A/N: Noah and his flash back mostly in this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing.

So what happens next when the one who loves you the most guides you back home, what kind of things are installed for you now? What happens when the ones you love the most can't accept the choice that you make? Is it time to go at it alone, or wait for things to resurface and wait for acceptance to ensue?

Third Instalment: Down That Path

Flash Back

He hadn't really seen her since the day she left his backyard with tears running down his face. He didn't like to remember the sadness that over took her whole body and faces, leaving a shocked gasp escape her lips. Knowing he was the one who had created all that mess.

His mother had been deeply disappointed in their friendship dis-banning, and he wasn't about to tell her the real reason either. She would automatically think it was his fault, even though he knew it was, she wouldn't sway the idea any further.

He overheard his mother and the Berry's speaking about Rachel attending the same high school he was, and he was almost relieved in knowing that she would be attending the school. A glimmer of hope, going through his whole body.

Then the first day of school, she had seen him in the hallway, brown eyes locked on to brown eyes, and she had totally shunned him in front of everyone. The self-proclaimed, Bad-Ass, Puck Puckerman, being shut down by his former best friend for life. That was when he threw his first slushy at her, and also the day she became known as the fast-talking annoying Rachel Berry. HE had single handedly ruined her reputation by that one movement, and the same suit followed her every day since.

He watched her like a hawk every day after that time, feeling exactly when she was in the same vicinity as him, hiding behind smirks and comments that he didn't even recognise as his own voice any more. People were mistaking him for someone he really wasn't, and he didn't seem to mind their lack of knowledge about him.

He figured it was easier to let them make assumptions, than admit that he still pined over the loss of his friendship with the only person he knew would know him the best. Or the fact that he was incredibly well read, had attended performing school all his life, or the fact that he could sing and play the guitar incredibly or even that he was a really great dancer and performer. ONLY SHE knew that. All that he was, was pushed to the back of his mind. Noah was gone and Puck Puckerman had truly been born.

Even now, he knew by just looking at her, what kind of thoughts would be running through her head. He knew all her facial expressions, her stances, her sighs and breath's like it was his own. And it seriously pained him more than he would ever let anyone ever know.

It was easier for everyone to make all the assumptions in the world about him, and let misunderstandings fold out on to their own drama, and he would just go with it, it was better than admitting his real feelings, his real deep rooted emotions about the girl with the dark brown hair and matching eyes that went with it.

End of Flash Back

"I close my eyes and think of all the things we have to remember each other by, and realised that without you, I am nothing..." he whispered into her ears. His been spending alot of time lately, talking to her like she could hear everything that he said. Trying to act as normal as he could, not wanting to think about how badly her condition was.

"I have loved you from the moment that i laid my eyes on you, and i know that wewere just babies, but that love slowly grew into something more. Those days when we weren't talking any more, I had wished so much that I hadn't thrown everything away like that. I made us waste almost six years without each other! Six damn long years of my cowardness! And i so deeply appologixe for it all babe!" he looked back down at the bed, sleep slowing taking him once again.

Noah's Flash Back dream

"Rach, don't worry we'll be okay. We'll find the way out of here!" Noah said with conviction. He blamed himself for letting her convince him to take them on a walk to the river, beyond his better judgement. But like always, he caved into every demand that she put on him.

"I'm sorry Noah! I shouldn't have made you do this even though you said you had a bad feeling about this" she said with such regret in her tone. He was always following everything she wanted, as not to disappoint her. She knew that was one of his weaknesses.

She was now limping, after tripping and falling over a rock that she hadn't seen was right in front of her. She was too busy singing one of her favourite songs that they both sang so easily together. Years of having performed together had made them sync so easily together when they had both come into song.

"It's not your fault Rach, I should have been paying attention when we were going here, and not have let us stay out so long. Everything looks so different in the night" he saw how badly she limped, even though she did her best to hide that she was in any real pain. They had found a branch tall enough for her to use as a walking cane.

He knew she couldn't possibly continue walking any more in the state she was in. He decided to give her a piggy back ride. She gladly went onto his back, after putting up some resistance, which they both knew was pointless, because when he wanted to take care of her, it didn't matter what kind of protest she would try to push forward, he always go his way.

Relief in both their eyes, as they saw the beginning of the road that would put them straight for home. He knew at that moment, that they were always going to be together no matter what.

End of Flash Back

Noah watched as his girlfriend was lifted gently on to the gurney, and was carefully lifted into the ambulance that had arrived ten minutes earlier. He watched as they checked her pulse, breathing and watched as her head was carefully lifted so the paramedic could attach an oxygen mask around her mouth and nose, just in case she may have needed it.

He heard one of the paramedics ask him if he wanted to come along with them, and he nodded his head still reeling with the events that was taking place right in front of him. They asked him questions that may have caused her to black out and he did his best to answer all the questions they threw at him.

He slowly lifted his phone out of his pocket and called his mom and told her the news.

"Mom, I... I... its Rachel. She fainted and we're on our way to the hospital" he was struggling to hold back the tears that were threating to erupt behind his eyes. He had to be strong for her, and he bit back the tears.

They were met by everyone who cared about them, news had seemed to spread fast after he had text both Santana and Finn the same message he had spoken to his mother. There was a hefty gathering at the hospital waiting room, hearing the bad news from every avenue they could think of. It seemed to be one of the darkest days yet again. They all wondered when it would all come to an end. They had all been through enough, especially the young couple in love.

He sat in the corner of the room, aimless thoughts going through his head. Not quite knowing what he should be doing now, helplessness ran through him like fire to dead wood. He wanted to knock down the walls so he could see her again. But he knew he had to be patient, so they could help her the best way they could. His interference would just hinder the process of their knowledge.

He was glad no one came up to him, to try and console him, he was having a hard time as it was, trying not to break down and show a strong front when he was given the all clear to enter the room she was lying in now. It was making him so nervous and edgy, he felt like running a million miles away.

Noah slumped over in exhaustion against the hospital bed, his head falling on the hand that was clutching hers. He had been sitting with Rachel for the past six days now, only leaving when he had to. The nurses had done their best to cater to him as well, bring in a gurney bed so he could stretch out when he wanted to. He wanted to be the first person she saw when she first opened her eyes.

Rachel wakes up with her left hand inside Noah's one, his other hand lay carelessly on her legs, where she knew he had been running a hand worriedly up and down absentmindedly, by the look of the ruffles that he had made. He looked so peaceful lying there, for god knows how long, she knew by the look of him, that he hadn't left her side for days. She ran a careful hand through his dark brown hair, it was so nice and soft, and so comfortable to her. She knew this is exactly where she wanted to be. He was her life.

As if he could feel her eyes on him, hear the thoughts that were running through her head. He slowly lifted his head, relief seeping through his face. "OMG Rach! You're awake! Please don't ever do that again! I can't lose you again. NOT EVER!" his eyes were so fearful as he said those last words. She had the need to extract all the pain that he had felt.

"I never want to lose you either Noah! I love you so much, I can't believe I ever forgot you!" she whispered guiltily. Pulling him to stand up, to sit on the bed, she drew him in for the long awaited hug that he had been waiting for, for the last ten months. This is where he belonged.

"You're everything to me! You always have! I've just been so chicken shit. I should have manned up, I watched you every day, knowing that you were it for me, but I didn't think you'd forgive for all shit I told you that day… it was all a lie Rach. All of it! You gotta believe me!" he was so exasperated, so sincere in his words.

"Shhh Noah, it's all okay now. Shhh…" she rubbed his back as she felt the tears fall down both their faces, the tremors of their bodies as they clung to each other. Her eyes drifted closed again as exhaustion hit her.

He called the nurse and told her what had happened. It was a good sign she told him, and called her fathers' to tell them the good news.

Flash Back

"Why is everything so sad Noah?" a family friend had passed away, and the Berry' were holding Awake for him, both not really understanding what was going on, but sensed the sadness that filled the room, the look on everyone's eyes mirror the occasion.

"It's just because it is princess" he told her gently. Not really knowing the answer himself.

"What would I do without you huh?" she clutched on to him for reassurance that everything was going to be alright.

"I wouldn't have a clue" he said to her softly, drawing her close to him, as they watched the rain fall down on to the grass. They were seated in Rachel's gazebo, their favourite spot on a day such as the one they were having.

"I hope I never know what it feels like not to have you in my life ever Noah!" she said with such sorrow in her eyes, her brows bunching up in worry.

"I'm sure that'll never happen baby! I am here for as long as you want me!" he declared to her with honesty and pride that an eleven year old boy could master.

End of Flash Back

"It'll be okay won't it Rach?" Noah breathed into her hands, his face buried in the hands that clutched hers. Tears slowly ran down his face, as she watched him slowly, not wanting to disturb him in his thoughts.

"You remember everything now?" he whispered, his face so soft, exhaustion clearly marked on his sad face. Not realising that she was now awake.

"Yes baby, I remember everything. I don't ever want to forget you again!" she breathed softly enough for him to just hear her.

"I love you baby!" and he stood up and lunged forward, hugging her gently against him.

"I love you so much too baby!"

"Will you marry me?" he gulped into her hair, she was taken aback with his request. They had been through so much the past year with each other, it seemed to be the most logical thing in the world to him.

"I never want to be apart from you again. You are my life, my breathe, my everything..." he pulled away from her then, and ruffled threw his backpack, and came back with a ring in his hands.

"Rachel Berry" he said once again, his voice so filled with such emotion, that she thought he was trying to hold back tears that were threating to fall. "Will you do me the honour of spending the rest of your life with me, putting up with everything that you already do, and continuing to be just the way you are? Because when I am with you, I am the best I can ever be. I love you with every bit of my soul. I love you with every breath that I breathe. I love you like you are the only thing that I can see." With that he went on one knee and held open the ring box, taking the ring out, and picking up her hand, placing the ring on her right ring finger.

"Oh Noah, it's beautiful! OMG! OMG! YES, I WILL MARRY YOU NOAH PUCKERMAN!" they were interrupted by several gasps at the door.

Flash Back

They sat and watched as they saw a man kneel down in front of a lady, taking her hand in his, the man's nervousness cascading out of him, that it looked so cute. They couldn't make the exact words he was asking her, but they saw him draw a ring from his pocket, and ever so carefully slide in on to her finger. The whole restaurant applauded as the man took the lady into his arms, and kissed her so passionately that tears streamed down both their faces.

"I'm going to marry you one day Rach" he looked her straight in the eyes with all seriousness in his tone.

"Really Noah? Do you mean it?" she looks at his eyes with such excitement, thinking about being married to her best friend, and waking up to him every day so they could play straight away.

"I wana wake up every morning and kiss you awake" he said with pride, as though he knew exactly what it meant.

Rachel just giggled and nodded her head, thinking that it was funny what he was saying. They were only seven years old and the world seemed so happy and perfect.

End of Flashback

"Show me the ring!" Brittany squealed with excitement. She proudly showed her friend her hands, and everyone commented how absolutely beautiful it was.

"How long have you had that ring Noah?" Tina asked him curiously. She knew that he must have had it for a while, because he hadn't left the hospital in six days.

He shrugged his shoulders "for a while now, maybe a couple of months I guess" he knew the exact day he had bought it. He was walking past a jeweller one day, and a ring had caught his eyes. It looked perfect for her, so he walked in and bought it there and then and had kept it ever since.

He heard her gasp, and he quickly ran over to her with panic in his eyes, she smiled at his movements and concern for her safety. She pulled her to him, and kissed him on the lips hard. Everyone made splutter and vomiting sounds. They all laughed.

Finn arrived with flowers in his hands, her favourite. Noah and Finn exchanged knowing looks that meant he was silently thanking him for coming down and supporting them. They did their manly hug and handshake they have been doing since they were eleven.

He walked over to Rachel and let her smell her favourite flowers, then placing them in a vase that was sitting on a shell behind her bed. "Thank you so much Finn. It means a lot to us that you have come down here to see us." She said to him gratefully.

She notice his eyes bulge for a moment, with what looked like pure jealousy, before the look disappeared and changed for a more appropriate one. He looked down again at her ring finger and nodded to his friend.

"Congrats in order man" A pang of jealousy went right through him, as he did his best to hide it. He lost the most fantastic girl he will ever be with, he sighed and asked her if she wanted him to swing by her place and grab them anything they needed.

"Thanks for the offer Finn, but my dads' will be down a bit later, and Nancy always makes sure she brings something down that she thinks we may need anyway. She's very thoughtful as you know". It was getting late and everyone had started to get hungry, and decided to go down to Breadstix to eat dinner and have a catch up like they usually did once in a while. They said their goodbyes, and headed out the door, leaving the couple in love some moments of peace and quiet.

"Wow, so we're getting married then huh?" she said with credulous tone. She never in a million years ever thought she would get married young. She had for so long dreamed to become a Broadway star along with her fathers' that she didn't know when she lost the feelings she had since she was a child.

"Well we don't have to get married straight away if you don't want to you know, I just wanted to make things a lot more permanent between us. We've just been through so much, I don't want you thinking that I'm not here for the long run. I just love you so much, I never want to be apart from you again" he held so much truth in his words that it brought tears to her eyes.

"I didn't think I could love you any more than I do right now! You drive me so crazy, that if you wish it, I will marry you right here right now, in a full moon naked under the stars, on a boat headed to France. Anywhere any time, I just don't want to spend another moment without you" in that moment they kissed so passionately that they were so breathless and had to have a moment to regain their breaths.

"Well, we have to figure out what we're going to be doing now. It's almost the end of the year. You'll be off to some school in New York like you have always dreamed. And I'll be down here finishing my business degree getting ready to take over Raymond Taylor's hard ware store. We'll work something out hey baby? We always have" he said with confidence in his voice.

"I don't want to go to New York Noah. I want to stay right here with you. I realised that I never want to be apart from you ever"

"New York has always been your dream Rach. Everyone who has ears, knows that baby. We'll work something out! I promise!" he hugged her again to him.

"It's not my dream Noah... It's my fathers' dreams. I've just realised that I wanted to impressed them so much that I've just been going along with whatever they wanted for years... It's not what I want any more" she said honestly. He was looking at her with shock written alone along his face.

"You can't change your dreams for me Rach. I won't hear of it okay. I can study business anywhere, where ever you are I will follow!" he said with conviction.

"No Noah. You have been groomed to take over Raymond Taylor's warehouse since you were fifteen years of age. You can't change your dream for me. I've been thinking about this before all this debacle between us happened. I have always loved to teach, like I've been doing for a while now, with the youth kids at the youth centre. That's what I love doing, and that's what I want to continue doing" as she finished her words, her dads' had pushed the door opened, walking in.

(Quick A/N: Just so it won't be so confusing and you know which father is talking and which one Rachel is replying too. It will go like this: Marcus is referred to as daddy and calls Rachel: Honey. Stanley will be referred to as dad and will be calling Rachel: pumpkin)

"Honey, do you know what you are saying? What we just over heard you saying, you can't be serious!" Marcus demanded from his only daughter.

"Sorry you had to hear it that way daddy, but I just can't keep lying to myself any more. I realised that with everything that has happened, that we aren't all going to be here forever. And I can't keep living your dreams that you want for me to live. I have to be true to myself" she couldn't believe what she was saying to her fathers'. They both looked on with astonishment masking their faces.

"Pumpkin. Now I know that you've been through a lot this year. But you can't just throw it all away, you have worked so hard to accomplish since the day you were born honey! It's okay to be scared. We all were so scared for the both of you." Stanley Berry spoke next.

"You've been through more than anyone has a right to, this year, but you can't just give up on your dream honey"

"It's not my dream any more daddy" Rachel whispered softly, wishing she wasn't breaking both her fathers hearts. But she couldn't do it anymore. Noah was right, they had to think of the future now.

"Don't be so hasty pumpkin, we will be hear all the way. No matter what trouble come's our direction"

"It's more than that dad, I've been thinking about this for a long time now. Even before Noah came back into my life again" her fathers gasped as they knew it would have been going through her head for the last two years now.

"Do you really feel that what honey?"

"Because we will support you in whatever you decided, okay?'

"But just give it a rest, and see how you feel at the end of the year okay?" her father compromised with her. And she just shook her head, not wanting to further their disappointment and living a lie any longer.

"No dads', I've made up my mind. I will be going to Ohio State. And I'll be studding alongside, Noah. But he'll be doing business and I'll be doing a teaching degree." This was the first time she had ever really defied her fathers' suggestion. She had always held her fathers' opinion with the utter most respect and dedication. But this time, she had to be honest to herself, and most of all her fathers'.

"So this is about leaving Noah then?" he looked at her and they both shook their heads.

Her daddy shaking his head because he couldn't believe her daughter would give away her dreams for a boy. She shook her head because she didn't want Noah being blamed for the cause of her decision.

"There is NO WAY, you are doing such a thing Rachel! We've all worked too damn hard to watch you throw it all away!" they watched as her daddy stood up and stormed out of the room.

"You sure about this pumpkin?" her dad asked her softly. She nodded and he knew they both had to accept her decision one way or another.

"Your daddy will come around soon pumpkin. We'll just let him blow off some steam okay. It's just a huge shock to the system, you know what I mean? We have all been working so hard to get you through all this, and then to hear this?" he said softly, trying hard to mask his disappointment, that was clearly marked in his eyes. He kissed her on the head as he went after her daddy.

Flash Back

Tears ran down Stanley and Marcus Berry's faces as they watch their daughter in her first ever ballet performance. They were doing Thumbelina, and their daughter had won the lead role. She wore a golden white dress, with matching stockings and ballet shoes, her hair plated around her face to make the appearance that she was wearing a crown, a thing white gold lace was threaded in and out of her hair, ending in a nice bow at the base of her neck. She was so beautiful that it blew everyone away.

She had the mantra of a star in the making. She seemed to glow like a firefly, which had become a nickname somewhat among her peers and teachers. She was a born performer alright! It looked like she was just made to do what she did.

"Baby you were perfect out there" her daddy whispered through his tears. They couldn't be more proud of her than they already were.

"OMG you looked like an angel had landed on the stage and had captured every ones attention! You were magnificent out there tonight pumpkin!" her dad gushed out through more tears that he couldn't control.

"Daddy, dad! You're going to make me mess my make up, and ruin my dress! All this crying going to make me start tearing up as well!" she saw their eyes shining with pride towards her, and she didn't ever want to see those eyes change when it came to looking at her. Their little family may not be the conventional type that were seen nowadays, but she wouldn't change it for the world. She would choose her two days over having a real mother any day!

She hugged her dads' and went back on stage for the second act.

End of Flash Back

"So now let's discuss the ring that's attached nicely to your finger..." Nancy said to them both later that day, two eyes just starred up at the older woman, both dumbfound, still reeling from her fathers' departures.

"It's still early days ma" he told his mother. "We don't want to go beyond ourselves yet. We still have this year to finish. Rach will still be in hospital for another five days, and she still has to apply for college when she gets out." Noah told his mother, trying to reel in all the things that they all knew would be going through her head right about now. They all knew she had been dreaming about this moment since the day the Berry's had brought her home from hospital.

Rachel smiled at the interaction that went on from mother to son. She loved the little arguments that would go on between each of them. She saw the affection behind his eyes as he looked at his mother's eyes, knowing farewell that he wasn't as annoyed as he claimed to sound.

That night Noah and Rachel lay quietly in her hospital bed, each lost in deep thought, wondering what was in store for them when reality finally checked back in to their lives. They took turns looking over at each other, knowing that they were exactly where they wanted to be. Hands clasped in each other's grasps, both not wanting to let go ever. They fall asleep, happiness clearly marked on their faces.