This is my first attempt at St. Berry fanfiction. don't worry, I am not lost, with having Rachel & Finn be married. things will change with that :) if you are not familiar with "Postcard From Paris" by The Band Perry. I recommend it. Also, I hope that there isn't too much of a kerfuffle with the Rent changes, at some point the theater will take a backseat, because I'm not too comfortable fiddling around with Rent. (if it ain't broke, don't fix it). This was originally supposed to be a one-shot, but i figured out how to tie it into something else i was working on (another St. Berry story) and this one refused to work the way i wanted it too.
Rated: T (rating may change)
Do not own Glee or Rent. No profit is being made.
You're like a postcard from Paris, when I've seen the real thing.
Rachel Hudson (née Berry) was getting out of rehearsal for the Rent revival where she was playing Joanne. She was very much like her straight laced serious character, although a new twist on the character was that Rachel was white, Joanne was usually played by an African-American actress, but the director was really looking to put his own spin on the show, so the ethnicities of Maureen and Joanne had been swapped. There weren't really any other significant differences. But Rachel was thrilled to be playing Joanne, while it wasn't exactly the character she desired, she had auditioned for Maureen, but while auditioning, the pianist had accidentally skipped a verse, and Rachel had demanded that he go back, and that she be allowed to start over. Normally such audacity wouldn't be tolerated, but Rachel supposes that Andrew, her director and the casting people were having a good day when she auditioned, and consequently gave her a character similar to her regular personality. The huge difference between her and Joanne was the sexuality. Rachel was not a lesbian, and she was having more difficulty acting the part than she had planned. She hated being bad at something (especially acting), and being reprimanded vehemently by the director on the 2nd day of rehearsals was humiliating, and all Rachel wanted to do was have a large gin and tonic and spend some time with her husband, Finn.
The director had some notes for her and the actress playing Maureen, a lovely woman with named Ashleigh, who was really the most striking woman Rachel had met so far, she had an elegance that reminded her of Quinn Fabray, but her coloring was much different, Ashleigh was darker, more ethnic. Her hair was clipped into a pixie style, and from close up examination, showed the signs of an inexperienced stylist and brown eyes. They were too tense with each other, Andrew told them, he wanted them to spend more time together and really figure out something to make their on-stage relationship pop and make the emotions seem genuine.
The two women were taking off their stage makeup in the large bathroom. "Ashleigh, can we get together and practice out of rehearsal?" she asked, "I mean, only if you want to, but I think it would be helpful to both of us. And Andrew wouldn't complain so much. I mean this needs to go well! I need this show to go well so that I can progress further in my career!" Rachel was babbling, Ashleigh took a finger and placed it on Rachel's lips.
"Yes of course, lady" Ashleigh laughed good naturedly. "I'm meeting Finn for a late dinner, you and Joe want to come with?" Rachel asks. "It would let us spend some quality time and then I figure that everything will come easier after that."
"For sure," Ashleigh tells her, "let me see if Jo wants to." her co-star pulls a cell phone from her pocket and calls her boyfriend. A couple minutes later, Joe has agreed to meet Rachel and Ashleigh at the restaurant.
Rachel shoots a text to Finn to let him know that she is on the way to the restaurant and she is bringing a co-star and her boyfriend along.
At the restaurant, they sit at the bar, because Rachel knows Finn will want to keep tabs on the game. She thinks its football season, although it might be baseball. She has tried to be interested in sports for years, but Rachel just can't summon up the care to think about football. Plus, she finds baseball to be mind-numbingly boring. Rachel and Ashleigh are sitting at the bar. Rachel has a gin and tonic, Ashleigh is drinking a beer. Finn arrives, Rachel introduces him to Ashleigh, who smiles.
"Jo is running late, like always." Ashleigh laughs.
They begin to chat politely. Ashleigh asks Finn what he does for work, Finn answers with a convoluted story about freelance sports photography, and a desire to coach a high school team or something. They are interrupted by a woman with green eyes and black curly hair that is mussed from a long run. "Hey baby," she says. Ashleigh stands and gives the woman a kiss. "Rachel, this is Jo." At Rachel's aghast expression, Ashleigh adds "short for Josephine. Sorry I didn't tell you. I wasn't sure how you would react."
"Ashleigh, two things, I'm playing Joanne - one of the most well known lesbian characters in the theater world! And I have two gay dads." Rachel laughs. "Jo, its so good to meet you! This is my husband Finn."
"Nice to meet you." Finn says politely. Then he looks at his wife, "Oh Rachel, Kurt called me today, he and Blaine say hello. They also want to know when your show is opening, they want to come to the first night."
"Oh, opening night is August 15th." Jo pipes up, cheerily. Rachel agrees, smiling at Jo. "Ok, I'll pass that back to Kurt." Finn says, while looking at his phone.
"I'll do it. I haven't talked to Kurt in ages. I miss him." Kurt and Blaine are in London, while Kurt performs on the West End circuit.
A few drinks, some food and a few too many zany stories later, the couples are parting as though they have known each other forever. "See you tomorrow, Ashleigh. It was so good to meet you, Jo!" Rachel gushes. She's had a little too much to drink. Finn practically has to carry Rachel back to their apartment.
Once they are inside, Rachel kicks off her jeans and climbs into their bed.
"We've been married for a few years now, have we ever talked about babies? I saw one on the way home from the bar." Rachel says smiling, and slurring a little bit.
"No, we haven't, you've said that you want to be an established Broadway actress first, and then we would consider kids." Finn replies hesitantly, he does want kids, maybe? Although they are only twenty-five years old, occasionally Finn still likes to go out and have fun, he's not sure if kids would be a good idea right away.
"Well, I'm playing JOANNE, in a vaguely shitty off-Broadway theater, but it's a start! So, I was thinking that maybe we should have one!" Rachel says.
"Rach, I would love to have a baby, but I think maybe we should talk about this later, when you're less drunk." Finn says, mildly. But Rachel, the determined girl with an idea, that wouldn't let go easily, after all, she had spent a solid year trying to get him back, their junior year, Rachel was stubborn. And she had just now decided she wanted to talk about having kids. "Yes, yes, we will talk tomorrow!" Rachel agrees with that, and she stretches her arms out over her head, feels the mattress sag under Finn's added weight, and drifts off to sleep.
please review! let me know if you want me to continue! :)