AN: No, you're not delusional. I'm updating this story. Plus, I just want to thank everyone for the private messages, reviews etc. They are so important. You have no idea. Also, I apologize in advance for possible mistakes. I don't have a beta and I my native language is not English.

"Second chances do come your way. Like trains, they arrive and depart regularly. Recognizing the ones that matter is the trick." Jill A. Davis.

Puck quickly descends the stairs muttering something to himself. He's so tormented he fails to notice the alarmed stares from his friends. He heads to the laundry room, grabs his running shoes and frantically puts them on. He's out the door before Mercedes is able to reach him.

As she watches him leave, she looks pissed. The feeling of impotence that takes over drives her insane. She knows she can help her friend by keeping him from having to do things for Rachel during her time in their house, but that's not enough. She wishes she could take his pain away.

She sighs and returns to the living-room. She reclaims her spot on the couch next to her boyfriend and complete silence follows as Tina, Artie and Josh try to process the things they were told over lunch. Mercedes, on the other hand, seems to be organizing her thoughts on how to pass the week as smoothly as possible.

"Should I go get my snickers and follow him?" Artie finally breaks the quietude.

"I think we should let him cool off," Tina says. "I know we were just told the whole story, but I suppose this was a long time coming. Her coming here, I mean."

"I don't know. I didn't think she'd show after so long," Mercedes seems to disagree. "I learned this shit two months after Puck got here and even though I disliked Rachel's actions from day one, I tried to compromise and understand. To be honest, I sort of may have encouraged him to fly out to New York when Sophomore year ended. Needless to say nothing good came out of it. She treated him like dirt and I assumed she was done with him then," Mercedes explains.

"Apparently not," Tina replies. "She's here, isn't she?"

"Do you think something good can come out of her being here?" Josh asks with a tinge of concern in his voice.

"I think it's a low blow. Her timing is totally awful. It sucks, actually. She had a long time to come, to mend things, to make them right. And now? Now he's ready to move on. Maybe he's not ready to open himself up to a new relationship, but he's ready to let go of her, to embrace his career, be in the public eye and deal with all the things that come with fame and fortune. And you know what? He should be given the chance to make a clean break. He's been working so hard for this and I believe he deserves that much from her." Mercedes points out. The love for her friend evident in her voice.

"I'd say he deserves that much from life, if you ask me. The guy can't catch a break. First he gets screwed over by his dad, who walks out on him and never bothers looking back. Then if that's not enough, he goes and falls in love with the girl who's had her life plans made up since she was a toddler. I'm sorry, but moving to Texas with her? Big mistake there, not to mention all the other crap that followed. "

"I agree with Artie. NYU even without a scholarship would have been a better choice. She'd not defer her NYADA acceptance and from day one he'd get some student loan or accept his stepfather's help. Life would have been easier then."

"Yeah, Josh. But then again NYADA demanded 24/7 dedication. Activities she wouldn't be to fulfill. Let's not forget it wasn't just about two young adults and their college experience. They went to Texas because it wasn't about themselves anymore. In Texas she'd have more free time in her hands and their friends Kurt and Finn would be there to back them up," Tina clarifies.

"I don't think discussing what they should or shouldn't have done will change anything, you guys. What's done is done. It's water under the bridge. Now all we can do is help our friend get himself out of this messy situation the best way possible. It's clear as day that he's hurting by her presence and we have to find ways to make things better for him without interfering too much." Mercedes says, closing the discussion and the "what ifs".

"Any plans?" Artie questions.

"As a matter of fact, I've been thinking about some things we can do."

Puck runs for about an hour and a half before he buys himself a water bottle and takes a seat on one of the benches by the campus lake. He looks exhausted and slightly enraged. There are bags under his eyes and he keeps squeezing the bottle he just drained.

He looks down the ground and shakes his head. How did things get so twisted? He can't help but to laugh at himself and the irony of the current situation. The night before his biggest problem was having his teammates hassling him about going to a party. He'd give anything to go back in time.

Lost in his thoughts he doesn't notice when he's joined by someone who takes a seat on the other end of the bench. It's Coach Schuester and he looks worried. He knows for a fact Noah Puckerman is his most responsible player. He's also aware that the boy doesn't miss practices. He just doesn't.

Coach Schuester stares out toward the lake and waits for Puck to notice him. When he finally realizes the boy won't look up, he clears his throat to announce his presence. Puck soon directs his gaze toward him and mumbles an apology.

"I got your message this morning. Can't say I wasn't worried," the Coach comments caually and tries not to force some confession out of his player.

"Sorry, Coach. I really couldn't make it today."

"It's okay. Most of the guys were hung over so there was no point for a practice. It was fun though. To watch them run endless laps and ride their asses to make sure it won't happen again."

"But you know it will, don't you?" Puck says, half-smiling.

"But where's the fun in knowing? Or in having them know I know? I have to pretend I expect the situation not to repeat itself or I won't be able to punish them again for getting their asses wasted during playoffs.

"You're mean, Coach."

"That's why I'm the head Coach and Coach Beiste is stuck with defense. She wanted me to send them home and appreciate their last night effort. Can you believe that? Wouldn't it be very uncharacteristic of me? Which brings me to why I'm here, trying to find out what has kept you from today's little party of Schuester. Missing a practice is very uncharacteristic of you."

"Tell me about it."

"I was going to call you, but Emma asked me to come get a book from her office and I saw you sitting here so...?" The Coach then pressures him for an answer. He feels it's his duty to try and help Puck. He can't let anything interfere with his player's game when he is so close to being drafted.

"Sure you want to know?" Puck lifts his head and meets the Coach's eyes for the first time.

"I'm asking, aren't I?"

"It's stupid, really."

"If it's important enough for you to miss your first practice in the three years you've been here, then stupid is the last thing I'd call it."

Puck sighs. He's so tired of sharing things with other people. Over the past twenty-four hours he's talked more than he usually talks in a month.

"Do you remember when I first came here? To visit?"

"And how could I forget? You came to my office with your stepfather and to put it in a nice way, you looked like shit. Kind of how you look now."

"Nice, Coach. Kick a guy when he's down."

"It's part of my charm. But go on, what about the first time you came here? You came, watched our practice, said you had watched our tapes, recited our scores, our abilities, disabilities and made me pissed because the University had only allowed me to offer you half a scholarship the year before," the Coach reveals something Puck had no knowledge of, but doesn't really get a reaction from his player.

"It wouldn't have mattered if you had given me a full ride back then, just so you know. My stepfather had the money to pay for the remaining of my tuition, like he's been doing now, but I'd still have chosen Texas back then."

"Because of your family, right?"

"The family I no longer have? Yeah. We needed to compromise back then so we did. The music program here is not really fancy and the football there is just as good."

"You hurt me with your words, Puckerman."

"Well, they are pretty damn good, Coach. My best friend is their quarterback and he's the shit. His stepbrother, the kicker, wow. Dude's got skills."

"Hummel? Yeah. That foot of his can be trouble. But let's not diverge. What happened?"

"You see, I came here because I couldn't be there anymore. I couldn't be there anymore for a number of circumstances, one of them being Rachel, my dearly beloved soon to be ex-wife," he says, but stops to laugh at himself before continuing. "Who am I kidding? The reason I couldn't be there was Rachel. Oh, there was that damn nursery. And that stupid corner and-whatever."

"So? I know you guys ended things in a terrible way, but that's in the past, isn't it? Time to move on. Divorce papers, confidentiality agreement like we talked about-"

"I wish things were that easy, Coach. What you don't know is that she decided to show up, out of the blue, uninvited after getting the papers. Can you believe that? I send out divorce papers and instead of getting them signed and ready to file, I get her knocking on my door, claiming she loves me."

"That's-...huge? Man... That's some unexpected horrible news, right?" The Coach says, taken aback by Rachel's appearance after almost three years of silence.

"And if it wasn't enough, she followed me to the party, which I attended and didn't drink a sip, by the way, and got herself in an accident that prevents her from walking for the next week or so. As a result, I spent the night with her in the emergency-room and now she's there, lying in my bed, unable to leave."

"That's not good," the Coach says, bewildered.

"That's totally fucked up," Puck says in an exasperated tone. "I spent the last hour trying to find ways to kick her out, but her best friend refuses to come get her and I can't call her parents because I can't deal with them flying here right now. Coach, what do I do? Do I take her back to New York kicking and screaming and leave her at her place? Or do I take care of her? Maybe then we'll have some closure. Ha- Like we need anymore closure. Three years is enough closure."

"Taking her home is an option," the Coach ponders.

"But it's what an asshole would do, isn't it?"

"You've earned the right to be one, Puckerman."

"Yeah, but it's doesn't make me feel any better."

"Have you guys talked?"

"Talked? Let's see: She showed up at my house and said a bunch stuff while I tried to kick her out. When she wouldn't leave, I left, slammed the door on my way out and went to a party I wasn't planning on going. She then showed up there, dressed like she wanted to provoke me, managed to do it and we ended up having another fucked up conversation in which I hurled accusations, she took them, and I left again. Finally, we talked today. It was inevitable, but I wish we didn't."

"That's when she told you she loves you?"

"Yeah. She also claimed she's not the same person she was back when she left me and asked for a second chance, Coach. She practicallybegged me for a second chance. That's just ridiculous at this point. Want to know what I did?"

"Left?" The Coach asks the question to which he already know the obvious answer.

Puck nods.

"She can't really blame you for that. Tell her she was a great teacher," Schuster says, joking to ease some of the tension.

"I think I already rolled with that one," Puck says as he shakes his head, frustrated with his situation and feelings.

"Puckerman, we can talk until we're blue in the face and I won't come up with anything to solve your problem. What I can offer you though is a week off from practice to figure out at least some of this mess. And before you go and refuse, I know how important it is for you to play these next games and to perform well, but you can't avoid dealing with your personal issues. Postponing things will get you nowhere."

"Fine. I'll skip practice if I have to and I'll deal with things. I won't run like she did."

"Now I have one more question before I leave you to your thoughts."

"Go for it."

"It's written all over your face that you're still very much in love with this girl. Bad shit aside, plus the fact that she's also in love with you-"

"Coach-" Puck says in a warning tone.

"Don't tell me not to go there, 'cause I'm going there anyway. Shit aside, isn't it worth trying again now that you know she's in love with you?"

Puck contemplates the question for a while. He looks down to the floor and sighs before giving an answer.

"I really don't know Coach. I talked to her and there was one thing that didn't occur to me. I figured it out after running for a while."

"What are you talking about?"

"I think Rachel's in love with the idea of me and vice-versa. I guess she thinks she's in love with the guy I once was. It's the same for me. We don't know who the other is anymore. You see, three years is a very long time and I know I have changed a lot. I guess she has, too. So what if I open up and it doesn't work out? I barely survived losing her once. I can't risk going through everything again. What if she's not changed so much? Or what if she's changed for the better? I can't risk it. I finally found some balance, you know? I can stand on my own feet and not hurt all the time."

"Puckerman, I'll quote Emma and you're going to shut up and think about it. Really think about it."

"Okay."

"Whenever she has a new kid to deal with, a kid who doesn't seem worthy of her time, or who seems hopeless, she takes a deep breath and says to herself, which I quote: "Don't worry about failure. Worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try". Now don't say anything. Not yet. Just think about it, alright?"

"Alright," Puck nods, rubbing his chin thoughtfully despite his exhaustion.

As Puck reflects on his next move, his friends take some action to help him.

Artie and Tina head to Puck's bedroom to get acquainted with their house guest. Unlike Mercedes, who's tough and won't demonstrate her hidden compassion, the two of them are friendly and don't pass judgment on Rachel.

"Excuse us," Tina says, smiling and half opening the door after knocking softly.

"Err-hi?" Rachel offers timidly. They catch her unprepared.

"I'm Tina," The girl says, extending her right hand as she walks to the bed.

"Rachel," Rachel says, shaking Tina's hand.

"And this," Tina says, looking back at the shy boy who's walking behind her, "is my friend Artie."

"Hello, Artie."

"Hi, Rachel. It's nice to finally put a face to the name."

"Oh... So you know about me? I thought-"

"We didn't know up until a few hours ago, but we figured there was a girl a long time ago," Artie admits.

"Oh..." Rachel's face flushes.

"Whatever. Here's the deal Rachel: we were told you're staying with us so we figured you needed some things."

Rachel raises her head and confusion is shown in her eyes. In the back of her mind she had a few doubts about being allowed to stay.

"A shower is on top of the list." Rachel says as she looks down to her foot and tries to find a way to shower and get rid of the ER and party smell.

"Yeah, we imagined that much. So here's what we're going to do: You tell us where you were staying before getting here and we'll get your stuff and check you out. Mercedes is looking for Josh's crutches, but I think you'll need help with your shower so I'll give you a hand. Meanwhile, Artie will change Puck's sheets and get you some pillows to make you a little more comfortable. After we get things done, we can go downstairs and make some snacks for our movie marathon."

Rachel's speechless when Tina is done talking. She can't thank her enough for being nothing short of amazing. She likes this girl. And truth be told, she doesn't dislike Mercedes either. She admires her for her loyalty.

"So? Where were you staying?" Artie asks, but Rachel's still wide-eyed and impressed so she takes a moment to answer.

"At the Plaza Palace," she finally says. "Under Rachel Berry Puckerman. Tell them to call me on my cell phone and take my ID with you guys. Just don't mind my mess. I didn't know what to wear last night so I-," she stammers, ashamed to admit this last bit.

"So you tried everything you had on your suitcase, right? I'm a girl, too, Rachel. Whenever I go to a party it's like a hurricane stopped by my bedroom," Tina admits with a wink and Rachel instantly feels better. She's telling Quinn about this girl as soon as she's out the door. "Look, we'll get everything together and try to be back as soon as possible. Mercedes is somewhere downstairs with Josh so you can call her if you need anything. They won't leave the house until we're back."

"Thank you both."

"We'll see you in a bit," Tina says, walking out with Artie by her side.

They leave Rachel with her thoughts. She calls Quinn and tells her not to worry because she's fine. The girls talk for a few minutes and Rachel tells Quinn she's glad someone is getting her things back for her. Quinn then says Rachel's a piece of work and they laugh. They end the call with Rachel telling Quinn she's happy that Puck has made friends in Florida he can count on. She also tells Quinn she'll keep her up to date.

The sun is setting by the time Puck finds it in himself to get back home. He feels bad about dumping Rachel on his friends, but he knows they won't criticize him.

He enters the house quietly through the backdoor to dump his sneakers in the laundry-room. Then he heads to the stairs in the living room but stops dead in his track before reaching his destination. From the kitchen doorway, where he stands, he sees Rachel, showered and sprawled on the couch, sharing snacks and watching some random movie with Artie, Tina and their friend Mike, who's probably there to give Mercedes and Josh some privacy.

No one seems to have heard him and he's content to just watch them quietly before making his presence known. His thoughts drift away. They go back to a time when things were simpler and happier. Back to when the weight of the world wasn't upon him.

"Shush, Puckerman," Quinn warns him in a stern tone.

"Make me, Fabray. You guys can't be serious. You invite my bro Finn and I to a movie marathon and want us to watch chick flicks? No fucking way," his tone is just as stern.

"Can't you two play nice? For like-I don't know, five seconds? Rachel, get your diva ass back here, please. Puck and Quinnie are at each other's throats," Kurt says loudly, urging Rachel to come and put an end to his misery.

"Coming," Rachel says.

She soon arrives with a tray of sandwiches. She is followed by Finn who's carrying some sodas and just seems happy to be spending time with Quinn, despite the movie choice.

"What happened, Kurt? Why do Quinn and Puck keep staring at each other with murderous eyes?"

"Same old. Puck hates our movie choices."

"My poor baby. But don't you worry. I have Transformers 4 in my backpack," Rachel says and Puck's eyes lighten up.

"I knew you wouldn't disappoint, babe," he compliments her. "I promise I'll reward you later, okay?" he finishes in a playful tone, making Rachel blush furiously.

Puck reminisces for a moment, but the laughter caused by one of the scenes of the movie breaks him out of his reverie. Maybe he could consider Coach Schuester's words. Maybe then movie marathons could become just as amazing as they once were.