The alarm on Rachel's phone alerted the family that it was time to discover her fate. One line and she could breathe a sigh of relief and two lines; she wasn't sure what she would do if there were two. "Will you come with me?" she asks her step-mom.
"Sure," the young woman held Rachel's hand in hers. As the young girl rises from her seat, she hears the comforting British voice of her father.
"Whatever the test shows, we are here for you; I promise." Rachel nods her thanks and the two women walk down the hall to the restroom.
"Do you want me to look?" Karen asks.
"Please."
Karen makes her way across the small room and grabs the first test off the counter. Her face is unreadable as she places it down and picks up the other. Once she examines the second, she looks to Rachel and a small smile starts to form, "its negative," she informs her step-daughter.
Rachel begins to cry with relief "oh my god, I mean I want kids but I'm so grateful I'm not; is that wrong?" she questions.
"No, it's not wrong." the brunette standing next to her replies. "But you should go to the doctor within the next day or so if you don't start your cycle just to make sure nothing is wrong.
"Should I tell Leo?"
"I can't answer that for you sweetheart. There is no right or wrong answer. What I can tell you is if I were in your shoes, I would tell your dad. It's important for both of you to understand the responsibilities that come along with the type of relationship you have. At some point you should discuss what would have happened if you were pregnant. I'm not talking marriage but would Leo be man enough to own up to his responsibility. Because that's what real love means. That both of you are there for each other through even the hardest times."
Rachel understood what Karen was saying and in her heart she knew she needed to be honest with Leo. Her step-mother was right. If Leo really loves her then while neither one of them may have been ready for marriage; Rachel hopes he would have been there as a father. "I tell him; I just don't know when yet."
"We should probably tell your dad, I can only imagine what's racing through his head right now," Karen says as the two exit the restroom to join Derek.
Derek can see the two women walking towards him but he's unsure what the smile on their face means. Once they are a little closer his daughter runs up to him and informs the tests are negative. The director has never been so relieved in his life. Although he meant what he told Rachel, they would always be there for her, he secretly didn't wanted his daughter to ever face the same decisions her biological mother had to.
"Are you alright?" he asks.
"Yes, I'm not ready to be a mother," she answers. Derek smiled and gave his daughter one more hug. He missed all of her childhood but at least she would remain his carefree little girl a while longer. The rest of the night was spent sitting on the couch watching movies. Derek sat in the middle and his two favorite women on each side.
Rachel stayed the night in her old room and this morning she woke up feeling refreshed. She makes her way up the stairs and once she reaches the main floor, the smell of syrup, bacon and waffles fills the air.
She walks towards the kitchen and pauses to watch her parents. She laughs at her father's attempt to distract his wife by placing soft kisses on her neck; and her mother's feeble attempt at faying them off by giggling and shrugging her shoulders. "Morning," she greets.
"Good morning," they both reply. "Did you sleep well?" Derek asks.
"The best I have in a while," she smiles. "It smells fabulous in here; thank you for breakfast."
"You're welcome, everything should be ready in just a few minutes if your father can stop distracting me," Karen states.
"I can't help if the sight of my wife cooking breakfast in only my t-shirt turns me on," he grins as Karen turns bright red.
Rachel laughs it still amazes her how much in love they are. "So what are your plans today?" her father asks.
"I have rehearsals this afternoon and then I'm thinking I should probably talk to Leo. I've been pretty distant with him lately and last night he was really concerned. He thought I wanted to break up with him."
"Aw," Karen comments. "Well, if you need anything just call," Karen offers. "I'm dragging you father to the flea market and then a movie."
Derek gave a disgruntled look but knew better than to argue. "Josh has new blocking for 'Voice in a Dream' so it should be a light afternoon for you dance wise. But I know Jimmy has a few new songs so expect a long day vocally."
"I really love this show," Rachel says. "I wish there was a way I could audition for it once it makes it to Broadway."
"Why couldn't you?" Karen questions. "You would already know the role."
"You think I have a shot?"
"Anything is possible," Derek answers. "Linda commented she was impressed with your performance the day she sat in for me. Kyle loves you and Jimmy hasn't complained which is saying something."
"What about school?" I would have to take time off.
"Why don't you just take it one day at a time," her step-mother suggests. "All I'm saying is when the time comes if the role is something you want to go after; then you should. Look at me, your father took a chance."
"And it was the best decision of my life," he smiles while wrapping her in his arms.
"Thanks," Rachel replies. "You don't know how good it feels to have someone in my corner."
"Always Angel," Derek says.
"Hey!" Rachel hears from behind her. After spending the morning at her parent's apartment eating junk food and reading magazines, it was time for Rachel to leave for rehearsal.
"Oh hey there handsome," she beams at the site of her boyfriend. Waiting for him to approach Rachel was certain Leo was the guy she could see a future with; but she couldn't deny her relief that the future didn't hold a baby just yet.
"Someone is feeling better, I'm glad," he kisses her lips. "I guess spending time with Derek and Karen helped?"
"It did but so did some other news I got," she remarks.
"Really, and what news is that?"
Looking at her watch she decides there is enough time before rehearsal to talk. "Do you have a minute before going in?"
"Yeah, I'm early. What's on your mind?"
Taking his hand Rachel leads him down the path a way into a small park on campus. They find an empty seat and she takes a deep breath before speaking. "I'm sorry I have been so distant lately but I was worried and I wasn't sure what to do."
"Why were you worried?" he asks. "If it has to do with us, you know you can tell me anything Rachel."
"I know but this was pretty big and I guess I was freaking out. You see, I thought I was pregnant."
For what seems like forever there is silence between the two. Finally Leo speaks "Wow, I wasn't expecting that," he gives a nervous grin. "You said you thought?"
"I took a two tests last night at my parents and they were both negative. Then just as I was leaving to come over here, I started. I guess the stress of thinking I was didn't help matters," she answers.
Leo looks down at their intertwined hands, "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't relieved but I wish you would have come to me. I love you Rachel and I would have been there for you. If you have to know if you had been pregnant I wouldn't have left you alone," he finishes looking directly into her eyes.
"I'm sorry, I was afraid. I should have trusted you more but I need you to know I love you so much," she leans in to kiss his lips. "Can you forgive me?"
"There isn't anything to forgive; we just need to communicate more. I know you've had rocky relationships in the past but I'm not Finn or any other guy."
"I know," she replies. "Are we alright?"
"More than alright," he assures. "Does this mean we aren't going to having sex anymore?" he asks shyly.
Rachel laughs "We had a scare but I'm not becoming a nun," she teases. "It just means we have to be even more careful."
"I agree," Leo smiles. "We should probably head in now," he looks at the time. Giving her one last kiss they walk hand in hand into the theater.
The afternoon goes by smooth and Rachel swears she has given one of her best performances yet. In fact Jimmy even paid her a compliment when she was singing "Don't Let Me Know."
With her head on straight it was full steam ahead. She was going to do everything possible to put be in a position to keep the lead when Hit List made it Broadway.
