Jesse St. James was no stranger to applause, but the screams that rang out as he hurried onstage for his curtain call were unparalleled by anything he'd experienced before. The excitement and joy of the audience absolutely emanated onto the stage, and despite his best efforts, the stoic Jesse St. James couldn't help the quiver in his bottom lip as he waved to the audience, grinning like a madman. As the cast lined up to take another bow, he caught eyes with Jason, and the two threw arms around each other, beams wide and proud. With Jason holding one hand and Remy holding the other, they gave one final bow before darting backwards, attempting to avoid the lowering curtain. Whoops and catcalls rang out across the backstage; the performance had been flawless, truly their best yet, and everyone knew it. Costume pieces were quickly being removed and props tossed about; everyone eagerly awaited the refreshments that would be laid out in celebration for their big night.

Jesse made his way to his dressing room, calls of congratulations and jobs well done being tossed his way, and by the time he finally reached the room and was able to give a techie his mic pack, well-wishers and close friends were beginning to seep into the bowels of the theatre. He'd barely had a chance to change out of the costume and throw back on the dress trousers and white tee when a tiny brunette head came bobbling through the crowd, throwing herself into his arms.

"Jesse you were phenomenal," Rachel gushed, arms wrapped tightly around him. "I couldn't even believe it—I mean obviously I knew you were talented but that was just…you're amazing!" She finally let him go, straightening her dress, and leaned against the vanity anxiously as he gathered his things. "Oh everyone's so proud; you should have heard the audience, absolutely everyone was praising your performance—as they should, of course, but still, any good praise is going to help you out. I'd bet full houses for at least the first two months of performances, the press is going to adore you!" she was talking a mile a minute, but Jesse was thankful, he really needed a few minutes to gather himself and his thoughts. He was sure he'd be doing a lot of public relations and socializing at the afterparty, and it was honestly best if he saved his voice for all the ass-kissing he'd inevitably have to perform. He shook his hair a bit, attempting to loosen the matted, sweaty curls, then turned to Rachel as he fixed the top button on the dress shirt, the coat resting across his left arm.

"Ready then?" he asked, and she grinned, standing and taking his other arm.

"Quite. Oh Jesse just wait until you see, there are so many people, and everyone wants our autographs, isn't it silly?"

When he passed through the doors into the lobby, he was tacken aback at the sheer grandiose of everything. The room was overly crowded, and A list New Yorkers and Broadway elites milled around carrying plates of crustless sandwiches and flutes of champagne. Flashbulbs immediately flashed in his direction, and blinking, he glanced to Rachel.

"Jesus," he mumbled, and Rachel laughed.

"You'll get used to it—come on, I heard the cucumber sandwiches are just divine." They made their way across the crowded floor to a velvet-covered table hosting several platters of hors d'oeuvres, and Jesse, famished from the performance, made himself a plate of three sandwiches, what looked to be some kind of seafood tart, and a few stuffed mushrooms.

"Rachel!" a voice called out, and the couple glanced up to see Noah meandering across the crowd. "St. James, congratulations," he nodded, and Jesse smiled his appreciation through a mouthful of crab. "We wondered where you guys had gotten to, everyone's waiting to see the man of the hour." Jesse's eyebrow furrowed, and he swallowed a large bite of the puff pastry.

"We?" he questioned, and Rachel bit back a grin.

"Come on!" she said, pulling his arm and following Noah through the labyrinth of bodies. Finally, they reached a small circle, and Jesse's jaw nearly hit the floor. Celebrities were one thing, but this was a crowd that shocked him in an entirely different aspect. Beaming, Puck held out his hand to present Shelby, in a stunning black cocktail dress, and Will, who stood behind her tentatively as though he felt he shouldn't really be there. Shelby extended her arms, enveloping Jesse in the tightest of hugs.

"I always had faith in you," she gushed, squeezing him tighter. She pulled away, holding him by the shoulders, and Jesse was surprised by the damp glisten in her eyes.

"Shelby?" he questioned, and she dabbed at her teary eyes with the side of her pointer finger.

"Oh look at me," she rolled her eyes. "You have to understand, it's emotional, seeing my protégé all grown up and on a Broadway stage; and look at you two, you got everything you dreamed of when you left to come up here…" Will put a strong hand on Shelby's shoulder, and the older woman glanced appreciatively at him.

"Wow Shelby. Having a daughter really softened you out," a woman's voice interrupted. "Hey Jesse."

"Andrea Cohen, what the hell are you doing here?" Jesse laughed, eyes widening even farther and hugging the skinny young woman tightly.

"You thought I'd let you get away with celebrating your big break without me?" she ruffled Jesse's curls, and although he rolled his eyes, he turned to Rachel with a laugh.

"Rachel this is—"

"Andrea Cohen…" Rachel interrupted him, the irony of her gaze of absolute starstruck not lost on Andrea or Jesse. The taller female let out a laugh and took Rachel's hand warmly.

"I remember you," she said faintly, and Rachel blushed. "God you've grown up so much—not that it's a bad thing of course," Andrea reddened, and Rachel smiled. "Good on you, teaching this asshole how to love. It was about damn time," Andrea teased. Noah stared at her admiringly, grabbing two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter.

"Hey there. Noah Puckerman," he introduced himself, handing her the flute. Andrea laughed and raised an eyebrow, while Rachel huffed.

"Noah!" Rachel scolded, "You are incorrigible."

"Don't worry, Rachel. Sorry sweetheart, but you're not exactly my type," Andi bopped him on the nose, and Noah blinked a few times, startled, while Rachel let out a loud giggle.

"Jesse!" Jason's voice boomed, and before Jesse could react, he'd been tackled from behind. "We did it man!" Laughter bubbled over, and Jesse joyfully returned the hug.

"Congratulations!" a female voice called, and Jesse's eyes lit up once more as a familiar face waved at him.

"Molly!" he shouted, swinging the girl around in a hug. "What are you doing here?"

"Jason invited me!" she beamed, and Jesse gave her a playful raise of his eyebrow, to which Molly simply shrugged, a smirk playing at her lips. She looked to Rachel, who was engrossed in conversation with Will, and nodded her head ever so slightly. "Is that her?" Molly questioned, and Jesse nodded.

"Yeah," he spoke placidly, and Molly squeezed his hand.

"She's beautiful," Molly spoke, and Jesse nodded, staring as Rachel's red-stained lips broke into a wide bout of laughter, her nose crinkling just-so.

"Yeah," he repeated, his voice even lighter, "She is." Molly squeezed his hand once more.

"I am so happy for you. About everything," she tilted her head in acknowledgement of the theatre. Jesse grinned at her, and she looked back to Jason. "You think it could happen to me someday?" she asked, and Jesse followed her gaze.

"I wouldn't be surprised if it did," he admitted, and Molly bit back a laugh.

"It's funny….if you told me a year ago this was happening, I would have said you were crazy." Jesse nodded in agreement.

"You have no idea." Molly snorted in agreement before hugging him tightly.

"You really are the best Jesse. I'm keeping your name handy, and if you ever have free time look me up. I'm sure I could find you a part!"

"Thanks Molly." Laughing, Jesse kissed the top of her head and watched as she darted away, driving Jason's attention away from an older New York socialite as he playfully wrapped his arms around her. Jesse made an attempt to find Rachel, but before he could get very far, his name was once more being called from behind, and he spun to find Taryn, Seth, and Nicky, donned in their very best.

"What are you guys doing here?" The phrase was repeated once more, and the trio simply grinned, Taryn leaning forward to kiss his cheek.

"Jason insisted we come! We weren't able to make it to the actual show, but we promise we will as soon as we can—"

"Just let us know a date; Jason and I can comp you some tickets!" Jesse beamed, shaking hands with Seth and Nicky. There was a shriek, and Rachel darted across the room to throw her arms around her former employer.

"Nicky!" She beamed, "Oh it's been ages, how are you?"

"I'm doing fine, business as usual. Oh look at you, you're so grown up!" Rachel giggled and spun to show off her gown, and Nicky nodded in approval.

"Absolutely stunn—" The sound of breaking glass interrupted his appraisal, and the hall grew silent. Jesse searched for the sound of the disruption, and found Shelby standing behind a growing puddle of champagne with an incredulous expression spreading across her face, concern and confusion on the face of Will and several others around her.

"Nicky?" It was less of a question than a statement, but the man bit down hard on his lower lip and nodded. Shelby practically floated across the marble floor and threw her arms around him, laughing and crying and feeling every available emotion. After a minute of pure confusion, during which anyone who wasn't privy to the two had continued prior conversation and the volume had risen back to normal, Shelby pulled away and adjusted her makeup.

""Well hell, woman, you aged way better than I did," Nicky spoke first, and the brunette rolled her eyes exaggeratedly before turning to explain.

"Will, this…this is Nicky. He was my best friend; really the only person I knew when I moved up here. He's the reason I made it really—he helped me through every time I would get upset about giving up Rachel." Shelby dabbed at her eyes again and laced her fingers through Will's. "When I moved back to Ohio we tried to stay in contact, but…I mean, it was what, '98? '99? The internet was hardly around, and long distance was such a hassle…"

"And I was the worst at remembering to write you back," Nicky said admittedly. Shelby nodded. "You've got that right," she laughed, before looking at him with tearful eyes yet again. "Rachel told me she met you but I…I just didn't know how it could be true," she smiled weakly, and Nicky shrugged.

"It's like watching you live your life all over again," he admitted, and Jesse smiled at them as they continued to reminisce. He looked to Rachel, who had a hand over her heart, eyes watery but smile wide. Jesse watched the scenes unfolding around him, and the smile on his lips was unbridled. It was all so unreal—the people he considered his family coming together in celebration of him and his achievements; relationships that had once been severed quickly reforming, relationships that had never come to fruition starting to bloom. He was jolted from his reverie by the sound of a throat clearing from behind him, and when he spun, he was absolutely certain he was in a state of dreaming.

Peter and Emily St. James stood before their only son. Peter's face was serious but relaxed, a look Jesse hadn't seen in years, while Emily's was soft. They looked almost proud, and Jesse couldn't fight the smile that threatened to escape.

"Son," Peter spoke matter-of-factly. Jesse shook his head, eyes narrowing in confusion and slight delight.

"What…what are you doing here?" he asked, and Emily beamed.

"Rachel sent us an invitation," Emily explained, and Jesse glanced over to where the brunette stood speaking with her mother and Nicky, catching Jesse's eye and looking away with a sly smile. Turning back to his parents, Jesse stared, bemused, as Emily held out a small bouquet of flowers and a card.

"You were wonderful," she continued, and Jesse smiled meekly at the gesture, retrieving the gifts and glancing back towards his father, who, after a moment's hesitation, nodded in agreement.

"It was quite good," Peter admitted, then faltered. "You…you were really good."

It was as though a river of emotions had released from Jesse's insides. Stepping forward, he let the flowers fall to his side and allowed his mother to pull him into a hug, his father's firm grip patting his shoulder.

"We're so proud of you," Emily gushed, and Jesse looked from his mother's shoulder into his father's eyes. Although Peter didn't speak his agreement, Jesse could sense it; could see it in the older man's dark eyes. All Jesse had ever desired was acceptance from his father, and here, finally, it was. All this time; all the hard work had lead to this, and Jesse St. James knew; no matter what would come of his career, whether his success continued to skyrocket or he was never cast in another show again, nothing could or would ever compare. Straightening, Jesse composed himself.

"Mom, dad, I'd like you to, properly, meet my girlfriend Rachel Berry."

A/N: I know, cheesy, but Jesse's been through a lot; he deserves some good in his life!