After Deployment

14

"Noah, it's been a week since you found out you're discharged." Quinn stated as she sat down beside Puck on the couch. "Don't you think you should start telling people? Your family? Santana?"

Puck shook his head. "It's bad enough I have to look you in the eye. How am I supposed to tell Mrs. H that I failed?"

"You didn't fail." Quinn told Puck. "Everyone's really proud of you. Finn's mom has always thought of you as her other son, and I know she's proud, too."

Puck bit his lip.

"Why don't you go shower while I order food?" Quinn suggested. "And then we can start calling everyone together."

"I'll call Santana today." Puck decided. "And Jake."

"You should call Sarah if you're calling Jake." Quinn told Puck.

"Fine." Puck nodded. "I'll call Santana, Jake, and Sarah, but that's it."

"Okay." Quinn said. "And I'll be right here when you do."

Puck took a deep breath as he got up and went to shower.

-

The pair sat on the couch eating Chinese food together.

"When are you going back to work?" Puck wondered.

"Well, I'm between jobs right now so I'm taking a little break." Quinn said.

"Because of me?" Puck asked.

Quinn shook her head. "I need a break."

"Until when?" Puck wondered.

"I don't know, Noah." Quinn replied. "Why?"

"Well, I'm not working." Puck said. "And you're not working."

"We're fine." Quinn told Puck. "We'll be fine."

"Don't you think we'll get bored of each other?" Puck asked.

Quinn furrowed her eyebrow. "We were talking about getting engaged. Do you think I'd wanna marry someone I get bored of?"

"I'm just saying." Puck shrugged. "If you wanna split, then I-"

"Stop talking like that." Quinn cut Puck off. "You're allowed to be angry and upset that you can't go back, but you're not allowed to mope about it for the rest of your life."

Puck looked at Quinn.

"I still want everything we talked about before." Quinn went on. "I still wanna marry you, Noah."

"You do?" Puck asked.

"Of course I do." Quinn answered. "Don't you?"

"Yeah." Puck smiled. "Yeah, I wanna marry you. I just wish you'd accept my freakin' proposal."

"Maybe I'll accept the next one." Quinn teased.

"Maybe?" Puck repeated with a smile as he shook his head.

"It depends on if I like the way you do it." Quinn continued with a smirk. "You know I don't like huge public gestures."

"Well, you know I like showing everyone how in love I am." Puck pointed out. "And a bonus is embarrassing you in the process."

Quinn smiled as she looked at Puck.

"Besides, you should feel bad for me and let me have a win." Puck said. "I got kicked out of the Air Force."

"Go make your phone calls." Quinn commanded as she handed Puck his phone.