Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or any of its characters.
Waking up to hear her baby girl vocalizing her hunger Rachel Berry stood up and swiftly picked up her daughter, bringing her to her breast. When she first started breastfeeding, it hurt, but now she was used to it and it felt amazing. It was a connection that only she and her little girl shared. Though she knew that today she would be going to a babysitter for the first time so Rachel could start attending her new public school. It was something she had been dreading since she first held her little girl in her arms two months ago.
Rachel was originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, but after her last-minute decision to keep her daughter, instead of giving her up for adoption, her father's moved her to a different school district clear across the state. Keeping her daughter meant keeping conditions that her fathers believed were necessary. They wanted nothing more than for her to finish out her high school career as if she was a normal high school student. They didn't want anyone, but them, to know that she was a teenage mother. The only exception was Rachel's new babysitter.
Sighing at her little girl she knew that to the public eye she was Rachel's little sister, she didn't know why her father's tried to force a normal life on her when all she wanted to do was be the best mom she could be to her little girl. Looking at the time Rachel knew she could either sleep for another hour or start preparing for the day. She had packed her daughters diaper bag with everything but her bottles. They were in the fridge due to having breast milk in them. She then got her little girl dressed in a light blue short sleeved onesie, grey jacket with light blue roses with navy blue leaves on it, navy blue leggings, a matching light blue headband, and grey socks. After completing her daughters looks for the day Rachel then switched her focus to herself, placing her infant in her swing.
Rachel decided to go simple. She didn't want to draw much attention to herself. She just wanted to blend in, grant her fathers wishes to join a club, and then get home to be a mom to her precious baby girl. Looking at the time she went to the mini fridge in her room and grabbed enough bottles to suffice her daughter for her first day at her babysitters. Carole was a very nice lady and Rachel was happy to find her. She learned that she had a biological son and a stepson her age. Rachel made sure that Carole knew her dads' rules when it came to her little girl. To everyone except herself and her dads, Addy was her sister. There were many others, but Rachel only recited the important ones.
As soon as she pulled up to the house Rachel put her car in park and got out of the little car. She then quickly grabbed the diaper bag and her daughter and walked up to the front door. As soon as she knocked a tall boy with black hair opened the door. That must be Carole's biological son. Rachel couldn't remember his name, but she did remember the differences that the mom of teens explained.
"Can I help you?" He asked. He looked quizzical at the teen carrying a car seat and diaper bag.
"I am Rachel Berry, I am here to drop off my little sister. Your mom said she would babysit her." The brunette simply stated with a smile on her face. It was a forced smile, and she said sister through gritted teeth, but she got through the lie. He then smiled and moved out of the doorway in order to let the new girl in.
"Hey, Ma, the baby is here," Finn yelled waking up the two-month-old. Rachel then quickly picked her up and bounced her until she calmed down.
"Finn, there is no need to yell. Look you scared the poor thing and woke her up. Rachel do you want me to take her so you aren't late for school?" Rachel smiled at the older woman.
"That would be great. I have a few other baby supplies in my car. My dads bought her a swing, a bassinette, a vibrating seat, and a floor mat for your house. If you don't mind keeping it here. We just figured since you get her five days out of the week, it would be nice. Also, she has milk in her bottles. Is it okay If I put them in your fridge?" Rachel was nervous. She trusted Carole. She spends time with her last week, but she was going to miss her daughter. She hasn't spent time away from her since she was born. It was a new concept for her.
"Finn, why don't you go grab the baby items from Rachel's car. The kitchen is right through that doorway," Carole stated as Rachel handed Adelaide over to her. Rachel then took the bottles to the fridge. When she came back she laughed as she watched Finn bringing in the items that were still in her car. "Now you guys need to leave for school or you are going to be late." Rachel made sure Finn was out the door when she placed a soft kiss on her daughter's cheek.
"Mommy loves you, Addy. I will see you once I get out of school." Rachel then ran out to her car and headed to Mckinley. She went for a visit a couple days ago and got the grand tour. She brought Addy and pretended as if she were just babysitting her for her dads while they worked. She also received her schedule so she knew where everything was on her first day. After school ended Rachel stood at the bulletin board which contained different clubs she could join.
"Rachel, right?" Rachel looked over and noticed that it was Finn, the tall, handsome, dark-haired boy she met earlier at her babysitter's house. She just nodded.
"Finn, right?" she asked. He gave her a light chuckle. She bit her lip trying to ignore the nervousness she felt. She could be attracted to him, but she didn't want to act on her feelings. She was a teen mom. She didn't have time to date. She didn't want to date. She wanted to focus on her daughter. The helpless little girl that needed and depended on her. He probably wouldn't be interested in her anyway. She could tell today that he was one of the most popular. guy's in school.
"Are you thinking about joining a club?" Rachel didn't bother to look at him, she just nodded, "Do you like singing?" She knew she probably didn't have to answer because her face lit up. She hadn't performed since she found out she was pregnant. Due to her expanding stomach, she wasn't able to do her schools musical. Her school felt she was a disgrace and they didn't want to glorify her situation.
"I do," was all Rachel replied. She felt a little awkward. They were both just standing in front of the bulletin board, arms grazing against one another, in awkward silence.
"Come with me. I know the perfect club," She gave him a curious look but followed him anyway. She didn't know what to expect, but when she entered the choir room she saw her Spanish teacher standing in front of a ragtag group of teens.
"Finn, nice of you to finally join us," Mr. Shuester stated.
"Sorry, Mr. Shue, but I think I finally found the twelfth member in order to compete at sectionals," Finn stated. Rachel looked at him. She didn't know what he was getting her into.
"Would you like to audition to be in glee?" Mr. Shue said turning his attention to Rachel. She quickly locked up. She knew she was talented. She probably had more talent than anyone in here, but she felt herself clam up. She didn't know how much time this club took up. She wants nothing more than to please her fathers, but she wants to spend all of her time with her daughter.
"Don't worry Rachel, auditions are a formality. Everybody gets in. Just tell Brad what song you want to sing and he will play it for you." Rachel just nodded.
"Um. Sure." She then walked over to Brad and whispered the song of her choice. She decided to sing On My Own from the musical Les Mis. It wasn't her favorite musical, but she figured it was famous enough for the pianist to know it. After she finished the song everybody stood up and clapped for the brunette. She just smiled at the teens and her Spanish, and now choir, teacher.
"Wow, Rachel your voice is amazing. Welcome to the club. We have rehearsals every day during the week until 4:30." Rachel smiled she didn't think that was too bad, but she still had to speak to Finn's mom about it. She knew that she probably wouldn't care, but Rachel felt better if she spoke to her about it.
"Wow, thank you. Is it okay if I start tomorrow? I didn't inform my little sister's babysitter about me staying late after school," Rachel stated. She watched as her teacher nodded. She quickly escaped and ran to her car. She was so excited to see her baby girl. She had missed her. She did end up calling Carole a couple times to check in. It wasn't because she didn't the older adult, it was just that she felt separation anxiety from her gold star.
Once again parking in front of Carole's house Rachel knocked on the front door waiting for the brown haired mother of Finn opened the door. She smiled when she heard the clicks of the door opening she felt so much excitement to see her daughter's beautiful face once more. She thought maybe her obsession with her little girl was crazy, but she didn't mind.
"Look, Addy, your mommy is here," Rachel smiled as Carole opened the door for the teen, "Hey Rachel I had this key made for you. That way you can just let yourself and Adelaide in." Rachel gave a thankful smile to the woman as she searched for her daughter. When she finally spotted her laying on the play mat on the floor Rachel picked up her blue-eyed beauty and held her close. She felt so much better having her daughter in her arms.
"Hey, Carole, I was wondering if I could talk to you. So I auditioned and made it into the Glee club. Are you okay with watching her until 4:30? If not I can decline their offer." Rachel kind of wished she would decline, but at the same time, she didn't.
"Go ahead. You informed me of the guidelines remember. I knew you would have to find a club. I am just glad you picked Glee. The boys love it, even if Finn won't admit it," Carole laughed. It wasn't long that Finn and another boy, who must be Kurt, walked through the front door.
"You're still here? You left an hour before us." Finn stated.
"I had to make sure with your mom that she could watch Addy for an extra hour and a half after school. Then we got lost in conversation," Rachel simply stated. She didn't think she owed him any answers, but for some reason, she told him anyway.
"It looks like a baby threw up in here. These things clash with my design. No offense," Rachel looked over at the boy she assumed was Kurt. She just gave him a forced smile. She didn't get what was clashing or why it mattered. She knew one thing for sure, though, he was setting off her gaydar.
"Well she didn't throw up, but she did have a couple of soiled diapers." Looking down at her daughter she noticed she had a change of clothes. She must have made a mess of herself. Rachel shrugged taking her little girl and placing her in her car seat. She made sure to fasten her in securely before zipping up the cover to block her from the cool fall air. "I put her dirty clothes in a bag so they wouldn't contaminate anything else in there. I rinsed out her bottles. Don't forget to grab them before you leave. Rachel gave her a quick thank you before grabbing the bottles and shoving them into the diaper bag. Rachel then gladly took her little girl home. While Adelaide napped Rachel completed her homework. After she finished the job she just sat and admired her daughter. It was short lived due to her daughter farting and causing a new poopy diaper that Rachel would have to clean.