My apologies for making you wait so long after that last intense chapter. I also forgot to credit the song Rachel sang…for those that didn't recognize it, it's A Thousand Years by Christina Perri. Just one more chapter left after this. I also always try to use songs that Glee hasn't covered before, but I just couldn't for Puck's song. Most of the time I get a song stuck in my head and a story springs forth…as is this case with this one. Enjoy!

Dinner was quiet, much quieter than Rachel had anticipated. In her head, she pictured her and Puck holding hands, giggling while they ate and looking longingly into each other's eyes. In reality, Puck shoveled down his food nervously while she pushed hers around on her plate, her appetite slowly fading with each silent minute. She wondered if what had happened earlier in the car was a mistake.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a small man standing up on a very small stage. He was fumbling with a microphone, looking out in anticipation at the crowd of patrons in the restaurant. Rachel listened closely as he announced it was their first Open Mic night, rolling her eyes as he attempted to make some sort of lame joke. She watched Puck take a quick sip of his drink, darting his eyes anxiously at the stage.

"I've gotta use the bathroom." Before she could even respond, he jumped up out of his seat and disappeared around a partition separating a small part of the restaurant from the bar. The vibration of her cell phone on the table startled her. It was her daddy, wondering where she was. She typed a quick response before hitting send. She glanced up from her phone just in time to see Puck take a seat on a stool on the tiny stage, a guitar in hand. He strummed a few notes, clearing his throat as he did.

"Um, my name is Puck." He stammered, looking to the back of the restaurant instead of the people seated in front of him.

"I promised someone I would let them hear this song when I finished. She'll know why when she hears it." His gaze turned to Rachel, a smirk on his face. He winked quickly before looking down to the guitar. Rachel didn't even notice most of the people eating had turned to look at her.

When I look into your eyes

It's like watching the night sky

Or a beautiful sunrise

Well there's so much they hold

And just like them old stars

I see that you've come so far

To be right where you are

How old is your soul?

I won't give up on us

Even if the skies get rough

I'm giving you all my love

I'm still looking up

Rachel was in a trance, leaning forward on the table, her eyes locked on Puck as if he were the only person in the room. She ignored the waitress when she came back to ask if they wanted dessert, as well as her vibrating phone signaling a text message had arrived.

And when you're needing your space

To do some navigating

I'll be here patiently waiting

To see what you find

'Cause even the stars they burn

Some even fall to the earth

We've got a lot to learn

God knows we're worth it

No, I won't give up

"Rachel?" The familiar voice startled her. Whipping her head around, she could clearly see Finn standing next to her, his head swiveling up to see Puck singing on stage. Her stomach was rolling. Puck continued singing, a distraught look plastered on his face, as Finn stood firmly in front of Rachel. His tie was hanging loosely around his neck, his suit terribly wrinkled.

"Finn. What are you doing here?" She squeaked, glancing sheepishly at Puck from the corner of her eye.

"I should be asking you the same thing?"

"How did you know I was here?" Both of their tones were now becoming accusing. "I thought you were flying back home."

"Your dad told me." He crossed his arms, a sour spread across his face. "When I called you earlier I was already in Ohio. I was going to surprise you…"

"But I guess the surprise is on me." He scowled. There was a million things she wanted to say, but instead she let him storm out. She didn't try and stop him. Puck had long finished his song and was now standing next to her, his hand on her shoulder.

"Hey, I'm…"

Rachel held her finger up to silence him. The tears were burning her eyes as she tried to hold them back.

"I've got to fix this." Grabbing her purse, she ran out of the restaurant, glancing back and forth around the parking lot, looking for Finn. He was gone.

Puck flipped his phone over and over in his hand. He was seated in a chair in Rachel's father's living room, scrunched down in the darkness of the room. She had disappeared from the restaurant two hours ago in search of Finn and he hadn't heard from her since. He had returned to her father's house, hoping she'd be there, but she wasn't. This was his first time in Lima, so he had no idea where to even begin looking for her. He heard the front door creak open, not bothering to even look up when she finally entered the room.

"I'm sorry I ran out earlier." He could only make out her silhouette standing in front of him.

"I get it." Was all he could say, still flipping the phone in his hand.

"No, you don't, Noah." Her tone was firm. "I just threw my marriage away."

"Why do I feel like you're blaming me?" He dropped the phone in his lap.

"I told Finn I couldn't love him the way a wife should anymore." She was crying. He hated to see her cry. Standing up, he pulled into his arms, pressing her into his chest and running a hand down the back of her head.

"So I guess he blames me?" Puck asked.

"No, I made it clear that had nothing to do with my decision." She whispered.

"Is this what you want, Rachel?" He murmured.

"I thought so, but why do I feel so heartbroken?" She continued to cry into his chest. Puck couldn't answer that. They had both confessed their feelings for each other, so this should be a happy time. Instead, Rachel was crying and Puck felt guilty.

"Maybe you need some time for you before you decide what you really want." Puck stroked her hair slowly.

"Wh-what?" Rachel sniffed, looking up into his eyes.

"I'm not turning my back on you Rachel." Puck was quick to sooth her. "I know this is hard for you. I'm gonna go back home. I have a job I need to get back to. You need to be here for your dads, plus it will give you the time you need to decide what you want."

"But I told you what I want." Rachel's eyes filled with tears once again.

"Looking at you right now, I can't be certain this is what you want." He leaned close, placing a kiss on her forehead. Releasing his hold on her, he walked through the foyer and out the front door.

Rachel collapsed in the chair Puck had just vacated, sobbing uncontrollably as she listened to the rental car back out of the driveway.

"But I did choose you." She cried out, hanging onto the hope that he could hear her. It was too late, he was gone.

Ok, so please don't hate me. I really had planned on writing the Rachel/Finn break-up scene, but just couldn't do it. I needed Rachel to be emotionally raw when she came back to see Puck, but realized I didn't need to include that for you to see it. And Puck realizes that, so he's giving her the space she needs to heal. And yeah, it devastated her. Puck's song is I Won't Give Up by Jason Mraz, which I know they've covered, but it fit these two perfectly. The epilogue is coming Thank you to all who have read this, favorited this & reviewed it. It means so much to me!