Hell 2

Puck woke slowly his arms wrapped tightly around the girl in the bed next to him, his eyes still closed he knew who it was by the smell of coconut invading his nose that was buried in silky smooth hair, finally wrenching them open he smiled down at the girl next to him before looking around at the bright yellow room around him in the dim grey light of dawn.

"You're home Noah, go back to sleep" Rachel mumbled rolling over in his arms so she could lay herself out across his chest, her hair fanning out, perfect for him to run his fingers through as he soothed himself to sleep again. His eyes snapping open suddenly as he replayed what Rachel said in his mind, she had said he was home, he had a home with her, here. Pressing a kiss to her head as it rested against his chest he cuddled her tighter and let his eyes fall closed, content that no one would break into his room and start beating him, or he wouldn't be woken up by his mom and sister crying.

Hours later he was woken up by a different stimulus, his arms naturally tightening he sat up sharply as they closed on nothing before his brain caught up and he realised it was the smell of bacon that had woke him up. Pushing back the blankets he ambled downstairs in his boxers, knowing that Rachel's fathers were never home and it wouldn't faze them to see him wondering around in his boxers if they were, they were highly unflappable.

Walking into the kitchen he paused and leaned gingerly against the doorframe to watch her hurry around the kitchen in a baggy t-shirt and a minuscule pair of shorts cooking his favourite food.

"Morning" he said huskily making her jump and turn towards him with a smile

"Good morning Noah" she said brightly automatically reaching for a mug and pouring coffee into it with one sugar and a dash a milk before handing it to him and dishing up his breakfast of kosher bacon and sausages with pancakes.

"This is awesome. Thanks Rachel"

"My pleasure" Rachel insisted pressing a kiss to his cheek and sitting down next to him to eat her own breakfast "I talked to my dad's this morning, they said you have to live here"

"I have too?"

"I explained to them the situation and they said that they could not in good conscience let you go back to the living environment when you have a safe haven in our house, and that they have always cared for you despite the difference we have had in the past . As such you have a place to live here and always will"

Rolling his eyes at the typical Berry behaviour of overstepping her mark by telling her parents in the first place as well as his speech he hugged her around the shoulders and said nothing, there was nothing to say.

"So I was thinking we should go shopping today, get you clothes and other things you are going to need"

"I can just go home and get my stuff" Puck protested lamely, not really wanting to return to his house unless he knew that his dad wouldn't be there but there were something's he really wanted to keep. His guitar for one and his laptop with pictures dating back to when he was a kid with Rachel, as well as his favourite white and blue chequered shirt that Rachel loved so much when he was wearing it.

"Well we could set up a honey trap, make sure he is out of the house" Rachel mused, earning herself a laugh from Puck.

"Honey trap? I knew I was pushing it with all those Con movies and you still got it wrong"

"You know what I meant!" Rachel snapped embarrassed that she had gotten it wrong

"I did baby, and you are right if we can get my dad out of the house we can get in and grab my stuff"

"Well he naturally goes out when he goes to the bar, so we just have to wait until then, we can watch the house until he is gone and sneak in"

"Sounds like a plan, he'll go about midday" Puck said looking up at the clock and seeing it was almost eleven already "wow I slept late"

"You got here late" Rachel said smoothing a hand down his mowhawk before picking up the plates and carrying them over to the dishwasher "and you were pretty beaten up"

Shivering under her touch Puck grinned up at her and tilted his head back as she passed, they hadn't made that step to a romantic relationship, not since sophomore year but that had been different; his dad hadn't been around then. Then again this situation was completely different as well; as much as he had wanted their relationship to work back then he knew it couldn't; now it could; now it would mean more.

With his head tilted back he watched her fuss around behind him happily, it was a completely domestic situation that should have been scaring the living day lights out of him but it wasn't, reaching out as she walked past again he tugged her down onto his lap and pulled her close, her arms going around his neck naturally.

"Hi" she grinned at him running her hand down his mowhawk again and gripping the short hairs at the base of his neck making him shiver again.

"Hey Sexy" he murmured pressing his face into her neck and pressing kisses along her exposed skin "so I was thinking..."

"That we are now together and if you cheat on me like you did Santana Lopez, or on me with said school slut, I will castrate you" Rachel said with a smile, while Puck blanched and nodded in fear.

"I wouldn't Gorgeous, but ok consider me suitably scared" Puck agreed glad that he hadn't actually had to say anything to Rachel about being together, he hated conversations like that.

"Good" she said pecking him on the lips and getting up "I'll grab you some clothes from my Dad's room for you and then we can go"

After a quick shower each and make sure that Puck's wounds were properly bandaged and had been cleaned they drove over to Puck's former home and waited for his already drunk father to stumble out and head to the nearest bar.

"Come on" Rachel said unsnapping her seatbelt and getting out of the car quickly, Puck following suit and lacing their fingers together as he let them both in to his house, keeping Rachel close even though the house was empty he couldn't get over in his innate fear of it. It was trashed the home his mom had worked so hard to make comfortable for him and his sister was covered in beer cans and bottles and numerous pizza boxes and takeaway cartons. Pressing her face into Puck's arm against the smell of decaying food she let him lead her upstairs to his room where he unlocked the big padlock he had on the outside and pulled Rachel inside quickly.

"I don't want to hurry you..." Rachel said nervously looking around the room and perching on the bed

"I know baby I feel the same way" Puck said wrenching open his drawers and hurriedly started packing clothes into the duffel bags he had gotten out of his wardrobe, making sure to pack Rachel's favourite shirt before getting his guitar and laptop. "I'll run these down to the car then come double check ok baby? You safe here?"

"Yes" Rachel nodded nervously "your dad isn't here"

Puck kissed her quickly before lugging the bags and his guitar down to the car before hurrying back to Rachel who was poking around the room trying to find anything he would need, finding some photos she put them in her bag before Puck entered and did the same.

"I found some photos" Rachel whispered just as the front door slammed closed downstairs "please say that was you letting the door close on its own" her eyes widening in fear as Puck moved over to her and placed an hand over her mouth to keep her quiet.

"No" he murmured putting his mouth close to her ear and easing them both back into the corner hoping his dad would just go and pass out on the sofa, it was not to be though as the stomping sound of boots came on the stairs and an oath at the sight of Puck's unlocked door.

"Hello Son" he slurred stumbling in and trying to fix beady eyes on Puck before sliding to Rachel who was standing behind her boyfriend her eyes wide with fear "who's the cutie? Shouldn't waste time with that Puckerman darling, should concentrate on the elder"

"Leave her alone" Puck ordered holding Rachel close to his side moving them as he dad stumbled further into the room.

"Thought you had run away like you mom, fucking cowards the lot of you"

"I am leaving, but I'm not running away" Puck said trying not to allow his dad to see Rachel again who was hiding her face in his back.

"Just like your mom you, where you staying son? With that slut behind you? You are nothing, you are a useless Lima Loser who is going to do nothing with his life and drag everyone down around him. Look at you seventeen and with a kid you abandoned already, slept with your best mate's girl, you are nothing and you will die nothing"

"SHUT UP!" Rachel screamed moving in front of the quiet and destroyed Puck "you are wrong, you are so unbelievably wrong that it's not even funny, you are a despicable and disgusting human being and if it wasn't for the fact that Noah is your son I would wish that you had never been born. Leave us alone, do yourself a favour and forget that you have a family because if you ever come near Noah again I will destroy you" her voice so deadly quiet and serious convinced both men that she meant every word she said.

Picking up her bag and taking Puck's hand she dragged him from the house quickly and pushed her comatose boyfriend into the passenger seat before driving them both home and pushing him onto the sofa before dragging everything up to her room.

"Noah?" she said hesitantly sitting in front of him and placing a hand against his cheek, breathing a sigh of relief as he pressed into it "he was wrong, he couldn't have been more wrong. You are an amazing young man who has the ability to do anything you want to do in the world, and you will because you won't have a choice with me at your side pushing you to achieve them"

Puck laughed wryly and nodded, that was true, Rachel would never let him rest on his laurels she would make sure he was ok. She always had. She always would.