A/N: with thanks to each and every one of you wonderful people who took the time to review, I think I lost a few people along the way, but thanks to those who stuck it out until the end - this is the last chapter. There are 2 potential one-shots coming your way, set within this universe, but with a slightly different twist,( if the audience is there for them that is). watch this space.

Chapter 10: Sweet Sixteen

Rachel turns 16 today. I can't quite believe that the tiny little baby I gave up all those years ago is 16. I am the mother of a 16 year old. How did that happen? In my head I am still 25.

One thing I never expected, certainly during the darker times of a couple of years ago, that I would be in my daughters life for her 16th birthday.

Rachel was not having a sweet sixteen party. She was under no illusions that she knew enough people or had enough friends who would want to come, and didn't want to put herself in the situation to allow for that kind of disappointment. It saddens me, as I had a party so wild we burnt the decking on the back of my parents house. But Rachel is happy enough, apparently the Glee club have organised a little get together after rehearsal next week, its supposed to be a secret, but Mr Schu it turns out is the worst secret keeper in the world.

I myself was under no illusions that I would be able to spend the day of her birthday ( a Saturday for once) with her, that was her fathers right and privilege, but I was planning on calling round on the Sunday.

I was surprised therefore, to receive a phone call from James about a week ago, inviting me out for an evening meal at Baguette! The pricier, fancier, French sister restaurant of Breadstix.

"I don't want to intrude on your family celebrations" I said, not sure whether my presence was something that James and Leroy actually wanted, or rather whether it was something Rachel wanted and they were willing to put up with.

"Don't worry" James assures me, sensing my uncertainty. "We will still be having the traditional Berry Birthday Brunch in the morning, that is our own sacred ritual between the 3 of us. The meal at Baguette! will be for all of us. I know Rachel would like to see you there."

"In which case it's a date." I replied, feeling a lot better.

That's how I can be found peering out of the living room window on the evening of Rachel's birthday, dressed in my finery, and holding a gift bag.

A flash of lights down the street indicates a car coming down the street. A black Grande Cherokee pulls up outside my house, almost taking out the mailbox as it comes to an abrupt stop. As I look closely, I spot Rachel waving at me from behind the wheel.

Approaching the car, I notice that her fathers are in the back and that she is gesturing for me to come round and sit in the front. Confused I open the front passenger side door and get in.

"James, Leroy" I acknowledge them with a nod, and learn over to kiss Rachel on the cheek, "Happy Birthday Sweetie."

"Whets all this about?" I ask, gesturing to the fathers Berry, huddled in the back seat.

"It's Rachel's birthday present to us all" Leroy jokes "she's decided as a thank you for everything, to traumatise her parents."

"Dad! that is precisely why you are sat in the back." Rachel screeches and turns to me. "Dad and Daddy are not allowed to sit in the front, because they are incapable of being in a car with me, and not criticizing my driving skills. It is very off putting."

"I didn't say a word" James complains "I only suggested that you may wish to learn the difference between road side sculptures and road signs, in particularly those indicating speed limits. One are for purely decorative purposes to be pleasing on the eye for drivers, the other are for road users to pay strict attention to."

"Exactly, you were mean. And Dad, you clung on to the door frame and screamed slow down every time I moved out of first gear. So the pair of you forfeited a ride in the front seat, that is now reserved for mom, hopefully she will behave herself."

"Is your life insurance up to date Shelby? Perhaps we ought to have called ahead." James says.

"It's fine" I say, I mean how bad can she be?

All is calm and all is quiet until the junction before we reach Baguette! "Mom" Rachel says in an indignant tone " I can't believe it, you too!"

"I haven't said anything" I protest.

"You didn't need to. I saw you, you just lifted your leg as if you were pressing on an imaginary break pedal."

"It was a subconscious involuntary action!"

"Which indicates you think I am driving too quickly"

"But. I.."

"Rachel," Leroy interrupts. "I think you need to pay more attention to the road ahead of you and less time shouting at your mother."

"Fine" Rachel smarts, but does at least make the turning in to the restaurant parking lot without inflicting injury or damage on innocent people.

Exiting the car, all tension melts away, and by the time we are seated in Baguette, everyone is back to their usual sunny selves.

The waiter takes our orders and the conversation turns back to Rachel.

"What else did you get for your birthday?" I ask "Besides the car?"

"Lots of things. I had a new I-pod, some new sheet music, Celine Dions autobiography, some new clothes.."

"I guess you don't want this then' I say with a smile, dangling a gift bag in front of her.

"ooo" her eyes lit up as she takes the bag, and proceeds to take out the contents which includes a card from my mother and 2 tickets to the Chicago production of Wicked, a card from my sister along with a generous sized I-tunes voucher. She pauses as she takes out my present…her eyes widening.

I knew that I wanted to get Rachel something special for her 16th birthday, something that would hold sentimental value, but I didn't know what. I knew that her fathers were getting her a car, but I could never compete on that level.

Then, when I was in Columbus a few weekends ago, I spotted the perfect gift.

Rachel opens the blue Tiffany's box to find a pair of gold dropper earrings with little stars on the end of them, and the matching necklace.

"They are beautiful!" Rachel exclaims, before throwing herself at me for a hug, which I gladly return.

I help her on with the necklace, as she takes her earrings out to replace them with the new ones.

"What do you think?" she asks her fathers.

"Very pretty Little Diva" They reply, smiling.

"I think so" she replies, gesturing wildly and in so doing, knocking her glass of water all down the skirt of her dress.

"shoot" she exclaims, before dashing off the bathroom to go dry it out.

"That was a lovely gift" Leroy tells me. "It must have cost a fair bit."

"Yes it did. But it was worth it to see the smile on her face."

"we know, its part of the good things about being a parent." James adds, and for some reason I become aware of a serious tone, coming over the conversation.

"Shelby, we just wanted to say, that though we were not entirely happy about it to begin with, we agree that Rachel having you back in her life at this stage, has been good for her, in ways that we never imagined." Leroy continues

I smile, my nerves settling slightly

"….and also, we know about the tape."

My heart plummets.

"The tape?" I say, trying to act innocent.

"The tape, of you singing I dreamed a dream" James continues, "That you told me you had given to Leroy at the hospital, that Rachel "found" in her baby box."

"I don't know how you smuggled that tape in to the house, or even in to the baby box, and quite frankly I don't think we want to know." Leroy adds.

"I…I.." I stutter, not sure how to continue

"We were angry, as it was an express violation of the contract. We were all for pressing charges and stopping all contact."

My heart rate begins to increase to the point of me thinking I may just have a heart attack, right then and there in Baguette.

"But" Leroy cuts in, seeing my face. " we realised that what we thought, wasn't the most important thing, Rachel is. In that vein, Shelby, we would like to apologise."

"Apologise?" I squeak, not sure where this volt face has come from.

"When we decided to have a child, we were determined to prove that a gay couple could provide an equally loving and stable home environment as a heterosexual couple.

Which is why we insisted that you play no part in her life whatsoever, that and we thought it would be too confusing for a little child to understand.

Though we proved all the cynics and naysayer's wrong, and did and continue to provide Rachel with a happy and privileged upbringing, we didn't truly realise how much a young woman needs a female influence, a motherly influence, during the teenage years, as there are some mysteries of the female psyche that we cannot even begin to contemplate.

Before becoming parents we didn't realise how it was possible to love another human being so much. We got to thinking, and we can't even imagine how hard it must have been for you to suddenly have to turn off those feelings and walk away, and we were so wrapt up in the fact that the baby was here, that we were not fully sympathetic to that. You gave us the greatest gift possible, and then we told you to walk away.

Looking back, it would have been better if you had played some kind of peripheral role in Rachel's life, as a family friend or relative, until she was old enough to understand the truth, rather than have all this come tumbling out in a large confusing mess when she was 15.

Anyway, we can't change the past, but for the future, we just wanted to say, we are glad that Rachel has forged a relationship with you, and we hope it continues."

I don't know what to say, it's a lot to take in, so all I settle for is "Thank you, that means a lot". We all know that the tape incident won't be raised again, at least not by us. Its one of those implicit understandings , of things never to be mentioned, such as how I know exactly who Rachels biological father is.

Rachel bounces back to the table, skirt now dried. "Whats wrong?" she asks, at the sight of our concerned faces.

"Nothing" I reply, with a genuine smile on my lips. "Nothing at all. In fact, things couldn't be better."

THE END