Hey guys, so sorry i've been missing for so long. I"ve been trying to write but i've had the biggest case of Writers block. Seriously I couldn't get anything out, not just for this story but for any of my stories or one shots. It's been really frustrating but I did finally finish this chapter, though shorter than usual, it's here but I have an interview tomorrow and it's already 5 am so I'm going to edit and post this and send review replies in your inbox sometime soon. Glee comes on later today! So I'm looking forward to that and glad I can give you this little gift to celebrate! I hope you all enjoy :) I actually went ahead and started the next chapter while it was in my head but I'll be working on other stories probably tomorrow so We'll see what happens with it. Enjoy and thank you for your patience! Love you all!

Oh and side note, there are a couple writers that also are responsible for my writing absence since they distract me by being awesome! Go check them out Unsuspecting Sunday Afternoon CherryPower Ravenwolf2089 and GingerGleek

"Does anyone want anything to drink before we start?" Rachel asked, when they all got inside.

Everyone shook their head while Noah said, "There's drinks downstairs lets just head down there."

Rachel nodded and they all headed downstairs.

"What are we practicing first?" She asked them all as she got the cds out they'd need for their practice.

"Let's run through the three we have down to warm up," Santana suggested.

Rachel shrugged, "Sure, Don't Stop' first?"

All of the agreed and they ran through Don't stop believing, Airplanes and Gotta Be Somebody twice each and then when they were fairly certain they had those three down, Rachel suggested a drink break before working on the new songs.

She grabbed herself a bottle of water and walked to the corner of the room and started playing on the keyboard she had there.

She felt someone walking up behind her but didn't turn around, just kept playing.

"What's up?" Santana asked, moving to stand beside her as she continued to shrugged her shoulders, not looking at Santana or saying anything.

Santana reached over and grabbed one of Rachel's hands, "Look at me, B."

Rachel sighed but turned to look at the girl, frowning, "Nothing's wrong, I'm just thinking."

"About?"

Another shrug, "I don't know. Everything's changed so much these past couple weeks. Still processing I guess."

Santana nodded, "It's a lot to take in but at least it's mostly good changes right?"

Rachel nodded, giving Santana a small smile, "How's things between you and Noah?"

"We're getting there, I think. He said there was only one girl he liked, or at least he almost said it but the cut it off so I don't know" Santana replied, rolling her eyes.

Rachel raised an eyebrow, "San, why don't you just tell him?"

Santana looked at her like she was crazy, "Like you told Matt?"

"In a way I kind of did tell Matt." Rachel replied though she knew Santana wouldn't count it.

"Oh really? Do tell?" Santana said, suddenly eager for the new gossip and the change of subject.

Rachel told her how Matt had been listening to their conversation on the phone and that was what got them where they were now.

"Aww, I'm glad to have helped, Berryford along" Santana said with a smirk, "But that doesn't count because you didn't tell him, you told me and he heard you."

Rolling her eyes, "Whatever, San, I think you'd be a lot happier if you'd just tell him already though."

Santana looked at her suspiciously, "Do you know something I don't?"

Rachel looked behind her and saw Mike reaching for another soda, "Michael Mathew Chang step away from the caffeine" She yelled turning around and marching over to him, who was glaring at her now.

"I just wanted a drink, Rach" He whined.

"Then grab a water, it's better for your vocal chords and for our sanity." Rachel replied, reaching in and grabbing a water bottle out for him.

He snatched it from her, pouting as he went to sit by Britney who kissed his cheek and whispered something in his ear that made him grin again.

Rachel went to sit beside Matt, who was scanning the music for Love the Way You Lie.

She leaned over and kissed his cheek, "Hey" She whispered.

"Hey" He said, looking up, as he put an arm around her, pulling her closer.

"Ready to practice it" She asked, nodding her head to the music.

"In a minute," He replied, then said, "Have a nice heart to heart with San" he smirked as he said it.

"As a matter of fact, I did. Though she's being stubborn as ever about telling Noah, he almost told her but he chickened out."

"He should just ask her out already," Matt said, "It worked well for me."

Rachel grinned, kissing him quickly before saying, "Yes, but you only showed your feelings for me because you heard me admit them to San, maybe…."

"Uh, oh," Matt said, "What are you planning?"

"What if I get Santana to admit she wants to be with Noah while you bring Noah to the door like what happened with us? It might push Noah into asking her."

Matt frowned, "I thought you already told Puck she wanted to be with him."

"I did but it's not the same as hearing it from the person. He also told me you liked me, remember?"

"I guess…It might work. When and where?" He asked, reluctantly.

When we order dinner tonight, I'll get San to come with me to get drinks. Give us a couple minutes then tell Noah to come give us a hand."

"I didn't know I had an evil mastermind as a girlfriend" Matt teased.

Rachel smirked at him, "There's a lot you don't know about me, Rutherford." With a wink she jumped off the couch and skipped over to the cd player to put the music in, leaving Matt to stare after her.

They practiced 'Love the way you lie' Just singing at first. After running through it twice just singing, they started choreographing it. Five more times in, they had what they wanted, and with practice they felt it was one of their best songs, dancing wise, yet.

Rachel wanted to go through singing the other two songs at least, before they took a break so her and Noah went through Fire and Noah and Santana went through Good Girls Gone Bad.

"That was a great first practice back guys. If we keep it up like this, we'll have no problems at the competition." Rachel praised.

"Food time!" Mike and Matt said at the same time, causing everyone to laugh.

"Brit, you're turn to pick. What do we have tonight?" Rachel asked, smiling over at the girl sitting on Mike's leaned up to whisper something to her but Rachel said, "Nuh uh, Mike. Let Brit pick what she wants, not what you want."

"I know what he wants, he wants sugar." Britney replied, kissing his cheek after she said it, smiling, "Right?"

"Always, babe" Mike answered with a grin.

She smiled back at him for a second before she looked at Rachel, "Um, I liked that chicken noodle thing you got us last time we were here."

"Pad Thai?" Rachel asked

Britney frowned, "Um, I thought we were getting what I wanted. I want that chicken and noodle thing that had the peanuts on it."

Rachel chuckled before nodding, "Thai it is. You heard the lady, now up the stairs with you all. I'll put this stuff up and meet you guys up there. Noah, order me a tofu pad thai please"

Noah nodded, "Sure," And with that everyone went upstairs and Rachel started putting the cds up and throwing away water bottles and soda cans. Once that was done, she looked around to make sure everyone was definitely upstairs then she sent a text to Artie. A minute later.

Artie: Already sent it. We'll find out the reaction tomorrow

Rachel: Thank you Artie. Hopefully this takes care of everything.

Artie: No prob, Rach. Tina says hi. I'll see you tomorrow.

Rachel: Hi Tina. See you both tomorrow. Good Night.

And after that exchange she went upstairs, smiling to herself.

"What took you so long? The food'll be here in ten" Noah asked as she got to the living room where everyone was sprawled out.

Sitting down beside Matt, laying her head on his shoulder, she smiled at Noah, "Sorry, I got distracted going over the songs in my head. Need to make sure they're all ready to perform for this weekend."

"This weekend? The competition's next week" Santana said, thinking Rachel had switched the dates.

"I know, but I figured we could have another outdoor performance at the park this weekend, this time with all six songs. It'll be good to practice the new songs with some crowd so we can get an idea what to expect with them next week."

Britney clapped, "Swings again, San! And we can feed the ducks and slide down the slide" She happily listed all the things they could do at the park while Santana patted her foot that was in her lap, smiling indulgently at the blonde as she went on and on.

"Sounds like fun," Mike added,grinning.

Matt nodded, "I'm in." He said, squeezing her shoulder as he did.

Noah smirked, "Sounds great but I'll have to bring the brat. Mom's working a double so she can be off for Dani's birthday in two weeks since I told her I had a glee competition next Saturday."

"Why did you tell Mom we're still in Glee, Noah?" Rachel asked.

Noah shrugged, "I figured after we won our first competition, we could tell her about Chasing Dreams but if she knew now she'd say that we could practice at home or something and use the lack of glee to get us to move back in."

Frowning, "She won't like that we lied…."

"She won't know. We'll tell her we quit glee because after winning the competition it was hard to do both and Chasing Dreams will give us better opportunities."

Shaking her head, "You only ever put this much thought into lying to your mother, if you put half as much thought into school you'd be a genius."

"Hey, I am a genius, doll. I just choose not to share that fact with the entire planet."

The door bell rang then and Rachel jumped up, "Saved by the doorbell," She joked before going to the door.

Grabbing the food she set in on the table before saying, "San? Can you help me carry the drinks in?"

"Um, sure, B." Santana replied slowly getting up to stand beside her.

"What does everyone want?" Rachel asked.

"Water," Brit said. "Mountain dew" All three boys said.

Smiling, Rachel and San went into the kitchen and grabbed the drinks, setting them on the counter, Rachel started rifling around for some glasses for the sodas.

"So, San, did you give anymore thought on what I said earlier?" Rachel asked as she filled the glasses with ice.

"About?" Santana asked, feigning ignorance.

"Noah" Rachel replied, not giving her the lengthy explanation she was sure San expected.

"Oh.. B, I told you, I'm not telling him. Even if he likes me as more than a fuck buddy, he won't want to be tied down to one girl. Puck doesn't do girlfriends, you know that."

"So you're going to continue to pretend you're alright sleeping with him and flirting with him and then letting him go to other people?" Rachel asked, confused.

"Until he tells me he wants more, yes." Santana replied, firmly.

"Are you alright with it?" Rachel asked, softly.

"I am right now but that's probably because I know he's not having sex with anyone else since he's always with us or you…unless you guys are making use of that bed his mom's buying."

Rachel laughed, "He told you about that? Debbie's really something… but you're right, I don't believe he's sleeping with anyone else right now but isn't that all the more reason to just tell him?"

Santana frowned at that logic, "The answer's no, B. I'm going to wait for him to talk to me. Call me old fashioned in this but I want him to ask me."

Sighing, Rachel nodded, "Alright, I won't push anymore. Let's go before they think we got lost or something."

Santana nodded grabbing a few of the drinks as Rachel grabbed the rest, the went to walk out and Rachel noticed that Matt and Noah were both sitting in different places then they were when they had left.

Locking eyes with Noah she raised an eyebrow at him and he just smirked at her in return causing her to frown at him.

She handed out Matt and Noah's drink while San gave Brit and Mike theirs and they dug in. After dinner, they decided to watch Lord of the Rings Return of the King.

About half way through, Britney had fallen asleep head on Mike's lap. Santana was half asleep on Noah's lap, head on his shoulder and Rachel and Matt were quietly making out on the love seat. Since it was dark and the girls were both pretty much asleep and the boys were enthralled in the fight scenes, no one noticed.

Rachel had one arm around his neck holding him close while her other was under his shirt rubbing up and down his back and Matt had a hand twisted up in her hair while the other was around her waist holding her to him.

One of their breaks for air, Matt whispered, "I'm so glad I can do that without having to worry about who sees."

"Me too, though the sneaking around was kind of fun"

He smirked at her before leaning in to kiss her again when they heard, "I'm watching you, Rutherford"

"Noah! Leave him alone!" Rachel exclaimed, huffily.

"No can do, Berry." Noah answered with a smirk.

"It's Rachel and why can't you?"

"You two making out in front of me makes me call you Berry and I can't because what kind of best friend would I be if I didn't mess with him?"

Rolling her eyes, she leaned her head back on his shoulder turning back to the movie. Not giving Noah the satisfaction of an answer.

Matt whispered into her hair, "He won't always be around."

Rachel smiled but whispered back, "Annoying twin remember? He's always around"

"I can hear you two, you know" Noah remarked.

"You were meant too," Rachel shot back with a smirk before standing up, "I'm going to bed" She kissed Matt quickly, "Good night" She said softly before turning to Mike and Noah, "Good night you two"

"Night Rach" Mike said

"Night, Berry" Noah said with a smirk as she stuck her tongue out at him.

"Night Rachel" Matt said.

She smiled at him and then went upstairs and curled up in bed, smiling at how everything was coming together nicely.

Her phone went off,

Noah: I'll be up in a few, just have to get San to bed.

Rolling her eyes, she text back.

Rachel: [Noah] You sure you don't want to go to bed with her ;P

He didn't even answer. A few minutes later there was a knock on the door and then he let himself in.

"Hey" He said, stripping down to his boxers and getting in beside her.

"Hey" She replied, curling up to him.

"You sure Rutherford doesn't mind us like this" Noah teased her.

Rolling her eyes, "No he's perfectly aware that you are my adopted annoying twin brother and he has nothing to worry about. You sure San doesn't mind you with me?"

Frowning, Noah shook his head, "She doesn't mind me with you but I think she is jealous."

"Wait? She doesn't mind us like this but she's jealous? Of what?"

"I don't know. She seemed upset when we were talking about mom earlier today."

"Upset about what?" Rachel asked, looking at him, confused.

"I think the fact mom wants us to get married." He answered, confused, "It's like she thinks because mom wants it we'll do it."

Rachel snorted, "That's not going to happen."

Noah nodded, "I know that, you know that but everyone else seems to be unsure."

"They'll figure it out when we have our weddings to our gentile spouses. I just hope it doesn't give mom a heart attack when it happens."

He chuckled, "Yeah, me too."

She looked up at him, "What's up?"

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"You seem like something more is on your mind so spill."

"I think I'm going to ask San out on a date."

Rachel clapped her hands, "Really? You're not joking are you?"

He laughed at her reaction, "No, I'm not joking but I'm not sure how or where or well anything."

"Hmm… just ask her. That's the easiest way."

"Easy for you to say, but it doesn't seem so easy to me." Noah complained, frowning, "I tried asking her when I walked her to her room but the words wouldn't come out. How'd Matt ask you?"

"Um.. Well.." She then went on to tell him what happened the two days he was gone.

"Kissing San won't tell her because we do that all the time."

"I didn't say it'd work for you, you just asked how it happened for us so I told you."

When they both were quiet for a while, Rachel got an idea, "Hey, I know! Why don't you two go on a double date with Matt and I? Then at the end of it you can ask her to do it again only just the two of you."

He looked at her, as she sat up all excited with her plan, "I don't know, Rach…."

"Do you have a better idea?" she asked, pointedly, not liking him doubting her plan.

"Guess not..You sure Matt will go for that?"

Rolling her eyes, "I'll talk to him tomorrow but I'm sure he'll be okay with it.

"Then I guess, it might work.."

She leaned up and kissed his cheek, "What would you do without me?"

"Let's not find out." He answered, smiling at her. He liked that she was happy but then remembered earlier that day and asked, "Hey what happened with Q and Mercedes?"

Rachel shrugged, "Quinn was upset about Finn so she and Mercedes slushied me. I had some words with Quinn and then went and got cleaned up. Nothing new."

"What words? You told of Quinn?" He asked, wanting to hear more.

"Not really. They asked who would pick me if they had Quinn and I just reminded them that Finn did, twice and that when Quinn told you that you had to stop hanging out with me to be with her you chose me too and then told them I needed to go clean up and left."

"Nice, but that doesn't really explain you're complete lack of caring about the incident."

"I cared, I just already took care of it and didn't need you guys doing anymore." Rachel replied with a shrug.

"It's good that you told her off, Rach, but that doesn't really count as taking care of it."

"Oh, I know. I've got a plan in motion that should make Quinn see what's really going on. You'll see tomorrow."

"Come on, no more secrets. What is it?" Noah prodded as she continued to snuggle up closer to him, yawning.

"I'm sleepy, Noah. You'll see tomorrow." Rachel replied, closing her eyes.

Grumbling, he muttered, "Some best friend you are, always keeping secrets."

"Love you too, Noah," She replied to his grumbles and mutters, unaffected by what he said, knowing he was just trying to guilt her.

"Love you, midget, even if you're acting like a horrible best friend right now."

"Uh huh, good night"

"Night" he muttered, still not happy.

About ten minutes later, Noah said, "Rach"

"Hmm" She asked sleepily.

"I can't sleep."

"Have you tried?" She asked, still half asleep.

"Of course I have but I keep thinking about San and then about you with Q and mom and Chasing Dreams and…everything and can't sleep."

"What do you want me to do, Noah?" She mumbled.

"Sing to me?" He asked, "I haven't heard you sing outside of practice in forever."

"What do you want me to sing?" She asked, slightly more awake but not much, she knew she should have realized that was what he wanted, because it's what she used to do when he couldn't sleep. Sing until he fell asleep.

"I don't care, anything" He shrugged.

"Ok but only one" I warned, him, to tired to argue to much.

"Thanks, Rach" He said, kissing the top of her head.

She nodded before starting

Drink up Baby doll

Are you in or are you out? Leave your things behind

Cause it's all going off without you

Excuse me too busy you're writing your tragedy

These mishaps

You bubble-wrap

When you've no idea what you're like

So, let go, let go

Jump in

Oh well what you waiting for?It's all right

'Cause there's beauty in the breakdown

So let go, let go, just get in

Oh, it's so amazing here

It's all right,

Cause there's beauty in the breakdown

So let go, let go

Jump in

Oh well, what you waiting for?It's alright

Cause there's beauty in the breakdownSo let go, yeah let go

Just get in

Oh it's so amazing here

It's alright

Cause there's beauty in the breakdown.

She finished the chorus again and looked up to see him fast asleep, smiling. She remembered the first time she sung him to sleep, she had sung at least five songs and he, though appreciative of her efforts, was still very much awake and then she had sung this song and she didn't even get through the chorus the first time before he had fallen asleep. Smiling, she was happy to see it still had the same effect now as it did then. Leaning up to kiss his cheek she whispered, "Goodnight, Noah, Sweet Dreams." Then moved back down and fell back asleep herself, smiling while thinking that no matter what else was changing around her, it was good that some things never change.