I do not own Glee, only Maci.
x.
The bright lights of the stage hit her, brighter than the sun on the hottest day in the city. The theater is much too quiet aside from the shuffling papers from the seating below. Rachel rings her hands together anxiously awaiting to hear what they've got to say.
This would make her fourth audition in less than two weeks, this being the last of the bundle she had lined up.
One of the men on the right cleared his throat making her stomach churn with anticipation and eyes widen as she waits for him to continue.
"I think I can speak for everyone when I say that you have an amazing voice." The suited man spoke setting his papers down while looking at Rachel directly. She smiled, nodded and held in the breathe just in case anything was missed that he was saying. "You have a lovely presence about you as well."
Her heart fluttered at the different words this man was using to describe her talent.
"I'm just afraid..." He started and she let out a shaky breath. It was too good to be true,. Not letting it be shown Rachel smiled politely as she listened to the man rip her dreams from right under her As they dismissed Rachel she stalked off the stage watching as the next woman went on. Watching as yet much taller woman walked onto the stage with such grace, Rachel couldn't help but want her to be attacked by lions.
Collecting her belongings Rachel walked out into the streets of New York City, the city in which her dreams were supposed to come alive. The city that was supposed to where her life was supposed to start. A place she invested her whole eighteen years to get her there. But instead at twenty three they're as good as dead, much like the feeling as she walks down the sidewalks to her apartment. Saying hello to a few neighbors as she walks up the building Rachel collects her mail.
"Rachel!" Turning around mid way to the top of the first flight she turns to find her landlord standing, waving her down. Walking her way down she notices the grim look on his face as he lowers his head and mumbles "I'm going to have to have your rent in two weeks, hun."
"Two weeks?" She asks weakly clutching her already late cell phone bill in her hands "I thought I had a month?"
"That was last month, I need that and this months in order for me to keep you boarded here." The italian patted her on the arm before going back into his office.
Forcing her way up the stairs Rachel ran through all the possibilities for her to come up with two months of rent in justtwo weeks. With no job which means no income, there was no way she would be staying in New York City anymore.
Unlocking her apartment on the second floor Rachel threw her unopened bills on the table, grabbing a water bottle from the fridge and settling down on one of the bar stools. Staring at the bills Rachel knew she had to do something soon, there was no way she'd be able to support herself with just living off of some low end off-off-off-off Broadway show, granted if she even landed a role.
Being able to scrape together two pennies was hard enough these days, let alone a thousand dollars for a shitty apartment on the Lower East Side.
Moving to New York was supposed to set her Broadway career on fire, making her one of the most demanded stars on the block. But instead it only seemed to set her farther apart, the performing wasn't fun for her either. The love seemed to fade away, only leaving her with the feeling of failure. Rachel wasn't happy where she landed in life, feeling that her performance wasn't true and only for the money. Both were true and Rachel knew it wasn't meant to turn out like it had.
"I'm supposed to be a star." She mumbled twirling the cap around on the counter. "I'm Rachel Berry."
xx.
"I'm going to kill this kid." Kurt grumbled running into the next room with a bath towel in his hand. "Maci get out here now!"
Giggling could be heard from the four year olds room, so quietly rounding the corner Kurt listened very closely for any more clues to where his niece was hiding.
"I'm going to find you..." Kurt sang lifting the bunnies, bears and numerous unnecessary animals in which this kid had thrown all over her room. Another giggle echoed as it led him to the right side.
" Maci Jets Hudson you come out here right now and get this towel wrapped around your naked butt." Another giggle erupted but he still wasn't sure where it was coming from. Looking at his watch, Kurt held a long meaningful breath as he tried to stay calm. "We have to go now Maci and I'm not playing.. If we don't go we won't catch up with your dad in time to drop you off."
This time there was a whine from her but still no kid.
"I will shove all of your stuffed animals in a trash bag and throw them away if you don't come out here." Kurt warned "Even Mr. Sillypants."
A loud gasp erupted as well as a scream as the naked little girl ran from the closet clutching Mr. Sillypants in her hands. "My, Mr. Sillypants!"
Wrapping the towel around her quickly before she got away Kurt helped get her dress over her body and comb out her hair. "If you're nice and let me get you ready then you can keep your bunny."
"Deal." Maci smiled up at her uncle while following him into the bathroom to get her brown locks blow dried.
"Good." Kurt sighed in relief, he really needed to talk to his brother about this.
xxx.
"What?" Finn asked keeping an eye on Maci as she wandered off on to one of the playsets in Central Park. "No, dude you're like my wingman. Maci loves you and you're great with keeping track of everything."
"I can't do it anymore Finn." Kurt sighed knowing that this was going to be hard. "I don't mind helping out with Maci every now and then but I have my own life. I was late to meet with one of my biggest clients the other day. Rght now just isn't the time to be a full time nanny to your daughter."
"This is just great." Finn groaned sitting down on one of the benches. "What am I going to do, I start games soon. I can't really take Maci with me to all these places over night."
"I'm really sorry Finn." He truly was, but his business was starting to be affected. "I can help you out until you find someone but I really need to start buckling down on my own stuff."
"I know and I appreciate everything you've done for me." Finn looked up patting his brother's shoulder. "It's been so hard and you've stepped up and helped me through it."
"You aren't doing too shabby of a job either." Kurt nudged him as Maci jumped down from the monkey bars.
"Daddy, Uncle Kurt!" She yelled running over to them. "Did you see?"
"High five!" Finn said holding out a hand "That was awesome."
Grinning from ear to ear the little girl ran back over to the ladder climbing back up. She was happy and healthy, so he knew he had to be doing something right.
"Just promise you'll help me until I find someone."
"Promise."
xxxx.
"What in the hell am I supposed to do?" Rachel pouted walking around the store with Kurt as he picked through the racks "I've got two weeks Kurt, two weeks to turn my zero dollar paycheck into a thousand hundred dollar one."
"There's always stripping." Blaine, one of the owners of the Barneys contributed to the conversation as he leaned against where the handbags were resting. .
"You are not helping at all." Rachel groaned dropping her head against Blaine's shoulder
"Sell drugs?" Blaine winked at Kurt while listening to Rachel groan in frustration.
"This is serious, what am I going to do? I have a major problem, either I'm going to be shipped back to Lima or I'm going to be living in a homeless shelter until my nose shrinks!" Her voice crying out as she sat down on one of the sofas.
"Like we would let you live out on the streets." Blaine comforted her "We'd at least give you a box."
"Oddly, I think that might make me feel better."
"How about I loan you the money until you can pay me back?"
"I couldn't ask you do that, I'd feel horrible. Plus I wouldn't even know when I'd get the money to pay you back and then it would eat me alive until I did." Rachel denied Blaine's offer. "I'll figure something out, even if I get derailed for a little more time auditioning for my big break."
"I have it!" Kurt announced coming over to Rachel with arm piled high with clothes.
"Kurt, no offense and I know you've been looking for that shirt for a long time but..."
"My brother" Kurt interrupted "..You remember him right?"
"Yes..." Rachel agreed slowly not seeing where this could help her. "I know what you tell me."
"He's looking for a nanny, you're the perfect choice."
"Oh, no I don't think so." Rachel shook her head "I have never taken care of a kid in my life."
"Rachel this might be your only lifeline. I mean you've got two weeks to come up with a thousand bucks."
"I have no experience with kids what so ever, I'm an only child who never babysat a day in my life."
"It's nothing, Maci is simple." Kurt crossed his fingers behind his back hoping that she would take the job. "Please Rachel, Finn really needs the help and I bet more than anything he's willing to pay high dollar for you."
Pondering on it all, Rachel looked to Blaine who was nodding. "I think you should do it."
"You promise she won't give me a hard time?" Rachel chewed on her bottom lip, nervous about her decision. This was a kid after all.
"She'll be a piece of cake."
"Okay, I'll do it."
"Fantastic, I'll talk to my brother tomorrow about it and call you as soon as I know."
"Okay" Rachel nodded gaining a little more confidence about her agreement. "I will be fine."
xxxx.
"Really?" Finn asked smiling as his brother stood in the doorway, Finn continued to pack for his first away game.
"She'll be able to start as soon as possible, which will be tomorrow."
"That is awesome dude, I owe you big time!" Slapping Kurt on the back as he walked past him, going down the hallway to Maci's bedroom. But turned around when he realized that he knows nothing about this woman who will be watching his kid. "What's her name?"
"I'm so glad you asked." Sarcasm ripping through his voice. "Well she is Rachel Berry one of my good friends here. She is twenty three years old and lives on the Lower East Side."
"Wait, the Lower East Side?"
"Broadway wannabe, she's amazing but hasn't had a break." Kurt explained quickly going through Rachel's little story. "She's from Ohio, Lima actually but she went to Carmel so you've never met her. Rachel has no job but has been looking for one. Basically that's all I can think of that you would need to know."
"Is she good with kids?" Finn asked
"Uh... you see that the thing."
"What thing, there should be no thing either she is good or not good."
"Well she's never really been around kids before." Finn's eyebrows raised in concern
"But you expect me to trust her around my kid for the first time when I'm away in Dallas?"
"I'll be around, I promise." Kurt stepped forward placing his hands on his shoulder "I have everything under control and promise to keep an eye on them both. But I assure you that Rachel is more than capable of taking care of Maci in the between time."
"And you promise that you'll help her until she gets the hang of things while I'm away."
"Cross my heart and on my Swanepoel fedora that I will." Finn had no clue who or what that was but knew that it was probably designer, expensive and totally in the fireplace if anything happened to his little girl.
xxxxx.
"I'll see you in a couple days." Finn swore as he bent down to Maci's level to give her a hug good bye. "I will be back before you know it."
"I can still watch you on TV, right?" Her brown eyes, a replica of his own stared up in question
"Of course you can, Kurt has talked to Rachel about it all. Just remember when you see me blow the camera a kiss..."
"It's to me because I'm your special little lady." Maci grinned from ear to ear giving her father a big hug. "I'll miss you so much."
"I'll be back before you know it." Kissing her once more on the cheek Finn stood up keeping a hand on her back. "Now you be good for Miss. Rachel and I'll see you before you know it."
"Okay." Maci nodded going over to Kurt.
"I've got to go, the taxi came early but Rachel will be here soon right? I know you've got a big meeting later on."
"Go on, we'll be fine and she'll be here any minute."
Grabbing his bag, Finn gave Maci one last kiss before thanking his brother and going down to the cab waiting for him. Rushing over to the window as she does almost every time her daddy leaves, Maci watches as he gets into the cab, riding down the busy streets of New York.
Just then a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts of her daddy leaving as she turned to hear Kurt greeting Miss. Rachel. She listed as they talked in the next room, instructions being given and Kurt yelling good bye to them, shutting the door shutting.
And then for the first time she was alone with Miss. Rachel.
xxxxx.
She had a big nose, well bigger than Maci had ever seen on a person. Miss. Rachel was pretty and short, much shorter than her daddy or Uncle Kurt. Miss. Rachel was tan and didn't talk much, yet.
Sitting across from Rachel she watched the little girl look at her with wonder on her face. Maci was short but had long legs that were sticking out from under dark shorts. Her dark curls cascading down her arms as she looked to Rachel with curious eyes.
"So..." Rachel sighed out playing with her fingers. "As you know my name is Miss. Rachel,, I will be taking care of you while your daddy is off doing his football stuff."
"What's your middle name?" A little put off by such a random question, Rachel tried not to look so surprised but embraced the girls wonder.
"Barbra!" Rachel sat up properly, more then willing to tell this little girl all about her idol. That wasn't the case when Maci scrunched her nose, shaking her head.
"I don't like it. Barbra sounds old."
"I beg your pardon." Rachel gasped clutching onto her hands tighter. She tried to let the comment go, the little girl simply was too young to know the significance of a name like Barbra. Rachel would just have to take her time with Maci to teach her those things.
"It's a stupid name."
Changing the subject before the conversation went too sour, Rachel smiled to her best ability. "What is your middle name?"
"Jets!" The little girl smiled proudly "Like my daddy's football team."
"Okay..." Rachel stood up quickly, changing the subject yet again before she said something to hurt the girls feelings. "What is it that you like to do for fun?"
"Well Kurt and I like to go to the park." She shrugged not really knowing why she had to tell them where to go.
"The park?" Rachel nodded "Well then let's go to the park."
It was later that day when Maci figured out that just about everything she said she did with Kurt, Rachel listened.
"He lets me get ice cream too." Maci bit her lip looking up at Rachel who had balloons in her hands from when they walked around the park. "Usually it's the chocolate kind."
"Ice cream?" Rachel's eyebrows raised in suspicion "I'm not sure about that, you haven't even had dinner yet."
"Oh, but Uncle Kurt always lets me get ice cream." Her bottom lip pouting as she stops in the middle of the pavement, in the way of all the people trying to run, bicycle or walk down the path.
"Well if your uncle lets you..." Before she could finish that sentence, Maci already had her hand grasped in Rachels while moving her faster down the hill.
xxxxxx.
"Maci what would you like for dinner?" Rachel yelled through the penthouse, not hearing anything she assumed that the child was too far in her room to hear.. Placing the box of spaghetti down onto the counter Rachel walked through the hallway leading to the little girls room. "Maci?"
Still there was nothing. Looking around the pink room Rachel couldn't find the little girl anywhere. "Maci, please come out."
Little feet could be heard running down the hallway behind Rachel. "Maci!"
Moving out into the large penthouse Rachel was lost. Only have been so far in the living room, kitchen and of course Maci's room meant she had no clue where anything else would even be.
"Maci please come out, I am going to have to cook dinner soon."
"NO!" The four year old screamed loud enough to get an understanding of where she was direction wise. Picking up the pace Rachel opened some doors leading into either a bathroom or an empty bedroom and then a room in which she assumes is Maci's fathers.
Still no little girl as she looked in all the rooms.
"I am never giving that kid ice cream again." Rachel stomped going to the doors to make sure they were locked so she couldn't get out. Eventually the kid would have to get hungry and her sugar rush would have to die down. In the meantime Rachel would cook them a nice meal.
Preparing the spaghetti Rachel soon realized that other than leftover pizza and take out containers in the fridge, there weren't much other stuff to base a meal off of. Definitely the stylings of a man's house with no woman influence.
Placing two plates on the table Rachel had also placed two forks and knives with them, dinner was officially served.
"Maci, it's time to come out of hiding and eat."
With the mention of food the ball of energy ran to the counter searching for what smelt to be the greatest take out food restaurant, ever.
"It's over here." Rachel smiled pointing to the dishes on the table. "Come sit."
"Daddy and I usually eat on the couch." Maci stated grabbing her plate to go into the living room but Rachel took it in her possession, placing it back onto the table.
"We are eating a the table, now sit please." Scooting out her own chair, Maci does as she's told. Sitting down Maci watched as Rachel lays a napkin over her lap. Not really understanding why she would need to do that, Maci felt obligated to do the same. They both started twirling their spaghetti on their forks before placing them into their mouths.
"Where did you get dinner from?" Maci asked putting more into her mouth
"I didn't, I made it myself!"
"You made this?" Maci's eyes go wide in amazement
"Yeah, doesn't your daddy make you food?"
"No" Her head shaking hard back and forth "He buys it from people who bring it here."
"Well you my dear will have fresh meals from me every single time I am here." Rachel smiles taking a drink of her water.
"Awesome, 'cause this is super good"
Food was one of Maci's weaknesses, she would have to remember that one.
xxxxxx.
"What girl is funny?" Maci questioned as she places a few more pieces of popcorn into her mouth, cuddled into a blanket as they watch one of Rachel's favorite movies. It was a rainy day which meant that they would be cooped up in the house all day until it stopped.
"Just watch the movie." Rachel instructed not taking her eyes off her screen.
"Why do they wear such funny looking clothes?"
"Just watch the movie" The older brunette repeated
All was quiet as Maci kept her eyes on the TV, watching and enjoying some popcorn but still she was curious.
"Fanny is a weird name."
Ignoring that awful comment, Rachel stole some of the child's popcorn.
"You know you have a big nose like Fanny." She pointed out looking up at Rachel
"It's not very nice to make fun of someone." Rachel scolded squirming around in her seat suddenly feeling self conscious and also proud that she had Barbra's nose. It was a good nose to have.
"I wasn't making fun of you."
"Sounded like it to me."
Maci stayed quiet for the rest of the movie much to Rachel's happiness. Once the credits were rolling Rachel looked down to ask Maci how she enjoyed her first view of 'Funny Girl' only to find her passed out asleep. Turning the TV sound off Rachel collected the little girl in her arms carrying her into her own room for the night. Tucking her in, Rachel turned on the little night light that was plugged into the wall and propped the door open just a little.
Going out into the kitchen Rachel began cleaning up from dinner. Washing the dishes Rachel thought back to the three nights she spent with Maci. Besides from the sugar rushes and the negative comments, Maci was a pretty okay kid. It was going to take some hit and misses to get the hang of being a nanny but Rachel knows that she can do it. She was going to have to do it.
Going back into the living room Rachel began folding blankets, placing them back over the couch; then taking the popcorn into the kitchen placing that too in the dishwasher. Hearing the front door open Rachel closed the dishwasher going into the living room. Expecting to see Kurt standing there but instead was met with a very tired looking but yet handsome, tall man.
"Oh." Rachel gasped not really knowing what to say. "Hi."
"Hi." He put down his duffle bag going over to the petite brunette offering a hand. "I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to introduce myself to you before I left but I'm Finn."
"Oh, Finn" Rachel breathed out a sigh of relief as well as a chuckle, grabbing from his hand to shake it. "It's very nice to meet you, I'm Rachel."
"Sorry I had to leave you with Maci on such short notice but Kurt's been having trouble keeping up with work while having Maci. He said you were perfect and that you could start immediately, my agent needed me in Dallas a day earlier than planned."
"No worries at all, perfectly understandable." Rachel smiled taking in Finn. He certainly was handsome with his boyish looking features.
"So..." Finn looked around, Rachel assumed for Maci
"She's sleeping, actually I just put her down about twenty minutes ago. I wasn't expecting you home until much later tonight."
"I got an earlier flight." Finn searched for his wallet before looking up to Rachel confused. "I'm really not sure how this payment thing works or how any of it really work really."
"Me either."
"Well I know I talked to Kurt and we reasoned that about a thousand would work for your time with her this week."
Rachel's heart nearly dropped at the mention of that much money being paid out to her.
"Oh, no I couldn't take that much for just three nights with her." Rachel denied his check that he wrote up.
"Honestly take the money." Finn said placing it on her hand. "Now I am going to get in touch with you probably tomorrow on when I'm going to need you."
"Yes of course, I wrote my number on the dry erase board on the fridge." Rachel pointed into the kitchen and grabbed her already packed bag. "Any time after ten is perfect for you to call."
"Awesome." Finn nodded shuffling on his feet as they stood there in his front hallway. "Well thanks again.."
"Yes, of course no problem. I look forward to hearing from you tomorrow." Rachel smiled waving as she opened the door, leading her own self out into the hallway. The door closed behind her as she reached to press for the elevator. Stepping in she watched the double doors close together, pressing the button for ground level. Looking at the check in her hands she almost couldn't believe that in only three days she had been paid enough for her rent for two weeks.
This job was definitely not that bad at all.
I had originally made this out to be a long one-shot but this what twelve pages and was barely even started. So I made the decision to make it into a story but just separated into intervals. I hope you like the concept and continue with me.
Oh and yes, if anyone is interested in being my beta just let me know, that would be great! I need one for this story and for my other one as well.