A/N: Howdy people! How's things?
Sorry it's been a little while... again... for the past few weeks, pretty much all I've been doing is watching One Tree Hill dvds haha. I'm currently waiting for my season 8 dvd to arrive (very very impatiently lol)

Aaaaanyway...

I hope you enjoy this chapter. I wrote it really quickly, but this one came a lot easier than some of the others, so hopefully that doesn't mean it is worse than the rest :/

Please let me know what you think! Leave me a review or a PM if you'd prefer! I love receiving reviews, and I honestly believe that they help me write better! Now that I know exactly where I'm going with this story, I'm hoping to at least start another chapter tomorrow, so fingers crossed lol

lots of love,

xoloveJBox

"Nikki, I have a daughter."

Puck braced himself for the screaming, the crying, the yelling and, knowing Nikki as well as he did, the punching. He knew that most of the time, Nikki was sweet and good-natured- two of the many things he loved about her- but tempted by the right conditions and situation, Puck knew that she could unleash an unrivalled feistiness that he was almost certain that his admission would evoke. He couldn't blame her. In fact, he admired her for it.

Though he knew it was strange, Puck loved to see that fiery passion in her eyes. It reminded him that there was still so much he didn't know about Nikki, much of which he might never know, and it only added to the unpredictability that constantly kept him on his toes and feeling challenged around the plucky Brit.

Had it been directed at any other person, he would have enjoyed it now.

But he didn't see it. Looking into Nikki's eyes, he didn't see anger; he didn't see tears, or pain, or hurt, disappointment, sadness or even confusion. What he saw, which confused him the most, was compassion, and understanding.

As Nikki took a small step towards him and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, Puck stood rigidly, almost certain that his mind was playing tricks on him. Maybe Nikki's beaten me unconscious, Puck thought almost bitterly, and I'm just dreaming.

"Thank you Noah." Nikki finally whispered. In astonishment, Puck's eyebrows knitted together, and he pulled away from her, confusion and bewilderment plastered all over his worried features.

"Nikki, I..." He stammered "I don't understand."

Nikki laughed. A full blown, head-thrown-back, impish howl, but seemingly genuine all the same. If Puck hadn't been so completely disarranged by the whole situation, he might have been irritated or embarrassed, or quite possibly both.

"Noah, Quinn told me weeks ago," she explained benignantly "I've known for ages. I was just waiting for you to decide you trusted me enough to tell me yourself, and I guess you do now."

Puck didn't dare move, speak, or even breathe. He feared he might shatter the perfect alternate universe he found himself in if he did.

"Don't look so hurt." Nikki chuckled, taking Puck's face in her hands and running her thumbs over his cheeks.
"No, I, err..." he stumbled over his own words when he managed to recover his voice. "I just can't believe this. I can't believe you. You're so damn perfect, and I don't know how I managed to make you fall for an idiot like me. Any other girl would have run for the hills by now!"
"Well, I have to admit, I was a little surprised at first. I mean, it's not exactly something you expect. But she's a part of you Noah, and I fell for the whole of you, not just parts."

Puck suddenly kissed her, immersing her completely in the depths of it. When they finally emerged from each other, Nikki was almost sure that she was still fluttering a little above the ground.

"You're incredible, you know that?" Puck whispered, relief washing over him like tidal waves.

"I know." Nikki shrugged playfully "Now come on, Quinn didn't have a picture, but she said you do. Let me see."

Puck quickly fished around in his pocket, fumbling over the things in there until he could finally grasp at his phone. He searched through the files until he located the one he wanted; the one of himself and Beth at the park. The little girl was perched on his lap, distracted by something in her hands, and Puck was looking down at her. He smiled and held the phone out to Nikki, and she took it gratefully, studying the picture in silence for a little while.

"What's her name?" Nikki asked, completely blowing Puck away with how calm and collected she seemed. Graceful.

"Beth." He replied, not yet sure if it was totally safe for him to be relieved.

"She's beautiful." Nikki told him with a hearty grin. "She looks just like you, but you can tell she's Quinn's too. And look at you! It's obvious that you adore this little girl. She's very lucky to have you."
"Ha." Puck scoffed "She deserves someone better than me."

"Don't count yourself out yet Puckerman." Nikki told him "What's important is that little girl knows that you love her, and it's clear from miles away that you do."

"Honestly," Puck said, trying to change the subject a little away from himself "I'm kind of surprised that it wasn't Kurt, Rachel or Mercedes that told you."

"Me too," Nikki chuckled as she continued to study the picture intently. "But it wasn't their secret to tell, and I think even they understood that."

"God, I love you." Puck susarrated softly.

"I love you too." Nikki replied, matching his tone, and she stood on her tip-toes as he leaned down, meeting each other halfway, greeting each other with another kiss that lasted longer, was less desperate and searching, but reassuring and comforting.

"Well," Nikki said when they separated, slightly flustered "I don't know about you, but after all the excitement we've had this morning, I'm exhausted."

"Me too." Puck agreed, laughing.

"Walk me to class?" Nikki asked with a mischievous grin.

"Of course, pretty girl." Puck replied, slipping a soft peck onto Nikki's cheek as she laced her fingers around his.

Puck's good mood lasted all day, and his grin remained when he wandered into Glee rehearsal that afternoon. He plonked himself down into a chair next to Finn.

"You look cheerful." Finn observed simply with a wry smile of his own.

"I am." Puck replied "I have the best girlfriend in the world."

"You told her about Beth?" Finn exclaimed loudly, earning himself a sharp 'shhhhh' from his long-time best friend.

"I did, but keep your voice down." Puck hissed, keeping his voice low.

"How did she take it?"

"She already knew." Puck told Finn, making the other boy's eyebrows get lost in his dark hairline "Quinn told her weeks ago, and she didn't say anything."

Finn scoffed "You've got to be the luckiest asshole in the world, you know that right?"

"I know." Puck answered as Nikki scurried in, very closely followed by Mr Shuester who, as always was eager to start straight away.

"Ok guys, I have a little announcement." The teacher told the group, who immediately quietened down, intrigued by the idea.

"I'm thinking that we might organise a little show, to get us used to performing again, ready for competition."

The room suddenly erupted with chatter, but Rachel made sure that she was loud enough to be heard.

"Well Mr Shue," she started with a smug, self-confident grin. "I would be more than happy to prepare a number for the lead solo."
"Actually Rachel..." Mr Shue corrected her, making the smile slide from Rachel's face quickly "I was thinking of giving the lead solo to Nikki for this."

"Me?" Nikki stammered, clearly shocked. She had sat with Quinn, Mercedes, Kurt and Blaine when she'd entered, seeing that Puck was talking with Finn, and she hadn't wanted to interrupt the friends. But now she could feel everyone's gaze on her, and Nikki wanted nothing but to bury her face in Puck's shoulder and hide.

"Yes." Mr Shue asserted firmly "You've got very strong vocals, and even though there are a few people in here who haven't had many chances at solos, you've never had one."
"There's a reason for that Mr Shue." She replied, her face visibly paler at the idea of performing alone in front of a crowd bigger than the one in the choir room.

"I agree Mr Shue" Rachel interrupted, determine to regain control of the situation "If Nikki doesn't feel ready for the responsibility of the task, then we shouldn't waste valuable time on it. I on the other hand-"

"The lead solo is Nikki's, or it doesn't happen. End of story." Mr Shuester told Rachel, a determined expression on his face. Everyone but Rachel and Nikki could see what was happening; that Mr Shue was simply trying to find a way to help Nikki get over her stage fright enough to actually enjoy performing, like the rest of them did. They were all happy for her, and they all hoped that she would discover for herself just how good she was.

Enveloped in her nerves and anxiety, Nikki didn't even notice the angered, resentful, jealous glances she was receiving from Rachel.