Chapter 11

Rachel floated back into her apartment on a fluffy pink cloud of happiness. She had never sensed a greater connection to another person than she now felt toward Noah. Her fears about the future were washed away by her contentment with the present. She had just helped herself to another mug of coffee when the phone rang.

"Hello, Berry! How was it? Can you walk?" Santana greeted Rachel.

"I'm fine, Santana; how are you," Rachel replied, ignoring Santana's blunt (and borderline lewd) conversational opener.

"Come on, B; out with it…was he good? He must have the skills, from what Blainers said…"

"Really, Santana, how do you know that he stayed over?" Rachel questioned her.

"Don't tell me that he didn't," she suspiciously retorted, "I saw the way you two were looking at each other last night. There is no way that you slept alone…"

"OK, San, you win," Rachel acquiesced, "He did spend the night."

"OK, give…I want details," Santana requested.

"It was lovely, San," Rachel answered, sighing contentedly, "I've never felt so in synch with anybody in my life."

Santana rolled her eyes; obviously Rachel was not going to provide a blow-by-blow of her evening's activities. "I'm happy for ya', Rach, but you know I'm not lookin' for the 'hearts and flowers' crap," Santana attempted to clarify her request.

"San, I know what you're asking, and, sorry, but I have no intention of satisfying your prurient curiosity," Rachel confirmed.

Santana knew when to back down. "OK, B, I know when I'm licked…no pun intended, by the way," she said. "I'm happy for you…see, I was right about the red sweater."

"Yes, you were, San," Rachel agreed, smiling as she mused over the prior night.

"When do ya' think you'll see him again?" she asked.

"Tonight, after the show, actually," Rachel answered.

"Very cool, girlfriend," Santana replied. "Don't forget to use protection," she teasingly reminded Rachel, who laughed at the comment.

"Don't worry, San; we've got that under control," she advised.

"I'll bet you do," Santana sardonically responded. "Well, I gotta rock…talk to you tomorrow, kid."

"Bye, San; thanks for calling," Rachel ended the call, hanging up afterward.

True to his word, Noah was waiting for Rachel after the show carrying a bouquet of mixed spring flowers in one hand and a duffel bag in the other. He wore his FDNY uniform and a silly, love-struck grin. Rachel's expression matched his own as she excused herself from the autograph-seekers and picture-takers and walked quickly toward him. "These are for you," he began, "to thank you for last night, and for many nights to come."

"Thank you, Noah, they're beautiful," she graciously accepted the flowers. "But I only get flowers once, and you expect a repeat performance?" she asked with a cocked eyebrow and sly grin.

"Yep; that's how it works," he deadpanned, winking at her.

"Guess I'll have to take what I can get, then," she teasingly accepted her "fate". He wrapped his now-free arm around her waist, and they began walking toward the subway station.

"Did you talk to Beth?" she asked.

"Yeah," he replied, "there are 22 people in all, 23 if you count me."

"Well, yours I can get for free," she explained. "As for the others, I asked, and the tickets will cost $33 apiece, if they're interested, that is."

"Beth sounded really excited about it," he confided. "We, that is, you and me, Beth, and her parents, can get together for an early dinner/late lunch before you need to go and get ready…if that works for you, of course," he suggested, deferring to Rachel's pre-performance schedule.

"That'll probably be best," she confirmed. "Once the play is over, the kids will need to get some sleep so they're fresh for their competition. I remember it well…"

"Were you in show choir, Rachel?" Noah inquired.

"Of course," she replied with a grin, "so were San and Kurt. Our group was the 'Vocal Raiders', and we placed at Nationals twice and won junior year," she recalled.

Noah chuckled, explaining, "I was, too. Our glee club was the 'New Directions', or, as Sam called it, 'Nude Erections'. We placed at Nationals once when I was in school, but they didn't win until Blaine was a student. I think they won his senior year, maybe junior too."

"He is talented…" Rachel mused as they boarded the subway train for home.

Friday afternoon found Rachel and Noah waiting expectantly outside of a Chinese restaurant near the theater district. "Calm down, Noah," Rachel gently admonished him, touching him on the forearm. "They'll be here soon."

"Yeah, I know," he replied. "I just…well, I haven't seen her in two years and…I mean, she's my daughter, but she's not my daughter…"

"You enabled her to have a great life when you were ill-equipped to provide one for her," Rachel reminded him, "and when she reached out to you, you were there for her. Don't worry, Noah, it'll be fine." They kissed, and he held Rachel tightly to his side as they awaited the visitors.

Shortly thereafter, a couple who looked to be in their early 40s appeared down the block, accompanied by a teenage girl. As they grew closer, the girl spotted them and broke free from the adults, sprinting down the sidewalk until she held Noah in a firm embrace. She was a pretty girl: fair-complected, about 5'6", with medium brown wavy hair and intense hazel eyes that Rachel instantly recognized. "BD, it's great to see you!" she exclaimed, looking up at Noah.

"Good to see you too, kiddo," he replied, hugging her back. "Welcome to New York."

The girl glanced at Rachel curiously, inquiring, "Who're you? Who is she, BD?"

"Rachel, this is Beth Madison, my biological daughter; Beth, this is Rachel Berry, my girlfriend."

Beth's mouth dropped open, her eyes popping with astonishment. "O. M. G. Rachel Berry, the Broadway star? Wow!" she cried out. "I never thought I'd actually get to meet you! Thank you for the tickets, Rachel! Everybody is totally stoked to see the show!"

Rachel chuckled at her ebullient response, humbly responding, "It's nice to meet you, too, Beth, and you're welcome. I appreciate the compliment, but I'm not exactly a 'Broadway star', just a fortunate working actress."

"Working actress?" Beth interjected, "You're like, totally the most famous person to come from Shaker Heights since, like, Paul Newman."

Rachel, who was now laughing, responded, "If I'm the second-most famous person from Shaker Heights, Ohio, that really says a lot about the city…or maybe not so much." As they were all laughing, Beth's parents finally approached.

"Rachel, these are Bruce and Elise Madison, Beth's parents," Noah began the introductions. "Elise and Bruce, this is my girlfriend, Rachel Berry."

Rachel greeted them, and, noticing the obvious, added, "Congratulations on your new baby."

"Thanks," Elise replied. "This is pretty much our little miracle," she began, gently touching her rounded abdomen. "We tried for a long time to have a baby, and eventually we were told that we couldn't conceive; we were blessed to adopt Beth. Obviously, nature had a surprise in store for us."

"Yeah, I'm gonna be a big sister," Beth remarked, "just in time to graduate and go away to college."

"Graduate?" her father jokingly interjected, "You're only a sophomore. You'll be around for at least two more years, so don't go packing up just yet."

"Yes, Daddy," she acquiesced. "See what I put up with?" she teased.

After an enjoyable meal, the Madisons left to rejoin their group and Noah and Rachel had some time to themselves before she had to arrive at the theater. They walked through the downtown streets, window shopping and people-watching.

"She's a lovely girl, Noah," Rachel softly commented.

"Thanks; yeah, she is," he wistfully agreed. "I can't help myself, though," he mused, "I'll always wonder how it would have been if I could've kept her."

"You can't go there, Noah," Rachel advised. "She has parents who obviously adore her and she seems well-adjusted and happy, all because you were willing to sacrifice what you wanted so she could have a better life than a couple of teenagers could provide."

"You're right," he acquiesced, "especially when those teenagers could barely stand each other."

"Are you going to their performance tomorrow?" Rachel inquired.

"Yeah, I don't have to work until late; would you like to join me?"

"I'd love to, Noah, but I have the Saturday matinee," she replied. "Since I took off last Saturday night, I hate to miss either performance this weekend."

"I can appreciate that, Rachel," he admitted, "I understand how important this production is to you." Rachel smiled, replying "Thank you, Noah".

After they had walked a little further, Rachel continued, "When I met with my vocal coach this week, she recommended that I cut back to give my voice a rest. I'm going to talk with the director and see if Summer can take one of the slower nights and possibly alternate Saturday matinees."

"Sounds like a great idea, Rach," Noah concurred.

"I've been wrapped up in the play since I took over the role," she explained, "and being with you has reminded me that I'm entitled to a life, too."

"Glad I could help," he remarked with a grin, drawing her in for a kiss, which she happily returned.

"By the way," Noah interjected, changing the subject as they walked along, "I've ordered a couple of things for Maisie; they should come in next week."

"That's so thoughtful, Noah," Rachel acknowledged, "but you didn't have to."

"Yeah, I kinda did…" he teased. "I picked up a bed and a dish stand for my place. Now we can be together there, too."

"Oh, Noah!" she sighed, embracing him in the process. The consideration he had shown toward her dog proved that he was vested in the relationship, and the last of Rachel's reservations melted away. Past bad relationships faded into oblivion, and as they stood on a street corner in downtown Manhattan, Rachel Berry realized that, come what may, she was in love with Noah Puckerman.

They reached the theater with plenty of time to spare, and Rachel invited Noah back to her dressing room. "Contrary to Beth's estimation, this is not the 'Star dressing room'," Rachel commented. "Faye has that." Upon entering the small room, Rachel immediately noticed two bouquets of flowers on her dressing table. There was an arrangement of red carnations with a card "Only the state flower is good enough for Ohio's favorite star. Thank you for the tickets", signed by all of the choir members, their coach, accompanists, and chaperones. "This was so sweet of them," she mused, admiring the bright display.

Rachel then turned her attention to the second one: a dozen red-tipped yellow roses from Noah. He had written on the card: "Rachel: The florist told me that these roses symbolize both friendship and falling in love, and the name of the variety is 'Perfect Moment'. You're not only a great friend, Rachel - I'm falling in love with you. All of our moments may not be perfect, but I wouldn't have them any other way. XOXO, Noah". Joyful tears ran down her cheeks as she turned to face him. "Do you really mean this, Noah?" she quietly asked, holding the card out to him.

"Every word," he tenderly replied, stepping closer to brush away her tears.

"Oh, Noah," she softly moaned as they embraced and began kissing, at first chastely, then quickly escalating in intensity.

Rachel pulled away a bit before passion took over and there was no turning back. "Noise carries here," she advised.

"That's OK," he acquiesced, stroking her hair, "this'll keep 'til later."

"Noah, I have to start 'getting green' now," she advised him.

"All right, I'll go find my seat," he decided. "I'll meet you after the show."

"Thank you for the roses, Noah; they're magnificent," she confirmed.

"Only the best for you, Baby," he replied with a wink. They kissed once again, and Noah left her alone to begin the lengthy process of transforming into 'Elphaba' and warming up her voice for the evening performance.

Author's Note: The "Raiders" is the team name at Shaker Heights High School; the "Vocal Raiders" is a made-up name for purposes of the story. Thanks to the guest who pointed out my earlier mistake; either I copied the name down incorrectly or simply couldn't read my handwriting. ;-)

So as not to be confusing with the "winning Nationals" thing, Rachel is still a year ahead of Blaine, so her junior year would have been Blaine's sophomore year, and his junior year the New Directions won, beating the Vocal Raiders in what was Rachel's senior year. ;-)

Also, one may assume that Beth's parents thanked Rachel during lunch. :-)