I'm going to be a bit vague here because I don't want to give away huge spoilers. I'm planning on having something happen to Rachel in a couple of chapters time, but I'm undecided as how the 'thing' should be resolved, should Rachel go to Amy for help, or should Puck find out and go behind Rachel's back to tell Shelby?
And for those who liked Rachel's relationship with her Aunt and wanted to see more of Amy, the next chapter is very Amy/Rachel heavy!
Both Rachel and Shelby were surprised at how quickly Rachel adjusted to being back at school, but even so, Shelby was a little bit worried about how much time Rachel would be home alone once she went back to work. They'd talked about it again and again until Shelby felt a little more confident about leaving her daughter, she felt like Rachel would actually reach out and ring her aunt or her grandparents if she didn't want to be at home on her own, and Sue had told Rachel that, even if she didn't feel up to going to classes full time just yet, she was always welcome to sit in a quiet corner of the library to do the work she'd usually do at home, giving the teen the opportunity to be closer to her Mom if she needed it.
"Ready?" Shelby asked softly, pulling Rachel into her arms.
Rachel nodded, feeling equal parts excited and nervous about joining the glee club, "yeah" she nodded, "I think so." Will had already spoken to her and Shelby, reassuring Rachel that it was okay if she didn't feel comfortable performing the assignment each week just yet, that he wouldn't mind if she just joined in with the group number until she found her feet.
Shelby kissed the top of Rachel's hair, "let's go then" she smiled, grabbing her bag and walking down the corridor with Rachel beside her, "and you can always step outside if you need a break" she promised.
Will greeted them both when they walked into the choir room, Rachel tucking herself into her Mom's side as she glanced over at the other people in the room, "we're still waiting for a couple of people, and I'll introduce you both before we get going" Will told them, everyone else chatting in small groups as they waited for practice to start. "Right then" Will raised his voice to cut through the noise once everyone was in the room, "I'm sure you all recognise Ms Corcoran, she's agreed to help me out with rehearsals now she's working here, and Rachel is going to join us too" he smiled, "so Rachel if you want to…"
He was about to suggest Rachel went to sit with the others when someone cut him off. "Hey" a boy Rachel recognised from the football team spoke out, "shouldn't they have to sing something, audition like the rest of us?"
Puck turned so quickly in his seat that Shelby was surprised he didn't fall off, "shut it Hudson" he growled, able to see just how nervous Rachel looked just standing in front of the small group.
Will looked to Shelby and Rachel, "would that be okay."
Shelby nodded, "want me to go first?" she asked Rachel, getting a silent nod in response. Shelby didn't need to think about it, she knew exactly what she wanted to sing, "When you're weary, feeling small, when tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all." She turned to face Rachel, tucking the girl's hair behind her ears and gently lifting her chin so she could look her daughter in the eye as she continued to sing.
"I'm on your side, when times get rough and friends, they just can't be found. Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down." Shelby kept her hand on Rachel's cheek as she sang to her, smiling sadly when she saw the tears forming in Rachel's eyes, "when you're down and out, when you're on the street. When evening falls so hard, I will comfort you, I'll take your part when darkness comes and pain is all around, like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down. Like a bridge over troubled water. I will lay me down." The words Shelby sang reminded both Rachel and Shelby of the night Rachel had been abandoned on Shelby's doorstep, the night she'd taken Rachel in and simply loved her without question and Rachel wanted nothing more than to curl up in her Momma's arms and thank her over and over for that.
Shelby didn't move her hand, stroking Rachel's cheek gently with her thumb, hoping to give her all the comfort and all the love that she needed with that single action, "sail on silver girl, sail on by. Your time has come to shine, oh your dreams are on their way, see how they shine."Shelby hoped that Rachel knew that she meant every word, she might not know what Rachel's dreams were, she wasn't even sure the girl herself knew what she wanted to do with her future, but she knew that no matter what Rachel chose to do with her life, she would absolutely give it her all and make a success of it. "Oh if you need a friend I'm sailing right behind, like a bridge over troubled water, I will ease your mind. Like a bridge over troubled water, I will ease your mind, I will ease your mind."
The room was silent for a moment before Noah let out a loud cheer, clapping excitedly and wolf whistling, everyone else joining in eventually as Shelby pulled Rachel into her arms, turning slightly so her back was to the room, giving Rachel a little privacy as she felt the girl cling to her, "I love you".
Rachel sniffled quietly "I love you too Mom"
Shelby wiped at Rachel's tears, "are you ready to sing something?" she asked.
Rachel nodded, "as ready as I'll ever be" she nodded, taking a step away from Shelby. She desperately tried to hide how nervous she was, clenched her hands into fists to hide her shaking hands, kept her gaze on the floor, hoping her voice would hold steady as she took a deep breath and began to sing, "Don't know just where I'm going, and tomorrow, it's a little overwhelming, and the air is cold, and I'm not the same anymore." The room fell silent almost instantly, even Shelby was stunned by both the power and the raw emotion behind her daughter's voice, "I've been running in your direction for too long now, I've lost my own reflection. And I can't look down if you're not there to catch me when I fall."
She'd heard this song for the first time just a few days ago and the lyrics had spoken to her almost instantly, she no longer felt like she knew how she'd cope without her Mom by her side, but at the same time, she knew she needed to start stepping away from her Mom, that she needed to start being independent, that as scary as life could be sometimes, she just had to try things without her Mom's help and trust that the woman would be there to help her if she needed it. "If this is the moment I stand here on my own, if this is my rite of passage that somehow leads me home, I might be afraid but it's my turn to be brave."
Shelby couldn't help but smile, as much as Rachel tried, she couldn't hide from her Mom, Shelby knew her daughter was terrified but she'd stepped up and done it anyway and Shelby couldn't tear her eyes away from the girl, couldn't help the immense feeling of pride she felt building in her chest, the overwhelming love she had for the girl who'd been through so much and simply kept going.
"I did it Mom" Rachel whispered as Shelby pulled her into a hug once she'd finished, Rachel's friends leading the standing ovation for the girl.
"You certainly did" Shelby beamed, hugging Rachel for a moment longer before letting her go and sit with her friends, nobody seeming to bat an eyelid when Brittany moved into Santana's lap, letting Rachel take her seat between her and Santana and Noah.
"This isn't fair" Mercedes protested as Will turned to the white board to give the group this week's assignment, "if her Mom's the codirecter then she's going to get all the solos isn't she?" she said, pointing accusingly at Rachel
"Absolutely not" Will said at the same time that Rachel spoke.
"I don't want any solos" she whimpered, almost paralysed with fear at the mere thought of it.
Noah reached out, putting his arm around Rachel's shoulder, the girl relaxing back into his touch as Will continued, "Miss Corcoran and I have already spoken, and whilst I will take her ideas and her opinions into consideration, the final decision on performances will still be mine and mine alone."
Shelby was absolutely fine with that, it meant no repercussions for her, and it also meant that the brunt of the paper work and admin that came with show choir contests would fall on his desk and not hers, giving her more time to spend with her baby.
Will explained the weeks assignment once everyone had calmed down, and the glee club split off into small groups to talk about their song choices. Shelby glancing over at Rachel occasionally as she stood with Will, looking at the sheet music he had spread over the top of the piano. "She seems to be doing well" Will said quietly, not lifting his gaze from the music, not wanting anyone but Shelby to realise they weren't talking about the music.
"She is" Shelby agreed, "it feels like every day she finds a new way to amaze me."
Will smiled, "I hope you give yourself enough credit" he told her, I have no doubt that you're the biggest reason that Rachel is as happy and as confident as she is."
Shelby blushed slightly, "I'm just doing what any parent would… should do."
Noah waited with Rachel after the club was dismissed, only saying goodbye when Shelby and Will had finished and Shelby came to ask if Rachel was ready to go.
"So what do you think?" Shelby put her arm around Rachel's shoulders as they walked through the empty corridors, "are we going to go back?"
Rachel nodded, "I was a bit nervous having to sing in front of everyone, but I enjoyed it."
"Good. I might be a bit biased, but you were amazing Rachel" Shelby stopped as they reached the car and took hold of Rachel's hands, looking her in the eye as she told her, "and for the record. You are the bravest person I know."
Song lytics in italics are from Bridge over Troubled Water, origininaly by Simon & Garfunkel (but for obvious reasons I had Idina's verson in mind when I wrote this) and Brave, also by Idina Menzel