Keeperofwords here. This chapter is dedicated to my very talented co-author and friend who I thought of as I wrote this chapter. I am blessed to call you a friend and to be writing with you on this story as well as "Fragile Reunion".

Another character from Rizzoli and Isles is used in this chapter, Suzie Chang. Her role is limited but I love Rizzoli and Isles and wanted to use the character.

Thanks for your patience. I know its been awhile since the last update. With a death in my family and my co-authors busy summer, it look longer to put out the chapter. Enjoy and let us know what you think!

Chapter 10: Hope

"Ladies, your daughter has what is called bilateral hearing loss," the Asian American Audiologist employed by Doctor Rizzoli told the Broadway star and dance professor. When neither woman asked any questions when she paused, the audiologist continued. "That means she has hearing loss in both ears. Doctor Rizzoli was spot on from her observations of Rachel that the hearing loss is different in each ear. "

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Cassandra July asked the audiologist leaning forward and grasping her lover's knee and patted it reassuringly. Cass tended to ask questions as she thought of them, which helped in situations like this. Shelby tended to remain quiet and get all of the information then ask questions. In instances like this, Shelby appreciated Cass getting to the point. Shelby did not think she could take a long drawn out explanation. The star wanted to know two things, how much could Rachel hear and how could they treat it.

"It is just a fact that helps me know how to proceed. Its neither good nor bad," Suzie Chang shared turning around her laptop to show the woman. She started to push the laptop their direction then abruptly pull it back to her as the youngster in Shelby's lap leaned forward and reached out to punch at the buttons on the keyboard.

"Sorry," Shelby spoke up turning Rachel around to face her and kissing her both cheeks and smiling big at the wide eyed baby. "She is very curious and quite fast."

"She is quite good with her hands, just like her mother," Cass added keeping a straight face staring right into the audiologist's face. Cass had meant it to be open to interpretation. If the audiologist had known the blonde, the audiologist would know it was an adult joke. But with the blonde's straight face, a stranger may not take it that way. Shelby Corcoran understood the sentiment however and sighed wishing she would roll her eyes. The Wicked Star would have loved to kick her lover in the shin but she knew Cass was wanting a reaction and refused to give it to her.

"Yes, Yes," the audiologist, "She is a smart baby with quick reflexes." Suzie Chang nodded in agreement not sure what to say before she moved on quickly. "While Rachel has profound hearing loss in her right ear, in her left ear it is moderate. With an aide, Rachel should be able to start hearing you sing to her Ms. Corcoran in her left ear."

The audiologist paused for a moment and let this bit of silver lining light up the dark cloud of having a child who had a hearing problem.

"And the right ear?" Cass asked wanting to know what she and Shelby were dealing with. The dance instructor at NYADA was used to facing difficult dance routines head on. The blonde was eager to know what they were dealing with. Shelby had a tendency to listen and then ask the tough questions. Cass had not gotten to be the top dance instructor in NYADA feared and revered by countless students and colleagues by not being forward and pressing for things. "You used the word profound. Tell us what that means and what your recommendations are," Cassandra July pressed.

"Rachel cannot here sounds in the right ear. She is using her left ear and other senses to communicate with you," audiologist Chang explained. "But with therapy and technology I strongly believe we can give your daughter an ability to hear loud sounds and hear one on one conversation if there is no background noise in her right ear."

"So," Shelby spoke up finally looking down at Rachel who was rubbing her eyes tiredly yawning. The infant grunted and looked up at Shelby who was learning enough to know her daughter wanted to suckle. Her milk had not yet fully come in but Rachel had already become possessive of the Wicked Star's breasts. It was her soother as well as her source of nourishment with the Lacti-Aid. Unashamed, Shelby opened her blouse and unfastened one of her newly purchased nursing bras. Shelby then turned Rachel in her arms cradling her and allowing the baby to latch and suckle. Shelby reached down and pulled out a blanket for modesty's sake then gave her attention back to the audiologist. "You said technology, are you recommending a hearing aide in this ear too? Or were you referring to a cochlear implant."

"I will let Doctor Rizzoli talk about the cochlear implant option though children with profound hearing loss benefit from such technology. But most professionals in our industry don't immediately recommend putting their children into outpatient surgery right off the bat without exploring other options first."

"So two aides?" Shelby mused looking over at Cass who nodded at her in unspoken agreement they would pursue this immediately. "My partner and I would like to pursue what-ever we can to give my child as much hearing as soon as possible."

"That's fine, we can start immediately. I can show you some device styles and options," the audiologist told Cass and Shelby.

"Before we do that, I have a question," Cass spoke up before the woman stood up from her chair to get her samples. "You mentioned therapy."

"Yes, your entire household and friends who interact with your daughter need to learn ASL. All of you can learn together. Rachel already seems to be communicating with you Ms. Corcoran and you with her. She may need some speech therapy when she gets older. She may need to learn to read lips. But at nine months, that is a little premature. Children her age are just starting to explore speech with babbling. You are giving her intervention early. That is a good thing." Susie Chang smiled at the little toes sticking out from the blanket that were closing and opening. "I can give you a card for someone I recommend that is good with children Rachel's age that could work with the entire family."

"My level of professional success and eight shows a week might make going to classes might be challenging with scheduling. I also don't want to attract unwanted attention to my child or other families in any class. Does this person work privately with families?" the Wicked Star asked.

"Yes, she does actually. She has both options of coming to her office or she does in home appointments," Susie Chang spoke pushing a card in the direction of the blonde who had her hand outstretched.

"Thank you for your referral," Cass told the audiologist Chang. "We will get right on this. We don't have to wait for you the hearing aids?"

"Nope, the sooner the better," Susie Chang told the couple who quietly nodded. "Let me show you some hearing aids. We have some very cute colors for children."

"No pink," Cass whispered so as to not wake a drifting Rachel who was nearly asleep after the audiologist left the room to get a catalogue and a few samples.

"No pink," Shelby agreed. "And no violet either. Why they push pink and violet on little girls is beyond me."

"Camo then?" Cass asked baiting Shelby to get a rise. Shelby raised her eyebrow and rolled her eyes. "No? Well I for one don't want flesh color because if they drop to the floor I want something easy to spot."

"Maybe she has a pale blue?" Shelby said moving Rachel ever so slightly so she could fasten her bra back and close her blouse. With hopeful tears in her eyes, Shelby looked at her lover. "They can help her. Our baby girl will get hearing aids and she will be able to hear me sing to her."

"Hey, I have you know my voice is not half bad either," Cass teased. "We can sing duets to her."

Both women smiled a hopeful smile.

-O-

Baby Rachel blinked her sleepy brown eyes as she began to stir in the carrier she was harnessed in against her mother's body. Rachel could only see her mother's face and sat with her back to the taxi driver who was speeding in the late afternoon traffic towards the theater. The baby was oblivious that her mother was late to an impromptu cast meeting the director had called suddenly today. Rachel enjoyed the motion of the taxi cab though and was getting used to the routine with her two mothers. The theater was becoming a familiar place and there was so much to see and watch. Her mother, while not posing for pictures with fans while holding her, no longer hid her face under a blanket while they scurried in the stage door. The infant lacked any understanding that more people were learning of her existence in the Wicked Stars life just because she had been spotted so much together now. Her mommy had neither put her in front of a camera nor released a statement about her though. To the baby it was just a new world of hugs, smiles, cuddles and this warm soft thing that she now received her meals from. Baby Rachel made a grab for the thing her mother held to her ear talking into. It was half-hearted at best. The infant knew her mommy would not let her have it. The brunette just took her fingers with her other hand and kissed them till she smiled.

Rachel saw her mother's lips moving but did not hear the words she spoke.

"Yes April. Tell them I will be there shortly. Jane ran late in surgery and we had to wait for her to talk to us."

"Yep, hearing aids. Jane does not like to do cochlear implants on children till they are a year old and the audiologist said she thinks Rachel will receive a level of hearing with aids."

"Yes, I feel good about it"

"No, I have Rachel with me. Madame T begged Cassie to come back to work. One of the other instructors went home with the flu. I told her to wash her hands a lot and she better not bring it back home and give it to the baby."

"Can Holly pick up some baby food and watch Rachel in the dressing room if Cass is not there by curtain time?"

"Yes, and tell her to make sure she looks at the labels on the jar. Rachel needs the number ones. She has no teeth and can't eat those number fours that come in chunks."

"Yeah, I will text you as I get two blocks away. You can come run interference there is a crowd. I don't want anybody touching the baby as I try to sneak in solo."

"Yeah, see you in a few"

Shelby looked down at her daughter who had was now wide awake after her nap at the doctor's office. Rachel was happy now but Shelby knew meeting or not her daughter would need to eat and get a change before the cast meeting and not after.

Shelby wrapped an arm across the back of her baby girl as the taxi came to a sudden stop. Despite the fact that Baby Rachel was snuggly fastened to the front of her body in the harness carrier, it was an automatic reaction. The taxi driver beeped his horn in three sharp bursts. A delivery person had stopped his box truck right in their lane and jumped out holding a medium size package. The man cursed in Spanish then caught himself remembering he had not only a customer in his taxi but a famous performer of the hit musical "Wicked".

"Sorry, Ms. Corcoran," the Hispanic middle aged driver apologized. "Damn, delivery drivers think the street is a loading zone. I will have you to the theater as quickly as we get around him. Rush hour turns the streets into a parking lot as it is."

Shelby looked around at their location as she played with Rachel's soft baby hair. She could see the theater from here. The "Wicked" star knew she would only keep the cast and crew waiting longer if she sat here.

"The theater is just two blocks from here," Shelby told the driver reaching into her wallet and handing the driver money for the faire. The brunette opened the car door wrapped both arms protectively around her daughter and started up the street. In New York, it was easy enough to blend into a crowd. It was so different from where she grew up in Lima, Ohio. Everybody knew everyone in town and everyone knew everybody's business. Diaper bag on her shoulder and baby fastened to her chest, Shelby Corcoran did not look like the famous Broadway actress from "Wicked. The singer's lip curled ever so slightly in amusement as people gave her a glance. Their eyes widened, looked over at the diaper bag and baby swaddled to her chest and shook their head. Her fellow pedestrians probably thought all Broadway headliners had nannies and rode in a limo.

Rachel put her thumb in her mouth as she snuggled contently against Shelby's chest while they walked. The baby breathed in deeply sniffing the brunette's shirt. With only four of her five senses, Baby Rachel used her nose to explore her world and get comfort. Baby Rachel loved the smell of her mother. Her mother had quickly learned that perfume made her sneeze. Her mother's natural smell gave Rachel as sense of comfort and security. The smell of the city made her nose quiver. The infant much rather rub her nose into her mother's shirt or skin. There were to many bodies crowding around them. Her little lip quivered and she sucked her thumb harder.

"Shhhhh," Shelby whispered rubbing Rachel's back while also rubbing her thumb across her daughter's cheek. The Elphaba actress crossed the street right in front of the theater's side entrance. It was early so only a few fans were gathered at the door. There were only two women and what looked like a five year old little girl. As asked of her, April, Glinda, The Good Witch, was on one knee talking to the little girl who was clutching a white teddy bear with a black bow tie. All Shelby wanted to do was get inside, feed Rachel and get the director's meeting over with. But the Wicked star caught the little redhead girl's eye. The little girl's smile made her re-think her plan to rush inside the stage door. Shelby smiled back a soft indulging smile thinking the little girl must want an autograph maybe on her bear. Shelby hoped the little girl had a sharpie. With her baby girl's fast fingers and sharp eyes, Shelby was keeping those things buried deep in the diaper bag. Out of sight and out of mind, Shelby figured.

"Shelby?" April's voice carried the short distance as her co-star stopped and looked first at the little girl and then at the puppy dog eyes of April Rhodes.

This is unusual, Shelby thought to herself. April knew how to use that look. She used it mostly on Holly now a days. Shelby had not received it in over a year. The first time April used it, Shelby had ended up in a smoky lesbian bar that was having the wet T-shirt contest back when they were in college. April knew how to work the look too. April knows how protective I am to have Rachel around fans. And she wants me to walk to the women and child? I trust her though, Shelby mused deciding to trust April's judgment. Shelby reached in the diaper bag. She grabbed a blanket out of it and draped it around Rachel's body protectively before stepping in the direction. Something became clear to her as Shelby moved in the direction of April and the fans. The young child was not looking at her as most fans did. The little girl was looking at Rachel with soft timid blue eyes.

"Shelby this is Rhiannon," April said as she rubbed the upper arm of the child who stood ram-rod straight holding the bear.

"Hi Rhiannon," Shelby replied in a soft gentle tone as to put the little girl at ease. "I like your bear." When the youngster blushed, Shelby moved in closer to stand in front of the child. She could not help but notice that the little girl's hands were shaking as she thrust the little bear out from her stomach. "Do you want me to sign your bear for you? I think I may have a pen in my bag here."

Rhiannon bit her lip shyly and shook her head.

"It's ok sweet-heart," the good witch of the North told Rhiannon. "Don't be afraid. Ms. Shelby is a very nice woman and won't be upset at you. I promise as Glinda the Good Witch." Rhiannon smiled and looked up at the Elphaba star.

"My mommies and I are from Ohio like you are," the little girl told Shelby. "They brought me here for my birthday. We saw your show the night before last. I was a good girl so they brought me again last night."

"Wow, you were good," Shelby spoke to the girl doing a quick check on Rachel who was contently sucking her thumb. Rachel was not the least frightened and watched the little girl with interest as well as the stuffed toy in the little girl's hand. "Do you like the show? Have you seen the Wizard of Oz and Toto the dog?"

"Yes," Rhiannon answered with a quick nod looking first into the green eyes of the Broadway star then over at the baby. "Ms. Shelby?" the little girl asked timidly. Rhiannon felt brave because her mothers were behind her and Glinda the Good Witch was rubbing her arm.

"Yes, Rhiannon," Shelby asked still in a gentle voice focusing on the child and not the fact she was late to the cast meeting. Her gut told her that this was more important. "It's okay honey."

"Can I give your baby a present?" Rhiannon asked expectantly not sure whether she should clutch the bear to her or pass him to her idol who also was from Ohio. "I got her this bear in Macy's. My moms thought it was for me but I told them it was for the baby I sawed you carry in the theater the past two days before we saw the show. My mommies think I have to big an imagination but I think you are a mommy now and this is your baby. She is pretty like you and I wanted to get her a present for my birthday."

"Oh, honey," Shelby's green eyes misted over at the simple, loving act of this special sensitive little girl. Knowing she would eventually make it public of Rachel as her daughter now reunited, Shelby chose this innocent child to share it with first. "You are right. This is my little girl and I am her mommy. And she does not have a teddy bear and it would be a welcome addition to her nursery."

Rhiannon smiled and passed over the bear to Shelby who kissed it and showed it to Rachel. Shelby and Rhiannon were both pleased when Baby Rachel stuck out a hand immediately and made a grab for it.

"She likes it!" Rhiannon exclaimed first to Shelby and then looking back at her mothers who stood just behind her.

"That she does. Thank you Rhiannon" Shelby reached over and stroked the young girl's cheek. "And with it being your birthday. Would it be okay with your mothers if Ms. April and I give you a signed Wicked Poster and a T Shirt?"

"Really?" Rhiannon exclaimed excitedly. "You don't have to if it is too much trouble. My mama said you have to work and might be too busy to even talk to me." The youngster was growing more animated. " I am going to be on Broadway like you and Ms. April. I take dance and piano lessons. I love to sing."

Shelby saw herself in this girl and decided screw the meeting she was going to get some things for this little girl and get the families phone number and address so she could keep up with her. Rhiannon was the next generation of Broadway stars.

"Yes really doll baby," April interjected looking at the two mothers for permission to give the child some Wicked merchandise. "Would you three like to come backstage a few minutes? I can get you some tickets on the front row for tonight I am sure and get you that poster and shirt. Ms. Shelby has to go feed the baby."

"Yes!" the little girl jumped up and down as her mother's gave their consent. "I am going back stage to a Broadway show. It's really happening. One day I will be just like you Glinda and Elphie."

"I have no doubt," Shelby said knowingly. This kid had spark. "Rhiannon you are a very special fan," Shelby added as the six of them walked to the stage door. "I told you a secret that most people don't know. I want to wait a little longer before I tell everybody I am a mommy and I have a little girl that lives with me. Can you keep that special secret for me as my super special fan?"

The little girl nodded and Shelby had no doubt for the time being, her secret was safe. April shuffled the trio to a cast member who got them front row tickets and some special merchandise. Shelby waved at the director who lost his grumpy look when he saw his two leads interacting with this little girl who looked like she could audition for Annie herself with her red hair and blue eyes. The cast meeting could wait.

Not usually very affectionate with fans but unable to help herself, Shelby kissed the top of the Rhiannon's head as the trio said their good-byes. Shelby had promised to keep in touch and if she did a concert in Ohio to get her tickets.

Sitting in her dressing room, it was now quiet as she was given privacy. It had turned out that Joel was running late anyway. She had time to nurse Rachel with her special Lacti Aid. She could not wait for her milk to come in. She could tell a difference in her breasts and felt her milk would be here sooner instead of later.

Shelby eyed the teddy bear as her baby girl nursed. Of all the things fans had given her, this was the most special. She would remember Rhiannon's simple act of kindness forever. With her daughter reunited with her, Cassandra, good friends and a successful show all going on simultaneously, Shelby Corcoran felt very blessed. Life was a gift and she knew it and promised herself to live it to the fullest.

.