She had been fifteen when she first started dating Jesse St. James. As a high school sophomore, dating a senior had felt... well, it had been a thrill, to have been dating someone older, who was going to college and was already so removed from the trivialities of high school. They belonged to rival show choirs on different counties, but his team had provided him with transportation in the form of his very own Range Rover, and as their star and male lead, he got to dictate his rehearsal hours. (The latter part had turned out to have been a lie, as he had been allowed some leeway with his time to be able to pursue her.)

Rachel had been smitten, from the very instant she'd met Jesse, and had been far too willing to let go of the fact that they were on competing show choirs. He spoke to her as an equal, and he listened to her with a sympathetic ear (and understood what she actually said), and on the topic of being each others' competition, he had merely pointed out that healthy competition could only make them better.

They had been competitors, but he understood her - probably more than anyone else in McKinley ever did.

On their very first date, he had taken her to a diner that was kosher and served vegan: a restaurant in Lima's city limits that she hadn't even known existed. Jesse had admitted that he'd figured she was Jewish ("Girl singing Barbra? Doesn't take a genius."), but that date was how he had learned she was vegan.

Their dates had always tread the line between casual and formal, because he'd been catering to her idealized version of dating that she had learned from classic movies, while also keeping it as relaxed an affair as anything. Of course, his plans usually went out the window when she would provide him with suggestions (directives) that included a county fair or a Wiggles concert. But he had always maintained that the important part of the date was that they were having fun, and she'd always managed to make those outings fun for both of them.

When they had started dating, he'd still been based in Carmel's school district (she supposed, in hindsight, he never actually left), which meant they only really got to go out for dinner. He had loathed the food at Breadstix, where he had taken her on their second date at her suggestion, and with her then-determination to dine strictly vegan, their options were further limited.

But they had persevered. And when he had supposedly transferred to McKinley, and Glee Club's rehearsal schedule being nowhere near as grueling as Vocal Adrenaline's, they had explored the town together. He had no preferences around town, and she had been limited to what her fathers knew, so seeing what else Lima had to offer had been a revelation. The Rover also allowed them to go beyond Lima limits to see what was in neighboring counties, and really, she thinks that's why they had bonded as well as they have (although in hindsight, she really should have thought more of the fact that he had left Vocal Adrenaline but apparently got to keep the Rover).

The places they went to were usually quiet little places that few people their age also hung out at, and they had liked it that way. They never had to contend with pretty and popular girls from McKinley coming on to Jesse and asking him why he was dating such a loser, or Neanderthals from the football and hockey teams asking him if Rachel was his beard, implying he was gay and there would be no other reason for him to date her, all because he was in Glee Club.

Best of all? They never had to contend with Glee Club.

The New Directions never truly welcomed Jesse, due to spotlight-related reasons, or because they never believed he would leave Vocal Adrenaline for a struggling Glee Club (or that he would leave his nationally-awarded show choir for Rachel). Finn, especially, had made it hard for Jesse and Rachel to carry out their relationship.

(And Rachel had heightened that conflict with Run Joey Run, which she regretted the moment Jesse had confronted her about it; she had realized the mistake that it had been when she'd seen the looks on the boys' faces, but regret had been exclusive to Jesse. He'd been right, after all: he had given up so much for her, and she couldn't even simply let go of the idea of Finn.)

New York, she had promised herself back when she had started her days in NYADA, was her new start.

And part of that new start was to not let any of her high school expectations carry over to this new start with Jesse.

Not that it was going to be easier: Shelby had imposed a few dating rules while Rachel lived with her, and those rules had included a 'No boys in the apartment' clause... which made Rachel wonder if her dads had gotten in touch with Shelby to cover that particular penchant of hers, of just inviting boys over to her home (a workaround to what had been their rule that she hadn't been allowed to go out on dates unless her dads had met the boy she was dating). Shelby at least respected the fact that Rachel was a college coed, and while there was no curfew, Rachel had to send Shelby a message every hour after midnight to inform her of her whereabouts. And to activate the GPS on her phone if Rachel expected to be out the whole night.

All of that, without even knowing that the boy Rachel had been excited to go out on a date with was Jesse St. James, and Rachel wondered how she was going to break that particular bit of information to the older woman. Shelby had expressed curiosity and interest in Rachel's date, but she hadn't pressed her for information, which Rachel had been grateful for.

Rachel herself had been curious on the details of their date, but Jesse had kept that information pretty close to the chest.

The restaurant they were in was certainly not a place that they would have found in Lima, its dark wood interior highlighting the bar at the side of the room and light jazz playing in the background. It was sophisticated, especially for a girl from Ohio, but it was still comfortable and casual; while it was not entirely the most romantic place in the world, it made for a good date location.

If only she could enjoy it, as her thoughts kept straying to earlier that day, to that afternoon specifically, on her argument with Kurt and the things he said (and, more to the point, the things he didn't say).

"I know it's not organic, but what did the food ever do to you?"

Rachel quickly looked up, startled from her thoughts, to see Jesse's look of amusement. "What?"

"You've been poking that eggplant for something like five minutes now," Jesse pointed out.

"Oh." Rachel shook her head, and smiled weakly. "I'm being an awful date, aren't I?"

"No." Jesse assured her, before smiling. "Distracted, maybe. I wouldn't say awful."

"And you would know, because...?" Rachel prompted, teasingly.

Jesse laughed. "I've been on dates that have been awful. One actually cared more about the game playing in the background than she was in me."

"That's..."

"I mean, how can a game be more interesting than me?" Jesse asked earnestly.

Rachel smiled, because for all his newfound maturity, it was comforting to see that Jesse was still his usual conceited self.

"Now, seriously, what's on your mind?" Jesse asked, leaning forward.

"I don't want to ruin our date." Rachel hedged, though her intent was sincere.

"You're not crying, so you haven't ruined anything yet."

Rachel frowned. "Crying?"

Jesse shook his head, as if to indicate for her not to ask.

"Okay..." Rachel slightly pushed her plate away and exhaled. "Kurt spoke to me today."

"From your expression I'm guessing it didn't go well?"

Rachel gave him a weak smile. "He wanted to move past the whole matter."

"That's..."

"It didn't go well." Rachel stated plainly. Her expression darkened. "He didn't even apologize, he just... He just basically reiterated what he'd said the other day, he's obviously not bothered to learn more to find out why I feel so strongly about defending Claire, and- and! - he said I was high maintenance and exasperating!"

Jesse held back his comment about how Kurt was one to talk, opting instead to take a drink of water to avoid having to speak. He was pretty sure he wasn't going to be able to hold back on criticising Kurt.

"I just..." Rachel grimaced, before her anger and defensive stance on the whole matter gave way and she allowed her hurt to show. "He's supposed to be my best friend."

There was a pause between them, Rachel wallowing in her frustration and Jesse wondering how to approach the whole matter. Again. Like he had been doing the whole week.

Jesse gave her a discerning glance. "Are you happy?"

Rachel laughed wryly. "I told him I was." She sighed. "I am. I actually really am."

"And do I make you happy?" Jesse questioned.

Rachel shot him an odd look, before smiling fondly. "You know you do."

"And what do you think Kurt's going to say if he finds out we're dating?"

Rachel soft smile disappeared as she frowned. "What..."

"In fact, no, never mind that we're dating: that we're on a date right now." Jesse amended. "Or, the that we're in each others' lives, that we see each other on a regular basis. What Kurt have to say about that?"

Rachel's frown remained, deep in thought. "He won't be happy."

"Even if he knows you're happy? That I make you happy?"

"What does that even..."

"Do you think he'll ever get over himself and accept that Jesse St. James, the guy who... well, let's not list my sins as Vocal Adrenaline lead right now, but the guy who screwed up so spectacularly the first time around with you, is someone who makes you happy? Would he ever be happy about the fact that we're together?"

"He..." Rachel hesitated. She wanted to say yes, that Kurt would be happy for her, and maybe he'd learn to like, if not merely tolerate Jesse, but she wasn't so sure. He was, after all, Finn's stepbrother. And Kurt, like so many of the members of Glee Club, only knew that Jesse had dated her and later funked the Glee Club, and also broke her heart. They didn't know the guy she had fallen in love with in the first place, the boy who made her feel special. They didn't know about the guy who had listened, the guy who paid attention, the guy who had cared enough to come crawling back to Ohio just to apologize to her.

He had been right, that moment in the auditorium when he and his flunkies had performed Another One Bites the Dust: the New Directions had never welcomed him, and nobody had listened to his ideas. He had never felt like he was a part of the New Directions, even though he had been dating their female lead.

Nobody had bothered to learn why Rachel had been so willing to just ignore his (supposedly) former show choir affiliation, why Rachel had refused to just jump right back into Finn Hudson's arms in favor of such a suspicious admirer, or why he had jumped the Vocal Adrenaline ship just so he could be with Rachel. Her Glee Club teammates had always treated them and their relationship with suspicion and disdain, which had turned out to be warranted, but their opinion of him - of them - hadn't changed even when he had returned and apologized.

He hadn't apologized to them - none of them had deserved it - but he'd apologized to Rachel, and she'd told him she forgave him.

Jesse watched Rachel, her emotions plain on her face. He didn't have a high opinion of the members of the New Directions, especially their dubious distinction as Rachel's friends, but he could only express his disdain for them, never his reasons. He knew Rachel thought that he just didn't like them as a general rule, and he didn't refute that opinion.

"He'd probably tell everyone," Rachel finally said in resignation. She gave Jesse a faint, and wry, smile. "And everyone will have an opinion that would probably be negative and entirely well off the mark."

Jesse returned her wry smile. "Right. So, see? Kurt's opinion doesn't really matter."

"But it does. To me it does."

"Well, does his opinion weigh more than, say, Quinn's?"

Rachel stopped. She valued Kurt's opinion, definitely, but she had always given a lot of weight to what Quinn had to say, even when the then-Cheerio captain had been so hurtful towards her. When they had become friends, well, Quinn's opinion almost had veto power. "No."

"Then his opinion is just one. You also have Quinn's, and Claire's, and mine and whomever else's you want to put value to. There are people who want you to be happy. People who want you to succeed. People who want to be there, to be right beside you and help you achieve whatever you want. People who know that they can very well be left behind when you achieve your goals but wouldn't mind just being there for the ride." Jesse said softly.

Rachel's gaze lowered briefly before she looked back up to him. "Claire said there's a reason it's called 'show business', and not 'show friends'."

Jesse had to smile. He thought Claire was a much bitchier version of Rachel, but maybe that didn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. "Yeah, well, she's got that right."

"I don't want to my ambitions to get in the way of my relationships, Jesse."

"Sometimes it can't be helped, Rachel." Jesse countered. He looked up at her meaningfully. "Sometimes the important things have to be sacrificed."

Rachel held his gaze, letting the message of that statement reign with its impact. After all, didn't that sum up the whole demise of their previous relationship?

It spoke of their growth as a pair that recalling that time no longer really pained either of them, just reminded them of a bittersweet memory they were both hoping to truly move past.

Before either of them could say more, the music playing over the speakers inside the room was cut off and a disembodied voice announced, "Please be informed that this is the last call for tonight's dining experience. Tonight's performance will be starting shortly."

Rachel turned questioningly at Jesse. "Performance?"

"It was an alternative to 54 Below that I could get a reservation to." Jesse explained. He saw her face fall slightly, and he frowned. "What, were you expecting dinner at Sardi's and tickets to Wicked?"

Yes. "Well, no, not exactly..."

Jesse watched her face carefully, his face brightening at the realization. "You did!"

Rachel pouted. "We're in New York, and that's what you do in New York."

"Yeah, if you're a tourist." Jesse retorted.

"But surely..."

"Not on a date with me, Rachel."

"It's Sardi's!" Rachel protested.

"Rachel," Jesse began, leaning forward. "Sardi's has become a tourist trap. Old school Broadway or not, this isn't a sweep-you-off-your-feet, win-you-over, last-ditch-effort-to-get-you-back date. This is a first date. And I want to show you a New York that I'm falling in love with, one I'm hoping you will, too."

"I just... how do you know if the performer's really any good?"

Jesse gave her a wry look. "We're still within proximity of 42nd and 50th. Nobody who's never been cast on a Broadway show would be allowed on that stage."

Rachel cast a wary glance at the stage, where musicians had begun to set up their instruments. She turned back to Jesse. "Just to remind you, we're going out with my friends tomorrow."

"I haven't forgotten." Jesse replied. "What time?"

"Claire said nine."

Jesse nodded.

"We're going to be a group, you can bring your roommate."

Jesse smirked. "Sure."

"You promised I'd meet your friends!"

Jesse laughed. "I know I did."

"We'll have fun." Rachel cajoled.

Jesse shrugged. "I was thinking something more quiet, like coffee or something. On the other hand, a public place with loud music and more people might be a good idea," Jesse noted thoughtfully. He shook his head, and indicated her plate. "Are you done?"

Rachel nodded.

Jesse motioned for a waitress to claim their dishes.

The performer for the evening turned out to be a one-time Drama Desk nominee who had been an Elphaba alternate in one of Wicked's North American tours, so that pretty much had Rachel riveted throughout the cabaret part of their date, and all thoughts of Sardi's and the Gershwin were put on hold.

One cabaret show, yogurt for dessert, and a text message to Shelby later, the duo were winding down their date when Rachel voiced a question she'd been pondering since Jesse told her he wouldn't kiss her until their date. "Why did you wait for our date? To kiss me, I mean."

Jesse shrugged. "Because I wanted to make sure."

"Of what?"

"You once told me the first kiss dictates how the rest of the relationship goes." Jesse explained. "And it occurred to me, in all your stories of past relationships, that your first kisses haven't come at the end of a first date."

"What does that..."

"You're usually supposed to have the first kiss at the end of a date. If any of what you once said still holds true, then I'm doing it right, and this time I wanted to make sure that I've earned the right to kiss you."

The smile that lit up her face told him he'd made the right call.

Before he could say something that would undoubtedly be full of conceit, she pulled him to her and captured his lips with her own.

It wasn't a shy or conservative meeting of lips; there was no slow build up or gentleness to their kiss - it was not a kiss of reconciliation or forgiveness, like their last kiss, almost two years ago, had been. Rachel didn't bother trying to hide her desire for him, moving closer to him and deepening their kiss upon contact. Her arms automatically wrapped around his shoulders and neck as she leaned up to improve her leverage, and felt his own hands rest on her hips, allowing her free reign to control their contact, allowing her to stake her claim.

Years ago, kissing Jesse had been exciting, and gave Rachel a feeling of danger, since he was an older boy with knowledge and experience she had yet to encounter, and kissed so deliciously good. He could make her feel things, elicited a passion and want that she'd barely been able to control back then.

In high school it had been her inexperience that made her put the brakes on their more intimate encounters.

This time it would really just have to be self-control.

Just as she was beginning to think their kiss had to come to an end, a self-imposed timer going off in the back of Rachel's head, Jesse eased his hold on her and made a few subtle changes that successfully adjusted the angle of their bodies, their lips parting slightly to accommodate the change, and then their lips were meeting again.

It was slower this time, their lips (and mouths and tongues) moving together in a timeless dance, a delicate give and take even as the moan that escaped her throat and the way Rachel's grip on Jesse's hair tightened belied her desire.

The kiss gently slowed down until they found it within themselves to break it. Rachel pulled back slightly, not yet letting him go, and gave Jesse a vibrant smile. "Hi."

Jesse smiled back. "Hello."

Rachel kissed him again, this time a mere brushing of lips accompanied with a small hum of happiness and contentment, before she again pulled back, stepping back slightly but not yet leaving his proximity. "Good night, Jesse."

They shared a few more quick kisses before Rachel finally pulled away with a groan. "I have rehearsal in the morning."

"Okay." Jesse acquiesced, stepping away to provide them the distance to prevent them from kissing some more.

"Good night." Rachel said again, stepping further up the front steps to Shelby's apartment building's door, increasing the distance between them.

"We shall say good night 'til it be 'morrow," Jesse quipped, borrowing from Shakespeare, the softness in his tone being only slightly teasing.

Rachel laughed, and made her way up the steps to the door before she turned back to Jesse. "Oh, and Jesse?"

Jesse tilted his head slightly to acknowledge her.

Rachel grinned at him. "I have notes."