"Hey Rachel!" Kurt said happily as he sat down, coffee in hand. "What's wrong?" He asked in concern as he noticed the petite brunette had her head bowed and tears were rolling down her cheeks. He watched as her eyes darted up for a moment before returning to her lap and he followed her line of sight. Shelby and a baby, Beth, he presumed, were seated at a table nearby. They were laughing and smiling as Shelby played with her, seemingly unaware that her eldest daughter was in the same room.
"Kurt, what's it like?" "What?" He asked, confusion etched on his pale face. "What's it like to have a mom?" Rachel whispered so softly Kurt almost missed it. He took a deep breath and sighed. Where to begin? "Well, it's like having someone who knows you, the real you. Someone to cook you breakfast before you leave in the morning, to make you lunch when you come home, someone who'll nag you to eat your vegetables at dinner and to clean your room. When you're sick, she knows exactly what to do, she'll make you chicken soup and will do everything to make you comfortable. She..." He choked. He had been trying so hard to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall as memories of Elizabeth Hummel flashed through his mind but failed as they cascaded down his cheeks. "I'm...I'm sorry." He said shakily as he hurriedly wiped them away, not even bothering to use a tissue.
"No, it's okay, don't apologize Kurt, I understand completely, you lost someone you loved, a person very dear to you." Rachel said as she rested a hand on his arm and rubbed it soothingly. "It's better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all. That's true isn't it? You have so many good memories with her and she'll always live on in your heart. She loved you so much."
"I'm sure Shelby loves you." He said trying to change the subject, he didn't think he could continue talking about his mom without breaking down in sobs. Rachel chuckled and shook her head. "No, she doesn't. If she did, she wouldn't have rejected me and adopted a baby because I wasn't the daughter she wanted. Maybe it's just me. I told her how much I needed a mom and she just walked away. Maybe I'm too ugly and selfish and stubborn and-" "Rachel stop!" He interrupted her. "You are wonderful and talented and if Shelby can't see that, it's her loss. Don't ever think anything less of yourself. Ever." He punctuated the last word with a firm squeeze of her soft hand, looking at her seriously. The sound of Shelby's voice suddenly rang out behind them, causing both of them to turn towards her.
"You're mommy's little girl! I love you so much, Beth!" The woman in question said, grinning as she rubbed her nose with Beth's, causing the baby to squeal with delight. Kurt searched Rachel's brown eyes full of unshed tears which were focused on the happy pair and he found sadness, hurt, anger and mainly...longing? "I...I just remembered I had somewhere to be. Sorry Kurt. Bye." The small diva said quickly and sped out the door before Kurt could stop her. He rushed outside but could not find her. As he was about to head back into the coffee shop, he saw a small figure behind a tree. Her knees were pulled up to her chest, her head was buried in her hands and her whole body was shaking from the force of the sobs that wracked her small frame.
"Shh...Don't cry, she doesn't deserve you." He repeated over and over in her ear as he enveloped her in a big hug and held her close until her sobs subsided. "Thank you, Kurt. I'm sorry for dirtying your clothes, I know they're the latest designs." She said in a watery voice as she kissed him on the cheek. "It's okay, Rach, I understand, you loved her, she was your mother." He hugged her again tightly as he spoke, as though it would be able to take away his friend's pain.
A/N Another short one-shot. Hope you like it!