A/N – Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry! I'm so sorry for the delay. Thank you all so much for all of the reviews and messages and encouragement. You guys are so wonderful to me and I appreciate it so much and do my best to create stories you'll like. I hope you all enjoy this chapter and please leave mea review at the end. Thanks!
Disclaimer – I don't own Glee.
Rachel looked around the room and tried to buy herself some time so she could figure out what to tell everyone. She and Kurt were still on the floor and he still wouldn't hand her the phone back. There were questions in his eyes and she was silently pleading with him to drop it.
"Rachel?" Mr. Schue said again. "What is going on?"
"I just didn't want Kurt looking at my phone," Rachel said as she got to her feet and Kurt followed suit.
"That's no reason to attack him," Mr. Schue said.
"I didn't attack him!" Rachel defended herself.
"It was more like she threw herself on him," Santana smirked.
"What's on that phone?" Quinn asked with an evil glint her eye. "What don't you want anyone to see?"
"Nothing," Rachel said.
"Sure," Quinn grinned.
"Please be quiet, Quinn," Rachel said.
"You be quiet," Quinn said. "I'm not the one freaking out over some pictures."
"I'm not freaking out," Rachel retorted.
"Yes, you are. Weirdly, I find it kind of hot," Puck added.
"Shut up, Puckerman!" Rachel yelled. "Kurt, give me my phone."
"No, give me the phone," Mr. Schue said. He stepped forward and held his hand out for the device. "I want to know what's going on."
"I just wanted to see some pictures from her trip to New York City," Kurt explained. "But I saw something I didn't expect to see." He looked at Rachel and tried to understand what was going on. How had Rachel met Shelby Corcoran and, more importantly, why was she reluctant to talk about it? He would expect that Rachel would want to tell anyone that would listen that she had met and clearly spent some time with her idol.
"Oooohhh, what?" Mercedes asked.
"It's nothing," Rachel said. She was turning red at the all of the scrutiny and innuendos.
"Rachel, do you have something that's inappropriate on your phone?" Mr. Schue asked.
"No!" Rachel exclaimed.
"She doesn't," Kurt clarified.
"Let me see," Mr. Schue said.
"No," Rachel said as she intercepted the phone before Kurt could hand it to their teacher. She quickly held it behind her back.
"Rachel, let me see it and if it's nothing like you say we can move on," Mr. Schue said. "The more you hide it, the more suspicious it looks."
"I don't have to show you anything that's on my phone," Rachel said.
"Actually, yes you do," Mr. Schue said. "As long as you choose to bring your phone to school, I can look at it if I feel you might be doing or hiding something inappropriate."
"Show him," Santana egged her on while everyone except Kurt laughed.
"It's really nothing," Kurt said to Mr. Schue. "I promise. I shouldn't have gone through her phone."
"I appreciate you telling me that, Kurt, but I would like for Rachel to show me for herself," Mr. Schue said.
All eyes once again turned to Rachel and she mulled over what to say. She couldn't just blurt it out to everyone in the room because it hadn't even been a full day since she'd promised Shelby and her dads she wouldn't say anything. She glared at Kurt and he softened his eyes for her. She was not accepting his apology right now.
"Rachel," Mr. Schue said. "Now." His hand was out and ready to take her phone.
"No," Rachel steeled her resolve. "This phone is my property, or rather the property of my parents, and I don't have to show it to you because I have a right to my privacy." Her voice started to rise in anger and frustration. "I can assure you that there is nothing inappropriate to be seen on here and I will not stoop to such accusations or give up my rights in order to appease any type of curiosity or misplaced concern on your part. Maybe if everyone would just mind their own business, you included Mr. Schuester, we wouldn't be in this situation in the first place!"
The room was eerily silent after her outburst and the kids had wide eyes and cheeky smiles as they looked back and forth between teacher and student. It was always kind of fun to be witness to someone else getting in trouble when you knew you were safe.
Rachel's brain seemed to catch up to the words she had just yelled and she quickly snapped her mouth shut. Mr. Schue stared down at his star singer and stood up straighter to show he was in control and that he was not going to allow her to act this way.
"Rachel. Figgins. Now."
There were snickers all around as Rachel mustered up every bit of dignity she had and gathered her book bag and marched out of the room with her head held high. She didn't bother to look back when Kurt called her name.
LeRoy entered the principal's office thirty-five minutes later and exchanged pleasantries with Mr. Figgins and Mr. Schue before taking a seat next to a reticent Rachel. She had refused to turn her phone over to the administrator as well even after he had threatened to call her parents. Rachel would be lying if she said she wasn't worried, but it was more in a general sense. She'd been sent to the principal's office before but had never had to have one of her dads come in to deal with it. But she knew her dad would be on her side in this case. Or at least she assumed.
LeRoy listened as Mr. Schue explained what had happened and then to Rachel's side of the story.
"Mr. Berry, we cannot allow any student to have anything inappropriate on their phones in class," Principal Figgins said. "It can create a situation just like the one that happened today."
"How about if I take a look at it and decide if it's inappropriate?" LeRoy said. "If I deem it to be something she shouldn't have I will take it and delete it. If not, my daughter is entitled to her privacy. She didn't show anyone for a laugh. From what you've said the boy looked at her phone without her permission. That's not something she can control."
Rachel kept her face passive, but she was grinning on the inside at her father's defense of her. He wouldn't let them get the best of her. She had learned her 'threatening to call the ACLU' speech from someone, after all.
"That seems fair," Principal Figgins said. "But none of that excuses her attitude and outburst directed at her teacher and classmates."
"But if she felt like she was being ganged up on and attacked, she has the right to not give up something that is private to her," LeRoy said. "Rachel puts up with a lot in this school and I haven't seen anyone do anything about that."
"We are working to stop the slushies," Figgins said. It was a lie. He hadn't done anything at all even though LeRoy had been in earlier in the year to complain.
"Let's make a deal," LeRoy said. "You work harder on the assault that is launched at your students on a daily basis and I will speak to my daughter about her attitude."
Figgins and Mr. Schue nodded.
"Good. Ok, Rach, show me the phone," LeRoy said.
Rachel didn't hesitate to pull out her phone and unlock it. She opened up the picture folder and handed it to her dad. "He was looking at the first two pictures."
LeRoy took it and understood immediately. He flicked to the second one and then cast a glance over at his sheepish daughter before turning his attention back to the other men in the room.
"Well, I can guarantee you that there is nothing inappropriate about what Rachel has here." LeRoy closed the folder and then handed the phone back to his daughter. "I will speak to her and advise her to keep her phone in her bag while she is in class so that it cannot end up in the hands of someone who shouldn't have it in the first place. And I would appreciate it if the other children were given a reminder lesson on the value of other people's property and privacy."
Principal Figgins nodded as they all got to their feet. "Thank you for your time."
"Of course," LeRoy said before guiding Rachel from the room with Mr. Schue following.
Rachel started to walk away, but LeRoy cleared his throat lightly and she stopped and looked up at her teacher.
"I'm sorry for yelling, Mr. Schue," Rachel apologized. "But I really can't share what I have there and it was unfair to expect me to do so after I'd repeatedly said I didn't want to. Kurt just doesn't understand what he saw. But I would appreciate if the matter was dropped and forgotten so that we can all move on and have a nice holiday and come back to school in January with fresh ideas for our upcoming Regionals competition."
LeRoy's mouth twitched in a grin, but he got it under control as he watched Mr. Schue try and formulate a response to that.
"Thank you, Rachel," Mr. Schue finally said. "And I agree, we should just move on. I expect you'll come back to school with lots of ideas."
"I've already got a lot," Rachel said. "That's what I was trying to tell you when all of this started. We need to get to work right away because our next competition has to be our best one yet. We don't have time for any slacking off. I can create a practice schedule for everyone to follow over the holiday break and hand it out tomorrow."
"That probably won't be- I mean, everyone will be busy," Mr. Schue tried to fend off her slow takeover of his club.
"Rachel, we'll let Mr. Schue come up with schedules and you can share more of your ideas with him later," LeRoy stepped in to steer the conversation.
"Thanks," Mr. Schue said as he and LeRoy shook hands.
LeRoy and Rachel walked in companionable silence towards his car and he sweetly held the door open for her so she could get in the passenger side. She could feel him staring at her when he got in the car and she looked over and smiled innocently at him. He raised a warning eyebrow and she leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He was smiling when she sat back, but that didn't stop him from reaching his hand out, palm up, and waiting. She looked at his hand and then back up at him with a pout. His expression darkened just a touch in expectation and she finally relented and handed her phone over with an exaggerated sigh. He put her phone in his shirt pocket and did his best to hide a smile as she slumped her shoulders and leaned back into the seat. So much for justice.
Shelby was in her dressing room at the theater and was getting ready for her show. She was kind of surprised that she hadn't heard from Rachel since the girl was in school, but she didn't think much of it. It's not like she expected Rachel to drop whatever she was doing to call her every evening at a certain time or anything because she knew how teenagers were, but she had hoped to talk to her before she went on stage. She just wanted to say hello again and tell her to have a good night. It occurred to her that she didn't know if it was too late to call after the show had ended because she didn't know if Rachel would be asleep yet. It was the small details about her daughter's life that Shelby was desperate to know. What was Rachel's bedtime and how did she like to spend her afternoons after school? Who were her friends? What was her favorite flavor of ice cream? Shelby wanted to know any and everything.
Well, there was one question she could have answered right now. Shelby sat back in her chair and sent a quick text to Rachel to say hello and asking what was the latest time she could call. She went back to applying her make-up and checked the phone ten minutes later when she still hadn't received a response. Shelby shook her head and laughed at herself and realized that she was going to have to learn to get it together. But she still wanted to know how late she could call. Next option, and it occurred to her, probably the right option, was to call the parents.
Hiram's phone rang three times before he picked it up. Rachel was doing the dishes in the kitchen and he smiled at her back as she stood at the sink when he answered, "Hello, Miss Corcoran." Rachel spun around and looked at him as she held her soapy, wet hands up.
"Mr. Berry," Shelby laughed. It had taken her two weeks to stop calling the men Mr. Berry when she'd first met them.
"Don't call me that, it makes me feel old," Hiram chided jokingly.
"Dad, let me talk to her," Rachel said but Hiram waved her off.
"Oh, so sorry," Shelby said to Hiram, but she heard Rachel in the background. "I texted Rachel a little while ago, but I never got a reply. I've got a question and I figure it's better to ask you or LeRoy anyway."
"Rachel has lost her phone for the evening," Hiram explained.
"Dad!" Rachel hissed in embarrassment.
"Ah, I see," Shelby smiled at Rachel's reaction. "Well, I was just going to ask how late I can call because the show won't end before ten each night, but guess I won't bother her tonight."
"She's usually in bed by 10:00 or 10:30," Hiram told her. "So we'd appreciate if she didn't have very long calls after that. But feel free to call and say goodnight after your shows. That's fine."
"Thanks," Shelby said. "I won't ever call any later than that. And I won't keep her long. I just want her to know that I'm here and that I love her and that she can count on me and-"
"Shelby," Hiram said gently. "I know. Don't ever feel you can't do that, ok?"
"Ok," Shelby sighed.
Rachel started to take a few steps towards her father, mindless to the fact that she was dripping water all over the floor. "Dad."
"Shelby, I would let you talk to Rachel, but she's doing the dishes right now as penance for her trip to the principal's office today," Hiram said much to Rachel's chagrin.
"Dad!" Rachel was mortified for Shelby to know she'd gotten into any type of trouble.
"Ohh," Shelby smiled again. "Nothing too serious, I hope."
"No. Not unless she stops getting water all over the floors. Rachel, turn around and finish up," Hiram instructed.
"What happened?" Shelby asked. Even though she knew that she hadn't stepped into any type of parental role yet with Rachel, she was desperate to be included. She wanted to know what was going on with Rachel and not just from what the girl told her. She was one of the adults in this situation too and she needed and wanted to know that Hiram and LeRoy saw her as such.
Hiram walked into the other room and away from Rachel so that she wouldn't hear him talking about her. He relayed the story to Shelby who didn't know whether to groan or smile at the whole thing.
"I'm sorry about all of this," Shelby said.
"It's not your fault," Hiram told her. "Rachel has no problem upping her attitude when she wants."
"She's not really in too much trouble, is she?" Shelby asked.
"Aww, you softy," Hiram joked. "She's got you wrapped around her little finger already."
"No!" Shelby said. "I just don't want her to be upset and she was trying to do what I asked by keeping it a secret and somehow it doesn't seem fair."
"She didn't need to yell at her teacher or be rude. We would like her to find better ways to express herself than by throwing a fit," Hiram explained gently. "It wasn't fair that Kurt looked at her phone without her permission-"
"But she can't get away with acting out like she did," Shelby finished for him.
"Right," Hiram said. "And don't worry; she's not doing hard labor. One of her chores is to do the dishes and instead of loading the dishwasher, we asked her to do them by hand tonight. She's off the hook after that."
"Ok," Shelby was relieved on Rachel's behalf. "Hiram?"
"Shelby?"
"What happens if she's ever in a lot of trouble one day? What happens if she's grounded and you take away her phone for a week or something?" Shelby asked.
"Then she doesn't have her phone," Hiram said. He wasn't being facetious; he just didn't understand where she was going with her questions.
"Does that mean she can't call me or that I can't call her?" Shelby asked. "Will we not be able to talk during that time?"
"Absolutely not," Hiram said emphatically. "You are her mother, Shelby and she will not ever be kept from communicating with you even if she is being punished and has no phone. You might have to call one of our phones or the house phone, but you can always talk to her."
"Thank you," Shelby said. "I don't want to step on yours and LeRoy's toes or anything like that and I wouldn't undermine you at all, but-"
"Shelby," Hiram stopped her again. "Don't worry about it. This is all going to become easier on everyone as we feel this process out, but your place in her life is secure now. You will not be shut out and we will keep you informed about what's going on with her. If she's grounded or wins an award or falls down and breaks her arm, you will know about it."
"Thank you," Shelby said again.
"Of course," Hiram said. "If you give it about another half hour, I'm sure Rachel will give you a call."
"Remind her that I go on at eight," Shelby said.
"Will do. Talk to you later."
Hiram hung up the phone and went into the office where he found LeRoy playing a game of solitaire on the computer.
"I thought you were getting some work done since you had to leave early to get Rachel," Hiram said.
"It's finished," LeRoy said. "Now I'm trying to beat your high score."
"Well that's a fruitless endeavor," Hiram smirked and LeRoy rolled his eyes.
Hiram explained his conversation with Shelby so that LeRoy would know what he had promised her. LeRoy agreed and they knew they would need to explain that all to Rachel too. They didn't want her to think they would ever try and hold her mother over her head as some sort of punishment or incentive. That wouldn't be fair to either of them.
The conversation soon moved to their plans for the Christmas break which turned into talk of the romantic dinner they had planned for just the two of them the day after the holiday. LeRoy picked up a sprig of mistletoe that hadn't made it up and held it over their heads.
Rachel wiped her hands dry and then made sure everything was cleaned and put away before going in search of her fathers to let them know she was finished.
"Ugh! Get a room!" Rachel said when she turned the corner into the office and saw her fathers kissing.
"We have a whole house, sweetheart," Hiram assured. Rachel shuddered. She was 15 now and considered herself to be quite mature, but parents and sex was just gross.
"I'm finished with the dishes," Rachel thankfully changed the subject.
"Good girl," LeRoy said. "I know your reasons and I understand them, but how about we try and avoid yelling at teachers and ending up in the principal's office from now on, ok?"
"Ok," Rachel nodded contritely. "What did Shelby want?"
"Your mother had a couple of questions for me," Hiram said.
"Why did you have to tell her I got in trouble?" Rachel pouted.
"Because she's your mom," Hiram said. "Sit down and let's have a talk."
Hiram explained to Rachel what had been said and how Shelby felt about it. The men assured Rachel once again that Shelby was there in her life for good and that she wouldn't be the only one talking to the woman. Rachel was pleased to hear that no matter what, she'd still be able to talk to her mom. The parents talking amongst themselves was something that Rachel hadn't even really thought of before. She wasn't sure why it didn't occur to her, but it made her think differently about it when she realized she wouldn't be the one controlling the message her mother received. Rachel told Shelby about glee club and little things about school, but she didn't mention anything she didn't want her mom to know about her. She wanted the woman to be her mom, but she found it embarrassing that Shelby might also hear about the bullying she endured or bad behavior. Somehow it felt unnerving to be so exposed.
That didn't change Rachel's mind, of course, about wanting Shelby in her life. She just wasn't sure if she should feel like she could let her guard down anymore or that she needed to work harder to make sure the woman didn't find those things out. What if she didn't like her as much? Shelby Corcoran was cool and class personified and Rachel couldn't even begin to compare. But she didn't bring those worries up to her fathers; it was something she wanted to work out for herself.
When the talk ended, Rachel had hoped that LeRoy would give her the phone back, but he made no move to retrieve it from his pocket and she knew from past experiences that asking for it would only prolong it being returned to her. Instead, she left the office and wandered up to her room to finish up some homework she didn't complete before dinner. She didn't even hear anyone knocking on the door.
LeRoy answered the front door and found Kurt looking up at him from the other side. He stepped aside to let the boy enter and shut the door behind him.
"Hello, Kurt," LeRoy greeted. "What can I do for you this evening?"
"I was hoping I could talk with Rachel," Kurt said. "I know we've had our differences of opinion and misunderstandings in the past, but today really was my fault. We had talked about pictures she had of New York City and she said I'd be able to see them so I didn't think it would be a big deal to look at her phone."
"Kurt, I'll give you a piece of advice," LeRoy clapped him on the back and led him into the kitchen. "Granted that I don't live with an adult woman nor am I attracted to them, there are some basic rules to keep in mind. I have three older sisters so I'm well versed in this."
"Listen to him on this one," Hiram added as he poured Kurt a glass of water and handed it to the boy.
"A woman's phone is like her purse," LeRoy said. "Don't ever look in it without permission. And even if you're given permission, don't look in it. Wait for her to find what she's looking for and show you. Because you never ever know what you're going to find in there. And the bigger the purse, the scarier it is. There could be anything in there, son. Anything at all. So don't just look. You have to wait until she's ready. Do you understand?"
Kurt was looking at him skeptically, but nodded anyway. "Can I talk to Rachel?"
"Oh sure," LeRoy said. "She's up in her room. Here, give her this." He pulled Rachel's phone out of his pocket and handed it to the confused kid. "Remember, don't look inside."
"Ok," Kurt mumbled as he took the phone and left the room.
Hiram was staring at LeRoy like he was crazy. "Phones are like purses? Seriously?"
"When I was a kid my mom told me to get her keys out of her purse one time and I stuck my hand in there blindly and I swear I felt something grab my arm and try to pull me in," LeRoy said.
"What does that have to do with him looking at Rachel's phone?" Hiram asked.
"I was explaining to him about respecting privacy and being careful because he could see something he doesn't want to see," LeRoy explained.
"And you couldn't just say that?" Hiram asked.
"I was trying to make a metaphor," LeRoy countered.
"But phones and purses?"
"Oh whatever," LeRoy said. "Come on, I recorded a soccer game this afternoon. Let's watch it."
Hiram followed his husband to the living room joined him on the couch. "Does this mean I should never look through that man purse you carry around sometimes?"
"It's a messenger bag," LeRoy said. "It's not the same thing at all."
"Well it's certainly an improvement over the fanny packs you used to love," Hiram said. "Rachel and I threw a party the day you decided to move on from those things."
"You never said you hated my fanny packs!" LeRoy was scandalized.
"I did, actually, numerous times," Hiram said. "I remember having to open it up to get your wallet out one time. I wish I had known about the purse rule then because I never would have-"
"Oh shut up," LeRoy said. "The game is starting."
"Your fanny, on the other hand, I have always greatly admired."
"Shhh."
Kurt made his way to Rachel's bedroom and knocked on the doorframe. "Rachel?"
Rachel looked up and narrowed her eyes at him. "Kurt."
"I'm sorry," Kurt said as he stepped into the room and handed the phone over. "Your dad said to give this to you."
Rachel happily took the phone back and immediately started to check her email and messages.
"Rachel, I don't understand," Kurt said as he sat down in the other chair at the desk. "I know you said you met her, but I didn't know you ended up at her house. How do you know Shelby Corcoran? And why can't you tell me?"
Rachel looked up at him and saw the curiosity in his eyes. She really didn't have much of a choice but to tell him now because he knew something was up. She thought about lying and saying that Shelby was a friend of the family, but she honestly didn't think he would believe that. If that was the case, she would have bragged about it ages ago during one of the numerous Shelby Corcoran conversations they've had. Besides, Shelby had said that if Rachel felt she could trust someone, she could tell them. Of course, she was supposed to tell her and her dads first, but she could do that later.
"Kurt, you have to promise that you won't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you," Rachel said solemnly. "You have to swear."
"I swear," Kurt said immediately.
"No, I mean it," Rachel said. "This is important and it has far reaching implications for my family. I'm not playing."
"Are you ok?" Kurt asked. He realized it sounded almost odd coming from him because in all of their spats and the makeover fiasco, he didn't remember being too concerned with her feelings. But he could tell that something was different.
"Yeah, I'm ok," Rachel said. "Do you promise?"
"Yeah, I promise, Rachel. I won't tell anyone," Kurt said.
"Not even Mercedes and Tina," Rachel said. "I know how big of a gossip you are."
Kurt wanted to be offended, but he knew it was true. "I won't tell them," he said.
"Or your dad?"
"I won't tell anyone," Kurt said.
"Ok," Rachel said. She took a deep breath and looked him right in the eye. "Shelby Corcoran is my mother."
Kurt just stared at her in shock and Rachel was convinced she could have knocked him over with a feather.
"Kurt?"
"What? How? Are you- Seriously?"
"That was pretty much my reaction too when I found out," Rachel said.
"How long have you known?"
"Just a couple weeks," Rachel answered. "She was the surrogate my dads hired to have me. After I was born she left for New York City and the rest is history."
Rachel explained to him about finding the envelope and contract and pictures and then how she waited at the stage door to meet her. Then she told him about getting to be backstage with her and then spend the night at her apartment.
"Oh my god," Kurt said. "Who would have thought Rachel Berry could have such a cool mother?"
"I'm sitting right here, you know?" Rachel reminded him.
"Sorry," Kurt said quickly. "I just can't believe it. When are you going to visit her again? Better yet, when is she coming into town to visit you? I have to meet her. You have to introduce us."
"I'm not sure," Rachel answered. "I'm going to try and convince her to come and watch us at Regionals. That's why I was trying to get Mr. Schue to listen to me. It has to be perfect, Kurt."
"Oh my god, she might see us perform!" Kurt squealed.
"I know!" Rachel was giddy as well. She was really glad she had told Kurt because she liked getting to have this friendship with someone.
"I'll start working on ideas right away," Kurt said.
"Good," Rachel said. She stopped herself from saying that it would be nice to not be the only one of the kids trying to plan out routines. "We need to get started the very day we get back from the break."
"I agree." Kurt thought for a moment and then asked in a more serious voice, "Is it really going to be that long before you see her again?" Kurt didn't know what finding your mom felt like, but he knew what it was to miss one.
"I don't know," Rachel answered quietly. "I hope not. My dads and Shelby keep saying that they're working on all of that, but I don't know. I asked if we could stay longer in New York, but we had to come home. I wish I could have stayed there for the entire break."
"Maybe you can fly out there for a long weekend or something," Kurt offered. "Or she could come here."
"But she has the show," Rachel said. "I guess she could take time off, but I couldn't ask her to. It's Broadway! Who wants to take a day off?" The dream versus the reality was still just far enough away for Rachel to not see past the glamour to the job part of it.
"You should ask her about it," Kurt said. "A few days away from it would be ok, right?"
"I don't know," Rachel said.
"How was she live?" Kurt changed the subject for Rachel's sake.
"She was amazing!" Rachel gushed. "It's so hard to even describe how great she was. "You should hear her sing live."
"I plan on you making that happen when she comes here," Kurt said.
"Wait a second," Rachel mused as she picked up her phone. "Maybe you won't have to wait that long." Rachel was dying to show her mother off.
It was quarter until eight when Shelby's phone started to ring and she smiled when she saw Rachel's name pop up on her screen.
"Hi, sweetie," Shelby answered. "You got your phone back, huh?"
"Yeah," Rachel turned a little red. "I know you have to go on in a few minutes, but I wanted to get to talk to you before then since I wasn't able to call earlier." She put her finger to her lips to indicate for Kurt to keep quiet and then set her phone to speaker and put it on the desk.
"I've got a few minutes," Shelby assured her. "How was the rest of your day?"
"It was fine," Rachel said. "Mom, can you do me a favor?"
"Sure," Shelby said with a smile. Her heart still fluttered a bit at being called mom.
"Will you sing for me?"
"Right now?" Shelby asked.
"Yeah," Rachel answered. "It was a long day and I've still got homework to do and I miss you."
"Of course I'll sing for you," Shelby melted. "Do you have a song in mind?"
"Anything you want," Rachel told her. "Something from the show, maybe."
"You go it," Shelby said.
There was a brief pause and then Shelby's strong, clear voice came through over the phone. It was the same song Rachel had listened to after finding out the truth in the basement. She looked up and her eyes locked with Kurt's. His had gone wide as he listened to the woman he was such a fan of sing to them. He noticed Rachel's eyes fill with tears and he wasn't doing very well at keeping his own at bay.
Shelby held the final note of the song and then let it taper off and Rachel took a second to find her voice.
"Thank you, Mom."
"Anytime," Shelby said. She didn't know the impact she'd just had. "I love you Rachel, but I've got to run. I'll talk to you later."
"I love you too," Rachel said. "Bye."
The line clicked dead and Rachel gave Kurt a watery smile.
"Wow," Kurt breathed out.
It was really the only word that truly fit that moment.
A/N – Thanks for reading everyone! Please leave me a review if you can. I promise that I am going to do my very best to update sooner. Sorry again about the delay.
