Title: Making It Complete

Rating: T

Summary: It takes quite a lot to make prom night complete, but Jesse seems to be doing just that. And slowly, the light is returning to Rachel's eyes. This night, will forever be remembered with happiness, no matter what. He'll make sure of it.

Disclaimer: If I owned Glee, Jesse would have been back a LONG time ago and Finchel would be but a distant, unpleasant memory. Trust me, I've thought it through.

xxx

The dress has been hung on the front of her wardrobe. She can only presume that her dads have done it for her and she smiles, watching from her position at the dressing table as the light spills off the soft pink satin. In front of her a bejewelled necklace sits on the table, surrounded by a curling iron and a small pair of earrings. She's been organising this for two months and fantasizing about it since she was about twelve. And now it's here.

Prom.

Just saying the word makes shivers run down her spine.

For a moment she feels a small stab if wistfulness, remembering how she had planned to go with Finn. But, strangely, it doesn't last long. She knows that he's better with Quinn, as much as she hates to admit defeat. She's thought about this a lot since they broke up and finally come to the conclusion that really, she and Finn weren't meant to be together.

She still misses him though. And the thought that he's rejected her for Quinn makes the wound sting a little more.

But it's okay, she fixes a smile firmly in place, reminding herself of how she had asked Sam to go to prom with her, yet again, and he had finally accepted her. Sure, he wasn't Finn; he sure didn't have the voice to ever be her equal musically. But he was kind and thoughtful and meant well enough.

It would be okay.

Pushing herself up from the cushioned stool that sits in front of her dressing table she starts down the stairs, running a hand over the dress as she goes past, loving the soft feeling on her fingers. Her robe brushes against her legs, her reluctance to change into anything except the dress forcing her to stay in her pyjamas.

She's halfway down the stairs when her cell phone begins to ring. Frowning, she stops, pulling it out and answering swiftly.

"Rachel Berry."

"Hey Rachel, it's Sam." He seems awkward for some reason, his voice stilted.

"Oh, hi." Her voice becomes more vigorous as she thinks of him and the night ahead of her.

"Look, I'm really sorry but… I can't go to prom with you."

She freezes mid-step and it takes a moment for her to gather her senses as he speaks, his words stumbling over each other in his haste to talk.

"I'm really sorry and everything, I know it's tonight. But I really don't think I'm ready to go to prom with you."

"Why?" She finally splutters, reaching out and grabbing the table top as she feels herself begin to become light headed.

"We're just not right for each other Rachel and I don't wanna lead you on. Anyway, I'm not ready for a girlfriend."

"Not ready?" She repeats dazedly, her grip o the table tightening so that her knuckles turn white.

"Sorry," He says lamely. "I'll see you tonight."

Then he hangs up.

She can feel her eyes rolling back in her head and slumps into a chair, her head falling into her hands as she tries to process his words. She's got no date to prom. She's going to have to go alone. Despite what Mercedes had told her a few weeks ago, Rachel really doesn't feel like going to prom alone. She groans as she considers the prospect. Everyone else will have dates she's sure and she can feel her cheeks flaming already at the embarrassment she will have to face, walking into the gym on her own.

It almost makes her want to not go at all.

She can feel her tears coming and doesn't try to stop them. It's in her nature to cry, to be dramatic and its better that she do it here, now, alone, rather than in front of the whole school at prom when she's done her make up.

The doorbell ringing interrupts her before she can start sobbing fully and she pushes herself up, swiping at her face blindly in an attempt to remove her tears.

Swinging the door open unthinkingly, she looks up. Her mouth falls open and she gapes at him for a second, before looking quickly around him, trying to see if he has anyone else with him. He doesn't and she breathes a sigh of relief. Glancing at him, she sees that he's still dressing mainly in black, this time wearing a lighter jacket with a black scarf slung stylishly around his neck. His jeans are tighter, more fitted and she can only presume that this stylish new image is a product of California. His hair is lighter too, only slightly, with a few honey strands thrown in around the soft brown, his curls falling perfectly.

She avoids his eyes when she asks, slowly.

"What are you doing here?"

It only sounds slightly like an accusation.

"I came to see you." He replies simply and she closes her eyes, pain shooting through her at his familiar tones, like melted dark chocolate.

"Well I don't want to see you." She snaps firmly, her eyes opening with a new resolution.

"You've been crying." He observes, before she can shut the door.

"Why would you care?" She spits, anger surging through her which each word he speaks. What right does he have to come back here after all this time?

She goes to slam the door, but is forced to stop when he foot wedges in the way.

"Rachel wait."

"For what?" She snaps again, pushing fruitlessly against the door.

"I need to talk to you." He sounds almost sad, but she ignores that, replying stonily.

"Well I have nothing to say to you."

"Rachel please," He's too strong and she realises that she's fighting a loosing battle, so she turns, letting him slip forward with the door and sashays down the hallway back to the kitchen, saying shortly.

"You have five minutes. Shut the door behind you."

She thinks she hears him sigh, but ignores him again, starting to make a cup of coffee.

"Well," She says, after a moment's awkward silence, "Start talking St James, you only have five minutes remember."

He clears his throat and she wonders for a second if he's nervous. Her eyebrows shoot up at that thought. Jesse St James doesn't get nervous.

"I'm sorry." It's short, simple.

She turns swiftly, fixing her intense gaze on his collar, because she knows that she still can't look into his eyes without weeping, and she needs to remain stoic. If she looks up, she'll break down.

"For what exactly?"

"Everything," He answers and takes a step closer to her.

She tenses a little, but stands her ground.

"Which is what?"

"Everything!" He repeats, and she can hear he's getting frustrated, passionate. "For lying, for hurting you, for leaving to go on Spring Break. For helping Shelby, for egging you, for leaving you again! For being a complete and utter ass!"

Her eyes narrow again, and she nods once, turning back to her coffee. "Okay, you've said what you want to say, now go."

"Won't you let me explain?" He sounds almost wounded and she feels anger surge through her veins again as she slams her cup down and turns on him, her voice tight and furious.

"Oh I think I've figured it all out. I spent time you know, trying to figure out what went wrong in our shambles of a relationship. So I've got it." She takes a step towards him, advancing menacingly. "You only wanted to be with me to get me closer to Shelby. The whole of our relation ship was some kind of acting exercise to you. And when I'd met with Shelby, you weren't needed any more and neither was I. So you left me in the dirt. Publicly humiliated me and left me to face their blame alone!" She gives a hard, sarcastic laugh. "And do you know what Jesse St James? I spent months trying to figure out what I did wrong…. Why I wasn't good enough for you!" Tears are spilling from her eyes by now, and she tries to speak through them. "All of you, why am I not good enough, what do I do wrong? Am I some how incapable of holding onto a man? What's wrong with me…?"

The last sentence trails off into a sob, but before she can turn and hide her weakness from him he catches her chin with his knuckles, bringing her face up softly to look at him.

And the moment she sees his eyes again, she looses it. That last thread of humanity that these heart breaks have left her with, disappears into the blink of an eye.

He catches a tear between her fingers and looks at it for a moment, his expression twisting with anguish.

"I'm so, so sorry that I ever played a part in making you think this." He flicks the tear away and meets her gaze. "You are perfect. Completely and utterly brilliant in every way."

She has to pull her chin away from his grasp then, before he can see her cry again. She goes to turn away, but he catches her hand in a gentle grasp, stilling her movements. The moment she turns and looks at him, he drops it, but her hand still tingles anyway.

"Please," His voice is so soft she can barely hear it. "Please just let me explain."

She finds herself nodding dumbly, following him into the kitchen and sitting gently in the chair next to him.

Taking a deep breath, he starts.

"I'm sorry. For everything I did to you. You're right, at the beginning it was all just an acting exercise, but… God Rachel, you're irresistible," He shakes his head a little as her eyes widen. "I was considering staying with you at McKinley… but I needed that scholarship and that scholarship depended on four National Titles. It was never going to happen at McKinley and then I realised how in love you were with that oaf… Hudson." His eyes darken and she's speaking before she can stop herself.

"I'm not."

"What?" Genuine surprise flashes across his face.

"We broke up, he's with Quinn…. And I'm over him." It's the first time she's said the words aloud and a small, unconscious smile crosses her face. It's nice to say it. It makes it real.

"Well, I'm glad." He leans closer across the table and her breath catches in her throat when he takes hold of her hand, looking deep into her eyes as he says. "You were always too good for him."

A blush lights her face and she pulls her hand away slowly.

"Rachel," He sighs, shaking his head a little and meets her eyes. "What happened… I know I can't even begin to expect you to forgive me, but you have to know that I'm sorry for it. I regret it every day. I was stupid and naive and weak."

She shrugs and gulps a little, trying fruitlessly to dispel the lump in her throat as she says, her voice cracking. "I'm not about to pretend that I can just forgive you here and now Jesse. But…. This helps."

"You're too good for me."

Her eyes shoot up to meet his, the lump in her throat growing when she sees the way his eyes have softened.

"Always have been." His continues, smiling a little, his expression suddenly gentler with sadness. She almost cringes at the pain she sees there and realises, suddenly, that this is no show face. She's the master of show faces after all, she would know. And she can see it now, the truth behind his words.

"So here," She frowns as he stands and holds a hand out towards her, helping her up to stand before him. "It can go towards earning back your forgiveness." And he's holding an egg out towards her.

She gasps, stepping a little away from him, her eyes wide.

It's clear what he means.

Gently, he moves forward to take her hand, cradling it in his and placing the egg in it. He coaxes her fingers to curl around the object, not taking his eyes from hers, which were suddenly wide. Slowly, he brings her hand up, his still clasped around it and very deliberately pushes it down onto the top of his curls. The egg cracks immediately, spilling over his hair in a mess of yolk as he draws their hands away.

"That wasn't necessary." She says finally, smiling and leans over to grab a tea towel, tenderly wiping away a stream of egg which is threatening to go in his eye. "But it's a step closer."

"Definitely too good for me." He murmurs, smiling softly.

She smiles back and cleans the worst of the yolk off, enjoying the silence of the moment.

"Thanks." He smiles at her then, that dazzling, light-up-the-room smile that always makes her knees tremor. Turning, she busies herself with putting the towel away again as she replies, trying to control the flutters in her stomach.

"Any time."

Then he looks at her again and his brows crease together. "You're not dressed." He states.

She looks down at herself quickly, even though she knows that he's right, and flushes. "Prom is tonight."She offers as an explanation, turning to meet his gaze again.

His eyes light up with understanding. "Oh…" There's an awkward silence for a second, before he asks, tentatively. "Who are you going with?"

Her stomach sinks and she glances away, new tears coming to her eyes.

"No one," She finally admits. "I was going with this guy called Sam but… he bailed."

"Is that what you were crying about earlier?"He's closer to her now, she can feel the heat of her body behind her and Goosebumps rise on her neck.

She nods slowly, sighing.

"I…" He seems nervous again, and she contemplates for a moment, that she barely ever saw him nervous in their entire relationship, but that now it seems to be a permanent fixture. "If you want…. I could take you- as friends only of course." He hurries to add, seeing her face. "I'll serenade you, dance with you all night. I'll be your very own piece of arm candy." He winks and she can't help but giggle swiftly, nodding.

"Okay," She agrees simply and he looks at her as if he can't believe his luck.

"You agree very easily." He observes, his gaze quizzical, "I thought I might have to beg, get down on my knees. I can do that now if you want?"

She giggles again, momentarily. "No, it's fine."

"Why are you so agreeing?" He asks, genuinely curious now. "This isn't some grand plan to do with eggs is it? Because I don't know how much egg yolk this can take." He gestures to his meticulous hair.

"Egg yolk is good for hair." She quips, smiling and then sighs, glancing away. "No… I just… I don't want to go alone." Her eyes narrow a little. "Why are you offering?"

He looks thoughtful for a moment, his expression shifting to something unreadable before he finally says, looking away. "Repenting." He glances up at her, his smile lighting up his face again. "And because I've wanted to since I first met you."

She smiles at him again and, during that moment, she is suddenly strangely comfortable.

"Do you have anything to wear?" She asks, raising an eyebrow.

"I think I can probably scrounge something up," He replies, laughing a little.

"Well then," She glances at the clock. "You'd better go get ready; we only have three hours until prom is due to start. Come get me then, okay?"

He salutes playfully and she laughs, pushing him gently towards the door. He swats off her hand and holds a hand out, catching her when she stumbles over her own two feet, catching her quickly and setting her upright, laughing with her.

"I didn't know you lost all sense of balance in my presence Miss Berry." He jokes and she elbows him in the side, pulling the door open and shooing him out.

Suddenly, she is reminded of how good everything always feels around Jesse. Easy, relaxed and fun. She had forgotten how it felt to be around him. The laughter and undiluted joy that always seems to follow them. It's nice, she realises, having him back with her. In fact, it's the best she's felt in several months.

"Jesse." She calls out and he turns, halfway down her drive, to look at her questioningly. "Another step closer." She smiles and his mouth turns upwards in a large smile as she pushes the door shut.

Xxx

Jesse St James literally cannot believe his luck.

It seems unreal that Rachel Berry actually allowed him in her house without physically assaulting him… well, much anyway.

She looks just as good as he remembers. She's got bangs now, and he really likes the look, even though he misses the length of her old style. She looks older now… sexier. And, she's starting to forgive him, not that he really deserves it. In fact, he doesn't deserve it. If he were here, he would have thrown him out on his ass… if that makes sense.

But Rachel Berry has to have the kindest heart of anyone he's ever known.

Straightening his jacket once more, he steps forward and knocks swiftly on her door.

"It's open!" He hears faintly from inside and slowly pushes it open, glancing around for any sign of the brunette. The hallway is empty and he's just contemplating calling out to her when she appears at the top of the stairs.

She looks… dazzling.

Beautiful.

The powder pink silk dress sets of her skin tone wonderfully and her hair is pinned up in place, a few random wispy curls falling softly downwards, setting it off with tantalizing perfection. She has a coat in her hands and a small clutch bag, which matches her dress. Her eyes are alight with excitement which she tries to suppress when she smiles at him, her lips a peach colour and he has to shake himself to stop himself from staring at them for too long.

"You look good." She tells him, smiling a little and he snaps from his admiration of her to smile.

"You look…" irresistible, tantalizing, hot… "Absolutely, heart-stoppingly beautiful."

She blushes and he takes a moment to admire the way the colour sets off her cheeks.

"Thank you," She replies and descends the stairs towards him.

His eyes land on the gaudy necklace around her neck and he frowns. Leaning towards her he holds out his hands and asks. "May I?"

"Uh… sure," She looks unsure, but allows him to take the necklace off anyway, frowning curiously. "What are you doing?"

"Here," He pulls a jewellery box from his pocket and hands it to her. She snaps it open and he watches her eyes widen as she sees the small amethyst embedded in crystal, shaped in a tear drop pendant on a thin silver chain.

"Oh Jesse…" She breathes and he reaches around her, clipping it around her neck.

"Much better," He smiles and she smiles back. "And here," From the other pocket he reveals a delicate pink corsage, small flowers entwined together and fastened with a silk ribbon. He fastens it around her wrist and then smiles.

"Perfection." He tells her and she blushes, spying the pink rose in his lapel, an exact match to her corsage.

"How did you know?" She asks, nodding to it. "About the colour I mean."

He chuckles. "I know you Rachel."

She can only gape, managing to gather her wits enough to finger the scarf tied artfully around his neck.

"Another scarf."

"Another scarf," He repeats.

"I didn't know you were a scarf person." It's obvious she's trying not to laugh and he adopts a wounded expression.

"Hey! Scarves are cool."

"Very," She replies, ushering him through the door. "Come on, or we'll never get there."

Xxx

The school is lit up in honour of the occasion, sparkling lights marking their way into the car park, which is already crowded. On the ride over, Rachel has begun to tell Jesse about what has happened whilst he's been gone, if only to break the awkward tension. He clambers out once they've parked and goes to hold a hand out to her, opening her door and helping her out of the car.

They start across the car park and he catches her biting her lip nervously. Catching her hand, he pulls her to a stop.

"Hey," He coaxes her to look up at him. "Don't worry okay. This will be one of the best nights of your life, I promise."

She nods, smiling a little and taking a breath in an attempt to relax.

He offers her his arm and she reaches up to hook her own through his.

"Only one of the best nights?" She asks, coyly.

"Well, let's be honest Rache, you have dated me. Hard to live up to that." He smirks at her and winks and she bursts into laughter, him quickly joining in.

She pulls herself closer to him, enjoying the heat of his body against hers and smiles up at him. "Thanks for this Jesse."

"Any time." He replies, with the utmost sincerity.

They walk slowly down the walk way to the gymnasium, the music becoming louder the closer they get. Rachel cringes delicately when she hears the pounding base line and Jesse catches it, leaning down to whisper in her ear.

"Do you think they'd appreciate us singing them something from the Broadway catalogues?"

She giggles again and shakes her head. "No, they never appreciate superior music."

"There's always time to learn." He winks at her and she laughs again.

"True, and if there's karaoke," She grins fiendishly. "Me and you are up there."

"You think you could keep me away?" He laughs and she grins.

As they make it to the entrance they are forced to stop , clamber up on a small stand and pose in front of a red curtained backdrop and a large star.

Jesse isn't sure what to do for a moment, but then Rachel pulls his arms around her waist and leans back into his chest ("You're okay with over the shoulder right?") and places her hands over his. And it feels so right that they both insists that the photographer takes at least five photos, just so they can stay in each other's arms a little longer.

Then they start away and into the crowds of sparkling lights and people.

Jesse can feel Rachel trembling a little and leans down to whisper in his ear once more, his hot breath causing goosebumps to rise on her skin. "Relax, it'll be okay."

She can only nod and smile at him gratefully as he leads her towards the bar, where they both get iced water, "to preserve our voices," Rachel tells the bartender, and then head out to garb a free table.

Rachel can't see Mercedes anywhere and since hers is the only car she recognised in the parking lot, she can only presume the rest are yet to arrive. Pulling Jesse down into a chair beside an empty table she takes a seat and smiles at him.

"It's pretty," He notes, glancing around.

"Very," Rachel responds, glancing around and taking in her surroundings. "It's magical."

"Living up to your expectations then?" He quips gently and she nods.

"Yes…"

"Oh," He reaches forward, hitching his chair closer towards her and pulls out a blue piece of confetti which people had been throwing in the air as they walked away from the photographer, that has lodged itself in her hair. He lingers for a moment and she turns, meeting his gaze. They are so close, close enough that their lips could touch, if only for a second. Her breath flutters across his cheek as he stares at her, lost on the chocolate orbs.

"Hey!" Mercedes' shrill voice breaks the spell and he groans, pulling away and turning to watch the diva strutting towards them in a hot pink sequined dress, a blonde haired boy who he doesn't know following behind her.

Rachel rises to confront her and Jesse follows her lead, smiling with happy surprise as she pulls him closer to her, wrapping his arm easily around her waist.

"What is he doing here?" Mercedes demands the moment she's close enough.

"Nice to see you too Mercedes," He can't help but remark, chuckling a little at the disapproving glance Rachel shoots his way.

"Cut the bull St James. That charm ain't gonna work on me." She emphasises the last word, glaring at Rachel, who squares her shoulders, answering.

"Jesse is my date to prom."

"Wait, you're dating again?" Mercedes demands.

"It's purely platonic," Rachel replies. "We're just friends."

"Oh really, just friends hmm?" She looks at Jesse now, who nods.

"Sure."

Mercedes steps back for a second, eyeing them and Jesse sees the pleading glance Rachel tosses at her.

"Fine," She huffs finally. "Fine, I'll go with it, you're making her happy St James. But if I get even a whiff of anything other than happiness I am quite capable of kicking your butt to Chicago and back."

"I'll make sure that isn't necessary." Jesse replies smoothly and slowly they sit down.

The blonde boy sits slowly beside Mercedes and Rachel leans forward.

"Sam, Jesse, Jesse, Sam."

"Oh," Jesse's eyes widen with realisation. "So you're the famous Sam?"

The boy chuckles nervously. "I wouldn't say famous…"

"Infamous more like." Rachel mutters and Sam shoots her a glance.

"Nice to meet you." Jesse says, nodding towards the boy.

"You too man."

"Oh my God, look!" Mercedes gestures towards the photographer. "Look, it's Blaine and Kurt!"

The group turn and peer towards the photographer, where Kurt and Blaine are moving away, holding hands tightly. Blaine's wearing a handsome tux and smiling dashingly at them, Kurt in a strange combination of a dress and a suit and grinning widely. His grin falters when he spots Jesse and the two rise again, Jesse once again holding Rachel around the waist.

"Jesse?" Kurt demands, his eyes wide. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"He's her prom date," Mercedes inserts.

"What?" Kurt cries, even though it's glaringly obvious.

"It's purely platonic." Rachel adds, rolling her eyes.

"Right…" Kurt eyes the way they're holding each other and raises an eyebrow, but the pair cant bring themselves to move.

"Look, Kurt, Jesse has apologised and I've forgiven him, so please, for my sake, be civil." Rachel pleads, holding Jesse a little tighter.

Kurt sighs heavily. "Fine." He casts a cursory glance over them and smiles just a little. "Gorgeous dress, nice scarf."

Jesse laughs a little, watching the boy move around to sit beside Sam and taking in the way that he seems more confident now than he ever had been last year.

"Hey," Turning, he meets the gaze of the boy Kurt is with and smiles charmingly. "I'm Blaine Anderson, I go to Dalton Academy."

He takes the boy's outstretched hand and shakes it firmly, smiling at him. "You're a Warbler then? Yeah, I think I recognise you, I'm Jesse St James."

"Lead of Vocal Adrenaline right?"

And awkward silence falls over the table behind them and Jesse tries to take no notice as he shrugs, smiling still. "Ex-Lead, I go to college now."

"Great, well, nice to meet you."

"You too." Jesse responds, watching as Blaine takes a seat beside Kurt and then taking his place beside Rachel once more.

"That went well." He murmurs to her, and she nods.

"Very well. You'll like Blaine."

Jesse nods and then offers her a grin. "So, how am I doing?"

"Fantastically, as always." She laughs and he catches her hand beneath the table and he can see her breath catch in her throat. Just as he's considering moving his hand away again, she squeezes it gently. A smile spreads across hi features and she smiles back, ever so lightly.

Her eyes dance with happiness as they talk softly with each other, their hands still clasped beneath the table.

"Uh oh," Mercedes hushed voice catches their attention. "I hate to burst your bubble guys, but I can see some kids from Glee club in the line to get their pictures taken…"

Jesse turns with everyone else and looks directly into the angry eyes of one Finn Hudson.

Xxx

Okay, so I was desperate to get this out before tomorrow. I haven't read any really detailed prom stories yet and wanted to put one out there. Plus the BTS Glee scenes for prom and the sneak peak of Jesse and Rachel talking in the Auditorium, where at the end he goes: 'so what are you doing for prom?' inspired me majorly.

But I wanted to get this out there tonight, so the second bit will be up tomorrow.

I am loving writing this and literally cannot wait for Tuesday!

Please review guys!

Please?

Thanks.

Lots of Love

Ray

xxx