Mr. Berry and Mr. Berry
Jesse watched Rachel anxiously bounce in her seat; Puck had given them his car to drive after Rachel had asked. Puck however had been rather reluctant to give up his keys to Jesse.
"What, you're driving? No way twinkle toes."
"The man always drives the lady, or would you rather Rachel drive." Puck shot a glance at Rachel. Just the thought of her driving gave him nightmares, she was barely tall enough to see over the steering wheel; images of an over turn truck and wrecks along the main road flew through his imagination.
"Fine." He dangled the keys a few inches from Jesse's outstretched palm. "Wreck my truck, hurt Ray in any way or form and you'll be singing high notes for the rest of your life."
"Dually noted."
Jesse chuckled at the thought.
"Are you going to tell me how I get there or do I have to drive around like some creeper?"
Rachel jerked.
"Oh sorry, take the next left."
"You okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"Why don't I believe you?"
"Take the next right." He turned down the street and looked at her again. "Rachel…."
"JESSE!" Jesse turned back to the road and jerked the wheel to the right sending the truck swerving up on to the sidewalk. He quickly got recontrol of the car.
"That was close." He mused. "You okay?" Rachel had gripped the armrest the seat, her face pale and her breathing heavy.
"Do I look okay?" Jesse chuckled and reached over to take her hand, but Rachel jerked her hand away.
"Don't you dare. Just drive."
"Are you mad?"
"Terrified is a better word."
"Sorry." He leaned over and pecked her cheek.
"Jesse! Pay attention to the road." Rachel yelled as he swerved to miss a mailbox.
They pulled into the drive way of a yellow two-story. Jesse put the truck into park and hopped out, walking over to the passenger side and yanking the door open.
"My lady."
Rachel laughed and took his proffered hand. Jesse looked around.
"What are you looking for?"
"One of your dads to jump out from somewhere with a shotgun or an attack dog."
"My Papa's allergic to dogs."
The pair made their way up to the house they good hear the music blasting through the house.
"This sounds familiar." Jesse said with a smirk
"Really, I've never heard this song." Rachel rolled her eyes.
She climbs a tree and scrapes her knee
her dress has got a tear
she waltzes on her way to Church
And whistles on the stair
And underneath her wimple
She has curlers in her hair
I even heard her singing in town
She's always late for chapel
But her penitence is real
She's always late for everything
Except for every meal
I hate to have to say it
But I very firmly feel
Elizabeth's not an asset to Merton
I'd like to say a word in her behalf
Eliza makes me laugh
How do you solve a problem like Eliza?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means Eliza?
A flibbertigibbet! A will-o'-the wisp! A clown!
Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay
And listen to all you say
How do you keep a wave upon the sand
Oh, how do you solve a problem like Eliza?
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?
When I'm with her I'm confused
Out of focus and bemused
and I never know exactly where I am
Unpredictable as weather
She's as flighty as a feather
She's a darling! She's a demon! She's a lamb!
She'd out pester any pest
Drive a hornet from its nest
She could throw a whirling dervish out of whirl
She is gentle! She is wild!
She's a riddle! She's a child!
She's a headache! She's an angel!
She's a girl!
How do you solve a problem like Eliza?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means Eliza?
A flibbertigibbet! A will-o'-the wisp! A clown!
Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay
And listen to all you say
How do you keep a wave upon the sand
Oh, how do you solve a problem like Eliza?
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?
"The cast album was released today." Rachel murmured.
Rachel knocked on the door. The music continued to be played.
Rachel knocked harder. Strains of "Elizabeth and Darcy" could still be heard. Rachel shot an exasperated look at Jesse. He raised an eyebrow.
"What's wrong Berry?" His smirk grew. "You practically have people throwing themselves at you, but you can't even get your fathers to answer the phone. For shame."
"Unbelievable." Rachel practically slammed her hand against the door. The music stopped.
"Finally." Jesse twined her hands with his and pulled her closer. He pressed his lips to her temple and door flew open to reveal a tall Africa-American man.
"Papa!" Rachel squealed and threw herself at him.
"Princess!" the man replied engulfing her tiny frame in a hug. Jesse stood there awkwardly as the two continued to say hello. Finally Rachel stepped back and reached for Jesse.
"Papa, this is Jesse. Jesse, Papa." She gestured between the two.
"I'm Leroy." He extended his hand to Jesse.
"Jesse." Leroy stepped back and gestured for them to enter the house.
"Hiram! Look whose here!" Leroy hollered. A man wearing classes walked out of the kitchen.
"Baby Girl!"
"Daddy!" the two embraced. Leroy chuckled at his husband and daughter.
"Rachel gets her drama from him."
Jesse nods. Rachel steps back from her other fathers arm.
"Daddy, this is Jesse." She nods toward him. The man offers his hand.
"Well he is quite handsome."
"Daddy!" She blushed. Hiram chuckled and Leroy shook his head.
"Well dinner is ready." He bustled off.
"Princess, let's not keep him waiting." Leroy said following his husband.
Rachel led Jesse into a dining room, the table laden with various dishes. Hiram gestured toward the table.
"Your favorite. Jesse I didn't know what you liked."
"I'm not very picky." Jesse said with a smile.
"Handsome and gracious." Rachel blushed. The group sat down and began to enjoy their meal.
"Jesse we have some questions if you don't mind."
Jesse looked up, his fork halve way to his mouth, Leroy And Hiram looked expectantly at him. He sighed.
"Not at all. Do your worst."
"You really shouldn't have said that." Rachel whispered noticing the gleam in her father's eyes. Jesse gave her knee a small squeeze.
"I can handle it."
"How many people have you slept with?" Jesse choked.
"That's handling it."
"A few."
"How many exactly?"
"4".
"So you're not a..."
"Dad! Next question please!"
"Have you ever cheated on a previous girlfriend?"
"No never. My first girlfriend in high school cheated on me with the Mascot. Rachel noticed the bitter tone that had crept into his voice. It was humiliating. I was mortified; the star of Vocal Adrenaline can't even keep a girlfriend how is he supposed to keep the title of best show choir in Ohio". He mumbled.
"If you found out she was pregnant tomorrow what would you do?"
"Papa!"
"Support her, marry her. What else?"
"What if it wasn't your baby"?
"First, I would beat the bastard"
"Language." Rachel quipped.
"That got her pregnant to a pulp, I'm sure Puck wouldn't mind helping either, then I would support her. "
"How?"
"Marry her, provide for her and the child". Her parents nodded.
"Have you ever kissed a guy?"
"No, not really/" The Berry men raised their eyebrows.
"I was auditioning for Rent and they cast me as Collins and I just couldn't kiss the guy who was playing Angel. So I left the production."
"That's good I really don't see you as a Collins I see you more of a Roger". Rachel said with a smile.
"Where do you see this relationship going?"
"This isn't just a fling for me, if that's what you asking. I truly care for your daughter; I see this relationship lasting for a long time. Even if the romantic feelings stop being there I'm positive the friendship won't be ruined."
Can you see you two ever getting married?
"Eventually. If she wants too." He replied giving her hand a gentle squeeze making her blush
"Do you have any insecurities?"
"No, I'm Jesse St. James. Ouch" Rachel glares at him. Hiram and Leroy shared a look.
"Do you have any phobias or embarrassing fears?"
"I really hate sock monkeys".
"Sock monkeys? Why sock monkeys?"
"Have you seen those things? There just creepy."
"How did your last relationship end?"
"We just broke it off on mutual agreements"
"What I agreements?"
"We didn't love each other anymore".
"Are you and your ex still friends?"
"We see either every once and awhile but were not friends. I would say close acquaintances."
"Have you put yourself at risk for an STD by skipping protection?"
Rachel choked. "Daddy, you really don't need to question him about his... relations."
"No, its okay Rach they are probably just making sure I'm not endangering their daughter. No, never. Because I was acting I couldn't risk getting and STD or an unplanned pregnancy."
"Have you been tested for STDs/HIV?"
"Several times. When I was in Vocal Adrenaline we had random drug test and every time I entered or left a relationship my parents and manger made me get tested. So I'm clean".
"Would you be willing to go in for testing again before you got more get more involved with our daughter?"
"Papa, he just said he was clean… and we aren't having those kinds of…" she turned scarlet. "Those relations." She finished lamely. The Berry men look at Jesse expectantly. "Of course"
Dinner proceeded at a comfortable pace, Jesse listened with rapped attention as Leroy and Hiram told stories about a younger Rachel.
"And there was this one time when Rachel had to be about four; she and Noah were playing outside. We were inside and we hear him scream. So all the adults run out to the backyard and there is Rachel holding Noah's plastic ukalaili and Noah sitting on the floor crying." Hiram laughed. Jesse turned to Rachel.
"What did you do?"
"She took it away because. " He made air quotes. "He was doing it wrong."
"She has always been very." Leory made a show of picking the right words. "Very driven."
"I was four!" As more stories were told the redder Rachel got, sensing Rachel's discomfort, Jesse asked.
"So, Rachel who is that woman in the picture over there?" he gestured to the very small almost obscure picture hidden in the back on the mantle. The room went unbearably tense. Jesse looked awkwardly from the Berry men to Rachel.
"Rachel?"
"I heard you." Her voice was cold and emotionless. Jesse quirked an eyebrow at her.
"Are you going to answer?'
"Does it look like I'm going to answer?"
"Rachel." He dad's voice held a warning.
"You know what? I'm not hungry." She pushed herself out of her chair and stalked outside. Jesse pushed his chair away and followed her.
Rachel wrapped her arms around herself as she shivered in the cold, gently pushing herself in the pouch swing. She didn't hear Jesse come up. It wasn't till he dropped a blanket on her shoulders did she realize he was there. She looked questionably at him.
"Your dads gave it to me."
He sat next to her waiting for her to speak.
"That women is my mom." Jesse nodded.
"She gave me up so my dads could raise me. I had no contact with her until my sophomore year."
"Why sophomore year?"
"She signed a contract stating that she would not contact me until I turned 18. She saw he perform at sectionals."
"Okay, so"
"So she got the male lead of my team to date me. To bring me to her."
"She had your male lead date you, so she could meet you?"
"Yeah."
"How did that go?" She glared at him.
"Not well I take it."
"She told me that she wasn't ready to have a teenage daughter, she wanted a family so she went and adopted the resident whores' baby. And my boyfriend dumped me; after he threw eggs at me."
"He egged you?" She nodded.
"Aren't you a vegan?" she nodded.
"I'm sorry." He slung an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. The couple sat like that until Jesse felt her shiver against him.
"Alright, Diva Bee. Let's get you inside, your freezing and I'm sure that your dads think I dragged you off into the woods by now." He pulled her to her feet.
"Lets go and finish dinner."
