Glee ended and Puck came waltzing through my door, all smiles. I had been sitting on the couch reading the book I checked out and listening to some old school Avril. My kind of relaxation.

"Aren't you going to ask why I'm so happy?" He plopped down beside me, putting his arm behind me on the couch.

"Can't you see that I'm busy not caring about your STD test results. Mom's still at work and Alex is mysteriously gone right now. I have a quiet house to myself; I am being a little selfish right now."

"Rachel Barbra Berry, you wound me. And my results all came back negative fyi. Ask me Rach."

"You must be so proud that you can continue on being a man-whore with no worries. I'm happy that you won't be spreading diseases."

"Someone is really crabby," he stated in a sing-song voice.

"I'm not crabby, I am trying to read and you are interrupting my me time."

"Oh no. Ask me why I'm happy!"

"Fine." I put my book, still open, down. "What has you so happy Puck?"

"I am meeting Quinn and Beth at the park in fifteen minutes."

I didn't say anything. I looked at him, blinking my eyes.

"Well?" He asked expectantly. "Say something."

I shrugged. "I don't know Puck. I am glad you get to see Beth."

He scoffed. "That's all? Where's my support Rachel? I love her, I want to be a family with her and our daughter."

"What do you want me to say? All she does is hurt you. Quinn keeps you leashed to her and at her beck and call by using that amazing baby of yours. When are you going you wake up and see it? It's all a game to her."

"I can't believe you. Please just be happy for me once," he shook his head in disgust.

"I can't. It was so obvious that that song she sang this morning was directed at you. She didn't sing it to show everyone that it's taken every ounce of her strength to try and get over you. She sang it to hurt you; to see that pain in your eyes. That's the type of girl she is. She's not happy, so nobody else can be either."

"Wow, thanks. Thanks. I have to go," he pulled his arm away and got up.

I followed. "Wait. I'm sorry." I stood in front of the door. "I want to see you happy. I'd love to see you happy, but you aren't. You're always hurting with her and I hate seeing that; I would support you if I could. But I can't, please don't ask me to."

He sighed. "Rach, I'm sorry I'm being such an ass. Quinn is trying though, it's hard for her. We hurt Finn and she's hating herself right now and doesn't know how to handle her mistakes."

I chuckled humorlessly. "When did we grow up and get complicated lives?"

"I don't know, but it sucks." He hugged me tightly and and nuzzled his face into my hair. "How about I take a raincheck with them and me and you do something instead?"

I pulled away and looked at him. "No. That's not what I'm getting at. Spend time with Beth; I'm not trying to drop hints about being jealous of time you spend with them. Not at all, we see each other all the time. Too much. Beth needs to see her daddy."

"You sure? I wouldn't mind, not for you." He smiled.

"I am, and it's not like I won't see you later."

"Ahh, right. When you crawl into my bed tonight," he wiggled his eyebrows.

I slapped his shoulder. "Stop being a pervert!"

"I think you love it," his eyes bright. "Are you sure you want me to go?"

I nodded my head. "Yeah, go. I have plans anyway. Just don't get hurt, don't let her walk all over you."

"I won't. What are you and Tina Cohen-Chang doing this fine evening?"

I didn't have plans with Tina at all, but I just smiled. "I don't know yet."

"You two are so much fun," he rolled his eyes.

"You know it! Don't be jealous."

"I'll try not to be. But, hey, I better get going." He kissed me on the cheek.

"Okay. Give that little cutie a hug for me."

"It's about time you admit your deep feelings for Quinn."

"Nasty! Goodbye Puck," I laughed, shutting the door in(on?) his face.

"I appreciate your love so much!" He yelled through the door.

"Don't make me get a restraining order, because I will."

"Ooh, I'm shaking in my boots!"

"You aren't wearing boots today."

"My point exactly!"

"Just leave Puckerman." I smiled.

"I'm going. I'll leave my door unlocked for you, babe."

"Bye."

0000

"...Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
Oh oh,
That's what makes you beautiful

So c-come on,
You got it wrong,
To prove I'm right,
I put it in a song,
I don't know why,
You're being shy,
And turn away when I look into your eye eye eyes...

ugh! No. Why this song? I'm going to kill her."

"Honey that's not nice," My mother stated from my bedroom doorway.

"I don't care. The song is dumb, the band isn't any good. It's horribly catchy and I hate it."

She laughed. "Stop being so dramatic Rachel. A bad song is no reason to kill anyone. Even if it is a song that you hate that stuck in your head."

"If you say so," I rolled my eyes.

"Will told me that you played for his glee club this morning, that you were amazing."

"Damn. So what mom? I hate playing, I only did it for the extra spanish credit."

"He said you were really into it. Maybe you don't hate it as much as you think you do. I think you should join; your piano skills and that voice of yours would do them wonders."

"No. I'm not joining that stupid club."

"Fine. You look nice, Noah Puckerman finally admit his feelings?"

"Mom! No, Noah does not have feelings for me. We are just friends. Why must I keep explaining this?"

"If you say so, but you are clueless."

"Whatever. I'm hanging out with Joe, we're going bowling."

"How does Noah feel about you and this Joe-boy?"

"Mom! He doesn't care. God, can't you just leave him out of this?"

"Does he even know?"

"No he doesn't."

"Than how you know that he doesn't care?"

"He's with Quinn and Beth right now."

"And I bet he thinks you have plans with Tina." That is scary; sometimes she knows me so well.

"So? He assumed, I just didn't correct him."

"Well, Rachel I hope you have fun on your date. You look lovely." she told me quietly. "I'm going to get changed and settle down for the evening with Alex when he gets back."

"Okay. Enjoy your night."

"You aren't going to ask where he is? That's unlike you."

"Why would I spoil my own fun that way? I'm imagining that he left and is never coming back," I smiled.

"You are horrible. I really wish you'd try to get along with him. He wants to get to know you. He'll be back later; his little brother just moved to town and they have some catching up to do."

"That's cool. I guess," I told her not really caring.

"So when is this boy picking you up?" She picked up my brush and started brushing my hair.

"I'm meeting him at Bowlmor actually."

"He's not even picking you up? What kind of guy-"

"The kind that I'm not on a real date with. We're just hanging, as friends."

"I'm sure Noah wouldn't see it that way."

"Aaaahhhh! Out mom, out. Puck and I are friends, that's it and that's all it will ever be and that's all I want."

"Are you sure he wants that?"

"Yes. Get out!"

"Okay," she put her hands up in surrender. "Have fun on your non-date."

"I will, thanks."

0000

I walked close to the curb, shuffling my feet against the asphalt.

"You don't know you're beautiful... Damn Tina," I chuckled to myself.

"Berry? Spying on Puck and I now, really? Your jealously really that high?" Quinn asked, hands on her hips.
Sure enough, I was by the park.

"Rach?" Puck asked, approaching us with a little blonde toddler laughing in his arms. "Is something going on?"

"No I'm meeting, Joe, we're bowling. It's pretty nice right now, so I thought I'd just walk." I tried to decipher his expression, but couldn't.

"I'm impressed Man Hands, you have a date with Joe Hart. Good job," she nodded approvingly.

I looked at Puck, his attention now focused on Beth entirely. "It's," not a date.

"Well spit it out," Quinn examined her nails.

I couldn't say it for some reason. Those three small words seemingly refused to leave my lips. "Umm, I have to get going; don't want to be late. Seeya around. Puck, Quinn."

"Bye-bye Rachie," Beth enthusiastically waved.

My mouth went slack, Puck's eyes were wide.

"What. The. Hell?" Quinn yelled furiously. "Explain why my daughter's fifth word is her name!"

"Rachel is my oldest friend," Puck explained, looking at me.

"And? Are you telling me that Berry is over when our daughter is with you?"

"Not on a regular basis, no, but yeah Rachel has been over a few times. Beth likes her, responds to her easily."

"Give me my daughter. Now!" She grabbed Beth roughly from Puck's arms.

Beth started crying loudly.

"Be careful Quinn. God damn," he attempted to take Beth back from her.

"No," she shrugged away from him.

"Daad-deee!" Beth whined and tried to reach for him.

It was breaking my heart.

"Leave, now. And don't expect to be getting Beth alone anytime soon Noah. I'm sick of all your shit, I don't want any of your choices affecting my amazing little girl."

"Our little girl Quinn, and you can't just tell me that I can't see her."

"I just did."

0000

"Puck, I'm-"

"Get out Rach," he stated, hands gripping the steering wheel of his pickup truck.

"What?" I'll stay with you. Joe will understand I'm sure," I told him.

"Get out. I don't want you near me. Go on your stupid date with Dread-Boy and leave me the hell alone. I even delivered you to the bowling alley," his voice was cold and emotionless.

"But."

"All this is your fault. I shouldn't have listened to you. Things were okay again and I had to let you open your big mouth. Get out of my sight Berry," he spoke softly, venomously. "Just don't talk to me anymore."

I looked at my hands resting in my lap.

"Are you deaf? Get the fuck out!" He yelled at me; his eyes flashed with anger.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and carefully stepped out of his truck. "I'm," he sped off, "sorry Noah."

I stood there, tears threatening to spill over, watching the tire tracks fade.

"There you are," Joe pushed off the building. "I starting to think that you stood me up. I was preparing to be crushed."

I sniffled and quickly wiped my eyes. "No, my mom kept distracting me. Took a while to get her to stop talking," I forced a smile.

There's chapter 2, hope you guys enjoyed it! Sorry for any mistakes.

Still kind of boring, but it's building. More interesting stuff will happen in chapter three or four

For anyone wondering, yeah I chose to have Puck and Quinn keep Beth. Season one has happened; this takes place in season two, but is a compilation of seasons two and three.

That damn One Direction song is the song in this chapter.

Thanks for the reviews and the alerts and stuff, keep them coming!