Chibi-Kari: Wow it has been a long time since I've touched this story. Jesse's back next week! Who's excited? I am! I don't own anything except for my own plots. I did, however, say a very Jesse-esque line the other day. I was talking with my friends and said, "Yeah. I got into the MPhil programme at University College London. It's in London." I almost facepalmed after I did it. Luckily, only one of my friends is a Glee fan and she just raised her eyebrow at me. Sorry for the big delay. I hope you guys don't hate me! Please leave a message after the button!
Forever
Jesse plastered a large smile on his face as he tried to calm his nerves. Here he was standing outside Rachel's door and for once he was expected. Welcome even. Not by Rachel, but two against one was good in his books. Plus, he could win back Rachel. He would. He had to. There would be no kiss in the street. No rain. But he would make their official reconciliation perfect. Now that he was older (and smarter) he knew the perfect way to get Rachel back. Slow and sure. She'd have no idea what he was after until she was standing in front of him professing her love. Like he told Puck, you had to coax her into anything. If she thought it was her idea it would be full speed ahead. And if he wanted to keep Brian out of the picture for the long term he had to do just that.
Step one: Show her that he has changed. And the perfect way of doing this? Being the perfect Uncle to Beth. Luckily this wasn't hard for him. He strove every day to make sure he treated Beth with the perfect balance to doting and realism. He truly did love the little girl more than any member of his family and he would make sure she didn't end up too screwed up. He knew exactly how harsh the real world was and you needed a support system around you to make it.
Step two: Befriend her. He would be Rachel's shoulder to cry on, but he wouldn't be easy on her. If she needed to be told she was being ridiculous he would. He didn't the first time around and Run Joey Run happened. He also wouldn't be the horrible cocky boy that spoke in half truths. He hadn't been the boy since college when his drama teacher threw him out of a class once. It had been a rude awakening, but it worked.
Step three: Let her profess her love for him.
Step four: Accept said love, sweep her off her feet, and marry her.
Timeframe: Before Brian came back stateside. With work visas that probably gave him six months, but he was one Jesse St. James. And he had Beth on his side.
He took a deep breath before knocking on the wood door in front of him. The unassuming door seemed almost out of place for a New York apartment complex. He heard some shuffling from behind the door before it opened slightly to reveal Beth.
"Hey, Bethy. I brought your overnight bag. Can I come in?" He smiled brightly at her.
Beth held the door closer to herself and affixed a firm frown on her face. "I don't think you should come in."
She made to snatch for her bag and Jesse jerked the bag farther back, immediately realizing what happened. He did know Beth since birth. She had changed her mind. He frowned. This was a going to make his plan more difficult, but not impossible. Actually, with the way Beth was acting it might actually be better for him. "I don't think so. I need to talk to your sister."
Beth narrowed her eyes. "I don't think so. I like Brian and I want Rachel to marry him one day and you can't get in the way of that."
"I don't think that's your decision, Beth."
"And it's not yours." She huffed, standing up at her straightest trying to be intimidating.
"You seem to think you can just take your bag and go back inside that apartment without consequences. That's not how life works, Beth, and you know that. I can't let you go off and stay with people I don't know without your mother's permission, mind you." It was a low card, but Jesse wasn't one to fear a low blow. He dealt them often and wasn't afraid of them coming back at him. Beth hadn't mastered the second part yet. No matter how much she said she hated her mother, she didn't want to make her mad.
"What'll you do? Tell my mom?" Beth sneered at him slightly.
Jesse felt his eyebrows rise. He wasn't sure when she started talking back this bad, but the teenager in her was certainly rearing its ugly head. "Yes."
Beth blinked slightly, taken-aback. Normally Uncle Jesse bent to most of her whims. "Go ahead then. And you know Rachel. So I wouldn't be staying at someone's house that you didn't know." She scrambled for some thread to hold on to and prayed her uncle wouldn't call her bluff.
"Knew. I knew Rachel years ago. I don't know her now and I don't know Brian at all. So no I don't feel comfortable allowing you to stay here without your mother's permission, while you're under my care. What if something happens to you Beth? Did you think of that? Who would be in trouble? On top of that, I care too much about you to let you wander into potential harm." It was true. No matter how much he wanted to impress Rachel with his trust and no matter how much he wanted Beth to love him unconditionally, he was a responsible adult. Beth needed to be safe first and foremost.
"Responsible of you, Jesse." Her voice started both Beth and Jesse. He hadn't expected Rachel to open the door. "Why don't you go back inside, Beth. It's almost your and Brian's favorite part."
"But-" Beth tried to protest as she glanced between them. She didn't want to leave them alone. What if they decided they were in love with each other while she was gone?
"Beth." Rachel pushed her lightly through the door before cracking it and stepping out into the hallway. She crossed her arms and eyed him wearily. "What do you need to know?"
"You." It was simple and a lot more loaded than Rachel had expected, judging on her expression. "And Brian of course. I can't just have Beth gallivanting around and staying with people I don't know. I also don't feel comfortable having her spend more than two nights. Speaking of which, where will she be sleeping?"
"She can share my bed." Rachel leaned on the wall next to her door, casually.
"And where will Brian be?"
"He can take the couch."
"For two nights?" Jesse asked incredulously. He seemed like a good guy, but that was harsh. He had two more weeks before flying out to London. If Jesse was in his place he would want to spend them in a familiar bed instead of a lumpy couch.
"There was a change in plans. He has to fly out to London early tomorrow so he's going to catch a cab in the morning. Then it'll be just Beth and I."
Jesse nodded. He couldn't complain with that. In fact, he felt better about the situation. He thought Brian seemed like a great guy, but some of the best seeming guys ended up being creepers. "Be careful what you say around, Beth. She idolizes you and would repeat anything you say."
Rachel's eyes narrowed. She wasn't stupid. She didn't need him treating her like that. "Yes, Dad."
Jesse sighed. His Rachel had never been so defensive. She had been intrinsically trusting. "Geeze, Rach. I didn't mean anything by that. She became vegan because you're vegan and she's probably going to wait until she's 26 to have sex because of you." Rachel raised an eyebrow at that and Jesse waved his hand dismissively. "Ask Brian about that one if you want. I don't know you anymore, so I don't know what you do or say, but I do know Beth. She loves you and she doesn't even know you. You have to imagine how hesitant that would make me."
Rachel nodded reluctantly. No matter how much she wanted to ignore anything that Jesse had to say she knew he was right. She would have to be more careful. "Fine."
Jesse nodded. "What time should I pick her up tomorrow for you to get to work? I have two weeks off before we start filming so I want to spend that time with her-"
Rachel cut Jesse off with a laugh. "Have you really forgotten so much about Broadway? Tomorrow's Monday and my show isn't one of the few that shows."
Jesse blinked rapidly. "Right." He had forgotten that most shows were closed on Mondays.
She shrugged slightly. There was an uncomfortable silence. She didn't think Jesse would have forgotten all about Broadway. "Anyway, I thought she and I would go to see Chicago at the Ambassador tomorrow night, but the rest of the day I don't know. Maybe wander the city together." She shrugged. She hadn't really had a plan. She did want to see something with Beth though and with the few shows open on Monday she couldn't be too choosy. And Chicago was pretty good.
"Chicago." Jesse repeated it. If he had it his way he wouldn't bring Beth to that particular musical, moral wise he didn't think it was the best thing for a ten year old, but he knew she had already seen the movie with Shelby. Couldn't take back damage already done.
"That's okay, right? I know it isn't the best for someone so young." Rachel wasn't sure what she was supposed to say. She wasn't sure how Beth had been raised.
Jesse waved his hand again. "Shelby showed her the movie years ago. Beth likes the music from it from what I can remember. So I'm sure she'll have a great time."
"Years ago?" Rachel echoed incredulously.
Jesse frowned slightly. "Yeah. When she was eight or so. I think Phantom would have been more appropriate, but what can you do?" He sighed. "I'm sure she'll want to see you perform while she's here. Can you get two tickets for Tuesday?"
"Two tickets? Sure, but why two?" Rachel shook her head slightly.
Jesse tried to shrug nonchalantly. "I figured Beth and I would go to dinner and then make a night of it. I can pay for my ticket if you want, but I'd like to sit with her."
"No. No. I can get two. I just didn't realize you'd want to come." Rachel felt like kicking herself. Of course he'd want to come. Beth was his responsibility and he'd have to be with her while Rachel was in preps for the night. "You seem a lot more responsible. I can't get over it."
Jesse sighed. "I'm a lot older now. I have a career and a niece I love." He laughed slightly. "It also got beaten into me in college. You know I really am sorry and feel so stupid-"
Rachel raised her hand. She didn't want his apology. It made her feel stupid and weak. It reminded her of who she used to be and what she let people do to her. "Don't. Just don't."
"Okay. I just don't want any hard feelings here with how we'll be shuffling Beth around for the next two weeks. It almost feels like joint custody." He laughed and Rachel joined in.
"We'll you'll be coming with her Tuesday night, so not quite." Suddenly the air turned serious again.
"You know I'd never miss a chance to see you perform." Jesse wanted to catch the words as soon as they left his mouth. He didn't want her to feel uncomfortable. "And I want to spend as much time with Beth as I can. I haven't seen her that much this last year."
She nodded and turned back to the door after grabbing the bag on the floor. "I should go inside before the movie ends."
"Yeah." Jesse stuffed his hands in his pockets. It hadn't gone exactly as he expected. There was so much between them. So much that neither seemed to want to talk about.
Rachel suddenly felt guilty. She was stealing his time with Beth. "Beth and I probably won't go anywhere until around ten tomorrow. So if you want to come by around then you could come with us."
"Sure." Jesse said quickly; he didn't want her to think about it and potentially take it back. Rachel nodded and shut the door quickly. It didn't go exactly as planned, but in some ways it went better.