The following Monday Laurey headed to school unsure of what the response would be. She didn't know if people would have put two and two together or if everyone would know and would be talking about her. She wasn't sure if she cared. It wasn't long before her question was answered. As she walked down the hallway she could feel the stares and hear the whispers. She couldn't hear exactly what they were saying about her but she knew they were definitely talking about her. She tried to ignore them and opened her locker.

She looked at the picture in her locker of her and her mom together in a photo booth. Her mom had told her that she'd had a picture like that with her dads in her locker at high school and wanted to pass on the tradition. She was glad there were at least some pictures that survived. There were tonnes on Facebook and stuff but the more private and special ones had never been put up and the computer had been destroyed in the fire so they couldn't get them either. Luckily, her mom's guilt had completely vanished when they were informed that it wasn't her curling iron that started the fire it was actually and electrical fault in the building.

"Lauren Jessica Berry!" She heard a voice shout from behind her and she turned to see her best friend Kate standing there. "Is there anything you want to tell me?" She asked. Laurey looked at her confused.

"You turn your phone off for an entire week so I can't check that you're alright and I don't even know where you are! And then, to top it off, it turns out that your dad is Jesse-Freaking-St. James and you never told me."

Laurey could tell she was joking and rolled her eyes. "My cell burnt in the fire."

"That's all you say. Really?"

"I'm sorry that I didn't mention that my dad was Jesse-freaking-St. James, as you put it but honestly when I was telling you all the stuff about meeting him I didn't actually think of it like that. I don't see him like that, he's just my dad. I thought I would have to adjust to it but up until now everything has been completely normal and him being a huge Hollywood star hasn't really come up." She explained.

"But still."

Laurey laughed slightly. "What are you going to do when you meet him? Start screaming like a fan girl?"

"Of course not, I will be dignified and cool." They started walking towards their class. "Have you told him about me?"

"Of course I have." She smirked evilly.

"Oh god, what did you say?"

"Nothing terrible."

"Laurey, come on!"

"I didn't say anything!" She gave in. "I was just teasing, all he knows is that you're my best friend."

"Okay then."

They walked into the classroom and took their seats. The bell hadn't gone yet but the teacher, Miss Harwood was already sitting at the desk.

"Nice to have you back Miss Berry." She spoke and Laurey just nodded. She wasn't the nicest woman and hated if you missed her class but Laurey was sure that being caught in a house fire was a reasonable excuse for missing a few days of school.

Miss Harwood went back to the magazine that she was reading and Laurey realised that it was GQ and her dad was on the cover.

"Damn, your dad is so hot." Kate spoke from next to her.

Laurey glared at her. "If she doesn't put that down everyone will start talking about it and I won't be able to walk away like I could in the halls." Laurey complained.

"She can't be seen reading a magazine while she should be teaching."

"It doesn't mean she'll put it away. It seems like the kind of evil thing she would do."

"Yeah, but can you blame her? I can barely tear my eyes away."

"Okay, one, that isn't helping and two, I'm definitely telling my Dad that."

"No! You can't!"

She laughed. Luckily the teacher did put it away and due to her being quite strict no one spoke during her lessons. The rest of the day continued in much the same way as it had begun but eventually she managed to tune it out. On the way home she bought a copy of GQ and she Kate headed back to hers to read it. Her mom and dad were both at work but they still went into her bedroom to read it. Once settled on her bed and listening to music she began to read it.

It appears that it has been quite a busy time for Jesse St. James. He just made his Broadway debut as Billy Flynn in Chicago to tremendous reviews but what really has everyone talking is his relationship with Broadway star Rachel Berry and their fourteen year old daughter. Their daughter Laurey was caught in the fire in the apartment she lives in with her mother. "Laurey was running late [for the opening night of Chicago] so she was at the apartment getting ready when the fire started. We didn't know about the fire until after the show but we were incredibly lucky." Jesse says and you can see that he is still a bit shaken up. "It could have been much worse but she was smart and wasn't too badly hurt." It was however her being brought out of the building unconscious that led to the media discovering her identity. "We weren't hiding it." Jesse speaks as he takes Rachel Berry's hand who is sitting on the couch next to him. "It's been complicated but we never purposely hid it, it was just that no one saw us together and we didn't feel the need to announce it to the world."

The media has been alive with speculation as to their relationship and the story behind them even though the story only broke a few days ago. "I didn't know about Rachel's pregnancy." Jesse admits. "I had gone to college and we had a terrible break up." He explains but looks at Rachel while he speaks. "Rachel's ex, Laurey's step-dad is the director of Chicago and he told me about Laurey. I couldn't believe it. When I met Laurey, it was something I can't even describe. She was so like Rachel I felt like I'd gone back in time. She's amazing, I love her to pieces."

When I move away from topics that are clearly still quite raw for them both and onto their relationship they both brighten up slightly. "I honestly believe she's my soul mate." Jesse tells me directly, certainty dripping from every word. "I really screwed up with her last time but getting a second chance with her now is my dream. Finding her again and Laurey as well has turned my life around, I can't even remember what it was like before. They fill up the emptiness inside." He speaks softly and reverently and a tear glistens in Rachel's eye as she smiles at him.

It's safe to assume that they are happy. "We are. Most people would find it hard to move past everything we have but we're meant to be. I'm drawn to her."

Something that is incredibly noticeable is how alike they are. They seem to agree on most things even while making small talk or when the hair stylist for the photo shoot comes over to discuss styles, they agree on everything. They are incredibly in sync but they only reconnected six weeks ago. "Like I said, we're meant to be together. Time doesn't affect that type of connection. We were a bit unsure to begin with but I didn't want to waste any more time by not being with her and I managed to convince her to give us a try."

Despite having told me she was just here for support, Rachel now jumps in. "I'm glad. We'll last this time."

Rachel and Jesse had a relationship in high school, Rachel got pregnant, never told Jesse and he found out six weeks ago but they are happier now than they have ever been.

"It sounds a bit unbelievable when you put it like that but for us there's just so much there that time doesn't really come into it. Rachel did worry that we were moving too fast but I love her and I love Laurey, I don't want to waste any time I have with them."

Laurey finishes reading and smiles. It was a bit mushy but it got the message across. They were happy. Jesse was happy, Rachel was happy and they loved her. She looked to the pictures that accompanied the interview. In the main one, he's smiling but looking just to the left of the camera. It's not hard to realise that her mom must have been standing there. The next picture is of him looking straight into the camera while brushing a hand through his hair. The next two are her favourites, they must have somehow convinced her mom to be in one of the pictures because he is holding her hand and pulling her into shot. He's in the middle of talking and she's trying to turn back around and walk away. In the next one, he's caught her in his arms and is kissing her cheek while she laughs. They're amazing pictures and she wonders if she can get hold of the originals and all the pictures. She hands the magazine to Kate who reads through it quickly.

"Aw, they're so cute together." She points to the last photo.

"Yeah, it's kind of gross really."

"You're all one big happy family." She teases.

"Laurey?" They hear Rachel call from the living room and head out to great her. "Hi Kate." She says when she sees her daughter's best friend standing there.

"Have you read it?" Laurey asks enthusiastically.

"I was there." She says. "But yes I did read it. What did you think?"

"I loved it." She smiled. "Do you have the original copies of the pictures?"

"No but I can ask your dad to get them."

"Great, I want to put them up in my room."

Rachel smiled at her, happy that she was settling in at Jesse's well. They still weren't certain as to how permanent it was but she was sure they would talk about it soon. "Are you staying for dinner?" She asked Kate.

"If you'll have me." She accepted and Rachel headed into the kitchen to start on dinner.

Laurey and Kate went back into the living and turned on the laptop and the TV. Laurey knew that she was asking for trouble but she wanted to see what people were saying. She knew that the internet wasn't the best place for it but it would do.

She searched her parent's names in Google as Kate sat next to her.

"I don't think this is a good idea Laurey."

"It's meaningless words. It doesn't matter what these people say."

"Then why are you looking?"

"I just want to know what's out there."

Kate decided to bite her tongue, Laurey wasn't going to change her mind that much was clear. Laurey clicked on the first article which took her to a gossip site that was reporting on the GQ interview and had included pictures.

The article basically summed up the interview but with an added slice of humour. Laurey scrolled down to read the comments.

There were some commenting on how cute they were, some saying that they loved Jesse, some asking who cared but in amongst them were some quite vicious comments.

What the hell? They have a bastard child together and suddenly they're the happiest people on earth? I bet it's all a lie they've concocted so they don't look bad.

What a bitch! I can't believe she didn't tell him about his child.

There were a few more but Laurey decided that she didn't want to read them. She closed the internet and turned to Kate who just smiled sympathetically.

"Remember, they don't matter."

Laurey nodded mindlessly and they were interrupted by the door opening. Kate's eyes widened slightly and Laurey bit back a laugh.

"Hey." He greeted as he came in.

"Hi, this is Kate." Laurey introduced her.

"It's nice to finally meet you, I've heard a lot about you." He smiled and Kate had to remind herself that this was her best friend's dad. Kate, not knowing what to say smiled and nodded before Jesse turned into the kitchen.

"First time I think I've ever seen you speechless." Laurey joked after Jesse left the room.

"Shut up." She muttered.