A/N – Thank you all so much for the reviews and notes and alerts and everything. I'm glad you all like this one. I'm enjoying writing it. Here is the next chapter. Please leave me a review and let me know what you think. Thanks!

In other news, I got a ticket to see Barbra Streisand in concert. I got a ticket to see Barbra Streisand in concert! I'm so excited. I cannot wait until October. I've got tickets to see Idina twice this summer too. It's going to be amazing.

Disclaimer – I don't own Glee.

Rachel finished getting ready for the show that night in record speed and her fathers were duly impressed. When Hiram asked why she couldn't get ready that quickly at home, Rachel shushed him and followed Shelby out of the room. Rachel didn't want to miss a moment with Shelby, especially at the theater. She'd thrown together an overnight bag so quickly she wasn't really sure she had everything she needed.

Shelby took them to a small café that was a favorite of hers. They needed to eat before the show and she knew they were quick because she was going to have to get back soon. Rachel ordered the same thing Shelby did because she said it sounded good.

"How's your family, Shelby?" LeRoy asked once they had their meals.

"About the same," Shelby said. "Nothing ever changes. My parents still live in Indiana and I don't see them that often."

That had been the case when she was pregnant too. Shelby had graduated high school at 17 and taken off for New York City and NYU. She'd graduated at twenty-one with close to $12 in her pocket and nowhere to live. Going home had been a necessary evil at the time. She'd been let go from a job for dumping a pitcher of beer on a customer when he tried to kiss her. She'd auditioned and looked for another waitressing job until the day she boarded a bus to take her back home. She just need a few months and some more money and she'd be back. All of her professors had gushed over how talented she was, but nothing had paid off yet. The fickle nature of her chosen business wore on her and she needed a break. She'd work and save until the end of the year and then she'd be back in New York.

Life with her parents was just as hard as it had ever been. They didn't understand Shelby and she didn't understand them. According to them, she was wasting her time and money on a pipe dream. She accused them of never travelling outside of the ten miles around their house. They wouldn't know a dream if it came up and slapped them in the face, she'd once told them.

She hadn't saved as much as she wanted by the end of the year, but she had to get out of there. She was reading through the paper one day when she saw the advertisement for a surrogate. Her eyes had bulged out when she saw how much they were willing to pay. She could live in New York City off of that money for over two years. That would give her a chance to audition and work and save. She'd made the call without hesitation. That was her ticket out of the Midwest for good. The reality of a baby hadn't even really occurred to her until she'd met with the men and started the application process.

Could she give up a baby? She was twenty-one; she wasn't ready for a baby. Plus she didn't have any experience with them. She was an only child and only had a few distant cousins. She'd babysat a few times as a teenager, but those kids were normally older. And she liked Hiram and LeRoy immediately. They were everything her parents weren't. They were warm and loving and she knew they'd be great with a baby. She signed the contract with little hesitation.

And then she heard a heartbeat. And then the baby kicked. And then they found out she was a little girl. Shelby's heart had ached.

"Why not?" Rachel asked. "Don't they ever come and see your shows?"

"Sometimes," Shelby shrugged. "They came when it first opened. They don't really like New York."

"What?" Rachel asked, stunned. Who didn't like New York?

"We're just very different," Shelby told her.

"But-"

"How long do you think your run in this show will last?" Hiram asked, cutting Rachel off.

"I'm not sure," Shelby sent him a small smile. "I hadn't really thought much about it. I'll go at least a year."

"But what would you do then?" Rachel asked. She couldn't quite fathom being in an amazing show and then deciding to leave it.

"I don't know," Shelby said. "Take a break. Work on something else. There are always possibilities."

"You could come to Lima and see me," Rachel said. She'd blurted it out so quickly that she wasn't really sure if she'd actually said it. "If you want, I mean. You don't have to."

"That would be my very first choice of places to visit," Shelby told her with a gentle smile. "I want to take a look of that poster you have on your bedroom wall."

Rachel flushed red and she looked over at LeRoy and whined, "Daddy!"

"Sorry, Rach," LeRoy said with a low chuckle. "You know how much I love that story."

Rachel let out an indignant huff as she took another bite of her sandwich.

There were a few fans hovering by the stage door as Shelby and Rachel approached. Shelby took some time to sign a few things and take a few pictures before she let Rachel inside once more. Rachel's awe was the same as it had been before and, again, Shelby had to guide her to move forward. There were more people around now and, to Rachel, it felt like there was an electric buzz of excitement that came from every corner of the theater. She already anticipated this being one of the greatest nights of her life.

"Hey, Shelby," Marcus appeared again. "You brought your friend back."

"Yeah," Shelby answered. "She's going to watch the show tonight and so I thought I would bring her along early to let her see what goes on backstage."

"Sounds like fun," Marcus joked, but Rachel missed his sarcasm.

"Everything looks so magical," Rachel said.

Shelby gave Marcus a pointed look that warned him not to burst Rachel's bubble. He'd been doing this so long, being backstage at a Broadway theater normal and commonplace. He understood and nodded at Shelby.

"It is," he agreed with her. "If you've got a minute, I'll show you what I do."

"Really?" Rachel asked.

"Sure, come on," Marcus said.

"Give us a second to take our jackets off," Shelby said. "We'll find you in a bit later."

"Sounds good," Marcus was agreeable.

He left them as Shelby led the way towards her dressing room. A voice called out and stopped them as they passed an open room.

"Hey, Shelby," Allison Young yelled from her dressing room.

"Hi, Ali," Shelby stopped and poked her head in and saw her young co-star along with some of the other younger actors in the show. "What's going on?"

"We're just making plans for later," Allison answered. "Who's your friend?"

"Oh, everyone this is Rachel Berry. She's a… family friend," Shelby finally finished and Rachel looked up at her. "She's never seen the show, but she'll be watching tonight. I'm just showing her around backstage. Rachel, this is-"

"Allison Young," Rachel finished. She stepped confidently into the room and held her hand out for the other girl to shake. "I'm a huge fan of yours."

"Thanks," Allison said sweetly and returned the handshake while a couple of the others did their best not to snicker. Allison sized Rachel up in an effort to gauge how old she was. Rachel didn't have on one of her normal skirts, but a regular dress and jacket. Ali wasn't quite sure what to make of the red headband in her hair though. "Listen, we're all going out after the show if you want to join us."

It took Rachel a moment to try and wrap her head around the fact that she'd just been invited to hang out with people on Broadway and while she was working to formulate a response, her mother stepped in and spoke up for her.

"No, I'm afraid she can't this time," Shelby said.

"You can come too, Shelby," Allison said. It's not like it would be the first time the cast had gone out after a show.

"Not tonight," Shelby said. Allison may only be nineteen, but Shelby knew firsthand how much that girl could drink. Not that she had any room to talk, she'd been the same way when she was nineteen. The only difference was she had been a nobody and Allison was up and coming and quite well known in the theater community. Rachel might want to come and make her home on Broadway, but Shelby wasn't ready to expose her to anything more than the backstage magic yet. All night parties and hung over performances could come later.

"Are you sure?" Allison asked.

"Yep," Shelby said. "Rain check, alright?"

"Sure," Allison said. "Enjoy the show, Rachel."

"I'm sure I will," Rachel said with a huge smile.

Shelby tugged on Rachel's arm and they left the room and finally made it to Shelby's dressing room. Rachel looked around more thoroughly this time to see what type of pictures her mother had up. There were snapshots stuck in the side of the mirror. There were notes from fans and knick knacks everywhere and a fresh boutique of flowers. Shelby shrugged off her jacket and Rachel did the same.

"I've got a few minutes before I have to start getting ready," Shelby said. "So I can give you a tour and then we'll come back here, ok?"

"Ok," Rachel answered and then was silent for a few moments. "Shelby?"

"Yeah?"

"I understand and all, but I was just wondering… Are you always going to introduce me as a family friend?"

Shelby sighed and took Rachel by the hand and had her sit down on the couch. She took a seat next to the girl and waited for Rachel to meet her gaze.

"For the time being, yes," Shelby answered her question. She watched as Rachel deflated even though she was trying to hide it. "Rachel, this is all so brand new and I'm absolutely thrilled that you are here and that I can get to know you. But I want to keep that between us for the time being. It would take all of about five minutes from the moment I introduce you to someone as my daughter for it to get to the press. I want to get to know you in our own time and to be able to do so privately. I don't want you to be hounded by reporters. I want us to be secure in each other and our relationship before anyone else starts to intrude on it. It's not fair to you or me or your dads."

"I understand," Rachel said. "I just- I'm not sure-"

"What?" Shelby asked kindly.

"I just want to know how I'm supposed to think of you," Rachel said. "I need to know now before I end up being wrong."

"How do you want to think of me?" Shelby asked.

"As my mom," Rachel answered right away. "But if that's not what you want, I have to change how I think about it."

"No," Shelby said quickly. "Don't change anything. You can think of me as your mom. I want you to think that."

"Ok," Rachel gave her a relieved smile. "And I won't mind you calling me your family friend for however long. As long as we know, right?"

"Right," Shelby said. "Now come on, let's take a tour."

Rachel had soaked up every piece of information Shelby was telling her as the woman walked her around the theater. She tried to remember the names of every person she was introduced to and what their jobs were. Everyone was more than willing to talk to Rachel and show her what they did. She felt tears prick in her eyes when they walked out onto the stage. The curtains were open and the hall was empty, but this was so cool.

"Your seats are right there," Shelby pointed to the third row.

"How did you get such good seats for the day of the performance?" Rachel asked. "I know you're the star and all, but what if someone had already purchased those seats?"

There are a few seats around the theater that are held for guests of the cast and crew. If no one wants them, they'll sell them. Sometimes you can get really good seats the day of the show if you visit the box office. If they don't sell, someone will normally call a friend or something so they can come and fill the seat so nothing it empty."

"That's pretty cool," Rachel said. She needed to move to New York now so she could be a seat filler at Broadway shows.

The main spotlight suddenly filled the stage and Rachel blinked at the brightness, but Shelby rolled her eyes and looked up at the back of the hall.

"Thanks, Chuck," Shelby yelled out.

"No problem," a voice called back. He had to go through his lighting checks and didn't really matter who was on stage. People were always walking around.

Rachel's eyes adjusted and she stood up straighter. Shelby watched as Rachel become comfortable with the light and really started to own it. She thought back to what Hiram and LeRoy had said earlier and she couldn't wait to hear Rachel sing.

The spotlight moved off of them and more lights came up around the stage as Shelby checked her watch. "I've got to start getting ready."

Rachel was happy to watch Shelby working on her hair and make-up. She couldn't sit still while she did it though. She moved all about the room, picking up small items or studying pictures. She even read the card on the flowers that were in the room. 'Just because' was the note and it was signed by someone named Brian.

"Who's Brian?" Rachel asked.

"A good friend of mine," Shelby said.

"Are you dating him?" Rachel asked. Shelby coughed on her sip of water at the bluntness of the question.

"Not anymore," Shelby said. "We dated for a while and then called it off. We're still good friends though."

"He still sends you flowers even though you're not dating?" Rachel asked. "It sounds like he still likes you."

"It's complicated," Shelby said.

"Oh," Rachel nodded and looked back at Shelby who had returned to getting ready. Rachel watched with a small smile as Shelby transformed into her character; the one Rachel had seen in countless pictures and in her imagination as she listened to the cast recording over and over again. Shelby was stunning.

Shelby smiled slightly when she caught Rachel staring and she turned around in her chair to look at her. "How do I look?"

"Wonderful," Rachel answered.

"Thank you," Shelby said.

A knock at the door broke up their moment and Marcus entered with Shelby's first costume of the night.

"I'll wait outside," Rachel offered so that Shelby could get changed. She and Marcus left and he moved on to get costumes for other people.

It didn't take long for Rachel to wander away from the closed door and look around by herself. Shelby had given her the grand tour, but she liked this freedom to look around on her own.

"Ok, Rachel, I'm… changed. Rachel?" Shelby looked either way down the hall in front of her dressing room. She saw that Marcus was headed her way again and she stepped out to meet him. "Where did Rachel go?"

"I don't know," Marcus answered.

He moved past her and Shelby snuck a look inside her dressing room once more as if Rachel may have snuck back in when she wasn't looking. Shelby picked up her phone and then started her search.

"Great," she mumbled to herself. "I lost her after only a few hours; they're never going to let me see her again."

Shelby looked everywhere and asked everyone, but it seemed as if no one had seen Rachel. It was getting close to show time and Rachel was going to have to go and meet up with her fathers soon. She had to be in the theater somewhere, right? Rachel just wouldn't up and walk out without telling her, right? Well how would Shelby know? She did show up this theater without her dads knowing. She thought back to Hiram and LeRoy telling her how excitable Rachel could be. Had she gone off to meet her dads already? Maybe she should call them. Or maybe she should wait a couple of minutes.

The longer she searched, the more she felt like she'd lost a toddler in a department store. She was anxious and scared and looking in places Rachel couldn't possibly go. Shelby ended up by the entrance to the stage and thought about peeking around the now closed curtains to see if Rachel was maybe out in the seats. But she couldn't because she could already hear the murmur of a growing audience. Shelby put her hand to her head and looked down at her phone. She needed to call Hiram and LeRoy.

"Shelby!"

Shelby looked around to try and figure out where Rachel's voice was coming from.

"Over here!"

Shelby looked out across the stage and there, sitting in the rafters high above the floor on the other side, was her daughter. She was on a lighting perch that housed a crew member during the performance with a man named John, a lighting technician. Rachel wore a huge smile and was waving at her. Shelby returned the wave though not quite as enthusiastically and made her way over to them.

"John was showing me how the lights work for different parts of the play," Rachel said.

"Very cool," Shelby said. "Thanks, John. How did you get up there?"

"We climbed," Rachel said.

Of course they did, Shelby thought. But she also knew that the men who worked up there during the show wore safety harnesses and she did not see one strapped to her daughter. Plus there was the little matter of what she was wearing.

"You're in a dress," Shelby pointed out.

Rachel rolled her eyes. "It's ok."

"Come on down now," Shelby instructed. "You've got to go and get your seat."

"Thanks, John," Rachel said as she started to climb down.

"Anytime, kid," John said.

Shelby was nervous as she watched Rachel climb down. She was glad the girl had on flats instead of heels, but they still weren't the optimum footwear for this type of activity. When had she become such a worrier? She smiled and let out a sign when the girl was firmly back on the ground.

"Why'd you disappear on me?" Shelby asked as they walked back to her dressing room.

"I didn't," Rachel said. "I've been backstage the whole time."

"I couldn't find you," Shelby said.

"Oh," Rachel bit her bottom lip pensively. "Sorry."

"Just give me a head's up or something next time, ok?" Shelby said.

"Ok," Rachel promised. She loved the idea of there being a 'next time.'

"You need to go and find your dads and get your seat," Shelby said. "They said they would meet you at the stage door."

"How am I going to find you after the show?" Rachel said.

"You and your dads just go to the stage door and you'll be let in," Shelby said. "I've got your name on the list."

Once she was satisfied that it was all in order, Rachel left. Hiram and LeRoy greeted her when she stepped back into the brisk air. She started talking immediately about all of the things she had seen. She talked right up until the lights went down and the overture started.

Rachel was a crying mess when the show was over. It was flawless. Shelby and Allison Young were incredible. Rachel wanted to see it again. And again. Shelby smiled down at her during her curtain call and Rachel gave her a small wave. This all had to be a dream. How was that woman her mother? It was just… wonderful!

They waited while Shelby signed autographs and then she invited Hiram and LeRoy to come to her apartment with them.

"We'll wait until tomorrow," Hiram said. They had discussed this earlier and then men agreed that they should let Rachel have all night alone with Shelby. They didn't have that much time left in the city and they worried that if they went over tonight they would sit and talk all evening, probably well past the time Rachel fell asleep.

"Ok," Shelby said. She stepped back into the dressing room as the men turned to Rachel so that they could talk.

"Have fun tonight, sweetheart," LeRoy said. "And listen to Shelby."

"I will," Rachel assured them.

"And remember that she's a normal person, not just a big star," Hiram said.

"I know that, Dad," Rachel said. "I can't help it she's amazing."

Shelby smiled from her spot just inside the room.

"Just relax and get to know her, ok?" Hiram said.

"There's no pressure," LeRoy said. "Be yourself. And we're just a phone call away if you need us, no matter the hour."

"I know," Rachel said.

"We love you and we'll see you in the morning," Hiram said.

"I love you guys too," Rachel said as she hugged them.

"Ready?" Shelby asked as stepped out of the room. Rachel nodded eagerly and led the way from the theater.

Rachel was a ball of jumbled nerves and excitement as the rode the elevator up to Shelby's floor.

"This is amazing," Rachel said when Shelby finally unlocked the door and the walked in.

"I like it," Shelby said.

Shelby took Rachel's bag from her as the girl started to walk around and check the place out. She kicked off her shoes and looked up to see Rachel standing near a shelf that housed one of her Tony awards.

"Oh my god," Rachel whispered reverently as she looked it over. It was the one she'd won for Wounded Heart. She reached out a hand to touch it, but then drew it back.

Shelby laughed as she walked to the girl. "You can touch it."

Rachel shook her head, "I don't know if I should."

"Why not?" Shelby laughed again. "Here." She plucked it from the shelf and set it in Rachel's trembling hands.

Rachel stared down at it so intently Shelby thought it might start to do some sort of trick she'd never known about.

"This is a Tony," Rachel whispered as she looked back up at Shelby.

"I know," Shelby whispered back. "Don't drop it."

Rachel's eyes snapped back down to the award in her hand like it would fall if she didn't look at it.

"You're not going to break it, sweetheart," Shelby said. "Relax. Hold that thing like you won it. Stand up straight, big smile."

Rachel did as she was instructed and she laughed when she held it up triumphantly. This was a Tony! Shelby grabbed for her camera and snapped a picture of her daughter.

"Will you take one with my phone?" Rachel asked. "I want to show my dads."

"Sure," Shelby said. Rachel gave her the same pose and Shelby snapped the picture.

When Rachel reached for the phone, Shelby traded her and took the award and placed it back on the shelf.

"It's a good picture," Rachel gushed as she looked at her phone.

"Of course it is," Shelby said. "You're beautiful."

"Can I take one with you holding it?" Rachel asked suddenly.

"Me?" Shelby laughed. "I'm pretty sure you can find a picture of me with this award online."

"I know, but I can't get one like this one," Rachel said. "Please."

"Ok," Shelby agreed. She picked up the Tony and gave Rachel an award worthy smile as the girl took a picture. The casual jeans and a sweater were a far cry from the fancy dress Shelby had worn when she accepted this award, but Rachel loved it. This was a moment just for her.

"Enough with Tony," Shelby said after the picture had been taken. "Why don't you get changed and we can hang out."

"Ok," Rachel smiled.

Shelby gave her the penny tour as she led the girl to one of the guest rooms. "My room is just across the hall," Shelby pointed out. "Get changed and I'll fix us something to eat."

Rachel didn't waste much time getting out of her dress and into some casual clothes because she didn't want to miss anything. She did take the time to send the picture of her with the Tony to her dads.

Hiram and LeRoy were enjoying a drink in the bar in the hotel when their phones buzzed at the same time. They each spent a moment looking at the picture and then looked up at each other with sad smiles.

"She looks right at home holding that thing," LeRoy said.

"She's going to have her own someday," Hiram agreed.

"She's growing up so fast," LeRoy said and Hiram nodded.

They clinked their glasses together in a silent toast for their daughter. Neither was willing to say what the other was thinking; they loved Shelby and always had, but they didn't want to lose their daughter to the glitz the woman could provide.

Shelby was sitting at the baby grand in the corner of her sitting room when Rachel came out from the bedroom. "I'm warming up some pasta for us," Shelby said.

"Ok," Rachel said.

"Will you sing me a song?" Shelby asked. "Your dads told me I had to hear you because you're great."

Rachel beamed. "I'd be happy to sing a song. Will you sing with me?" It was a shy question.

Shelby nodded. "You first though. I'll play for you."

"Do you know "Funny Girl"?" Rachel asked.

Shelby scoffed and said, "Do I know "Funny Girl"? Of course I do."

She started to play the song and looked up at Rachel in case she needed to be cued in which, of course, she didn't. Shelby couldn't take her eyes off of her daughter while the girl sang. Despite what she'd been told, she hadn't expected that voice to come out of Rachel. Shelby knew immediately that Rachel was a one in a million talent. It wasn't just the voice which was stunning, but Rachel wasn't just singing; she was putting on a performance. Her face told the story of Fanny Brice's heartache and the sentiment of the song could be felt all throughout the room.

"That was… You're incredible," Shelby said. "I was blown away."

"Really?" Rachel asked with wide eyes.

"Yes," Shelby said. "You're going to take Broadway by storm."

"You really think so?" Rachel asked.

"I know so," Shelby said.

Rachel couldn't stop her tears as she sat down on the bench and hugged Shelby tightly. "I've wanted to be on Broadway for as long as I can remember."

"You can do it," Shelby said as she held her. "It's hard work and demanding and you can't sit back and wait for something to happen for you, you've got to go after it."

"I will," Rachel said. "I've been working on my NYU audition for a couple years now. And my grades are great and I'm in every club and I'm going to make sure the glee club wins at Regionals so it doesn't go away. Then we'll win Nationals."

"Slow down," Shelby said. She pulled back from Rachel and smiled as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's not going to happen tomorrow. You've got time. But NYU is a good place to start. You can make wonderful contacts there."

"I'm going to do everything I can to get in," Rachel said.

"I know you will," Shelby said. "And I'll be here to help you."

Rachel smiled and turned towards the piano. "Sing with me."

One song turned into four and Shelby was finally able to pry Rachel away from the piano and into the kitchen so they could have something to eat. Rachel tried to help, but Shelby told her to just sit at the table and she would do it.

"Tell me about Lima," Shelby said as she sat down with their meal.

"It's Lima. There's nothing to tell."

"Tell me about school," Shelby said. She wanted to get to know more about Rachel. "What's your favorite subject? Besides music."

"English," Rachel answered. She took a bite of her meal and closed her eyes in satisfaction. "Oh my god, Mom, this is so good. Did you make it?" she asked as she put another forkful in her mouth.

Rachel looked up when Shelby didn't answer and saw that her mom was staring her. She watched as tears filled Shelby's eyes and she tried to figure out what happened.

"Are you ok?"

A/N – Please leave me a review if you can. I really appreciate the feedback. Thank you all so much.