A/N: I knew nothing about Hanukkah before some brief research. I don't know anyone who celebrates it, or I might have asked. So, just be aware of that and if I've gotten anything wrong, I'm really sorry!

I do not own Glee or any of its characters.

Puck stands outside Rachel Berry's front door, wondering for the millionth time if maybe he isn't just a little crazy. Or a lot. It's RachelBerry. The girl is loud, obnoxious, and insane. So why the hell does he feel compelled to knock on her door and talk to her? Well, more than that, actually, but he's not going to think about that right now. He is just about to knock on the door when it opens to reveal none other than Ms. Rachel Berry herself.

"Noah?" she asks, her eyebrows drawing together as she looks him over. She folds her arms across her chest as the cold winter air hits her. She's more than a little confused. They've hardly spoken all year, and she can't quite understand why he's here on her doorstep.

"Hey Rachel," Puck says, jutting his chin out. The two of them just stand there staring at each other. Rachel's not sure why Puck here, and he's not offering any explanation. Puck just isn't quite sure what to say because he hadn't thought this through and now he just feels like an idiot.

"Would you like to come in?" she finally asks. Puck nods and she moves away from the door, allowing him in before she shuts the door tightly behind him. It's much too cold to be holding the door open, and she'd rather talk in the house than stand in the cold in silence. She turns to him and says, "So, what brings you here?"

"Well," Puck starts, shoving his hands in the pockets of his jacket. "Today's the first day of Hanukkah."

Rachel blinks, wondering if that's supposed to somehow explain everything. She says, "I'm well aware of that, Noah."

"And we're both Jewish."

"I'm aware of that as well." She presses her lips together because she isaware of it, and she doesn't get where this is going. She and Puck might be friends, but they definitely didn't spend a whole lot of time together. The most interaction they had was during glee club with their occasional – or frequent, she should say – glances at each other. She was just more confused by it than anything because, really, did he like her or what? She hated not knowing. If he didn't, he could at least tell her so she wouldn't get her hopes up anymore.

"I got you a present." Puck sighs as he pulls a box out of his pocket. He stares down at it for a moment before looking up and giving Rachel a small smile.

"You didn't have to-"

"I wanted to." Puck tells her as he hands it over. She takes it, smiling at the glittery pink wrapping paper. Puck notices and adds, "I know pink is your favorite color. It just kind of screamed Rachel Berry to me."

Rachel's heart melts a little, though she shouldn't be surprised. She's learned that Puck always notices, even when you don't think he does. She tugs off the lid to the box and gasps. Puck's face lights up and he can't help but grin because he's finally done something right. She pulls out the necklace, the gold star dangling off the end. She looks at Puck in complete awe and embraces him. He smiles and wraps his arms around her. He sighs happily, gently rubbing her back. It felt good to have her in his arms.

"Thank you so much," she says as she pulls back to look at him. "If I would have known, I would have gotten you something in return."

"Hey, we've still got seven more days." Puck tells her and grins.

"What? You mean you...?" Rachel asks and Puck nods. Okay, now Rachel is reallysurprised and more confused than ever. He can pass it off as them both being Jewish, but really, what guy – Jewish or not – is going to spend money buying eight gifts for a girl that he merely tolerates?

Rachel pulls away so she can put on the necklace. She takes it from the box and sets the box on the small table next to the door. She'll have to remember to get it later. She wants to keep it. Puck takes the necklace from her and she turns away from him, pulling her hair up so that it won't get tangled in it. He fumbles with the clasp for a bit before finally getting it. Turning her around, he straightens the necklace out and looks up at her. She's smiling up at him, and he really just wants to kiss her. Instead, he clears his throat and says, "Beautiful."

"Perfect," she says, grinning. She's sure he probably has no idea that she's actually referring to him and not the necklace, but he's still grinning, so she doesn't care. Noah Puckerman is sweeter than most people give him credit for, but it's nice knowing that she's one of the few who actually know this side of him.

She convinces him to stay for a little bit, telling him that she and her fathers were just about to sit down and play the dreidel game. Of course, the promise of gelt is really all he needs before he's hanging up his jacket next to the door and sitting down around the coffee table with her and her fathers. The dreidel game is not exactly the most stimulating game, and while she knows he's Jewish, she's a little surprised at the fact that he knows the Hebrew words written on the game. I really should just stop being so surprised, Rachel tells herself.

The game finally comes to an end when Puck ends up with all the gelt. He's only going to take a few pieces home with him, because he saw his mom with some earlier that day, but Rachel and her dads insist that he take it. He decides to sort out the candy so that they each have an equal share. Once he's finished, he announces that he really better be getting home. He tries to not to read too much into the disappointment on Rachel's face.

After her dads thank Puck for playing with them and quickly disappear into the kitchen, Rachel takes it upon herself to walk Puck to the door. She rolls her eyes as she ignores his not so convincing protests that he knows where it is and how he can get there. They stand there awkwardly for a moment before Rachel grabs her coat and tells him that she'll walk him to his car.

"But it's freezing out, Rachel."

"I don't care."

"What, are you afraid I'm going to develop sudden amnesia and not find my car?" Puck teases.

"Exactly. I would be absolutely devastated if I walked out tomorrow morning and found you frozen in the snow just inches away from your vehicle. How would I ever forgive myself?" Rachel grins, and Puck rolls his eyes but can't help but smile back.

"Okay, fine. You can walk me to my car."

Rachel pulls on a pair of boots and flicks on the porch light before shutting the door behind her. Puck offers his arm, and she takes it, walking close so that she can feel his warmth. When they reach his car, he turns towards her, looking up at the house and then back down at her.

"Your nose is red," Puck laughs.

"It's cold out." Rachel says, her teeth chattering as she rubs her arms. Puck reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a gray sock hat. He pulls it down over her head, covering up her eyes and her ears. She giggles as she adjusts it so she can see him. "I have my own hat you know."

"Oh, I know. But you don't have it right now. Wear mine. My mom made it." Puck tells her and she grins up at him.

"You know how I said I didn't have a present for you?" Rachel says, looking up at him through her eyelashes.

"Mm, what about it?" Puck asks.

"I thought of something I could give you."

Before Puck can ask what it is, Rachel stands on her toes and presses her lips to his. He barely has time to react before she quickly pulls back, and he's kind of thankful that it's quick because he's not sure if he would have been able to really process it enough to kiss her back. He stares down at her, eyes wide. She watches him, waiting for a reaction other than his obvious surprise. He smiles slightly as he hooks an arm around her waist and pulls her close. He kisses her softly, her lips parting beneath his and he tightens his grip on her. He pulls his head back slightly and says, "Best present ever."

Rachel flashes him a huge grin as she says, "And just think, we've got seven more days."