It's totally her fault they're lost. He's always had trouble driving with her in the passenger seat now it's almost fucking impossible not to get distracted. She's just, there. And she's his. He's not into the whole mine forever shit or like, branding his name on her or whatever but that's not what it means. What it means is that when she turns to look at him, giving him a soft smile and reaching out to run a hand up his arm he feels like he can't focus. All he wants to do is pull over onto some dusty hard shoulder and blurt out all sorts of romantic crap like the stuff they're listening to on the radio right now. Instead he missed the turning for the freeway and now they're god knows where.

Rachel doesn't seem bothered in the least, twirling her hair in her fingers and humming along to the tune, smiling softly to herself.

He turns it off, mostly just to mess with her and she makes an irritated noise before switching it back on.

"Berry do we really have to listen to this?"

"I like Amy Stroup; she has an extremely good range and a lovely tone and-"

"Alright," he flicks the radio back on, "you like it we'll listen- I don't need that much convincing."

"Tell me about it," she says smirking.

He glances at her out of the corner of his eye, "wow babe, I'm kinda proud right now."

"I can't decide if that's a compliment or something I should be concerned about to be honest."

"Both probably," he shifts in his seat and tries to concentrate on the road instead of leaning over and kissing her senseless when she suddenly prods his arm.

"Noah look!"

"What? What?"

"Crazy golf!"

He squints at the faded sign and pulls a dubious face, "Rach it's probably been out of business since nineteen ninety four."

"Well can't we find out?"

"You really wanna play crazy golf?"

She shrugs, "what else were we going to do today?"

He grins, "ok, let's go check it out." She smiles brightly at him and he wants to stomp down on the fluttery feelings in his chest but he can't seem to bring himself to really try.

She thinks with anybody else, what they've been doing would be considered too fast. But for them this has been coming for a while. Maybe she wasn't consciously aware of it at all times, and she freely admits she spent too much time pining over Finn, but Noah's always been there, spent time and effort trying to defend her, trying to help her, becoming the man he always was deep down. It doesn't feel like they should be having first dates and second dates and careful weeks of dancing around each other, misjudging situations and ending up treading water the way she's done before, it instead feels like barreling head first into something sweet and honest is the best thing she could have ever done.

He follows her as she jumps from the car and bounces towards the entrance, "you ever played before?"

"Of course, once or twice," she says confidently, enjoying the weight of his arm across her shoulders.

"Well at least it looks open," he mutters as they push through the gate and a bored looking teen straightens up at the counter.

"Hi there, welcome to Crazy Hank's Crazy Golf Course," she intones flatly.

"Yo, two for your uh, crazy golf course please."

"Sure," she bangs two clubs down on the counter and holds up a box of golf balls, "pink or blue?"

"Pink please," Rachel decides before he can speak, "two- he likes pink," she adds in a whisper. That at least pulls a smile from the girl and Puck grits his teeth as he passes her a twenty before following Rachel across the grass.

"Seriously? You're going there with the pink jokes?"

"You like it when I wear pink, what's the difference?"

"The difference is-" he waves his hands around incredulously, "it's- you look hot in pink ok? And I do not appreciate the implication that I might want a girly golf ball."

She snorts, "Noah, it's just a colour, besides, they're so much prettier."

"They're prettier?"

"Uh huh, when I used to play with my daddies I always used the pink ones. They bring me luck."

He cocks his head to one side, "when was the last time you played crazy golf Rachel, were you five?"

"No! I'm very good at sports like this, ones that require precision and concentration and-"

"No physical exertion at all?"

"I'll have you know I dance six times a week Noah."

"Trust me," he leers at her legs, "I know."

She stamps her club down onto the ground, "are we going to play or are you just going to- to- stare inappropriately at me all day?"

"Can't I do both?"

When she takes five strokes to get the easiest hole he knows it's going to be an awesome game; she's basically half naked in those shorts, there's absolutely no-one else around and he has no other obligations other than to beat her ass at crazy golf and rile up her competitive side, maybe get some awesome angry sex out of it if he can.

They take their time moving round the course, Rachel gets the cutest little frown when she's mad and at one point she actually yells at the ball; he does not film it.

At hole eleven she growls in frustration and waves her club around, "Noah help me!"

He chuckles and pushes off the wall he's been leaning against to watch the train wreck that is Rachel Berry trying to play crazy golf. "You gotta relax Rach- breath-"

"Don't give me that crap! None of that means anything in reality." Her hair has gone haywire from her dragging her fingers through it and somewhere along the course she's ditched her flip flops and her wrap. She looks like a really good dream he has sometimes.

He comes to stand behind her, pulls her a little closer than he needs to but hey, he's allowed; he's helping her. He pushes his hands down her arms and twines their fingers, "you've gotta have a steady push through," he murmurs in her ear, "drop your shoulders and-" he guides her arms back and taps the club against the ball. It sweeps neatly into the hole and she laughs delightedly.

"Yes!" She turns and kisses him, "thank you."

"Don't mention it," he says gruffly. Every part of him that was touching her is warm and he's a little dazed as he takes his own shot. He gets it in four and writes it off as playing under too much pressure. At the next hole she stands with her legs apart so that he can see the hickey on her inner thigh and gets a hole in one; Puck gets the shot in five because his brain is replaying what that specific patch of skin felt like under his mouth.

She's distracting all the way through, sitting down in a huff when she misses and showing off her cleavage, leaning against the rocks that surround the course and pouting, revealing tanned sweet skin that he just wants to-

"That's your fourth hit Noah, are you feeling alright?"

He coughs and straightens up, "yeah just a little dizzy from the sun I guess. What's the score now?"

Rachel glances down at the scores she has memorized in her head and then back up at him innocently, "for seem reason you seem to be on forty six and I'm on thirty three."

"What? How is that even possible? You suck!"

She smirks slightly and then tries to look puzzled but he catches the change- he's gotten good at reading her- and frowns. He knows that look- he fucking owns that look and his eyes widen as he realizes he's been had, "have you been playing me?"

"What?" She stands, planting her hands on her hips, "I don't know what you're talking about!"

Her shocked outrage lasts about three seconds before her lips twitch and he tosses his club to the floor to stalk towards her, "you've totally been playing me!"

"I'm sorry," she laughs, running back through the course and up into the dingy broken fort the last hole was set up in. She turns just before he catches her and says with a grin, "for someone who claims to be an expert it sure took you a while to catch on."

His jaw drops and shakes his head, "you are in so much trouble."

"What are you gonna do?"

He pushes her gently against the cave wall and tries not to shiver as she arches into him, "can think of a few things."

"Are you sure? Seems to me like your brain might not be operating today."

"Not my fault; you're too fucking hot for your own good."

She slides her hands up his back and leans forward so that their mouths are almost touching, "you love it really."

He doesn't bother replying, just kisses her hard until she forgets her own name, never mind the golf score.


There's something wonderfully decadent about orgasms in the middle of the day Rachel has decided. Especially outside. She can feel her legs tingling with the repercussions half an hour later when they're driving away from the golf course- she really hopes there weren't cameras in that cave but then again- no-one would even know them so it doesn't matter really. She thinks the old Rachel would probably have been so mortified that she would have made Noah march into the office and demand the tape; then again, the old Rachel wouldn't have been letting Noah Puckerman slide his hand into her shorts on a public crazy golf course. This Rachel might not be keen to repeat a possible voyeuristic event but she certainly doesn't care that it was with Noah. She was reacting on instinct and want.

Noah makes her want all the time, to touch him, feel his hands on her, listen to him talk, fall asleep next to him.

She twists in her seat and fiddles with the radio, turning the song up loud, Girls In Their Summer Clothes, before turning to watch the town they're passing through shoot past the window.

Mike's face appears on his screen for the third time in as many hours and he sighs and presses ignore. It's not cool to be shutting out his boy like this but he knows exactly what the guy is gonna say and what he's gonna want to hear in response. He sighs again and clutches the steering wheel tighter; he's kind of in over his head here. With Quinn it was hard sure, she wanted things he couldn't give her and man did she have the whole 'you're an inadequate moron' face down. And in the end it fucking hurt to let it go but he never felt like something was ripped from him when she walked away. It didn't hurt like the shit with Beth had- he's pretty sure nothing ever will. But going back to school and losing Rachel... That might just come close. He's never felt this way about a girl, ever. Being out on the road, in this car and in the random motel rooms they fall into at night, that feels easy, intimate, theirs. But he knows that'll change the first time they walk down that corridor and he- he's just not ready to lose her. He can't lose her ok? He's a selfish bastard but he's not ready to let go. He straightens up and smacks himself internally- he is not allowed to pull her down with him just because he wants to keep her to himself.

"Noah."

Her voice startles him and he glances at her, "yeah babe?"

"Didn't you hear me?"

"Sure- you said Noah- which, by the way- is not my name."

"You call me babe I call you Noah," she shoots back.

He grins and shakes his head, biting his lip, "fine fine."

"You know you don't mind it really."

"I hate my name."

"I like it," she replies quietly.

And that, well, ok, maybe he won't ever love it- come on- Noah? He doesn't have forty plus animals marching two by two behind him and he doesn't need asking about a fucking arc ever again by that dick Karofsky. Man he'd like to kick the shit out of that guy some time. But maybe, maybe, he could get used to her calling him by his proper name; it's almost like, a thing with them. He smacks himself again for being a total chick.

"Whatever," he mumbles finally and he knows she's smirking at him without even turning to look. "Did you want something anyway doll?"

She huffs, rolling her eyes and then says, "where do you want to stop for dinner?"

He takes a look out the window and then shrugs, the town here seems nice enough, "you want me to pull over? Take a walk?"

She nods, stretching out her legs and he has to stare determinedly at the road for a few seconds to prevent them from crashing, "that sounds like a good idea- my legs are beginning to cramp."

"You want me to do something about that?"

"Yes, but not right now."

He has to squeeze the steering wheel painfully tight to avoid a near miss with an SUV in the other lane.

"That wasn't fair," he groans out eventually.

"If you're going to make lewd comments Noah I expect you to be able to handle my responses."

She watches as he bites his lip and then jerks into a free space by the sidewalk, "i don't think you can handle half of what I've got Berry."

It's a little frustrating that the look in his eyes and the tone of his voice does all sorts of things to her, partly because she's not had anyone get under her skin the way he does but mostly because they're in a parked car in broad daylight and there's only so much public indecency she can go for in one day.

"Bring it on Puckerman," she mutters softly before sliding out of the car and leaving him shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

She should not be allowed to have that kind of effect on him; it would be embarrassing if she weren't so damn hot and- and seriously who the fuck would have though?- downright dirty. She's like, the classiest girl he knows but the dark streak she lets out every once in a while- it's fucking sweet.

He jogs after her from where she's moved quickly on up the side walk- literally afraid her resolve would break and she'd jump in the front seat- and she smiles quietly as he tangles his hand with hers. He pulls her into him, kissing her hard, "you sure you're ready for what I've got?"

She lets out a small noise as he bites at her neck and arches away from him, "you're all talk," she gasps breathlessly.

They're semi walking, semi staggering along the paving stones and she trips on one, forcing them against the wall for stability. He uses it to his advantage, resting his whole body against hers as he crowds into her space, "you sure?"

She kisses him, welcoming his warmth and feeling his tongue tie bows with hers as they battle for dominance. She feels heady on his kisses, it's a rush like no other, the knowledge that he wants her just as she wants him, that he loves doing this with her. Rachel Berry, the awkward over achiever that never used to get a second glance from any boy, no matter how hard she tried. Noah makes her forget how badly she used to feel; he makes her feel new. He makes her feel like she can't breathe and like she has all the oxygen she needs all at once. Like she's precious and made of glass but then at any moment like he could break her apart, let her loose, free her. She slides her hands under his tee shirt and appreciates the way his muscles twitch under them. He's got an arm resting above their heads, creating the tiny world that belongs to just them like he always does and one hand creeping dangerously close to the hem of her shorts-

She pulls away right before he can trace a line up her thigh and he bites his lip, tilting his head and smirking, "too much?"

"We're on the street Noah," he's happy to hear how ragged her voice sounds, like he gets to her just as much as does to him.

"So?"

"So we stopped for a reason- I'm starving and we're in public."

"Didn't stop you earlier."

He should have known that was the wrong thing to say, she shoots him a look and then straightens up, pushing him gently away, "that was different."

"You shouldn't make me want you all the fucking time if you're not gonna put out you know, s'cruel."

"Are you implying you're just in this for sex? Because I'm sure if you look down enough alleys..." She trails off, arching her eyebrows at him.

He wonders if it's too soon to state that he's never going to want to look anywhere else. That he's got what he needs for life, right in front of him. Instead he breathes deeply and thinks of Mr Schue's hair for a moment before grabbing her hand, "nah, pretty sure I'm good with you doll."

"Pretty sure?"

"Think so," he shrugs, "you're ok I guess."

She starts walking again looking severely unimpressed and he resists the urge to yell "you're fucking perfect ok?" Before jogging after her and wrapping an arm around her waist, "so what are you in the mood for?"

"Pizza," she says firmly.

It almost stops him in his tracks and he tugs on her back to pause, "what?"

"I eat pizza you know!"

"No you eat rabbit food- and straw."

"I do not eat straw! If you'd rather we can find a health bar."

"Na uh," he shudders, "not now you've given me all these nice thought about you and pizza and special deliveries."

The swat she aims at his shoulder is less than heartfelt.


They've been sitting in the tiny booth with red vinyl seats for about twenty minutes when he cracks. He's been thinking about it all day and it's bothering him. What he feels for this girl, it's big and it's fucking scary but that doesn't give him the right to hide from it. To hide her away from the rest of the ugly mother fucking world they have to go back to. He wants to shield her from the crap they're gonna get but that's not fair to her. She deserves to make her own decisions, to fight her own battles, and let him help her if he can. Fuck that actually; he's helping her whether she likes it or not. The first sign of crap from Finn or Quinn or even Schue and he'll kick some serious ass.

"Noah?" Her hand on his arm draws him from his thoughts, "what are you thinking about?"

"You won't like it."

Her hand drops like she's been burned and he grabs it again quickly, "it's not that bad!"

"Oh," she smiles quickly, "I'm sorry, I just thought maybe-"

"You thought I was changing my mind?"

She stares down at the tablecloth, "I- I don't know- you've seemed distant all day."

"What? Babe I was feeling you up on a crazy golf course three hours ago!"

The waitress arriving to take their order backs away from the table, "I'll give you another minute!"

Rachel buries her face in her hands and he laughs fondly, tugging them away, "Rach-"

"A hole in the floor needs to come and swallow me now," she groans.

"Oh come on, I'm sure she's heard worse!"

"That's not the point," she hisses. She can't think of a situation she's ever been more embarrassed by, not even the time in third grade when Matt pulled her skirt up and everyone saw her underwear and teased her for a month can come close to Noah's announcement to the whole restaurant that she's a wanton hussy.

He's laughing loudly now and she realizes she must have said that all aloud in her flustered state, "oh god."

"You're so cute Berry."

"I hate you."

"No you don't, you love me."

She opens her mouth to argue and then hesitates before hiding her face again.

"No I don't!" She manages finally.

There's a heavy pause before Noah clears his throat, "I think we should go back to school," he says quietly.

Rachel thinks the term a knife to the heart has never felt more literal than it has right now. She can't breathe for a second and it takes all of her strength to keep the tears at bay as she looks up at him. She can't handle how heavy her heart feels at the prospect of returning to Lima. She doesn't like the idea of not being with him all the time, of not feeling this free from the weight of everything back home. Of Noah fading out of her life again.

"If- if you think that's best."

"Rachel-"

She starts to stand, "I'm not feeling quite myself Noah would you just excuse me for a mome-"

He catches her wrist before she can escape and pulls her down again, almost on top of him, "Rachel-"

"Noah please I really think it's best if I just have a minute, it's nothing really and I want you to forget-"

"I love you."

"-what just happened- wait-" she stops talking and stares at him incredulously, "what?"

"I love you."

She can't think of a single thing to say without blurting out the obvious but she can't quite be sure if he really means it and if he doesn't then she'll look like a fool. But his face is so open and sweet and honest. It cuts right through to her bones.

He smirks at her, twirling her fingers in his before kissing her knuckles, "wow Rachel Berry speechless."

"Don't mock me!"

"Babe I'm on a ledge here right now, you'll forgive me if I'm a little tense."

"Sorry," she says softly, shifting so that she's sitting completely across his lap, not caring that they're still in a restaurant, "I'm just- well- you're right I'm speechless."

"Look Berry, it's fast, I know that, but I think it's just, you know," he leaves one hand wrapped tightly round her waist but uses the other to scratch the back of his neck nervously, "I think it's been there for a while. You're under my skin you know? Mostly it's annoying as hell because you talk too much and you boss me about and you insist on wearing the tiniest clothes ever and then tell me off when I can't help but appreciate the view and you have questionable taste in music and-"

"Those don't really sound like reasons you would lo- like a person Noah; it sounds more like you don't like me very much at all actually," she huffs crossly.

He laughs, "christ woman would you let me finish? That's just the thing- no-one else can simultaneously keep me in check and make my head spin the way you do. And as much fun as this has been, as awesome as whatever we're doing out here," he waves around his free hand, "in fuck knows where- it's not enough."

She blinks in surprise, "it's not?"

"In five years sure. Rachel, I'd bring you back to any of these places and keep you forever if you'd let me. Hell I'd keep fucking driving if I thought that was really what you needed. But it's not. We had a time out, we got stupid and wild and fuck, it's been sensational," his eyes glaze over for a moment as he thinks about how particularly sensational it's been and then he shakes his head, "but- we gotta go back. You have shit you wanna do with your life and you should do it now, not look back and wish you hadn't screwed up school because you were ok with letting the haters talk you down. So I think we should go back, and you're- you're definitely gonna be my girlfriend because there's no way I'm saying all this shit and then letting you go- and- and I swear if anyone screws with us, we'll deal with it ok?"

Rachel runs a hand through his 'hawk, smiling softly, "I think that's the most I've ever heard you talk."

"Yeah well," he shifts uncomfortably, jiggling his legs, "normally you don't let me get a word in edgeways."

She lets out a laugh and then sinks into his arms, "ok."

"What ok you'll be my girlfriend or ok you agree we should go back or-"

"All of it. You're right, we've," she smiles briefly and lifts her shoulders up, "we've had a moment to breathe and- now we should go back."

"Wow did you just say I'm right?"

She tries to slide off his lap but he tightens his grip, beaming up at her as she scowls, "I misspoke."

"Ha! No you didn't you said I was right, woman I am never forgetting this moment. For the next twenty years I swear every time you ever call me a Neanderthal or whatever other posh sounding insult you come up with I am going to remind you of this moment right here and-"

"I love you too Noah."

He stops talking, staring at her wide eyed, "oh. Oh."

"Speechless?"

He shoots her a look that she supposes is meant to be scary but comes off far too fond, "touché."

She can't help but smirk as the waitress, finally assuming it's safe to approach, makes her way over. Noah might crow about making her speechless but when push comes to shove no-one can shock an audience quite like Rachel Berry.