A Time For Mom
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, and all errors are mine!
Prelude: Time has passed, Shelby and Rachel's relationship has developed, and it's time for them to take a leap.
"Do you know what would make me feel better about you having another daughter?" Rachel asked Shelby, as the two sat in Shelby's car outside of Shelby's house, on Rachel's visit home to Lima.
"I thought we dealt with this five years ago, Rach. We're just taking this slow." In the years that followed Shelby's final year of coaching Vocal Adrenaline, the two had fallen into the nickname for Rachel. It wasn't a pet name, but it wasn't formal either.
"We are..." Rachel replied, voice a tad antsy, and lingering on the "are" for emphasis.
"Then what's on your mind?" Shelby asked.
"Won't it get confusing for Beth? I mean, I'm her sister and you're my biological mother, and I'm sort of, but not completely her sister, but I don't call you mom? And Puck, her biological father visits, but her biological mother doesn't? Not to mention, you sort of have pet names for me, but it's only one way in our relationship. It impacts you, but now..."
Shelby tried not to chuckle at Rachel's babbling, though she was also trying to take in all that Rachel had said with a grain of salt, and all honest interest. Back when she coached Vocal Adrenaline, she hoped that "her kids," as they would always be called that, did the same thing. It was really the only way to get better. "What are you trying to say?" Shelby questioned.
"Wouldn't it just be easier if I call you "mom"? Rachel blurted. "I mean, you've been in my life for what, five years now? We're passed the wave as we pass by, and the scheduled lunches, and the awkward casual dinners. Beth is getting older- not to my age- but I think that as she is more verbally mature-" Rachel tried to explain, putting as many words into a quick explanation as she could, in hope that Shelby would pick up on at least half of it, because Shelby would inevitably (and as kindly as possible for a person who had coached so long), would cut Rachel off.
Shelby paused. She couldn't say that she didn't see it coming, and the thought made her nervous, but she didn't want to miss the opportunity with her daughter, either. "Sure."
"Thanks," Rachel grinned her honest smile and then paused so briefly, you had to be listening for the beat, "Mom."
