I apologize for my longer-than-it-usually-takes-update. I've had a LOT on my plate recently, and I just didn't have as much time as I would have preferred to get this chapter typed up. But, as promised, I have questions to answer before starting with the chapter.

flowerangel16: To answer your question, yes. In this particular story, I imagine that Shelby Corcoran originated the role of both Maureen Johnson in RENT, as well as the role of Elphaba, in Wicked. You'll find out more about her past within the next two chapters. :)

Karen: You pointed out that Rachel's dads seem a bit cold rather than caring and loving, and was wondering if that was why Rachel was so desperate to have a mom, other than obvious reasons of wanting a mom. The truth is, when I started this story, I didn't want it to be one of LeRoy and Hiram being jerks. In the show, they seem like loving fathers that want the best for Rachel, and I plan to keep them as such. But I do see them as maybe restrained from Rachel, a little bit. What I mean by that, is they don't really understand her as well as Shelby does and/or would. Rachel's dads will give Rachel practically anything that she needs. But the few things they can't give her, no matter how much they want to, are the most important. An understanding relationship between parent and child, closeness, compassion, and motherly protection. I think that's why Rachel is so desperate for Shelby to like her and get so close to her. Rachel wants to get the best deal that life can offer her, and Shelby is apart of that package deal. Does that makes sense? I hope so.

You all also might be inclined to know that I made Shelby's birthday the same day as Idina's (May 30th) just for the sake of laziness and me not wanting to have to come up with another date. xD

Hope everyone else reading this story took the time to read that excruciatingly long intro, because, though i'm happy to answer any questions you guys have, I don't know how lenient I will be with repeated questions. I hope those answers cleared everything up, and if you have any other questions, I'll be more than happy to answer them. Just ask in the reviews!

I still don't own Glee. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Review for me! ~~hayleynymphadora

Chapter 10: Everything Changes

Rachel POV:

I've been doing a lot of back and forth recently, flip flopping between school, Vocal Adrenaline Rehearsals, Jesse's constant mood swings, privet rehearsals with Shelby, time at home with my dads, and homework. I'm surprised how I've even managed to stick to my sleeping schedule, (though it hasn't been without difficulty, and it's getting to the point where I might actually have to cut out my elliptical work-out all together). I love the fact that Shelby's pushing me, because she knows how good I can really be, and I understand the "you can never do too much" attitude she's got going on, because in any other circumstance, I'd be the same way. But I can't help but feel that i'm being horribly over worked. Not just by her, of course, I have all of those other variables creeping in on me as well, it's just that...can't enough ever be ENOUGH?

Somehow, i've managed to keep my straight A status, though my spanish grade has dropped to an A-, which worries me considerably. But i've developed a system for learning new songs for glee and still managing to have time to study and get homework done. Each time Shelby passes out a song I don't know (which is rare, mind you, but it happens on the occasion), I download it from itunes and let it ring through my ipod while I do homework and/or study for a test. That strategy seemed to work out alright, until I started remembering lyrics and which song I was listening to, rather than the material I was supposed to be studying. Therefore, I have come up with a new plan. I simply play the song until I fall asleep. It's a proven fact that listening to something while you sleep actually helps you retain the information. The only problem with THAT is, now I don't have a morning alarm, (because my ipod is what usually wakes me up). My Dad has volunteered to be my substitute alarm clock, for the time being, but that throws me off schedule by twenty minutes every morning, leaving me rushing to get out the door to Shelby's Range Rover in time. I don't like to keep her waiting.

I may seem high maintenance, but I suppose I've just always been like that. I like getting what I want, and who doesn't? I pick my goals and I achieve them. It's not my fault that sometimes my goals get in the way of my sleep. That's simply the way things are.

When Dad wakes me up, it frightens me. I was in the middle of dreaming a particularly good dream. It was West Side Story, but I was Maria-one of my favorite and most frequent dreams. He opens the door and says, in a clear voice, (and though not particularly loud, it still makes me jump), "Rachel Barbra Berry, you don't make dreams come true by laying in bed all day.".

I moan, and flip over, pulling my pillow over my head and trying to block out his voice. If it was a weekday, I might actually attempt getting out of bed. But it's saturday. SATURDAY. It is seven o'clock on a saturday. I refuse to move. "C'mon, Rach." I hear him try to coax me awake. Nope. Still not moving.

"We made waffles," I hear daddy sing-song as he also walks into my bedroom. Now my mind is arguing with itself.

When I still don't get up, my dads sigh and leave the room. "Can't say we didn't warn her," dad sing-songs back. I hear their footsteps in the hallway as they walk away.

Waffles? Did he say waffles?

No. You're not getting up.

...b-but...but daddy made waffles.

But you're too tired to eat waffles.

One can never be too tired to eat waffles, Rachel.

Eventually, my hungry stomach's argument triumphs over that of my tired body. I slowly flip to the side of my bed and roll out of it, standing up and getting a head rush. I close my eyes, pinch the bridge of my nose, and count to five. When I open my eyes again, I'm not nearly as dizzy. Once my legs start to gain function again, I step forward, and end up stepping on my AP Geometry book. Hmm. I must have fallen asleep working on that last night. I pick up the assignment and the book and toss them over to my bed. The assignment's not finished, and probably half-wrong. Good thing it's saturday.

When I finally make it out to the kitchen, I spy with my little eye, none other than the infamous Kurt Hummel, flipping through a Vogue magazine and sipping on coffee. He ruffles my hair as I walk past, and I pout, trying to flatten it back down, with no such success.

"Ah. The Drama Queen awakens." he announces, pushing a plate of waffles towards me as I sit down with a glass of orange juice. "It's about time. Aren't you normally up and around at six?"

I shrug. "Shelby says I should start sleeping more. A good diva needs her beauty sleep."

Kurt clicks his tongue in a disapproving fashion. "Young Rachel. So gullible. Shelby just wants you to sleep in so SHE can sleep in."

"Not true!" I protest, my mouth full of buttery, syrupy goodness. I refuse to add that Shelby doesn't sleep. Not much, anyways, due to the nightmares that I have yet to find out more about.

"So true!" Kurt tosses back. I stifle a yawn. "Ok. We need to go to the mall today," Kurt announces. "I'm in dire need of a new fedora."

I scratch my head and finish my glass of orange juice. Why am I so tired? I'm never tired in the morning. "Ok. Sure. I could use some new..."

"Honey, you could use some new everything, starting with your sweaters and ending with your headbands." Kurt says as kindly as he can. I squint my eyes at him. My fashion sense is a constant battle between us. A battle that, until recently, was supposed to be declared neutral. "One thing at a time, one thing at a time," Kurt mutters.

Dad enters the kitchen and kisses the top of my head. "Did I hear something about a mall trip today?"

"Only because you never stop eavesdropping." I point out.

My father wears a look of mock defensiveness. "Me? Eavesdropping? Never... Do you kids need a ride?"

"That would be fantastic," Kurt replies with a smile, finishing off his orange juice. I finish my breakfast and start to get out ingredients for some lukewarm honey lemon water. Kurt gives me a funny look.

"Shelby recommended that I start drinking some every morning." I explain off.

"Oh, and what Momma Bear says goes?" Kurt asks with a questioning raised eyebrow.

I shrug. "She's also my vocal coach, and she said that this was good for the vocal chords."

Dad and Kurt exchange sideways glances and I roll my eyes, taking a sip of my honey-lemon water. What is it with everybody treating Shelby like the bad guy? I mean, sure, she's the coach of Kurt's rival group at regionals, I suppose I understand that. But couldn't he be a little more supportive of the whole situation? I guess I'll worry about it later. But I'm still sick of Shelby's name being taboo in this household. Something needs to be done about that.

"Alrighty then," Kurt breaks the silence. "Are you ready to go?"

I nod. "Let me grab my purse and jacket...and cell." I hover for a moment, and Kurt waves his hands in the official "go on" gesture. I jog to my room, pulling on a jacket and stuffing my cell in the pocket before grabbing my purse and following Kurt out the front door. Before I can make it to the car, my phone goes off.

-Are you drinking honey-lemon water like I suggested? Xo Shelby-

My smile broadens. How did I know that she would question my ability to obey? I guess the answer to that is that Shelby is just as stubborn as I am.

-Yes, I am! Did you doubt me?-

Kurt stole the front seat when I had my head down texting. So, defeated, I hop in the back.

-Mother's intuition.-

That has become a running joke in between the two of us now. I'm debating whether or not I should tell her about the whole "Shelby is taboo" thing. Before I can truly think about it, my fingers are typing.

-I don't think my dads like you very much. Did you do something to upset them?-

I regret it the second I send it, but what can I do about it now? My options are close to nothing. By the time she answers back, we're halfway to the mall.

-...I don't know, Rachel. Things between your fathers and I have been tense ever since the day you were born. It's a long story that I don't feel like explaining right now. I knew the second I saw you in rehearsal that day that a mother-daughter relationship between the two of us would be complicated. LeRoy and Hiram and I are going to have to sort out our differences. Anyways, It's nothing you need to worry about. I'll take care of it.-

All I can think after reading that is I hope she knows what she's doing. Though, unfortunately, she probably doesn't. I decide to just focus on my day out with Kurt, instead of focusing on the negative though. Glass half full, Rachel. Glass half full.

"I'll pick you two up whenever. Just call me."

"Kay, Dad. Thanks," I say, kissing his cheek.

"Anytime, Barbra."

Ah. Barbra. People calling me by my middle name has yet to ever disappoint me.

We enter the North Hills Mall with linked arms, heading towards Rue 21. I'm about to question his choice to go here, of all places, but before I can, he opens his mouth to speak. "You need a new wardrobe, Rachel. That's all there is to it. You can't switch schools, discover your mom, and become the new lead of Vocal Adrenaline dressed like THAT."

"Kurt, we've been through this-"

"Rachel, move away from the sweaters! They are suffocating you! What do you wear in the summer?!"

"Dresses!"

"With polka dots on them?" he questions, clearly bored. He holds a cute flowery shirt (that I would never have looked at without him being here) in front of me, eyeing it judgingly before nodding and using my arm as rack to hold it. I sigh. "Look, Rachel, you're a very creative and outgoing person. Show it with fashion! Don't be restricted with your clothes! I'm doing this as a favor."

"You're doing this because you're bored and need a charity case."

"Do you want to look good or not?!"

I stop arguing.

"Good. Now, take this." he shoves another shirt at me, this one is striped white and grey. It isn't bad looking, it's just not what i'm used to wearing. After throwing four pairs of pants at me, and two more shirts, he directs me towards the dressing rooms. Hesitantly, I take off my skirt and red sweater and pull on some skinny jeans and the first shirt that Kurt shoved at me. After examining myself in the mirror, I come to a valid conclusion. I look good. Sure, there's a first time for everything, but maybe Kurt's right. Maybe I DO need a new wardrobe. Once I finally get through trying everything on in this particular store, (I think it was something along the lines of twenty items?) Kurt approves ten of them and we move on to the next store, paying with my dad's credit card. Don't worry, I'll pay him back later. I'm sure he won't mind.

Next we hit Bath and Body works, to stock up on more skin care products for my thirty minute face washing ritual before bed. Kurt does a ritual too, but it's not quite the same as mine. I pay for this with my own money, and we move on. While on our way to Aeropostale, we pass by a vendor that catches both of our eyes. They're selling Broadway merchandise, and we both gasp. I run straight to the Barbra Streisand items, and Kurt follows closely behind me, trailing me like a puppy.

The first thing my hands grab for is a black t shirt, with Barbra's face in the middle of it. It says Funny Girl along the top, and it's absolutely darling. I check the price, and almost cry.

"How much?!" Kurt asks, peeking around my shoulder to try and find the price.

"Too much." I whine.

Kurt finally spies the price. "Ugh. We can't charge these to the credit card, I suppose?"

I shake my head sadly.

"Okay. My treat then." He says, taking down one his size, and one my size. My mouth practically drops to the floor. "Are you serious?!"

"I'm Kurt. Of course i'm being serious. You can never pass up a golden opportunity like this. Especially not when that golden opportunity has Barbra Streisand all over it."

I hug Kurt tightly. "You're the best!"

"I know," he says, looking at himself in a mini mirror and fixing his hair. "Sometimes it's overwhelming." We both laugh.

After he pays for the shirts, his stomach growls. He looks down at his stomach and mutters something along the lines of "something should probably be done about this monster".

I laugh. "The food court is all the way upstairs."

Kurt sighs, checking his phone. "I know. You think we could walk to the Lima Bean from here?"

"And eat what? Mochas?"

"Don't make fun, I just bought you Barbra."

"I know, I know. You want to just get some pizza or something?"

He puts his phone in his pocket. "I suppose so. After you."

. . . . . . . .

We're just exiting The Gap when we see Shelby, passing by that awesome Broadway vendor, and heading towards the front exit of the mall. She's on her phone, and seems to be confused or upset about something. I can't help but wonder if it's coincidence that she's here, or if one of my dads told her where I was. Then again, if she wanted to see me, she wouldn't be heading towards the door. Kurt and I pick up our pace, so we can catch up to her.

"I'll talk to you later about it, alright? I'm not sure what I'm going to do." she says into her cell. There's a pause. "Okay. Love you too. Bye." she hangs up and turns around, spying Kurt and me. Her confused look instantly turns into a smile. It's a show face smile-She's still clearly upset about something, and doesn't want me to know.

"Hello, Miss Corcoran. Nice to see you here on this fine day." Kurt says with a smile. His is a show face too.

"It's nice to see the two of you as well." she replies. "And you can call me Shelby, Kurt. You don't have to call me Miss Corcoran if you don't want to."

Kurt simply nods.

"So what brings you here, mom?" I ask her curiously. Kurt shifts uneasily next to me. I don't think he's ever heard me call Shelby "mom" before.

"Um...Bath and Body works," she answers, her eyes sparkling. "And Barbra Streisand."

Wow. Sometimes we are so alike, it's scary. Would it be too nosy of me to ask who she was on the phone with just now? I guess it would...but maybe i'll ask anyways.

"Were you okay, on the phone just now? You seemed a little upset," I try to say it casually, but it comes off a little more nosy than I had hoped.

"What? Oh. That. No, I was just talking to my mom about something. Nothing to worry about, we're always butting heads with each other."

I nod, not totally convinced, but I should probably just let it go for now. Meanwhile, Kurt hasn't said a word, which is unusual, for him. I clear my throat and speak again. "Hey, you should come over for dinner tonight. My dads have been talking about getting together with you sometime to discuss...everything..."

Shelby POV:

I knew that this question would come up soon, but I didn't think it would be this soon. How can I explain all that happened without making her dads look like the bad guys? LeRoy and Hiram are excellent parents. They deserve all the credit for raising Rachel, and what happened at the hospital is irrelevant. But that story is going to pop up sooner or later, and I'm praying for later rather than the alternative.

"Um, i'm not so sure that tonight is the best night, Rach-"

"Come on, Mom, please?!" she gives me puppy dog eyes. Aww. Honey. I'm the Coach of Vocal Adrenaline. It's going to take a lot more than that if you want to break me.

"I don't think so, Rachel." my eyes are pleading.

"Why not Shelby? I'll come too, so you guys aren't completely alone with Hiram and LeRoy if you want." if Kurt hadn't just spoken, I would've forgotten that the poor kid was even there. He clearly cannot stand to be in my presence, but is doing this to help Rachel. He's such a sweet boy.

I sigh. "Okay, okay. Let me...just...You know, you should probably talk to your dads about this before inviting me over anyways."

"But you're my mom." Rachel protests.

"But they are your legal guardians." I throw back. With a groan, she pulls out her phone to call them.

Meanwhile, Kurt and I are left by ourselves. Kurt doesn't look completely angry that she left him alone with me, but I don't think he particularly loves her for it, either. But i've had enough of this tension already.

"Look, Kurt, if you don't like my students in Vocal Adrenaline, then fine. Hate them as much as you want. But please don't hate me just because of the things that they've done. I've had nothing to do with any of that. It would be like me hating on Will just because Puck's in jail."

That actually got Kurt to smile a little bit. A genuine smile, this time, too. None of that show face business.

"But i'm nothing like them, okay? I don't want your friendship with Rachel to be affected just because i'm her mother, and I don't want you to hate me just because i'm the coach of your rival show choir at competition."

Kurt looks me in the eyes for a moment before answering, his blue eyes compassionate. "I don't hate you, Shelby Corcoran. I respect you, for doing what you do. I respect you as a Broadway diva, and I respect you as Rachel's birthmother. Please excuse my spare anger being tossed towards you at the moment, but I do hate Vocal Adrenaline...besides Rachel, of course."

I nod. "I understand that. I'm sorry for the way they've treated the New Directions. I've worked them hard and punished them for it, but clearly not enough."

"You can never punish those kids enough." Kurt looks like he's joking, but I can't be completely sure. Either way, I smile, and before I can respond back, Rachel is walking towards us, shoving her phone in her jacket pocket.

I raise my eyebrows, awaiting an answer.

"My dads wanted Shelby to come over tonight anyways, apparently you three have a lot to talk about. Kurt, they said it was fine for you to come as well, because apparently a lot of the things that the adults have to discuss, i'm not allowed to hear, and you'll be able to keep me company once I get sent away." she says it all in one breath, yet seems unfazed by the lack of air her lungs are receiving.

"I guess that settles it then." I say, running a hand through the bottom of my long brown hair and pulling my bag up over my shoulder. "I suppose you two need a ride there?"

"Please?" Rachel asks kindly. I smile.

"I'll meet you at the Range Rover." I toss her the keys. "Do not start that car without me."

"Where are you going?" Kurt questions.

"Bathroom." I answer. "I'll be with you in a moment."

The two teens shrug and head towards my Range Rover while I head towards the bathroom. There's no one in here right now, and I couldn't be more thankful. I pull my cell out and type in my mom's number as quickly as I can. She answers after two rings.

"Shelby?"

"Mom?"

"What is it, baby?"

"Hiram and LeRoy want me over for dinner tonight. According to Rachel, they said that the three of us have a lot to discuss." I explain off.

"You need to breathe." mom instructs. Am I panting? I can't be sure anymore. Why am I so nervous? Even if they DO want to talk about the night at the hospital, Rachel will never hear it, right? She'll be in her room with Kurt? "Just be honest with them, Shelly. Tell them what you want."

"But I don't know what I want!" I complain. I feel like a little kid whining like this, but at this point it's redundant to even care about that.

"Do you want Rachel?"

"Of course I do!"
"Full rights?"

"No. I could never do that to her or her dads."

"Any custody? Maybe half?"

"What would be the point in that? She'll be eighteen in three years." I'm clearly being very helpful right now, aren't I?

"Then what do you want?"

I pause before answering. "I just want to be able to see my baby girl without being glared at by Hiram or LeRoy. I want to be able to take my baby home with me for more than just two days every two weeks. I want to be able to train her so that she's ready to go New York like she wants to. So that she's ready to fight for her dreams."

"So, tell them that." mom states simply. "Shelby, this doesn't have to be a big deal."

Ugh. She just doesn't understand. But parents never do, do they?

"Okay," I give up. "Fine. I have to go."

"Goodluck. I love you."

"Love you too. Bye."

"Bye."

For a little while, I just stare at my reflection in the mirror. My God, am I the biggest mess. I haven't slept properly for days, my makeup is running, and I just look and feel totally emotionally and physically drained. I fix my makeup and rush out to the Range Rover, thanking the Lord above that it's still where I left it. Rachel and Kurt and laughing and singing to the radio when I get in the front seat.

"...but oh it's Heaven, nowadays..."

Ah. Chicago. I turn it down just a little bit and turn the key in the ignition, starting the engine. "You guys buckled?" I question. They slowly buckle their seatbelts and I just shake my head and laugh. Typical teenagers, thinking that they can just not wear a seatbelt because they're 15. Well let me tell you something, Rachel Berry. If I get pulled over tonight because of you, you will never ever EVER hear the end of it. So there.

Though I wish the house was further away, we pull into 241 Birch Hill Road way sooner than I wanted to. I kill the engine and turn to Rachel, at this point not even caring that Kurt is also with us, because, odds are, she's going to tell him everything anyways. That's probably what Hiram and LeRoy assumed as well, which is also most likely the main reason why they're letting him come along tonight.

"What do you want, Rachel? Before we start getting into all of this." I ask her. "Because at the end of the day, it's your life, and it's up to you. It's not up to me, or LeRoy, or Hiram. So what do you want?"

"I..." she hesitates before answering. "I want you as a mother, and a vocal coach. I want to be able to see you more often. I want to be able to say your name in the house without getting dirty looks from my dads. It's like you're name is taboo, and that's ridiculous. I want them to treat you like you're apart of this family too, and we're all in this together."

Oh, my sweet baby. I wish it was that easy, honey, I really do. For your sake, and everyone else's. I dry swallow.

"Alright." I say. "You know that this is going to be a really long night, right?"

Rachel POV:

It is? I was just under the impression we were all having dinner. But the look of pure loathing, trepidation, fear, and hope in Shelby's eyes tell me otherwise. How long is tonight going to be, exactly? Where will all of these conversations lead? This could turn into a fight. This could turn into a freaking war. They would'nt kick Shelby out of my life, would they? They can't do that, can they? Isn't there some sort of contract that prevents that? Oh, there's a contract, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't have anything to do with wether or not they can make me kiss Shelby goodbye forever. Suddenly, I'm thankful that Kurt volunteered to come tonight. I'm going to need him for support. Things are really going to change tonight. So far, I can't decide if the change will be good, or horrible. But everything changes, and that's just something I need to learn to accept. Suck it up, Rachel. It's about time you got a mother.

One of those "I need to set myself up for a good chapter" chapters, but I hope you enjoyed it all the same. A little bit of Kurt Hummel never harmed anybody, right? xD Again, I apologize for the longer-than-usual update, but I make it up to you by giving you an epic chapter today as well, ch.11. I really like ch.11 and I hope that you will too.

REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! xD ~~hayleynymphadora