Part 2

Puck stood outside the Berry house wondering what was so important that he had to come over as soon as his mom got home. All Rachel would tell him was that he needed his ass over there ASAP, though she used much bigger words like imperative and stuff. Taking a deep breath, Puck knocked and waited. He heard a flurry of activity inside before the door was flung open and Rachel stood before him.

"Hello Noah," Rachel greeted him, though she seemed a bit nervous.

"Hey Rach," Puck responded. "What the hell is so important I needed to come over now? My mom had a cow that I was going to go out this late."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Rachel began as she moved to allow him entrance. "I guess I didn't think of that. I can call her if you want. Tell her that I needed you and it is very important…"

"It's fine," Puck interrupted. "As soon as I told her it was you she practically shoved me out the door. I believe her exact words were 'Why didn't you say so? Get out of here! She's such a nice Jewish girl!' I'm expecting to get home to bridal magazines and all."

Rachel blushed at this. Puck's mother was a very sweet woman, but she seemed to have gotten it into her head that Rachel and Puck were perfect for each other. She gushed over everything that Rachel did and while she was never one to turn down praise, even Rachel had to admit it was a bit excessive.

"Why don't you sit down," Rachel hedged, feeling her nerves pick up. "There is something important I have to tell you…"

"Ya know," Puck smirked, trying to lighten what seemed to be a heavy mood, "the last time I had a conversation start like that someone told me they were pregnant." At the suddenly panicked look in Rachel's eyes, Puck's eyes widened. "Oh my God! You're pregnant? But you haven't…I mean I didn't think you had…Wait! Who did you…Where is he? I'll kill him! Did he bail? Rat bastard! I'll stand by you! After I kill him, of course…"

"Noah!" Rachel interrupted, grabbing his arm to get his attention. "I'm not pregnant! Because, you know, I haven't. But it makes my heart swell that you would not only help me, but attempt to murder that man that impregnated me."

"Well, then what it is?" Puck demanded, trying to calm himself from the idea that Rachel had sex.

"Shelby stopped by tonight," Rachel started.

"Is it Beth? Is she okay?" Puck started to panic again. Shelby had just sent Rachel some new pictures of Beth just a few weeks ago and everything looked fine.

"Beth's fine," Rachel assured him. "Shelby, however, isn't"

"What do you mean?" Puck asked, getting confused.

Rachel sighed and took a seat next to Puck on the sofa, putting her hand on his arm.

"She showed up this evening totally crazed," Rachel began. "She kept talking about how she couldn't handle motherhood. It seems she became overwhelmed with what taking care of a baby entails and she, well, as you would say went batshit. She kept rambling about how she couldn't do it anymore." Rachel could see the panic welling up in Puck's eyes again and quickly continued. "She had legal papers with her. Papers giving me custody of Beth since I am technically Shelby's biological relative. She said that if I didn't take her, she would have to put Beth into the system. I worried that if I didn't she would leave here and just dump Beth at a church or hospital or something so I signed the papers."

Rachel watched Puck as he processed the information. She saw confusion, panic, anger and relief all pass through his eyes before he spoke.

"Where is she?" he asked quietly.

"She's asleep in my room," Rachel explained. "Shelby had all Beth's things with here. Dad has a friend that is a judge that owed him a favor so we signed everything, unloaded Beth's things and then Shelby took off. She didn't even say goodbye to Beth or me." Rachel's voice started to quiver. The stress of everything suddenly hitting her. "I didn't know what else to do. If I didn't agree, I don't know what would have happened to Beth. I couldn't let anything happen to your daughter…"

Puck wrapped Rachel into his arms as her tears started to fall. He hugged her tightly as he processed the information. He gently placed his hands on either side of her face and forced her to look at him. "You did the right thing, Berry," he told her soothingly. "You saved my daughter from God knows what and I will never be able to repay you for that. God, you are the most selfless person I have ever met. You sacrifice everything for everyone else. And I am going to help. Christ, that's my daughter. I never wanted Quinn to get rid of her in the first place. You've given me a second chance, if you'll let me."

"Of course," Rachel breathed. "I remember right after Shelby took her. I saw what that did to you. I could never do that to you. I knew then and I know now that you will be an incredible father."

Puck let out a breath he didn't even realize he was holding. He couldn't figure out what he had done to deserve a friend like Rachel Berry, but he would do whatever it took to show her how much she meant to him. He hugged her again before asking, "Can I see her?"

TBC