It was a teeny, tiny, itty, bitty moment – but I saw it, Rachel and Puck walked out of the funeral home together! You know they were talking as they walked out. And it sort of looks like she gets into the passenger seat and he gets into the driver's seat of that car…if you squint…and you're wearing Puckleberry goggles like I am. And she's smiling! So of course I wanted to write about it. Enjoy. :)

Disclaimer: Since I don't make these characters do anything they wouldn't do on the show, I really think I deserve not to get in trouble for indulging my fangirl fantasies. Right, copyright people?

FAVORS BETWEEN FRIENDS

"Funeral": FAN

Rachel finally made it out of the restroom after Jean's memorial service, pushing past all of the women wiping at their running mascara. She shook her head good-naturedly. She had invested in the waterproof kind long ago. It was a necessity; she cried every time she sang, and that was every single day.

"Hey, everlasting gobstopper?" Puck stepped into her path and held out the tiny candy in his palm. Rachel shrugged. She allowed herself two seconds to bask in how nicely his muscles moved under his dress shirt as he stretched out his arm. And then she allowed herself another half a second to decide whether she would want to eat something literally out of his hand.

"Sure," she finally answered. "Though this is hardly appropriate food for a funeral."

Puck laughed. "What is appropriate funeral food, Rach?"

Rachel blushed as she popped the candy into her mouth. "If this turns my tongue blue, Noah…"

"Too late. It'll turn you into a blueberry. Get it? Blue Berry?"

Rachel giggled. Puck was being totally inappropriate—they were at a funeral! But they were almost to the exit, and she knew he must feel the same way she did—she wanted to relax after the emotional roller coaster of the service.

"Want a ride?" he asked as he held the front door and motioned for her to walk out ahead of him.

She led him outside and smiled as the warmth of the sun hit her face. "What about Lauren?"

"She wants to walk. She lives like a block away."

Rachel barely heard him as her eyes flickered to Quinn, who walked by looking upset. Finn would probably be along any minute to comfort her. Trying to ignore the pang of jealousy that stabbed her right in the ribcage, Rachel tried to focus her energy on Puck, and she found herself smiling again. He was standing next to a car pulled up right out front. "Okay, I'll take that ride." She put her hand on the passenger side door. "Where's your truck?"

Puck leaned on the roof and flashed her a smile. "See, my mom's car is appropriate for a funeral." He swept his hand across the car. "Black. Like that sexy dress you're wearing."

Rachel blushed for the second time in less than five minutes. "Stop it," she whined, though she was flattered.

Puck wiggled his eyebrows at her. "Why should I? I know for a fact that you crave approval. It's your bread and butter." He slid into the car and closed the door, forcing her to get in if she wanted to continue their conversation.

She did, and he waited for her to buckle her seatbelt before pulling out behind Mike and Tina.

"I resent that," Rachel spoke up. "I crave approval from my fans, not you." She hadn't said it meanly, but for a split second she thought he might take it the wrong way, and she cringed.

Puck laughed, which surprised her. "Oh, Rachel." He shook his head. "Yeah, right."

Rachel couldn't help but laugh along. "I guess you have a point. I really need to work on my compulsive need to be liked."

"Besides," Puck replied with a wink, "Trust me, I am a big, big fan of you."

Rachel blushed, again, but she smiled the whole way home.