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It was the following morning and neither Shelby nor Rachel hadn't had a great sleep. Rachel had woken up quite a few times throughout the night. Each time, Rachel woke up whimpering her mom would be awake and comfort her back to her slumber.

"Come on, sweetie it's morning now" Shelby said and Rachel huffed.

"I know, you are tired but you need to go to school. You have missed enough" Shelby explained and Rachel nodded.

"You had a bath last night so you don't need a shower. So it's just breakfast and then we got go" Shelby said and Rachel nodded. She got up and started getting dressed. Once Rachel was ready, they went down the stairs.

Elizabeth smiled at them.

"I have waffles made" Elizabeth said and they nodded. Shelby grabbed two waffles and put them on her and Rachel's plate.

They sat down and started eating, Rachel had another two waffles and Shelby had one.

"In the car, sweetie" Shelby said and Rachel nodded. She followed her mother out to the car and they drove to Lima.

"Are you going to see Miss Miranda today?" Shelby asked and Rachel nodded.

"At lunch" Rachel said and Shelby nodded. They spoke generally for a while longer before floating into a relaxed silence. They listened to the music.

They arrived at the school and Rachel jumped out.

"Will you be there to pick me up?" Rachel asked and Shelby nodded.

"Of course, I will" Shelby said and Rachel smiled.

She walked off to school and quickly found her friends.

Shelby headed back home, she arrived home and walked into the living room where her mom and Sarah were. Sarah only worked Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays so she was off today.

"How is Rachel now?" Sarah asked and Shelby shrugged.

"I really don't know" Shelby said. "She doesn't understand what is going on. She seems to understand that it was bad what her dad did but she doesn't know that it was rape, or what sex is" Shelby explained and Sarah nodded.

"You know that you are going to have to speak to her about it" Elizabeth said and Shelby nodded.

"I know" Shelby said. "But I don't know how"

"Come on, Shell you were the one that spoke to Ellie about things like this when she was Rachel's age" Sarah said.

"I know but it was different with Ellie" Shelby said.

"How?" Sarah asked.

"I was more comfortable with it, she was my sister I have known her since she was born" Shelby said. "God, it makes me feel so selfish"

"No Shelby, you're not selfish. It must be hard but think how many questions Ellie had when you spoke to her and we had always been relatively open with her. Rachel has lived with her father and from what I have heard she didn't have a single female role in her life" Sarah explained and Shelby nodded.

"She must know some of it from school" Shelby said. She had remembered Ellie mentioning when they had the conversation that Ellie knew some things already from school.

"Well, that's if her dad signed the parents confirmation letter" Sarah said and Shelby sighed.

"I doubt he did" Shelby said.

"Phone the school, they would be able to find out for you" Elizabeth said and Shelby nodded. Shelby walked out of the room and headed to the office.

She managed to phone the school and as expected Leroy hadn't signed the forms allowing the girl to be involved in the sex education lessons. Shelby sighed, her poor little girl knew nothing.

Meanwhile at school, Rachel had been in a day dream much of the day. She was so relieved when it was lunch time. Rachel quickly had her lunch and then headed to Miss Miranda's room.

"Hi Rachel" Miss Miranda said and Rachel nodded.

"Hi" She said shyly.

"Are you okay?" She asked and Rachel nodded.

"There is just a lot going on so I just want to sing" Rachel said and Miss Miranda nodded.

"Of course" Miss Miranda said.

They started singing and Rachel got into the song. She let go of everything, the emotion was overpowering and Rachel didn't even notice that she was crying.

"That was beautiful Rachel" Miss Miranda said and Rachel smiled.

"Thank you" Rachel said wiping her eyes.

They sang for a bit longer before the bell rang and Rachel headed to class. The afternoon classes went quickly and Rachel was so relieved to see her mom's car waiting for her.

"Hey" Rachel said climbing into the car.

"Hey, sweetie did you have a good day?" Shelby asked and Rachel nodded.

"It was okay" Rachel said quietly.

"Really?" Shelby asked and Rachel nodded.

"I just have a lot of things going through my head. I just want to get home now" Rachel said and Shelby nodded.

"Of course" Shelby said. Shelby was slightly surprised to hear Rachel refer to her parent's house as home but she knew that the girl was settling in. They spoke on the way home and Shelby could tell the girl was tired.

"Do you have any homework?" Shelby asked and Rachel nodded.

"Let's go into the kitchen to get it done" Shelby said and Rachel nodded. Rachel put her bag down and got the work out. Shelby got Rachel a drink and cookie.

"What homework do you have?" Shelby asked.

"Some math, and reading" Rachel said.

"I'll do the math first" Rachel said and Shelby nodded before sitting down. Rachel did some problems before looking up at Shelby.

"What are you doing here?" Rachel asked.

"I'm here if you need any help" Shelby asked.

"My dad never used to be around when I did my homework" Rachel said.

"Well, I am here for you. Are you managing that?" Shelby asked as she stood up and walked behind Rachel. She noticed that the girl was managing without a problem.

"No, it's okay just now. It's quite easy" Rachel said and Shelby nodded. After doing the math, they moved onto the reading. Shelby listened to the girl as she read the page.

"You are very good" Shelby said and Rachel shrugged.

"Are you one of the youngest in your grade?" Shelby asked and Rachel nodded.

"I am, but I'm in the top set for everything" Rachel said.

"Oh you are very clever" Shelby said.

They spoke for a bit longer before Rachel was finished.

"Good girl, I'm away to the living room. Just put your bag away and then come through" Shelby explained and Rachel nodded.

She ran up the stairs finding Ellie on her way.

"Can you help me?" Rachel asked.

"Of course, what's the matter?" Ellie asked. Rachel reached up to Ellie's ear and whispered to her.

Meanwhile Shelby was sat down the stairs with her parents and Sarah. They were speaking when music started.

Rachel walked into the room. Ellie snuck behind her niece.

I'm limited
Just look at me
I'm limited
And just look at you you can do all I couldn't do
Glinda
So now it's up to you
For both of us
Now it's up to you

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most, to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...

Rachel walked in front of Shelby and held her mom's hand. She had emotion in her voice and the rest of the family were all crying. This little girl had a voice of an angel.

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes the sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me

Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...

Shelby joined in quietly singing with her daughter. She loved this girl and their voices blended amazingly.
Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
Because I knew you
I have been changed for good
And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done, you blame me for
But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share
And none of it seems to matter anymore
Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes the sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a bird
In the wood
Who can say if I've been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better
And because I knew you...
Because I knew you...
Because I knew you...
I have been changed for good...

Shelby and Rachel sang the last note in perfect unison.

"I love you baby" Shelby said pulling the girl into her arms.

"I love you too mom" Rachel said. Everyone cheered.

"Oh Rachel, you are amazing" Elizabeth said. Rachel loved the attention she was getting from all her family. She smiled, this was her family.

"Come with me a minute, Rachel" Shelby said and Rachel nodded.

They went up to Shelby's room and sat on the bed.

"Rachel, do you know the name of what your dad did to you?" Shelby asked and Rachel shook her head.

"Well, it's called sex, but because you didn't want to do it, it's called rape" Shelby explained and Rachel nodded.

"People have sex when they love each other and it can create a baby" Shelby said and Rachel looked confused.

"Women have eggs inside their bodies, in their ovaries and men have sperm. Sometimes when people have sex the sperm from the man goes into the woman and it can create a baby" Shelby explained and Rachel nodded.

"How was I created then?" Rachel asked. "Did you have sex with my dad?"

"Well no, you seen sometimes the doctor can move the sperm from the man to the woman without them having to have sex" Shelby said and again Rachel nodded.

"Why are you telling me this?" Rachel asked.

"Well, I think it is important that you understand what has happened to you and that you can speak to the CPS officer tomorrow. She might use words like sex and rape and I'd prefer you to know what they mean" Shelby explained and Rachel nodded.

"Okay" Rachel said.

"Do you know what puberty is?" Shelby asked and Rachel shook her head.

"Well, it is changed which a girl goes through to become a woman" Shelby said and Rachel nodded though she was started to get distracted and bored of this conversation.

"Rachel, are you listening to me or do you want to have this conversation another time" Shelby said softly. She didn't want to overwhelm the girl.

"Another time" Rachel said timidly.

"Okay, sweetie" Shelby said. "Can I get a cuddle?"

Rachel nodded as she put her arms around her mom.

"I love you Rachel and I am so proud of you. You have been through so much and you don't let it get to you" Shelby said.

"I'm glad that you are back. I just want you to look after me" Rachel said.

"I love you baby, I am never leaving you" Shelby said.

"Thank you mama" Rachel said into her mom's chest.

"Shall we go down the stairs for a bit?" Shelby asked and Rachel nodded.

"Can I play with Emily?" Rachel asked and Shelby nodded.

"Okay sweetie" Shelby said smiling. She was glad that they were getting on so well.

Shelby walked into the living room and sat down with her family.

"How did it go?" Sarah asked and Shelby shrugged.

"It wasn't too bad, I didn't talk to her about everything. I didn't want her to become overwhelmed so I didn't tell her about puberty or anything just what sex and rape are" Shelby explained and both Sarah and Elizabeth nodded.

Ellie came down the stairs and snuggled up with Shelby.

"Hey, what's up with you?" Shelby asked looking at her sister. By now both Sarah and Elizabeth were looking at Ellie as well.

"It doesn't matter" Ellie said sniffing confirming to Shelby that something was wrong.

"Is it to do with a couple of days ago?" Shelby asked and Ellie nodded before bursting into tears.

"Hey" Shelby said pulling the girl into her arms.

"Let's go up the stairs so a chat" Shelby said and Ellie nodded allowing her sister to drag her up the stairs.

"Right what's up?" Shelby said sitting on Ellie's bed.

"He told everyone" Ellie said and Shelby sighed.

"I thought you would have known that it would get out" Shelby said and Ellie nodded.

"I did know, but he told everyone that it was my first time and I bleed. It was so embarrassing, everyone was saying how late I was to have sex and how they thought I'd done it ages ago" Ellie said and Shelby sighed.

"Ellie, it's not as cool as people make to have sex. You'll end up calling you a slut or something" Shelby said. "I promise you, you get called names for not having sex but you still get the exact same for having sex"

Ellie nodded.

"I know that now, I wish never did it" Ellie said and Shelby sighed.

"Well, you have done it now" Shelby said. "Ellie, this is quite a serious question now. Are you planning on regularly having sex with Jackson?"

"Well, not anymore" Ellie said.

"Okay, well when you feel ready to have sex I'd like you to speak to either myself, mom or Sarah. We need to speak and I might find it easier to get you on birth control" Shelby explained and Ellie nodded.

"I know" Ellie said before it went quiet.

"Will you cuddle me?" Ellie asked and Shelby smiled.

"Of course" Shelby said pulling the girl into her chest.

"I'm a little jealous of Rachel for having you to herself" Ellie said.

"Oh sweetie, baby just remember that I am your sister and I always will be" Shelby said.

"I was looking forward to spending new year with you in New York" Ellie said and Shelby smiled.

"Oh sorry baby, I forgot about that" Shelby said.

"Do you want to come to New York with me when I turn the lights on at Times Square" Shelby asked and Ellie nodded.

"I'd love that" Ellie said.

'"Good, I'll talk to Mom" Shelby said.

"Right, let's go and get tea" Shelby said taking Ellie hand and walking her down the stairs.

"What was all that about?" Sarah asked.

"Jackson again" Shelby said. Sarah was confused.

"People found out" Shelby said and Sarah nodded before they walked into the kitchen were everyone else is.

"Mom" Rachel said just wanting the reassurance that Shelby was there.

"You're okay" Shelby said smiling holding Rachel's hand. Rachel nodded and smiled.

They ate with the family and all spoke to each other. By the time they had finished, it was late and nearly time for the children to go to bed.

"Right, pjs and shower" Shelby said. Shelby decided that Rachel was to shower in the evening as it made things easier in the morning.

Rachel went up the stairs. She got ready for bed and clambered into bed as she was tired.

"Oh you didn't need to go to sleep" Shelby said.

"I'm tired" Rachel said and Shelby nodded.

"Okay, sweetie" Shelby said pulling the girl into her arms.

"Go to sleep baby" Shelby said.

"Sing to me" Rachel said and Shelby nodded.

Hush a bye
Don't you cry
Go to sleep my little baby
When you wake
You shall have
All the pretty little ponies
In your bed
Momma said
Baby's riding off to dreamland
One by one
They've begun
Dance and prance for little baby
Blacks and bays, dapples and greys
Running in the night
When you wake
You shall have
All the pretty little ponies

Can you see the little ponies
Dance before your eyes
All the pretty little ponies
Will be there when you arise

Can you see the little ponies
Shining before your eyes
All the pretty little ponies
Gonna be there when you arise

Hush a bye
Don't you cry
Go to sleep my little baby
When you wake
You shall have
All the pretty little ponies
All the pretty little ponies

By the time Shelby had finished singing, Rachel was in a deep sleep. Shelby kissed her on the head before going down the stairs.

She stayed with her parents for a couple of hours before going back up the stairs to bed as she was tired.

Hope this is okay :) Please review and tell me what you think :)