Chapter two.

Puck couldn't take it any more. He'd been laying in bed for an hour thinking about Rachel. About how this could be happening to her? She was amazing. Just awesome. Kind. And she had one of the biggest hearts he'd ever known. He got out of bed and walked the 6 blocks to her house. When he saw the six year old sitting on the porch with tear filled eyes he got a little worried.

"What you doing bud?" Puck asked sitting next to him.

"Mommy told me to stay in my room but I don't like listening to her cry," he said sadly.

"Why's mommy crying?" Puck asked sticking his hands in his pockets.

Liam shook his head, "I can't tell you. Mommy always says she's fine and that she's trying to protect me but no one is protecting her."

"Protecting her from what?" Puck asked.

"Mommy said that you use to protect her in high school, well can you protect her now?" Liam asked looking up at him with hopeful eyes.

"I promise I will try to help buddy. What does she need protecting from?" Puck asked again.

Liam looked him dead in the eye before uttering the one word which Puck already knew, "Dad."

"Come on, let's get you in, I'm gunna have a chat with mommy and see if I can help okay?" Liam nodded enthusiastically and stood up, making his way to his bedroom with Puck following, when they got upstairs Liam pointed to the room that had sobbing coming from it.

Puck nodded to him and pushed the door open and slipping through it. The room was dark but he could make out a Rachel shaped ball on the bed.

"Jesse, please don't tonight. I'm really sore," Rachel whispered.

"I'm not Jesse," Puck grumbled. Laying down in bed with her and taking her into his arms, they lay that way for ages. Him stroking lazy patterns into her back and her sobbing gently into his chest, clutching his t-shirt.

Rachel looked up into his eyes. "Liam told you?"

"Didn't have to," Puck said pushing her hair away from her eyes.

"You know you can't help don't you?" Rachel whispered.

It broke Puck's heart to see her like this. She was meant to be strong and confident…she was Rachel Berry after all.

"Baby, you're not staying here." Puck whispered into her hair. Rachel lent up and caught his lips in hers. He kissed her back but after a little while he pulled away and looked into her eyes.

"C-can I ask you two questions?" Rachel asked. Puck nodded, "D-do you still love me?"

Yes I do. Very much. More than I've ever loved another person before.

"What's the second question?" He asked.

"Do you know my biggest regret?"

"What?"

"That I didn't say it back. I could have had you for myself and for my son. But I just let you go," Rachel whispered into his chest, now not meeting his eye.

They lay like that for a while, her curled into his chest, holding tightly to his shirt. Him holding her gently and whipping her tears. But pretty soon they both fell into a relaxed slumber.

RACHEL POV

I woke up with Noah's strong frame wrapped around me from behind. His hand was on my hip, sending warm tingles down my legs and his face was nuzzled into my neck, his lips on my neck as he slept soundly. I took in his sent. It made me feel at home, even after all of this time. I snuggled back against him and he automatically tightened his arms around me.

A screech of tires. FUCK. A car door slam. FUCKING FUCK BUM FUCK FUCK FUCK!

"Noah get in the bathroom, please!" I said shaking him awake. He sat up rubbing his eyes. I hurriedly pulled him out of bed handing him his shoes.

"The fuck?"

"Noah you need to hide! He's back," I said trying to push him into the bathroom, but even though I am NOT a midget he is still rather strong for my petite size so I couldn't budge him. By this point I had tears streaming down my face.

"I'll kill him if he touches you," Noah grumbles.

"No. He'll kill me if he catches you here. You need to hide a-and not come out until I say. Promise?" I wept.

Noah nodded.

"Noah promise?"

"Yeah okay," he slunk into the bathroom closing the door behind him. I ran to the bed straightening it slightly and climbing back in. Whipping the tears away as I went.

I heard him coming up the stairs and pushing open the bedroom door, stumbling slightly. He was drunk. Like most nights. I pretended to be asleep and hoped he wouldn't do anything.

"You ruined my night you little whore," He mumbled drunkly, "The girl I was hooking up with realized I had a son and a so called wife. Why'd you have to get yourself knocked up?"

He shock me roughly, I made myself not flinch.

"Rachel. Wake up. I wanna fuck you… you need to take care of your husbands needs," He slurred. I couldn't help the stream of tears that were falling down my cheeks. He knew I was awake.

"Why're you crying? Should be fucking grateful I'm still with you! You're a useless nobody," He pulled me to sit up by my hair, I resisted the urge to yelp in pain.

"Strip for me."

"Jesse, please? I'm so sore from yesterday, I really don't want to," I pleaded quietly. I should of learned a long time ago that it didn't matter what I thought. That I shouldn't talk back. He grasped my jaw tight, pain rippled through it from where it was cracked.

"Who the fuck asked you?" Jesse snarled harshly, "I'm going to the store, I need more Jack and when I get back…" He leaned in close to my ear, his gross lips brushing it, "Be ready for me," He bit my earlobe hard, then left. When I heard the front door slam I let out a small scream and ran into the bathroom.

Noah was sitting on the tiled floor, his fists balled and his expression only anger.

"Noah," I whispered.

"I'm gunna kill him," Noah whispered back. His eyes not meeting mine.

"Y-you need to go! He'll be back soon a-and I… please just go," I pleaded, crouching down in front of him.

"Rachel. Come home with me. Please?" He looked into my eyes, his were tearful and full of confusion.

"I-I can't." I stated. I pulled him to his feet and down the stairs, he stopped me at the front door.

"You don't need to do this anymore Rachel."

Yes I do. I have to. Jesse would kill me. The only reason I put up with this is for my son. Liam's safe. That's what matters.

"Just go!" I yelled, pushing him out the door and slamming it in his face. I slumped down against the door, letting tears fall freely.

"Mommy," I heard a quiet voice. I looked up to see my gorgeous son standing before me. His eyes were wide and worried. He had his bear, Muffin snuggled into his chest and his Thomas the tank engine PJ's on.

"Come here bug," I whispered holding my arms open. He folded himself into my arms and began to sob.

"Why'd you make Noah go away? He was here to help you?" He cried.

"Daddy would be mad if Noah was here," I tried to explain.

"He's not my daddy! He's not! He's a monster like you find under the bed! I asked miss Nichols," Liam cried, pounding his little fists into my chest.

He told miss Nichols. He told his teacher. I'm screwed.

"Wh-what did you ask your teacher bug?" I asked.

"I asked if all daddy's hit mommy's. She said no and she asked me to tell her why daddy hit mommy." He cried.

"What did you say?" I asked rubbing his back to soothe him.

"I said it was coz I was a bad boy. Coz good boys like Sam Davidson's daddy's don't hit their mommy's." He said looking up at me, "I'm sorry I'm a bad boy mommy, I'll try to be better."

"Oh buggy, you are not a bad boy. You are the best little boy in the whole world. And I love you so much! Daddy only hits me because he's a bad boy and he feel's guilty for not being around okay? It's not your fault. I promise," I try and reassure him.

"Okay," He nodded, kissing my lips, "I really, really love you mommy. You are the best mommy in the whole world."