Author's Note: I feel like I should be apologizing for the previous chapter, all of you wrote you were sad in your reviews, sorry but I'm sticking to canon I found it more fun and interesting!

I need to clear something I should have done chapters ago: There's no Finchel wedding or Quinn's car accident in this story, because no, it was the stupidest storyline of the whole show so far.

This chapter happens after Yes/No and does a time jump to Choke, I decided to do it because it would be too boring to write and read a chapter for each episode we didn't see Shelby, and also because we didn't have that much about Puck until the end of the season and it became helpful because it was easy to relate that with this fic.

Sorry for the lack of Shuck in this chapter but there's a reason for that, have faith in me it will turn out to be good at the end!

Thank you BadassMotherShucker94 for helping me even though you were extremely tired, I hope it helped a little bit. Oh and you are my hero for sticking around, thought you should know that.

Chapter XXI

After Shelby and Beth left for New York, she and Puck remained in contact in the beginning, but that only made everything harder and more painful for them. Eventually the work excuses started to appear with more frequency and the "I love you's" became silent. Everything returned to the basics; emails of Beth, and for Noah the hope of a reunion for graduation.

Days had passed, days became weeks and eventually everything turned back to normal. School started again and with the Holidays now behind them, the routine of McKinley was back on track.

For Puck the worst part was listening to everyone talking about their plans for the last months left of high school: Prom, senior skip day, Regionals, Nationals. All those ideas just seemed to pass around his head, because he didn't truly cared about any of it. Noah learned to pretend he was interested, just so he didn't have to listen to someone giving him a useless motivational speech. He also resigned from his job at Shelby's building; he would miss the pay of course, but working there knowing he wouldn't be able to go to see them after was pointless.

Without football he wasn't obligated to stay at school after classes unless Mr. Schue ordered the contrary. Noah somehow became invisible, and did his best to not catch anyone's attention.

The problem with Noah's plan was that eventually it was going to turn its back on him, and somebody would become worried about him. One afternoon Brittany and Santana skipped cheerleading practice and showed up at his front door. He was wearing sweatpants and an old P.E. T-shirt; Santana immediately thought about the episode of F.R.I.E.N.D.S when Chandler was so depressed about a breakup that he didn't leave his house for days.

She sighed deeply; this was what she had been worried about ever since Puck and Shelby started to date. "We brought junk food and movies," she said.

He opened his mouth to protest but Brittany interrupted him. "We're here to start an intervention."

Puck rolled his eyes and let them in. They settled everything in the living room, and he grabbed a bag of chips and started to eat them. Santana gave him a worried look, but she tried to hide it the best way she could. She didn't want him to close himself off any more. Brittany was the first to join Puck on the couch. She rested her head on his shoulder, and a smile appeared on Noah's face, but that only lasted a few seconds and a frown replaced it.

"Oh no, I am not watching a chick's movie!" he protested.

"Is the best way of getting through this trust me," Santana assured him as she sat down on the other side of him.

He watched the movie and actually took the time to pay attention to the story, instead of just thinking about how hot the actress was. The movie was about a couple that actually started out as friends and how much they had changed over the years, but somehow they found a way to see each other on the anniversary of the day they met. Sometimes he was in a relationship, other times she was. One year he was broke, and a few later he started a small but successful cooking business. She became a teacher, but she also wrote a best seller. They were there for the other in the good and the bad moments and it took them twenty years to be officially together, but once they did it those were the best years of their lives.

Santana had chosen that movie on purpose to show him that just because he had said goodbye to Beth and Shelby for now, it didn't mean it was over for good.

"I missed them so much" he suddenly said during a scene of the main character with his daughter. Brittany pulled him into a hug; she was more comfortable consoling people than Santana was.

"We know you do, but you have to have to get yourself together. Shelby would hate to see you like this; you are not the Noah she felt in love with," Santana told him.

"You are more like a sad zombie," added Brittany, still hugging him.

"These are our last months together, after graduation everybody is heading to different places, nothing will ever be the same. You shouldn't miss it," stated Santana.

Puck nodded, felling bad for worrying his friends. He smiled sadly. "You guys are right, this is not me."

Santana stood up and put a second movie in the DVD player. "Don't think we're over with this intervention, you're letting everything out today, so tomorrow you can have a fresh start."

Noah wasn't going to admit it but he enjoyed the movies; he laughed during the funny parts and occasionally sniffed during some of the sad moments. He talked, a lot actually, he told them about when he said goodbye to his girls, and how he felt devastated. He mentioned Jesse, and explained how supportive he had been over the past weeks.

Santana and Brittany listened, and hardly talked, it was an unusual breakup and they didn't want to give him false hope, nevertheless crush him even more.

In the end it was Puck's decision he was at a crossroad, and he had two options: he could stay miserable, or he could find the strength to start over. He chose the second option because of what Santana had said to him; Shelby wouldn't let or want him to be in that state.

February was about to end and Finn and the rest of the Glee kids, minus Puck because he was at his house talking with the San Jose State recruiter were having an emergency meeting in the choir room. "Well I think you all know why I organized this meeting?"

Everyone stayed quiet with confused expressions.

"We all know that Puck has been a little down ever since Ms. Corcoran and Beth left Lima and I don't see the point of pretending we don't know about this, so if by this time you still haven't noticed it Puck and Shelby were together while she was here,"

A few of them turned their faces to see Rachel's hoping to see some kind of scene but the girl just shrugged and smile. "Yes everybody I knew about them and I was fine with it."

"The thing is!" continued Finn raising his voice a little, "I'm worried," he looked at his girlfriend, "We're worried because he stopped caring about his grades and we don't want him to lose his chance to graduate or his scholarship offer in California. I was thinking we could start our own study group, I could actually use some help too," he chuckled. "What do you say?"

"I could help with math and chemistry," offered Mike.

Finn smiled. "That would be great. Rachel, Kurt I know you guys are busy with your NYADA auditions but could you, I don't know, take turns to help us with English?"

"I don't see why we couldn't," replied Kurt before looking at his friend. "Rachel?"

"I promised my mom I wouldn't let Noah fail so I will help as much as I can," nodded Rachel.

Seeing all the excitement Finn's new idea had caused, and even though she wasn't pleased with the idea of helping Finn, she did want to help Puck, so Santana joined in "Count me in, I'll help with Spanish," she held Brittany's hand, "Besides Britt could use some help with her classes too."

"If there's anything left count me in too," said Quinn smiling. "I really did a lot of crap stuff to him when Shelby was here, this is the least I could do."

Finn nodded with pride. "It's a plan then, we're going to leave this place together, no one gets left behind!"

Meanwhile in the Puckerman household Chris was back in town to clarify some of the doubts Noah and his mother could have regarding the scholarship. To Deborah's surprise, for the first time in weeks her son was actually wearing a genuine smile on his face, and was truly interested in the conversation they were having. She couldn't be more relieved because for a while she thought Noah would be depressed until graduation.

"So tell me guys what questions do you have?" started Chris with a really enthusiastic tone.

"My main concern is what's going to happen with Noah if unfortunately he gets injured," asked Deborah.

Chris nodded. "That's what parents always ask me. If that happens we will still pay his tuition until he finishes his studies, but under the condition that he keeps the same GPA he would have if he was still playing."

Noah nervously ran his hands through his Mohawk. "Do you um, remember what I asked you over the phone the other day?"

Chris looked a little disappointed for a minute. "I do, but I need to know why are you so determined to leave California? You haven't even started to go there."

That question made Mrs. Puckerman give Noah a deathly stare; asking those types of things could make a recruiter feel very offended. "Let me guess, New York right?"

"He made it really clear," admitted Chris as he pulled a few pamphlets out of his briefcase. "We don't want to keep you in San Jose if that makes you unhappy, because eventually it will affect the way you play."

"However, switching schools sounds a lot easier than it actually is. You have to stay with us for at least a year before asking for a change and you can only go to a university with a team on the same division as the Spartans. Second, if you don't play with the us, San Jose State won't cover your tuition and the rest of the expenses of a full scholarship," he paused and handed the pamphlets to them. "And lastly if the coach of the team doesn't want you to leave, you can't do it unless you fail at your classes and we kick you out of the team, and with that record it would be hard for you to be accepted in other university."

Noah nodded with a defeated expression, as he looked at the information Chris had given him. "Then why are you giving me a pamphlet for the University of Syracuse?" he asked confused.

"Look Noah you're a good kid and you obviously have personal reasons for wanting to go to New York. Like I said, we don't want you to stay in San Jose if that makes you unhappy, so I would help you to write the letter to the NCAA and talk to the coach of the Spartans and of the Syracuse team," he gave Noah a serious look, whose face was starting to light up. "But only, and I mean only, if you keep good grades, good relationships with the team and the coach and if by the time the season is over you still want to go."

He nodded happily and shook Chris' hand. "I give you my word, that I'll do all that."

"But Noah I can't promise you that Syracuse will offer you a scholarship like we did, so think properly before rushing into decisions," explained Chris.

After Chris left Deborah sat down across from Noah and sighed, obviously worried. "I know these past few weeks have been hard for you, but I don't want you to waste a great opportunity you deserve."

"Mom, I understand, I really do but I love them, I need to be there for them."

She shook her head. "Noah right now, today you think that's what you need, but you don't know if you'll change your mind once you start college, you might get over her."

"I won't!" snapped Puck hitting the table. "You don't get it, you weren't there when I watched them leave," he lowered his gaze. "You didn't see Beth crying calling me, it broke my heart but it also made me see that even as little as she is she thought of me as her daddy. I don't want that to change, I don't want to be a stranger to her." He paused, "This is not only about Shelby because I know she might meet some other guy over there and forgets me, this is about my daughter."

Deborah didn't answer; she just kept looking at him proudly. "I promise I won't leave San Jose unless I have the same offer in New York, are you okay with that?"

She nodded. "It works for me."

Shelby was looking at some photos she had just received on her cellphone. They were having a break during the rehearsals of the workshop and it was the perfect time to look at them. Unlike Noah she hadn't had the time to feel sad about their breakup. She focused all her attention on Beth and her new job, but even though that kept her mind really busy, they were moments when she missed him a lot. Especially at night after Beth was asleep, since those were their moments together when they could focus all their attention on the other.

She missed the way he held her, and how he made her feel safe. She missed listening to him singing to Beth at night, she missed their Q&A game, everything seemed so lonely without Noah around, and she missed the little family they had.

Beth missed him too. Occasionally the little girl asked for her dadda, and although Noah had been calling her a few times per week, and even sang to her, it didn't seem to be enough for the toddler.

"Oh those are really cute pictures," commented Tom sitting down next to Shelby. "Who sent them, Rachel?"

Shelby nodded. "She doesn't want me to miss any important moments of her senior year."

He took a sip of his coffee and smiled. "They look like they're having fun," he looked at Noah in one of the pictures. "Even Noah, despite you know, everything."

"I'm glad he's having fun, he deserves to," she admitted sadly.

Tom reached out for her hand. "Hey, I'm pretty sure he misses you everyday but if he has people as pushy as Rachel around I doubt they let them be depressed all the time."

Shelby laughed and kept passing the pictures on her screen. Julia stopped behind them and looked at the phone: it was a picture of Rachel helping to paint some of the things for their senior prom. "Wow are we that close to prom? Leo hasn't mentioned anything."

"It's still a couple of weeks from now, but I think Rachel is giving us the inside scoops," explained Tom. "So are they doing a dinosaur theme prom? That's unusual."

Shelby smiled at the image of Noah looking handsome wearing a suit and a tie. "What can I say; the senior class president is something special." She looked at her screen and realized she had a text from her daughter:

"He misses you, but he's working hard to pass all his finals. Don't worry we're not letting him have any time to be sad while he's with us. I think I finally have the perfect song for my audition I'll call you tonight to tell you everything! Say hi to Tom and Julia for me!"

Later in the night as she expected Shelby received a call from Rachel. "You're a little later tonight Rach," said Shelby, looking at her clock on the nightstand.

"My night routine took me a little longer tonight," explained Rachel. "How are you today?" Ever since Shelby had left Rachel constantly asked her how she was; she was worried her mom could be working too much just because she didn't want to talk about how she felt.

"I'm okay, the exact same as two days ago when we last talked, you're worrying too much," replied Shelby.

"I'm worrying enough mom, I've seen Noah, he's better now, but he needed an intervention to get there, and sometimes he still looks sad," refuted Rachel.

"I don't have the time to cry about what happened," stated Shelby. "I miss him, yes, but I need to stay focused, now tell me about your audition."

Noah started to get into the rhythm of school again. He still missed Shelby and Beth, but he understood that looking miserable wasn't going to make them return, but graduating will. So he focused his attention on the new study group Finn and the others created and studied, made his assignments and began to pass his tests. He was feeling happy and proud of himself, but somehow he could sense everything was too good to be true, he was actually waiting for a moment when everything would be fucked up again, and it happened.

One afternoon he was heading home early from school, as soon as he arrived he spotted Hannah sitting down at the entrance. She looked sad, but mostly scared. Puck walked up to her and sat down by her side.

"Hey Han, did you forget your keys again?" he asked smiling.

She looked at him straight in the eyes. "He's here."

Noah sighed deeply and clenched his hands into fists. He turned to face his sister and gave her a comforting smile. "Please control yourself, I don't want you to get in serious trouble," pleaded Hannah.

He got up and squeezed her shoulder. "I won't do anything crazy," he promised. "But stay outside, you don't need to hear what I'm going to say."

Inside Noah walked into the kitchen and saw his mom talking to his father. He looked the same maybe just a little bit older, and it made sense since it had been about ten years since the last time Noah saw him. Deborah, despite looking obviously upset, seemed calm, but Noah wasn't. He entered to the room and didn't even bother to sit down.

"Why are you here?" he asked trying really hard not to yell.

His father analyzed how Noah looked, and immediately saw that he had change; he wasn't the same kid he left years before. "You look good."

"I know, mom did a great job raising us," he affirmed, which caused Deborah to smile.

"Matt just needs some help kiddo, that's all," explained Deborah with a calm tone.

Noah laughed sarcastically. "Well I'm sorry but he wasn't here when we needed him, he doesn't deserve our help."

"I know that, trust me this is not easy for me either," admitted Matt ashamed.

Noah grunted and rolled his eyes; he just wanted the guy to leave his house. "Look man how much money do you need?"

"How much can you lend me?"

Noah laughed again as he made his way to his bedroom and grabbed his year's saving, which he had been planning to use to go and see Beth and Shelby over the summer. "Here's a little bit more than 500 bucks," he said throwing the pack of money on the table.

"Noah don't," ordered Deborah, but he stopped her.

"It's okay he can have it, unlike him I don't let my family down," stated Noah.

Matthew picked up the money and stowed it away in his jacket. "Thanks Noah, I will come back and pay you."

"Don't lie to us, we know you won't return," snapped Puck.

Matt got up from the table and started to leave but Noah called him back one last time. "You know? I'm glad you decided to show up today, because I can tell you something now," he smiled. "I'm not going to be like you, I'm going to graduate from High School, and go to college. Actually, I have a football scholarship, but the most important thing is I will always be around for my daughter and her mom."

"I'm proud to hear that in a way, I actually kinda helped you realized that by not being here," said Matt as he walked to the front door.

"Use the back door, I don't want Hannah to see you leave again, it's enough for me and mom," ordered Noah.

As soon as Noah and his mother were alone again he spoke one more time:

"I have to go to school, Rachel's audition is in a while and I want to film it for Shelby. I just came to eat something, but I lost my appetite, will you be okay if I leave for a while?"

She nodded. "Of course I will, go and show Rachel your support."

He gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I'm proud of you Noah," she told him.

"Mom!" he whined before running outside smiling.

"Rachel calm down, you've been practicing this song since you were 3, you know it and there's nothing to be afraid of," Shelby assured her daughter.

"What if I forget the lyrics? Or even worse what if I choke?" she continued panicking.

"Honey, breathe," ordered Shelby, feeling bad she couldn't be there to help her in person. "Nothing bad will happen, you are my daughter, and you have my talent and determination. If you believe in yourself half as much as me and everyone else out there does then you'll be fine."

Rachel didn't answer, she kept gasping for air attempting to compose herself. "You've sung in front of crowds of people before, this is nothing compared to that."

Rachel nodded. "Yes, you're right mom, I can do this. Thank you, I love you mom."

"I love you more sweetie, everything will be fine now go and call me as soon as you can," begged Shelby.

When Puck arrived at the auditorium he spotted a familiar head in one of the seats. He approached him and smiled, a little surprised. "What are you doing here?" whispered Noah.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," replied Jesse, smiling. He laughed and realized Noah brought a camera too. "Great minds think alike," he commented showing his camera.

Puck chuckled and sat down next to him. He noticed how Jesse looked nervous, like it was him who was about to audition, which made Noah wonder.

"Jesse, do you still…?" he began, but didn't get the chance to finish his question because Rachel came out to the stage.

Jesse's face lit up and he shushed Noah. "It's about to start, stay quiet."

Shelby was having a coffee with her co-workers when her cellphone started to buzz. She looked at the screen confused. "I just received a video," she said.

When she hit played her eyes widened; it was Noah and Jesse. They were smiling madly. "Hey we shouldn't be filming this but what the hell you deserve to watch it too!" said Jesse as he focused the camera on the stage where Rachel was standing.

"My name is Rachel Berry and I'm going to sing Don't Rain On My Parade from my favorite musical Funny Girl."

Shelby felt tears forming in her eyes as she watched how her daughter killed her audition. She was singing with all the passion she had, and it reminded Shelby of herself when she was younger. She laughed when she saw Noah and Jesse doing a high five and giving her a thumbs up through the camera.

"What a voice!" commented Tom.

"I know, we'll be casting her in no time," added Julia smirking.

Derek, the director of the play, shrugged. "She still needs some polish though, but she's definitely a star."

Shelby wiped some happy tears from her eyes and watched the end of the audition.

"That was truly impressive Miss Berry." She looked down at the phone and saw Rachel and Kurt, standing on the stage, holding hands. "I have a really hard decision to make, those were two very different, but also very powerful auditions, you should be proud of yourselves," stated Carmen Tibideaux.

As the video ended, Shelby grabbed her phone and called her daughter, who immediately answered.

"I did it! It was perfect mom you would have been so proud," shrieked Rachel, the adrenaline obviously still pumping.

Shelby smiled. "I knew you could do it, you are a real star."

"We still don't know who'll be accepted though," continued Rachel.

"That's why you have your backup options, the important thing is that you did your best in your audition, whatever happens next is out of your hands," reminded Shelby with a comforting tone; she knew Rachel would get into NYADA, but she didn't want the girl to be too confident.

Rachel finished the call quickly. She assured her mother they would talk later but she was going to celebrate with her friends. Shelby took the time to make a second call, she hesitated for a second before dialing but she wanted to hear his voice.

"Hey," answered Noah smiling slightly.

Shelby ran her hands through her hair, feeling happy to hear his voice again.

"Thanks for the video."

"No problem, we knew you'd enjoy it," he laughed. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes, I just miss you," she admitted sadly.

Noah adjusted himself in the auditorium chair. "I'm here let's talk just like we used to, tell me how's your new job treating you, and should I be worried about any guys?"

Hope you liked my version of Choke, it was the episode when I thought we needed Shelby the most!

Please, please leave reviews, it only takes a few seconds and it'll mean the world to me!

Next Chapter you'll see more Shelby/Rachel interactions and a little bit of Shuck before their reunion for graduation!

Take care, and have a nice week!