Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Glee or any of its characters. I don't have a beta so all mistakes are mine.

Chapter 28

Shelby and the girls:

Wednesday Rachel woke earlier than usual feeling restless. It was only 5:30 so she decided to use her elliptical for the first time since she joined Cheerios. They had left it in her old room so she didn't disturb her girls when she wanted to use it. She ran it for an hour but still felt unsettled. She checked on the girls and they were still sleeping so she grabbed some clothes and showered quickly. She headed down to the studio hoping the music would calm her. Music had been her life for so long. It was always where she turned to when she need to sort herself out. She sat at the piano running her fingers over the keys playing random tunes. As she loses herself in the random music her mind settles on a song, and she begins playing it.

Mm, mm,
Yeah, yeah, oh, ooh,

Every day is so wonderful, and suddenly, it's hard to breathe
Now and then I get insecure, from all the pain
Feel so ashamed

I am beautiful no matter what they say
Words can't bring me down
I am beautiful in every single way
Yes words can't bring me down, Oh no
So don't you bring me down today

As Rachel began singing and putting everything she had into the song she didn't notice the presence at the door. Shelby leaned against the door jam and listened to her daughter pour her heart out into the song, tears in her eyes at the pain in her voice.

To all your friends you're delirious (delirious)
So consumed in all your doom (in all your doom)
Trying hard to fill the emptiness, the piece is gone,
Left the puzzle undone, ain't that the way it is? (woo)

Shelby was so caught up in watching Rachel that she hadn't noticed the other girls follow her until they moved past her and sat on either side of Rach and began singing backup for her. Rachel didn't even flinch at their sudden appearance, like she had been expecting them. Shelby was in awe of them, the emotions coming off all the girls in waves wasn't lost on her.

You are beautiful no matter what they say
Words can't bring you down, no, no (words can't bring you down)
Cause you are beautiful in every single way
Yes words can't bring you down. Oh, no (words can't bring you down)
So don't you bring me down today

No matter what we do, (No matter what we do)
No matter what we say, (No matter what we say)
We're the song that's out of tune, (yeah) full of beautiful mistakes (oh yeah)
And everywhere we go, (And everywhere we go)
The sun will always shine
(The sun will always, always, shine)
But tomorrow we might awake on the other side

Cause we are beautiful no matter what they say
Yes words won't bring us down, no (words can't bring you down)
We are beautiful in every single way
Yes words can't bring us down, oh, no (words can't bring you down)
So don't you bring me down today

Mm, yeah, don't you bring me down today
Yeah, yeah, ooh,
Don't you bring me down, ooh, today

As she finished the final notes on the piano Rachel laid her head on Quinn's shoulder her arm wrapped around Rachel. Santana leaned into them, her arms around both girls rubbing Quinn's back. Shelby, after wiping the tears from her eyes, started clapping lightly at the impromptu performance.

Rachel turned her head and gave a watery smile to her mother. "Sorry I didn't mean to wake you. I left the doors open so San and Quinn would know where to find me when they woke and I was gone."

Shelby shook her head, "You didn't wake me sweetie. I was in the kitchen and heard the piano cords when you started." She walked up behind them. "You guys are amazing." She said laying a hand on San and Quinn's shoulders and a kiss to Rachel's head. "If you sound half that good for Regionals you'll have it in the bag." All the girls beamed at her praise, tears still swimming in their eyes.

Right then and there she vowed to herself that she would be there for all of them in every way they would let her. She had overheard them talking the night before about Quinn's mom coming home and probably kicking her out, and both girls mothers total lack of parenting and being around for them at all. She hadn't meant to eavesdrop. They were talking quietly in the media room waiting for her to finish changing before their movie and when she came to the door she heard sniffling and didn't want to interrupt the conversation. She had wondered at the girls' constant presence at the house and had her answer.

In the moments watching them and hearing the pain and anguish in their voices they had all become daughters to her in her eyes and she would protect them with her life. She smiled "Why don't I give you a minute down here and I'll go up and start some breakfast." She said squeezing the girls' shoulders and kissing Rachel's temple.

They nodded and watched her leave the room closing the door behind her. San turned to Rachel. "You ok querida? We woke and you were gone. I thought you were going to wake us if you needed." She said sounding unsure of herself.

Rachel leaned over and kissed her softly. "I'm fine. I woke up feeling a little unsettled and just wanted some time to myself to sort it out. I wasn't shutting you out, I promise, I'm sorry if I made you feel that way." She leaned over and kissed her softly again and turned to do the same to Quinn.

Quinn tightened her arm around her. "If you need time alone baby that's fine. We just want you to know that you don't have to be alone if you don't want to be. We are here for you."

San kissed her cheek. "We are sorry we interrupted you if you wanted to be alone."

"No, you didn't interrupt me. I knew you would be down. That's why I left the doors open." She rubbed a hand on their thighs. "If I wanted to stay alone I would have left a note asking for time or something."

They nodded and Quinn cupped her face. "Do you want to talk about what unsettled you?"

"I'm really not sure. I think it's just a combination of everything catching up with me, and sometimes I just need to sing." She smiled at them. "Oh, and thank you for the backup. I just started playing and that's the song that came out. Seems fitting now." She got up pulling the girls with her. "I'm ok, I promise. Let's go see if we can help with breakfast."

They allowed her to pull them up and followed her to the kitchen. They walked in and over to Shelby. She turned toward them cupping Rachel's cheek. "Everything ok?"

Rachel nodded. "Yes, everything is good. Can we help with breakfast?"

Shelby looked around. "Yes. If you want to finish the fruit smoothies and set the table. This will be ready soon." She turned back and continued cooking. Rachel moved to the counter with the fruit and the other girls went to make coffee and set the table.

After breakfast they decided to work on the routine for glee. Shelby watched what they had come up with so far and looked over the choreography sheets that Rachel had come up with for the group. Commenting whenever she saw a need to. She was impressed with the dance numbers Rachel had choreographed.

When Rachel thought they had it all down ready to be finalized on paper she set down to put it in the computer to be printed. The girls decided while she was busy with the routine with Shelby's help that they would head out for a bit to their respective houses to pick up a few more things.

Quinn wanted to have the majority of her belongings moved in before her mother got back so when she kicked her out she would have what she wanted. If she didn't kick her out Quinn would just move it back later when her mom eventually left again. Her mother wouldn't notice the things missing either way.

Santana just wanted her things with her at Rachel's. She had no intention of staying at her mother's house again if she could help it. Her mother didn't want her. Rachel and Quinn did so it was an easy decision. She would go once a week and pick up any mail that was there for her and be done with it.

They decided to spit up so they could get done quicker. They talked for a few minutes sitting in the drive when Quinn dropped Santana off. She said she would be back in an hour to get her, and after a heated kiss goodbye she headed off. Neither noticing the figure watching from the window.

When San walked in the house she was blindsided by a hand across her face and fell to the ground. She looked up into her mother's furious face. "How dare you sit in my driveway and make a fool of me with that slut." Her mother screamed at her. She tried to get up and was knocked down again with a kick to her stomach landing hard against the door. "You do not get to disgrace me in front of my home you ungrateful little dyke." She said pulling San up by her shirt.

As she pulled her up she punched her in the mouth and dropped her to the floor. "I am leaving and will be back in an hour and you had better not be here when I get back." She turn and headed out the garage.

San heard her squealing out of the drive a few moments later. She dug her phone out of her pocket and hit speed dial for Quinn.

"Hello, beautiful." Quinn answered the phone cheerily.

At the sound of Quinn's voice she sobbed, "Quinn, I need you."

Quinn started to panic and the sound of Santana's voice. "I'm on my way back. What's wrong?"

San could hear the tires squeal as Quinn turned around quickly to head back. "Mom was… here when… I… came in. She… saw… she saw us… in the drive." She was about to hyperventilate, and couldn't get any more words out.

"Baby, I am almost there. I'm coming. Is she still there?"

"No." Was all she could get out.

"Ok. I'm calling Rachel. I will be there in a second." She paused for a second. "I love you San. I will be there I promise."

At that San just sobbed some more. "I… love you… too." She said and hung up the phone.

Quinn was in panic mode trying to get back as quick as possible terrified of what she was going to find when she got there. She speed dialed Rachel.

"Hello bear." She said wistfully

"Rachel. Oh god Rachel, I need you to meet me at Santana's house now."

"Quinn, what's wrong" She got up in a panic Shelby following her to through the house to the garage. "Where's Santana? Is she ok?"

Quinn half sobbed "I don't know. I dropped her off and headed to my house. She just called me and was sobbing and hyperventilating saying she needed me. She said her mom was there when I dropped her off. She couldn't get any more out she was crying too hard." She rushed out, desperation evident in her voice.

Rachel and Shelby jumped into the Camaro and Rachel pulled out of the garage heading to San's. "Ok. We are on our way. If you need to take her away before I get there call me back and I will meet you where ever."

"Ok. I love you Rachel. Hurry."

Rachel sobbed "I love you too. I will be there baby."

They hung up as Quinn pulled into the drive and Rachel sped down the road toward her girlfriends. Quinn almost fell out of the hummer in her hast to get to Santana. She shoved open the door and fell to her knees when she saw San still on the floor her mouth bloody.

"Oh god angel. What did she do to you?" she gathered the sobbing girl into her arms.

San just held on for dear life still unable to form words. After a moment they heard the squealing of tires and San stiffened frightened it was her mother again. Quinn just rocked her. "Shh, it's ok. It's just Rachel angel." San visibly relaxed as she saw Rachel rush through the door.

Rachel slid to her knees next to the girls. "Oh god, what happened?" She threw her arms around her girls.

San shifted into Rachel's embrace, finally calmer with both her girls holding her. "Mom was home when I got here. She saw us kiss goodbye in the driveway." She relayed all that had happened to her girls and they were visibly shaking in rage as she did.

Shelby kneeled next to the girls. "We need to get your things quickly and get you out of here before she returns. We need to get you out of here and get you cleaned up. Do you need a doctor sweetie?"

San shook her head. "No, it's just a busted lip I think."

They girls got up and helped San to her feet. They followed her to her room and gathered everything she wanted, Shelby and Quinn running back and forth to the SUV and car loading things while Rachel and San packed up bags. With the last of her things packed they all headed out to load them and leave. As they rounded the end of the staircase headed to the door Santana's mother came through the door.

"What the hell are you still doing here you pathetic piece of garbage." She raged as she flew toward San only to be stopped my Shelby rushing to place herself in front of San as Rachel and Quinn pulled her back behind them.

Shelby shoved her back. "You will not lay another finger on that girl or I will tear you limb from limb with my bare hands." She said with so much venom in her voice the other woman was taken aback for a moment.

She recovered quickly seething with rage taking a step forward. "Who the hell are you? This is none of your concern."

Shelby shoved her back again grabbing her by the front of her shirt. "I am the last thing you are going to see before your black soul leaves this earth if you try to lay another hand her ever again." Her voice held so much controlled rage that a shiver ran down all their backs. "Girls take Santana to the car."

The girls headed out the door, Shelby not releasing her hold on the other woman who was now stock still in fear at the truth she saw in Shelby's eyes at her last statement.

Once she heard car doors close and knew they were safe she tightened her hold for a moment before forcibly shoving the other woman to the floor. "I will be taking pictures of Santana's injuries and you will be served with custody papers tomorrow. I suggest you sign them or I will call the cops and give them the pictures and have you arrested for child abuse." She turned on her heal slamming the door on her way out.

Rachel was standing next to the SUV talking to San through the window. Shelby ran a hand across her shoulder. "Rach, why don't you give me your keys and let me follow Quinn. You ride with them." Rachel hugged her and climbed in slipped under San's head where they had laid her in the back seat.

Shelby ran a hand through San's hair. "Are you sure you don't need a doctor?"

Santana shook her head. "No, I just want to go home, please." Shelby nodded, kissed the top of her head and went to Rachel's car.

As Shelby followed the girls back to the house she called her lawyer and had him draw up guardianship papers to be served to Santana's mother the next day. If Santana wanted she could become emancipated later but she wanted to make sure San was protected right now until she could make that choice. She also had him draw up papers for Quinn as well, in case they were needed later, she wanted them in hand. They arrived back at the house and locked the cars in the garage leaving Santana's belongings to be taken in later.

Once in the living room they sat Santana down. Rachel went to find the first aid kit and Quinn went to get her some clothes to change into. Shelby sat next to her running a hand along her back.

San turned to Shelby and hugged her. "Thank you, I know you didn't have to." She said into her neck trying not to cry again.

Shelby just held her close. "Of course I had to and I would do it again in a heartbeat. She will never lay a finger on you again. I promise." Santana collapsed into her sobbing, unable to stop herself in the arms of the first adult in years to care enough to defend her or offer comfort.

Rachel and Quinn came back but they stopped in the doorway noticing the death grip San had on Shelby and just letting her calm their girl sensing it was what she needed right then. When San stopped sobbing and was calmer in Shelby's arms they came fully into the room and went to tend to her injuries and blood stained clothes. Rachel cleaned her face hands and arms with a warm wash cloth and doctored her lip.

Once that was finished Quinn pulled her up and was about to take her to the bathroom to change but Shelby stopped them. "Santana, I would like to take a look at your stomach if that's ok. I just want to make sure you are not severely injured."

San just nodded and attempted to take off her shirt. Noticing her struggle Quinn helped her gently remove the shirt. Rachel quietly gasped at the bruises already forming on her stomach, shoulder and back from the kick and where she hit the door and floor.

Shelby moved forward, "This might hurt," she said as she inspected her stomach pressing in checking for rigidity. San moaned softly in pain. "Ok, it looks alright, but if it gets any worse tonight you need to let us know. Tomorrow and Friday it will probably be worse but you should start to feel better by Saturday." She walked behind her and looked over the other bruises and nodded to Quinn to help with her shirt.

Quinn helped her into a set of Cheerios sweats and Rachel went to find painkillers in the first aid kit. Shelby gathered her dirty clothes headed into the laundry room to try and get the blood out while the girls got settled. Once she finished spot treating and throwing the clothes in the washer she headed back out to the girls.

When she got back San was on the couch her head in Quinn's lap with an icepack on her face. Her legs were in Rachel's lap. She held another icepack to San's stomach while rubbing her legs. Shelby slid on to the floor in front of them. "How bout we order some take out and watch some movies?" The girls nodded and Rachel took out her phone and ordered their usual from the Thai place and what Shelby wanted.

They decided after dinner to settle into their bed so San would be comfortable and not have to move again. Rachel climbed in first and Santana gingerly got in besides her laying her head on Rachel's chest. Shelby came in and Rachel patted the bed next to her. "Come on get comfy." She sat and leaned against the head board and alternated running a hand through Rachel's then Santana's hair.

Quinn came returning from a movie run upstairs and looked at the bed with trepidation then turned to the DVD player and loaded the movie. She moved over to the bed and sat lightly, afraid to take her usual spot, not wanting to hurt the Latina.

Rachel looked at her curiously. "What's wrong bear?"

San looked over her shoulder at the nervous blond and reached out to her. "Come here. You're not going to hurt me baby." Quinn scooted carefully up to the girls and lay a few inches from San and lightly rubbed her side.

San reached back and pulled her closer until she was laying against her. Quinn tried to scoot back but stopped when San whimpered. "I don't want to hurt you angel." She said desperately.

San snuggled back into her. "You'll hurt me more if I can't feel you while I sleep."

Quinn deflated with a sigh. "Ok angel." She scooted closer wrapping her body around San calming as she heard her sigh. Once she settled Shelby added her to the alternate rubbing of hair trying to soothe them all.

All three girls fell asleep before the movie ended. Shelby continued to rub their heads finishing the movie. As it ended she grabbed the remote and turned off the TV and DVD player and went to get up only to stop when she realized the hand Santana had resting on her side had tightened on her shirt.

San raised her head slightly. "Stay. Please?" She asked in a small sleepy voice.

Shelby scooted down in the bed and loosened San's hand from her shirt to hold it. "Ok sweetie. I'll be right here." She settled into the pillow and fell asleep thanking the lord for the blessings her daughter had bestowed upon her by allowing her into her life.

The next morning Shelby woke first with Santana still holding tightly to her hand. She looked over and it seemed that none of the girls had moved an inch. She chuckled lightly at how cute they all look together like little bear cubs. Looking at Quinn completely wrapped around both girls she finally understood the koala bear reference they kept using for her.

Noticing the time and thinking they must have forgot to set an alarm she shook Rachel's shoulder lightly. "Rachel…Rachel you need to wake up honey." Rachel started to stir and turned her head to her mom looking at her questioningly. "You said you have cheer practice at 7:00 and its 6:10 now."

Rachel's eyes widened as she turned to look at the clock. "San, Quinn, were late get up my loves." She said sweetly but forcefully. Quinn opened her eyes first looking at the clock in surprise and gently removing herself from San's back. Rachel nudged San. "Angel, get up baby or Sue is going to have our heads."

San groaned in pain as she rolled over. Shelby was standing at the door about to go and get dressed but turned back around. "You're not going to attempt to train today are you Santana?" She asked concern evident in her voice.

San sat up gingerly rubbing her stomach. "Yes. I don't have a choice."

Before Shelby could protest Rachel cut in. "You most certainly will not be doing anything but supervising and giving instruction today. I will talk to coach." San opened her mouth to argue but Rachel cut her off with a quick peck to her lips. "Not up for discussion. No."

San looked down and nodded scooting to get out of the bed to change. Shelby was satisfied that Rachel had defused the situation and left to get ready herself.

Twenty minutes later saw them piling into Shelby's Land Rover and heading to the school with smoothies, muffins and power bars in hand. Shelby was glad she had made extra the day before. They made it to the school with ten minutes to spare.

Coach was pacing the locker room worriedly when they arrived. They were never late and usually thirty to forty five minutes early. She shot her head up and looked straight to Rachel. "Where have you been?" She looked to Quinn then San and stopped dead in her tracks. "What the hell happened?" she rushed over to San. "Who did this?" She looked to Rachel again and finally saw the new face.

Rachel put up a hand to stop her next set of questions. "Can we talk in your office for a minute coach?"
Sue nodded and led them to her office. Turning expectant eyes to the girls.

Rachel sighed. "First, Coach this is my mother Shelby Corcoran. Shelby, Coach Sue Sylvester." Coached turned shocked eyes to Rachel but shook the women's hand. "Second, San had a run in with her mother yesterday. She will be living with me from now on."

A look of rage overtook Sue's face and she saw that it was matched in the other women's as well. A silent we will talk later passed between them before she turned back to the girls. "Santana are you hurt anywhere else other than your face?"

San lifted her top and showed coach her stomach. Then turned and let Quinn lift the back to show the rest. Sue was seething with rage. "You're benched until healed. Supervising and instructing only, unless you need to go home and rest."

San shook her head shocked at the coaches concern. "No coach. I'm ok. I can stay and help with training. I'll just take it easy and instruct as necessary."

Sue nodded her head and turned to Shelby. "Well Streisand Senior, I guess you're with me in the stands today. Let's go and let these girls get the sloppy babies ready for training." She strode out the door waiting at the locker room exit for Shelby to join her.

Rachel chuckled at the flabbergasted look on Shelby's face. "You get use to her. She likes to act tough and like she doesn't care. She calls me Streisand so naturally you are Streisand Senior. Don't pay her any mind." Rachel was still laughing and the girls had joined in. Shelby just nodded kissing each girl on the head and followed after coach.

She chuckled when she heard Quinn behind her. "Ok, losers get your asses in gear and get on the mats. We better not see you lagging behind."

She was full out laughing when Rachel was not far behind. "Let's go ladies we're burning daylight here." The Cheerios picking up speed at hearing Quinn and Rachel not seeming to be in a good mood and an oddly quiet Santana behind them.

They rushed out and were on the mats stretching in record time. Britt walked up to the girls seeing Santana's face for the first time she gasped. "Oh my god San what happened?" She whisper yelled.

San just tilted her head down laying it on Quinn's shoulder. Quinn rubbed her back gently. "Her mother found out about us yesterday and was not pleased about it." She whispered back.

The look that passed over Britt's had only ever been seen by them one other time. "What do you need?" she asked San gently.

San shook her head. "I just want to forget it and move on. Let's just get you guys stretched for practice." Britt nodded hugged her very gently and went to the mats with the other girls and started stretching.

Quinn and Rachel went to the mats as well as Santana started calling out stretches for them and they fell in to a rhythm together. After they finished Rachel split them up into their groups and sent Marsha off with her group to weight train.

Rachel was getting the girls set when one of the flyers called her over. "Rachel can you show us again? I can't seem to get the second twist and I wanted to watch it again."

Rachel smiles slightly, "of course." She said to the girl then raised her voice to the others. "Set it up ladies. I am about to demonstrate the stunt again."

Santana looked panicked. "Querida, I can't catch you today. You can't. What if they drop your or throw you wrong?"

Rachel squeezed her hands. "Hey, they're not going to drop me. They are getting much better and have not dropped or tossed wrong since week one. I'll be ok."

San nodded reluctantly and strode over to the second base set. "You guys are base for this." Their eyes widen and look over to Rachel. They know how protective their captains are of their trainer. They are scared senseless. San can see this and just glares at them.

Quinn comes up behind her giving her own glare. "You drop her or hurt her you will answer to us." They nod vigorously and get set.

Quinn and San walk back toward the bleachers to watch and they hear Shelby behind them. She noticed how tense the two girls got when Rachel said she was demonstrating.

"Coach what's going on?" She asked concern dripping from her voice.

Coach shakes her head. "Streisand is about to demonstrate the stunt again for the flyers to watch. Lopez and Fabray there usually are the only ones they will allow to catch her in the second base set. Lopez can't catch today so they others will be doing it. Don't worry, they have been trained well and will do fine, or they will catch hell for it. My captains are just over protective. The girls do this for hours every practice."

Shelby nods slightly and turns back to watch unsure if she really wants to see this if San and Quinn are so tense about it. When she sees Rachel fly across the mat into a summersault, flying and twisting in the air she about has a heart attack. Once she is safely on the ground again and the two girls visibly relax she lets out a breath she was unaware she had been holding. They walk back over to the group as Rachel is explaining something to the flyers.

Shelby turns to Sue again. "That is a dangerous stunt. Who comes up with these things?"

Sue chuckles, "You daughter did." Shelby gasps and Sue continues. "She created almost all of our stunts. She has gymnastic training and credentials as a trainer in her own right. She and Brittany created the entire routine. She is our trainer."

Shelby looks over at her daughter again in wonder and awe watching her instruct the girls and seeing them improve in just a few run throughs. As Rachel wraps things up with the stunt group the rest of the squad comes back in for the second half of training.

Rachel looks over seeing them come in. "Ok ladies. Fifteen minute break and we will run through the rest of the routine. We are adding in the big stunt today to see it all as a whole so I can see where we need improvement."

The girls perk up and call out in unison. "Yes ma'am."

She chuckles lightly, grabs her Gatorade and walks over with San and Quinn to sit with Shelby.

Shelby pulls her into a one armed hug. "You continue to amaze me Rachel." She says proudly as Rachel blushes.

San and Quinn beam, "That's our girl." Quinn says smugly and San nods vigorously.

After the break Rachel and San send in San's alternate and they run the girls through the routine, block by block. Once they run through all the blocks several times they call for a complete run through. They run it three times. It's choppy but it's getting there.

Rachel is satisfied with the progress so far but turns to coach for her opinion. "Well coach. It's rough but after less than two full weeks of training…"

Coach just nods slightly. "It's horrendous, but it will be perfect by regionals, I can feel it." She says patting Rachel's shoulder. "Call it and get them out of here."

Rachel turns back to the group. "Ok ladies, that's it for today, excellent progress but we have a long way to go. I'll see you tomorrow. Same time, same channel. Hit the showers." The girls break formation and head to the showers calling goodbyes to their captains and trainer.

Brittany, Sam and Marsh all hang back as per usual. Rachel calls them over. She introduces them to her mother and they are all shocked but seem happy for Rachel. Sam and Marsha offer to get take out and meet the girls at home for an afternoon of movies and Rachel texts Puck to invite him over.

Once they are all there and they are eating Rachel explains the basics of how her mother is there and why and it seems to calm the other girls that were worried about her. She takes Puck aside and explains it fully to him and he is livid at his uncle for the way he handled the situation but happy that Rachel seems to have an adult in her corner now.

After lunch Shelby heads down to the studio to get some work done and the others head up to the media room for a movie. After the movie is over the others leave. The girls are about to settle in the living room when the doorbell rings. They look at each other and head to the door.

Rachel opens it to a courier. "Good day Miss I have a packet for a Ms. Shelby Corcoran. I need her signature"

Rachel just looks confused. "Oh, Ok. I will go get her." She leaves the girls at the door with him and heads to the studio. She opens the door slowly not wanting to startle her. "Shelby?"

Shelby looks up from her computer and smiles. "Yes Rachel."

"There's a courier here with a packet you need to sign for."

Shelby gets up and head toward her. "Oh good. Thank you."

They head back up stairs and she signs for the packet and turns and goes into the living room motioning for the girls to follow. Once they settle on the couch she sits in the arm chair opening the packet and reading the papers inside.

When she finishes reading she looks to San. "I promised you yesterday that I would make sure that she wouldn't get near you again." San nods looking confused. "I told her before we left that I would be sending her papers and she needed to sign them or deal with the police. I hope that I didn't overstep and do something wrong. I just wanted to protect you." She looks down a little apprehensive now that it was done.

San moves over and sits on the coffee table in front of her. "What did you do?" She asks taking Shelby's hand.

"I had her sign over guardianship of you to me."

San just looks at her speechless for a moment. "Why…why would you do that?"

Shelby looks up and has tears swimming in her eyes. "Are you angry with me?"

San shakes her head. "No, I'm just trying to understand."

Shelby calms a little. "I was frightened for you and I wanted to protect you. I figured if you didn't want me to be your guardian you could file for emancipation if you wanted. I'm not asking you to file I just want you to know all your options."

San is still in shock, as are the other girls who are still speechless. "But why, I'm not your responsibility."

Shelby tightens her grip on Santana's hand. "You. You are not a responsibility. You are a privilege. You are one of my baby's loves and as such you are now one of mine, and I take care of my own." At this all the girls' eyes start to water and Santana throws herself into Shelby's arms. Shelby pulls her into her lap gently and looks over to Quinn. "And that goes for you too. Whatever any of the three of you need, I am here." Rachel and Quinn get up and go over to hug her and San, tears now flowing freely down their faces.

San buries her head in Shelby's neck crying and shaking. "Thank you. No one has ever…"

Shelby rocks her kissing the other two on their heads. "Shh. It's okay now." When they all calm down and the tears have stopped Shelby speaks again. "I will go to the school with you on Monday and fill out new papers for you and give my information for emergency contact and permission slip for your sports and glee club. I now have all of your papers. Your birth certificate, social security card, and shot records were all in the packet I received." She looks to Rachel "If it's ok with you I would like you to name me as an emergency contact as well. That way if anything happens they will contact me so I can help." Both girls nod their approval.

They all hug her again and get up, deciding to start dinner and lighten the conversation and mood a bit talking about Cheerios and Glee. Claiming exhaustion they all head to bed early each giving Shelby a hug and retire to their room.

Once they have settled in bed with San in the middle she looks up at Rachel. "Are you ok with your mom being my guardian carino?"

Rachel looks down and kisses her nose. "Heavens yes. I am ecstatic to know that she cannot get to you and hurt you ever again. Are you ok with this angel, or do you want to emancipate yourself?"

San thinks for a moment. "I think I would like to keep things as they are for the moment and see how it goes. If it becomes a problem I will do the emancipation then."

Rachel nods and snuggles back down with San in her arms Quinn wrapped around them both. They fall asleep quickly as the exhaustion of the day catching up with them all.

The rest of winter break goes well. The Cheerios routine is coming along nicely. They spend time getting to know Shelby better and spend a little time with their friends as well. Before they know it it's Sunday night and they are getting ready for bed a little apprehensive about all the changes in glee that will be revealed the next day. Hoping for a smooth transition but not holding their breath. They snuggle into bed with Rachel once again in the middle feeling that for the moment all is right in their world. They know they still have obstacles in their path but as long as they have each other they will be ok.

A/N: Next first day back to school, glee and the reaction of the group. Regionals training starts for glee.