a/n: FFnet got in the way of my creative MoJo! Lets show Shelby some love shall we?
Rachel threw her pencil down on to the table and groaned dramatically, causing Finn to look up from the concert schedule he was working on, and raise an eyebrow at his girlfriend.
It had been 2 weeks since their return from Chicago and Shelby was still remaining tight lipped about what, or indeed if anything, had happened between her and Brett.
In the meanwhile, New Directions had been busy preparing their latest fund raising invitational. They had these concerts once at term, and the upcoming one happened to fall on the Friday before Mother's day.
With that in mind, Mercedes had suggested a Mother's Day theme for their set list, having first of course, spoken to Kurt to ascertain his feelings on the subject. Kurt had said he was fine with it, and was happy to honour his mother's memory through song. In the past, this type of thing had annoyed Rachel, as while New Directions were discerning enough to ask Kurt how he felt whenever the subject of mothers came up, they were never sensitive enough to ask Rachel. It never crossed their minds that though Kurt had lost his mother, she had never had one to begin with, (and still didn't as far as they were concerned) and she might feel uncomfortable with it.
"I would bet money that the only reason Mercedes suggested this theme in the first place is because she wants to steal the solos and all the glory from me" Rachel said, gesturing at the schedule Finn had in front of him.
The plan was for New Directions to open the concert with You Raise Me Up and close with Mama by the Spice Girls, with the remainder of the slots being filled by solos and duets.
"Are you serious?" Finn asked
"Of course I am. She knows that I, the child of two gay dads, can't exactly take to the stage and sing about mothers when I don't have one."
"Except that now you do" He reminded her.
"I know that, but the rest of them don't know. How am I supposed to tell them? Walk in to Glee club and say 'Mr Schue here are my suggestions for regionals, and oh by the way Shelby is my mom' or 'Hey Quinn, you're flat on that last note - did you know that I am also the produce of two horny teenagers?'. They'll think I am just doing it to bag a solo at the concert."
"Then tell them the best way you know how: through song" Finn suggested
Rachel looked at him questioningly.
"I think you were in the bathroom when this was decided, but, Quinn mentioned that we could hook some projector or video screens up, and while each person gives their solo/duet performances, a picture of them and their mom from when they were little could play on the screen while they sing.
We'll have the master slide show of everyone running in the background while we all sing Mama.
I reckon, I volunteer for a solo slot, but in reality, it'll be you that sings, and then people will see the photo of you, and hear your song, and then they'll know about you and Shelby."
"Finn, you're a genius!" Rachel hugged him.
"It's not often people say that" Finn said
"Lemme see the running order" Rachel grabbed the piece of paper Finn had been working on.
New Directions Invitational : Draft Running Order
You Raise Me Up arr: Josh Groban – New Directions
Mamma Mia arr: Abba – Mercedes and Santana
Oh Mama arr: The Temptations – Puck
The Wind Beneath My Wings – Kurt
Hero arr: Mariah Carey – Mercedes , Santana , Quinn
Hey Mama: arr Kanye West – Artie and Sam
The Long and Winding Road arr: Lennon & McCartney – Tina CC & Mike C-
Performance slot 7– Blank
Performance slot 8 - Blank
The Greatest Love of All arr: Whitney Houston – Mercedes
Mama: arr Fuller – New Directions
"Can you book me, or rather you, slots 7 and 8?" Rachel asked.
"Two slots?" Finn queried
"I have a plan" Rachel said. "I need to let everyone know about Shelby, and kind of make up for past mothers days. She asked me last night if I had remembered to buy a card for Nanny. It got me thinking about when I was little, and Dad asked me one year if I was upset that people had teased me about not having a mom to celebrate with, and I told him, in front of Shelby, 'I don't want a mom, Dad, I have you and Daddy, I don't need one." When I think of Shelby's face…"
"It's not your fault Rach, you didn't know"
"You're right, which is why I am going to make it up to her. In song"
"Do you think you ought to double check with Shelby that she's free to come to the concert first?" Finn said.
Rachel reached for her phone.
Shelby was in the teachers' lounge at Carmel. She had just finished grading one stack of papers, and had another 2 to go when her phone rang.
"Hey Baby" she said, noticing Rachel's photo flash up
"Hey Shelby, I was just calling to check that you are free a week Friday for our glee invitational?"
"I'm not sure yet baby, I'm waiting for Vocal Adrenalines rehearsal schedule to be finalised"
"But Shelby! You've got to come"
"I will if I can, but if there is rehearsal I'm going to have to stay here"
"Can't someone else do it? I need you here"
"Baby, I'm sorry, - I know Daddy's definitely going though"
"I don't want Daddy, I want you"
"Rachel-" Shelby was cut off by the phone being disconnected.
Resting her phone back on the table, Shelby let out a groan. She had waited years to hear that Rachel wanted her specifically, but she really didn't think it would be in the middle of a tantrum.
"Tough call?" The woman opposite her said
"My daughter throwing a tantrum . I'll sort it out when I get home" Shelby replied, glancing at the woman .
"I'm used to those" the woman said " I could never make it to my son's concerts, my husband travelled a lot for work, and I used to go with him. My son understands now that he's older."
Shelby nodded "I'm sorry, do you work here?"
"Silly me, yes, I'm Rea James, the new substitute Senior Class Art Teacher. I'm replacing Brian Collins – did you know him?"
"Oh yes, I knew Brian" Shelby said, grimacing at the memory of their date. She took in Rea's appearance, she was older than Shelby, and had the well cut clothes, expensive jewellery and perfectly coiffed hair of the wealthy.
"Pardon me for saying so, but you look a bit too , well, rich, to be a public school teacher?"
Rea laughed, "I know, my husband earns more than enough to support us. But now that our children are nearly grown, he insists that it's time I do something to give back to society, and Art is a hobby of mine."
Usually Shelby would hate this kind of person, but Rea seemed friendly enough, and Shelby decided that perhaps it was time for her to 'get a life' as her fathers were always telling her. Or rather, 'get a social life' for a start. So she found herself agreeing when Rea, obviously keen to make friends in her new work place, suggested they go for coffee off campus before afternoon lessons started up.
Vocal Adrenaline's Rehearsal ran late that night, and Shelby found she was the last Berry home. She got in to find Hiram putting the last touches to dinner.
"Something smells nice" she said walking into the kitchen.
"Vegetable lasagne" Hiram told her. "Good day?"
"So- so" Shelby replied. "Where's everyone else?"
"Daddy is just finishing off some emails. Rachel is doing her homework"
"Good, because her and I will be having a little chat after dinner"
"No need" Hiram said.
"Huh? She told you about the tantrum she threw today on the phone?"
"Yes" Hiram affirmed. "And I've told her off accordingly." He didn't tell Shelby that he also knew why she threw the tantrum, and the surprise that she was planning for her mother.
"Dad! I was going to speak to her about that."
"Well it doesn't matter, I've dealt with it now"
"But I wanted to-" Shelby, began, her voice rising
"Shelby" Hiram interrupted "Am I going to have to tell you off for throwing a tantrum too? Now dinner won't be long so go ahead and get changed"
Shelby turned and stomped up the stairs in a fashion that would make Rachel proud. What was it about living back at home that meant her fathers were treating her like a teenager again?
As she stomped along the landing, she noticed the door to Rachel's room ajar. She stuck her head in, and noticed Rachel sat at her desk, a box of photo albums by her feet and a stack of loose photos on the table in front of her.
"Whatcha doing?" Shelby asked, as Rachel, unaware that she was being watched, jumped.
"Nothing" She said hastily
"It doesn't look like nothing" Shelby said, gesturing to the photos
"Just reminiscing" Rachel replied
"Let's see" Shelby moved to look at the photo on top of the pile and laughed " I remember this"
It was of her and Rachel, when Rachel was about 8. She'd needed to take cupcakes into school for a bake sale. Hiram and Leroy didn't have time to make any, and had promised they would pick some up at the store for her. That had not satisfied 8 year old Rachel, she wanted homemade cupcakes, not store bought. Instead, she had convinced Shelby, who has left in charge of her one evening, to bake cupcakes. The pair of them had ended up covered in flour and icing sugar. The photo taken was of Rachel, sat in Shelby's lap, her looking up at Shelby, Shelby looking down at her, the pair of them grinning as Shelby attempts to place a 'Kiss the Cook' Chef's hat on Rachel, and Rachel attempts to blob frosting on Shelby's nose.
Rachel smiled, and made a mental note that this was to the photo she would give to Finn for the slide show.
"Are you over this afternoon's tantrum?" Shelby asked
"Dad already spoke to me about that" Rachel whined
"I know, I just don't understand why you are so upset. I usually do my best to come to your shows don't I? Besides, it's not a competition piece."
"No, but it would just mean a lot to me" Rachel sniffed. She knew if there was one thing that would cause Shelby to crumble, it was tears.
As if on cue Shelby leapt forward as solitary tear slid down Rachel's cheek. "Hey now, don't cry, I'll speak to Bob again tomorrow, see if we can't work something out."
She leant forward and pulled Rachel into a hug. Rachel smiled into Shelby's shirt. "ok then" she hiccupped, for added effect. It was like taking candy from a baby...
A week later and Shelby found herself racing down the aisle of McKinley high school's auditorium. She was late, the house lights were off, and New Directions were 2 verses in to their opening number.
It had not been the best of days, she'd woken up feeling sick, had to give up her free period to sub another teachers class, and despite promising that Shelby could leave at 6.30, Bob had kept her at VA practice until 6.50. Hence she was now late. If hadn't been for the fact that she had received texts off both fathers and Rachel that day, she would have been tempted to sack it off, go home and jump in the bath. Tripping over various bags and asking one man to stand up, Shelby finally made it to her seat.
Backstage after the opening number, Rachel's phone lit up. 'She's here' the text from Dad read. Daddy had text her earlier to say that Shelby had text Dad to say she was on her way.
"Rachel, why are you stood there?" Mercedes asked as she passed by the wings of the stage. "You're better off sitting out front with everyone else, you're not on until the final number"
"I prefer to watch from here, the acoustics are better. Besides I want to support Finn" She replied, slipping the phone back in her dress pocket.
"Whatever" Mercedes called, as she sashayed her way on to the stage.
Out in the audience, Shelby was bored. The programme said that Rachel didn't have a featured number, and the other kids, as far as Shelby was concerned, were nowhere near as engaging on stage as Rachel, though she did have to admit that Kurt's song was very moving. She generallly found parental thematic tributes nauseating, largely because it hurt to not be acknowledged as such. She was starting to get cross – why was Rachel so adamant that she come? Rachel usually hated it when she was forced to sway in the background, so preferred that only one family member be there to witness, what she considered to be 'a humiliating oversight to her talent.'
She was still scowling at the programme when she felt Hiram nudge her in the side, and she looked up. Rachel stood, centre stage, in a spotlight, looking nervous for the first time in her life. Shelby's heart began to race. What was she doing?
Glancing off in to the wings for a second, Rachel noticed Finn grinning at her, and a collective WTF? expression darting across Mercedes' face, confusion reigning amongst all the other glee clubbers.
Ignoring them, she lifted the microphone and began to speak, slowly, but confidently.
"Hello. I am not Finn Hudson as your programme says. My name is Rachel Berry. I was raised by two gay dads who I love very much. I never knew who my mom was until recently. In doing so, I learnt that she is the most selfless person I know. These past 16 years, everything she has done, everything she sacrificed, she did because she wanted things to be better for me. She was right there in front of my face the whole time and I still had absolutely no idea how much she was hurting and how much she gave up for my happiness. Today, I just want to tell her how much I love her, and how much she means to me."
Rachel wished she could see out past the stage lights to where Shelby and her dads were sitting, but it was too dark. Not one to be put off a performance, Rachel simply raised the microphone back to her mouth, and launched into a heartfelt version of Celine Dion's 'Because You Loved Me' , as the photo of Shelby and Rachel appeared on the screen behind her.
In the dark of the auditorium Shelby was crying into her programme. Hiram sat on one side of her handing her dry tissues, while Leroy sat on the other side taking the wet ones from her. She was in complete shock, she'd had no idea what Rachel had planned, though from the smiles on her fathers' faces, they certainly did. No wonder Rachel had been so insistant.
"Don't worry" Hiram whispered in her ear, aware that Shelby was so overcome with emotion she probably wouldn't be taking in too much of the performance, "Daddy is filming it" he nodded to Leroy who had the flipcam out.
Rachel finished her song to thunderous applause. She bowed, but instead of leaving the stage, she simply stood where she was and waited for the applause to die down.
Soon it was silent in the room, and she raised her microphone to speak again. "Shelby, could you come and join me please?"
The next thing Shelby knew, Hiram had her by the arm and was dragging her down the aisle, and then gently pushing her up the steps to the stage. It was a good job that Rachel reached down and pulled her up from the top, as Shelby felt like her legs had turned into Jelly.
She wobbled on to the stage, still in shock, ignoring the fact that her make-up was probably all smudged.
"I thought perhaps we could sing this song together ?" Rachel asked in a shy voice, seemingly unaware that due to the microphone, her voice was still echoing round the room.
Shelby nodded, as she was handed the spare microphone, even though at this stage, she was so in shock that she could barely remember her own name, let alone any song lyrics.
The strains of the opening chords of Barbra Streisand's If I could, filled the stage, and Shelby suddenly felt a rush of adrenaline. Grabbing Rachel's hand and turning to face the audience, Shelby felt her mouth acting independently of her brain as the two of them dueted in perfect harmony. As soon as the last note ended, Rachel almost dropped the microphone as she was pulled into a fierce hug by Shelby, while out in the auditorium, the audience leapt to their feet to give a standing ovation.
a/N; Please review if you have time, it would mean a lot.