A/N: This is my very first Glee fanfic… please let me know how you like it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Glee.

Chapter One: Just Three Words

Her fingers nimbly pick at the soft seeds set into the fruit. The pomegranate was being difficult, not allowing the seeds to fall freely into the bowl. "All this work just to be healthy… I'm burning more calories than this fruit has."

"Rachel, you're stressed. Give me that… it's turning into mush." Her best friend said, plucking the red soggy mess from her hands. Kurt's hands began to work, taking the seeds out intact.

Rachel sighed and went to the kitchen sink to wash her hands. She turned the hot water on first, and then the cold allowing the liquid to reach a lukewarm feel. She pumped soap into her hand from the smiling Santa Claus perched over Kurt's sink. Kurt was a sucker for decorations… especially around Christmas time. She scrubbed her hands free of the red juice and bits of pomegranate. Content, she turned off the water and found a towel and dried her hands. She went back to the counter and saw that Kurt had finished cleaning the fruit and went to wash his hands.

"Honestly Rach, I don't know what is bothering you." He shut off the water and dried his hands. He turned to the chestnut haired girl and gave her a spill-the-beans look.

"It's nothing. Pomegranate is just so hard to clean." Rachel adverted her eyes from Kurt's. She did that whenever she lied to him, but of course Kurt knew this.

"Lies my dear… now fess up!" Kurt placed a hand on his hip and raised an eyebrow.

Rachel sighed. She knew she would never win. "Alright, alright." Rachel played with a strand of her hair, twisting it between her fingers. She admired the strand as the light caused it to turn a honey color.

"Rachel?" Kurt snapped his fingers in front of her face. "Hello?"

Rachel snapped out of her trance and smiled. "Sorry Kurt… I was just thinking."

"About?" Kurt was getting impatient with her, but he knew he would never get anything out of her if he rushed.

"My hair… the way the light shines on it, it looks like honey. He… he loved it when my hair was in the light."

"He… not him, Rachel?"

"I'm sorry!" She sank onto a bar stool that hugged the island counter in the middle of the kitchen. She took a handful of pomegranate seeds and popped them into her mouth. She chewed them slowly and looked at Kurt. He sat next to her, his elbow propped up on the table with his chin in his hand.

"Oh Rachel. How romantic! You still have feelings for him don't you! And you're nervous that you might run into him in Lima." Kurt swooned, his eyes glossing over.

"Kurt, how do you know so much?" Rachel couldn't help but smile.

"Sweetie… I'm your best friend. I know everything."

Rachel sighed and touched Kurt's arm. She couldn't believe how close they've gotten over the years. After graduation the 'gleeks' had gone their separate ways. Rachel had been given a scholarship to Juilliard and she became a Broadway star practically overnight. She moved to New York and was glued to the stage. Kurt had exploded in the fashion industry and owns his own name brand label. He frequently sends Rachel his designs in exchange for front row tickets to all her shows. Tina and Artie both stayed in Lima and had gotten married. Mercedes had also stayed in Lima and became the new music teacher at McKinley High. Finn had gotten a football scholarship and went onto the NFL for Ohio. That left Quinn and Puck. Quinn had decided to follow Finn in his career and landed a position on the cheer squad. And Puck and the baby?

Rachel's expression saddens as she remembered that day.

RING. RING. Rachel's phone rang through her apartment in New York. She looked up from her latest Broadway script. RING. RING.

"Hello, Rachel Berry speaking."

"Berry…"

Rachel knew this all too familiar voice. It was husky and low and there was only one person who called her by her last name.

"Noah?"

"Yes Berry… I need to talk to someone. I need to talk to you."

Rachel's heart beat frantically. He needed her. "Sure. Of course Noah." She sat up and got more comfortable. "How's Rebecca?"

"She's great. She just turned 5 and started kindergarten. Kid won't stop growing." He chuckled.

"Oh I forgot her birthday! Noah, I'm so sorry!"

"You didn't forget. You called right after your Broadway performance. You were in a rush, you probably don't remember."

Rachel sighed with relief. "Oh thank goodness. I never forget a birthday!"

"No… no you don't." She could hear him smiling. "That's not what I called you about. It's… Quinn."

"Yes?" Rachel sat up straighter. When Quinn had the baby she was granted full custody and allowed Puck visitation. At this point Finn knew about Puck and Quinn and had refused to speak with his best friend. He believed Quinn and stood by her side.

"Well… Finn received an offer to play for the NFL. Quinn is going to follow him on the cheering squad." He paused. "Rachel… I have full custody of Rebecca."

"Really?" Rachel wasn't sure if he was happy or sad about this. "That's…"

"Wonderful! I mean… Rebecca doesn't understand really. I'm livid with Quinn for abandoning her like this. But I finally get my little girl."

"Oh Noah, I'm so happy for you!"

"I just… don't know if I can do it on my own."

Rachel's heart fluttered. "Noah… I'm sure you'll do an amazing job. You have with these past 5 years with her. You've graduated high school AND Ohio State with honors. You got a job and stood up for you baby girl from day 1."

"Thanks… that's just what I needed to hear. Look Rebecca gets out of school in a few minutes, I have to go. Thanks again Berry!" Click.

Rachel numbly hit the 'end'. Why couldn't she tell him… it was just 3 words.

"Earth to Rachel!" Kurt's voice pulled her down to reality. "Sure you haven't seen Mr. Puckerman in almost 5 years, but you guys have remained friends this whole time. Why so nervous?"

"Because… I still… I…"

"Oh. My. God. Rachel Berry… you love Noah Puckerman don't you!?"

Rachel blushed and stared at her hands. "You knew I had feelings for him… and plus I thought Kurt Hummel knew everything." She teased.

"Well, I didn't mean everything my dear! And I didn't know it was love. So… when did this love affair begin?"

"It never did. I soon realized after I left Ohio that I felt this way about him. It was nothing I felt for Finn, especially the way he treated Noah after he found out that Rebecca wasn't his." She drew circles on the counter with her forefinger. "Every time he called me in New York I was expecting him to ask me to come back. To be with him. As time passed I realized that he didn't want me… or need me. I'm afraid of getting broken."

Kurt placed his hand over his heart. "Oh Rach…"

Rachel gave a half smile. "I only agreed to come back because of you Kurt. I can't believe your still in Lima!"

Kurt laughed. "I keep my business at home." This was true. Kurt had turned his basement into a designer studio. "Plus I also stayed to help Mr. Schuester with Glee Club."

Suddenly, Kurt's phone began to ring. "My, my… who could this be?" Kurt slid off the bar stool and danced over to the phone. He picked up the phone and answered. "Kurt Hummel, may I ask who is calling. Oh hello. Why yes… yes she is." He eyed Rachel who stared with wide eyes. Kurt pulled the phone away from his ear and covered the receiver. "It's for you."

"For me? Who is it?" Rachel asked, reaching for the phone. No one knew she was in town, seeing how she had gotten there this morning. Both her dads knew but were on vacation for the holiday season.

Kurt said nothing and placed the phone in her hand.

"He-hello?"

A/N: There you have it… Chapter One! The more reviews I get the faster Chapter Two will appear! Thank you for taking the time to read. Until next time!