Rachel shuts the door against the cold, setting her bags down on the floor and shaking her head to get the snow out of her hair. Christmas shopping so close to Christmas sucks, and next year, she's going to be a lot more prepared.

"Rachel, sweetie." She kicks off her shoes and moves towards the living room as she unbuttons her coat. Her frozen fingers aren't cooperating, so she's still struggling with a button as she goes into the living room. After a moment of fighting with it, she looks up and cocks her head to the side as she takes in her fathers and their guest.

"Noah? What are you doing here?" she asks. She's suddenly thankful she had gotten the presents wrapped while at the mall because if not, she would have had to sneak away to wrap them all before letting him anywhere near her room.

"My night to come over, remember? I just thought I'd talk to your dads a little bit." Puck says as he helps her out of her coat. She gives her fathers a questioning look while Puck goes to hang up her coat. They just smile and shrug and Rachel's a little irritated. Just what has he told them? He comes back with her shopping bags, holding them up as he asks, "These go up to your room?"

Rachel nods. She's not going to tell him that he's carrying his own presents up to her room. She watches him go up the stairs and then turns back to her fathers.

"What did he tell you?" she asks them.

"Just that he was your boyfriend."

"And that he was here because the two of you are exchanging gifts for Hanukkah."

"Which is adorable."

Rachel rolls her eyes, but can't keep from grinning. She lets out a small giggle and then realizes how schoolgirl it is and wants to smack herself. She clears her throat and looks back at her fathers, feeling her cheeks heat up.

"I'm going to go help him," Rachel tells them and heads up to her room. Puck doesn't hear her come in, and she catches him shaking some of the boxes to try to guess what's in them. She stands in the doorway, grinning as she watches him. When he finally realizes she's there, he hides his hands behind his back and grins innocently.

"Rachel!" he exclaims. "How long have you been there?"

"Long enough," Rachel laughs and moves into the room, shutting the door behind her.

"Well, I didn't figure any of them out," Puck sighs, bringing his hands out from behind his back. She just chuckles and puts the rest of the boxes back into the shopping bags and moves them over beside her desk.

"Pick one," she says, going to Puck and taking the gifts from his hands. Puck stares at the two gifts for a moment and then picks the one with the green wrapping paper. He sets it down on the bed and then picks up the box he had brought up earlier, before she had come home. He hands it to her and the two of them sit down on the edge of her bed.

"Hey, how did you know I needed a new wallet?" Puck asks as he opens up his present.

"You're not the only one that pays attention," Rachel grins. She gasps as she lifts the lid off of the box. "Noah, these are beautiful."

"Do you like them?" Puck asks as she pulls out a pair of pink cashmere gloves. She makes a little noise of approval and Puck leans over to give her a light kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you," She tells him, trying them on. "They're so soft."

Puck smiles and tucks his new wallet into his back pocket. He'll switch out his new one with his old one later, he decides. Right now, he's with Rachel. She takes the gloves off and sets them in her lap, leaning over to kiss Puck. He cups her face in his hands and kisses her nose. She giggles and grins up at him.

"You're so beautiful." He tells her as she looks up at him with those big brown eyes. She blushes as she looks down, heat creeping into her cheeks. He lifts her chin with her finger so that he can see her eyes again. She closes them as he gently presses his lips to hers. She doesn't notice as he moves her gloves, setting them aside so he can lay her back on the bed. He runs his hand down her side, resting it on her hip as he kisses her. She kisses along his jaw, nipping lightly at his earlobe. Puck closes his eyes as a low moan escapes his lips and Rachel's lips find his again, kissing him harder. He gently squeezes her hip and she presses against him, darting her tongue into his mouth. And fuck, he was going to take this slow, but she doesn't seem to want that.

He doesn't understand why his hands are shaking as he slides them under her shirt, because he's done this before. ButneverwithRachel. A part of him thinks maybe that shouldn't matter, but then, he knows it does because, hell, this is Rachel, and he just might be in love with her. Puck blinks as he pulls back away from Rachel, looking down at her for a moment.

"What? Did I do something?" Rachel asks, propping herself up on her elbows. Puck shakes his head, not sure what to say. He's definitely not going to tell her what just crossed his mind. He doesn't even know if he's sure that's how he feels.

"No, it's nothing." Puck tells her, giving her a big grin to reassure her. She lies back against the pillows and Puck kisses her again, letting his fingertips graze over the top of her bra. He slides his hand underneath her to undo the clasp, but hesitates for a moment. She pulls away from his neck to look up at him.

"What's wrong?" she asks him.

"I..." Puck sighs and pulls back. "I don't want to have sex, Rachel. Not tonight."

"Why not? What did I do?" Rachel asks.

"You didn't anything. I just... I want to wait." Puck says quietly. He's never said those words before, but he means them.

"Wait?" Rachel asks and Puck nods. Rachel lies back, staring up at him. She doesn't quite believe him because, well, this is Noah Puckerman. His reputation says otherwise. Then again, she knows a different side of Noah. A sweeter, softer side. "Why?"

"Would you believe me if I told you my conscience is saying no?" Puck asks, laying down beside her and stroking her cheek.

"Noah Puckerman has a conscience? Alert the media." Rachel jokes and Puck laughs. He gently kisses her on the nose.

"His name is Jiminy Cricket. You should meet him sometime." Puck tells her and Rachel laughs. He pulls her closer, and she snuggles up against him. He lays there with her in his arms, running his fingers through her hair.

"If not now, then when?" Rachel asks.

"When we're both ready." Puck answers. Puck can't really come to grips with the fact that he's not ready to sleep with Rachel yet. It's not like sex is new to him. He's definitely been around, but Rachel is different. She's... well, she's Rachel. She's not just another girl. He wants it to be special. He closes his eyes, inwardly laughing at himself. He sounds like a damn virgin.

"We?" Rachel asks, and Puck knows she's caught on to his implications.

"Yes. We."

"You're not ready?" Rachel asks, curious.

"No."

"But... why?"

"Because you're special, Rachel Berry." Puck answers and softly kisses the top of her head. Rachel feels her heart swell in her chest, and she secretly curses Puck for having this effect on her. He makes her feel like a giddy little school girl. He makes her feel like she's in love for the first time, and she can't help but wonder: Is she in love with Noah Puckerman?