Disclaimer: I don't own Glee. If I did, Jesse St. James would be loving it up with Rachel in New York for season 4 instead of this Brody character. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the guy means well but... Seriously? St. Berry. St. Berry. I don't understand what part of that RIB doesn't understand. Haha. Anyways, I just wanted to thank all my faithful followers for At The Beginning. This sequel is for you guys! I love you all and I hope you enjoy the first chapter! :D

"How are they?" Rachel asked, standing up quickly and walking halfway through the hospital waiting room toward Jesse. His head was low and his eyes were red.

"They're both in surgery right now. The nurses don't know anything yet."

"Oh, Jesse..." Rachel wrapped her arms around him, trying her hardest to comfort him. She felt guilty- not for almost sleeping with Jesse- but for distracting him when he could've gotten the call so much sooner. His uncle had to call Rachel's cell because Jesse had left his downstairs. "I'm so, so sorry." she whispered.

Jesse buried his face in her neck. "It's not your fault any of this happened, Rachel."

"Tell me what I can do." she said.

He smiled small. "Be here with me."

Rachel sighed, closing her eyes and hugging him tighter. "Always."

"...Up here, come on. Focus!" Jacob Ben Israel commanded like a wimp, holding up a big sign. The halls of McKinley High were filled with returning students and fresh meat. It was, to say the least, a buffet for new reputations and new rumors. "Hello, there. This is a video over any Glee club dish that you're dying to know!" He held up a thumbs up before walking to find his first victim.

"Rachel, tell us your opinion on the rumor about how incredibly difficult it is to work with you."

The brunette rolled her eyes. "I resent that rumor- I'm fairly easy to work with- right, Kurt?"

Kurt's eyes widened. "Well, as her best-friend I can answer that: yes."

"Kurt!" Rachel exclaimed.

"Enough of that! Tell us about your big gay summer!" Jacob asserted.

Kurt gave him a bland look and stared straight into the camera. "I find that phrase highly offensive and I refuse to answer your stupid question, Jacob Ben Israel."

Rachel shook her head. "Although I agree with Kurt on that note, I've got to clear up the rumor that Jesse and I broke up- we did not. We've been dating all summer." she smiled big.

"Will Schuester, how do you respond to a recent post on my blog saying that your glee club song selection sound like they come from a drag queen's iPod?"

Mr. Schuester looked at him with a questionable look. "Well, I try to do something for everybody. 25 percent of show tunes, 25 percent hip-hop, 25 percent classic rock-"

Jacob turned to the camera. "And a hundred percent gay."

"Confirm or deny the rumor that, because you knocked up Quinn Fabray last year, you spent all your pool cleaning money on a Vasectomy."

Puck sighed and placed down his deodorant. "That's not true. But, I will tell you that I'll be more responsible in the future."

"Okay. Is it true that you're suffering from a crippling depression because you're now trapped in a relationship with Ms. Fabray and a bastard baby?"

Puck's eyes squinted and his fist came into contact with the camera guy.

"How has your life changed since the birth of your bastard child?"

Quinn turned slowly from closing her locker. "Say that again about my daughter and you'll be tasting my foot up your ass." she let out a deep breath and shook her head. "But, aside from that, it's been good. I'm happy to be back and I'm a lot less hormonal so there's not any crying."

Jacob didn't pay much attention to Quinn. "How was your summer?" His eyes drifted to Santana's chest and the Latina scoffed.

"My eyes are up here, Jew-Fro and it was uneventful."

Brittany leaned forward a bit, "People thought I was on vacation but really I spent my summer lost in the sewers..."

"What can you say about the rumor that you two are dating?"

"Because we're both Asian? That's racist!" Tina scolded.

Mike nodded. "Totally racist."

The camera guy managed to capture their hands searching for each other just as Artie rounded the corner, looking rather upset.

"Did you know that there's a forum on my blog of students begging you to stop rapping?"

Mr. Schue's smile faded. "Kids don't like it when I rap?"

"Hey, how are you holding up?" Rachel asked over the phone.

"I've been better. My mom's doctor says that she's recovering just fine." Jesse sighed through the speaker. He dodged a student walking by and rolled his eyes. The UCLA cafeteria was packed today.

"Thank God." Rachel said.

"How's your first day of school, anyway?" Jesse asked.

Rachel sighed into her phone, running a hand through her hair. "Aside from being stalked by Jacob Ben Israel, it's been okay. Nobody has slushied me yet so today is a good day."

"Good because if somebody slushied you I'd have to kill them."

"And if you keep up this overprotective persona I might just suffocate myself." Rachel joked as the bell rang. "I gotta go."

"I love you," Jesse said.

Rachel smiled. "I love you too."

"We get it Mr. Schue, everybody still hates us." Kurt said. "So we're plankton on the high school food chain. Who cares?"

"Kurt's right, Mr. Schue." Mercedes said. "We're family now and it doesn't matter what other people think."

"I'm really happy that you guys have all bonded but the problem is that all this negative stuff is keeping other students from auditioning."

"Good. Why do we need more members?"

"Well, since Matt transferred we only have eleven members. And if we want to go to Nationals, if we want to beat Vocal Adrenaline- we have to from a small rebel force to a giant wall of sound."

Rachel nodded. "Yeah, Mr. Schuester is right, you guys. You didn't see Vocal Adrenaline at Regionals, they were epic."

But that might've been because of Jesse. Rachel added silently.

"We're going to need more voices if we're going to beat them."

Finn shot up from his chair, walking to stand next to Rachel. "I'm with Rachel."

"Ew." Brittany whispered.

Finn let his hand wander to Rachel's waist and she immediately froze before stepping aside, causing his hand to drop.

"I like your enthusiasm guys. Nationals is in New York this year and we are going." Mr. Schuester said, nodding.

There were inputs of excitement and Rachel sighed, liking the fact that, despite all the drama from last year, things were starting to look good for this time around. And this was her Junior year of high school. This year and the next were the times to make a difference- to start and make all her dreams come true. So Jesse wouldn't be by her side physically but she was determined to make it the best of the current situation.

This year. This is year I'm focusing on my path to stardom. It's my time to shine even brighter than before.

"You performed 'Empire State of Mind'?" Jesse repeated.

Rachel chuckled. "It didn't have any effect. What else could you expect from McKinley?"

"Well, I think you already know my distaste about that school," he commented. "Which, if I might add, I will never understand. Why don't you just transfer?"

"Because A.) Vocal Adrenaline is led by my birth mother and it's full of jerks who think they're too good for anything else. B.)Where would I transfer to and C.) I really think New Directions could go to Nationals this year as long as we stay focused. There was just too much drama last year what with Quinn's baby, the Finn situation and let's not forget the fact that most of the team hated your guts."

"How could I forget? Don't they still hate me because you lost Regionals?"

"Yes- Yes they do," Rachel giggled.

"So, where are you now?" Jesse questioned, throwing his bag on his bed. He'd gotten a single room so he wouldn't have to worry about roommates.

Rachel bit her lip. "I'm at home... In bed."

"Oh?" he asked incredulously. "Are you getting ready to sleep?"

"Yes... But it's really warm in here so I'm sleeping in my cami and booty shorts."

Jesse swallowed. "Are you, now?"

"Yes; but do you know what would make it better?"

"Hmm?"

Rachel smiled, "If you were here with me. I miss you."

Jesse sat on the edge of his own bed, staring at nothing in particular. "I miss you too. Did you guys manage to recruit anybody with singing in the courtyard?"

Rachel rolled her eyes. "No. Nobody has signed up yet but I did catch one girl looking a bit interested. I'm planning to hunt her down tomorrow and get her to audition. I told them we needed more voices if we were going to even make it past Regionals."

"Believe me, Rachel. With you leading that team, they're bound to make it to Nationals." he licked his lips. "Which I heard were in New York this year."

"I know!" Rachel squeaked. "I can't wait for it. Ugh, I need New York, Jesse. I crave it."

"I know you do, it's all you ever talk about."

"Does that make me self-centered?" Rachel asked on a less lighter note. "To talk about my ambitions like that?"

Jesse thought for a moment. "I think that talking about it makes you more determined. Sometimes others might not understand your habits but coming from a person who thinks just the same, I understand. So, no. It doesn't make you self- centered. Just very ambitious."

"How do you do that?"

"Do what?" he asked.

Rachel blinked. "How do you always manage to make me feel better?"

"Well, I'm not sure, Rachel. Can you answer if I ask the same thing?"

"Not sure if I could, actually." she smiled. "It's getting pretty late over here. I'll talk to you tomorrow?"

"Okay. Goodnight, Rach."

"Night, Jesse."

Rachel was currently hanging up sign- up sheets in the girls bathroom when the person of interest walked in: Sunshine Corazon. Otherwise known as the girl who seemed interested in joining glee club.

"Hello there. I couldn't help but see you admire me the other day in the courtyard and I was wondering maybe you wanted to join glee?"

Sunshine's eyebrows knitted together as she took out her ear-buds. "I'm sorry, what?"

Rachel blinked. "Oh, you don't speak English. Okay... Um, You like me sing. You like me sing very much."

"Um... I totally speak English..." Sunshine mumbled but Rachel passed it off.

"I even did a little research on you, you're a foreign exchange student named Sunshine Corazon because you're from the Philippines where it's sunny everyday-"

"Except for the monsoons."

"Listen, Sunshine." Rachel stated, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. "We need chorus members. People to stand behind me and stare at me with moved wet eyes as I sing my solos. So, I encourage you to audition for glee club. Glee club is fun. Swaying in background can be fun." she made her voice sound as if she were talking to a kindergartener. It was downright offensive to Sunshine. Well, that and a bit funny to witness.

"Okay." Sunshine said. "Thank you."

Rachel smiled and patted her shoulder, moving to go hang up more posters. And that's where it all went downhill.

Hello, hello, baby

You called, I can't hear a thing

I have got no service

In the club, you see, see

Rachel slowly stood up, her heart beating faster as Sunshine's voice. It was good. Too good.

Wha-Wha-What did you say?

Oh, you're breaking up on me

Sorry, I cannot hear you

I'm kinda busy

In fact, it was so good that the only thing Rachel could think about was how Sunshine posed as a threat to her solos. Her stardom. Her moments.

K-kinda busy

Rachel interjected out loud with her diva side taking over.

K-kinda busy

Sunshine reiterated cautiously.

Sorry, I cannot hear you, I'm kinda busy

Rachel moved swiftly toward where the girl was standing, moving beside her and looking at herself in the mirror as she attempted to scare the girl away with her talent.

Just a second

It's my favorite song they're gonna play

And I cannot text you with a drink in my hand, eh

You should've made some plans with me

You knew that I was free

And now you wont stop calling me

I'm kinda busy

It failed; Sunshine looked like she was having a blast at tormenting Rachel. Okay, so that was a bit too dramatic but that was how it felt- Rachel was feeling overly threatened at this girl taking the spotlight.

Stop callin', stop callin'

I don't wanna think anymore

Sunshine was smiling. Smiling at this impromptu sing- off. Rachel was trying her best to intimidate her but nothing was working.

I left my head and my heart on the dance floor

Stop callin', stop callin'

I don't wanna talk anymore

I left my head and my heart on the dance floor

They broke from moving in circles and Rachel moved away from the girl. This whole intimidation thing was definitely not working.

Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh

Stop telephonin' me!

Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh

I'm busy-

Sunshine stopped abruptly as Coach Sylvester walked in, angry. "Shut up!" The girls stood there awkwardly as she left and Rachel sighed.

"That was fun. I'd love to join your club! When are auditions?"

Rachel gulped. Way to go, Berry. "Let me get back to you, okay?"

Sunshine nodded and Rachel quickly walked out of the restroom, feeling angry that whenever she tried to do something good it ended up biting her in the ass.

"So, is that a men's sweater...?" Mercedes questioned to Kurt as he finished his run on the piano.

"Fashion has no gender." he answered.

Rachel walked in and quickly shut the top of the piano keys, causing the duo to jump slightly.

"Ladies, we have a problem. There's a new student at this school named Sunshine Corazon who is a filipino and shorter than me. Which I didn't think was possible and is very unnerving."

"Okay... So... I'm going to go now." Mercedes said, jumping up from the bench.

Rachel stopped her. "Wait! And, she has a remarkable voice. I'm just- I'm very worried, is all. Not for myself but for my lesser teammates who don't get as many solos. So, I paid a hundred dollars to Azimio and Karofsky to brutally slushy us by her locker so that it'll scare her off and ensure that she doesn't sign up."

Kurt's mouth dropped wide open.

"That's awful!" Mercedes accused. "You're awful!"

"But... Solos. I mean, it's-"

Kurt shook his head. "Look, Rachel. Mercedes and I are about as self- involved as they come but more than anything, we want to beat Vocal Adrenaline. If there's someone at the school who can help us do that then they're in."

There was a moment of silence before Rachel nodded. "Okay, you guys have a point."

"Yes, we do." Kurt said.

"I'll go up to Sunshine right now and tell her to audition. It's the right thing to do. Even if she manages to take away all of our solos."

Kurt and Mercedes shared a worried look but said nothing as Rachel walked out.

"Do you think that she...?"

They both shook their heads in unison. "Nah."

"You're rejoining the Cheerios?" Puck asked slowly, putting Beth down in her crib. Since Beth's birth, Quinn had moved back in with her mother who, ironically, had divorced her father. Things were better between the two Fabray women. Having a baby seemed to have brought Quinn a whole lot closer to her mother... Who although hadn't completely warmed up to Puck yet, still allowed him to spend extra time at the house for Beth.

Quinn sighed. "Look, I know what you're thinking: it's a bad idea and it's full of jerks. But I missed out on being who I was last year because I got pregnant with Beth. These last two years are what really matter, Puck. I'm doing this."

Puck shrugged. "I guess if that's what you want then okay. I mean, I rejoined the football team so... I guess there's no foul, right?"

Quinn smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck and pecking his lips lightly. "Exactly."

So that's how she found herself wearing her old Cheerios uniform as she walked down the halls. She felt.. Good. Powerful and untouchable like she had before getting pregnant. She loved Beth, there was no doubt about that but she was still a teenager. She needed to live her life. Quinn could feel the eyes of the students on her, whispering about how she looked as if she'd never had a baby before.

It was amazing... Until Santana pushed her into the nearest locker. Automatically, she pushed the Latina back.

"You did this to me! You told Coach Sylvester about my summer surgery!" Santana accused.

Quinn rolled her eyes, "You get a surgery to remove your appendix, you got a boob job!"

"Yup, sure did!" Santana shouted, slapping Quinn across the face. She gasped, shaking her head.

"You can't hit me!"

Santana sneered, "Oh, sure I can! Unless you got yourself knocked up again, slut!"

Quinn screeched, shoving her. Santana grabbed her by her pony tail, throwing her down to the floor. And just as she was about launch again Mr. Schue interjected, pulling both girls apart.

"Enough!" he shouted. "What happened to all of us being a family?"

"Oh, please!" Santana said. "She has a family, she's a mother."

"Walk away!" Quinn shouted. "And tighten up your pony before you get to class!"

You know, if you do this you can't take it back. Rachel thought silently, typing a specific address into the computer. Results popped up and she nodded, picking one location and pressing the print icon. As she walked to retrieve her paper, she slowed down, her hand moving to her pocket to retrieve her phone. Her hand stopped short and she sighed. Do you really need to run everything by Jesse first? Be an independent woman, Rachel. She's threatening your stardom.

She picked up the paper and swallowed. It was now or never.

"Tell me this isn't true, Rachel." Mr. Schuester scolded.

"She could have died." Tina added.

Rachel rolled her eyes. "Look, I didn't send her to an active crack-house. Besides, how did you guys find out in the first place?"

"The Asian community is very tight." Mike explained.

Mr. Schuester let out a breath. "I just don't get it- you're better than this."

"No," Tina said. "She's an ambitious little freak who'll do anything to hold onto her power."

Rachel opened her mouth slightly then shut it again. She looked down, feeling shame wash through her.

Is that what they think of me? Is that all I am to them? A controlling freak who wants power?

"It's just that I love you guys so much... I didn't want anything to change." she stood up, smoothing out her skirt. "I was wrong.. Before. About wanting new members. It'll throw off the whole group dynamic." she licked her lips. "Tina. Mike. What if Sunshine can dance? Then your contributions to glee will be more insignificant than they already are now." there was a pause before she spoke again. "I did this for you guys."

Mr. Schue didn't look pleased. "Whatever your motivations, you need to make this right, Rachel."

Rachel ended up apologizing to Sunshine and begging her to audition for real this time. So that's how they found themselves sitting in the auditorium, waiting for her to start.

"Hi. I'm Sunshine Corazon and I'll be singing 'Listen' from the movie Dreamgirls."

"It was on Broadway first," Rachel added softly. She was shushed and she bit her lips.

Listen to the song here in my heart

A melody I start but can't complete

Rachel looked down. She felt like a monster for sabotaging Sunshine. Nobody had ever done that to her... She just didn't adapt well to change. A new person meant a new dynamic and it would be a while until she adapted to the change.

Listen to the sound from deep within

It's only beginning to find release

Jesse looked at his father's picture. He'd kept the family portrait despite his internal protesting. That night at the hospital was the first time in a long time since he'd seen his two siblings. They looked the way he felt- like a wreck. The sudden accident of their father seemed like a burden and a relief. He knew that was a horrible thing to say but the man was a monster. A devil in his own ways. As far as Jesse could tell, he'd never had any redeeming qualities.

Oh the time has come for my dreams to be heard

They will not be pushed aside and turned

Into your own, all 'cause you won't listen

The air was slightly chilly as Anne St. James stood in front of her father's gravestone. Her brother, Grant, had gone off back to Dalton. And she, against her mother's will, decided to stay in Akron with her uncle until her mother could find a house and a better job. After all, since her brother Jesse had gone off to UCLA, they had a spare room. Why? Because even though she now stared at her estranged father's resting place, she wanted to be closer to him. Even if he'd been a grade A alpha male douche bag.

Listen

I am alone at a crossroads

I'm not at home in my own home

And I've tried and tried

To say what's on my mind

You should have known oh

She hated her father. He'd cheated and lied to her mom. Granted, Anne's mother had been the other woman and of that affair, Anne and Grant were the result of it. Jesse, her half-brother who was three years older, seemed to gotten it the worst. He'd had to live with the jerk. But she wasn't sorry for it, Jesse seemed to be doing well because of it. But Anne.. She was lost. She had no idea where to go from this. In fact, the only think Jesse had told her before he left for California was to follow her ambitions.

Did Anne have ambitions? Yes. She wanted to sing. She wanted people to listen to her voice on the radio. After all, singing seemed to be the only escape.

Now I'm done believing you

You don't know what I'm feeling

I'm more than what

You've made of me

I followed the voice, you gave to me

But now I've gotta find my own

You should have listened

I don't know where I belong

But I'll be moving on

If you don't, if you won't

Rachel shouldn't have done what she did. It was wrong and as reluctant as she was to admit it, Jesse was her reasonable side. She couldn't really be without him. But how could she keep going day by day knowing he was so far away? What if he met somebody better than her? They'd talked about it before he left but that still didn't ease her mind. No matter what he said, she'd always be waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Listen to the song here in my heart

A melody I start, but I will complete

Oh now I am done believing you

You don't know not what I am feeling

I'm more than what you've made of me

I followed the voice you think you gave to me

Anne closed the front door to be greeted by her uncle.

"You ready to start you first day at Carmel tomorrow?"

She sighed, brushing back a lock of brown hair. "Can I ask you something?"

He nodded.

"I don't want to go to Carmel. Jesse advised me that there's a more.. accepting person at McKinley."

"McKinley? Jesse told us he despised that school because of their narrow-mindedness."

"Yeah, he mentioned that. But he also mentioned that there's somebody who might help me break out of my shell. His girlfriend, Rachel?"

Her uncle nodded. "Yes, he did mention that Rachel would be a junior this year. I suppose if that's what you really want, me and your aunt can drive you there tomorrow."

But now I got to find my own

My Own.

Not a lot of St. Berry, I know. Keep in mind that he's a thousand miles away from her right now and the only forms of communication will be technologically wise. No worries though, they won't be far apart forever. And as for Anne, Jesse's half- sister, I'm not sure yet if she'll be a permanent primary character or if I should just tell her story and get it over with. I feel as if she and Grant could add a lot more depth to the story and to Jesse's background rather than leaving him at the level he was in the previous story. I don't know. Could you guys end up liking or relating to this character? Let me know and review please!

-Fanatic4Fiction