A/N: So I actually managed to write this chapter fairly quickly while still getting a fair bit of studying done today, go me! I'm pretty happy with it, I like the conversations that take place.

I completely forgot in the last chapter, but I made a promise to my wifey Shauna that I would make a shoutout to her and her latest story! So, better late than never... here it is! GO READ 'Taken to Young', by TeamWicked! It is very good, and the ending made me cry!

Anyway here we are, the Puck vs. Rachel showdown! What will happen? Ooooh... :P

Puck walked through the doors of McKinley High School on Monday morning, dreading the moment when he would come face to face with Rachel Berry. She may be short, but, as he had discovered during the short time he was dating her, she could be vicious when she was angry. When she had found out that he had slept with multiple girls and women while they were still together, she had punched him in the nose. Hard. By the time she had finished yelling at him ten minutes later and told him to stay away from her, his nose had barely stopped bleeding. And just to rub it in, his parents had laughed when he admitted the reason he had blood all over his face and shirt.

He spotted Rachel up ahead at her locker, talking to Finn. Thankfully, she didn't see him as he inconspicuously ducked past her behind a crowd of students.

"Noah!" He whirled around when he heard his name called, and saw Shelby standing in a doorway just behind him. "Can I see you in my office please?"

Puck knew what this would be about, but surprisingly, she was the other person he wasn't too keen to see today either. He trudged into her office and shut the door behind him, looking at the floor.

"I texted you three times last night, baby, why didn't you reply?" Puck looked up and saw a slightly confused look cross his girlfriend's beautiful features.

"Well... I may have just possibly fucked everything up for us," he replied, trying very hard not to allow tears to well up in his eyes as he thought about the possible implications this could have for the first time.

"Baby? Baby what happened?" Shelby rushed forwards and tilted Puck's chin up so they were staring each other in the eyes. Puck didn't want to tell her, he had wanted to try and sort everything out with Rachel without Shelby having to find out, but now it seemed, he had no choice but to tell her.

"I sent you a message when I got home saying thanks for last night and everything, except I accidentally sent it to Rachel. I must not have been concentrating, and her name is just above yours in my phone. I didn't realise until she replied, and she sounded really pissed off..." he quickly blurted out. Taking in Shelby's suddenly shocked expression, he looked down again and mumbled, "I'm so sorry, baby."

"Hey, hey, it's okay... We can work this out, I promise," Shelby tried to reassure Puck, but they both knew that she wasn't at all convinced.

"Okay. I hope so. I guess I'll see you later, then," Puck turned and shuffled to the door.

"Noah?" He turned to look at Shelby, who was clearly trying hard to stay strong.

"Yes?"

"I love you." A beautiful smile lit up Shelby's face as she said it, and Puck couldn't help but smile with her.

"I love you too." With that, he walked out the door, feeling slightly better than he did before.

XXX

Puck managed to successfully avoid Rachel until lunchtime, when she cornered him in the cafeteria line.

"Noah Puckerman! Stop avoiding me, you have a lot to say for yourself!" Heads turned as the short, but scary, diva yelled at the toughest guy at the school.

"Jeez Rachel, stop making a scene. I'll come with you, I promise, just let me finish getting my lunch first!" As soon as Puck got out of the line, Rachel grabbed his arm and yanked him out of the cafeteria and into the first empty classroom she found.

"Sit." Puck began to protest, but with a death stare from Rachel, he decided against it and meekly sat on the closest desk. "Good. Now, explain."

Puck swallowed, and deciding to just go in for the kill. "Okay. Shelby..."

"My mother," Rachel interrupted him.

"Yes, your mother. Well, we're dating. We've been seeing each other for about three weeks. I love her, and she loves me. That's all there is to say, really."

Rachel looked stunned for a moment. "Noah, you don't have a clue what love is. You go around and fuck any female who is willing without another thought, then abandon them. That's what you do. My mother does not love you. I may not always be on the friendliest terms with her, but I know that she has higher standards than someone like you! And I'm not going to just stand here and watch you hurt her like you hurt me, Quinn, and God-knows how many other girls!"

"Rachel, Shelby is the mother of my child. She is raising my daughter."

"No, Puck. Quinn is the mother of your child. Shelby adopted her, but Quinn is still technically Beth's mother. And this doesn't have anything to do with the fact that you and Shelby are an illegitimate couple!"

"Quinn is the biological mother of my child, yes. But she doesn't know what being a mother is. Shelby isn't just Beth's mother, she's her mom. There's a difference. And don't try to tell me there isn't, because I know for a fact that Shelby said the exact same thing to you, only the other way around. She's your mother, but she's not your mom," he paused when he saw that Rachel had the beginnings of tears in her eyes, but she waved him on. "Rachel, I love Shelby, with all of my heart. I've never felt like this before. Please tell me you understand!"

Rachel recovered quickly. "No. Puck, I'm not going to let you screw around with my mother. I have a proposal for you. You break up with her, and don't see her anymore, or I'll tell Mr Schue and Principal Figgins."

Puck gaped at her, feeling his heart plummet to his stomach. "Rachel! You can't blackmail me like that. I'm eighteen years old, I can do what I want. I love Shelby. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

"No, it doesn't. Just because you're technically an adult, that doesn't change the fact that Shelby is a teacher and you are one of her students. It is illegal! What is so hard for you to understand about that?" Rachel fired back.

"I-I... Fine. I'll break up with her."

Shelby walked past the conveniently open classroom door just in time to overhear Puck. She doubled back and walked cautiously into the room. "You will?" Her voice shook, and Puck turned around to see Shelby's gorgeous brown eyes fill with tears.