"Noah?" Rachel's cell phone battery had died (Noah had obviously mellowed her - the old, uptight Rachel would never have let that happen) and she was currently scrolling through his phonebook listings so she could text her daddy and let him know (you know, in case one of them tried to ring her and couldn't get through. That kind of thing made them worry).

"Babe?" Noah looked up from where he was seated one step up from her on the bleachers, guitar in hand as he strummed the opening bars of The Old 97's 'Question' over and over.

"Why am I saved in your phone as 'mine'?" Rachel held his phone out with her number highlighted on the screen (like he needed to see it to know that's what it said. He fucking put it there!).

"'Cos that's what you are" he stated, simply and clearly.

"Oh". A little smile, a faint blush. Yeah, his girl fucking loved it when he was all romantic like that.

And then "I quite like being yours". Her chocolate eyes were doing that warm I love you thing they did that made him feel whole.

Noah smirked. "It is pretty awesome being with the Puckerone, I know." Rachel giggled softly and looked down at his phone again. Noah moved quickly down to the seat beside her, putting down his guitar.

"Seriously though, I quite like being yours, too." He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and placed a chaste kiss on her lips. She snuggled closer, resting her head against his chest.

"I wish we could stay here forever" Rachel murmured. "Like this".

"What about New York? Broadway? Stardom?" Noah asked, a degree of disbelief colouring his tone.

"Right now, I am happy. I can't imagine how those things could make me happier than right now, with you. I don't want to change anything, in case it all changes…" Rachel sighed. The two hadn't really discussed much more than they wanted to be together - the how's and doing what's and where's hadn't been broached.

Noah cast his eyes over his girlfriend, recognising the hesitation, the doubt, the uncertainty behind her reluctant confession. He hadn't seen this side of Rachel since before they'd officially become a couple. He liked to think that he'd shown Rachel how much he wanted to be with her, and soothed her fear of being unloved and abandoned (which wasn't irrational, given her history); he thought she knew he wasn't going to let her go anywhere without him. Huh, maybe he should've actually told her instead of relying on her semi-psychic powers and assuming she would just know.

"Rach, you know… I mean, I want you to know, I'm gonna follow you". Well, shit, that sounded stalkerish. "I mean, fuck, I'm fucking this up." Noah drew in a steadying breath as he prepared to put himself on the line. "I've been talking to Schue and to Miss P, and they reckon I've got good enough grades to get into college. I've even got some shit about scholarships, and Miss P gave me the application shit for just about every school in New York… I'm planning for this, for us." Fuck his life, that was awkward and wordy and fuck, she wasn't saying anything back.

"I didn't really want to say anything yet, 'cos it's so far away, really, and I didn't want to freak you out. I didn't know you were worried about that shit yet, about us staying the same… Fuck, Rach?" he gave up talking. He was pretty sure he'd just handed in his man badge by bitching like a little girl.

"Noah… I can't believe you were doing all that… that you care that much, to do that - planning for your future, our future…"

"Well, fuck, Rach! Of course I fucking care! You mean everything to me…" the last part was quiet, almost breathed out, and Rachel cut off whatever was going to come next by pressing her soft berry flavoured lips to his as she cupped his face in her hands.

"You mean everything to me" he reiterated when he came up for air a few minutes later. "You saved me, babe. I'm not gonna let go of you."

Rachel let out a sigh of happiness, and content, and relief. She'd been so busy thinking of barriers and obstacles she'd forgotten that her man? He was freaking badass. If there was a challenge, he would face it head on with her. The thought was comforting and exciting at the same time.

"It'll be different. Harder. We'll have shit to deal with, life shit, like grown up shit. But we'll deal with it together." His hazel green eyes shone with sincerity and certainty, and Rachel felt a swell of pride that this man was hers.

"You and me, Noah." She linked her arm through his (sneaking a feel of his lovely muscles).

"Don't you forget it, babe."

A/N: So, yeah, sorry I've been slack - I will try to do better! But I hope you enjoyed this little couple-y moment, anyway :)

If you want to hear the song (it's awesome!) http : / www . youtube . com / watch ? v = L1YGuOt8T9Q there's no video, but it has the lyrics