As I stood on the stage belting out the last notes of the show it felt right. After all this time everything had paid off. I suffered through four years of high school and then I made it through college making a name for myself in a few off broadway productions and now finally here I was standing on a stage in front of hundreds of people. I was finally in the spot light, I Rachel Barbara Berry was a broadway sensation!

After the show and signing autographs I went into my dressing room changed out of my costume and took my stage makeup off. Flowers lined the walls of my room and I couldn't help but smile as I gathered my things to leave.

"Knock knock." I turned to see Livia, one of my cast mates, standing in the door way.

"Hey come in." I said throwing away one of the torn envelopes that was on my vanity.

"You were wonderful as usual." Livia said walking into my dressing room.

"As were you." I said as she gave me a hug.

"So a few of us were going to go out, do you want to come with us?" She asked pulling away.

"I don't know..."

"We don't have a show until tomorrow night. Come on it will be fun." Livia said and I smiled.

"Fine, I'll go." I said as Livia cheered and pulled me out of the dressing room and down the hall where we met up with Matt and Cynthia.

"She's coming?" They asked and I nodded.

"Yes I am coming." I said and we all laughed as we walked out onto the New York street.

It was weird after four years in college and then two years working my butt off right out of college I had finally made it. I mean I had worked with this show since it's infancy as an off off broadway production but now I was the original lead cast member to the new broadway sensation that was taking New York by storm.

It was a tradition since opening night that at least once a week a few of the cast members and myself would go out for a late dinner after one of the shows. None of us were big drinkers so going out to dinner was something that we all enjoyed doing. So as we walked into our favorite restaurant I was not expecting what was waiting for me.

As soon as we entered the room a small blonde child ran up to me.

"Oh my god you're Rachel Berry!" She screamed and I just smiled.

"Yeah I am." I said bending down so I was on her level. "And what is your name?" I asked as she had me sign a napkin that she was holding.

"Beth Corcoran do not run away from me..." I looked from the girl up to where the voice was coming from. I had avoided seeing my mother for over eight years and I was hoping to make that streak last a little longer. As I looked up from the little girl I felt my stomach flutter and my heart race as Jesse St. James stormed up behind the girl. "Rachel?" I could feel myself smile as I stood up and faced him.

"Hi Jesse." I said meekly as Livia gave me a weird look.

"I'm sorry about Beth she just got excited when she thought she saw you..." His words brought me back to the girl who was standing in front of me.

"She is fine." I said bending down in front of her again. "Beth is a very pretty name." I said as I signed the napkin she had and a wide smile appeared across her face.

"Uncle Jesse can you take a picture of Rachel and me?" She asked and he looked at me as he answered.

"Beth it's late and I promised your mother that you would have been in bed like an hour ago..." Jesse started and Beth shot him a look that reminded me of Quinn.

"You already kept me out past my bedtime and unless you want my mother to find out I think you should take that picture." She stated and I couldn't contain my laughter.

"I would but I don't have my phone with me..." Jesse said before Livia cut in.

"I have mine and I can send the picture to Rachel and she can get it to you." Livia said as both Jesse and I shot her a look that she didn't quite understand.

"See Jesse, now please take the picture." Beth more of demanded than asked.

Livia handed her phone to Jesse and then Cynthia, Matt, Livia, and I all posed next to Beth for the picture like we had so many times before.

Jesse snapped the picture and then Beth approved it before he handed the phone back to Livia.

"Well we need to get going." Jesse said taking Beth's hand. "It was nice to see you..." Jesse said before Beth tugged on his arm and then whispered something into his ear. "Beth wants to know if you would meet us for breakfast tomorrow morning. It is totally up to you." He added quickly and I could tell that he was uncomfortable so I smiled agreeing.

"I would love to have breakfast with you." I said earning a glare from Jesse.

"Great, well you have my number right?" He said through clenched teeth and I nodded.

"I will see you in the morning." I stated as I watched Beth drag Jesse out of the restaurant.

I laughed as we all walked in and sat at a table.

"What was that all about?" Cynthia asked taking a seat next to me.

"That was Jesse St. James, one of my ex boyfriends from high school." I stated and Livia nearly choked on the water she was drinking.

"That was why he looked so uncomfortable isn't it?" Matt said taking a piece of bread and tearing it into pieces before he ate it.

"It could have been that of the fact that Beth is the daughter that my mother adopted when she decided that she didn't want me." I said flatly knowing that everyone at the table had already heard the story of my tragic and failed attempt of having a mother.

"Oh Rach, if I had known..." Livia trailed off and I shook my head.

"It doesn't matter I mean I didn't have to see my mother right and Beth had no idea who I was, only that I was Rachel Berry broadway actress." I stated dramatically as I grabbed some bread for myself.

"But still that had to be hard I mean your ex is now with your mother..." Cynthia started and I just laughed.

"Trust me that isn't happening. My mom was his coach in high school and I guess they stayed in touch or something." I said and they all nodded understanding that there was no romantic relationship going on between them, at least that I knew of.

"So you agreed to go to breakfast with them tomorrow?" Matt asked questioning my motives.

"You all saw how uncomfortable I made him, consider it pay back from high school." I stated with an evil smile and they all laughed.

"What happened in high school?" Cynthia asked and I told them the story of Jesse and the eggs and what happened when he came back the next year.

"Girl why would you choose Finn over him? I mean I have seen Finn and Jesse is clearly the better choice." Livia said eating her pasta and I sighed.

"At the time I think I was still upset by the whole egging thing. I mean I said I forgave him but I don't think I really did and Finn was sweet..."

"Until he dumped your ass for the next thing that walked by." Matt said recounting my second semester in college and then my first performance off broadway.

"Hey we all make mistakes." I said as he rolled his eyes.

"Yeah and you just keep repeating yours." He said and I shook my head.

"What ever."

We talked about the show for the rest of dinner and then Matt walked me home which was nice being as I didn't feel comfortable going back to my apartment alone at that time of night. Matt made sure that I was inside and safe before he left and I went about getting ready for bed. I took a shower and then brushed my teeth before I climbed into my bed and went to sleep.

In the morning I got up and looked at my alarm clock. It was the one morning that I had off in weeks and for some reason I still got up before eight. I sighed as I got out of bed knowing that there was no way that I could go back to sleep. I grabbed my phone and sent Jesse a text to get the address of the place where I could meet him. I know that I probably should have deleted his number but I couldn't, I mean I still had Finn's number and he had broken my heart.

I didn't wait around for a reply, instead I just went about getting ready for the day like I normally did. I went into the bathroom and fixed my hair, curling it so that it looked nice and then I brushed my teeth and made my way into my room. I checked my phone and saw that Jesse had texted me back with a location and he had set the time for eight thirty which gave me ten minutes to finish getting ready and leave so I could be on time.

I got dress in some jeans and then pulled on a black v neck shirt and then did my make up and grabbed my purse slipping on some shoes on my way out.

It was a nice day out so I walked to the restaurant. When I walked in I saw Beth and Jesse sitting at a table so I walked over to them and took a seat in the empty chair. As soon as Beth saw me her face lit up.

"I can't believe you actually came!" She said as I forwarded the picture from the previous night to Jesse.

"I told you I would come." I said as I put my phone away and looked at the girl.

"My friends are going to die when I tell them about this." She said as she took her glass from the table and took a sip of water.

"Well your lucky that your uncle is an old friend." I said as Jesse gave me a curious look.

"So Rachel what have you been up to?" Jesse asked figuring that he would ask me while I had to answer.

"Went to college, did a few off broadway shows, and now I am in the big leagues." I said with a smile and he nodded.

"Any boys in your life?" He asked casually and I laughed.

"Not since Finn." I said as I turned back to Beth.

"So tell me about yourself Beth." I said and she smiled.

"Well I am eight, almost nine. I am in third grade..."

"Where do you live?" I asked casually.

"I was born in Lima, then my mom and I moved to New York, and then back to Lima, and now back to New York. It's complicated." She said and I nodded.

"So what are you doing with your uncle Jesse?" I asked and she sighed as she looked at him.

"My mom had to go out of town for something with her job and he was all she could get." She said with slight irritation in her voice.

"Come on I am not that bad." Jesse said and Beth rolled her eyes.

"You are that bad. You are self centered, you don't follow my mom's rules..."

"That would be your fault." Jesse corrected and Beth stuck her tongue out at him.

"You two are too much." I said as I rolled my eyes.

"Hey Beth why don't you take this five dollar bill and go try some of those games." Jesse said handing Beth some money and she took it and walked over to the games leaving Jesse and I alone.

"Why did you come?" He asked when we were alone.

"Beth wanted me to come..."

"Rachel I know you and this isn't something that you do for your fans."

"First of all you don't know me, you just wish you did." I said as I took a sip of water.

"I know that Finn broke your heart again..."

"How did you..."

"I always knew that he would do that to you, but you wouldn't listen to me. All I wanted was for you to be in a relationship where you were loved..."

"Jesse I don't want to have this conversation with you." I said through a clenched jaw.

"Fine, we don't have to talk about us. Let's instead talk about your mother." Jesse said and I shot him a look.

"You wouldn't." I said and he smiled.

"You know me, I would."

"Fine let's talk about us because there is no us, there is a you and there is a me, but there is no us." I said and he leaned back.

"You see I would believe that but you showed up this morning..."

"For Beth."

"I don't think that was the only reason..."

"I choose Finn over you Jesse. What makes you think that has changed?" I asked and he leaned forward.

"Because Finn wasn't the guy for you and he still isn't."

"And you are?" I said and he shook his head.

"I didn't day that." Jesse said leaning back.

"This is stupid." I said taking my napkin off my lap when he grabbed my hand.

"Don't leave, it would crush Beth..."

"Just Beth?" I asked and he laughed.

"No, I would be pretty upset too." Jesse said and I fixed my napkin.

"Then I guess I will stay." I said and I was met with one of Jesse's cocky smiles.

"I knew you still liked me." He said and I laughed.

"Whatever." I said as Beth walked back over to the table.

We ordered breakfast and talked for a while before our food was brought out. We had just started eating when Jesse's phone started ringing and he looked at the caller ID and answered it.

"Shelby, what's going on?" He asked and I put my fork down not really wanting to hear the conversation.

"I'll be right back." I said to Beth as I got up and walked to the restroom.

I walked over to the sink and put my purse down and then turned the water on and then put some water on my face. I had no idea why I was acting like this. I was hanging out with Jesse and my mother's daughter, it was only normal that she would call to check up on them, why was I freaking out? I took a deep breath and dried my face and then I grabbed my purse and walked back out to the table where Beth was talking to her mom.

"And now we are eating breakfast with Rachel Berry!" Beth said and I felt my stomach churn. "Hold on he is right here." She said as she handed the phone to Jesse.

"No, Shelby, no, alright." Jesse said as he hung up the phone and looked at me with a sympathetic smile.

"Who was that?" I said pretending that I didn't know.

"That was my mom." Beth said oblivious to the fact that I knew who it was.

"Sorry I had to take the call. Shelby is on her way home and she wanted to see how things were going..."

"It's fine." I said as I went back to eating.

When I was done with breakfast I said my goodbyes to Jesse and Beth and then I excused myself and started to walk down the street when my phone went off and I answered it without checking the caller ID.

"Hello?"

"Hey Rach."

"Jesse?" I asked as I kept walking.

"I was wondering if you would want to go out with me tonight. Shelby gets back into town this afternoon and as long as she doesn't kill me I would love to take you out."

"As like on a date?" I asked.

"Yeah..."

"Um... I don't know..."

"Come on Rachel. How about not as a date but rather just as a time to talk or something?" He asked and I knew that there wasn't going to be a way to get him to stop bothering me until I agreed.

"I would but I have a show tonight. Tell you what, come to my show. I will leave tickets for you at the call box. Bring a few friends and then afterward come find me and I will give you a tour and then we can go out to dinner. Work for you?"

"That would be great. I will text you later then." He said and I sighed.

"Yeah." I said as I went to hang up the phone.

"Oh and Rachel." He said and I put the phone back up to my ear.

"Yes Jesse?" I said reluctantly.

"Thanks for coming to breakfast this morning, you really made Beth's day." He said and I smiled.

"I'm glad." I said as I hung up the phone and made my way to Livia's apartment.

I had to buzz her apartment a few times before I got her to let me up.

"What is wrong with you woman? You do realize that it is still morning right?" She asked as she walked back over to her bed and collapsed.

"Yeah and normally I wouldn't bother with trying to wake you up but I was in the area..."

"Why?" She asked as she buried her face in the pillow.

"Because I had that breakfast with Jesse and Beth, remember?" I asked and she quickly shot up and looked at me.

"How did that go?" She asked as she crossed her leg and I walked over and sat next to her.

"Fine, we talked about a few things..."

"Like?"

"Why don't you just ask what you want to ask?"

"Alright did you ask him out?" She asked and I laughed.

"He asked me out." I said and she leaned forward.

"And you said?"

"I invited him to come and see the show tonight. I have the tickets that I have been saving for my dads but they are in Cancun and I don't see them coming anytime soon so I figured that I should use them, especially since my last performance with this show is in a few weeks."

"I still can't believe that you are leaving."

"I know but I have been with this production for years now and after a little over a year on broadway I just want to do something else." I said and I saw Livia sigh as she nodded in agreement.

"So he is just coming to see you perform, that is a rather lame date." Livia said and I shook my head.

"I told him to bring a few friends to go see the show and then afterwards I will give them a tour of the backstage area and then Jesse and I are going out to dinner." I stated as a huge smile broke out across Livia's face.

"So do you like him?" She asked and I shrugged.

"I don't know, as of right now we are just friends." I stated and she nodded.

"So what happened at breakfast? There has to be more than what you are telling me." She said and I sighed remembering the phone call.

"Shelby called Jesse while we were at breakfast and for some reason I had a minor panic attack. Is that normal? I mean we tried to have a nice relationship before it's just that it always fell through..."

"Why don't you try to talk to her?" Livia asked and I shook my head.

"And say what? Hey Shelby I know that we have tried the whole relationship thing before but why not give it another shot? I just don't think that it is going to work out and I am tired of getting my hopes up."

"Well if you do decide to give it a shot just remember that the only person who can let someone hurt you is yourself."

"Thank you all wise and knowing Livia." I joked and Livia threw her pillow at me.

"Speaking of me being wise and knowing did you hear about the play that Rodger has been workshopping the past few years?"

"No, nothing other than that he was willing to let me read through it which I have and I am like in love with it, why?" I asked as Livia livened up with talk of her fiance.

"It's coming to broadway!" She said in sheer excitement and I shared a smile with her.

"That is great! When did he find out?" I asked as she tried to calm herself down a little.

"Last night was when he got the official word. He was meeting with a few people interested in directing the play for him and then he is going to start with the auditions. I am so excited for him." She said as she turned her hand over and started to play with the ring that was on her finger.

"I am excited for him too. That is wonderful." I stated and she looked up at me.

"He wanted me to ask you something." Livia said and I cocked my head to the side.

"What?" I asked not sure if I was going to like where this was going.

"Well I know that you wanted a bit of a break which was why you were leaving the show after a little over a year..."

"It's not just that, I just want to see what else is out there. I mean I have been working on this one show for years now and it's not that I don't love it I just want to see what else is out there." I stated and she nodded.

"Rodger wanted to know if you would be interested in playing the lead in his play. I know that you want to try other shows like Wicked and what not but come on it would mean so much to him and with a name like yours..."

"Livia I would love to. You and Rodger are like my family and if he wants me to do it then I am going to do it for him, at least until the show is off the ground." I stated and Livia pulled me into a hug.

"You have no idea how much this is going to mean to him, or me. You just made my day Berry." She stated and I laughed.

"So when do we have to be there tonight?" I asked as she pulled away and she smiled.

"Three pm."

"What time is it now?" I asked and she looked over at her clock.

"Eleven." She said and I sighed.

"So what are we going to do until then?" I asked and she smiled.

"Let's go shopping!" She stated and I laughed as she quickly got out of bed and changed and then threw her purse to me as I got off the bed and we made our way down to the streets.

We didn't really buy anything we were more of just looking and talking and before we knew it we were heading towards the theater to get ready for the show. It took about two hours to finish with hair and make up and I was heading towards wardrobe when I got a text from Jesse.

Can't wait for tonight, I am bringing two guest with me if that is alright.

-Jesse

I smiled and then quickly sent a response.

That is great the tickets will be at the will call box under the name St. James. Have fun and I will see you after the show.

-Rach

I put my phone back into my pocket and then grabbed my costume and changed before I made my way over to the piano to warm up after I gave the tickets to Timmy to get them to Jesse.

The show went wonderfully and I was just excited when it was over and I went with the rest of the cast to the back door to sign autographs.

"Well Ms. Berry you were wonderful tonight!" I turned and saw Rodger and smiled.

"Thank you, but I am sure that Livia would rather you be telling her that she was wonderful." I said as I signed another autograph for a little girl.

"I am making my way over there but I just wanted to see if what she told me was the truth." He stated and I looked at him and smiled.

"Of course it is the truth, I would love to do your show." I said and he pulled me into a hug.

"You have no idea what this means to me." He said like Livia did earlier.

"I am happy to do it." I said as he pulled away.

"Well I should go talk to Livia." He said as he started to move away.

"That you should." I stated as I caught a glimpse of Jesse over to the side.

I waited until the crowd died down a little bit and then I made my way over to where Jesse was leaning against the wall.

"Where are your guest?" I asked and he shrugged.

"I thought that I should talk to you before I introduced you to them." He stated and I gave him a look.

"Why are you afraid that I will like them more than you?" I joked and he sighed.

"Beth found out where I was going..."

"Let me guess the other person would be..."

"Rachel, it's good to see you."

A/n: SothisisanewstorythatIamwritingbecauseithasbeenfloatingaroundmyheadforawhilenow.ReviewswouldbegreatbutthenagainIhavenoideahowpeoplearegoingtofeelaboutthisstory,itshouldbeinteresting!SoletmeknowwhatyouthinkbecausethiscouldbegreatorcrapbuteitherwayIwouldlovetoknowwhatyouthink!

-Katie!