Disclaimer: Ownership is neither claimed nor implied, the author does not make any profit from this work of fiction.
A/N: Puck had been practicing a song for the mash-up, it said everything he wasn't brave enough to say to a certain blonde cheerio…
"So, has anyone had any ideas for the mash-up?" Mr Schuester asked as he walked into the choir room. He looked around at his team and felt slightly disappointed, he felt sure that Finn or Rachel would have taken up the challenge.
"I-I've been working on something," Puck said a touch nervously, he seemed so much less sure of himself than he usually did, less 'Puckasaurus' than Mr Schue had ever known.
"Let's hear it," Mr Schue encouraged and then took a seat with the rest of New Directions.
"This is a song I haven't heard in a long time, I don't know if it will mash with Bust A Move," Puck admitted shyly, "but it's a cool song, the lyrics are really good," he added and then paused, he looked embarrassed. Puck couldn't stop his eyes from straying to Quinn Fabray, he'd tried his best to keep away from her, she was his best friend's girl after all, but he couldn't, he was in love with her, and with the baby she was carrying…his baby.
"Go ahead Puck," Mr Shue said with a nod of his head.
Puck took one of the tall stools and perched on it before the class. He tried to calm his breathing as he tucked his fingers into the front pockets of his jeans, he chewed his lip nervously as the band began the opening bars. Quietly, at first, looking anywhere but at the group of people sat in front of him and then with more confidence, he began to sing.
"Softly, whispering I love you,
Echoes of your voice are calling still from my dreams,
Softening the chill of the breeze," he sang, his voice was amazing – it caught the attention of all the girls, some of the guys too, actually! Puck chanced a glance upwards and saw the look on her face. "Wow," he thought, "she is loving this."
"Through my window,
I can see the moon glow,
Painting silver shadows on a rose coloured land,
A world that we walk hand in hand,
In a day of gold, covered by the glow of new love," Puck sang, his face showed his pleasure at being so free, so uninhibited. Before the next line, Puck deliberately sought out Quinn's gaze, he saw her take a breath and hold it as she listened to him, he saw her bite her lip, she knew he was singing this to her even though he'd kept looking around the room.
"Our secret, baby," Quinn thought, his words from that night echoed around her head, just like they had done for the last three months, just like they had done since she had given herself to him - since she had fallen in love with him.
"And the scent of you invades the cool evening air,
I can close my eyes and you're there," Puck's voice was wonderful, marvellous, it sounded supreme. He closed his eyes and sang the words from his heart, his head fell back a little, he was so totally engrossed in his performance, she had to know this was for her.
"You're in my arms still,
Oh, I know your soft kiss,
Turning into music every beat of my heart,
When I hold you close to my heart,
And I hear your voice whispering I love you,
I can feel your warm face,
Ever close to my lips,
And the scent of you invades the cool evening air,
I feel you there in my arms still,
And I know your soft kiss,
Is turning into music every beat of my heart,
And I hear your voice whispering I love you," Puck sang and then looked directly at her – she had to know by now, she simply had to.
"Ooh I know I need you,
I feel you there in my arms still,
I can't forget,
I love you," he sang, the emotion and feeling in his words was just so magical, so very real, he looked slightly bashful when the last notes drifted away, he scuffed the floor with his foot, he couldn't quite meet anyone's eyes but he was really hoping for some positive praise, some sort of positive reaction.
"Wow, Puck, that was great," Mr Schue cried as he applauded the performance along with the class. "A fabulous song and really well done," he enthused, still clapping. "Come on class, give it up for Mr Puckerman," he encouraged. Everyone cheered and clapped.
"You could have chosen a better phrase there, Mr Shue," Quinn thought to herself. There were only two people in the class who knew her secret, well, one of them thought he did, her boyfriend thought he did, but Quinn and Noah Puckerman had another secret, one that only they knew. "I already gave it up for him and now I'm lying to Finn about it," she silently reminded herself.
Puck took another look at Quinn, saw the fear and the admiration in her eyes, he had to come clean to Finn, he had to tell his best friend the truth. "Hey, Finn, I'm in love with your girl and by the way, that's my baby," he could imagine the conversation even if he couldn't actually voice the words. Quinn must have known what he was thinking, she couldn't tear her eyes away from him. Neither Puck nor Quinn noticed Santana's interest in the pair of them but Santana had noticed the two-way eye play between her fellow Cheerio and the talented Mr Puckerman and she was not amused, she just hadn't figured out how to use it to her advantage yet…but she would, she absolutely would!