Here it is, the big emotional reveal.

Let us know what you think! We hope you like it as much as we liked writing it last night.

I, Hayley, am going downstate this weekend as of right after school tomorrow and won't be back until Sunday. Therefore, please don't expect another chapter this weekend because I won't have any time to work on it. The soonest we'll probably start to work on the next part (which is the final dress rehearsal) will be sometime next week.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and for sticking with us and these characters and loving them as much as we do.

Love always, keeperofwords and Hayley

Chapter 14: Morning Talks and Biological Daughters

The feeling of anxiety teased Rachel Berry awake. She opened her eyes hesitantly, not sure what she was going to see. She remembered getting into the car. They were going somewhere. Rachel moved her eyes to the right and then to the left. Mama was holding her. Mommy was behind Mama. They were in the princess bed.

That's funny, Shelby and Cassie are in the princess bed, Rachel thought to herself. I am really glad they are, though.

A shiver ran through Rachel as she remembered where they were going. They were going to a clinic to get a test done. She had gotten scared. Then she did not remember anything else. It was like when she got in Cass and Shelby's bathtub. She had stopped remembering things till Shelby was combing her hair and she was clean.

Rachel really did not like not remembering; especially a scary place like a hospital or clinic.

She hoped she wouldn't remember.

She thought about it for a moment.

But I want to know what happened at the clinic. I want to know if I'm Shelby's daughter. I want to know what sort of tests they did. And I want to know why we're in the Princess bed together.

So, hesitantly, she turned around and shook Cassie awake. "Mama," She whispered, shaking the blonde's shoulder. "Mama." She said again, with a bit more force this time.

Cassie fluttered her eyes open, feeling like she should probably get used to being awoken by the young girl. "Rachel. What's wrong, sweetheart?"

"What are you and Mommy doing?" Rachel asked.

"Um...sleeping...?" Cassie laughed lightly, unsure what question Rachel was really asking her.

Rachel did not think it was funny. As she woke up more, she found herself thinking about doctors and nurses and policeman that smelled of cigarettes. All of those things frightened Rachel very much. She knew she was in the princess bed and Cass and Shelby were too. That fact alone helped Rachel feel brave enough to share her feelings.

"I don't understand what is going on or what happened," Rachel said bluntly, trying to decide if she wanted to snuggle closer or jump out of bed and find a place to hide. "Are the cops going to take me away?"

"Honey," Cassie's face grew more serious as she realized that Rachel wasn't asking why they were in the princess bed, she was asking what she was still doing in the mansion as a whole. Apparently the girl had thought that after the clinic she was going to be taken away forever. What had she misinterpreted? "What are you talking about? No, the cops aren't going to take you away, why would they? You are perfectly safe here, my sweet." she caressed the young girl's face, putting a hand to the girl's forehead. She was getting worked up. "What's bothering you?"

Rachel scooted down under the covers. It was dark. She was used to the dark; it felt comfortable, usually. However, right now, she was not comforted. So, she scooted closer to Cassie. Cassie's body was warm and soft. With a tentative hand, Rachel reached around Cassie's body and tried to feel for Shelby. Rachel felt Shelby's gown and grasped hold of it tightly.

"Please, I don't remember," Rachel whispered from under the covers.

"Oh, Rachel," Cassie whispered softly. "Get out here, honey. I can remind you what happened. It was nothing bad, sweetheart, nothing at all bad." She decided she wasn't going to remind the youngster that she had to be sedated. It would only instill fear into her the next time she ever had to go to the clinic. Sort of a power of suggestion type of thing, if she thought she was going to need to be sedated the next time they went, she would be. If she knew that besides the sedation, things had gone well, and she hadn't had to do anything scary, she wouldn't be so afraid again.

"I remember being in Shelby's lap, that is all I remember," Rachel did not come out from under the covers. Secretly, she wanted either Cassie or Shelby to pull her out and hold her but she did not feel comfortable enough to say that. "Is Shelby not awake because she's scared from last night?"

Since the girl didn't come out from under the covers, and Cassie wasn't sure what she would do if she tried to pull her out, she did the next best thing and slipped underneath the covers with Rachel. Now that she was face to face with the girl, who had nervous tears streaming down her face, she wrapped her arms around her tightly.

"Shelby is not afraid, my sweet. She is just very tired. We've had a very long week, and it's been very taxing on Shelby both physically and emotionally. Performance week is always very tiring. What happened last night is this, Rachel: You were in Shelby's lap, and you were very nervous, but we promised you it would be okay, and it was. While April was testing your DNA, she also did a quick wellness check on you to make sure that you are healthy, so that if Child Protective Services decide to pay us a visit, they know that we aren't harming you in any way. Meanwhile, April had a nurse test Shelby's DNA. We haven't gotten an answer about the DNA test yet. We're hoping to sometime this morning."

"Promise? That was it?" Rachel asked. Rachel looked deeply in Cassie's eyes. The little girl had gotten pretty good at reading adults to tell if they were lying. She saw that this dancer was not, but she was not telling her one of the things she was worried about either. So she just closed her eyes and asked. "Did they check down there? Do they know he touched me? I don't want them to think you or Shelby did it. They never believe what I say anyway."

Rachel really wanted Shelby to wake up. She wanted them to be the bread and her the peanut butter again. Rachel clutched hard at Shelby's gown and pulled frantically. She wanted both Cass and Shelby.

Feeling her gown being pulled at, Shelby woke immediately, feeling that there was something very wrong. She could feel herself being practically dragged over top of her wife, and grabbed at Cassandra's waist to steady herself, wondering why her wife and little girl's heads were under the covers. She could hear their muffled voices as Cassie responded to Rachel,

"Yes, Rachel. They had to check, and they know what he did to you. But that gives them evidence so we can lock this man away for a very, very long time, okay? Now that they know what he's done-and that he's the one who did it-they'll make sure he never ever comes near you ever again. I promise."

That certainly got the singer's attention. She ducked her head below the covers to join the conversation. Obviously they were talking about what had happened the night before, at the clinic.

Rachel felt herself relax a little. Words she had kept silent burst out, "He touched me different than my Daddies. He went inside and it hurt. My Daddies just beat the outside of me," Rachel said in a graphic but childlike way. "Promise me that's all that happened? They won't go tell the Reverend he can pick me up? You have to say the words "I promise" out loud. Remember you have to say it out loud for it to be true," Rachel explained in her unique perspective of life and honesty. "Shelby has to wake up and say it too."

"Oh, sweetheart," Cassie hugged the girl securely, squeezing her eyes shut tightly as tears flew out of them faster than she could even attempt to wipe them away. She couldn't imagine the hurt and pain that this sweet, poor little girl had been through. She was so traumatized, and so abused. Those bastards. That son of a bitch. Cassie thought, weeping harder. Nothing in her life had ever affected her emotions so strongly. She'd never been so moved-or so compelled to kill a man-in her life. How dare he touch this sweet, sweet child. How DARE he rape her. How DARE he EVER lay a hand on her. He'll NEVER touch her again. The son of a bitch will never SEE her again. He will never EVER touch her. He can NEVER hurt her...

"I promise, okay?" Cassandra's voice cracked and she held Rachel close. "I promise that's all that happened." she had to tell her about the sedation, even a little bit. She was making a promise and intended to stick to it. She would be someone that Rachel could trust. "You had a little bit of a-" she inhaled sharply, desperate for a breath, "Panic attack, and they had to calm you down a bit. Then they did the tests on you and we took you home and we went to bed. The Reverend will NEVER touch you again. He'll never go inside, he'll never touch the outside either. As far as I'm concerned he'll never be able to see you again. I'm so sorry he ever got to you, my baby. I'm so, so sorry."

"She is just as bad, Cassie. She knew and did nothing. I don't want to see her either," Rachel told Cassie referring to the Reverend's wife. Rachel gave Shelby's gown another yank. She pulled hard. Cassie may be holding her but she wanted to be the peanut butter and they the bread. "So I can be your baby no matter what? What-ever the test says?" Rachel asked, needing reassurance.

Shelby fumbled again and nearly flipped over top of Cassie.

"I'm here, Rachel." She let the girl know. "I'm here, baby girl. And you are our baby no matter what. I promise you. You are ours. I don't care what any test says. I don't care what anybody else says. The Reverend and his wife will never touch you, they will never own you again. You belong to Cassie and me, Rachel. You're our baby no matter what."

Cassie sniffed and knew that Rachel wanted to be in between them. Holding onto Rachel, she flipped the both of them over so that Rachel could be between both women, and so that she could feel Shelby as well. So that she could be comforted by the brunette, too.

The older brunette studied her wife, carefully. She'd never seen Cassie so worked up over anything, and knew immediately that her heart now belonged to this child. She'd never seen her so upset. Never seen her so longing to make someone pay for what they've done.

Rachel wagged her finger at Shelby as she snuggled into Cassie. "You promise I am your baby? You got to say the words out loud." Rachel emphasized.

"I promise you are our baby, Rachel. I promise. Forever." Shelby told her.

Barbra pawed on the door and pushed it open. The Siamese could hear talking and talking meant breakfast. With a quick hop, she was on the bed. She walked across the pillow and started licking her mistress's blonde hair. The Siamese sensed her mistresses were upset. Breakfast was important but she was her people.

Sniffing once more, Cassie wiped the rest of her tears. "I'm sorry," she mumbled, feeling slightly embarrassed. Usually, even though Shelby was just as strong and stubborn, Cassie was the one to keep things together. She was the protector and the rock, and she was the woman who rarely showed so much emotion. But this morning she couldn't help herself. The little girl whom she was now to protect had been through so very much that she hadn't been able to protect her from. That fact not only angered Cassie but made her feel guilty that even though she didn't know Rachel at the time, she hadn't been there to stop the men from hurting her. To stop the wife from neglecting her.

"Why? You are Princess Cassie, the brave. Princesses cry. You found me in the attic Cassie. You found me and called Shelby so you could be my mommies, and we could be keepers." Rachel told Cassie, playing with her blonde hair by twirling it on her finger. "And you look after Princess Shelby so good so she was less sad."

With that said, Rachel watched Barbra. "Why is Barbra licking your head? When is breakfast? When will we know if I was in your stomach, Shelby? We don't have to be sad anymore, ok?" Rachel asked then told both women.

It was Shelby that Rachel looked at for her answers.

The woman double blinked, taken aback by the quick change. But if Rachel didn't want to think about being sad anymore, they needed to stop being sad. Shelby reached over and stroked the back of Cassie's hand, comforting her.

"We should be able to find out some time this morning, Rachel. I can imagine Holly will come over and tell us...news like this probably shouldn't be delivered over the phone. Breakfast is whenever you're hungry, though I believe that Barbra may be vying for it now."

"Do you have any cupcakes left we can eat for breakfast? Or we could have waffles, right? Holly told me that the doctor is her girlfriend. She must not be all that bad if Holly kisses her. She does kiss the doctor, right?" Rachel rambled. "Come on, Shelby you take your shower first, right? And then me and then Cassie." Rachel told the two women a soft smile on her face. "We are going to find out today. Let's get up!"

The blonde and brunette laughed lightly, Cassie recuperating from her little emotional spur.

"We have a few cupcakes left, but they're not breakfast food. I shall make waffles." Shelby started.

"You shall?" Cassie glanced at her, still recovering, a glimmer in her eyes. Shelby placed a kiss to Cassie's temple.

"I shall."

Cassie turned to Rachel. "Yes, Holly kisses April, as they are girlfriends."

"As much as you kiss Shelby?" Rachel asked, continuing to ramble.

"Um...I'm not entirely sure about that, Rach." Cassie laughed, slightly awkwardly.

"You afraid to ask her? I will if want me too," Rachel told them. Rachel hopped out of bed and made a run towards the master bathroom. "I got to go to the bathroom. I will wash my hands. I promise." Rachel took off, leaving Cassie and Shelby for a moment alone in the Princess Bed.

"I don't think they kiss as much." Shelby joked. "What do you think?"

Cassie let out a huge yawn. "I think I'm tired and want to go back to bed," she admitted, softly.

Shelby's voice turned to that of a whisper. "It's okay to show such strong emotion. You know that."

Nodding Cassie whispered back, "I know. I know. I just... it's different. I've never felt so..."

"I know." a pause, and then Shelby said, "Cassie? Do you really think that's my baby girl? The one they took from me?"

There wasn't a doubt in Cassandra's mind at this point, about the DNA test. It was only for confirmation, anyways. Resemblance and talent promised that child was Shelby's. "She's yours, sweetheart. That's your long lost baby girl. I just know it."

Now it was Shelby's eyes that glistened. "I've missed so much." she whispered. "Look at all that they've done to her and it's all because I didn't keep her-"

"That wasn't your choice-"

"It's all my fault...he raped her, Cassie. He raped my little baby."

"It is NOT your fault, Shelby."

"But it-"

"No. No buts. What he did was the most horrible, unspeakable thing known to man." The blonde shuddered, and took her wife's hands firmly. "But it is not your fault. I mean it, okay? NEVER blame yourself for what he's done."

"I couldn't save her." Shelby whispered darkly.

"That's what you're doing now." Cassie whispered back.

In the next room, Cassie heard the familiar ringtone of her cell phone. Before she could jump out of the canopy bed, both women heard the now easily recognizable sound of their daughter pick the phone up and say hello, followed by a quick, "Cassie wants to know how often you kiss your doctor girlfriend".

"Oh...dear god..." Cassie covered her mouth and laughed, jumping to get out of the bed and rush to her phone. She waited for Rachel to get an answer and then took the phone from her, putting it up to her own ear. "For the record, Rachel was wondering. Not I."

Shelby was laughing in the background, explaining to Rachel that from now on she should probably let Cassie answer her own phone. Rachel nodded in understanding.

"For the last time, Cassandra, no we cannot have a four way. Now damn it, stop asking me such kinky questions." Holly teased her best friend. "I am only in your ear, right?" she hoped she didn't just scar a little girl because of her usual banter with Cassie.

"Mmm. Luckily for you. And I have never once suggested that." she defended.

"Suggested what?" Shelby asked from across the room.

Quickly putting her hands over Rachel's eyes, Cassie mouthed the word "Four way" and then took her hands off. Rachel glanced up at her, obviously slightly upset that she didn't get to know what Cassie wasn't suggesting.

"Hot." Shelby laughed.

"I never suggested it though my wife seems up for the idea." Cassie taunted.

"I'll keep that in mind." Holly laughed. A moment later, her tone grew more serious. "I'm coming over, okay? We need to talk."

Cassie dry swallowed; the hilarity of the moment shoved aside. "Okay. Be over here fast? We have a lot to do before rehearsal."

"I'm already on my way." Holly and April were getting into her car as she spoke.

. . .

"That little girl has Shelbs and Cass wrapped around her little tiny finger," Holly said, chuckling and buckling her seatbelt. She and April were riding in April's Mercedes. On her lap were the results of the tests, in a sealed envelope as a file folder with the medical report of the examination of Rachel Berry. Stef had met them at the clinic before her shift and already had a copy of her medical findings. This was Shelby and Cassie's copy.

Holly and April together would get a third copy and make the official notification of Rachel's abuse to Child Protective Services. That would not be done, however, until the DNA results were made known to Shelby Corcoran. Holly had a game plan and she never lost a case. The lawyer was going to be very methodical so as to stack the deck in Rachel's favor, to have just cause to keep her placed right where she was. The law allowed her a few days to do the official reporting. Technically, Holly could argue later that she notified Stef within twenty four hours.

"I want that little girl laying in that princess bed with visions of sugar plums dancing in her head come Christmas Eve," April said as she drove. "I can't believe she asked you on the phone about how often we kiss." She laughed.

"She captures your heart fast, honey." Holly agreed pulling out her phone and texting her office to tell her assistant what time she would be there. "Hook line and sinker."

When they made it to the mansion, the Corcoran-July crew was shocked yet pleased to see that April was with Holly. Rachel, still unsure of the new blonde coming into her life, stood behind her protector, hiding behind Cassie's toned thigh.

Rachel found herself clutching Cassie's leg with one hand and holding onto her bear with the other, looking at this doctor suspiciously. The bright girl did notice that Holly and the doctor were holding hands. Still, she felt safest right behind Cassie.

April smiled softly at Rachel, unsure how much the girl had remembered, or if she remembered her at all. She knew she had to be gentle.

"Hi there, Rachel." She smiled, greeting Cassie and Shelby with a kiss before crouching down to Rachel's height. The young girl clasped Cassie's thigh a bit tighter. Slowly, April held her hand out to Rachel to take and shake.

Very, very hesitantly, Rachel did so.

"How do you do?" April asked her.

"I-I'm okay..." Rachel mumbled.

Cass felt tiny fingernails digging into her leg, holding onto it so tightly it hurt. Rachel's body posture was not rigid, but not relaxed either.

Slowly, the protector put her arm behind her to feel for Rachel's back. "It's okay, sweetheart." she whispered a promise. "Honest. April is a very sweet person. She's not going to hurt you." April watched, astounded, at the way Cassie acted with this little girl. She'd never seen the blonde comfort anybody, besides of course Shelby, in that way before. Rachel very slowly loosened her nail digging.

Though the doctor's main reason for being at the mansion was to deliver the DNA news. It was an unspoken reality that she was observing the interactions of this child with Cassie and Shelby. What she saw would carry weight with CPS and a judge if necessary, and what April was seeing was already threatening her ability to remain strictly professional for this. How could she manage to stay professional, when it involved her best friends and such a sweet little child? It was a very delicate case.

"Should we go inside?" Shelby suggested, rubbing her arms to get some heat running through them. She was practically shivering, but not just from the cold. "We have a lot to do in a short amount of time."

She was anxious, it was pretty obvious, but she didn't know how else to act. She was anxious and excited and nervous all at once, and she was also mentally planning the day and how she would fit everything into it. Especially since whatever news she was about to hear was going to take such an emotional toll on her. She honestly wasn't sure how she was going to make it through the day's rehearsal.

Rachel bit her lip as she watched the adults. They were not acting like friends. Not at all. Even though they had kissed in greeting, things between everyone seemed pretty tense. They all watched Shelby like she was a glass that could too easily be broken if moved the wrong way. The older brunette bit her lip, tentatively, and stared down at her hands, turning around to go inside. She didn't want them to watch her like she would explode at any moment. She didn't want to feel so uncomfortable in front of her best friends, or her wife, or her daughter. But she did.

"Mommmmmmmmyyyyyy?" Rachel called Shelby, wanting the singer's attention and her comfort. Rachel dropped Cassie's hand, which she had taken in place of her thigh, to make a grab for the back of Shelby's shirt.

"I'm here, baby." Shelby stroked the young girl's hair. "I'm here. We're going to find out the truth in a minute." She crouched down to the little girl's level and took her hands. "But remember that no matter what, you are my daughter. Okay? You are my daughter whether you are biologically or not. This information will not make me want you any less or any more. I am your mommy."

Rachel pulled on Shelby's arm. She stood on her tiptoes so she could whisper. This was super private to the young girl. Nobody but Shelby would understand how much she wanted this and how scared she was. Rachel could tell that Shelby was scared too.

"I am so scared. Please hold me and don't let go. No matter what the doctor says, ok?" Rachel begged. She was shaking now.

"Come here, sweetie." Shelby scooped the little girl up into her arms. She carried Rachel to the kitchen, and sat down with her at the table. "It's going to be okay, alright? Princess Shelby promises. I won't let go."

Quietly, Holly, April, and Cassie joined Shelby at the table. The older brunette didn't look up from her comforting of her daughter, but she could still feel their awkward stare.

"Stop staring at us." she whispered, pushing a piece of hair behind her ear. "Open the damn envelope already."

Rachel turned in Shelby's arms so she could straddle her soft, warm, comfortable body. She did not want to look. She really did not even want to hear but she did at the same time. She hid her face in Shelby's dark silky hair. She pressed one ear to Shelby's chest and grabbed Shelby's hand. It took Shelby a moment to understand, even though she had done something similar to Rachel this morning when she answered Cassie's phone.

Rachel pressed Shelby's hand to her ear. She would let Shelby tell her after she heard it first. It would be easier to learn the news that way.

"Shelby-" Cassie started, carefully.

"I'm fine." Shelby lied, a bit forcefully. "Tell me what it says."

Cassie decided she wasn't going to push her limits right now. She opened up the envelope and read it in her head before dropping it on the table, putting her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide and brimming with happy tears.

"She's yours." She confirmed, watching as tears immediately started falling from Shelby's face and she clutched her little girl tighter. "She's your daughter, Shelby."

Shelby felt the air leave her lungs and the world go fuzzy. She cradled Rachel protectively as she felt herself start to slide out of her chair. Cassie dove to catch her and they all fell to the ground. Shelby was hyperventilating and sobbing, clutching Rachel to her.

"My baby. My baby. My baby." she whispered, continuously repeating. "My baby. My baby...oh, Rachel, my baby...my baby girl..." she couldn't calm her breathing. Her body shuddered as she sobbed, falling into Cassie's embrace. The blonde stroked her wife's hair softly, crying herself.

"You found her. We have her, Shelby."

The sudden drop and jolt sent panic into Rachel. Rachel wrapped her arms around Shelby's neck and wrapped her legs around the singer's waist and dropped down with her. She could hear the sobbing from, not only Shelby and Cassie, but Holly and April too. In her own state of shock, she started to sing under her breath and into Shelby's heaving chest.

"Twinkle, Twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are," Rachel started to sing to herself, "A,B,C,D,E,F,G.." she tried to sing the alphabet song. Nothing was working. No song was making her calm down.

What was the results? No, it must be bad, Rachel thought, as she kept trying to sing. When nothing came out she just started to hum. It was the Wish Upon a Star Song Shelby that had sung the evening before.

Shelby cried harder. Holly and April joined her and Cassie and Rachel on the ground. The blond friends of theirs wrapped their arms around Shelby as well and suddenly they were all in one giant group hug.

"She's mine," Shelby shook and tried to breathe but was having difficulty. "She-she's really mine. I have her back. My-my baby girl"

April drew back suddenly. Rachel was gasping for breath; it looked similar to what she had seen last night. This was happy news. Rachel had a look of total confusion and shock.

"Corcoran, pull it together. Look at Rachel," April got both Shelby and Cassie to focus on the mini-Shelby.

"Rachel, Rachel, sweetie, you're mine. Biologically, honey, you're..." Shelby was trying to tell her, but couldn't catch her breath. "This is good news, sweetie, I've...I've finally got you. Finally. After 9 years...oh my god..." she put a hand to her heart and took a deep breath in, trying to calm herself down so she could calm down the young girl as well

"What, what, what is biolog…?" Rachel could not get past that long, strange sounding word. It sounded like a disease or somebody getting sick.

"Honey, you're my long lost daughter." Shelby whispered. "You're my wish upon a star. My...we're truly related, mother and daughter." she sucked in another breath. She was still shaking, she realized, and tried to stop. Cassie continued to stroke her arms, caress her from behind.

Shelby tried to get her brain working to comfort Rachel. She was holding her baby, HER BABY! Shelby mimicked Cassie's touches with the child shaking in her arms.

"I, I, I came out of you?" Rachel finally asked. "I lived in you and you made me?" Rachel asked, her panic now changing to quiet emotional tears. She was finally starting to understand.

Shelby laughed softly at the way Rachel understood it, wiping more tears as they just continued to fall. "Yes, sweetie. I made you."

Another thought filled Shelby with sheer terror and dread. They had taken her away for 9 years. She had been hurt and abused and raped and taken her away.

Her eyes widened thinking about it, but she knew she couldn't bring that up right now. She reached out with a shaking hand and squeezed Cassie's tightly.

"You are a part of me and I am a part of you Rachel," Shelby murmured, playing with Rachel's soft long brown hair with her other hand. "And I am not going let us ever be separated again." Shelby vowed. The singer may have been speaking to her daughter but she was giving a hard, determined, Corcoran stare at April and Holly. It was almost as a dare to let them try to separate her daughter from her arms for anything or anybody.

The two blondes nodded back determinedly. Shelby's message was loud and clear.

April cursed herself for not being able to stay professional. She had tears streaming down her face almost just as much as Cassie did.

It was such an emotional, touching moment. A moment that Shelby had begged for and needed for so long and now, finally, FINALLY, she was able to have it. A moment with her daughter. HER baby girl that NOBODY was going to take away from her again.

Over my dead body will they take her away. Shelby vowed to herself. Over Cassie's and Holly's and April's dead bodies too. That she knew. She could see it in their faces. In the way they watched mother and daughter so delicately reunited.

Their reunion was fragile, but it was whole and it was incredible.