I've decided to start this fic as I've read a few and really enjoyed them. I apologize if the characters are OOC or if there are any mistakes I do not have a Beta but would like one if anyone is interested.

Let me know what you think on whether I should carry on or not.

Chapter 1 – I just want to be free

"Why do they hate me so much?!"

Rachel muttered to herself as she walked around Lima, she had no idea where she was going but hell she needed to get out of her house. Rachel continued walking her face was pounding with pain and there was obvious tear marks on her cheeks she stopped as she came upon a house. How did she end up here? It wasn't just anybody's house it was Shelby Corcoran's her biological Mothers house. Maybe somewhere in Rachel's mind it brought her here, she gingerly walked over to the house and stood outside. Rachel stood there for what seemed like hours but it was a mere few minutes, plucking up the courage to knock on the door she did. She waited nervously at the door waiting for it to open as she heard footsteps her heart started beating faster, this was a mistake right? There was nothing she could do now. Shelby opened the door to see her 15 year old daughter standing there with what looked like a black eye forming on her face and she could see she had been crying. Shelby's eyes widened at the state her daughter was in,

"Rachel? Who did this to you!?"

Rachel couldn't form any words the last time she had seen her Mother it really didn't end well her Mom had practically said she didn't want her and to go back to her 'perfect family' with her Fathers. There were so many mixed emotions running through Rachel's head now, Shelby held Rachel's hand and gently took her inside to the living room. Rachel sat down and didn't dare look at Shelby so she kept her eyes at the floor, Shelby quickly got to the kitchen to find something to release the pain on Rachel's face. She couldn't wrap her head around what was happening. Why hadn't Rachel gone to her Dads about this? It couldn't be…it can't be them, can it?

Shelby's eyes widened at the thought there was no other explanation,

"The motherfuckers!" Shelby sternly said under her breath.

Of course Shelby was going to wait until Rachel had said who did this to her but deep down Shelby had a feeling it was Rachel's Fathers and God help them if it was! Shelby came back from the kitchen with a bag of frozen peas that would work right? Shelby hoped anyway. She brushed Rachel's hair out-of-the-way and lifted Rachel's face up so she could see the side of her face. Clearly the bruise was definitely starting to show now and Shelby's heart broke. How could someone do this to my baby girl?! Shelby demanded answers but knew she had to go slow with Rachel if she wanted to get anywhere.

"Baby who did to you, please tell me?" Shelby pleaded as she placed the frozen peas on the bruise hoping it would relieve some of the pain, it must have done because Rachel didn't move.

"Why should I? It's not like you cared last time we met; you practically told me you didn't want me!" Rachel shouted and she stood up and took her first proper look at her Mother. She could see tears forming in her Mother's eyes she instantly regretted what she said, her Mother had taken her in and she didn't have to.

"Rachel, listen to me you have to believe me when I tell you how much I love you and how much I've always loved you. When you came to me I thought I was dreaming you are an amazing girl and I am so proud of you. Giving you up was the hardest decision of my life and I regret it and I always will and when we met in the auditorium I thought you had the perfect life and I didn't want to take that away from you but now I can see you don't and I'm so sorry."

Rachel had listened to every word her Mom had just said and the last few words jumped out at her,

'I thought you had the perfect life…but now I can see you don't'

Did Shelby know about her Fathers? She couldn't could she?

"How do you know I've not had the perfect life?" Rachel answered back that was a stupid question honestly seeing how she was and Rachel knew that but didn't know what else to say.

Shelby quirked her eyebrow at Rachel's last remark, she walked over to Rachel and she took the first step as she really wanted to know who did this to her.

"Your Dads did this to you didn't they?"

Rachel tensed up hearing what Shelby had just come out with, was it that obvious? There was no point in lying anymore she had done that most of her life pretending everything was fine. Rachel nodded and tears slowly descended down Shelby's cheeks, yeah okay she thought it was Rachel's Dads but she hoped she was wrong. Shelby gathered Rachel up in her arms and held her, she felt Rachel shaking and knew she was crying she held her some more and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Rachel I'm so sorry, I should have done something sooner! I'm so sorry."

Rachel shook her head,

"Please Shelby there's no need to say sorry it's my fault I've kept all the terrible things they have done to me secret for so long now how was you supposed to know?"

"What do you mean all the terrible things they have done to you?!"

Shelby didn't care that Rachel had called her Shelby and not Mom that would hopefully come later but she did care hearing that come out of Rachel's mouth. Rachel wasn't looking at Shelby she turned her head away and she started crying again, Shelby's heart broke at the scene she placed her hand on Rachel's shoulder.

"Please honey, I want to help and I can't do that if you won't tell me everything that has gone on. If it makes it easier you can tell the police because I am going to call them for them. What those two men have one to you is sickening and they need to be dealt with by the police."

Rachel nodded and Shelby jumped into action she grabbed her cell and dialed 911 and told the operator exactly what had happened and was told the police would be there as soon as possible. Shelby wasn't hurt that Rachel couldn't talk to her about this she understood in a way because they really didn't have a relationship but she hoped this would change.

"How's your face now sweetie?" Shelby asked,

"It's okay." Short and simple was Rachel's reply and Shelby sat down beside her,

"Rachel, please understand I am so proud of you for coming here and telling me what you have told me. We will get through this, you are my first and only priority and I will do anything for you. I love you so much Rachel more than you will ever know."

Rachel turned around and looked into her Mother's eyes she could see how genuine her words were and she placed her head on Shelby's chest she really needed comfort and hoped her Mom would hold her. The movement caught Shelby by surprise but when she looked down and saw Rachel with an arm around her waist her heart melted he baby girl was holding her, Shelby wrapped an arm around Rachel protectively and held her until a knock on the door interrupted them. Rachel lifter her head and looked scared and Shelby reassured her.

"Everything's going to be fine I promise."

She squeezed Rachel's hand as she made her way to the door. She opened it and two officers were standing outside, Shelby welcomed them inside and to the living room where Rachel sat she looked scared to death and Shelby just hoped she was going to be okay she knew this was the best way forward she didn't know any details as such only that she had been hit by one of her Fathers.

The officers sat down and introduced themselves to Rachel and tried to make it as comfortable as possible, Shelby stood looking awkwardly wondering if she should still be in the room but Rachel answered that for her. Rachel looked at the officers and asked,

"Can my Mom sit with me please?"

"Of course she can."

The officer replied and Shelby took a deep breath and sat next to Rachel holding her hand. No doubt Shelby was over the moon Rachel had just called her Mom but she was more focused on what was coming. The officer started with asked Rachel what happened tonight, Rachel took a deep breath and started talking.

"I finished school and went home and when I got back my Dads were in the living room, I went upstairs to put my school things away and went downstairs. I went to prepare dinner as always because that's what I have to do otherwise they would do something like hit me and I would be sent to bed without dinner. They called me into the living room and I stood there waiting to see what was going to happen."

Rachel paused and Shelby saw that she was shaking she placed her hand on Rachel's back and whispered that she was doing really well. Shelby was holding back tears listening to Rachel it really wasn't easy for a Mother to listen to this especially after she was one who gave Rachel up to these men who she thought were nice, caring men. Rachel carried on,

"Well they told me to undress…but I said no and tried to resist and that's how this landed on my face."

Shelby gasped behind Rachel and the officers took notes down quickly before replying with,

"Are you saying that your Fathers were going to rape you Rachel?"

Shelby winced at the word with Rachel merely nodding and looked down at the floor with an angry and upset Shelby behind her, she understood now why Rachel was having trouble telling what had happened and this was by far her worst nightmare. Her baby girl had nearly been raped by the monsters that who were supposed to be looking after her; the people she had put her trust into had destroyed her life. Shelby was fuming with anger and she wanted to find both Hiram and Leroy and by god if they would still be alive by the time Shelby was finished with them. Her emotions were all over the place and she didn't know whether to cry or take her anger out by punching something but she knew she had to stay seated until Rachel was finished.

"Is this the first time they have tried to do this to you Rachel?"

"No, the first time was two weeks ago but I didn't get away that time."

Was it possible for someone's heart to shatter? Because Shelby's did in that few seconds she heard those words come out of Rachel's mouth she felt utterly destroyed inside. How could she have not seen this? She kept quiet as she let the police carry on.

"Can you tell us who hit you and why?"

"It was my Dad Hiram and because I argued back I couldn't take any more abuse so he hit me and screamed at me to go to my room to think about what I had just said and that nothing was going to change and that's how I ended up here I jumped out the window and started walking around and ended up here at my Mom's."

The officers finished up writing down what was needed, they knew instantly they needed to arrest Hiram and Leroy Berry. Standing up they look at Rachel's Mom Shelby who was in shock trying to process what she had just heard.

"Ms Corcoran we would like to speak to you in private please."

Shelby was knocked out of her thoughts by the officers asking if they could speak to her in private and she showed them to the kitchen. Promising Rachel she wouldn't be long she made her way to the kitchen and one of the officers began talking.

"We are going to pursue this straight away and are going to arrest both Hiram and Leroy and between us they won't be seeing the light of day for a very long time. We have all the details needed and I recommend you to keep an eye on Rachel we have dealt with cases like this and the outcome is for your daughter to maybe see a counselor or psychiatrist. I don't want to obviously tell you how to be a Mother; I just want to give you some advice. Be prepared she may need to come to the station for a more detailed statement and it may end up in court but you will be given enough time to prepare. Being only 15 Rachel would not have to stand up in court but would have to do a video, as I say you will know more as this case progresses, if you want to know anything else please don't hesitate."

Shelby nodded although she had not been Rachel's Mom for 15 years she knew what she had to do; she thanked the officers as she fidgeted because she wanted to be with Rachel. The officers left and Shelby walked back from the front door and back into the living room where Rachel was curled up in a ball on the sofa crying clutching herself. Shelby had to stop the tears from herself she needed to be strong for Rachel for now and she could break down later. She quickly went over to the sofa and soothed her daughter.

"Shh its okay now you're safe with me I won't let anything happen to you anymore. I love you so much."

Rachel had stopped crying and took herself out of her Mom's grasp and sat up away from her,

"I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused, I understand if you don't want me I mean who would want me? I'm dirty, disgusting a waste of space." Shelby couldn't believe her baby girl was saying things like this. There must have been a reason, Shelby wanted to know.

"Rachel you have to listen to me now sweetheart, I want you in fact I need you, you're my daughter my flesh and blood you are everything to me. I never should have given you up but we are together now and I'm going to make sure your safe from harm and I promise you will have my love, care and attention for as long as you want it which I hope is forever. Your staying with me now, I'm going to take full custody of you and be the Mother I've always wanted to be. I cannot express how deeply sorry I am that you have had to go through this I didn't know and if I did I would have…I would have done something." Shelby started to cry and it was getting out of control she thought about how Rachel had been sexually, emotionally and physically abused for most of her life and she couldn't help but blame herself.

"Mom don't cry." Rachel pleaded with Shelby she couldn't stand seeing her Mom cry it hurt her. Shelby controlled her tears, it was getting late now and they both looked exhausted so Shelby asked if Rachel wanted to go the bed. Rachel nodded and they made their way upstairs, Shelby took Rachel to the bigger guest room out of the two and stated that this was now Rachel's room and they would go shopping for new items in the next few days. She grabbed some of her pyjamas for Rachel to wear for tonight, she waited for Rachel to get changed in the bathroom and she sat down on the bed. Rachel emerged from the bathroom and got straight into bed, Shelby wondered what was going on inside Rachel's head tomorrow would be a brand new day and they were going to discuss everything and get the best possible help available for Rachel. Shelby stayed with Rachel for a while holding her and soothing her,

"I just want to be free Mom I don't want to see them ever again."

Shelby knew who Rachel was referring to when she said 'them' it was Hiram and Leroy and Shelby would go to hell and back to protect her daughter to make sure she never had to see them again,

"Don't worry baby you won't have to see them again ever, I'm going to look after you and help you in any way I can, I love you Rachel always. If you need me I'll be in my bedroom are you sure you will be okay sleeping in here tonight?

Rachel nodded then let out a soft sigh and shut her eyes she was physically drained from what had happened tonight, she was glad everything had come out in the open there was no way she could have survived with the abuse any longer and being with her Mother was everything she had ever dreamed of and more. Sure Rachel was scared but hearing her Mothers words reassured her to some extent and feeling her so close to her she never felt so safe in all of her life. Rachel fell asleep and Shelby looked down at her with silent tears falling down her own cheeks, she gently kissed Rachel on the forehead and walked out of the room to her own bedroom. She was a bit wary of leaving Rachel so she kept her door open slightly in case something happened, but she needed some alone time to process what had happened.

Shelby sat down on her bed and this is when the tears started coming she started to cry which turned into sobs, her body was shaking as she let all of her emotions out. Muttering to herself she let her frustration out,

"What kind of a Mother can I be now after this? I sent my baby girl away in the care of those two bastards."

Shelby managed to calm down a bit but the tears were still flowing, there were so many questions forming in her head. It made her feel physically sick thinking about what had happened to Rachel she really needed to talk to someone and couldn't think of a better person than her Mother. She looked at the time it was a bit after midnight she knew her Mom would be asleep but this couldn't wait she picked up her cell phone and Dialed the number. After a few rings a tired voice answered the phone.

"Shelby are you okay?"

When Patricia (Shelby's Mom) woke up to the sound of her phone ringing and saw it was her daughter Shelby she instantly knew something was wrong, there was no way her daughter would ring at this time if something wasn't wrong. Patricia listened to the sound of her daughter crying and sat up in bed and at this point Frank who was Shelby's Father woke up as well and looked at his wife with a confused expression. Patricia put her phone on loud-speaker so they could both speak to their daughter if necessary.

"Mom it's my fault, how could I not see this happening? What kind of person am I to let this happen!" Shelby was still crying with both parents at the other end of the line confused.

"What's your fault honey tell me; your Dad's next to me as well talk to us."

"It's Rachel."

Shelby had told her parents of Rachel after she came back from New York, she hated herself for giving up her child and that's what made her return home from the city she was in a deep depression. Her Mother and Father weren't happy with what Shelby had done but they supported her and helped her through her depression and got her back on her feet. Shelby and her Mother did have frequent conversations about Rachel and about how much Shelby missed her, it helped her in a way, and now she had her baby back.

Patricia and Frank had panic on their faces they were thinking the worse and when Patricia was about to say something Shelby let out everything that happened.

"She came here to me, she knocked on my door with a black eye it was her Dads they hit her. They have abused her for years and that's not even the worst of it." Shelby wiped her eyes furiously as she was building up the courage to actually admit out loud what had happened to her daughter.

"They… they raped her Mom they physically, sexually and emotionally abused my baby! My baby, I thought she was going into a loving family! It's all my fault how am I meant to live with this?"

Patricia gasped and Frank shook his head and both had silent tears falling down their faces to hear their daughter hurting and hearing what had happened to their granddaughter was horrifying. There was no doubt that they would both need looking after and Frank got out of bed and pulled the suitcase out from the closet and nodded to his wife who nodded back. They were going to Shelby's they could tell that she needed someone.

"Right hang in their honey me and your Dad are coming straight over."

Shelby managed to stop crying and she listened to her Mom say they were going to be on their way over to hers shortly.

"Mom you really don't have to that I don't want to cause you any problems."

"Nonsense darling we'll be there in about half an hour just hang in there."

"But…" Shelby tried but her Mom cut her off.

"But nothing stop being so stubborn we are coming over okay."

Shelby agreed and they said goodbye and went to the bathroom and looked at her reflection in the mirror she muttered under her breath.

"Pull yourself together; you have to be strong for Rachel." She carried on giving herself a pep talk and wiped away the makeup that had smudged when she was crying; she left the bathroom and came face to face with Rachel.

"Are you okay baby?" Shelby asked as she walked over to Rachel,

"I heard you on the phone, I heard you blaming yourself and crying. I cannot be the cause of you being unhappy and I can't stand hearing you cry so I'm going to go."

"You are going nowhere young lady, understood?" Shelby spoke firmly to get it through Rachel's head.

"Yes ma'am." Rachel spoke quietly.

"Come here Rach, come and lie down with me for a bit." Shelby lay down on her bed motioning for Rachel to join her.

Rachel hopped onto her Mom's bed and lay down in the welcoming arms, Shelby started brushing Rachel's hair out her eyes and she gently placed a kiss on her forehead. They kept quiet leaving Shelby trying to think of the right words to say to her insecure daughter.

"Honey I really need you to understand that I love you and I want you, I cannot express how ashamed I feel that I didn't know what was going on but you have to realize that is nothing to do with you. I love you Rachel more than you will ever know and I will tell you every day. I will keep you safe now and we will get through this together, I promise baby girl. I promise."

A lone tear fell down Shelby's cheek and she quickly wiped it away not wanting to worry her daughter even more, she waited for a response but when she looked down Rachel was asleep. Shelby allowed a smile to grace her lips, she carefully removed her arms and put a blanket over Rachel and kissed her forehead before leaving her bedroom to wait for her Mom and Dad. She kept the hallway light on for when Rachel woke up although she hoped she wouldn't be long, wanting to back to her daughter. Shelby made her way into the kitchen and decided to make a coffee, there was no point in trying to sleep later on it wouldn't happen. She peered out of the window and saw her parents pull up; she went and opened the front door trying to lessen the noise as much as possible.

Patricia got out of the car and hurried over to her daughter and pulled her into a deep hug,

"Oh honey, I'm so sorry just remember that none of this is your fault and it will never be."

Shelby's Mom carried on giving soothing words to her daughter whilst holding when they were interrupted by Frank holding a suitcase up motioning for them to step into the house. Patricia rolled her eyes at Frank and walked into the house with Shelby holding her hand.

They walked into the kitchen and Shelby offered them both a coffee but Patricia insisted she would make them and Shelby sat down, she turned to her Dad.

"I'm sorry buttercup, but at least you know now and you can put a stop to this." Frank put his hand on Shelby's shoulder and as she looked up tears were swimming in her eyes ready to fall. Frank pulled her into a tight hug and Shelby let her tears fall freely, clinging to her Dad's shoulder she let herself be soothed. Letting go she cleared her throat and rubbed her eyes, she hated breaking down and wouldn't dream of crying in front of anyone apart from her parents who knew what she was like. Patricia saw her husband embrace their daughter and she blinked back a few tears, it would do no good crying in front of her daughter now so instead she went over to hug her daughter as well.

"Honey you have to understand that none of this is your fault, do you understand?" Patricia asked quietly,

Shelby looked at her Mom and sighed deeply, she knew it wasn't her fault but deep down she couldn't help but doubt it. When Rachel came to her in the auditorium asking if she was her Mother and she told her yes but for her to go back to her Dads, thinking she was safe and loved by them. Boy was she wrong and now she understood Rachel was silently pleading with her to save her and it broke Shelby more inside. She shook her head mentally, she had to focus on the present and she had to focus on Rachel her daughter who was sleeping upstairs. She turned to her Mom knowing full well lying wouldn't work.

"Mom I know it's not my fault but deep down I can't help think it is but I've to focus on Rachel and getting her through what has happened."

Both of her parents nodded in agreement, they all sat down at the table when the sound of small footsteps coming down the stairs broke the silence. Rachel stood just out the kitchen doorway rubbing her tired eyes and sporting bed hair. Shelby looked up and couldn't help but smile, she hadn't smiled in what seemed like forever but seeing her little girl so adorable made her smile. Slightly looking at her parents she could see them both smiling and their eyes wide as they saw their granddaughter for the first time. Rachel looked at everyone and bowed her head to the floor, she shuffled nervously and spoke.

"I'm really really sorry for interrupting, I'll go."

All three adults jumped up from the table making Rachel flinch which they all saw, the smile soon vanished from Shelby's face as she saw her flinch. Silently telling her parents to stay where they were she walked up to Rachel and held her hand bending down to look into Rachel's eyes.

"Rachel there's no need to apologize, you haven't done anything wrong. How come you woke up darling?"

"I missed you being next to me." Rachel replied saying it so quietly it only reached Shelby's ears.

Shelby pulled Rachel into a hug and then kissed her on the forehead; Rachel smiled at her Mom then looked over her shoulder at the unknown man and woman in the kitchen. Shelby looked at Rachel glancing then silently scolded herself for not introducing them. She stood back up and brought Rachel to meet her grandparent's.

End of Chapter 1, I just wanted to publish this to see if anyone would be interested in reading the rest. Please review or PM to let me know if I should continue.