Yes, yes, yes. I know I promised to make two updates this past week and only got around to one. Life has been crazy busy for me. I am going back to school to get a Bachelor's degree in Marketing so I had a lot of running around to do. I have to do a few pre-req classes before I start so I still have a few months of freedom from that.
I will try to make frequent updates as I can. I do have more juices flowing so I will try to keep up with that as best I can.
This one is one of my shorter ones but I left it with a cliff hanger and a lot of questions. Someone from the past came and shook things up a bit. Another dream sequence in this one with Rachel singing one of my favorite songs ever.
I own nothing, just Ashleigh and the new world they live in.
Read and review lovlies!
Chapter 14
My Immortal
"What do you mean they don't have a rehearsal dinner booked?" Isabelle shouted in disbelief.
"This woman was an idiot. She did nothing and was probably paid a lot," Ashleigh said as she sorted through her mounds of paper. Isabelle had given her an empty office space to work in find the time being. "I have an hour to pull something off. Just let me make some calls."
Isabelle paced the office, trying to come up with solutions. There were many great places in New York to eat however having a vegan proved to make it difficult. Isabelle was about to turn around when Ashleigh beamed.
"Reservation for the group at 8:30 at none other than Kajitsu," Ashleigh leaned back in her chair. "Private area as well."
Isabelle looked at the girl in disbelief, "how did you manage that one?"
"Threw the words St. James and Vogue around," she answered as she gathered her stuff together. "Amazing what can come of it. Another item off the list. Now to head to The Plaza to start sorting out the entire lack of anything done there. I'll see you later and thank you, for the office."
Isabelle shook her head, "it's not an issue. A lot is riding on this event. I have faith in you."
Ashleigh grinned in appreciation and hurried out of the building into the blistering cold. She opted to avoid the traffic and headed into the subway. She had a lot to do and not a whole heck of a lot of time to do it in. But if she could Rangel in a group of teenage egos, then she should be able to pull this off.
Plaza Hotel
The group gathered at the plaza hotel, anxious for the events to begin. The grand room had a makeshift layout of the set up for Saturday. Just chairs and carpets laid out. The grand display Ashleigh had planned would rock the socks off everyone. She sat in a chair in the back of the room, carefully sketching out her vision while busily making calls from her Bluetooth with the help of Siri. The ladies ha arrived promptly after a late lunch with Kurt and Blaine at a small vegan restaurant on the Upper East Side. Rachel sat with Ashleigh, watching her as she drew - mesmerized by the work being done. Ashleigh was a brilliant artist. Art truly was heavily impeded into the St. James family line.
Through conversation with Ashleigh, Rachel discovered that his parents had both been artists at one point or another. While his dad was a successful business man, he loved to play the guitar and sing. He raised his kids with an appreciation for classic rock which was ever apparent in Jesse's styling of music and the way both St. James siblings dress. They were far closer to their dad than their mom who preferred to be out and about with her friends and on the social scene then to be at home with her children. That's what Rosalie was for. Their dad, however, was an absent father and very critical. He was always away from home and on the odd time he was home, he would often criticize Ashleigh and her older brother Jonathan for anything from her size to his sexual orientation. Jesse was always the star child and their parents made it clear they loved Jesse more. This led Jonathan to a drug addiction, though Ashleigh was careful in how she discussed that with Rachel and Ashleigh to a life of bulimia and an array of mental issues that she wouldn't talk about. Rachel suspected there was more to her than she let on but decided not to push it.
Rachel's mind was shattered by the light hearted laugh that only Jesse could do. Her head shot up and she watches Jesse walk in alongside Burt and Carol, who were pretty much tackled by Kurt. Rachel's face fell as she watches Carol. She hasn't seen carol since the memorial and it was brief. It hurt to see her. Ashleigh noticed this and placed a reassuring hand on Rachel's shoulder. Rachel sighed and slumped back in her chair. She hated these moments. She loved Finn and never wanted to let him go. However, she couldn't handle these moments that crippled her to the point where she wants to lock herself inside and not come out. She knew she needed to find her middle ground, her centre. Finn was gone, nothing was going to change that. These moments were going to happen but she couldn't allow them to cripple her. This was an important time for Kurt; she had to focus on that.
Rachel stared into the group of her friends, watching them inventively. In her mind, a beautiful piano melody played and suddenly, she was back in the Lima High auditorium.
*dream sequence*
Rachel stood in the Lima High auditorium since named for the late Finn Hudson, staring into the blackness of the seats from Centre stage. This was the place she could connect with Finn the best – this was their Jerusalem.
I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all my childish fears
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
'Cause your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone
Rachel walked over to where she and Finn shared their first kiss, a small smile on her face as the memory played back in her mind.
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase
She continued to walk around the stage, stopping briefly on the spots where Finn proposed and where they broke up.
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me
She walked down the aisle of the auditorium and pushed the doors open, instead of being in the hallways of McKinley high, she was back in New York, walking out onto the bridge. Their bridge. She leaned against it, remembering the 'business date' the two of them shared in New York all those years ago.
You used to captivate me by your resonating light
Now I'm bound by the life you left behind
Your face – it haunts my once pleasant dreams
Your voice – it chased away all the sanity in me
She walked through the streets of New York as it snowed, his Letterman jacket wrapped around her small frame. She stopped as she came to the Plaza Hotel.
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase
Rachel pushed the doors open and was instantly in the room with all of her friends. She saw everyone doting over the grooms to be as she stood there the ceremony would take place. She closed her eyes and remembered Carol and Burt's wedding when they sang "Marry Me".
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me
Rachel wrapped her arms around her body, holding herself tightly as though she may fall apart at the seams. Memories of their almost marriage flooded her mind as did flashes of his funeral.
I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone
But though you're still with me
I've been alone all along
As the music in her mind turned from a soft, haunting melody into something heavier, she remembered all the times Finn would play drums. She walked around the room, lost in the music, the scene shifted to the terrace of the penthouse, the cool breeze blowing around her. This time, she was wearing her Wedding gown that slowly faded into the dress she wore at his funeral.
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me
Her face was now soaked from the tears, the scene pulled away from her standing on the terrace to her sitting in the Grand Room at the Plaza hotel.
...me, me, me.
*End of dream sequence*
The music faded and Rachel continued to look lost in her dream world, that was until Blaine sat beside her and threw his arm around her shoulder, snapping her back to reality. She put on her best show face and smiled at the groom to be.
"I know how hard this is, Rach, we're all feeling it."
Rachel laughed with embarrassment, "I'm sorry. This is such a huge moment for you two and look at me."
He nudged her lightly, "Don't worry. I understand, Kurt understands; we all do. We are about to get started though, so how about you get over there with the other members of the Wedding party, and chin up alright? How about when this is all done, you, Kurt, Jesse and I curl up on the couch, watch a sappy movie and eat ice cream?"
Rachel laughed, standing up and hugging Blaine, "You have a deal. Though, I think it will be a much larger crowd considering."
"The more the merrier," Blaine laughed, "Get over there, okay? Knock 'em dead sweetheart."
Rachel smiled appreciatively at her friend and made her way over to the Wedding Party, where Sam wrapped his arm around her in a hug, making jokes about how they were the second most important pair in the Wedding next to the grooms since he was the best man. He also made a few of his best impressions, keeping everyone in light spirits. Quinn took Rachel's hand at one point and squeezed it. She understood how Rachel felt. She too had lost an ex-boyfriend whom she had loved more than anything at one point in her life. Rachel squeezed back and offered her a smile.
"Alright, I spoke with Kurt and Blaine about how they wanted everything done," Ashleigh called out as she walked to the front of the chairs where the ceremony would take place. "This is where the grand vocal point will be. My designs were just approved…"
"It's immaculate, really," Kurt quipped excitedly, "I'm very excited to see it."
"Thank you, Kurt," Ashleigh said with a smile, noticing the look of pride in her brothers eyes, which made her blush, "This is where the ceremony will be centred. Now, while there's only a handful of chairs set up here, these will span rather long in two columns down the aisle to about here."
Quinn raised her eyebrows, "How many people are on the guest list?"
Blaine blushed, "About 200 or 250, something like that. I mean we have people we know here, everyone back home, members of New Directions, their families so that they can travel out here since many of them couldn't come alone, the Warblers I knew, you guys, family members that could go on forever, important people in the fashion world for Kurt, members of Funny Girl whom we have gotten close with, NYADA students we know…"
"It's going to be a lot of people, no doubt," Kurt finished. "We wanted to leave no one out."
Ashleigh nodded in agreement, "Once everyone is seated and ready, these rows here will be empty for family, and, in a twist of tradition, the wedding party will be coming out first, starting with the best man and maid of honour, so Sam and Rachel, you will enter from here and go that way, remember to stay in time with the music that will be playing. The officiate will be here, coming in from the side right there before the music begins. He will welcome everyone as they come up here into place."
Sam and Rachel walked down the aisle, Sam, naturally being a goof as they did it, making Rachel laugh with his impressions. They got to the top of the aisle, they kissed each others cheek and went to their respective sides, followed by Quinn and Blaine's brother, Cooper, Tina and Mike, Santana and Britney (who will be wearing dress suit, as per her request), Mercedes and Puck, Isabelle and Artie, who insisted that he wheel Isabelle down the aisle and Dani and Jesse. Ashleigh stood at the bottom of the aisle and made some notes, announcing there would be a platform design to make the ceremony more viewable to everyone in attendance as well as cause a more tiered gathering of the Wedding Party.
"Okay, so, this is when the string players would begin playing 'Don't Stop Believing'... Jesse, don't even suggest everyone sings 'White Wedding' again."
"Oh come on, it would be epic!" Jesse shouted out, getting agreements from Mike and Puck
"When you get married, then you can do that, however, this is what Kurt and Blaine want," Ashleigh stated. "That's assuming I don't get married first and steal it from you."
"Good luck with that one," Jesse joked.
"Anyway, we are going to have Blaine come out first with his parents," Ashleigh stated as they made their way down the aisle.
At the end of the aisle, Blaine kissed both of his parents before they took their seats while Blaine shook Cooper's hand before taking his place beside his brother. He loved how one side wasn't all girls while the other was all guys, they rotated their place so each side was boy, girl etc. with the exception of Britney. It was unique, as was just about everything else thus far.
"Then, we will have Kurt with Burt and Carol enter."
Kurt entered with Burt and Carol; they were about half way down the makeshift aisle when his dad started humming Beyone's 'All the Single Ladies', making everyone smile for the special moment for the father and son. Once Kurt gave Carol and Burt a kiss on the cheek, Kurt took his place while Burt hurried to the centre of the aisle with Britney and Tina behind him. Burt faced the group while the girls went behind him and together they reenacted the performance they had done with Burt at Graduation for his son. The entire group was in stitches while Kurt just covered his mouth and laughed, much like he did at Graduation. Following the performance, everyone cheered. Ashleigh stood at the end of the aisle just in bewilderment.
"Will that be part of the ceremony?" Ashleigh asked while Kurt hurriedly shook his head.
"As offbeat as much of this is, I don't think that would be a good idea. It would undoubtedly end up on YouTube, you don't want that, do you dad?" Kurt asked with a hint of concern, not for himself, but for his father. "I mean, your career…"
Burt laughed, "No, as much as I would have liked too, my adviser forbid it. I had to do it now, for you. Don't worry, it was recorded. Thanks Will."
Will nodded and waved with the camera in his hand as the group laughed. Ashleigh ran them through everything the first time around then did a few dry runs to ensure everything went off without a hitch. Once she was able to keep certain people contained, namely Sam, Burt and her older brother, things went smoothly. At one point, Sam and Jesse did a tango down the aisle to where they would reset for another run through. This behaviour was something Ashleigh was used too from her big brother but she knew what he was like around other people. Part of her heart soared, he must have truly looked at them like they were family.
Following the rehearsal, everyone found their way to Kajitsu and into a private party room where everyone dined on the luxurious cuisine. For Jesse and Ashleigh, this was a lifestyle they were worth it – for the others it was new. Kurt, Blaine, Rachel, Dani and Santana had been introduced to it over the last few months. The group kept things low key, conversation light and free. Ashleigh sat at the corner of the table, occasionally catching glances at Sam who kept sneaking glances at her. The two flirted from across the tables with smiles and the like. Dani kept conversation with Ashleigh while the two apparently worked out some sort of agreement for work once Ashleigh launched her business, which excited Dani who didn't have the greatest prospects while in New York to keep herself afloat. Rachel and Jesse sat in the other corner of the table, side by side, often sharing laughs and feeding each other. Carol caught eye of this and smiled. It hurt to see Rachel with anyone other than her son but she knew it wasn't going to happen. Carol was aware that Jesse and Rachel were merely friends at the moment, but she wasn't naive. She was aware of the obvious feelings between the two. Jesse was head over heels in love with her, which was clear as anything while Rachel loved him as well but was incredibly guarded and protected. In her heart, she knew that at some point in the distant future, another Wedding invitation would wind up in her mailbox back in Lima. There was no doubt that a Berry and St. James wedding was in the future; probably years from now, but eventually.
The evening wrapped up around midnight, with everyone making their way to their own places. The majority of those who had been shaking up at the penthouse had made their homes in the Plaza Hotel for the week, preferring to take advantage of the luxury being presented to them while Jesse, Dani, Rachel, Ashleigh, Blain and Kurt returned to the penthouse. They had expected to return home to a peaceful, empty home which is nearly what they found. The girls slipped into Rachel's walk-in to find it in a state she hadn't expected. It was renovated, with all her personal touches that Jesse had made gone along with all her clothes. Rachel froze in horror; everything was gone including her stuff she kept of Finn's like her Finn necklace, Jersey and Letterman jacket. Instead, Ashleigh's stuff was laid out and the closet was designed in her alternative style. Rachel looked at Ashleigh who looked as perplexed as Rachel was. The girls heard Jesse yell from the bedroom and went running into the room to find it in a similar position as to what the closet had been. Any personal items of Jesse and Rachel's were gone as Ashleigh's stuff took over. Kurt and Blaine rushed into the living room, panicking for their stuff was gone as well – an empty room left in its wake. Dani and Santana's room was left untouched while Jesse's alternative room was in the works of being made into what looked like an office.
"What the hell is going on?" Jesse snapped, his face pale as he began to run his hand through his hair. "Do you know?"
Ashleigh put her hands up, "Hey, don't shoot me, I know nothing."
"Oh, it's just a coincidence that my stuff, Rachel's and the grooms to be stuff is all gone and yours is now in the main room? Dani's and Santana's is here too, which doesn't make any sense. Something is going on and I want to know what the fuck it is right the fuck now!" Jesse yelled, obviously worked up.
"Oh, you're finally home," a husky male voice said from behind them.
Jesse and Ashleigh's face went white. The man looked to be in his late forties or early fifties and stood about six foot one, had dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes and looked like a spitting image of Jesse. He was wearing a well-tailored design suit that could have made Kurt drool. He smiled at the pair who looked at him as though they had seen a ghost.
"Jesse, what's going on?" Rachel asked, worried by the expression on his face. "Who is this?"
"Oh you must be Rachel," the man extended his hand, "let me introduce myself, I am Martin St. James, Ashleigh and Jesse's father."
Zomg. Why is their dad back? What's he up too? Where's everyone's stuff?!
I'm sure there are amazing answers to all of this next chapter...
Which there is...
:p
Song used:
My Immortal (band version) - Evanescence
Read and review guys! Reviews keep me going!