Puck attended school dressed as a girl, introducing himself as Lola."

Tracy chuckled, adding, "There's a snapshot of Dada Noah in a dress tucked away in our photo album."

Quinn chimed in, "Are you referring to this one?" She promptly brandished the photo for all to see.

Noah turned a shade of red, remarking, "Trust Kurt to preserve the one photograph I'd rather see destroyed." He then retreated to Tracy's room, visibly upset. Tracy was the only one who accompanied him and found him shedding tears on her bed.

"Dada Noah? Are you alright?" Tracy inquired, joining him on the bed.

Noah, with his gaze lowered, confessed, "I didn't get the chance to say farewell to your dad."

Tracy broke down, admitting, "I miss Dada and Papa too. I didn't get to say goodbye either." Unbeknownst to them, Burt and Quinn were eavesdropping outside the room.

As they returned to the living room, Quinn revealed, "On the night of the accident, Puck experienced a nightmare about Kurt and Blaine perishing in a car crash. He witnessed everything through Tracy's perspective. There are days when Puck can't even utter Kurt's name. That's why he insisted on her attending the group therapy sessions."

About thirty minutes later, Noah and Tracy reappeared in the living room. Noah announced, "I'm taking Tracy back to Lima to visit ETracybeth, Kurt, and Blaine. We were denied our goodbyes. Additionally, I need to discuss Kurt's decision to appoint me as Tracy's godfather with the others. I haven't heard from Mom since Kurt passed away. Sarah mentioned that she disowned me and was upset that Tracy was my goddaughter."

Burt added, "Puck, I didn't intend to bring this up, but after everyone had left, your mom arrived at the gravesite inebriated. I'm uncertain who informed her about Tracy being your goddaughter. However, I did inform her that Tracy was quite the little princess until she lost her temper. And when she does, her fury surpasses yours, mine, or Kurt's."

Quinn concluded, "I'm aware of it. That's precisely why the orderlies kept their distance."

The following day, Noah escorted Tracy back to Lima. Upon their arrival at Jake and Marley's residence, Noah spotted Rachel's car in the driveway. He had a hunch something was amiss since he hadn't informed Jake of their visit until they were an hour away. As he knocked on the door, he was uncertain of what to say to Rachel.

Once Jake welcomed them inside, he took a seat on the couch and observed as Tracy confronted Rachel. "Mama Rachel, I understand your presence here, and I wish to clarify… I was the one who chose not to reside with you and Uncle Jesse. I desired for Dada Noah and Mama Quinn to become my new parents. They are stronger than Dada and Papa. Even Nana Shelby has remarked that I resemble Dada Noah! Moreover, getting upset over Dada Kurt's decision is senseless! I've heard that Uncle Artie and Auntie Tina were the only ones who remained composed! Mama Quinnie was terrified to inform Dada Noah about the day's events, which angered you! She waited until my toys arrived in the mail to tell him! You, Auntie Cedes, and Auntie Tana need to move past this!"

Rachel remained silent; she simply exited and got into her car. Santana and Mercedes arrived together, receiving the same lecture from Tracy. They subsequently visited ETracybeth, Kurt, and Blaine's graves, informing them about the men Tracy had assisted. They then proceeded to Nana Puckerman's house, where Tracy released Little She-Hulk.

Upon their return to Jake's, Santana sought a private conversation with Tracy, confessing, "Tracy, I can't apologize to your dad for my behavior that day, and you were correct. It was foolish of me to get upset about your parents' decision. I just wanted to inquire. Was your Aunt Beth a factor in your decision to become Daddy Puck's daughter? Did you wish for him to have a second opportunity to be a good father?" Tracy responded with a smile that mirrored Noah's, before walking away.

After Santana's departure, Tracy retired to bed. Jake then told Noah, "Bro, I know she's Blaine's daughter, but wow. I can understand why she wants to be your daughter now."

Noah grinned, responding, "That's my little princess for you." Jake chuckled lightly.

The subsequent day, Noah received a text from Sam, stating, "Meet me at Kurt's grave and bring Tracy. I need to discuss something with her. I discovered it at her old house, and I wasn't present at the funeral or the will reading, either. Plus, I sent the toys."

When they met Sam at Kurt's grave, Tracy questioned, "Uncle Sam, are you here to scold me for yelling at Auntie Cedes? Or to ask if I'm aware of why you acquired my old house?"

Sam revealed, "I found this photo album in your old room."

Sam handed Tracy a photo album, labeled "New Dad" on the front. Noah inquired, "What's this?" As he browsed through the pages, he noticed photographs of himself at various stages of his life.

Tracy collapsed to her knees, apologizing, "I'm so sorry, Dad and Papa. After Aunt Beth informed me about how Noah was with her, I desired to be his daughter, and I wanted him to have a second chance to be the father he could have been for Aunt Beth."

Noah sat beside Tracy, admitting, "I noticed it when your stories altered. We're aware I'm the reason you stayed. I sang 'My Little Girl' and expressed my wish for you to be my little princess while singing it. Plus, Quinn knew you wanted to be my daughter. But what is the actual reason you stayed here?"

Tracy confessed, "I feigned sleep for three days. I wanted to stay after hearing you sing that song. Dada Kurt also mentioned you were like Grandpa when he was younger. I imagined that if I had a father like you, those mean individuals wouldn't be so cruel."

Sam asked, "Did Dada Kurt show you videos of Noah fighting?"

Tracy responded, "No, Uncle Dave did. Dada Noah fought with Uncle Dave in the video." This caused them all to laugh until Sam received a text from Mercedes and departed.

That night, as Noah drove back to Washington, he was relieved that Tracy was asleep. He only halted for coffee or gas. He didn't want her to lose another dad since she had chosen him as her father. On the journey back to Washington, Noah tuned the radio to a country station that played "My Little Girl" by Tim McGraw. He soon reminisced about the day Tracy opened her eyes and looked at him, smiling. It was a smile he recognized well; it was his smile. Then Noah recalled the time when she yelled at his mother, Norah. It reminded him of when he got angry as a child. Then he remembered that one of the paramedics who saved her had a black eye. It had him reconsidering what had transpired the day those orderlies fought with that one guy, all the orderlies turning pale at the sound of her voice. He thought about what Quinn said, and he knew Quinn was correct. Tracy stayed to be his daughter.

When they arrived home, he tucked Tracy into bed and crawled into bed with Quinn. Later, Noah woke up to hear Quinn saying, "I can't tell him that your Aunt Beth was the only good egg I had; it would crush him. Besides, I haven't even told Nana and Grandpa Fabray. Nana Carole is the only one I've told."

Noah rose and entered the living room, stating, "Quinn, we can adopt. Besides, thanks to Blaine and Kurt, we have a daughter. I even think God saved her so she could be ours. I believe that is why she wanted to be my daughter. I mean, things happen for a reason, Quinn. I hate that Kurt and Blaine are gone. But if Kurt hadn't listened to Tracy and given her back to Rachel, we wouldn't have the best little girl in the world. Tracy is our chance to be parents again. DNA doesn't matter to me. By the way, Rachel was at Jake's house when we got there. I didn't tell him we were coming until we were an hour away. Would you know anything about that, Babe?"

Quinn glanced over at Tracy and said, "She told me she was visiting her dad and apologized to me for getting mad over Kurt's decision to make me the godmother, and I told her you were coming. Later, she told me what Tracy said, and she felt too ashamed to say anything after that. Mercedes called me after Tracy gave her and Santana the same speech. Santana only called after she apologized. They think she made the right choice in picking you as her new dad, and if anyone could handle Tracy's temper, it would be you. Mr. H thinks Tracy is like Kurt, and he knows about all the times Kurt fought with you. He also thinks you're the best person to be Tracy's new dad. He even thinks I am the best choice for her new mama, but I'm unsure."

Tracy said, "Mama Quinnie, I know you told Dada Kurt you couldn't have any more babies. I eavesdropped on your phone call. Anyway, I agree with Dada Noah, and I can help you choose my baby Bubba or Sissy. I'll pick the things I like. I wanted to help those men at the hospital. I wanted to protect that boy from the funny faces of those mean boys at daycare and the park. I wanted to help more Navy people not be scared anymore when I grew up. By the way, Dada Noah sang 'My Little Girl,' not the song he sang to Aunt Beth. Plus, he called me his little princess. I decided I wanted you two to be my parents because I was tired of people being mean to Dada Kurt and Papa Blaine. Those mean people made me feel like I didn't want to be here. That's why I wanted to stay, so I could be his daughter. Dada Noah reminds me of the Hulk, and I like it when he calls me his little princess. Grandpa calls me that, but I feel happier when Dada Noah calls me that."

Subsequently, Noah and Tracy attended another group therapy session at the Navy hospital. Some orderlies were restraining a man. This time, Tracy approached the man on the floor, reassuring him, "You are safe here. The mean men aren't here. These men want to keep you safe." Her words caused the man to pause and gaze at her before he began to cry.

Afterward, she asked Rick if she could recount her story again. Rick agreed, saying, "Sure."

She retrieved the toy cars again, narrating, "On the night of the accident, my dad and Papa were discussing moving to be with my grandparents. We were singing and laughing. Then a big truck hit us. We were screaming for help for a long time, but the people who arrived only rescued me and refused to help my dad or Papa. They insulted them, and one guy angered me so much that I gave him a black eye. Eventually, he choked me until I thought I was dreaming that other people were trying to help me. Then I heard my G-Pa and Dada Noah crying for me. I heard Dada Noah's thoughts about my aunt. I saw a bright light. I heard my dad and papa calling for me, but I didn't want to go. I wanted to stay with Dada Noah because he missed my aunt and wanted to be a dad again. Now, I want to stay for my mama, Quinnie, too. She can't have any more kids, plus, I want to give my G-Pa great-grandkids."

Soon, Tracy began to cry, and she felt someone embracing her. She opened her eyes and noticed that it was the man she had just comforted. When he let go, he confessed, "I lost my wife and daughter in a car accident after they stationed me here. I didn't want to be here either, and I took too many pills to sleep. I was in a dark place for months, and you helped me. Thank you." After the meeting, all the men hugged Tracy, and one man gave her dog tags with "The Little Princess" written on them. Then Burt came in to fetch Tracy because his colleagues wanted to meet her.

Burt, Noah, and Quinn attended the next meeting with Tracy. Carole didn't make it because she didn't want to break down again. However, what Carole and the hospital patients didn't know was that Tracy, Noah, and Quinn had a surprise for them. While Noah retrieved his guitar from its case, Tracy stood before the patients. She announced, "The song we are about to sing to you, my dad Noah sang to my mom Quinnie twice, and I thought I could sing it to you with their help to remind you to keep holding on. You know, we'll make it through." Soon, Noah began playing "Keep Holding On" on his guitar before they started singing.

After finishing the song, everyone applauded and cheered. Then Quinn and Tracy sat down, allowing Noah to sing "No Surrender" again. It was a song he hadn't performed since Finn's death, but now he sang it again in honor of Kurt's passing.

After Noah finished the song, Tracy began to cry. The last time she had heard that song was a week before the accident, and the memory upset her. She then ran into a room that had a coma patient in it. Noah was the only one who followed her after he gave Quinn his guitar. He found her crying under the patient's bed and asked, "Squirt, did I trigger a memory there?"

She shakes her head and continues to cry. She only moves when the floor feels too cold, and she lets Noah pick her up to hold her before saying, "The week before the accident, Papa, Daddy, and I were listening to the radio when that song came on. It's the last good memory I have of them. They told me you sang that song for Uncle Finn, and Papa teased that you liked Uncle Finn more than Mama Quinnie. Then Daddy teased back that he would tell you what Papa said when we moved here."

Rick approaches them and says, "Tracy, if you ever want to talk about anything you're feeling, your dad Noah has my number. You've done great in group therapy, but if you feel like you can't wait for the next group therapy session to talk, call me. Okay?" Tracy nods her head without saying a word.

Then Quinn comes over with Burt, and he says, "Are you okay, kiddo? You scared me a bit there." Tracy stays quiet and nods her head "yes" again.

Later, when Quinn and Tracy get home, Quinn says, "Tracy, you know, you can always come to me or Dada Noah if you feel sad or want to talk about your dad and papa. You can also ask Uncle Boss and Dave about your papa; they both dated him before they got together."

Tracy expressed, "I'll discuss my troubling thoughts with Uncle Dave. Dad needs to stop leaving his phone in my room, and he needs to read his messages before deleting them."

Shortly after, Quinn received a text from Dave stating, "Is Tracy alright? She's using Puck's phone to text me, and I know she's only two. But she scares me, Quinn. She told me that she overheard people at the hospital speaking ill of Kurt and Blaine when Puck wasn't in her hospital room. She said she couldn't stop the negative thoughts in her head and wished she could transform into the She-Hulk and eliminate all the bad people. I don't want her negative thoughts to be like the ones I had in high school. She assured me she wouldn't behave that way towards you and Puck, but I'm aware of how people can affect you. Anyway, got to go."

Later that day, Quinn went to Tracy's room, hearing her cry and whispering, "Bad thoughts go away, please! I don't want to hurt my new dad and mama. Dear Jesus, please take these new bad thoughts out of my head. Amen." Then Quinn informed Tracy that lunch was ready as she tried to hide her crying.

When Noah came in for lunch, Tracy asked, "Daddy Noah, can I call Uncle Rick? I need to talk to him."

Noah responded, "Sure, and I know what you have been discussing with Uncle Dave. He called me earlier today and was very concerned about you. Oh, and Uncle Rick has pills that help those bad thoughts disappear. However, I plan to talk to Mama Quinnie about whether you should take them." Tracy said nothing, taking Noah's phone and calling Rick.

Tracy soon returned to the living room and said, "Dada Noah, can we go to the hospital after lunch? I know that Uncle Rick talks to the men twice a week. I want them to help me too. I want to forget my bad thoughts and some nights; Little Puck doesn't help with the bad dreams."

She looks down and says, "I'm so sorry. I tried to be brave, but I can't anymore, Dada Noah."

Noah hugs Tracy and says, "You are my little princess, and I will do whatever it takes to help you get better. I'll keep all this from Grandpa Burt and Nana Carole if you want me to."

When she walked into the hospital with Noah, Rick greeted them and took Tracy to the room with the other men. Tracy's eyes were red from crying again on the way to the hospital, and the man who lost his family asked, "Bad day?"

Another man says, "Tell us. You heard about our bad days. It's time we heard about your bad days."

Tracy clears her throat and says, "I have thoughts about hurting the mean people with Dada Noah's gun or imagining I'm the She-Hulk beating those bad people to death. Some days I want to take a bottle of sleeping pills. I have prayed for God to stop them. But today, I had bad thoughts three times. All of you saw it the second time when I was here earlier. The bad thoughts worsened after I protected the boy with a funny face at the park. The men in the white coats here said I was like a little She-Hulk. The things I told some of you on your bad days, I told myself too, but today, they didn't help me. I called Uncle Rick because I wanted to."

Soon, Tracy was crying, and she didn't notice Noah was in the doorway listening to the whole story until he picked her up and held her in his arms, saying, "Hush, Little Princess, I'm here, and I can see you have a bunch of new uncles who want to help."

Then the man who lost his wife and daughter asks, "Tracy, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being terrible and 1 being okay, how do you feel right now?"

Tracy looks at the other men and says, "7, but when Dada Noah sang that song, I was at a 10. I was at ten this morning, but then I took a bath. Then I thought, 'What if I get worse after Mama Quinn has my new brother or sister?' I lied to Dada Noah, saying I had slipped on the wet floor."

Then she looks at Noah, crying, and says, "Dada Noah, I'm sorry. I didn't tell you and Mama Quinn about it because I thought I could handle this myself."

Noah chuckled and said, "Your dad and I were the same way when we were not much older than you. I was taking care of Aunt Sara, and my mom was bad. Grandpa Burt was raising your dad alone after Nana ETracybeth died when your dad was still a little boy, and we were both parents to our parents. Even though Daddy Kurt wasn't obliged to do that, my harshness towards him stemmed from admiration. When he died, I thought I had lost my hero, and some days, I can't say your dad's name without crying. Your Uncle Finn was my best friend in high school, and your dad became my new best friend over the years. I think that's why he listened to you and made me your godfather." Soon, they are crying together, and the other men in the group hug them as they cry.

After the group hug, Burt calls Noah, asking, "Can I talk to Tracy? Quinn mentioned that Tracy is having troubling thoughts, and I want to point out that Kurt experienced something similar before the bullying started.

Noah puts his phone on speaker and says, "Okay, Mr. H, you are on speaker. What did you want to tell Tracy?"

Burt clears his throat and says, "Tracy, you are a Puckerman and a Hummel. You are tough, just like the other men around you. Tracy, your dad had to take sad pills too when he was your age and couldn't stop thinking about the bad things. After meeting your new dad and becoming his friend, your dad thought you made a good choice in your godfather because he was the reason your dad's bad thoughts went away. And he thought you made a good choice with your new mom. Because your dad felt bad for years about Daddy Puck not keeping your aunt Beth. By the way, Puck, Carole told me about Beth being the only good egg Quinn had. Anyway, when Kurt started Glee, I felt like I had gained new sons and daughters. Puck, Kurt, also told me once that you started reminding him of me. Look, Tracy, I think talking to Uncle Dave was a good idea, and I know talking helped your dad. But if that doesn't help, see if your new dad can get you a toy punching bag. Anyway, I got to go, and Tracy, remember, you're not alone. Keep holding on. Bye, Squirt. Later Puck."

After the call, Tracy said, "I guess I didn't take the words I sang to heart. I intended to sing that song to demonstrate my strength, yet it only revealed my weakness and fear."

Then she is startled when Noah and the other men say in unison, "Bullshit."

Before Noah says, "Tracy, I told Mama Quinn that you were stronger than us all on the day your toys came in the mail, and you showed me just how strong you are. When you stood up to Bad Nana Puckerman, Mama Rachel, Auntie Cedes, and Auntie Tana, ha-ha, Auntie Tana was the toughest girl in school, and I bet you'll be just as tough, if not tougher. You just have to believe that you are tough. I was always told that I was a loser, and I felt like one until I started Glee. Then I felt like one again after your Uncle Finn died, and I went into the Navy. I once aspired to be a jet pilot, but after assisting someone with issues similar to yours, I've become a medic instead.

Then Tracy says, "Dada, you told me you wanted to be a top gun like Tom Cruise, and I think you look better than Tom Cruise."

Noah blushes, and the other men laugh before one of them says, "Good to know that I'm not the only one who wanted to be a top gun after watching that movie."

When the meeting ended, Noah and Tracy saw Rick holding a boy with Down syndrome. Then Tracy said, "Hey Joey, what are you doing here?"

To which Rick replied, "Joey is my son. How do you…?"

Rick cut himself off before saying, "You beat up five boys all by yourself to protect my son."

Noah remarked, "It's no surprise those orderlies backed off, and Mama Quinn never informed me about the number of kids bullying Joey. I was unaware it was Joey you were protecting until now! Wow, Tracy, you didn't even have a scratch on you that day!"

Then another man approached them, stating, "I was at the hospital the day the boys came in, and here are copies of the pictures I took." The man handed Noah pictures of five boys with swollen black eyes and bruises.

He then took a picture of them with his phone before sending it to Santana, Burt, and Quinn, stating, "These are the boys that Tracy defended my boss's son Joey against."

Santana responded, "Tracy, you've outdone me! Five boys at once? Holy cow! A two-year-old little girl did that to five four-year-olds! I'm genuinely relieved that Quinn is her godmother, as I'm unsure how I would cope otherwise.

Burt was the next one to respond, "Good job, Tracy! LOL. Sorry, I shouldn't encourage such behavior, but I know you're thinking the same thing, Puck! I just thought I'd say it first."

Quinn responded, "I was right; she's your daughter, not mine! LOL, glad we didn't have to go to court over that!"

When Noah and Tracy arrived at the next group therapy session, they found a man with a gun holding Rick hostage while shouting incoherently. Tracy screamed, causing the man to drop the gun. Fortunately, Noah caught it before it hit the floor and noticed no bullets in the gun. Soon, orderlies came to take the man away, who continued to stare at Tracy even as he began urinating on himself. When Noah asked, "What did he say?"

Tracy laughed and replied, "You dated Auntie Tana, and you don't know what her native language is. He just called me 'The Little Princess.'" Noah then realized that Tracy was wearing her dog tags and understood that everyone on the base would talk about this incident.

After this, Tracy led the way to the room where the group therapy sessions were, and she saw the man who had been scared of her. Then she said, "Don't make me angry; you wouldn't like me when I'm angry."

It made some others laugh and whisper, "Jeez, Tracy, your call sign should be 'The Little She-Hulk,' instead."

The man did speak English, and he thanked Tracy for bringing him back to reality. Then Tracy asked, "What made you so afraid of me?"

The man just takes out his phone and shows a video of her fighting some men. They were the same size as Noah, and soon they saw one man choking her. She takes a piece of glass to their legs before she beats up the others. Then the man shows pictures of the other men's faces, which look as bad as the little boys she beat up.

This time, he only sent a picture of the picture to Burt with the message, "Tracy beat up these men the night Kurt and Blaine died. Before the man, she told us about trying to choke her. If you don't tell Carole, I won't tell Quinn. Deal?"

Burt replied, "LOL, I'll take it to my grave. Puck. But I will say this: I hope she doesn't follow two certain badasses' footsteps and is more like a protector than a bully."

Noah replied, "LOL, IDK. Who are you talking about? I agree. wink "

Burt just replies, "Yeah, yeah, Puck. Tracy will be a female version of you in ten years, good or bad."

Then Noah replied to the text, saying, "Tracy will not be like Santana before she likes Brittany! But I might be like you in ten years! LOL!"

Burt replies, "So, I guess you want me to leave my shotgun to you in my will? LOL, we'll see. Puck; we'll see. Later, Puck."

A couple of days later, while Noah was at work, he sent a text to Quinn. He asked her to bring Tracy to the hospital alone. Quinn complied and noticed armed guards encircling the building. A man approached her vehicle, took Tracy out of her car seat, and outfitted her with a helmet and a small bulletproof vest. Quinn, in a state of panic, asked, "What's going on?"

The guard responded, "There's another hostage situation, and they're demanding the Little Princess."

Tracy inquired, "Is the sniper in position?"

She soon heard, "Yes, Princess. On the Mess Hall roof."

Tracy acknowledged, "Okay." Upon entering the building, she saw Noah being held hostage, appearing battered and bruised.

The armed man noticed Tracy clenching her fists before she challenged, "Is this supposed to make me cry or something?"

The man retorted, "I roughed up your dada, and you show no reaction. You can't be human! I mean, I killed your other dad and your papa. You should be a sobbing wreck."

Tracy's face turned redder, and she retorted, "My call sign might be The Little Princess, but when I'm angry, I'm anything but. Do you know who David Banner is?"

This question caught the man off guard, and he responded, "No, should I?"

Tracy smirked and proposed, "Not really. Do you know how to play rock, paper, scissors?"

Then she heard the sniper affirm, "Great idea, Little Princess. I'll fire when you say, 'Shoot.'"

As she declared, "Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!" the gunman released Noah.

Tracy pretended to play the game, and as soon as she declared, "SHOOT!" The sniper fired, hitting the gunman between the eyes.

She then rushed to Noah and cried, before asking, "Dada Noah, are you okay?"

Noah nodded affirmatively and reassured, "I'm a Puckerman, and I'm tough. Text Grandpa Burt and Mama Quinn. Tell them we're okay and that you saved me from the guy in the big, scary truck." Tracy did as instructed but only informed Burt that Noah had been severely beaten.

An hour later, Burt, Quinn, and the men from group therapy came in to sit with Tracy. As she waited to hear about Noah and see if he was okay, Rick soon got Tracy and took her to Noah in the ICU, where he still looked like the Hulk had beaten him up. When Noah saw her, he said, "Hey, my little heroine! You did great, Tracy. The guys in group therapy would be proud of you. Plus, Dada Kurt and Papa Blaine would be proud of you, too. You were so brave today."

Tracy says, "Dada Noah, I am a two-year-old girl! I had to be brave. The bad man had a gun on you and beat you up. Plus, I had to act like I was in charge of the situation."

Then Tracy hears the voice of someone she doesn't know say, "Princess, you were in charge of the situation." She turns around to see a man with medals on his coat.

The man holds his hand out and says, "General Michael Young, Little Miss. And may I say, your Grandpa Burt has told me a lot about you and your new Daddy."

Noah smiled nervously until Tracy continued, "I know, my new Daddy is too shy to say this. So I will. Get to the point, sir."

The man raised an eyebrow and replied, "Okay, Princess. How would you like to be an honorary soldier?"

Tracy just smiled and responded, "I'd love it." The following day, they made her an honorary soldier in a ceremony in front of everyone on the base.

Tracy spent her third birthday with Noah, Quinn, Burt, and Carole. Noah soon received a call and said, "You have got to be kidding me! It's her birthday! Can't you take care of it by yourself? Okay, I get it. We'll be there soon!"

He then looked at the others and added, "They need the Little Princess again. I'll call you when everything is okay."

Burt went with them, and there was a hostage situation in the Mess Hall. Once again, Tracy was putting on the helmet and the tiny bulletproof vest. Once again, she asked, "Sniper man, in place?"

And she heard him say, "The hospital roof, Princess. Sorry, we had to ruin your birthday, but we can't get the guy to move where I can get a good shot, and Joey is the hostage this time. The gunman won't put him down, so I can get a shot. Do whatever you can to get the guy to let Joey go."

Tracy said, "Okay," and walked in with Noah, who was ready as well. Sure enough, Tracy saw that Joey was scared.

Then Tracy said, "Okay, I'm here, sir. Why don't you put Joey down and let him go now?"

The gunman said, "Not going to happen! His dad said he could fix me. He lied!"

Then Tracy heard Noah say in the headphones, "Tracy, his wife died the same night as Dada Kurt and Papa Blaine. Tell him about what happened to you. It might get him to let his guard down and let Joey go."

Then Tracy said, "Maybe I can help. Six months after my parents died, on the same night your wife died, I helped a lot of men."

The man sat at one of the lunch tables but didn't let Joey go yet. So, she continued her story by saying, "The night my parents died, they could have been saved. But no one would help them because they thought I needed a mommy and a daddy." The gunman then put Joey down, and Noah shot him in the shoulder. Soon, Joey ran to Tracy, and she held him close as they walked out of the mess hall.

Once they were safe, the sniper looked at Tracy and said, "Your parents would have been so proud of you, sweetheart."

Tracy noticed the sniper's eyes welling up with tears and said, "I'm sorry if I upset you, sir."

The sniper replied, "I had two mothers until one was taken from me for the same reason you lost your father. Sweetheart, I'm the one who should apologize. We knew it was your birthday, and yet we nearly put you in harm's way twice. You're just a child who should be playing with toys."

Tracy responded, "Please don't worry, sir. You're frightening me."

Suddenly, she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder and heard the sniper say, "I'm alright." She turned to see a tall soldier who looked like he had been crying. The man extended his hand and introduced himself, "Major Eric Johnson at your service, also known as Eagle Eye. I was only four when I lost my mother, Jane. She was a real G.I. Jane. Ha-ha. I wish I had been as brave as you when I was four. I didn't even start wearing big boy underwear until I was five."

Soon, Tracy heard laughter in her headphones and retorted, "Hello, whoever you are, stop it; he's talking to a three-year-old. Do you want me to turn into She-Hulk?"

Then she heard, "Apologies, Little Princess. Could you please ask your new dad to put me down?"

Tracy looked around for Noah and saw him holding a man by his neck. She simply said, "Apologize first."

The man muttered, "Sorry," and the others burst into laughter as Noah set him down.

As they were heading home, Noah said, "Your Aunt Quinn is going to want you to stop getting into situations like this. As long as I'm with you and we're not in too much danger, I think you'll be fine. I did tell them that they should only involve you if there's no other choice, but I didn't think they'd be so harsh on your birthday."

Tracy replied, "Uncle Noah, you tell them the next time should be after I become a private and say, 'I chose this.' I'm only three years old. I want the same life as any other three-year-old."

Noah chuckled and said, "Yes, Ma'am, Little Princess, Ma'am!"

Rolling her eyes, Tracy said, "Alright, when I grow up, my new call sign will be Banner. 'Little Princess' doesn't sound very intimidating to me."

Noah responded, "Sounds like a plan, Little Princess. But always remember, you'll always be my little princess."

Three days later, Quinn found herself at a Navy wives' luncheon in the Mess Hall. Suddenly, three armed men stormed in, demanding to know the whereabouts of the little princess's new mother. Quinn quickly texted Noah, "Three armed men at Mess Hall. I'm their hostage! Bring Tracy. I didn't want to involve her, but my life is at stake, and I want this to be her last negotiation."

Mike's wife, Stacie, tried to take Quinn's place, but the gunman refused. He insisted on speaking to Tracy. When Quinn asked, "Why do you want to talk to Tracy? She's just a three-year-old."

One of the gunmen retorted, "Yes, and she took down three grown men because we wouldn't save her father! Now, we want to see what she'll do to save her new mother."

Intrigued, Quinn asked, "What about your husband?"

The man didn't answer, only muttering, "Oh, merda, pito."

Tracy, Noah, Burt, and Carole all arrived together. They saw navy personnel geared up and waiting for Tracy. Before they took Tracy out of her car seat, Carole said, "Tracy, your Uncle Finn would be proud of you. Now, go save Quinn, and show those men just how tough you are."

Tracy and Noah responded, "We will."

Then Tracy asked, "Eagle Eye, what do you see? Can you get a shot?"

Eric replied, "I can take down one, but the other two are holding your mother. They all look scared. I think your mother mentioned something about your father, too. Ha-ha, good thing he'll be going in there with you. Anyway, I'll be waiting for your command, Little Princess."

As soon as they walked in, the men turned pale. Noah chuckled and asked, "Are they scared of you or me?"

Ignoring the question, Tracy told the gunmen, "You've got some nerve showing up at a naval base to intimidate me."

Then she heard Burt's laughter over the headphones. Before Carole said, "Hush, she needs to stay focused."

Then she asked, "So, what do you want to say to me? Do you want me to beat you up again? Or do you want my new dad to take you three down?"

The man holding Quinn put the gun to her head and wrapped his arm around her neck before saying, "Your mother will be dead before he can move!"

Before Tracy could respond, she heard a voice in the headphones say, "Little Princess, this is Eagle Eye's friend, Brad Hudson; my call sign is Sharp Shooter. Sorry, I just got here. I'm ready and waiting for your signal."

Then, with a smirk, she declared, "You don't scare me, and you three are the most foolish men on the planet. At a naval base, armed men and women surround this building. Do you think you'll get out of here alive?"

The man holding Quinn let go, and she ran out of the building before the man turned his gun on Tracy. She simply said, "Go ahead, shoot!" Then she watched as they shot all three men. Soon, she felt a sting in her arm and fell to her knees.

Noah saw the blood and said, "Little Princess is down! I repeat! The Little Princess is down! Tracy, this is the last time they are using you as a negotiator! I'm putting my foot down!"

Tracy retorted, "You can't stop me when I turn eighteen."

She heard Burt say, "Spoken like a true Hummel. You tell 'em, Kiddo."

Then Quinn said, "You mean Puckerman? And Puck, you know, she's right."

Then Noah said, "We'll see, and I bet Mrs. H is on my side here." Tracy soon passed out, and when she woke up in the hospital, she thought it was all a dream until she saw Rick come in, along with General Young and Noah.

Tracy turned away from them and cried, saying, "I'm not ready to hear what you have to say, General. Uncle Rick, I'll have plenty to say in group therapy. Dad, you're wrong! It's my fault that this happened."

Then she heard all three men say, "That's not true!"

Before General Young speaks, he says, "Pay attention, Little Princess! You should know that those men had plans to abduct my wife on the night of your accident. If that truck hadn't collided with your father's car, it would have been my wife who lost her life that night. Don't torment yourself over this, Tracy. None of this is your fault! Do you understand?"

Tracy responds in a whisper, "Okay," but she keeps her back turned to the men.

She gazes at the wall, hearing Burt say, "I'll stay with her. I'll accompany her to the next group therapy session." Burt doesn't converse with her. He simply remains silent as she continues to fixate on the wall.

After a quarter of an hour, she says, "Grandpa, Grandma ETracybeth instructed me to tell you to stop blaming yourself for what transpired with Dad. She also wanted me to tell you that she believes I'm very much like you and Dad."

Burt chuckles and responds, "She's correct, you are. Even Mama Quinn agrees."

Another quarter of an hour passes before Noah returns with some food for Tracy and announces, "Hey, Little Princess, Eagle Eye and Sharp Shooter have arrived."

Tracy turns around and sits up. Noah hands her a plate before she starts eating the pizza. She doesn't glance at the men as she eats; she just maintains a forward stare and consumes her lunch. Then Sharp Shooter says, "As I mentioned before, my name is Brad Hudson, and no, I have no relation to your Nana Carole. I just wanted to apologize for being late, and perhaps if I had been punctual, you wouldn't have been injured."

Tracy merely glares at him and retorts, "You think!" Then she resumes her forward stare and disregards the men.

Soon, Noah is seated on the bed, gazing at Tracy while their faces are mere inches apart. He can even see that she is on the verge of tears, and he pulls her into his lap. She then breaks down and begins to sob openly. As she cries, Quinn and the men from group therapy enter the room as she says, "Dada Noah, I was terrified! I thought I was going to die. I'm sorry. I was angry when I woke up! I wanted to stay with Nana ETracybeth, but she said I had to return and relay a message to G-Pa and Mama Quinn." As Noah holds her, he looks at the others and sees them shedding tears as well.

Soon, Tracy is alone with Quinn and Burt, who simultaneously ask, "What did you need to tell us?"

Tracy looks at them and reveals, "Mama Quinn, the test you took was accurate. Grandpa Burt, you are going to be a grandfather again."

Quinn and Burt stare at Tracy in shock before Burt asks Quinn, "What kind of test did you take, and did you inform Puck?"

Quinn responds, "I took a pregnancy test, and no, I didn't tell Puck, because every time I visited the doctor after taking a home pregnancy test, the doctor would inform me that I wasn't pregnant. So, I didn't see the point in scheduling an appointment this time."

Tracy then explains, "That's because my sister was too frightened to stay."

Before covering her mouth and exclaiming, "I wasn't supposed to reveal that,"

Then Noah and Carole enter, asking simultaneously, "Reveal what? What's happening?"

Quinn discloses, "I took a pregnancy test, and I am pregnant. Tracy was aware, but she wasn't supposed to reveal it."

Noah exclaims, "I'm going to have another daughter! Are you certain Tracy wasn't just dreaming?"

Then Tracy reveals, "Uncle Finn is proud of both of us, and he laughed when you told Coach Beiste you were going to be a Top Gun. One more thing: Mr. Schue took Uncle Finn's jacket, and I know what Auntie Tana wanted to say about Uncle Finn. Ask her about her chocolate butt. Oh Dada Noah, Nana ETracybeth said, I'll be needed one last time before I grow up and make talking to bad men my job. All I can say is that it will be before my new sister arrives because that's all Nana ETracybeth would tell me."

When Quinn is six months pregnant, the base holds its annual banquet, and everyone is in attendance. Twenty masked gunmen soon enter and demand to speak to General Young. While the men negotiate, Tracy slips away unnoticed, taking Noah's cell phone. She then calls Sergeant William Reynolds, who heads up the G.I. Joe training program. As soon as he answers the phone, she says, "The little princess is here. There's a major hostage situation at the mess hall. I was the only one able to escape. Hurry up and bring my gear."

Twenty minutes later, Tracy sees five army trucks approaching. Then, Eagle Eye, Sharp Shooter, and three other men head for the hospital's roof. As soon as she gets her gear on, she asks, "Eagle Eye, what do you see?"

When she doesn't receive a response, she asks again, "Eagle Eye, what do you see? Tell me!"

Finally, Eagle Eye responds, "Your family, along with General Young and your Uncle Rick, are being held hostage. Your dad appears to have been roughed up, and the gunman holding your mother has his gun pointed at her stomach. I'm sorry, Little Princess, I didn't want to have to tell you this."

Sergeant Reynolds inquires, "Do you want me to accompany you, Little Princess?"

Tracy answers, "Yes, and get more men on the hospital roof."

Sergeant Reynolds turns to the others and orders, "You heard her; move out!"

As Tracy makes her way into the mess hall, she hears a man taunt, "Well, if it isn't the Little Princess coming to rescue her family. I was beginning to think you wouldn't show up."

Tracy glances at her family and notices that Burt is injured and on the verge of losing consciousness. She maintains a stoic expression as she retorts, "You're familiar with who I am, but I have no idea who you are."

The man grins and introduces himself, "Mario Capillary. You beat up three of my henchmen, who were arrested six months ago."

Tracy then proposes, "Since this is a matter between the two of us, why don't you let my family and friends, along with these other innocent people, leave?"

Mario agrees, "Alright, they can leave, but my men stay. I'm not a fool, little girl. I'm aware there's a man on the roof of the other building."

Before Tracy hears Eric retort, "Try twenty, jerk! Oh, Little Princess, we're all ready and waiting for your signal."

Tracy stares at Mario for a few minutes as the hostages depart. In her earpiece, she hears Noah plead, "Tracy, come on, get out of there! I don't care what your Nana ETracybeth said; this won't end well."

But then Eric interjects, "Shut up, Puck! She's got this! Show them your She-Hulk, Tracy!"

Tracy asks, "Are you familiar with David Banner, Mario?"

Mario is taken aback and responds, "No, should I be?"

Then Tracy hears several men say, "No, but you're about to meet his granddaughter, Tracy, the Little She-Hulk."

She then declares, "You know, I've already died twice in the past year, and someone has already shot me once. I know you think I won't survive today, but I just want to tell you, that you're mistaken."

Soon, Mario takes his gun and aims it at Tracy. This prompts her to say, "Shoot," as she lies flat on her stomach before she hears guns firing.

She feels another sting in her arm and exclaims, "Not again!"

This time, she manages to get up and hears Noah ask, "Tracy, were you hit? Are you okay? Little Princess, answer me!"

Tracy laughs and replies, "Yes, sir, Daddy, sir!" She soon exits the mess hall, clutching her left arm. When everyone sees her smiling, they are surprised that she's not crying.

Then Tracy said, "My arm is numb. I think they hit a nerve. Good thing it's not my writing arm."

Soon, Noah approaches Tracy and says, "I'm glad you're okay, but please don't scare me like that again. Now, let's get your arm treated." As they walk into the hospital, she sees everyone from dinner, and they all applaud.

Then she sees Carole, but she doesn't see Quinn or Burt. So she asks, "Dada Noah, where are Grandpa and Mama Quinn?" Noah remains silent. He just takes her to a room with two beds, where she sees Burt sipping coffee while Quinn rests.

Then Tracy asks, "Is my sister okay? Is Mama Quinn okay?"

Soon, the doctor reassures, "They're fine, Tracy. But let's examine that arm. You mentioned it was numb."

Tracy confirms, "Yes, sir, it feels like it's asleep from my shoulder to my wrist." The doctor then has Tracy's arm x-rayed to locate the bullet. Before taking her to the O.R. to remove the bullet, he examines her in the room. When she wakes up, she realizes she is in the same room as Burt and Quinn.

She also notices that Burt is awake and that she is in the bed he is in. When Burt sees she is awake, he asks, "Hey, Kiddo, how's the arm?"

Tracy smiles and responds, "Better. Where are Dada Noah and Nana Carole?"

Burt glances at the door and answers, "Your dad is working, and Carole is talking with your friends in group therapy."

Quinn adds, "It shook her up, and your dad thought talking to them would help."

This prompts Quinn to declare, "Nana Carole wasn't the only one disturbed. I'll be steering clear of the mess hall for a while after what happened today. Tracy, if I see you playing army with the other kids again, you'll be grounded in your room until you're forty!"

Burt laughed and said, "Good luck, Quinn. I tried to keep Kurt safe from the bullies, but"

Burt falls silent, but Tracy continues, "Grandpa, it's okay. I'll be careful, okay? And I'd worry about the bad people that meet me when I get older."

To which they hear Noah say, "Damn straight!"

Tracy attends the next group therapy session with her arm in a sling and enters the room alone. She is immediately greeted with whistles, bravos, and applause. Rick said, "God, Tracy, I knew you could be cool under pressure, but you were like Elsa's daughter yesterday."

Tracy chuckled and responded, "My old dad's nickname was 'Ice Queen,' a name my new dad coined for him. If I'm going to be a negotiator when I grow up, staying cool under pressure is key, right? Now, I want to know how all of you were feeling before I stepped in and saved the day. I'll share what I was thinking when I laid eyes on my family."

Rick spoke first, saying, "Well, I was more worried about you. I watched your dad and grandpa get beaten up, and I thought you were hiding under a table. Until you walked in with Sergeant Reynolds, looking as though you were prepared to take on everyone. Frankly, Tracy, I thought we were witnessing your murder, along with each other's murders."

Soon, Rick began sobbing, and Tracy said, "Uncle Rick, it's okay; you're safe, and that's all that matters." As Tracy continued, the hospital got quiet.

Tracy clears her throat and says, "Well, as soon as Mario started talking, I took Dada Noah's phone and snuck out, calling Uncle Reynolds and telling him the situation. It took him and the other men a while to get there, and I prayed everyone was still alive by then. Eagle Eye was afraid to tell me about my family, and Uncle Reynolds asked me if I wanted him to come with me. When I went in, I saw that G-Pa looked worse than Dada Noah. I still can't believe there are people out there who don't know who David Banner is. I mean, come on. After telling Mario he was wrong about me dying, he aimed his gun at me, and I gave the order for the snipers to shoot. When a stray bullet hit me, my arm became numb. Luckily, I could get out. Does anyone know about General Young? I haven't seen him since, and I've been worried about him."

Then Tracy heard Mike clear his throat and say, "Little Princess, I'm fine. I've just been busy with work and making sure no more bad men can get in here."

Soon, Tracy got up and hugged him with one arm before saying, "Well, I hope you'll still be around running this place when I am old enough to get paid for saving your butt."

The men laugh, and Mike says, "I hope I'm here then, too."

Later, one man in group therapy asked Tracy if she knew who Shirley Temple was. Tracy smiled and said, "Yes, and I watched The Little Princess and The Littlest Rebel. I guess I'm the modern-day version of The Littlest Rebel."

The men laugh and say in unison, "The Littlest Soldier!"

Then Noah takes Tracy to physical therapy for her arm and says, "Tracy, I didn't want to tell you this, but Finn and Nana ETracybeth told me in a dream last night. You'll be a negotiator again after your arm is better. I don't know why God is allowing this to happen, but I don't want Mama Quinn to know either."

Tracy just looks down and says, "I know, Daddy. I don't want Grandpa, Nana Carole, or Mama Quinn to know. I just know the next time will be when I am at a big girl school, and it will be another enemy of General Young's. Plus, one of his granddaughters is the target. I wanted to tell him earlier, but I was told it wouldn't do any good. Daddy, I like being a protector, but I am not sure why God wants me to be a protector this early. I am just a little girl, and I am still human. I cannot transform into She-Hulk in reality, nor am I Demi Moore from G.I. Jane. I am just Tracy Puckerman, a smart-ass little girl with a bad attitude."

Noah stops and says, "You're also an Anderson and a Hummel. As Auntie Tana once told me, you are tougher than she is. You've even got four angels watching over you and keeping you safe. Yeah, I get that now, and yeah, I know you were shot. But you are still alive for whatever reason, and as long as God, Uncle Finn, Nana ETracybeth, Dada Kurt, Sissy Carrie, and Papa Blaine have your back, you'll be safe and sound."

Then Tracy says, "Did you meet Sissy Carrie?"

Noah tells Tracy about meeting his future daughter as she exercises her arm with a two-pound dumbbell. When she finished, a tall, muscular man approached them and said, "Tracy, I am Tony Vitale, and I am General Young's son-in-law. I have a daughter your age, and I overheard your conversation about your dreams. Look, General Young doesn't know this, but my family has been getting calls from a bad man threatening to kill my daughters. Plus, my youngest daughter is like Joey; she can't speak, and she gets scared easily. Oh, my wife was at the banquet and left her cell phone in there. She recorded the whole thing, and it wasn't a stray bullet; Mario hit you in the arm. He was aiming for your head when a bullet hit him, and he got your arm instead. It happened just as Puck says, "God, please help her!" and Sharp Shooter had to be the one who shot him. But the guys on the roof said he was acting funny and was calling himself Finn Hudson. Brad doesn't even remember shooting Mario. Well, I got to go see you around."

Noah and Tracy look at each other before saying, "Finn?"

Then Noah takes Tracy home, where they see Brad sitting in his car, looking like he was waiting for them. When Noah gets Tracy out of her car seat, they hear Brad say, "Is Finn your uncle, Tracy?"

She looks over Noah's shoulder and says, "Yes, why do you ask?"

Brad looks down and says, "Puck, you told me about him, but you never said his last name. You know, I knew your grandpa Burt was Finn's stepdad. I just didn't put it all together until after what happened at the mess hall. Then I overheard what Tony said to you, and I think Finn helped me save you. Look, I have a brother who goes to school with General Young's two older daughters, and he is also a good shot. If what you dreamed of does go down, ask around for Bryan Hudson. Anyway, I have to go pick him up. See you around."

Tracy had started kindergarten two years before her peers and was in a pre-AP class. She learns that General Young's granddaughter, Sofia, was also in the pre-AP class. One day, Tracy and Bryan were running late to school, and they saw army trucks surrounding the school. Noah was the one who brought Tracy, and he saw Brad giving Bryan a walkie-talkie. Soon, Brad approached Noah's truck and got Tracy geared up. Then Tracy asked, "Snipers, where are you?"

Eagle Eye was the first to respond, saying, "Gym roof across from the lunchroom. That's where everybody is being held." Then she asked, "Sharp Shooter, is your brother's walkie-talkie on the same frequency as our helmets?"

She heard Bryan say, "Yes, Little Princess and I are in the air duct above the cafeteria. I have my cell phone too, but I can only send pictures; the signal isn't good enough for video here. I already tried that, and it won't go through. Uh, Puck, you and Little Princess, you need to get in there now! Eagle Eye, tell them what you see now! I just sent a picture of what I saw to Sharp Shooter."

Soon, Tracy hears a voice she doesn't recognize say, "Hello, Little Princess. My name is Pepe Rodriguez, and I have heard a lot about you from three mutual friends of ours whom you beat up. Let me guess, you are here to save Sofia and these other brats."

Soon, Bryan is outside, saying, "Sofia has a crush on me. Gear me up and let me go in with you, Little Princess."

Then they hear a little girl say, "Bry-Bry's here! Bry-Bry's here!"

Bryan tears up before he says, "Okay, I like her too, and I helped her learn to talk. Look, I know, I am nine and she's four, but we have a bond. Okay?"

They suddenly heard, "Isn't it adorable that Sofia's boyfriend is willing to help? I'll release the others if Little Princess and Bry-Bry come in alone."

Sharp Shooter responds, "Agreed, but any tricks and it's over!"

Noah is on the verge of exclaiming, "Have you lost your mind?"

When Tracy interjects, "Remember, we're angels?"

Noah regains his composure, and Tracy, accompanied by Bryan, enters alone as the other hostages are released.

Upon entering the school, Bryan shares, "Sofia is akin to a younger sister to me. I feel a sense of responsibility towards her. Moreover, her sisters are incredibly intelligent. They began homeschooling this year due to two reasons. Firstly, because of the current situation, and secondly, they're prodigies. They're abroad, but their exact location is unknown to me. Sofia only communicates at school and only in my presence. We also practice what Puck calls 'eye conversation.' That's why I wanted you and Puck to rescue Sofia. She kept glancing my way, and I preferred that the unpleasant individual remained oblivious to my presence."

Soon, Tracy and Bryan confront Pepe. Bryan attempts to maintain his composure as Tracy inquires, "Are you familiar with David Banner, Pepe?"

He responds, "The Incredible Hulk?"

Then Tracy probes further, "Do you know Helen Banner?" This question drains the color from Pepe's face, and he releases Sofia, who rushes to Bryan for protection.

Tracy grins as she hears Eagle Eye laughingly say, "Pepe wet his pants! Little princess, you frightened him so much that he wet himself! A three-year-old girl scared a grown man!"

Pepe stammers, "Shut up!" Soon after, Noah enters, handcuffs him, and escorts him away.

As he's leaving, carrying Tracy, who is repeatedly singing, "I scared Pepe into wetting his pants,"

Eagle Eye, still laughing, approaches them. He laughs so hard that he has to catch his breath and bend over. Then he says, "Tracy, I heard Pepe was the most feared man in the underworld, but thanks to you, he'll be known as the man who wet himself. Tracy, I can't wait to see who else you scare into wetting themselves." Then Noah and the other soldiers concur with Eagle Eye.

Noah and Tracy return home to find Mike, Sofia, and Bryan waiting outside, with Quinn, Burt, and Carole all smiling. Bryan holds Sofia in his arms as she exclaims, "Bry-Bry, I love you, Big Bubba!"

Blushing, Bryan replies, "I love you too, Sofia." His voice cracks, and Mike soon requests a private conversation with him.

Tracy follows them, overhearing General Young say, "Son, I understand you love Sofia, but I don't believe it's a brotherly love. I also realize that it could evolve in ten years. Son, you're aware that Sofia's mental development will never surpass that of a toddler."

Bryan breaks down and responds, "I understand, sir. I comprehend what you're implying, but without me, your granddaughter wouldn't be able to verbalize her thoughts."

Before departing without bidding Sofia goodbye, Tracy yells, "Sir, you're a jerk!" And she storms off, muttering under her breath.

Tracy was at school the day Carrie was born, assisting Sophia with her studies. Brad and Eric arrive with Sergeant Reynolds, followed by some police officers. Brad requests a conversation with Sophia while Sergeant Reynolds escorts Tracy to his Humvee. Eric apologizes, "Sorry for the interruption, but your sister is on her way, and your presence is required at the base. Bryan was shot by a home intruder this morning, and the culprits are holding Brad's parents hostage. Additionally, Sophia's family was murdered. General Young is safe. He's at the Army hospital. Look, Tracy. I know Puck and Quinn don't want you involved in this, but Sergeant Reynolds tried to delay it as long as possible. General Young suspected that the culprits might target your school and attempt to harm you or Sophia."

When Sergeant Reynolds pulls up, they see Noah gearing up, looking furious. When Noah gets Tracy out of her car seat, he says, "Carrie is safe, but Mama Quinn is…."

Tracy retorts, "Seriously, Dada Noah, don't tell me Mama Quinn is gone just as I'm about to rescue Brad's parents!"

Then Burt reassures, "Little Princess, don't fret, and Puck, Carrie is going home with us. It's the safest option for her."

Noah simply nods and says, "I concur. I've informed Shelby and Rachel not to tell Beth about Quinn. Plus, Tracy, I realize this means another one of my daughters becomes your aunt, but I can't ensure Carrie's safety here."

Tracy, looking determined, said, "I need to go rescue Brad's parents."

As she strides into the house, machine gun in hand, they hear her instruct Brad's parents, "Go!" They then see Brad's parents sprinting away before the sound of a machine gun echoes.

She mutters to herself, "I chose to stay and be Dada Noah's daughter, only for him to decide to make Carrie my aunt on my Dada Kurt's side of the family! Why, Lord? Why couldn't he keep his daughters? Why did you make me want to be his daughter? I am so infuriated right now, Lord! You allowed my dad and Papa to die! You allowed my new mama to die! You made Dada Noah give my sissy to my grandpa! You took Sophia's family and Bryan's! Sophia will probably blame me for all this, and I wouldn't blame her if she did!"

Then she screams out, "God, I am just like Dada Noah!"

When she walks out, she notices the others are crying. Burt says, "Kiddo, Little Carrie will still be your sister; it's just too risky for her to be here."

He embraces her before saying, "Little Princess, Mama Quinn told me she wanted Little Carrie to be with us if anything happened to her. She said that you were the bravest little girl she ever met. Look, Tracy, I know you're not Batman, but you are my hero and have done things I would never have done at your age."

Then Noah says, "Little Princess if I were confident that baby Carrie would be safe here, I would keep her with me. However, I can't bear the thought of her getting hurt like you did. Tracy, Beth, and Carrie may be my biological daughters, but you are my heart. You know what? Mama Rachel and Uncle Cooper weren't too surprised by your actions here. They believe you're safer here, and since Mama Rachel is Carrie's godmother, it seemed like the best option. Since you're here with me, I thought it was a fair exchange. Thanks to her and your dad, I have an amazing daughter, and Mama Rachel gets the chance to be a wonderful mother to Carrie, should anything happen to your grandparents."

Burt playfully punches Noah in the shoulder before saying, "Ha, your Dada Noah thinks as I do. Kiddo. Look, things happen for a reason, and if God had made you his biological daughter, I think he would still have made me your grandpa. Because his dad was not around, and I was more of a dad to him than his own.

As Noah picks up Tracy, he says, "Grandpa Burt is right, squirt. My dad was a terrible father, and so am I. I should never have let you deal with those bad men. I should never have told Mama Quinn to bring you here the day I got beat up."

Tracy chuckles as she says, "That's the day you regret!? What about the day that you had a dream about what I saw when the big truck hit Papa's car?"

Then she looks at Burt and says, "I heard you and Mama Quinn talking about it when we were crying in my room."

Later, when they came home, they saw Santana in her car, crying. Tracy opened the driver's side door and asked, "Auntie Tana, where is Auntie Brittany?"

Santana kept her head down as she said, "She's in heaven with Mama Quinn. She was pregnant too and lost the baby." Then Santana ran into the house, and the others followed her.

Santana looked at Burt as she said, "She died of a brain aneurysm, and little Brittany was stillborn."

Tracy took her hand and said, "Auntie Tana, I may be Mama Rachel's biological daughter, but sometimes I feel like I am a part of the unholy trinity."

Santana laughed and said, "I saw the pictures of the boys you beat up, and I told your new dad about it. I don't know how to handle that."

Carole then asks, "What picture?" Before Burt can answer, he pulls a picture from his wallet and hands it to her.

Burt says, "Squirt, you know, I know about the photo album you had under your bed, and Uncle Sam didn't know about it until I told him. By the way, Santana, your mom told Quinn's mom about Brittany already, and the only reason I know that is because she accidentally went into the men's restroom during the call. Anyway, if you or Puck ever feel you need someone to talk to about anything, Carole and I are always here."

Then he looks over at Noah as he says, "Oh, Puck. Kurt's first straight-boy crush wasn't Finn. Ha, where do you think half the photos in that photo album came from? Ha, I think that was the real reason they chose you to be Tracy's godfather. I mean, I'm sure he'd moved on by that point. But you still reminded him of me. One more thing: I know that you have been cleaning ETracybeth's grave since Finn's death. My question is, why? I mean, you didn't have to."

Noah looks at Santana before saying, "She was the first woman I had a crush on before I knew she was Kurt's mom."

Santana says, "I saw a picture of her once and thought she looked a little like my mom."

He turns to Noah and asks, "Is that why you hooked up with me after your dad left? Did you think I looked like Kurt's mom?"

Noah looks down and says, "Yeah, plus, being your boyfriend was good for my rep." Santana just rolls her eyes as she tells Tracy, "If you turn out like me in ten years, I will feel sorry for any boy who wants to date you. They'll have to deal with Puck and your grandpa Burt. Ha, good thing Puck isn't gay. Ha, I can't even imagine how that would've gone. If they had become boyfriends instead of him and Papa Blaine,

Tracy smiles and says, "If I knew Daddy Kurt, Aunt Beth would've been my sister, and I would be his daughter."

Then Noah said, "Hey, now don't I get a say in this? By the way, Tracy, I have my shotgun, and gay or straight, I am proud to be your dada. Plus, Mr. H, I doubt they would have picked on Kurt in high school if I was his boyfriend from the beginning."

Burt laughed and said, "Yeah, but I would have still thought of you as a punk kid at first."

Noah said, "I never told Kurt this, but when you were in the hospital, I felt like I was losing a dad again. And if Santana hadn't helped get Kurt back together with Blaine, I would have. I mean, I'm sure Finn or Rachel would have done the same thing. But I felt like I owed it to him for all the shit I did to him."

Tracy asks, "Dada Noah, did you want to be my new daddy so I wouldn't have a damaged childhood like you did?"

Noah frowns and says, "Yeah, but I feel like I damaged it worse too."

"I'm not buying it, Dada Noah! You didn't endanger me—I chose to put myself in harm's way! I decided to take all those actions! Yes, I know I said I wanted to just be a kid and hold off on negotiating until I was older! But, Dada Noah, I want to save people now. It makes me feel like a superhero! I understand that I should wait until I'm older to pursue a career as an army soldier. But I love being the hero now, and I'm upset about Mama Quinn's death. Plus, Carrie is moving in with G'Pa Burt and Nana Carole. However, none of this is on you, Dada Noah! You didn't cause the deaths of Dada Kurt and Papa Blaine! You didn't beat yourself up twice, nor did you try to kill my classmates! You've improved my life. I've seen you as my hero, and I've wanted to be your daughter since my first words! I love my dad and Papa, but I have more love for you! Dada Noah, of all Dada and Papa's friends, only you and Mama Quinn received my letters! I also dreamed about all you encountered overseas and prayed for your safety. So you could be my dad one day!" Tracy declares her fists balled in anger.

Before Noah picks her up, he declares, "God, I love you, my little She-Hulk. You're the best daughter anyone could ask for!"

Tracy glances between Noah and Santana, then speaks up, "I understand that you want Sissy Carrie to stay with Grandpa Burt and Nana Carole, but Dada Noah, wouldn't she be better off with Auntie Tana in Lima?"

Burt responds, "Puck, I'm with Tracy and Santana on this. I realize she can't fill the void left by the baby you lost, but I believe Carrie would be safer there."

Noah replied, "If Satan is okay with it, so am I."

Santana agrees, "I'm okay with that."

Then Santana asks Tracy, "Have you ever seen the show Charmed?"

Tracy smiles and replies, "Yes, there was a marathon on TV when I was in the hospital with Mama Quinn and Grandpa Burt. Auntie Tana, I know I'm Mama Rachel's daughter, but after hearing stories about you, Mama Quinn, and Auntie Brittany from Dad Kurt, I wanted to have a bond like that with my future sisters. I wasn't sure if I wanted to be a witch or the She-Hulk for the longest time. Dad Kurt used to joke that you were like a She-Hulk in high school. Papa Blaine even told me about the time you threatened Uncle Dave when he was still bullying Dad Kurt."

Noah asks, "When did that happen?"

Santana answers, "It was before the benefit we had around the same time Blaine transferred to McKinley to be with Kurt."

Burt comments, "I know Dave changed a lot after high school, but I still can't believe Blaine dated him, knowing he was the reason Kurt started going to Dalton Academy."

Then he looks at Noah and says, "God, I'm really glad you're straight, Puck. And I know Norah is still adjusting to the fact that Tracy is your goddaughter."

Tracy laughs and says, "Grandpa, you and Auntie Tana should've been there when I yelled at Bad Nana Puckerman. It was hilarious. I stormed into the house after Auntie Sara came home from college and told her she was an idiot for thinking having me as her granddaughter would make Dada Noah gay. Auntie Sara and Dada Noah struggled to keep from laughing the entire time I was scolding her. I think I scared her when I smirked like Dada Noah does."

Then Noah responded, "It reminded me of how I used to be as a kid."Later that afternoon, as they went to group therapy, Tracy broke down in tears. She said, "I lost my Mama Quinn today, and my sister went to live with my Auntie Tana, who also lost her baby and wife. They were like the Three Musketeers. I came here because I was angry that God took Mama Quinn from Dada Noah, and he was going to give my sister to my Grandpa and Nana. I mean, I stayed to be his daughter, and now he has to give up another one of Mama Quinn's daughters. I could be living with my Mama Rachel, but I chose to be here with Dada Noah."

Before she speaks to the man who has lost his family, she exclaims, "Now, I can truly empathize with your feelings. I'm at a boiling point, with the impulse to hurl these chairs across the room while yelling or venting my frustration at someone! The most frustrating aspect is the rejection from my paternal grandparents and my father's mother due to 'her disapproval of my having two fathers. And my father's parents blamed my grandpa Burt for my dad's passing."

Noah asks, "How do you know this, Squirt?" She says nothing and just takes a letter out of her pocket. As she hands it to Noah, he gets red in the face while reading it.

Soon, they hear Burt yelling at someone, saying, "You have some nerve thinking you can come here! Tracy has been with us for over a year, and now you intend to take her away from the one parent who loves her more than I ever could!"

Before Mike said, "Tracy is safer here, and if you take her now, she'll be dead!"

Then Eric and Brad say in unison, "She'll leave over our dead bodies, and we are more of a family to her than you have been! Now, get out of here, or you'll be dealing with Little She-Hulk and Puck in a few minutes."

Tracy storms into the lobby and says, "Try again, Grandpa Pat. I thought you didn't want me. Plus, if you don't leave now, I'll tell Grandpa Burt what you said about him before the accident!"

Then she looks over at Noah before saying, "Screw it. Grandpa Burt and Grandpa Pat have been calling you and Dad 'poor white trash' for years and claiming you wouldn't survive as a congressman because you were out of your depth. Moreover, Dad, Grandpa Pat labeled you a 'flyboy loser' back when you were a jet pilot!" Then she storms up to Mr. Anderson and punches him in the legs so hard that it brings him to his knees.

Before she says, "Grandpa Pat, there's a reason why those two men called me Little. She-Hulk. Grandpa Pat, don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry! Now, get out of here before I have you dragged out!"

Then Noah says, grabbing Patrick by his shirt collar, "You want to know why I'm her godfather? It's because I'm her papa-hulk, and Burt is her grandpa-hulk now. If I see your face here again, I'll help her do more than punch you in the balls! Got it?"

Patrick nods, and Noah puts him down before saying, "Sorry, Tracy. I will never bother you again."

After Patrick's departure, Noah inquires, "Tracy, is the real reason you wanted me as a father because I remind you of Grandpa Burt?"

She counters, "What did I share with the guys at the second meeting?"

Noah responds with a smile, "You sympathized with me and thought I was an exceptional father."

He then turns to Burt and recounts, "One night at the hospital, I overheard some male nurses speaking ill of Kurt and Blaine. I confronted them. A female nurse informed me they were using derogatory terms for Kurt and Blaine. I unleashed my inner Hulk on those individuals just before she woke up."

Tears stream down Tracy's face as she confesses, "Those cruel male nurses exacerbated the negative thoughts after the accident. Daddy and Papa were oblivious to my dark thoughts because I kept them hidden. Ha, I contemplate them when I'm angry too, but I just envision myself as She-Hulk or Daddy Noah defeating those wicked people."

She then reveals to Noah, "The day before I rescued you from that gunman, I saved Joey from the boys at the park, and General Young was present. I believe that's why I enlisted and why you received a call on my birthday. Ha, Daddy Noah, I never expressed my gratitude to you or Grandpa Burt for supporting me."

She then glances at Brad and declares, "Grandpa, Brad may not be related to Nana Carole, but I consider him and Eric as my uncles. Similarly, I regard Daddy Noah and his friends as my family."

General Young queries, "Do you view me as another grandfather?"

She smirks and responds, "Yes, General Grandpa, ha-ha," eliciting laughter from everyone.

She then tells Noah, "Daddy, I wasn't truly frightened when we attended the first meeting, and Uncle Rick, I was at an 11 as I listened to all the stories."

She then admits to Burt, "I earned the nickname Little She-Puck at school in Lima because I defended a boy who was like Dad Kurt from a group of bullies."

She then looks at Eric and says, "I noticed you at the accident with your phone out, and if you're the reason, bad men came here to confront me."

She then lunges at him and exclaims, "I am not a superhero! Why would you put me in this situation? Do you want to see me transform into She-Hulk? I am livid with you right now!" before screaming.

After Noah restrains her, Brad advises, "Eric, I think it's best if you leave so Little She-Hulk can calm down. God, I knew you had to be the catalyst for all this! I think you should leave before I assist her in teaching you a lesson!"

An hour later, during group therapy, they watch as Tracy vents her frustration by tossing all the chairs around the room and screaming before collapsing to her knees. Then Eric enters the room and challenges, "Hit me!"

Noah questions, "Are you out of your mind, man? Are you certain you want her to do that to you?"

Eric looks at Tracy and asserts, "If it alleviates her pain, yes! Besides, I feel like I've earned it." Then Tracy smirks at Noah before attacking Eric. Eventually, General Young enters, capturing the fight on his cell phone.

After fifteen minutes, she ceases, and Noah assists Eric to his feet. He goes for an x-ray and discovers he has three fractured ribs. When she visits Eric in the I.C.U., she apologizes, "Sorry if I hurt you, Eric, but you asked for it. Ha, and you were right. I feel better."

Then she removes her dog tags and shows Eric that they are inscribed with "Little She-Hulk". She taunts, "Uncle Eric, you're a fool! By the way, I was holding back a bit. So, I wouldn't injure you too severely."

Before Brad enters and comments, "If this is you holding back, I can't wait to see you unleash your full She-Hulk on someone."

Eric replies, "Man, I can't laugh right now. So, no more jokes until I recover, and I agree with you, man. I can't wait to see her in action on someone else."

Then the guys from group therapy enter, echoing in unison, "Same here!"

A week later, while she was at school, thirty gunmen arrived searching for Sophia, who wasn't present. Five of the gunmen entered her classroom looking for Sophia before she stood up and signed, "Don't stop me; I'll be fine, but these guys won't be around soon."

When one man questioned, "I thought she could talk now! What did she say?"

One of Bryan's friends, Troy, stood up and translated, "She instructed the teacher to call her grandfather General Young."

The leader inquired, "What's your name, kid?"

Troy glanced at Tracy before responding, "Bryan Hudson."

The guy grins and remarks, "Oh, the boyfriend!"

Shortly after, they trailed them to the cafeteria where Mrs. Rockford was present. Upon seeing the two decoys, she signed, "Little Green Girl, are you and Troy deceiving them?"

They smirked at her, and then Tracy signed, "These guys are about to face the fight of their lives."

Mrs. Rockford then signed, "I'm not sure how much time you have until these men discover your true identity, Little Green Girl. But I know Troy here is skilled in karate. So, whatever plan you have, I hope it succeeds."

Soon, the leader insists on speaking with Tracy while on a call with General Young. This makes her chuckle before retorting, "I'm right here, jerk, and you're in big trouble!"

As the leader soils himself, the two heroes launch their attack on the men. As soon as they step outside, she says to Noah, "That was incredible!"

Noah responds, "I know, the guys can't stop laughing about it. By the way, Rocket can read lips and knows sign language. He bet with Brad that in ten years, Troy would end up being your actual boyfriend."

She smiles before Noah exclaims, "Gosh, Tracy, your first crush is on a friend of Bryan's. That's it! I'm locking you in your room until you're forty."

Burt interjects, "Ha, Puck, wait until she turns thirteen to have this conversation with her, and be thankful she's not like Kurt." You have enough on your plate. Besides, if she gets her heart broken, we can help her give the boy a piece of her mind."

Then Noah chuckles before mimicking Kurt, "Dad, you can't keep doing this. You'll have a heart attack!" earning a playful punch on the shoulder from Burt.

A week later, Travis "Rocket" Williams, the son of Sergeant Travis Williams Sr., was on guard duty one night. When an army truck crashed through the gate, they shot him in the arm. Before long, he texts Noah, who had accidentally left his cell phone in Tracy's bedroom on her nightstand. The sound of the text woke her up, and she read it as she geared up. Then she sneaked out after returning his phone to his room, only texting Noah after she spotted the truck at Mike's house. She then texted Sergeant Williams after she heard Stacie screaming. Soon, someone tapped her shoulder, and she turned around to see Eric all geared up. They enter his house, and Brad says, "Puck texted me after hearing Mrs. Young screaming; there are bad men at your house too, and they know you are not there. So, how do you want to play this?"

Tracy was looking out her window towards Mike's house when she said, "Text Sarge and tell him to split up the men, half here and half at my house. If the leader is at my house and not here, tell Sarge to tell Sharp Shooter to just see if he can get a shot. Then we'll play it by ear from there."

After receiving a text from Noah, Eric said, "Ha, Puck took down the guys there all by himself and is on his way here with Sarge and the others."

When Noah arrives at Eric's, he says, "Ha, first off, these guys speak Spanish. Second, they called me Papa Hulk. That much I understood."

The guy who spoke Spanish then asks if Tracy knows Spanish, and she says, "Ha, no, I learned from Dora the Explorer too, but I may need you to translate some things."

Then the man says, "Buena, I can teach you more of my language. If that's what you want, By the way, I'm Bruno Banner. Ha, yeah, yeah, a scaredy-cat with the last name Banner. Anyway, Gallina is my call sign for two reasons. One, I love chicken, and two. I am a coward. But I am trying to change the cowardly part of group therapy. Also, I'm from Kentucky."

Tracy chuckles as she asks, "Gallina, did you ever get a really bad sunburn that would make you…?"

Soon, Sergeant Williams says, "Little She-Hulk, laugh later; it's time to save General Young and Stacie now!"

Before long, Tracy sings "Opportunity" as she hears her take down the bad guys alone.

Then Stacie and General Young ran outside. They heard a machine gun go off before Tracy cried in pain and said, "Oh, crap, She-Hulk is down! I'm hit in the arm again! Damn, it hurts like hell! Ha, still not my writing arm and my legs are pinned under a dead body! Oh, well, a negotiator doesn't need two arms. Okay, guys, I can only joke so much! Get me the fuck out of here!"

Sergeant Williams comes in to get her as he says, "Sorry, there was a sneak attack on your dad, and we had to help him. Puck may be fine, but it seems Eagle Eye frightened the men by shooting from his home. By the way, my son is very glad you answered Puck's cell phone because he was calling to get you anyway." She only catches half of what Sergeant Williams says before passing out from blood loss.

Later, when she woke up in the hospital, she saw Noah, Burt, and Santana standing beside her but didn't see Carole. Burt looked pretty beat up, and before she could ask about Carole, she heard him say to Brad, "I'm not your mother, Brad, and I want to see Tracy!"

Just before Brad comes in with Carole, who is in a wheelchair, Carole says, "Don't worry, Tracy. It's just a sprained ankle. Auntie Tana and Grandpa Burt fought off the guys. Plus, Carrie is okay; she's with Santana's mother back in Lima."

Santana sits on her hospital bed and says, "The bad guys came to my house too, but I was already headed here. Anyway, I moved in with your Grandpa Burt and Nana Carole since being in Lima is too painful. And since my mother is getting a job here, I thought it was for the best, and I heard you needed a tutor in Spanish. Haha."

Tracy chuckles before stating, "Well, two She-Hulks are better than one. Plus, I've missed Carrie, and I'm sure Dad has too." Then Santana receives a call from her mother, Maribel, and hears the sounds of screaming and gunfire.

Suddenly, Eric enters with Carrie in his arms and informs Santana, "Your mom was shot, but she's okay. She left shortly after you but was pursued the rest of the way here, and the chase made the news."

Santana glares at Eric and declares, "I saw what Tracy did to you too, and I'm not in the mood to go easy on anyone right now!"

"Then don't!" Eric retorts as he meets her gaze. Suddenly, Santana grabs Eric's ear and follows Rick into the exercise room.

Shortly after, Tracy receives a Skype call from Rick. Upon answering, she hears him exclaim, "Wow! If you grow up to be anything like your Aunt She-Hulk was at your age, I would feel sorry for anyone who dares to tease you about having one arm."

Then she glances to her left, realizing her arm is missing. Tears well up in her eyes, but the sight of Santana's assault on Eric compensates for it. Before long, Eric lies on the ground, and Santana exclaims, "God, you're still conscious? Man, I gave it to you! I thought you'd be unconscious by now."

She laughs and says, "Ha, he's out now! Ha, Team She-Hulk two, Eric zero!"

Tracy bursts into laughter, along with Rick. Then Santana tells Tracy while on the phone with Rick, "Ha, I was holding back too; Tracy and Carrie are becoming a Little' She-Hulk herself. So, I might be part of another Unholy Trinity of She-Hulks someday."

She pauses and says, as she looks away from the camera, "Mr. H, don't look at me like that! If she were a boy, you and Puck would agree with me on that."

Before the call ended, she heard Santana say, "Puck, you are my best friend here, and I am a big girl. Now, shut it, or I'll have Little She-Hulk help me kick your ass!" which made her giggle as they returned to her room.

Holding Carrie, she says to Santana, "Auntie Tana, I know you are like my dad, but I think Daddy Puck will need help taking care of me in ten years. Plus, I doubt he'll go shopping for girly things with me. Anyway, would you and your mom like to stay with us?"

Then Maribel says, "Ha, I would love to, but I moved in with my husband today. He is the one who removed your arm. Ha, you were the reason he started working here. Plus, I think Santana wanted to be close to her father. Besides, after running into Papa Blaine's parents, I think you require grandparents like us, Lopez's. I mean, I know you have Puck's mom and Sarah as another aunt. Plus, we fighters need to stick together."

Then Burt says, as he enters the room, "I agree with Great Auntie Maribel. Plus, Tracy, your Uncle Cooper will come down to stay with us. After he heard about what Grandpa Anderson did, he wanted to talk to me and Daddy Hulk there."

Suddenly, Sergeant Reynolds and Sergeant Williams enter together, saying, "Puck, does your girlfriend Santana know how to use a machine gun? Because her dad is the hostage and the leader thinks he's you."Tracy says, "Get Eric in here now and get my gear! If they want to see The Little She-Hulk, they'll be seeing me."

And Noah says, "No, goddamn it, Tracy Puckerman! I'm your father now, and I will not let you get hurt again."

Then Tracy grabs Noah's ear and says, "Well, Father, if you don't let me do this, you might lose Santana. So, it's either me or her, and right now! I say it's me! So, shut it and get me she looks at the two sergeants and says, "Eric, here you are!" now!"

As Eric walked into the room, Tracy said, "You are going in there with me to save Dr. Lopez, and I want you to tell Rick and General Young that you were videotaping the fight with Auntie Tana too!"

Eric just looked down and whispered, "Yes, ma'am, Little She-Hulk, ma'am."

Then Tracy said, as Santana helped her get her gear on, "What did you say, soldier? I didn't hear you!"

Eric replied louder, "Yes, ma'am, Little She-Hulk, ma'am!"

Noah punched Eric and said, "Man, what the fuck is wrong with you? Are you crazy? Did you leak another video?"

Then Burt seized Eric and declared, "Son, if she suffers or perishes due to your reckless actions, I hope you face a court martial this time!"

Soon Brad came in and said, "Tracy, on the day, I was late. I was trying to keep Eric out of trouble, and on your birthday, he got there seconds before you did. Frankly, Tracy, I think I want to see a rematch of you beating Eric after this!" No one said anything, but they were all thinking the same thing.

They soon found themselves confronted by twenty Iraqi soldiers. Tracy, after a quick look at Eric, said in their language, "Don't make me angry; you wouldn't like me when I'm angry."

Laughter then came through her headset, along with the words, "Yeah, Eagle Eye, don't rile up She-Hulk again!"

The leader soon says in English, "You're not the She-Hulk I saw in the video! Where is that sexy vixen who beat up your partner there? Where is Tracy Puckerman?"

She soon got red in the face before saying, "I'm the one you want, asshole! The woman in the video was my aunt, and I am not letting her get killed today! Plus, that is her father, Dr. Lopez, and I am not in the mood to go into details here! Just let him go right now, or I will give the order for my men to kill your men one at a time! You have to count to three, or you will lose each man here! One, two, three."

Dr. Lopez is let go after they shoot Eric in the chest, and Tracy grabs his gun and shoots the men trying to get near her. Then she notices her chair is moving and hears Santana say, "Little She-Hulk, Puck, and the guys outside were ambushed! I borrowed gear from a female G.I. who was my size, and Puck was hit in the leg while attempting to enter here!"

The gunfire ceased, and Santana swiftly lifted Tracy, rushing her to the hospital. Her leg began to throb painfully, and as she lost consciousness, Santana exclaimed, "God, Tracy, damn it! Dad, is her leg savable?" Subsequently, Tracy lost consciousness, with Santana's Spanish curses echoing in her ears as the last sound she heard.

When she wakes up, she notices everybody except Bruno, Rick, and Mike are there. Then she heard Bruno yelling in Spanish as Santana left the room before she said to Bruno in Spanish, "You are okay, Bruno; the bad men aren't here! Little 'She-Hulk' is awake and okay! Now, go change your pants! I don't think she wants to see you wet yourself again."

Then Bruno says in Spanish, "I was one of the people that was in the truck that killed her parents! My cousin is the one who choked her! My family was going to kill Stacie to get me to quit and come back to the family business! I was supposed to kill her the day I held Rick hostage, but I kept remembering the fight with the other guys."

Then it gets quiet before Santana returns with Bruno, who says, "Tracy, my family killed your parents, and I was supposed to kill you! I'm not from Kentucky. I am from Mexico, and my father is a drug lord! He has put a hit out on me, you, and Puck! The bad guys that went to your school were part of my father's gang! They didn't know that Sophia was with her stepdad's family! They know Brian is dead and that Troy tricked them! They also know Troy is in the foster care system, but they don't know where he lives! He is their first target because of another video Eric made."

Then Troy grabs Bruno and says, "You crazy son of a bitch! I lost my best friend because of idiots like you. Thanks to you, Brad almost lost his entire family."

Then Brad approaches Troy and says, "My parents are planning on adopting you. You know, they told Bryan a week before he died."

Then Troy approaches Carole and confesses, "I have a deep affection for your granddaughter, and she is my best friend. I don't mind that she is too young."

He then turns to Burt and admits, "I'm aware of your first wife, too. Look, I understand my feelings might evolve in ten years, but I promise I will do everything in my power to protect her. It doesn't matter if she reciprocates my feelings or not. I'm committed to ensuring her safety." Soon, they hear Tracy sobbing and notice a small bandage on her leg.

Before she says to Troy, "Troy, I have feelings for you, too, but being my boyfriend or even my friend carries risks. I'm not like Sophia! Damn it, Troy, I've already lost many people I love. Hell, I was on the verge of losing the one man I had loved more than anyone else. I wanted to move here to be close to him! I wanted him to be my dad because I felt sorry that he had lost my Aunt Beth! I can't bear to lose him or any more people that I love."

Then she screams in frustration before Noah sits on her bed and pulls her onto his lap. The moment they are alone, she reveals, "Nana ETracybeth warned me that Troy would die trying to save me on my birthday, but she didn't specify which birthday! She just told me it would be when I was the same age as Auntie Tana was when she first had a boyfriend."

Nine years later, on Tracy's twelfth birthday, a celebration was held at the Mess Hall by General Young. Everyone was in attendance when twenty armed men stormed in, one of them holding Bruno hostage. The man threatened to shoot everyone unless Tracy undressed and stood in the center of the room.

Santana, in an act of bravery, walked through the crowd, undressed, drawing the attention of the man who mockingly praised her, Tracy's voice echoed through a megaphone, warning the intruders that she was prepared to retaliate if they didn't release the hostages. She counted down, ready to take action.

Santana was the first to exit the building, informing Tracy that Troy had been injured while trying to save Puck. Santana's father approached them, offering his lab coat to cover her.

Santana was the first to exit the building, informing Tracy that Troy had been injured while trying to save Puck. Santana's father approached them and offered his lab coat to cover her.

Tracy heard Brad's voice in her helmet, expressing his determination to join her in confronting the gunmen. He was unwilling to let Troy die alone.

Despite the pleas from multiple voices urging her not to go in, Tracy proceeded. Inside, she found a gruesome scene - one man was holding Carole's decapitated head, and both Noah and Burt were severely injured.

Before Brad could react, Tracy took his gun and began shooting the men one by one, expressing her anger and grief over the loss of her boyfriend, parents, and grandmother.

After dealing with the last man, she headed straight to the hospital. She found Noah and Burt in a room and climbed onto Noah's bed, apologizing before falling asleep.

When she woke up, she saw Brad in tears, mourning the loss of his parents. Noah stirred, addressing her affectionately. Burt revealed that Troy had chosen to die rather than live without her.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Tracy stormed out and vented her frustration in the group therapy room. Bruno, feeling guilty, offered himself as a target for her anger.

She dragged Bruno to the physical therapy room, and Noah received a Skype call from Rick, who reported that Tracy was taking out her anger on him.

Tracy confronted Bruno, blaming him for the tragedies in her life. Even after Bruno lost consciousness, she continued to hit him until Brad intervened and urged her to calm down and breathe.

In tears, Tracy revealed that Troy had proposed to her the day before his death. She regretted not giving him an answer and blamed herself for his death.

After the call ended, everyone was left in tears. When Tracy returned to the room, she climbed into Noah's bed and confessed that she couldn't imagine being with anyone else at the moment, despite knowing there would be others in the future.

Following that, Tracy attended every therapy session but remained silent. She simply stared at Bruno the entire time, disregarding everyone else. Then one day, Rick declared, "Enough is enough, Tracy! Forgive Bruno and move on! I'm tired of this nonsense! You can't hold a grudge against Bruno indefinitely!"

Tears streaming down her face, she retorts, "His family murdered mine, Uncle Rick! I thought avenging them would bring me solace! All it did was intensify my pain because I couldn't bring them back! I lost the love of my life to his damned family, and now I'm expected to forgive him! I know he's not to blame! Here!"

She points to her head, saying, "I'm struggling here!"

Then, pointing to her chest, she confesses, "I want to forgive him, but I can't right now! It still hurts to see him here every week! I can't even look at Grandpa Burt without being reminded of that day! I haven't slept since then! Because every time I close my eyes, I see my Nana's head floating in the air! Everyone warned me not to go in there, but I didn't listen! Last night, I was on the brink of overdosing on the sleeping pills you gave Daddy! But I stopped myself and texted my Uncle Dave until Daddy woke up this morning! I didn't call you because I wasn't sure I wanted you to know."

She rolls up her sleeve, revealing scars on her arm. Before she says, "I started doing this after that day!" Then she looks at the men and asks, "Do you still think I'm brave now?"

Then she screams, "I'm not brave if I want to die!"

Soon, she hears the sound of crying and sees Noah, Burt, and General Young in the doorway, weeping. Then she says to Noah, "I'm so sorry. I didn't tell you, Daddy! I just didn't know how to, and I don't want to die! I just couldn't bear the pain in my heart anymore! Saying all that helped me too. Plus, Daddy, I don't want to leave you or Grandpa Burt. It's just that the pain was becoming too much to bear, and I wasn't thinking straight! I just really miss Troy and me."

Soon, she is sobbing, and Noah picks her up, cradling her as he sits in her chair. Then, Bruno says, "Tracy, I'm sorry for what my family did to you, and to be honest, you weren't the only one close to hurting themselves last night, and Rick was on the phone with me all night, too."

Before Bruno can say another word, she embraces him and says, "I'm sorry, I was mad at you, and I forgive you!"

She soon curls back up onto Noah's lap, sobbing openly. Then Brad enters the room and says, "Tracy, I have something from Troy for you."

Tracy just looks up at Brad, who is holding a bag. When she opens it, she sees a clothing box, a white dress, and a note from Troy. It reads, "I know you wanted to say yes to that question I asked you, and I know this is not a wedding dress. But I hope to see you wearing it on your birthday or at the next banquet. My little princess, Tracy Puckerman, I love you. Forever yours, Troy Hudson." Then Tracy gets up as Santana enters the room with Maribel, and she whispers something in Santana's ear. Then Tracy leaves with Santana, only to return wearing the dress and silver strappy shoes. She also had her hair in a bun, plus gloss and she said, "Daddy, may I have this dance?" Before that, Santana played My Little Girl on her phone.

At Troy's funeral, she sat with Brad while Noah and Burt sat beside her. While listening to all his friends talk about what she assumed was another girlfriend, She stares down at the dress that he bought her. Soon, Brad gets up to speak before glancing at her as a TV is brought in and saying, "Tracy, look at me."

Tracy complies before Brad says, "You're the fiancé everybody has been talking about, and we all know you didn't give Troy an answer. But he knew you would've said yes, and he was going to ask you again in front of everyone at your birthday party. He just never got the chance, and your dad told me that Troy was the greatest guy he ever knew. The day Troy helped you attack the guys at your school, he fell in love with you, too, and he asked your dad's permission to marry you."

Then Tracy looked at Noah before Brad continued, "Tracy, Troy was willing to wait for however long it took to be your man, and I guess he thought he would die for you. So you would know just how much he loved you. Anyway, I found a DVD in his room while going through his stuff."

Brad turned on the TV, and Tracy saw Troy smiling before Brad pressed play. Soon, Troy says, "Okay, Tracy Puckerman. I am making this DVD to prove to you just how much I love you."

She noticed Troy was in Lima, Ohio, and saw Nana ETracybeth's grave in the background. Before, she hears Troy talking to the gravestone, saying, "Hello, Mrs. Hummel, my name is Troy Hudson, and no, I am not related to Carole or Finn. Anyway, I am your granddaughter's fiancé, or at least I hope to be someday." There was more on the DVD, but she didn't see or hear it because she sobbed and buried her face in Noah's chest before hyperventilating and passing out.

When she woke up, she noticed Noah was holding her head in his lap as they went to the grave site in a limo. Then she told Brad, who was with them, "I'm sorry you lost another brother, and I'm sorry I didn't save him; it was all my fault that he is."

Then she sobs again, and Brad says, "Tracy, don't blame yourself for this! Okay? How were you to know that Troy would sacrifice himself to save you? By the way, your Uncle Finn told me he would die on your birthday, and judging by how I noticed we were both acting for the last nine years on your birthday, I am guessing you were told too." Tracy just nods her head and stares at her lap. The moment they exit the limousine, her legs feel like jelly, and Noah picks her up before carrying her to the grave. The next few minutes were a blur as she stared at the casket and tuned out the pastor as he was talking about Troy. Tracy didn't even notice the people coming up to her. She, however, felt Noah's chest rumbling as he yelled at someone but didn't hear what they said.

Soon she finds herself in bed and hears Noah yelling at someone, saying, "I can't believe Patrick had the fucking nerve to show his face at Troy's funeral! I mean, what the hell is wrong with him!?"

Then she heard Cooper say, "I'm sorry, Puck. I didn't know he was going to try and take her again."

She storms into the living room before saying, "Uncle Cooper, you tell Grandpa Pat. If I see him again, he better be prepared to get his ass kicked!"

Cooper nods before saying, "Did you know Troy came to see Grandpa Pat last month when I was staying there? He told your grandpa that you were the best thing that ever happened to him and that he knew you were the one. When he first saw you, the day back when Bryan helped you save your school,

Tracy sobbed as she said, "Uncle Cooper, could you please leave? I doubt I can handle one more person telling me that, and I need to be alone right now. Okay? " Then she returns to her room and locks the door before taking her clothes off and looking at herself in her full-length mirror. Then she puts on the t-shirt that Troy left in her room the one night he snuck in after she had called him because she couldn't sleep. It still smelled like him, and it made her feel so safe. After this, she hears Burt and comes out of her room, wearing the sweatpants that Troy got for her last year.

Noah was about to ask where she got the shirt but stopped himself when he saw Troy's name on it. Then Rachel enters the room with Jesse and says, "Puck, don't worry, she'll get past this someday. She just needs time to heal, and we all notice you haven't dated anyone since Quinn's death."Noah hesitated, his eyes fixed on the shirt Tracy was wearing. It was Troy's shirt—the one he used to wear all the time. The fabric seemed to hold memories, and Noah wondered how Tracy had come to possess it. But he didn't ask out loud.

Just then, Rachel swept into the room, her presence commanding attention. She was with Jesse, and her expression was a mix of sympathy and determination. "Puck," she said, addressing Noah by his nickname, "don't worry. Tracy will get through this. Healing takes time, and we've all noticed you haven't dated anyone since Quinn's passing."

Carrie, Tracy's fiery sister, barged in next, holding little Beth's hand. Her voice was sharp, cutting through the tension. "Auntie Rachel, will you shut it!" she snapped. "Daddy is fine. He has me, Tracy, and Beth now—all thanks to Mama and Nana Shelby. So, take your grieving etiquette elsewhere!"

Burt chuckled as he entered the room. "Carrie," she said, "you've been spending too much time with your Auntie Tana." His comment earned him a playful punch from Santana, who followed him in. Santana was holding hands with her girlfriend, Dani, and her smirk suggested she was enjoying the family drama.

Tracy sat quietly, wearing Troy's shirt-like armor. The men in the room noticed her trembling, her vulnerability laid bare. When it was her turn to speak during group therapy, she sobbed and stammered, "I miss Troy. I dream about our wedding day—the one we'll never have. School is a struggle; I can't step into an AV class or the cafeteria without breaking down. Troy's friends try to help, but the pain persists. I've stopped self-harming, and I write poetry to heal. But why would God lead me to my soulmate only to take him away?"

The room fell silent, the weight of grief heavy in the air. Tracy's question echoed, unanswered as if the universe itself grappled with the same mystery.

Tracy dashed out of the room, her heart pounding. The physical therapy room loomed ahead, and there, unexpectedly, stood Matt Campbell—a friend of Troy's. The last time she'd seen him was on the day Troy proposed to her. But now, everything has changed.

Matt's voice trembled as he spoke, "I tried to save him, but I was shot in the arm." Tracy's eyes widened; Matt was missing his left arm. Despite the pain, he drew her into a tight hug, and their lips met. In that kiss, Tracy felt a mix of relief and guilt.

As they pulled away, their eyes locked. But the moment was shattered by throat-clearing sounds. The guys from group therapy stood there, grinning like they knew something she didn't. Noah and Burt were among them, and Tracy's glare could have melted steel.

Noah's voice cut through the tension, "Without Troy, she'd be an orphan. He saved my life too, even before I faced those psycho cousins. Damn it, Bruno!" His anger was palpable.

Tracy's tears welled up. She stepped into the therapy room and confronted Bruno. "Tell me everything," she demanded.

Bruno hesitated, then confessed, "My cousins wanted to kill Santana and your sister when she returned. And that night, your parents died—they—" His voice cracked.

Before he could finish, Tracy lunged at him. But Matt intervened, wrapping his arms around her waist. His whispered words softened her rage: "He's not worth it, Baby Girl."

She pushed back, her voice trembling, "Matt, please. Troy has only been gone a week, and I still love him."

Matt's eyes bore into hers. "Bullshit," he said fiercely. "That kiss told me differently. And remember, I took your virginity on the day Troy proposed. Tracy, you're my person, not him. I love you."

Tracy burst into the chaotic mess hall, her heart pounding. The acrid scent of fear and desperation hung heavy in the air. Santana, her beloved aunt, lay bound and battered, her once-vibrant eyes now dull with pain. Tracy's gaze locked onto the menacing figure wielding a whip—the leader of this twisted hostage situation.

"Why the hell did you hurt my aunt, asshole?" Tracy's voice trembled with rage. She didn't care about the danger; all that mattered was saving Santana.

Noah and Brad flanked her, their expressions equally determined. Noah's eyes blazed with fury, and Brad's jaw clenched. They were a team—a makeshift family forged through shared hardships and loyalty.

Travis, perched in a hidden vantage point, relayed information through his earpiece. "I'm locked on the leader, Little She-Hulk," he whispered. "Fifteen guys with me. My dad's waiting for your signal."

Tracy's mind raced. She had faced danger before—hostage situations, loss, and heartache—but this was different. Santana was family, and Tracy would move heaven and earth to protect her.

The whip cracked again, and Santana's body convulsed. Tracy's fists clenched. "Enough!" she shouted, her voice echoing off the grimy walls. "Release her now!"

The leader turned, his eyes narrowing. "You're the one they call Little She-Hulk?" His voice dripped with malice. "Your mama owes me, and I'll make her pay."

Tracy's breath caught. Her mother, Rachel, had vanished after her uncle's murder. The stalker's twisted obsession had torn their lives apart. Now, Santana's life hung in the balance.

"I don't care about debts or vendettas," Tracy declared. "But if you touch Santana again, I swear I'll—"

Before she could finish, the room erupted. Travis's team stormed in, guns drawn. Chaos ensued—the clash of wills, the desperate struggle for survival. Tracy fought like a whirlwind, fueled by love and fury.

And as the dust settled, she cradled Santana's broken form in her arms. Tears blurred her vision, but she whispered, "Hang on, Auntie. We'll get you out of here."

Santana's eyes fluttered open, and she managed a weak smile. "You're a force, Tracy. Just like your mama."

Tracy's resolve hardened. She'd find Rachel, unravel the secrets, and reclaim their fractured family. But first, she'd ensure Santana's safety. Justice would prevail—even if it meant becoming the hero Santana needed.

And so, in that grimy mess hall, Tracy vowed to rewrite their story—one of courage, sacrifice, and unbreakable bonds. The echoes of her promise reverberated through the chaos, drowning out the past and forging a new path—one where love would conquer all.

Tracy's world spun in chaos—a tapestry of danger, love, and sacrifice. The mess hall, once a place of camaraderie, now echoed with gunfire and desperation. The leader, cold and unyielding, aimed his gun at Noah, and the room held its breath.

"Daddy Puck is down!" Tracy's voice pierced the chaos, her words a desperate plea. Brad carried Santana, wounded but alive, into the makeshift hospital. Sergeant Reynolds tended to Noah, his arm stained crimson with blood.

Tracy's guilt gnawed at her. She blamed herself for the violence, for the lives hanging in the balance. But Santana's voice cut through her turmoil: "It wasn't your fault, Tracy! He was going to kill you because you were the daughter of fags!"

Fury ignited within Tracy. She stormed off, seeking solace in the therapy room. Noah's hushed conversation with Rick and Burt echoed in her mind. "Carrie is in danger," he confessed. "And I might die too."

Cooper's room held more secrets. Patrick's words hung heavy: "Puck's daughter will die soon, and Puck will go blind." Tracy's heart clenched. Her father's sight—already fragile—was now threatened by a gunshot wound to his eyes.

In the physical therapy room, Tracy's distress erupted. Objects flew, and Matt tried to soothe her. "Why did I wait for my angels to speak?" she cried. "Tomorrow will bring a dreadful day for Auntie Tana." Her resolve crystallized: "They are not dying tomorrow! I am!"

Noah pleaded with her, but Tracy stood firm. The next day, as gunmen stormed the mess hall, she was ready. Geared up, she moved with purpose, bullets flying. She took them down, one by one, until they hit her—the searing pain, the darkness.

When she woke, sightless, Noah's voice cut through her fear. "Can you see me, Squirt?" Tears blurred her vision. "Is everybody else okay?"

Matt's hand found hers. "Your angels kept something from you," he said gently. "You're going to be a teenage mother." Dr. Lopez assured her the blindness was not permanent.

And then Patrick stood by her bed. "I regret the words I spoke," he confessed. "You're having twins." Tracy laughed, her joy infectious. "Grandpa Burt will be thrilled," she her pregnancy progressed, Tracy's resolve deepened. She would rewrite their story—a tale of resilience, sacrifice, and love. And when her twin daughters arrived, she'd teach them about courage, fighting for family, and the strength that ran through their veins.

In the quiet moments, she'd whisper to them: "You're a part of something bigger, my little angels. And together, we'll face whatever comes."

The End.