A/N This AU plot bunny hit me when I heard about the Rachel pregnancy scare and my mind jumped ahead to this crazy scenario. I never ended up making it more than a one-shot, so I'm posting it here.
Jesse gathered his course materials together and gave a mental sigh of relief. He had successfully made it through his one week stint as guest teacher at NYADA. More importantly, he would soon be safely away from the various female members of the class, who had made their availability for extracurricular activities all too plainly (and far too often) known to him. Women of all ages being infatuated with him was nothing new. After all, he had that deadly combination of fame, looks and wealth that women seemed to find irresistible. But at the age of forty he had become far too cynical to be snared by the traps so many tried to set for him, and women half his age held no appeal; at least most women half his age.
A prickling sensation at the back of his neck suddenly hit him and he briefly closed his eyes, already knowing she was somewhere near. With a sense of inevitability he looked up from his designer briefcase and met the gaze of the young woman before him.
"Sutton, is there something I can do for you?" Jesse winced inwardly not at his choice of words but rather at the tone in which he'd voiced them. His tone should have sounded somewhat irritated, or maybe condescending, not suggestive, so as soon as the words left his lips he could see her mind quickly consider the more unsuitable possibilities of that utterance. Still Sutton was a cut above her classmates. Although he knew she was attracted to him, she had not been as obvious about it, instead she had seemed to be far more interested in his talent, voice and stories of Broadway than by his looks or fame.
"Mr. St. James, I was hoping that before you leave you could give me some pointers on some new audition pieces I'm working on." Her voice was earnest, betraying no ulterior motives.
"Of course, if you've got them with you, I can listen to them in the music room next door. The acoustics are better there." Jesse motioned Sutton to proceed ahead of him, as he gathered his briefcase and turned off the lights before leaving the room.
Later that evening Jesse sat in his penthouse apartment and poured himself another scotch. He should never have agreed to Sutton's request. The previous hours spent with her had been far too intoxicating and when she'd kissed him goodnight… Jesse shook his head in disgust; he had no right to be with someone that young. Sure she was legal, but he was also at least twice her age. What was wrong with him?
He took another long gulp of his drink. It had to be the Rachel Berry effect - this almost headiness that was enveloping him. It was a feeling that he'd only experienced once before, when he'd fallen for the talented Rachel Berry. Up until now, no other person had ever made him respond that way. Aside from her innate talent and beautiful voice, Sutton Westberry also had the same expressive brown eyes that Rachel had captivated him with. But really, Jesse mused, otherwise, there was little physical resemblance to Rachel. Sutton's hair was a glorious red and cut stylishly short, her nose was almost too perfect, and she exuded confidence, in her looks, not just her talent. He was just uncertain as to whether it was a physical attraction, or if it was her talent that he found so exciting after having to deal with so many inferior performers over the years.
No, Sutton was very sure of what she wanted in life and she'd made it abundantly clear by the end of the evening that she wanted him, and he'd so nearly given in. Jesse shifted uncomfortably. After Rachel had chosen Finn over him, he'd walled off what was left of his heart and swore to never let anyone close enough to break it again. Sure he'd had companions, but he'd chosen the Clooney method. The women he bedded were under contract. They got plenty of perks plus a degree of fame, and when their contract was up he'd moved on. That had been his life, and it had seemed to be enough until he'd walked into that classroom, until he'd heard her sing for the first time; the way she challenged him every day with her intelligent and questing mind. Jesse growled in disgust and downing the rest of his scotch only just managed not to smash the glass against the wall. Already he knew he was not going to have a good night's sleep, especially as he'd agreed to meet with her again tomorrow to help her re-arrange the two songs she'd finally chosen.
xxxxxxx
A slight furrow crossed Sutton's brow as she touched up her makeup in the ladies room. Things hadn't been going quite as she'd expected. An involuntary, delicious shiver shot through her entire body as she momentarily recalled the taste and feel of Jesse's lips on hers the previous evening. They had been just as perfect as she'd dreamt them to be so it was too bad he had pulled away so soon. Surely he had to sense the way sparks seemed to fly whenever they were near each other so it must be her age that was holding him back. The age difference didn't matter to her; she and Jesse would be fabulous together of that she was certain and she'd been looking forward to continuing her campaign to convince him of that fact but today's lunch had changed her plans. She'd gotten a glimpse of the lonely man behind the facade of arrogance and self-confidence and discovered he wasn't the womanizing star she'd presumed him to be. She had found herself growing more and more intrigued by the man behind the mask and wanted to get to know him better. It was no longer about her satisfying a long standing infatuation and a physical attraction. Shutting her purse with a decisive snap she returned to the dining room.
Sliding gracefully into her seat she asked in a more business like tone "My apartment is only a few blocks away, I thought we could walk there and you can hear my revamped selections."
Jesse smiled somewhat cynically at Sutton's change of demeanor. Apparently the flirting had been discarded for what she really was after. Sutton wanted his help on the rung up the ladder to success. All the chat the previous day and today at lunch had merely been to soften him up for her pitch, and he wondered how long it would take her to ask for his help in opening doors for further auditions; just how far she'd be willing to go to obtain his help. No, she was just like the rest of her classmates, except that she was far more talented. As he paid for the lunch a part of him was still hoping she'd prove him wrong; that she wouldn't try to sell herself. In any case, he had no intention of bedding her.
Once at her apartment it became strictly business as Jesse helped her hone her audition pieces and before they knew it the rest of the afternoon had flown by. They celebrated by eating Thai takeaway and conversation again flowed easily. It was as they were starting on the second bottle of wine after having eaten Thai takeaway, that Jesse asked her about her parents.
Sutton shrugged indifferently. "Well, there's not much to tell really. My parents are both teachers. I have no brothers or sisters and I came to New York to live with my uncle when I was sixteen."
Jesse set his wine glass down abruptly and turned to her in surprise. "You left home at sixteen?"
"Dad and I don't really get along." She snorted derisively. "I couldn't be the sweet, obedient small town girl he wanted me to be. I know what I want, and that's to perform. He said I was so like my mother, as if that were a bad thing. But personally I can't see what he meant. She may have a brilliant singing voice but other than that we are nothing alike. Mom always does whatever Dad says. He's super possessive and controlling and I guess she just figures it's easier to go along with his way."
"That's not right. I mean, I've never been married, but I always thought marriage should be a partnership. " Jesse frowned as a thought suddenly struck him. "He's not. I mean it's none of my business, but he's not violent is he? That's not why you had to leave home?"
"Well, he does have a bad temper but most of the time he just goes to the gym and punches it out there; I learned to stay out of his way. He's pretty predictable and I'm smarter than he is. I'd stay at a friend's house until he calmed down, and like I said, Mom knows not to rock the boat, so they don't fight. In fact they don't really even talk to each other much. But it really sickens me how she lets him walk all over her. And then when I found out." Sutton stopped and chewed her lower lip nervously. She really hadn't planned on telling Jesse all of this, but somehow it just seemed right.
Jesse leaned back and waited for Sutton to continue. "You found out?" he gently prodded her to continue.
"Well, it turns out Dad isn't really my dad. Mom and he had broken up and she was seeing someone else – someone she discovered too late was a bad choice. Then she found out she was pregnant and Dad took her back. Sometimes I think that's why Mom never challenges him. She seems to feel that she owes him for raising her illegitimate child as his own. But he and I have never been really close and when I found out he wasn't really my dad, we had a huge argument. That's when I went to live with my Uncle Kurt. He's a fashion designer and he's also involved in the amateur theater scene scene. We get along really well. Are you close to your parents?"
"No. Well, let's just say they were never around much. Social butterflies the both of them. More concerned about money and image than their children. Even now we rarely see each other, they have their lives and I have mine. "
"Is that why you're a loner?"
"Loner?" Jesse sipped his wine contemplatively. "Is that how I seem to you?"
"Yes." Sutton slid closer and laid her head on his shoulder.
The wine was having its effect on Jesse and Sutton was disturbing his thought processes. He should have watched more carefully his intake, but it was too late now. "I'm not going to regret this am I? You're not secretly working for the National Enquirer?" He asked only half jokingly.
"No! I would never. That would be so wrong." Sutton looked up at him with genuine hurt in her eyes. "I want to really get to know you. You're attracted to me, I'm attracted to you. Why do you keep pushing me away? And don't tell me I'm too young. I've been fending for myself for years. "
"It's not that I don't find you attractive." Jesse admitted. "Or that I'm not tempted. But you are young and your entire life is before you. You need to find someone who is closer to your age. I mean, if you want me to help you, mentor you, I'd be happy to. But you don't have to sleep with me for me to help you."
"I'm not here with you because I'm trying to sleep my way to the top." Sutton pulled away in disgust. "And if that's what you really think of me"
Jesse quickly reached out and grabbed her wrist to stop her from getting up. "No, that's not what I think of you. It's just, there are many out there who do and I've become cynical as to why someone half my age is interested in me."
Sutton sank back down on the coach. "Okay." She nodded. "I can see that. But you are hot, and talented and sexy and any woman in right mind, no matter what her age, would want you. But there's got to be some other reason you keep your distance. Even with the women I've seen you with on tv or in magazines, you are always wearing the show face. If it wasn't the parents, then it has to be some girl that broke your heart. Who was she?"
Jesse winced. Very few people could tell when he was wearing his showface, it had become almost second nature to him; Sutton was far too perceptive.
"Yes, there was a girl." He finally admitted. "She had this incredible voice and a drive to be a star; before I even realized it, I'd fallen for her. But I was foolish and I hurt her and although I tried to make amends, I don't think she ever really forgave me. Or maybe she never really loved me at all; maybe it was always that jock boyfriend that had her heart and I was just a momentary distraction for the times when he dumped her. If I was just someone she used to make him jealous, well then, I guess she succeeded. They got engaged and since I've never heard her mentioned in theatrical circles I'm assuming she really did give up her dreams and ambitions for him."
The sadness tinged with bitterness was evident in every word he spoke and Sutton felt the tears well up in her eyes. "That's horrible! What was so special about him?"
"Nothing. Maybe I could have understood it better if he had been talented or handsome or remotely intelligent, but he was just a bumbling idiot who had two left feet and a mediocre voice. He didn't understand her; he didn't treat her the way she deserved to be treated. Yet, she threw away her chance at success and stardom, which she had been working for since she was a child, just to be with him. I always thought the two of us would take New York by storm. I thought she was the one. I guess I really didn't know her after all. "Jesse was ashamed to find his eyes were becoming misty with unshed tears and he looked down and blinked rapidly. Too much wine always led to melancholy which was why he rarely drank this much of it.
It was all so tragic. Sutton's heart ached in sympathy, but she knew he didn't want to be pitied.
"Well, maybe someday, you'll find a woman who appreciates you properly. You deserve to find love, Jesse. "
"Yeah, maybe, someday. Anyway, enough of the pity party. I should go."
"No, please don't. I was hoping you'd stay and watch a movie with me" She had originally thought they could watch 'Funny Girl' or maybe "Les Miserables" or "Moulin Rouge" but considering the current mood something far more upbeat was called for. She jumped up and quickly selected the one she wanted. "I love classics. Besides it has Marilyn Monroe in it. How could you turn down Marilyn?"
Jesse didn't take much persuading. He really didn't want to go home to an empty apartment with old wounds and memories fresh in his mind. "You're right, how could I possibly turn down Marilyn Monroe?"
xxxxxx
The next morning Jesse awoke with a start. Someone was making too much noise. He'd been having a dream where he and Sutton had been recreating the tango scene from "Some Like It Hot" and then things really had got heated and wait a minute, that had not been a dream. This was not his bed. Jesse groaned. Just then he heard the voice directly outside the bedroom. A distraught voice and one that was definitely far too loud in his opinion.
"Barbra, baby. I hope you'll forgive me for arriving at such short notice but I didn't know where else to go."
And who was Barbra? Jesse's eyes focused on the woman lying beside him long enough to assure himself that he had indeed ended up in Sutton's bed last night when the bedroom door opened and the voice took form.
"Barbra?" The voice sounded somewhat shocked and embarrassed.
"Mummy?"
"I'm so sorry, baby I phoned and texted but you didn't reply and .. well, I'll just." The petite brunette flushed red in embarrassment and she glanced apologetically at her daughter. She was about to make a speedy exit, when her gaze moved briefly to the man in bed with her daughter and she gasped. "Jesse? "
This had to be a crazy nightmare. There could not be one Rachel Berry currently standing next to the bed, could there? "Rachel? What are you doing here?" Jesse turned his pounding head too quickly towards Sutton and he winced "and why is she calling you Barbra?"
"Jesse, how could you do this to my daughter? To me?" Rachel raged.
No doubt about it, it was definitely Rachel. "Do what to you? Would someone please explain to me what is going on?! And once again who the hell is Barbra?"
Sutton was busy staring in astonishment at Rachel. Never had she'd seen her mother like this. She was actually quite beautiful in a temper. Finally she managed to drag her eyes away long enough to respond to Jesse's query. "I'm Barbra. Barbra Jessica Hudson in fact, although my stage name is Sutton Westberry. I'm a big fan of Sutton Foster and the Westberry is a combination of sorts of my parents names.
Jesse moaned and dropped his head back onto the pillow. He childishly wished he could yank the sheet up over his head and make the world just disappear. But, he was Jesse St. James and someone had to at least act like at adult, so it wasn't an option.
"I don't know what you think you're trying to prove, but I want you out of my daughter's bedroom NOW, Jesse St. James!" Rachel ranted.
"Are you certain you don't want to leave the room first, Rachel?"
Rachel was now tapping her foot impatiently. "I said NOW, Jesse!"
"Okay, but don't say I didn't give you the option, " Jesse smirked as he threw back the sheet and rose from the bed before sauntering over to pick up his pants and shirt from where they lay on the carpet.
"OH!" was the only word Rachel uttered before she was rendered momentarily speechless. Suddenly she realized her daughter was watching her and Jesse with extreme interest. "Fine, I'll just be outside the room." She mumbled as she quickly made her escape.
Sutton couldn't help it any longer and she broke into peals of laughter. "I feel like I just fell into the middle of a British farce," she managed to gasp out.
Jesse sent her a disapproving look; his façade of calm now completely absent. "You might find it funny, but I don't. Do you have any idea?..." His voice trailed off and he ran his hands agitatedly through his already disheveled curls. "But you don't do you?"
"You mean did I know you and Mummy knew each other? Of course not." Sutton watched as Jesse get dressed and smiled briefly in satisfaction. Jesse St. James was definitely all and more than she had hoped he would be, although currently he was obviously nearly as flustered as her mother.
She pondered upon that for a moment. Her mother hadn't been upset about finding a man in her daughter's bed; it had been the fact that it was Jesse that had made her go ballistic. She'd also seen the look her mother had given Jesse when he'd stood up. Yes, there had been shock at his audacity tinged with embarrassment, but there had been something more. More like appreciation and maybe hunger? Desire? It was difficult to say exactly because her mother had shown more passion in the past few minutes than Sutton had seen in a very long time; which prompted her to ask her next question. "Just how well do you know my mother? Did you sleep with her too?"
"What? No, thank god. That would make this even more uncomfortable than it already is." Jesse muttered as he retrieved a missing shoe from under the bed.
"But you obviously know each other." Sutton persisted. Her mind was rapidly sifting through the events that had just transpired and her curiosity was piqued.
"Yes, a very, very long time ago we knew each other." Jesse grabbed Sutton's dressing gown from the hook on the door and tossed it at the girl. "Now, Sutton or Barbra, or whoever you are, that's all I'm going to say about it. If you want details you'll have to ask Rachel, but maybe you should check your messages first. Your mother was upset even before she stumbled upon this 'farce' as you so aptly named it. "
Sutton quickly grabbed her cell and turned it on. Sure enough there were a dozen messages from her mother. She quickly read the first text. "OMG! Mom has left Dad."
"Great. Just what I needed to hear." Sarcasm fairly dripped from Jesse's voice. "I presume the next one bursting through the door will be an angry and belligerent Finn Hudson. What a perfect day this is turning into."
"Well, Dad doesn't exactly know where I live. I kind of blacklisted him at school, so even if someone claiming to be my Dad were to contact the school, they aren't allowed to give out my address without my permission. Besides, no one knows me as Barbra Hudson. That's why Mom came here to hide out. Knowing Dad, once he discovers Mom is gone he'll go straight to Uncle Kurt's place, and he'd never tell Dad. "
Uncle Kurt. Of course it would be Kurt Hummel as her uncle. Jesse wanted to pound his already aching head against the wall. Great, he'd have to deal with Rachel, Finn and Kurt. The day was just getting better and better by the minute. It was time he got out of this ludicrous situation, but first he'd better face the angry woman who was most likely wearing a trench in the hallway flooring with her angry pacing.
He took a deep breath and yanked the bedroom door open, and Rachel nearly fell into the room. She had obviously been eavesdropping. "Well, if I'd known you had your ear pressed against the door, Rachel, I'd have given you something more interesting to listen to."
Rachel glared at him. "What is wrong with you, Jesse? You're old enough to be her father! Did you do this to spite me? Take revenge, is that it?"
Jesse grabbed Rachel's arm and pulled her towards the living room. "Look, first of all I had absolutely no idea she was your daughter." Rachel gave a snort of disbelief but Jesse disregarded it and continued. "Would you listen to me for once? Other than vocally, and maybe the eyes, the two of you are nothing alike! And just how exactly was I supposed to connect a Sutton Westberry to you? "
Rachel nibbled on her lower lip and considered Jesse's words for a moment. Could he really not have known? She tried to be objective and give him the benefit of the doubt. "Okay, I grant you we don't resemble that much now. " She then dug into her purse and pulled out her phone, quickly bringing up a picture of herself and Barbra from 6 years ago. "But if you'd seen her like this?"
Reaching for the phone, Jesse stared at the photo carefully. Sutton's hair was long and dark, her chin still had a childish roundness to it and her nose was completely different. She was quite obviously Rachel's daughter, but it appeared that since that photo had been taken Sutton had done more than change her name.
"Yes, I grant you that I would have spotted it in an instant. But she looks nothing like that now; you have to give me that at least, Rach." The old endearing form of her name slipped out automatically without Jesse even noticing he'd said it.
Rachel nodded albeit somewhat unwillingly. "I guess I still see my little girl, but you are right; she doesn't look like that anymore. But really, Jesse? Sleeping with someone half your age? "
"It's not my normal behavior I assure you." The look of skepticism that Rachel shot at him made Jesse grind his teeth. "Oh come on, Rachel. When have you ever seen me with a far younger woman in the tabloids or anywhere?"
Rachel sniffed scornfully. "I don't read about you in the tabloids. I haven't followed your career or anyone elses either. "
"She hasn't, Jesse" Sutton had decided it was time to make an entrance. "I always found it strange that she wouldn't watch any entertainment shows or read the celebrity news. In fact any discussion about it was a forbidden topic. "
Jesse turned towards Sutton, a look of complete disbelief on his face. "Your mother is anti-show business?"
"Totally." Sutton flopped casually down on the sofa and deliberately stretched out her long shapely legs, carefully watching for Jesse's reaction. As she had predicted, he didn't take notice at all, he was far more interested in her words. "I had to beg and plead to take music and singing lessons and mom finally allowed me to join the drama club but it was not to be discussed at home. That's another reason I left home. I was being artistically stifled. Do you have any idea how hard it is to be around people who don't understand your need to perform?"
Jesse sank down in the nearest chair. He was momentarily in a state of shock. "Do you have any idea of how talented your mother is? How she lived and breathed for performing? How she nearly single-handedly led her show choir to a National championship? Or the fact that at fifteen she could belt out Barbra Streisand nearly flawlessly?"
"Uncle Kurt said a few things but I thought he was exaggerating so I didn't really believe him." Sutton looked at her mother with fresh eyes. "Is that true? You really were that good?"
Rachel sat down beside her daughter. "Well, I did get into NYADA and I won the winter showcase in my first year. But that was a long time ago, and well, your Dad that is to say, Finn didn't want you to grow up with unrealistic ideas, so we decided to"
"You mean Finn ordered you to, and you meekly obeyed!" Sutton angrily cut off her mother's explanation.
A look of pain crossed Rachel's face. "Okay, you're right. Finn said it was best if we just forgot the whole New York business and concentrated on making a home for you. It was easier not to fight him about it, and besides he agreed to raise you as his daughter. My career was over anyway. "
"That's a load of BS, and you know it." Jesse interjected. "You didn't have to marry Finn. He wasn't even Sutton's real father. You didn't even have to keep the baby, but in any case your fathers would have supported you in any way they could. You were just too frightened of failing in the theatrical world, too unsure of your own talent, so you took your pregnancy as an excuse to drop out. Congratulations on tethering yourself to a loser instead of facing the challenges of making it in the theatrical world. The Rachel Berry I knew, took no prisoners, would have relished a fight to the top. What happened to the girl I knew? Or thought I knew. "
"I don't know." Rachel whispered softly.
Jesse sighed then continued in a milder tone. "I'm sorry, that was perhaps overly harsh and maybe Shelby and I share some of the blame for your loss of confidence. At least you can be very proud of your daughter. She's going to be everything you could have been. She's got the talent, the drive and the confidence; along with that she's also a caring person."
Rachel was crying softly. "You're right. She's what I should have been; she doesn't live in a fantasy world like I did.
"It's not too late for you, Rachel. You just need to dig down deep and find the love of performing and the drive you shelved away. Figure out who Rachel Berry is aside from being an appendage of Finn Hudson. You aren't a lovesick teenager anymore, its time you realized that." Jesse's voice was once again brusque. He hated to see Rachel like this but she needed to wake up. Having said his piece, Jesse stood up. "Now as much as this has been an incredibly illuminating morning, it's time I left. I'm sure you two have plenty to discuss."
Sutton got up and walked with Jesse to the door. "I'm sorry you got pulled into the family's dirty laundry. I guess it's too much to hope for that I'll see you again? But can we at least keep in touch by phone?"
"It's not your fault." Jesse sighed and lightly brushed her cheek with his knuckles. "Last night, shouldn't have happened. I drank too much, and I allowed temptation to overrule my better judgment." He pulled out a card and handed it to her. "You are an amazing person. If you need help or just want to talk, give me a call. But it's best we don't meet again, especially considering the history I have with your parents. If there is one thing I know for a certainty, Finn would go berserk if he knew we'd slept together let alone that Rachel had seen me again. If he's still as impulsive and prone to violence as you say, it's in both your Mother's and your best interests that my name and the past few hours never come up."
The young woman before him nodded. "Okay. I understand. But I don't regret anything either, and I'd like to think we can be friends. I enjoyed our conversations a lot. You understand me better than anyone I've ever met. Is there any chance you might happen to have any of my mother's performances saved? I'd really like to see them."
Jesse's mouth quirked up in a smile. How astute of her to realize that he'd been unable to toss any of her mother's performances even if he hadn't looked at them in years. "I'll have to get them out of storage, and I'll send you a copy. I promise."
A/N Part of my problem in continuing this story was deciding who I wanted Jesse to end up with. :-)