Disclamer! I do not own glee or any of the characters in this story.

It Will Work

Shelby made her way down the corridors of McKinley High. She didn't think she would ever be back here after the other month.

Saying goodbye to Rachel had been possibly the hardest thing she had ever had to do, but she did have to do it the girl had a life here with her fathers. She didn't need Shelby, it would only cause the girl hurt and confusion and that was the last thing she needed.

As she was making her way further into the school she started to think back on the events of her morning, it started with VA practice as usual, although her students had all been acting very unusual as though they were worried or possibly hiding something they really didn't want her knowing.

She got back to her office and started to grade a couple things and finalise some plans for the next week's VA practices when her phone started to ring, she thought about ignoring it until that is she sae just who it was calling. Sensing something was wrong and it would be important she picked up.

That is how she now found herself now knocking on the door to Will Schuester's office.

Will looked up, he moved open the door when he saw Shelby.

"Shelby, thanks for coming" Will said as he gestured for Shelby to take a seat

"What's this about Will?" Shelby asked as she started to get a little worried, from the look on his face she knew it was going to be bad and she really wasn't going to like what he was about to say.

"Your glee kids came here today. Took over out auditorium and put on an impromptu number to sike us out and to show the kids that Jessie is now back at Carmel, as well as he fact that he's been rehearsing with you for awhile"

Will pauses for a moment to look at Shelby, trying to gauge her reaction to the facts he had given her so far. Seeing no reaction he decided to just carry on.

"But, that's not why I called you…"

Shelby hadn't known what they had been up to, she didn't even know Jessie was back or had any plans of coming back on returning until she had walked into her practice to day and saw him stood there, she had been confused as to why he had moved away from Rachel.

"After their little performance, Jessie text Rachel telling her to meet him in the parking lot, he told her he wanted to explain, that he still cared and wanted to see her."

Shelby felt her stomach begin to drop, she now had a very bad feeling this story was only going to get worse from here on out.

"Rachel went to see him, but he wasn't the only one there waiting for her… All your team were… And they had a plan." Will looked at Shelby, he then looked down trying to calm himself enough to get the next bit out, but knowing he had to tell Shelby everything.

"Apparently showing her up in front of her own team wasn't enough. They Circled her in. And they has eggs. (He paused) They threw eggs at her Shelby. And if that wasn't enough your lead kissed Jessie in front of her, Jessie then walked right up to Rachel and smashed an egg right onto her head, making sure it would spill down her face as it broke. Then they left her there in the parking lot alone, covered in egg and they drove off." Will looked Shelby dead in the eye.

"She's a vegan Shelby and they know that."

As Will had been talking Shelby felt herself getting angrier, however when Will mentioned eggs Shelby felt her blood turn cold. She couldn't believe what they had done to her baby. Then she realised, they had all been acting weird during rehearsal today, had they already ambushed her daughter? were they about to head over and do it after practice? They had to know she would find out. And then Shelby started thinking of Rachel. Oh God! Rachel.

"Where is she?" Shelby suddenly demanded.

She needed to see her, she needed to be there, she had to be there. Forget appreciating each other from distance, this was different, her baby must be traumatised right now. Would she be thinking Shelby knew, if she was in on it somehow, that she had just let it happen, that she knew what jessie had been up to? No, she needed to see her, she needed to be with her right now, she needed her to know this was not okay, they are not going to get away with this.

As for Jessie, he is dead if he thinks he is going to just walk back in after hurting Rachel, no way, he can think again, that boy is going to wish he had moved state when Shelby is finished the little delinquent.

Before Will could answer Shelby was stood and moving for the door.

"Where's the dance studio?" She asked

"Down the hall third left, second door to your right." He answered automatically, wondering how Shelby knew where Rachel would be.

Shelby was out of the door and on her way to the dance studio before Will had even finished speaking.

As she rook the designated left turn she could hear Rachel's voice, she was talking to someone. Shelby peered inside to see who the girl was talking to, she found that Rachel was on the phone, Shelby listened in for a minute to see if she could figure out who the girl was on the phone too. What Shelby heard however made her heart stop.

"Daddy please, can you just listen to me for a minute. I need you right now. No i now you're at work. I know, I'm sorry I just really needed to talk to you. I'm sorry i know you're busy Daddy but i wa"

Rachel's voice cut off like she had been interrupted and she bowed her head as if she were a little child getting told off.

As Shelby was watching she couldn't help but think Rachel looked broken, she didn't look anything like the girl Shelby has encountered, even when the girl had shown up at et another one of her rehearsals in that dreadful costume during what Rachel had described as Lady Gaga week for the girls in her own glee club. And Kurt. Something didn't seem right here, what Jessie did should not have caused Rachel to look this lost.

"Daddy please just listen to me, something happened at school today. No, something bad, something really bad. No I- Please can you just listen to me, I need my Dad right now. No, not Dad I mean a Dad, as in I need a parent right now. It was Jessie. No it's not just a silly argument, no, I know not to bother you with stuff but this was really bad. He and his team mates at Vocal Adrenalin, Daddy they came to our school and they e- No they didn't, well they did do a surprise performance to scare us but that's not what I am trying to tell you. He told me to Meer him and- I know I'm hurrying, sorry."

Rachel again paused while one of her fathers was once again telling her off for inconveniencing his day.

"He egged me Daddy. no he really did. When I got to the parking lot they all came out from behind their cars, they were circled around me and they all threw eggs at me. And Jessie, he, he walked right up to me smashed one right onto my head, I just"

Rachel stopped talking and listened, her face dropped. Shelby didn't think that it was possible for that to happen but looking at the girl now, she couldn't have been more wrong.

"I wasn't being stupid Daddy, he said he wanted to explain, he was meant to be my boyfriend, I thought he wouldn't hurt me, he's been so good to me. I'm not stupid! And I am not naive Daddy! - No I'm sorry, noon I wasn't, I didn't mean to talk back, I'm sorry. But it is serious, no I now sorry but I- Yes I have show- Yeah I- I will, I will, I'll shower again, I'll shower before coming home, I will i promise - I"

Rachel stood there for a minute staring at her phone, Shelby realised that her father had buttoned her, she was about to walk in and announce herself when Rachel once again moved the phone up to her ear after scrolling for a second and pressing something on her phone.

"Pick up, please pick up, come on Dad pick up… No of course not. He never picks up. Loving parents… yeah right."

Rachel let her phone drop down into her bag that was on the floor next to where she had been stood, and that's when Shelby saw it. Stood paralysed, unable to move, she watched her baby girl as she broke down. Shelby looked on as the girl physically and emotionally crumbled.

As Rachel's body slid down to the floor fully Shelby felt herself get kicked back into action, almost as though seeing the girls body hit the floor made something snap within her, she was in the room and over to Rachel's side in a second, she wrapped her arm around the girl, trying with everything she had in her to hold her baby together, to help settle her enough so she was once again breathing normal, or as normal as you can get when you're a crying mess.

Rachel was almost startled when she felt someone sit down and wrap her up in their arms suddenly, looking towards said person she saw that it was Shelby and for a moment she was shocked that is, until the emotions of the day, and the way her father had been with her caught up to her. Well at least he had actually picked up for once, although she was beginning to wish he hadn't after the way the conversation between them had gone.

Rachel let herself cry into Shelby's shoulder. She turned herself further into he older woman and let herself be held, she realised she felt safe in Shelby's arms.

"Why don't they care? Why are they never here when I need them, they should want to be there and help me. I just want someone to care about me for once." Rachel sobbed, getting slightly louder as she went on.

Shelby could just bout make out what Rachel had said and she was now wishing she hadn't. She knew what she wanted to say, but she was scared and if she let herself she would admit that's what made her push the girl away the first place.

"I care Rachel, I care." Shelby knew just from looking at Rachel that the young girl didn't believe her. "I do, I know you don't believe that especially after the other month, but I do care about you Rachel, I really do. (Shelby took a deep breath) That's why I did what I did. I thought you would be better off, that you already had a life, a good life with your dad's, that you had a good relationship with them and you were happy . I didn't want to mess with that, I didn't want to ad confusion and more stress to your life. I didn't think there was a place for me in your life, in the end it would only hurt and I didn't think either of us could handle that. I couldn't deal with it not working, because I didn't have a place in your life, and then having to loosing you again, I just wouldn't be able to deal with it, i couldn't take it. Shelby looked into Rachel's eyes. Both of them now crying.

Shelby reached out and moved a strand of Rachel's still slight damp hair behind her ear.

"Babywhy didn't you tell me what was going on with your Dad's? When you told me how they used to bring you water, you made it sound and seem so caring? Shelby said, now stroking Rachel's hair.

"I was trying to convince myself I think, in reality they just didn't know what to do, or how to deal with me, so they just gave me water to shut me up really and to distract me, well that and to keep me hydrated after all the crying. They did it all the time, which is why now when I'm upset I get thirsty, I never used to know they difference until a few years ago. I wanted to believe that they do actually care." Rachel had calmed down a lot by this point but was still softly crying, she couldn't bring herself to look at Shelby.

Shelby noticed this and moved Rachel's face soothed girl was looking at her.

"Honey, why didn't you tell me?" Shelby asked

"I thought you didn't want me, they way you reacted when I came up to you, I just… I didn't want another parent to not care and push me away, so I thought it would make it easier to not really let you in."

"Ok let's get one thing straight right now, I have always wanted you Rachel. Always. When I agreed to be a surrogate I thought it would be easy, but when I felt you kick for the first timeI realised how wrong I was, I had a friend who was studying tone a lawyer, I asked her to try to find a loop hole or a way to discount the contract so I could keep you, or at least be in your life in some way, but there was nothing, not one loop hole or flaw. Once you turned fifteen if you found me I could be in your life but if not I could only contact you when you turned eighteen. I tried everything to keep you, but I had already signed the contract. Ok so I have always wanted you. But the other month. I thought you didn't need me." Shelby confessed, looking right at her daughter the entire time.

"But I do need you, I need you, I need someone that cares, I need a parent. I need my Mom."

"I'm right here Rach, I'm here, and I am not going anywhere, not now I know the truth about your Dad's. We're going to fix this ok, I'm not going anywhere. It won't be easy, but I promise you it will get better, it will work, I'll make it."

"But how, I'm not eighteen yet, they won't let you will they?" Rachel asked.

"You're sixteen, and you found me, you came to me first, so it's all legal, it's up to you Rach, now you've found me I'm allowed to be in your life, and you have a say in where you of, it won't be easy but we will make it happen, and if you tell the lawyers how things really are with your Dad's. They will listen to what you want, they will have to, you're legally allowed to have a say where you live and with which parent. I will deal with your Dad's so don't worry about that. I mea it Rachel I am here, now I know what's really going on you are never getting rid of me." Shelby said already coming up with a list of things and people she needed to talk to, to make this happen as soon as possible. There was no way Rachel was going back to that house with those men, she wanted her baby with her as of today and she would do anything and everything to make that happen.

After a few minutes Rachel had calmed down significantly and she started thinking.

"Wait what are you doing here? And how did you know where I was?" Rachel asked confused.

"Will called me, he told about what Jessie and Vocal Adrenalin did today, and about what happened int he parking lot. I am so sorry Rachel, I had no idea what they were up to. And trust me there is no way in hell they are getting away with it. I just had a feeling you'd here, the choir room wasn't private enough and the auditorium wouldn't feel right or safe after what happened, so I thought about where I would go. Guess I was right."

"Did you know about Jessie? About him still seeing them and rehearsing with them?" Rachel asked.

"No honey, I swear I didn't, first thing I knew about him being back was today's rehearsal after school. And the first I knew of them all having rehearsals while he was still here was when Will told me." Shelby explained hoping Rachel would see the truth in her words.

"I really thought he cared, he told me how did, he moved school, why would he do this Mom? Why would he want to hurt me like this?" Rachel fell back into her mother arms and just let herself be held, she let herself be cared for.

Shelby felt her blood boiling, why would anyone want to hurt her baby.

"I don't know baby, he's an idiot and he doesn't deserve you, you deserve so much better and from now on thing will get better." Shelby said as she held her daughter.

"Come on, we should get out of here, for one thing this floor is no where near as comfortable as my couch, and sitting here is in no way helping either of our backs." Shelby said trying to lighten the mood slightly.

Shelby moved to stand up, she reached a hand out for Rachel to take.

"Your couch?" Rachel asked, taking the offered hand.

"Yeah, you are coming home with me, I have a few phone calls to make, some people I need to talk to, to get started on making sure you stay with me. Then it's ice cream, show tunes and Funny Girl. Sound good?"

"That sounds amazing. You really think I will be able to stay with you?" Rachel asked a little worried she would end up having to go back and stay with her Dad's

"I will make sure of it. Don't look so worried, I will sort it al out ok. You are staying with me. And that's final. And I always get what I want in the end." Shelby said as she and Rachel collected her stuff and headed townwards the main doors of the school.

On the way out Will noticed Shelby and Rachel waling down the corridor, arms wrapped around one another. He noticed Rachel smiling, a real rare genuine smile. He hadn't seen that smile for a long time.

Shelby saw Will and started making her way towards him.

"Hey Will, I just wanted to say thanks. For calling and telling me what happened." Shelby said smiling.

"So what's happening now?" Will asked

"Well if I have it my way, she will be staying with me." Shelby said looking back towards Rachel who was stood at her locker getting the rest of her stuff.

"Staying with you? Why? What about her Dad's?" Will asked confused.

"Well let's just say things aren't as good as Rachel makes them out to be where home is concerned. You should have seen her Will, all she wanted was her parents to be listen and care, one of her Dad's didn't even pick up when she tried calling, and the other just barraged her and hung up on her, she's not ok Will she looked so broken, how didn't I see this coming, I thought she was so happy with her Dad's when really, she is lonely and feels like no one gives a damn about the." Shelby said feeling herself tear up, all of it finally hitting her.

"We all thought things were good at home for her. I should have seen it myself, I see her almost everyday. But she's obviously good at hiding it, she always has been a good actress. So where do you go from here? Anything I can help with?"

"Well I have to call my lawyer as soon as I get home, I don't want her going back there, I think she's going to need someone to look out for her while she's here, someone to keep an eye out and she can turn to when it's a bad day you know?"

"Of course, that's a given, if you need anything Shelby just call." Will said as he put his hand on her arm as a gesture of comfort and support.

Shelby smiled at him "Thanks Will, I will take you up on that." She moved into hug him. It was a very un-Shelby thing to do but she needed a hug right now, and she was starting to see that she could really trust this man.

Rachel turned from her locker after getting her things to see her mother moving to hug Mr Schu she wondered what was going on there.

Shelby pulled away from Will and smiled at him before turning to see Rachel stood looking at them with a smirk.

"And just what are you smirking at?" Shelby asked amused and also curious as to what the girl was thinking.

"Nothing." Rachel's smirk got bigger as she walked over to where her mother was stood with her teacher.

"Thanks for everything you've done today Mr Schu, especially for calling Mom." Rachel said to her teacher once she was facing him.

Shelby couldn't help the smile on her face at Rachel calling her Mom, the girl had been calling her Mom for about 20 minutes now, however this was the first time Shelby had fully recollected it, and she had never been happier to hear it.

"I'm just sorry this happened to you, and I want you to come to me about anything ok, I'm always here Rachel, remember that."

Rachel just smiled and looked to her Mom.

"Right, we better be on our way, you got everything honey?"

"Yeah, see you on Monday Mr. Schu." Rachel waved as she began to walk away with her mothers arm once again wrapped round her shoulder.

As they got to the car Shelby noticed Rachel become nervous. She took Rachel's bag and her own and put them in the back of the car. Shelby got in the drivers seat and reached over for Rachel's hand.

"You and me kid, you ready?"

"Yeah, Let's go." Rachel felt her nerves leave, her Mom was right, things were going to get better from now on.

Shelby smiled, she gave the girls hand a squeeze before letting go. She started the car and they headed for home. Together.