Hey guys! sooo sorry for not updating quicker, &i'm also sorry because it's such a short chapter!
i'm still typing up chapter 12, so i don't know when i'll be posting that but i'm starting school again soon so i'll try to work it in with my schedule! thank you guys for reviewing last chapter, it was awesome!

i also got some new readers/reviewers so that was pretty sick as well! thank you everyone!

i'm trying to work on a new chapter for 'Over the Rainbow' as well! so all the OTR people, be prepared lol. i'm hoping to finish that story by the end of the year. this one, by the end of january/feburary next year.

also, please check out my polyvore site! thank you!

Chapter Eleven

Puck blinked his eyes open as he woke up the next day. He could already tell by the dampness in the air that it was still early morning and that it had or was raining. He also noticed the warm body in his arms as he continued to lie on the air mattress; the warm blankets still keeping the cold away from them. He fell asleep shortly after the kiss they had shared- turned away from Rachel. But somehow during the night, they had ended up snuggled tightly together and were now spooning with their legs tangled.

"You know," Rachel's voice rasped, letting Puck know she hasn't talked this morning yet, "I've always been the 'pretty girl'."

Puck took in a breath and let it own in a yawn before pulling away slightly so Rachel could lie more on her back. Puck raised an eyebrow to her statement and continued to stare at her, seeing if she would go on.

"I'm not trying to sound conceited," Rachel admitted, not looking at him yet, "It's just the truth. My mother used to sing this lullaby to me and she told me that I'll always…" Rachel trailed off as her voice raised an octave. She sniffed and continued, "She told me that 'I'll always be her shining star because I'm her pretty girl'."

"Why are you…?" Puck trailed off, confused to say the least as to why she was telling him this.

"I'm a good girl, Noah," Rachel paused and finally looked at Puck. Her eyes were shining with unshed tears and her voice was full of sincerity, "And I'm a smart girl; so we're going to act like what happened last night didn't happen," Rachel looked away, swallowing thickly, "Because not only would my mom tell me that this relations- this partnership- was a bad idea from the beginning but she would be disappointed in me for complicating things with what happened last night."

"You're acting as if-"

"What happened before we went to sleep last night didn't happen, Puck-" Puck let his lips form a straight line as his throat tightened slightly, "-and it won't happen again unless there's a camera involved," Rachel finalized and then sighed as she realized what she had said.

"I'm down with that," Puck laughed, trying to act as if he wasn't upset.

"You know what I meant," Rachel stated.

"Yeah, it's all good," Puck tried to state sincerely while trying to ignore the hurt in his stomach.

"Okay," Rachel let out a sigh of relief and looked back at him, "Now do we really have to go back home right now or can you take me on the four wheeler and try not to kill me?"

"Get dressed," Puck smirked.

…

"Thanks again for taking me to your 'fort'," Rachel smiled to Puck as they drove back home.

The sun was starting to set and they were coming back into Lima. Puck showed the mass amount of trails to Rachel, stopping every now and again to point out the places where he had first gotten drunk and where he decided that music was going to be his career. Rachel loved when Puck was being Noah and how he told her stories from his past; she loved how he could open up to her about his past.

"Thanks for not pussying out," Puck smirked back, trying desperately not to get angry.

He was passed the shocked stage where Rachel was the one who broke things off before they even got started (usually he's the dumper) and was finished with the sad brooding stage, but now he's just angry. Why? Fucked if he knew. Rachel was right, they had a partnership that grew into a friendship but she wanted nothing more- she wasn't even contemplating it; Puck had been for the past few days.

"Why can't you ever just say 'you're welcome'?" Rachel scoffed, looking back out the window.

Puck shrugged and he dropped the smirk, looking away from her and back to the road. He swallowed thickly and glanced out of the corner of his eye to see her face as it turned to look out the window. He brought his attention back to the road as they passed the supermarket and tightened his grip on the steering wheel. He had to get over this quickly; they will be married in a month and then divorced by Christmas- just as simple as that. Nothing more.

The truck was silent again as they pulled into the driveway. Puck got out, followed by Rachel and they started towards the house. Once they got in, they were met by the sounds of Grady answering Puck's sister's questions.

"Are they really engaged?"

"I don't know."

"Is she as pretty as she is on TV?"

"Prettier."

Puck rolled his eyes as Rachel looked towards the kitchen. He sighed and called out to them grumpily, "I would say she's more beautiful!"

There was silence as Rachel kicked off her shoes and Grady leaned out the kitchen door, "Oh, you're home!"

"Yeah, you didn't hear the door shut?" Puck questioned, padding through the small hallway with socked feet and standing in the doorway, waiting for Rachel.

"No, we did not," Grady smiled towards Rachel, "How did you like the fort?"

"It was beautiful," Rachel smiled and crossed the hallway to stand slightly behind Puck.

Puck grabbed her arm lightly and pulled her to stand in front of him, wrapping an arm around her collarbone, "Hey midget?"

"Yeah?" Sarah breathed, staring at Rachel.

"This is my girlfriend," Puck introduced lazily, glancing around the kitchen, "Sarah meet Rachel, Rachel this is my little sister, Sarah."

"Hi, it's nice to meet you," Rachel smiled and stuck out her hand.

Sarah grinned and shook Rachel's hand, "It's so nice to meet you- I'm a big fan."

"So I've heard," Rachel grinned as Puck let go of her and walked towards his mother. She sighed slightly as his cold shoulder brushed by her but then quickly hid it and smiled at Sarah, "Thank you."

"You're amazing and incredibly talented," Sarah gushed.

"Um…" Rachel stammered with the compliments.

"Midget, leave the girl alone!" Puck rolled his eyes, and leaned on the counter, dipping his finger into the sauce pan and then sticking it into his mouth.

"It's fine," Rachel nodded and smiled at Sarah, "I'm a big fan of yours too."

"Fan of mine? What do I do?" Sarah furrowed her eyebrows together.

"You put up with him for 18 years," Rachel nodded her head back to Puck, "I can hardly handle 2 hours straight; you're my idol."

Puck scoffed while Grady and Sarah laughed, "I like this girl, Noah. You better keep her around."

"Oh Ma," Puck nodded to his mother, "Can we talk after dinner?"

"Which by the way, smells fabulous," Rachel commented as Sarah turned and started plating the food.

"Sure, dear," Grady nodded, narrowing her eyes slightly with suspicion, "Why?"

"You'll see," Puck shrugged, stepping in after Rachel and grabbing a plate that Sarah had just finished putting food on, "Yum, spaghetti."

…

"God, you're messy like your brother," Rachel laughed as she and Sarah washed the dishes.

Their voices faded as Puck and Grady stepped out and onto the patio, sitting down on the lawn chairs that were by the fire pit. The night was warm but had a chill when the wind blew and the sky was pitch black. Puck was nervous and his throat felt slightly tighter than before when he was at the dinner table.

"Noah?" Grady asked, glancing at him with a questioning look.

"Uh…" Puck cleared his throat, "Rachel is um…" Puck blinked as he paused.

"Rachel is what, dear?" Grady pushed gently, looking anxious for her son.

Puck cleared his throat and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and linking his fingers loosely together. He stared at the wet coal in the firepit and tried again, "Ma, Rachel is… Rachel's the… I'm going to be with Rachel, Ma," Puck nodded as if he was promising.

"You are with Rachel, aren't you Noah?" Grady furrowed her eyebrows together.

"Yeah," Puck nodded lazily, "Yeah, I am but… I mean…"

"Puck, take a breath," Grady placed a hand on Puck's shoulder and smiled encouragingly. Puck knew that she knew what he was going to say but she wanted to hear it. So Puck took a breath and let it out slowly before glancing at his mother and shooting a small smile before dropping his head again, "Now, try again?"

Puck nodded and let out a breath. He didn't know why he was being this nervous- something definitely new to him.

"Rachel's the one, Ma."

Grady smiled warmly, "The one?"

"I'm going to marry her," Puck concluded, looking up at his mother, "And I wanted to tell you before we announce it because-"

"You mean, she knows?" Grady 'tsked'.

"Uh… no?" Puck lied, shaking his head, "I just… I know she'll say yes so…"

"How do you know she's the one, Noah?" Grady turned serious, letting concern wash over her features instead of the happy smile that's usually there.

Puck laughed lightly and scratched his head, "I don't know, I just… I mean, that girl pisses me off to no extreme," He pointed towards the house, "She's considerate but annoying at the same time and she complains about everything but still says thank you and means it! She makes me realize that I'm an ass and she calls me on my shit and then will hug me after I yell at her!" Puck furrowed his eyebrows and shook his head, "I mean, she's insane, she truly is but I don't mind it because she keeps me on my toes."

"Well, you guys haven't been dating for that long-" Grady started but Puck cut her off.

"Ma, Rachel Berry is the one for me," Puck sighed, "And I don't know why or how but I-"

"You love her," Grady nodded, "Simple as that."

"I… I just-"

"Noah, you wouldn't have noticed all those things and then contradict yourself right after if you didn't love her," Grady smiled and closed her mouth for a moment, humming quietly. She allowed a small smile to form, "You're really serious about this?"

"Yeah," Puck nodded, trying to ignore the guilt settling in his stomach for lying to his mother, "We didn't say anything to the press because-"

"That's your decision honey," Grady shook her head, placing her hand on Puck's linked ones; "I don't need to know the reasoning behind it."

"Yeah, I feel like I should explain it," Puck shrugged.

"I trust you," Grady nodded, "I feel like you make decisions for different reasons and if it's not the right one in the long run, then you learn from it right?"

"Yeah," Puck nodded.

"Yeah," Grady smiled and then turned serious again, "But if you hurt that girl, Noah Puckerman-"

"Geez, Ma!" Puck sighed.

"I'm sorry," Grady smiled again, "It's just she's so nice and beautiful and she fits so well with this family-"

Puck licked his dry lips and bowed his head again, trying to worm off the feeling of throwing up. The guilt was swooshing around in his stomach again and was mixing with the anger he felt towards his supposed 'one', while Grady continued rambling on.

"Well, did you buy her a ring yet?" Grady asked after rambling about why she was good for this family.

Puck shook his head, "No not yet, but I was kind of thinking about getting a ring for her tomorrow and proposing at Niagara Falls when we stop there the tomorrow."

"Well, you know we have Grandma's ring-" Grady started but Puck cut her off again quickly.

"I'm not going to take Grandma's ring, Ma," Puck stated firmly, knowing that his mother cared deeply for the piece of jewelry. His grandmother's ring was extremely old, passed down through generations and was believed to bless the marriage. But seeming as how his marriage will be over by Christmas, he didn't want to use the ring; it just was not right, "Give it to Sarah or something when she gets married."

"But honey, you're the first born," Grady tried again, "The first born gets the ring when they get married; it was Grandma's rule."

"Yeah, I am the first born," Puck nodded, "So I guess that gives me the right to say no to the ring, right?"

"Noah-"

"I don't want the ring, Ma!" Puck stated firmly, "Give it to Sarah, she'll appreciate it a lot more than I will."

"But Rachel seems like the type of girl who likes-"

"Ma!" Puck groaned, "I don't want that ring," He looked at his mothers hurt face and he sighed, "I'm sorry, it's just… I mean, I love the ring and I know that Rachel would like it too, but I just think that it should go to Sarah, Grams would like that more."

"You sure?" Grady asked, "You don't want me to keep it just in case?"

"Ma-"

"Fine, fine!" Grady sighed, "All I'm saying-"

"This is done," Puck sighed and stood up, "I just wanted to let you know before Rach has her interview and announces it to the world."

"We'll be watching," Grady stated sadly and stood up as well, "I'm happy for you, baby-boy."

"Thanks, Ma," Puck spoke lowly, scratching the back of his neck, "I just wish that Rachel's dad felt the same way."

"He'll come around," Grady nodded, "Now give me a hug, Noah- I'm happy you found your soul-mate."

"Thanks, Momma," Puck smiled and hugged her tightly, "Thanks for having us up here."

"Always," Grady nodded against Puck's neck and went to pull away but Puck held her closer.

"And thanks for being there for me," Puck whispered, hugging a little tighter, "For always sticking by me even if I was wrong and for always… always believing in my judgments."

"Oh, Noah," Grady furrowed her eyebrows.

Puck sighed lightly and turned his face into his mother's neck, "And I'm sorry for being such a dick when I was a teenager and if I ever made you disappointed."

"Noah?"

"Ma, you're the one constant person in my life," Puck nodded against her neck, "So thank you for believing in me, and for loving me, and for trusting me; I don't think you know how much that means to me."

"You're welcome," Grady was speechless as she rubbed her sons back.

..

A/N: hey guys! so that was chapter 11! wow, i can't believe it's already 11 :P

please review guys! &go check out my polyvore site (link is in my profile!)

tell me what you like, what you would like to see &whatever quote you guys would like! that would be wonderful, thanks guys!