Hey guys :) thank you as always for your response to the last chapter. The story is very nearly finished- including this one there are 3 chapters left- (I think, my detailed plan is trapped on my broken laptop!) -and I have already started planning the SEQUEL. Hope you enjoy this installment!

Disclaimer: I do not own Glee- if I did this all-NY shiz would be gone.

Marley looked at the clock as Mr Schuester prattled on about the difference between 'por' and 'para'. Approximately 23 hours and 17 minutes ago, Ryder had sacrificed His scholarship to save her own. And then there was the small matter of, 23 hours and 8 minutes ago, her and Ryder saying 'I love you' for the very first time.

Marley had much too much on her plate to worry about paying attention to her Spanish and Glee club teacher, that was for sure.

She glanced down to the empty chair across the classroom, the chair that would usually be occupied by Ryder, who would normally at this point be turning round every five minutes to grin at her, or pull a funny face which would make her laugh, much to Mr Schue's annoyance. But Ryder was suspended, for her actions no less. It was a funny feeling, she thought, to be so elated at their declarations of love, yet so devastated and guilty for ruining Ryder's future at the same time. She needed to know what he was making of it all, which is why she was obsessively examining the clock in the first place; counting down the seconds until the bell rang and school would be out for the day, allowing her to finally go and visit him at home.

After what seemed like an age, but was in reality only a few minutes, the bell rang and Marley shot up out of her seat immediately, nodding somewhat absentmindedly at Mr Schue's reminder of extra Glee club practice tomorrow in preparation for their now extremely close national championship. She quickly bolted down the corridor, passing on her usual trip to her locker to go instantly to the kitchens, where her Mother was waiting to drive her to Ryder's house.

"Let's go," she started when she saw Millie, by way of greeting. Millie gave a sad smile, and followed her rushing daughter out of the school building and towards the car. It was safe to say that if there had still been any doubts about Ryder's attitudes towards Marley, they had been diminished by his beautiful act of sacrifice the afternoon before, and then even further when Marley had sobbed into her shoulder late last night about how he had said that he had done it out of love for her. For the first time since September, she felt that she and Marley owed Ryder something rather than the other way round.

They drove to Ryder's home in silence, probably both contemplating the enormity of everything that was going on. When they pulled up to the house, Millie finally spoke.

"I'll wait here until you go inside…just in case," she sighed.

"In case what?" Marley asked sadly. "Ryder told me he loved me…he's not gonna not want to see me."

"Oh Ryder'll let you in," Millie agreed. "But…if his Father answers the door…I mean, look at it from his point of view," she grimaced. Marley frowned.

"Mr Lynn will still be at work, he's always at the hospital," Marley replied, hoping it would be true. She kissed her Mom on the cheek and stepped nervously out the car, tiptoeing up the driveway and knocking on the door. After merely a couple of seconds, the door opened. Marley breathed a sigh of relief when Ryder stood before her, a sad smile etched on his face. She turned to quickly nod at her Mother, before stepping into the house. Ryder closed the door and turned to face her.

"I'm so sorry," she choked out, immediately breaking down. Ryder tried to pull her into his arms, but she shook him off and chastised herself.

"No…no this isn't fair," she spluttered. "Because of what I did, I'm going to college in New York and you're…who knows what you're doing…You should be the one crying and I should be the one comforting you. God, I'm so selfish!" She moaned.

"Stop, Marley, you're really not helping anything by, I don't know…consuming yourself with guilt," Ryder told her, putting his hands gently on her shoulders before bringing them up to cup her face. "Look…I'm gonna be frank here. I kinda screwed up my entire future for you, so I'd much rather you prove to me that it was the right decision rather than telling me I shouldn't have done it and making me feel even worse." Marley gulped slightly at the firm the nature of his speaking, but nodded hastily and buried her face into his neck. "Come on," he whispered into her ear. "Let's go upstairs." They pulled apart and Marley nodded, taking his hand and following him up to his room. For long moments they simply sat cuddling on his bed in silence, before Marley sat up slightly and spoke.

"So my Mom said your Dad probably wouldn't want me here," she suggested. Ryder looked down, almost as if he was embarrassed, before replying.

"Yeah. I mean my parents really approve of you, you know that, but…yeah. You're not their favourite person in the world right now. The way they see it you willingly and selfishly let me take the blame for you, no matter how much I've told them that it was my choice and you had to literally be forcibly removed from Figgins' office to allow me to do it," he explained. Marley swallowed hard and stared sadly for a few seconds, while Ryder bitterly mumbled the name 'Figgins' under his breath. "I can't believe he was gonna suspend you for your first offence," he started angrily. "That's part of why I did it. Because it was so unfair, I've been in trouble so many times, but because Figgins still buys into the philosophy I bought into at the start of the year…that popular jocks should get some sort of special treatment…" he trailed off, unable to finish his sentence, before looking deeply into Marley's eyes. "The other reason was true too, you know. The reason I told you yesterday. I really do love you Marley Rose." For the first time since yesterday afternoon, they both smiled.

"I really do love you too, Ryder Lynn," she replied, before turning sombre again. "What are you gonna do now, really?" She whispered. "After school, I mean, now that you don't have any chance of a football scholarship. You didn't have any backups."

"When my Dad had calmed down after all the yelling about how I was a dumb idiot blinded by love or something…we discussed some options. He said the hospital he works at takes interns for some stuff like I don't know, working in the pharmacy and low-skilled button-pressing tests and procedures and stuff," he shrugged, not really understanding what he was talking about/ "Apparently it can pay decently."

"But do you want to do that?" Marley asked with a sigh.

"No," he admitted. "But it's better than being a Lima loser and working in McDonalds my entire life." Before Marley could fall into another lapse of guilt about the consequences of her single punch to Rick's face, he changed the subject. "Look. I'll figure something out. For now, let's focus on the positive. You're gonna go to New York, and be amazing. Now we've told each other that we love each other and we're not gonna do this silly fighting any more, okay? Because pretty soon we're gonna be hundreds of miles apart and we're gonna have to be stronger than ever. So, to start things off, I would like to officially ask you to our senior prom," he finished with a sincere grin. Marley smiled back.

"I officially accept your offer," she announced, kissing him boldly on the lips. "Hey guess what. I could be a show choir national champion by then," she reminded him before kissing him again.

"Oh of course," Ryder smiled. "When is it again?"

"Next weekend," she replied. "And then we have two weeks of exams, and then the Thursday after is prom," she counted off the dates on her fingers," and then the day after that is…"

"Our football road trip," Ryder finished her sentence, half singing.

"I still think the New Directions missed a trick not recruiting you," Marley giggled. Ryder chuckled back and pulled her in for a deeper kiss, before they were interrupted by the sound of the front door opening downstairs. Marley broke the kiss and sprung up.

"I should go," she started, wanting to avoid a confrontation with whichever parent of Ryder's had just returned home.

"No," Ryder objected. "Please stay. Besides, your Mom doesn't know to come and get you yet. Stay a little longer and I'll drive you home later. We can study for finals, tutor."

"But what if your Mom or Dad yell at me," she whispered, her cheeks turning red.

"Then I will defend you to the end of time," he replied, without hesitation. Marley gave a small smile, and went to sit down and snuggle into him again. Things were only going to get harder, they both knew that, but today had given them hope that they would get through it.

TADA. Lots of fluff after all the angst :) Please let me know what you thought!

To my darling who reviewed the last chapter:

Ember411: Yes, RYLEY! Hahaha- glad you enjoyed it and hoped you liked this chapter too :)

TeaAndGlee: Oh my God, this review! You're so lovely! Sorry for killing you haha, but I'm so happy you love the story :)

RocioMelinatic-Ryley15: Yes they did! I was excited about that too, even though I wrote it haha

LittleMusicalOwl: Yup, he deserved to be punched! Figgins is an idiot- I don't know if athletes get away with it in real life, but my thinking was when Santana was going to be suspended for punching Finn, and she said that football players get away with slushying all the time :p Awww, so glad I made your day and hope you're feeling better now!

Savannaramirez35: Aww! Yes they do, the cuties :p I know, I hate Rick, and I've hated him in canon since he bullied Puck.

Gleek555: Ryder's such a sweetheart, I wish more people understood that! Badass feisty Marley is my favourite kind of Marley!

Guest: Awww, sorry for taking you on such an emotional rollercoaster! Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Hope to update soon! Love from Lauren xxx