I know you probably hate me right now, if you even remember me. I apologize for the crazy long wait, I've been very busy and in the midst [of this nothing] of everything I just couldn't get around to this. But I'll try and be better about this, I promise! And if it makes you feel better, I was writing this instead of getting an assignment done for my music class, that's how much I love you :)

Rachel had conveniently been avoiding Jesse since "the incident", as she referred to it in her mind. Not that she had spent many hours thinking about it or anything. It had been about 3 days and she was still completely embarrassed and didn't know what to do with herself. She had made out with Jesse St. James. Not that anyone would be ashamed to have made out with him, but it was Jesse! Her best friend's brother, the guy who used to "babysit" Quinn and her, if you could call it that. He was like a brother to her, which made the incident seem even more awkward and even creepy. Now she saw the Selena Gomez/Justin Bieber relationship in a whole different light. At least there was someone in the world she could relate to, and of course they were superstars. But the fact was the Rachel was mortified about her behavior that night. Even though they all were acting ridiculous and crazy, and they were all embarrassed now, that didn't make her feel any better. Making out with anyone while drunk was degrading. Unless he's your legitimate significant other.

Jesse found himself sitting in the local Lima bar, at 4 PM having a scotch. This wasn't like him but he felt like he needed a drink, even though drinking was what got him into this mess. Usually he would just forget about it and live on with his life. It was just a drunken kiss. Okay, it was a drunken hot make out session, but whatever. He shouldn't think too much of it, but the fact of the matter was that he couldn't stop thinking of it. He couldn't get Rachel and that night out of his head. He kept remembering how good it felt simply sleeping with her wrapped in his arms. Nothing more was necessary, it was perfect. Even if they were drunk, it felt so good and real. It was as if they were just using drinking as an excuse to finally take that step forward. But Rachel had noticeably ignoring him, and had made it clear she doesn't want to talk about what happened or even acknowledge that it happened. And who could blame her. Ironically enough "Blame it on the Alcohol" started playing and Jesse rolled his eyes and let out a snicker.

"Women trouble?" The bartender asked as he saw this.

Jesse jerked his head up in surprise, "Something like that."

"Man, in my line of work I've heard every story there is out there. Bitches be crazy."

"Ignoring the fact that that was offensive and also mostly true, that's not the problem. I'm the one who messed up. And I wish I could blame it on the alcohol, but I really can't."

"How's that? You cheat? Beat her? Tell her she looked fat?"

"No, of course not," Jesse snapped with a bit of disgust in his voice, "I just... I may have crossed a line that shouldn't have been crossed, and now I may have lost her," he confessed, fiddling with his glass, unconsiously admitting the feelings he had for Rachel.

"Hey, there are plenty of fish in the sea, if she can't handle it, who needs her," the bartender admitted. It wouldn't take a genius to figure out he doesn't have a girlfriend, with good reason.

"I do. But now she probably thinks I took advantage of her and wants nothing to do with me," Jesse said, not caring that the guy he was talking to seemed to be a jerk. That night at Santana's Jesse could finally act the way he was fighting so hard not to. He had been fighting the urge to touch Rachel, to kiss her. Truthfully, he had been fighting feeling anything for her. But when they were both drunk he didn't have the strength to stay away. And she was the instigating the whole thing, he did not force a thing. What did that mean? Maybe she wanted him just as much as he wanted her? Surely she felt the passion there was in their shared kisses.

"Well, if you really want her, then just go get her," he shrugged.

"It's not that simple," Jesse sighed.

"Of course it is. You know how many people come in here, looking for pity because they're in "complicated relationships", when they actually are just a bunch of pussies. Find your balls and tell her how you feel and if she can't take it, then screw her."

Jesse looked at him. He maybe was a jerk but he was also in his own way brilliant. Why complicate things when there is no need to? Why has it ever seemed wrong to love Rachel? If she was a girl he had met in New York somewhere, there wouldn't be anything holding him back. This was about two people and the connection between them and nothing else mattered.

"You know what. You're absolutely right," Jesse nodded, "I'll just tell her how I feel. It's nothing to be ashamed of, right?"

"You don't want me to answer that. But good luck, man."

If that night had done anything, it had made Jesse sure that he wanted Rachel. Not in common sense of the word. He wanted to be with her. He wanted to spend hours on end talking and singing with her. He wanted to sit with her in his arms in the park watching the stars until the sun rose. He wanted to be the shoulder she could cry on and the person she could depend on. He wanted to walk her home from her Broadway shows every night, if he could. He wanted to have intense fights with her because he loved how she could debate. He wanted to make her smile and enjoy the sound of her laughter. He wanted to spend summer days outside with her and cold winter nights snuggled up by the fire with her. He wanted to comfort her when she was hurting and to encourage her when she was feeling down. He wanted to know her deepest, darkest secrets and love her in spite of them. In other words, Jesse St. James wanted Rachel Berry.

"Hello?" Rachel answered her phone. This was one of the last people she wanted to speak to, but she couldn't avoid them forever.

"Rachel, hi! I haven't heard from you in a few days, you okay?"

"Oh, yeah, sorry about that, I was kind of busy. What's up?"

"Nothing specific, just checking on you. Wanna go grab some lunch?"

"Sure," Rachel replied, a little antsy about how she would explain what she did over the weekend.

"Great, pick you up in 20 minutes?"

"Make it 15," Rachel smiled, "Oh, and Quinn?"

"Yeah?"

"If you get bacon and ice cream again, I'll start to think you're pregnant or something," Rachel laughed, completely unaware that she was spot on.

"Hey, that was one time," Quinn played it off as she looked down at her belly, fortunately still able to be masked with a dress. Thank God they were talking on the phone instead of in person.

"Right..." She laughed again.

"Go get ready, smartass," Quinn faked a laugh as she hung up. She was in a good mood today, which is why she decided to call Rachel. This had just been an overall pleasing day. She hadn't felt nauseous since last night, it was a gorgeous day outside and nothing had really pissed her off yet. Qualifies as a successful day.

"Hey, you're home," Jesse said as he entered the kitchen.

"I'm on my way out actually," she replied, "I'm having lunch with Rachel."

"Rachel?" He stopped in his tracks.

"Rachel Berry. You know, short girl, brown hair, contagious laugh..." Quinn said sarcastically.

"I know, I know," Jesse waved his hands, "I actually wanted to talk to you about Rachel."

"What about her?" Quinn looked curious.

"It's just that..." Jesse began, but suddenly it got very hard to continue with what he wanted to say. He took a deep breath, collected his thoughts and spoke again, "How would you feel i-"

"Jesse, I really have to go, can this wait? I'm really hungry and I have to be at Rachel's in 15 minutes. Make that 14 now."

"Uh, sure, tell her I said hi," he said as he ran a hand through his hair.

Damn, he was such a wuss. How was he going to confess to Rachel how he feels when he couldn't even mention anything to his sister? Jesse had to step his game up, and fast. Fortunately, Jesse St. James' game was always stepped up, which is why is grabbed his cellphone, scrolled through his contact list and pressed call.

"So, how was your weekend?" Quinn asked as she took a sip of her ice tea.

"It was great. Aunt Veronica came to visit and check on Daddy, I hadn't seen her in a while, so that was nice. How about you?" Rachel said, trying to change the subject as quickly as possible.

"Eh, nothing special. Hung out with Puck," Quinn looked down at the table, avoiding eye contact.

"You've been spending a lot of time together lately. What's the deal with you two?" Rachel asked with a quizzical brow.

"Actually, we're back together."

"Oh," Rachel gasped, "Well...Then congratulations I guess."

"Thanks, we have a lot of issues that we're working out, so it's not exactly a cakewalk."

"Oh, that's completely normal. What relationship isn't complicated? They're frustrating, but in the end it's usually worth it if he makes you happy," Rachel said, not believing this was coming out of her mouth.

"So I hear," Quinn smiled, "Anyway, as I was heading out Jesse was about to tell me something about you. Oh, he says hi by the way."

"What?" Rachel could feel the blood rushing to her face as her heart started racing, "Wh-what did he want to say?"

Thankfully Quinn was looking at the menu and didn't notice the change in Rachel's skin color.

"I dunno, I told him I didn't have time. He was probably going to rant about how you liked Vanessa Hudgens in RENT and how you don't deserve to have friends or something," Quinn shrugged.

"Oh.." Rachel felt relieved. So relieved that she completely ignored that RENT statement.

"You mentioned bacon and ice cream and now I really want some. Thanks Rach," Quinn rolled her eyes and changed the subject.

"I knew it!" Rachel cried.

"You're one who said you're psychic." Quinn was master of deceit so to speak. She used the "tell them the truth sarcastically and they won't believe it anyway" technique. It worked like a charm. If someone accuses you of something, denying it just makes them question it more. Coming flat out and saying "of course" will make them laugh and know you have nothing to hide. Quinn wasn't Queen Bee for nothing.

"Good thing my backup plan was to become an actress."

"Actually, I think you might have a future as a psychic, you're kind of on a roll."

Yeah, forget about everything mentioned previously. Quinn was mind fucking Rachel right now.

"What do you mean?" Rachel looked up from her menu just as the waitress came over to their table. The second Quinn said that Rachel knew she was pregnant. The way she had been "feeling under the weather" so often, having these odd cravings, not wanting to go tanning or swimming, wearing noticeably looser clothing...How did she not realize this earlier?

"Hi, my name is Jessica and I'll be your wait-"

"Quinn, what do you mean?" She insisted, interrupting Jessica. She had to get to the bottom of this.

"That was really rude. I'm sorry about how my friend's behavior, Jessica. I'll be sure to tip you ver-"

"Quinn!"

"Gosh, Rachel, settle down! Jessica, could you give us a few minutes?"

Jessica nodded and scurried away.

"Are you trying to tell me something?" Rachel cried in outrage.

"I was, actually, but you seem to have already overreacted before I got the chance to actually say it."

"What is this a drop-as-many-bombshells-as-you-can-on-your-friend-before-even-ordering lunch?"

"I just want to get it out and carry on. I've kept this to myself and Puck for too long and I can't take it anymore and I would appreciate if you'd get yourself together, because you're the one who is supposed to be supporting me right now, not the other way around."

"Wait, let me just get this straight - are you pregnant?" Rachel whispered.

"Yes, Rachel! I'm fucking pregnant!" Quinn snapped forcefully, but quiet enough that no one else could hear.

Rachel just sat there with her mouth open and stared at Quinn for a moment and didn't even notice Jessica had returned.

"Ah, Jessica, I'll have something from the breakfast menu. I know it says you don't serve it after 10 o'clock, but I know for a fact you actually do, so I would like some bacon with eggs Benedict, a side of pickles and cherries, please. And my friend over here will have the chicken salad and a Diet Coke. Thank you," Quinn said cheerfully and handed her their menus.

"Oh my God..." Rachel finally spoke, "I-I...I don't know what to say."

Quinn took a deep breath and braced herself for the Q&A that was about to take place.

"I'm sure you don't, which is why I just came out and said it. I'm pregnant. With Noah Puckerman's child," Quinn shrugged. She had chosen the perfect day to tell Rachel. If she had chosen an emotional day she would have been sobbing too much to speak. Today she was feeling relatively careless and cheerful.

"How...how far along are you?" Rachel stuttered.

"About 9 weeks in."

"What are you going to do with the baby?"

"Puck really wants to keep it. But I'm still trying to decide," she finally became serious, "I don't know how I'll be able to go to Yale and raise a freaking baby! And then there's the issue of telling my parents. And Jesse!"

"Hon, I'm here for you," Rachel nodded and grabbed her hand, "I'll help you get though this."

"I knew you would say that," Quinn smiled, "Which is why I decided I should tell you."

"So you haven't told anyone else except Puck?"

"Nope."

Suddenly all thoughts of Jesse left Rachel's mind. She hadn't completely wrapped her head around this new development, obviously, but it was still the only thing she could think about. Knowing Quinn's parents, telling them would be one of the hardest things Quinn will ever do, and she really needed someone to lean on right now.

"Well then, I think we should start planning your confession speech."

Sorry if that's not the way you imagined Quinn telling Rachel about the pregnancy, it's not how I had planned it to go down at all. This story has simply taken on a life of its own and I have very little control over it anymore lol. If you write fanfic you might understand this. Anyway, I'm on a Jon Groff love high after his birthday, which is why I just dropped everything and wrote this. Hope you enjoyed and don't hesitate to review :)