This is a story that I have been writing for a long time but I wanted to wait to post it because of my other stories. Thanks FinchelGleek4ever and LeaMyGoldStar for beta-ing this fic and I hope you guys like it!

Note #1: I've been writing this fic long before this season of Glee so none of the new characters from S4 are in this story.

Note #2: Finn is a few years older than Rachel.

Chapter 1

It was definitely not the job of her dreams; it wasn't even on her top 10 list of jobs she'd be interested in doing. She didn't want to sound ungrateful because like it or not, it paid the bills. And there were quite a few of them, she had reminded herself when she applied for this job.

The main issue is that things hadn't gone exactly how she had planned after she had graduated college. At this point, it felt like plan Z, due to her many unsuccessful attempts. Perhaps she was exaggerating a little bit - or maybe not.

She was struggling to find a job that she was qualified for, but she realized that with her talents, people should be begging her to work for them.

Rachel didn't know how she had gotten this job in the first place either. In high school she was always picked on by the kids because of the way she dressed. They would make fun of her animal print sweaters and high knee socks. She never really cared about it but now it made her wonder why the manager had hired her. Her style hadn't improved that much, she could admit that to herself.

Her manager said she hired Rachel because she was very eloquent and persuasive. She had also told her that she had a 1000 watt smile and she strived for friendly employees. That would make sense if it wasn't for the fact that one of the saleswomen was a bleach blonde nightmare who always bitched about everything and liked to mess with Rachel and give her death glares.

While she was in college, Rachel had a few different jobs but only temporary things since she wanted to focus on her studies and auditions alongside her vocal training and dance classes.

Her dads didn't like the fact that their daughter balanced college with work. They had always told her that they could pay for all her expenses but Rachel didn't like to depend on her dads for everything. Rachel thought they were doing a lot already by paying her steep tuition.

After college, she decided to not accept her fathers' money anymore. She found a small apartment to share with a girl she had met in college. The only problem was that a couple of months after they had settled in their apartment, her roommate left to live with her new boyfriend and left Rachel to pay the bills by herself.

Rachel didn't dare tell her dads that and thankfully she found work and managed to live by herself without having to find another roommate, which would only cause more trouble, Rachel concluded.

When she had started this new job, Rachel had hoped that it would only be a temporary job, but the most recent event made her think otherwise...

"Finn, you can't shop here, I mean this store is just full of tacky, overpriced clothes. Honestly, these are dreadful." Kurt asked looking at the shop window, making a disgusted face. "Do you really want to buy your mother disgusting clothes?"

"Of course not," Finn quickly denied, annoyed by his step brother. He hated shopping, let alone with Kurt. And he hated it even more to buy a present for somebody else. He was definitely not the guy for that, but it was for his mom so he'd make this sacrifice for her.

"Can we go buy her some jewelry?" Finn suggested, trying to find a better alternative. Buy something shiny and you're set! He thought.

"No. My dad is already buying her a matching earrings and necklace set." Kurt shot down his idea.

"How can a woman have too much jewelry?" Finn asked with a frown.

"You have a point," Kurt conceded, but before Finn could celebrate his victory his step brother continued. "But Carole is in serious need of a new wardrobe and you're gonna buy a beautiful dress for her with my help." Kurt finished pointing to himself.

Finn couldn't help but roll his eyes at the response, even though Kurt was right. "Fine." He huffed, knowing he had lost the battle.

They kept walking through the floors of the mall, at every clothing store, Kurt would stop and look at the type of clothes the store had before giving a look of disapproval and continued his stroll. Finn was tired of watching the same scene for the past hour. How could it be so hard to find a dress for his mom?

They did enter in a few stores but as soon as Kurt passed his eyes through the hangers, he would mutter "there's nothing in here" and then he'd turn on his heels and walk out the door. Finn had no idea how his brother did that, it was like he had x-ray vision for fashion or something.

They had started from the top and made their way to the bottom floor of the mall, so right now they were about to head to the second floor.

"And what are you gonna give to my mom, Mr. Fashionista?" Finn inquired, as they used the stairwell.

"A gorgeous pair of boots that hopefully will be perfect to use with the dress you're gonna buy for her."

When they passed by the fifth store, Kurt abruptly stopped in tracks and Finn who was following behind him distracted, almost tripped over the shorter man.

"What the hell, man?" Finn exclaimed confused.

"It looks like I might find something interesting in here." Kurt stated contently.

"Finally." Finn sighed in relief. "Let's go inside then."

The two men walked inside the clothing store and Kurt quickly made his way to the left side where there was the dress section on the hangers. Finn stayed next to the wall, feeling a little awkward standing there - not that he didn't feel awkward in general - but the fact that he was the only guy besides Kurt in the store, and he had no idea what he was doing there – it made him feel a little uncomfortable.

He'd have preferred to buy clothes in a department store. Finn thought to himself.

She had seen him the moment when he had entered into the store with the other man, a friend she supposed. She tried to hold herself together but inside she was freaking out.

She knew she was supposed to be attending them since all the other saleswomen were busy but she was silently praying that they'd leave without asking for any help.

"Excuse me, what other colors do you have of this dress?" She heard the guy with an almost feminine kind of voice ask to a saleswoman who had passed by him.

"Let me go see for you." The woman responded with a bright smile.

When the two men turned around to her direction, she quickly hid herself behind the counter.

"Hey Quinn, can you attend those guys over there?" Brittany asked to the other blonde.

"Can't you see I'm busy?" Quinn snapped. "Why don't you go ask man hands?"

"But where is she?" Brittany asked, her blue eyes searching around the store for the petite brunette.

"She was by the counter." Quinn motioned dismissively with her hand, not even bothering to look at where she had pointed.

Not seeing anyone there, Brittany walked behind the counter and almost tripped on something. "What are you doing here?" She asked looking at the woman sitting on the floor, hiding behind the counter.

"I-I'm" Rachel stammered, trying to find an excuse. "I was looking for these price tags." She responded, cringing at her own lame excuse. Her teacher from acting class would totally reprove her if he had seen her right now.

Brittany dismissed it though. "This is not the time. I need your help." The blonde offered a hand which she reluctantly accepted, standing up slowly, only hoping that a certain person was not looking at their direction anymore.

To her luck - or lack of it - he was. And while she wasn't looking in his direction, she heard him call her name.

"Rachel?" She could hear the sound of shock in his voice. She had to admit she was surprised that he actually remembered her name after months had passed.

"Oh cool. You guys know each other?" Brittany asked excitedly, completely unaware of the awkwardness in the air.

"You could say that." Finn responded with a crooked grin, his eyes still locked on the petite brunette.

"Great. I guess you can help them then," Brittany said to a still silent Rachel.

"Good, cause I was not getting a good vibe from blondie." Kurt whispered so only Finn could hear. Rachel heard it too though, and at another time she would totally laugh at the comment but right now she was not in the mood for jokes.

"Go, go." Brittany shushed her and Rachel reluctantly stepped from behind the counter.

She watched as Finn's eyes bulged instantly as he looked down. Kurt's eyes did the same and his mouth hang open.

"Are you-?" Finn asked.

"Yes." Somehow she found her voice to answer him, her eyes fixed on his face while he kept looking at her stomach area.

"Oh my God." Rachel heard Kurt shriek.

All Rachel wanted to do in that moment was run far away from there, but her feet stayed glued to the ground.

AN: What do you guys think?