Author's Note: I realize that in the show, the invitational took place the same day that Puck told the Glee club about the baby, but I'm claiming creative license (that sounds a lot better than "I didn't remember that until after chapter 5")

Disclaimer: I (still) don't own any the characters... but I would have gladly taken April Rhodes place in the shower scene :)

"What was that all about?" Finn asked, eying Puck suspiciously.

"Nothing." Puck responded quickly.

Finn raised an eyebrow, "Really?" he asked doubtfully.

"Dude, it was nothing. That chick is nuts." Puck said forcefully. Finn might not be the smartest guy on the planet, but Puck knew his best friend had an eerie way of getting people to spill their guts. He knew he had to change the subject quickly. "Where's Quinn?"

"In the bathroom," Finn replied with a heavy sigh, "I thought morning sickness was only, you know, in the morning. Quinn seems to puke all day long."

"Is she okay? Is there something wrong with the baby?" Puck asked worriedly. Crap, wrong thing to say. The suspicious look returned to Finn's eyes just as Mr. Schuester and the wheelchair kid entered the room.

Puck pounced on Arite, "Dude, can you show me that bridge we were talking about the other day?"

"Ah, yeah, I guess so..."

"Great," Puck said, cutting Artie off, "I'll go grab your guitar." Puck marched over to the instrument closet, leaving Mr. Schuester, Finn and Artie staring in puzzlement at his back.

The rest of the Glee club trickled in over the the next few minutes, and Puck kept himself busy playing guitar with Artie. The wheelchair kid was actually a pretty good guitarist and Puck found himself enjoying the impromptu jam session. He realized he'd never really had the chance to play with anyone else before. The others weren't exactly staring at him, but he saw them sneak a few peeks and then turn back to their whispered discussion.

Puck was surprised at the disappointment he felt when Mr. Schuester clapped his hands and told them all to go change into their costumes."Thanks man," He said to Artie as he put the guitar away.

"Anytime," Artie said, wheeling himself towards the dressing room. Turning back he added, "I'm serious, let me know any time you want to play... "

Puck just swallowed nervously and nodded. "Thanks, dude, I will." What was with these people? A few weeks ago he had shoved Artie, wheelchair and all, in a porta-potty and threatened to flip it, and now the guy was inviting Puck play guitar with him? The bizarro universe theory was seemingly more and more likely.

The next half an hour went by in a blur of activity. Finn had been so busy hovering over Quinn that Puck had easily managed to avoid talking to him. Mercedes and Tina had let out a low whistle when he walked out of the dressing room in his ridiculously tight jeans and cowboy hat.

"Daaamn boy..." Mercedes said teasingly, "looking good."

Puck laughed genuinely, tipping his hat towards her. "Thank you, ma'am" he drawled with a wink. Out of the corner of his eye, he spied Santana, Brittany and Quinn staring at him. "Eat your hearts out, ladies," he thought smugly.

He could taste the booze on April's lips when she kissed him during the warm ups. He decided to try and catch up with her after the show. After all, she'd made it clear that she enjoyed his "talents". Yeah, that was exactly what he needed, a few beers and a willing cougar. If that didn't take his mind off Rachel Berry and Quinn Fabray, nothing would.

During the intermission, Puck sat on the stool in the backstage area, still grinning from the applause the audience had given them, when Mr. Schuester walked in and told everyone that April was gone. "Great," he thought glumly, "just great." He had really been looking forward to the private after-party in the locker room showers that April had promised him.

As if to add insult to injury, Rachel Berry picked that moment to walk into the room. She started talking in that "I'm going to make a big speech, instead of just getting to the point" voice, so Puck tuned her out and looked her up and down. What the hell was she wearing? The chick had a smoking hot, tight little body, and yet she looked like she let a retarded nun dress her. Thankfully this particular nun had nothing against extremely short skirts, which was the one good part of what she had on. Maybe if she turned around and leaned forward a little..

"You don't know the choreography." he heard Quinn say, rousing him out of his daydream. He saw Santana nod in agreement.

He looked at Finn, and knew his friend was done for, even before he heard him say "Then we're going to have to give her a lot of help out there."

He felt a pang of jealousy in his gut, as he saw Finn smile at Rachel, and his insides twisted even more when he saw the look of adoration on Rachel's face. "Saint Finn," he thought in disgust, "saves the day again."

She had tried to talk him while they were waiting to go on stage.

"Look Puck, about this afternoon..."

"Forget it," he said coldly.

"But... I just wanted to say..."

"I said forget it." He stared down at her with ice in eyes. He didn't need yet another person reminding him that they thought he was a loser. If there was one thing he couldn't stand, it was pity.

After the show, he pushed through the crowd of parents and friends who had gathered backstage to congratulate them and ducked into the dressing room. Once there, he took his time changing, hoping no one would notice that his mother hadn't showed up. He waited until it sounded like everyone was gone, and picked up his bag. When he reached the doorway, he heard two people talking quietly.

"Sooo..." Finn said, rocking back on his heels. "I just wanted to say thank you."

"You're welcome Finn," Rachel replied softly.

Reaching forward, Finn brushed a lock of her hair back from her eyes, letting his hand linger and cup her cheek. "Are we, you know, cool and all?"

Rachel stood there, staring up at him. "I need to know, Finn, did that kiss mean anything to you?"

Finn gulped, "Rachel.. I... of course..."

"FINN!" Finn jumped back as Quinn called his name from the hallway beyond.

"I... I gotta go, Rach, I'm sorry." Finn gave her an apologetic look and rushed out the door.

Rachel stood staring at the empty doorway Finn had just exited, touching the warm spot on her cheek where his hand had been, tears welling up in her eyes.

Puck's head was reeling. They'd kissed? Oh, that was rich. No wonder Finn was all tied up in knots. This was perfect, there was no way Quinn would forgive Finn when she found out. He was already thinking of the best way to break the news when he noticed Rachel was still standing there, frozen in place. He knew he should hide out until she left. If she saw him, she'd know that he had overheard the conversation she'd just had with Finn. Talking to her would just create more drama.

He could think of a million other reasons to avoid her, and yet he found himself moving toward her. Warning bells were going off in his head. "Bad idea, man, really bad idea," he thought to himself, but he couldn't stop his feet.

She didn't hear Puck as he walked up behind her, and she nearly jumped out of her skin when he touched her arm. Twirling around, she looked up at him in shock, the tears still streaming down her face. With a loud gasp, she buried her face in his chest and began to cry in earnest.

Instinctively Puck wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly against his body, anything to make her stop crying. The warning bells in his head had escalated to air raid sirens, but he didn't let her go. He let his chin rest on the top of her head, and rocked her slowly back and forth.

A/N: I almost had him sing "Don't Cry" by Guns 'n Roses to her.... don't know why but Puck strikes me as a guy who would appreciate a little GnR.