Hello Hello! I am sorry for the long delay. I decided to take a holiday last minute. Those of you who are regular readers know that I am pretty good with keeping my updates on time. School starts in a little over a week and I'll be busy getting to know my new class, so I wrote a few extra chapters over the break.

Hopefully this Chapter will make up for the wait. Please let me know what you think.

Elle xox

Chapter Nine

After Glee on Friday afternoon, Quinn, Santana and Rachel took a trip to the mall in search of dresses for the wedding Whilst Noah went with Finn to get a suit organized.

Rachel had informed the girls that she did not mind what color they chose however Noah had insisted that it not be pink. Instead they settled for a deep purple color that suit both of them fantastically and matched the sash and beads on Rachel's dress. The dresses chosen were similar to Rachel's in style; strapless, fitted around the chest where they flowed gently to the knees.

After paying for the dresses, they went straight to meet the boys in the suit shop to help them get their accessories in matching colors.

As they were leaving the store, Noah reached for Rachel's hand and Finn reached for Quinn's.

"Aww, I'm starting to feel left out guys!" Santana whined jokingly as she nudged the girls with her shoulder. Rachel and Quinn shared a glance and both lent over and kissed a cheek each.

The small group headed to the food court. The girls gossiped over wedding details whilst the boys talked about the latest video game Finn was planning on buying. Rachel couldn't help but think how nice this was. She was engaged to one of the most popular boys in school and had friends who weren't just using her. She smiled and lent into Noah contently.


Today was Sunday, just under 2 weeks before their wedding. Today was the day the McKinley group were going to meet the Pilton group and Rachel and Noah couldn't help feel a little nervous. They wanted all their friends to get along. They were going to meet up at the lake for lunch. There was going to be a small festival to celebrate the Lima holiday, followed by a firework display that evening.

Their friends from Glee were all going together and by 11.30 they had claimed a shady spot under a tree for the day. Rachel and Noah arrived shortly after with a truckload of food in tow. They greeted their friends chatting about Sue Sylvesters latest stunt to get Glee club cancelled.

Mercedes was explaining the scene she had witnessed between the coach and Mr Schue when Rachel squealed loudly and took off towards a group of teens across the park.

"I take it they're your friends from your old school," Matt asked Noah.

"Yeah," he replied with a smile, getting up to follow Rachel. The glee kids watched as Rachel enthusiastically embraced each member of the group individually before jumping on a tall, handsome boys' back and pointing towards their tree. Noah had his arms wrapped around the shoulders of two girls as he led the group over. Rachel laughed as she was dropped to the ground.

After all introductions were made, they sat down to eat a packed lunch. Noah's mom had made a round of sandwiches and salads for the group.

"I was very surprised when I got your wedding invite! I still can't believe you two are actually going to be married in less than a fortnight," said Leah, a bubbly girl with short brown hair as she gazed at Rachel's ring, "I seriously thought you were going put it off for a few more decades!"

Rachel and Noah shared a look.

"Savta is sick, we want to do this before she…" Noah's voice dwindled off, knowing they would understand.

"Oh, I'm sorry Noah… I didn't know," the girl said softly.

Jeremy and Jamie, the tall boy who had carried Rachel on his back, changed the topic, telling the glee kids numerous stories about the troublesome Noah and Rachel.

"… and when we were 12, Noah was in detention for swearing… again," Jeremey recounted, "When Rachel decided she was going to break him out. 'Little Miss Dramatic' that she is, she recruited us as lookouts as she burst into the room in tears, telling our teacher that she was having an emotional breakdown and needed Noah to help her deal with it. When Ms Harper had refused, Rachel said… and I quote, 'oh for fucks sake, it's my time of the month and his mom is taking me home'. Ms Harper was speechless and let him go… It had taken Rachel a good couple of days to convince Noah she had made it up."

The entire Glee group looked at Rachel in shock, who had gone bright red.

Noah laughed at the looks on their friends faces, "I told you Rachel at our old school was very different to Rachel at McKinley. She used to get into just as much trouble as I did! If not more!"

"Yes well, that was before I figured out that to get into Julliard, I actually needed to get decent grades in school instead of having fun all the time," she said smugly, "of course that particular event had backfired when we got back to school the next week and were both put back into detention for my little 'outburst'."

"If it's stories you want, I have some fantastic ones involving Noah and his dream to be an ice skater," Rachel continued with a smirk, "unfortunately for him, his dream was short lived when Rebekah finally took us to the rink and proved that he had absolutely no talent on the ice! He nearly died when he realized I was better at it then him."

"I'd watch what you say Berry, I have dirt on you too," he retaliated gently punching her arm.

"You do realize you are not going to be able to call me that for much longer," she said looking up at him with a smile. She was hoping he would understand what she was talking about.

"Are you serious? You made a decision?" Noah asked surprised that she had chosen now to bring this up.

"Yes Noah, I have decided I am going to take your surname," she said smiling brightly at him. They had talked about it a few days ago. Noah had not wanted her to feel pressured into taking his name. He pulled her up and wrapped his arms around her waist, her arms automatically found themselves around his neck as he buried his face into her shoulder, whispering in her ear, "Thank you."

All eyes of the remaining 20 teenagers were on Noah and Rachel's exchange. The girls let out a chorus of sighs and gasps.

It was Santana who made the situation a little lighter, "God Rachel," she said putting the back of her hand on Rachel's forehead as if checking to see if she was ill, "Are you sure you want to become a Puckerman?" she joked. Rachel laughed and nodded her head.

"Oh god!" Finn cried out, "Two Pucks in one school!"

"Come with me Squirt," Noah said grabbing Rachel's hand, "I want to go get a soda."

Everyone knew that he didn't really need a soda, they had plenty to drink with them, but they understood the couple needed a moment alone.

They walked hand in hand silently for a little while before Noah asked, "Are you really sure this is what you want Rach?"

"Yes Noah, I haven't been surer of anything since I decided I was going to become a Broadway star… We are getting married, I know I will regret it later on if I don't," she confirmed.

"Thank you, I cannot say that enough… just Thank you Rach, for believing in me," He said quietly. Rachel searched his eyes, she wasn't sure what she was looking for but was touched by the emotion she saw.

Noah pulled her to him and lent down and kissed her gently. Rachel was in shock, he was kissing her! And not just on the forehead… on the lips! Once the shock wore off she relaxed into his lips. When they pulled apart and she opened her eyes, she saw him smiling at her.

"Come on, lets go back before Jamie starts telling the Glee club more of our not so memorable moments," he said wrapping an arm around her waist, "or starts hitting on Santana again!"

Nobody said anything when they came back without a soda.


As the sun set, the arguments started over what to get for dinner. Half of the Pilton group tried to keep kosher, so pizza was out of the question for them. Instead the girls sent the boys of to a number of different shops, diners and restaurants to get a selection of food.

Noah, Jamie and Finn were charged with going to McDonalds and were currently waiting for their order.

"So Noah, What was that little moment with Rachel about this afternoon?" Jamie asked slyly, "I have NEVER seen you two act the way you did today after Rachel told you she wanted to become a Puckerman."

Puck couldn't help but blush a little at his friend's statement, "you both know Rachel is my best friend, I just really appreciate everything she is doing for me," he admitted, "I think I love her."

"Look, I've know you both for a long time and in that time… Rachel has never and I mean never, done anything she didn't want to do," Jamie responded, "…You two are more perfect for each other than you would like to admit!" he muttered under his breath.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Noah questioned.

"It means Rachel called and had this conversation with Leah last week and as soon as they hung up, Leah called me and blabbed… Trust me, you don't have anything to worry about."

Noah was shocked. Rachel had been thinking about this too? He knew they needed to have a long overdue conversation.

"Dude! You've fallen in love with your fiancé… how backwards is that!" Finn said with a laugh.


Back at the park, Quinn pulled Rachel aside.

"So, Miss Berry… Soon to be Mrs Puckerman, What was that special moment you shared with Lima's resident bad boy today," she asked.

Rachel smiled. Over the past couple of weeks she had found Quinn very easy to talk too.

"He kissed me Quinn!" she said with a dreamy smile. Quinn squealed. she was excited for her friend.

"You have to have that conversation with him… Tonight!" Quinn ordered.

The boys started to arrive and food was passed around. They were just finishing packing up when the announcer put over a message letting the crowd know the fireworks would be starting in 5minutes. They all lay down on the picnic rugs looking up into the night sky as the firework show started up.

Rachel curled up into Noah's side as she often did when they stayed at the same house. It wasn't long before she found herself drifting off to sleep with the sounds of the fireworks in the background.

When the fireworks display was over, Noah looked down at Rachel and found her sound asleep. The park floodlights came back on and put a finger to his lips telling his friends to keep quiet whilst they packed up. He said goodbye to his friends. As Quinn and Finn helped him carry all their stuff to the car, he carried a sleeping Rachel. He was almost there when she stirred.

"Shh babe, you can go back to sleep," he said softly.

Rachel wiggled in his arms, asking him to put her down. Quinn and Finn were waiting at the truck for them. They smiled when they saw Rachel was now awake.

"We'll see you guys at school on Tuesday," Quinn said giving Rachel a hug and whispering in her ear, "it's time you had that conversation, let me know how it goes."

He pulled his car into the Berry driveway.

"Noah, can we talk for a minute?" She asked quietly, "I have something I need to ask you?"

The pair walked in to Rachel's dark house. Her dad's were out for the evening so they had the place to themselves. Puck could tell Rachel was nervous. When she was, she wouldn't look him in the eyes. Grabbing a bottle of water each they sat down on the couch. Rachel turned to face her friend.

"Noah, do you love me?" Rachel blurted out.

Puck nearly spat his water out as he faced her in shock.

"What! Of course I do," he stated.

"Well, I know you love me like a best friend, but…" she stuttered over her words, "Noah, we're getting married, I need to know how you really feel about me."

She could see she had made her fiancé uncomfortable, but it was a conversation they needed to have.

"I've come to realize over the last few months, that I love you as more than just a friend... and then you kissed me today and… I just need you to know how I feel before we get married," Rachel admitted turning away from Noah. They sat in silence for a few minutes and Rachel was starting to get worried. Puck hadn't shown any reaction. He had just stared at her. She got up to leave the room but was stopped when Puck gently grabbed her wrist.

"Just give me a minute Squirt," he said with a soft smile, taking a minute to gather his thoughts, "… Rach, I have known you for a long time and I have loved you for most of that… I love the short skirts you wear, the way you are so focused at school and I love the fact you are so short that the nickname I gave you when we were six still fits. God Rachel, I love you so much, I just wasn't sure you felt the same way and… I couldn't have handled being rejected," he finished pulling her in even closer to him so she was almost sitting in his lap.

To anyone else, him telling her she was too focused and short might have sounded like an insult, but not to Rachel.

Rachel's face burst out into a smile and she reached her hand up behind his neck to pull his lips down to meet his. The kiss was slow and intense but spoke volumes to the pair. Rachel felt herself melt against Noah and she parted her lips to allow him further access. As he gladly deepened the kiss, Rachel rested her hand behind his neck gently playing with the strip of hair. They broke away when the need for air became overpowering but didn't move far from each other. Noah smiled at Rachel and placed a gentle kiss on her nose. That was their first real kiss. Sure they had kissed before- the first time had been as a dare when they were about eight- but never had there really been so much feeling behind it.

"As much as I would love to stay, I have to head home," he said sadly, "I have to look after Zia tomorrow."

She walked him out to his car and pulled him in for another kiss before she watched him drive away. Just as she saw his taillights turn around the corner, she ran back inside and grabbed her phone. Flopping down on her bed she dialed Quinn's number.

"I asked him!" she yelled when the girl picked up.

"and…?" Quinn prompted, the suspense was killing her. She listened intently as her new friend explained all the details of the conversation including the kiss and promised to talk more at school on Tuesday.

Rachel fell asleep soon after her head hit her pillow with a big smile on her face.


Well? Was it worth the wait? A shout out to all the people who's name suggestions were included in this. 'Zzzooe' suggested the winning name 'Leah' it wasn't used much in this chapter but will be later in the story.

***PLEASE READ***

I need a wedding type song. Probably not for this story although, if I like it enough, I might use it in here too. If anyone has any suggestions please add them in your review. If you are interested, I am happy to do the same reward as last time for the winning song (A preview of a chapter before it is posted). Anyway… this is my shout out for help but please don't suggest Sweet Caroline, that has another place in this story.

And lastly, I want to get an idea of what your thoughts are on me posting another story. I have 3 more Puck/Rachel stories the same length as this one (40 000+ at this stage), should i post now or wait to finish this story completely first. I'm not sure how i want this story to end yet so it just keeps getting longer (and i'm totally open to ideas). Like i said, what are your thoughts? Ta =)