Guest prompt: Rachel should talk to her mom about being afraid Shelby wants to leave again.

Thank you so much for the prompt! Keep them coming, my lovely readers. I love you all!

xoxo, hayleynymphadora

Please Don't Leave Me

Shelby, Rachel, and Kurt were the only ones in the apartment. They had just finished watching Funny Girl and were about to put in West Side Story. It was a lounging sort of day. Kurt glanced down at the empty bowl in his lap and sighed, getting up off the couch.

"Time for a popcorn refill," he announced, getting up and heading to the kitchen.

Shelby readjusted on the couch and Rachel switched out Funny Girl with West Side Story before sitting next to Shelby again.

"I just can't get used to this," Rachel admitted softly. She tried to make it sound causal but Shelby caught the soft tone of sadness in her voice.

"Get used to what, Rach?" Shelby asked a bit worriedly.

Rachel shrugged, again trying to remain casual. After spending a few months with her daughter, Shelby recognized it as the girl's defense mechanism.

"You being here. Us actually acting like mother and daughter," Rachel admitted. "I mean…I don't know…"

Shelby looked at her daughter, concerned.

"Tell me what's wrong, Rach," she said, softly.

Taking a deep breath, Rachel said, "I guess I'm just afraid this is too good to be true. Like you're going to leave again."

"Oh, baby girl," Shelby sighed, pulling Rachel into a tight hug. The second her mom touched her, Rachel burst into tears on her shoulder.

"Don't leave this time, Mom, okay? Because I don't think I could live another day if—if—"

"Shh. Rach, it's okay, baby. I'm not going anywhere. I promise. You never have to try to live without me in your life, okay?" she hugged her daughter, who was so precious to her, closer. "I'm here to stay, Rachel. I'm here."

"Okay," Rach said softly. Her tears fell on Shelby's shoulder.

"No tears, okay?" Shelby said.

Rachel pulled out of the hug and smiled. "I just, I've gotten so used to you being around and I love you so much and I can't lose you again. I can't."

Again. Shelby felt awful for the word.

"I love you too, Rachel." She said. "I'm not leaving you ever again."

And Rachel trusted her enough to believe her.