At 8 years old, Rachel Berry had the world at her feet. Shining lights, broadway tunes, surrounded with the dizzying sound of applause, her dreams were reality. Well, almost. The shining lights came from her lit up mirror, broadway tunes came from the hand me down CD player and the sound of applause echoed from her doorway, where stood were the only people she needed in her life. Her mother and her Sister were her shining stars. Her mother, Katherine was an ex director, she'd produced some of the most now Broadway shows. The Broadway gene seemed to have passed down not only to her but her sister Shelby also, at 23 her sister was doing everything Rachel dreamed of doing. Starring in the hit musical RENT, Shelby now dubbed Corcoran was the next hot thing, she had the lights, the broadway tunes and the mass applause 8 times a week. Blowing out a whistle, Katherine takes a stride towards her daughter, clapping her hands together in complete awe.

"Well hot dog, you'll be over taking your sister in no time." The older woman chuckles, drawing the small girl into her arms. Rachel leans her head against the soft material of her mother, letting a giggle escape her lips.

"There's no doubt in that." The older brunette concludes, having wiped the tear that had fallen from the corner of her eye, before another soul could see. "As long as i get my Tony before her though."

Rachel perks up at the words spoken, detangling herself from her mother. "Well, I have planned to have my first Tony before i'm 22 and then my second at 25...So.. you've got some time." She grins up at her sister. "But then saying that, someone might see my potential early on and most probably have me star in a hit show and then you'll stand no chance in having a Tony before I."

Shelby and Katherine burst out in laughter, shaking their head in amusement as they make their way to the living room. "Keep thinking that way, kid, and you'll get there."

"Oh, i will." Rachel nodded in confidence to her mother, hand on her chest in the most dramatic way.

"Mmmm.." Shelby hummed softly, raising her brows at the girl. "But more importantly have you got any idea's on what you want to do for your birthday?" The singer asked, tiptoeing around her mother gracefully so she could sneak a cookie off the side, only to receive a swat to her behind and the cookie back on the plate. It was December 16th and the little girl has already sent out birthday invitations to her friends to invite them for a party, but her sister had promised her a day out for just them. Now, with Rachel being Rachel, the girl had drawn up plans, searched the web for what was closest and has everything sorted out.

Rachel nodded her head excitedly, hopping slightly before dashing off to go and get said plans. She darted back down the stairs, sliding on the wooden floors of the kitchen with her fluffily socks before laying the plans before her sister.

"So, i was thinking, as it's cold and i have to protect my vocal cords, that we could first go to that coffee shop off the end of the block and then we could go see a show? Please, you promised!" The bouncing brunette was practically whining at this stage, her hands in front of her chest as she looked at her sister with orbs of molten chocolate.

Shelby could feel her inside's melt, something inside her weep ever so slightly. "Hey, hey, slow down, chick. Have you chosen which show you wanted to see?"

Rachel huffed in an exhausted manner, flopping onto the side couch, limps spread off the side. "There are just so many! But Matilda is meant to be the best this season..."

Shelby rolled her eyes at the small brunette, propping her head up in her hand and levelling at look at Rachel. "Rach, would you like me to see if they have any seats for Matilda? But if you wanted to see something else that's not..."

"No! Oh my god, could you get tickets? Would you? That would be ozmifying! Oh, could you? Pleaseee?" The small girl bounced over to her sister, her hands on either side of Shelby's face as Rachel directed her speech towards her sister.

The elder brunette scooped Rachel into her arms, tickling her ribs as she blew raspberries on the girl's neck. "I'm gunna pee! Stop! I'm gunna peeeee! Stop, please! Please! Uncle! I call uncle!" Rachel screamed in delight.

Shelby tilted her head back in a full bellied laugh as she settled the girl back on her feet. "I'll call up Cassandra and see what i can do, kiddo." The brunette grinned, rubbing the top of Rachel's head, causing the girl to scowl and straighten out her hair.


Katherine had been watching the whole scene play before her with her jaw set. Quickly excusing herself from the room, she left without another word. Hoping the thickness in her voice went unnoticed by both her girls.

Shelby had promised. She'd promised all those years ago.

Rachel was still a little girl, she was so precious, a tiny flower in a rose garden. But recently, with Shelby's success, her eldest daughter had started to loose her path, she'd started to grow bolder, sort her life out and was truly blossoming in womanhood.

Rachel was just about to start a new school and the very least she needed was Shelby poking a hot stick at her. Katherine didn't know what her eldest's plan was, but she knew Shelby well enough to know, there was indeed 'a plan'.

She'd have to talk to Shelby tonight.


After a few pleasing conversations to her manager and best friend, Shelby Corcoran had secured two seats to an afternoon show in the front row, saying her thanks she hung up the phone and went to break the news to Rachel. The girl had practically burst her ear drums, winding her in a hug just before rushing off to get changed, claiming 'how unfair it was that she only had 4 hours to get ready'.

Shelby pinched the bridge of her nose, the corner of her mouth curled into a gentle smile. She herself, made her way to her own room, stripping off her tracksuit, standing in front of the full length mirror. Her fingers dancing over the curves of her sides, tracing the red lines ever so gently. The ghostly moves made the singer bite her lip ever so slightly, running a hand through her hair she let's out a ragged breath. One day.

Wearing ripped at the knee black jeans she pulls on a white tee before shrugging on her leather jacket, grabbing her wallet before going to collect Rachel.

"Hey, Bug! You ready?" The singer hollers through the house, expecting the girl has some kind of music playing and can't hear her so well. But instead Rachel pops her head out of the door way besides Shelby, giving the women an almost heart attack. "Sh-Sugar, you're going to be the death of me.."

Grinning from ear to ear Rachel slips all the way to just besides her sister. "Sorry, not my fault you're old." Rachel cheeks. Knowing she's trod the line a little too far, she decides to keep a foot behind her, an easy escape if she needs it.

"Ohhh, so I take you out and you're callin' me old?" Shelby raises her brow, giving the young girl the family glare. "Fine, I guess i'm too old to take you to the theatre.." Shelby shrugs, sliding her arm out of her jacket as she turns away.

The small diva stand in shock, mouth open ajar as she tries to think up a way out of this. Letting out a scoff, the small brunette puts a hand on her hip. "I was only joking, you're not old. Just older than me and did I mention beautiful?" The girl flutters her eyelashes, showing off her set of pearly whites.

Shelby turns back to the girl, rolling her eyes before giving her a tap on the behind. "Nice save. Now get your butt moving or we're going to be late."

No more than 10 minutes later they were curled up in a small coffee shop, each cradling their own hot drink as Rachel rolled on about her favourite idol.

"Did you know that Barbra was almost the First Lady of Canada, as she was dating Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1969, but turned down his proposal to marry her?"

"I did know that actually. I'm not as old as you think I am, Rach." Shelby winked, causing Rachel to splutter some of her drink, only making Shelby belt out a laugh. The older brunette is almost in tears until she looks up to see Rachel, thumb stuck in her mouth as her chin wobbles, the obvious signs of an almost Rachel Berry melt down. Muttering some form of a curse under her breath, the singer puts down her mug, shuttling over to the little girl she wraps a single arm around her body, pulling her close, the mug long discarded. "Shhh, i'm sorry, I was only joking, Rach. Shh, Shh, baby." Rachel pulls the thumb from her mouth, instead throwing her arms around her sister's waist. She'd always seemed warmth, physical contact was always Rachel's favourite, like being tucked into bed, morning forehead kisses and simple actions like getting her hair brushed were always her favourite, Shelby smiles at the memories. She remembers even before Rachel was born...No.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't laughing at you. Okay?" Shelby asked gently, tucking the girls long hair out of her face to get a better look at her expressions. Rachel's head picks up from Shelby's chest, nodding warily. "You wanna get a head start and go to the theatre now? It's starting to snow pretty badly any way." The small brunette looks up and nods again. Shelby sighs gently, pressing a kiss to the girl's crown they shrug back on their coats, scarfs and mittens, walking hand in hand out of the coffee shop.

The streets are dark, dancing in their own shadows as the wind rallies up the loose litter on the ground, freezing it to the pavements. But the lights are bright and the noise is even more blinding. Just as New York should be. The second the two brunettes walk to the doors of the door man notices the elder, smiling brightly and quickly spiralling up a conversation, letting them both in too defrost a little. They are personally walked to their seats before anyone else and are given complimentary drinks, a glass of wine for Shelby and a very fitting glass of apple juice for Rachel.

The performance is, as Rachel puts it, awesome. All the kids are phenomenal, they all are perfectly on beat and put up quite the show. Mrs Wormwood scares Rach a little bit, but to the end she just ends up laughing her little socks off. They have ice-cream at the interval and by the end Rachel is fighting sleep, her eyes flutter and her feet a dragging against the carpet floor. Shelby takes pity on the girl, scooping her up and hailing a cab back home. The mini diva is completely zonked by the time they reach the house, her head against the singers shoulder and her legs dangling. Shelby skilfully unlocks the front door, stepping inside as quietly as possible, doing a quick sweep for her mother, she finds no sign of life, thinking perhaps she'd packed in for an early night.

Toeing off her shoes she carries the little girl to her room, gently taking her coat, scarf and mitten off, knowing the soft cotton dress and leggings will be fine to sleep in for tonight. She places a kiss to the girls forehead before silently closing the door behind her. Shelby dances to the kitchen, hanging up all accessories along the way before switching on the kettle and getting out a mug. Humming a soft tune, the eldest brunette leans against the side.

"Why now?"

Shelby perks up, facing the wall as she closes her eyes against her mother's words. "I don't know what you mean." Shelby bats away, placing a tea bag in her cup and pouring the scalding liquid onto it.

Katherine scoffs almost bitterly. "Shelby I have been your mother for 23 years, don't play me to be the fool."

The singer grips the side, she didn't have the energy for this. Letting out a shaky breath, Shelby turns to face her mother. "I took her out for her birthday, I didn't brainwash her, I didn't loose her on the way here and back, we went for tea then we went to see the show and then we came back. We talked about broadway, Barbra and food. Is that enough information for you?!" Shelby spits, taking advancing steps before she can stop herself.

Katherine narrows her eyes, tilting her chin defiantly. "What's going on with you?" The blonde asks, her head falling to the side as she admires her daughter. "Are you having second thoughts?"

"Second thoughts?! Jesus Christ, i've been having second thoughts for 9 goddamn years. The mo-.. the moment she was born, I-I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I was 15 years old, Mom. What was I suppose to do?!"

"You were suppose to give her a good life and you have, and you will continue to do so, do you here me?" Katherine growls, grasping her daughter's arm, making the singer look at her. Shelby takes one look at her mother and nods, a single and slow action, causing tears to barrel down her cheeks. "Good." The blonde finishes, walking from the room and leaving her daughter to go over the whole argument. And she does, Shelby goes over her mother's words, letting out a weeping sob.

One day.