Chapter Text
Chapter 1
After using most of his two weeks leave to go back to his hometown, Coney Island during the Mermaids parades was a complete change of atmosphere with its crowd, popping colors and joyful sounds.
Lima, in comparison, seemed grey, but he had missed his mother and sister. It’d felt great to be fussed on after the harshness of the Air Force discipline. Noah, of course, had appreciated the homemade meals, filling his belly to burst, but the best had been to see them and to hold both of them in his arms. He even took the time to reconnect with some old football teammates. It been good to reminisce about old times, but he missed his closer friends, the Glee misfits. Without them, it just wasn’t the same. They had left Lima for greener pastures though, and were spread across the country. Well, except for Finn. Gosh! He missed the big idiot the most, but his best friend was lost to all of them. The other though, they were out there, being made for something bigger than a small Midwest town. It may be great for young families or retirement, but it tended to snuffle dreams.
Quinn had dreams. She dreamed of big cases for an even bigger law firm and of a cut-out family. She was the high-school beautiful girl that stole his heart and they had tried to make it, but in the end it just hadn’t been healthy to try to build their future on a past of ‘should have’ instead of possibilities to come. Besides, he has never been a ‘cut-out’ for anything in his life. They parted amicably, but it was final. It hurt, but in the end, he was glad they got to try.
They still talk, on occasion, it is always great to hear a familiar voice and she was a well of news about the others.
Thanks to her, he knew what nearly everyone was doing. She told him that Artie was a movie maker. Nothing blockbuster though, so nothing he saw. That Mike was dancing, like it was a big surprise.
She also told him all about Rachel’s extravaganza life. Gosh! If they had dreams, that girl had DREAMS with sprinkles on top. There was also Tina, to whom it took longer to find her way, but was now an aroma therapist. No idea what the fuck those did exactly.
Mercedes, Sam, Kurt and Blaine, Santana and Brittany.
Noah shook his head. Wow! that woman loved her gossip and he was just glad to still feel like he was part of their life. It just wasn’t enough.
So, he packed his bag and used his last few days off to come to New York, planning to see some of them while he was there, at least Santana for sure. That girl could drink him under the table. He had wanted to, at least, instead he found himself unsure. Did they still think of him? Would he be welcomed? So, he came here instead, to Coney Island, hoping to enjoy the rides and ogle the ‘mermaids’ in their skimpy costumes.
“Puckie!” he heard yelled a second before a bouncy mermaid launched herself at him, hanging off of his neck. “Have you come to see my pretty costume?”
“Brit!” was also yelled in a familiar voice “,you’re not supposed to jump at people, just wave at them.”
It took him a moment to recognize them in their costumes, but then his arms tightened around a happy Brittany still hanging onto him, and gave his best grin at the fierce mermaid glaring at him with her arms crossed.
“The Puckster is that irresistible,” Noah purred as he ogled Santana’s pushed up breast, for old times’ sake. Then, he gave a peck on Brittany’s cheek, just to get even more of a rise out of her. Beside Hummel, Santana had always been the most fun to rile up.
Her brisk “Puckerman. Still alive?” was followed by a punch on his arm. The equivalent of a hug for her.
“Puck, look at my pretty crown!” Brittany said, claiming his attention back. “Kurt did it for me. I wanted to be a unicorn, but San said we have to be sea themed, so now I am a Naval. Isn’t that right Kurtie?”
Noah’s head snapped to his right. First Brittany and Santana, now Kurt. Was the whole New Direction going to pop up singing on a parade cart?
“Narwhal, Brit. They’re sea unicorns. Hello Noah,” the other man said with a soft smile.
“Who is Noah?” Brittany said, looking around.
“Come, love, I’ll explain it to you. And you,” Santana said pointing a sharp blue nail at him, “stay with Porcelain. We will go to eat after the parade. I want news.”
“Yes ma’am,” he said, saluting, enjoying her scowl as she hopped back into the parade with her confused wife .
Damn, their dresses were tight.
“You’re enjoying the view?”
He stopped his appreciation of the two girls to look at the men standing at his side, his late best-friend brother, the little queer he had tormented through freshman year, before Glee and growing out of his bully phase. Kurt was taller now, more masculine, but still all... high class. He respected Kurt, even liked him but they could never really connect.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly, head hanging.
“For what?”
“What do you mean ‘for what?”
“It was a long time ago.”
“Still...”
“You’re forgiven.... if you buy me a FAIRY cone.” Kurt’s eyes were full of mirth. He was making fun of him... with a fairy pun. Seriously!
He probably made a face because Kurt was soon laughing. Puck followed, feeling relieved. He knew that all was not forgotten, but Kurt was forgiving enough to let water run under bridges and he wanted that chance to connect.