November 17, Lima Allen County Airport

Puck grabbed his and his father's bag out of the cargo hold of the tiny plane and together they walked over to where Zeyde's truck idled. They tossed their bags in the back and climbed in the old truck. Zeyde nodded at them before putting it in gear and heading home. The dogs crowded the truck as it pulled up the drive. The two music men heading into the house while Amos heading back into his workshop. Puck was bone tired. Nathan to some extent was used to the tour circuit but 6 weeks of non-stop travel had drained Noah more than he would like to admit. Both men dropped their bags and then dropped into bed. Puck's last conscious thought was that Rachel got out of dance class at seven.

Same Day, Lima School of the Arts

Rachel walked out of her dance class still damp with sweat and searching through her bag for her phone when a large black motorcycle roared to a halt in front of her. Her first instinct was to switch her search to that of her pepper spray until the rider unbuckled and pulled his helmet loose. Then her instinct was to scream, with excitement.

"Hey, my hot little Jewish-American Princess, need a ride?" There he was, Noah Puckerman, smirking at her, hazel eyes alight with mischief. Seeing him was like falling in a warm river of happiness. He sat astride the bike as if he'd grown out of the seat. His worn, brown leather coat was open showing the tight blue t-shirt underneath, worn out blue jeans and his normal heavy brown work boots planted firmly on the ground keeping the bike upright. Never had he looked more, "Badass." She blushed, had she really said that out loud?

"You know it Sweetheart." He grinned at her taking her in with hungry eyes. She wore soft pink yoga pants with pale fawn colored knitted knee boots. Where her pants dipped low and her white tank didn't quite meet the tops of her pants the thinnest sliver of skin played peek-a-boo with him and he wanted nothing more than to warm the likely chilly spot with one big hand. The white tank top was over laid with an oversized floppy light purple sweater. Her hair was pulled back in a high pony tail like a Cheerios but a half a dozen curls had fallen out of it framing her face and she looked so soft all over. "You're a sight for sore eyes Sweetheart." He muttered out low and dark as he focused those eyes on her.

She shivered and replied, "So are you. Look you good," His mouth curled up into that panty dropping smirk of his, "I mean you look better than you did before you left. I'm ashamed that I didn't notice before…everything happened but you look…good now."

"Not your fault. Barely knew myself that things had gotten that bad." He looked away from her to the ground near his boot. Heard then saw her little boots step up to his before feeling her little hand slip under his jacket to lie over his heart.

"You men, keeping everything inside. Don't you know that's not healthy?" She smiled gently up into his face but shivered violently when a colder wind blew through the parking lot.

"Hop on Sweetheart. We can talk more where it's warm." He pulled another helmet from a pack on the side of the bike and held it out to her.

"Your place or mine?" She grinned and zipped her bag closed before accepting the helmet and letting Noah adjust the chin strap. With his help she slid a leg over the seat and found the pegs for her feet. She waved a hand at her classmates who had been staring at her companion with curiosity and not a little lust as they had been speaking. They roared off and Rachel tucked her hands under Noah's jacket on either side of his stomach while snuggling into his broad back. Under their helmets they wore matching smiles.

Same day, Rachel's bedroom

Puck stretched out on Rachel's bed half asleep listening to the patter of the shower. When it stopped he turned his head and watched the door until Rachel emerged. She wore flannel pajama shorts, striped brown and dark pink with a brown form fitting long sleeved pajama top. Her hair was still slightly damp though he'd heard the blow dryer and as she bounced happily up to the bed he noticed her lack of a bra. He harbored no delusions that Rachel saw him as nothing but a friend, even as she climbed into bed her nipples hardened in arousal. She snuggled laying on his body, her head on his chest as he wrapped one arm about her and tangling her long bare legs with his own jean clad ones. No, Rachel was just as attracted to him as he was to her but he was glad that despite their complicated history she was comfortable enough with him to do this.

"So if you're not back for good how long are you staying?" Rachel asked as her body slowly relaxed into his warm solid form.

"We head to Michigan on the 27th to get everything in the tour up and running again then we should be back in early before Chanukkah starts at sun down."

"So you're in for 10 days then leave for 3 and come back for 8? Are you home for good after that?"

"No Tate said there's not much point so I'm taking some tests early then finishing up with the show. I'll be back on the 20th."

"You're gonna miss my birthday." Rachel pouted.

"I know I'm sorry Sweetheart." He tangled his hand in the hair lying against her back using it as an excuse to slip his fingers under her top to stroke her soft skin with his fingertips.

"So what are your plans?" Her delicate fingertips began to trace circles on his chest. It was distracting as she got ever closer to his nipple ring but it wasn't like she didn't know about it. He may have never gotten her shirt off but he'd taken his own off once. She'd been fascinated with the thin hoop of metal.

"Well, hang out with you and Beth as much as possible really. I can't wait to see her Saturday, will you come with me?"

"Of course."

He smiled at her easy immediate agreement. "Tomorrow I wanted you to check my homework then we can go ahead and turn what I have in. Do you have any new classes tomorrow?"

"No just Glee. Are you going to come by and see everyone?"

"Fuck no. Fuckers didn't care about me why should I care about them?"

"You don't know that. Just because no one else went nuts looking for you doesn't mean they weren't concerned."

"Uh-huh yeah, they're all gossips who can't keep their mouths shut. Anybody said anything about me?"

"Well I'm not exactly in the loop…"

"Anyone missed me at all? Except Santana who sexted me a couple of times that weekend then never again."

"Well if they thought you were in juvie then they'd assume you wouldn't have your phone with you. I didn't try your phone until I talked to your Bobeshi. And yes a couple of weeks ago we missed you."

"Really?"

"Yes in Glee we were doing an old Journey number to warm up and Mrs. Pillsbury walked in a mentioned that the song didn't sound right and Mr. Schue agreed. They kept trying to figure out what was wrong and I pointed out it was because your deeper baritone wasn't there to compensate for Finn's thinner bari-tenor. Without the resonance of your and Matt's deeper tones the males sound, well weak frankly. Artie has a wonderful voice but without that base the other boys, well Finn and Sam that is, just sound pathetic. I think I've worked out an arrangement to help but of course no one is listening to me. Good news though Mike said that Matt's family is getting restationed here so if we can get past Sectionals we'll have both of you back in the Spring."

"So they missed my voice."

"Well I missed your voice."

"Which brings us back that you're the only one to miss me."

"Umm… well…"

"Do you know why I joined Glee this year?"

"No…"

"I joined for you." She was silent not sure how to respond to that. "I joined last year cause Quinn wouldn't let me have anything to do with the baby and since I couldn't join the Cheerios I tricked my way into Glee so I could keep an eye on her. That's why I watched her so much. She's a cold hearted bitch. I didn't even like her when we had sex but she asked so…" He shrugged. "We'll always have this thing between us cause of Beth but besides that I don't really feel anything else for her."

"Oh."

"Just wanted to get that out of the way. Been doing some thinking while I've been gone. Got some things I wanna say to lots of folks."

"I see. Anything you have to say to me?"

"Yeah, but not right now."

"Why not?"

"It's not time yet. Besides all I want to do right now is lay here and hold you for a while. I missed you." He pulled her closer and rolled over to his side to wrap his other arm around her as well. She wrapped her arms around his neck and waist and like he suggested just enjoyed being near each other for a while.