Hello Friends!

I hope you all had a fabulous week. For the next several weeks I hope to be doing my regular updates but know that a hiatus is coming soon. As holidays approach my schedule gets hectic and posting is not always as simple as usual. I will let you all know when the hiatus will start and approximately how long it will last. Please know that I am 100% dedicated to this story. There is no need for a character cheat sheet this chapter, however I encourage you all to READ CAREFULLY! READ THE WARNINGS CAREFULLY!

First off, MAJOR thanks to my girls Tina and Sheila - you've both been so helpful!

Now we move into the standard section. If you know this well, then please move on to the WARNINGS and NEED TO KNOW sections below!

~ THIS STORY IS NOT SEXUAL AGE PLAY! The girls are NOT little girls. They are NOT little girls. You can act young without being a little one. I work with twenty seven year old women who have three year old tantrums, on a regular daily basis, because they didn't get their way. They whine and complain and literally throw a tantrum. The girls in this story DO NOT go into a different mind set, they just act like younger girls and in this case, it's only when they need comfort. So let's go with the statement that sex or sexual games will not be used for comfort. I know this isn't making sense, but I don't know how to phrase it any other way.

~ NONE of the girls will have sex with Will or Shelby. The training they have, may result in them having orgasm, but they are NOT HAVING SEX with their Master or Mistress, BECAUSE they call them Mama and Daddy at times. Again, NO SEX between, the pets and the Master/Mistress. Any sex the pets have will be with each other or other members of the circle. Any sex Will and Shelby have, for this story, will be with each other only. For this story, Sex is defined as Consensual meeting of genitalia between two people.

~ THIS STORY IS A/U. Rachel is NOT Shelby's daughter. Again, Rachel is NOT Shelby's child. I WILL put this up in the warnings when the two of them start interacting more. She WILL eventually call her Mama, as the other girls do now, but it's a term of endearment/safety, NOT BECAUSE it's her true mother. Rachel is NOT Shelby's biological child.

~ The four girls did NOT go to school together. Quinn, Brittany, and Santana came to know each other and form a tight trio approximately a year ago. Rachel is slowly integrated into the trio as the story continues.

~ For this story, sexual orientation doesn't matter. Sex is just sex, the story is more about the lifestyle and the relations between the Masters/Mistresses and their pets, and not at all about who they're having sex with.

Need to Know:

~ This story started on a Thursday evening. It is currently Friday moving to Saturday. Three weeks and one day later to three weeks and two days later. As a general reminder to everyone it took me 16 chapters to write one full week, and I did say the story would be 6 - 8 weeks long. In simple terms it's slow!

~ Flashbacks are in italics.

~ Rachel has chosen to make herself younger. She is just above baby status under "normal" circumstances, however, at parties, she's as young as Courtney and Mackenzie. It's what's safe for her. I don't think that's changing anytime soon.

~ The other girls are not on Parent Time. The unholy trinity, while not on parent time, still refer to their Miss (Shelby) and Sir (Will) as Mama and Daddy mainly because they feel it's a safe place for them to be.

~ Rachel has been conditioned for bell tones. All bell tones. This has not and will not change for quite a few chapters.

~ Rachel's previous Sirs were put in prison for a very short time and then released - making them angry and annoyed. Everyone needs to pay attention to these warnings and notes, because they are away but NOT GONE! I repeat. Rachel's Sirs are NOT GONE!

WARNINGS: READ THIS CAREFULLY!

~ Santana is still flipping out! It's going to take a while, please be patient with her.

~ Rachel has started her reconditioning therapy. It's NOT INTENSE YET! It's intense for Rachel, but we don't know details yet. Give me time, it's GOING TO GET THERE!

~ SAD chapter! Character DEATH! Past EXPLAINED! SPIRITUAL AND RELIGIOUS tones to this chapter. PLEASE BE KIND!

Again, if you have any questions at all, please PM me so I can explain anything you don't understand. I hope you all read and enjoy.

Thanks for reading the story I want to tell.

Be well friends


Rose hung up the phone with her son and looked at the dining room table. There was more than enough space for everyone and she had made things simple for the evening. Tacos could be served in the shell, or in a salad form, and she made sure there was a little buffet line by the credenza so everyone could help themselves. Then she made the decision to put all the toppings back in the fridge and left the meat on the stove to keep it warm. If her granddaughters were feeling unhelpful, then she was going to do what she could to make them feel better about themselves. Setting out the buffet line would be extremely helpful.

She wandered into her living room and pulled out the newly framed photo of her son, daughter in law, and their four children. She happened to glance over to the side wall and noticed her own wedding photo was crooked, so she smiled and shook her head. "Joey, I don't know why you had to leave so soon, but you are missing out on some incredible things," she said walking over to the picture. She very delicately put her hands on it and began to speak. "I'm very angry with you," she said. "You promised me a lifetime, and while you lived up to your end of the deal, I was kind of hoping you meant your lifetime and my lifetime would be the same number of years together. I know you see them. I know you're watching over all of us, but it would have been nice for you and I to grow old together you know? I would have preferred that to being a widow at age fifty seven. We had an incredible run of a forty year marriage though. I would do it all over again too," she smiled. "Now go away, because you're making me sad, and the girls don't need sad. They need calm and patient," she smiled. She blew the picture a kiss, told her husband she loved him, and then walked to the door when she saw Karen and Frank pull into the driveway. Time for family dinner.

Rose opened the door for them and stood waiting for them to get out of the car. In her hands Karen had a platter of brownies, chocolate chip cookies, marshmallows and graham crackers. "I'm sorry Rose," Frank said as they walked in and he gave her a kiss to her cheek, followed by Karen who kissed Rose's cheek and then took the tray straight to the kitchen. "I tried to tell her we didn't need all this," he said. It was common knowledge that when Rose cooked, she made dinner and dessert.

"I told you. I talked to Will and the girls are all freaking out. He told me they're all acting under ten. When's the last time you saw that happen?" she asked.

"It's Rose's house. You should have called!" Frank said.

"It's okay Frank. I got the call too and I wasn't sure what to do. Thank you Karen. I have chocolate pudding, but that's it, and I know Rae can't have raspberries, which is all I have fruit wise," Rose explained. "I know and respect that Shelby wants to have some nutrition involved with dessert."

"I feel that as grandparents we can spoil our granddaughters and give them a little extra sugar tonight. My parents did it with Shelby and my boys, and when we got them back they were bouncing off the walls," Karen said.

"My father used to bribe Terri and Will with pixie sticks," Rose laughed. "It was very thoughtful Karen, thank you."

"You said pudding right? So we'll make chocolate pudding s'mores in a cup," Karen offered, shrugging her shoulders, trying to come up with a compromising solution.

"I'm perfectly okay with that," Rose smiled and she was quickly wrapped in a hug by Karen. It was a loving hug, from a loving friend.

"You okay?" she asked with concern.

"Yeah, just a bad day, the kids will help it end on a high note," she said. "Eight years is a long time and yet it feels just like yesterday. I know he was doing what he loved, and what he trained for, and yet, I still," Rose said trailing off, unable to finish.


Rose paced the floor and Terri came running up to hug her. "Mommy!" she called out and wrapped her in a tight embrace. He's with Beth and Dawn. I made sure when I walked in. I wanted to work on him myself, but I can't. Beth and Dawn are the most excellent doctors around, they're going to do everything they can!" Terri said in a rush and all too quickly, Will and Shelby were with them and wrapping them in a hug as well. Shelby took Terri in her arms and squeezed her as tightly as she could.

"It's Daddy, he's strong, you know that," Shelby whispered and Terri just nodded, unable to speak.

"What was he doing?" Will asked holding tight to his mother.

"There was an explosion several cars behind us. We pulled over, called nine one one, and Daddy went to help. He helped two women from what I saw and then he tried to get to the third guy, when the glass shattered and went into his body, but it's burning glass, so," Rose said and Will was surprised how calm she was being; it was most likely shock.

Will nodded his agreement and tried to push the idea of his father having burning glass, rubber, and metal forced into his body, out of his mind. It was too terrible of a thought. "We're at Overlook. This is a great hospital," he said honestly and Rose nodded.

"Schuester?" a doctor called out and the entire family stood up, including Shelby, mainly because she was pulled up to her feet by Terri.

"You count too and don't argue with me," she said sternly and Shelby simply nodded.

"You're all family?" the doctor asked and they nodded. "Alright, so Joseph is under heavy sedation, but he is awake and is asking to see you. I will let you in two at a time. He is under critical watch. He had a lot of damage to his lungs from all the smoke inhalation, and burning rubber shards from the car as it exploded in the last few moments. He did however save three people, and that is something he, and you, should all be very proud of. Mrs. Schuester, choose someone to go with you," the doctor said.

"Terri, come with me now. Will, Shelby, you two will go next," she said with finality and they both nodded. As soon as they were gone, Will collapsed into a chair, finally crying, and Shelby gathered him close, crying her own tears.

"There you are," Joe said weakly.

"Daddy," Terri said and she rushed over and very gently hugged him and kissed his temple. "I made sure you have the best doctors," she told him.

"I heard I saved three people. You my dear girl, got all your desires for medicine from me," he teased and she laughed, nodding her agreement. "Hey, none of that," he said seeing tears in her eyes. "I'm not in any pain. There's too much morphine coursing through me," he told her and she nodded, knowing he was lying straight to her face. She worked in the burn unit during rotations and the screaming and painful cries, no matter how much morphine, was always too much to deal with. It's why she chose general surgery. "Look at me," he said. "You are my daughter, I am incredibly proud of you, and I know you got me the best care. I love you," he told her.

"I love you too Daddy," she smiled hugging him.

"Alright, you two out, get my other children in here, and then you send Mommy back in by herself. I have a lot to say to her, that little ears should not hear," he teased. Even in pain, he was still her father, full of teasing and smiles, and jokes.

The switch was quick and Joe reached out to Shelby and then had her sit next to him. He very carefully touched her face and smiled. "Brightest eyes, I've ever seen. Don't tell Terri," he joked, brushing away her slowly falling tears. "Why so sad angel?" he asked her.

"Nothing Daddy. I just love you and it's painful to watch you sitting here, knowing your body is in pain, even if they do have you pumped up with morphine," she said trying to keep his sense of humor in her heart and use it. She knew that was what he wanted.

"Well I love you too, so that's good." Then he turned and looked at Will. "William my boy, you made the best choice marrying this girl. You're a very smart man," he said. "I love you both so much, and I am very much looking forward to the day where I sit over there and you young lady are in this bed, holding my grandchild," he announced.

"I am working on it Daddy," Shelby smiled.

"I'm sure you are. I will send you every good thing possible my love. You both mean so much to me, and I can't wait to see the two of you become parents," he told them. "Alright my love, both of you out. Send your mother in, I need some rest, and I won't do that if I have to look at my three beautiful children," he said.

"Love you Daddy," Will said giving his father a kiss to his temple and then Shelby did the same thing.

Rose walked in and smiled. "Kicked everyone out?" she asked him.

"Only the kids. I have things to say to you, that little ears, should never hear."

"You're not going to be dirty in public are you?" she asked raising an eyebrow and Joe smiled.

"Rose my love. You are the girl of my dreams. You saved me at six. You showed me how to be a gentleman. You corrected my behavior telling me that I shouldn't pull the pig tails of girls I liked. I only ever pulled yours and I'd pull them every day if you let me," he smiled. "You were my first crush, first kiss, first real love. You are my world and I would do anything and everything for you, do you know that?" he asked.

"Joseph Ryan Schuester, if you are thinking of quitting on me, I don't care how pumped up on drugs you are, I will be sure you feel my anger. You do not get to give up."

"I'm not giving up Rose. I will never give up on you. I just want to be sure that you know how much I love you, how much I have always loved you. I have to know that you know, because as we always tell our children, we need to be prepared, just in case. Never let anything go unsaid, yes?" he asked.

"I hate that you're doing this," she said.

"Sit with me, hold my hand, and you and I rest together. This bed is lonely, but if you hold my hand it'll be better. I won't feel so alone," he told her. She nodded, moved to sit in the bed next to him and took his hand. They both fell quiet and an hour later, Rose heard the faintest of I love you's.

"I love you too Joey," she told him with a smile and after ten seconds alarms and bells began sounding off. Joseph Ryan Schuester was officially gone.


Rose hugged Karen back and took a deep breath. Before she could speak, Karen beat her to it. "I yelled at him for you today," she offered.

"I did too. He came to see me and check up on me, and he moved our wedding picture. I straightened it out just before you got here and I told him off, politely of course. I know he didn't mean it," she smiled.

"You get the biggest s'mores cup we can manage," Frank smiled and the women both giggled. It was pretty wonderful that they were all so supportive of each other in their own little family.

"Our daughter just showed up," Rose said pointing to the driveway and they all turned to see Shelby getting out of the car and lifting Rachel into her arms. "She shouldn't be able to still hold her like that," Rose sighed. "I know Terri is working on nutrition, but she's still so light," Rose commented softly just before Shelby walked into the house.

"Hello?" Shelby asked softly walking into the house to be greeted by her parents and mother in law.

"Hello yourself," Rose smiled and she gave Shelby a hug after she set Rachel on her feet and Rachel wrapped herself around Shelby. "Rae baby, can Grandma give you a hug too?" she asked and Rachel nodded but didn't budge. Shelby was about to say something but Rose held up her hand and shook her head. "Thank you sweetheart," she told her and she gave her a gentle hug. "It's okay," she whispered to Shelby. "It doesn't have to be rushed," she said honestly knowing that Shelby liked the girls to be polite and greet everyone and at least acknowledge them in some fashion. The grandparents were much more lenient though.

Shelby smiled and kissed Rose's cheek. "I yelled at Daddy for you today," she whispered in her ear and Rose smiled.

"So did I," Rose grinned. "Do you need some extra quiet time?" she asked and Shelby shook her head.

"No, we're going to sit in the living room and have a drink," Shelby said kindly and she took Rachel into the living room and held her on her lap. "Shhh, breathe baby, you're safe. Tell me baby, who's house are we in?" she asked.

"Gamma Rose," she whimpered.

"Very good, and who all is going to be here tonight? Do you remember?" she asked kindly and Rachel shook her head. "How about Mama helps you," she suggested. "What about Mama's husband, what's his name?" she asked her.

"Daddy," she said softly.

"Very good my love. What about your sisters, do you think they're coming?" she asked and Rachel nodded her agreement.

"Sanny cry. Lots," she said softly.

"Yes, Sanny cried a lot before we left, but we've been gone for quite a while now, so I'm sure she is calm by now," Shelby said kindly. "Daddy and Aunt Terri love you all so much, they would never let Sanny be that upset for that long," she said. "I also know that the other day Rae-rae cried like that too and we did everything we could to help calm her and relax her," she tried. "Maybe we ask Grandma for some juice?" she suggested. "What kind of juice should we ask for?"

"Pull," Rachel said softly.

"Apple? Are you sure?" she asked and Rachel nodded. "Alright, let's ask together," Shelby said kissing Rachel's temple. "Grandma Rose, do you have any apple juice?" she asked.

"I do actually, you are more than welcome to help yourself to anything in the fridge, except for the pudding. That is for dessert and not a moment before," Rose said.

"Okay, we'll be good," Shelby promised helping Rachel to her feet, who looked about ready to pass out from fear. "Shall we walk together Rae?" Shelby asked holding out her hand for Rachel to hold on to. It didn't take long and Rachel tried to crawl up Shelby's body, now that she was standing. It was going to be a very long night. "I won't carry you, if you don't want me to sweetheart," Shelby said.

"Mama, please," Rachel pleaded.

"It's alright sweetheart. I can carry you, but I want you to be comfortable with the decision. This is your life, and you get a say in every aspect of it. That will never change," Shelby said.

"Up please, Mama," Rachel said softly.

Shelby smiled and gathered her daughter close and took her into the kitchen. She set her down on the ground and Rachel held the counter top while Shelby got out the cup and juice from the fridge. They were at the counter pouring Rachel some apple juice when they heard Terri, Will and the other girls come into the house. It was seconds later that feet were heard running into the kitchen and Santana threw herself at Shelby crying hard. Shelby gasped for a moment, pulled Santana close and gave her one firm smack and then forced her to look in her eyes. "You do not run little girl. This is not a matter of life and death," Shelby scolded her and Santana pressed her face into Shelby's neck, holding tight to her Mama. She needed her Mama and she didn't care if it got her spanked.


Dinner was actually quite an easy affair. No one was freaking out, no one was crying, and no one was complaining. Food seemed to be a good solution. Rachel and Santana were both eating on their own, although they were tucked up tight next to Shelby, and Quinn and Brittany were very happily chatting with the rest of the family about some new board game they'd heard of. "Mom, this is really good," Terri smiled.

"Thank you baby, but it's just tacos, it's not that difficult. Besides, your nieces helped me with putting it all out," Rose said and all four girls heard the pride in her voice. That tone was spoken by four women to them on a constant basis. Shelby, Terri, Karen, and Rose, all took a prideful tone when talking about the girls, and it almost always threw them for a loop. These girls hadn't been talked about like that before. They were always told how horrible they were, or they had been ignored and any effort they took to hopefully get some attention always went unnoticed. It was a wonderful feeling and also very strange at the same time.

"You cook with love, so it tastes better. Miss Karen and Mister Frank cook with love, Shelby cooks with love, Will does too when he cooks," she said unable to resist the small jab at her brother, "and when I cook it tastes just so blah," Terri said.

"You don't season your food," Will teased her.

"Really? You want to tease me as I'm holding a spoon of guacamole in my hand? Do you really think that is a good idea?" Terri asked with a playful spark in her eye and she could see Quinn and Brittany watching her, taking great interest in what was going on.

"You're buying me new carpets if you ruin anything, so I'd be very careful," Rose warned her. Terri relented and Will looked very smug about the situation and Rose shook her head. "You will always be my terrible teenagers," she smiled. She excused herself for a moment and returned with a photo album. She sat down and opened it to a very specific page. "All my little girls, my granddaughters, would you like to see something?" she asked and they nodded. Brittany and Quinn moved to her right away whereas Rachel and Santana took their time in getting to see her. Shelby assisted them to be with their sisters and then slowly backed away, wrapping herself around Terri and cuddling her tightly. She hadn't been able to have bonding time with her sister in a few weeks and she missed her.

"Whoa!" Brittany said, her eyes lighting up as she pointed to one of the pictures on the page. "Grandma who is that?" she asked and all the other girls started to smile a little bit. They seemed to think they knew, and beyond the point of it being a funny picture, they seemed to know a story was coming.

"That would be Daddy, Aunt Terri, and Grandpa Joe," she smiled. As she spoke, Will moved toward Terri and Shelby, and Karen cuddled up next to Frank. This was about to be a very sad story and they were going to have to rely on one another for support. "Rae my love, your sisters know, but the man over there, in the wedding photo, that's my husband Joe, your Grandpa," she said and Rachel nodded.

"Grandma why are they covered in green?" Quinn asked.

"That would be jell-o," Rose laughed. "When Daddy and Aunt Terri were little, we would go on vacation, just as we do now sometimes as a family. So we went to a little town in Mexico and we had a really nice vacation. We'd spend some time on the beach, and some time exploring, and we took a few really nice tours during the week. It was a nice time. However Daddy and Aunt Terri have a playful side about them and a great love for jell-o. On our last night there, everyone was tired and cranky and of course my children, like all siblings, got into some silly argument about who had collected the most number of sea shells that week. I did try to stop the argument, but Grandpa Joe seemed to think that it wasn't a big deal and he wanted the kids to work it out for themselves."

"With a food fight Grandma?" Quinn asked.

"Well he didn't count on that, but that's exactly what happened. We'd all had lime jell-o with our desserts and when I wasn't paying attention, Aunt Terri picked up a spoonful of jell-o and flung it at Daddy."

"Hit me square on the cheek too. She had really good aim, considering she was a foot away from me," he said.

"Don't be mean!" Shelby scolded him, slapping at his knee.

"I did. I got him on his cheek and so he scraped it off his face and smashed it in my hair, so I picked up another spoonful and hit him a second time. That wasn't very nice, but I was really mad and no one was stopping me, so I went for it. I don't remember how, but the two of us were very quickly wrestling on the ground and covered in green jell-o. We even stole Mom and Dad's cups to get more ammunition," she said.

"Actually by that point, I think we were just having fun. The frustration was gone and it was just a food fight, but there was no harm intended behind it," Will said and Terri nodded her agreement.

"You look like the hulk Daddy," Brittany smiled.

"Thank you baby," he said and all focus turned back to Rose.

"So you see my loves, whenever I see my children, I look at them as beautiful strong, talented, well adjusted adults whom I am extremely proud of. Until they start squabbling like they just did and then I see two naughty little teenagers," she grinned and the girls nodded. "I know that when your Mama has tantrums, Grandma Karen and Grandpa Frank, see her has a very young girl. I know I see her that way too, because I've known your Mama, since she was thirteen," Rose explained.

"You knew Mama as a little girl?" Quinn asked.

"I did," Rose smiled and she turned the photo album to another page and the aww's that rang out from Brittany and Quinn made Will and Shelby blush. They were about sixteen, sitting on the front porch of Rose's house, and sharing a very sweet kiss. "That was the first time I caught them kissing," Rose smiled.

"Grandma, do you think they really loved each other?" Quinn asked.

"Well, considering they've been married for seventeen years and together for twenty, then yes, I do think that," she said. "I think sometimes you find the people who you are meant to spend the rest of your life with at a very early age. I met Grandpa Joe when we were six years old. Sometimes it takes a little while. Your parents didn't figure it out until they were in their teens. And then sometimes, it takes years to figure it out and you have to wait for the heavens or angels, or whatever higher power you believe in, to guide you. Now, I don't know what you girls believe, and I'm not asking you to share or to believe what I believe, I'm just sharing with you."

"What do you believe happened Grandma?" Quinn asked, with heavy desperation in her voice. She needed to know what her Grandma believed, because maybe it would help her believe that this was really her family. There were many days where she doubted that these people loved her.

Rose looked up at her children and Will and Shelby nodded. It was okay. It was going to be very sad, but it would be okay. "Well," Rose started. "When your Mama and Daddy first got married, they decided to get things settled and ready for a baby. Your Mama and Daddy have a lot of love in their hearts and love between them, so they wanted to share that and create a life where more loving people would exist," she smiled. "They tried three times. The first time, Mama had a big dinner and all the food was super tiny. Grandpa Frank is a very smart man and he guessed the secret right away," Rose said.

"I did," Frank smiled, "and I couldn't have felt worse about it. Your Mama looked so disappointed to learn that I figured out her secret so quickly. She wasn't going to tell us about it until after dinner."

"It's okay Dad," Shelby grinned. "You did all the dishes that night, so I didn't have to worry about anything. It worked out well for me," she said.

"See, that's where you all get your cheeky attitude from," Frank smiled, indicating he thought this was a good thing. "Unfortunately though, when Mama went for her doctor appointment the next day there was no heartbeat and almost no baby. Developmentally things did not progress as they should have and Mama had surgery and the baby was no more," Frank said and all the girls looked to Shelby.

"I'm alright my loves. I have all my children with me right now. You four are the best daughters I could ever ask for," she told them.

"No, wait, three you said Grandma," Quinn told Rose excitedly.

"Shhh, calm down. Yes, I did say three. They spent several more months trying to get pregnant and the second time, everything seemed to go a little smoother, but Mama and Daddy wanted to keep a secret just a little bit longer this time. Instead of telling us at thirteen or fourteen weeks, she was going to tell us at sixteen weeks or even twenty weeks if she could hold off that long," Rose said.

"Yes, but my daughter glows when she even thinks about her children, including the four of you. When your Mama tells me about you girls, her face lights up. She just looks brilliant, so I knew immediately that she was keeping it a secret, and I never told her I knew. I didn't want her to feel pressured into telling me something she wasn't ready to say," Karen said.

"When did you say Mama?" Brittany asked softly.

"Two weeks later at the hospital when everyone came to check on me and Daddy and make sure I hadn't bled to death," Shelby said and all the girls looked at her with wide eyes. "Miscarriage number two was very heavy. I was giving vocal lessons and as I sat there, my student told me there might be a problem. I never felt it, but I saw a lot of blood beneath me, and I was rushed to the hospital. That was the day Grandpa Joe came and told me, there was no way I wasn't going to be a Mama. He didn't know how, and he didn't know when, and he wasn't sure he could ever guess, but he knew I was going to be a Mama and his son was going to be a Daddy. He said we had too much love in our hearts, that in some fashion it would happen and if need be, he was going to make sure we got our kids. As far as I'm concerned, he did just that. I have four beautiful daughters."

Not liking the sound of their Mama being sad, Santana and Rachel crawled over to her and she cuddled them tight. "It's okay girls, she's a Mama now. She has four. We have four," Will said.

"That's only two Mama," Brittany said softly.

"Number three was very quick," Terri spoke up. "Your Mama called me up and begged me to come over and sit with her. She was only a few weeks along, but Daddy was away all day and wouldn't be home till late. Your Mama called me from the bathroom where she was bleeding lightly, but steadily and afraid to move. So I went over and sat on the bathroom sink and held Mama's hand for an hour, before she called the doctor and made herself an appointment. You see, you are her daughters, because you are all just as stubborn as your mother and your father. It was determined that the baby had been in for about three weeks, but it didn't survive either, and after that point, Mama and Daddy just stopped trying," Terri explained.

"We decided if we were going to get a baby, then it was just going to happen, and I wasn't going to drive us insane with all this planning and calculating. Some time after we stopped trying, maybe a year or so, we all went to a barbecue. Daddy's job had a big carnival type deal and we invited your Grandparents and Aunt Terri to come with us, which they did."

"But, Grandpa Joe and I had to leave a bit earlier and on our way home there was a massive car fire. Not ours. So being the amazing man that he is, he pulled over and I dialed nine one one, while he tried to help. He saved three people that day. He pulled each of them from the burning car and in the very last second, the car exploded and some of the shards of burning glass and rubber, hit him."

"Grandpa died?" Brittany asked, looking very upset and sad for her grandmother. Rose was an amazing lady as far as she was concerned and didn't deserve to have such heartbreak. Her Mama didn't deserve it either. No one did.

"He did," Rose said and she felt Brittany gently brush away her tears before wrapping her in a hug and snuggling in close.

"You see my loves," Karen said gently. "The reason we all believe in a higher power, and angels, and all the good that can possibly exist, is because we saw that good does exist. We saw it in Grandpa Joe. We also think that he sent the four of you to be with our family. He promised Mama and Daddy that they would get their babies. They would get their children. He wasn't sure how or when or any of the details, he just knew it had to happen and it did. It happened after he died of course, but the four of you are here and you are our family. Now, did Grandpa Joe have a say in getting you here? Maybe not, but we believe in our hearts that he did, and I am so grateful to him for that. I love all of you girls more than you will ever be able to understand," she said. "And for what it's worth, I'm mad that Grandpa Joe left Grandma Rose, and I yelled at him every day for it," she smiled.

"Family is extremely important my darlings and Grandpa believed that with every fiber of his being and I am in total agreement with him. The reason we're having dinner here tonight is because today is the anniversary of his passing. It started a whole new chapter in everyone's lives, including the four of you. So today, we have dinner in this house, all together, as a family, and we toast to Grandpa Joe. We thank him for bringing us you girls, for expanding our family in love, for teaching the adults in this room to be loving, open, and accepting of whatever comes our way, even if we don't understand it, and we yell at him for leaving us to experience this without him. I know, in my heart, in my soul, that he brought you four to us and I wish that my granddaughters, could know him the way the rest of us did," Rose said.

"Grandma," Quinn said after a moment. "Maybe you can tell us more stories about him, unless it'll make you sad," she offered.

"I think that is a wonderful idea Quinnie," Karen spoke up and Rose nodded her agreement.

"I agree, but right now, I think we need to clean up dinner and have dessert," Rose said and everyone agreed. A little sugar rush to break up the happy tears sounded like a good plan to everyone.


Terri decided to sleep over her mother's house that night. Just to be closer to her, and try to get herself some comfort as well. Frank and Karen went back to their house and Will and Shelby drove the girls home. Shelby pulled into the garage and Will pulled into the driveway. Once they were all out and the cars were locked, the family of six went inside,

"Alright my loves. Quinnie, come with Mama please," Shelby said. She had promised Quinn some private time, and they didn't get it at Rose's house, so she wanted to make sure they had it now.

"Mama," Santana begged quickly.

Shelby turned and quickly took hold of her, and she caressed her face. "Shhh, calm baby, you're okay, you're home and you're safe. Mama promised Quinnie some private time, that's all it is my love," she assured her. "Can you breathe Sanny? Breathe for me, show me you understand," she said gently and Santana whimpered, but did as instructed.

"She can come Mama, she's so scared," Quinn offered.

"Sanny, I'll give you the choice. You can come with Mama and Quinnie, if you like, or you can stay down here, with Daddy and Rae and Bree, and practice safe words and people," Shelby offered. She and Will had discussed it. They weren't going to do movies or books tonight before bed. Tonight before bed, they were going to practice. They wanted their girls to try to have some sense of a normal routine. They had to make life as consistent for them as possible.

"Mama, please," Santana begged.

"Yes Mama, please, it's okay," Quinn offered and took Santana's hand, knowing she needed it. Santana was truly freaking out, and Quinn didn't want that for her.

"Okay my love, come on, but we practice upstairs while Daddy, Rae and Bree practice down here," Shelby said and she took her loves upstairs for a bath. Santana just stood there, willing to let Shelby do anything to her, and she would answer questions and practice, but she couldn't be without her family. She gave no trouble with undressing, or getting in the tub, or letting Shelby wash her hair and body first. When Shelby moved to Quinn to give her some special attention though, Santana started to panic.

"Mama, Daddy," she said.

"Daddy's downstairs with Rae and Bree sweetheart. They're reviewing. Why don't we review too. Can you tell me your safe word?" she pressed gently and Santana shook her head and whimpered. "Come on baby, what's Sanny's safe word?" she pressed gently.

"Mama," Santana begged, tears already falling.

"Okay baby, tell me sweetheart. Tell Mama what's wrong," Shelby said and Santana started to cry. She wasn't ready to speak yet.

"Sanny, it's okay. It's just Quinnie and Mama," Quinn said softly and she leaned in and kissed Santana's temple. "It's just us and Mama, Sanny. Daddy and Rae and Bree are downstairs," she said gently and Santana dropped her head and cried.

"Oh my sweet Sanny, you're okay. Let's get you all clean and then we'll cuddle and practice together okay?" she asked gently and very carefully she touched Quinn's cheek. "We will get our time baby. I promised you, and I'm not going back on that," she told her honestly and Quinn nodded.

"Sanny's more important than me Mama," Quinn said softly and Shelby set her mouth in a firm line as Quinn's gaze fell into the water and the young blonde made herself unimportant and tried to be invisible.

"Quinn Lucy Fabray Corcoran Schuester, look at Mama please," Shelby said firmly and Quinn lifted her gaze, but not her head and Shelby smiled. "Half way, keep going," she said kindly and Quinn did as told.

"It's okay Mama, really," Quinn said.

"It is not my love. You are my daughter, I have four daughters, and all of you are equally as important. No one is more or less meaningful in my eyes," Shelby said.

"Mama," Santana whimpered.

"I'm right here baby, and Daddy and Rae, and Bree are downstairs. You'll see them pretty soon," she told her kindly. "We're going to finish up our bath, Mama will take her own quick shower and then we'll all go cuddle and practice together," she said. Shelby got Santana washed up, rinsed off and pull her out of the tub and wrapped her in a towel. "Sit right here baby, let me finish helping Quinnie," she told her kindly and she was slightly surprised to find Santana now clinging to her, trembling, afraid to let go for some reason. "Let's still practice my loves," she said. "Quinnie what are the safe words of you and your sisters, do you remember?" she asked her kindly.

"Wicked, Apples, Bubblegum, and Watermelon," Quinn said, yawning as she spoke, and Shelby smiled.

"Grandma fed us a heavy dinner and dessert," Shelby grinned, knowing the reason Quinn was yawning, was because she was now entering a food coma. "Very good my darling girl, that was beautiful," she told her and she pulled her out of the tub, wrapped her in her towel and cuddled them both for a little while before deciding it was probably safe to move. She carefully stood up, stripped her clothes and then went to get into the shower, shocked when Santana rushed to the shower door, sunk to the floor and began crying all over again.

"Mama," Santana whimpered.

"I'm right here Sanny," Shelby said from the shower. "As soon as Mama's done, we're going to go back to Mama's room and sit in bed together and practice. We'll wrap ourselves in warm blankets, and keep each other company," Shelby said gently, and a few minutes later, that's what they did. She called to Will that the bathroom was free for him and the other girls now. Once she got into bed with them, she wrapped an arm around each of them and began reviewing community members and their safe words.

Twenty minutes later, Will, Rachel, and Brittany joined them in the bed, and the girls very quickly all fell to sleep, leaving Will and Shelby to stay awake. "Hey, are you okay?" Shelby asked softly.

"I'm fine, and so are the girls," he said.

"No, I mean you, personally. There is a reason Terri is still at Mom's house," she pressed gently.

"Oh, that type of okay," he said softly and she nodded. "Well. I remember this day eight years ago, as well as the weather, what we wore, how everyone looked, and the last conversation I had with him. I'm sad, and I miss him, and yet somehow I know, he sent us our daughters, and somehow it's okay. I mean it's not okay, but it's okay," he said honestly.

"I love you, and I want to do everything for you, to take away that sadness," she told him.

"You always do that for me Shel. When we were teenagers and now that we're approaching forty, you still do that for me. I love you, with everything I am, and that will never change. Having you, doesn't take away my pain, but it definitely helps. We've each got our losses, and we support each other, whenever it's needed. We also have date night and I think that helps quite a bit," he grinned.

"I want to know how you think date night will happen tomorrow if Sanny is acting the way she is," Shelby smiled, reaching out and hooking her pinky into Will's, because cuddling their girls, made it impossible to hold hands or even be next to each other.

"She did wonderful at dinner," Will pointed out.

"She did," Shelby agreed. "She had me, you, our parents, Terri, and her sisters. It was a lot of familiar and calm and sane, for lack of another term," Shelby said. "She kept whimpering for me in the bath tub though and I was right there, touching her, washing her. She kept asking where everyone was and needed to be reminded of it, every few seconds. She is not doing well," Shelby said.

"Well what would you like me to help you with then?" he asked and Shelby realized she annoyed him and he wasn't ready to deal with this at ten o'clock at night. To be honest, Shelby probably wasn't ready either.

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry. I know we're talking about this now and it's too late and she's sleeping, I'm sorry," she told him and he sighed.

"I'm sorry too. I just know we need a date night. I need a night, where it's you and me and that's it, because as much as I love and cherish our daughters, it's never ending lately and I know, from their own personal records, it's only going to get worse. I don't want to snap, or growl, or do anything to scare them. They don't deserve that. It's why I need a moment for just us," he said.

"I want that too, and I have an additional suggestion to make. Remember how you got me that massage and it was you and the girls out of the house and I had me time?" she asked and he nodded. "Why don't you take one of those days for yourself. What would you like to have done, I will set it up tomorrow for you and you can do it on Sunday. Just you, anything you want, and this way you get to let go of some of the crap you're holding on to, and I know you are, because I did the same damn thing, so don't argue that point," she said.

"I could go for a few rounds with George," he said.

"At the ring or on the course?" she asked. There were two Georges that Will knew. The coworker who liked to play golf, and the trainer at the boxing studio.

"No, at the ring. You said it, I have crap I need to let go of and maybe that's how I do it," he said honestly and she nodded.

"I will set it up for Sunday then. You will go off and I will have the girls, and tomorrow we have our date night," she said. "I don't know how it's going to be with them going to a movie with my parents, but if Mom and Dad are willing to try, I'll try too," Shelby said.

"I think what we keep forgetting is they are nineteen," he said.

"Biologically yes, they are. Mentally, is a very different story. Everyone is under ten and the only one who seems to be doing the best is Bree," Shelby said.

"Until she messed up her safe words for Hailey and the boys," Will said and Shelby gave him a look; a look that asked how bad it really was. "She was just scared that I'd punish her," he said, "and I reassured both her and Rachel that I would not. Practice is practice, and you aren't punished during practice. During practice, we just work on learning," he said.

"I wish they would show their bellies already," Shelby sighed and Will laughed softly and waited for her to clarify. "When I was a little girl, our neighbor had a cat, and when I went to play the cat always scared the shit out of me. I didn't like the claws, or the eyes, or the look on it's face. So one day I'm sitting at the table and we're eating lunch and the cat walks over to me, lays down on the floor and turns over so it's showing me it's belly, and I seriously thought there was something wrong. The mother told me, when a cat shows you it's belly, it's a sign of trust and security. They know you won't hurt them, they know they can expose their most vulnerable area to you and still be safe. I need to see our daughters' bellies," she said.

"Well, physically you see them every night. Emotionally, I have no idea when that is going to happen, but I know, they love us, and for the most part they do trust us. I also know, I need sleep and I love you," he said.

"I love you too."


Saturday morning was eerily quiet. Shelby and Will were able to have their coffee and bagel together, sitting on the back porch swing, at seven thirty, watching the day start to come to life. There were neighbors' kids riding bikes, and laughing, and someone was yelling at their dog to 'not pee in the rose bush', but other than that, they were just a happy couple, enjoying their life together, each worried about their children, but saying nothing in the moment. At eight thirty, Shelby checked on the girls and they were all still in bed, curled up together. At ten, they were still sleeping, but now in hap-hazard patterns and Shelby had to smile. Rachel was now part of the group as her foot was pressed gently to the corner of Quinn's mouth. Shelby smiled and decided that she had to get to Quinn and now was the best time to do it. With the other girls sleeping, she'd very easily be able to have alone time with Quinn.

She moved carefully to the bed and knelt down. "Quinnie baby, look at Mama please," she said softly, calling her out of sleep and seeing Quinn struggle to make it to some form of being awake. She opened her eyes very narrowly and then closed them again, smiling faintly at Shelby. "Good morning baby girl," she said. "Are you still tired my baby?" she asked her gently and Quinn gave a happy little sigh. "Well why don't we have that special time I promised you. We'll cuddle up in Mama's special chair so you can still be with your sisters okay?" she asked her gently as she pet her hair and Quinn smiled and moved very very slowly. "I gotcha baby girl, don't worry," Shelby said. She very carefully freed Quinn from the mass of arms and legs and then lifted her up and carried her the four steps to the chair. She sat down and cradled Quinn in her lap. "You are my beautiful Quinnie, and I love you so much," Shelby told her. Quinn let out a happy sigh and fell back to sleep immediately in Shelby's arms.

Will walked in an hour later and found Shelby and Quinn cuddled in the chair and the other three girls piled in the bed. "Everything okay?" he asked softly.

"I promised her one on one time, and I found an opportunity to make some," Shelby smiled. "I want to get that with the rest of the girls before the weekend is up, but I know that's probably not realistic. Sanny might be up. She raised her head a minute ago, gave a faint smile and fell back to down on the bed immediately," Shelby said and before any more could be said, the peace of the house was interrupted by a ringing telephone.

Will grabbed it quickly and looked over at Rachel, who at first glanced seemed to still be sleeping, but then he saw her go rigid and watched her work hard to be still, to not give herself away, and all the tension she was putting out, was waking up her sisters. "Hello?" Will asked.

"Is this William Schuester?" an unfamiliar voice asked.

"How may I help you?" Will asked, not identifying himself on purpose.

"I need to speak to William Schuester, my name is Bob Calvary, and I represent Oliver Crane and Vincent London," he said.

"I'm sorry I don't know those names," Will said calmly. It was a complete lie but he seemed to pull it off very easily and he sounded believable. He knew those names very well. Those were Rachel's previous Sirs, and he knew they were in jail. He also figured this was the call for finding evidence or explaining the need for Rachel to have a lawyer.

Bob took a moment to think about what he was going to say next. He had to play this very carefully. He needed specific information and he knew he had to play it safe. "Maybe I can leave a message with you for Will Schuester," he suggested and Will took a breath. This man was being just as safe as Will was being, which meant something was up.

"Is there more to the message?" he asked and in the background, Bob heard a whimper. He was sure that whimper belonged to Rachel and now he was even more determined to talk to Will. This would most likely get him disbarred, but he didn't care. It was more important in this case, to do the right thing. Chills ran up and down his spine and he knew what had to be done.

"Alright, well let's do this instead. If this is indeed William Schuester, or if you have direct contact to him, I have the following message. I would like to schedule a meeting with him at the Covington Estates at two o'clock today if he is available. I would like to go over some questions and answers," he said trying to give as much information as he could, without actually saying anything at all. If it wasn't Will, he had to be discrete. "I need to know by one thirty at the latest if he is going to meet me, so I'm going to give you my phone number to take down," Bob explained.

"Well I thank you for the phone call and I will be sure to tell Will to be at the Covington Estates at two o'clock today," Will said and Shelby felt her eyebrows raise up into her hairline.

"Covington as in Miranda Covington?" Shelby asked once he hung up and she fixed him with a look. She was in full Mama Bear mode, and there wasn't even a threat happening. "What could Miranda Covington, possibly want with you?" she asked and Santana sat up immediately, because that tone meant her Miss and Sir were fighting and she couldn't handle that.

"Daddy," she whimpered.

"I'm right here love, come on," Will said gently and he pulled her into his lap and began rubbing Rachel's hip as he held Santana. He gave Santana a kiss to her temple and she calmed down almost immediately. He also gave Shelby a look, she shouldn't have said what she said in that protective tone, knowing how emotional Santana was. Miranda usually set Santana off, even when she was calm. However, the most important thing to focus on at the moment was changing Rachel. "Rae baby, I know you're up and I know you heard the phone sweetheart. Come on, you're okay. Why don't you get up and Daddy will help you change so that you aren't so uncomfortable. We'll put on your special cream and new underwear and you'll be good to go," he tried, but she laid super still and kept her body as quiet as possible. It was starting to hurt to breathe but she didn't care. She couldn't give herself away.

"Mama," Santana whimpered.

"Shhh, Sanny, you can come sit with Mama but you have to be calm and quiet, because Quinnie is still resting okay?" Shelby asked and Santana nodded tearfully and scrunched up tight next to Shelby. "Shhh, you're okay baby, Mama's right here and Daddy and all your sisters," she told her, not liking that Santana was still super clingy. Shelby gave her a kiss and kept her close and smiled at Will. "Why don't you change her right there. All her stuff is in our bathroom, and this way you won't have to move her so much," Shelby suggested and Will nodded. Moving Rachel wasn't worth the amount of stress it would cause.

"I can do that," Will smiled and he went into the bathroom, got all of the supplies and returned with a clean diaper, the cream she needed for her very sore and irritated skin and some wipes to help clean up whatever residue was on her body. He sat down on the bed and very carefully rolled Rachel to her back, feeling how tense she was and then he looked up to see Brittany smiling at him. "Well good morning to you too Bree," he smiled.

"What'cha doing Daddy?' she asked.

"The phone rang and I want to help Rae change so she isn't in too much discomfort," he said.

"Can I hold her hand, so she knows you're safe and I'm with her?" Brittany asked.

"I think that is a wonderful idea. You know how Mama gives those great little kisses to your temple sometimes? Maybe you can do that for Rae and tell her that she is perfectly safe," he suggested.

"But she's sleeping," Brittany said with confusion. She looked like she was sleeping, but Will knew that once Brittany touched her, she would know Rachel wasn't sleeping, she was just frightened.

"She is, but sometimes, when a person is sleeping, a tiny bit of their brain is awake and they can hear you, so it's worth a try right?" Will asked not wanting to give Rachel's secret away. For some reason, she needed them to think she was still sleeping.

Brittany nodded and pressed her lips to Rachel's temple, speaking very gently and kissing her softly. She also pressed the rest of her body as far away as she could so that Will wouldn't have any trouble. "Rae, is just Bree," she said softly and Will slowly blinked his eyes when he focused in on Brittany speech. She was as young as the rest of them. He wanted to sigh in defeat, but he knew that wouldn't work. He had to be calm because if he or Shelby were not calm for the next ten minutes, the entire house would be full of crying daughters and he didn't want that. "We heard da phone ring, but you are safe here. You in no trouble. You can't troll it, so you isn't in trouble. I really means it," she said and she felt Rachel grip her hand with almost super human strength, and then little tears fell down her cheeks as Will used the wipe to clean her up from any urine still potentially on her body. "Shhh, breathe Rae, you safe," she said and Rachel didn't inhale or exhale, she just laid there with a burning feeling in her lungs. Finally Will finished and Brittany looked at him. "Daddy you should holes her," she yawned.

"I think that's a very good idea sweetheart," he said and he lifted Rachel into his arm, held her close and rubbed her back. The poor girl was so tense with worry over something. He had her so that her head was over his shoulder and after a minute, she let go, crying hard, and letting her body get rid of all it's pent up energy. "Shhh, I know baby, I know, it's scary, but Daddy's here, and so are Mama and your sisters. No one is in any trouble, because what happens to you is not something you can control and we are working on getting you better," Will told her and he felt her melt into him a little bit. This was it, this was the reason he was a daddy. That feeling, in that moment, was the reason he called all the girls his daughters. There was a trust there, even if it was small and it made him feel good to know he could reassure someone like that. He imagined that if the girls were his biological daughters, these moments wouldn't be happening at nineteen, but he wasn't going to take it for granted. Every hug, kiss, I love you, and please cuddle me moment, would always be accepted. It was part of being a Daddy and then Shelby saw a look in his eyes.

The look in his eyes, was the sign of a man who was wrapped around the tiny little pinky finger of four very tortured young women, who needed a Daddy, and a Mama, and in general, someone to love them and show them they were worth something, because no one believed it for themselves. She seemed to fall in love, in that very moment and then looked down at Quinn who was now wiggling to get comfortable as she woke up. She whined softly and moved a bit. "Ow," Santana said going to push Quinn back for knocking into her.

"Stop! It was an accident," Shelby said seriously and Santana pouted, but curled into Shelby and let it go for now.

"Sah-ry, Annie," Quinn yawned and then grunted softly. "Mmm, no, Sorry Sanny," she said correcting her speech to make it sound like a true apology.

"That was very polite," Shelby praised. "Now, since we all seem to be awake, does anyone have any questions before we go downstairs?" she asked.

"What's for breakfast Mama? I'm hungry," Brittany said and everyone but Rachel nodded their agreement. Rachel didn't care at all.

"Well since it's nearly lunch time, I can make you girls something that's breakfast food, or we can all have an early lunch," Shelby suggested. "Who votes for early lunch?" she asked and three hands shot up in excitement. Lunch usually included dessert afterward, as well as chips or pretzels with whatever they were eating. It always seemed like they were getting away with something when they had early lunches like this.

"What about you Rae? Are you ready for early lunch? Or do you still want breakfast?" Will asked her and Rachel stayed still. If she had her way, she wasn't going to eat anything. "Not answering that question yet, huh?" he asked gently as he continued to rub her back. "Okay, well we'll at least go downstairs and be with everyone," Will said. "Do you want to walk, or should Daddy carry you?" he asked her, wanting to give her the option. Anyone could tell just by looking that Rachel needed to be carried. She woke up to a tense situation, at least for her, and for the next two or so hours, she was going to have to be babied a little more, than she would ever want to admit.

"Rae baby, Mama thinks you should be carried downstairs and you can be one of my helpers and help me prepare lunch. Sanny, you can be my other helper, and Quinnie and Bree will help Daddy set the table and get everything out for our early lunch," Shelby said and Will smiled, giving Rachel and Brittany a quick kiss.

"Mama has spoken," he grinned.