Welcome to my newest Fanfic!

A few things before you get started. This is a multichapter AU story loosely inspired by How I Met Your Mother and a companion piece to 'Until I Found Her' (There is a link to this in my Bio) by the amazingly awesome Firewifesara. This story will focus on Rachel's POV while 'Until I Found Her' will be centered on Finn's POV. It doesn't matter which story you read you first since they are companion pieces to one another. We have most of the stories completed and plan to update twice a week. It's been a pleasure to work on this epic project with Firewifesara who is a genius. We've put so much hard work, laughter, conversations long enough to get me reprimanded by a child, and insane ideas into the making of this story. I had no idea that a collaboration could be so much fun and I couldn't imagine having shared this experience with anyone else! I hope that you all will enjoy this unique collaboration as much as we've enjoyed writing it!

Disclaimer: We Do Not Own Glee, How I Met Your Mother, Man of La Mancha, any of the music cues, or any of the characters used. We do however own Tessa and Frank.

Rachel Berry tossed her bag and sheet music down by the door as she entered her New York apartment. She started to draw her long brown hair up into a ponytail at the crown of her head and breezed past her roommate, seated on the couch, to retrieve her yoga mat from the corner. She brought the thin, pink mat over, laid it down on top of the large throw rug in the middle of their living room and immediately lie down on her back, ready to stretch out her tense muscles.

"I take it the audition went well" Santana called from her place on the couch, one eyebrow raised as she looked down at her best friend and roommate.

"It's always the same way" Rachel scoffed, avoiding eye contact with the strikingly beautiful Latina as she further dissolved into her own pity party. "I was only halfway through my song when they cut me off to tell me they would be in touch" she scowled. "And the woman in charge didn't take her eyes off of my nose the entire time! I'm sure they just laughed at me when I left, they always think I'm a freak."

"Not that you aren't a freak, but I'm sure you're exaggerating Berry. We both know you tend to over dramatize things" Santana sighed, putting down her magazine and slipping down from the couch. Familiar with Rachel's 'after audition freakout' routine she sat cross-legged on the edge of the pink mat, mirroring Rachel's new position. When she held out her hands Rachel accepted them immediately, allowing Santana to pull her, deepening her stretch. It was nice to know that in spite of her harsh demeanor, Santana was there for her; she always had been.

"I'm not exaggerating San, I know it. I'm just so sick of it all, why can't I just walk into an audition once, and not be written off because of my nose, or my height, or my-"

"Bee stings for breasts, toddler-like style, and whiny voice?"

"Well this is the worst pep talk ever" Rachel frowned, dropping Santana's hands and sitting up straight.

"Okay, the feisty, motormouth Rachel Berry I know would have had a loud, totally lame comeback for that. What's wrong with you?" Santana asked, trapping Rachel in her interrogative stare.

"Maybe I just didn't feel like arguing" Rachel said softly, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.

"Or maybe you're really letting these stuck up theater nerds get under your skin this time. You used to be more confident than this Rachel. Confident enough, if I remember correctly, to almost do a nude scene in an independent film once. Where is that Rachel?"

Rachel blushed at the memory of her almost role, and shook her head. "That was a terrible decision, you showed me that."

"Well of course it was a terrible decision hobbit, but at least you had enough confidence to feel like you could do it. You were a total diva, walking around here half naked all the time and-."

"That's because I was dating Brody at the time San" Rachel cut her off, cringing slightly at the mention of her ex...whatever he was to her. Looking back, she couldn't really find a proper title for their weird excuse of a relationship. "I was trying to, I don't know, live up to his level of self worth, and confidence. I was getting makeovers, and changing my wardrobe completely, and I just really wasn't staying true to myself."

"Blah, blah, blah. All of that was your choice Berry, you can't blame him for that. Yeah, donkey face was a total tool and I sometimes thought about slipping rat poison in his oatmeal, but you're both at fault for the way that turned out. Mostly you, because you wouldn't listen to me." Rachel scowled, but said nothing as her best friend laid it all out for her. No one could make her face up to the cold, hard truth quite like Santana. "In spite of all your ridiculous behavior, at that time you really had a lot of confidence in yourself, and in your talent. I think you lost it when the two of you broke up, and you've given up on finding it since."

"So, you're saying that my self-esteem is directly connected to my love life" Rachel asked, her hands flying to her hips as she prepared to launch into a rant.

"I'm saying that your self esteem took a hard hit because of your love life, and you need to suck it up and move on" Santana told her, standing up from her place on the ground. "No, you don't need anyone to make you feel good about yourself, but if putting yourself out there and giving someone a chance will give you a little boost, why not do it? It's better than being lonely."

Rachel rolled her eyes dramatically. "I don't think so San. I don't need, nor do I really want a relationship right now. Besides, between giving voice lessons and searching for any audition I can, I don't really have time to be lonely."

Rachel immediately recognized the evilly sweet smirk that slipped onto Santana's face. "Oh, you don't? Hmm, that's odd. Because, I could swear that lonely people, wishing for companionship but are too afraid to go out and find it, were the only ones who kept boyfriend pillows."

Rachel's face immediately broke out into a heated blush. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"So if I walk into your bedroom and open the chest in the bottom corner of your closet, I won't find a boyfriend pillow? Complete with two arms, and dressed in a blue button down pajama top that I know I see in the laundry frequently."

"How could you possibly know about that" Rachel cried, shooting up to her feet and pointing an accusatory finger at her best friend.

"I snoop, it's what best friends do. Besides, if I didn't know about your freakish little boyfriend substitute, I couldn't call you out on it and make you see the obvious" she shrugged, reaching out to place her hands on Rachel's shoulders. "You need to go out Rachel, let yourself live a little. Hell, actually sleep with a real man and not a glorified pillow. You can't tell me you really get anything out of that."

"Well look who's talking" Rachel said, shaking off Santana's hands and crossing her arms over her chest. "All this dating advice from the queen of avoiding relationships herself." Rachel smiled when Santana faltered, her lips pressed tightly together.

"This isn't about me, I'm fine. I don't have some creepy relationship substitute hidden in my closet..."

"Fine, huh" Rachel challenged, watching with a victorious smile as Santana looked down at her feet. "You wanted to call me out, and I took it. Let's talk about you. Or better yet, let's talk about you and Brittany."

"Easy hobbit..."

"You can't avoid her forever San, she doesn't deserve it" Rachel sighed, bending down to roll up the forgotten yoga mat.

"Yeah, well maybe she does. I didn't deserve to be kept in her back pocket like a toy all that time, but it didn't stop her."

"She was not toying with you Santana, she really cared about you but she had a boyfriend at the time. Which isn't the case anymore you know..." Rachel trailed off, carrying the yoga mat over to place back in it's spot.

"What?" Santana questioned, her eyes snapping up to look at Rachel. "How do you know that?"

"Maybe you would know too if you'd answer any of her phone calls" Rachel scolded. "She's called me a few times, mostly asking how you were."

Santana took a long, steadying breath before meeting Rachel's eyes again. "How does she think I am? I pretty much became a lesbian for her. I laid all my feelings out for her that day, and she just left me hanging out to dry for him."

"Who's over dramatizing things now San" Rachel challenged. "She didn't leave you out to dry, she tried to stay close with you and work through things, you're the one who up and disappeared on her. She was probably just as confused as you were."

"Well I'm not confused anymore, I'm over it" Santana shrugged, turning away and walking into the kitchen with Rachel on her heels. Rachel shook her head at her stubborn best friend as she approached the refrigerator, pulling out a chilled water bottle. Wordlessly, she handed one to Rachel as well before closing the door.

"Sure you are. There's obviously nothing there; I mean you just refuse to answer her calls and ignore her text messages like the plague, but turn into a school girl with a crush any time someone mentions her."

"I swear this conversation was a lot more fun about ten minutes ago..." the Latina girl groaned, sitting down on one of the stools at their kitchen bar. Rachel sat down beside her, reaching out and placing a hand on her knee.

"Why don't you just hear her out San? You haven't been on a real date in months, and say what you want but I know it's because you still love Brittany."

"Maybe not. Maybe I've moved on and started to like guys again" she retorted, brushing Rachel's hand off with a pointed look. "Strictly dickly."

"Right. Is that why you suddenly need something from the bathroom every time I'm about to get in the shower?" Santana frowned, but soon gave in and started to laugh with Rachel.

"Alright, calm your bee stings hobbit. You've inherited my mouth suddenly, let's see if you have the lady balls to back it up. I keep seeing flyers for a big costume party at Club Sarnona this weekend. You and I, are going to go. And we're not going to leave until we both have dates."

Rachel laughed at her friend loudly, expecting her to join in, but paused when she didn't. "Santana, I can't remember the last party I went to-"

"Because you were trashed."

"-And I certainly don't have a random Halloween costume just lying around to wear."

"No problem, we can go shopping tomorrow evening. And don't even try to tell me you're busy" she said loudly, cutting Rachel off before she could protest. "I know you don't give voice lessons on the day after an audition, and I'll be done with my last clients at the gym by 2 tomorrow. It's perfect." Rachel paused, chewing her lower lip as her best friend leveled her in a stare. The Latina brought her water bottle to her lips, draining the last remnants of the water before placing the empty bottle down on the bar.

"I don't know...what's in it for me" Rachel asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Um, a second chance at a social life, a fun night out, a free dinner, and possibly a night of mind blowing sex with a hot stranger" Santana said, listing each possibility off on her finger as Rachel rolled her eyes liberally. "Donkey face probably didn't set the bar very high for that last one, so you need a refresher."

"Ah, let's not go there!" Rachel cried, covering her face with her hands. There was no use in denying the lack of 'wow factor' in her past sexual prowess, her best friend knew her too well for that. Instead, she sighed, and relented.

"See what I mean, you need this hobbit. So, are you in or you out?"

Rachel stared at her best friend, mentally running through the pros and cons of the proposition. Truth was, she really hadn't been out in far too long, and in spite of her hesitation, she couldn't deny that she'd spent one too many nights alone in her room, watching romantic comedies or heart breaking comedies while holding tight to her boyfriend pillow, Gentleman. Santana was right, and she knew it. With a firm nod, she brought her own bottle to her lips, tilting it back until it was empty as well.

"Fine, I'm in. But you're buying my drinks."

Want to know what Finn was up to? Go read 'Until I Found Her' by Firewifesara!

Hope that you are enjoying the concept so far! Reviews are always appreciated!