Disclaimer: I am just borrowing them for the fun of writing, BUT I do own the plot, ideas and original characters.
A/N: Not beta'd; all mistakes are mine. Please mention them if you find any.
A/N2: Alright, I had planned to make this completely AU after Mash-up, but now that I've seen Wheels, I've decided that depending on what comes up in the episodes, I may sneak in a conversation or cover the same topic, just put my own twist on it. I'll mention spoilers above if there are any.
A/N3: I'm so happy that you all are enjoying this! Your feedback is loved and is what is keeping me writing. Keep it coming! Thanks! :D
...
Walking up to the school Tuesday morning with her book bag over her shoulder and two large bowls of cupcakes, Rachel's hands were full. "Rachel, what is all that?" Finn asked walking up to her.
"Cupcakes for the bake sale," she said.
He grinned, "I knew you'd come up with something," he opened the door for her and once inside the school, he took the bowls from her.
Rachel blushed, "actually thank Noah; it's his recipe and he showed me how to make them last night," she replied.
Finn started laughing at her, "that's funny. Puck doesn't bake; I don't even think he knows what a kitchen is," he commented.
Rachel eyed him harshly, "that's where you're wrong," she snapped, taking the bowls back and storming away from him, leaving a stunned and confused Finn behind her.
Pissed off at Finn, Rachel stormed towards Mr. Schuester's classroom, hoping he'd be in there. Finding the door open and the light on, she stepped in, "good morning, Mr. Schuester," she said, trying to sound pleasant.
"Good morning, Rachel, what is that?" he asked.
"Cupcakes for the bake sale."
"That's excellent Rachel! A great start. I figured out we have to raise about twelve-hundred dollars, so we'll have to be doing this for a few days, but I'm sure we'll be able to do this. Great job," he smiled.
She set the bowls down, "uh, the bowls are mine, but it's Noah's recipe and he showed me how to make them last night and I'm sure he'd be willing to make more if we need them," she said.
"Noah, as in Puck?" He asked his eyes wide in shock.
"Yes," she nodded, her anger flaring again, "why is that so hard to believe?" She exclaimed, "first Finn, now you?"
Seeing her upset, he held up his hands, "whoa, I didn't say I didn't believe you, but it's just not what I expected from him. Obviously I was wrong," he told her.
"I really hate stereotypes. Just because he plays football doesn't mean he can't bake, cook, sing. There is so much to him that no one sees; I mean he hides most of it, but he's such a great guy, but because of stupid stereotypes in this school, he hides behind a tough-guy jock just to keep up appearances," she sighed.
As Mr. Schuester watched her talk about him, he noticed the same look in her eyes as she had when she was preforming and he realized that she really did have strong feelings for him, "I apologize Rachel. It sounds like there is a lot more to Puck and I also see you really do care for him."
She smiled, nodding at him, "thanks. I do care for him, a lot," she admitted, "well, I gotta go to my locker before class. I didn't know where else to bring these, but if we can sell them today I can take the bowls home after school so we can make more," she said, heading for the door.
Once in the hallway, she walked quickly to her locker finding the usuals there.
"There you are, we were wondering where you'd disappeared to," Mercedes said.
Kurt eyed Rachel and then turned his head back to Mercedes.
Rachel noticed his look and then shrugged, "I dropped some cupcakes off at Mr. Schuester's class room for the bake sale. Noah made them, I just helped," she admitted.
"Whoa, hold up there white girl," Mercedes put her hand on Rachel's shoulders, "are you talking about Puck?"
"Yes!" Rachel slammed the door of her locker shut and glared at all of them, "you know, for us being the outcasts, you sure do a great job of stereotyping everyone!" Her bag was over her shoulder and she was storming past them before anyone could reply to what she'd said.
Her frustration hit her hard and she she stormed into her first period, ignoring everyone that she passed. By the time lunch arrived, she wasn't sure how things would turn out after her outburst that morning, but she took her usual seat at the table, Mercedes, Tina, Artie and Kurt there, while the Cheerios and football players were at the 'bake sale' table.
"We-we're sorry," Tina said sitting down in the seat next to Rachel.
Mercedes nodded, "yeah, you were right," she rolled her eyes, but looked at her, "it's just weird. Ever since you two have been dating it's like he's two people. The guy you know and the guy everyone else knows. Finn didn't even know he could bake. You know, it's one thing to have a few secrets, but that boy seems to be only secrets," she told her.
Rachel sighed, "you don't know how many times we've talked about that. I wish he would be the guy I know, but he's so worried about his reputation that he won't."
Mercedes looked over to the table and saw the groups of students standing around with money, "well, looks like he needs to get baking."
Rachel looked up as Finn walked over with her empty bowls, "uh, I already sent Puck a text that we need more," he said setting the two empty bowls down in front of her, "and I'm sorry about this morning. A little birdie told me you got pretty pissed."
"Thanks," Rachel smiled and watched him walk away, "and apology accepted from you two also," she added to the girls at the table. Artie and Kurt were at the other end of it talking; Kurt turned away from the girls; since he and Rachel were not on speaking terms due to their current fight over the Glee song.
Rachel's phone beeped at she glanced at it and saw a text from Noah, so she opened it and laughed when she read it, "Dude, you're gonna need a bigger oven," she read out loud, "he must have gotten Finn's message."
Tina and Mercedes laughed, "wait, he's at your house?" Mercedes asked.
Rachel nodded, "yeah, my dads gave him a key," she told them, "he hangs out there during the day, then we can spend some time together while I'm home and he goes home at night."
"You are lucky, most parents don't trust their daughters boyfriends," Mercedes commented. "He must not be into cougar catching anymore," she added.
Rachel shook her head, "no, he's not. He promised me he wouldn't," she said, glancing back at her phone to reply to his text, getting back a reply from him, asking her to pick up Arin from Mrs. Morgan's before coming home.
When Rachel parked in front of her house and Arin got out, she was curious what she would find when she walked inside, considering she hadn't heard anything from him since his message about the oven and asking her to get Arin. What she found was not what she expected. Stepping into the kitchen, she gasped, "oh my God, Noah, what have you been doing?" The counter by the stove was filled with the dry ingredients for cupcakes, where the mixer was and most of the flat surfaces in the kitchen, the other counters, the island, were covered in plates filled with cupcakes.
"Baking, what does it look like?" He laughed, pulling the last of four pans of cupcakes from the oven, "I was at the bank when Finn sent me a text saying they needed more and he told me at least five hundred, so I took some extra cash out and went to get some more supplies since I didn't think there was enough here," he motioned around the kitchen, "so that's what I've been doing," he moved across the kitchen to her and wrapped his arms around her.
She sunk against him and smiled, "I love you, Noah." The words were out of her mouth before she could realize she was saying them and felt him stiffen, immediately looking up to see his reaction.
Puck stiffened when she spoke those words, staring across the kitchen to focus. The affection she always gave him was new for him, just as it was to her, but his reasons were different. He had more one-night stands and flings than he could count, which up until now, was what he enjoyed, but being with Rachel, knowing there was someone there who really did care for him, was a whole new world and hearing her admit she loved him, even if it was a slip of the tongue, meant a lot. With the events of the past few weeks and his feelings, he smiled, tightening his arms around her, "I love you, too, Rach," he whispered, a smile on his face as he looked into her eyes.
She heard him speak, and the look in his face warmed her inside in a way she'd never felt before and she liked the feeling she was having, never wanting to forget that moment.
Puck leaned forward just slightly to kiss her, thankful to hear his sister was occupied with cartoons, so they wouldn't be bothered for a moment, so he ran his hand through her long hair, holding her close to him.
Feeling his lips against hers, she didn't want to let go, so she let her body take control for and deepened their kiss, letting one of her hands reach up to rest against his cheek.
He let his hand join hers, taking it in his, before pulling away from their kiss with a smile, kissing her hand as he squeezed it gently. He was afraid that if he didn't end their kiss soon, he wouldn't be able to hide just what standing that close did to him, but he also didn't want to step away, so they stood silently looking at each other before he took a few steps to the refrigerator and opened the door, taking out a large container of frosting.
"Noah, you have been busy," she smirked.
He laughed, "yeah, you could say that. I figured that I have to get my homework done, so between batches I've been working on my math homework," he motioned towards the island.
Rachel's eyes landed on the corner of the island where a large calculator, pencil, eraser, book and notebook was sitting, "is that a graphing calculator?" She asked.
Puck nodded, "yes," he set the frosting on the counter and then went over to the oven to transfer the baked cupcakes for more batter.
She watched him and walked over to his book, prying it open just enough to see the words Pre-Calculus and Trigonometry written in bold blue letters on the first page. "Noah, this is a college book," she commented, "I should know, I'm in the same class fifth-period," she added, a big surprise that she didn't even know what classes he was taking.
He shrugged as he slid the last pan into the oven and walked over to her, "yeah I know. I have it second period and though I don't go that often, I have a B+ in it right now," he said with a grin.
"But I thought Kurt said a few weeks ago that you never went to math classes?"
"And admit that I might be smart in school? Hah!" He laughed and sat down where he had been.
"Is this because it would hurt your bad-boy image?" She asked sarcastically sitting down to start frosting cupcakes.
He shrugged at her question and didn't say anything, going back to his homework. There were things in school he did enjoy and though he wouldn't admit it to many it was math, science and a new class he really liked; criminalistics and forensic science. The class was taught by a university professor from Lima's Ohio State University campus. It was the first of it's kind at WMHS, getting backing from several places including the local sheriff and police departments hoping it would bring in some more recruits for them. There were shows on TV that caught Puck's attention and they all were crime dramas, Numb3rs, NCIS, NCIS:LA and three CSI shows, so when he was able to get into the class, he jumped at the chance; he wanted to see just what was real and what was TV.
Rachel was silently decorating some cupcakes, but her eyes were on him. He seemed focused and school work was usually not something she was used to see him focused on, but she smiled to herself.
"When is the chapter test?" He asked his eyes still on his homework, but he could feel her eyes on him.
"Huh, what?" She asked pausing in her work.
"Our math test, when is it?" He asked.
"Uh, not until next week, if you need me to help you out, then I can help tutor you," she paused, not sure why he was actually asking.
"No, I'm good," he told her shaking his head, "I got it, just wanted to know."
"You know, Noah, you always walk me to class so you know what classes I take, but I don't even know what ones you take," she said softly.
Puck smirked, looking up for the first time since he'd gotten back to his homework, "Junior English, this math class, Spanish 3, World History, Advanced Biology and Criminalistics and Forensics."
As he began to talk, she figured most of them knowing what were required junior classes, but as he said the last one, her eyes widened. "Isn't that the new class run by the OSU teacher?" She asked.
He nodded, "yeah, I had the right classes taken my sophomore year to qualify to get in. I was shocked that I got in, but it's awesome," he smiled.
"What is it like?" She asked looking at him, "I don't know anything about that type of stuff."
"So you've never seen any crime dramas? CSI, NCIS, Numb3rs?"
"I have heard of them, but I have never watched them," she admitted.
For once, Puck was stunned at her lack of knowledge, "wait a second," he laughed, setting his pencil down, "I've got to remember this." He paused in talking for a moment and then grinned.
"What?" Rachel was confused at his antics.
"I'm just stunned you don't know about this. This is like me having no clue about your 'West Side Story' play or any play for that matter," he commented.
She nodded at him, "tell me about them," she said softly.
Puck thought for a moment, remembering the ones he had mentioned, "well 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation' was the first. It's set in Las Vegas. Basically a team of crime scene investigators go to the scene of a crime; most of the time a homicide. The collect evidence like hair, blood, fingerprints, anything and everything they can find that might give them a clue to why the person was killed or by who. They do tests, run fingerprints to see if they find someone; interview them and by the end they have nailed the killer. That show spawned two sister-shows, 'CSI: Miami' and 'CSI: New York.' There is also 'NCIS' and 'NCIS:LA.' 'NCIS' is basically the same thing, but 'NCIS' stands for 'Naval Criminal Investigative Service,' so they investigate only Navy and Marine Corps cases. 'NCIS: LA' just started back in September, and they do the same thing, but the people there do it all undercover; it's like super-secret. The other one I mentioned, Numb3rs, is a little different. It's two brothers. One is a senior field agent with the FBI and his brother is like this Math prodigy. The math wiz helps his brother solve cases with math. And get this, they're Jewish," he grinned, not making the connection until he was explaining it to her.
"That sounds interesting. So this class is like the shows?" She asked.
He shrugged, "kind of. We're learning what they do in the shows, but some of the stuff is for TV, like, it doesn't take five minutes to get a DNA test done; that's super expensive and has to be sent away to the big lab at the FBI Headquarters in DC so it takes several months," he explained. "The local cops put money into the class, to help get recruits," he commented.
Rachel nodded, "do you want to be a cop?" She asked; having never spoken to him about his future plans.
Puck looked down at his math homework and shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe. I guess it depends on what kind of cop and where," he closed his book again and got up, knowing he had cupcakes in the oven.
The thought of him being a cop scared her, but it sounded like he really liked that type of work, "that's pretty dangerous," she said softly.
Puck pulled out the pans and left them on the stove as he turned on the back burner to warm up dinner, "I know," he nodded, leaning against a counter, "and I'm not saying I'm going to be a cop, I just, it's a thought and with whats going on, it'd be a steady job somewhere," he shrugged, avoiding the actual words since his sister was within earshot.
Rachel nodded, unsure just what to say, but stood up, moving towards him and wrapping her arms around him, "I'd support you, you know. If you did," she said.
He smiled at her and hugged her, "thanks," he whispered, hearing a door open.
With one of her dads home, he put away his homework and they got ready for dinner, still waiting on David. Arin joined Rachel in helping her frost cupcakes until David got home and they sat down to dinner, since his mom was working late.
After dinner, between Rachel, Arin and even her dads pitching in, they got all the cupcakes frosted and packed up for her to take to school the following day.
Since Arin still had school in the morning, Puck needed to get her home at a decent time, so he reluctantly left around nine, again calling her when he got home to tell her he'd arrived safely. His mom was already home when they got there and all turned in. Though Puck wanted to sleep, he couldn't. His mind kept thinking about Rachel asking him if he wanted to be a cop and until then he'd never put it together that by taking the class, he could be in law enforcement, so with the thought in his mind, he logged onto his computer and started doing research.
"Noah, wake up."
His mom's voice entered his mind and he groaned, feeling the pain shoot through his neck, then he realized he was leaning over his desk, "huh?" He groaned, sitting up, his hand going right to his neck to massage the sore spot.
"Honey, it's six am, have you been here all night?" She asked stepping into his room.
He looked around and saw his clock and then saw his computer was still on, the screen still open to the web pages he'd been looking at, "uh, I guess I was," he sighed, standing up and immediately grabbed his side, "shit," he hissed, "not a good idea with broken ribs," he sat on his bed.
"When was the last time you took any pain medication?" She asked.
"Uh, last night before dinner," he said, "I should probably take some," he glanced at where he'd kept the bottle, "shit, I left it at Rachel's," he sighed, standing up, "I'll just go over early," he commented going to his closet.
"What kept you up all night?" She glanced at his computer.
"Um, just some doing some research," he shook his head lightly and dug out some clean clothes.
Seeing he was going to change, she left his room. Puck changed into a clean t-shirt and sweats. He hadn't expected to wake up that way, so he grabbed his gym bag and threw some things in it so he could shower at Rachel's and headed downstairs, "see ya mom," he said finding her in the kitchen.
"Wait up, are you okay?" She asked, "you never fall asleep at your computer," she told him.
"It's just, been thinking about stuff and I don't know," he he rubbed his neck, nervously, but it did help the stiffness.
"You're stumbling around, this isn't like you," she said standing up and moving towards him.
He sighed, "I know," his shoulders fell a moment, "I was talking to Rachel yesterday and we were talking about my forensics class and she asked me if I wanted to be a cop. I don't know, but that's what I was looking at last night. I must have just gotten tired and nodded off at my computer," he explained.
"A cop? Really?"
He shrugged, "I don't know. It's just a thought. I really need to get over there," he said motioning towards the door.
She nodded, giving him a quick hug before he headed out the door, leaving her in her own thoughts of his future.
Pulling away from the curb of his house, he drove right for Rachel's. The clock in his jeep read 6:30 am when he pulled up in front of her house. He saw some lights on and figured her dads were up, and then glanced up and saw her bedroom light was on, so he grabbed his bag from the seat next to him and got out, walking up to the door and finding the paper on the porch. He bent down to pick it up, groaning as he remembered how he slept the night before and stood up with it in his hand, knocking on the door lightly.
He could hear talking behind the door and laughed at the questions, "who could that be? It might be Noah, but he has a key, why didn't he use it?" As the door opened he saw both of them standing there.
"Morning and I figured it was rude since you two are home," he admitted handing off the paper, "I left my medication here last night and I need it," he added.
"Oh come on in, Noah," David said stepping aside to let him pass, "and we gave you the key so you didn't have to knock," he laughed a little, "but we appreciate the concern."
Puck walked in and dropped his bag next to his school backpack he'd left at their house purposely so he didn't have to bring it back and forth with all his books, and headed for the kitchen where he knew he put his medication. Her dads were both sitting at the island as he grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and took a pill. "Rachel up?" He asked.
"She was in the shower, so probably dressed by now if you want to go up," Alan commented.
Puck smirked and set his bottles on the counter and headed up the stairs, reaching her bedroom door and knocked lightly.
"Just a second, dad!" She called.
"It's not your dad," he replied.
The door flew open and she smiled, "Noah! You're early!" She exclaimed wrapping her arms around him and kissing his lips.
Puck returned the kiss, tasting the mint of her toothpaste as their tongues brushed before pulling away, "I left my meds here," he murmured.
"Oh no!" She gasped, her arms retracting from where they had been, "are you alright? Are you in any pain now?" She asked.
"I'm fine," he laughed at her response, "sore; I fell asleep at my computer last night so my neck is bugging me and my side is sore, but nothing major yet," he admitted.
She nodded and stepped into her room to get her bag and then joined him at the doorway, the two walking downstairs together.
Both of her dads were ready to go to work, but helped them get all the cupcakes into her car before they left. Rachel still had some time, so she sat down in the kitchen with Noah, "is it Monday yet?" She asked.
"Nope, only Wednesday," he smirked.
She sighed, "I can't wait until you can come back to school, I miss you."
He nodded and took her hand, "I know, Monday. I've got an appointment with Dr. Stevens on Friday," he said.
She squeezed his hand and then stood up and stepped behind him, her hands going to his neck, gently massaging his tender muscles.
Puck didn't expect her to start giving him a neck massage, but as her soft fingers began to kneed his achy muscles, he groaned contently, "that feels good," he murmured, trying to hold off the other feelings he was having.
Rachel's hands moved down his neck to his shoulders and continued, but reluctantly stopped when she saw the time, "I have to go," she sighed.
He was still in a daze as she stopped, but nodded, "okay, see you when you get back," he told her, "please tell me someone else will bring something because I've still got a lot of work to do before I go back," he admitted; it was getting closer to Monday and he knew he'd be going back and his teachers expected him to have all the work done.
She nodded, "I'll let them know, but you don't know how much everyone appreciates it; even if at first no one believed me."
"I told you," he laughed, turning to tug her into his arms, "go, I'll be here when you get home," he kissed her lips.
Accepting his words with a nod, she kissed him one more time before leaving the house.
Wednesday meant that Glee club met during lunch for an hour, but given that they were still working on the bake sale, Mr. Schuester canceled it for that day and they would meet again the next day for the 'diva off' as everyone was calling it between Rachel and Kurt for the 'Defying Gravity' solo.
Puck was at Rachel's house when his phone rang. Glancing at the unfamiliar number, he answered it, "hello?"
"Puck, it's Mr. Schuester."
"Oh, hey Mr. Schue," he said.
"I'm sure you've heard from Rachel that she and Kurt are auditioning for a solo tomorrow," he started.
Puck laughed at that, "oh yeah, I've heard."
"I know I slipped the music in with what I gave you, do you think you'll be ready for tomorrow?"
He smiled, "oh yeah, I'll be ready," he replied.
"Good, see you then."
Puck hung up the phone when Will did and he went over to the folder he'd been keeping with him and pulled out the music for 'Defying Gravity' and headed for their piano. It took him about three tries, but he finally got through the whole arrangement without a mistake, trying to figure something out as he did and then got an idea. Seeing it was just after noon, he had plenty of time, so he got in his jeep and headed for a local music store and bought some blank music paper and returned to their house, getting to work on a surprise for Glee, the next day.
Puck was able to get it all written out correctly before Rachel got home and stashed the stuff in his bag and pulled out his biology book, needing to get started on it. He'd done his history, Spanish and English homework the week prior and had finished his math before Mr. Schuester called, so now he had his biology and criminology work to do.
When Rachel returned home, she noticed Puck was sitting at the island again. He looked up from his work, "hey hun," he greeted her, his hands flipping through a few pages in his book.
Rachel smiled at him, slipping an arm around his shoulder as she did, "hello handsome," she murmured.
Puck turned his head to meet hers, kissing her on the lips, "how was school?"
She shrugged, "it was alright. We didn't have Glee club today, so we could sell stuff and it's working, sold most of them, but I told them the baker needed a day off, so they said they'd come up with something," she added.
"Thanks," he smiled.
"What are you doing?" She asked.
"Finding out that sperm doesn't live in hot water," he laughed, "nah, we're learning about genetics."
Rachel laughed at his almost joke, "I can't believe Finn still thinks that's possible," she shook her head.
Puck shrugged, "he'd believe anything Quinn told him."
Rachel lowered her eyes, "um, Quinn got a second late notice on her late payment for her doctor bill. She stormed in and made me be a witness; she's trying to get Finn to get a job," she told him.
"I'll take care of it," he told her, "tomorrow."
Rachel nodded, leaving it alone, "what's for dinner?" She asked.
"Do I look like a butler?" He laughed, getting up and moving around to where she was, slipping his arms around her from behind, kissing her neck.
"Look like one, no, but you've been acting like it lately; you know, having dinner ready when we get home," she giggled.
Puck rolled his eyes, but he laughed again, this time going back to his biology. Rachel looked around and started pulling something out to make. Puck left the house just after four to pick up his sister and returned to the house to find Rachel sitting at the island with her own homework out, sitting opposite of where he had been, "back," he murmured to her, kissing her cheek.
The night was quieter; no major baking going on, so after dinner, Rachel and Puck continued with their homework and Arin occupied herself with the TV and her dads were in the den.
Closing his textbook, Puck gathered up his finished biology homework and headed for his backpack. "Arin, get your things, we gotta get home," he told her.
"You're leaving? It's only eight," Rachel said.
"I know, but with how I slept last night, I'd like to get some sleep. How about I come over in the morning and take you to school," he suggested.
She smiled, "um, sure, that would be nice," she looked at him as he put on his jacket, "so I guess I'll see you tomorrow?" She asked.
Arin was already on the porch, so he pressed a kiss to her lips, "yeah you will, goodnight, Rach," he smiled at her before heading out into the night.
...
A/N4: Posted Part 9 as soon as the power came back on from the system upgrades our neighborhood got on Monday, and with the power out, I was able to get this and almost a whole other chapter started. So now with this posted, I can work solely on the next part, so it should be up in a day or so. We are having a lot of wind/rain storms that may knock out power, but I love my laptop! It actually has a decent battery life, so I can keep writing with the power out, but wouldn't be able to get online because the 'net would be down. If the power does go out, I'll keep writing and post as soon as I can. Thanks again to everyone who is reading! :D
A/N5: I'm a crime show junkie. Love them all! Numb3rs and NCIS are my favorite. I like CSI and CSI:Miami, but not much into CSI:NY; after writing this, I would think Rachel would be into it since she wants to be on Broadway. I couldn't help putting that in; I know a local high school put a CSI class into its class offerings for the same reason I mentioned in the story, so I thought it'd be neat if Puck had an interest and no one would expect it, ya know?