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Noah pouted, as he shuffled past Rachel and her dads. His Grandma always said he only had to come to temple once a week. Usually he just spent time with Rachel, because she was really pretty and the older people didn't like to sit near her because of her dads. But now someone else was going to sit with her. If he was alone, he'd have probably thrown a temper tantrum, but Nana said this place was 'sacred'. 

"Noah? Are you sitting with us today?" Hiram asked him quietly, laying a hand on Noah's shoulder. 

"Isn't Rachel's friend?" Noah huffed, crossing his arms.

"Kurt's just having a little bit of trouble." Hiram said gently. "If you're nice to him, you can still sit with us."

"I can be nice. Nana says I have to be nice in temple." Noah assured quickly, turning around to see Rachel. "Hi, Rachel!"

"Hi Noah." Rachel said distractedly, as she dabbed at her friends face. "Kurt, you really should let my daddy's do something."

"It'd only make it worse." The friend, Kurt apparently, whispered. "My dad's still upset after mom went away." 

"Your father would want to know." Leroy said quietly, patting Kurt's head. "He would want you to be happy."

"I can deal with it." Kurt shook his head. "Where are we?" 

"This is our temple. It's like a church, but for Jewish people." Hiram said. "Now... You need to be quiet now. If you get bored you can read my book."

Kurt shook his head. "I can listen good. I like to listen." 

Noah snorted. He could listen good too, and he still got bored. Rachel glared at him for a second before she took Kurt's hand in hers and turned to the front. 

The whole thing was over quickly, and people were streaming out, but Hiram and Rachel were still sat with Kurt. Puck moved so he could lean over the seats, to get a better look. "You're pretty." Noah said after a moment, taking in the other boy. "But why're you hurt?"

Kurt looked up, frowning a little. "There were some boys. They don't like me."

"Why not?" Noah asked, frowning back.

"Because I like girly things." Kurt huffed, crossing his arms. "Are you going to hit me too?"

"No." Noah said, looking away. "I won't hit you."

"Noah, what did I say about wearing clothes like that to temple." His aunt said, stopping at the seats and pointedly ignored Hiram and Leroy. "You should show more respect."

Noah was torn. He wanted to shout at his aunt, because she was always mean to Hiram and Leroy, and told him he wasn't being a good boy, but he wasn't allowed to be mean. "Yes, Auntie Sally."

"I could help you get something." Kurt said quietly, trying to shrink into his seat. "To say thank you for keeping me company."

"And who's your new friend?" Aunt Sally turned to Kurt, smiling widely.

"Kurt Hummel." The boy said, forcing a smile and sitting more upright offering his hand to shake.

"Oh." Aunt Sally paused, glancing at Kurt as if she was placing the name in her mind, before looking at Leroy and Hiram. "Well, I'll see you next week, Noah."

Noah nodded and watched her leave before grinning at Kurt. "I don't think she likes you."

"Sorry." Kurt whispered, his eyes tearing up.

"It's good. I don't like Auntie Sally. She's a bit- She's a bad person." Noah said, catching himself before he spoke.

"Your aunt isn't a bad person, she's just small minded." Leroy said quickly. "But... She is right, Noah. Don't you have any nicer clothes?"

"I.... My mom doesn't have the money." Noah said quietly, ducking his head.

"I have some clothes." Kurt said quietly. "My dad takes me shopping when I get sad."

"One day, that'll come back to bite him in the ass." Hiram hummed to Leroy, watching his partner grin even though he didn't want to. 

"I couldn't take your stuff." Noah said quietly.

"Yes you could. It doesn't suit me anyway." Kurt huffed, lifting his gaze to Noah's again, with a very particular expression. Noah had seen that kind of look on Rachel's face before, right before she would drag him to her house and make him watch musicals.

"I'd do something to make it up to you." Noah said, nodding his head. "I'll.... I'll be your bodyguard!"

"You wouldn't want that." Kurt said, trying to smile, but wincing. "I need protecting a lot."

"Then maybe you can help Noah dress better and act better, in general." Rachel said, grinning. "And Noah can protect you. And we can all hang out together. My daddy has been showing me how to make cookies, and..."

Kurt was listening to Rachel with what seemed like rapt attention as she moved from explaining cookies, to a tv show she watched, to the life story of a broadway actress. Noah almost tuned out, before Kurt looked at him and grinned. Noah couldn't help but grin back.

"Hey, Kurt, Making friends?" Mr Shuester asked, as he walked past Kurt and Puck by the bins.

"Not making, this is Noah. He's one of my oldest and closest friends." Kurt called back, but Mr. Shue was barely listening as he caried on. "Well, it was worth a shot."

"Why do I feel like I was just played?" Puck smirked, leaning against the paper bin. "Wanna explain, Hummel?"

"We both love Rachel to pieces." Kurt said, rolling his eyes, "But she is the most notable member of the previous Glee Club. She's going to stand out in Mr. Shuester's eyes for his new club, so... I wanted a little something to make me interesting."

"So, the fact that you can twirl knives..."

"Sais."

"... Put together a costume from just a heap of old clothes..."

"I want to be a performer, not a tailor."

"...and are the most popular gay kid in school."

"And the most unpopular, since I'm the only one." 

"Is not enough to make you interesting?" Puck finished, raising his eyebrow at Kurt's antics. "Seriously, dude?"

"What have I told you about calling me dude? I am not one of your football buddies, Noah." Kurt huffed, glaring at him.

"Not for lack of me trying." Puck pushed off the bins, and the two started walking into the school. "You've got a hell of a leg on you, dude."

"Compared to the current kicker? Miss Pillsbury is a good kicker." 

Puck chuckled, "I bet if Finn asked..."

"You shut your mouth right this second, Noah Puckerman." Kurt hissed, stabbing Puck in the chest with his finger. "You are not to say a word to Finn Hudson or anyone about..."

"Hey, Finn!" Puck shouted, waving down the corridor. Finn waved back, grinning as he walked towards them. Kurt blushed to the tip of his hair, and with a short jab at Puck's chest, stormed away.

Noah watched him walk away with a fond grin, before he ducked out of sight of his 'best friend'. It wasn't like he had to avoid him, but Kurt had been bugging him about this whole morality thing. And what he did with Quinn Fabray? Was definitely not a moral thing.

"You realise how ridiculous you looked, right?" Puck snorted as he lounged on Rachel's bed. "Like seriously. Both of you. That wasn't even in the same ball park as Sexy."

"Yes, our innate lack of sexiness has been noted, Noah." Kurt hummed, as he flipped through one of Rachel's song books, on his back, with his feet up on the bed. "If we'd stuck with the original plan..."

"We'd have been completely ignored." Rachel shot back. "And Noah isn't saying we aren't sexy people, right, Noah?"

"You're both hella sexy." Noah assured, nudging Kurt's foot affectionately. "But trying that hard? Makes you look desperate. And no-one digs desperate chicks....or, you know, probably desperate gay guys."

"Thank you." Rachel grinned, grabbing out a dress. "What do you think?"

"... Honestly, or that won't make you throw a pillow at me?" Kurt asked, as he looked up at it. Puck pulled a face too, and Rachel sighed before putting it away.

"Hey, you know what I worked out? Kurt slapped Finn's ass, and Rachel kissed him... I think it's my turn next." Puck snorted, "We can be the Finn Hudson appreciation club."

"Oh shut up, Noah Puckerman." Kurt gave his leg a soft kick, and the three lapsed into easy silence.

"She thought you had a crush on me?" Rachel giggled, throwing a piece of popcorn at Kurt. "Oh god!"

"I'm still stuck on the fact she had to be told you were gay." Puck smirked, as he shadow-boxed with one of the manequinns. "Do I have to make out with you at the next pep-ralley to get the message out to the female population?"

"Okay, first? Rachel, be nice to Mercedes. Just because our love for each other transcends mortal comprehension..."

"...We are soulmates after all..."

"...doesn't mean, we should mock her limited grasp of it." Kurt grinned, before he turned to Puck. "Second? Puck. You wouldn't have the balls to make out with me in front of the pep-ralley, because you know what the footballers would proceed to do. You also realise making out with a guy would ruin your chances with the girls."

"They'd still see I'm a stud."

"Sorry, I misspoke. I'd ruin the girls for you." Kurt pursed his lips and blew Puck a kiss, laughing as he swatted it out of the air. "Anyway, Mr. Puckerman. We need to have a talk about something!"

"Oh?"

"Mmhm. How should I phrase this...." Kurt said, flicking his remote at the stereo, watching Puck twitch awkardly when the music started. 

Ah tick tock you don't stop till the

Ah tick tock you don't stop till the

Ah tick tock you don't stop till the

Ah tick tock you don't stop till the

"Feel like you wanna explain what me and Rachel witnessed earlier this afternoon?" Kurt asked primly.

"How are you doing?" Rachel's voice came from the top of the stairs, making Kurt shriek and nearly fall off his bed. 

"RACHEL! Privacy!"

"I checked you weren't naked."

"And If I was?"

"I'd have never told you I checked." Rachel smirked, moving to sit on the end of Kurt's bed. "Joining the football team? Really?"

"Shut up."

"Noah's upset that you joined by asking Finn rather than him."

"I thought it might be a good way to get to know Finn." Kurt huffed. "Judge me all you like."

"I think we need to make an agreement, right now." Rachel said calmly, holding out a hand. "No matter what happens with Finn, we remain friends. We don't count anything connected to him as being a part of our friendship, until one of us gives up."

"Why? Think I'll win?" Kurt grinned, taking the hand. 

"I just... We're both going to do underhanded stuff, and say mean things. But our friendship is worth more than that."

Kurt nodded gently, as they shook hands. "So, what are you doing here?"

"Your dad called my dads. Right now, I believe they're watching 'the game' and talking about how they both managed to get two perfect children who aren't obsessed with the sport."

"Rachel..."

"Football? Really?"

Kurt grumbled, and put the pillow over his head, hoping he could make himself pass out before she started on the horrors of the sport.

Kurt took a deep breath as he sat on the stage. "Thank god I managed to wrestle control of the costumes from April. There was talk of assless chaps." 

"And you fought so that that the guys didn't wear those?" Puck snorted, "I just lost a little bit of respect for you, Hummel."

"Like I'd want to see your junk." Kurt huffed, looking away. "And no, that isn't an invitation for you to get it out!"

"Damn, almost!" Puck took his hand away from his button. "One of these days, I'm gonna flash you, and then you'll be madly deeply in love with the Puckersaurus."

"You just want to know that you can get gay guys as well as girls." Rachel grinned as she collapsed next to them. "I'm also very thankful you kept a costume in my size ready."

"I knew you wouldn't last out a week with Sue Sylvester and the walking stereotype of Predatory Gay." Kurt smiled at her. "Now, why'd you have us stick around?"

"Well, it's my understanding, that April Rhodes stole one of your firsts." Puck smirked, holding up a bottle. "So, I wanted to have a very serious talk with both of you, about safety when drinking alcohol. And when you're suitably drunk, I'm going to brag about the threesome I had."

"Don't have to be drunk. What?!" Kurt punched Puck's arms. "I got vomitting on the guidance councillors shoes, and you got a threesome out of this week."

"Well I..."

"Got the knowledge that Sue Sylvester thinks you're the domino that could collapse us all." Kurt glared. "Now, threesome. Tell me, so I know how much to hate you."

"Well.... Me and Matt were in the shower after a slushy, right?" 

"Kurt, will you talk to me?"

"No."

"Rachel, make Kurt talk to me."

"No."

Puck sighed, rolling his eyes. "Come on, Kurt. We let you dress us." 

"Don't care."

"Rachel..."

"I am not getting in the middle of this." Rachel held up her hands.

"Kurt..."

"Look, Puckerman." Kurt turned, and slammed a hand into Puck's chest, pushing him back against the wall. "I put up with singing back up for Rachel, because she is, admittedly, a more wholesome image with a similar talent level. But when I am forced to sing back up for Finn Hudson and Artie Abrams? I am going to throw a fit." 

"I'm letting the violence go, because you're obviously upset." Puck said, looking down at the hand. "And because I think I'd break your hand if I did anything to move it."

"Artie and Finn took the leads, You all picked a song that was a hundred miles out of my wheelhouse, and I'm supposed to be okay with 'Ahhhing' in the background, and offering the high part to harmonies? Because you let me put us in some kind of coherent outfit." Kurt hissed, "This is why I hate working with you!"

"With me?"

"With you guys!" Kurt threw a hand up and took a step back. "You know what? Fuck it."

"Kurt!" Rachel covered her mouth, scandalized. 

"No, Rachel. I've had enough." Kurt switched his attention for a moment, before he looked back at Puck. "I don't want to speak to you, or Finn, or any of the guys for at least three days."

Puck nodded shortly, feeling his eyes prickle with tears for half a second before he bit it back. "Fine, Hummel." 

"Okay, this is a step too far. You join Sue's club, and then ignore me in the hallway?"  Puck growled, grabbing Kurt's wrist as he tried to walk past Puck in the hallway. "Kurt, you're my best friend."

"You are hurting my wrist, Puckerman." Kurt said, his voice completely calm. "You were there the day my dad taught me how to throw a punch. You know I could give you a few good hits before you took me down. Now, let go."

"Yeah. I was there for that." Puck said, pulling Kurt closer. "And I was there when you flicked onto wizard of oz in the middle of the day and started crying. I was there to punch Finn out when he almost threw a pee balloon at you, and I was there when you bought a shirt from the woman's section of the store." 

"Any other embarrasing moments you want to cajole me with?" Kurt said, glaring at Puck.

"Yeah. When your dad caught us kissing in the basement, and you cried and told him that it was an accident and a phase and it was nothing, even as he tried to tell you it was fine, until he was so confused, that he just told you that he loved you no matter what, and that he would be ready if you ever wanted to tell him anything."

Kurt paled for a moment, glancing around to make sure no-one heard. "What do you want?"

"I want you to forgive me." Puck said quietly. "Okay, maybe I should've thought more about how to include you in the performance, but..."

"Maybe?" Kurt whispered. "You said I'm your best friend. You shouldn't have to think about what makes me happy, Puck. We should be made happy by the same things."

"Like you and Rachel?" Puck asked. "Because that's not me, Kurt. I don't like musicals, or fashion. You can moan at me all you like, but I'm never going to develop a moisteurising routine. I'm not your 'soulmate', I'm just the stupid Jewish kid who thought you were pretty the first time he saw you at temple, and wanted to keep you safe. I do bad things. I get drunk, and have sex with girls. A lot. But... I'm here. And I want to be your friend. And I want to do right by you, and make you happy, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of back and forth here. When was the last time you... I dunno. Came over to play Mario, without it turning into a rant about Finn, or how I dress, or what I do. I accept you for everything you are..."

"Gay." Kurt muttered."

"No! Not just Gay. Yeah, it's a big part of you, but I accept everything else too. That you're a gossip, and you like fashion and drama. That you can fix my truck up better than me, and that I need to always be careful not to upset you whilst my legs are far apart, or you'll remind me how good a kicker you are." Puck said, letting go of Kurt's wrist. "So, if you forgive me? I can't promise I won't want to do songs I like. But I'll try to find songs we like. And maybe, you can do the same, okay?"

Kurt nodded softly, wrapping his arms around Puck's neck. Puck wrapped his arms around Kurt too, and the two hugged for a while, as people passed by. "I'm sorry."

"Me too." Puck whispered. 

"You know, there are things we can do, that me and Rachel could never do." Kurt said quietly, wiping his eyes as he pulled away. "For example? Tonight. Me and you, steakhouse. And we'll talk all about whatever you want to talk about."

"Even Girls?" 

"Even girls." Kurt assured, laughing. "And I'll even pretend to listen."

Kurt sighed as he patted the girls back gently, rubbing a soothing circle as he made hushing noises in her ear. "It's okay, Rach. It's okay."

"I though.... It was so stupid..."

"It wasn't stupid." Kurt assured. "... Okay, a little stupid. He's sat right on this bed, and listened to you talk about Finn. But I'll admit, I have found myself a little attracted to our best friend in the past. And as Soulmates, that meant you would also one day." 

Rachel laughed, wiping her eyes. "Oh?"

"Definitely. It also means that at some point, you'll ask for sensible heels for your birthday." Kurt nodded seriously. "And whatever size you think is sensible? Take two inches off. That is my advice." 

"Sound advice." Rachel giggled before she took a deep breath. "It wouldn't have worked out."

"Maybe. Maybe not." Kurt shrugged, "It's not my place to say, sweetie. But he's hurting too."

"Oh?"

"Yep. Slipped in through my window at 1 in the morning, drunk. Curled up on the bottom of my bed, and cried. Very manly tears, of course. But he cried, and I consoled. And then I had a very awkward talk with my dad about how Puck was not my boyfriend, despite the fact that Burt once caught us kissing." 

Rachel gave a shocked gasp. "You've been holding out on me, Hummel!"

"When I get a boyfriend, I'll know all the Puckerman secrets... from around three years ago." Kurt looked at the ceiling. "I'm a gay stud. I will learn to adapt."

"You hussy, you." Rachel snorted, slapping Kurt's arm, and they slowly fell into silence. "Maybe... Should I call him? See how he is?"

"Maybe. Let him know you're still friends, and he's still the man of the group."

"What does that make you?" Rachel asked, and Kurt rolled his eyes as they shuffled into a slightly more comfortable position. 

"Oh god! Speaking of that, I had the most amazing idea for a faux-duet. I sing both parts from Le Jazz Hot, with a split costume of masculine and feminine...."

"You blew that note on purpose." 

Kurt stopped, his shoulders tense. "I don't want to talk about it, either of you." He hissed, refusing to turn and look at them.

"Dude, I sat in your basement and watched you hit that note so many times I wanted to hit you with the keyboard." Puck rolled his eyes, as Rachel clung to his arms glaring at Kurt's back. "It's only a fair contest if you let it be a fair contest."

"I did what I had to do." Kurt said. "You both live it this wonderful little cacoon. Where... Puck is straight, so they never start to bother his mother and sister. And your dads are there to support each other and you, Rachel. When people heard I wanted to sing a girls song? They sent phone calls to my dads work, and he can't lean on me. He's all alone in this. And, as such, so am I."

"You're not alone in this." Rachel said. "My dads..."

"Are wonderful people, who don't need me burdening them." Kurt said, turning around finally to look at them. "Is this what you wanted to see, Rachel? Me crying. Is that what it takes to make your victory complete?"

"Kurt...." Rachel stepped forward, and Kurt stepped away. 

"This isn't your battle. Enjoy your solo, Rachel. We're not talking about this again."

"So, Mercedes told me a really interesting story. Puck." 

Puck didn't bother looking at the door. "Oh?"

"Yeah. Something, funnily enough, about you GETTING QUINN FABRAY PREGNANT!" Kurt's voice turned to a yell, and Puck flinched before he turned away. "Puck, what were you thinking!"

"I wasn't! Kurt, I wasn't thinking. I was drunk and stupid, and... I just...." Puck took a long ragged breath as he fought to stay in control. 

"Hey... Hey, Noah. Easy." Kurt said carefully, as he sat down next to the boy and stroked his back gently. "I'm sorry I blew up at you, okay?"

"I didn't... I didn't think Kurt."

"I know you didn't. I generally do the thinking for both of us." Kurt grinned, trying to joke. "What're you going to do?"

"Nothing. Mercedes said that Quinn wants Finn to be the father... so... That's that."

"This is our Glee Club. I very much doubt that that is that." Kurt said. "But I am here for you, okay? Just as much as I'm here for Finn."

"How did you enjoy this week. Working with Hudson."

"Well, I got him to sing a wonderful song to his baby...." Kurt sighed, slipping in behind Puck. "You know... I'm kind of glad she isn't keeping the baby. You don't need this in your life." 

"I know." Puck breathed, turning around and wrapping his body around Kurt's. They both just laid there for most of the rest of the night.

"Man slave!" Kurt shouted, as Rachel rang the little bell on her bedside cabinet. 

Puck turned and glared at them, but after a moment of looking at their tear stained face stood up. "Yes?"

"We're both very upset." Rachel said, pouting. "We said very mean things to each other, and you said you would cheer us both up at the same time."

"I thought you'd end up cheering each other up." Puck muttered, rolling his eyes. "What do you want me to do now?"

"My dads have another tub of cookie dough icecream in the freezer. Go and get it?" Rachel handed back the empty tub.

"And what does Kurt want?"

"Finn Hudson to realise he's bi-sexual and into polygamy." Kurt sighed, leaning into Rachel's hug. "Failing that... more Coke."

"You're going to overdose on Caffine." Puck snorted, at the pile of empty cans next to the bed. 

"It's diet." Kurt said simply. "But, fine. I want you to take your top off." He raised a challenging eyebrow.

"Done." Puck grinned, pulling the wifebeater over his head and letting them both stare. "See? You'll never beat me, Hummel." 

"Fine I want you to bl-" Kurt's voice was cut off by Rachel slamming a hand over his mouth.

"We are not testing his threshold in my house, or even with me present." Rachel hissed, before she started giggling, quickly followed by Kurt.

Puck watched them hold each other and laugh with each other, feeling his lips pull up into a grin.

They'll be okay.

"Okay, I love that boy." Kurt said, very dangerously quiet, as he glared at Finn walking away from Rachel's photoshoot. "You know I do, Noah. But I am going to kill him." 

"You can't kill him, Kurt." Puck said, rubbing Kurt's back. "We need him for sectionals."

"But he's really hurt her!" Kurt snapped, "I can carry a dead weight into regionals if I have to, and you can cover Finn's leads."

"Still, there's the whole murder thing." Puck pointed out. "And the prison that would innevitably follow. Plus, if he happened to smile at you as you went to kill him, you'd probably fall on your knees right then and there."

"I'm not a slut, Puckerman."

Puck grunted as Kurt elbowed him in the stomach and pulled out his phone. "What're you doing?"

"I can't hurt Finn myself. But someone can anonymously tip Jacob Ben Israel off that Finn recently was heard announcing that he sucked David Karofsky off in the shower." Kurt smirked. "It won't lead to anything obviously, Karofsky and the football players will slushy Finn or shove him a bit more than usual for a few days."

"That is why I'm scared of you, Hummel." Puck whistled low, as Kurt hit send. "You're cold."

"He hurt my soulmate. I'd do the same if someone hurt you." Kurt muttered, tucking his phone into his pocket. "Now, we need to go be in place to comfort Rachel."

"You don't understand, Rachel." Kurt said softly, letting Puck squeeze his hand as tight as he wanted. "Noah's been torn up about this for months. You have no idea how many phone calls, and late night tickets it took to get him to admit what happened that night."

"You both kept it from me though." Rachel whispered. "My best friend and my soulmate kept this from me."

"Rachel, Noah didn't tell me."

"Who did?"

"Mercedes. And you have no idea how often I wish she'd told you. Because we needed you, but we couldn't burden you with this. Because we knew what you would have to do after you found out." Kurt looked down. "You'd have to tell Finn. And we've all seen how Finn took it. Imagine what could have happened if he didn't come back?"

"We could have lost Sectionals? That's not..."

"If he didn't come back, Quinn could have demanded that Puck take his place. Puck would have gone back to stealing and working to pay for hospital bills and such. He's have ended up either in jail, or stuck in a loveless relationship with little miss stretch-marks, to help look after the baby, or heart broken when the baby was ripped out of his hands."

Rachel paused, considering it, before she nodded. "I'm sorry, Noah."

"I'm not. I'm glad it's out there in the open now." Puck sighed, holding his arm out, "Come on girls. Group hug."

"Just because you're a mess doesn't mean you get to call me a girl, Noah." Kurt glared, but let himself be pulled into a hug.

"I'm so glad you're both here." Noah admitted.

"Always will be." Rachel breathed into his chest, they dozed there for a good hour, before Kurt pulled himself off Puck's chest, and looked at the mirror as if analyzing something. "What's wrong?" She asked, turning to look at him.

"We need to make plans." Kurt said, carefully. "Because... If we think Sue Sylvester has been bad so far? Then Sectionals is going to be her trump move. Nobody eat or drink anything we haven't prepared or bought ourselves, and watch it like it's a drink in a dark bar. And we prepare a new solo, just in case."

"What about a duet?" Puck asked, looking at Rachel.

"We could..." Rachel hummed. "And It'd be a good idea to have other options ready."

"And we only have to use them if other people ask us to."