Disclaimer: I am just borrowing them for the fun of writing, BUT I do own the plot, ideas and original characters.

A/N: Not beta'd; all mistakes are mine. Please mention them if you find any.

A/N2: Posted this on 10/19/09 on my livejournal but enough people suggested fanfiction dot net so I'm finally getting things loaded up here. Hope you like!

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"We're a couple of good lookin' Jews," he admitted, propping up on his elbows, the rest of him stretched out on her bed.

She sat looking into his eyes, "is that all you care about? That 'we're hot' and that we happen to share the same religion?" She now felt foolish for letting this; whatever 'this' is; get far. Noah 'Puck' Puckerman constantly threw slushies in her face for no reason, and now because of the realization that they share the same religion, her conscience got the best of her and she couldn't continue.

The two classmates were silent, neither knew what to say or do.

Part of Puck felt sorry for being there; part of her comment was right. He kept hearing his mom's plea, 'can't you just date a nice Jewish girl?' and finding out that Rachel was Jewish was like the break he needed to finally find some peace with his mom. She didn't like his choice in having one-night stands with older women, but as a single parent and working long hours; she couldn't really control who her son had relations with.

Puck's mind returned to their reality, and chose to be the gentleman. He swiftly sat up, hanging his feet over the bed to touch the floor, his hands resting at his sides on the bed as he stared out the window across from him; purposely avoiding Rachel's gaze. "It's not every day I meet someone who's Jewish," he said softly.

Rachel was torn for many reasons and hearing him speak like this, was not the Puck she knew, but maybe this just might be the real Puck, well Noah. "So this is only because I'm Jewish," she stated softly.

He took a deep breath, turning his body to look at her, "it started that way," he admitted.

Her eyes focused on him, studying his body language before speaking again, "what do you mean 'started that way'?" She didn't want to freak out, but now the Puck she knew was changing; maybe he was being himself; being Noah.

He stood up and turned to face her, his hands resting on his hips, "I won't lie, being Jewish does have it's advantages, but I don't think that's the only reason," he admitted.

She was still a brief moment, before moving to stand in front of him, "Tell me, Pu-Noah, tell me your reasons for being here," she knew hers, though she was afraid to admit it to anyone.

His arms fell to his sides as he looked at her, her eyes shining back at him, stirring the already crazy emotions in his mind. No one ever called him Noah, except his mom, and anyone who did; he usually punched, but this time; her calling him Noah felt right. "You," was all he could say before stepping away and towards her desk where his Letterman's jacket was laying.

"Me?" She whipped around to follow his movements as he spoke.

"Yes, you. At first I tried to keep from getting sucked into the world of Glee, but I can't. I like it, and I like you. There, are you happy?" He snapped, starting to rebuild the walls he'd put up to protect himself.

She jumped a little at the sting of his last few words, trying to take in what he said, but now he was getting to be more like Puck and it was actually startling her. She opened her mouth a few times to say something, but she couldn't make a sound come out; she was shocked, frozen in time as she realized Noah Puckerman just admitted he liked her.

Taking from her silence that he'd crossed an invisible line in the sand, Puck grabbed his jacket, "I should go. I'll, uh, see you later," his shoulders hung low as he left her room.

Rachel was still stunned by his admission, but couldn't let him leave without her telling him her feelings on the subject matter, so she chased after him, running down the stairs to the front door that had been left open by a retreating Noah. He was halfway to his jeep parked on the street when she made it outside, "Noah, wait!" She called running down the porch stairs to meet him.

He stopped, without looking back, but something inside of him made him turn around, "what?"

She reached him, placing a hand on his forearm and looked up at him, "don't go."

"Why? I told you, you didn't say anything so I took that as -"

"Don't," she interrupted him, her hand squeezing his arm slightly to get his attention on her, "you didn't know what I was thinking. You've tormented me for as long as I can remember and now, you just admitted that you like me. Don't you think that's a lot to process?" She asked.

He studied her for a moment, before letting his guard down just a little, to smile at her, "so you're processing?"

At her nod, he sighed. "I... Rachel... I don't want to hurt you," he told her, quickly putting up the invisible wall again.

"What? I don't get it, you just told me -"

He shook his head and turned around, trying to get his thoughts straight, "I know what I just told you, but it doesn't matter. I don't want to hurt you and I know it's going to happen," he hadn't turned back around to face her as he spoke, so her only visual was his shoulders falling.

"How do you know that? I don't even know what you're talking about!" Rachel stormed around him to face him again, this time, her eyes were narrowed at him, "first you tell me you like me, then you take off as if you regretted it, now you're telling me that you don't want to hurt me! What is going on in your head, Noah Puckerman?" She exclaimed.

At her narrowed gaze, Puck closed his eyes in defeat, afraid to meet hers. He had so many images storming through his head, but only two were clear as day; one: Quinn was pregnant with his child; and two: He is in love with Rachel Berry.

Taking a deep breath he opened his eyes to meet the same strong gaze as moments earlier and he finally gave in for the second time to admit his secret. "Rachel, the baby; the girl that Quinn is carrying... She's not Finn's. She's mine."