To the guest who asked for one of Shelby's brothers to scare Rachel, I'll keep that in mind for a future chapter, but it probably won't happen for a while, a similar thing happened a couple of chapters ago with Amy's husband and I don't want things to be to repetitive.
"Do erm, do you have a minute?" Rachel asked nervously as she stood in the doorway to Shelby's classroom during break on Monday morning.
"Sure Rach" Shelby was sat at her desk and gestured for Rachel to come over.
"I erm, I'd, can I ask you something."
Shelby nodded and stood from her desk, sitting on the end of it as Rachel came to stand in front of her, "you know you can ask me anything, but just so I know, are you asking me as your Mom or as your teacher?"
"As my Mom" Rachel whispered.
"Okay" Shelby took Rachel's hand, reaching out to tuck the girl's hair behind her ear, "what is it?"
"You normally take me home at lunch" Shelby nodded, "and I appreciate it, I really do, I don't want you to think I'm not grateful…"
"Rachel, Baby, please just ask me what it is you want to ask" Shelby gently squeezed Rachel's hand.
"Could I stay here to have lunch with Noah and everyone and then get the bus home?"
"Oh Baby, of course you can if that's what you want to do" Shelby stood from where she'd perched on the end of her desk, "just do something for me?" she asked as she reached under her desk to take some money from her purse for Rachel.
"Okay" Rachel was unsure what her mom was going to ask her but she knew she'd do anything for her.
"Send me a message when you get home, just so I know you're safe. And if you want to go to the store or for a walk around the park before you go home then that's absolutely fine, I don't want you to think I'm trying to keep track of you or keep you prisoner in the house, I just want to know you're safe because I worry about you."
Rachel nodded, thanking her mom for the money that was handed to her, "I'll let you know when I get home" she promised.
"Thank you" Shelby kissed Rachel's forehead, "have a good day Baby and I'll see you tonight"
Rachel paused for a minute before wrapping her arms around Shelby and hugging her tightly, "I love you Mom."
Shelby returned the hug and kissed her daughter's hair, "I love you too Baby."
The smile on Rachel's face as she left the room warmed Shelby's heart. She was glad that her daughter was beginning to relax a little, was beginning to come out of her shell. The fact that Rachel wanted to stay at school a little longer, that she had friends she wanted to eat lunch with made Shelby happier than she'd ever imagined. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't worried about her daughter riding the bus home but she knew she had to trust her, she had to give Rachel the same freedom as her peers if she wanted it, and, as worried as she was, Shelby was still happy that Rachel was confident enough to ask her to change their routine.
Shelby had packed lunch for herself that morning as she did every morning when she knew she'd be either taking Rachel home or picking her up at lunch time. She always made herself something that was quick and easy to eat, but today she found herself heading for the lunch hall. She'd planned to sneak in, grab some food, check Rachel was okay and leave, but it wasn't to be, Noah spotted her as she was heading out but Rachel didn't seem to mind, she and her friends simply waved to Shelby from where they sat, Shelby returning the wave and heading to the staffroom to eat, satisfied that Rachel was okay.
She kept her phone on her desk as she taught her first period after lunch, smiling when she saw it light up with a message from Rachel, her smile growing when she saw Rachel had sent her a picture of herself and Jasper, with the simple message, 'Home xx'
She glanced up at her class, looking back down at her phone when she saw they were all working on the task she'd set, allowing her to reply to her daughter, 'Good, see you later, I love you xx'
Her phone lit up again a few moments later, 'I love you too Mom xx'
"Something smells good" Shelby called as she walked into the house that afternoon, slipping off her shoes and hanging up her jacket before heading into the kitchen, "what are you making?" she asked as she found Rachel stood at the stove.
"It's a recipe I found online" Rachel gestured to the baking tray she was just about to put into the oven, she'd already roasted the vegetables and the potatoes and was just adding everything else, "it's a Spanish style chicken traybake." She turned to look at Shelby, "you don't mind me making dinner do you?"
"Of course not" Shelby kissed Rachel's forehead, "if you're happy to make dinner then that's fine, I just don't want you to feel like you have to."
"I don't Momma" Rachel smiled, "I promise."
"Okay" Shelby smiled, deciding not to push it any further, "I'm going to get changed, I won't be long."
Rachel was sat on the couch when Shelby came back downstairs, she'd taken off her makeup and tied up her hair, changing from the smart clothes she'd worn to work into yoga pants and a tshirt ready to spend the evening as Mom, not Miss Corcoran. "Is there anything I can do to help with dinner?" she asked.
Rachel shook her head, "it just needs 40 - 45 minutes in the oven then it's done" she smiled as Jasper jumped up into Shelby's lap, purring happily. "He's been sniffing around me in the kitchen" Rachel chuckled, "I cooked a little of the chicken plain for him, I think he enjoyed it."
"I bet he did too" Shelby smiled and scratched Jasper between his ears, "did you do anything this afternoon?"
"I just did some schoolwork" despite still only attending school for three half days each week, Rachel was doing a great job at keeping up to date with her work, "Aunt Amy called, asked if I wanted to go over tomorrow, I said yes, is that okay?"
"Of course it is Baby, you don't need to ask about spending the day with your aunt, I'll pick you up on my way home."
Rachel smiled, "thank you."
They ate at the kitchen table once dinner was ready, Shelby once again showering Rachel in praise, and she hoped the teen knew she meant it, Rachel was a better cook than she was! "Is there something on your mind Rach?" she asked, noticing that she seemed a little distracted.
Rachel looked up, "I..."
"If there is something, you know you can talk to me Rachel, whatever it is."
"I erm…" she pushed a tomato around her plate, "at lunch…" Shelby's heart stopped, had something happened at lunch? Why had nobody told her? She'd taught both Noah and Santana that afternoon, surely they'd have said something.
"What is it Baby?" Shelby tried to stay calm. "
"Kurt came over to talk to us, he said he's having a party on Friday, he erm, his dad and stepmom won't be there but they're only going out for dinner and they've told him it's okay, he's only inviting the glee club and I, I wondered if I could go."
Shelby let out a sigh of relief, nothing bad had happened to her daughter, "of course you can go Baby, if you want to. And if you want to, and it's okay if you don't, you could ask the girls if they want to spend the night here after the party."
Rachel's face lit up, "I, I can have friends stay over?"
"Oh Darling" Shelby reached out to gently cup Rachel's cheek with her hand, "you can have friends stay over any time, I'd prefer it to be a Friday or Saturday, and I don't think I'd be comfortable with the boys staying over, but the girls, then you only have to ask Rach, and if we don't already have plans, then of course you can have them stay over."
"I'll ask them" Rachel smiled, wrapping her arms around Shelby and hugging her tightly, "thanks Mom."
Shelby kissed Rachel's hair, slightly saddened that her daughter felt so grateful for something that most teens would take for granted, "you're welcome Baby."
Friday soon came around and Rachel found out that not only did Shelby not mind Quinn, Brittany and Santana spending the night, she didn't mind them coming over before the party either so they could all get ready together.
"Your Mom's really cool Rachel" Brittany grinned as Shelby left the room to get more drinks for the girls, she'd already helped Quinn with her makeup and curled Brittany's hair for her.
"Yeah Berry" Santana nodded in agreement, "most parents are lame but not your Mom."
"Yeah" Rachel smiled shyly, "I'm lucky to have her."
"You look amazing Baby" Shelby told Rachel once she was ready to go. Having four teenage girls upstairs had been a definite change for her, Shelby used to having Rachel almost constantly by her side, but she'd loved hearing the girls' laughter, and hadn't even minded the volume of the music they'd been playing, Rachel was happy, Rachel was doing things every other teenager did and that was enough to keep Shelby happy.
"Thank you" Rachel smiled, Brittany had done her hair and Quinn and Santana had both done her makeup, and she was wearing a dress she'd 'borrowed' off her aunt, it was a little short, but to Shelby's relief, Rachel had chosen to wear black tights underneath too.
Rachel had been planning on just wearing something she already owned to the party, but when she'd mentioned it to her Aunt, Amy had just smiled and told her, "you know where my wardrobe is if you need anything to wear, nothing fits me anymore" and the two of them had spent an afternoon together, Amy getting Rachel to try on several outfits before they'd decided on the dress.
Shelby kissed Rachel's forehead, "is there anything you need before we go?"
Rachel shook her head, "just this" she whispered, wrapping her arms around her Mom and hugging her tightly.
"Any time" Shelby whispered, "you can have that any time you need it."
"I love you Mom."
Shelby kissed Rachel's forehead, "I love you too Baby, so, so much."
"Sorry" Quinn apologised as she came downstairs with Santana and Brittany, "we're ready now."
"It's okay" Shelby smiled as Rachel finally broke their hug, "now, I might not have been a Mom for long, but I've been a high school teacher for a while, so I won't tell you not to drink because I know you won't listen, but please be sensible, try not to drink too much, and under no circumstances do you, any of you, get in a vehicle with anyone who's been drinking. I'll be there to pick you up at midnight, but if you want a lift home before then, then you all have my number" she told the girls, "you can call me at any time. And if that means I come and pick one of you up and go back for the others later then that's what I'll do okay?"
There was a chorus of 'yes Miss C' and a lone 'yes Mom' from Rachel before Shelby shooed the girls out to the car.
The drive to Kurt's wasn't long and the other girls got out of the car first, giving Rachel a minute with her Mom. "Have a great time Baby" she put her hand on Rachel's cheek, "you can call me at any time, and Aunt Amy knows where you are and she says she's happy for you to call her too, even if you just need to chat for five minutes." Shelby and Amy both knew this party was a big deal for Rachel and knew there was a chance she might start to feel a little overwhelmed by everything and wanted her to know that that was okay.
"Thanks Mom."
"You don't need to thank me" Shelby kissed Rachel's cheek and undid her seatbelt, "now go have a great time and I'll see you later. I love you."
Rachel grinned as she got out of the car and walked over to her friends, pausing only to tell Shelby, "I love you too Mom."
Brittany took hold of Rachel's hand as they walked inside, "you haven't been to a party before have you?"
Rachel shook her head, "no, I haven't" she said quietly.
"Well we'll have a great time" Brittany beamed, "we can dance together and have a lot of fun" she promised.
The house was dark, the music loud, and Rachel was grateful that the glee club were the only people invited, she wasn't sure how she'd feel if the house was full of people. "Rachel!" Noah wrapped her in a hug, almost lifting her from her feet, he'd had a few beers already and was feeling a little buzzed, "you came!"
"Yeah I did" she smiled shyly.
"Come on" he took her hand and pulled her towards the kitchen, "let's get you a drink.
Luckily nobody minded when Rachel said she didn't want to get drunk, Puck handing her a glass of fruit punch, promising that there was no alcohol in it, and, just as Brittany promised, Rachel did find herself haing a great time, they all danced together and Rachel found herself laughing until her stomach hurt. She finally felt like she was beginning to fit in, that she had friends and she was being accepted.
Shelby was watching a movie and grading some papers when her phone rang at almost 10pm and she frowned slightly when she saw Rachel's name flashing on her screen, "Hi Baby."
"Mom, can you, can you come and get us please?"
"Rachel?" Shelby frowned, hearing the slight quiver in her daughter's voice, "of course I can, what's wrong, has something happened?" she asked, pulling on her shoes and grabbing a jacket before making her way out to the car, connecting her phone to the hands free system and beginning to drive, not needing her daughter to ask twice.
"Finn invited the football team, they got really drunk and they started a fight. Some other boys split it up but Kurt called his Dad and he came back and sorted everything out but we, we don't want to stay."
"Okay Baby, I'm in the car now, I'm on my way, I won't be long, where are you? Are you safe?"
"Yeah, Finn's Mom made us all some tea, we're in the kitchen."
"Okay" Shelby's heart stopped racing quite so much when she knew her daughter was safe.
"Mom" Shelby barely heard Rachel's whisper.
"Yes Baby?"
"The erm, the boys, they were going to stay here with Finn but they erm, they don't really want to stay now, I wondered if they could come to our house instead." She knew Shelby had already said she wasn't comfortable with having boys stay over so she wasn't sure if she'd be angry by her request.
"Sure" Shelby wasn't keen on a group of teenage boys spending the night in the same house as her daughter and her teenage friends but she understood that these were unusual circumstances, "as long as they don't mind sleeping on the couch."
"Thank you Momma."
"It's no problem Baby, I'll be there as soon as I can" she promised. She pulled up outide the Hummel-Hudson house around fifteen minutes later and knocked on the door, "Shelby Corcoran" she held out her hand to the man who answered the door, "I'm Rachel's Mom."
"Burt Hummel" he shook the outstretched hand, "Kurt's Dad, they're all through in the kitchen, I'm sorry about this, I told Kurt he could have his glee friends over, Finn didn't say anything about inviting anyone else, he probably knew we'd say no if he asked" he said as he took Shelby through to the kitchen.
"It's not your fault" Shelby reassured the man, "I assume nobody got hurt, that's the most important thing."
"And my house is still standing" Burt chuckled.
"Always a good thing" Shelby smiled as she found the group of teenagers gathered in the kitchen, Kurt and Blaine still with Rachel and the group of teenagers that would be spending the night at Shelby's house.
Shelby was introduced to Carole and she thanked both her and Burt for looking after everyone, she could tell her daughter was a little shaken and was glad she'd had someone there with her, "are you taking them all home?" Burt asked.
"Yeah" Shelby nodded, "I assume you're keeping Kurt and Blaine though."
Burt nodded, "they're stuck with us, do you need me to drive some of them back for you?"
"If that's not too much trouble" Shelby nodded, "that would be a great help, I was going to make two trips."
"Don't worry about it" Burt shook his head, "give me your address and I'll follow you back."
Thanks to Burt it wasn't long at all before Shelby had everyone in her home, changed into pyjamas and crammed onto the couches in her living room, "is anyone hungry?" she asked. Unsurprisingly most of the boys said they were, but what surprised Shelby most was that Rachel said that she was hungry too. "How about I order pizza?" she suggested, "then you can watch a movie in the basement or something before you go to sleep?"
It didn't take long for Shelby to order enough pizza for everyone before shooing the group into the basement, "Mom" she noticed Rachel hanging back.
"Are you okay?" Shelby opened her arms and Rachel almost flew into her embrace."
"Are you mad?" Rachel whispered.
Shelby frowned, "why would I be mad?"
"About the party."
"Oh Baby" Shelby hugged Rachel a little tighter, "it wasn't your fault, you didn't invite the football players. You didn't cause a fight, what you did do was call me when you needed to and that was absolutely the right thing to do, I'm not mad, and if there's another party in the future that you want to go to, what happened tonight won't stop me allowing you to go."
"Thank you"
Shelby kissed Rachel's hair, "you've got nothing to thank me for Baby. Now you go have fun with your friends, I'll bring the pizza down when it gets here.
Shelby had never imagined she'd be getting into bed at gone midnight knowing that there were seven teenagers sleeping in her house, but she was just glad to see Rachel happy, to see her wanting to socialise with her peers, and she was glad that Rachel and her friends saw her house as a safe place to be. She was grateful that they all seemed to have heeded her warning too, Noah, Santana and Brittany seemed a little buzzed, but the others didn't seem drunk at all.
She was surprised at how quickly the teens settled after she'd told them it was time for them to sleep, she'd sent them to bed at midnight and by 12.30 the house had been quiet and Shelby hadn't heard a peep from them all night. She made her way downstairs the next morning, smiling as she saw Matt and Mike still asleep, laid at opposite ends of the sofa, covered by the thin throw blanket. What surprised her though was Noah, he too was fast asleep but he was sat upright in the armchair, Rachel curled up in his lap, also fast asleep as he cradled her in his arms. Shelby wasn't sure what was going on there but she knew she'd be speaking to her daughter about it once her friends had left, but that was something to worry about later. Now all she had to worry about was what on earth she was going to feed seven teenagers for their breakfast!