As i promised yesterday, here it is the next chapter. hope its to your linking and i would love a review to hear your thoughts. it would help with the motivation definitely.
part 2 of the visit from hell
Next day went more peacefully, thankfully. Probably because the plan for the day was to meet them at the theater by evening to go see Wicked. Aside from allowing her to have the morning to herself, being at the theater would force them all to remain quiet for at least a good 2 hours, thus gracing Rachel with the exhilarating and calming comfort of the notes of one of her favorite musicals and not the nosy questions, unsolicited advice or reproachful looks (even out of place lectures, coming from William and Carole, of course.) when they didn't agree with her parenting decisions.
She had cherished her friendship with all this people but this situation had brought out the crazy from all her friends, and she would rather be anywhere than with them in this moment in life. They were overbearing, and coming from her that was a lot.
Since Jesse had witnessed the poor state of her frayed nerves the day before, he had rearranged his schedule and promised her that he would join them for the Wicked show, not before snidely voicing his opinion on the obvious tourist choice of a musical that Wicked was.
Again, Jesse was something else.
And that paid results since Carole avoided being near Rachel whenever Jesse was by her side which was most of the time, much to Carole's chagrin.
And aside from the absence of basic concern towards Rachel as an individual, and not as the human incubator of Finn's baby that must be protected at all costs; it all went smoothly.
Jesse did want to wring the neck from various ND members when they all moved at a faster pace leaving Rachel behind and panting breathless, or when they had all taken their seats at the theatre; and none thought two times to help her sit down before, leaving her to her own devices and contorting her body to find a correct way to lower her body to the seat, until his hand appeared to give her a center of gravity and help her land graciously on her assigned seat.
But aside from that they all remained very civil - that was until the play ended, where the opportunities for them to open their mouths and say the insensitive thing multiplied.
From previous experience, both Jesse and Rachel thought it was highly likely.
They all were discussing their impressions of the musical, some with more cultured and proper views than others (according to Jesse's not so humble opinion), on the sidewalk in front of the theatre.
It was a chilly night and Jesse noticed that Rachel was trying her best not to shiver, probably out of pride not wanting to aske anything of the ND lot. Kurt had noticed it too and wanted to give her his jacket but aside from being a bold fashion statement it didn't looked like it was enough to warm her though, so he refrained.
Jesse noticed that and took it as an opening to put his jacket on top of her shoulders, to which Rachel thanked him with a warm affectionate gaze and a squeeze at his hand.
He shrugged nonchalantly, even if his insides were doing somersaults at the warmth, he could see in her big doe eyes directed at him.
Of course, Carole noticed that quick exchange and rolled her eyes. Deciding it was better to bite her tongue once more after yesterday's impasse she proceeded to bid her goodbyes. And William followed her lead knowing the kids probably would want to hung out without them.
After they returned to their respective hotels, Kurt and Blaine followed since they had a previous commitment that they needed to attend. That left Mercedes, Sam, Artie and Tina with awkward looking faces; Santana didn't join them that night, because as she had put it delicately "I already put up with Berry's showtunes crap, I will not voluntarily subjugate myself to that".
Rachel and Jesse noticed them fidgeting and looking sideways and whispering between them. Jesse cocked an eyebrow at Rachel asking without words if she knew what they were up to, to which Rachel shook her head not knowing what was happening.
That kind of wordless conversations that their SA family usually mocked them for, it was pure luck that Carole hadn't been there to witness it or she would have made a scene again.
"It's been great, we should probably call it a night don't you think?" said Artie a bit uneasily.
"It's not true right? Were still leaving for the bar, right?" whispered not so subtly Sam, after a face palm from Tina; Artie and Mercedes glared at him exasperated.
"Oh, you guys are going out tonight?" asked Rachel with fake a show face trying to muster as much enthusiasm as she could, but she was truly hurt that they didn't invite her.
This wasn't the first time it happened, though, in high school she had found out several occasions where they all would go out as a group and wouldn't have the courtesy of extending an invitation to her, but now that they were out of high school, hadn't seen each other for quite some time and they actually came to New York to visit HER, she thought perhaps things could be different.
She had been so wrong.
She had been so wrong about many things apparently.
"Yeah, sorry Rachel, we did want to invite you, but we just didn't think it would be a good idea with the pregnancy and the baby" said apologetically Mercedes failing to conceal her uncomfortableness.
"Yeah, we are trying to take care of the baby, you know?" followed Tina "There is probably going to be too much cigar smoke and you can't drink anyway"
"Sure, you are, I better return to the loft, it's quite late" Rachel said with a forced smile but Jesse could notice the sad look in her eyes.
Pure white rage erupted in his chest at her dejected expression, he tried to pull himself together by breathing and restrain himself from punching their stupid little faces. Not that he would punch the girls, probably just hurl acidic and acerbic comments on their pathetic breath control until they cried. But the point was that he wanted to inflict pain on each one of them.
Instead, he had to content himself by sending death glares to those pathetic skeevy losers.
"I'm glad you understand, have a good night, guys, see you tomorrow" said Sam and they left hurriedly.
"Oh, those self-centered, talentless and egotistical bastards" Jesse began to say curtly through his gritted teeth while clenching his fists.
"It's fine Jesse, they'll be gone tomorrow. It's clear to me now that they came for the baby, not for me, I don't know why I thought otherwise" she said with a hoarse and quiet voice still with her gaze fixed on her so-called friends backs.
Jesse pulled Rachel into his embrace, and when she didn't pull away, he entangled one of his hands in her dark brown locks and the other in the small of her back. She buried her nose in his chest, inhaling deeply, drawing comfort from his after-shave scent and sneaked her arms around his waist.
She nestled further into his neck and they reveled in the complete ease of each other's company. And as much as Rachel was drawing comfort from him, so was he. Her breathing tickling his neck, the strawberry scent from her shampoo, her warm body against him were distracting enough for him to forget her idiot friends, and focus on what was important.
Rachel.
"Wanna go home?" Jesse asked and she nodded into his chest. "Go we shall then… hey, have you heard the rumors that Kinky Boots will have 13 nominations on this year's Tonys?" he offered, trying to lift her spirits.
That worked like magic because Rachel got all fired up again and began to ask from what forum he got the scoop as they resumed their way towards her house.
Finally, the last day of their visit came and Rachel couldn't be more grateful for that. She didn't know if it was the pregnancy hormones that made them unbearable or if they were truly as unpleasant as she thought they were, but either way she wasn't going to question herself at this point.
She just wanted them gone.
Jesse sat next to her in her kitchen table at the goodbye breakfast that Kurt had organized for all of them. He had witnessed at firsthand how upset and bothered she was by the presence of her teammates and teacher, so he had been by her side like a guardian dog since the first day and today was not going to be an exception apparently.
She had to admit that Kurt had been a great help too changing subjects when he noticed she was getting distressed and she had noticed that Kurt no longer had that air of animosity towards Jesse which was a great relief. Even Santana had agreed that most of them were acting even more weird than usual and thought that Mr. Schue's presence in that trip was deranged.
"Rachel if you don't mind me asking, are you going to raise the baby according to your Jewish faith?" asked William.
I do mind Mr. Schue Rachel thought Not YB.
Jesse was astounded by the guts and nosiness of this man, and if he could kick him out without upsetting Rachel, he would. Who even asked that.
"Yes, that is the plan" Rachel said as a matter of factly, truth be told she hadn't even given it a thought but right now she wanted to see where his train of thought went, give him enough rope to hang himself.
"Oh, honey you can't possibly mean you will get the baby…" Carole said suddenly alerted.
"Circumcised? I guess so, I would need to ask my rabbi for some guidance" Rachel said knowing where this was going and already annoyed.
"Really? That seems a bit harsh on a baby, don't you think" asked Mercedes patronizingly.
"Are you sure that's what Finn would have wanted?" asked Sam with a disgusted face and putting his hand above his private parts as if he was the one getting the circumcision.
Rachel, Jesse and Kurt gaped at all of them, even Kurt had the common sense of not sticking his nose in such topics and knew they all were out of line, he looked at Rachel and Jesse and could see the Rachel's mouth dropped open and speechless, but Jesse's glowering gaze made him nervous for what was about to happen. And of course, he would let it, they all deserved it.
"Ok, bigotry is where I draw the line, every single one of you are overstepping. If Rachel wants to raise HER baby in her faith, it's HER decision and it's none of your business" Jesse roared as he stood up making his chair screech on the floor and the table tremble, which made everyone jump in their seats.
"Stay out of this, kid, this is MY grandchild and all of them are friends of the FATHER, you have no say in any of this" spitted out Carole unable to control her tongue anymore.
We are going that road huh thought Jesse. As much as it gutted him that he wasn't the father he wasn't about to lose his composure over that low blow. So, he just fixed his best poker face to obscure any emotional reaction to her words and the ones to come.
His indignation over their manhandling of Rachel was ten times greater than his own wounds, he would later have time to lick those in the quiet and solitary comfort of his home.
"As much blood you may share with that baby, and as much everyone here on this room cared for Hudson, the one carrying that baby is Rachel. This baby is Rachel's as much is Finn's" he answered and without allowing anyone interrupt him he looked down on everyone from his elevated position. "And yet you treat her as if she wasn't anymore but a surrogate to HER baby. You should all be ashamed. Rachel is the one carrying her dead's ex fiancée baby, have you even given it a thought how that must feel? And yet you all come here to revere the baby, as if she was carrying Jesus Christ himself in her womb and ignore her, sorry for the comparison Rach, I'm ignorant on Judaism and was raised Catholic; my point is that it's sickening, creepy and disrespectful to Rachel" he finished heaving and fuming, but finally everything that he had been keeping quiet since day one had been said and he felt liberated.
Carole stood up and knocked on the table with her fist. But Jesse remained impassive not allowing her to get a reaction out of him.
"You've got some nerve Jesse, my son picked up Rachel's pieces after your little stunt in her sophomore year and yet you now act as if you were her boyfriend and as if that child was yours. Need I remind you who Finn was for her?" she said with crossed arms-
Enough is enough Rachel thought tired. She was trying to play nice to Carole because she was the grandmother of this baby, and she was complacent with everyone from her glee club because she didn't want them estranged from her son's life due to a mislabeled "diva-like" and overbearing behavior from her, like they usually used to call her in high school.
Jesse had been fighting her fights because she wanted to remain on good terms with everyone but no more.
She had a voice, and she was going to use it.
"Carole stop!" Rachel blasted "I believe I expressed myself very clearly yesterday. Jesse isn't going anywhere, if I wanted him to be an uncle, a godfather, hell even if I wanted to co-parent with HIM, none of you would have a say in that, you all hear me clearly? So, Carole, learn to live with that. I want you in MY son's life, don't make me regret that decision. Get used to him having a say where I'm concerned because he is the one on my corner" she said in a threatening manner. She moved her head to address the rest of people in the room "And I want you guys to be the aunts and uncles to this child, but that's all you are going to be, you have no say in what I eat, in what faith I raise him, or anything at all" she paused "I realize this has become awkward so I'm storming out, Jesse we are going to your place, feel free to stay until your train leaves"
"Yes ma'am" he agreed and followed her without sparing a second glance to the clammed-up group of people.
When they were out of earshot in the streets of New York trying to hail a cab, Jesse replayed certain part of Rachel's sermon that caught his attention and, in that moment, it had surprised him. But in a good way. In a hopeful way.
"Co-parent with you?" Jesse asked with a smug half grin and a raised eyebrow trying to remain cool and unaffected. Even if he could feel the thumping of his heart in his ears and felt a lump in his throat.
"Added shock value to prove my point of how much they don't get any say in this" she huffed with indignation and not looking at him, still trying to calm herself from that disastrous breakfast. "Not that I expect you to do that" she added now nervous and embarrassed because it was something that deep down, she had begun to wonder how would it be and it slipped out during her melt down thanks to her traitorous subconscious.
He just sneaked his arm in her waist and kissed her forehead
"I know" he said. ignoring the acute pain in his chest from disappointment. Little did Rachel know that Jesse was also wondering how would that be with a longing desire in his chest.
