A/N: I'm back! This time, I'm totally shifting gears and trying my hand at Glee fics (because I think I've grown out of Twilight...maybe I'll revisit. Just to play with Eddie and Bellie again!) Thanks to Ms Mellissa aka cheapen for reading this over and giving me the green light.

Hope you enjoy it!

He knew that he should hate her. But she was trying, so hard, to be his friend. And Quinn's friend. And Finn's friend. Hell, she was trying to be EVERYONE'S friend.

Guess she finally decided to be normal.

He knew that he should hate her for spilling the beans to Finn. But she did him AND Quinn a favour. Something…both of them wanted to do for a long time, but were too afraid of doing.

But he appreciated her trying. So he tolerated her. He never slushied her; she'd give him a small smile in the hallway and he'd give her a nod of acknowledgement. He would answer back whenever she asked him something and laughed at any of her failed attempts to be funny.

He began enjoying her company. Little by little (so little in fact, he didn't even notice) they saw more of each other outside of glee rehearsals, or even outside of school. Like that one time, when he ran into her at Blockbuster. He was planning to re-rent Fight Club and a few Die Hard movies, and she bumped into him when he turned around.

Yeah, Rachel Berry was sort of Noah Puckerman's only friend. Now that the so-called Babygate had blown wide open and that freak Jacob Ben-Israel posted all the deets on his blog, Puck had become an outcast. Sure, he was still on the football team. And hell yes, he was still in glee. But he rarely talked to anyone outside of glee because everyone was so quick to judge 'the douchebag that slept with his best buddy's girl'.

Berry was right. The Gleeks are the only friends I have, Puck thought, when he was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. His phone started ringing, but he was too tired to talk to anyone, so he clicked the ignore button. He was too busy thinking about the past month – Babygate, sectionals, football games… and everyone in glee.

Finn was still distant during rehearsals. From everyone. A few days after sectionals, Mr. Shuester made them have a group discussion to talk about everything that happened. When it came to Finn's turn, he expressed his anger, his disappointment and his sadness. He didn't like how everyone in glee knew, BUT HIM. As he spoke, Quinn listened quietly, staring intently at the floor while tears filled her eyes.

Quinn was also a bit different. She didn't live with Finn anymore (obviously) but with Rachel. RACHEL FREAKING BERRY. That, right there, proved that she wasn't as mad as everyone thought she was. For the week after sectionals, she stayed with Puck and his family. But one day after school while he was looking for her to drive home, he heard Quinn and Rachel talking in the bathroom.

"Look Quinn, I really hope you know I'm sorry for telling Finn. It was wrong. It wasn't my place, at all! I'm not involved in this triangle of yours, and I was being selfish thinking about my happiness without thinking about who would have to clean up the mess. If it helps, I don't think about him any more that much

He heard Rachel laugh a bit and he smiled to himself. He remembered that time… luckily Quinn's baby hormones weren't so high so she wasn't so offended.

He had no idea how Quinn and Rachel had become so close after that talk. And yeah, he had to admit that it was a little weird having to share a bathroom with a girl; he always had his own while his mom and sister used the one downstairs. It was awkward seeing hair in the drain (since he didn't have hair) and she laughed her ass off when he accidentally used her deodorant.

He guessed he was kind of relieved when she told him that she was going to shack up with Rachel, even if it did shock him to no end. And his mom thought it was because of her at first, but didn't really mind after ("Did I do something wrong Noah? Well… that's okay, Noah. As long as she and the baby are safe. Besides, her cravings for dill pickles and nutella were driving me crazy!")

And Puck was stunned shitless when Quinn announced that she decided to keep the baby (now that she was getting back into her groove again). He was floored. And elated. And over the fucking moon.

He told her that he still wanted to help her, and reminded her (again) that he wasn't going to be a dead beat like his father. Puck thought that she'd put up a fight and tell him no like the other few times, but she patted his hand reassuringly and said, "Rachel said that you're sincere, that you're already in love with the baby… and that you have really good baby daddy potential. I guess I'll give it a shot," Quinn smiled and added, "You'll be on craving duty!"

Yeah. So he guessed Rachel was also the reason why he was part of the baby's life. How she'd became so helpful, he had no idea…

Everyone else in glee was being supportive; at least they weren't taking sides. They understood that Finn was a little angry at them for not telling him before, so they'd make small talk with him but leave him alone for the most part (they considered themselves lucky that he didn't quit glee). Rachel was becoming friendly with all of them too, even Santana and Brittany! It was a surprise to everyone, but hey, they all thought that a nice, calm Rachel was better than a superfreak, diva Rachel.

His phone rang again, but by this time he was exhausted out of his brain, and turned it off. He turned to the other side of his bed, snuggling into the coldness of the pillow underneath his head.

Yeah, I guess Berry's been a big help…

The next morning, Puck was at his locker talking to Mike about Jackie Chan's appearance on Ellen…and something about his English being to hard for even a machine to understand.

"Dude, did you see him? It was so fucking funny, he was trying to speak to one of those automated voice messages with his heavy accent, and he got through!" Mike cackled.

Puck was about to close his locker when it was pushed closed by a petite, smiling brunette.

"Good morning boys!" Rachel greeted brightly. Mike and Puck grunted in response to her and Quinn, who was behind her. Suddenly Quinn glared at him and pushed Rachel behind her.

"PUCK! WHAT THE HELL! WHY DIDN'T YOU ANSWER MY CALLS?! DIDN'T I TELL YOU THAT YOU'RE ON CRAVING DUTY?! AND WHAT DID YOU DO LAST NIGHT?!? YOU COMPLETELY IGNORED BOTH!" she scolded.

"Quinn, I told you it was fine. You barely ask anything of us and-"

"Rach, no. Puck wanted to help and he didn't help me! Puck, apologize to Rachel! You made her get up one thirty in the morning! She needs her beauty sleep, and I need my pickles, and you need to help me! And Mike, stop laughing!" she demanded. Puck looked utterly confused, while Rachel and Mike just looked on amused.

"Uh, sorry Rach. I got tired…" he apologized whilst scratching the back of his Mohawk.

Rachel rolled her eyes and smiled and left saying that she'd see them in glee. All of a sudden Quinn was all up in his face again.

"You're lucky she's forgiving and she sticks up for you," she reminded him. Quinn turned around and left as the bell rang, signifying the start of first.

"Yeah, I really am," Puck mumbled, loud enough for Mike to hear.

Ever since Babygate, Rachel felt like shit. Completely like shit. Of course she regretted it after (would she have permitted Quinn to punch her if she didn't?) and even more when she saw how sombre everyone in glee club was.

So she had some kind of epiphany one morning during her workout on the elliptical.

'How will future casting directors and co-stars like me if I'm not liked by my 'friends' in glee club?' she thought.

'I need to start somewhere. High school is the foundation. High school is the microcosm of the world – if I want the world to love me, I need my peers to at least feel comfortable with me.'

That day during practice, Mr. Shuester gave them a new song to work on. Love Like This by Natasha Beddingfield, to be , he gave the lead to Rachel, despite the jealous glares of fellow singer Mercedes Jones.

She did it.

She gave the lead to Mercedes WILLINGLY. And everyone had looked at her like she'd lost her marbles and had grown a second, third and fourth head.

*

The same day, she suggested new dance moves and tricks to Santana and Brittany.

She asked Kurt for fashion advice just to make him happy.

She even prompted both Tina and Artie to talk to each other!

The next step was to approach Finn, Quinn and Puck again.

She tried Finn first. Rachel tried talking to him, making him smile and cracking jokes… but she could tell that he was still coping. She was wise enough to keep her distance and know that he'd go to her, when he was ready… but would she still want him to?

She had no clue what was happening. Ever since he joined glee, she was CERTAIN that she'd always want him. No matter what. And do whatever it took to make him go to her. But when she'd seen him after Sectionals, keeping his distance from everyone, but staring at Quinn and Puck like he missed them in his life, she regretted telling him even more.

Next she tried Quinn. And how terrified she was when she tried. Rachel sat down next to her during glee and made small talk about how Quinn was feeling and what she was craving, just to test the waters. Quinn responded, without any insults or death glares (thank God) and throughout the whole practice, they talked even more. Like, to the point where they were making their own inside jokes and laughing like mad.

Rachel felt everyone's eyes on her while she giggled with Quinn over some new inside joke. She knew they were in awe from what she was doing, but she didn't care. Rachel had never laughed so much in a long time.

Mr. Shuester made them all have a group discussion during the next practice. Rachel willed herself not to cry as Finn tried to explain his feelings in words.

"I'm angry, I'm humiliated, I'm embarrassed…I feel like such an idiot! How could you? How could ALL of you? I loved you Quinn, so much. And I love Drizzle. But you completely crushed me! And Puck; dude, you're supposed to be my boy! What the hell man? Grade A stud? Dude, when studs knock up their boy's girlfriend, they're not studs anymore. They turn into douchebags," Finn ranted.Rachel had watched the range of emotions across Finn's face. Across everyone's faces. And they all stayed quiet way after he left the practice.

The next day Rachel and Quinn were in the bathroom when Rachel decided to apologize sincerely. She let out a sigh of relief when Quinn smiled and forgave her and even apologized for everything she'd done to Rachel.

Quinn told her about her living arrangements – she packed up her stuff from Finn's while he was at practice and moved in with Puck.

"Living with Puck…" Quinn started, "it's a nightmare. Well, not a nightmare but it's awkward. It's not good. Yesterday, he used my deodorant and thought the smell was badass. And last night, his mom asked me all these questions that I guess were based on her Jewish-girlfriend criteria. Like sure, Mrs. Puckerman, I can cook latkes with my eyes closed while reciting something from the Torah!"Rachel laughed at Quinn's story that she laced with animated hand gestures. She knew that the Puckermans weren't Orthodox… neither was she. But she remembered Puck telling her that his mom was big on him having a Jewish girlfriend, so that she could have Jewish grandbabies… which probably would explain her interrogating Quinn.

Quinn wasn't SO bad company. And Rachel had no idea why Quinn was so nasty to her before. But Rachel was starting to consider Quinn a friend. She knew Quinn did the same because she would link arms with her in the hallway and when Quinn brought up going on a shopping spree with her, she knew that they were friends.

So she spoke to her dads about the whole thing. And since they had a finished basement with its own bed and bath, Rachel asked them if Quinn could stay there until she was ready to leave. They were both proud of her for succeeding in making a friend (when they lurked her Facebook and only found 16 friends, they were afraid she didn't have many).

Rachel made Quinn the offer during lunch one day. It brought Quinn to tears, and she kept insisting that she didn't want to impose on another Jewish family. Rachel reminded her that they weren't orthodox, and that her dad's didn't ride her to have a Jewish boyfriend.

Quinn said yes during glee, and after? They drove to Puck's house in Rachel's pink punch-buggy, packed up Quinn's stuff, got a manicure and pedicure, and spent the night watching chick flicks and baking cookies. Quinn even asked her advice on what she should do.

-

"Rachel, thanks for being so nice to me lately. It's nice to have a girlfriend who's not superficial, or stuck to a male diva, or leaving me to do high kicks and back flips just in spite of me," Quinn thanked modestly while she moisturized her face.

Rachel looked at her from her spot on the bed and smiled an honest-to-God friendly smile. "It's not a problem Quinn. I guess we both weren't expecting such a close friendship in a matter of few days," she answered.

Quinn smiled back and they fell into comfortable silence. Rachel turned to her iPod and started searching for a good song. Quinn joined her on the bed and crossed her legs. She opened and closed her mouth a few times, as if she had something to say.

"I wanted to ask you something…about the baby. About me," she started.

Rachel gave Quinn her full attention and nodded for her to continue.

"It's just…so confusing. I mean I was supposed to give the baby to Terri Shuester, but I guess she only wanted her to keep Mr. Shue with her… so now I have no idea what to do! And, I know that this might be irrational but now because of her I have some fear that if I put my baby up for adoption, they'll only want her for ulterior motives, y'know what I mean?"

"Oh Quinn, you have your instinct right? I'm sure that if you put her up for adoption, she'll end up with the right family," Rachel assured her and patted her hand.

"I guess but…I feel this strong connection with her now," Quinn confided and smiled. "I felt her kick a few days ago. It was like a flutter, a whimsical flutter…and I liked it! It made me feel like a mommy instead of some seventeen year old girl who made a mistake. She didn't feel like a mistake! I think I want her… but I have no one to help me."

"That's nonsense Quinn. You have me and my daddies!" Rachel suggested.

Quinn shook her head fervently. "No. Absolutely not. You've all been so nice to me. I'm not going to ask your dads to finance my baby's future… you know how embarrassed I'd feel?"

"My dads adore you Quinn. And they'll help you start, and they have connections to different colleges and offices and stores; they can get you a job too so you can support yourself!"

Quinn's eyes filled with tears from Rachel Berry's kindness.

"But what about Puck? He can be such a sleazebag and an asshole, I don't think he can handle it…"Lastly, she worked on Puck. And although they dated for a week a month ago, she still felt he was the toughest nut to crack (his sick humour must have gotten to her, she found that a little dirty).

"He's beginning to change, believe it or not. He's not throwing slushies or pee balloons at anyone anymore, he's trying in glee and he's taking initiative! Quinn, he's taking this to heart! I believe in him. He has great baby daddy potential…and besides, he'll be at your mercy. Put him on craving duty," Rachel joked.

Quinn laughed and hugged Rachel.

-

So she took baby steps. Small talk here, a lame joke there, sharing her cookies with him, all to build a foundation.

Then they started having conversations that were longer than the generic, "Hi! How are you?" conversations. Rachel learned to talk less about Broadway, but instead talked more about their tastes in music and gave him tips to improve his tone.

She noticed that she started seeing him outside of McKinley too (at the park, with his sister, the grocery store, at temple) and every time they saw each other, they'd actually strike up a conversation.

She started to see him even more when Quinn put him on craving duty. He'd show up with Quinn's cravings for the day (the lastest was green tea ice cream and sweet potato fries) and Rachel would just look on amused.

She knew it would take more than just small talk for him to consider her a real friend. They needed to hang out and laugh. A lot.

Rachel Berry wanted to dig down deeper to see Noah, and not Puck. She was certain he was a tough nut to bust (HA, and yes he did get to her) and it would take longer for him to talk.

Rachel Berry had a goal: to be Noah Puckerman's friend.

Now if only she could find the perfect way to execute the first part of her plan.