A/N – I'm so sorry about this taking so long to update! School's just started and everything is a little crazy for me right now. I'm doing the best I can though.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own GLEE, there would be no Quinn in the way of my Puckleberry happiness.

Chapter Three:

'From the beginning' is not what Puck thinks it's supposed to be. He figures they'll start from when they were little kids; so when Rachel starts at the beginning of high school, Puck is a little more than upset. Rachel must notice, for she stops talking to give him a questioning look.

"I figured you meant we were going to discuss everything in this 'from the beginning' talk," he says. Rachel nods slowly.

"Yes, well, we will, eventually. Right now I don't think you have time to do that though. You only have a fifteen minute break, and I have to be at work soon," she cuts herself off, knowing exactly what's coming next.

"Then let's meet after we're both out of work. We can go somewhere or something," he doesn't really know where this comes from, but the words come out anyway.

All Rachel thinks about at work that day is why she agreed to meet him later. They need to talk, she knows that. She's just not entirely sure she's ready to talk yet. So, she's a little bit distracted, yes; she becomes even more so when she notices the tan muscular man in question enter the studio. Twenty minutes later he's still watching her with that infuriatingly handsome smirk on his face while she ends her last class for the day. Now all she has to do is get through their talk in one piece. Probably easier said than done…

They sit at a small diner, where his sister is currently working, and trying to eavesdrop, and at first it's silent. Puck tries to think of something he can say, but honestly, he doesn't know what he needs to. He almost says something to break the silence, when she starts talking.

"Do you ever think that maybe this was supposed to happen," she wonders watching him for any signs of anger.

"What? Us not being together? I mean I figured we'd grow out of it, but I guess that didn't happen," he says. He really doesn't get where she's going with this.

"Maybe we weren't ever really supposed to be together. Maybe we just thought we were because of what our parents, and the people at temple, used to say about, and to, us. Maybe it was never supposed to be you and I, in the end," Rachel says, continuously looking for signs of anger. He doesn't show it if he's feeling it though.

"So, that's it then? That's how you're going to make this end, with it being one big lie between us," he's starting to get more and more angry by the minute.

"No, not a lie-," he cuts her off.

"Then what the fuck would it be, Rachel," he's not only angry now, he's really trying not to cry.

"It would be a misunderstanding. Something that everyone really did expect to happen, but it just didn't. That's not a lie," she really wants him to understand.

"Misunderstanding my ass. You're just trying to make yourself feel better about all this. Well, guess what, it's not gonna happen. I'm not gonna feel better about this, and neither are you. Nothing either of us does will change that. I'll admit it, I fucked up. You did what I should have and walked away," he pauses at the sight of her eyes welling with tears, takes a deep breath, and goes on. "I didn't though, Rach, and I regret it every time I walk through my door and it's Quinn in my kitchen, or my bedroom, or anywhere and not you," he finishes in this quiet, almost shy, voice and it breaks her heart a little bit.

"Noah, what did you do to Rachel," his sister is back, and screaming at him.

"No, Sarah, it's okay. He didn't do anything, it was just the conversation in general," Rachel says as she stands. "Noah, I… I'm sorry, I wasn't ready for this conversation," she watches him for a moment, before turning away, and leaving the diner.

When she walks through her door five minutes later, she finds Santana and Brittany curled up on the couch, sleeping. As she grabs the throw blanket off the back, she can't help but think that 'at least something good came out of their talks'. After making sure they were both covered well enough, she walks toward her bedroom. She frowns when she sees the scrapbook she made years ago. Tonight, she just can't bring herself to look at those pictures. She decides then and there that within the next week, her and Noah will finish having their conversation. She just isn't sure what time this week.

It's been three days since he poured his fucking heart out to Rachel, and he hasn't seen her since she left him at the diner. He's been moping around lately and Quinn is starting to take notice. He doesn't really mind that she knows something is bothering him; what bothers him is that she keeps trying to make him talk about it. Like, really, when was the last time he shared his feeling with anyone? Besides Rachel. Sighing, he stands up from working on this woman's car, and sees Santana standing at the front desk. He sighs and thinks he's in for it.

"Puckerman, come here, I gotta talk to you," slowly, he walks toward her. "Look, I know you didn't do anything wrong, but Rachel's all mopey, and I want you to talk to her. I was hoping shit between you two would be well on your way to the bedroom after you talked, but all she wants to do now, is sit in her bedroom," he shakes his head.

"San, I can't go talk to her again. I tried, I told her what I was feeling, and I don't do that, and she left. She left, San. I can't go through that feeling again. I can't watch her walk away again."
Puck, listen to me. She needed some time to process what you said; I think she's had enough. Please try. I can't stand seeing her like this anymore. Britts and I will get outta the house tonight. Try to talk to her, we'll be back around midnight," without waiting for his response, she's walking away. He's left thinking about trying to talk to Rachel again, and the fact the Brittany's back…

He shows up at her house at about seven. True to her word, Santana's car is nowhere in sight. He knocks lightly on the door, hears a faint 'coming' and waits for her to open the door.

"Noah," she breathes out when she sees him.

"Look, we need to talk about this Rachel. For me to be the one trying to talk about something, it has to be serious. Now, let me in, and we're going to do this," she doesn't even fight him, just moves aside and lets him in.

"I shouldn't have run out before, I apologize," she says, looking down at her feet.

"'s fine. You needed time I get it. I've given you some now, and I really wanna finish this," he notices her sharp intake of breath, and realizes what he said. "Not us, I wanna finish the talk."

"Okay," she nods, "we can try."

Two hours later, they're sitting on her couch, she's got a tissue in one hand, and his hand in the other. He can't help the little smile that's on his face.

"Noah, all I want is to be with you," he looks at her, shocked, "I just can't make you leave Quinn. I don't wanna be the homewrecker. But, I love you," she frowns to herself, and still can't look at him.

"Rach," he says softly, "baby, I love you, too. It doesn't matter what I've done to try not to, I just can't stop."

She looks up at him now, tears streaming down her cheeks, but a small smile on her face, as well.

Puck wipes the tears from her face, leans toward her, and presses his lips to hers, for the first time in a really long time.

Neither of the hears the click of the door opening and closing.

Chapter Three.

A/N – Uh oh. I feel bad, cause I don't know if this chapter is good enough. This is what I've got though, so….

Hopefully you enjoyed!

Love,

Katie!