3 Need You Now
Rachel looked down at her phone and shook her head; she did not want to do this. This was humiliating and ridiculous but unless she wanted to walk home in the dark, in the snow, she didn't have a choice. Groaning in irritation she dialed and got a voice mail immediately. Huffing in annoyance she went down her contact list and dialed Artie. He picked up after a couple of rings. "Go for Artie," His cheerful voice chuckled into the phone.
"Artie? It's Rachel," Rachel really didn't want to admit this, really had hoped she could not have this get around Glee but she wasn't exactly the queen of martial arts yet and in the cold she'd be hard pressed to run from any attacker let alone fight. "I'm sorry to bother you, but you wouldn't..." She took a deep breath and changed her mind as she recalled Artie didn't drive. "No, I'm sorry to call you. I'll take care of it. It's okay." Hanging up quickly she put her phone back in her pocket. What had possessed her to wear a skirt and tights to shop for a holiday tree? She refused to call it a Christmas tree. If it was for all of Glee club then it was hers and Noah's too and that made it a Holiday tree not a Christmas tree.
Then her phone rang, "This is Rachel," She sighed as she answered it without looking at the caller id.
"Rache what's up?" Puck's voice came through loud and clear, "Saw you'd called when I was on with Ma. How'd the big talk go?"
Of course he'd remember that she was going to get Finn to make a decision tonight, a decision she'd hoped would mean he'd forgive her kissing Noah and resume their relationship. Typical of her luck the decision hadn't gone in her favor. Rachel tried not to sigh into the phone, "I don't think you could say it went well." She admitted.
"So what went down?" Puck was obviously doing something else besides talking to her. She could hear him moving and the sound of Mario Kart in the background. That was all right, Noah never could stand to sit and do nothing. And he could beat Mario Kart while writing an essay let alone while talking to her.
"Well he made a decision," Rachel kept her voice even with a minor miracle. "You could say it wasn't the one I was hoping for. But it was at least a decision."
"Shit," Rachel could tell the instant Puck put down the game, there was a chorus of howls in Sam and Mike's voices as they began to pull ahead in Mario Kart. "What happened?"
"I am not to be forgiven my kissing you while technically dating Finn," Rachel admitted. "In Finn's mind my transgression is greater than his because now both his girlfriends have cheated on him. With you," She shrugged forgetting momentarily that Puck couldn't see her. "At least I'm not in Limbo. I'm cold but I'm not in Limbo."
"I'm sorry Rachel," Puck's voice was low and the background noise a bit quieter. "Sometimes he's an ass." There was a pause as if he was considering something and a new tension gripped his words when he spoke again, "Why are you cold Rache?"
"Oh, I'm at the Christmas tree lot outside of town," Rachel shrugged again. "It's not a problem; I'm just waiting for my ride. I'm in plenty of light and there are people around."
"What do you mean 'waiting for your ride'," Puck's voice was dangerously low, "Where's your car Rachel?"
"Oh Finn drove us here," Rachel knew she'd made a mistake calling Noah but really who else did she have to call? Quinn would kill her if she called Sam, regardless of their odd platonic friendship. Artie didn't drive yet. Kurt was at Dalton. Mercedes hadn't picked up and she wasn't close to anyone else. "I'm fine Noah. Don't worry."
"Where's Finn?" Puck's voice had gone from dangerously low to a near growl of fury, "Rachel don't you dare try to distract me. Where is Finn Hudson in relation to you?"
"I would guess that he's home by now," Rachel admitted softly. "He left after... after he dumped me," She tilted her head, "Huh, so I guess it was literal and figurative... no, he wouldn't appreciate the ironic symbolism of not forgiving me when surrounded by symbols of the season of rebirth." She sighed, "It's all right Noah, I'm right by the trailer where the office is and there's plenty of light. There are families here. I'm fine."
"You're alone, in the cold, outside of town and it's fuckin' below freezing outside Rachel," Puck's voice was furious. "He fuckin' left you alone in the middle of a damn tree lot in the cold and the dark with no ride home." She could hear him moving around, "You stay right by that office door. I'm comin' to get you angel."
Rachel nodded and then realized he couldn't see her, "I'm not moving from my spot Noah I promise." She tried to placate him, "I'm really sorry...my dads... they had to go to Cincinnati yesterday or I would have called them."
"Don't you dare fuckin' apologize Rache," He was still really mad, that much was obvious. "This ain't your fault."
"Yes it is, for being stupid enough to force a confrontation in a Christmas tree lot," Rachel sighed. "Noah why am I such an idiot about him?"
"Habit?" His words were more blunt than kind but that was Puck all over, honest as blood and just as messy.
"Most likely," Rachel sighed. "Do you need me to let you go?"
"Hell no," Puck was adamant. "Just let me tell the guys where I'm goin'," He put his hand over the phone and she could hear him explaining to Mike and Sam what was going on. The chorus of outraged male voices included Artie's tenor and Rachel groaned. Artie was going to tell Noah any minute that she'd called and gotten off the phone before telling him what had happened. And as if she really was psychic she heard Artie's voice saying just that. Puck's voice came back on the line, even more angry if that was possible, "Rachel, tell me you didn't tell Artie that you could handle this by yourself? Tell me you were gonna call me back in another few minutes if I didn't call you? You were not going to walk home alone in the dark for fifteen miles."
"No of course not," Rachel denied. "For one thing it's not over twelve miles," She clarified. "And I was planning on calling a cab."
"We don't have cab service in Lima Rache," Puck sounded very unhappy with her. "All right we're on our way. Mike's car has better heat than my truck so we're in it. Artie's keepin' the home fires burnin' for us."
"What do you mean us?" Rachel nearly groaned, "Noah you are not bringing Mike and Sam with you."
"Yes I am," Puck snarled into the phone. "Somebody's gotta keep me outa Juvie because if you aren't in the peak a health when I get there I might just hafta kill Hudson for this one."
"He was just being Finn," Rachel sighed tiredly. "He can't help it." She tugged her scarf more securely around her neck and wrapped one arm around her waist.
"I don't care if you fucked the entire hockey team in Finn's bed, that doesn't give him the right to leave you alone, miles from anywhere in the dark and cold," Puck was almost shouting into the phone. "He's being the same self-centered world revolves around him prick he's been since last year and this time you coulda gotten hurt Rache. And if you make any more excuses for him I swear I'mma lose my shit."
"All right," She took a deep breath and then another. "You're right. I was stupid but he was an ass for leaving me here. I'm sorry."
"Sweet mother of fucking god don't apologize to me for that moron," Puck was seething into the phone when he snarled a protest and Sam's voice came on the line.
"I figured I'd better talk to you and let him drive," Sam explained. "Mike didn't know where the tree lot was he's letting Puck drive his car."
"Poor Mike," Rachel almost smiled at the thought of the sweet quiet dancer sitting nervously in the passenger seat as Puck drove his precious Camry. "So who won Mario Kart?"
"Oh, Artie," Sam chuckled. "Which you know, figures. He's like a video game god."
"Yeah," Rachel shivered and began to pace in the hopes that it would warm her up. "He's actually scary when he's doing something like WOW or anything else with a headset." She shuddered, "Where are you guys?"
"We're comin' up on route 51 now," Sam read the warning sign. "You okay?"
"Just getting a little cold is all," Rachel tried to sound as if she was fine. "I wasn't planning on being here this long when I dressed for the excursion."
"How long have you been there?" Sam wanted to know and then his voice was replaced with Puck's low growled tones.
"Rachel, how long have you been waitin' in the cold?"
"Well at first I thought he'd realize what he'd done and he'd come back," Rachel was feeling really cold now and stamped her feet in an effort to warm them. That just made her feel as if someone had taken a hammer to her soles. "So I waited for an hour before I tried to call my dads. But their cell phones are going straight to voicemail so I just left a message saying hi because I remembered afterward they were out of town." She shuddered and tried to pace faster, "Then I tried to call Finn but his phone rang once and went to voice mail so he didn't want to hear from me. Then I tried to call you but it went to voice mail and then I called Artie but I remembered he doesn't drive yet and I was trying to think of who else I could call without everyone hating me afterwards."
"What do you mean without anyone hating you?" Puck's voice was rising dangerously by the time he reached the end of his question.
"Quinn would kill me if I called Sam. Kurt's at Dalton." Rachel began to list the various reasons she couldn't call most of her fellow club members. "I'm not exactly top priority on anyone's list. So I was trying to figure out how I could get home if I couldn't get in touch with you..." She groaned as a shiver wracked her body. "I was thinking I could call Mr. Schue but I wasn't sure if I'd rather freeze to death or take the lecture I'd get on being a cheating bitch."
"Hang on Rache, I see the tree lot," Puck's voice, "Okay I'm pulling in, where are you angel?"
"I'm right by the front door of the trailer, it's at the back of the lot, there's a light right over the door," Rachel shivered. "I can start walking towards the road-"
"No, shit no, stay there where you're safe angel," Puck interrupted her. "Mike's gonna keep the car warmed up and I'm gonna get as close as I can and then I'll come get you."
"All right," Rachel was violently aware of her teeth chattering and tried to keep pacing, "I'm sorry to be so demanding Noah, but please could you hurry...I'm cold."
"I see you angel," Puck spoke into the phone. "It's all right. Hang up the phone now, I'm coming right towards you."
Rachel found herself obeying almost mindlessly, ending the call and putting her phone back in her purse. Almost before she'd finished Puck had gotten to her wrapping her in a sinfully warm embrace. "Noah," She shuddered as he scooped her up, "I'm sorry...I'm just so cold."
"I know angel, gonna get you warm," Puck looked down at her shuddering in his arms and wanted to kill Hudson all over again. "Mike's got the heat blasting in the car." He yanked open the door and slid into the backseat, realizing belatedly that Sam was sitting back there too. "What're you doin' man?"
"You're gonna need to rub her arms and legs to get her circulation going," Mike explained as he angled the vents so they hit the backseat more than the empty front passenger seat. "I told Sam that her feet are probably freezing so he's going to try and warm them up while you hang onto her and get the rest of her warm.
"How'd you know this shit man?" Puck locked the door before he leaned against it, angling Rachel's body so her feet were in the space behind Mike where Sam could unbuckle her shoes and start rubbing her feet. "Should we take her to the hospital?"
"Only if her feet don't start hurting when they warm up," Mike told him turning the car around. "If they get too cold that's when there's frost bite, but if once they start to warm up they'll hurt like a bitch, she should be okay. I started looking this shit up on my phone and texting Artie when I saw the temp outside."
"Hurts now," Rachel got the words out from between chattering teeth. "The heat feels like needles on my skin." She started to clench her teeth together, "Sorry, sorry to bother...all you guys..." She shuddered almost convulsively.
"Shit Rachel," Sam had wrapped his hands around her tiny feet and was carefully rubbing them through her tights. "You'd do the same for any of us."
"None of you are stupid enough that I'd have to," Rachel might have said more but an agonized moan burst from her lips and she tried to pull her feet away from Sam's hands. "Sorry Sam, sorry."
"Fuck that noise," Sam told her harshly. "Don't you apologize to me. Finn's got some serious explaining to do."
"Not worth it," Rachel shook her head and Puck met Sam's eyes.
The blond boy clearly didn't understand what Rachel meant and Puck took a deep breath, "She means she doesn't want us in trouble because of Finn's stupid." He explained quietly, putting her hands between his and rubbing them until she was moaning with the pain of thawing flesh.
"Seriously?" Sam looked at Rachel, "You're gonna let him get away with this?"
"I'm the one who cheated," Rachel sighed, her face turning towards Puck's chest.
Puck shook his head at Sam sharply when it looked like the boy would say something else, "Rachel, angel I need you to stay awake." He pinched her hand sharply and was rewarded with her eyes flying open. "C'mon angel we're almost to my house. Artie's got hot chocolate waitin' the vegan kind that Ma keeps for you."
"I love your mom," Rachel sighed. "Will you get in trouble?"
"Nah," Puck knew that when his mom heard about what Finn had done that he could probably kill the kid and his mom would provide an alibi. "No it's fine. Ma knows I'm havin' friends over for the Mario Kart tournament."
"We're here," Mike pulled up in front of the house. "You two get her inside, I'll grab her shoes."
"I'm gonna run her a hot bath," Puck told Sam as they hurried up the three concrete steps to his house. "She's gotta warm up faster than we're getting her heated."
"Yeah," Sam nodded his understanding. "Where's her bag? Rache told me once she always keeps a change of clothes in it."
"Probably in Finn's car along with alla her books and shit for school," Puck growled as he tugged Rachel's coat off of her, disentangling her from her purse and leaving it all on the couch. "Artie, man can you call Finn and find out where Rachel's bag is? Without lettin' him know she's here? He'll flip out if he thinks she's with me."
"Its cool dude," Artie nodded just as Mike entered with Rachel's shoes and scarf, shutting the door behind him.
Puck looked at Rachel who was staring at him a bit woozily, "Hey Rache, if I run you a bath can you get in it and soak yourself?" He asked quietly. "I'll bring you mom's robe and some sweats and stuff to wear okay?"
"I can do it Noah," Rachel nodded, her dark eyes gleaming with that stubborn light he loved. "I promise I won't pass out and drown."
"Shit don't even put that thought in my fuckin' head," Puck shuddered and shook his head. "All right," he scooped her up and carried her back to his mother's bedroom putting her carefully on the bed. "You're gonna be fine angel, I promise."
"I know," Rachel smiled at him. "You always take care of me Noah. I know I'll be all right if I'm with you."
"Okay then I'm gonna run the bath and go get you some clothes. You hop on in and I'll drop 'em inside the door for ya okay?" Puck figured that was as close as he'd ever get to seeing Rachel Berry naked and at the moment, as long as she wasn't going to lose fingers and toes, he was fine with that.
So that was what he did, picking up the damp tights and underwear and skirt and sweater that she'd peeled off in order to get in the tub. She'd pulled the shower curtain forward so that when he came in, eyes averted, she'd called his name to get him to look at her. "Thank you Noah," She smiled a little sadly but still it was a smile and that was something.
Puck had tried to grin at her, leaving her some of his sweats, and socks, and a big thick sweatshirt along with a camisole his sister never wore because she'd been way too optimistic about how fast she'd grow breasts this year. He knew his grin was pretty much an epic fail because she'd looked more sad not less when he closed the door behind him.
And then he went out into the living room where the other three boys were waiting and looked at them. "I wanna kill him," He admitted hoarsely. "She's still shivering. I put the water so hot it turned my hand red and she's still shivering."
"It'll help her though," Artie reassured him. "She'll feel better once the water cools, her core temperature should normalize. I ordered Chinese so she'd have something hot and vegan to go with the hot chocolate. That'll help keep her body temp stable."
Puck sat down on the couch and looked at his friends, Mike who was so desperately in love with Tina, Sam dating Quinn and Artie, who adored Brittany. "Could you do that? Any a you? To your girls? To anybody?"
"You know he don't think man," Artie reminded him. "He ain't a bad guy but he's always been all about Finn. I mean, he was gonna slushy Kurt last year."
"Yeah until Kurt did it for him," Mike remembered with a grimace. "He's not really... He doesn't have what my mom calls a strong moral center." He looked at Puck, "He ain't like you man. He's never had to be on his own, handling his own shit. He's always had his mom. He's always been popular."
"But still," Puck shook his head. "She could have lost body parts... Rachel Fuckin' Berry...she fuckin' adores him and he left her there, alone in the snow and the dark and the cold. And he told her he couldn't forgive her. 'Cause she kissed me when she was upset. And she didn't lie about it."
"You know Finn's always been all 'do what I say not what I do'," Artie pointed out. "I mean you may have gotten Quinn pregnant but I'm pretty sure you didn't lead her on the way Finn did Rachel." Puck tilted his head and looked at him thoughtfully until Artie continued, "C'mon you know he was still with Quinn when he started kissing Rachel. He even took her bowling and kissed her to get her to come back to Glee, and didn't bother to tell her Quinn was pregnant.
"Was sorta aware, but Quinn was pregnant and I was scared outa my mind," Puck shook his head. "Most of last year was a fuckin' blur. Best week outa the whole miserable thing was when I was dating Rachel; at least we got to be friends, well sorta."
"Not totally then but ain't no doubt ya'll are friends now," Artie agreed. "I think what we ought to do is call Kurt. He knows Finn better than anyone; he'll know how to deal with the parental units..." He looked at his phone as a text alert beeped. "Finn said he dropped Rachel's bag at her front door but he doesn't want to talk to her and I shouldn't try to make him." The paraplegic sighed heavily, "It's like he hasn't even thought that he left her there without a ride."
"Yeah," Mike picked up his keys and started to pull on his coat. "I'll go get her bag and bring it over here," He looked at Puck, "But Artie's right, we really should tell Kurt. He and Rache are pretty tight."
"Yeah but not tonight," Puck shook his head before he looked at Mike. "Thanks man for going back out for her bag. She'll feel better with her own clothes." The dancer just nodded before he slipped out the door. Puck took a deep breath and looked at Artie and Sam, "I'm gonna check on her, there's money on the table for the Chinese."
Rachel was finally starting to feel warm and her fingers were wrinkled and pruned so it was probably time to get out of the tub. Before she could do more than think about it Noah's voice outside the door caught her attention. "Hey Rache? You okay in there still?"
She couldn't help but smile, "It's all right Noah, I'm still awake. I was just about to get out of the tub." Unstopping the drain she suited action to words, grabbing a towel to pat herself dry.
A moment later she was grateful she had when the door opened and Noah's head popped in, "Sorry what?" His eyes practically bugged out of his head and he nearly brained himself on the doorjamb as he pulled his head back out. The door closed but for a crack and his voice came through it, "Shit, sorry Rachel I just couldn't hear you an' I just-"
"Noah," Rachel hadn't felt so much like giggling in more than a week and it showed in her voice. "It's perfectly fine; I appreciate your concern for my wellbeing."
"Perfectly fine?" His voice sounded as if he was smirking, "So can I come back in? 'Cause babe I didn't get a near good enough look."
"Behave yourself Noah," Rachel did laugh then. "I'm drying off and getting dressed." She could hear him pacing in his mother's room and wondered when she'd started to find Puck's nervousness endearing. "Stand back, I'm going to open the door and I'd hate for it to hit you Noah," She teased as she pushed the door open slowly.
"Yeah you're fuckin' hysterical," Puck smirked at her from his seat on his mom's bed. Rachel tilted her head as his eyes gleamed. She was hardly an erotic sight in sweats with her hair bundled up messily and her feet in socks so huge she looked like a clown.
"Well I look it," She shrugged as Puck stood. "Thank you Noah," She sighed. "I was so cold and now I feel warmer." She took a deep breath as his arms wrapped around her.
"Anytime angel," Puck's voice and body were warm as they seemed to surround her. "You call me anytime."
Rachel shivered slightly and wrapped her arms around Puck's waist and let him hold her for a while, "How could he do it Noah?" She wondered, "How could he say he loved me at his mom's wedding and then leave me alone like that?"
"I dunno Rache," His voice was low and rough. "I dunno."
Rachel knew her plan to attempt to make Finn jealous was idiotic even as she importuned Puck to help her. It probably wouldn't work, it would make Finn mad, and irritate Puck, but part of her, the part drawn to Finn didn't see the downside. And the other part of her... wanted to sing with her best friend again. She'd missed that, missed singing with him, missing being free to hang out with him without having to hide or justify it. Half the time Artie and Puck spent at her house was just fooling around not studying, but Finn would have thrown a fit if he'd known that. Thankfully Artie didn't seem to mind misleading Finn.
"Noah, you're sure you don't mind this too much?" Rachel tilted her head, "I know you're still trying to be friends with Finn. I just... part of me wants to make him jealous stupid as that is, and part of me wants more of an excuse to spend time with you."
Puck grinned at her and she knew he was okay with her mixed reasons, he knew her very well after all, "I could do without the 'make Finn jealous' part but I like singin' with you Rache. We go good together."
"Noah, your grammar is appalling," She rolled her eyes teasingly. "I think we'll be ready in another few days, what do you think?"
"Yeah I think we've got it nailed...which is more than I can say for me with you," Puck gave her a mock leer until she was giggling helplessly.
"You're an awful terrible boy," Rachel shook her head. "I don't know why I like you so much Noah Abram Puckerman."
"I'm a hot Jew," He grinned at her in that wicked way that made her stomach twist with heat. "I'm irresistible angel."
"The gun show is impressive," She winked at him and had the satisfaction of seeing his mouth fall open before he recovered and grabbed her, his hands running over her sides until she was screaming with laughter.
When the rest of the football team got dragged into the choir room Puck knew this wouldn't be good. And when he and Rachel get volunteered to perform he was fairly sure that probation or not he'll end up busting some heads. But then Rachel just looked at him and she smiled and he couldn't help it, he smiled back and picked up his guitar.
Rachel grinned at Puck as he pushed himself out of his chair, acoustic guitar in hand. He was handsome, talented and smart and he was willing to sing a fairly poignant duet with her for stupid reasons. "I so owe you for this Noah," She murmured before his hands began to strum the opening chords to the song.
"Damn right you do angel," He muttered back at her and she couldn't help grinning wider before she took a deep breath and began to channel a broken heart.
"Picture perfect memories, scattered all around the floor.
Reaching for the phone 'cause, I can't fight it any more.
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind.
For me it happens all the time.
It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now.
I said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now.
And I don't know how I can do without, I just need you now..."
She aimed a smile at Puck that totally belied the melancholy of the song and waited for his gorgeous voice to begin the next verse. This song isn't perfect for them because of the content, the lyrics don't really match their personalities too well, but singing with him...well that was perfect. Sometimes she felt better singing with Puck than she did dating Finn. And then Puck began to sing and his voice made her forget everything except the music.
"Another shot of whiskey, can't stop looking at the door.
Wishing you'd come sweeping in the way you did before.
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind.
For me it happens all the time.
It's a quarter after one, I'm a little drunk and I need you now."
Puck couldn't help smiling as Rachel's voice joined his on the second line of the chorus. They always sounded so damn good together, their voices meshed perfectly. Singing with Rachel was almost as good as making out with her, she responded to any change perfectly, she was passionate and beautiful and this was the most fun he'd had with her that was G rated.
"I said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now.
And I don't know how I can do without, I just need you now.
I guess I'd rather hurt than feel nothing at all.
It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now.
And I said I wouldn't call, but I'm a little drunk and I need you now.
And I don't know how I can do without, I just need you now.
I just need you now.
Oh baby I need you now..."
Puck grinned as they finished the song and took a look at Finn. The quarterback did not look very pleased with how happy Rachel was without him. Then the rest of the football players started making comments and he was ready to use his guitar in an entirely different and not musically appropriate way.
When he had a chance to think about it, much later, after the rest of the team said they were not down with the half time show and Coach basically told them to put up or be put off the team Puck knew that he was on to something. Finn only seemed to want Rachel when he couldn't have her, when he was dating Quinn or when Rachel was dating Puck or even when she was dating St. Jerk-face-James. And the happier Rachel seemed without Finn the more annoyed Finn seemed to get. Puck wasn't sure what it said about his (former) best friend but he was pretty sure it wasn't anything good.
And keeping it to himself was probably for the best because he was pretty sure Rachel was already aware of most of it. It wasn't as if she was stupid and he was pretty sure she wasn't entirely thrilled with Finn's behavior. But she'd spent all of sophomore year being wound into knots by the tall guy and it was pretty hard to shake that off. Rachel was invested in Finn and if there was one thing he'd learned about Rachel it was that she hated like hell to waste her time. So until she felt like more of her time spent on Finn was a bad investment she was still going to go after him.
Puck sighed as he pulled his shirt on and shook his head. It was really hell understanding her that well, she was driven and brilliant and so damn talented and Finn didn't see any of that. It really pissed him off how repressed and quiet Rachel would get when she and Finn dated. Like if she didn't contain herself and act like Finn wanted then he'd dump her. But that wasn't any guarantee Finn wouldn't dump her anyway.
Puck really was not down with the girls being on the football field. All the girls were smaller than he and Finn but Rachel was tiny even for a girl. Mike and Sam were busting their asses and it still wasn't helping. And then Tina got hurt, and Finn told Puck to get the guys back on the team, get them to perform. Puck still couldn't remember what the hell he'd said, his brain still more than half on the thought that Rachel could have gotten hurt.
And then he saw Quinn talking to Finn, saw her lean up and kiss the tall boy. Cursing to himself he shook his head and booked out of there. When would those two learn? Be together or don't but figure it out before other people got hurt. And now he had a choice, tell Sam or don't. And maybe it was innocent, Quinn seemed to really like Sam and she'd been known to kiss someone without it meaning sex. But he didn't like it and now he'd have to avoid talking to Sam about Quinn for a while.
Rachel had invited he and Artie and Kurt and Blaine back to her house after the game for poker and Chinese and she'd even told him to invite Sam and Quinn if they wanted to come over too. So at least he'd get to hang with Artie and Rache and hear all about how exciting her football game had been. Puck shrugged to himself, for him the highlight of the game had been giving her a little smack on that sweet curved bottom of hers. She'd looked seriously hot in that uniform.
Author's Note: So this chapter was very inspired by Catriona3's The Almost Blue Christmas. I love that fic and reread it every now and then for a good dose of Puckleberry.
The song in this chapter is pulled straight from the episode and is Need You Now by Lady Antebellum.
Oh, a quick word about POV, now and then I mix it up as to who's point of view we're looking at so you might have multiples in one chapter. I don't do it very often but I really liked getting both Rachel and Puck's perspective in this one. Hope I haven't confused anybody.