I'm sorry it took this long to update. Unfortunately my horse is sick, it took forever for me to get better and exams are over me. So buhoo for me.

Anyways, thanks for your reviews and for reading – as always. You guys are awesome! Enjoy! Finally some fluff, he he.


She'd fallen asleep again almost instantly after eating a few spoons of soup. He didn't mind. She was lying up against him, her head had at first rested against his shoulder, her body tugged protectively under his arm but as she'd slipped into sleep she'd turned over and lied down fully stretching her body out. Her head was now resting on his thigh and he couldn't stop letting his hands run through her silky locks. It was both odd and so familiar to do this. This was so unlike her. No drama , no heated argument. He was partly dreading when she got better and had the energy to be herself again. What would she do? Would this have a happy ending? He looked down at her sleeping form and a smile tugged at his lips even if he tried not to. But why fight it? No one was here to laugh at him, tell him she didn't want this or in any other way ruin this.

He focused back on the TV for a while till he felt sleepy. What should he do? Take her to bed and stay with her? He wasn't much interested in the same response as last time he'd been in her bed but he could really do with sleeping in a bed. Her couch wasn't all that comfortable to sleep in. It was mainly for burring yourself in while watching TV or a random nap but not for a good night's sleep. He could go to his own place. He pondered his options. He would be just across the hall and if anything was to happen Maddy knew where to find him but he felt reluctant to leave them. To leave her this sick and his daughter with her as well. He felt at home her with her and Maddy like he was the piece they'd needed all along. God, this woman was stubborn.

He slowly detangled himself from her as gently as he could careful not to wake her. She sighed in her sleep when he stood up stretching her legs and back. He was sore from sitting in the same position for almost two hours now. She whimpered and mumbled something in a low raspy voice he told himself it was his name. It sounded like it so what was wrong with thinking it was? He bent down and tenderly picked her up. Her head fell against his chest like this was routine and he smiled as he carried her to the bedroom where he gingerly set her down on the mattress. She curled herself onto her side. He reached for the covers and pulled them over her tugging her in lovingly like he tugged in Maddy. He stood for a moment hesitating. My God he wanted a normal bed to sleep in. He looked at the other side of the bed. Covers and pillows there almost calling out his name. He made the decision like so many other like this in his life; fast and no regrets. He stripped out of his jeans and t-shirt and practically bouncing over her, he got into the bed. He made sure to stay at "his" side not wanting her to freak out completely should she wake before him. Settling down he quickly fell asleep.


"Daddy?" An inquisitive voice woke Puck. The light in the room let him know it was morning. He blinked once to figure out where he was and why his daughter was standing in front of him with a sullen expression on her tiny face. He rubbed a hand over his face and started to stir but something held him in place; a hand around his abdomen. A small and very familiar hand. He turned his head to peer over his shoulder at Rachel. She was awake and looking at him with tired but somewhat less glazed eyes. A small smile tugged around her lips and he couldn't help but mirror it. She wasn't freaking out. She was smiling. His heart picked up the pace for an instant till the demanding voice of their daughter broke the moment.

"Daddy?" She sounded angry. Puck turned to her face.

"Yes sweety?" He was ready for her to freak out. Having her mother's temper you never knew what would set her off in a stroppy fit.

"I'm hungry," she claimed and he realized she wasn't angry she'd found her mom and dad in bed with each other but simply because they two had overslept and messed with her routine.

"Okay. Give me a minute then I'll make you breakfast," he said and Maddy nodded turning from them with her teddy bear under her arm as she mumbled grumpy complaints. Puck let the figure of his daughter go as she turned into the living room and disappeared from his view. He turned around to face Rachel again. She let go of him letting him turn over. He didn't know what to say really so he smiled. They always said the wrong things anyway. Shutting up seemed to be the right thing to do. At least about the mushy stuff.

"How are you feeling?" He wanted to kiss her but settled for feeling her forehead. She wasn't hot the same way as yesterday.

"A bit better," her voice still sounded raspy and it was clear it hurt to talk. He nodded.

"I'll make you some breakfast and tea with honey." The urge to kiss was overwhelming but he didn't. He instead got up and made them all breakfast. Maddy was really grumpy as she sat on a stool watching him.

"Why are you so grumpy, sweet pee?"

"Cos I'm hungry," she huffed back at him.

"Just cos you're hungry?" he prodded fixing her with a stare.

"Yes," she picked at imaginary smudges in soft polyester fur of her teddy and he knew she'd spill in a second. She worried her lip and then she finally looked up right at him her brows furrowed and glowering. "Why do you get to sleep in mummy's bed? I never do." He almost laughed but then remembered Rachel once scolding him for laughing at Maddy's feelings. The girl was serious and it was genuine jealousy and she really wanted to sleep with her mummy. He knew they used to do that when Maddy was younger but Rachel had held firm lately that her they each had a bed and should sleep in it. He contemplated his answer for a while as he turned over a pancake.

"You know mummy's been really sick?" Maddy nodded still sullen. "I had to take care of her. Make sure she was okay. Like I did with you last time you were sick, remember?" Maddy had been sick about two months back and he'd let her sleep in his bed next to him to make sure he could be there if she needed anything. Maddy's brows unfurrowed and instead a thoughtful expression took over from the sullen one.

"So…" She was looking for the words in her vocabulary. "You take care of mummy like you take care of me?" He felt unsure how to answer the question knowing his daughter already had asked him more than once about his relationship with Rachel.

"Kinda, yeah," he answered hesitantly.

"Am I gonna get a little sister then?" A soft chuckle from the door made them both look up. Rachel was standing in the door with a goofy grin wearing her pink robe and matching slippers.

"Sweetie," She rasped. "How many times have we talked about that?" Maddy sighed.

"It's just Josephine and Jessica are both big sisters. I'm the ONLY one that's not."

"That were two girls. That's not all the girls," Rachel smoothly argued back. Maddy rolled her eyes. Rachel walked the few steps to her daughter and tussled her hair.

"I know you want a little sister but you're gonna have to wait and see." She looked at Puck from behind Maddy and he almost dropped a pancake from the look she gave him. Was she saying yes? Were they gonna be a family? Rachel took up the seat next to Maddy. "Are you going to dish out those pancakes or just stand there?" She said teasingly. She was clearly feeling better.


Rachel had a week more at home. Her fever broke by the evening but her voice seemed to demand a holiday and she had to let her stand in perform in her stead as Kurt had forbidden her to come to the theater as long as she had any germs that could infest the cast and infect them with "seal" as he'd taken to call her croaks. It was the best week of Puck's life. He took off as much time as he could to romance her and they had romantic lunches and dinners and got to know each other again without fighting. Puck could barely wipe the grin off his face and as they reached Friday evening his cheek hurt from smiling. They didn't kiss but just hung out. At first she just didn't want to get him sick, she said joking as she wouldn't have the time to take of him the way he had her but he felt it was more an emotional precaution and he was okay with that. He'd rather they went slow than wait another 5 years.

Friday night Blaine stole Maddy for a uncle's date as he called it. Kurt was doing the show and Blaine said he needed to see his little niece and spoil her. Neither Rachel or Puck minded. Maddy loved to spend time with Blaine and Kurt or just Blaine.

"So we're all alone," Puck grinned as Rachel closed the door. Rachel smiled a little hesitantly but nodded.

"Yeah we are." She didn't really know what to think or say. Her mind had been reeling all week. Puck was amazing no doubt but she found it hard to figure out all her feelings for him and about it all. You don't just throw 5 years of more or less hating a person away to replace it with complaisant love. It was odd not be angry with him, to touch and more so to talk with him and not fight. They talked like grownups talk to each other; not just about Maddy but about their lives as well. He had tried to be romantic but it had been a bit limited what they could do as she had to stay indoors. "What do you wanna do?" She ventured. This was even more odd. No Maddy between them or in the other room. And she was more or less ready to go back on stage feeling like her normal self again. Not being sick meant the possibility of having a fight was present. Fever had made her soft and give into him - this. What now? She'd have to face her feelings. She knew he was dying to know. She needed to answer him.

"Take out and a movie like normal parents do when they send their kid off?" Rachel shook her head.

"No," he looked disappointed for a moment. "I want to cook for you. You've taken care of me all week. Let me treat you tonight." His face lit up with a childish happiness and her heart stopped for half a beat. It had been doing that a lot lately, she mused. "Let's go shopping." She turned and grabbed her coat.

"No," he stepped up behind her. "I'll go."

"No, forget it. I wanna go outside. I'm going back to work tomorrow. I'm fine." He seemed to think. "Stop fussing over me. I'm fine." He still hesitated. "Noah, stop being like this. I am not sick anymore. You can't keep me here forever." The significance of her words seemed to hit them both. This week was over and she was better. What now? His excuse to stay was running out. She didn't need him any more to take care of her. Would she let him stay? She broke eye contact. "I just need some air. Let's go shop. You can make sure I don't go up to sick people and have to start all over again." He seemed happy to still have a protective role and also to skip the serious subject for now. He wasn't sure his heart could deal with it should she kick him with an excuse of platonic feelings.

They left and walked to the nearest store. She almost bounced next him with energy. It was so good to be out again. Entering the market she determinedly walked around and got the things she needed to cook for him and he just followed her.

"Do you like tomato sauce with chili or oregano?" She asked him trying to choose from the many different types. He stepped up next to her.

"I don't mind. Like it both." She looked up at him a soft expression in her happy face with her hair to frame her shining eyes. She was radiant and had never looked for beautiful to him and before he knew it the words he wanted to say the most slipped out. "Marry me, Rachel." He didn't even ask her. He almost demanded it but his voice held such a plead in it her mouth dropped as well as the can in her hand. She stood in complete shook not knowing what to say. She knew he loved her but she had figured they'd go slow. This wasn't slow. This was like a cheetah's mad dash for its prey.


******spoiler alert for ppl who haven't seen lastest eipode of 3rd season****

So not completely unlike the ending of the last Glee episode.. which was like OMG! She better not say yes! Hope you enjoyed this :)