Shooting the Rapids - Chapter Eight
Title: Shooting the Rapids
Author: Sio & Maura
Rating: NC-17
Length: 29,632 / 105,220
Spoilers: Possible mentions of up to Season 2 finale
Pairing: Rachel/Santana
Summary: The sequel to Standing on a Precipice. Rachel and Santana have managed to survive the turbulent waters of the loss of Jesse and the shocking truth hidden in Santana’s marriage. Now two years later, new troubles arise with Shelby taking a stand in defense of her daughter against Santana’s "corruption" and the involvement of the tabloids as the couple becomes more and more drawn into the public eye. Kayla’s success in gymnastics brings interest from an unexpected direction and Santana has decided she wants to try again for a child of her own. Can they survive as a couple and help their children thrive amidst the chaos?
Warnings (highlight to read): Pregnancy, angst, children, non-con and drugging and talks thereof in later chapters
Chapter Eight
Rachel rested back against the wall with her eyes closed listening to the soft musick playing over the sound of the rising elevator as she prepared herself mentally for her work day. She'd just finished dropping Alex off at pre-school and was looking forward to a proper "welcome to work" kiss from her girlfriend to start her day right before settling into things. So when the soft ding announced her arrival at their floor, she stepped out with a smile on her face, her mouth opening to give her usual cheery good morning to Trisha, their receptionist, only to stop as she noticed a well built man in military camouflage leaning on the desk chatting with her.
For a second, she considered stepping in in defense of their employee, until she spotted the flattered smile on the young woman's face. Then she took a second look at the man leaning on the desk and the way he held himself with a cool confidence. She let herself hear the smoothly familiar baritone of his speaking voice.
"Oh my gosh," she gasped, everything finally clicking together, "Noah?! You're back? Why didn't you tell me!"
Puck looked up with a grin, he winked at Trisha before sauntering over to his friend and capturing her in a strong hug. His well built arms lifted the girl off the ground and spun her around. "Hey, my Jewish princess." He smiled as he set her down and look a second to let his eyes fall over her form. "Looking good, Berry. Even after the kids your body is still tight as hell." He ran his hand over his shaved head with as he spoke.
"Why would I tell you? I didn't wanna miss the look on your face when you saw my ass here." He moved his arms around to emphasize his point.
Rachel laughed at being spun around, letting her hands rest on his arms after he let her down. It had always been easy to be physical with the tall man, though their relationship had developed more along familial lines - much to his mother's disappointment - as they'd grown older. "But your niece and nephews would have liked to know their favorite uncle was home safe and sound. And you haven't even met Alex yet!"
"So it's gonna be a great surprise when they find out," He grinned cheekily, still the over confident boy he'd always been around her in many ways, "Nice digs you got here, seems like you're doing well for yourself, though I'm surprised you haven't snagged a recording deal being here."
Rachel chuckled, "You know I don't have time for something like that with my little ones. I work behind the scenes and that is more than enough for me. What are you doing here anyway?" She smiled up at him, smoothing a hand over his BDU jacket, "Are you finally out?"
"For the moment." He smiled, his arms settled onto his sides and leaned against the wall. "After more tours of duty than I can remember and a stint in the hospital in Germany... you know they decided to give Puckasuras a little break." he smiled, "Plus I'm not as young as I used to be."
He smiled at the thought of the kids, "I missed your brats too. Those photos do not do their personalities justice!" He pulled out his wallet and showed Rachel that he still carried their photos, next to a crumpled one of Beth from when she was five. "I can't believe I couldn't get to come home to visit when Jesse died or when Alex was born. I'm so sorry, Rachel... I should have been here for you."
"It's okay, I know you wanted to." She hugged him, pulling back to smile up at him, "Would you like to get a coffee from downstairs or is this less of a personal visit and more of a business one, Noah?"
"He was asking to see Ms. Lopez, Ms. St James," Trisha volunteered.
Rachel chuckled, "Ah, I see. So it is business! And what exactly did you want my partner for?"
"I thought you were still her assistant? Lopez made you a partner?" he asked, wondering how that career jump was made. "I'm looking to record an album..."
Rachel's lips twitched, "Not... that kind of partner, Noah. Though why don't you come back to my office and we can see if you have something she might be interested in working with?" She thanked Trisha and led Puck back through the door to her office, assuming her lover was busy when she noticed that Santana's curtains were drawn over the glass walls of her office. "I don't want her under too much stress right now, so I've been handling initial vetting when they manage to get this far. Please, have a seat." She gestured towards the comfortable chairs around the small table, "Would you like anything to drink?"
Puck followed, "I'm confused." he sat down and looked at the photos on the table of the kids. Of Santana and the kids. "The kids really like her? I know I haven't seen her in awhile, but Lopez never seemed really... you know, maternal. Like I tried contacting her when I saw her in the papers a few years back with her husband... But yeah." he shrugged as he looked back to Rachel. "Nah, I'm good. Thanks. What do you do here now if not handling Lopez's moods?"
"Well, I still handle her moods - I believe no one in this company wants me to stop - and schedule as well as functioning as her liaison when necessary," she smiled as she settled in her chair after picking up a particular frame off her desk, "but I mainly work with artist relations and assisting production with enhancing the vocal quality of a number of our artists. But," she handed him the framed photo - which she actually had contacted the tabloid photographer for - with a smile, "the children definitely like her. In fact, I believe they rather love her." She bit her lip with a shy smile, watching him carefully for a reaction as he looked at the photo, "As do I."
"Fuck," he exclaimed looking at the photo of his ex-girlfriends kissing. "Damn, Berry, you really went down a different avenue after Jesse!" he put the picture down and looked up with a dopey grin. "She's still fine as hell. I can't believe you both are gay! Well, I knew she was kinda gay, but damn, Berry!"
"She is exceedingly attractive, but she's also mine, so hands off, mister!" Rachel grinned, belying the tone of her words with her smile. Outside of Sue and Shelby, Puck was the first person from their old life that had really found out about her relationship with the fiery producer, and she was thrilled that he was taking it so well. "And, for the record, I've always been bisexual, though I'm not surprised you didn't notice. It wasn't exactly something I advertised in high school, but I did have some experimentations in college before Jesse and I got engaged."
"I knew you always leered at Brittany and Quinn... But I just thought it was hot." he shrugged, "Plus the only girls I talked to and not just slept with were all big lesbos so, you know, warped world." he smiled and pulled a CD out of his bag. "Look, I wouldn't do this unless I thought it was good... I know Avalon does mostly hip hop and soul... But think she'll consider?"
"You didn't sleep with me because I didn't let you get that far... though there was that one time you stopped me when I was trying to use you to hurt Finn. Very admirable of you, by the way. It made me truly start to respect you as a man when you did that." Rachel took the CD from him and looked at it, "I don't know, Noah. If you want, I'll listen to it and try and get her to listen to it, but she does seem to have a particular vision for the sound of Avalon Records. But," she tapped the case lightly on the table, "I also know she's considering a smaller off-shoot label for things less like the Avalon sound and maybe - if this is good - maybe this could tip her into going for it. But I can't promise you anything but that I'll listen to it."
She considered the man that her old friend had become, leaning back in her chair and tapping the CD case against her lips, "I know you're an excellent performer, Noah, and a talented musician, but I don't want to get your hopes up only to have them dashed if she rejects this demo."
"What's good in having an ex with a record company?" he half joked, "Come on a Marine with a great voice? Imagine what the ladies will do for that." he smirked and looked at his friend, "Alright... listen to it and lemme know. You always knew music best anyway..."
"For the record, you have two exes with a record company, but," Rachel smiled, "I will definitely listen to it, Noah. And I'll do so critically because you deserve an honest shot, not riding on the favors of friends. You've always had the vocal chops to be a performer, but you've not always had the dedication. Though, hopefully the Marines managed to work some of that into you. I'll do what I can, because you're one of my best and dearest friends and my children's uncle, but the only way I'm going to sell Santana on this if it's too far away from the sound we produce here at Avalon is if it's amazing."
"But if it is," she set the CD on the table gently before looking up at him again, "and she still doesn't want it for Avalon, I have a few connections of my own and I'll try and get your demo into the hands of people who are looking for your sound. That's all I can promise without listening, Noah. I'm sorry."
"It's cool," He shrugged, his face looked kinda dejected but he tried to hide it, "When to I get to see these kids you speak of? I have presents from overseas for them... Also it would be nice to see Santana again since y'all are so close and whatever."
Rachel laughed, "Don't look so down, Noah! I've worked around Santana enough to know that most unsolicited demos go straight into the trash. I just promised you not only a listen, but to get it into the hands of people who could sign you. And you definitely need to join us for dinner one night. Santana and the children and I have been living together for... nearly four years now," She reached over and touched his wrist, smiling conspiratorially, "And don't you dare tell Santana I told you this because she's nervous and wants to wait to tell all but immediate family, but... we're having a baby."
"You're what?" he exclaimed, being together was one thing but a baby? "What about your kids? What about Jesse? Can you even do that?" he sputtered his questions. He had been close to Jesse after he and Rachel got together and he was kinda sad that it seemed like Rachel had forgotten about him.
Rachel frowned, worried and a little upset by his reaction to what she'd felt was good and exciting news, "What about the children? They're excited by the idea. And perhaps Shelby and apparently a few other people believe I should grieve my deceased husband forever, but I'm not dead, Noah. I love her and she wants to have a child and I want to be there for her and her little one. What's wrong with that?"
"It's just kinda confusing, you know?" he sighed, "All I know is that Santana was in your life when Jesse died, then you move in together and then she gets crazy tabloid press and they say crazy things and now y'all are having babies?" he scrunched his face and looked at the woman. "She just never seemed like a mother though."
"You haven't seen her with my children," Rachel smiled softly when she spoke of Santana, "She's so good with them. Alex calls her his Mommy and she's Cale's best friend. Even Kayla goes to her for help when I can't understand her homework. She's gentle and loving and so patient, Noah. She saved my life when I was drowning in my grief from losing Jesse. And it was over a year before we were together. And then everything with that wicked man..." she shook her head, "We've held each other together. I honestly don't know if I'd still be here today if it wasn't for her forcing me to take care of myself and caring for the children when I didn't know how to go on following Jesse's death, Noah..."
"Yeah," he said still not totally convinced. "I guess, I'm just protective of you. Jesse was my bro and you're my Jew... I guess I'll have to see her again, I haven't seen her since she was 17 or so, except I tried to send her my demos mad amounts of times through the years and she never got back to me on them." He sighed and looked at Rachel, "I'll come to dinner but she better not be a bitch to me."
"Well, did you send it to her asking for advice or did you send it asking for her to find a way to sign you to a label that doesn't sign your sound?" Rachel asked with a knowing smirk, "Believe it or not, Noah, but my girlfriend tends to react better to someone approaching her as a friend instead of someone who wants something from her. To be honest," she looked thoughtful for a moment, "I believe she may have always been that way and we were just all too wrapped up in ourselves to realize it."
She shrugged, "That's in the past though, I will do what I can to advance your cause if you have something here," she tapped a finger on the case, "worth advancing. I know you have promise, Noah. I could see that promise every time I heard you sing. So, I am on your side, alright? But I can't do anything unless your potential is so evident on this CD that it screams for everyone to sit up and take notice. If your absolute best isn't on here, Noah, I'm going to have trouble getting anyone to listen. But, as your friend, if I feel this isn't your best, I'll be honest with you about it."
"And Santana will be Santana," Rachel grinned, a twinkle in her eyes, "It's why we love her after all, but she has grown up quite a bit since high school, just as we all have. She's a good woman, Noah. Even if she wasn't my lover, I would still be beyond honored to call her my friend."
"Yeah yeah..." He rolled his eyes and looked at his watch. "Ugh. I have go Rach. Do you wanna have dinner tonight? Or another day?"
"Tonight is good for me, but I do have four other people's schedules to check," Rachel smiled, standing and smoothing down her skirt, "If you leave me a number to call you at, I'll check to make sure everyone will be home and not at, say, gymnastics practice or a dinner meeting. I should be able to get back to you within the hour, if that is acceptable to you, Noah?"
"Sure, babe." He smiled, standing up and and scrawlling his number out on a Post-it he found on Rachel's desk. "Give me a call and make sure Santana doesn't find out I questioned her parenting or she'll damage my junk." He smiled and leaned down to kiss Rachel's cheek. "I'm not doing anything much after I go look for some jobs."
He headed to the door and he looked behind him as he did, "Can... Can you give something to Beth for me?"
"I certainly can," Rachel nodded, "I may not be on speaking terms with her mom, but she's my sister - weird and awkward as it is to call her that right now - and she watches the children after school sometimes for pocket money."
He nodded, "Okay. I'll bring it with me tonight, if I see you." He smiled once more before heading out the door and out to the elevator. He winked at the receptionist before getting onto the elevator.
Santana had come home and more or less passed out. She was exhusted all the time now that she had hit the sixth month of her pregnancy and on top of that she had had a marathon day of meetings and she didn't even get to see her girlfriend or have lunch with her at all that day. She had gotten a ride home from Ajay after her evening meeting across town. She had said 'hi' and kissed each child quickly before heading into the bedroom, changing into less restrictive clothing and fell asleep promptly on the bed.
Alex had followed his mommy as she headed to her room scrambling up into the bed with her to snuggle with her with his head resting on her stomach so he could "listen to the baby grow". Ever since the little one had first started kicking the little boy had been fascinated. Now he softly stroked Santana's belly with his little hand, pressing his lips up against her as he whispered softly.
"I'm gonna be your big brother, Baby." He mumbled into his mommy's skin after pushing her shirt up, "I'm gonna give you hugs and teach you to play baseball and lots of fun stuff. You gotta get big okay? So we can play."
Rachel paused in the doorway, watching her youngest son and her lover with an amused smile, "What are you doing, sweetheart?"
"'Nuffin'." he whispered, his head still resting on his sleeping mommy's stomach. He looked up to his mom with a smile on his face and motioned for her to come over to him. "Momma, Baby is kicking at me again." He beamed and ran his little fingers over the little push against his hand.
Rachel smiled softly and came inside, drying her hands on the towel tucked into her apron and sitting beside her son and exhausted lover. "Are they?" She murmured softly, not wanting to wake Santana as she stroked Alex's head, "Were you talking to the baby again, little man? You know that excites them."
He nodded, "Momma?" He asked quietly, "Is Baby a brother or a sister?" He continued to draw little hearts and stars on Santana's skin with his finger as he spoke. "Can I hold Baby and sing them to sleep? Someone has to sing babies to sleep, right? You singed me to sleep, right?"
"We don't know yet," Rachel responded, touched as always by how much interest the little boy put into the new baby, "We're going to find out when it's time for them to come out and say hi. And that's right, both your mommy and I sang you to sleep when you were a baby, but you can help us sing to this little one if you'd like. They might have to get a little bigger than newborn before you can hold them alone though..."
The boy pouted and looked up at his mom. "Momma? Why you never talk to Baby in Mommy's tummy?" He asked tilting his head to the side. "I talk to Baby all the time! And Cale sings and Kayla read in 'panish to the baby last night. Do you not love Baby?"
"What?" Rachel was flustered - it wasn't exactly the thing to do to tell your child that you usually talked to the baby after making love to his mommy - but she soldiered on, "That's silly, little man. I love the baby as much as I love any of you. I just talk to them after you go to bed..."
"Oh!" He smiled and nodded pressing a soft kiss to the woman's stomach when she started to wiggle and wake up. "Bye!" He bounded out of the room and he didn't like waking his mom up when she was sleeping so he always ran away when she started to wake.
"Why are you touching me?" Santana whined as she wiggled trying to get comfortable again.
Rachel chuckled, leaning down to brush her lips against Santana's, "I'm not but someone was." She nodded towards the door and the swiftly disappearing patter of their youngest son's feet down the hall. "I missed you today, beautiful, but I did run into an old friend."
"Why does he like to poke at me? I'm not a zoo animal." Santana pouted, keeping her eyes closed as she leaned into Rachel. "I missed you too, I was so tired... I didn't get to take a nap at all today." Santana had become accoustomed to taking a 30 minute nap mid-day, but on days she was busy it ruined her whole atittude. "Who'd you run into?" She asked sleepily as she exhaled trying to will herself to open her eyes.
"He's not poking, he's talking to his baby brother or sister," Rachel smoothed her hand over Santana's baby bump, covering it with her shirt again, unable to hide a bright smile at the feeling of a tiny foot against her hand, "The little one seems to love him already for it too."
She raised her attention back from Santana's belly to her eyes, "But I ran into Noah Puckerman. He's home and out of service. And, if you feel up to it, joining us for dinner. I can certainly make excuses for you and bring you a plate later if you're too tired, but the children - Kayla especially - are looking forward to seeing their Uncle Noah."
"Puck?" Santana opened her eyes and looked tiredly at her girlfriend. "I think that that's okay... I don't know how much I'm up for becasue I'm really tired as hell and not up for him trying to slip me his CD every time I turn around."
She sat up and stretched, pulling her tank top that Alex had pushed up back down over her belly. "He spent like 5 years sending me some pretty awful demoes... Plus he'll call me fat."
"If he even thinks about calling the absolutely gorgeous mother of our child fat, I will slap him myself," she leaned in to kiss Santana with a soft smile, "And I have no doubt he did, though I have assurances that will not be happening tonight. He won't be here for a couple hours, so you can nap if you like. I'll try to keep little Mr I Love Baby away, though I can't promise that Cale won't sneak in to cuddle with his Santa. If you feel up to it when he arrives you can come say hi, if not, it's okay."
"It's okay." Santana smiled adoringly as she laid back against the bed and pulled Rachel down to kiss her lips once more. "I like that he's excited, it's adorable." She pulled Rachel's pillow into her arms and she cuddled into it as she let her eyes fall closed.
"Let me know like 20 minutes before he gets here? I wanna look okay and whatever it takes me longer to get ready these days." She quickly remembered to show Rachel what she noticed that morning. "Baby look." She said as she tugged her shirt up and pointed to her bellybutton. It had pushed up and out, her tiny form had stretched, pulling her skin tightly across her belly.
"You," Rachel smiled softly, moving to press a kiss to her lover's swollen belly, "are so very beautiful." Her lips brushed softly over warm skin, "I love both of you so very much already."
She smiled and ran her fingers through Rachel's hair as she did so. "Mmm. Baby, keep kissing me like that I'm gonna need something other than sleep." She winked and pushed her girlfriends head away, "Now go get ready for your friend to come and I will sleep."
Rachel laughed but sat up, giving Santana's hand a squeeze as she stood. "Maybe I'll continue later when you're more awake and the children are asleep, love. Rest now and I'll send in your boy to cuddle and keep Alex from poking at the little one while Kayla and I get dinner ready."
The mother to be was already more or less asleep when Rachel left, curled into her pillow. As she slept, she rested her hand where the baby had decided to kick and make its presence known.
Chapter Nine