Title: Wanna Take You Home (With Me)
Author: cx7171
Genre: Romance/Humor/Family/Fluff
Chapter: 3/?
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 3,654
Summary: AU. She didn't know what she was getting herself into. She just needed a change. Who knew she would meet a man she absolutely hates and maybe, with time, not hate him so much?
AN: Not beta'ed. Sorry it took me longer to update. I'm still a little rusty but I'm glad you're enjoying the story.
Wanna Take You Home (With Me)Chapter 3
There are things no one could find out about famous people, even if people tried to follow their every step. Their minds were private territory, at least for those smart enough to keep their mouth shut and their private lives outside a trashy reality show.
Puck woke up in the middle of the night. Two thirty-four, read the time on his mobile phone. He sighed and stared at the ceiling of his room for a few minutes not being able to fall asleep again because even if for an outsider he looked like an empty-headed, action-movie actor, he had a lot to think about, besides partying.
Deciding there was no point in wasting time, he decided to do the only thing that always served as a good medicine to put his mind at ease.
He left the bed and silently made his way out of his room and down the hall, to the bedroom at the opposite side from his. He pushed the door opened and smiled at the small figure sleeping in the middle of the twin size bed. Beth was curled up and hugging her plush piggy to her chest. With the soft light coming from the hall, he could see her flushed cheeks and the way she peacefully slept.
By the time he kneeled besides the bed, dropping a soft kiss on Beth’s forehead after carefully pushing her golden hair back, Noah remembered why he needed to be there, to have the certainty she was fine. He had never had a dad doing that for him, and being blessed with such a little, adorable little person sometimes seemed too good for a guy like him.
“Daddy?” Beth mumbled sleepily. Her cute face scrunched up in confusion.
“Shh. Sleep, my tiny hummingbird,” Noah cooed, making his daughter smile, even if her eyes were closed.
The feeling of her little hand reaching for his never failed to make his heart swell with pride and love for her. He was lucky to have her; she had forced him to keep his head on his shoulders and not let himself to get carried away by his fame, money and friends.
“Stay?” Beth asked softly, blinking rapidly until she could barely focus her eyes on him.
He grinned. “Am I not too big?” He knew one day she’d grow up to the point when she would be slamming doors on his nose and yelling that she wanted to be left alone. Right now he wanted to enjoy she was a child who adored her dad.
Beth smiled. “Never!” She tugged his hand and forced him to get into her bed.
Noah lay on his back over the covers while Beth stayed under them. He hugged her when she rested her head on his chest and slung an arm around her waist. She was a perfect bundle of joy.
“Could you sing to me?” Noah asked softly and Beth grumbled.
“It’s late, Daddy. Tomorrow.”
He sighed and smoothed a hand over her back until she started to fall asleep again.
“Promise?”
“Promise,” Beth mumbled at the time she unintentionally slammed Puck, the piggy, over his stomach. “G’night, Daddy.”
“Night, baby girl,” he murmured into the dark.
Sometimes he wished he could just forget about his past, that he could pretend to be someone else but that was impossible to do. He was a man already and, even if he lived day by day, the past made you who you were. He couldn’t just let go of who he was.
His biggest fear was that, when Beth grew up, she would realize Daddy was not the hero she seemed to see in him. He was a flawed man, one who didn’t have the cleanest reputation and had done wrong to some people. Yes, he had changed his ways but was still sarcastic and crass because by then it was ingrained in his nature but he was also a father; that changed him to the core.
…
Since she was a child, Rachel always woke up early in the morning. At first it was because her dads got up early for work and she liked to watch cartoons in the morning. As she grew up, it was because she liked to work out and also read the newspaper while enjoying a cup of coffee; she liked the cold in the morning, it made her feel like her mind was more aware for the rest of the day.
Now she couldn’t shake that habit off. So she woke up early and decided to check on Beth, who also loved to be up early.
Rachel had taken advantage of Noah’s private gym (something he had told her she was allowed to do at any time, since he usually used it at night) and then had made some fresh fruit juice. For her and for Beth.
She had quietly made her way to Beth’s room, avoiding to make much noise since she doubted her boss would appreciate being woken up before noon.
“Sweetie-“ Rachel murmured as she pushed opened the door that was ajar. Words faded away when she took in the sight before her.
Father and daughter were hugging each other, enjoying peaceful slumber.
A smile grew on Rachel’s face.
It was absolutely adorable to see Beth safely wrapped up in the arms of her dad. That protectiveness Noah had for her was probably his best quality. He was a true papa bear. He’d never let anything happen to his child and would always make sure Beth had everything she needed. Maybe that was what moved him through life.
“Rachel?” Beth called softly, her chin perched on Noah’s side as her big green eyes blinked at Rachel.
Her nanny smiled brightly. “Morning, honey,” she whispered as she tiptoed her way closer to the bed. “I brought you some orange and carrot juice.”
Beth’s tiny eyebrow arched in the same mischievous way her dad’s did whenever he doubted something was to his liking.
Rachel chuckled. “It’s good. Try it.” She offered her hand to help her out of bed. “Let’s let your daddy sleep a little longer, okay?”
Beth nodded and held onto her hand so Rachel could pick her up.
Luckily for Rachel, she had placed the glass with juice on Beth’s night table because neither of the girls expected Noah to hold on tighter to Beth as she was slipping away. On second thought, she should have thought about it. He would never let Beth go.
Beth squeaked and then proceeded to giggle when, with his force, Rachel toppled over Noah.
“What the-?” Noah mumbled as he glowered at Rachel and her flushed cheeks. When he saw her embarrassed expression (and felt her hands on him as she tried to stand up), he smirked amusedly at her. “Hey, babe. If you wanted to nap with us, all you had to do was ask.”
Rachel quickly stood up and glared at him. “Don’t call me babe.”
He yawned and lay on his back, arms behind his head while Beth kept her attentive gaze on them, one arm around her piggy and holding her glass of juice with two hands as she sipped from it.
“Don’t call me Noah,” he retorted.
She scoffed and made a rude noise she wished she could’ve controlled but the man had the strange ability to make her feel weak in the knees and also annoy her to levels she hadn’t previously known.
“I’m not going to call you boss, Mr. Puckerman nor sir, if that’s what you want.”
The way his lips twisted into some (sexy) stupid smile, made her angrier. “Not a bad idea but I’d rather you call me Puck.”
“It’s a nickname. A bad one who responds to some childish behavior, I suppose.”
“Yeah. Sorry, babe.”
“Noah,” she warned.
He chuckled. Her anger clearly amused him. “Are you a governess?”
Rachel rolled her eyes and decided he was a lost battle, so she turned to Beth and her innocent and lovely face. “Sweetie, why don’t we go to the kitchen so we can have breakfast together?” She accompanied her question with a tender smile that provoked one in Beth’s face.
“’Kay.” She handed her now empty glass to her nanny. “And the juice was yummy, Ray. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Noah just observed the scene and didn’t even bother about the fact he was being ignored by the two girls - well, Beth pecked his cheek soundly before jumping off the bed to sprint her way to the kitchen.
“Hey, Miss Berry?”
Rachel was at the door when he called for her attention. She was prepared to be mocked again but his relaxed posture in bed, just propped on his elbows, flaunting his biceps and flat stomach, forced her to avoid looking at him.
“I know I’m a bad boy.”
She shot him a curious look. Maybe he wanted to apologize?
“I could use a good spanking if you’re willing to give one to me.” He added a wink at the end that forced her to gasp with utter indignation. He laughed.
“I could sue you for sexual harassment!” she hissed. “You can’t make those comments to me. You can get away with those with other women who… throw their undies at you but not me. I’m working for you and you’re taking advantage of your position, thinking I won’t -“
“Tell me one thing, how many bosses had allowed you to talk like that to them? To just speak your mind?”
She blinked at him.
“I’m joking,” he said as he sat up. He was serious. “I’m sorry you don’t like my sense of humor but you should know one thing, the most important rule for me: I won’t do anything that could harm Beth, that means no women here, no parties, no alcohol, no smoking… no pork,” he smiled to himself.
It was bizarre, but she believed him. In the almost three weeks she had been working for them, he had never brought women to the house (as some gossip blogs said he did). He didn’t drink more than one or two beers while watching football and never around Beth. He didn’t smoke. And he hid the pork pretty well (she wasn’t going to judge him because her own Daddy used to eat bacon alone in the kitchen when he was stressed).
“You go to temple?” Rachel asked shyly.
“No. We mostly go when we’re visiting my Ma but here? It’s just so paps can follow us around and… she has enough of that shit already. I want her life to be as normal as it can be.” He sounded remorseful, even if perhaps he would’ve have never been able to give Beth such a good life had he stayed in Odessa. Though, perhaps Beth wouldn’t exist if he had grown up to be a mechanic like his deadbeat dad had been.
Sighing Rachel smiled at him. “I only go when I visit my dads in Ohio. But,” she paused to give him time to look at her in the eye, “it’s nice, you know? Even as child, going with them to temple felt special.”
He smiled.
“Rachel!” Beth’s thin voice shouted with a hint of a pout. “I want waffles.”
Puck snorted a laugh and Rachel followed suit. Waffles were his favorite food for breakfast (with a healthy portion of bacon on the side but he kept that piece of information to himself).
Suddenly they heard a little, “Please?” as if Beth had just remembered her manners.
“I’m going!” Rachel replied and then turned to Puck, seeing him with some kind of longing in his eyes as he stared ahead, eyes unfocused. “She’s a good girl. I don’t know how or why but you lucked out with that little girl.” He nodded at her. “And I know you like me as much as I like you - which is close to minus five - but you’re a good dad and that’s very commendable.”
She turned around without another word and rapidly made her way down the stairs, talking cheerfully to Beth as she did, telling her about some fruits and strawberry jam filled waffles.
Noah’s smile forced him to bite his lips. Rachel might have never believed him but… he kind of like her. A lot more than he should have had.
…
In her day off, Rachel decided to test the city alone for the first time. Of course it was a rather expensive task considering that public transportation didn’t reach the place where Noah’s house was and, well, it didn’t have the best reputation so she didn’t trust it.
She just asked Freddy, the kind chauffer who couldn’t stop calling her Miss Berry, to take her to Central Malibu where she would find her way to Los Angeles. Of course, she found her way to the classic touristy places, like the Chinese Theater and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Being there only reinforced her image of the place being decadent and somewhat disgusting; like an old famous movie star who drank too much alcohol.
She just took a few pictures with her phone and posted them on her Twitter account so Kurt would believe her she didn’t spend all day locked inside the house.
A tourist flirted with her but she turned him down because, well, she barely understood his English and she had a rule about no dating men shorter than her, or wider than taller.
She just bought a few newspapers to look for auditions and also, she wanted to check on a few agents’ offices to see if they seemed shady or not. She just wanted to test waters, so she dropped off some resumes to see if she got a phone call.
She went back “home” early. Her feet hurt and she was sick of the noise, the smell and her sweaty skin. The bathtub in her bathroom was calling her so she could take a long and relaxing bath.
By the time she entered the place, she felt the need to greet Beth. Somehow the girl had become her best friend; it was a little sad but also understandable considering she spent all day with her.
When she was walking past the entertainment room, Rachel saw Noah alone in front of the TV playing Madden by himself.
“Hi,” she greeted and he barely turned his head to look over his shoulder.
“Did you get bored in LA already?” He was teasing her.
“Well, after buying everything in Rodeo Drive-“
“I haven’t paid you yet.”
“That’s what credit cards are for,” she quipped but then he paused his game and turned around to face her.
“You serious?” Noah looked at her as if searching for countless shopping bags around her.
She snorted a laugh. “No! Come on, I lived in New York. It wouldn’t be the first time I’m surrounded by designers’ clothes and accessories I can’t afford.”
He shrugged and went back to his game.
“So, where’s Beth? I thought she would be here, watching you being awesome,” she joked and at least, he chuckled.
“Her mom came to pick her up to spend the day with her.”
“Oh.”
Everyone knew who Beth’s mom was. It was hard not to when the relationship Noah had had with Quinn Fabray had been so popular at the time. Well, it wasn’t as if they had been big news because of their romance but because he was a bad boy and Quinn was a bit of America’s sweetheart with her perfect looks and beautiful long, blonde hair.
Quinn lived out of being pretty, making commercials and some modeling. She also was smart and had a great sense of style, which often got her places in TV shows and fashion magazines.
No one knew why they dated or why they had broken up while she was pregnant with Beth.
“I thought she didn’t see her mom.”
“Q doesn’t like the job as a mom, the responsibilities.” Noah shook his head and even if his voice was under control, Rachel was startled when he chucked the controller in his hands forcefully against the carpeted floor.
People had blamed him when months after giving birth, Quinn was found partying hard and had gotten drunk a few times. She had even been caught on tape kissing a woman and there was a video of her smoking marijuana and laughing hysterically while being high.
“I don’t like it but she has the right to visit her and… I won’t keep Beth away from her mom.”
“Noah-“
He shook his head, as if he hadn’t been listening to her. “If I could, I would keep her away from Beth because she has a problem, you know? She thinks she can do anything because she does these things to have an image she has to keep. She’s crazy.”
Rachel knew this wasn’t something she should’ve heard. “You don’t need to explain it to me.”
He looked up and Rachel understood that maybe it wasn’t about if should or not happen but that he didn’t have many people to talk about this; perhaps Tina and some friends but his lawyer and apparently confidante had taken a weekend off to be with her husband in Cabo.
“She pretended to be this perfect Catholic girl, everything I wasn’t supposed to get because of who I am.” He snorted a sarcastic laugh. “And it wasn’t as if I only liked her because she is gorgeous because, shit, she got her nose in an OR so it’s not like she is unique. I liked her because she was this… angel… untarnished. She was a fresh start.” Noah sighed. “I thought she’d help me change but she just wanted to have fun and she got pregnant and… the only reason she didn’t get rid of it was because of her family. Her dad would’ve had a heart attack and cut her credit cards off if he had found out about it.”
He stood up and started to pace up and down the room while Rachel’s gaze followed him.
“When she told me that, when she told me her mom would raise my kid, I lost it. I broke up with her and told her I would keep my kid for myself, that I wasn’t afraid of her father, a bad copy of Donald Trump, that I would manipulate the press and hire the best lawyer even if I lost all my money. But she doesn’t like her parents, so she gave me Beth. She gave it away just like that.”
“Was it after that that she… changed?”
Puck scoffed and sat back down, next to the spot Rachel was using.
“She dated her best friend for six months while she was in high school, while she pretended to be with that Disney guy? And she confessed to me that she made herself throw up. And my untarnished angel became a disguised demon who didn’t want to change. Worst thing is I think she just did it to annoy her dad.”
Rachel placed a hand over his, patting it in a feeble attempt to comfort him.
“You’ve done a good job with Beth.”
He let his head fell forward and grumbled under his breath. “You can’t tell anyone about it.” He shot her a look that told her about the severity of his situation. “Quinn gave me Beth under one condition and that was not to say a thing about everything I learned of her.”
“You have my word. And a contract that says I can’t say a thing.” Rachel stood up, ready to leave him alone once again. “I thought those were just rumors. Quinn Fabray and bulimia problems, the drugs, the alcohol and the… experimentation. She’s so sweet when you see her on TV.”
“She’s just a damaged kid who grew up to be a damaged woman.”
“Aren’t we all?” Rachel shook her head. “And yet not all of us end up hiding behind a character or ignoring our problems, not all of us let go of their children when we have the chance to raise them. Exchanging a child for silence is despicable, Noah. What she did, the way she has ignore Beth.”
“Sadly, I don’t blame her.”
“No?”
“She’s sick. Her soul and her mind are… sick. She thinks she wants the world but she’s still struggling to find out who she is.” His elbows were firmly planted over his knees. His eyes were looking into the paused screen but he was clearly not watching it. “The only reason I let her see Beth is because her mother is supervising. Even if the woman drinks more than sufficient thanks to her son of a bitch husband, she at least has the good sense not to do it around children.”
“I always thought those were… rumors, gossip that was just to hurt her because they never were proved.”
Noah chuckled sadly. “Those rumors that are whispered are generally true. Those that are shouted, those are publicity, princess. You learn that quickly.” He slowly stood up.
“You let everyone think you were the bad guy when you two ended things. Why?”
He smirked while looking at his shoes. “Story for another time, babe. My throat is dry. Not used to talking this much.” He walked past her, his large hand curling around her arm, brushing it gently in a gesture that expressed his thankfulness more than his words could.
She had never been close to him like that, but she wasn’t upset by it.
He left the room at slow pace, leaving her alone there and feeling a little bad for him but also amazed by his resilience and his growth. Noah was clearly playing a character for the press but there was much more to him than the bad boy who got into trouble, the one with the sharp tongue and bulging muscles.
Maybe she had judged him too quickly.
TBC.