I know you're going to be pretty damn frustrated when you found out Santana got in two months what you couldn't do in two years (an honest job). But just be grateful that she keeps her promise to help you out in that department. Sure, you'll be cleaning up the bile and vomit in the bar she works in, but just go with it.

You'll find that whatever the job is, it's better than selling your body and being in danger every night. I know it won't be easy. There will be times when you hate having to do so much for so little money, times when you still reach for the pager Rachel will have long since thrown away, but it'll get better. You'll finally get your self-worth back.

And once the boss hears your voice and finds out how good you are with music, you'll be promoted to DJ.

You'll also spend a lot of one-on-one time with Santana, too, and as much as you want to hold a grudge against her, you'll find out that you can't. She was just looking out for her friend. Anyway, the girl can be pretty charming when she puts her mind to it.

Charming as is she'll torture customers with whoopee cushions and spiked drinks so many times that the boss will threaten to fire her and you're in stitches.

In between apologies and giving back refunds, she'll smirk at you, and you know that you guys are okay.

In between cleaning glasses and poring over music, you'll tell her your story, too. It's only fair, as Rachel has told you bits and pieces of hers, and you know some things about her that you're sure even Kurt and Rachel aren't aware about. You are, after all, the person escorting her home when it's after work and she's drunk; she's nowhere near over Brittany as she pretends to be.

In between the bickering and the teasing, you'll start to think that you might just be becoming friends with her.

You'll move back in with them, of course. Not because your Rachel's boyfriend again (you won't be sure for a while what you are to her), but so that they can keep a better eye on you. You'll think it's a little insulting that they don't trust you, but then, you know you kind of deserve it. You're on penance the moment you move your things back in the closet, using up space that they can use; you're the one they'll send to run errands to buy groceries, or carry their shopping, or deliver notes. But hey, it's not like they didn't do this before.

The only real difference is that you'll no longer be entitled to walk around naked.

You'll need to catch up with your studies because despite your efforts, the three weeks in the hospital hasn't exactly improved your grades. None of your teachers will cut you any slack—not even Cassie, who'll say she's just forcing you to make up for your horrible mediocrity before your 'car accident'. Every day, it's splits, twirls, arabesques, the whole shin-bag.

But it'll be okay. Because after you've performed everything to perfection, she'll transform the look from you better make up for it to I'm glad you're doing okay now, and I'm proud of you.

Not that she'll ever say those words out loud.

The hardest part will come on spring break, when your room-mate's things are packed and Rachel states that if they're not spending the vacation in New York then you aren't, either. She'll hold out the phone, and her two friends will glower at you until you groan and pick it up. You'll dial the number you've longed to for years and say, in a shaky voice, "Hi, Mom."

The moment you step out of the plane, you'll be hit by a dozen relatives trying to hug you. One of them will be your brother, though he'll never admit it. Your parents are crying, and so are you, and you all pretend not to notice.

You'll spend two weeks running around in the farm you used to hate so much, catching up with old pals, scooping up your nephews and nieces and whirling them around in the air, eating your mom's famous apple pie. When your sister's twelve-year-old twins Tony and Tammy start up a campfire and begin singing songs, you join in, and they'll stare at you in awe and beg you to do some more and can you please, please teach them how to sing like that? When your sister admits they've gotten the music gene and dead set in following Uncle Brody's footsteps, you'll feel prouder than if you'd been given an Oscar.

When you and the twins set up a live musical performance and your family bursts into a round of applause, the place finally feels like home.

After the two weeks are over, you're going to have a lot of kids hanging on your legs and pleading with you to stay as you try to move towards the airport doors. Your heart will be in your throat when, one by one, you give them a hug and say good-bye. You'll promise, absolutely promise, you'll be back as soon as you can. It'll be okay. Your brother's fourteen-year-old Andrea is the family's first techno-whiz, so you can use Skype.

Rachel will confess, later on, that she's had a less-than-idealistic spring break; which you'll find weird, since Kurt and Santana are positively glowing after seeing their friends. You'll ask why, and when she says "Finn", try not to let seethe with anger so much. She'll laugh, but she'll also admit her ex isn't very happy she's still hanging out with you.

Don't joke about having to carry a baseball bat around in case of ambushes, because her smile will vanish like the sun behind a cloud and she'll say that she warned him specifically not to go near you. Things will get awkward, then, and you'll spend the night thinking about how stupid you sounded like.

But tomorrow's always a new day, and you try to make amends by taking the three out to lunch at Tiffany's. Using your honest-earned money.

She'll accept your apology.

You'll finish the semester in NYADA with a lot more flourish than you started, grinning from ear to ear in the curtain call because your family showed up in the final performance. They get it now, why you wanted to come to this place, and you'll smile as the twins run backstage asking for autographs and go straight to Rachel because they loved her voice (you have to swear later that they really didn't know who she was beforehand) and laugh uncontrollably when they start following Cassie around like two lovesick puppies.

You'll know she loves it, really.

Things will get a little awkward in the apartment. Your brother will be confused on why you'd choose to live in this place with three space-obsessed room-mates, and while you'll tell him it's no big deal, he'll be looking around disapprovingly any way. He'll ask if it's about the money; and if that's the case, he'll loan you some if you wanted a place of your own.

You'll give him a sad smile, hug him (of course he tries to wrestle you off, but after five seconds of him hugging back), and say you're good here, thanks.

The ride to the airport will be tight. The family's will be divided up into three cabs, but you'll still get the one from the kids in it and they'll be jostling and pulling and singing so loud even you want to cover your ears. There'll be one good side, though. Rachel's coming with you to say good-bye, and every time five-year-old Anna shoves you to the side you get a little closer to her.

But you're going to have to remember, little pitchers have big eyes and ears.

"Is she your girlfriend?" Anna will ask, in a loud whisper. All jostling immediately stops as everyone pays attention to your answer. The twins especially will look hopeful. They think that Rachel's the greatest thing since peanut butter and jelly.

"Uh, no," you'll say, embarrassed, scooting a few inches away from aforementioned friend. Both of you will be bright red in the face. There'll be a few seconds of tension in the air; then the singing will begin again, and you'll relax. But Rachel will still be biting her lip, an odd look in her eyes.

In the airport, the kids will all run to their parents to give up their baggage, and you'll remind them to tell your brother you'll catch up at the boarding gate. Then you'll turn to Rachel, expecting to say your final good-byes until next year.

But before you can, she'll say, "Come to Lima with me."

You'll stare.

"I don't mean right now," she'll add quickly. "I mean…glee club's Nationals are in two weeks. I'd really appreciate it if you could, you know, see it with me?" She'll redden for the second time that night. "I get it if you don't want to watch some kids perform, but-"

"I bet it'll be great, Rach," you'll say, fixing her a smile. "I'll be there. Promise."

She'll grin, and you two quickly promise to set things up through email (mentally, you'll be wondering how much ice-cream and songs and begging it's going to take for you to convince Andrea to let you use the only working computer). Then, right before your about to leave, she'll stand on her tip-toes and kiss you on the cheek. "See you soon," she'll say quickly, blushing and practically running away.

You'll stare after her, stunned, until you get a text from your brother asking where the hell are you.

Lima will turn out precisely how you expected it. And somehow, utterly different. The suburban atmosphere, the heat of the summer, the graffiti swear words? You'll expect that. But when you're in Rachel's alma mater, heading towards the choir room like you both planned, your jaw will drop when a jock pours a slushy on some poor kid's face.

Rachel will have mentioned 'getting slushied' in passing, but you didn't think she was serious. Suddenly, you'll get a mental picture of a high school Rachel getting an icy-cold drink poured on her head every day. You'll loathe it.

And because you can't do anything about Rachel, but you can do something for this girl, you'll change directions and call out, "Hey! Leave her alone!"

The jock's at least a head taller than you. He'll laugh and pour down another one. The girl will start shivering, but the guy's got a strong grip on her arm. "What you gonna do about it?"

You'll glance at the girl. The mental picture will pop in your head again. "Fight, if that's really the only way to knock it in to your skull it's wrong for you to do this."

The boy's eyes will light up in the word fight. He'll let go of the girl (who's begging you in the background that it's okay, you don't have to do this) and go straight for your face.

But because you'll have learned your lesson the second time 'round, and have taken self-defence lessons since then just in case, he'll get nowhere near it. Five minutes later, he's on the floor moaning and scurrying away from you, and you'll think how it's sad that that's probably the only way the guy knows how to solve problems—use his fists.

Then you'll start wondering if Finn was a jock himself in high school.

"Uh, thanks," the girl will say, staring at you with wide brown eyes. "You didn't need to do that."

"Any decent person would have to," you'll correct.

"You're not from around here, are you?"

"How'd you tell?" You'll smile as you help her up and escort her to her locker, and you're both a tad impressed and sad how efficient she is with wiping the slush from her hair with a towel. "You're right, actually. I live in NYC. They're a little bit more liberal there."

She'll turn around. "You're Brody?" You'll blink, surprised, and then give her a nod. She'll blush profusely. "Sorry. I've just, um, heard a little bit about you. Rachel's friend, right?" She'll grin. "Choir room's this way. C'mon."

She'll lead you to a small, brightly-lit classroom; but you're not paying much attention to her commentary, because you're wondering exactly how much she knows about you. You'll snap out of it, though, when a pair of arms is thrown over your shoulders, and Rachel's there, hugging you, and you forget about everything else.

Finn will be there, too, glowering in the background. But you'll try to ignore him.

To your embarrassment, the girl will start telling them about how you saved her from that jock in the hallway. Her boyfriend, a guy called Jake, will pull her close and shoot you a grateful look. The rest of the glee club will look mildly impressed, and you'll be relieved you made a good first impression on Rachel's family.

Since you and the old glee club actually arrive a few days before the final performance, you're made to sit and watch as they put on their dress rehearsal in front of you. It's pretty good, actually; the voices are as good as they're going to get in a high school choir. But you'll think the dance moves can use a bit of stepping up. You'll say as much, too, and both Rachel and some guy called Mike will agree.

When Mr Schue asks what do you suggest, the three of you will smile and start choreographing.

They'll be used to quick changes in dancing, as it turns out. Ryder and Sam need no more than three hours to be on par, and Jake even less. After a while, you leave them and Mike to do a few last run-throughs so you can check out what Rachel's doing. You'll be surprised.

Rachel will be brutally pointing out the flaws in the footwork and timing of the girls, and you have to stifle a laugh as Unique, Kitty, Sugar, and Slushy Girl AKA Marley all look at her rebelliously. You'll have to have a moment to compose yourself before you go over to them and tell them their good points, too, and suggest how they could improve. Once they're busy practicing again, Rachel will turn to you helplessly. "Was I really this bad at dancing in the beginning of the year?" she'll whisper.

"No," you'll say comfortingly. "You weren't bad at all. You're just too used to the quality work in Cassie's class now."

She'll huff. "I'm starting to see why she was so irritated." She'll pause. "Don't tell her I said that."

When the sun's setting and you're all exhausted, they do one more run-through for you. And even though they're tired, they all have to admit, it's a much better routine than they had before.

Finn will glower at you again. It's only later that you'll find out he was the one who choreographed most of the first one.

To celebrate a good day's work, the old glee club will invite you to marathon movies of Broadway musicals with them; and because of Rachel's hopeful face, what can you do but accept? You'll be starting to like these guys, anyway. Quinn's sweet-as-sugar façade eases up Santana a little, Mercedes is calling both you and Kurt 'her boy' by the time you reach the parking lot, and you're too busy joshing with Noah/Puck to really remember that he used to be Rachel's boyfriend.

Then Finn will suggest you watch Les Mis for the first musical.

Santana's eyes will narrow, and Rachel will try to say she wanted to watch Annie, but Finn will be starting to put the DVD in so all you can do is watch. For a while, you won't see what the big deal is. Much as you pride yourself with knowing most of the Broadway greats, you did grow up in a farm; you know the songs, but you don't realy know the stories behind them. There's just an escaped convict named Jean Valjean running around Paris. So? Then the movie will progress on to Fantine, a lady who's fired from her job from a factory and needs to do something, anything, to feed her daughter. You'll feel dread in your stomach.

You know that kind of desperation.

You'll watch, horrified and fascinated, as Fantine breaks down and becomes a prostitute, and all you can think is oh God that's what happened to me, that's me. You'll think you're ridiculous – it's a movie – but when she starts singing, and you always express yourself through song, you'll feel your eyes starting to prick with hot tears.

I had a dream that my life would be / so different from this hell I'm living….

That could have been you. That's all you'll be able to think about. That could have been you.

When she starts getting abused by some officer, you'll try to leave, muttering some excuse. But Finn's in front of the door. "What's the matter, Brody?" he'll ask, a sickly smile on his face. "Too familiar?"

"I don't-"

"And you didn't even have her excuse," he'll say wildly, and it's obvious he's been drinking while you weren't looking. "You just did it because you wanted it for yourself. Perverted freak. Unless you have some hideous daughter stashed away somewhere?"

You'll want to punch him. For a moment, you'll forget about Rachel in the room, forget that she still might have feelings for this guy, you'll want to punch him. Just once.

But someone does it for you.

Noah will be breathing hard, his face utterly livid, when he glowers at Finn. His fists will still be clenched even after the hit. "Not cool, dude."

Finn will try to backpedal. "I didn't mean-"

"Yeah, I know what you meant. Get the hell out before I beat the crap out of you."

"He doesn't deserve Rachel," he'll say sullenly.

Then the petite brunette herself will stand up; and she'll look furious, angrier than you'll have ever seen her before. "I think I'll decide for myself who deserves me, thank you, Finn," she'll say pointedly. "Now do as Noah says and get out."

For once, Finn will obey orders.

There'll be an awkward pause, and then Kurt will say slowly, "So…anyone up for Phantom of the Opera?"

Everyone will agree; and then they'll look at you, asking if you were okay with that. You'll stare at them, confused. Finn had just blurted out your secret. None of them were saying anything about it. Then, comprehension dawns. "You know," you'll say. "All of you know."

Rachel will chew her lip nervously. "Finn told them before spring break, Brody."

"And…you're okay with it?" you'll ask in disbelief.

It's Noah who answers. "You're not anymore, right? You've gotten over it?" You'll nod slowly. "Then we're all good. Nobody here's gonna hold what you were against you; except maybe Finn, but he's being a pussy right now." He'll smirk at you wryly, and you'll swear there's almost a hint of respect in his eyes. "Besides, kinda rare to meet a dude who's done the nasty as much as I have."

And just like that, the tension will ease.

You'll realize what Rachel means when she said how her glee club accepted everyone, faults and all, and you'll grin when you understand that yes, that includes you too.

Rachel's dads are great. You don't need to worry about them; and you can open up to them, if you want to. Like the glee club members, Finn's told them about your past. But they trust their baby girl's assurances that you're okay. They'll invite you in for lunch after practice, they'll share embarrassing stories about Rachel when she's little, and they'll even show photos when she was three and wearing a red, sparkly leotard. Rachel will threaten to get you back when she visits your family later in the summer, but you'll be too busy laughing to worry about it at that moment.

You really can open up to them. They've been judged as well, and they'll understand.

Besides, you'll get the Broadway themes of their jokes, which is more than Rachel's last boyfriend ever did.

You'll be the one driving the old glee club to Nationals. It's pretty much decided. Mercedes will claim she needs her manicure to dry off, Mike joined the other bus to sit with Tina and Kurt with Blaine, you don't even dare ask Santana and Quinn when they're giggling at you evilly like that, you don't count Finn at all, and Noah says that since he's the one lending the minivan, he shouldn't be the one suffering in the front.

Don't worry about it. Rachel will sit shotgun.

It'll be three hours before you arrive at your destination, so it'll be three hours of talking and joking and just hanging out that you've missedthese past two weeks. You're family's great; that's one thing you'll never doubt again. But Rachel's Rachel; your soul-mate, the person who understands you completely, the one who dragged you up from the bottom and brought out the best in you. You love spending time with her. At one point, you and she will even start singing those annoying road songs, much to the chagrin at the people on the back.

On the last ten minutes of your journey, you and she will start talking about serious stuff. She'll say that she talked to Finn.

She ended things between them. Permanently.

You'll ask what brought this on, and she'll roll her eyes and look at you, and you'll get a familiar fluttering feeling in your chest.

She'll ask something she'll say she should've ask before; how were you coping up with not being a prostitute anymore? And you'll reply it's not coping, it's thriving; you love it, and you'll thank her again and again on how she didn't give up on you.

She'll blush and look down adorably. "I've been thinking a lot about our…um, confrontation a lot," she'll say.

"Yeah?" You'll keep your eyes on the road, but you'll be curious at what she's going to say. You've solved most of your problems since then. What else could there be to talk about?

"We never clearly broke up, you know."

"Oh."

"And I was wondering if…." She'll trail off.

"If I still have feelings for you," you'll finish. She doesn't have to answer. You'll know you're right. A hint of a smile will play along your lips, and you'll tell her, "I still mean every word I said to you, Rachel."

"You do?"

"Include the time when I told you I always think about kissing you."

There'll be a smile in her voice when she'll say, "Oh, really?"

Your heart will be pounding so loud in your chest you'll wonder if she can hear it. "Really."

You won't get much farther than that when Finn asks loudly from the back if they're there yet. Then you'll have to pull over and park. That's all right. The moment might be spoiled, but Rachel will hold your hand all the way to the theatre, and she'll keep holding it, despite the rest of the club's stares. And when you and she take your seats, Santana will scare Finn off from sitting beside Rachel.

She is, after all, a hard-core friend.

You'll put your arm around Rachel, and she'll lean on your shoulder. When the music starts, you'll feel happier than you've ever have before in your life.

When they announce New Direction's win and she kisses you under the spotlight, you'll know that this is how things are truly meant to be.

Never give up hope that things do turn out right in the end. Keep being optimistic, try not to wear those jaded glasses so much, and for God's sake, don't name your daughter Cosette. Frankly, it embarrasses her, and Rachel will never let you hear the end of it.

Sincerely,

Brody

A/N: I didn't really write this because of Westberry (even though I love it) or because I don't like Finn (to be more precise, how possessive, violet, and downright petty he is this season). I wrote it because I cannot believe that Rachel would actually leave Brody like that without trying to help him. It's established that he doesn't like being a prostitute, and I hate that the show just says it's okay to leave your friends in that situation. It's not. Hopefully this is rectified in canon as well as in this fanfiction.

Either way, I hope you liked it. Feedback and reviews are welcome.