A/N:

In response to my other A/N in the previous chapter, I didn't say that if I didn't get reviews, I would stop writing and updating. That's hardly the case; I love my stories and appreciate my readers too much to leave them unfinished forever. That being said, I did say it was disheartening and made me not want to make the effort because as a writer, you're writing for an audience and a writer needs feedback or any kind of notion to make them believe that what they're writing is actually being read and appreciated. So if that last AN offended any of you, I'm sorry. That was not my goal.

And thank you for those who did review. It means a lot knowing that people are actually interested.

"Oh dear," Mrs. Puckerman mumbled, "In here!" She looked over at Rachel who was looking eagerly around the room trying to be anywhere but there.

"What are you doing here," a voice boomed from the entrance of the kitchen. Rachel's shoulders slumped as she heard the tone in her husband's voice.

"What are you doing home Noah? Don't you have to be at the precinct?"

"I did but I forgot my shield. What's she doing here," he repeated staring intently at his mom. He was fighting with every part of his body to keep from looking at her.

"Noah we need to talk," Rachel said making her way in front of him. He looked at her for a moment before looking down. She was looking better than before. Her hair was cropped to her shoulders and she was wearing a shirt that clung to every curve of her body and a pair of jeans that made her legs go on for hours. All he wanted to do was take her in his arms but he refused. He couldn't let himself get that way again.

"There's nothing to talk about. I told you to stay in New York and it's not Noah, it's Puck!"

"Did you really think that I was going to get a divorce through mail," she yelled back. His eyes narrowed at her.

"Get out of my house."

"Noah! That's to no way to talk to Rachel," his mother interjected.

"Forget it. I'll leave!"

"No Noah wait!" she said running over and grabbing his arm. He shrugged her off, and continued making his way out. "You can't just ignore me forever. We have a child to look after."

"It's Puck and no! I have a child. You left her here to pursue your dream in New York Rachel. 2000 miles away!"

"You're the one who told me that I wouldn't have to give up my dreams! What was I supposed to do Puck?" she said emphasizing his nickname.

"What were you supposed to do? You were supposed to stay here and be my wife. By my damn mom to your daughter!"

"I am a mom!"

"Oh please Rachel, coming home every major holiday and birthday doesn't make you her mother. She's 5 now. You haven't been with her since she was 3!" Rachel's hand made its way towards Puck's cheek. Puck grabbed her hand.

"I could arrest you for assaulting a police officer," he threatened.

"Noah, that's not necessary. Don't be so rude. You guys are husband and wife most importantly you are the parents of my granddaughter. Start acting civilized," his mother said.

"You can say all you want about me, about this marriage and what a sham you think it is. But don't say anything about how I am as a mother. You of all people should know that I would give anything for that little girl," she said between tears.

"Just not Broadway right?" Rachel let out a sob as she wiped the tears that were cascading its way down her cheeks. The sound of the front door opening and footsteps stopped the conversation from continuing.

"Mommy!" the small girl that deeply resembled Rachel with Puck's hazel eyes cried out. She was followed by the older 17 year old Annie Puckerman who gave a small wave to her sister-in-law.

"Hi baby," Rachel greeted picking up her daughter.

"Mama, why are you crying?"

"I'm just so happy to see you. Can you go with Grammy and Auntie Anne while daddy and I finish talking?" The small girl nodded as she shifted her weight to her grandma's awaiting arms.

"Jerk," Annie mumbled as she walked past her brother.

"Hey whatever happened to sibling loyalty?"

"I am being loyal," she said pointing towards Rachel who looked down with a small smile. He rolled his eyes as his sister made her way out of the room. When the three of were a safe distance away, Rachel turned backed to Puck wiping away any of the stray tears.

"She's really big now."

"You wouldn't know," he grunted.

"Look, I'm trying to be civil with you. We have a daughter to take care of. Do you expect me not to see her? That'll hurt her more than me being away all this time. Knowing that her own mom is in the same town and can't see her." Puck let out a deep breath as he ran his fingers through his short pieces of hair.

"Fine, not tonight though. I'll get her things ready when I get home and I'll bring her to your place tomorrow morning." Rachel nodded pulling out a folded up sheet of paper from her jeans pocket.

"Thank you Puck." He couldn't lie his heart ached when she referred to him that way but his anger towards her took away and kind of remorse or longing.

"Yeah, whatever. I got to go to work now before the Captain finds out I left."

"Okay, I just wanted to talk to Annie and Gaby before I leave."

"Whatever," he said turning his back to her. She looked to the ground for a moment fighting with herself on whether or not to say something else. Instead, she nodded to herself before making her way out of the room and into Annie's bedroom.

"Hey stranger, can I come in," Rachel asked. Annie and Gaby looked up both nodding. "Thanks for picking her up from school."

"You know, I'll do anything for my favorite niece," Annie said making a face at Gaby who giggled in response.

"Mommy, are you coming back?" Gaby asked. Rachel nodded making her way towards her little girl.

"Yes, I'm sorry I've been gone for so long but I promise no more. I'm here for good now," she said enveloping her daughter in a hug.

"It's okay mommy."

"Are you going to live here now? Because everyone else's parents at school live together." Rachel shook her head sadly.

"No baby. Mommy has her own house."

"Can I see it?" Gaby asked eagerly.

"Not today honey. I'm still getting your room ready, but tomorrow morning your daddy is going to bring you over and you'll get to see to see your bedroom."

"But I don't want to leave Daddy, Grammy, and Auntie Anne."

"You don't have to; I'll never make you do that. We can just have sleepovers whenever you want, deal?" Gaby nodded happily.

"Hey, I think Grammy and Daddy are going to work now, how about you run and say goodbye to them," Annie said to the small girl sitting in her mom's lap. Gaby complied jumping off Rachel's lap and running out of the room yelling Daddy!

"How are you?" Rachel asked. Annie shrugged.

"Life has its ups and downs but I'm good. How are you though?" Like Annie, Rachel shrugged sadly.

After hugging his daughter, Puck made his way to his sister's room to say goodbye to her as well. However when he got closer, he recognized the familiar tone of Rachel's voice. He stopped and listened carefully from the barely open door.

"I don't want to be divorced," Rachel said.

"I don't think he wants to either." Puck grunted inwardly. Leave it to his sister to run her mouth in matters that didn't concern her.

"He's fooling me." Annie pulled Rachel in for a hug.

"He's fooling everyone. Don't worry. One day soon my idiotic brother is going to realize what he's doing."

"One day soon is going to be too late. I'm seriously doing everything I possibly can to avoid signing those papers."

"It's all going to work itself out in the end don't worry I have faith in you guys."

"That makes one of us."

"You guys used to be so in love. You'll get it back."

"Please, we were drunk, broken hearted and hated each other when we got married." Puck smirked after hearing Rachel's comment. It was true; they could barely stand each other.

"Rachel, shut up!" Puck yelled from the couch downstairs. Rachel had moved in shortly after her parents kicked her out. Puck's mom was mad but even she knew better than to kick a bunch of 18 year old seniors out on the street. They told her that they wanted to get the marriage annulled but Mrs. Puckerman shook her head saying that that was one thing she agreed with Rachel's fathers on; if they wanted to get their marriage annulled, they would have to work for it and save their own money.

Rachel grunted and made her way out of the room yelling at Puck, "I have to practice, you should too! Nationals are coming up and if you think you can just bs your way through it you're highly mistaken."

"I don't plan on doing anything outside of the choir room. Now shut up because me and the boys are trying to get to this new level on Halo."

"It's the boys and I, Noah!"

"Oh thank you Mr. James, I wasn't aware I attended English today." Rachel rolled her eyes before letting out a frustrated scream and making her way back into the room. Puck smirked on the couch when he heard nothing coming out of his room the rest of the night.

"Anyways, I should get going. I don't want to overstay my welcome," he heard Rachel saying. He quickly ran out of the hallway and out of the house before anyone could see him.

"Don't be ridiculous; you're welcome in this house regardless of what he says."

"I know, your mom told me that earlier but it still feels weird. Anyways, I'm going to say goodbye to Gaby and I'll see you later?"

"Definitely."