Rachel POV

Waking up with Caroline in my arms always seems to set my day off right. Just seeing her little beautiful face smiling up at me cooing Momma made me feel like the most needed person in the world. In her eye I was perfect, the person who held her when she cried, praised her when she had said her first word. I was her everything and she was mine. As much as I want to escape my old life it wasn't possible. Music was a part of my life, a major part at that. That would never change. God, even my last statement brought a song into my head, Your Anything by Taylor Swift. Sure the song was about a young girl wanting the boy of her dreams, as every one of the young country singers songs seemed to be about. But the concept was there..

Caroline was stirring in my arms again so I put her on her feet on the hard wood floor. As soon as her tiny feet hit the floor she was running to her room and giggling like crazy. It was no lie that she was a happy little girl. I followed her smiling in spite of my sour thoughts. It was hard not to be completely intoxicated with the child's chipper mood. When I waked into her room I saw her laying in a pile of overly large stuffed animals. Her gaze flicked up to mine and she let out a shrill giggle as she tried to stand and feel back into the pile of fluff. Walking over to her I fell into the stop beside her and she let out another stream of giggles. I was laughing by the time my back hit to soft fur of the animal enveloping me in the soft comfort. It was not wonder children enjoyed them so much.

Much to Caroline's delight momma was playing in the animals with her. She crawled over to me and sat herself onto my stomach and putting her hands on my cheeks. Sometimes I wondered who the adult was because it was times like this when I got the most comfort. My smile match Carolines as I spoke to her

"What are you doing to momma's face angel?" the only response I got was giggles and a shake of my face from the toddler.

"I love you angel, more than you can ever imagine" That time when she answered me tears filled my eyes

"Love" she said with smile that lite up her eyes

That was the first one Caroline had said three weeks and two days ago. Followed by momma that came a week ago. She was quit the verbal child. Always cooing in what I insisted was a sing-songy voice. Her babysitting said that how all baby's sounded but I was nothing if not hard headed. I loved hearing her say those two words but that was the first time she had responded to me when I had told her I love her. I said it about a million times a day so it was no wonder she had picked up the meaning of the word. Pulling her down to me and hugging her close as she kissed my cheek I stood up with her walking to the changing table. While changing her she always played with her feet. It was simply adorable.

After changing the child I walked with her on my hip into the kitchen putting her in her chair. Looking at the clock I saw that our playing had put us behind schedule. Gathering up apple sauce and dry cheerios I laid them in front of her while pulling her chair into the bathroom to keep an eye on her while I got ready. We had about an hour to finish up get Caroline to the babysitters and hurry to work. After getting myself ready I washed off Caroline's messy face and put her into a pick cotton dress and tan sweater. Heading out the door we faced the crowds of New York City. It certainly wasn't the ideal place to raise a child but this is where people couldn't find us. It was a large city. Easy to hide in.

After dropping off Caroline I hurried to the restaurant that I waited tables at. It was the best thing I could get and I only had it for my looks and personality. Not many places would hire a high school drop out with a two year only. I was grateful for the job none the less, it was a high class place the paid well on top of all the tips I got. People told me I was charming so I often did get the higher tips then the rest of my fellow workers. They didn't know of course, I didn't need them all hating me.

Running into the restraint I saw that I was a few minutes late. Throwing an apologetic glance at my boss I quickly put on my apron and got to work. Walking up to the first table I was greeting with the friendly face of an older lady and who I assumed to be her daughter. They were kind as I gave them one of my best show faces. Only one person I knew would ever see through that face. Jesse. Yes, the boy who had thrown eggs at me. But he came back and said sorry, I forgave him. Only to crush him by kissing Finn on stage in front of Jesse no less. I broke him. He wasn't upset at first but his anger slowly boiled over and he hadn't talked to me since. I admit, I miss him terribly as well. He was the one person who understood my pure passion to be on stage.

Sighing at the memories that refused to move I walked over to a man sitting alone with his back to me. His brown hair was in a mess of curls and his back was tone, very muscular. Approaching him as if he were any other customer, I put on my show face and stood to face him

"Hello I am Rachel, How are you doing this morning?" The man looked up and I let out an unexpected gasp seeing is face. It was Jesse St. James. What was he doing here? Had he searched me out? What did he want?

"Why if it isn't Ms. Rachel Berry. Where have you been hiding all these years?" I looking at him I felt as if he was judging me, he found me. Of course he knew I wasn't on Broadway obviously. He was huge right now and he would have known if I was out and about