Author's Note: This was going to be the last chapter, but I realised that I wanted to make it into two so there should be one more update coming your way soon. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far, there will be a complete list of thank-you's in the last chapter. To Abril0-0, I loved your suggestion, however I decided to choose something a little different, but thanks for the input! It was inspired...!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything, neither the song nor the characters.

Warning: Dangerous levels of fluff. A few hints of homosexual action but nothing graphic.

Kurt's POV

Puck had been so considerate. Kurt had stayed with him on the bench for well over an hour, just talking. Sometimes they'd just stayed silent, Kurt had wormed his way onto Puck's lap, and had cuddled into his chest. Puck had wound his fingers into Kurt's hair while his other hand had snaked around his waist, holding him close. Kurt had wished that he could stay there forever, feeling safe and protected against the world. Too soon, however, Puck had glanced at his watch and realised that they should really be getting back. The afternoon was turning into early evening and it was getting cold.

Once in Puck's truck, Kurt had swapped his blood-stained shirt for the spare he always carried with him in his bag, and had done his best to conceal the bruises and cut on his face with concealer. He didn't want to worry his dad more than he had to.

Puck had volunteered to go in with him, but Kurt had declined his offer. He felt like he needed some time alone, to listen to his music, relax on his bed and just chill out. The afternoon's events held little to no terror for him anymore. He knew that Puck would always be there to support him. The very fact that he'd come out to Finn, Mike and Matt, and had persuaded them to help him proved that. Kurt didn't think he'd ever felt more relief than he had when Puck had burst into the bathroom. He'd been convinced that Karofsky was going to go through with... with what he was going to do, and strong as he was mentally, he wasn't sure that he'd have been able to deal with the aftermath at all well.

He thought about how he should have been totally embarrassed to have been naked from the waist down in front of the guys, and though that was true for Finn, Matt and Mike, he realised he didn't care that Puck had been there too. In fact, he thought pensively as he sat at his vanity table later that evening, although he'd been in a certain amount of shock, there had been a part of him that had been very pleased to have had Puck kneeling at his feet, his face level with his crotch. It had reminded him of what other things Puck could do in that position.

Although he was still a virgin, Kurt was, after all, a teenage boy. And thinking about Puck's blazing eyes, the muscles that corded on his arm when he'd drawn his fist back to punch Karofsky, the feel of his thighs when Kurt had sat on them that very afternoon – all of this served to make Kurt a little hot under the collar. He got into his pyjamas and slid under his blankets. Puck had clearly demonstrated his alpha male, dominant quality that afternoon, and God help him, but Kurt found that incredibly sexy. Casting a cautious look at the door to his basement to make fully sure that it was closed, Kurt slid a hand under the waistband of his pyjama pants.

It didn't take long. Just picturing Puck's face, with its chiselled cheekbones and blistering hazel eyes, the rippling abs on his stomach and the hard muscle tone of his thighs and arms... all these factors contributed to Kurt letting loose with a barely muted shriek as he gasped, 'Noah, Noah, Noah' over and over again.

After he'd cleaned himself up, Kurt dozed against the pillows. He was going to go into school tomorrow. Puck had said he was going to arrange a meeting with Figgins for just after classes had finished. Paul and Alex would be there, as well as Finn, Mike, Matt and Kurt. Together, Puck said, they were going to present their evidence against Karofsky and make sure he was finished for good at McKinley High. With any luck he would go to some Youth Offender centre. Puck had no doubt that Paul and Alex would be willing to collaborate with them on this. It seemed that Karofsky had pushed the torture a little too far, even for them. They knew Puck's reputation, and Puck was certain that with a little persuasion, they could be made to see how ratting out Karofsky would be helpful for them.

And he was going to get his cast off at the weekend, finally. At last he would be able to join in at Glee Club when they practiced dance routines.

Puck's POV

Puck was waiting at the school doors for Kurt when he finally arrived. At eight-twenty he saw Kurt's Dad's car pull up, and Kurt crossed the parking lot towards the school. He looked a little pale, but that was only to be expected, Puck thought.

He caught sight of Puck, and half-ran up the steps towards him.

'Hey, babe. Was your Dad alright about the bruises?' Puck had been worried that Kurt's Dad would have given him a hard time interrogating him about them, but Kurt shook his head.

'No, it was alright. I just told him that Glee rehearsal got a bit out of hand and I ended up falling over a chair. Luckily the concealer covered up most of it. I thank God every day for make-up.'

Puck rolled his eyes, but walked with Kurt as they entered the school.

'So, I'm going to set up the meeting for half-three. You'll be there? I'm gonna let all the rest of the guys know.'

It might have been Puck's imagination, but he was sure that Kurt turned a slight shade paler. He knew it was going to be tough for Kurt to relive the incident in the bathroom, especially with two of the almost-participants sitting right in the same room, but it was going to have to be done. Neither of them should have to live with looking over their backs constantly, just because they liked each other. However, a determined expression had affixed itself to Kurt's delicate features, and he nodded.

'Of course. Wouldn't miss it for the world.'

'Right, well, I'll see you at half-three then.' And with a wave of his hand, he disappeared into the crowd. He knew that Kurt would probably have been expecting at least a kiss goodbye, but he wanted to keep their relationship on the downlow until the next Glee practice. He'd taken note of what Finn had said, about letting the Glee Club know first, and thought that was probably a good idea. So he'd come up with a plan, a rather good plan if he was honest with himself, and he was sure Kurt would love it. Of course it involved singing – after all he would be doing it in Glee Club. They would expect nothing less.

3:30p.m.

Puck waited for Kurt outside Figgins' office. Finn, Mike and Matt were in there already, he'd managed to corner Paul and Alex in the locker rooms, and sure enough although understandably reluctant, they'd agreed to go and present their evidence against Karofsky. It was all coming together, Puck thought, a small smile on his lips. After a few minutes he saw Alex and Paul shuffling down the corridor, and the smile faded. With a curt nod he inclined his head at the office, and they walked past him to sit down. Within another minute he saw Kurt strutting towards him, head held high like always.

When the smaller boy reached him, he slipped an arm around his shoulders and walked with him into the office, sitting as close to him as possible in the chairs available. Figgins peered at the boys over his desk, his fingers steepled together, his eyes frowning.

'So, boys, what did you want to tell me?'

Taking a deep breath, and squeezing Kurt's hand, Puck began.

Twenty minutes later and it was all finished with. Figgins had listened to Puck's narrative, and had then turned to Kurt for confirmation, which Kurt had given in a quiet but determined tone. After establishing events, Figgins had turned his attention to Finn, Mike and Matt and asked them if they were willing to testify, to which they had all agreed. Paul and Alex were the last to come under the principal's fire. He accepted their story of how they had been against what Karofsky had been doing (which had been reluctantly backed up by Kurt) but had still assigned both of them detention for the rest of the month and had taken away their football privileges. Karofsky, he determined, was a matter for the police, and he would be ringing them first thing on Monday morning.

Kurt's POV

Monday Morning

Kurt had had a very relaxed weekend. Puck had insisted on accompanying him and his Dad to the hospital to get the cast removed. Before it had been taken off, Puck had drawn a gold pen from his pocket, and had written a new inscription to make up for the curt 'PUCK' that he'd inscribed earlier. Kurt had read the new message, and smiled warmly up at Puck in a way that had made the taller boy blush furiously.

Having the cast off his arm finally had felt weird. Kurt had flexed his arm experimentally, feeling nothing, no twinges of pain or even the slightest discomfort. His arm was weak after weeks of no use, and the doctors warned him to take it easy for at least another two weeks.

Throughout that weekend he had revelled in being able to do things with two hands again. He'd even run through what he remembered of the choreography from that week's Glee routine, and found to his delight that he knew virtually all of it.

However, there was one thing that was bothering him. Puck had made no mention of where they now stood with regard to the whole, 'letting the school know that they were dating' business.

And so it was that Kurt found himself nervously standing just inside the school entrance on Monday morning, anxiously awaiting Puck's arrival. He wanted to know if Puck had meant what he'd said in the bathroom, about wanting them to be a proper couple. Soon enough he saw the jock crossing the parking lot with Finn and Mike.

As Puck got in through the doors, Kurt tapped him on the shoulder.

'Noah? Can I speak to you for a moment?' Puck nodded at Finn and Mike to go on ahead, and followed Kurt to a secluded corner of the hallway.

'What's up, babe? Is the arm okay?'

'Yes, it's fine.' Kurt flicked his gaze up briefly to look at Puck, and then looked back down. 'I just wanted to talk to you about the... um... the things you said in the bathroom on Friday. About us being a proper couple.'

Puck rested a hand on Kurt's shoulder. 'Yeah about that, listen, babe, I've...'

Kurt could virtually hear the rejection, and he didn't think he could stand it. 'You haven't changed your mind? Goddamnit Noah, you can't do this to me! I thought you were serious... and here you are, backing out again...' He felt the treacherous tears pricking at his eyes, and just as they were about to start flowing he heard a very strange sound. Puck was laughing. No, more like chuckling. Furiously he glared up at the taller boy. Seeing his expression Puck reigned in the laughter and tried to school his expression into something more appropriate.

'I'm sorry, babe, I shouldn't have laughed... but you're such a little drama queen!' Kurt huffed, not knowing whether to be flattered or offended. 'If you'd let me finish my sentence, I was going to say that I haven't changed my mind at all, only that I'd like to wait until Thursday and Glee Club. I just think it would be a better idea to let the Glee Club know first. What d'you think?'

Kurt sniffled back a laugh. 'Oh God, I'm so sorry Noah. I just... I get paranoid sometimes, you know? I thought you were splitting up with me again. I mean, I still don't really understand why you're with me.'

'Why am I with you? God, have you even looked at yourself recently Kurt?' Just as the smaller boy opened his mouth to answer, Puck laughed. 'Stupid question. No, but I mean really? Do you know how gorgeous you are? Inside and out?'

Kurt flushed but muttered, 'my eyes are slightly wonky.'

'And beautiful. Listen, after Glee Club on Thursday, I want you to come over to mine. I want to introduce you to my Mom. As my boyfriend. Would that be okay?' Puck was slightly startled as he suddenly had an armful of Kurt, with the soprano's arms locked tightly around his neck.

'Thank you, Noah. That means a lot.'

'Sure. Now come on, sort yourself out. Figgins will probably want to see us both about the Karofsky business at some point today.'

Puck glanced around quickly, and then gave Kurt a little peck on the lips. 'See you later, babe.'

Kurt remained standing in the corner for a few minutes after Puck had left. He felt so happy he could burst. Puck hadn't changed his mind, they would come out to the Glee Club and afterwards he was going to meet Puck's mom. Then he could tell his Dad and soon the whole school would know... It was going to be hard keeping this from Mercedes, but Kurt always relished a challenge. She did know about pretty much everything that had gone on between them, apart from the incident in the bathroom, but Kurt didn't see that she had to know about that. And Puck seemed intent on keeping things quiet until Thursday.

Briefly combing his fingers through his hair and checking his reflection in the pocket mirror he always carried with him, Kurt strolled off down the corridors towards his first class. He honestly couldn't wait for Thursday.

His first class was with Mercedes. Gracefully he folded himself into his seat. Mercedes glanced at him.

'What's got you so happy white boy?'

Kurt wanted to tell her everything so badly he felt the words rising to his lips, but managed to swallow them down with a huge effort. 'Well, the cast is finally off. Hopefully my cleansing routine won't take me an hour and a half from now on. Why shouldn't I be happy?'

Mercedes frowned at him, examining his face for a while.

'You sure?'

Damn. Why did she always seem to have this intuition for whenever he wasn't telling her something? Still, he smiled casually at her.

'Of course I'm sure.'

She continued staring at him for a couple of seconds, then shrugged her shoulders and turned to face the front.

Thursday Afternoon – Glee Club

Kurt struggled not to run straight to the music room after his first class, and instead forced himself to walk normally with Mercedes, Tina and Artie. There was a tiny part of him that was convinced that Puck would bottle out at the last minute, and warned him not to get his hopes up. But he squashed that little voice down forcefully. Puck wouldn't let him down. Not this time.

The boy in question sauntered into the classroom last, his gaze connected with Kurt for a split second and he winked. Kurt felt the inevitable blush rise almost immediately. Any contact with Puck, whether it be verbal, silent or physical always caused the same reaction in him. A slight tingling down his arms and torso, which almost had him squirming in his seat. Puck flung himself down into a chair at the other end of the room, next to Finn. Kurt, still looking over at him, saw Finn lean across and whisper something in Puck's ear. Puck nodded at him, glanced at Kurt again briefly, and then turned his eyes to the door as Mr Schuester entered.

Kurt found it incredibly difficult to focus on the routine they were practising. Every nerve in his body was tensed, wondering when Puck would see fit to reveal to the Gleeks that they were going out.

That's if he does at all, and he hasn't had second thoughts.

Kurt resolutely ignored the little voice.

Towards the end of the class, when they'd finally put the finishing touches to the routine, Puck raised his hand in the air. Kurt felt his heart fly into his mouth. This was it. Puck was going to announce to everyone that they were a couple.

Mr Schuester seemed a little surprised to see Puck's hand in the air, but nodded his head towards him.

'Yes, Puck? Did you want to say something?'

'Actually, Mr Schue, I've kinda been working on something that I wanted to try out, if that's cool with you?'

Kurt was confused. He wasn't just going to come over and kiss him or something? He was actually going to sing? He noticed that many of the Gleeks seemed to share his bewilderment. Puck had never volunteered to do anything solo apart from the time he'd sung 'Sweet Caroline' to Rachel.

Mr Schuester shrugged and sat down in a spare chair at the side of the room. 'Of course, go ahead.'

Puck got up from his chair and moved to the front of the classroom so he was facing all of them.

'I'd like to dedicate this song to someone very special in my life. They know who they are.' He nodded to the band, who had clearly been prepped beforehand, as they launched into the opening bars with no hesitation.

'Come stop your crying

It will be alright

Just take my hand

Hold it tight

I will protect you from all around you

I will be here

Don't you cry'

Although he was still standing apart from them all that the front of the room, there could be no doubt as to who he was singing to. His eyes were locked on Kurt's face, and Kurt felt the emotion rising inside him.

'For one so small

You seem so strong

My arms will hold you

Keep you safe and warm

This bond between us

Can't be broken

I will be here

Don't you cry'

Well, it was all very well him saying that, Kurt thought. He was having a really hard time holding the tears inside. Mercedes was staring at Puck and then Kurt alternately, her mouth wide open. The rest of the club seemed too shocked to do anything apart from stare.

'Cause you'll be in my heart

Yes you'll be in my heart

From this day on

Now and forever more

You'll be in my heart

No matter what they say

You'll be here in my heart

Always'

As Puck approached the next verse he moved forward, and took Kurt's hand, dragging him up and wrapping his arms around him.

'Why can't they understand

The way we feel?

They just don't trust

What they can't explain

I know we're different but

Deep inside us

We're not that different at all'

Kurt didn't bother to hold the tears at bay any longer. They flowed freely down his cheeks as he felt Puck's strong arms holding him close. He no longer knew how any of the Gleeks were reacting, they had faded into nothing, it was just himself and Puck.

'And you'll be in my heart

Yes you'll be in my heart

From this day on

Now and forever more

Don't listen to them

'Cause what do they know?

We need each other

To have to hold

They'll see in time

I know'

Puck spun Kurt around in a slow circle before bringing him back in close against his chest.

'When destiny calls you

You must be strong

I may not be with you

But you've got to hold on

They'll see in time

I know

We'll show them together

'Cause you'll be in my heart

Yes you'll be in my heart

From this day on

Now and forever more

Oh you'll be in my heart

No matter what they say

You'll be in my heart, always

Always'

As the song drew to a close, Puck spun Kurt so that he was facing him, wrapped both arms tightly around his waist, leant down and kissed Kurt so passionately that he felt he might actually faint. His knees were shaking slightly and his entire body was aflame with the feelings that Puck's kisses were evoking.

They were only brought back to the world of reality when a storm of cheering and clapping broke into their consciousness as the rest of the Glee Club finally seemed to have caught up to what exactly had happened.

As they parted, Kurt cautiously peered around at the reactions. Mercedes and Tina were crying freely, the tears streaming down their cheeks. Brittany and Santana were staring at each other adoringly, Finn, Mike, Matt and Artie were whistling, Mr Schuester still appeared to be in shock. Quinn and Rachel seemed frozen in place.

Kurt squeaked as he was knocked out of Puck's arms and landed on the floor as Mercedes and Tina both flung themselves at him in a passionate hug. Puck had disappeared amid a lot of high-fiving and back-slapping from the guys. Mr Schuester had finally regained his senses and was clapping slowly. Eventually he stood up.

'Okay guys! GUYS! Come on, everyone back to their seats.'

Once a modicum of order had been restored, with Kurt perched on Puck's lap, the bigger boy having rescued him from Mercedes and Tina, Mr Schuester smiled warmly at Puck.

'Thank you, Puck, for that impassioned performance. But if we could get back to discussing Regionals, please?'

As the discussion moved onto the numbers they were planning on performing, Puck leaned down and kissed Kurt gently.

'I love you,' he murmured.

So, that's it for the ending part one! Part two should be coming soon, whenever I get a chance to write it! I'd love to know what you think about a) the song choice (seemed perfect to me) and also the chapter as a whole. So review, please? Karofsky's comeuppance will be revealed next chapter so don't worry! xxx