Hi again! Sorry for taking so long to update but I had a severe case of writers block to all my stories and lack of time certainly did not help. Here's what I managed to get out. I hope you all like it.
On Monday, all the advisors and glee club members gather in the choir room to celebrate the Sectionals win. In a sweet moment Rachel watches as all the previous trophies are placed back in the case to honor and remember the victories she was lucky to be a part of. As the Nationals trophy is placed back in, the memory of her handing it to Finn to be placed in the case after their long sought-after win comes to mind and the emotions are almost too much for her to handle. But the arms of her boyfriend wrapped around her help keep her together. Instead of an overwhelming pain and sadness at once again being reminded that her once boyfriend is no longer with them she feels acceptance and happiness knowing that that loving memory is safely tucked away in her heart. Not holding her back or impeding on her future with the man currently holding her.
She glances back at Jesse and sees the love and understanding that she will be eternally grateful of having from him.
"I want you to come with me to the auditorium," she whispers to him as the group breaks down into individual conversations.
"Whatever you want," he whispers back.
They politely excuse themselves and make their way to the auditorium.
"I'm relieved to be out of there," she sighs, enjoying her boyfriends arms around her and his head on her shoulder.
"I could tell it was getting to be too much for you," he reveals, placing a soft kiss on her neck.
"It was but you kept me from going too far. Just you holding me reminded me that I have a life to look forward to now and there's no reason for me to wallow in my memories," she explains and she feels his lips on her cheek.
"But this place had just as many memories for you, why come here?" he asks and she can't stop a smile from growing in her face. She takes a few steps away from him, turns around and takes his hands in hers.
"Because I realized there's something that we didn't get to do when we dated and I really wanted to do it with you here in the auditorium," she explains, but is confused by the look of confusion in his face that morphs into a smirk.
"Well, well who knew Rachel Berry could be so insatiable? I would have thought the romantic weekend getaway I planned out for us would have been enough but apparently not. But hey," he shrugs. "I'm willing to fulfill whatever fantasy you have."
A blush quickly rises in her face as she processes what her boyfriend is suggesting.
"Jesse!" she exclaims. Her boyfriend just breaks down in laughter at her expression.
"I'm kidding," he says between laughs. "I may be open to those kind of things but I know you're not. At least not yet."
The last part seeming to be added when she raises a challenging eyebrow at him.
"You're incorrigible," she tells him.
"And yet for some unknown reason you say you love me," he says softly.
"I really truly do," she reassures, hugging him.
Besides their in bed activities, a great part of the weekend had been spent saying those words to him, making him believe that she had really said those words and that she really meant them.
"So if you're not referring to our lack of lovemaking in high school, what are you referring to?" he asks innocently once she lets go.
"What I was referring to was that we never sang a proper duet on this stage. You're yearning the other day reminded me how much I regretted not getting to sing with you during a competition and even though we don't have judges we can sing a proper duet with the band," she explains as the band walks in with Brad sitting on the piano bench.
"Let's do this Berry. Just promise me you won't hold back," he says walking towards the other end of the stage.
"I've never held back when singing with you and I won't start now."
Brad begins playing the piano with the band following his lead.
"I know there's something in the wake of your smile. I get a notion from the look in your eyes. Yeah. You built a love, and that love falls apart. Your little piece of heaven, turns to dark. Listen you your heart, when he's calling for you. Listen to," Rachel begins to sing smiling as Jesse joins in.
"Listen to your heart. There's nothing else you can do," he sings.
Neither one of them notice the glee club entering the auditorium or the smiles Will nor their friends have at seeing Rachel truly happy.
"I don't know where you're going, and I don't know why. But listen to your heart before you tell him goodbye," they both sing as Jesse makes his way towards her. "Oh,oh."
"Listen to your heart," Jesse sings as he stands in front of her.
"When he's calling for you," they both sing together minimizing the distance between them.
"Listen to your heart," she sings with a 'cocky' smile.
"Listen to your heart," he sings back returning it.
"There's nothing else you can do. I don't know where you're going and I don't know why," they both sing. Jesse throws her a challenging look, telling her to go toe to toe with him.
"But listen to your heart," she sings giving him a subtle nod as she moves away from him to the edge of the stage but without breaking eye contact with him.
"Listen to your heart," he sings a small smile coming on his face knowing that she understood and copying her movements.
"Before… oh listen to your heart!" they both belt, competing with each other and finally feeling the rush that came with singing together.
"Listen to your heart," he sings facing her with his hand over his heart.
"Take a listen to it," Rachel sings as she faces him again smiling brightly.
"Whoa," they both sing as they move closer to each other again. "I don't know where you're going and I don't know why. But listen to your heart before you tell him goodbye," they both finish softly, not breaking eye contact and only a few inches away from each other. Before they can move in to kiss they hear the applause of their unknown audience. As Jesse wraps an arm around her and she sees her friends' happiness for her she knows that she has found her life again and that she is truly happy