*Here I am with the next chapter. I want to keep writing this story, but the comments did get to me. So I would like to address them. One, I happened to love Jesse. Still do. Two, I never said this was a Finchel story. Just sayin. Three, this story is very special to me, and I hope it can be special for you too. Enjoy guys…*
…
Rachel woke up from a deeply pleasant sleep. She yawned and stretched her legs out. She rubbed her eyes and opened them. Looking towards the window she saw the rays of sun sneak in behind the purple curtains that hung from the wall. She turned her head to look at her son when she noticed that he was not laying in the cold spot next to her. She practically jumped from her bed, paying no attention to the shoes that were in front of her, causing her to trip, landing on her face.
"Ouch!" She said with a hiss, as she gathered herself up. Shaking it off she reached the door, pulling it open quickly. She stopped when she heard the sound of Jesse singing an old nursery rhyme.
"The Wheels on the bus go…" He sang, stopping just before saying round. He and Rachel waited for a second.
"Round and ROUND!" The child sang out. Jesse clapped.
"Very good! The wheels on the bus go round and round." He continued the song.
Rachel could not help but well up with tears. She had never heard Finn sing with Grayson before. Hearing how excited her son was at completing the song made her heart fly.
Jesse looked up from Grayson and gave Rachel a large smile. He leaned down and whispered something into the ear of Grayson. The little boy quickly got up from his seat and turned around. Seeing Rachel at the end of the hall he bolted as fast as he could, until he crashed head first into his mom's legs.
"Mommy!" He squealed! "Mr. Jesse is so nice!" he laughed. "We sing!"
"I heard, baby! And you sounded so good!" She ruffled his hair. "Have you had food yet?"
"Oh yes! Chewios!" He laughed. Rachel smirked and looked at Jesse.
"Cheerios?" She giggled. Jesse held his hands up in defense.
"Hey. He was being all cute, and I just could not say no to him. I also made you breakfast. Vegan pancakes, with fresh fruit. I seem to remember you telling me you enjoyed those."
"I cannot believe you remembered." Her voice cracked. Grayson left his mother's arms to run back to the living room where a cartoon was playing.
"Of course." He smiled. He pulled the chair out that was placed before her breakfast. She carefully made her way to her chair. Blushing as she took her seat. "So, how did you sleep?" Jesse asked, sitting down next to her.
"Good. Really good. That was the best sleep I have had in months, maybe even years." She took a bite of her pancakes. "Oh my. These are the best vegan pancakes I have ever had!" She hurried another bite into her mouth.
"I am very glad you like them." Jesse cleared his voice. "So, I noticed you only came with one bag." He huffed a little. "I was thinking we could go out to the mall today and pick up some stuff for you and Grayson. I have a huge backyard but no toys for him. We can get some clothes, and some things for him and you. I was also thinking of taking apart my office and turning it into a bedroom for Grayson. So, to do that we need a bed. Then I think-" He was cut off.
"Slow down. I can't have you doing all of this for me. That is all too much. I don't even know where to begin with this. I just." She looked down.
"Rach. I WANT to do this for you. I want him to have a safe, fun place to live. I want you to have your own things and your own place too. I want to support you. Everything I said to you last night is still true. None of it changes. Let me take care of you. Let me help you get onto your feet. Let me make you smile." He pleaded with her. A look of pure adoration shone in his eyes.
"Okay" She whispered. Unsure to herself if she even heard it. "I will let you make me smile." her mouth twitched.
"Good. Now, finish eating. I'll get the little bugger ready." He stood up, grabbing Grayson by the hips, throwing him over his shoulder and marching towards the bathroom.
…
"Jesse, I still don't know about this." She said as they pulled up to the Chapel Hill Mall. She took a deep breath. "You shouldn't do this for me."
"It's love, Rachel." He looked at her. She stopped breathing.
"Love?" She whispered.
"Love." He unbuckled himself from the driver's seat, getting out, then turning to the backseat to pull Grayson out. He lifted him high into the sky and placed him atop his shoulders. Rachel stood there for a moment, unable to move or even breathe. She knew that Jesse had feelings for her, but how deep those feelings were was unknown to her.
"You coming, mommy?" Jesse called back over his shoulder. Grayson laughed loudly as he tugged on Jesse's curly hair.
"Yeah! I am right behind you." Rachel removed her seat belt, and stepped out of the car. She could hear her son laughing in the distance as Jesse bounced away with the toddler on his shoulders.
They walked together, laughing and playing with the giggling toddler. They shopped for what seemed like hours. They went into every kids store they could find, and Jesse purchased all kinds of new clothes, toys, and furniture. He even went as far as ordering a while playset and pool for the backyard. Jesse made sure that this child would not want for anything. Rachel was amazed. Never had she been shown such kindness.
"Alright. Now that everything is in place for Grayson, we need to work on your things" Jesse mentioned as he pulled Rachel into a clothing store. He took out his wallet and handed her his credit card. "I do not want to hear you object. I am going to go take Grayson into the playground, and I want you to get anything and everything you need. New towels, bed sheets, clothes, shoes, you name it. I was not kidding when I said that my home is now your home. There is no point to having such a big house and no one to share it with. After we leave here we'll go get lunch, then grocery shopping." He leaded, gave Rachel a small kiss on the cheek, then took Grayson by the hand and led him out of the store.
Rachel stood there for a minute perplexed. It had been a long time since she got anything new for herself, and using Jesse's money was not something she was excited to do. However she knew that if she did not buy anything, Jesse would just go get everything himself. So she filled a cart. She got new clothes that she was actually excited to wear. She got a new bed set, and some candles. By the end of her whole trip, she had so many bags she needed to borrow a cart to get them all out. As she dragged the carts through the mall, searching for Jesse and Grayson, a voice from behind called out to her. She turned around and tears flooded her eyes. Quinn was running towards her at full speed. People everywhere moved out of her way, and shook their heads in disapproval of this girl.
"Oh my gosh. Rachel. Rachel. Rachel. Rachel." She wrapped her arms around the small brunette. Both girls held onto each other as tears flowed down their faces.
"Quinn." Rachel whispered.
"What are you doing here? You have never been allowed to just be at the mall, and by the looks of it buying yourself a whole new wardrobe." Quinn sniffled and laughed.
"I left him, Quinn". Rachel said soundly. "I really left. I took Grayson and we have left. After the other night when I woke up to him trying to do… things" Rachel lowered her eyes for a minute as Quinn put her hand on her arm. "I knew I had to leave. Not just for me, but for Grayson. I don't want him to grow up thinking you can treat a person like the way I was being treated."
"Oh Rach! I am so glad you are out of there!" Quinn pulled her into another hug. "But wait, where are you staying? Finn will find you at your parents house, and I am sure I will hear from him soon."
"Well, do you remember that guy I told you about? Jesse?" Rachel bit her lip.
"Oh yeah, I do. I call him the "Mr. hey your beautiful" guy" Quinn laughed. "Wait. Is that him over there with Grayson?" Quinn pointed to the two walking over to the girls. Grayson was laughing and carrying a teddy bear in his hand. Jesse looked deep in conversation with the toddler, and had a large smile on his face.
Rachel nodded. "Yeah, that is him. We went to his house last night and he took us in. And I mean in, like he got all this stuff for me, and Grayson. He wants us to live there so that we have a safe home. I am still trying to process everything."
"Well, I don't know if you see the same thing I do, but it looks like Jesse just made himself Grayson's dad." Quinn smirked.
"Stop! Grayson has a dad." Rachel hissed.
"No, he has a father. Any dumbass can give you sperm, but it takes a man to be a dad." Quinn pointed the two out again. "See how he is looking at Grayson? I never saw Finn look at him like that. I mean, you are talking about the man who would use boxes to block out Grayson from bugging him while he was playing a video game." She snorted. "Now, Jesse? He is looking at that toddler like he is the only toddler in the world. If he is looking at him like that, I can't even begin to think about how he is looking at you."
"Well… He said he is doing all of this because of love." Rachel watched the man play with her child as they got closer.
"Hey mommy!" Jesse said as they reached Quinn and Rachel. "Who is your friend?" He gave a smile, while picking up Grayson and placing him on his hip.
"I'm Quinn." She held out her hand to shake Jesse's free hand. "It is an absolute honor to meet you! I hope you don't mind, but I have heard a LOT about you. Thank you for taking them in. I cannot wait to see how much Rachel grows and blossoms being away from that lug." She scoffed. "Rachel, I will be calling you in a few days to take you out to dinner." She gave her a quick hug, winked at Jesse, and went off behind them.
Jesse took a look at all the stuff in the cart that Rachel had and smiled. "I am glad you were able to feel okay with using my card."
"It was different. But I knew that if I did not get anything for myself, you would have gotten stuff for me." Rachel laughed. She grabbed her cart, and together they headed for the door.
….
After a long day of shopping, they returned home. The kitchen was now stocked for a family of 3. Grayson was happily playing with his new toys as Jesse cleared out his office to make room for him. Rachel deccoreated her new room, and found it freeing to finally have a space where she could have it to herself.
"Hey, I thought you might like this." Jesse came in and handed her a macbook pro. "This is an older model, and it has been sitting around here for a few weeks. I just got a newer one for work, and I thought maybe you could use it."
"Oh gosh, yes. I left my old one at the house. I mean, it was Finn's but I could use it at times." Rachel took the computer and placed it on her bed.
Jesse looked around the room with a smile. "Now this looks like Rachel. I remember the one time I went to the other house and it was all dingy and smelled like sweat. In here it smells like you. Like vanilla." Jesse blushed a bit. This woman took a strong, sarcastic man and turned him into a family man overnight. "You really have not had any freedom in a long time, have you?" Jesse asked, sitting on her bed. Rachel shifted her weight from her left foot to her right foot and took in a breath. Just before she could open her mouth to respond, the doorbell rang. "I'll get it." Jesse placed a kiss on her cheek, giving her a red glow to her cheeks.
As Jesse walked closer to the door, a loud fist banged on the door. Jesse stopped. Rachel peared out of her room. "Who is it, Jesse?" Grayson ran over to his mother, the knock scaring him slightly.
"Take Grayson to my room, and lock the door." Jesse said in a low but firm voice. Rachel did not even think to argue. She quickly scooped up the toddler, went into Jesse's room, and locked the door behind her.
Jesse took a breath, opened the door slightly, but kept the chain lock still closed.
"Hello Finn."