And this is a very belated Christmas fic for my dearest Ariana.
I don't own Glee.
Rachel Berry thoroughly enjoys Hanukkah. It's her favorite of the Jewish holidays (not that they celebrate that many—the High Holy Days are about it). However, with the hopeful candles and the eight days of presents (always grandiose, courtesy of her doting fathers), she found herself adoring the technically unimportant festival.
Usually, she loves the post-celebration night, with her mind replaying the events as she slips into bed, a smile on her face. It's one of the most peaceful moments of the year.
But not this night. Not this year.
Unfortunately, she let her eyes fall to the cup, the one with the gold star. She couldn't help but think of Shelby—why she left the cup there, with all the painful memories, she didn't know. But it was there, and it was haunting her tonight.
Is Shelby Jewish, she wonders? She would think that her Dad would insist on having a Jewish mother, just to keep things correct (though the idea of an observant gay man is rather oxymoronic). Still, is Shelby lighting her own menorah in the comforts of her home?
She should be here, with me, Rachel thinks. It's her mother. Aren't mothers supposed to yearn to spend time with their child on a holiday. However, this is Shelby, the Ice Queen—a cold, mess of a bitch.
Yet Rachel can't be entirely mad. She remembers the one time she went into Shelby's apartment—how empty it felt, how static. There were still some unpacked boxes from when she moved in, and that was apparently four years ago. There were no pictures, no decorations. Shelby spent all of her time at work—there was no one to come home to anyway. Rachel's more sad about it than anything; at least she has a loving family waiting for her.
Maybe Rachel can be the one to extend the olive branch? While her Dad doesn't like Shelby very much, for whatever reason (her Papa still thinks of her fondly), she could still invite her over for the second day, for dinner or something. They could invite her to be in the family.
I think we should be grateful from afar.
Inviting her to dinner is not from afar—it's up close and personal. No, Rachel can't do that. Shelby's probably spending it with her extended family—if she celebrates Hanukkah at all. Despite everything, she hopes so. Shelby may not have made the best choices; actually, a lot of them have been hurtful. Still, she's not a bad person, Rachel thinks. She just wishes her a pleasant holiday, hopefully with the change from her isolated normalcy.
