"Right?" she said out loud to the empty room. She let the curtain fall back into place and paced in the middle of the room. "I should be happy right? And the thing is, I was happy…up until a few days ago. What the hell happened? How did I get here?"

RACHEL'S FLASH BACK

Despite of all the slushies, the "fake relationship", the cold bleacher steps, the avoidance, the Babygate scandal, the arguments, Noah and Rachel had become best friends when no one else would have thought of it. Two very different people shared a deep loneliness and need to find acceptance from someone. They found it in each other. Rachel had been the one to initiate and nurture the friendship and Noah had been the one to protect it from the cruel pettiness of high school and provide the safety for them to grow it. After a few months of observation and scrutinity, the Gleeks took time to accept this friendship and eventually forgot Babygate, the Diva-offs, and the petty arguments. Soon, the rest of the high school knew the pair as "Noah and Rachel, Rachel and Noah". They had become inseparable in high school, creating rumors galore (lead by Jacob Ben-Israel, of course) that they were dating, having a baby, had their bodies swapped with aliens, the government project, etc. They even had a moniker, "Puckleberry". They did not care, the Gleeks were amused and, even Mr. Shue, had begun to use the name for their duets, as Finn did not want to sing with Rachel, Quinn or Puck. Rachel didn't care as long as she picked amazing songs to sing with Noah. Rachel had learned to give solos to other Glee members and enjoy hearing her friends sing.

Outside of school, Rachel and Noah had become so close that Noah Puckerman and his family had become part of the Berry family. Her fathers loved Noah and Sarah as their own children. Dad and Daddy began to make sure to make time for Puck's football games and Sarah's recitals as well as Rachel's shows. Of course, this occurred once Noah brought it to their attention that Rachel would love for them to be there for her at her school events (Puck and Sarah were soon included). Deborah Puckerman, Mama, loved Rachel as her own daughter, and hinted many times that she should be a Puckerman. much to the dismay of the Puckleberry team. The Berrys and Puckermans also began to going to temple services together and having Sabbath dinners, taking turns between the two houses.

During this time, Rachel had gotten "Puck" to realize his inner Noah through music. All his pain, his frustration, his anger, his excitement and his joys (not to mention Rachel's constant votes of confidence) were what got him music and creative writing scholarships to NYU. Noah Puckerman was never becoming a Lima-loser on Berry watch. Noah still had his fight club, where his inner Puck was happy, maintaining his reputation of being badass. Rachel always made sure to keep her comments to herself (which was hard) and just sigh as she cleaned him after those "meetings." She replenished the first aid kit with bandages and ointments and the freezer with ice-packs at both homes. One evening, the dads caught Rachel wrapping bandages around his ribs while Noah held a bag of corn on his fist. After many explanations and discussions, the Berrys decided that if Noah was going to fight, he should have the right setting and proper training. While the women were appalled and flabbergasted, Daddy had stated that if Noah wanted to fight, he should be the best that he can be like Rachel was on the stage. If he wanted to be the best, the Berries were going to support him and find him a trainer. With his UFC-retired trainer's help, the dads' encouragement, Rachel and Sarah's cheers, his mom's and Rachel's nurse skills, Puck was able to become a part-time UFC fighter as well as just be Noah. Rachel's Noah.

In turn, Noah had managed to push the right buttons and let her be "just Rachel". She was no longer bullied by jocks or Gleeks. She was able to relax and be herself around her true best friend. Rachel was still the Diva, and musicals and show-tunes were still her fall-backs. She still sung and danced around, but mostly only to the tune Noah's guitar and to his songs. The first time she tried out for Julliard in NYC, she was with her fathers and something was missing in her performance. Later that week, Rachel had stayed in her room, when she was put on a waiting list, and only Noah was able to get her to open up. Granted, he had to literally knock on her window while hanging on a tree limb; the panic attack that her actions could have killed her best friend allowed her to literally open up and pull him to her. That night, Rachel was giving up and going to apply to NYU. Noah immediately thought of fighting for her dream. After harassing Julliard for the next auditions, no matter where in the country, Noah was able to get his best friend another chance. It was Noah, who drove her to this other Julliard audition. He had calmly held her before she got on that stage in Chicago and told her that he believed she was a star no matter what. When they drove back, Rachel had just held onto Noah's hand like a lifeline. "You got in, Rachel. I know it." When they pulled back into the Berry driveway, her fathers, his mother and his baby sister were outside with the phone. Sarah had yelled, "Rachel, it's Julliard! They loved your audition in Chicago! You're in! You're going to NY! You are going to be a STAR!" Later on, Noah was also there at her first Broadway audition and her first opening show. Noah always held her, so she can be reminded that she was "just Rachel." She was always Noah's Rachel.

After high school, they ended up renting up an apartment together between NYU and Julliard. The Gleeks were always stopping by and enjoying Puckleberry. The Roomies were hilarious together and truly great for the Gleeks' entertainment. It was a home for all. After college, Noah and Rachel continued to paths towards "greatness." Noah was making connections in the music industry and had record companies battling out to hire him as songwriter/producer. He had also managed to be the best UFC fighter in the league. Needless to say, Noah Puckerman was not a Lima Loser. Rachel became Broadway's sweetheart and every director/producer's choice for leading lady. Rachel had single-handedly elevated theatre to the mainstream and had the most sold-out shows already in her young career. Rachel was the Diva; now Celine and Barbara wanted to duet with her on their newest albums.

Between the two of them, Noah and Rachel's schedules were hectic, and they managed to always have their morning and evening call. After every show and after every fight, Noah and Rachel nurtured, protected and shared their friendship no matter who they were with or what they were doing. Despite of this shared "greatnesss", they had always remained "Rachel and Noah, Noah and Rachel". Best friends.

The press loved Puckleberry and their achievements. The press also loved good gossip, and Jacob Ben-Israel loved to talk about the future of Puckleberry. The Gleeks and the families started scrapbooking and discussing the topics revolving their loved ones. Deborah and Sarah had hoped and prayed that these two friends would have become "closer". They hoped some rumors were true. Stalkerazzi provided the Gleek-Berry-Puckerman phone tree with "insight and commentary" that sometimes Noah and Rachel would forget to call back. The Gleeks had a bet that Rachel stubbornly refused to acknowledge about her relationship with Noah. Noah never mentioned anything to Rachel about their high school "relationship" or of anything else. It was the only topic that they never discussed in their friendship.

As fate would have it, Rachel had bumped into Finn after one her shows. It was Finn, who had finally grown-up and decided to directly ask Rachel out before the "world's prayers could have been answered". Finn had only forgiven Rachel and wanted to rekindle whatever they had together. After ten months of wooing and courting (and trying to get away from the press), Finn Hudson made his move and proposed to Rachel. Despite this new development, Noah and Rachel had remained best friends. The best of friends.

END FLASHBACK

Suddenly there was a knock at the door.