Monday

She sat on big comfy leather couch in front of a 60in flat screen watching a Monday night football game. Sam who played for the Cowboys were playing against the Giants and of course she had to watch even if she was rooting for the Giants.

She shifted in her seat being eight months pregnant was not comfortable and it didn't help that she was yelling at the TV. She rubbed her left hand over her belly the wedding band there was platinum not gold.

The gold one was in the back of her underwear drawer once in a while she'd take it out and look at it. She thought back to the how her life had changed because of that gold ring.

~Flashback~

It wasn't easy they were trying to make it work but he was in Chicago and she was in Las Vegas. It didn't help that Quinn was there with him. Her season was over but she had a boxing contract she had to fulfill.

He was calling her every day and before bed but it wasn't working anymore. Don't even get her started on his mother or his sister. Apparently she was okay because she was Jewish but the whole running around half naked thing canceled it out.

His mother called her at least once a week to berate her for not living with Noah and that they weren't making lovely Jewish grandbabies.

Rachel's breaking point was the tabloid picture of Quinn and Noah holding hands walking down a busy street. They weren't even hiding it. She balled her eyes out for three days.

On the fourth day she called him, "Noah I'm done I'm filing for divorce. I don't even know why I tried." She hung up not letting him speak. That night she went out with the girls and met TJ.

She didn't go home with him, she couldn't do that but she gave him her number. The next morning she went to a lawyer and signed the papers.

Two weeks later she was in Chicago with her girls to see a Cubs' game with Sam. She was waiting for Sam in the walkway from his apartment to the parking lot.

She was on the phone with TJ they weren't anything but friends because he said she needed time. When she heard Sam's voice she ended her phone call and turned toward him.

Her stomach dropped like she was on a roller coaster, beside Sam stood Noah. Suddenly she remembered that her ring was still around her neck on a simple gold chain.

"Hey guys," her voice held false cheer. "So I heard Soriano isn't playing today. I thought Sugar was going to cry." Sam laughed and Noah smiled. She felt his eyes on her as they went to the car.

It was during the eighth inning when all hell broke loose. TJ was texting her and Santana was getting annoyed, "Would you stop texting him already god he is so clingy. Rae what are you doing? Where are you going? Can I come? If you weren't married we'd be engaged."

Noah's fist clinched while Rachel was glaring at Santana. "You know what? I wasn't texting TJ and we're just friends I was texting Blaine. He got me out of my contract and I'm moving to New York."

San's mouth dropped as Rachel got up to leave. Britt had tears in her eyes, "She's leaving us?" Sugar hugged Britt as Santana stared at the sky. Sam was looking between the girls, "What's going on?"

Sugar answered, "Rachel isn't happy she quit the Sins and going to New York. She got an offer to box professionally." "Yeah and she took it," Santana said.

Sam sighed looking at Noah, "I told you. She's more upset by this than you thought. She's leaving her home, the place she loves more than anything because it reminds her of you."

"Oh thanks that helps Sam like I don't know I screwed up but she was pulling away long before the Quinn thing happened." Noah got up and left.

He found her sitting on the steps of his apartment. "How do you know where I live?" She blinked into the sun, "Kurt told me." He sat beside her.

"So who is TJ?" His voice wasn't malicious just curious. "I met him the night I called you to tell you I was done. He's the one that made me realize that I wasn't." He stared at her while she looked out at the road.

"What do you mean?" She turned her head to look at him, "I compare all men to you Noah probably always will. You're it for me Noah but see this long distance thing isn't going to work."

"I know and I love you. You know Quinn and I are just friends right? I never slept with her not after we were married."

"I know." Noah reached for the chain around her neck and she whispered, "I never took it off." He put his hand in his shirt pulling out a dog tag chain with his ring on it. She gave him a sad smile.

"I'll always love you Noah." She kissed him on the lips and the sparks were still there but she doused them and left him for New York.

~Present~

Her son kicked her belly as she felt a tear roll down her face. Mercedes came out of the kitchen, "Why are you crying now?" Rachel wiped it away, "I can't help it I was thinking about my first wedding ring."

Mercedes sighed, "It was for the best you wouldn't be where you are today without it baby girl." Mercedes pulled her close, "And anyway you're still Mrs. Puckerman."

Rachel laughed, "I'm pregnant I have mood swings. Noah and Santana were picking on me waddling down the hall the other day and I started crying. I don't cry easily."

"I know baby, I know. Do you know the good thing about your first ring?" Rachel shook her head. "It means me and Sam have been married longer."

"Oh ha ha ha I hate you get out of my house that's why my husband is kicking your husband's ass." Rachel stuck her tongue out at Mercedes as the girl groaned.

"I'll see you later I'm going to the hotel so I can clean my husband's wounds." Rachel made a gagging sound, "I don't want to know that. Keep it to yourself."

She turned off the game once she saw that the Giants had won 21 to 7. She laid in bed thinking about how she got here.

~Flashback~

She was just about to go out to dinner with Rory and Sugar when there was a knock at her down. She opened it and there he stood rubbing the back of his neck, "Sorry I'll just go. I can see you were going out."

He started to walk down the hall, "No wait." She grabbed his arm, "Why are you here?" They were standing in the hallway, "I got traded. Sam gave me your address."

"Um I'm going to dinner with Rory and Sugar. Do you want to come with me so I don't look like a third wheel." He knew this was his chance so he took it, "Yeah."

She went back to her apartment to grab her handbag and to close the door. As they rode the elevator down it was awkward. He kept glancing at her and she smiled at him.

"Relax Noah I don't bit and I'm not mad," She grabbed his hand and stepped out on to the street to hail a cab. He picked up her hand and placed his lips on her knuckles.

"I've missed you," he said. "I've missed you too Noah."

~Present~

She'd fallen asleep when she felt to strong arms wrap around, "Hey babe did you watch the game?" She turned her head to kiss him, "Of course I've never miss one."

"Good." He turned so that he was on his back and so that she could lay her head on her. She placed a kiss on the left side of chest right below where he had her name tattoo.

"I love you Noah."

"I love more than anything Rachel. Night Lil Puck." In that moment she realized she was happier than she ever thought she would be. Sixteen old Rachel would not be happy.