3x20

[epiccombo]

Stop that shit, okay? I'm gonna be fine.

God, you're such a sap.

Comments

[airshipswank]

Such a tragic display, I was... nearly moved to tears.

fff, I love Buckingham

[epiccombo]

Seriously, dude, no one's talking to you.

ohgood, that makes me feel slightly less compelled to apologise for the sparkling bastard repeatedly

[airshipswank]

My apologies, was I interrupting your studies?

[bitchesandbreadstix]

Of course you're going to be fine

[She's more worried about what's going to happen to Brittany]

<3 You have no reason to worry. Buckingham is awesome.

[epiccombo]

Yeah, sure, let's go with that.

[There's an unspoken "asshole" that Puck just leaves hanging.]

[epiccombo]

Thanks to Coach Beiste.

[He does kinda owe her now.]

[bitchesandbreadstix]

So I heard. Who knew you wearing a dress could lead to your graduation.

[Just never do it again, Puckerman. Even the mental images are bad]

[bisquinn]

Of course you'll be fine.

Why wouldn't you be?

[Season One, new momma Quinn knows not what is to come.]

[epiccombo]

That was a stroke of brilliance, okay? And I thought it might help us win.

[He probably won't do it again. Squeezing into that dress was just... yeah. Not gonna happen.]

[epiccombo]

Hey, Q.

[He looks at her oddly, because she should remember this stuff. But whatever.]

I sort of flunked the test that was gonna let me graduate, and then I kinda got beaten up by some jackass hockey player.

I'm totally fine, though. It's just that my idiot mun has been blowing things completely up. It's not even that bad.

[Nope, not saying anything about the crying in the locker room thing.]

[bisquinn]

You're already graduating?

[She narrows her eyes and frowns.]

What? Who beat you up?

[bitchesandbreadstix]

Whatever you say. [It was a nice attempt. She doesn't think- scratch that, she knows Hudson would have the balls to do that]

You know what wasn't brilliant, [she slaps him across the back of the head] a fucking knife?

[epiccombo]

Already? It's been like, three years.

[He crosses his arms in front of him and glowers, though not at her.]

Rick Nelson, or "The Stick". He's an idiot with a stupid mullet and we had a fight.

[epiccombo]

Hey, what the hell? It was fake, but I guess everyone's just ignoring that. I wasn't gonna do anything.

Besides, what the hell did it matter? I thought I wasn't gonna graduate, so it didn't matter what I did.

[bisquinn]

Three years? You're making my head hurt, Puck. And after just having Beth, I'm really not in the mood for surprises.

[Quinn thinks.]

Did he hurt you bad?

[epiccombo]

Whoa, hold up. You just had Beth? Damn, I guess this place is more messed up than I thought.

[He figures it's not a good idea to tell her about Shelby adopting Beth and Quinn's attempts to get her back.]

Nah, just some scrapes and stuff.

[He looks down.]

He tossed me in the dumpster though.

[bisquinn]

[She puts her hands on her hips, and looks freaking stern, like she's going to swat you.]

Puck. Start explaining. Now.

[An angry look.]

I hope you gave him back what he gave you.

[bitchesandbreadstix]

A fake knife is still a knife, it just wouldn't hurt anybody.

[but...in a weird sort of way, that knife did get him a second chance at graduating. Santana was still trying to understand that logic, but whatever. That's never mattered before at WMHS]

[epiccombo]

Come on, Q, that would take freaking years. Look, all I know is, it's been a long time since all that stuff happened. We let someone else adopt Beth, and they look pretty damn happy.

[He smiles just a bit.]

Beth looks just like you, Quinn.

[bisquinn]

We let... Whoever they are, they're taking good care of...her?

[She sounds a bit more than earnest.]

You see her?

[epiccombo]

Yeah, uh, you remember Rachel's mom? She adopted her.

[He nods.]

We both have.

[bisquinn]

[Oh...well Rachel's mom seemed...nice?]

And she's a good mom?

[That makes something catch in her throat.]

Do you have a picture with you?

[epiccombo]

Yeah. I gotta be honest, though. You sorta went crazy and tried to get Beth back.

[Lying to her doesn't feel that good.]

Of course I do.

[He pulls out his phone and looks for the picture of him and Beth.]

Here.

[epiccombo]

Yeah, whatever. You just don't get any of it.

[bisquinn]

What? [She's confused.] Why? You said that Rachel's mom is a good mother. Why would I try to take her back if she's in a safe and happy place?

[When he pulls up the picture of Beth, Quinn instinctively clings to Puck, wrapping an arm around him, turning her side against his body and her head to the camera. In her point of time, they're trying this connection they have between them. It feels comfortable for her.]

Oh my God.

[Her eyes are wide and her mouth hangs open.]

Puck. She's beautiful.

[epiccombo]

I don't know, okay? I don't know what happened, but you dyed your hair pink and started smoking and stealing people's lunch money. And you tried making it look like Rachel's mom wasn't a good mom.

[He looks like he wishes he didn't have to tell her about this.]

I know she is. She looks just like you.

[bisquinn]

[Excuse Quinn. She's just going to look at you like you're high.] That's insane. You better have stopped me, Puck.

[She leans her head on his shoulder, beaming.]

She's got your mouth. Look.

[epiccombo]

[He pulls her closer into a hug.] Of course I did. Like I'd do anything else, after you planted hot sauce and books about baby sacrifice.

[He smiles.]

She's totally got your eyes.

[bisquinn]

...what?

[She's just going to hug him tight.]

Oh my God. You sent me to the nuthouse, right? Because baby sacrifice? Really?

[She focuses on the picture, trying to block out all the new worries she now has for her future.] And those hands and feet. Definitely going to be Daddy's Little Scrapper someday.

[epiccombo]

Hell, no. Why would I even think about doing that? Yeah, you went a little crazy but... No way.

Besides, nothing's changed. You've still got glee club, even if you left it for awhile.

[He hopes that makes her feel better, that they didn't totally turn on her.]

Seriously? Come on, Quinn, you know she's gonna be just like you.

[Smart, pretty, and popular... He doesn't want to even think about Beth taking after him.]

[bisquinn]

[Quinn still looks unsure, but she sighs.] I'm going to have to trust you to handle me. Again.

[She shakes her head a little.]

You're in there, too, Puck. I mean, you are the one who gave her a Y chromosome.

[epiccombo]

[He smiles at her and squeezes her hand.]

Sure, Q.

[Yep, totally leaving the bit about kissing Shelby out.]

Yeah.

[He shrugs, like that really doesn't mean anything.]

She still takes after you, though.

[bisquinn]

[She chuckles.] She's got your eyes. Take some credit where it's due, Puck. [She reaches up and smoothes back his low mohawk.] You're not exactly a bad looking guy, [She says it with wit and a smile.]

I'm really glad that you're her father.