I'll Be

Disclaimer: After 3x04 "Pot of Gold" / Puck is 18 in this so there's nothing illegal going on.

Puck and Shelby were standing chest to chest after Shelby put Beth down to sleep. Without a thought, Puck leaned in and kissed the tall brunette. Her response was immediate as she moved her mouth against his. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she grasped the strip of hair on the back of his head as she pressed her lips harder against his. Wrapping his arms around her waist he licked her bottom lip silently asking for permission to massage his tongue with hers.

As Puck was kissing Shelby part of him wondered if she liked to be kissed the way Rachel did. Teasing her with his mouth he pulled away momentarily to bite her bottom lip and suck on it. Hearing a moan from the woman's lips made him smile. Yup,shelikeditjust likeRacheldid.

Desperate for more contact he gently pushed her up against the back of the couch. Shelby rolled her hips forward sensuously enticing him to come closer. His hands gripped her hips to hold her against him. As she ran her tongue against the roof of his mouth he couldn't help but want more. He had kissed plenty of older women before but Shelby was different. She was so much better.

Suddenly a distant cry erupted from the other room breaking them apart from their intimate moment. Realizing what she had done, she pushed Puck away from her.

Both of them were gasping for breath. Their pupils were blown and as much as they wanted to continue to go further, the space Shelby requested would be granted and respected. Puck did his best to calm his increasing arousal. Hearing Beth quiet down helped Shelby to get a hold of herself.

"You shouldn't have done that Puck." Shelby said shakily. "You're just a kid." She covered her face with her hands wondering how soon it'd be until she'd be arrested and have Beth taken from her. She was ripped from her paranoid thoughts when she felt two strong warm hands pull her hands from her face.

"I'm not a kid. Not anymore. Besides I'm 18. I can do what I want. I want you."

Shelby shook her head. "You don't know what you're saying."

Puck stopped and just looked in her eyes and saw what he felt when they kissed. She wanted this too. He knew it.

Puck took a step closer to Shelby. "I do. You don't have to be alone. I meant what I said. I'll be there for you. And Beth."

Taking her hand in his, he continued,"I know you're lonely and scared but we can make this work if you want it. I know you want this."

Shelby felt like she was being ripped in two. Part of her wanted to believe Puck and give into what he was offering but as life goes, reality set in. "We can't Puck. What about Rachel? What if she found out? I can't do that to her. How are you going to explain this to Rachel?"

Puck realized what Shelby was saying. Rachel would be devastated to find her ex-boyfriend, now a good friend and fellow team mate being with her biological mother of with whom she has a complicated relationship with. He didn't know what to say so he didn't say anything at all.

"Exactly." she said.

Both of their hearts tore a little bit more realizing it couldn't, shouldn't, wouldn't ever happen. Not wanting to leave but knowing he should, led himself to the door.

Opening the door, he turned around and said, "I meant what I said Shelby. I'll be there for you if you need help. Always." And with that he left.

Shelby walked to the closed door, fell to the floor and cried harder than she could have ever remembered.