Epilogue – An Ordinary Day

A.N.: Here you go, as promised. The epilogue. :) So sad to leave this story, but I have to say, I've really enjoyed writing this one. Hope you've enjoyed reading it! This may be it for a while -- I've been horribly neglectful of my other big fandom, "Chuck", and don't want to be that author who leaves her work unfinished. So, those of you who have me on Author Alert may see updates for "Chuck" instead. (Though the Puckleberry muse has quite the hold on me.) Either way, please enjoy!

Musical key: Rachel in bold, Puck bold and italicized. :)

Since it started with a song, it only made sense that a song brought them around again.

Rachel practiced her piano scales to pass the time, reveling in the echo of the auditorium acoustics. How time flies...Winter break had come and gone, Babygate -- Ugh, I despise that label, Rachel thought -- was still sending ripples through the club and the school, but less so now. Thank goodness life at McKinley seems to finally be moving past it.

She moved to the minor scales as she reflected. They've all probably given up on any more drama from this sector. Considering, as days turned to weeks turned to months, Finchel didn't happen. Oh, Rachel. Why on earth are you using Ben-Israel's stupid uni-name in your head, she sighed. Finn was single, and growing up by leaps and bounds, yet Rachel found herself content to be just his best friend. Maybe because...

The auditorium door swung open with a thud and Rachel smiled. "About time, Puckerman," she teased. "What, do I need to buy you a watch? Cell phone fried from all the hot sexts your flavor of the week is sending?"

Puck smirked. "Very funny, Berry, I needed to grab something out of my locker." He waved sheets of paper at her as he came down the aisle. "Figured we could try something different. We never did do a mash-up," he continued. Deep breaths, Puckerman. He looked at Rachel, her brows furrowed in confusion. "Chill, Berry. I was just messing around with something, I wanna see how it sounds."

"O-okay," she said uncertainly. This is...odd...

Puck rolled his eyes as he reached the stage and leaped up beside her and handed off the papers. Does she always have to know everything?

Wait...She looked down at the sheets in her hands. What? Rachel looked up at him as he grabbed his guitar. "Staff paper? Noah, I didn't know you could write music like this!" She smiled at him. "I'm impressed!"

He shrugged. "Well, yeah. It's a mash-up, or kinda like a duet, maybe. I just copied the sheet music for the original songs. Really not that impressive. 'Cept for the fact that I mashed 'em up and played with the verses. Now that took time." And now you just admitted you actually worked on this crap, you idiot. If she doesn't get it, or it doesn't work, you're really gonna look like a tool..."But if it's good enough to use, you know, it's worth it. It'd be nice to be something other than Puck-the-asshole-who-knocked-up-the-Queen-of-the-Chastity-Ball."

Rachel gently touched his arm and smiled. "Noah...you're a lot more than that, and anyone who hasn't seen that by now is blind." Just remember I saw it first! She bit her lip. Rachel! Control yourself!

He swallowed and looked away. Here's hoping that whole veracity thing is true. "Thanks, Berry," he said earnestly, glancing up at her quickly. Is she...blushing? "Wanna try it?"

She nodded and skimmed the music. Is he...? "Interesting choices to combine," she managed past the lump in her throat. Get a grip, Rachel, don't read too much into this.

He shrugged. Just play the damn song, Berry! "What can I say? All that music pop quizzing we've been doing has me listening to some odd stuff."

Rachel chuckled. "Yeah, well, it was your idea to come here on our free period and mess around." Rachel!! "I mean, with music!" she added quickly. Could you stop being such an idiot? She restrained the urge to bury her face in her hands as she watched the smirk bloom on his face. You'd think after all this time I'd be a little less of a lovesick schoolgirl...

Puck snickered as he quickly tuned his guitar. "Hell, Berry, if you wanted to do the other thing, you could've just said so," he leered. Would've made my life easier, instead of feeling like a schmuck who's asking a girl out for the very first time. He rolled his shoulders and blew out a breath. Dude, you're a stud, what are you worrying about? You've got this.

Rachel composed herself, and after a pressure check of the keys on the opening chords, began to play.

"Just a day, just an ordinary day...
Just tryin' to get by.
Just a boy, just an ordinary boy,
But he was looking to the sky

And - "

Puck took up his part, casting glances Rachel's way.

"I think it's getting to the point
Where I can be myself again
I think it's getting to the point
Where we have almost made amends..."

Rachel frowned briefly as she sang her next lyrics.

"He said, 'Take my hand
Live while you can
Don't you see your dreams lie right
In the palm of your hand?'"

She swallowed, as her heart lodged in her throat, and stared determinedly at the sheet music in front of her. Would you just calm down, Rachel? And please, can my stomach stop churning? She concentrated every fiber of her being on the piano interlude. Could he seriously...?

Puck met her gaze steadily as he delivered his line. I really hope you're listening...

"I think it's the getting to the point
That is the hardest part."

This can't be happening, Rachel told herself, her heart swelling with hope and longing. It's Noah Puckerman, would he really go through all this trouble for the Queen of the Gleeks? She licked her lips unconsciously as she continued to sing.

"And as he spoke, he spoke ordinary words
Although they did not feel, no...
For I felt what I had not felt before
And you'd swear those words could heal..."

She turned wide eyes on him as she swallowed hard. Or maybe I'm not giving him enough credit?

I can't believe I'm doing this...Puck stomped on the urge to run from the room before he made a bigger fool of himself or grab her and kiss her. But damn it, Puckerman, the girl deserves the romance after...He refrained from shaking his head as he recalled how steadfast she'd been at his side, standing strong for him when he couldn't be strong himself, believing in him when he wouldn't. I don't deserve you, but...He took a deep breath and poured his heart into his verse.

"And if you call, I will answer...
And if you fall, I'll pick you up...
And if you court this disaster,
I'll point you home...
I'll point you home."

Puck kept his eyes glued on hers as he played the guitar break. Come on, Berry...

She nearly lost her breath at the searing look in his eyes, and a bubble of laughter escaped her as she saw her next verse. Does he know me that well? To know that I would question this?

"Did he ask if I would come along?
It all seemed so real…
But as I looked to the door
I saw that boy, standing there with a deal -

And he said - "

He heard her chuckle and his heart soared. He looked deeply into her eyes, swallowed hard, and sang his reply.

"If you call, I will answer
And if you fall, I'll pick you up
And if you court this disaster..."

This time he grinned self-deprecatingly as he held her gaze, darting his eyes down to himself and back to her. Let's face it, I am kind of a big damn mess.

She skimmed the next lyrics she had to sing and the ensuing smile threatened to split her at her cheekbones. She bit her cheek to hold back her laughter. Whatever may have happened in between, Noah Puckerman is still just as self-assured as he ever was. Anticipating my answer? She quirked a brow at him as she sang her reply.

"Take my hand
Live while you can
Don't you see your dreams lie right
In the palm of your hand
In the palm of your hand,
In the palm of your hand…"

She played the piano fill with a giddy smile, losing herself in her very own fairytale. Oh, Noah...did you really do all of this...for me?

He watched her eyes soften, and a dreamy smile break across her face. She does get it, he realized. He grinned and sang his last verse, keeping those warm chocolate eyes on his.

"So if you call, I will answer
And if you fall, I'll pick you up
And if you court this disaster
I'll point you home
I'll point you home…"

They looked at each other as they played their respective endings, Rachel's piano ending the duet.

"Noah," she breathed. Is this really happening to me? "That was, by far, the single most romantic-"

"Did you like it?" he interrupted, rubbing a hand over the back of his head as he put his guitar down. Don't make me sound all mushy, damn it. I'm a stud, Berry.

She nodded vigorously. "Noah, I loved it," she whispered. I love you, and I cannot believe you did all this..."So does this mean...are you...do you...?" She looked at him hopefully.

He grinned as he saw her heart in her eyes. I'm the man. He smirked at her as he teased, "Wanna make out?"

Yes, she screamed inside her head. She struggled to slow her pounding heart. Rachel, if your life up till now has taught you anything, it's to grab for the brass ring every damn time.

She blew out a breath, and put a hard scowl on her face. "I am not that girl, Noah Puckerman, I won't just make out with you on a whim. I've done it, and it's lovely, but I'm not going to be some -"

"Geez, Berry!" he groaned. "Do I really have to-" Doesn't she get what I'm saying?

She folded her arms and raised her chin mutinously. I haven't waited patiently for this long to be friends with benefits! "All or nothing, Puckerman. What's it going to be?" Please let me have read him correctly.

He was suddenly reminded of that Meat Loaf song. What was that line? Oh, yeah..."Stop right there! I gotta know right now! Before we go any further..."He rubbed a hand over the back of his head and shoved a hand in his pocket as he looked at the floor. "So fine, do you maybe wanna go out some-"

"Yes!" she exclaimed, leaping up from her piano stool. "It's about time, you moron."

"Hey! I thought you said I had all this potential and crap, and now you're calling me a moron?" He caught her in his arms as she ran at him, drawing her close against his body. Damned if she doesn't feel just as perfect here as I remembered...He leaned his forehead against hers and looked down into her eyes. "Not cool, Berry."

She smirked up at him. "I think I can make it up to you," she murmured.

Puck raised an eyebrow. This girl is something else. "And how would you do that, exactly?" He walked them back to the piano and straddled the bench, drawing her down across his lap. He nuzzled her neck with a sigh. Still smells just as good, too. He nipped lightly at the tender spot where her neck met her shoulder.

She giggled, joy bursting through her like fireworks. Is this real? She reached her hand out to trace the side of his face. I doubt he's ready for the first line, but...She let a seductive grin spread over her lips as she sang to him softly.

"...never know how much I care
when you put your arms around me
I get a fever that's so hard to bear...
you give me fever...

when you kiss me,
fever when you-"

He groaned as he cut her off and squeezed her more tightly against him. "Why do you have to be so damn hot when you sing?" he complained. He tangled a hand in her hair and hauled her in for a kiss. Finally...

Rachel smiled against his lips as she kissed him back. Finally...She sighed contentedly as she wrapped her arms around his neck and sank herself further under his spell.

***

Matt snickered in the back row, shushing Santana, Brittany and Mike. "Dude, I told you something was up with those two!" he stage-whispered. "C'mon, let's get out of here before it goes from Disney Channel to Cinemax."

As they left, Brittany let the auditorium door thump shut.

"Brit!" Santana chastised.

***

Rachel and Puck pulled away from each other, breathing heavily into the stillness.

Rachel giggled. Well, that's a switch. "For once, it's not one of us that's the voyeur," she whispered.

Puck raised an eyebrow. Well, well, you considered yourself a voyeur? "Kinky, Berry, I like it." He lowered his mouth to her ear. "You like being watched, little girl?"

"Noah!" she scolded, unable to keep her laughter at bay. Only if you're the one watching...She slapped at his arm half-heartedly. "Stop it, what if it's Jacob out there?"

He snickered and nipped at her earlobe before turning his head to hover over her lips. Bring it. "Then I hope he got a new notebook, 'cause he's about to learn a thing or ten," he said huskily, and kissed her again.

*** END ***

Musical note: The duet is "Ordinary Day" by Vanessa Carlton crossed with "Call and Answer" by Barenaked Ladies. Rachel's little serenade to Puck is "Fever", made famous by Peggy Lee, and Puck's internal monologue lyrics were from "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" by Meat Loaf.

A.N.: So, there you have it, our Puckleberry payoff, hopefully in a believable way. I just want to thank everyone for their wonderful reviews. I am totally humbled that some of my absolute favorite Puckleberry authors have actually read my humble offering, so a special thanks to them. But especially (hope you don't mind!) a big thank you to Desda, who leaves the loveliest reviews and makes me feel like a Puckleberry rock star. :) Thanks, Des!