Would You?

All previous disclaimers apply.

Author's Note: So sorry this took so long! It's been such a great ride! Thank you so much for staying with this for so long! Hope you like the happy ending! I'm not sure which I like more! Though I may do a sequel based on all of the events between the last chapter and the epilogue if there's enough interest! Let me know! Happy Reading! T.H.


The first thing he was aware of as he came slowly back to himself was that he was thirsty. There was an annoying tickle at the back of his throat that begged for a drink, just a sip, of water. It was this simple annoyance that pushed him out of the fog that was covering his mind and into full awareness. With awareness came feeling and with feeling came the desperate wish to be lost in the fog again. He hurt everywhere. The pain pulsed behind his eyes like a beacon. He tried to push himself back into the fog, but couldn't. He felt like sobbing, but didn't have the energy. He didn't even have the strength to feel ashamed when he felt the hot tears streaking out of his tightly closed eyes. He tried for a manly moan, hoping that someone was around who would be able to help, and wasn't surprised when it came out as a whimper instead. The first thing he felt that wasn't pain was the tightening of a hand on his. He tried to grip the hand and whimpered again when expelling the energy to try caused more pain to shoot through his wrist and up his arm.

"Noah?" The sweetest voice in the world was next to his ear, "Noah, baby…are you awake?"

"Kurt…" He managed to whisper, "It…It hurts."

"Okay…okay, baby. I'm going to go get a nurse."

"No!" He wanted his voice to be stronger than it was and kept his fingers wrapped around Kurt's, "Don't go…"

"Alright, Noah," Kurt's voice was soft and gentle. He felt blessedly cool lips against his forehead, then Kurt's hand stroking down his hair lightly, "Alright. I won't go anywhere. I'll just page for a nurse. I'm right here, Noah, I promise."

He didn't know how long Kurt murmured assurances as he stroked his hair before he heard the door open, but it felt like forever as the pain ripped through him. He fought to keep himself quiet, but the whimpers escaped despite his best efforts. Kurt just kept stroking his hair and kissing his forehead until some else came into the room.

"He's awake," Kurt said quietly to the someone Noah couldn't see, "And in a lot of pain. Can you do anything for him?"

"The doctor's going to want to check him out first. Then we'll get him on some good stuff. Welcome back, Noah." The nurse set a hand to his forehead before moving it to take his wrist and check his pulse, "Kurt's told us all a lot about you. We've been looking forward to meeting you. You just hold on a little longer. The doctor's on his way."

It felt like an eternity as he listened to the rise and fall of the voices around him. First Kurt and the nurse, then Kurt, the nurse, and the doctor, then finally just Kurt. His voice was concerned, Puck could hear it and hated himself for making Kurt worry, but it was also reassuring and soothing. The hand that stroked the back of his was light and real, the only thing on his body that didn't hurt. The pain began to ease slowly, but with it came an overwhelming pull back into the fog. Now that he knew Kurt had been waiting for him, he tried his hardest to stay awake for him, but eventually the pull was just too strong and he fell into the black, Kurt's sweet words of comfort and love following him.

When he woke again he was floating pleasantly. But, he figured that the nurse hadn't lied and they really had given him the good stuff when he realized that he could order his thoughts above the fog. After careful experimentation he opened his eyes slowly and was glad for the near dark in the room. There were long shadows stretching across the walls and the ceiling. The sun was going down. Not his favorite time of day. He carefully turned his head and smiled when he saw the three beautiful women standing at the foot of his bed. They were all smiling at him gently. Crystal reached out and tapped his toe. He was surprised when it didn't hurt and he knew that they were, again, blocking his pain and he was grateful.

"I…I thought I was supposed to die…" He said uncertainly, "I was ready to die for him."

"And you did, Noah," Aziza rubbed his ankle gently.

"For exactly two minutes and seven seconds," Sakura giggled, "The paramedics were very good. And with a little bit of divine intervention…"

"Oh, come on, kid," Crystal rolled her eyes, "You didn't really think that we'd let you die after what you went through with him, did you?"

"Honestly…" He smiled when they all moved to sit on his bed with him, Sakura on one side, Aziza on the other, Crystal at his feet, her hand on his ankle, "Yeah…I kind of did."

"We couldn't just tell you," Aziza curled up next to him and laid her hand over his heart, "You had to decide for yourself. And you made the right decision. Our…we'll call them our bosses…allowed us to get away with it because even they know that there's no force stronger than Love."

"I thought you said Death was the strongest force on earth." He raised an eyebrow.

"And sometimes it is," Sakura stroked his hair, "But, for you and Kurt Love is stronger. Isn't that wonderful?"

Crystal and Noah rolled their eyes at the same time, making all four of them burst into laughter. It was relieved on all of their parts and they loved just how good it felt.

"What're the odds of getting you to keep the pain away for, like, ever?" Puck asked when they calmed.

"Ha! Nice try, kid," Crystal tapped his toe again, "A little suffering's good for the soul. We've got to get going." Sakura and Aziza groaned and snuggled closer, "No, we do! We have to get back to work. But, we'll check in on you from time to time. We love you, Noah Puckerman."

"Yes we do," Sakura kissed his forehead and stood.

"Take care of each other. Love each other. You have the chance now," Aziza surprised him by kissing him lightly, chastely, and standing to join her sisters.

"Ladies…" Puck looked down, "Thank you."

"No thanks are needed, Noah," All three whispered. When he looked up, They were gone. And he was in pain again. At least it wasn't unbearable this time. He still felt a little loopy, as if he was on too many pain meds. Oh, wait. He smiled a little. He was on too many pain meds. He realized the shadows hadn't moved since he woke up and smiled wider. His smiled softened and he relaxed against his pillow as he turned his head and saw Kurt sleeping, slumped over in a chair, his head on the bed by Noah's thigh. For the first time Noah felt Kurt's hand wrapped loosely around his wrist. He tried to pull away to rub a hand over Kurt's hair, wanting to see if he could muss it a little, but Kurt was awake, and blinking at him sleepily, before he could move more than a centimeter.

"Noah?" Kurt whispered.

"Kurt…" Noah didn't recognize his own voice, weak and unused.

Kurt stood slowly, never taking his eyes from Noah's, set his hand to Noah's cheek gently, then leaned down and kissed his forehead. He was confused and blinked in surprise when he felt Kurt's tears falling onto his forehead.

"Babe, what's wrong?" He was surprised at just how hard it was to keep speaking. His throat was so dry. It hurt. He swallowed hard. Kurt seemed to notice. With a little noise of sympathy from the back of his throat he poured a small cup of water from the pitcher next to the bed and put a straw in it before putting his hand behind Noah's head and lifting gently. He set the straw to Noah's lips and kept crying silently as Noah took a couple of pulls of water before his strength deserted him again. Kurt put the cup back down on the table, then sat again and took Noah's hand in his. He lifted it and pressed a kiss to the battered knuckles.

"You're such an idiot, Noah…" Kurt said quietly, tears still streaming down his face.

"Maybe," Noah could feel himself going under again. He knew that it was going to get old really fast, going in and out of consciousness like this, but he just couldn't help how tired he was, how weak he felt.

"Thank you," Kurt leaned over and kissed him gently, "I love you."

"I love you, too," He tried to tighten his fingers on Kurt's hand and was surprised and a little bit disgusted when he could barely managed to squeeze at all. He wondered idly just how badly he was hurt.

"Forever?" Kurt asked quietly.

"Forever," Noah confirmed with a small smile.

"Good. Sleep, Noah. I'll be here when you wake up again. Promise."

The next time he woke, Kurt and his mother were sitting with him. Kurt quietly excused himself to get coffee while his mother sobbed over him, telling him how much she loved him, how stupid he was. He felt a little guilty when she sobbed that she didn't know what she would have done if she'd lost him. But, she understood when he told her that he hadn't thought when he had seen the car. He had just pushed Kurt out of the way. He was glad when she assumed that he wouldn't have had the time to move out of the way himself. He wondered if he'd have had the time if he'd tried. Because, of course, he hadn't even tried. He'd thought he would die for Kurt. He'd thought it was the only way. He thought that it was better not to tell his mother that. But, she didn't ask and he was grateful. She simply kissed his forehead, stroked his hair, and told him how much she loved him. He felt the tears warm on his own face as he told her he loved her too and promised that nothing like getting hit by a car would ever happen again. He asked her to tell him straight how badly he was hurt. That set her off again when she told him that he'd been in a coma for three days. Everyone had been devastated when the doctors told them that his chances weren't good, but none more so that Kurt. He'd stayed at Noah's side without moving until the afternoon he had woken. Noah felt guilty again and barely managed to speak around the emotion in his throat.

"And now?" He asked quietly.

"Now…Baby…"

"Ma, please."

She sighed and nodded, realizing that there was no way to escape telling him for long.

"You're going to be okay, Noah. Your right wrist is broken along with a couple of your ribs. There was a lot of internal damage and the doctors had to remove part of your liver, but they say that it'll heal with time. Your left leg was shattered by the car, Noah, and your hip was broken so badly that they thought it was better just to replace it. You'll be able to walk again, but you might have to use a cane. Even if you get strong enough to walk without the cane, you'll have a limp for the rest of your life. I'm so sorry, baby."

He told her that everything was okay, that he was okay. She looked at him like she didn't believe him and seemed to understand when he said he was tired and thought he would fall asleep soon. She kissed him once more and said she would send Kurt in. When she was gone he let the grief take him. He managed to keep the sob in his chest, but couldn't help the tears that slipped from his tightly closed eyes. A limp and an artificial hip meant that there was now no chance of playing football anymore. That meant that there was no chance of getting a football scholarship and that meant that there was no way he was getting out of this stupid town with Kurt. Kurt was so beautiful and so talented and he was really going places. Why would he want to stick around with Noah?

"Because I love you, you idiot."

Noah's eyes snapped open when he heard Kurt's voice. Kurt was standing in the doorway, his eyebrow arched, tears in his eyes, and his arms crossed. Noah realized he'd been speaking out loud.

"Kurt, I…"

"You're going to go to school, Noah. We'll work on your grades together all of next year. If we have to I'll defer school for a year while we take some classes at the community college so that you can get good enough grades to transfer with me then that's what we'll do. I almost lost you. Do you really think I'm going anywhere without you?"

"Kurt…"

"Before you can say it, Noah, I am not giving up my dreams. I'm simply going to put them on hold for a little while. You can do that when it's because of something as important as love. And I won't have any arguments. Understood?"

Noah nodded, knowing that there was no speaking with Kurt when he was like this. Kurt smiled softly and moved to the bed. Noah knew there must have been something in his eyes that begged for Kurt's touch because Kurt climbed carefully onto the bed with him. He was so slight that Noah didn't even have to move to give Kurt room. Kurt simply laid his head on the pillow next to Noah's and wrapped a hand around his arm, not wanting to chance hurting him. Noah looked into his eyes and smiled.

"I'm going to fall asleep now," He murmured.

"Okay," Kurt whispered in return.

"Kiss me first?"

And Kurt smiled, "Okay." The kiss was gentle and sweet. Noah fell asleep again with the feeling of it still on his lips.

When Noah woke again Miri was doing homework at his bedside. He was only able to stay awake long enough to kiss her and tell her he loved her before he fell asleep again. He vaguely remembered waking up to all of his friends struggling to be quiet as they decorated the room that he was going to be in for the next few weeks. The girls kissed him. The guys shook his hand or patted his shoulder gently. Finn actually gripped his shoulder for a good fifteen seconds. Noah counted it as a win. Mercedes thanked him. He felt good inside. He was annoyed when he felt himself falling again.

When he next surfaced there was only Artie in the room and everything else was so quiet that he had the feeling that the ladies had something to do with it. The fact that he was feeling bright and there was no pain convinced him that it was because of Them. Artie was looking at him with something akin to confusion on his face.

"Why didn't you tell me what was going on, Puck?" He asked quietly, "You didn't say a word. You didn't…I…God, when I heard you were hit by the car instead of Kurt every little cryptic thing They said made sense, but…I thought that we had gotten close enough that you would have said something at least."

"Couldn't." Puck muttered, his voice as quiet as Artie's, "Abrams, you were there for me when no one else could be. You're a good guy. The last thing I wanted to do was give you a reason to by angry with Them. You love Them and They love you. And…if you knew you might have tried to talk me out of it. I was scared enough, I might have let you. Then, I would have only killed myself later."

Artie flinched at the last statement, but knew it was the truth and decided not to comment. Instead, he murmured, "You were scared?"

"Terrified," Puck admitted freely. Hell, he'd cried in front of this guy. Wasn't much else he could do to put his badassness in question, "All fucking day. But, then I would look at him and the only thing I could think was that it was better me than him."

"Best that it was neither of you," Artie murmured.

"You might be right there." Noah laughed, then drew in his breath sharply when his ribs pulled. Obviously the ladies thought that everything that needed to be said had been said and were pulling their influence, "Hey, Artie?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks. For…for everything."

Artie lowered his eyes and patted Noah's shoulder. He came to the realization that the ladies had pulled their influence as well when Noah winced and pulled his breath in though clenched teeth.

"You want me to ring for a nurse?" Artie asked. Noah was asleep again before he could answer.

It went that way for nearly three days. Puck couldn't stay awake longer than ten minutes at a time most of the time. The few times he managed something longer he was so groggy he might as well have been sleeping. The doctors were pleased with his progress, though, and assured him that he was healing much better and much faster than any of them had a right to expect. His mother worried, as he began to heal, that he would be bored and lonely, but he never was. She worked in the same hospital he was staying in and dropped by as often as she could. She wasn't allowed to be his primary nurse, as she was his mother, but it was kind of reassuring to him to see her there in her scrubs, looking professional and happy at the same time. Even when Mr. Hummel and Noah's own mother insisted that Kurt go back to school he was at the hospital everyday before school, then after school as soon as football or glee were over. Noah had put his foot down when Kurt said that he should just come straight from school. No matter how good it made him feel to know that Kurt loved him enough to make him the center of his universe he couldn't let him do it. It wasn't good for Kurt to stay cooped up in a hospital room when he could be doing the things he loved. His other friends came by as often as they could and it wasn't unusual to see four or five people in his room, hanging out, doing homework, watching a movie, rehearsing small things for glee. After the first couple of times none of them worried when Noah drifted off half way through a conversation. They just did quiet things until he woke up again. The doctors worried that the constant company would hinder Noah's progress, but decided that keeping him awake longer than was recommended was a sacrifice well worth it next to keeping his spirits up.

Once when Noah woke Burt was sitting at his bedside. He wasn't sleeping, just looking down at Noah as if he was seeing him for the first time. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could get the words out a nurse and a doctor came in to examine Noah. The examinations were one thing that Noah dreaded every day because they hurt. There was only so much pain killers could do without getting him hooked on them so he had chosen to be slowly weaned off of them, but he wished he hadn't when the doctor was feeling around his chest and abdomen. The doctor tried to be gentle, but…Noah usually just closed his eyes and tried not to let the tears slip from his eyes. He didn't try to hide his shock when, just as the doctor was beginning his examination, Burt Hummel slipped his hand under Noah's and held it tight. Noah couldn't think of why Burt had done it until the pain shot through him and his hand convulsively closed on Burt's. Burt just held his hand the entire time and, when it was all over and Noah was completely drained, he let go reluctantly to pull the sheets up around Noah. He gently tucked them under Noah's shoulders, then smoothed the sides down. Noah didn't know who was more shocked, him or Burt, when the big man leaned down and kissed Noah's forehead paternally. Noah was drifting off when Burt walked to the door, but he smiled when Burt nodded at him, tears in his eyes. From that day on Burt was there for the examination everyday on his lunch hour. They never spoke about it, but Noah was more grateful than he could say. The day he held out his hand and Burt took it to shake without question Noah fell asleep with a smile on his face.

Everyone else seemed to have a sixth sense about when either Finn or Quinn were planning on coming by because only Kurt was there when they did. When it was Finn who came by all three of them would hang out. The steps Puck had taken on the day he was hit by the car were the foundation of a new friendship for them. This friendship was based on honesty, what they'd had when they were younger and a mutual unspoken fear that at any moment something might happen to either of them and they would never have the chance to try again. Finn had forgiven him and they were working their way back to being okay again. And Finn was there to play video games and talk sports, things that Kurt would have done, but hadn't been looking forward to. He left them to it one day, discussing the NFL draft to go get all of them something to eat and when he came back Noah was sleeping again. Finn was studying his sleeping form, his brow furrowed in concentration, his elbows on his knees and his hands folded under his chin.

"What is it?" Kurt asked, "Is he okay?

"He's fine," Finn assured him, "Just dropped off again."

"It was scary the first couple of times," Kurt murmured, running a hand over Noah's short hair. The doctors had shaved his Mohawk to get to a cut at the back of his head. Kurt wouldn't tell him that he preferred the buzz cut to the Mohawk. At least not yet, "I thought that something was wrong, that he'd slipped back into a coma. I ran right into his mom outside the room. I was sobbing, ready to hear the worst. She just laughed and hugged me, telling me that he would be doing it a lot while he healed. I held his hand and couldn't look away from his face until he woke up again."

"You really love him, don't you?" Finn asked.

"Yes, I do." Kurt leaned over to kiss Noah's forehead gently.

"Good. He jumped in front of a car for you, Kurt. So, I know he loves you. Just don't…I mean…"

"Finn Hudson, are you trying to tell me not to break Noah's heart?"

Finn grinned and shifted his weight, blushing. He looked down, "Yeah, well…He's my best friend. Or he will be. Or whatever."

"Don't worry, Finn," Kurt smiled gently, "I'd cut out my own heart before I ever let him get hurt again. By me or anyone else."

Finn's smile fell a little and he cocked his head to the side, confused, "Oh, well…that's good?"

Kurt could only throw back his head and laugh.

The first couple of times Quinn came by Kurt made himself scare, knowing that the two had a lot to discuss. Quinn's first visit Noah was only awake long enough for Quinn to sob that she didn't want Aria not to know her father. Noah assured her that he wasn't going anywhere. She kissed his forehead and held his hand until he fell asleep again. Kurt came back in to find Quinn with a hand resting on Noah's shoulder lightly and the other cradling her tummy, leaning back in her chair, a contented smile on her face and the sun slanting over her. It made such a beautiful picture that Kurt couldn't help the tears that came into his eyes. He thought he would feel jealous of Quinn when he walked in on them three days later and Noah was looking so utterly ecstatic to be feeling his child move in Quinn's belly. But, then Noah saw Kurt in the doorway, turned his brilliant smile on him and called him over. Kurt smiled indulgently and allowed Noah to press his hand to Quinn's belly. His breath caught when he felt the tiny movement against his hand. For the first time, his boyfriend's baby was real to him. Noah looked at him and knew exactly what he was thinking.

"I know…" He grinned as he leaned back against his pillows, "Isn't that the most fucking amazing thing you've ever felt?"

"Watch your mouth, Puck," Quinn said with a smile.

"Language, Noah," Kurt said at the same time. They looked at each other as if seeing one another for the first time. They both looked down when they realized that Kurt was stroking her belly gently. They smiled at each other. From that moment on there was an understanding between them that they had never expected.

The first time Noah was allowed out of his room was the day that his daughter was born. He'd only been in the hospital for two weeks, but the doctors knew that it was pointless to try to keep him in his bed when his baby was coming into the world. They were grateful that Kurt kept him in his chair as the eleven teenagers, a pre-teen, because Miri would not be left out of the birth of her neice, two teachers, and three parents (Mr. Hummel, Mrs. Puckerman, and, surprising no one, Mrs. Hudson.) crammed themselves into Quinn's room. When she wanted to walk the girls went with her, taking turns keeping a steadying hand on the small of her back and one on her elbow. They all sang when they felt like it was needed, including Quinn, and took turns holding her hands when she was having contractions. Kurt quite competently coached Quinn through her contractions for hours, to everyone's surprise. Noah didn't speak much, but nothing could keep the contented smile from his face. The doctors came in every couple of hours to check on him and give him more pain medication. No one paid much mind when he dropped off to sleep at random intervals, his head on the first available shoulder. For once Emma put aside her phobias to hold Quinn's hand and wipe her brow. They were all glad to see Quinn's greatest comfort came from her and Will Schuester. No one was surprised when, nine hours into labor, she asked Emma and Will to be Aria's godparents. They readily agreed.

Aria Grace Fabray-Puckerman was born at three-thirty in the morning with nearly black hair and eyes that were a cloudy blue everyone was fairly certain would darken to brown before she was a year old. Quinn cried when the doctors handed her over, then held Noah's hand and they cried together as she was cleaned up. Kurt took pictures the entire time and tried to convince himself that he wasn't crying. Not really. There was just something in his eye. But, when he sat on the side of the bed and Quinn handed her over to him, the tears fell in earnest. He kissed her little face, counted her fingers and toes, then leaned down so that Noah could do the same. The three of them grinned for the camera when the nurse kindly asked if they wanted a picture all together. Later Kurt would complain that his eyes were red and puffy while Quinn, having just given birth, and Noah, still casted and injured, looked like they had just stepped out of magazines. But, the framed picture never left his bedside table.

Later, just as the sun was coming up, when Noah and Kurt were drifting off in his hospital bed after having spent an hour whispering about how beautiful Aria was, they smiled at each other in the dawning light and shared sweet, tender kisses. Kurt smiled at him sleepily and snuggled. Noah waited until Kurt's breathing was deep and even before he closed his eyes. He had sacrificed himself to save Kurt. And in return he was given everything. Of course, he was never going to play ball again and that sucked and hurt more than he was willing to admit. But, he could always find a new dream. Maybe now he could find out more about himself, really figure out what he was passionate about. And, he always had his mother and his sister and Burt Hummel and all of his friends. The best friends he had ever had in his life. And now he had Aria, his beautiful little girl. And Kurt. What else did he really need? As he looked at his small lover, curled against his side, sharing his pillow, he couldn't help but feel content and utterly at peace.

"Fair trade," He whispered, and let himself fall asleep.