A/N: This has been on my mind since Laryngitis, maybe because I really missed Jesse, and because I think about him all the time anyway. As stupid as this sounds, this was actually so hard to write. I constantly had "Hello" on repeat and I now have a new idea for another fic. So, yeah, I just wanted to get this out of the way first. Sorry, sorry, I'm rambling.

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee. Shocking, I know.

I.

Jesse is seventeen when Shelby calls him into her office.

She seemed distracted during rehearsals which is odd, he thinks, considering that Regionals is fast approaching. Although in the back of his mind, Jesse knows that nothing good is going to come out of talking with his vocal coach, his curiosity gets the better of him and he walks into her office anyway and settles himself on one of the chairs in front of her desk. Shelby sits down and fixes a few papers on her desk before she laces her fingers together and looks at him.

"So," she begins, "What's up?"

Jesse looks at her incredulously and sits up straighter. "Excuse me?"

Shelby sighs and puts her hands down onto her table. "Right. I'll cut to the chase. I need you to do something for me."

"Of course you do," he says, grinning, "What is it this time?"

She takes a deep breath and says really quickly, but still managing to emphasize her words perfectly, "I need you to befriend my daughter."

Jesse's eyes grow big and he leans forward. "You need me to befriend who?" He actually starts laughing but stops when he sees the pained look on her face. He even has the grace to look apologetic. "Explain."

"Her name is Rachel Berry, she studies at McKinley, and she's a member of her high school glee club."

"I've heard of her," Jesse says. When he's bored, he goes through chat blogs to check out their competition. The name Rachel Berry came up a lot in one of the online groups and he was even actually able to watch a (badly taken) video of her singing during their Sectionals. Intrigued, he also took it upon himself to watch a few of her myspace videos. "She's good. Only decent one in their club. Could use some work, though."

"I know. I saw her at Sectionals. The others don't even compare. Her talent is wasted there."

"Is that why you want me to befriend her," he asks, "so that I can bring her over here and she can join Vocal Adrenaline?"

"No, but I definitely wouldn't mind her transferring here," she explains.

"Then what is it?"

"It's just that, ever since I saw her perform at Sectionals, I can't bring myself stop thinking about her," she says somberly. "When she walked out from behind that curtain, it's like she demanded attention." She's looking somewhere behind him, as if reliving the moment again in her head. "She's me. And I can't help but think that I miss her." She chuckles sadly before she continues, "I know, you must think I'm pretty stupid for missing something I never even really had."

Jesse shakes his head sympathetically and Shelby looks at him gratefully before she continues. "I want to get to know her, that's all. So, will you do this for me?"

Jesse is silent for a moment, weighing out the pros and cons in his head before he looks up at her and asks, "What about Regionals?"

"What about Regionals?"

"Don't you think that this'll affect my performance during the day? I mean, she is your daughter."

She grins at him and says, "I know you, Jesse. I know how well you work."

He can't argue with that, so he nods his head and she dismisses him soon afterward.

When he does finally meet Shelby's daughter, their chemistry is so undeniable that it takes him off guard. She stuns him even more when she sings and he can't help but marvel at how well their voices sound together. So he doesn't even hesitate when he asks her out, and he's actually quite glad that she accepts his offer.

As far as first dates go, theirs is quite the experience. He takes her out to a restaurant, nothing too fancy, and she comes in a pink blouse and a purple mini skirt; he can't help but smile at how endearing her unusual taste in clothes is. He greets her warmly and leads her to the table. After they both order, he looks at her and notices that she's pressing her lips tightly together; he laughs. "What's wrong with your lips?"

She looks at him questioningly and he adds, "Why are you pressing them together like that?"

"Oh," her cheeks turn red and she opens and closes her mouth a couple of times before she answers. "I tend to over talk when I'm nervous. I ramble, really, and most of the time nobody gets what the hell I'm talking about so basically, I just waste my spit," her eyes bulge then, as she realizes what has just come out of her mouth. "Oh my god, I can't believe I just talked about my spit. Like I said, I ramble. You can stop me whenever you like. And I mean really, please just stop me."

Jesse chuckles again. "You're nervous?"

Rachel's cheeks turn a deeper shade of red. "Oh, it's not you, or not completely you. I mean, being in your presence does have its effect on me. You have won the national title three years running, but you know, it's the whole thing about it being the first date as well. Like I said, it's not just you."

He laughs for what feels like the hundredth time that night and he mentally adds this to the things he's starting to like about her. She's funny. She definitely did not inherit that quality from Shelby, he notes, then he takes her hands in his. "If it helps, I'm nervous, too."

"No you're not," she argues, "You told me in the music store that you don't get nervous, remember?"

"That's different," he points out, "It's not every day that a pretty girl goes out to dinner with me." And even though he's said that line to more than a fair number of girls, he feels an odd sense of satisfaction when he sees the corners of her lips twitch, right before she rolls her eyes and laughs.

"That was lame," she says.

"You liked it anyway," he teases. The look on her face confirms it.

Their food arrives shortly after and after some convincing, she initiates a lengthy discussion about her favorite musicals, most of which include Barbra Streisand. Another thing to add to the things he likes about her, she has good taste. They both don't notice how quickly time passes by and he thinks later that it's because of how easily they can talk about things. So it is with disappointment that he says that they better start getting ready to leave. She looks at her watch and she agrees. When the bill arrives and she offers to pay for her half, he adamantly refuses and says it's the least he can do to repay her for such a wonderful evening. He doesn't miss the blush spread across her cheeks the moment he says it.

The ride home is just as interesting as their time at the restaurant. She highly approves of his taste in music, and they sing show tunes the whole ride to her house. When they arrive, he walks her to the front door.

"Thank you again for going out with me," he says when they reach her front porch. "I had a wonderful time."

"I did, too," she says and she smiles up at him. "I can't believe how well that went, to be honest."

"Why not?"

"It's just that, I've never really been on a lot of these things before. Dates I mean, and I just—thank you for making this evening so memorable."

"Oh, but—," he can't continue with what he was saying because she's pressing her lips together again and he finds it impossible not to laugh, "You're trying to stop from talking too much again, aren't you?"

She nods.

"If it helps," he says, as he moves closer to her, "I don't think you talk too much." He is honestly, honestly, just as surprised as she is when he leans down to peck her on the lips. His smile grows wider when he sees that she has a dazed look on her face. "I'll call you," he says before he turns away and walks towards his car. He gets in, looks at her and sees her waving at him, her dazed expression replaced by a huge smile and he waves back and winks at her before he drives away.

He's grinning madly as he recounts the date to Shelby and she eyes him cautiously. "So, you had fun?" she asks.

Jesse's smile disappears when he says, "Sure."

Shelby sharply reminds him that this is supposed to be all business. He says that he knows what this is supposed to be and that she should stop complaining, as he is only doing her a favor. So she sighs deeply before she chucks him out of her office.

As his and Rachel's relationship progresses, his reports to Shelby become less and less frequent. He tells himself that it's only because it slips his mind—he does have his studies to work on and maintaining a relationship with such a high maintenance girl like Rachel is already taking up most of his time—but he realizes over time that it's really because he actually might be starting to like her. (And the fact that they have to sneak around and have secret clandestine meetings? He likes that too. In fact, he thinks it's kinda hot.)

He finally brings himself to report back to Shelby though, when he finds out just how loyal she is to her little glee club. "She can't fully bring herself to open up to me," he tells her one afternoon, "She cares too much about what that club thinks about her, so I highly doubt that I'll get anything else out of her, much less that she'll actually consider transferring to Carmel."

"What?" Shelby says outraged, "How does she manage being part of something like that?"

Jesse shrugs. Although he'll never tell Shelby this, he finds it quite admirable that she's so loyal. It is nice to know that Rachel Berry is someone that he can trust, even though he can't really say the same for himself right now.

It surprises him when Shelby suggests he move to McKinley, and even more so when he only hesitates for a few seconds before he says yes. He tells himself it's because he's Jesse St. James, and that he always gives one hundred percent in everything that he does, but that look that Shelby gives him after he agrees makes him think otherwise.

Shelby jokingly makes him promise not to get too attached, but the longer he stays at McKinley, the more he sees why Rachel is so loyal to the club. They've got heart, and that's what Rachel is all about; Heart.

Although they continue their relationship, jumping a few hurdles along the way (he still takes the Run Joey Run debacle personally, and she is still irked that he left to go to San Diego without properly telling her), Jesse only realizes how much he cares for her when it dawns on him how easily he can lose her.

He has his epiphany when Rachel calls him one night, tells him that her dads aren't home again and asks him if it's okay for him to come over. He drives to her house and sees her sprawled on her bed, songs from the Wicked soundtrack blasting from her speakers. He joins her on the bed and she moves closer to him.

"I met up with Shelby again today," she says.

"Oh?" he asks as he wraps his arms around her.

"Yeah," she answers, "She said that now probably wasn't the right time to reestablish our relationship. Basically, we said goodbye for now."

"You can't be serious." He honestly cannot believe that Shelby simply brushed off her daughter like that, especially considering how hard they have worked just to get Rachel to come to her. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay. I mean, I'm a bit disappointed. But it was weird, you know, how I was so sad when she told me that. But I couldn't bring myself to come up and hug her, and let her tell me that things are going to be okay, like a regular Mom." He hears her sniff and feels his shirt start getting wet. He tightens his grip on her. "That's kinda why I called you. I'm sorry, I know it's late."

"There's no need for you to apologize." He looks down to see her looking at him and he places a kiss on her forehead. "Everything's going to be okay, Rachel," he whispers, "Everything's going to be okay."

"What's she like?" she asks tentatively, "I mean what's she really like? I already know that we both have a passion for performing and that we're both driven. But what else?"

"She's harder to read," he says thoughtfully. "She's kinda hard, I guess. Her face doesn't show as much emotion as yours does. Except of course, when she's performing. But other than that, it's like she's got a mask on all the time." He feels this irrational sense of fear that she might turn up like that one day so he says, "Don't, don't be like that, okay?" He feels her nod her head.

"I love this song," Rachel says when As Long as You're Mine starts playing. "... I need help believing, you're here tonight. My wildest dreamings could not foresee, lying beside you with you wanting me." She continues to sing the chorus and he sings the next verse and before the song is over he realizes how well it applies to their current situation; he realizes that the mission is done, that he is done and that Shelby will probably phone him soon and tell him to return to Carmel.

This is probably the last time it'll be like this, Jesse thinks as the song finishes. "Can I stay the night?" he asks.

"I was hoping you would."

Jesse sighs contentedly and kisses her goodnight. She falls asleep soon after, but he lay awake, watching her sleep, trying to take in every single detail about her that he could, making every last moment last because he knows that it will all go downhill from here.

He gets the call from Shelby two days later and he gives her one final show before leaving her in the dust.

(He's pretty sure that the look that she gives him at the end of their number will haunt him forever.)

&.&.&

Jesse is nineteen when he sees her again.

He's in his favorite coffee shop one summer morning, sitting on one of the couches and reading a magazine when he hears the door open. His heart almost stops when he sees her standing at the foot of the door as if surveying the place. He watches as she nods her head approvingly before she marches up to the counter. He notices that his heart starts beating again, only thrice as fast as normal, and he finally goes up to her when she gets her drink.

"Rachel Berry," he says and he wonders where the hell the confidence in his voice came from.

"Jesse?" she looks up at him, surprise evident in her voice.

"Do you want to sit with me?" He doesn't wait for her answer before he walks back to his table, and he's glad that she follows and takes the seat across him. "I can't believe you're here. In L.A."

"Yeah," she answers, not looking at him. She sets her coffee down on the table and bites her bottom lip nervously.

"Why are you here?"

"Daddy and I moved here last month."

"Just you two? What about your Dad?"

"He left."

He is about to ask what she means by that, but the look on her face makes it perfectly clear. At first he thinks she's joking. Although he had only met Rachel's Dads a couple of times when they were going out, neither of them seemed like the type to just get up and leave. "You're kidding, right?"

"This isn't a joking matter, Jesse." She picks up her cup of coffee and takes a sip.

"No, it's not, of course it isn't," he runs a hand through his hair nervously, "I'm sorry, Rachel."

She nods.

"How are you feeling?" A sudden sense of nostalgia kicks in, but he's not quite sure why.

"Doing better. Trying to accept the fact that life's a bitch."

He chuckles despite himself. "Watch your language, Rachel."

She eyes him suspiciously before she checks her watch and stands. "I really must be going now."

Jesse remains seated. "Okay. Send my regards to your Daddy.

"Okay." She grabs her cup and starts to walk away.

"It was really nice to see you again, Rachel," he says sincerely.

She sighs heavily before she turns to look at him. "Yeah, sure." She practically runs out the door.

He thinks that that will be the last time they will see each other for a long time, so he's absolutely shocked when he sees her not even a month later, in his campus no less.

"Are you following me or something?" he asks when he comes up to her.

She blushes. "No, of course not," she takes a deep breath before she continues, "I study here now."

"Well, that's a surprise," he says, smirking.

"Daddy insisted," she says, clearly irritated. "Trust me though, if I had any say in the matter, I definitely wouldn't have chosen this school."

"Why not? It's great here." He gestures around for emphasis.

"I'm sure it is."

"What's the matter, Rachel? You still mad at me?" His tone is playful, but he's actually very nervous about her answer.

She looks away from him and shrugs.

He winces, but other than that, makes no show that her words had affected him. "Do you have anyone who can show you around?"

She shakes her head.

"Well, how about I show you around?"

She starts spitting out numerous futile excuses but he silences her by putting his hand on her shoulder. She looks at it with something close to disgust but doesn't shrug it off. "Rachel, I'm just offering to show you around," he insists, "There's nothing wrong with that. And you don't have any other choice."

She bites her lip and he can practically hear the gears moving in her brain. She takes a deep breath before she looks at him and says, "Okay. You can show me around if you want to."

He spends most of the day doing just that, although he can tell that Rachel is more than a little uncomfortable. She's always careful not to get too close; makes sure that they're far enough apart so that their arms don't accidentally touch. She's resigned to giving him one-sentence answers which is a huge contrast to the Rachel Berry he used to know. It is quite obvious that she isn't as happy to see him as he is to see her. But Jesse is persistent, always has been, and he follows her around during her first week to show her where to go, what to do, and who to avoid.

Slowly, he can see that he's breaking down her defenses; the corners of her lips twitch when he makes a sarcastic comment, which is as close to a smile as he can get; her sentences are longer now and more prominent; and she loses more and more interest for her shoes and actually starts looking at him when he talks to her. But when he starts to think that he's making progress, he'll see her wince when he walks up to her, and her almost-smiles never do reach her eyes.

He wonders if things will ever be easy between them.

A/N2: And it is done! Thank you God! I honestly didn't think that it'd be this long. The length of the different chapters will probably vary but I've pretty much got the whole thing worked out.

Okay, just to clear things up: Whenever I hear As Long as You're Mine, I can't help but think of these two. It makes sense, doesn't it?

And in case you didn't get it, Jesse's last performance was Another One Bites the Dust. (I have this on repeat, too.) That scene breaks my heart, it really does.

Thank you for reading up to this point. Please do leave me a review. :)