"See you guys tomorrow" Mr Schuester told the club.

As the kids shuffled out, Puck trailed behind, not keen to get home. He got into his truck and just drove, ending up in the local park. Puck decided to get out and watch the local birds, his secret passion. That was his way of calming down. Right now, he was thinking too much. Beth, Quinn, regionals, and for some reason, his anger at what Jesse had done kept coming up.

Rachel drove to the park, ready to perform her weekly concert to the homeless. It was something Jesse had always been keen on, but after he broke her heart, she needed this as a distraction. She planned her set list, choosing songs that, if Jesse were to hear, would shove her talent in his face.

Puck sat by the lake, running a hand across his short hair. Then he heard the singing. It was a voice he knew, the voice of Rachel Berry. He turned to watch as she sung to the people in the park, a song that trashed every song she'd ever done before. She sounded amazing, and the emotion of the piece cut through Puck. It moved him. Not that he was going to admit it. He was a stud, after all.

As Rachel finished her songs, she started to walk around the park, worrying about various problems in her life. As she walked, she saw a familiar shaved head, and made her way towards it.

"Hello Noah" She said, tentatively sitting next to him on the bench.

Puck gave her a nod, still staring out across the water, frowning as his thoughts flew around his mind, worries and doubts resurfacing constantly. He wanted to be a good father to his baby, but Quinn wouldn't let him. He wanted to do well at regionals, to please his mum, to show the world, and his baby daughter, that he wasn't just another Lima Loser. And most surprisingly he wanted to find himself a proper girl, to show the world that he had grown up.

"Are you okay Noah?" Rachel's voice dragged him out of his thoughts.

"Suppose. Lots to think about" He replied, turning to look at her.

Puck was surprised to see that she was staring at him with concern, and was even more surprised that it made him feel like he wanted to comfort her. She looked good, her hair was lose, her make up natural, and her clothes were slightly less grandma-like that normal. And the length of that skirt… it was enough to tease any guy.

Rachel sighed to herself. She didn't know why she stopped to talk to Noah. He'd looked so lonely, and the furrows in his brow made it seem as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders.

"Want to share your thoughts with me?" She asked him.

"Nah. Why don't you tell me about yours? All that stuff with that Jesse guy must leave you with a lot on your mind." Puck replied.

He wasn't in a talking mood, but he did want to listen to Rachel, help her sort herself out. Maybe involving himself in someone else's problems would ease his own.

"Well… You're right actually" Rachel began, trying to stop herself from going into rant mode. "How come I didn't realise he was such a jerk, and how come I let myself believe he was with me because he liked me, as if I was good enough or special enough to be with him It was all a sham and I didn't realise because I'm an idiot who kidded myself otherwise. Also about regionals, I… we, have to beat Vocal Adrenaline now more than ever."

"You wanna break them like he broke your heart?" Noah muttered with a slight smirk. They'd all heard of Rachel's brave line before the egg was broken.

Rachel allowed a small smile. From anyone else, she would have burst into tears at that line, but from Noah, it was just gentle teasing, the way it had always been between the two of them.

"Of course. They need slapping down" Rachel told him.

"Especially St. James" Puck replied, surprised at the slight spark of anger in him. "If we don't beat him at regionals, I'll beat him anyway for you Rach." He added glancing over at her and winking.

"Oh no Noah, I don't condone any physical violence" Rachel said, alarmed, but blushing prettily at his wink. But not only did the idea of violence alarm her, but the idea that Noah was prepared to fight in her defence did too.

Puck chuckled, having known that would be her response. Typical Rachel. Don't sort things out with violence, like everyone else, just make sure you beat them at singing. He remembered Finn telling him about Jesse challenging him to a sing off. Rachel and Jesse were so similar, but, Puck couldn't help but think, isn't it opposite that attract. And he and Rachel were complete opposites.

Rachel stole a glance at Noah, and surprised to see he was watching her, turned her head away. They sat in silence, each caught up in their own thoughts, staring out across the water.

"So, Noah, what are your problems?" Rachel asked him, breaking the silence.

Noah paused, wondering why she cared, and whether he should tell her. He didn't do soppy. But then again, this was Rachel Berry. If she told anyone, which she wouldn't anyway, it would be his bad- ass word against hers.

"Just… trying to work out how to be good. I need to be the best I can, I mean, I have so many people to please, and… it's hard. People judge me from my reputation, they don't care whether I'm really a good guy or not" Noah stopped. He was a stud. He shouldn't be doing all this "emotions things" And after he'd worked so hard building up his reputation, why did he want people to think differently anyway.

Rachel turned her head to look at him. "I think you're a good guy Noah." Rachel said softly. "Ok, so, maybe in the past you've made mistakes, but I know that you're trying your best in these troubling times."

Puck looked into Rachel's eyes. She really believed in him. Through all the times he'd been a jerk, all the slushies he'd thrown, she still thought he could be a good guy. Inside him, a realisation hit. A realisation Noah thought he would never feel. The realisation that part, if not all of him, wanted to be with the sad, heartbroken but still ridiculously talented brunette sitting hunched next to him, the girl who still believed.

Noah's eyes darted between Rachel's deep brown eyes and her lips. He slowly leaned his head in, and they kissed gently.

Rachel was shocked. Here she was, recently broken up with Jesse, the guy who she had thought was "her one and only", with Finn still trying to fight for her, and now she was kissing Noah, and feeling a huge spark and a feeling of longing as she did. They drew away, still gazing into each other's eyes.

Then Noah spoke "You know Rachel, what you said about you being "not good enough or not special enough" for Jesse. You're wrong." Noah told her quietly. "You're so talented, and any guy who has you is the one who should feel special. St. James was an idiot for not seeing that." Once again, Puck had to stop himself before he said too much.

Rachel was surprised at Noah's kind words, and something inside of her was touched, the part that had once loved Noah, until Finn and Quinn had got in the way.

"You really think that?" She asked him in a whisper, aware of the tension that was still building around them.

"Of course. I may be a bad-ass, but I don't lie for no reason." Noah told her quietly teasing.

Rachel suddenly groaned softly to herself, and then turned her head away.

"What?" Puck demanded. After the way he'd said that stuff to her… And why after that amazing kiss was she turning away from him now? Most girls would be all over him now, and he had filled that kiss with more sweet and gentle emotion than he ever had before, and he was pretty sure that she knew it. She must have felt what he had.

"Noah, I only just broke up with Jesse. I have to focus on regionals, we both do. Also, Finn still isn't giving up. Do you think we can really work with so many obstacles in the way?" She asked him. "You have Quinn and Beth to focus on. You have priorities Noah."

"Yeah well, you know what Berry." Puck responded with a smirk, only allowing emotion out for what he wanted to say next. "I don't give up either."

And he meant it. In that short, sweet kiss and the conversation that they shared, Noah Puckerman had realised so many things. And he wasn't going to give up. He knew what he wanted now, and he was determined to get it.