AN: I miss updating... the thrill of watching the review pop up...

Just so you guys know how I work, I write my quippy AN at the beginning first, write the chapter, write the last AN and then write my thanks to reviews right before I update. I just switched screens onto my reviews (which I always do because I like thanking you guys) and then 'Pump it Up' came on my iPod and I thought it was perfect cause seriously, you guys make my day.

KeepSteady & 1sweetmoment: More people boosting my ego!!! Hehehe... I'm still dancing to 'Pump it Up'... THANKS! Oh and to 1sweetmoment... Niiiceee... I'll let you imagine that because I'd probably dedicate a whole chapter to Puck getting changed... sigh the whimsical nature of a single 17 year old with an over active imagination... never thought I'd be like this.

Alimard: Hehehe... Yeah Quinn/Finn ain't really stuff I like reading too (I love my Puckleberry juice) but I had get Quinn in on the whole Isla thing somehow (you'll see why down the page) and like I don't think Finn would've opened up like that to one of the boys and Rachel was already gone... Oh yeah, and I'm cool with stalkers... Seriously, I have three... four including you.

TheFemaleWinchester: Ha!

Oh and I know I'm updating within like 4 hours but whatever... I'm home alone with lasagne... What else am I going to do?

Disclaimer: (cuz I haven't done it for a while...) If I owned Glee, Puckleberry would be on like Donkey Kong and Terri Shuester would be sucking faces with Ken Tanaka (just for the funzies)

The talk Puck was dreading more than anything was about to come and Puck wasn't sure how he felt about it.

He decided to have a shower and found some mouth wash under the sink and pretty much gargled half the bottle. He pulled on the sweats and t-shirt and looked at himself in the mirror. "You're a friggin chick." he muttered. "Grow a pair and face 'em like a dude." Puck nodded to himself and opened the door to find Rachel Berry falling back through the door and onto her back in front of him.

He looked down at her, one eyebrow raised. Rachel turned bright red and just stared at Puck, totally wide eyed. "You okay there, Berry?"

Rachel nodded quickly. "Fine." she said. "I'll get up now."

"Yeah, maybe you should." he retorted as he watched her scuttle up off the floor. "Making sure I don't die or something?"

Rachel frowned. "You do understand that, that is an extremely horrible thing to say, especially when everyone is so worried about your welfare, myself included."

"No one told you to worry Berry." Puck grunted. He then saw her face became a deeper red and sighed. "But thanks. I still can't stand the light but you made it... better." He only said it to stop her from lecturing him, he swears. "So uh, you pepper-sprayed my dad."

With a sigh Rachel walked over to the vanity. "It would seem that way." While Puck had attempted to drown himself, Mike and a handful of helpers yanked the carpet out from underneath the bed and stripped back the sheets and took off the mattress protectors. Now the room needed to be aired out and Puck decided to take care of that himself. He walked over to the closest window and pushed it open with a groan.

"What?" Rachel asked.

Puck flinched. "Finn's here."

"It would seem that he's the only one you're truly afraid of. Why is that?"

With a roll of his eyes he started towards the door. "You ever seen a puppy crying?"

"No, I haven't. But I would imagine it would be somewhat saddening."

"Yeah well, Finn makes a puppy crying look a tough as stones. Finn's the puppy crying because another puppy is crying. I can't handle it." Puck shivered inwardly. "It's odd and unnatural and makes him look like a girl."

Rachel pursed her lips. "I don't think that's why you don't want to see him. Well, not really."

Puck frowned at her. "Oh really? Tell me, oh great one, why I really don't want him to see me."

"Well, the whole puppy crying theory is probably right. But it's not because of the whole odd and unnaturalness. You just don't like it when he shows you a more vulnerable side of himself when it is for your benefit, out of guilt. You feel guilty for making him upset and uncomfortable that it is your fault." Damn.

"No Berry." Puck lied. "It's not that at all." He didn't say anything else but walked out of the room and downstairs (gripping tightly to the banister on his way down). But it was. And he knew Finn wouldn't say anything in front of Mike so he was glad to see him and Matt at the door along with Finn.

"So, what's happening tonight boys?" Puck slapped on the usual grin and clapped hands with Matt and Finn. "Pizza, Halo and beer?"

The other three boys exchanged looks and Puck groaned, knowing he wasn't going to get out of this one easily. In truth, usually Puck's hissy fits were a lot less than this. Decking some kid, pushing someone into a locker, dumping someone into a dumpster, slushieing some kid... only one other time had he fucked up this royally to get Finn's concerned eyes. "Oh fuck, don't go chick on me Finn." Puck rubbed a hand through his mohawk. "What do you want me to say? I got the shits, I drank, I decided it would be fine to go to school and I'm fine now. Thanks by the way, Matt. Not to you Mike cause I might've been plastered but I'm pretty sure I remember saying once or twice that you shouldn't call Finn..."

"I saw you this morning Puck." Finn said. "Then after lunch I went to the liquor cabinet. It was pretty much empty."

"I was really pissed. Figuratively and literally. Can we please just order the damn pizza?" Puck turned away and walked straight to the living room, trying to get away from Finn more than Matt or Mike. Matt and Mike, they'd buy him a beer and get him pizza. Finn, would talk about feelings.

Why couldn't he have a best friend who was more emotionally sound than a three year old? With more brains too.

"Let's just, play some x-box, okay?" Puck called out over his shoulder. Matt shrugged at Finn and Mike was already following Puck to the games room. So they played x-box. And ordered pizza. And made fun of Couch Tanaka for almost an hour. Mike's fourteen year old brother David, came in at one stage and started playing too, stealing pizza and his twelve year old sister came in too, searching for her lost DVD.

It was then, as Erica was searching for her Hannah Montana disc case, that Puck remember something important. Something he should've thought about as soon as he woke up. His eyes darted to Finn and then checked the surrounding area. "Where's Isla?"

Finn opened his mouth to say something with a mouth full of pizza but Matt beat him to the punch. "Quinn is doing some girly thing with Dani, Britt and San." Matt explained. "And she invited Isla too."

Puck's jaw dropped. Isla and Quinn? Quinn, taking care of his sister? Quinn hated him, why would she be nice to his sister. And Santana was there. And Brittany. Puck glared at Finn, standing up and almost throwing the controller. "You left my six year old sister with Quinn and Santana, both of whom hate me and Britt who can't figure out how to use a light switch?" He shook his head and looked to Mike. "Where are the keys to my truck?"

"Puck, man they'll be fine." Finn tried to reason but Puck was glaring at Mike who shrugged.

"Put them on the bedside." Mike said standing up. "But how about I drive..."

Puck didn't let Mike finish but stormed upstairs. He'd had enough. He was going to go, grab his sister and get away from all of this crazy. He couldn't stand it. Didn't want to and just... Argh! The words wouldn't even come to his head he was out of it. He went into the guest room and saw Rachel standing in front of the bed, fumbling with his car keys. "Berry?" he exclaimed. "Are you still here?"

Rachel nodded. "I didn't know whether or not to come down so I didn't." she said simply. "But I heard you arguing with Finn just then and, I agree with Mike. You shouldn't be driving Puck."

Puck narrowed his eyes. "Berry, give me my keys."

But Rachel just shook her head, clutching her fingers around them. "Please, Puck just let me drive you wherever you want to go."

Puck took a step forward and Rachel took a step a backward. "Give me the keys." he insisted. "Seriously, don't piss me off right now."

And again, she just shook her head. "Puck, you can't drive. Not now."

"I'm almost eleven hours sober."

"Ten hours."

"Whatever."

Rachel clutched his keys tighter. "Let me drive you. I beg you. Let me drive you this once. To your sister and then to wherever you want. I promise, I won't talk, I won't drive too slowly, I won't try to figure out what is wrong with you and pry. Just let me drive you and then, if you're feeling up to after that, I will bring you back here and you can drive your truck."

Puck stared at Rachel, trying to figure out what her motive was, trying to figure out where she was coming from. Her confidence was unbreakable, her determination was steely and her face set in complete sadness, her bottom lip puckering just like in his dream.

And that dream felt like so long ago, but he felt it drag him into a safety net because only after that dream, of Rachel and her brave front could he sleep off the vodka. "Fine." he relented. "You can drive me. I don't care. Just get me to Quinn's and then home."

Rachel nodded and picked up her school bag in the corner of the room. She left and he followed, trying to figure how he was going to snag his keys because she put them in the front pocket of her pink cardigan. He followed her downstairs to where Mike and Finn were. "Rachel?" Finn frowned. "Since when have you been here?"

"Oh shit, sorry Rach." he gave a lopsided grin. "I kind of forgot you were here. Why didn't you come down?"

Rachel shrugged. "I didn't know if I should."

Mike and Finn exchanged confused looks but Puck was pushing Rachel along. "Come on, we don't have all day."

Rachel nodded in agreement and went to leave. "I'm going to take him to see his sister. That way, he won't be driving under the influence and we can all be sure..."

"Come on Berry." Puck pushed past his so called friends and past Rachel too. "I'm not getting any younger here."

Rachel shot both boys an apologetic look before rushing out and following Puck to her car. He stared down at the thing and raised both of his eyebrows. Getting in of that thing would be difficult so as soon as she unlocked the door, he opened his and pushed the seat back to its furthest extremities. He got in and balled up his knees. "This is not fun." he muttered.

Rachel looked at Puck and couldn't help but snort with laughter. "Are you comfortable Noah?" she couldn't help but ask. He shot her a look that told her when she could put her questions but she just tried to force the grin off her face.

Puck had to instruct Rachel on how to get to Quinn's house and eventually they arrived in front of her house. (Another mansion Rachel noted). Puck got out of the car and headed straight to the door. "Noah!" Rachel got out of her car and followed him up the driveway. "Noah do you really think it is the smartest thing to do to go storming in there and yelling at Quinn in front of your sister?"

"Who said I'm going to yell?" Puck asked her. "I'll go in, grab Isla and get out. Okay?" Puck didn't even turn around as he spoke. He went to knock on the front door when he caught a glimpse of something through the front window. His little sister was sitting in Brittany's lap, talking animatedly as Santana painted her small nails. Quinn laughed at something Isla was saying while she was putting make up on Daniela. Isla had her hair up in curlers and red lipstick on her miniature lips. Her green eyes were filled with happiness and glittering from what Puck could see. The girls had her dressed in one of their t-shirts and slippers, which were both too big and they were all in their pyjamas.

Quinn said something that got Isla's eyes wide as pie and Isla pushed herself off of Brittany and flung herself into Quinn's arms. Puck felt his stomach clench as he saw Quinn wrap her arms around Isla, their faces squashed together. He could hear the girls laughing and 'awwing' at the same time and then Brittany pulled out a bowl of popcorn and the girls all started watching some Barbie movie.

Isla loved Barbie.

Quinn kissed Isla on the cheek and laughed but then she saw Puck just standing outside, looking dumbstruck. Her eyes softened and she told the girls she'd be back in a minute. Puck moved out of view from the window and waited for Quinn to come outside. She shut the door quietly behind her and crossed her arms over her chest to fight off the cold. She didn't know that in Puck's mind he was imagining a blonde version of his sister, hugging Quinn in the same fashion Isla just had but her own thoughts weren't that far off either. "How are you?" she asked softly. She noted Rachel Berry standing at her car only a few feet away but didn't mention anything.

Puck shrugged, shoving his hands into his pocket. "Fine. Just... looking." He looked to the ground and scuffed his shoe. "Um, about this morning..."

"It's in the forgettery." Puck chuckled at the old joke he used to have with Quinn from back in elementary. They had been friends briefly in year five but like most childhood friendships, it was fleeting.

"Cool." he nodded at Isla. "She looks like she's having fun."

"Surprisingly she's keeping us entertained with some particularly hilarious stories about her great brother Noah." Puck groaned and Quinn smirked. "You wouldn't know who Noah is, would you?"

"No idea." Puck muttered. "I'll have to talk to her about that. But uh... not tonight. Would your parents kill you, or me, if Isla stayed here the night. Not to put you out or anything but like, she's having fun and she probably needs it after today." Not that he knew his sister's day had been difficult too but he still felt bad about the whole yelling thing.

Quinn nodded. "It's fine. Britt and San are staying over anyway and I'm sure I can find something in the attic that will fit her for tomorrow. Plus my parents think I'm doing a big-sister program and I told them there was a pretty big chance Isla would be staying over."

Puck hadn't even considered that tomorrow was a school day but if Quinn said she had it covered, he knew the ex-head-cheerleader had it covered.

He dug into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. "Here's like fifteen bucks. It'll buy her lunch and breakfast for school tomorrow."

He tried handing it to her but Quinn pushed it back to him. "Us girls don't buy lunch. We make it. Trust me. San, Britt and I have it covered. Go, sleep it off."

Puck nodded, a smile gracing his features. "Uh, don't tell her I came. She'll get upset. I'll call later to tell her myself." He gave a small wave and went to go.

"You know Puck," Quinn made him look over his shoulder. "You should be like this more often."

Puck gave her his best snarky grin and raised an eyebrow. "Got no idea what you're talking about MILF."

"And there's the arsehole we all know and love." Quinn turned on her heel and headed back inside. "Goodnight." she called out.

"Night." he said back before jogging down the drive to Rachel. He looked at her confused face and shrugged. "What?"

Rachel opened her mouth to say just what she thought but Puck put his hand in front of him. "No, you know what? I take that back. I like you a lot better when you're quiet. Can you just take me home? Please?"

Rachel shut her mouth closed and gave him a cold glare before jumping into her car. Puck sighed and got in after her. She didn't turn on the radio so after the initial smooth start up noise of the car, the silence was deadly. Now he regretted it. "Okay, let me have it before you explode and I see what you're really made of."

"I shall not speak my mind if it is not what you would have me do." Rachel replied shortly.

Puck groaned. "I would have you do just that Berry. Speak your mind. I know it's going to come sooner or later so, I choose sooner."

With her jaw clenched, Rachel just kept driving, refusing to even look at Puck. "Fine." he said.

"All I was going to say Puck, was I thought it was kind of you and maybe even sweet of you to get over your obvious dislike for Quinn long enough to allow you to do something that is most likely the better option for your little sister. I also believed that it meant there may have been a nicer side to you under all of that hate and egotistical show-pony act, however you then opened your mouth and made me remember that it is you, Noah Puckerman." Puck didn't quite like the way she added attitude to his name, but then again, he didn't really like what she said. The second part of it at least.

"You know what Berry," he was about to make a retort when he noticed he was on his street. His eyes froze onto the blue 1990 Lincoln.

"What Puck." Rachel spat out vehemently. "What would you like me to know?" She pulled up outside his house and then turned to look at him. He was staring at the car across the road and was frozen into shock. Rachel realised he was no longer trying to argue with her but he also wasn't trying to do anything else. His eyes were glazed and looked distant with panic. "Noah," she said more softly, reaching out and pressing her hand against his arm. "Noah..."

"Drive." He said instantly, turning away from the car. "Drive, now."

Rachel frowned, staring at him. "Where...?"

"Anywhere, just go Berry." Puck shoved himself back into the seat, his face contorted into some odd expression. "Go!" he yelled.

Rachel put the car into drive and then took off down the street. She realised that it must have been his dad's car but didn't mention it. His knuckles were white as he gripped the side of the seat and the arm rest on the door. Rachel moved her hand blindly and twisted her fingers into Puck's vice grip. He let go of the seat and held onto her hand, staring out at the road, trying to forget the blue Lincoln with all of his might.

But he couldn't forget the Lincoln. And he couldn't push away what the Lincoln being there meant. Puck slammed his head into the back of the seat causing Rachel to jump. He didn't notice. He clenched his eyes shut and thought about his mother, who was to supposedly supposed to love him and put no one above him and make sure no one hurt and made sure that he was always safe... And he was choosing him again.

He squeezed his eyes tighter as he felt the stinging behind his eyes of yet again being left alone by one more person. He didn't feel Rachel pull up the car but he did feel her contorting herself in her small car so she could sit on his lap and wrap her arms around his middle, pressing face into his chest and holding him tightly. Puck wrapped both his arms around her and buried his face into her hair, tears pouring down his face and into her scalp.

Rachel didn't mind that she was contorted uncomfortably; in fact she just pulled her knees up so she was curled up on his lap. And she also didn't mind that he was squashing her in his arms. She kept her arms wrapped around him, hoping to take some of the pain away. Because he didn't sob out his tears but took painful gasps that were causing her to want to cry. But Rachel held herself together and just waited for him to calm down.

AN: Yeah, I know I'm leaving it there... I almost cried writing this because added to the depressing scenery, Right Here Waiting by Richard Marx came on. That song always makes me cry. BUT I WENT ON! I wrote the chapter and am now uploading it.