Here it is, the chapter you've all been waiting for… and I think you're going to be happy! I don't want to give it away, but I had fun writing this chapter, well the second part of it at least! Sorry for the wait, if you read my other story Our Little Arrangement, you probably know I have some family stuff going on at the moment so its hard to find time to right and when I do have the time, I seem to hit a spout of writers block, so please PLEASE review with your ideas because even though I have at least another 20 chapters of this story written already, I need inspiration.

Elle xx

When Puck walked into school the next morning the remaining 10 glee club members, excluding Rachel, were standing around his locker waiting for him.

"Have you heard from Rachel?" Tina asked.

"Is she okay?"

"Is she coming to school today?"

He put his books away and turned to face the group, "My mom spoke to Will last night, he said she was sleeping but was okay. I am about to see if she is here for the day."

"I'm coming with you," Quinn demanded. Puck gave her a hesitant look but Quinn was adamant. They walked side by side through the halls to Mr Schue's office.

"She waits for me here everyday," he explained to Quinn before pushing open the door.

Will smiled when he saw Noah and looked down to Rachel who was laying on her stomach doing her homework on the floor behind his desk.

"Rach, your friends are here," he told her.

Rachel collected her books and stood. She hesitated slightly when she saw Quinn was with Noah but remembered her goal for the day was to not shut people out and to try and get back into her routine.

The three unlikely friends walked through the halls of the school back to the Glee club. Nobody seemed really sure what to say to the girl so Rachel put them out of their misery.

"I'm really sorry about yesterday… I can't help it," she told the group quietly.

Noah was about to remind her she had nothing to apologise for but Santana beat him too it.

"Fuck Rachel! You have nothing to be sorry for. We should be apologising to you after the way we have treated you for all these years. You didn't need or deserve that. I am truly sorry for everything I have done to hurt you… can we make a fresh start?"

Rachel smiled, "I'd like that," she took a bag with Santana's clothes in it, out of her book bag and handed it to the cheerleader, "thank you for lending me your clothes. Will washed them last night."

The bell rang for class and the two cheerio's and their ex-captain, linked arms. Santana looked over at Rachel unsure what to do. She had been going to grab Rachel's arm but remembered that that could cause a stir. The four had English together first period and the Latina wanted to reach out to the girl to show she was serious.

"Uh, can I touch your arm?" Santana asked. Rachel looked up at Noah who nodded his encouragement and then hesitantly linked her arm through the one Santana was offering. They walked arm in arm to class.

Things had not been as easy as Rachel expected. She was still quiet and only answered the questions that were directed at her. Santana watched her flinch when someone accidentally brushed her shoulder. But the others understood and she was making progress. They watched as she happily participated in glee but still didn't take over her solos again.

Noah dragged her to a park after school, sat her down in a swing and stood behind her to push it.

"You seemed much better today," he told her, "I'm proud of you for letting everyone else in."

She slowed the swing and turned to look at him, "as horrible as yesterday was, it was a real eye-opener for me. I've realised that I need to get on with my life and start being a teenager again. Will is taking me back to dance class this afternoon."

Noah looked pleased and moved to crouch down in front of her so she was looking down at him.

"Well then, I know something you can do," he told her, gathering up the nerve, "let me take you out this weekend. We can go to dinner and the movies or something."

Rachel's eyes widened. She had not expected him to ask her that. But she smiled at him and nodded, "I'll ask Will tonight, but I would like that Noah."

"Ill ask him," Noah replied, "… seems like something I should ask permission for."

The pair played on the playground for a while longer. Rachel told him the same story she had told Will the night before. She watched as Noah's hands clenched when she mentioned what her fathers had done; like he was going to take care of it for her. Rachel smiled at the gesture and thought about how lucky she really was.

He drove her home and while she was getting ready for her dance class, he came in to speak to Will.

"I uh, I asked her out on Saturday," he told his teacher.

Will looked up from his marking and stared at the boy but Noah continued, "I know it might seem a little early and all but she said she wanted to act like a normal teenager again and I like her so it seemed like the logical thing to do. She said yes, but I wanted to ask your permission, since you're her dad and stuff."

Will smirked at how uncomfortable the teen was and took pity on him, "it's fine Puck, just have her home by midnight and make sure you take care of her."

Rachel came back into the room ready for dancing and unaware of the conversation that had just taken place. Noah said goodbye and Rachel and Will climbed into the car to go to her dance school.

"So Puck asked you out huh?" He smiled at her as he drove.

Rachel blushed, "Yes, is that alright?"

"Its fine, he is good for you. Just be careful okay," he told her as they pulled into the parking lot. Will came inside and explained the situation to her dance and gymnastics teachers. They had been shocked but accepting of the new father and promised to take care of her and call him if there was a problem.

Rachel returned from dancing happily chatting about class. Will was glad he had allowed her to come back and start getting back into her routines. It was a step in the right direction.

Noah's mom had fussed over him when she found out he had finally asked Rachel out. On the Saturday of the date, she pulled every shirt he owned out of his closet to find the 'perfect outfit.'

"Mom! It's not like she doesn't know me… she already knows how I dress and doesn't seem to mind… and we are just going to a movie and dinner," he whinged to his mother.

"But this is different Noah!" she said exasperated, "girls always like it when boys go that extra mile to show they care and Rachel is no exception." She held what had to have been the millionth shirt up to him, "Perfect, now go shower and get changed."

Noah rolled his eyes but gave in to her command. By six o'clock he was nervously waiting on the Schuester/Berry doorstep after ringing the bell.

Will answered the door and invited him in, "so what's the plan for this evening?" he asked the boy casually.

"Uh, dinner first, then maybe a movie… we'll see how she goes… don't worry I'll have her home before midnight," he promised. Will smiled at the boys nerves.

"I know you will Puck, it's okay," he laughed lightly at the boy.

"You're handling this very well. Don't you feel the urge to murder me or something?" Puck glared at the man.

"Not murder… threaten maybe, but definitely not murder," Will explained with a laugh, "You're good for her and she is happy and feels safe when she is with you. What more can I ask?"

Noah relaxed significantly upon hearing this. He had not really dated many girls and he had certainly not hung around long enough to meet their parents. He heard Rachel's door open and she entered the living room.

"Hi Noah," she smiled shyly at him.

"Wow Rach, you look amazing," he told her. She was dressed in jeans and a loose floral printed shirt. Her hair had been straightened and she was wearing a little make up. It was clear Kurt had had some influence on her clothing but she looked stunning.

"Thank you Noah!" she beamed at him, "are you ready to go?"

He drove them to breadsticks where he had made reservations for the evening and, like a true gentleman, he held doors open for her. Their conversation started awkwardly, neither really knew what to say to the other. But when the topic changed to glee, they found a common ground and the chat became easy.

"When I was listening to the Radio in the car the other day, I heard this song by Nickleback that would be perfect for Glee," he told her, "I'm going to give my idea to Mr Schue on Monday."

"That sounds fantastic Noah," she beamed, "I often get my ideas for Glee by listening to the radio or the music channel."

The pair chatted comfortably over dinner and Noah was pleased that Rachel had a smile on her face the whole way through. He looked at his watch and stood to pay the bill. When they were waiting in line at the cinema to buy tickets, Noah's fingers brushed over Rachel's and when she didn't pull away, he hesitantly entwined his hand with hers. Neither looked each other in they eye but Rachel smiled brightly at the gesture of affection. This was the real Noah, not the 'Puck' person he pretended to be at school. He insisted that she choose the movie she wanted to watch regardless of whether she thought he would like it or not.

When Rachel tried to pay for their popcorn and sodas, he stopped her, "It's the guys job to pay for everything on the first date Rach," he told her. Rachel blushed, but nodded her head and let him pay.

Halfway through the movie, Noah reached his arm around her and rested it across her shoulders. He could feel her tense momentarily before she relaxed into his arms and lent her head on his shoulder. Rachel smiled slightly as she continued to watch the movie.

After the movie, he drove them to a park near her house so they could talk and finish off the popcorn. They were sitting on a bench with the bucket of popcorn between them when Noah spoke up.

"How are you really handling all of this Rachel?" he asked her seriously, "I know you are saying you need to move on but I know you're still upset."

Rachel looked him right in the eye and saw the honesty in his eyes, "You're right, I am still upset… I mean, did you know my fathers haven't tried to contact me once since I got kicked out? They wouldn't even know what was going on if it wasn't for my social worker being required to keep them updated. While they may have been my fathers, they were never my Dad's… Will has taken on that role," she explained to him, "It obviously hurts to know they don't care about me and it's easy to hate them for all they have done but I have to move on at some point. It hurts much less to just forget they exist."

She turned her body to face him straight on. It surprised her how easily she could talk to Noah about all of this considering she still isolated herself at school.

"I have a new family now Noah," she told him, "Will is amazing and his parents have been so welcoming. Then I have you, your mom and your sister and for the first time ever… I have friends who are supportive of me and protect me without a second thought… I've never had any of that before."

Noah nodded trying to understand what she was saying but fully aware he would never completely grasp it.

"Do you call Will Dad?" he asked her curiously.

"Uhh, No… I have stopped myself from doing it on occasion," she explained, "I don't want to make him uncomfortable… my father's made me call them sir so it's… strange, for me to want to call someone dad."

He frowned at the mention of her fathers' ridiculous ways, "I don't think he would mind," Noah told her, "I have heard him refer to you as his daughter more than once anyway."

Once the popcorn had been finished, Noah grabbed her hand and helped her into his truck. They rode in a comfortable silence back to Rachel's new house. He pulled on the break as they stopped outside the house and turned to look at her with a smile.

"Thank you for coming out with me tonight," he told her.

"Thank you for asking Noah. I had a really really good time," she smiled back.

Noah lent over the middle of the car and kissed her forehead gently then pulled back. He wasn't sure whether he should push her for a proper kiss so he hesitated but she made the decision for him. She raised her hand to his cheek and pulled his lips to hers. Her actions surprised him, given her history, but after a quick minute he returned the pressure. His hand moved to cup her face and he gently stroked her cheek. He was the first to break the kiss, pulling back but resting his forehead against hers.

"You kissed me," he said bluntly.

"I did. You kissed back," she returned.

"I did… I really like you, Rachel," he admitted quietly. His admission made her blush but she smiled brightly at him.

"I really like you too, Noah."

They both smiled at each other. Noah kissed her nose gently.

"I should go inside," she said simply.

"Are you free tomorrow?" he asked.

"Yes. What did you have in mind?"

"I don't know. Do you think Will would mind me coming over in the afternoon? I have to baby sit Hannah in the morning."

"I'm sure he won't mind but I will ask in the morning," she told him before leaning over, kissing him again quickly and climbing out of the car.

He waited in the drive until she turned and waved to say that she was fine before making his way home.

His mom was getting ready for work when he got home just before midnight. She didn't normally work the night shift but a friend had asked her to swap for the night.

"How was it?" she asked him excitedly.

"Good," he told her. He could feel his cheeks getting hot and knew he was blushing, "I'm going to see her tomorrow afternoon, when you get home from work."

Rebekah squealed with excitement. She didn't want to admit it but for a while there, she didn't think her son would ever find someone he really wanted to be with. Rachel had made her dreams as a mother come true, "Oh Noah, I'm so proud of you."

"Yeah Yeah, I'm going to bed. What time will you be home?" he asked her.

"Ill try to be back around 11," she told him. Kissing his head and heading off to work.

Noah climbed the stairs to his room, changed and climbed into bed. He smiled as he remembered the events from the evening and quickly drifted off to sleep.

So what did you think? Please review!

Elle xo