This is the third "missing moment" Puckleberry fic I've written (after "All I Ask of You" and "Contraband") and I've decided to turn my ideas into a series of ficlets/oneshots. Any time there is a great Puckleberry moment in an episode (like the high-five after "Fat Bottom Girls" in "Silly Love Songs"), and inspiration strikes, I'll explore the back-story of how I think it happened.

This will be an ongoing collection of semi-related stories, all focusing on Puckleberry.

Enjoy!

-Brandi

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or any of its characters.

FAVORS BETWEEN FRIENDS

"Silly Love Songs": SERENADE

"I need to cash in that favor," Puck announced as he entered the choir room.

Rachel looked up from the piano, where she was busy arranging her next song.

"Already?" She made a face. "Please tell me it's not going to cause anyone bodily harm." Rachel Berry never (intentionally) broke a promise, and she was beginning to regret being in Noah's debt.

Puck slid next to her on the piano bench, tapping at a few random keys. She swatted his hand away and he smiled. "It's exactly the opposite. I need your help on a serenade."

Rachel heaved a sigh of relief. "What do you have in mind?"

Puck got a faraway look in his eyes. "This is kinda insane, but hear me out. There's this girl…"

Rachel steeled herself. She was not going to help him write a love song for Quinn. Not. Not. Not.

"…We've made out, and she's amazing. She's so strong and together and independent…"

Rachel's revulsion quickly turned to panic as she realized this wasn't going to be a song for Quinn. Rachel liked Noah, she did. And she was far more attracted to him than she should be, but there was no reason for him to serenade her. It would change nothing. Her heart belonged to Finn. How could she let him down gently?

"…And she's not what you'd call conventionally pretty, but I think she's beautiful."

Rachel stared into his love-struck eyes and melted. Her knees actually got weak. She was thankful they were sitting down.

"Oh, Noah, I'm flattered, but—" she was rudely interrupted when he let out a chuckle. Her mouth popped open in surprise.

"I'm not talking about you," he laughed. "Though I guess you're, uh, not ugly." He leaned down and put his forehead against hers. She tried not to hyperventilate. "Look, Rach, you know we've got too much history. I'll help you make Finn jealous any day of the week with another duet, but I think serenading you once was enough."

Rachel managed to push herself away from him. "I'm sorry. I was wrong to make assumptions."

The "Need You Now" make-Finn-jealous duet was exactly what put Rachel into this mess in the first place. Noah wanted a free makeout session in exchange for the song, but she had refused. Continuing to kiss the guy she had cheated with was not going to help her get Finn back. So she offered him an alternative: one favor, any time, anywhere…as long as it didn't involve some version of sex. And of course, now she wished she had opted for the kissing…because really, she could have been forced to help him do pretty much anything. And he had chosen to serenade another girl. At least that was better than helping him throw Karofsky in the dumpsters, or something.

Puck smirked at her. "So do you want to know who it is?"

Rachel rolled her eyes. "Santana?"

"Hell no." He paused, suddenly seeming unwilling to tell her. She had ruined everything by bringing up their complicated past.

"Let me guess again," she insisted. "It's Mr. Schue, isn't it?" She effectively broke the tension and he dove, tickling her everywhere he could reach. As she shrieked with laughter, Shannon Beiste poked her head into the choir room.

"Sorry to…interrupt…" Shannon blushed and stammered as Puck and Rachel quickly separated.

"It's okay, Coach. We were just rehearsing." Puck said it with a completely straight face, so Shannon decided to ignore the obvious sexual tension in the room.

"I wanted to talk to you about something, but it can wait." She smiled knowingly. "I'm just gonna…leave this door open a smidge." She pulled the door halfway closed and waved as she headed off down the hall.

Rachel covered her red cheeks with her hands, mortified. Puck laughed at her.

And then he dropped the bombshell. "I'm in love with Lauren."

"Lauren Zizes?" Rachel gasped, taking a moment to recover from the shock. "I didn't see that one coming."

Puck shrugged. "Trust me, neither did I. I'm so in over my head here. She won't accept my compliments, she insults my presents…I don't know what to do to get her to love me back. So I figure, a song worked on you—"

"A little too well," Rachel agreed, nudging him. He smiled. "All right, back to Lauren," she continued. "You have to figure out what song will really touch her, really make her feel your feelings." As strange a concept as Noah loving Lauren was, it made a certain amount of sense. Very few girls played hard to get with him, and he enjoyed a challenge. And also, Lauren was probably the only girl in the school he hadn't hooked up with yet.

"I've been thinking of a few ideas," Puck admitted.

"Good, we'll start there." Rachel smiled encouragingly and couldn't help but feel a wave of affection when he pulled a list out of his pocket. When he really wanted something, he went for it one hundred percent. She could totally relate.

"'Baby Got Back?'" he suggested.

Rachel wrinkled her nose. "Too offensive and blatantly sexual."

"Blatantly sexual is my style, babe." He winked, but Rachel shook her head impatiently. "Fine, fine. 'Honky Tonk Badonkadonk?'"

Rachel considered it. The song was lighthearted and fun. But she thought it might be a little too country for Noah. "That would be nice. But are you sure it has to be a song about, um, you know…" Rachel couldn't help but wonder if he was on the wrong track. She didn't know Lauren that well.

"What, heavy girls? Well, yeah, that's the point. I want her to know that I love her anyway. And sort of because of it. So it has to be a song that I could only sing to her."

Rachel nodded, urging him to keep reading. His dedication was admirable. And even if this whole thing blew up in his face, she couldn't resist the chance to help him out.

"NWA's 'Fat Girl?'" he tried.

"Again, too offensive. You'd have to rewrite half the lyrics."

"How about 'Sista Big Bones?' Or Mika's 'Big Girl'? Or 'Fat Bottom Girls?'"

Rachel's eyes lit up. "Much more suitable options. You're definitely on the right track."

"I was thinking I could get the guys to sing backup, too. Make it a real event at glee practice. Maybe we could all dress in fat suits."

Rachel bit her lip as he went on brainstorming. The initial sting of Noah picking Lauren over her was completely gone. Helping him win Lauren's heart was going to be a fun challenge.