Chapter 1
It took Rachel a while to wrap her head around what Kurt and Blaine were asking. What they were asking would take almost a year of her time, and then there was the play to consider and Jesse's plans to launch it to Broadway. Rachel was the type of person that considered all her options, for better or for worse, and in later years it had been in her best interests to ask advice both from her friends and from her dads.
The first person she talked to was Jesse, after all if she got pregnant with someone else's kid he would be the most involved especially if they decide to get engaged or married. They were relaxing in the rehearsal space afterwards, most of the actors and crew had gone home at that point leaving Rachel and Jesse alone.
"I think it's a great idea." Jesse finally said, "Everyone deserves happiness, including people like Kurt and Blaine, why shouldn't they have a kid."
Rachel nodded slowly.
"But what about the play, what about going on Broadway?" She was looking at him with wide eyes and she could feel the panic rising in her as it had in high school, when the anxiety had been so overwhelming she could barely control it.
Jesse shook his head and smiled indulgently down at her.
"The play isn't going anywhere Rach, and we're not going to be ready for previews for at least another year or two, unless Kurt and Blaine are in some all fire hurry, I see no reason why you can't be their surrogate after we finished the first run."
Rachel bit her lip, "That's true." She mused," I think I still want to think about it and maybe talk to a few more people."
Jesse smiled at her again, a smile she loved.
"Take as much time as you need, I'm sure Kurt and Blaine will understand." His hands settled on her shoulder and he leaned down and kissed her forehead, then straightening and turned to leave the room, leaving Rachel alone with her thoughts.
The next person Rachel talk to were her dads. She hadn't seen her one dad, who had moved out almost two years before, in almost a year and it had been a while since they had all been together. At this point her dads had both moved on and had new partners, an adjustment Rachel, even though she was grown, was still getting used to.
She knew her dads would always make time for her whether they were together or not. First she called her dad who was still in Lima, and had put her through her senior year of high school and all her years at NYADA. She would always be grateful to him for that.
Her conversation with him started simple:
"Hey dad, can we talk? I have something I want to run by you."
Her dad was surprised, but supportive.
"Rachel, if this is something you want to do for your friends that's up to you. All I know is the best moment your dad and I had was going to the hospital and seeing and holding you for the first time… You were such a beautiful baby."
Rachel smiled, it was just like her dad to get sentimental.
"Maybe this is your friends chance to have that happiness, to have that child they've always wanted, from what you've told me about Kurt and Blaine they seem like a pretty steady couple."
"Yeah." Rachel agreed.
"I don't know much about pregnancy or babies, but my best advice is this: do what your heart tells you to, you're always good at listening to your heart Rachel, and know it will never steer you wrong."
Rachel sighed.
"Thanks dad."
Rachel knew her dads meant well, but they lacked a female's perspective, and for that she could only think of one person she wanted to talk to-Mercedes.
Rachel was grateful it was Saturday, and providing Mercedes wasn't in the studio or out with her friends Rachel knew she would take her call.
Mercedes picked up after the fourth ring and fortunately she wasn't busy.
"Hey Rachel," her old friend greeted, "how's things going in New York?"
Rachel nodded to herself.
"Good, they're going good. Jesse's direction is brilliant he thinks the show is going to do really well. How are you?"
"I'm rehearsing for my next tour, but you caught me in a good time so I can talk for a bit, my car isn't supposed to be here for another hour or so."
"Good." Rachel replied quietly. "Mercedes, I just need a woman's perspective on this, Kurt and Blaine asked me to…"
When Rachel had finally finished her story Mercedes was silent.
"Well, that certainly wasn't what I was expecting, but more power to you."
"But what should I do?" Rachel asked, "What they're asking is going to take a lot of time, and I haven't even thought about how much things are going to cost-"
"Hold up!" Mercedes interrupted her, "Aren't you getting a little ahead of yourself? Don't you think Kurt and Blaine have thought about this?"
"The what about the play? What about the entire production, if I get pregnant that's get a hold everything up." Rachel continued, knowing she was babbling now.
"Things can be changed." Mercedes supplied, "It happens with my schedule all the time, believe me."
"I guess…" Rachel mumbled, "Jesse said pretty much the same thing, he said it would take a while until the play was ready for previews."
"Then what's your problem?" Mercedes asked.
"I don't know, I guess I'm just scared."
"And that is perfectly normal and okay." Mercedes replied, "Don't you think Kurt and Blaine are just as scared as you are, even as their jumping into this head first. Now I don't know the first thing about raising a baby, but I figure it's a wonderful experience, and just think you'll be giving that experience to Kurt and Blaine."
"So you think I should do it?"
"I think you should do whatever your heart tells you to do." Mercedes replied.
"Yeah, my dads pretty much said the same thing. They also said if I could give Kurt and Blaine what they experienced with me it would probably be the greatest gift in the world, and I realize I really want to give them that."
"Then what are you waiting for?" Mercedes asked.
"My sanity to kick in I guess." Rachel responded.
The two women, separated by hundreds and thousands of miles, laughed.
It was almost another week before Rachel found herself on the stoop of Kurt and Blaine's apartment. She had already knocked on the door before she thought about walking back down to the sidewalk, healing a cab, and leaving altogether, but after a few minutes decided against it. She was about to knock again when the door opened, revealing Blaine's smiling face.
"Rachel, hey, good to see you, come on in."
Kurt and Blaine's apartment was similar to the one Rachel and her friends had rented when they first come to New York, it was tastefully furnished and decorated with a few of Kurt's eccentric flares here and there, not that Blaine seemed to mind.
"Kurt, Rachel's here!" Blaine called up the stairs and a few minutes later Kurt appeared, his hair swept back as it had been as of late wearing printed skinny jeans and a light weight sweater befitting the still cool weather as it was barely March.
"Hey Rachel!" Kurt said brightly then he walked over to Blaine, sliding an arm around his waist and the two of them walked over to the couch, Rachel following in their wake.
They seemed to stare at each other for what felt like an eternity before Rachel spoke, Kurt and Blaine both looking at her with anticipation; hopeful yet afraid of what she might say, and Rachel trying to find just the right words.
"I'll do it." She said simply.
Kurt's blue eyes widened, and he looked about as excited as Rachel had ever seen him.
"That's great Rachel."
"That's wonderful," Blaine echoed Kurt's sentiment, "Thank you."
"Only I have a few conditions…" Rachel interrupted slowly.
Kurt and Blaine exchanged a look.
"You're not going to go all diva on us are you?" Kurt asked.
No, of course not!" Rachel exclaimed. "I just want to make sure this works out best for everyone involved, including me."
In the end, Kurt and Blaine understood Rachel's concerns and they agreed to wait, it was probably best, Blaine figured, they had so many other things to figure out, not to mention finding a fertility specialist. The good thing about it, he reflected, was it gave them something to look forward to and was the reason why for the next few months they went to bed with continuous smiles on their faces.