Neither Corcoran mother/daughter shifted much in their sleep however Shelby did stir when she felt Rachel shifting her little body on top of her. She gently patted her diapered bottom in a soothing manner to settle her back down and once Rachel's hand was back in it's new 'favorite place' she did just that.
The next time Shelby woke up it was to Rachel patting both of her breasts while straddling her mothers waist and bouncing up and down chanting in a sing-songy way, "Mommy, my mommy, mommy, my mommy," through her pacifier.
Shelby couldn't wipe the smile off her face if she tried, hearing her daughter say mommy, a word she never thought she'd hear melted her completely. She still had no idea what happened yesterday to her daughter, but was trying to focus on the here and now of it all. Shelby gripped Rachel's waist to stop the bouncing that was currently taking place on her bladder and opened her eyes smiling up at the sparkling big doe brown eyes that were waiting for her expectantly.
"Hi my beautiful baby girl," Shelby said, copying Rachel's 'my' possessive streak. Rachel beamed and leaned in closing the distance between them taking out her binky and placing a slobber kiss on her mothers lips. Shelby held her close and peppered kisses all over Rachel's face causing Rachel to squeal in excitement and squirm around in her mommy's arms.
"Mommy, my mommy tisses!"
"I'm going to give you all the kisses in the world," Shelby exclaimed, peppering Rachel with even more kisses, her heart warming hearing her daughters laughter fill the room. She knew how little Rachel was—she had already broken down about it last night after Rachel fell asleep: pure skin and bones—she truly looked like a baby not a three year old and it broke her heart so she was being very gentle but hearing the laughter caused her heart to swell.
Rachel abruptly sat up in her mothers lap and stared down so brown bore into green, "What is it baby?" Shelby feared the worst, she had no idea what happened as one minute they were both laughing and now Rachel looked extremely serious.
"Mommy," she whispered, "Me nakey."
Shelby tried so hard to keep a straight face but it was so hard—Rachel's face read as if she was just realizing this fact and it was the cutest thing Shelby had seen. Her little baby in a diaper, who was asleep on her all night with one hand claiming her mothers breast as her own suddenly has this need to be modest.
"I know sweetie, it's okay. Your new clothes are in the dryer, they were getting nice and clean for you while we slept and you're too little to wear mommy's clothes so you slept in a diaper and mommy kept you nice and warm all night long right?"
Rachel seemed to consider this answer. It was true, mommy did keep her nice and warm, and she snubble me all night, an me getted her booby, an a baf, an a new dipee, an binky. Her daddy never gave her new clothes though, or anything else like her mommy did. What Rachel didn't know is that after Leroy died, Hiram would occasionally let the next door neighbor check in on Rachel and that's when she would get a bath and changed—other than that, she didn't get anything.
"Otay mommy." And just like that, Rachel accepted this response and crashed back into Shelby with a big 'oomph' as they snuggled together again.
"How about we get you a new diaper and put on some clothes before we eat some breakf—" Shelby turned and looked at the clock and realized it was later than she thought. Damn, I know I can sleep but my poor baby must be exhausted it's already 10:15am. "Something in that little tummy of yours, I know you must be hungry."
Shelby really wished Rachel came with some type of… 'manual' wouldn't be the right word because she has a bunch of nieces and nephews, she's more so concerned about allergies…what would that be called? Shelby thought to herself. She realized she was so deep in thought she didn't hear Rachel's response.
"What did you say baby?"
"Me no hav no cwoves mommy," Rachel held up her hands and shrugged her little shoulders. Although, she was hungry, and both she and her mother heard her little tummy grumble.
"You do have clothes baby, they are in the dryer. Come on, let's go get them and mommy will make you something for your talking tummy."
After a quick diaper change and brushing of their teeth, Shelby wrapped Rachel up in a blanket and carried her downstairs so she wouldn't get cold even though the house was warm. She opened the dryer and pulled out a pair of little black leggings and a pink shirt that says mommy's girl.
Rachel gasped seeing the clothes, she didn't know how her mommy had clothes in this magical machine but it made her so happy and they were just her size. And the pink socks made her feet feel nice and warm too which made her smile. Then her mommy brushed her hair, putting it in pigtails and threw on a pair of her own sweatpants that were in the 'magical room' too, or in other words, the laundry room.
"Alright little one, let's see what mommy has that you might like to eat." She had yet to look through all the Target bags last night but something caught her attention before she even opened the fridge, Gerber Baby Puffs—even though Rachel wasn't a baby, she knew Holly and Cass must have grabbed a bunch of things because April told them to 'grab everything' and for that she was very grateful.
She was also grateful for the fact she had a huge kitchen island where she sat Rachel down in the middle as she had yet to get a high chair. She opened the can and laid out a few, putting a few in her mouth as well realizing they melted and tasted like strawberries and bananas and weren't half bad. "Here baby, taste some of these, they are yummy."
Rachel picked one up and looked at it then put it in her mouth like her mommy just did and smiled as it melted, then she picked up a few more and did it again until the small pile was gone. Shelby then found her signing for more which Shelby found to be impressive so she gave her more while opening the fridge. She saw a bunch of fresh fruit and eggs, she knew she had pancake mix, but didn't know if Rachel had any allergies. She decided for today she would keep a list of everything and anything Rachel ate until they went to the doctor.
Shelby cut up some fruit and watched as Rachel's face lit up with each bite she took, strawberries, bananas, grapes, blueberries, you name it, Rachel loved it. Shelby decided to settle with oatmeal for now seeing as it was simple, and somewhat bland but she could add some fruit with it to make it 'fun'.
After breakfast, Shelby could tell Rachel was already getting tired again and felt badly for her poor little angel. They'd played with a few of the toys Cass and Holly had picked out, but Rachel's patience was running out and she was starting to get fussy. She didn't want to play anymore, she didn't want to watch anymore of Sofia the TV show Shelby had put on, she just wanted her mommy and she wanted milk.
Cass and Holly were smart enough to pick up some bottles along with plenty of sippy cups and Shelby filled one with some milk then scooped Rachel into her arms as they sat back on the couch rocking back and forth—she gently glided the nipple of the bottle over Rachel's lips until the baby took the bottle and started to sing quietly to calm her down. When the bottle was halfway gone, Rachel was sound asleep in her mothers arms, one hand still claiming her mothers breast.
Shelby swapped the nipple of the bottle for her pacifier and watched her baby girl sleep peacefully in her arms. She really needed to check her phone—now would be the perfect time but seeing this beautiful little baby in her arms, there was just something so peaceful, so perfectly amazing about it. Just a few more minutes.
15 minutes later Shelby laid Rachel down on the huge sectional knowing there was no possible way she could roll off and powered on her phone. Damn, she missed a lot. Whoops. Most were from her best friends, a voicemail from the detectives, one confirming the doctors appointment later, two from her publicist Amy one sounding much more urgent than the other which Shelby just rolled her eyes to—yes Amy, I do realize this is important, it's my life she thought to herself.
The last was from Katie making sure she was okay and if she needed anything to let her know, even though it was her day off. Katie really deserved a raise. She also had text messages from David, Al, Mike and Joe 'just checking in'—she worked with amazing people.
After sending off a picture to the group chat of her best friends of a sleeping Rachel with a huge thank you for everything they've already done saying she'd check in later, she replied to everyone else before calling Amy.
She really needed to call her family—but figured right now she needed to get through the doctors appointment first and the meeting with the detectives to get a better idea of what the hell happened to her baby before she let herself fully breakdown which she knew would happen when she called her family.
Shelby checked on Rachel once more making sure she was sound asleep before stepping into the kitchen where she still had a clear view of her baby girl just in case she started to wake up but was far enough away where she could start to make some phone calls. Her first one being the dreaded Amy. Normally, she had no problem talking to Amy—interview set up here, fitting here, do you want to do this magazine shoot or this one? But today, this was a whole different phone call.
Shelby had a decision to make—she knew once Rachel was 'announced' to the world, that was it. There was no turning back which was fine because she would never ever want to hide her baby girl—what she did want to do was protect her from the paparazzi who followed her everywhere. To get coffee on her day off, to sit in Central Park 'just because', on the way to get into a cab to meet up with her friends—wherever Shelby went, they went. Which would cause a media frenzy.
It seemed as if the second she pressed the call button Amy picked up, "Where have you been all day? I've been trying to reach you, I've tried April, Holly, Cass, I even tried Joe and Mike to see if they knew why you weren't answering you phone. Do you know how this looks? How the media is going to see this? Did you even think for one second 'Oh maybe I should inform my publicist about this as a precautionary measure because you never know what could happen when you're a BROADWAY STAR?'"
Throughout Amy's rant Shelby pinched the bridge of her nose and took another sip of her coffee to try and calm herself down—she needed the caffeine today. Normally she drank tea for her vocal chords but today, she had a beautiful baby girl who required all of her attention, a doctors appointment where she needed to be completely focused along with a meeting with the detectives that needed all of her energy.
And although Amy was practically screaming into the phone, Shelby knew she couldn't raise her voice because Rachel was sound asleep on the couch so she calmly said, "Amy, I had no idea this would happen and before you jump down my throat again—yes, I'm fully aware I had a baby. I've kept my private life very private for a reason so don't take it personally."
Shelby choked back her tears and Amy felt badly for yelling, "Almost three years ago I was a surrogate for a gay couple in Lima, Ohio—during my pregnancy, they could see I was becoming extremely attached to my little girl and they practically forced me to sign a contract stating I couldn't see her until she turned 18 years old. So I'll repeat myself by saying, I had no idea this would happen."
"Shelby, I'm so sorry. I don't even—okay so umm…" Shelby could hear the wheels turning in Amy's mind trying to come up with what they were going to do next.
"Before you come up with a statement, I want you to know I have a doctors appointment with Rachel today at 1pm and a meeting with the detectives at 4pm in hopes to squeeze a little nap in between the two for the little angel who is currently sound asleep again after waking up at 10:15 this morning. And no, I don't want to release anything before I speak with my family but first I need to talk with the detectives and find out how the hell my baby was wandering outside the theatre last night all alone."
For once in her life, Amy didn't know what to say. She knew Shelby had reconnected with this mystery child that was hers but didn't know any of the details. Outside? Alone? It was snowing last night…she's not even three. What the fuck? Shelby must be freaking the hell out. Okay pull yourself together Amy.
"Alright, I agree with you Shelby—but I am going to type something up, at least get working on it so when you do speak with the detectives and see the doctor I'll have something for you to show them. Does that sound okay?"
Shelby agreed that sounded like a good idea, maybe the detectives had something they could add, or something they wouldn't agree with—a spin to make it sound better or less horrific than the truth of it all. They hung up, Amy promising to get to work right away and stating she would be there if they needed anything. Shelby saw movement from Rachel and immediately went into the living room so she wouldn't be scared.
Rachel had been asleep for about an hour now—she was acting more as if she was a baby than a three year old, needing more sleep than your average little one; than again, Shelby had nothing to base her behavior on because she doesn't know what happened to her baby.
Rachel woke up to fingers gently rubbing over her tummy, it was a strange feeling—not in a bad way, but in a soothing, nice way unlike anything she had ever experienced before. Because her hair was in little pigtails, Shelby couldn't run her fingers through it, so she chose to rub Rachel's little belly and it seemed to calm her down and then she saw those chocolate brown eyes flutter open.
While Rachel napped, Shelby had also done a quick wash of the brown and pink giraffe although she knew it was supposed to be completely pink—she had actually been the one to leave it in the baby's crib before leaving the Berry house and broke down into tears seeing Rachel so attached to it. Even though she didn't have it last night, Shelby knew Rachel would be very excited to see her clean furry friend today; hence why the little giraffe went through the quick cycle.
Shelby was still dressed in sweats and her t-shirt from last night, but she had taken care of what she thought was more crucial: getting her baby in some clothes, fed, they played for a bit, down for a nap, responded to her friends, confirmed their appointments and then spoke with Amy. Getting herself ready was the least of her concerns right now.
Shelby had the giraffe next to her on the other side of the couch so when Rachel fully woke up, it would be there as a surprise—but right now they were both very content. Or so Shelby thought until Rachel practically threw herself into her mommy's arms, pacifier still in her mouth and snuggled into her chest with a dramatic sigh. "Hi baby girl, did you have a nice nap?"
Shelby rubbed little circles on Rachel's back as the little one once again snuck her hand up her mothers shirt and held onto what was in her mind 'her booby' and nodded. Shelby knew she was going to have to talk to the doctor about this, but she honestly didn't mind—if this is what her baby needs for comfort, so be it. Shelby remembers doing something similar at Rachel's age with her own mother although I'm not sure it was under her shirt…either way it was okay.
"Look what I have for you…" Shelby said as Rachel turned her head and the mother held up a clean and baby scented detergent clean giraffe. Rachel squealed in excitement and with her free hand grabbed it holding it close.
"Raffy mommy, ou ind im!" Rachel explained.
"I did find him. Do you want to know something really special about 'Raffy' sweetie?" Rachel nodded but made no effort to move. "When you were just a little itty bitty baby in mommy's tummy, mommy used to snuggle with Raffy at night while I sang to you. And when you were born, I put Raffy in your crib so you could always have mommy snuggles whenever you held onto him."
To that, Rachel just snuggled her mommy and Raffy closer and yawned. Clearly her little angel face was still exhausted and Shelby couldn't blame her. Not only did they not go to bed until around 1:30am, (after a show and a long ass day for Shelby) but the mother couldn't fathom what Rachel went through yesterday.
She felt badly, but while Rachel was so content, and in her sleepy state she wanted to take advantage of this to see if she could get anywhere with figuring out how Rachel ended up outside the theatre all alone. Shelby hit record on her phone knowing the detectives could use this if she got anything out of it and if not, she would just delete it.
"Baby, can mommy ask you some questions?"
Rachel nodded against her chest and she took this as an okay—proceeding cautiously, Shelby asked in her super soft voice, "How did you get to mommy last night? Do you remember?"
She felt Rachel tense in her arms and a wet stain on her shirt but after rubbing her back again, the baby calmed herself down enough to hiccup out, "D-dad-dy b-in-ged m-me. He ay," Rachel sat up in Shelby's lap, luckily not seeing the phone recording and stared into her mothers sparkling green eyes, "ou m-ommy e-re," Rachel pointed her finger in a stern way although she wasn't pointing it at Shelby just in the air as if she was re-enacting what happened. "Be a do-od di-rl cuz oo ba me."
Then Rachel looked down at her lap as the tears flooded her eyes. As much as Shelby wanted to wrap Rachel up in her arms and never let go, she continued to rub her back as comfort and let Rachel continue seeing there was more.
"No told fom ky mo-mmy me no toat, jus wan oo me no fine oo doe. Dats it," Rachel shrugged and crashed into Shelby's chest. Shelby's heart broke and she knew she was pushing her daughter but wanted to be sure to hopefully help the detectives—Shelby knew how scared Rachel was last night and didn't want to see her daughter that upset again today.
"So daddy brought you to the theater last night and said that I would be there, and then told you to be a good girl for me?" to which, Rachel nodded. She didn't repeat the part where Hiram told Rachel she was a 'bad girl' for him.
"And you were cold because the snow was falling from the sky and you didn't have a coat, so you were trying super hard to find me?" Shelby choked back her own tears and Rachel nodded again. She didn't want to talk about this anymore so she snuggled further into Shelby if that was even possible to which Shelby snuggled her back and hummed for a bit to settle Rachel and herself down.
That son of a bitch left my baby outside in the cold, in New York fucking City all alone where ANYTHING could have happened to her—without a coat, with a fucking note attached to her in hopes that someone would just miraculously bring her to me? Did he not realize how many people could have used my baby as leverage to get to me? I'm going to fucking kill him. Okay reel it in—calm your heart rate, you're an actress, keep going Rachel needs you.
"Baby, were you outside for a little amount of time or a long time?" How the hell is she supposed to know about time? You idiot Shelby…think about the snow. When did it start? Al said it started around 11:30pm, the show ends at 11pm that means if I'm not even going to say his name left my baby outside assuming I'd be out by the stage door at 11:30pm and wanted to make a clean getaway…
"Were you outside before it started to snow? Or did it just start to snow when daddy left you outside baby?" Shelby did not miss the way Rachel tensed every time Shelby used the word 'daddy' but she didn't know how else to phrase it.
Rachel thought about her answer. She didn't know how to tell time, but then her mommy asked about the snow and she knew that was the white stuff that was cold and fell from the sky and she didn't like it because she didn't have a coat.
"Me umm," Rachel sat back again and looked at Shelby hoping it would help her remember, then she looked at her giraffe and it's as if everything came back to her. She remembered how dirty he got because she was dragging him along with her and he turned brown but now he was pink again.
"Mommy Raffy int adain! No itky oun!"
Shelby played along with the distraction, "I know baby, because mommy washed him for you. He is all pink again instead of the icky brown because he's clean just for you to snuggle with."
Suddenly Rachel became serious again and Shelby knew she was thinking hard about it, "Me ou for no cuz daddy do way no ee oo." Rachel covered her eyes then looked at Shelby and smiled. "Me ee oo doe mommy." Then she collided back into Shelby's arms with an 'oomph'.
"So you were out there before the snow because daddy didn't want to see me, but you did want to see me?" Rachel nodded again.
And that's when Shelby stopped recording—she had enough of the questioning. She figured between the letter of Hiram apparently 'fleeing', parental rights being terminated, and what Rachel said, she had been through enough and if the detectives needed to know more they'd have to face momma bear.
Even though they were sending over the female detectives this time, one of whom was the lieutenant, another who was a different one than last night because apparently this squad specializes in working with children, Shelby was already overprotective. Plus, as much as she wanted to find the son of a bitch and lock him away for good—did these people really think they'd find him? Shelby didn't want to think about it right now.
"Alright baby, do you want to watch a movie with mommy before we have some lunch? Or should we play with some of your toys?"
Rachel was feeling extra snuggly and decided on a movie—having nieces and nephews, even though they were much older now the youngest one being 7 meant Shelby still had Disney plus linked to her tv where they put on The Little Mermaid and snuggled under the blanket together.
A while later, the mother daughter duo was up in Shelby's bathroom where Rachel insisted they shower together even though the baby was clean and to be honest, so was Shelby but it was a habit to her. So here they were in the shower together while Shelby sang songs from the movie to her daughter while they washed up.
After that, she got Rachel redressed and dressed herself, set Rachel up with some toys while she applied the slightest bit of makeup to cover the bags under her eyes and off they went to the doctors. Shelby had written everything they had for lunch which Rachel seemed to love once again. The mother was afraid to give her PB and J, not knowing if she had a nut allergy, but Rachel loved it and it had already been 35 minutes and she was absolutely fine.
They met Joe and Mike downstairs where Rachel hid herself in the crook of her mothers neck nearly trying to bury herself into Shelby's coat as well—they had already called the police to keep the paparazzi away even though nobody knew about Rachel yet. In the town car that drove Shelby around, there was already a car seat installed for 'the princess' which earned Joe points in Rachel's little eyes. Mike was getting there because he gave her a sugar free lollipop. It's as if they were competing for the little girls love which Shelby thought to be funny.
At the doctors office, Shelby did her best to try and keep Rachel against her chest which wasn't hard to do considering Rachel didn't like any part of this. She wanted to go back home and snuggle with mommy, not be here even though she didn't know what here was. She heard other kids, she heard whispers, Shelby heard her name multiple times, she also saw the backs of Mike and Joe who stood in front of her blocking any pictures that could be taken.
"Rachel Corcoran," a nurse called out.
Shelby stood up with the diaper bag which she once again thanked Holly and Cass for—she had packed a sippy cup with water, more baby puffs, a change of clothes, extra diapers, a few pairs of socks, some books, and some small toys just in case—Rachel was still against her chest and hiding. Mike and Joe waited until they were behind the closed door and then turned to sit in the waiting room to wait for the text that they were finished.
The nurse looked at her fellow friends at the office as to say, 'look at who my patients mom is' signaling Shelby who politely smiled but internally rolled her eyes. Part of her wished she brought Mike and Joe back here until they got to the room.
"My name is Mae and I'll be your nurse today—Dr. Robbins is the best; she'll be in shortly. Mom if you could just get Rachel into this little gown that would be great. Let me know if you need anything, diaper can stay on." And with that, she left the room letting Shelby actually roll her eyes.
After Rachel was changed, she clung onto Shelby like a koala bear, afraid if she let go, her mommy would disappear. She now realized what this place was—she had been to one of these before with her daddy and her daddy didn't stay with her, he left and she screamed the entire time wanting someone to hold her.
Shelby could feel her baby shaking and felt like the worst mother ever—she knew this was not only mandatory for CPS (which was bs if you asked her) but mandatory for her own peace of mind because she needed her baby to be safe, and healthy which right now she knew Rachel wasn't. Okay, she was safe, but she wasn't healthy. Shelby started singing to Rachel while rocking back and forth, and slowly but shortly, the grip Rachel had on Shelby lessened just a little bit.
"Mommy's right here baby, and I'm not going anywhere. I'll be here the entire time—the doctor just needs to make sure you're healthy and make sure mommy keeps you nice and strong."
"Pomise?" Rachel's voice was so small and broken Shelby almost didn't hear it.
"I promise baby, I'm not going anywhere. It's me and you, forever and ever."
Dr. Arizona Robbins chose that moment to knock on the door sending Rachel to climb further up Shelby's body trying to make herself as small as possible even though she was practically the size of a baby to begin with. She had been informed of everything from the detectives, and had seen Shelby perform countless times. Arizona and her wife Callie are huge fans of Shelby, but seeing her right now, Arizona saw a different side of the actress.
She saw her as just another person, a mother, a very new and very young mother who was clearly overwhelmed and wanted to do everything to help her baby.
"Hi Ms. Corcoran, my name is Dr. Robbins and this little munchkin must be Rachel."
The actress cut her off, "Shelby, please call me Shelby."
Arizona nodded, "Alright Shelby, it looks like someone is a little shy."
"She is—we've had a big morning and to say the last 24 hours have been eventful would be an understatement. I know you've spoken with the detectives so you know what's going on—as you know I was a surrogate, obviously things have changed and I'm honestly happier than I've ever been. Nothing compares to filling the hole I've had in my heart for the past almost three years—" Shelby choked up and stopped to compose herself.
"I know she's tiny—too tiny. And I'm prepared to do absolutely anything and everything. I've checked her over myself both last night, well technically I guess it was this morning as somehow we ended up in the bath around 1am. Don't worry I want to get her on a schedule so that won't be an everyday thing but last night was obviously anything but ordinary. Besides being way too small, there are no cuts, bruises, there isn't anything I can see. I've been nervous about what to feed her because I'm unsure about allergies so I've written everything down—so far everything we've eaten she loves. There is a fascination with my breasts, and I'm not sure if you read the letter that is now with the detectives or not but it seems like that's been a constant although with two men there was obviously nothing they could do. I umm, I'm not really sure what I can do either considering it's been almost three years now and I'm no longer producing any milk so…"
Shelby finally took her eyes off her daughter and looked at Arizona who was biting her lip as if to keep herself from either smiling or laughing, "I'm rambling aren't I? I'm sorry I tend to do that when I'm nervous, or anxious, or—"
Arizona cut her off, "Or you want the best for your daughter. I understand, Shelby. You're doing amazing, trust me. I can already see it by the way she's looking up at you and the position she's sitting in—that's true comfort. Not to mention the hand that's down your shirt."
Shelby looked down and for the second time in years almost felt embarrassed, although this time she wasn't. "When you're constantly having people change you all day, something like this doesn't seem like such a big deal," Shelby shrugged. Rachel's hand was in her shirt but not in her bra.
"I was going to comment on that—but it seems as if the little munchkin has found her comfort. Also, as you mentioned you want to do anything to keep her healthy. There are supplements of course, fruits and veggies definitely, eating three meals a day and snacks although I'm going to go out on a limb here and say her body isn't accustomed to that. I may be overstepping here so tell me if I am, would you be open to breastfeeding?"
Shelby looked down into her daughters gorgeous brown eyes and smiled, "I'd do anything for my little baby," then looked back at the doctor, "but like I said, it's been almost three years, there's not going to be any milk. I'm as dry as the desert."
Arizona chuckled a bit, "I realize that but we would talk with your doctor as well to induce lactation. And because it seems as though someone is so eager to start, I could make a call and have a script ready for you as early as today—your milk would come in as soon as 5-8 days by taking a pill three times a day. It not only would help little miss Rachel gain weight, and help her immune system, but it would help your bonding even more; although you two seem to have that part covered," she winked.
Then she became serious, "My wife and I have two children, my one and a half year old is bigger than your little one so when I say breastfeeding and getting weight onto her little body is your top priority I mean it." Arizona saw the tears welling in Shelby's eyes and felt badly for comparing the two but she didn't mean it in a bad way.
"Oh honey," Arizona knew she was older than Shelby—it was common knowledge Shelby Corcoran was one of Broadways youngest and most successful actresses in the business. "This isn't because of you. You're doing everything right, you're here now making sure your baby is going to get stronger and become just like her mommy in everyway."
Shelby nodded through the tears she was shedding quickly wiping them away so Rachel wouldn't see them—thankfully she was still very distracted with her giraffe while snuggling into her mommy and listening to her heartbeat with a hand still down Shelby's shirt. She still didn't like it here, but mommy said she wouldn't leave—and right now, Rachel believed her because she was still here even with the grownups talking, one of which was the doctor.
"I will literally do anything for her," Shelby choked out. "If you had the pill here, I'd take it right now. If I could feed lift my shirt and feed her, I would but we both know I can't."
Arizona placed a comforting hand on Shelby's shoulder and nodded, "I know you would, which is why I'm going—" before she got any further she was interrupted by Rachel's little voice and her hand.
"Dis my mommy," Rachel tried to push Arizona's hand off of Shelby's shoulder which Arizona thought to be way too cute.
"I'm so sorry, it seems like she's going through a bit of a possessive, umm, actually, I'm not sure what to call it because I thought it was just with me and my breasts," Shelby fumbled over her words.
Arizona laughed, "It's completely okay. Like I said, my wife and I have two children this is completely normal behavior especially with all this little miss has been through. Now if it continues come later in life we may need to reconsider some things but don't read into it. Rachel you're right, this is your mommy and I'm sorry I touched her shoulder."
"Dat otay," Rachel's soft voice said, before snuggling back into Shelby's chest.
After another 20 minutes, they made it through what Shelby thought was the hardest part of the exam—Rachel's physical. Even though besides her weight she was fine, Rachel screamed through the entire process. That being said, Shelby continued to sing to her the entire time keeping the baby in her lap as both Arizona and Shelby quickly realized it would be the easiest way to get it done quickly and effectively.
Shelby never let go, never stopped singing and reassuring Rachel she was right there, how much she loved her, and how they would look for some new toys after her appointment. Online of course because anything can be delivered same day when you're Shelby Corcoran and in the city that never sleeps. Not to mention, she had three friends and two 'body guards' security details who would search the city high and low for whatever toys Rachel wanted.
Arizona tried to keep her funny personality through the exam, 'I think I see some monkeys in your ears, oh is that an elephant in your nose? But it was clear through Rachel's screams she couldn't hear a word of it so she stopped. After the exam and Rachel calmed down, she scaled Shelby like a koala once again but did accept the sugar free lollipop Arizona handed Shelby for her although she just wanted to hold it while sucking on her pacifier.
All in all, Arizona left the room while Shelby got Rachel redressed to make a phone call to Shelby's doctor so they could start her on Domperidone right away. Downstairs was a pharmacy which Shelby wanted to take full advantage of—Arizona also called for a pump just to help along with setting aside children's Tylenol, diaper rash cream, pedialyte, pediasure, and a thermometer. Pretty much a 'first time moms essential kit that would be put aside for her at the counter for Shelby once she got down there'.
Arizona was going to do everything in her power to help the mother daughter duo not just because she loved the actress Shelby Corcoran, but the person was even better if that's possible. She was so sweet, so independent, but clearly so overwhelmed by everything. Shelby reminded Arizona a lot of herself when Callie and her first decided they wanted to start a family and by then, they were both established in their careers, married, and were actually planning it.
Rachel had worn herself out at the doctors and by the time Shelby thanked Arizona who she now saw more as a friend than a doctor, which was hard to do because when you're famous it's very difficult to differentiate who wants to be your friend for fame and who wants to actually be your friend for you—either way, she thanked her, text the boys and met them outside carrying a sleeping Rachel in her arms. Joe took the diaper bag which Shelby thanked him for and then they went downstairs to the pharmacy.
Once that was set, they made it back to the apartment after taking a few extra loops to make sure nobody was following them and Shelby felt like she was actually able to breathe again. Home sweet home. She updated her friends on Rachel's doctors appointment, broke down on the phone with April who did everything she could to support her through the phone then told her to 'pull yourself together for my little niece because when she wakes up, she's gonna need her mommy not a hot mess'.
Leave it to April to kick her ass into gear—but it worked and Shelby was able to clean herself up and read over the first draft Amy had typed up. It seemed good, especially after what she had learned from Rachel this morning. Now they had to get ready to meet the detectives later and Shelby was hoping they were better than the assholes she dealt with last night. Then again, it felt like everyone she dealt with last night was an asshole. Hopefully the visit with these detectives will go better than the screaming and crying my poor little baby endured at the doctors office along with her horrible experience last night and honestly, the last almost three years of her life…