Hello everyone!:)

Thank you so much for your reviews and for favouring and following my story! You're all so kind and deserves a cyber-cookie from me! I'll leave you to the new chapter of "Welcome to New Directions!" and i hope you all enjoy it!

P.S.: Did you hear Homeward Bound/Home? Who swooned as soon as Mark Salling sang his part? *raises both of her hands*

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee and Magic Mike...*cries in a dark corner*

Rachel entered the apartment dragging her feet. Today was hell at the diner and her co-worker called in sick and the brunette had to doubled her work. But finally she was at home and she could enjoy a nice evening alone with a Friends marathon in pyjama pants, while drinking hot tea.

It was Friday and Finn was at work. It was two weeks since he first started his work experience at New Directions and he seemed to get accustomed at the idea that he'll have to take his clothes off in front of hundreds of women. He had worked out every single day with two of his co-workers, followed a strict diet and had started dance class with another one of the strippers (God have mercy of this poor soul. She knew how terrible Finn was at dancing. She had a broken nose to prove it!) and that did wonders for his self-esteem.

Rachel went to the bathroom and took a quick shower. She got changed in her pyjama and started to fix her dinner. She moved to grab the cookware when a small black item on the kitchen counter caught her attention. Finn had left his wallet at home. And, in it, there were all his documents and money. She groaned. She couldn't let Finn stay without it: what if he needed his ID or money to grab a taxi to come back home later?

So, she set her mind. She's going to the club to bring the wallet to her brother.

She checked the clock. It was 8.30 pm and the club wouldn't open for another 2 hours and a half so, if she was quick, she would manage to get to the club in time and get out of it before they opened the doors to the public.

She ran to her bedroom and put on a pair of dark blue jeans and a white long-sleeved wool jersey. With her black ballet flats, bright red coat and white beanie on, she grabbed her bag and the wallet and went out her apartment.

The taxi dropped her in front of the club.

The neon sign was still off and a runway surrounded by velvet fence led to the door. She crossed the distance between her and the door and then she pulled it. In the inside, various people were working frantically and she tried to spot Finn among them. She had no luck so she went to the bar to ask where she could find her brother. But as soon as she lean on the counter to get the attention of one of the bartenders, she heard a deep voice behind her.

"Doll, the club doesn't open for another two hours". She turned abruptly and brown eyes met hazel ones.

He was one of the most beautiful men she had ever seen in her life. His eyes were hazel but with the neon light that came from the bar, they were almost green. His jaw was strong and masculine and the lips full and dark pink. They seemed really soft. And even if she found his haircut ridiculous, she had to admit that it seemed to suited him perfectly.

She shook out of the haze that the sight of the man put her into and said "I'm not here for the show. I'm looking for someone."

"Oh yeah?" he raised one eyebrow and get closer with a smirk on his face. "Are you looking for me? Because we could have really fun together…". She was shocked by the assumption and was about to give the man a piece of her mind when a familiar voice called out for her.

"Rachel? What are you doing here?" said a very confused Finn.

Puck suddenly put more space between himself and the woman and looked at Finn in disbelief. "Dude, this is your sister?" God, his friend's sister was hot as fuck! With long, shiny brown hair and big doe eyes. Shiny, plump lips that he can't wait to test and long eyelashes. Her nose was a little big but she definitely rocked it. He couldn't see her legs but he had high expectations, see how hot she was.

"Yes, I am. I was about to informed you about that but you assaulted me before I could do that" the short brunette answered at Puck's question. And then, addressing to Finn, said "You left your wallet at home! I didn't know if you needed it so I brought that to you." Rachel gave the item to him. "Now I'll come back home and I'll leave you two to…" She was stopped by her brother. "No, wait! I'll introduce you to the others!" he started to drag her toward the black curtain but then he stopped as he thought about it. "You know what? Just wait here, I'll call them!" And with that, Finn disappeared behind the curtain.

Rachel and Puck looked into each others eyes. She was the first to talk. "So, I guess, introductions are in order. I'm Rachel Berry, Finn's sister – as you already know – and…you are…?". He took her stretched hand and shook it "I'm Puck" he simply said. He thought that her surname suited her perfectly…and he couldn't wait to eat that berry!

"Puck? Your parents definitely must be Shakespeare's fan for naming you after one of his most popular characters!" smiled sincerely Rachel.

Puckerman shook his head and smirked "No, the name is Noah Puckerman but everybody calls me Puck".

"And why is that?" asked Rachel curiously. "Noah is a beautiful Jewish name and you should be very proud of your roots." She then touched lightly her nose "I know I'm very proud of mine" said smiling.

His eyes went big. "You Jewish too?". The short brunette nodded happily "I didn't realize Hudson was a Jew-bro…" continued Puck even more confused.

Rachel laughed out loud. "Oh, no, no, no! Finn is definitely a gentile! But let's just say that he tries his hardest and it's greatly appreciated among my large family."

And for the first time in months, a real smile featured Noah's face. Her smile was so warm and the way she tried to hide it with her hands made her totally adorable. He felt his sexy-beast armour slowly melting with her in front of him.

"Wait, why did you suppose that I was Jewish?" he asked, staring at her in the eyes. She simply said "Come on! Your name is as Jewish as you can get!"

He licked his lips, scratched the back of his head and was about to speak again but Finn chose just that moment to enter the room, the other guys in tow.

"Rachie" said Finn to her sister, who she was still chuckling, "these are Blaine, Artie, Sam and Mike; guys this is my sister Rachel".

She shook their hands. "It's a pleasure meeting you. Finn said amazing things about you all" said the woman to the men. "Please, look after him and take good care of my brother." She gave a sweet smile to all five men. "Now I'll leave you to the preparation of the show. Finn, I'll see you at home. It was really nice meeting you guys, I hope to see you soon".

"Why don't you stay for the show?" asked Puck with a smirk.

"Dude!" murmured harshly Finn. "No, Noah, I'm not going to stay for the show but a dank for the invitation." They looked into each others' eyes and smiled. "Nishto farvos" he winked. Her laugh trilled in the room and, with a last wave, she was out.

Noah's gaze was still focus on the door where Rachel just disappeared while the other men exchanged glances.

"What the heck was that about?" asked Blaine, speaking for all the other ones. Well, except for Finn and Puck, who answered at the same time "It was Yiddish".

Puck looked at his tall friend and wondered "You understood what we just said?"

Finn laughed. "Of course, I lived with a Jewish family and they talked in Yiddish every now and then. Not to talk about Rachel's bubbe, who basically just speaks in Yiddish. It was learn the language or suffer the isolation in every family reunion".

"Anyway" Blaine regained the guys' attention "I was not talking about the Yiddish but about the Noah thing!" and the other four nodded. Puck rolled his eyes, his friends were a bunch of gossips.

"So what? It's my name, isn't it?" shrugged the mohawked man.

"It's his name, he said." Mike looked at him in disbelief. "Last time I called you Noah, you punched me in my stomach!"

"Last time you called me that you weren't as hot as her. Did you see her?" explained Puckerman, pointing at the door. Finn groaned. "Dude, I'm still here," complained the tall man "don't talk shit about my sister!". At his friend's reaction, Puck laughed. "Man, I'm just telling the truth. You're sister is a fine piece of Jewish ass! You should be proud of that!". Finn covered his face with his hands and started to walking away, grumbling under his breath.

The other men followed him, leaving just Sam who was staring at his best friend with a questioning smile on his face. "Puck, she looks like a good girl. She seems like one that calls you on your shit. Totally out of your league! And let's just don't tell your mom that you met a nice Jewish girl or she'll book the temple for a spring wedding." Puck glared to the blonde, who started to laugh hysterically.

"Trouty Mouth, shit's not funny! And then who says I want more than a good fuck with her? I'm not one-girl-only type of man. I'm a sex shark. Now let's go, tonight the Puckerone will show some of his best moves". And with that the topic was forgotten.

But his words came in his mind back again later that night, when he was lying in his bed and all he could see when he closed his eyes was another set of eyes, big brown doe eyes.

It was raining cats and dogs and it seemed like it wasn't going to end anytime soon. He was soaking wet, walking on the sidewalk with his guitar case strapped steadily on his shoulder. He noticed a little diner just across the street so he decided it was a good idea to go inside and wait for the rain to calm down a bit.

As he walked in, the bell over the door ringed and he took a few seconds to watch the new environment. The walls were white, full of bright-coloured pictures of the City, and several booths with red seats surrounded the local. He thought that he never saw such a clean diner before.

A woman with red hair in her thirties greeted him with a big smile. "Good afternoon and welcome to Emma's diner. Please, take a seat. The waitress will be there shortly". He nodded and took a seat in the furthest booth, leaning carefully the guitar case next to him. He was about to take his coat off when a voice spoke and he froze on the spot.

"Well, hello there stranger! So we meet again." It was the same voice that hunted his dreams for the last week and a half; the only different thing was that, in his dreams, the voice, instead of 'stranger', called him 'Noah'.

He raised his head and those big brown eyes were staring at him. "Rachel? You work here?" asked a little bit shocked. Rachel nodded and said "Yes, I do. How are you Noah?", a warm smile appeared on her face. "I'm good. Soaked, but good". The woman looked out of the window and sighed "Today the weather is dreadful. Do you want something to warm you up? Coffee? Hot tea, maybe?". The answer that immediately came up in his head was 'you' but he bit his tongue and said instead "Coffee would be great". She nodded and the ponytail she was rocking that day bounced happily.

Shortly after, here she was, pouring the hot beverage in his mug. As soon as she finished, he looked at her and said with a grid "Care to join me? It sucks to drink coffee by themselves". She looked down at him and bit her lower lip (he groaned silently. She will be the death of him.). Then she looked at the clock and said "Actually my break starts in 10 minutes but I don't think it will be a problem if, for once, I'll make it start a little earlier. Let me just check with the owner and I'll be right back".

Puck totally checked her out while she was walking away. Yep, Rachel had got some killer legs and her ass looked amazing in those skinny jeans.

She came back after few minutes with a mug in one hand and two plates with a slice of pie in each perched on the other arm. She carefully put down the cup and then put one plate in front of him. "This is on the house" said the woman, sitting right in front of him. He murmured a 'Thank you' and started to dig to the pie.

She started to talk after gulping her first morsel. "So, if I can ask, why aren't you at the gym? I thought that you, Sam and Finn were 'gym buddies'." She air-quoted the last part, making Noah laugh. "I'm busy on Mondays" he simply said. Rachel was very curious but she didn't want to look like a nosy woman and so she simply nodded. He looked at her in the eyes with a small smile and said "I give guitar lessons for the kids of the JCC". And with that he patted softly the guitar case.

Rachel's eyes grew bigger. She didn't even notice the case! (Probably because she was too enraptured by the way that shirt hugged every part of his torso).

"I didn't know you play guitar! Finn didn't say anything about it!" she said excitedly. She loved music, it was her biggest passion.

"Well" Puck scratched the back of his neck "let's just say that not many people know that I can play. But the guys at the club know and Sam and I play together sometimes, since he brought here his old acoustic. I guess it just hasn't come up with Finn yet".

"Are you any good?" asked sincerely Rachel.

He leaned on his elbows and got a little closer to the brown-eyed woman and said with a low voice "Oh, I'm good in many things. Want you find out?" he raised his eyebrow suggestively.

"Not interested" 'LIAR. LIAR.' her own voice yelled in her head "I'm just curious about your ability as guitarist." she said, trying to hide to him how her cheeks flushed even if, if the grid on his face was of any evidence, he already did.

"You see, Berry," Rachel frowned when he called her by her surname "playing the guitar is like touching a woman. You have to be gentle, pull the right strings and she will make the sweetest sounds. So, yes, I'm definitely a good guitarist".

At that the petite brunette laughed out loud. "Cocky much?" managed to say between the laughter.

"Sorry I just understood the first four words. You were saying?"

"Noah!" chastised Rachel "Stop it! There are kids in here!". Than her gaze soften a little "But seriously, when did you start to play the guitar?"

"I was 7 years old. My dad taught me how to play the first chords of 'Wish you where here' and I just kept learning from there. It was the only thing that kept me sane during my teen years. I never liked go to school that much…always preferred take a nap on the nurse's office or have fun with a cheerleader in the janitor's closet" explained Puck with a smirk and then continued "But when I felt the string of my guitar under my fingertips nothing else mattered." He looked at her right into her eyes. "Finn said you're studying at NYADA, so you can totally understand what I'm saying, right?"

"Oh, I totally understand even if I don't play any instrument. I just manage to play some chords with the piano and they're pretty awful, if I can say myself!" That statement brought laughter from the two persons around the table. "But I sing, and when I sing…it's like you said, nothing else mattered."

Puck took a sip of his coffee before asking "So, what you're doing in that fancy school of yours?"

"I'm majoring in Musical Theatre. One day I'll be on Broadway". Her smile was so contagious that Puck could help himself and a smile appeared on his face too. "Well, well, well, who's the cocky one now?"

Rachel laughed but kept talking "I'm bound to that kind of stage. I won my first competition when I was three months old. I take dance, vocal and acting class since the age of 5. In high school, I was Maria in West Side Story and Janet in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, even if this one was never really staged in front of a paying public. In my senior year, me and the Glee Club won the title of National Show Choir champions and I got into NYADA, where only 500 new students were accepted national wide" Her eyes shone with excitement "This is why I'm so confident. I have to get there. It's written in the stars!" The woman noticed Noah's blank expression. "Sorry, did I talk to much? I tend to do that all the times. My best friend always says…" Noah stopped her by saying "No, not at all. It's just nice to see how passionate you are about your dream. You're a fighter, I can tell".

Rachel smiled coyly and said "I have to".

"Rachel" a stranger voice captured their attention. A blonde woman about Rachel's age was smiling at the other one and said "Sorry if I interrupted you but your break is over".

"Oh, sure!" Rachel started to take her mug and plate and got up. "Sorry, Quinn, I guess I didn't realize how the time flew by. I'll be right back just…". It was all it took for Quinn to take the hint. The other waitress nodded, shot a smile to Puck and walked to the counter.

Rachel didn't want this meeting to end. Talking to Noah was easy and she liked that every now and then, when he was speaking of something that really mattered to him, you could see the real him and not the façade that he kept on.

"Well," she sighed "guess I really have to go. But it was very nice to talk to you, Noah." She smiled at him while he got up too.

"Yeah, it was nice" said Puck, who was putting his coat back on. He than grabbed his wallet and opened it. "How much was it?"

The woman shook her head. "I told you it was on the house. Don't worry."

So he asked "You sure?" she nodded. "Ok. For this time I'll accept it but next time it's on me". They locked eyes for what it seemed an eternity but then he broke the spell, when he took his guitar case up and strapped it on his shoulder.

Then, with a mischievous smirk, "You should come to the club one day". Rachel's mouth became a thin line and said "Goodbye Noah!", turning on his heels and marching to the counter. She could hear his laugh loud and clear.

He was about to go out the diner when he looked at her and simply said "See you soon, Rach", with a small smile and the only thing she was able to do was smiling back and waving at him.

When he was out of sight, Rachel felt a presence next to her.

"So…" trailed Quinn "who was that beefcake? Must say: good catch, Rach!" Quinn's laugh trilled in the diner.

"Lower your voice, nosey Rosie!" The brunette hissed. "He's just one of my brother's colleague. His name is Noah Puckerman and I didn't catch anyone!" Quinn looked at her friend with challenge in her eyes. "Oh, really? So I just saw you bat your long eyelashes and use your charm for kindness' sake? Rach, please! You've got a crush as big as Canada for the man and I say that you should totally go for it! The man could put Adonis to shame. The two of you would be definitely a hot couple". Then realization hit her. "Wait. You said he's one of your brother's colleague." Quinn went closer to Rachel and grabbed her by her arm "Is he a stripper?!" (Yes. Quinn knows too. She, along with Kurt – Rachel's dear friend and soon-too-be NYADA graduate like the petite brunette – often went out with her, Santana and Brittany and, one night, the Latina spilled the bean about Finn's job. So much for the secrecy, uh?).

"Yes, Q, Noah is a stripper indeed". The blonde's mouth's shape was a perfect O. But the she shrugged it off and said good-heartedly "Anyway, you should totally do something about it. Does Santana know about this 'friendship'?" Quinn asked. Rachel looked at her friend in disbelief and she answered slowly, as if she was speaking with a two-year-old "No, because there's nothing to talk about. I saw the man just twice in my life and today it was the first time we had an actual conversation. And I won't see him for who knows how much time! So, nothing to talk to talk about. Nothing. Ok?"

The blonde waitress raised her hands in surrender and muttered "Fine. Fine. Nothing to talk about." And opened the door, entering in the kitchen and leaving the petite brunette by herself. She really felt that she wouldn't see him anytime soon.

She was proven wrong the week later, and the one after that and the ones following when every Monday, at 4.25 pm (just in time for her break), Noah, always with his guitar in tow, would entered the diner and drank a cup of coffee with a slice of pie with her.

They would talk about everything: from the songs that he was trying to teach to the kids to her classes at NYADA; from who are her closest friends, to the latest Sam's kitchen adventure (let's just say that involved a burnt fried pan and lots of sauce that ended up on the walls). However, they also talked about more intimate topics such as his deatbeat father who took off when he was only 7 or how her mother looked for her when she was 16 and then rejected her because she wasn't a baby anymore.

She didn't realise it but Monday became quickly her favourite day and it was because of Noah Puckerman.

Puck was shocked when he noticed that he couldn't wait for Monday afternoon to come. He couldn't wait to talk to a stunning brunette with brown eyes and long-as-fuck legs. But the thing that surprised him the most was that the more he got to know her, the more he liked her and this was wrong!

First of all, she was one of his friends' sister and it was totally against the bro code and second, he was a stripper and she was a future Broadway star. They were like water and fire, two completely different things. He tried to forget any kind of feelings he might have for her by having sex with some clients but it was hardest for him to pick up a hot woman: they were never small enough, or too blond, or their legs weren't long as he liked. And, every time he was about to come, it was never their name on his lips, but the one of a woman that, as Sam put it the first time the first time they saw each other, was definitely out of her league. He even thought about not going back to the diner but the thought lasted just a couple of minutes, because he knew that she was happy to see him since, every time she would spot him, she would flash him a huge happy smile; and see that smile on that face and know to be the reason behind it? Fucking. Epic.

So he decided to just go with the flow and enjoy this new "friendship". Even if it was weird because he never had a friend who was a girl that hot. Screw that! He never had a friend who was a girl. Period.

One day, right before leaving, Puck said to her "Next Monday I don't have class at the JCC. The kids will go to Central Park" and Rachel's smile felt just slightly but, being the good actress that she was, she immediately regained her composure and said "Well, then see you soon and take care of you, Noah". His eyes were studying her face but then he simply replied wit a simply "You too, Rach; you too".

Now let's just say that Rachel's weekend simply sucked and even going window-shopping with Kurt wasn't able to take her mind off the fact that she wouldn't see Noah the next Monday. She looked like someone who had her puppy kicked but when someone else pointed that out she had to come up with several excuses (the most effective was: "I'm PMSing! Now leave me alone!").

The dreaded Monday arrived and it seemed to be the slowest day known to mankind. She was about to take her break when the bell on the door ringed, signalling a new client. But as soon as she raised her head to greet the new customer, Rachel saw him, smirking at her and without his guitar case.

"Noah!" said Rachel surprised. "What are you doing here? I thought you said that you wouldn't come today!"

Puck put his hands in his pockets and told her "That's not exactly true. I just said I didn't have guitar class today, not that I wouldn't come here" and then he gave her one real smile. His smiles were beautiful, in Rachel opinion; she really thought that he should smile more often. And then he added "I like talking and spending time with you. I really like it". At his statement, her heart started to dance the rumba on her chest. He liked to come to the diner and talk with her. He liked to talk with her! She tried her hardest to hold a huge smile back. She poured two mugs of coffee and nodded her head to one of the free booths.

"So, shall we?" said with a smile.

They met!They finally met!:D So what do you think about this chapter? Let me know by writing a review! They would bring light in these rainy italian days!:)

Thank you for reading this chapter and see you soon for a brand new one!

A dank: thank you

Nishto farvos: you're welcome