A/N: Well, here I am, writing a multi-chapter, Glee futurefic. This was not what I was expecting. I found I could write Puck a little bit better than I thought, though maybe not quite as perverted as everyone else thinks of him as. But anyhow, I'm giving this a go. I hope you enjoy. So without further ado, I give you 'By Your Side', a Puckleberry fanfiction.

Prologue: Upside Down

New York, New York. 12:30 PM

Puck shouldered his black duffle bag and grabbed his guitar case off the luggage belt and turned toward the exit doors without so much as a glance backwards. He didn't know what he was doing in New York; it may have been the fact that Finn had told him to come out and visit, it may have been the fact that at twenty-two, it was time to leave Lima and get serious about his life, and hopefully his music. The man smiled, a little wistfully; Finn didn't know he was here, Puck still felt some sick jealousy at the fact that his friend had stolen both his girls, and currently was dating the girl that Puck hadn't stopped thinking of since they had all graduated from McKinley. Damn Finn and damn Rachel Berry. Why did the two have to end up being the sickeningly sweet 'leading couple'? Puck had thought he was going to kill someone when the Jesse St. James incident had happened, and now he was so angry at his best friend for stealing away the best thing that had ever happened to him. The man shook his head, removing the thoughts, and ran a hand over his shaved head. The Mohawk had grown old, so he preferred to keep his hair very short.

As Puck walked out of the airport, he could almost hear New Directions and their rendition of 'Don't Stop Believing' and suddenly he realized that it would be okay, he knew he was supposed to be in New York. He expelled a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding, and held out his arm to flag down a taxi. The bright yellow car pulled to the side of the road and the cabbie got out, pulling open the trunk. Puck loaded his stuff in the back and got into the car, somewhat shocked by the noise of the city.

"I'm going to Times Square please," He said with a smile. He leaned his head back and made a pact with himself not to worry. His mom had given him her blessing, and now he was home free. It was time to find a girl, time to sing, time to make his future come true. He watched out the window, the lights and cars and people all flashing by him. It was like he was in a dream. He was turned upside down. He was so used to small town Lima, this place was like culture shock. Not in a bad way of course, but it was change. And change was just what Noah Puckerman needed.