The Road Less Traveled - Puck/Kurt - Continued
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To say that Kurt was nervous was like saying that the Grand Canyon was a ditch.
It had been a little over a month now since that first date with Puck that had ended up with two very exhausted boys passed out in Beth's nursery, a sleeping baby nestled in-between both of them. When they'd woken up a few hours later, to Beth's hungry cries, they'd made it official with a chaste kiss over a screaming baby.
Boyfriends. Kurt had a boyfriend. Puck was Kurt's boyfriend. Any way you said it, Kurt couldn't help but smile like an idiot.
And yes, maybe Beth had interrupted Kurt's first date with a boy, a boy!, but Kurt didn't blame her one bit. Not really. It was nice having all of Puck's attention on you, as Kurt was fast learning.
Today, however, was not about Puck. Well, technically it was because Kurt was about to drop the biggest bomb in the history of bombs on his father. Kurt Hummel had a boyfriend, who just happened to have a two month old baby girl. If Kurt believed in God, he'd be down on his knees praying that everyone made it out of this conversation alive.
Making his way up from his room, Kurt took a deep breath and entered the living room, where he knew his father was having his afternoon beer, the one Kurt wasn't supposed to even know about.
"Hey, dad." Kurt said, overlooking the beer in his father's hand for the time being.
"Hey, kiddo," Burt said as he subtly tried to hide his beer. "What're you doing here in the middle of the afternoon? I half expected you to be out, again, like you have been since school let out."
"No, not today, daddy." Kurt said, cursing himself for his slip.
"Oh boy," Burt shifted in his chair, leaning forward. "Its 'daddy' then, is it? What is it you want and how much is it going to cost me?" Burt sighed, already reaching for his wallet.
"Wha-dad, no! I don't need anything and I don't want any money." Kurt half wanted to pout at the fact his father expected him to want something.
Burt slowly closed his wallet and placed it back in his pants pocket.
"You don't need anything and this isn't about money?" Burt asked, a confused look flashing across his face.
"No, dad, I-" Kurt tried to start again but his father just cut him off.
"No one's bothering you, are they? Because I might be getting on in my years but I promise you, I can still kick their asses!" Burt exclaimed, a gleam in his eye that scared Kurt slightly.
"No. Nobody's bothering me, dad. It's summer vacation and I'm sure those Neanderthals from school have better things to do then torment the local gay kid."
"Good. Because I know places to hide bodies. Places no one would ever think to look." Burt chuckled and Kurt now officially feared for Puck's life.
"Daddy, please." Kurt said, sighing. "I need to tell you something. Something important and I-"
"Is it about a boy? Because I'm not sure I'm ready for that conversation yet." Burt said, laughing at just how ridiculous it sounded. His laughter died on hip lips when he noticed that Kurt was looking anywhere but at him. "Kurt..."
"Dad, please, just listen. I-"
"There's a boy? Oh, Kurt, no." Burt groaned and slumped back into his chair. "You aren't old enough for there to be a boy! I'm not ready for there to be a boy!"
"Dad, stop! Just be quiet for a minute and listen to me because its not-"
"Not a boy? Oh, thank god!" Burt released a rather ridiculous sigh of relief, completely missing the irritated look covering Kurt's face.
Kurt opened his mouth to tell his father to please shut up when the doorbell rang, interrupting them both.
"Hang on just a second, kid. Let me see who's at the door and run 'em off then we'll finish this conversation." Burt said, already making his way out of the room and towards the front door.
Kurt groaned as he slumped back against the couch. Of course this wasn't going to be an easy conversation but did his dad really have to go and make it even more complicated?
A sharp cry had Kurt up and running in an instant.
"Uh, Kurt..." Burt called for his son, but Kurt was already up from where he'd been sitting and halfway to the door before his dad had even finished speaking.
"Puck, what...?" Kurt's eyes widened as he took in the screaming state of a very red faced Beth.
"It's just one of those day, I guess." Puck said, passing a near hysterical Beth into Kurt's arms. "My voice isn't good enough for her, so she very loudly decided to let me know she'd like to hear yours instead." Puck half laughed, half sobbed.
"When was the last time you slept?" Kurt asked, pulling the half asleep boy into the house and kicking the door shut behind him.
"What day is it?" Puck asked, chuckling.
"Go. Downstairs and rest. I've got it from here." Kurt ordered, missing the completely lost look his father was giving him.
"You sure?" Puck asked, mid-yawn.
"Go now, before I change my mind," Kurt half glared at the other boy.
"Thanks, princess." Puck said, dropping a quick kiss on Kurt's lips before making his way downstairs to Kurt's bedroom.
"Okay then, Miss Beth, let's get you fed since your daddy obviously doesn't realize that you're hungry. Stupid boys. Yes, sweetie, always remember that. Boys are stupid." Kurt giggled as Beth looked up at him with wide, unblinking eyes.
"Um, Kurt. You wanna clue me in on what just happened here? Because I know I didn't see a boy with a baby come into our house and kiss you." Burt said, startling Kurt.
"Oh, dad. Right. Um, see, this is what I wanted to talk to you about. I'm seeing someone. Noah, to be exact. Well, he goes by Puck but his name is Noah Puckerman and this little angel, is Beth, his daughter." Kurt chose to act like his father couldn't just march downstairs and murder his boyfriend, if he so decided. Instead, he busied himself with making Beth's bottle.
"Boyfriend? Daughter?" Burt's voice sounded odd, causing Kurt to turn and stifle a laugh.
"Daddy, meet Beth. Beth, this is my daddy." Kurt grinned, moving around so that his father had a perfect view of the angel in his arms.
"Beth. Oh, um, hello." Burt said to the baby, causing Kurt to laugh.
"Can you hold her while I finish making her bottle?" Kurt asked and didn't exactly wait for an answer before he passed the sniffling baby into the older man's arms.
"Oh, wow. Um, Kurt. It's been a while since I last, well, you were probably the last baby I held." Burt admitted, looking down at the red faced little girl.
"Just watch her head and you'll be fine," Kurt said, already focused on making Beth's bottle.
"Yeah, kid, I got that." Burt mumbled. "So, that mohawked kid that's now sleeping in your bed..." Burt trailed off, afraid of where this might be going.
"Puck, dad, and he's my boyfriend. We're dating. Have been for a little over a month now." Kurt said, turning around and testing the milks temperature on his wrist.
"But Beth...?" Burt questioned.
"Happened. She's here and completely Puck's. The mother didn't want her, Puck did, so he has complete custody." Kurt held the bottle out to his father, smiling when he took it easily.
"And he's how old?" Burt asked.
"Sixteen, same as me but daddy, all you have to do is see him with her once and you'll understand. She's his world." Kurt smiled at the mere thought of Puck and Beth.
"Yours too, it seems." Burt muttered to himself, eyeing the far to wide smile on his sons face.
"Please don't be upset, dad. I tried to tell you but you kept interrupting and jumping to conclusions and I, I just wanted to tell you first before something like this happened." Kurt said, dropping down into the chair opposite his father.
"Uh huh."
"Dad, listen, I really care about them, okay? I know I'm young and this isn't something I should enter into lightly and I'm not. Believe me, I'm not. I now cherish that extra hour of sleep in the mornings I've lost this past month. But this is what I want. I want to date Puck and I want to help with Beth."
Burt was silent for the next few minutes as he continued to feed Beth. She was quite cute and even Burt could see how Kurt could become easily attached to her. Sighing, the older man knew he was beaten.
"When he's over, the door stays open. Am I understood?" Burt asked, his voice gruff.
Kurt eep'd and jumped from the chair he was sitting in to hug his father.
Burt just laughed and passed Beth back into the boys arms.
"Make sure you burp her, okay? None of us want a gassy baby in the house."
"I love you, daddy!" Kurt exclaimed, holding Beth against his shoulder and patting her back.
"I'm letting you tell Carole!" Burt yelled back, laughing at Kurt's startled expression.
"Damn."
Beth's only response was to burp, rather loudly, in his ear.
"You are your father's daughter." Kurt said as he proceeded to make his way downstairs towards his sleeping boyfriend. "Time to wake up, Puckerman, and face the parents." Kurt smirked. This was gonna be fun.
~*Beth*~
"Alright, Miss Beth, what'll it be today, hmm?" Kurt asked the now three month old baby, as if she'd actually answer him. "What? No input? Well, fine then." Kurt smirked, placing the pink dress back on the clothing rack and instead holding up the purple one.
Beth blinked.
"I'll take that as a yes then!" Kurt laughed and hung the purple dress on the handle of the stroller.
This wasn't the first time Kurt had taken Beth shopping, but it was the first time he'd been out with her without Puck. Deciding to let his boyfriend sleep in, Kurt had pressed a kiss to Naomi's cheek as he gently took the carrier with a sleeping Beth in it from her an hour ago.
"How about yellow, baby girl?" Kurt asked, eyeing an adorable yellow sun dress on the next rack over. "Oh yes, I think yellow would look amazing on you, what with that dark skin tone you have!"
Kurt never would have guessed that shopping for a little girl could be so much fun!
"Well, I never." A voice from behind Kurt said, startling him completely and making him drop the yellow dress he'd just grabbed. Turning around, Kurt felt all the blood drain from his face. "Quinn, h-hi." He stuttered.
"Kurt Hummel with a baby. Wow. This is unexpected. I mean, as far as I knew, you detested small children." Quinn laughed, a smirk on her face.
"O-oh, you know. Just doing a favor for a friend." Kurt managed to say without sounding too off.
"Wow. Must be a special friend then, huh?" Quinn said, winking. Taking a step closer, the blonde girl looked down at the wide awake baby. "She's cute."
"Thanks. Yeah, I mean, she's a doll, isn't she?" Kurt chuckled, his stomach in knots as Quinn continued to stare at Beth.
"I suppose she is, yeah, as far as babies go, I mean." Quinn shifted uncomfortably and finally looked away from the baby. "So, you coming to Berry's later?"
"I suppose so." Kurt answered. "If I don't, I figure I'll never hear the end of it, right?"
Quinn chuckled.
"Right. Well, I'm only here to kill some time before heading over there. It was nice running in to you, Kurt. She's an adorable baby. You tell you friend they're very lucky to have her." Quinn said, smiling.
"I, yeah, I will, Quinn. And thanks." Kurt swallowed passed the lump that was forming in his throat.
"Okay then, uh, bye." Casting one last glance down at Beth, Quinn tossed a smile in Kurt's direction before turning and making her way out of the store.
Kurt decided he'd had enough shopping for one day.
"Let's get these dresses paid for, baby, and get home to daddy, yeah?" Kurt offered Beth a watery smile, only to be rewarded with a toothless one in return. Kurt felt his chest tighten.
~*Beth*~
"So, Quinn saw Beth?" Puck asked.
"Yes."
"But she didn't recognize her?"
"No."
"And she thinks you were just, what, babysitting for someone?" Puck asked.
"I guess, yeah." Kurt answered.
"Fuck." Puck cursed.
"Pretty much, yeah." Kurt sighed.
Sitting inside Puck's truck parked outside of Rachel's house, Kurt replayed what had happened at the mall just a couple of hours before.
"And you're positive she didn't know it was Beth?" Puck asked again.
"No. She," Kurt sighed. "No."
"Whatever." Puck snapped. "Let's get this over with, yeah? Ma's making dinner tonight and I'm starved."
Kurt watched as Puck practically tore from his truck and up the walk to Rachel's house. Of course Puck was upset that Quinn didn't even recognize her own daughter. Kurt was too, obviously, but more so Kurt found himself just a little bit sick to his stomach over it.
By the time Kurt made it into Rachel's house, it was obvious that he was the last one to arrive. Things became far too quiet for Kurt's liking as he entered the living room and he sighed.
"Sorry I'm late guys but I-"
"Dude, you were out with a baby today?" Finn jumped in and interrupted Kurt before he could even finish speaking.
"I, what?" Kurt asked, confused.
"A baby, Hummel. Quinn said she bumped into you this morning at the mall with a kid." Santana smirked. "So, who'd you knock up?"
"Kurt can't make babies, Sanny," Brittany said. "He's capital G-gay."
"Whatever, Brit. Blondie said Kurt was out with a kid, one that he seemed all to comfortable with. Now, far as I can see, that means one of two things; one, Hummel's totally pulling the biggest prank in the world on all of us and he's actually straight and had a baby with man hands,"
"Hey!" Rachel exclaimed.
"Or two, Kurt here is actually a woman himself and had a kid while none of us were looking. So, which is is, Hummel? You secretly a woman or did you actually knock up Berry?" Santana smirked, her arms crossed over her chest as she waited for her answer.
Kurt was near tears as he looked around the room at his friends. Rachel looked sad. Finn looked just as confused as Brittany did. Sam, Mike and Artie were looking anywhere but at Kurt while Mercedes, Tina and Quinn waited for an answer from Kurt.
"Fuck. You. Santana." Puck spoke before Kurt could even open his mouth. "As a matter of fact, fuck all of you."
"Noah, no." Kurt said, breathless as the tears in his eyes rolled down his cheeks.
"No, its fine. Now is a perfect time to tell everyone. I mean, we're all here and everyone's waiting for an answer to Satan's question so we might as well give them one, right?"
Kurt dropped his head down and closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry."
A strong pair of arms wrapping around Kurt caused him to look up.
"Nothing to be sorry for, babe." Puck said, smirking. "And to answer everyone's questions, the baby that was with Kurt today was my daughter. Kurt likes to take her shopping and since I hate it, who better than Kurt to take Beth shopping?" Grinning at everyone, Puck tightened his hold on Kurt.
"Y-your daughter?" Quinn's voice quivered as she spoke.
"Yeah, Quinn, my daughter." Puck laughed. "She's a doll, ain't she?" Puck sneered.
"Noah." Kurt said again, trying to stop his boyfriend from saying something he might eventually regret.
Quinn's mouth opened and closed more times than Kurt could count, no words escaping.
"You didn't even know she was yours, Quinn!" Puck yelled, causing everyone in the room to jump. "Your own flesh and blood and you just looked at her! You looked at her, Fabray and nothing! It didn't even click that you'd carried her inside of you for nine months or that you'd given birth to her three months ago! How? How could you not know?!" Puck was all out shouting now.
Tears flowed down Quinn's cheeks as the angry boy in front of her ranted.
"It doesn't even matter now though." Puck said, much more calmly now. "Because she's not yours, not anymore. She's mine. After you signed your rights away to her, I stayed at the hospital because as much as you didn't want her, I did!"
"Noah, I-" Quinn tried to speak.
"No, no. I don't think I really wanna hear it right now. Kurt says you had your reasons and maybe one day I'll listen to them but right now, I don't care to know. Because for three months now, its been me. I've been up for her midnight, three and five am feedings. I'm the one to bathe her and change her diapers and I'm, I'm the one to sing her to sleep when she's crying because we're both so tired that neither one of us can stand it anymore." Puck was sure he'd regret ever admitting any of this later on, but for now, he was sure it needed to be said.
"Excuse me." Kurt said from beside of him. "But who's the one doing all of that?" He asked, eyebrow raised in question.
"Okay, fine. Kurt and I are the ones doing it but still, my point stands!"
"Wait, dude. Why is Kurt helping you?" Finn dared to asked, even as Rachel glared up at him.
"Because, dude, that's what good boyfriends do. They help with crying babies at ass o'clock in the morning." Puck said, like he hadn't just blown the minds of everyone in the room.
Kurt winced as the entire room, minus Quinn, exploded with excitement and confusion over Puck's answer to Finn. As quietly as he could, Kurt slipped out of the room after Quinn.
"Quinn, I-"
"How did I not know, Kurt?" Quinn asked, still crying. "She's mine and I, I just looked at her like she was any other baby. I smiled and went on my way."
Kurt sighed. He really didn't know what to say to Quinn.
"What kind of person doesn't know their own child when she sees them?"
Stepping up beside of Quinn, Kurt wrapped his arm around her shaking shoulder.
"It'll be okay, Quinn. Puck's just upset and a little sleep deprived. He'll be in a better mood once he's had more than three hours of sleep." Kurt really was telling the truth, even if he was only saying it to ease Quinn's state of mind.
"Why didn't he," Quinn stopped and swallowed hard. "Why didn't he tell me he'd kept her?"
"Honestly? I suppose he thought you wouldn't care one way or the other." Harsh, maybe but perhaps Quinn needed a little bit of the truth right now.
Quinn just sobbed harder.
"You can't expect him to think any differently though, can you? I mean, reality is, you signed her away. You told everyone you weren't ready to be a mom and without even considering Puck's feelings, you did what you wanted and left. Puck wanted her from day one, Quinn. He's told me so himself, many times. And I believe him. Would you like to know why?" Kurt asked the sobbing girl.
"W-why?"
"Because every time I see him look at her, its like someone just turned on a thousand suns. Noah's smile could brighten anyone's day when he's looking at Beth. In fact, it has. My dad didn't quite believe it either, until he saw them together. Now he gets it. Beth is Noah's world. She makes his life worth living, or so his mom's told me." Kurt chuckles.
"Y-you've met Puck's mother? And your dad, he knows Puck and B-beth?" Quinn asked, her sobs calmed down slightly.
"Yes."
"And they, a-are okay with everything?"
"Well, granted my dad wanted to murder Noah at first but then he got to know him, and Beth too ,of course, and Naomi is just amazing and we-" Kurt trailed off when he noticed Quinn's teary eyed smile. "What?"
"He got exactly what he wanted."
"He, what?" Kurt was confused.
"A family, Kurt. Noah always wanted a family and even with the baby, I knew I couldn't give him that, not really. But he got it anyway, with you. And Beth. And I'm, I think I'm okay with that." Quinn said, wiping at her eyes.
"Oh. I, okay." Kurt said, too shocked to come up with anything else to say.
"I think I'm going to go home. I don't suppose I'll be too missed right now. Can you, I mean, would you mind..." Quinn sighed.
"I'll make sure Noah knows you'd like to speak with him again, when he's calmed down and, you'd like to see Beth too, I suppose?"
Quinn nodded, not trusting her voice.
"I'll make sure he knows then." Kurt said, offering Quinn a small hug in comfort before watching her make her way down the walk and towards her car.
Kurt sighed. It had been a long day and he wanted nothing more than to go home and curl up in a nice, hot bath. First though, he had a house full of friends to deal with.
Bracing himself for it, Kurt pushed his way back into Rachel's house.
"I'm so sorry, Kurt." Rachel said in a hurry. "I tried to make it seem like it was no big deal, when Quinn came in talking about seeing you out with a baby but everyone just seemed to intrigued that they-"
"Breathe, Rachel." Kurt said, touching the obviously upset girls shoulder. "It's okay. I mean, they needed to know sooner or later and I've been trying to get Noah to say something before now. I hate how it came out but at least everyone knows now."
"I guess." Rachel said, sighing. "Still though. I'm sorry for the ambush."
"Okay, boo, what is with you not telling me about Puck keeping Beth?" Mercedes seemed to come out of nowhere, her tone far too demanding for Kurt's liking.
"I'm sorry," Kurt started. "I wasn't aware I had to share everything I knew with you." Maybe he sounded too snappish but Kurt didn't care at the moment.
"Kurt, I just-" Mercedes started again but Kurt had already turned and began walking away.
"Kurt?" Brittany's voice stopped Kurt in his tracks.
"Yeah, Britt?"
"I'm sorry for what Santana said. She didn't mean to be mean. She's just sad I won't give her any more lady kisses."
"It's, it's okay, Brittany." Kurt said, offering the blonde girl a small smile.
"Can I meet the baby?" Brittany asked, surprising Kurt. "I was sad when Quinnie gave her's away but now that you and Puck had one, I'd love to see her!" Brittany smiled brightly at Kurt.
"Oh, Britt," Kurt started and stopped. He sighed before smiling up at her. "Of course you can meet her. How about I talk to Noah later tonight and see when a good time for you to come over would be? I can text you tonight."
Brittany clapped her hands together in excitement, much like Beth was starting to do, before she practically jumped on Kurt and hugged him.
"Thank you, Kurt! I can't wait to meet the little baby! I'm gonna go tell Santana that she can't see her yet until she says she's sorry for being mean to you. Bye, Kurt!" Brittany turned and bounced off.
Kurt turned and made a beeline for Puck.
"Noah, can we please just go home?" Kurt asked, coming at a stop beside of his boyfriend.
"Sure, babe. We can go." Puck said, wrapping his arm around Kurt's shoulders.
"Kurt, wait, I." Finn started, shifting nervously. "This is why you're never at your house when mom and I are over?" He asked.
"Yes, Finn. I'm usually at Noah's house, with him and Beth."
"That's cool, man." Finn said, smiling that goofy smile of his. "So can I, um, I mean do you think you could, maybe, um." Finn sighed and looked down at Kurt and Puck nervously.
"What is it, Finn? Just ask so we can leave." Kurt sighed.
"I was just wondering if you guys could, I dunno, maybe bring Beth over to the house tonight? I'd kinda like to meet her." Finn half smiled at his almost stepbrother and best friend.
Kurt looked up just in time to see a look of surprise flash across Puck's face.
"You wanna meet Beth?" Puck asked, trying to keep his voice as calm and cool as possible.
"Yeah, dude!" Finn exclaimed. "I mean, I've never really been around babies before but it's, it's your kid and even though I thought she was mine for a while, I'm so glad she's not." Finn admitted, then blanched, his eyes widening. "No! I didn't mean, I just. Crap."
"I understand, Finn." Kurt said and both boys looked down at him in confusion.
"You do?" They asked in unison.
Kurt chuckled.
"I do and if Noah's okay with it, we'll bring her by this evening."
"Sure, dude. We can bring her by." Puck said.
"Awesome! Okay, I'm gonna go tell Rachel and, um Kurt-" Finn shrugged as he looked innocently at Kurt once more. "Can Rachel come too?"
"Seriously, Finn?" Kurt sighed. "Of course she can."
"Yes! Thanks, man. I'm gonna go get Rachel and tell her we've got plans with the baby tonight!" Finn grinned at his friends before he turned, nearly tripped and fell, as he ran towards Rachel.
"That boy could be my brother one day." Kurt said with a dramatic sigh.
Puck just laughed.
"You ready to get outta here now, babe?" Puck asked.
"Take me home, Noah." Kurt said, leaning into Puck's touch. In the distance, Kurt could hear Finn's voice as he excitedly explained to Rachel that the baby was coming over to play tonight. Sometimes, Kurt just had to laugh because only he would surround himself with someone like Finn.
"You talked to her?" Puck suddenly asked, pulling Kurt out of his thoughts.
"I did." Kurt answered, climbing into the passengers side of Puck's truck.
"I suppose she had nothing to say for herself?" Puck asked, as carelessly as he could.
"She's confused, Noah. And I hate to say it, but I understand why." Kurt really hoped he didn't upset Puck by what he was saying.
As Puck started the truck, neither boy spoke. Puck too lost in his thoughts and Kurt to caught up in his own. The ride to Puck's house was the quietest either boy had been in quite some times.
"I want to hear what she has to say," Puck said suddenly, as he parked his truck outside of his house. "Not now and probably not any time soon but, eventually."
Kurt smiled. Things were going to be just fine.
~*Beth*~
At eight months, Beth Puckerman was quickly trying to get into everything she possibly could. Who knew an eight month old baby, who'd only been crawling for a month now, could move so fast!
"Noah, I'm telling you! If you don't baby proof this house better Beth is going to end up hurting herself!" Kurt exclaimed, leaning down and picking up the laughing child who'd somehow managed to get her chubby little hands on one of Puck's football shoulder pads.
"Da!" Beth screeched in excitement.
Beth had said her first one only a month ago and both boys couldn't have been more excited to hear her speak.
"Chill out, Kurt. She's not gonna get hurt here, okay? Like I'd ever let her get hurt while I'm around." Puck called from inside the kitchen.
"Doesn't matter. This place needs to be baby proofed! She's crawling now and I read-" Kurt said, stopping long enough to throw Puck's shoulder pads inside the hall closet. "-in that book that I bought when she started crawling that there are certain things that have to be done!"
"And I'll get to it, Kurt. I promise." Puck yelled and Kurt rolled his eyes.
"The longer you wait, the more work it'll be once she's walking." Kurt said, matter of factly. Kurt was almost sure he heard Puck huff out a sigh at him.
Kurt stepped into the kitchen where Puck was mixing Beth's lunch together. "This shit's nasty." Puck said, wincing as some of it got on his finger.
"Listen to your daddy, Miss Beth, whining over a little oatmeal." Kurt teased, waving Beth's little hand in Puck's direction.
"Just because my kid likes you better..." Puck murmured, glaring down at the bowl of mush.
"Just goes to show your daughter has taste, Puckerman." Kurt said, laughing.
"I'll show you taste, Hummel." Puck said, turning around and shoving a spoon full of Beth's oatmeal into his mouth.
Kurt coughed as he jerked out of Puck's reach.
"Noah Puckerman, what is wrong with you?!" Kurt screeched, spitting the horrible tasting baby food into the sink.
Beth laughed, clapping her hands together, as she watched Puck and Kurt dance around each other.
"Puck, no. Stop it! No, st-stay away!" Kurt screamed, holding Beth up in front of his face to shield him. "You wouldn't-not while I'm holding Beth, would you?"
"That's low, man. Using my own kid against me." Puck smirked, spooning the offending food into his daughter's mouth.
Beth happily ate her oatmeal while Kurt looked on his disgust.
"That's just wrong." Kurt mumbled, shuddering slightly.
"It's her food, Kurt!" Puck said, still laughing as he continued to feed Beth.
"Still." Kurt looked away from the horrible food. "Can't we give her some of those banana's again? That stuff was kind of okay."
"Aw, who's the baby now, Kurtie?" Puck nearly doubled over laughing at the look for pure irritation on Kurt's face. "Look at that, Beth, wittle Kurtie's afraid of the oatmeal. Poor Kurtie."
"I'm gonna kick your ass, Puckerman." Kurt snapped, his eyes narrowed.
"Not with a baby in your arms, you aren't." Puck said smirking. "Wittle Kurtie doesn't like the horrible, nasty, scary oatmeal!"
"So. Dead. Completely cut off." Kurt bit out, shifting Beth around so that she was resting more comfortably on his hip. "Your daddy's asking for it, Beth."
Beth squealed with delight.
"Bring it on, Hummel." Puck said, tossing a spoon full of oatmeal in Kurt's face.
Kurt squeaked, literally squeaked, when the cold goop hit his face.
"NOAH!" Kurt yelled, taking a step towards his boyfriend.
"Yes, Kurt?" Puck asked, far too innocently.
"I'm gonna-" Kurt started.
"'urt!" Beth laughed, her eyes wide as she touched the oatmeal dripping down Kurt's face.
Both boys froze, their eyes wider than either could ever remember them being before.
"Did she-" Kurt started, looking down at the chubby little girl still in his arms.
"I think she-" Puck said, a grin forming on his face. "Beth?" He questioned.
"'urt!" Beth said again, giggling with excitement.
"Oh my god." Kurt whispered, his eyes filling with tears. "She said... Noah, she said my name!"
"'urt, 'urt, 'urt!" Beth repeated, apparently loving the expressions on the faces of the only two men she really knew.
Kurt did the only thing he could think of. He hugged Beth tightly. Completely wiping the offending oatmeal that was on his face, onto her head.
"Did you know she could say that?" Kurt asked, looking up into Puck's smiling face.
"No, dude. She surprised me here too."
"I can't believe, I mean why would she...my name?" Kurt rambled on, a look of awe on his face.
"Why not your name, dude?" Puck asked. "She sees you just as much as she sees me and she already knows I'm her daddy. It only makes sense she'd know you too." Puck smiled.
"But I'm not-" Kurt started to say and Puck silenced him with a kiss.
"Yes, dude, you are."
"Noah." Kurt felt his eyes fill with tears again.
"We kinda love you, dude. In case you didn't already know." And Puck's smirk was back.
Kurt's smile was tight as he swallowed past the huge lump that had formed in his throat.
"'urt." Beth said, touching Kurt's face and smearing the oatmeal in more.
"I love you too. Both of you." Kurt finally managed to say, a few tears slipping from his eyes.
"Let's get you cleaned up." Smiling like Kurt had only ever seen Puck smile at Beth, the older boy leaned down to kiss him once more. "Okay, yuck." Puck almost gagged.
"What?" Kurt asked, alarmed.
"That stuff tastes like shit." Puck grimaced.
"I told you!" Kurt exclaimed, taking off after Puck as he practically ran from the room, Beth laughing the entire way. "And because you're such an ass, I'm not helping you bathe Beth! You're on your own, buddy!"
"Bite me, Hummel! I can actually give my own daughter a bath." Puck said, his tone full of shit.
Kurt snorted.
"Have fun."
Half an hour later and one outfit change, Kurt nearly lost it when Puck entered his bedroom, covered from hear to toe in water, a half naked Beth squirming in his arms.
"Not. One. Word." Puck said, gritting his teeth.
Kurt chose to laugh at his boyfriend in the privacy of his own mind.
Epilogue
Puck couldn't help but smile as he watched his daughter scream with laughter as Finn proceeded to throw her up in the air again. Shaking his head, the father of a now one year old daughter sighed.
Looking around the back yard of what was now considered 'The Hudmels', Puck was happy to see all of their friends there, for Beth's birthday. Not that he'd ever admit it out loud, but it meant the world to Puck that his and Kurt's friends cared so much about Beth.
Puck also couldn't help but laugh over the fact that Burt Hummel, the man he'd been so terrified of for months after he'd started dating Kurt, was standing by a table lined with snacks wearing a Disney Princess party hat.
While his ma and Carole were busy bringing out more food than anyone at the party would probably ever be able to eat, Puck caught Quinn's eye and smiled. It had taken months for Puck to even allow her to see Beth but when he finally did, he knew he'd made the right decision. Now, Quinn was one of Beth's favorite auntie's. After Rachel, of course.
Across the yard, Sam and Artie were busy blowing up balloons and hanging them onto the trees in the back yard, on the ends of the picnic tables and trying to tape them to Brittany without her knowing. Puck rolled his eyes at them.
Mike and Tina were, like always, making out with each other and if Puck didn't love his friends so much, he's sure that he'd already of kicked their asses out.
Mercedes, the lovely girl that she was, was busy braiding his little sister's hair into two pigtails.
Santana seemed to be busy recording the entire party for her own selfish reason but if Puck just happened to acquire a copy of his own, it's not like it would hurt anyone.
All of his friends were there, together to celebrate Beth's first birthday and Puck knew he'd ended up more blessed than he'd probably ever admit out loud.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Kurt asked, sliding into the seat across from Puck.
"Pretty sure my thoughts are worth more than a penny, princess," Puck teased, causing Kurt to laugh as a memory from a year ago flashed through his mind.
Puck just grinned and turned back to watch as Beth flew across the back yard, running as fast as he little legs would carry her, after Finn.
"Please god let her have better taste in men when she grows up," Kurt moaned, dropping his head down onto the picnic table.
"Funny," Puck said, chuckling. "Pretty sure I remember a time when a certain someone was also chasing after Finn Hudson."
Kurt raised his head up, a glare already fixed on his face, to look at the older man.
"Anyway," Kurt said, changing the subject. "Are we about ready to get this first birthday party started? The sooner we start, the sooner everyone can leave."
Puck just snorted. With a quick roll of his eyes, he reached across the table to grasp his lovers hand.
"You know you're enjoying this just as much as I am." Puck grinned.
It took all of two seconds for Kurt to break.
"A year, Noah! She's already a year old and walking. No running! She's running after boys already and I, I can not handle this!" Kurt's eyes were wide by the end of his small rant.
"Babies grow up. It happens. Just think...now we can start potty training her! No more diapers!" Puck fist pumped at the mention of no more diapers, because really, ew.
"You want our baby to grow up faster so you don't have to change her diapers?!" Kurt exclaimed, his eyes even wider now. "Noah Puckerman, so help me-"
"Don't say God. You don't believe in God." Puck said in a rush, standing up from the table. "I just mean that I'm okay with her growing up now."
"Now?" Kurt asked. "What do you mean 'now'?"
This time Puck smiled. Standing up, the taller boy reached out a hand to Kurt, swiftly pulling him to his feet and into his arms. Turning them so that they could both see Beth as she continued her quest to catch Finn, Puck spoke.
"I'm fine with her growing up now, now that I know we're not alone."
"Noah, you-" Kurt started.
"No, listen. I know I've never been alone. I've got Ma and Sarah but Beth and me, we were alone. Until two nosy divas came knocking on my door, asking why I'd missed some school." Puck stopped long enough to tighten his arms around Kurt's waist. "I didn't just gain a friend, Kurt, or a boyfriend, lover, whatever...I ended up with someone who loves my daughter just as much, if not more, than I do. I gained a family that day."
Kurt felt tears begin to form in his eyes.
"And we both know how Beth feels. She loves you to death, princess, just like I know you love her back."
"Of course I do, Noah," Kurt finally said. "I love her so much and I love you too, you idiot." He finished, a small chuckle escaping his lips.
Before either boy could say another word, what could only be described as a tiny streak of lightening, shot into their legs.
"Dada!" Beth exclaimed, throwing her arms up and reaching for Puck.
Puck just laughed as he reached down to pick up his daughter.
"You ready for some cake, monster?" Puck asked, tickling Beth's sides and causing her to squeal with laughter. "You coming, Kurt?" Puck asked as he turned back to look at the smiling face of his daughters other father.
"'urt! Come!" Beth yelled, reaching for the other boy.
Kurt just smiled as he grasped the small girl.
"I'm here, princess. Daddy's here." Kurt whispered, a smile on his face.
"Daddy." Beth said, laying her head over on Kurt's shoulder.
Puck smiled because honestly, he had the best family anyone could ever ask for. End of story.
The End