Chapter 36.

Yo consider this chapter 35 part 2, I just don't like chapters to be out of order. Thanks for all the reviews as well as the comments of personal support always grateful! It's nice to know other people know how it is! Anyway hope you enjoy!

Santana was staring out of the window of the car as Shelby slowly trawled the streets of Lima, Ohio. Shelby turned carefully to the younger woman. "You know there isn't a magic switch?"

Shelby's voice shook Santana from her concentrated glances, "what do you mean?"

"When you turn 18, you don't flip a switch and instantly become an adult."

Shelby pulled the car over and killed the engine. "Santana..." she turned to look at her, she could see the silent tears streaking down her face onto her hands that she was holding tightly together.

"Oh... Santana, come here," beckoned Shelby.

Santana threw herself into Shelby's arms sobbing loudly. Shelby rubbed the girl comforting the girl. After a few minutes Santana seemed to snap out of it, she quickly jolted away and wiped the remaining tears away hurriedly. "Sorry Shelby I don't know what came over me." She went back to starring out of the window.

"Santana, don't do that. Don't say sorry for that."

"I'm not a child Shelby."

"I know you're not, just because you are an adult doesn't mean you don't still want a parent."

"You are not my mother Shelby, you are barely even Rachel's and you gave birth to her," responded Santana in her usual bitter aggressive way.

"But I want to be Santana, I'm not just here for Rachel, I want to be here for all of you. I'm not asking you for instant trust, I'm just asking for a chance."

Santana nodded, "I won't throw stuff at you again." Shelby giggled at that, "Thanks Santana."

...

Rachel sat in the tree; she was amazed she had managed to scale it. She hadn't climbed a tree since the tender age of 11. She wasn't sure of the date she stopped climbing or even why. She had forgotten the feeling of serenity that filled her every pore when she sat on her branch and gazed out. She had watched the sunrise illuminate the small town. Rachel's legs dangled from the tree branch she glanced down at her sock clad legs, she had ripped them during her ascent to the top of the tree. She giggled to herself when she remembered the heart attack she had given her father's when they had seen her at the top of the tree. The tree had felt impossibly high when she was child, though it still felt amazing to be at the top it no longer held the wonderment it once did. Rachel wasn't sure if it was because she had physically grown or if her world view had just warped to once of sheer cynicism. She started to swing her legs, making her heels bite into the tree trunk; she enjoyed the feeling as well as the sound of cracking bark. Rachel was doing anything to avoid thinking about the events of the prior evening. Even she could acknowledge that her reaction of running was slightly childish, but she did not know how to cope with the overwhelming feelings and emotions she had felt that night. The betrayal, the lies, the abuse of trust. Santana had done it so easily what else could or would she lie about. That thought made Rachel shudder against the tree. She leaned back resting the crown of her head against the tree forcing herself to look up into the sky.

"I didn't know hobbits lived in trees?" Rachel was shaken from her thoughts and had to grip the branch strongly to prevent herself from falling.

"Miss Sylvester?"

Rachel looked down using one hand as a shield to block out the sunlight. She could make out the coach in her trademark red tracksuit.

"I think you need to get down Miss Berry."

Rachel just shook her head vehemently, "I'm quite content up here thank you Miss Sylvester."

Sue narrowed her eyes, "Be that as it may, I would rather hold a conversation that doesn't involve me getting neck spasms."

Rachel glanced down again as if weighing up her actions. Sue sensing her indecisiveness decided to speed the process up, "fine hobbit we will do it your way!" Sue started climbing the tree.

"Miss Sylvester what are you doing?"

"What do you think I'm doing mini-Streisand? Sue Sylvester waits for no Man, or hobbit." Sue shimmied along the branch sitting on one that was adjacent to Rachel.

"So Miss Berry why are we in a tree?"

"Did you actually call me by my name I wasn't convinced you knew it?" Sue smirked at her, "You've grown a back bone has to be the influence of Lopez."

"Lopez-Berry," corrected Rachel instantly.

"So why are we in a tree?"

"Why not be in a tree," responded Rachel with a shrug of her shoulders.

"Now I know something is wrong I usually have to wear ear plugs to drown out the sound of you incessant rambling."

Rachel sighed and started kicking her feet harder against the tree, "Santana lied to me."

"Shelby?" queried Sue.

"Did everybody know but me?" questioned Rachel angrily, "I'm such an idiot."

"You are not an idiot, for some unknown reason a lot of people care a lot about you, if I had my way I would have just told you and watched the fireworks months ago."

Rachel just frowned at the woman, "are you always this much of a bitch?"

"watch your mouth little girl, I'm giving you a chance hear, I should have just rang the rest of the search party and hauled your stupid arse out of this tree and dragged you home by your hair."

Rachel had the grace to look chastised. "You think I reacted wrongly don't you?"

"I don't think it matters what I think," replied Sue.

"But you think I could have handled it better?" asked Rachel. Sue just raised an eyebrow at the girl.

"Ok I admit it I over-reacted, but it turned out my singing coach actually pushed me out of her vagina."

Sue scrunched her face up at that, "there are things Sue Sylvester doesn't want to know."

"I should have given Santana a chance to explain, and not thrown stuff and screamed."

Sue just nodded, Rachel sighed, "how have you done this?"

Sue smirked, "it's a talent... do you want a lift home?"

Rachel nodded, "are they mad?"

"More worried," replied Sue. Rachel grimaced at that.

"I mean they must have been pretty worried to interrupt my Sue Sylvester time."

Rachel pulled a face, "eww..." Sue laughed out loud, "not that kind of time, for anyone else I wouldn't have come out but I'll do a lot for the unholy trinity. I even helped in spite of that drip Schuster."

Rachel giggled, "Can I give you a hug?"

"No."

...

Rachel slowly pushed her front door open, she tip-toed through the hallway, she approached the stairs but was met with the sight of Brittany. She soon felt two arms wrap her into a tight hug. Brittany nuzzled her face into Rachel's neck. She could feel the wet tears transfer from Brittany's face onto her shoulder.

"I'm sorry Brittany."

Brittany pulled away from the girl but still kept a tight grip on her. The relief on her face quickly got replaced by anger. Rachel saw the change and could only gulp in response.

Brittany grabbed Rachel's arm and pulled her towards the kitchen, she swatted her hard once, which elicited a yelp from the younger girl.

"What the hell where you thinking? Where have you been? Why did you run off?"

"Brittany too many questions..." replied Rachel. She was shocked when Brittany once again grabbed her in a tight hug. Rachel would have been bemused if the situation wasn't so serious. Brittany led her to a stall in the kitchen, "stay there I need to ring San and Shelby."