AN: Sorry for the wait again. I really hate that it's taking me so long to get these out, but life has been dumb and busy. And I've been job hunting for what seems like forever. Sometimes I wish I lived in Neverland so I'd never have to grow up but alas I live in Ohio, which is super lame. Anyway, hope you like the chapter :) and sorry for any mistakes or typos.

Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own Glee. Nor do I own the beautiful song that is The Spill Canvas's Lullaby.

Chapter 5-Just Say the Word

Puck groaned as he exited out of the web page, "None of these songs are right."

Blaine watched, amused, from his spot. The duo had been looking up songs for around an hour and so far none had met Puck's expectations. He wanted it to be perfect for Rachel, but he wasn't having any luck. "Why don't you just focus on coming up with a song for the disco assignment and maybe the song for Rachel will just come to you by chance," Blaine suggested.

"Because disco sucks."

The mohawked boy covered his face with his hands while Blaine quietly chuckled at his frustrated friend. His expression grew serious as he tentatively asked at question that had been in his head for a while, "Hey Puck, have you thought about what you're going to do after you graduate?"

Puck all but stopped breathing; he had been thinking about this for a while himself. "You mean assuming I actually graduate," he tried to play it off.

Blaine shook his head, "Oh, you will; I know you've brought your grades up and I saw you talking to Ms. Pillsbury. Plus Rachel won't let you not graduate."

They both smiled at the thought of what Rachel would do to insure his success. Then Puck sighed and opened one his desk drawers pulling out four pieces of brochures and handed them to Blaine. "These are all places that might accept me even with my past grades and the stint in juvie. Ms. P even had me write my essay on how it positively impacted me or whatever."

Looking down at them, a smile spread across Blaine's face when he noticed that all but one of the schools where located in NYC. "Does Rachel know?"

Puck shook his head, "I was gonna wait until I found out if I was accepted or not."

"And when will that be?"

"Ms. P says that they should be coming in the mail soon." Blaine nodded in understanding and the boys fell into a contemplative quiet.

Thankfully the disco assignment passed rather quickly and the group moved on to their Whitney Houston tribute. Rachel felt her eyes water as she sang How Will I Know with Santana, Kurt, and Mercedes. The song voiced her fears. She had decided to tell Noah how she felt, but Rachel couldn't help the little doubt that he didn't feel the same creeping in her mind.

Later, Kurt walked with her in the halls and sensed her inner turmoil. "You know, he does. Everyone can see it but you; I don't know why you keep talking yourself out of telling him."

"How…" she was about to ask him how he knew what she was thinking when he gave her a bitch please look. "I don't know either. I told myself I would, but every time I go to tell him I freeze up or think that it isn't the right time."

"Sweetie, the right time for you guys to tell each other would have been like two years ago but then my idiot brother was in the way and yeah…" Kurt rolled his eyes while Rachel bit her bottom lip nervously. "Ok let's just forget about confessions of undying love for now and focus on the fact that our NYADA auditions are right around the corner."

Rachel nodded, "You're right. Have you decided on what song you're going to use?"

Kurt smiled at his ability to pull his best friend out of her worry spiral, "No I'm going to Between the Sheets later to look through some music. Want to come? Blaine didn't want to."

"So I'm just your backup plan?" Rachel teased while mocking hurt. Kurt nudged her arm playfully. She laughed before answering him, "I would love to…but I can't."

"Boo. Why not?" Kurt pouted.

"Sorry but Santana wants to talk to me and I don't know how long that will take," Rachel explained.

Kurt's pouting was replaced with curiosity, "Do you know what she wants?"

"Nope, I'll just have to wait and see."

I don't know why I like it, huh, I just do

Santana and Rachel danced in front of the others minus Finn, who was missing. The glee club all whooped and cheered as the two divas sang. Puck and Brittany pulled their phones out to record the performance. This was the first time the girls sang a duet together by their own choice. Once it was over, Rachel hugged Santana before taking her seat next to Puck. He wasted no time leaning closer, "That was crazy hot."

Rachel rolled her eyes and turned her head hoping to hide the blush that spread across her cheeks. Smirking, Puck glanced up at Blaine only to see the unhappy look on his face. He frowned and nudged Rachel, motioning her to look. Rachel became worried for her friends and she glanced at Kurt who was checking his phone. Seeing this made her frown deepen, something Puck didn't miss. He was about to ask if she knew something, but she was suddenly whisked away to the restroom with the other girls.

Puck didn't figure out what the look meant until later that night when Blaine called him, "Hey what's up man?"

"Kurt has been texting another guy," Blaine's voice was strained like he was trying not to cry.

"I'm sorry, dude that sucks. Do you want me to throw him in the dumpster? I haven't done that in a while." Puck joked trying to cheer the other boy up.

Blaine did let out a broken chuckle, "No, it's okay."

"Seriously man, it's not right." There was a pause and Puck wondered if the call dropped, "Blaine, you there?"

"Huh, yeah, I said something like that to him earlier and now I just thought of the perfect song to sing. Thanks. I just had to tell someone and you're one of my closest friends so just thanks."

Puck shrugged even though Blaine couldn't see, "No problem, I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

The next day after Blaine's solo, Puck heard Rachel take a deep breath. "What's wrong?"

"I just hope that everything works out. Everything was going so well, I don't want it to be all messed up. I hate seeing everyone so sad."

"Who all is sad?"

"Kurt, Blaine, and Quinn," Rachel gazed at her blonde friend.

Puck's brows furrowed in confusion; this was the first time he was hearing this, "Why's Quinn sad?"

"She kind of likes Joe, but thinks that because she's in the chair that he doesn't like her," Rachel let out another sigh. Puck thought about it before pulling the brunette closer to hug her.

"It will all work out."

Rachel sat on her couch, hair in a messy side braid, with a pair of cropped yoga pants and a Nike sweatshirt. Her eyes were focused on the TV while her legs were draped over Puck's lap displaying her owl socks. It gave him the perfect opportunity to admire her; she wasn't even dressed up but she still looked beautiful to him. She took a sip of some concoction that she told him would help prepare her throat for her audition. "Kurt and Blaine had couple's counseling today. I hope they worked everything out."

"Me too. So have you decided what song you're singing in your audition?"

She looked over to her companion, "I think Don't Rain on My Parade. It's my song; my first glee solo in competition."

Puck smiled at her, "Well you'll kick ass at whatever song you choose."

"Thank you Noah," she swung her legs off him. He was about to protest the lack of warmth when Rachel snuggled into his side and hugged him. Puck wrapped his arm around her and she talked, "It's so sad to think we don't have that many glee meetings left. We've all been through so much together and soon it will be over."

"I don't think it will ever be really over. I mean just because we're not in school anymore doesn't mean we won't ever see each other again," Puck comforted her. Truthfully, he didn't want it to be over either.

Rachel closed her eyes, "Can you imagine what it would have been like without it? All the friends we wouldn't have made if Mr. Schue hadn't kept it going." She wanted to add that they never would have become what they were now, but didn't.

Puck often thought about what high school would have been like without glee; what would his life would have been like. He looked down to the girl curled into him and frowned, "It would have sucked and I would definitely have ended up a Lima Loser." He silently added that it would have sucked because he wouldn't have got to know her and that he wasn't a Lima Loser because of her.

They stayed like this for a while until Rachel spoke up, "Noah, will you sing me a song? Like that night at the hospital."

She was getting tired and he knew it so he compromised, "How bout we go to your room so you don't fall asleep on the couch and then I'll sing."

"Ok," she leaned away while Puck up and when he stood she reached her arms out for him to carry her.

Puck laughed, "You are so lazy."

"But you love me anyway," Rachel said sleepily causing him to freeze. She had no clue how right she was. He didn't answer her; instead he slipped one around her back and the other beneath her knees while she wrapped her arms around his neck. Once they reached their destination, Rachel snuggled under her covers while Puck lay on top of them. He quickly thought of a song and began sing to her. He figured she would be asleep by the time he reached the half-way point and he would be right.

It's the way that you blush when you're nervous.
It's your ability to make me earn this.
I know that you're tired, just let me sing you to sleep.
It's about how you laugh out of pity,
'Cause let's be honest I'm not really that funny.
I know that you're shot, just let me sing you to sleep.

If you need anything, just the say the word.
I mean anything.
Rest assured, if you start to doze, then I'll tuck you in,
and plant my lips where your necklaces close.

It's those pills that you don't need to take,
medicating perfection, now that's a mistake.
I know that you're spent, just let me sing you to sleep.
It's your finger and how I'm wrapped around it.
It's your grace and how it keeps me grounded.
I know that you're weak, just let me sing you to sleep.

If you need anything, just the say the word.
I mean anything.
Rest assured, if you start to doze, then I'll tuck you in,
and plant my lips where your necklaces close.

While you were sleeping I figured out everything,
I was constructed for you, and you were molded for me.
Now I feel your name, coursing through my veins.
You shine so bright it's insane; you put the sun to shame.

(Oh)

If you need anything, just the say the word.
I mean anything. (I really do)
Rest assured, if you start to doze, then I'll tuck you in,
and plant my lips where your necklaces close.

If you need anything, just the say the word.
I mean anything.
Rest assured, if you start to doze, then I'll tuck you in,
and plant my lips where your necklaces close.

When he was finished, Puck checked that she was really sleeping before kissing the top of her head. He quietly got up and made his way out of her room. The badass stopped in the doorway and whispered to the sleeping girl, "I really do love you, Rach." Puck left while his whispered confession made its way into Rachel's dreams.

Rachel woke with a smile. She had dreamed that Noah had told her he loved her, unaware that it was not a dream. Searching through her closet, she found an outfit. She grabbed the coral peep-toe heels she wore with her "Finn-free" outfit to go with the strapless floral dress and coral cardigan she picked out. Before leaving her room she grabbed a coral and blue ring. Once Rachel finished eating breakfast and saying goodbye to her dads, she left for school with a smile and the feeling that it was going to be a good day.

Puck and Rachel watched Kurt and Blaine from down the hall; all four were smiling. The observing couple was unaware that they were also being observed by another pair. Brittany and Santana were analyzing the close proximity at which the diva and badass were standing. They knew neither had said anything to change their relationship status, but that didn't mean that their subconscious weren't unaware.

Blaine and Kurt began walking towards the auditorium and Rachel quickly grabbed Puck's arm, "Come on, let's go in on the other side." Rachel gave Kurt a hug when she saw him happy again with Blaine. Puck smiled and gave Blaine a high five before the four joined Mercedes and Artie on the stage. Soon all of New Directions was on the stage singing and having fun and Rachel couldn't help but wish that they all had more time together.

AN2: I know this chapter is shorter than the others but the next episode in the story is Choke, which is a major one for Rachel and I wanted it to be separate from this one so yeah. Oh and the two outfits described are on my polyvore account so check those out if you want. Here's the link: www dot polyvore dot com/ cgi/ set?id=73876709 …just take out the spaces and dots or just go to my profile if that's easier for you. :)