Hello everyone! Sorry for the wait. Enjoy!

Chapter 14

A week passed and Rachel tried as hard as she could to avoid Puck at school. She still wasn't sure what she wanted to do and seeing him wouldn't help her figure it out. After school, she went to Emma's office to visit.

When she walked in, Emma looked at her and smiled. "Rachel, I wasn't expecting you."

"I know, I just wanted to stop by. Is this a bad time?"

"Not at all, you know I always have time for you. Have a seat." Rachel sat down and when Emma noticed her expression, she frowned. "Is everything alright?"

"Not really."

"Is it Hiram and Leroy? Did something happen?"

She quickly shook her head. "No nothing happened with them. Actually everything's great with them."

"That's good. So what's going on?"

Rachel hesitated before continuing. "Look we both know I don't have a mother to go to about these kind of things and while I love having two dads now, that doesn't mean that they're experts on all things teenage girl so I need a woman to talk to."

Emma raised her eyebrows in shock. Rachel was never the type to openly sit down and talk so it was surprising that she would want to do it now. "Um sure what do you want to talk about?"

"So there's this guy. We kind of dated but then I found out that the only reason he dated me was for a bet he made with his friends."

"That's horrible."

"Yeah but now he's saying that he fell in love with me and wants to be in a real relationship. But after he lied since he asked me out, how am I supposed to trust what he's saying?"

"Wow this is a tricky situation. How do you feel about him?"

Rachel shrugged. "I mean, I like him. We had a lot of fun when we dated and I actually felt like I could trust him enough to tell him about my life. I thought he was a pretty great guy until I found out he played me."

"Well maybe he did it for a reason, did you ever think about that?"

"No."

"Why don't you try to understand why he accepted the bet in the first place? If it was something he did with his friends, maybe they pressured him into it."

"But he still shouldn't have accepted. How could anyone be so cruel to do that to another person? Who would be okay accepting that kind of bet?"

Emma gave a sad smile. "Not everyone is as strong as you are, Rachel. Some people don't know how to stick up for themselves or speak up when something is being done that they know is wrong. Sometimes you have to be patient and try to work with them but that's entirely up to you."

Rachel sighed and nodded before the phone rang and Emma answered it. She didn't know if she wanted to work with Puck after he did this but she also didn't know if she was ready to walk away from him. She just felt stuck.

When she got home later that day, Rachel sat down at dinner with Hiram and Leroy.

"Rachel how are rehearsals for the showcase coming?" Hiram asked.

She shrugged. "Okay I guess. I think I have a chance of winning."

"You think?" Leroy raised an eyebrow.

"Well the song's pretty easy and there's nothing big about it. It's just simple so I may not win."

"Why not pick a more challenging song?" Hiram asked.

"I don't know any other challenging songs. And the one song they think I'd win with is the one that I don't want to do."

"Why not?" Leroy asked.

She sighed. "It was a song I used to sing with my mom." Hiram and Leroy looked at each other and frowned. "It just doesn't feel right singing it."

"Rachel I'm sure she wouldn't be upset about you singing a song that meant a lot to you two," Leroy told her.

"Can we talk about something else?" she insisted.

The two men hesitantly nodded and changed the subject.

"Well my parents are coming to the showcase," Hiram told her. "They said they wouldn't miss this for the world."

"That's great," she smiled.

As they talked, Rachel looked at both of them. For years she had been wondering when she would get a family who cared about her and now she was finally getting one. But for some reason she couldn't stop thinking about her mother. How would she feel about people finally taking over that parenting role permanently?

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Puck sighed as he sat at Finn's house watching him and Mike play video games. He couldn't get Rachel out of his head and the fact that she was avoiding him made it worse. He knew he screwed up but he had no idea how to fix it.

Finn glanced at him. "Still thinking about Rachel?" When Puck didn't respond, he sighed. "Dude why don't you just do something to win her back?"

"Like what? I went to her house to beg for forgiveness and she said she needed time so I'm trying to give it to her. I don't know what else to do."

"Well you got rid of Sam which was a good first step," Mike said. "Now you just have to think of some kind of grand gesture like in those movies."

"I'm not really the romantic gesture type of guy."

"You want Rachel back then you need to start being that guy."

"Isn't the showcase coming up?" Finn asked.

"Yeah why?" Puck asked.

"I'm sure she wouldn't be expecting you to show up. Maybe if you go and give her some words of encouragement, you'll show her you're serious about not giving up and she'll take you back."

Puck thought about this. Maybe it would work. If Rachel saw that he really did care about her and have feelings for her, she'd forgive him for everything. "I guess it's worth a shot."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The night of the showcase came and Rachel stood backstage watching Tina pace back and forth as Quinn was onstage singing.

"Tina I'm going to tie you to a chair if you do not stop pacing," she told her.

Tina sighed. "Sorry I just get nervous performing in front of people. Plus I really want to take down Quinn and I don't know if I'll be able to."

Rachel put her hands on Tina's shoulders. "Look, you've been rehearsing for months. You got this. One of us is going to win this and take that bitch down. Now relax."

She sighed and nodded before going over to the piano to warm up. Rachel peeked into the audience and found Hiram and Leroy sitting with Buddy and Sharon. She smiled to herself, happy that she had people supporting her.

As she looked at the rest of the audience while Tina performed, Rachel froze when she saw her mother standing in the back. She blinked and sighed when she saw that her mom was gone. She couldn't stop thinking about her and now she was seeing her everywhere.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and jumped before turning around to see Puck. She sighed in relief. "Oh it's you."

"Sorry I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to wish you good luck before you went on." When he noticed she was flustered, he frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing I just…I keep thinking about my mom and now I'm seeing her everywhere. I think I've gone crazy."

"You're not crazy. Have you been thinking about the song?"

She nodded. "Yeah all the time now."

"Then maybe that's a sign that says you need to sing it."

"Absolutely not. No I can't."

Puck took her by the shoulders and stared into her eyes. "Rachel you can do this. Your mom would've wanted you to do this, maybe that's why you keep seeing her everywhere. She's showing you that she's here for you and that she loves you. Look, I know you feel guilty about her dying but remember this is the song to show how much she loved you and wanted to take care of you. Do it for her. Sing to her."

She stared at him. Even though she wasn't sure about this, she knew deep down she missed the song just as much as she missed her mom. It was part of her and there was no way that she could ignore that.

She hesitantly nodded before Puck kissed her forehead. Even though she wasn't sure if she wanted him back, Rachel couldn't deny that it felt nice to feel Puck's lips again.

When Quinn walked by, she frowned at the couple. "Taking back a guy who only got with you for a bet. You must be desperate."

Before Rachel could say anything, Puck spoke up. "Quinn you sounded a little sharp. Maybe fucking Sam all night last night wasn't a good idea because now you look like the desperate one."

Without another word, Quinn glared at him before walking away. Rachel looked at Puck. "Her and Sam?"

"Yeah. Don't worry, I'm fine. They deserve each other."

"Rachel you're up," Artie said.

Puck gave her an encouraging smile. "Break a leg."

She smiled back before following Artie. When she walked on stage, Rachel couldn't believe how bright the lights were. She hoped she could see her dads and future grandparents but she couldn't. She walked over to the pianist and told them the change in song before going back to the microphone. As she stood there, she took a deep breath before singing.

Kiss today goodbye
The sweetness and the sorrow.
Wish me luck, the same to you.
But I can't regret
What I did for love, what I did for love.

Mr. Schuester and Artie looked at each other in shock and confusion. Rachel had been so against that song, why was she singing it now?

Look my eyes are dry.
The gift was ours to borrow.
It's as if we always knew,
And I won't forget what I did for love,
What I did for love.

As she got into the song Rachel felt tears in her eyes, thinking about her mom. All those memories of them being in the house, playing the song on the piano or watching the movie.

Gone,
Love is never gone.
As we travel on,
Love's what we'll remember.

Kiss today goodbye
And point me toward tomorrow
Oh we did what we had to do
Ohhhh

Won't forget, can't regret
What I did for love

[3x]

Puck smiled from the wings. He was so proud of her for doing this song. Even if she didn't take him back after all of this, he was glad that he showed up to be there for her when she did this.

Love is never gone
As we travel on
Love's what we'll remember

Kiss today goodbye
And point me toward tomorrow.
We did what we had to do.
Won't forget, can't regret
What I did for
Love
What I did for
Love
What I did for...
Love

The crowd roared in applause immediately when it was over. Rachel took a small bow before rushing backstage and falling into Puck's arms as she cried.

"You did it Rach. You were great. Amazing actually," he told her.

"I just wanted to break down then and there."

"But you didn't. You're strong Rachel and you proved it tonight. No matter what the outcome is, you sang from your heart and you sang for your mom. No one can take that away from you."

She looked up at him. "Do you think she'd be proud?"

"Are you kidding? She'd be floored with that performance. I was."

Rachel smiled as Puck wiped her eyes. When the showcase ended, Artie and Mr. Schuester went out on stage.

"All of the talent tonight was amazing," Mr. Schuester said.

"But unfortunately there can only be one winner," Artie followed.

"And the winner is…Miss Rachel Corcoran!"

Everyone applauded as Rachel went to receive her trophy and gift certificate. Puck watched from backstage with nothing but pride. He knew she would win and he thought it was great that she won with a song that meant so much to her. When everything started calming down, she went to Hiram and Leroy who immediately hugged her.

"Rachel we are so happy for you," Leroy said.

"You were extraordinary," Hiram followed.

"Thank you both."

"Rachel," Mr. Schuester said, walking up to her. She looked at him. "This is our special guest judge, Carmen Tibideaux. She's the dean of New York Academy of Dramatic Arts."

"NYADA? Wow it's nice to meet you Miss Tibideaux," Rachel said, shaking her hand.

"Likewise. I enjoyed your performance. You have some real talent."

"Thank you so much."

"Have you thought about pursuing acting or singing?"

She shook her head. "No I never really thought about my future that much."

"Well I have to say you have the kind of talent we look for in our students at NYADA. I know you are only a junior but I strongly encourage you to think of NYADA as a college option. You have a likely chance of getting in."

Rachel raised her eyebrows. "Seriously? Me?"

Carmen nodded. "I have a good memory so I will most likely remember you. As long as your audition is as amazing as the performance you just gave, I'll be eager to accept you, Miss Corcoran."

"Um, actually it's going to be changed to Berry," she smiled, looking at Hiram and Leroy. "I'm getting adopted."

"Miss Berry then. I look forward to seeing you again in two years."

"Thank you so much, I look forward to auditioning for you," she smiled before Carmen walked away. She couldn't believe that just happened. She never thought she'd be the type to even go to college, now someone was offering her acceptance. And she might have a future as a performer.

She hugged Hiram and Leroy and Buddy and Sharon before pulling away and looking for Puck. When she couldn't find him, she pulled Tina to the side.

"Hey have you seen Puck?"

She nodded. "Yeah he said his mom called him and needed him home but he wanted me to tell you he said congratulations and he's really proud of you. No matter what your decision is."

Rachel sighed. He was there when she needed him. Maybe she should forgive him. Puck was clearly sorry for what he did and maybe he meant it when he said he really did have feelings for her.

There may be one or two more chapters, depending on what I come up with. Let me know your thoughts! Bye for now :)