A.N. This story resulted from the Support Stacie Author Auction. Thanks to erinrachelle74 for bidding on me and prompting this Puckleberry story with the following two requests: Puck chasing after Rachel, and Puck standing up for her in glee rehearsal. So this story is the result of those prompts and conferences to make sure I was going in the directions she liked. Hope you all enjoy too!

Disclaimer: I do not own Glee

...

Puck never dreamed he'd be chasing after Rachel Berry senior year of high school. Well, maybe he had...or a part of him had dreamed something like that…but only a part of him which he chose to ignore.

Maybe they flirted or whatever and had some totally hot make-out sessions, but he was all about Quinn (and their baby, and the ladies in general) and she was definitely all about Finn. All about Finn. After whatever that was with that Jesse guy. Even after she and Finn broke up (the first time) and she and Puck had a thing (the second time), it was really all about Finn for Rachel.

Not that Puck cared.

Not that Puck was watching her or anything.

But for some reason, on this particular day when the gleeks were ragging on Rachel again in rehearsal for the zillionth time, and she sat there looking just over it, but holding her tongue, Puck decided it was time to say something.

"Seriously, guys, shut your effing mouths!"

Mr. Schue opened his mouth like he was about to stop Puck, but then he just leaned against the piano looking exasperated as usual. Puck continued, "Rachel is the only thing that's held this club together since the beginning. And she's got the most talent of anyone here too," His gaze fell on Finn then Mercedes. "So if she wants to make suggestions for what the club can do after we graduate, then we owe it to her to listen!" He plopped down in his chair and crossed his arms, looking badass and imposing for sure.

Rachel gave a small smile and mouthed "thanks" to him, and Puck gave a nod back. She stood up and faced the other students. "Since it's clear that no one else wants to be part of this conversation, I will schedule some time alone with Mr. Schuester to discuss my ideas for the future of the glee club. That way, I will not impose on your gossip time." Rachel sat back down gracefully and crossed her legs.

Puck thought it was a little badass to get that dig in about gossiping. Sure, the girl was always a little crazy—who really cared that much about what the glee club did after they graduated? Nobody except Rachel Berry. But her crazy was kinda cute. Not that Puck ever even thought the word cute. Puck figured that with some coaching from him in badassery, Rachel could probably be a hot little badass chick.

Yeah, she was hot. It's not like he didn't have eyes. And a dick that subbed in for a brain on many occasions. Whatever.

...

When Puck came to her defense in front of the glee club, Rachel almost swooned. In that moment, he was like a knight in shining armor. Then Rachel told herself that as a strong, independent woman, she didn't need a white knight. She tried to ignore the way her heart fluttered when she replayed the memory in her head on her drive home from school.

It was strange to think about how she had always been drawn to Noah Puckerman, even while she was drawn to Finn, or really any strong male lead, but there had always been a little something more about her relationship with Noah.

It was mostly sexual; she blushed just to think it. But they had never actually had sex. They had come very close to it though at the end of sophomore year. Their third romantic encounter. And it was in that third encounter when Rachel really knew the truth about Noah Puckerman. He had a heart. She thought she saw glimpses of it before then; but it was fully exposed to her that night. He wasn't Puck that night. He came to her as Noah.

It happened two years ago, shortly after the night Quinn had her baby.

...

He was standing outside of her door in the rain, but she could tell he had been crying. For at least 30 seconds, Rachel stood there staring at him, with absolutely no idea what he was doing there and what she could possibly do. And he just stood there too, getting soaked, looking at his feet. Rachel finally had the presence of mind to realize what was going on: he was broken from giving away his daughter for adoption. And he had come to her.

She grabbed his wrist and guided him inside wordlessly. At first, Rachel didn't know why he came to her, but maybe just because there was nobody else. As he stood in her entryway, he seemed to actually want to talk (a rarity). But when he opened his mouth, instead of words, Rachel heard a choking sound as a strangled cry escaped his throat. And of course, seeing this boy actually break down in front of her caused her eyes to fill with tears and her heart to fill with sadness for him. That's why she hugged him.

Puck seemed startled at first. As though the hug finally woke him up and he realized where he was and what he was doing. But after a moment of standing there shocked while Rachel wrapped her arms around him, he pulled her closer. They remained in each other's arms for what felt like a long time, until a shiver coursed through Rachel as she became chilled from her now-wet clothes.

"Shit, sorry," Puck mumbled, breaking the silence.

"What?" Rachel asked in a daze, looking into his red-rimmed eyes. They looked greener than she'd ever seen them.

"You're cold 'cause I got you all wet."

Rachel was the first one to smile because for the first time ever, Puck hadn't intended to sound dirty.

He smirked at her smile, and suddenly, things were a little more like normal. "You and your dirty mind, Berry. Who'd have guessed?"

"C'mon," Rachel smiled again, grabbing his hand. "Let's get you out of those wet clothes."

"Seriously? Now you're going to take advantage of my emotional state?" He raised his eyebrow at her, but he didn't budge. The moment was ending. "No, I shouldn't have come here. I'll just go home and change. Sorry to bug you."

"No, now you can't be serious," Rachel said, keeping a firm grip on Puck's hand. "I wasn't making a sexual advance," she said the words like they were hard for her to say. "You would have gone somewhere else if that's what you were looking for. You came to me. That means you want to talk."

She was a little disappointed to know that it was true—that he wasn't attracted to her that way. And she took his shrug and slight nod as indications that he agreed. But she was still deeply pleased that he wanted to talk to her. She had always wanted them to be friends after she broke up with him. Since Puck didn't start talking, Rachel continued. "And talking—that's what we're going to do. After we both change clothes. You can wear something of Daddy's."

Puck looked like he was going to protest, then must have thought better of it, because he slipped off his shoes at the door and followed Rachel willingly. She gave him some pajama pants and a t-shirt that seemed like they would fit, and directed him to the hall bathroom while she changed into her own pajamas in her room. She took care to choose something not too revealing, but not too juvenile. Rachel persuaded Puck to sit under the covers with her in bed and tell her what happened.

And that's what he tried to do.

"I didn't think it would happen so fast. That she'd be gone, you know?"

Rachel knew he wasn't looking for an answer, so she just nodded solemnly.

"It's what Quinn wanted, and I guess she's right that I'd make a shitty dad, but it just sucks."

This time Rachel had to respond. "You're right it does suck, but I don't think you'd be a bad father. However, I also think that Quinn was trying to be realistic about how difficult it is to raise a child at age sixteen."

Puck sighed sadly, "Yeah. I just…I only got to hold her once…"

He looked so vulnerable. That's why Rachel kissed him.

She could tell the kiss took him by surprise because he sat there unmoving at first, and honestly the urge to kiss him took her a bit by surprise as well. But the urge to keep kissing him didn't surprise her at all. Kissing him had always been wonderful. And in this moment, all she wanted to do was take away his pain, to do something to comfort him. She was relieved when he started kissing her in return instead of pulling away.

Rachel wrapped her arms around his neck and she felt his arms tighten around her. She maneuvered herself to straddle him, and he didn't stop her. In fact, he seemed to encourage more...everything. His hands ran down her body, settling on her hips. He began rocking her rhythmically against him. It felt amazing.

"Noah," Rachel breathed. "I want to help you through this. I want you to be with me tonight."

He kissed her fiercely, so passionately that she gasped for breath as his mouth covered hers. She felt him through the thin cotton that separated them as he pressed himself against her. She knew he wanted her. And she wanted him. She was scared of the strength of her feelings for him, but in that moment she knew with certainty that she needed him.

"Just tell me what to do," Rachel whispered. "I want you so badly."

His body stiffened. He stopped kissing her. She whimpered in protest. She needed him to keep touching her. "Fuck, Rach, you can't say that shit to me. I can't de-virginize you like this."

"Please," Rachel begged. "Please stay with me. Let's be together. Tonight, just tonight." She couldn't bear the thought of him leaving. Not when they were on the verge of something so beautiful.

"I can't do this. We can't do this." He groaned as he gently removed Rachel from her perch on top of him. She immediately slipped next to him and gripped his shoulders to direct him toward her.

"Don't you want me?" Rachel asked in what she knew was a pathetic voice. She couldn't help it, even though she hated how she sounded.

"I think you know I do," he said through gritted teeth, grinding his erection onto her thigh as he kissed her neck.

She gasped at the sensation. But it didn't last because with that kiss, Puck rolled off of her and out of her bed. "I'm gonna go now before we do something we both regret. I've made this mistake once. I'm not gonna do it again," he said gruffly. He didn't take the time to change into his clothes and out of her father's pajamas. He left with Rachel still in a daze in her bed.

Rachel burst into tears when she heard the front door close. She cried for herself, but she mostly cried for Noah.

...

Rachel wondered how her life might have changed if Noah hadn't stopped them and they had gone through with it. But perhaps it was better that they hadn't. That would have been an awkward first time memory for her. Comforting Noah over Quinn and their baby. Perhaps not the best way to start a relationship with someone. If that's what it would have become…a relationship. Instead, all they had were these nearly-relationships.

But they were somehow always drawn to each other. It wasn't something Rachel couldn't explain. They fell in and out of these patterns. Usually without awkwardness afterward. The only time that had been awkward for a while was after the third encounter, as Rachel called it. Usually Puck went back to Quinn and Rachel went back to Finn. But after Quinn insisted on giving away their daughter, Puck couldn't even look at her. And after they nearly had sex, Puck didn't look at Rachel either. She didn't know why for certain, but she thought that Puck was embarrassed for being so vulnerable in front of her. A few times Rachel tried to get him to talk to her about that night, and then just about his feelings about the adoption, but he either ignored her or insulted her. So she knew he wanted to be left alone. Even though she understood what he was doing, it still hurt. And Rachel moved on from Noah Puckerman back to Finn.

She and Finn had a somewhat tumultuous relationship from sophomore year up to now. They were always breaking up, staying "just friends", and then dating again. They never seemed to be in the right place at the right time emotionally. But Rachel decided that today was as good a day as any to have the talk with Finn. The one in which they declare their full commitment to each other or decide to break up given the fact that they would be graduating in one month, and after the summer they'd be going to college in different states.

Rachel already knew what the decision would be. And perhaps surprisingly, she wasn't sad. Maybe she felt a tiny tug of regret for being caught up in the drama for so long when it was going to end this way. But mostly, she just felt a sense of relief that it was going to be over soon.

Rachel wasn't doing this because of Noah Puckerman and the feeling she felt when he stood up for her in glee. No. She was realistic. This was all part of her high school experience, and she would be moving on soon to start her new life. Puck would be in Ohio just like Finn, while she would be pursuing her dreams in New York. Rachel felt like she had matured a lot from the starry-eyed girl who had always wanted a leading man in her life. She was taking charge of her future.

So instead of pulling into her driveway, she drove on to Finn's house.

...

Now that all their competitions were over, the only thing New Directions had to prepare for was the performance at the graduation ceremony. The senior members would sing while wearing their caps and gowns before joining the rest of the senior class to listen to the valedictorian's speech and get their diplomas. And since the performance consisted of one song and no choreography, the last few weeks of class were dragging on forever. At least Mr. Schue let them just do a few run-throughs of the song each day, and the rest of the time was basically a social hour. Mr. Schue got to catch up on grading for his Spanish classes and the students caught up on gossip or homework (mostly gossip).

And today's gossip among the senior members: Finn and Rachel broke up. When Puck overheard Kurt start in about it with Mercedes, he was kind of stunned. He immediately eyed the couple in question. They both seemed fine. Finn was sitting next to Mike and Matt talking about Ohio State, where they were all going to college. Rachel was talking to Tina about something. Puck thought he heard "New York" but he wasn't sure. He tried to listen in on the conversations around him while casually strumming the guitar. By the end of the period, he still had no idea what had happened and why Rachel wasn't acting like a diva about it and Finn wasn't acting like a hurt puppy.

Puck felt compelled to ask her why the Berry-Hudson team had split again, one month before graduation. Compelled? WTF? That's what he gets for letting Berry convince him he needed to prep for the SATs with her. Puck smirked to himself at the thought.

He sauntered over to her locker, smooth as always.

"'Sup, Berry?"

"I assume you are asking 'what is up' as a general greeting, so I'll respond by saying 'hello', rather than inform you of my current situation."

"Actually, I was asking about your current situation," he smirked.

Rachel raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Really?" she asked rather cheerfully. As if nobody really ever asked her shit like that.

"Yeah. So, I uh, heard about you and Finn…" he ran his hand over his scalp. "I wanted to see how you're doing. And then I saw you seemed pretty chill about the whole thing, so I wondered what's up with you…"

Rachel smiled softly at him. "We parted ways amicably, I mean as friends," she clarified.

"I remember 'amicably'," Puck said. "SAT prep, remember?" he waggled his eyebrows at her.

She blushed. Yes, she remembered. Their innocent study sessions, well, she thought her intentions were innocent, had turned into make-out sessions to reward Puck for correct answers. She had realized soon into their studies that she hadn't offered to help him study for innocent reasons at all. She was a terrible person. But he was so…irresistible. And, sure, he was the one who had suggested the reward system, but still, she had known him well enough to predict that's what he would do. And it didn't take much convincing (at all) for her to play along. She had her fourth and fifth flings with Puck under the pretenses of SAT preparation. She had initiated the fourth fling, but he had approached her at the beginning of senior year about studying again because he said he needed to retake the SATs to try for better scores. So she helped him again. And one thing led to another…again. But she never cheated on Finn. Her liaisons with Puck always took place during times when she and Finn were broken up for some reason or another. Rachel realized she had been staring at Noah Puckerman for at least five beats too long, and he was smirking back at her confidently. She composed herself. "Yes, I'm glad to have proof that our lessons paid off for you."

"Oh, hell yeah, they did," Puck continued smirking.

"Anyway," Rachel continued as she closed her locker door. "Since I'm leaving to go to college in New York after graduation, and Finn will be staying in Ohio, we both decided it would be best…"

"Shit." He realized he'd said that out loud only when Rachel frowned and looked confused.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Nothing, sorry," he paused briefly as he tried to come up with an excuse for his outburst. "Just realized I gotta go. Can't miss class. Want that SAT studying to count for something. Check ya later, Berry." He flashed what he hoped was a charming grin and headed in the opposite direction.

Of course Rachel would go off to New York to go be on Broadway or some shit. But this was the first time Puck actually realized it. In a month they'd be graduating. She'd leave. He'd probably never see her. It's not like he had talked to her about her plans so he could try to apply to schools in New York too. Not that he could afford to live there or pay the tuition. Not that he even knew if she'd want him there.

Puck hadn't been prepared to turn into a supersized pussy when he heard that Rachel was finally done with Hudson. He hadn't planned to feel his chest tightening at the thought of her going off to New York.

He'd waited too long to make his move. And now, Puck was thoroughly fucked. Why did it take her so long to break up with Finn Hudson? And why did it take Puck so long to realize that what he wanted was Rachel? Now he had a month to figure out what the hell to do about it.

...