Sorry it's been so long!:) I've had severe writers block and a sudden realization of how good the show Doctor Who is...anyway, I'm thinking it's about time to wrap this one up so this might be the second to last chapter. and i have no idea what's about to happen in this chapter or the next. This should be fun...:)

I don't know why he's here...but I'm glad he is...

Santana sat on her plush red bedspread thinking to herself while Puck went to her bathroom to get some tissue. For the first time in what seemed like years but were only weeks, Santana was...

Happy?

Calm?

Confused?

Content. Content felt right. She had no fears, no empty feeling with him in her presence. Nothing bad could happen to her while Noah Puckerman was there.

Puck slumped out of the bathroom tripping, over a wastebasket on his way out. "Damnit! I'm sorry!" he automatically said. A trilling, yet low laugh startled Puck and when he looked up from the mess he'd just made, he saw the angelic smile that he's gone so long without seeing, and that he thought he would see maybe around...Christmas? His lips slowly parted into an unsure smile. He cleaned his mess up and crossed the room, giving her the tissue. She wiped her eyes a bit, but didn't look back at him.

"You okay, Santana?" he finally asked.

I am now she wanted to say. She wanted to tell Puck how his existence made her feel better, as if she were worth something. "Yeah," she responded, instead. "I'm okay."

As expected, Puck only nodded. He paused for a minute, gathering his thoughts, and then turned to the broken girl next to him. What he said next was also expected.

"You could have died." This conversation again, Santana thought to herself. The same conversation that she had had with herself for days now. It's amazing how much more powerful and painful it is when you lecture yourself as opposed to when someone else does it.

"I know what you're going to say and believe me-" she began.

"No you don't," Puck silenced her. "You don't know what I'm gonna say. And if you do then...I dunno what." he paused before speaking again. "What I was going to say was that...you could have died...and I would have never told you. You would have never known that I...that I love you."

At that, Santana had to look him in the eye. "No. No you don't. You pity me. Just like everyone else. That's all."

"No. I don't. Because I know you. You're the toughest, most badass person at McKinley, but everyone has their limits. The fact is that...you don't know how to handle...all that's happened. And it's not your fault. But you need to know that you don't have to be alone. It's not you against the rest of the school and even if it was, let's be honest...who would win that one?"

A slight smile let Puck know that she knew that answer. Just like the real Santana would.

"I do love you. And based on what your mother said, you love me, too. Do you know how...happy I was when she told me that? I mean, I've loved you for a while now, but knowing that you loved me back made everything better. She told me that then asked me to come over and talk to you. After that, I knew I could do it and if I didn't get anywhere this time, I would try again tomorrow. And the next day. And the next day. Until you felt like you could...trust me, love me, whatever. I'm not great at the whole...thing. I'm surprised I made it that far without punching myself in the face for being so sappy. But that's it."

She only stared.

That drove him crazy.

Does she think I'm crazy?

Is the real Santana gonna make a reappearance and use this against me?

God, I hope she doesn't slap me.

Finally, she broke the silence with three words. Three little words.

"Puck...thank you."

Puck smiled and leaned in ever so slightly, a warning for what he was about to do. When she didn't react, she lightly brushed his lips against hers.

Alright, I hope this is better to you than it is to me. I think I know what's about to happen next!:) Review and stuff for me! xoxox