Hello! I'm so excited by all your comments, want to welcome our newst follower "WritingHealstheHeart" and thank her for all your kind support and comments! it was such a nice surprise! looking forward to all your next thoughts! And I agree Jesse is a good one, but it will pass som time before our two protagonists can expresse how they feel about it each other. But I hope you are ready for the ride ;)

I don't know how I pulled this off after a 24-hour shit at the clinic but here it is, hence why it's a little bit on the short side.

I do want to make an announcement, it's possible that next week might not be a new chapter, I have another 24-hour shift and then classes right after that so if today I worte this with half my brain, then next week I might use only 1/4 of it. So i will try but I can't promise anything right now.

Anyway hope you like it.


Jesse felt the first rays of sunshine directly in his eyes waking him up from his deep slumber, he was so cozy and had been dreaming something he couldn't remember but he knew it felt good. That's why he felt this offensive glimmer of morning too intrusive and muttered a profanity for waking him up. But then something that felt like dead weight shift on his right side.

A warm dead weight.

He opened his eyes abruptly and he found himself in a room he didn't recognize as his own. But he was no stranger to where he was though which propelled him to pray that whoever was on his right side wasn't a certain tiny brunette, but fate wasn't on his side this morning since he moved slightly his head to his right side and met a messy head full of dark brown waves. He took a second to take in the position they were in and he felt his heart accelerate in his chest. There she was, clinging to him with her arms on his torso and even one leg that was propped up on top of his and with her head positioned in his shoulder.

He took one peek at both their bodies were fully covered; he exhaled a relieved sigh.

At least they were with clothes on.

His heart was doing some sommersaults inside of him every time Rachel shifted a bit and mumbled some incoherent words.

Of course, she talks asleep, couldn't she get any cuter? He cursed again in his thoughts while trying to control himself. I guess there is no denying it, I'm in love with her again, there is no way I would find this endearing otherwise. Goddamnit.

He tried his best to detach himself from her without waking her up, but without any success, she really was hanging on for dear life and left little to no room between them.

On his last intent to peel her from him she shifted so he was able to feel her breasts pressed tight to his chest and it was sending all his blood downward. The more he tried to worm his way out of her embrace, the more he felt them brush against him.

This is my worst nightmare he thought cursing the moment he climbed on her bed last night instead of convincing her to remain on her couch.

Then as if his pleads were heard Rachel moved turned to the other side and Jesse bolted out of her room without giving it a second thought. He took a moment to compose himself but God wasn't in a giving mood since he felt two pairs of eyes, one set of eyes appeared particularly annoyed and the other was gaping at him with his mouth open.

Ignoring his blush and quickened breath he tried to save face and his flustered composure morphed into his showface.

"Good morning, Kurt; good morning, Blaine" he managed to say elegantly as if he wasn't choking on his breath. "It's not what it looks like"

Blaine nodded wordlessly and Kurt sighed still annoyed, he was finally starting to come to terms with his best friend rekindling his friendship with the traitorous bastard so he motioned for him to sit with them to which Jesse followed not wanting to piss him off and waking Rachel up.

"I know, I spied on you last night and you fell asleep with your clothes on… you love her" Kurt stated without room to refute it. Jesse could feel that anything he managed to come up with to defuse his suspicions would be futile, so Jesse nodded back.

"I do" he said defeated knowing he wouldn't be able to fool him.

"She is pregnant"

"I have eyes Kurt; I can see that much" he retorted annoyed.

"And with Finn's baby" Kurt said as a matter-of-fact.

"Also aware of that detail" he replied now much calmer and solemnly.

"Then if you know all of that, what is your angle here St. James? No matter how much you spoil and comfort her, that baby's DNA won't change"

Jesse thought of two possible outcomes of this conversation. In the first, he could act incensed and annoyed of having this conversation and then storm out, or he could subject himself to his interrogation and answer all of his concerns. He looked to Rachel's room and knew she missed her best friend and it pained her that Kurt wasn't on board with them spending time together, as platonic as it was, so he groaned inwardly and he knew what he would do.

"I know that Kurt, I have no angle here. I might love her and hell, might even be in love with her again, but I'm not pursuing any kind of romantic relationship with her" he answered truthfully ignoring his tenseness after displaying all his vulnerability in front of someone he considered beneath him.

"I find it hard to believe that you have no ulterior motives in all these generous gestures you are doing for her. I think it's all part of a scheme of waiting for the right moment when she is the most vulnerable to swoop her in and make her fall for you" he said hardly. He would have been offended by his affirmation if he hadn't noticed his protective feelings towards Rachel and he couldn't fault him for that, as far off track as he was. At least Rachel had someone in her corner.

"Kurt!" admonished Blaine a bit ashamed by his harsh words.

"It's fine Blaine, I don't mind appeasing Rachel's best friend, the feeling of wanting to protect her is something I can relate to" he said with a half-smile trying to take control of the situation. "Look Kurt, I am aware that I deeply hurt her some years ago and I'm lucky enough for getting her to forgive me and trust me again. I regret what I did and there hasn't been a day that I don't blame myself for having lost her because of that. Add that to a profound admiration of her talent and drive and you'll understand that I want to help her achieve her dreams, but that's it and that's as far as I will allow myself to go"

"So even if you are in love with her you won't act on it?" Kurt inquired curious starting to believe him but needing the confirmation.

"I won't" he shook his head and the next words came out of his mouth more to himself than for the couple in the room looking at him impassively. "I may be foolish enough to still love her, but as far as I am concerned, she is emotionally unavailable and has been since Nationals in New York"

"Then you are not expecting her to get together back with you" Kurt said understanding dawning on him.

"I will be whatever what she wants me to be to get her through this difficult time for her and make her achieve her dreams; but not as a boyfriend, I still hold a sense of self-respect to know that I won't be her rebound again" he ended with a feeling of bile rising to his throat. This conversation proved useful not only to make amends with Hummel but to himself as well, he had been playing house with Rachel and he needed to take a step back to breathe and control his feelings.

Kurt was surprised for feeling sympathy for Jesse St. James. He could see he was honest and he really did care about Rachel. If she could find it in herself to trust him, then he could find it in himself too after this conversation. Perhaps he had grown up and Rachel had been right all along.

"Fine, I won't stand in your way then" finished Kurt standing up and moving towards his room with Blaine close behind. "I trust that you won't hurt her again then St. Jerkface"

"Never again, my little Pony" he teased him back more comfortably due to their newly founded weird balance of trust. He followed Kurt's lead and left the loft, at least Rachel would be more at ease now that Kurt wasn't his biggest hater.


Jesse was distracted by Rachel's motion of stretching and massaging her lower back with a very uncomfortable expression. By the 3rd time in an hour, he caught rubbing her shoulders he left any pretense of reading his notes on the scene they were supposed to do a last reading before practicing with the rest of the cast when they returned from their coffee break.

"Sore much?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"You have no idea, I slept so good Saturday night after you left. There was this pillow that somehow supported the weight of my belly but I haven't been able to recreate the same position yesterday" she whined and Jesse was amused that she thought he had left her loft that same night and that the pillow she was referring to was an actual pillow instead of him. But he decided to keep that piece of information to himself, he wasn't to submit himself to that same kind of torture from the other day, once was more than enough, so he didn't correct her and instead began browsing for maternity pillows on amazon on his phone when Rachel returned to her pacing.

He paused realizing what he was doing.

I need to stop, what's my problem? he thought annoyed It hasn't been 24 hours and I'm playing caretaker again with her.

He took one peek at Rachel's uncomfortable expression and his heart clenched.

But he had to draw a line somewhere. He would send her the link for her to decide to purchase it and that would be it.

"Guys! Take your places please, we will begin the last week of rehearsals before the week in public" announced Michael, their director. "First, we wanted to thank you for all your hard work this past few months. We made some great advances, and we are confident that next workshop will be the last finally! We will be in touch with each of you to send you your new contracts and schedule when time is due. Meanwhile rest your vocal cords, Rachel and Jesse we are looking at you" he finished playfully, all the creative panel were in awe of their commitment and talent, they hit the jackpot when they casted them. Even Kim was aware of that and thankful for Steven's pushing them as leads.

Rachel was elated and couldn't contain her joy; this meant their roles were secured at least for the next workshop. That also meant financial security in the future which had been a constant burden in her mind. But finally, she was starting to see the outcome of her efforts, actually her combined efforts with Jesse since he was the one who one day appeared on her doorstep with a pillar of books to study for the play and the interpretation of the songs.

He truly was her whole support and her person. Their connection was beyond words.

She grabbed Jesse's hand and squeezed it appreciatively; he squeezed her hand back understanding.

When Rachel looked at him with those warm and excited eyes, he followed and he came undone. She had this ability to sucker punch the air of his gut.

Being able to share the excitement of the announcement with her was something that never in his wildest dreams he had envisioned when he was sulking after he heard she was about to defer her year in NYADA.

It was a connection that he had never felt with anyone else. In heart, mind and in the stage.

He was actually proud of this play, when Rachel and him worked together they shone even brighter.

He knew that as soon as they left the theater that day, he would be buying that stupid maternity pillow, distancing himself wasn't something in his capabilities. He would be always drawn to her like a moth to a flame despite his best efforts.

It might be my own personally designed hell, but at least it's a sweet one. He thought with a half-smile defeated by those big eyes looking at him adoringly.


"Ready?" he asked by her side before the clock marked 4 pm, which was when the reading to the public would begin. As much as it was a much more informal staging since it still was just a reading and they didn't even wear costumes, this was just the beginning of many more projects to come and they both understood that, the immensity of how this project would impact on them and how it would be their first time performing in a theatre in New York (it couldn't be considered Broadway, it was more like off-off-off Broadway.)

She exhaled one last breath, squeezed tight his hand and looked into his eyes.

"Break a leg Rach, you are going to wow them" he said confidently with his cocky grin that she had come to adore so much.

"I'm really glad you are my friend Jesse" she said lifting her hand and caressing his cheeks and left the wings to enter her first scene.

"Me too, Rach, me too" he whispered with a saddened smile.


"That was amazing! We were amazing Jesse!" she said as she jumped into his arms and almost as a reflex, he caught her avoiding to squish the baby between them.

"I know! It was exhilarating, you shined so brightly Rach, you were incredible" he said into her hair inhaling all her strawberry scent mixed with sweat, a smell that had his senses in full overdrive and send his heartrate to the sky. With such emotion that barely fitted in his chest, he began to spin her, but then returned her to the floor carefully concerned that his impulses might have harmed to the baby.

"We were, Jesse. You singing Left Behind almost left me weeping" she said and Jesse tensed up automatically knowing the thoughts that song brought up to her, that might have reflected on his face since she tried to dispel those concerns by grabbing his hand and caressing her belly with the other one. That baby was kicking the hell out of her after so much spinning. "Oof little one, calm down that's my bladder"

In response, he placed his hand above her concealed baby bump over a loose peasant blouse she was wearing.

"Not a fan of spinning your mother huh? I'll keep that in mind" he laughed as he caressed lovingly her bump.

"Uhm guys?" a voice broke them out of their little bubble.

They lifted their gaze startled and found part of the cast and the production crew, including Michael and Steven looking at them shocked. Of course, they already had put two and two together out of this intimate display.

"Are you guys going to be parents?" Lili asked meekly between the group of people gaping at them.

They looked again at each other's eyes and Jesse searched in her face any signs of distress but only found a resolute and brave look, Rachel never ceased to amaze him.

That's my girl. He thought.

He gave her a comforting smile and encouraged her to take the stage on this one. She nodded and exhaled.

"I am pregnant, yes" she admitted.

"Not my kid though, I am just a proud uncle" he added slipping her hand in her waist and drawing soothing circles in the small of her back.

"Now that you say it, I do see it, how far along you are Rachel?" Asked Steven a little bit concerned, he would fight tooth and nails to keep her in the play, after today's show he was more than convinced that she was the only one that could play Wendla from now on.

"Uhm, I'm about to hit the 20-week mark, so about 5 months" she said now a little bit self-conscious but grateful for Jesse's reassuring caress.

"Oh, thank god that means we won't need to postpone the next workshop and you will be there without problem then" said Michael, that gained him the surprised gaze of every person in the room, even Steven, Rachel and Jesse were dumbfounded. "Don't look at me like that people, Rachel Berry is the perfect Wendla as she just proved tonight. I intend to keep it that way. Moving on, who wants to celebrate?"

"Bring the champagne" shouted Skylar "Not you though Rachel, terribly irresponsible" he snickered and they all began to return to what they were doing before that awkward moment, aside from the girls in the cast that they all began to ask Rachel questions about if she knew the sex or if she had too much morning sickness.

"What? That's it? I was ready to give an articulate, passionate and persuasive speech about why we needed to keep Rach on the play otherwise we would be a parallel of the cold adults from the play. No one wants to hear it, really?" he said in a theatrical manner to an indifferent audience that made Rachel snort.

"It's ok Jess, you can tell me all about it later" it was no her turn to console a heart-broken and miffed looking Jesse.