Title: Winged

Pairings: St. Berry, Hummelberry, Klaine.

Rating: M

Current word count: +80,000

Status: In Progress

Disclaimer: The characters in this work of fiction are not mine, they belong to Fox and Ryan Murphy, however the plotline is my own work.

Synopsis: In the world of Jesse St. James things are never quite as they seem and the rules of morality are faint and blurry. When he gets given an Angel, a beautiful, unearthly creature, by his parents, he thinks nothing of it. Until suddenly he finds himself falling for her and his world and everything he has ever known is turned on its head.

Warnings: Dark themes.

xxx

Jesse spotted Blaine's familiar figure from the kitchen window almost immediately. He was stood by the sink, taking a long drink of water and a grateful break from what seemed to be the constant arguing and finger pointing that was occurring in the den. Quinn was the only one who stood by impartially, watching as they argued with a cool, collected look on her face. Everyone else threw the blame from one person to the next so many times that Jesse became almost physically dizzy trying to follow the argument.

They were so wrapped up in their own controversy that it was easy to slip out to the kitchen for a breather, unnoticed.

"So."

The voice behind him startled him so much that he almost spat out his drink, spinning around to see Shelby stood in the doorway, watching him with a strange look on her face, one he couldn't quite place.

"You're in love with my daughter."

He swallowed down a gulp of his water, trying to hydrate his suddenly dry throat as he turned to look at Rachel's mother properly. While they had talked before, it had never been alone and never, Jesse felt, about the things that really mattered. Things like this.

"I am." He conceded finally, after a long, heavy silence.

"For how long?" Her eyes never left his, her figure unnervingly still, looking almost haunting in her black clothes, her face even paler than it may have been otherwise in the quickly dimming room.

"I couldn't possibly say." He shrugged a little. "Since I met her… for only a few months… who knows really?"

"You above anyone else." Shelby's eyes were hard, unmoved by his words. "And her? Does she… I mean…" she stumbled over her words and for the first time Jesse saw the woman weakened before him. "Does she love you?"

A small, wistful smiled slipped over his face, unbidden and he replied, softly. "I hope so. I don't deserve her to but I think… perhaps by some miracle… she might do."

Shelby watched him for a long moment before Jesse heard a scuffle at the back door and turned to see Blaine struggling with the handle with Rachel still in his arms. Hurrying towards him, Jesse pulled open the door for him, Shelby close behind him and hurried Blaine through into the hall, where Santana, Puck, Finn and Quinn were gathered.

"What happened?" Jesse asked as they walked and Blaine shrugged a little, Santana's sharp voice cutting in before he could reply.

"Who the hell is this? Why's he holding her? Hand her over!" She barged towards Blaine, holding out her hands but Rachel's drowsy form huddled away, still sleeping, turning away from her loud voice and towards Blaine, who curled his arms tighter around her.

"This is Blaine." Jesse responded curtly. "He works for me." Ignoring the eye rolls that followed this, he repeated his earlier question to the boy in question.

"She needed someone to talk to." Blaine shrugged slightly, struggling with Rachel in his arms. "I was there for her and she ended up falling asleep on my shoulder."

"Here, let me." Jesse held out his arms to Blaine and the boy happily deposited Rachel gently in them, the girl curling up easily into Jesse, her hand fisting in his shirt, the only noise from her a slight whimper from the back of her throat.

"Easy," Jesse murmured softly, holding her close. "Easy it's just me. You're fine, you're safe." She quietened almost immediately, her grip on his shirt tightened slightly as she leant into his chest a little more.

Turning, he took a few paces towards the stairs before a loud voice interrupted him.

"What are you doing?" Puck demanded, scowling.

"Taking her to bed." Jesse hissed, glaring back at him. "She needs sleep, she's worn down."

Ignoring Santana's scoff, he turned back to the stairs and carried her up with less trouble than he expected. He could hear the mutters and footsteps of the people behind him but ignored them as he made his way up, his attention solely on Rachel. Nodding in thanks when Kurt, who had been about to make his way downstairs, opened the door for them, Jesse stepped inside and laid Rachel gently down on her side of the bed.

Turning, he noticed Blaine and Kurt exchange a speaking glance out of the corner of his eye and he noticed, for the first time, the bruises on Blaine's face. Making a mental note to ask him about them he went to pull the covers over Rachel, pausing when he saw another, darker, rougher pair of hands reach over to do that for him. His eyes rose and he saw that Shelby was leant over her little girl, smoothing the blanket around her and running a soft hand over her hair, trying to soothe her as she shifted uncomfortably in the bed.

"She used to like me to sing to her." Her voice was soft but certain. However as she lowered herself to sit on the edge of the bed Jesse reached out a hand to stop her and grabbed the pink bear from the middle of the bed, pushing it into Rachel's arms.

She quietened some but her brows were still creased and her body wriggling in the bed.

Shelby cast him a slightly triumphant look and reached for her hand, beginning to hum the first few bars to the lullaby that Jesse recognised from the first time he had ever met Rachel's family. Rachel however, shifted again, whining slightly and pulling her hand away, still searching.

Moving towards her again, Jesse knelt beside her, reaching for her hand and holding it softly, his thumb caressing her palm gently.

"It's okay," his voice was barely above a murmur. "I'm here. Don't worry."

She turned again in bed and- finally- settled, her grip on Jesse's hand loosening slightly as she fell back into a deeper sleep, her breaths evening out once again, her face free of worry.

Letting out a small sigh, Jesse clambered back up to his feet, sparing a glance over at Shelby. Though her face was hard, her mouth turned downwards, her eyes were soft and there was a wistful spark there that made Jesse feel almost regretful that he had taken that moment away from her.

Glancing up at the group in the doorway, watching him, he stepped away from the bed and motioned them out and downstairs again, pausing when only Shelby and he remained in the room.

"If you want to stay here," his voice was low. "And just… you know… watch out for her… you're welcome to."

Shelby's expression hardened again and she shook her head once, her shoulder grazing his as she made her way out of the room, following the group downstairs again. Sighing, Jesse glanced back once more at Rachel again before switching off the light and starting towards the stairs.

When he arrived in the den Blaine was stood in the centre of a noisy circle of people, his arms crossed firmly in front of him, his face set firmly. Kurt stood beside him, glaring at the people around them but once his eyes met Jesse's he visibly relaxed, nudging Blaine and nodding to Jesse as he stepped through the doorway.

"What's going on here?!" His voice was so loud that they all fell silent, looking at him in surprise.

"This guy needs to tell us what Rachel said to him." Finn pointed an angry finger at him and Blaine glared at him.

"I'm not going to betray Rachel's confidence." He retorted immediately. "She needed someone to talk to and I was there for her."

"Listen up pip squeak." Puck took an angry step forward so that he was mere inches away from him. "I'm her cousin and I deserve to know what she's thinking."

"No you don't." Blaine spat, stepping away from him. Jesse had never seen him so angry before. "She's a person and she deserves respect."

"You don't know anything." Santana snapped, stepping up beside Puck. "It works differently out there," she thrust a hand towards the window. "We're a family so we stick together, We've only got each other so we're honest and open and true. Not like you."

"If you were really such an honest, open family, wouldn't Rachel have come to tell you herself?" Blaine shook his head.

Santana let out a small growl. "Listen to me, pretty boy. You've lived a good life here right? You've had it nice and easy here inside but don't underestimate me… I can fuck you up so bad you'll sleep for a week."

"You think I don't know anything about pain?" Blaine's voice was soft, his eyes fixed to Santana's. "You think I've had such a good life here?" He scoffed quietly. "Just look at my face and say that again."

Turning on his heel, he marched from the room, Kurt following him quickly and Jesse shot a long, disgusted gaze at all of them before shaking his head once and turning away.

Xxx

The quiet of the house was almost oppressive that night. Jesse lay on his back, beside Rachel who was sleeping peacefully, his eyes wide as he stared at the ceiling above him. After the noise and activity of the day he expected to be glad of some peace but as his eyes traced imaginary patterns in the darkness of the ceiling he felt like his mind was vibrating with thoughts. He had tried to sleep, squeezing his eyes shut so tightly that they hurt, but it seemed the harder he tried, the more sleep evaded him, slipping between his finger tips like sand every time he grasped it. Instead, he chose to spend the night on his back, staring at the ceiling in an attempt to empty his mind, a feat that in actuality only causing the same thoughts to chase each other around and around his mind. He was covered only in a sheet, the air dank and muggy, as it had been for several days. It felt almost heavy and he could tell that when it finally broke there would be a storm.

He was hyper aware of Rachel's sleeping body beside him, probably because he had spent several of his sleepless hours gazing at her through the darkness. Earlier, when the moon had shone through the curtains, lighting up the room like a beacon before it was obscured by clouds, he had taken the opportunity to just watch her. He had stared at her face, trying to commit the image to memory so that later, in a few weeks, when he was lying there alone, his mind blurred by whiskey, he could dredge this memory up and try to convince himself that he'd done the right thing.

So when she shifted slowly beside him his eyes flickered down to her almost immediately, startled to see her staring back at him.

"Rachel," his voice was soft, as if dulled by the heavy, hot darkness. "What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"

She shook her head and began to struggle up even as he protested, sitting up beside him in the bed as he clambered to do the same.

"What're you doing? You need sleep, love."

"I want to talk to you." To his surprise her voice sounded rough and gritty, as if she had been crying and when he looked at her more closely he realised that there were tear tracks on her cheeks, fresh and damp when he brushed his fingers against them.

"What's wrong?" He asked again, his voice a little louder and reached over to turn on the lamp at his side before opening his arms for her and hugging her close, tucking his chin on top of her head.

"I'm scared." Her voice was barely a whisper and he felt a sob tremble through her at her words.

The guilt that swept through him was so profound that his eyes flickered closed for a moment before he sighed heavily and said. "I know baby, I know." Cradling her closer, he pressed a kiss to her forehead and then tucked her back into him again, rocking her gently from side to side. "I'm sorry," he admitted into the silence, "I never meant for you to be scared. I thought you'd be happy."

"Happy?" She repeated softly from beneath him, scoffing and shaking her head against his chest. "Happy?"

"You get to be with your family." He explained helplessly. "I thought that's what you wanted."

"I do but… I can't choose." Her voice softened to a whisper again. "I love you both so much."

"God," he wished he could run his hand through his hair, but at that moment he was unwilling to let go of Rachel for even one second and so only held her tighter. "I love you too, so much. That's why I'm doing this."

"And that's why I don't want to go." Her voice broke, but it was clear for him to hear, louder than he expected and he drew back slightly so that he could look at her. Her dark eyes shone with unshed tears and yet her jaw was tight, firm with resilience.

"You don't mean that," he told her softly, running a hand across her cheek but she pulled away, gentle eyes sparking with anger.

"Don't tell me what I do and don't mean!" She glared at him and he startled away for a moment, staring at her in surprise. Her eyes softened once more and she moved closer, holding out a hand for him. "Please," her voice was soft again. "Can I explain?"

"Of course," he replied unthinkingly and shuffled closer to her again, taking her in his arms once more but keeping his eyes on her face as she spoke.

"It's too dangerous." She shook her head when he opened his mouth to protest. "It is, really it is. Anything could happen and I don't want anyone getting hurt on my account." He went to protest again and she cut through him once again. "This isn't about my worth or anything like that. I know that you think I'm worthy but I know I'm not." She took his face gently in her hands, cupping his cheeks and speaking slower. "I've seen a lot of suffering in my life and I know that nothing is worth that. And…" she gulped a little, her hands falling slowly to press together nervously. "I can't leave you. I know it's selfish, that I'm just thinking of myself but I love you Jesse… and I love them as well, but not in the same way. Never in the same way. You were," her voice broke but she managed to gather herself together once again. "You were… like a beacon in the night… something bright and beautiful that came out of nowhere. I was expecting so little and you were so much…" she laughed softly, tearfully, "I still can't believe that you love me back… I was so lucky that you were my owner. And you are my life now, my new life here in the Areas with you and Kurt and Blaine and Willow. And I know it's not everything you want for me, but it's so much more than I ever expected… and so much more than I would have got out there."

There was a long moment of silence when she finished, both staring at each other for a long moment before she finally tore her gaze away, her cheeks brightening in embarrassment. He was reminded, suddenly, of her first few days with him, when she would look away from him and shift uncomfortably when she felt his gaze on her. His fists clenched at his side for a moment before he reached for her and held her hands in his, his thumbs rubbing soothing circles along her knuckles.

"I love you Rachel, more than anything. And that's why I want you to go with your family. Because I love you and I want you to be safe and happy and out there you will be." He sighed for a long moment. "Please," he caught her chin between his finger and thumb and tilted it up to meet his eyes. "Just try for me? Just… think about it?"

Her eyes met his and for a second he thought she would refuse until she nodded a little within his grip. "Okay," she said softly. "Okay Jesse. For you, I will consider it."

"Thank you," he let out a relieved breath and held out his arms again, inviting her closer to him, glad when she accepted his embrace.

As they shuffled down beneath the sheet again, he reached for the light switch and turned it off, breaking their embrace and turning back to find her back to him. Curling up behind her, he let his hands run protectively around her waist and curled around her, her feather covered back tickling him a little as she twisted her head to press a soft kiss to his jaw before cuddling back into him again and drifting to sleep, Jesse finally managing to follow her into slumber.

Xxx

Whoo I've been rushed off my feet recently! I'm about to go away on holiday for a couple of weeks so my internet access will be patchy at best, but I'm gonna try and update while I'm out there and I WILL finish writing this fic when I can't be distracted by tumblr!

Sorry this chapter isn't as long but if you go to my tumblr ( .com) I shall be posting the first part of my new two part fic on there in the next couple of hours so I hope you can enjoy that as well :D

Thank you to those who reviewed the last chapter: bouquineuse, thereoncewasaboynamedlarry,Ravenna . solo. 408, The Fluff Queen, St berry lover for life, downwivluv and bueller806! You guys rock and just make my day, honestly :)

Don't forget to go check out my new fic *shameless plug*

Love, as always,

Ray

xxx