Title: Forever Young.

Pairing: PuckleBerry.

Rating: T - Only because of a few mild swear words.

Summary: Rachel and Puck try to make sense of their feelings for each other, whilst tackling High School and a shocking diagnosis.

Notes: Sweet Child of Mine will be finished, the next chapter should be up later today and then there is only five more left. This story was begging to be posted though. Oh and in my world the winner and runner-up from Regionals head to Nationals.

1.

It was on a Monday that Rachel first noticed something was really wrong. Ever since Regionals she had been telling herself that it was nothing, that the headache was just a result of her disappointment in placing second to Vocal Adrenaline.

That waking up every morning in a mad dash for the bathroom was because she was exhausted, that she was still trying to come to terms with the changes in her life; finding her mother, losing her mother, breaking up with Jesse and kissing Noah Puckerman the night of Regionals.

It wasn't until she woke up on the floor of the shower, with her father banging on the door, telling her that she was going to be late for school that she started to panic. At first she had tried to chalk it up to exhaustion too, but then she realised that she was averaging eight to nine hours sleep a night.

Plastering on a fake smile she assured her father that she was alright as she headed off to school. He believed her, he had no reason not to, Rachel had always been a model daughter.

"Hey Berry," Puck called out as he approached her in the hallway.

Rachel winced as she spotted the blue slushy in his hand. "Make it quick," she muttered closing her eyes against the freezing-facial she feared she was about to receive.

"They ran out of grape," Puck shrugged as he handed her the drink.

Slowly Rachel reached out to take the drink from him, her hand missing the cup and grabbing at thin air, blinking she shook her head and tried again, this time taking the drink from him. "Thank-you."

"Are you drunk?" Puck asked, the only time he'd ever missed taking hold of something like that, was when he had more wine coolers than he did blood running through his veins.

"No," Rachel replied, slightly offended that he would even think that.

Puck frowned. "Jeez, chill Berry."

"I just didn't sleep very well last night," Rachel lied, feeling the need to explain herself.

"Up late working on our science project I hope," Puck grinned, he was usually able to win girls and boys alike over with his smile.

Rachel's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What science project?"

"The one we were assigned to do together, the one that you said would be much easier if I just let you get on with it," Puck reminded her.

"I … er … I think I must have forgotten," Rachel stuttered, genuinely confused as to how she could have forgotten about a whole science project.

Puck shook his head, he was badass but even he wouldn't dare cross Mr. Dean, the crazy science teacher with the twitchy eye. "Berry."

"Science isn't until last period, if I skip gym class I'm sure I can have it finished by then," Rachel assured him, wincing against the bright lights in the hallways.

Puck watched as she rubbed her temples, as if she was trying to will away a headache. "Are you sure you're not hung-over?"

"I'm sure," Rachel snapped, slamming her locker shut as she headed towards first period, hoping the rest of the day would turn out better.

Watching her leave Puck couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, he couldn't put his finger on exactly what it was something just didn't feel right.

"What do you care anyway," Puck muttered to himself as he shoved his letterman jacket inside of his locker. "You're Noah Puckerman you can have any girl you want," the little voice inside his head added, as he headed towards basketball practice, pushing the tiny, brunette to the back of his mind.

He managed to keep all thoughts of the brunette at bay until he walked into the science lab to find her desk empty. "Have you see Berry?" he asked, turning towards Brittany.

Brittany shrugged her shoulders. "I had some blueberries for lunch."

"Rachel Berry," Puck elaborated. "About so high," he described holding his hand up to his chest. "Can usually be found singing or saying something really obnoxious."

"I passed her on the way into the bathroom a few minutes ago," Santana frowned, wondering why he even cared.

Running his hand across his chin Puck sat down at his desk, his eyes fixed firmly on the door as he waited for Berry to arrive with their project. His impatience growing as the minutes ticked by, bringing him closer to his presentation; a presentation he didn't have.

Standing up Puck headed for the door. "Noah where are you going?" Mr. Dean asked, stopping the teenager in his tracks.

"To the bathroom," Puck half-lied, he was going to the bathroom but only to try and track down Rachel and find out what the hold up was.

Not waning to get into an argument with one his students the teacher let Puck go, turning his attention back to the class, not wanting everyone to suffer because of one delinquent jock.

The angel and devil seemed to be playing out an argument in his head as the angel told him he was doing the right thing, that he had to follow his instincts that something was up, that Rachel Berry would never quit class without a good reason. Whilst the devil told him that she wasn't his problem, that he should just blame the lack of science project on her ignore his worries.

As he approached the toilet he was shocked to find her staggering out of the bathroom and towards the lockers.

"Fuck Berry, you look like crap," Puck observed, as he took in her pale face.

"I'm fine," Rachel lied, her voice catching on the words.

Puck took her by the hand and led her towards the empty auditorium where he sat her down in one the seats. "No you're not. You look like you've just had your first keg-stand."

"Don't drink," Rachel breathed as the room started to swim around her.

Not knowing what to do Puck looked around the room hoping that someone else would come in and take control of the situation. "Do you have your phone on you?"

"Phone?" Rachel questioned, her eyes closing as she tried to lift up her right hand finding that it didn't move the way she wanted it too.

Puck watched her right hand jerk slightly before falling to her side, the panic burning inside him as he tried to tell himself it was nothing, that she was just having one of her Diva fits. Even though deep inside he knew that wasn't true, that something was wrong with her.

As that realisation hit Puck wasn't sure what scared him the most, the fact that something was wrong with Rachel Berry, or the fact that the mere idea of something really serious being wrong with her pained him in a way he hadn't thought possible until now.

"Can you walk?" Puck asked, regretting bringing her into the isolation of the auditorium.

Standing up Rachel held on tightly to the chair in front of her, silently berating her body for not cooperating the way she wanted it too. As the pressure in her head began to build up again, causing her knees to buckle under her.

Jumping out of his seat Puck held her as she threw up all over herself and him. "Great," he muttered as he scooped her into his arms.

Looking down he was about to tell her that next time she needed to toss her cookies to do it away from him, but any angry words died on his lips as he took in the glazed, unfocused look in her eyes.

"Berry?" Puck asked, needing to hear her speak, that fact she had barely said two words to him was starting to terrify him, he had never known Rachel Berry be silent.

Rachel looked up at him, her mouth opening and closing as if she was trying to say something, but no sound came out.

Making his way towards the exit Puck carried her with ease, cradling her body close to him as he headed towards the nurses office, which is where she needed to be ten minutes ago.

He was at the top of the stairs when he almost collided with Mr. Schuester, as the teacher headed into the auditorium.

"Mr. Schuester," Puck stuttered.

Immediately Will Schuester's attention was drawn to the young girl in Puck's arms. "Rachel. What happened?" he asked looking up at the dazed boy.

"I don't know," Puck admitted. "I found her stumbling in the hallway like she was drunk and … but this is Berry and we all know that she's as straight as they come … then I realised something was up … she was acting weird and wasn't making sense, I mean I know she often doesn't make sense but this was different … then she threw up and … I was just taking her to the nurse."

"I'll follow you there," Mr. Schuester insisted as Puck continued his journey towards the nurses office.

Once inside the small office the nurse took one look at the young girl and demanded that she needed to see a doctor. After calling Rachel's parents it was decided that Mr. Schuester would take her to the hospital and her father would meet them there.

"Is she going to be alright?" Puck asked as he watched Mr. Schuester struggle to help Rachel to her feet, relieved to see that she appeared more lucid now.

As if she was noticing his presence for the first time Rachel frowned at the vomit that covered the front of his top. "Oh God did I do that?" she asked, obviously mortified.

"It's alright," Puck insisted, pleased none of his team-mates were around to see this.

Rachel covered her face with her hands. "How embarrassing."

"Just … get better soon Berry. We can't take Nationals without you," Puck smiled, his heart skipping a beat as she returned his smile, some of the colour returning to her cheeks.

And as he watched her walk towards the exit leaning heavily on Mr. Schuester a little voice inside his head told Puck that this was a day he would never forget.