A/N: I am so ashamed with how long it has taken me to update. I had to have surgery on my ankle to fix come ligaments and tendons that I ruptured and kind of forgot about this in the process. Hopefully people are still willing to read!

*GLEE*

Chapter 9

A month had passed quickly and Kurt had fallen into the routine of spending Wednesday and Sunday evenings at the Puckerman apartment. It wasn't a secret and virtually everyone in glee club knew that Kurt was seeking tutoring sessions from Puck, but many of them couldn't bring themselves to believe that Puck wasn't as dumb as he came off as. Mercedes had been known to give Puck a few death glares whenever he was hanging around Kurt, but that didn't seem to deter the larger teen in the slightest.

Kurt was actually enjoying the time he spent with Puck. They didn't usually spend the entire evening studying. In fact, Kurt has spent quite a bit of time pampering Sarah by doing her hair and painting her nails – things that "Noah doesn't do right", or so Sarah has told him. Puck didn't seem to mind having him around either. The two teens often found themselves in large debates or discussions ranging from the best sports car to whether action movies or romantic comedies were better. To Kurt, it had seemed as if they had formed a sort of friendship.

Kurt had never had a male friend before. Growing up he had always been different and most of the other boys had stayed a fair distance away from him. He loved Mercedes and she was possibly the best friend anyone could ask for, but there was something about being able to spend time with another male without said other male afraid to be close or touch him. Puck also seemed to enjoy his company, especially the casual moments when Kurt would simply inquire as to how his day had been. In all his time spent at the Puckerman apartment, Kurt had never seen their mother, so he assumed that Puck appreciated that someone cared about his everyday life even if his own mother did not.

Now Puck would never admit it, but the days between Kurt's visits were kind of lousy. Granted, he got to see Kurt and some of his other friends at school, but it wasn't the same. He and Kurt weren't the same people at school as they were behind the closed doors of Puck's apartment.

As it was, it was only Friday evening, meaning he still had a full day and a half before Kurt would be back over. Sarah had been put to bed over an hour ago and now Puck was left by himself in the quiet apartment. Puck despised the hours between when Sarah went to bed and they both woke up in the morning because they left him all alone with his thoughts.

Puck was currently sat at the kitchen table as he shuffled through the many bills that were due at the end of the week. A calculator sat next to him as he tried to figure out what he could pay now and what would have to wait until his next paycheck came in. A steady headache was pounding behind his eyes as he threw his pen down in frustration. Deciding to call it a night before he got himself totally worked up, he pushed himself away from the table and headed off to bed.

*GLEE*

"Noah!" the whimpering call had Puck sitting up tiredly in his bed, his blankets pooling around his waist. "Noah!" The distressed call came again.

Puck threw his blankets off and dangled his legs over the side of the bed. Sparing his alarm clock a glance only to see that it was just passed three in the morning, Puck stood up and made his way down the short hall to his sister's bedroom. Pushing the cracked door open, he ventured into the room and perched himself on the edge of his sister's bed, taking in her flushed cheeks and tear filled eyes with concern.

"What's the matter Squirt?" he asked softly, lifting a hand to brush he bangs from her forehead only to frown when he felt how hot her skin was.

"I don't feel good Noah." Sarah whined pathetically.

"I'm going to go get a thermometer, alright? I'll be right back Squirt." He pressed a kiss to her forehead before standing up and heading for the bathroom.

He returned to Sarah's room a moment later, thermometer in hand. He was pleased to find that her fever wasn't super high, however 101 degrees wasn't all that great either. Leaving the room to retrieve a wet washcloth, he then placed the cool cloth over Sarah's warm forehead and measured out the appropriate amount of Children's Motrin for her to take.

Puck settled down beside Sarah in her small twin bed, pulling the pink mini mouse comforter up around both of them. Sarah rolled onto her side and rested her head on her older brother's chest, the wash cloth still plastered to her forehead dampening Puck's sleep shirt, but he paid no mind to it. Wrapping one of his large arms around her back, he stroked Sarah's hair gently and he hummed under his breath waiting for sleep to claim her once again.

*GLEE*

Saturday mornings for Kurt meant breakfast in front of the TV in the living room watching old cartoons from his childhood until his father made his way out of bed,. Kurt actually enjoyed the time to himself. He had never really been able to sleep in unless he was sick or had done something exhausting, like mowing the lawn, the day before. However, Kurt never complained about not being able to sleep past seven o'clock. There was something about the early morning hours that were calming for Kurt. 7 AM-9AM on Saturdays and Sundays were the only moments where Kurt felt at peace. No one was calling him or requesting anything of him.

Which was why Kurt was taken so off guard when his phone began to buzz on the coffee table in front of him. He had no idea who would be calling him at 7:30 in the morning. The only phone calls that he ever got that early in the morning always delivered bad news. He frowned when he saw the caller ID before running his thumb across the screen and accepting the call.

"Puck?" he asked cautiously.

"Yeah. Look Dude, I'm sorry I'm calling so early, but I need a favor."

"What kind of a favor?" Kurt asked suspiciously as he pressed the phone closer to his ear.

"Sarah's sick. Like, with a fever and shit. Her daycare won't let her in if she's sick, and I can't take the day off work. " Came Puck's frustrated voice from across the line.

"What about your Mom?" Kurt inquired curiously. Wasn't it the parents' job to stay at home with a sick child?

"She's not here. Look, just give me a 'yes' or 'no' so I can figure out what the hell I'm going to do. If you don't want to, that's fine, just let me know now." Puck's voice was biting, but Kurt could tell it was more out of anxiety than anger.

"No, no! I'd love to watch her…but I promised my Dad and Carole that I'd help take care of things around the house…" he trailed off guiltily.

"I can bring her over there." Puck offered. "She's pretty chill when she's sick. Just stick her in front of a television and bring her juice and she'll be fine. Please Kurt."

Kurt was almost certain that this was the closest to begging Puck had ever been, so he sighed. "Yeah, okay. Bring her on over." He agreed.

Puck let out a sigh of relief. "Thanks man. I really do appreciate it. We'll be over in ten." And with that, Puck hung up.

Kurt sighed as he set his coffee cup on the counter and made his way to the linen closet to make up the couch for his little visitor.

*GLEE*

Burt yawned and stretched as he made his way down the hall towards the kitchen where he knew a pot of coffee would be waiting for him. There always was, thanks to Kurt's inability to sleep in. When Kurt first started getting up early, even on weekends, Burt had been worried. What kind of teenager got up earlier than they had to on a weekend? But now he was almost grateful for it because it usually meant that he didn't have to curse at the coffee pot while he waited for said coffee to percolate.

He sleepily passed by the living room, only to back track as he rubbed furiously at his eyes because they had to be deceiving him. Peeking into the darkened room, the only noise coming from the television playing cartoons, he saw that his eyes were, in fact, not playing tricks on him. There, cuddled under a dozen blankets on their sofa was a brunette little girl. Hearing movement in the kitchen, Burt quietly passed the room and headed out to find Kurt.

"Do you want to explain to me why there's a little girl in our living room?" Burt asked the moment he entered the kitchen.

Kurt, who had his back to the doorway, jump startled, before turning to face his father. "That's Sarah Puckerman. She's Puck's little sister." He explained.

"The kid with the Mohawk? Finn's friend?" Burt clarified as he pulled a coffee mug from the cabinet.

"And my friend too." Kurt huffed. "But yes."

"Why is she here?" Burt inquired, taking his first sip of his morning caffeine.

"She's sick. I don't think it's the flu, but she's definitely not feeling well. Puck had to work this morning and her daycare won't let her in because she's sick."

"What about their parents?" Burt inquired, much like Kurt had questioned Puck about earlier.

"Their dad walked out before Sarah was even born, I believe. And their mother….I don't really know much about her. Puck just said that she wasn't around today. I get the feeling that she's not someone who would ever win any parent of the year awards, you know?" Kurt offered, a hint of sadness lacing his voice as he peeked out of the kitchen and into the living room to check on Sarah.

"Parent's like that disgust me." Burt grunted as he sat down at the kitchen table.

"Look, Dad, I know I told you I'd help out with stuff around the house, and I still will. It's just….Puck was in a bind."

"Don't worry about it Kid." Burt waved him off. "Something tells me you'll be better and taking care of that little girl than running a lawn mower anyway."

*GLEE*

Kurt spent a relaxing day with Sarah, curled up on the sofa watching Disney movies all day. Puck had been right. The little girl was possibly the easiest sick person Kurt had ever been around. She didn't ask for much, just water, soup, and a hug now and again. She was still running a fever on and off, but she was actually in pretty good spirits for being ill.

Sarah was currently stretched out across the sofa, her head pillowed in Kurt's lap as they watched Cinderella together. Sarah visibly flinched whenever the evil step mother showed on screen and Kurt couldn't help but frown in worry.

"Kurt?" a small voice asked. Kurt looked down at Sarah to find the six year old starring up at him.

"What is it sweetheart?" He asked, his hand playing with her hair gently.

"Why are mommies mean like that?" she asked with a frown.

"Not all Mommies are mean." Kurt reassured her. "You met Carole earlier and she's a Mommy. Was she mean?"

"No." Sarah replied with a shake of her head.

"See?" Kurt smiled down at her. "Not all mommies are mean. "

Sarah's eyes fluttered closed as she turned onto her side and pressed her face against Kurt's stomach. Kurt carded one hand through her tangled curls while the other rubbed her back soothingly. "I wish my Mommy was like your Mommy." Sarah said simply as he breathing began to even out.

Kurt didn't get the chance to question her about her statement because the small girl drifted to sleep almost instantly, one tiny fist clutching at his shirt as if it were her lifeline.

*GLEE*

"How was she?" Puck asked from the entrance way of the living room, having just been let in by Burt.

"A perfect Angel." Kurt replied with a smile, his hand still carding through Sarah's hair. The little girl had been sleep for over an hour and Kurt's leg had long since fallen asleep, but he didn't have the heart to change waking her by moving.

"Sorry I'm a little late. Some dumbass knocked over an entire display of pickle jars and I was the lucky one who got to clean it up." Puck explained as he fully entered the room and knelt down beside his sleeping sister.

"It's not a problem. " Kurt reassured him. "We had a nice time today. Her fever's been on and off, but never over 100." He told the other teen.

"Thanks man. I really appreciate you watching her like this." Puck replied sincerely.

"It wasn't a problem at all. She's adorable, even when she's sick."

"Yeah. She's something else." Puck muttered fondly, as he brushed aside Sarah's bangs.

"Is…Is everything okay at home?" Kurt inquired hesitantly.

"Yeah." Puck looked up surprised. "Why?"

"No reason….I was just wondering, since you said your Mom wasn't around…."

"She's just working a lot." Puck lied before getting to his feet and reaching down for his sister. He gently hoisted her into his arms, never waking her as he settled her on his hip and gather the bag, which he had packed her belongings in earlier.

"Are we still on for tomorrow? I understand if you don't want to tutor me if you have Sarah tomorrow." Kurt asked as he stood up, wincing at the pins and needles feeling rushing though his leg.

"Yeah, same time as always. Hopefully the Squirt will be feeling better….if not, I'll just set her up on the sofa while we study in the kitchen." Puck said with a shrug as he made his way to the door. "Thanks again Kurt. You really did me a favor today. I owe you."

"It was my pleasure." Kurt reassured him, watching from his front door as Puck settled a still sleeping Sarah into his car before getting behind the wheel and driving off.

As Kurt shut the front door he couldn't help but feel as if Puck had lied to him. After Sarah's comment earlier, Kurt had a feeling that the Puckerman's home life wasn't what Puck wanted everyone to believe it was.

*GLEE*

A/N: I promise it won't take nearly as long for the next update! All of your kind words and reviews mean the world to me and I really take into consideration everything you say, so if you feel like it, feel free to leave me a review! Thanks so much! ~Katy