A/N Thanks to everyone who has reviewed :D I know I always forget to put this here because I reply to all of my reviews, but thank you again :D

Disclaimer: You know the drill....

Chapter 21 Mending Fences?

"Finn! Hi" Rachel greeted awkwardly at the tall jock on her doorstep, trying to ignore everyone listening in from the living room.

"Hey Rach" Finn greeted "I wanted to come over and say sorry"

"Um ok, I must admit I don't understand why you have been so distant with me lately; I thought you understood that I have been going through a difficult time and that you were my friend"

"I know I'm really sorry" Finn told her "I've been acting like a douche; I should have been there for you I'm really sorry Rach"

Rachel smiled at the uncomfortable boy in front of her, his hands stuffed in his pockets, hunched over a little, a stance commonly seen on Puck if she thought about it. Instead she hugged her friend tightly; glad to have him back in her life.

Quinn and Puck exchanged a glance of disbelief at Finn's apology, as the two people who knew him better than anyone they didn't believe him at all.

Closing the front door Rachel led Finn into the living room, hugging him again briefly before going back to sit with Puck. Everyone else was crowding around Finn happily, except for Puck and Quinn who resolutely stayed where they were, Quinn shifting closer to Eli as he sat back down next to her.

Puck scoffed internally as once again the glee club completely forgave Finn, knowing that if he had done the same thing, treating Quinn badly, or hurting Rachel when she was going through such a difficult time he would have been vilified by the entire club. It seemed that no matter what Finn did he would always be forgiven, just like when he choose football over glee, glancing down at Quinn who was sitting opposite him he could see the exact same thought process working across her own face.

Smiling wryly Quinn shrugged her shoulder and took Eli's hand, clearly telling Puck There's nothing we can do about it, just accept it. Nodding his agreement Puck pulled Rachel onto his lap, content in the knowledge that she was his, grinning at him Rachel wrapped her arms around his neck, turning back to the group to talk happily with all her friends, happy that she had them all back.

Rachel bounced into Noah's truck the next day, her good mood from the day before continuing as she had been told that her father had gained almost full consciousness, Ethan and Damian had kept a constant presence at his bedside as they waited for him to wake up, as such her and Noah had enjoyed a night alone after the glee club had left.

Noah cooking dinner for her and giving her a massage as they watched a film, after she complained that she was feeling tense after Cheerio practise. After Noah helped her out of his truck they walked hand in hand to the school, stopping in surprise as they found Ethan and Damian leaning against a car waiting for them.

"Hi" she greeted hugging them hello "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be with daddy?"

"He's going through some tests at the moment; we wanted to talk about you before we go back" Ethan explained, shaking Noah's hand in hello.

"Ok then" Rachel agreed looking apprehensive

"It's not a huge thing B" Damian assured her "It's just we don't want you to be there when we tell Dad about Pop's"

"What no!" she argued

Ethan hurried to wrap an arm around her shoulders "princess you don't need to be there"

"Yes I do, I do" Rachel cried "he's going to think I don't care if I'm not there"

"No he's not" Ethan insisted "I can't let you be there sis, I wouldn't be looking after you if I did, you are just starting to heal, if I let you be there when we tell dad it's just going to reopen everything"

"He's right sis, we've been talking about this all night, we wouldn't be doing the right thing if we let you be there, it would just rip open the wound that's only just staring to heal, me and Eth aren't about to let that happen. You can come see him after school but right now we are going to tell him once he's finished his tests, should be in a few hours" Damian told her

Not liking it but seeing the stone cold determination on both of her brother's faces that she often mirrored herself, she knew she wouldn't win this argument "fine" she said shortly walking away.

"It is right for her" Ethan said, almost trying to make himself believe it, not used to arguing with his sister

"It is" Noah agreed with them "I'll look after her" he promised, hurrying after his fast moving girlfriend.

The two brothers glanced at each other and got into the car, hating that they were on the outs with her, a position they were not familiar with, growing up in the toxic environment they had called home, meant that they were closer than normal siblings. As such they hadn't gone through the teasing and bullying that others did, and talked every day despite the fact that the two boys had moved out.

Rachel sat in Glee at third free period her mood not improved in any way since this morning, now she was angry that her brothers didn't think she could handle being there for her dad, and worried that Leon would be upset that she wasn't.

Noah watched her as you watch a bomb, just waiting for it to explode, all it needed was the spark, taking her hand in his own he forcibly dragged her out of the room before she could blow up.

"Babe you need to calm down" he told her, holding her shoulders before she could move away "I know you think you need to be there, but you need to think about you, and your dad. Maybe your dad doesn't want you to see him how he's going to react to hearing that his husband is gone? Have you ever thought about that? You were broken when you got back, maybe your dad doesn't need to see you become like that when you tell him about Mark"

"I never thought about that" Rachel admitted quietly

"You brothers are doing this because they love you and are trying to look after you, so you really do need to calm down and enjoy glee, especially as I finally get to hear your beautiful voice again"

Rachel smiled at her boyfriend, knowing how uncomfortable he would have felt in admitting that, leaning up she kissed him firmly on the lips "Ok" she agreed lightly, laughing as he looked surprised at her one word sentence. Letting him throw an arm around her shoulders and led her back into the room, she accepted the music sheets Mr Schue was offering to her and sat back down in her chair, reading over the sheets for Aerosmith's I Don't Want to Miss a Thing, where Mr Schue had given her lead

"Let's run it" the teacher said happily clapping his hands together.

Rachel got to her feet wandering who was singing the male lead to such a romantic song

I could stay awake just to hear you breathing
Watch you smile while you are sleeping
Far away and dreaming

Sang Puck to Rachel moving closer to her to take her hand, spinning her around as she started her verse

I could spend my life in this sweet surrender
I could stay lost in this moment forever

Rachel replied

Well, every moment spent with you
Is a moment I treasure

The group sang together

I don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing

Lying close to you
Feeling your heart beating
And I'm wondering what you're dreaming
Wondering if it's me you're seeing
Then I kiss your eyes and thank God we're together
And I just wanna stay with you
In this moment forever, forever and ever

I don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing

I don't wanna miss one smile
I don't wanna miss one kiss
Well, I just wanna be with you
Right here with you, just like this
I just wanna hold you close
Feel your heart so close to mine
And stay here in this moment
For all the rest of time

Don't wanna close my eyes
Don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
'Cause I'd still miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing

I don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing

Don't wanna close my eyes
Don't wanna fall asleep, yeah
I don't wanna miss a thing

Puck finished holding Rachel tight to his body, smiling down at her, kissing her gently on the lips.