Gleepotter asked for this chapter to be of Shelby, Finn, Rachel, and Beth at dinner and I like the idea, so here goes:
"A steak – well done – and a double order of fries… Thanks" If Finn wasn't paying, he was eating good. It was Rachel's bitchy mom's money, not his, and she said he could get whatever he wanted.
"Vegetable plate." Rachel said with a slight smile to the teenage waiter. He nodded and looked at Shelby.
"Medium rare steak with a baked potato." The waiter walked away and Finn whistled, chuckling lightly.
"Well, that was defiantly not a Rachel-like food choice." He said, playing with Beth, who was lying in her carrier beside Shelby in the booth. Shelby laughed.
"Rachel and I may look the same, act the same, and sound the same, but I can tell you that we, without a doubt, don't eat the same." Shelby smiled at Rachel, and Rachel had to smile back. "So, Rachel, and Finn, I guess… I know this may sound stupid, but this is the stuff I want to know. What's your favorite color? Mine's purple, if you'd like to know."
"Pink." Rachel answered with a grin.
"Boo." Finn said, through of bread roll. He swallowed and coughed a bit. "Blue, I mean."
Shelby chuckled and nodded. "Okay, then… Your favorite movie?"
"Funny Girl." Rachel supplied quickly. Shelby smiled and leaned forward, her elbow on the table.
"Mine too." She said and Rachel beamed at her. "What about you, Finn?"
"The Hangover." Finn said, sounding bored. Shelby laughed.
"I like it too, but I like anything with Bradley Cooper in it." She winked at Rachel and Rachel giggled. "Favorite musical? I guess this is more of a Rachel question."
Rachel smiled and nodded, "Wicked. Dad and Daddy took me to see it on Broadway not long after it's opening night… Kristin Chenoweth was right on pitch the whole play and Idina Menzel does everything she attempts perfectly. She should, as my idol… her voice never falters, she's absolutely beautiful, and she is the best Broadway star of my decade."
Shelby smiled. "I agree completely on your opinion of Idina Menzel, Rachel, but I would go in more of a direction of RENT instead of Wicked, though they are both wonderful. How about your favorite band or singer? You too, Finn."
Finn smiled at being included back into the conversation. "I like Josh Turner – he had this really cool deep voice – and I like Journey, Guns N' Roses, and LL Cool J… old school rap, ya know." Shelby laughed and looked to Rachel.
"I love Bruno Mars, if you want to hear about normal music. But, if I were to talk about show tunes, well, I love the more modern soundtracks of Wicked, RENT, Hairspray, and Spring Awakening, but I love the older ones from Funny Girl, Fiddler On the Roof, and Yentil too." Shelby nodded.
"Well, what else can I ask?" Shelby asked. She seemed to think for a moment, but before she could come up with something, Finn spoke up.
"I know on the interviews on YouTube and stuff the people always ask the stars who they would turn gay for… And ya know, Rachel's a star." He said with a charming smile. Rachel's eyes widened and she hit his arm.
"Finn! That is n-" Shelby held up her hand and laughed.
"Rachel, honey, it's fine. If I truly want to get to know who you are, it's a good question to ask." Rachel sighed and nodded. Shelby grinned, "So?"
"Uh, Idina Menzel?" Shelby shook her head.
"No. Someone else. Too boring." Rachel laughed despite her embarrassment.
"I don't know… I don't think about turning into a lesbian for long periods each day, but I would say like Lea Michele maybe, or Anne Hathaway… possibly Amy Adams or Mandy Moore." Finn laughed.
"So, all chick flick actresses who can sing?" Rachel glared at him.
"Fine then! You go!" Shelby was having quite an amusing time listening to her daughter and her daughter's boyfriend bicker.
"I don't know. What about Cory Monteith… that dude off that cheesy show you watch that's kinda interesting despite the extreme amounts of drama in it. Yeah, him. He's kind of awesome, you know he sorta looks like me and he's a heartfelt jock made of steely toughness. He's cool." Rachel rolled her eyes.
"No. He's too sexy for you, Finn." Finn looked shocked for a moment, but Rachel just turned away to her mother, who was trying to fight back laughter.
"What about you, mother?" Rachel asked casually. Shelby finally let out a giggle (Finn didn't ever expect to hear this woman giggle).
"Kristin Chenoweth without a doubt." She said and Rachel chuckled. (Give me a cheer for implied Chenzel! LOL)
"Well, I thought about Cheno, but she's a bit old for me… You on the other hand," Shelby's mouth dropped open and she laughed loudly (Finn couldn't help but notice that her laugh was completely adorable, just like Rachel's).
"Hey, now. Way too soon in the mother-daughter relationship to be insulting my age!" Finn smirked.
"How old are you any way, Ms. Corcoran?" Finn asked. Rachel smiled.
"Yeah, mom… How old? What, like… 40?" Of course Rachel already knew, but it was fun to taunt her mother for the first time in her life. Shelby narrowed her eyes.
"No, thank you very much! I was eighteen when I gave birth to you and that was sixteen years ago. I've only just turned 34!" Rachel smirked.
"I know, mom. I know." Shelby glared at her, but a small smile formed on her lips. It soon became full.
"You know I love you, right Rachel?" She asked, her voice humorous, but the seriousness of the question was still there. Rachel smiled.
"I'm beginning to." Rachel stood up and began to pull on her jacket. She leaned down and kissed her mother's cheek. "I love you too, mom."
"What am I? Chopped liver? Thanks, Ms. Corcoran!" Finn said sarcastically, a small playful pout on his lips. Rachel rolled her eyes, but Shelby grinned widely.
"I beginning to like you too, Finn. And, please, call me Shelby. Coming from you, it makes me feel forty, short, and inferior." She said as she stood, pulling Beth's carrier to her side, setting it on the ground.
"Bye sweetie, I love you." Shelby said, hugging Rachel as tight as humanly possible and kissing her head. Rachel smiled and tears threatened to fall. The feeling of her mother's arms around her was overwhelming, in the best possible way.
"Love you too, mom." She kissed Finn on the cheek after she pulled away from Shelby. "I'll be in the car. Say bye to Beth and stuff." She didn't want her mother to see her tears… she may think something was wrong, and there defiantly wasn't.
"Bye, Shelby." Finn said, shifting his feet awkwardly.
Shelby smiled and stood on her tip toes to kiss his cheek. "Goodbye, Finn. Thank you for making her happy."
Finn smiled crookedly back at her. "No problem." He picked up Beth's carrier. "I'll carry her to your car for you and I'll bring Rachel to your house tomorrow if you and she don't mind."
Shelby nodded her agreement as they left the restaurant. Finn helped her buckled in Beth's seat before getting into his own car with Rachel. Shelby grabbed his arm. She smiled. "You're a very chivalrous young man, Finn, and you'll make a great father to Rachel's kids one day."
Finn grinned. "That's what Rach tells me."