A/N: I know this is shorter than what my latest chapters have been, but I just finished finals and this is all my muse would let me write. Time kind of jumps around a bit here, but I hope it's easy enough to follow and makes sense. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy and translations will be at the bottom as always, and I'll be posting Rachel's outfit on my tumblr for those who want to see it :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee...but I wish I did, then I could put Jesse and Blaine in NY with Rachel and Kurt (where they belong)

"Mom? Is everything okay?" Shelby asked as she answered her phone.

"Of course, dear. Why wouldn't it be?" Tabitha returned-seemingly just as confused as her daughter.

"You never call me during the day. You know I always have rehearsal after I'm done teaching for the day."

"I know, but I'm trying to buy plane tickets and I need to know as soon as possible what your plans for Thanksgiving are."

Shelby was silent for a minute as she took in her mother's words.

"Plane tickets…for what?" she finally asked.

"To come see you and the grandchildren of course," Tabitha replied.

"Uh-huh. You're up to something. You've never needed to know my plans for the holidays before, so why now, Mom?"

"Well, I was talking to Sara and she was saying how Rachel, Hiram, and Leroy are living with you now. She also mentioned the reappearance of a certain person from your past."

Shelby sighed and made a mental note to ask her sister just what exactly she had said to their mother later.

"Yes, Jack and I are back together. Let me guess, you want me to invite Jack's parents to Thanksgiving dinner so you and Dad can get re-acquainted with his parents."

"While that would be nice, it's not necessary, dear."

"Whatever you say, Mom. I know Rachel would like to see you and to introduce you to Jesse. If Holly and Dominic come to dinner you can meet him as well. I'm sure there will be plenty of people to keep both you and Dad occupied the entire time you're here. If you want to surprise Rachel, Holly, and Liam, I promise not to say anything to them."

"I'll do that, then. Your Dad sends his love; he's downstairs creating right now…so he's a little busy."

Shelby laughed. While her mother enjoyed music, it was her father from whom she had inherited her love of it.

"I need to go, but give Dad my love and I'll see both of you in three weeks."

When she walked back into rehearsal, Shelby smiled as she saw that Jack was already going through the first number for Sectionals. Taking a seat next to him, she pressed a quick kiss to his cheek before she spoke.

"Everything is under control I see."

"Why wouldn't it be? They all know the drill by now."

"That's true. Do you think they're ready?"

"Yes," Jack said confidently. "I'm sure you have nothing to worry about. Except for maybe a confrontation or two between some of your team members and those of New Directions."

Shelby sighed as she watched the team move into their second song.

"It's not my kids I'm worried about…it's the ones from McKinley. Especially if Sasha has anything to do with it."

"I never met the girl, but it sounds like she was trouble and not very well-liked."

"In a nutshell, yes, she was trouble. The team is better off without her."

"They seem pretty solid to me."

Shelby nodded in agreement as she watched the team begin their third and final number.

"I'm stealing your girlfriend for the afternoon," Santana told Jesse after rehearsal the following Saturday.

"She already told me she's going shopping with you and some of the other girls, so technically you're not stealing her," Jesse responded with a laugh.

"I'll meet you by your car in a couple of minutes," Rachel said to her friend. "You can come and get me if I'm not there in five minutes."

"I'm holding you to that," Santana told her before walking out of the room.

Turning to her boyfriend, Rachel hugged him tightly and gave him a soft kiss before pulling back.

"Are you and your sister doing something today?" she asked as they walked out of the auditorium.

Jesse nodded. "Yeah, Gen said she has something planned," he said, deliberately keeping his answer vague since Rachel's birthday surprise would be ruined if he said much more.

"Don't have too much fun without me," Rachel teased.

"I'll try not to," Jesse retorted with a laugh before giving Rachel another kiss and then watching her meet up with the rest of the girls, and Kurt, who were going to the mall.

"When you said you'd recruit some people, I didn't think you meant half of your team," Hiram said with a laugh as he noticed all of the people currently occupying the space that would soon become his restaurant.

Jesse shrugged. "They've all had your food. I think they're as excited for this place to open as you are."

"Well, we might as well put them to work, then," Leroy put in from Hiram's side.

"Gen already has assignments for everyone."

Hiram and Leroy turned to see Jesse's sister splitting the large group into smaller ones and sending them off with the materials they'd need for the project she had assigned them.

"She appears to have things under control," Leroy observed.

"They think Shelby is bad in drill sergeant mode, Gen gives her a definite run for her money," Jesse told the older men at his side.

"I heard that, Jesse Jonathan," Genevieve said from nearby, earning chuckles of amusement from Hiram and Leroy.

Jesse laughed as he walked over to his sister, bending to press a kiss to her cheek.

"Where's Grandma?" he asked.

"Jack's. She's apparently quite fond of him and wanted to make sure he had everything he needed for his new place, since she found out he sold most of his belongings before moving here."

"Sounds like her. Did she say if she'd be by later?"

"She said she'd call me and let me know. She and Hiram were talking Thanksgiving dinner earlier too, so I'm sure she's busy roping Jack into attending that as well."

"Probably," Jesse agreed. "Where have you assigned me?"

"With Dominic, Puck, and Blaine," Genevieve answered, pointing to where the other two boys were currently painting near the front of the restaurant.

Jesse nodded before making his way over to his friends.

"What exactly are we shopping for again?" Rachel wondered as she and her friends debated which store to go to first.

"Nothing in particular that I'm aware of," Holly answered.

"Like you need an excuse to shop," Kurt put in.

"Most of my clothes are still at my dad's, so I'm looking forward to getting new ones," Melina added softly.

Rachel looped her arm through the older girl's as she spoke. "Well, let's get started, then. Kurt is our go-to fashion guru, so you're in good hands."

"I promise not to let him put you in anything ridiculous," Holly promised.

"As if I'd ever do such a thing," Kurt said in mock outrage, earning laughter from the rest of the group.

"Come on, chicas, let's shop," Santana said, leading the group towards the nearest store.

"So things aren't any better with your Dad?" Holly asked as she, Melina, and Tasha looked through a rack of clothes.

Melina shrugged as she picked up a shirt to look at it closer.

"All I want is to go and get some of my things, and he won't even let me do that. He promised to send them, but he has yet to do so."

"Pardon me for butting in, but what happened with you two exactly?" Tasha asked.

Melina sighed as she put the shirt back.

"A lot of little things. My step-mother and I have never really gotten along, I feel like he loves my younger siblings more than me, neither of them liked my friends or the boy I was dating while I lived with them, you name it, we probably disagreed about it," Melina answered.

"Well your Mom sure seems happy to have you here, and I know Dominic is," Holly told her.

"I know, and it's not that I don't love my Mom, but it bothers me that my Dad and I can't get along."

"I'm sure you'll work it out eventually. On a happier note, Dominic mentioned something about a Thanksgiving brunch that I'm invited to."

Melina smiled and nodded.

"It's our Thanksgiving tradition. It's been a few years since I've been a part of it since I was usually with my dad for the holiday, but I remember it well. My Mom and Tony make brunch on Thanksgiving morning-waffles, pancakes, French toast, cinnamon rolls, plus lots more. You'll be full until dinner."

"You're making me hungry just thinking about it," Tasha said with a laugh.

"Me, too," Holly agreed.

"Is Dominic going to be with you for dinner, then?" Melina asked.

Holly shrugged as she continued looking through the rack.

"My Uncle Hiram was saying something about cooking dinner, and I know neither my Mom nor Aunt Shelby would object to that. I have a feeling there will be a large gathering at Aunt Shelby's, though," she answered before turning to her childhood friend. "Is Alec coming home?"

"Who's Alec?" Melina wondered.

"My older brother," Tasha responded. "He's a sophomore at Juilliard. Last I heard, he was planning on coming home for the weekend. You should stop by, I'm sure he'd like to meet Dominic."

Holly laughed.

"I'm sure he would."

"You're buying something different today," Santana said as she placed a blue skirt Rachel picked up back on the rack.

"Like what?" Rachel asked cautiously.

"Hold this and follow me," Santana responded, handing Rachel a pair of blue jeans.

"I promise not to let her go overboard," Kurt whispered as he walked alongside Rachel.

"Thank you," she responded.

"Those are cute," Holly said as she, Melina, and Tasha joined the group that had formed behind Santana, who was currently putting more items in Rachel's arms.

"This is more your style, not mine," Rachel told her, "but arguing with Santana will get you nowhere."

"Vestidor," Santana said a few minutes later, pointing towards the dressing room.

"Sí, señora," Rachel responded with a laugh as she walked in the direction Santana was pointing.

"This should be interesting," Holly whispered to Melina and Tasha. "I'll be surprised if she actually buys the outfit, even more so if she actually wears it."

Once she had put on the new outfit, Rachel turned as she studied herself in the mirror. Though she didn't have anything against jeans as she just preferred skirts, the pair Santana had picked out was quite comfortable. She also liked the teal green color of the top as well as the black jacket she could wear over it. She had a pair of flats at home that would go well with the outfit, though she wasn't totally against the heels, either.

"Well, what do you think?" Rachel asked as she stepped out of the room.

"I think you should buy it," Holly said-the first to respond.

"I second that," Kurt added as the rest of the members of the group nodded.

"I'll buy it on one condition," Rachel said with a smile.

"What's that?" Melina wondered.

"I get to pick out an outfit for Santana. It's only fair."

"Fine," Santana agreed, "but it has to be approved by Kurt first."

Rachel laughed as she nodded and then turned to walk back into the dressing room so she could change back into her normal clothes.

"What time is your parents' plane supposed to land?" Jack asked Shelby a few weeks later as they helped Hiram prepare for the large number of guests that were expected for Thanksgiving dinner.

"In about an hour, so we should leave for the airport soon," Shelby answered.

"Did you tell Rachel yet?"

"Not yet. Holly and Liam don't know, either. Sara and I decided to surprise the kids. Jesse and Dominic said they'd take care of the distractions. Noah and Liam are outside playing football with Blaine as referee, and Santana and Kurt supervising, and Holly, Rachel, Dominic, and Jesse are downstairs singing and dancing their hearts out last I saw."

"Are Sara and Nick going to be here?"

"Yes-they're on their way. Hiram asked Sara to pick up some ingredients so she and Nick spent the morning doing that. Holly and Dominic gave Liam a ride here."

"I'm sure that was an interesting car ride."

Shelby laughed as she nodded.

"Probably," she agreed.

"Mom?" Rachel asked as she poked her head into the dining room.

"Did you need something, baby?" Shelby asked in response as she walked over to her daughter.

"Aunt Sara wants to know where you want the extra drinks she bought. Daddy put you in charge of them so he said to ask you."

"I'll show her," Shelby replied, following Rachel towards the entryway.

As the final notes of Holly and Rachel's duet died away, they were both startled by the sound of applause from near the back of the room.

"Surprise, darlings," Tabitha said with a smile for her granddaughters.

"Grandma!" Rachel said excitedly, rushing over to the older woman with Holly not far behind.

"Are you going to introduce us to your handsome young men?"

Holly smiled and nodded as she hugged first her grandfather, then switching places with Rachel to hug her grandmother.

"Grandma, Grandpa, this is my boyfriend, Jesse St. James," Rachel said as she began the introductions, "and Holly's boyfriend, Dominic Edwards."

"Do you two enjoy singing and dancing as much as these two do?" Charles asked them.

"Don't interrogate them, please," Holly pleaded. "My Mom and Dad did enough of that."

Charles chuckled as he hugged his granddaughter again.

"I suppose I could hold off on it for now," he agreed.

Rachel slipped under his other arm as she and Holly led him upstairs, followed by Tabitha, Jesse, and Dominic.

"I just have one question for the two of you," Tabitha said softly, trying to make sure her granddaughters didn't hear her.

"What's that?" Jesse asked.

"Do you love them?"

"Yes," Dominic and Jesse immediately answered simultaneously.

"Then I'm sure we'll all get along fabulously."

"Your grandparents are amusing," Jesse whispered to his girlfriend as the large group gathered in the living room after dinner.

"I'm stuffed. Again," Holly muttered as she and Dominic took their seats next to Jesse and Rachel.

"You're the one who ate all of that food," Dominic pointed out.

"Personne ne vous a demandé."

"Shelby said the four of you are in Vocal Adrenaline," Charles said as he joined the four teens.

"Rachel and Jesse are co-leads and co-captains. Dominic and I mostly just dance," Holly answered.

"Have you had your first competition yet?"

"Next weekend," Rachel answered, "and then we have the Holiday concert two weeks after that."

"I heard Sara and Shelby talking about that, it sounds like it's something new."

"It is," Jesse responded. "The principal asked Shelby to put it together since the group they usually pay backed out at the last minute. All of the money from the sale of the tickets, plus what Carmel usually pays the group, is going towards Vocal Adrenaline and the arts programs."

"I was expecting her to be a little more stressed out about it."

"Thank Jack," Holly put in. "He took over a couple of her classes, plus he's Vocal Adrenaline's new assistant coach, so he's been a big help."

"I'll have to do that," Charles decided.

"Have you seen the music room yet?" Rachel asked, changing the subject.

"Heard about it, haven't seen it."

"Come on, Jesse and I will show you."

"I think I'm ready for bed now," Holly said as she moved Dominic's arm so she could lean against him.

"It's only six o'clock," Dominic responded with a laugh.

"I don't care."

"Jack, could you help me with something?" Tabitha asked her daughter's significant other.

"Sure," Jack agreed as he followed the older woman.

"I have something for you, but you can't tell Shelby about it."

"Is there a reason why?"

"You'll understand when you see it."

Before Jack had the chance to formulate a response, he saw Tabitha walk into the room she and Charles were going to be occupying for the weekend. Following her into the room, he noticed she was now digging in the pocket of her suitcase.

"I know you and my daughter just got back together, but I'm going to guess at some point, either when you were together in high school or recently, that she always admired her grandmother's engagement ring."

Jack nodded. "She told me back in high school. She hasn't mentioned it recently, but I doubt her opinion of it has changed."

Tabitha turned and after taking Jack's hand, placed a small ring box in it.

"I don't know how serious things are between the two of you are at this point, but I imagine you still intend on proposing to Shelby someday."

"Yes," Jack answered, unsure what else to say.

"My mother wanted Shelby to have it. She'd be happy you two found each other again."

"Now that I found her, I'm never letting her go again."

Tabitha smiled at the man she hoped would be her son-in-law someday soon.

"I'm happy to hear that. We should get back downstairs before Shelby sends out a search party, though."

Jack nodded in agreement as he followed Tabitha out of the room.

"I'm going to put this away while Shelby is distracted," he told her.

"How do you know she's distracted?" Tabitha wondered.

"Listen carefully," Jack said simply.

"She's with Rachel, Jesse, and Charles."

"Rachel and Shelby enjoy singing together. She enjoys having Rachel here in general."

"She's a wonderful mother. Both of my girls are. They've given me three beautiful grandchildren, two of whom seem to have found their matches."

"They most definitely have," Jack agreed. "What do you think of Jesse and Dominic, by the way?"

"I like them and I look forward to getting to know them some more. It's clear they both love my granddaughters very much, so I'm sure they'll be around for years to come."

"Is that Alec?" Melina asked Holly as she saw Tasha talking to a boy who looked like he could be her brother after rehearsal a couple of days later.

"Yeah. Come on, I'll introduce you," Holly responded.

"Maybe another time. I'm going to go find my own brother, I'll see you tomorrow."

Holly frowned as she watched Melina walk away.

"What was that about?" Rachel asked as she walked up to her cousin.

"Beats me. I was just going to introduce her to Alec and she started acting all weird."

"Maybe she thinks he's cute."

"Well at least she doesn't try to get him trouble."

Rachel laughed as she began walking alongside Holly.

"You're never going to let Dominic live that down, are you?"

"Nope," Holly responded with a laugh of her own.

Translations:

Chicas = girls

Vestidor = dressing room

Sí, señora = yes, ma'am

Personne ne vous a demandé = nobody asked you

my tumblr: www. blk0912. tumblr. com (no spaces)