A/N – Hi, everyone. I know it's been forever since I updated this chapter, but I have finally had some time to focus on it. I'm not giving up on it and I thank you all for being so patient and sticking with me. And thanks so much for reading and for all of the reviews and messages. It really does mean so much to me. I think I'm finally getting my groove back, so to speak and I hope to be able to keep up with quicker updates. I hope. I also hope you enjoy this chapter and please know that I will continue to work on it, I promise.

Disclaimer – I don't own Glee.

"Mom?"

"Yeah, honey?"

Shelby cast a glance over at Rachel and saw that her daughter was turned in her seat and watching her. They were driving back to Ohio from their visit in Indiana with Mimi and Elizabeth. The pair had been in comfortable silence for the past forty-five minutes with only the radio to entertain them.

"When do you think you'll be back on Broadway?" Rachel asked curiously.

Shelby let out a light laugh and looked quickly again at Rachel before turning her eyes back to the road.

"I just finished a show," Shelby told the girl. "I left the show at the end of May and it's only July."

"But are you going to start working on something new? A new show?" Rachel wanted to know.

"No," Shelby said.

"Oh," Rachel said and then let out a long sigh and turned to look out the window.

"What's up, Rach?" Shelby had become quite adept at reading her daughter's mood; not that Rachel was very subtle to begin with.

"Are you ever going to go back on Broadway," Rachel asked a question of her own.

"I'm sure I will," Shelby said. "But not for a few years, at least."

"Why so long?" Rachel asked.

"Because it's nice to have a break," Shelby said. "Besides, brand new shows can take years to develop."

"You're not going to do any work at all for the next few years?" Rachel whined.

"I didn't say that," Shelby told her.

"What are you going to do?"

"I've been talking to a few people about the idea of doing an album," Shelby answered. "And there are some movie roles that have been sent my way to look at."

"Movie roles?!" Rachel perked up once more and turned in her seat once more so she could look directly at her mother. "What kind of roles are they? Who else would be in the movies? Can I come with you while you film it?"

"Whoa, slow down," Shelby laughed. "I haven't even had a chance to look through them so I don't know yet."

"What do you mean you haven't looked through them?" Rachel asked incredulously. "How long have you had them? What have you been doing?"

"Taking a trip with my daughter," Shelby said.

"Mom," Rachel scolded and leveled the woman with a glare.

"Rachel, I'll look at them soon. I promise," Shelby assured her.

"But what if they give your role to someone else because you never responded?" Rachel asked.

"Then it wasn't meant to be," Shelby replied with a shrug.

"But, Mom," Rachel whined.

"Rachel," Shelby laughed. "I don't take every role that is sent my way."

"You're not going to stop working, are you?" Rachel asked. "Because of me?"

"I hadn't planned on it," Shelby said. "What's got you so worried about this all of a sudden?"

"You have to keep working," Rachel said adamantly. "You have to keep your name out there or people will forget who you are."

Shelby laughed but then quickly sobered up when she saw just how serious Rachel was. The girl was giving her a disapproving stare and shook her head at her mother's lack of concern.

"Okay, first of all, people are not going to forget who I am," Shelby said, showing a rare bit of ego. "Secondly, things take time. Those movie scripts I have won't start filming before the end of the year. Maybe even later than that. I have until September to make any kind of decision. Thirdly, taking a break is not a bad thing, especially when the reason is as important as you. I don't want you worrying about my career, okay? You let me worry about it."

"I just don't want you to end up in one of those 'Where Are They Now?' People magazine article because you stopped working to hang out in the middle of nowhere Ohio," Rachel said.

Shelby rolled her eyes and changed lanes so she could exit. She had noticed a sign for a few restaurants and now was as good a time as any to have lunch.

"What are you doing?" Rachel asked when they started to exit.

"Lunchtime," Shelby told her. "And it seems as if you and I need to have a talk. There is clearly something on your mind."

Fifteen minutes later food had been ordered and Shelby and Rachel were sitting across from each other.

"Okay, Rach," Shelby started. "Spill. Why the sudden concern about my career?"

"It's not a sudden concern," Rachel said. "I just want you to be happy and I know how happy being an actress and a singer makes you."

"Rachel…"

"Mom, you have to stay famous so that I can use your name when I get to New York and start acting," Rachel blurted out. "You'll be able to give me an in but not if you stop working."

Shelby couldn't help herself when she started laughing. The look of chagrin that Rachel immediately gave her just made her laugh even harder.

"Mom," Rachel whined."

"I'm sorry, honey, but that's hilarious," Shelby said while still laughing.

Rachel crossed her arms and sat back in her chair and waited for her mother to calm down.

"I don't see what's so hilarious about me being concerned about your well-being and livelihood," Rachel said.

"Let me get this straight," Shelby said after a few moments. "You want to make sure I keep my career strong and active so that it'll benefit you one day?"

"It's a legitimate worry," Rachel said, sitting up a bit taller.

"I love you, Rachel," Shelby said. "Every self-centered bone in your body."

"I'm not being self-centered," Rachel said with a huff. "I am simply focused on the future."

"Whatever you say, my love. Whatever you say."

They arrived back at the Berry residence a couple hours later and Rachel was sent upstairs to her room to unpack and get laundry started. If they didn't get her to do it right away Rachel would wait until another chore had been assigned to decide it was time to unpack. LeRoy didn't want to end up being the one to do it later than evening. Shelby was only staying for the night and then she was driving back to New York in the morning. Rachel would be going to New York in August to see her mother and celebrate Shelby's birthday. Rachel herself would only be home for a week before she and her fathers took their own vacation to see the grandparents and extended family.

"How can you possibly have so much laundry after just a week away?" LeRoy asked when Rachel came down the stairs with clothes piled so high in the laundry basket she could barely see over it.

"It's not that much," Rachel said on her way to the basement to load the washing machine.

Shelby's phone rang and Rachel heard her say, "Hi, babe," when she answered. Rachel scowled as she made her way down the basement steps because she knew what that greeting meant. Brian.

Rachel hurriedly threw her clothes in the washing machine so she could get back upstairs. The girl still wasn't keen on the idea of Brian and grew jealous whenever she knew her mom was with him. Rachel had tried to reason with herself several times, but she just didn't want to like him. She still wanted Shelby all to herself.

Rachel left a second full load in the laundry basket and went back up the stairs and found her dads sitting together in the living room flipping through the TV channels to find something to watch. She looked around for Shelby, but didn't see her.

"Where's Mom?" Rachel asked as she went back into the living room. She was not surprised at all to see that her dads had settled on watching a show on HGTV.

"She's on the phone," Hiram answered and pointed towards the front door.

"I miss you too," Shelby said just as Rachel came outside. Shelby was sitting in one of the rocking chairs on the porch and Rachel took a seat in the one next to her. "Oh, that sounds wonderful." Shelby was smiling as Brian told her about making reservations at her favorite restaurant in New York for a night the following week.

"Mom," Rachel said. "Mom."

"Yeah, Rach?" Shelby answered, but didn't give Rachel her undivided attention. "No, I'm here."

Rachel huffed and went and stood directly in front of her mother. "Mom. Mom, I need your help with something. Can you come inside and help me?"

"Sure, honey," Shelby said. "Go on in and I'll be right there." She patted Rachel's leg a couple times in an effort to send her along and then returned to her conversation with Brian.

Shelby started to grow annoyed as Rachel continued to hover and try and get her attention. She got up from the chair and moved to the other end of the porch only to have Rachel follow.

"Mom."

"In a minute, Rachel,"

Rachel stomped her foot when her mother started to walk to the other side of the porch again.

"Mom, will you hurry up?!"

"Brian, will you hang on for a second, please," Shelby said calmly and into the phone before holding it to her side and rounding on her daughter. "Rachel Barbra Berry, I am on the phone and you are being very rude. I told you to go inside and that I would be there in a few minutes. Now stop acting like a toddler and do as you're told!"

Rachel looked shocked and Shelby was surprised as well. She had never really raised her voice like that, even when she had been mad about the whole hospital fiasco.

"Fine!" Rachel yelled back. She turned on her heel and stomped inside. She was startled and jumped when the front door slammed a second later.

Shelby took a deep breath and put the phone back to her ear. "Brian."

"Man, you sounded just like my mom used to," Brian said with a laugh.

"I do not understand what's going on with that girl," Shelby said. "We didn't have any problems this past week in Indiana. We get back here and all of a sudden she's acting like a three year old.

"She's jealous," Brian said.

"I know," Shelby replied. They had talked about this before. "But it doesn't excuse her behavior. Brian, can I call you back later?"

"Of course," Brian said. "I'll talk with you soon. Go get her, mama."

Shelby smiled. "I love you so much. I'll call you back tonight."

"I love you too," Brian said.

Shelby took a few calming breaths before she went back into the house and gently shut the door behind her. She noticed Rachel sitting in a chair by the window sporting an angry pout. It was clear from where she was sitting that the girl had been watching her after she went back inside.

"Come here," Shelby said. She was going to take Rachel into the kitchen in the hopes that they could sit at the table and talk.

Rachel ignored Shelby and made no move to get up or even acknowledge that her mother had spoken to her.

"Rachel, come here," Shelby said more forcefully. Her tone caught Hiram and LeRoy's attention and the looked up from their spot on the couch to see what was going on.

Still Rachel did not move. The calm Shelby felt before she walked in the house was disappearing.

"Rachel," Shelby said dangerously. "Come. Here."

Rachel got up slowly and deliberately dragged her feet as she walked towards her mother. She stopped a few feet from her and crossed her arms over her chest and stared up at her mother. Hiram and LeRoy were watching every move.

Shelby put her hands on her hips and met Rachel's defiant glare with an angry one of her own.

"What has gotten into you, Rachel?" Shelby asked.

"Nothing!" Rachel insisted.

"Then why were you acting like a four year old out there while I was trying to talk on the phone?"

"I wasn't!" Rachel hated when it was pointed out to her that she was being childish. "I just needed your help with something."

"And what did you need help with that was so important that it couldn't wait until I was off the phone?" Shelby demanded to know.

Hiram and LeRoy were watching the scene with great interest. They were proud of Shelby and how she'd grown as a mother. Even just a few months ago Rachel probably would have been able to talk herself out of whatever pickle she was in now.

"Um, I need you to help me," Rachel said.

"Help you do what?"

"Uh…"

"That's what I thought," Shelby said. "I want you to go to your room for a while."

"But, Mom!" Rachel gasped. "That's not fair!"

"Why isn't it fair?" Shelby asked dryly.

"Because I wasn't… I didn't do anything!" Rachel exclaimed.

"Oh you weren't acting like a brat and you didn't lie to me?" Shelby asked incredulously.

"But, Mom," Rachel whined.

"Rachel…" Shelby warned.

"I don't want to go to my room," Rachel pouted.

"Tough," Shelby said. She stepped up to Rachel and turned her around and landed and swat to the girl's backside. "Go."

Rachel stomped up the stairs in a huff and slammed her door once she got to her room. Shelby rolled her eyes and let out a tiny, frustrated sigh and headed into the kitchen. She went straight to the Keurig so she could make a cup of coffee. Just as she expected, Hiram and LeRoy joined her and Shelby told them how Rachel had acted while she was on the phone.

"She's jealous," Hiram said.

"I know," Shelby told them. "But she refuses to even give Brian a chance. They've only met one time and Rachel was rude. I'm not sure what to do. I love him, but I would do anything for her. She will always come first."

"But she is not a little kid and she is more than capable of understanding that you have relationships," LeRoy said.

"It's only natural that she wants you all to her, but she does not get to control everything," Hiram added.

"I think they'd get along if she'd just try," Shelby said. "Though I guess I'm partly to blame. I've been keeping them apart on purpose. I didn't want Rachel to be upset when she's in New York; I want her to be happy. I also didn't want to push anything because you two haven't met him and-"

"Shelby," LeRoy interrupted, "you don't have to do that. Now, yes, if you guys are thinking about getting married or something like that, we will want to meet him."

"But you have the right to introduce our daughter to the man you've been seeing for years," Hiram said. "And you should have every expectation that Rachel won't be rude to anyone you want her to meet. She knows better than that."

"I have been planning to introduce them again when she's in New York with me in August," Shelby said.

"You're having a party for your birthday, right?" Hiram asked.

"Well it's more of a dinner than a party," Shelby replied. "A few good friends and Brian, and this year, Rachel. I was going to have him over the day before we go out so they could get to know each other."

"That's a good idea," LeRoy said.

"I just hope she's more pleasant that day than the first time they met," Shelby said.

"If she's not, put your foot down," LeRoy advised. "She knows how to behave even if she's not getting her way. She knows how much we hate it when she acts like a spoiled brat."

"Having a teenager is hard," Shelby mock lamented.

"You think her fits are bad now, you should have experienced the terrible twos with her," Hiram joked.

"And threes and fours," LeRoy added.

"I believe it," Shelby laughed though her eyes went far away. She would have loved to have known Rachel when she was younger.

"Hiram, we'll have to pull out some of the videos we have," LeRoy said. He could read Shelby's eyes. "We've got some good tantrums on film."

"That's a great idea," Hiram said. "And don't worry; we have plenty of sweet moments too."

"I'd love that," Shelby said, genuinely excited. "But I guess I should go and talk to her first."

"Nah, give it an hour or two," Hiram said. "She deserves this time out."

"Yeah, at least watch a home movie or two first," LeRoy said.

"Okay," Shelby agreed. She figured they could both use some time to calm down.

An hour and a half and three adorable home movies later, Shelby found herself standing at Rachel's closed door. She hoped she and Rachel would be able to talk and clear things up. Shelby was leaving in the morning and she and Rachel wouldn't see each other for a month and she didn't want to spend this evening with Rachel mad at her.

"Rachel, can I come in?" Shelby asked as she knocked lightly.

"Yeah," came the response from inside the room.

Shelby opened the door and stepped into the room and found Rachel sitting on her bed and scowling down at whatever game she was playing on her phone.

"Hey kiddo, let's have a talk," Shelby said as she sat down on the bed next to Rachel and waited for the girl to acknowledge her. Rachel didn't look up and instead continued to concentrate on her game. After a minute Shelby reached out and took the phone out of Rachel's hands.

"Mom," Rachel whined, finally looking up at her mother.

"Now that I have your attention, let's have a talk," Shelby said.

"I'm sorry I lied about needing your help while you were on the phone," Rachel said. Much like Shelby, Rachel didn't want her mother to be mad at her on their last day together for a month.

"Why did you?" Shelby asked. She hadn't expected Rachel to apologize right away.

"I don't know," Rachel mumbled.

"Would you have done that if I had been on the phone with Mimi or Elizabeth?" Shelby knew the answer to that.

"No," Rachel mumbled again and looked down at her hands.

"Rachel, look at me," Shelby instructed gently. When the girl finally met her eyes Shelby added, "Let's talk about Brian."

"I don't want to talk about Brian," Rachel sulked and got up from the bed. "I have to go to the bathroom."

"I'll wait," Shelby assured her when Rachel disappeared into her en suite bathroom.

"There's nothing to talk about," Rachel said. She stepped back into the room now that she knew hiding in the bathroom wasn't going to work.

"Honey, there's a lot to talk about," Shelby said. "Why don't you like him?"

"I just don't is all," Rachel replied.

"That's not an answer," Shelby said.

"Well I don't know what you want me to say," Rachel sassed.

Shelby shot her daughter a warning look as she stood up and said, "I want you to tell me why you're jealous of him and why you won't even give him a chance."

"I am not jealous of him!" Rachel yelled. "I don't even care about him. I just don't know why he always has to be involved, especially when it's supposed to be just you and me."

Shelby couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped her lips as went over to Rachel and tucked a loose strand of hair behind the girl's ear.

"Rach, that is called being jealous," Shelby pointed out.

"He wasn't supposed to be there that weekend," Rachel said.

"When?"

"It was my first time there by myself and he showed up," Rachel said. "And then your mom showed up and everything was ruined all over again."

"Oh I see," Shelby said. "Maybe I did introduce you guys too soon. I was just so excited and proud to have you and I wanted to show you off to people in my life. Brian is a big part of my life."

"But you only introduced me to him, your boyfriend," Rachel argued. "I didn't meet any of your other friends."

"But you did," Shelby said. "You met Meredith and you met the people backstage at the show. You've met Mimi and Elizabeth and their family. And as for Brian, I really wanted him to meet you and I wanted you to have someone to sit with at the show."

"I didn't need anyone to babysit me," Rachel said.

"I know that now," Shelby told her. "But it was my first time having you completely in my care. I was worried and I wanted someone to be there with you when I couldn't be."

"He's the reason I got in trouble that night," Rachel said. "When I was late coming back to the theater."

"How was that his fault?" Shelby asked.

"I didn't want to be with him so I stayed away too long on purpose," Rachel confessed.

"Rachel, what am I going to do with you?" Shelby asked as she shook her head at her daughter.

"I was fine," Rachel defended herself.

"And I was worried sick," Shelby said. "I would advise you not to pull something like that again."

"You can't punish me for that again," Rachel told her. "It would be double jeopardy."

Shelby gave her daughter another warning look and then turned around and went back to the bed and sat down. "Come here and sit next to me."

"Why?" Rachel asked suspiciously.

"Rachel, come here and sit down," Shelby said sternly so her daughter would listen.

Rachel complied and sat down next to her mother and shifted so that she could face her. She put on her best innocent expression and Shelby just scoffed at it.

"Honey, listen. I want you to give Brian another chance," Shelby said. "I know you didn't meet him how you would have wanted last time and I'm sorry about that. But this time you know about it in advance. And you know that there is a dinner planned for my birthday that I desperately want to take you to, but if you think you will have a problem being nice to any of my friends, you will be left at home that night."

"Mom!" Rachel gasped. She was really looking forward to that dinner.

"Rachel, all I'm asking is that you give him another chance," Shelby said again. "The three of us can have lunch the day before that and you can get to know each other. You don't have to like him, but you have to be respectful. And you will not disregard me or my instructions again just because something isn't going your way. Do you understand?"

"Yes ma'am," Rachel said.

"Good. So what do you say? Can you give him another chance?" Shelby asked.

"Yeah," Rachel conceded.

"Thank you, honey," Shelby said. "Now why don't you come downstairs with me; your dads are showing me some old home movies.

"Oh no," Rachel groaned.

Shelby stood and held her hand out to Rachel who accepted it and stood as well.

"Mom, are you going to marry him?" Rachel asked as they were walking towards the door.

Shelby stopped and turned to look at her daughter and said, "I don't know, Rachel. But I promise that if we ever get to that bridge you and I will talk about it before it is crossed. You are not being left out in the cold here, but you have to try."

"I will, Mom. I promise," Rachel said.

"That's my girl." Shelby gave her a quick kiss on the head before they left the room and headed downstairs.

Three weeks later Rachel was getting really excited about the trip to Shelby's. She had really enjoyed the vacation with her fathers to see her family and then it had been nice just to be at home and able to relax. But Rachel could feel the pressure of the summer winding down and with school on the horizon, the girl was ready to get out of Ohio for a little bit. She wouldn't get to spend long stretches of time with her mom once the school year started unless Shelby spent that time in Ohio. So two weeks with her mom in New York City sounded like Heaven. The fact that it corresponded with Shelby's birthday was a bonus and Rachel couldn't wait to be there and celebrate with her.

Shelby's birthday was on a Friday and the big dinner with her friends was to be that Saturday evening. Rachel was looking forward to eating at the fancy restaurant. Her mom was going to help her find something to wear and Shelby promised her it would be sophisticated. She then promised Hiram and LeRoy it would be age appropriate. Rachel was set to fly to New York the Wednesday before Shelby's birthday and was staying two full weeks.

The Friday before Rachel was set to fly to New York, LeRoy came home from work with some news.

"I have to fly to Albany on Tuesday," LeRoy said. "The higher ups scheduled a last minute conference and Mary asked if I could attend."

"When will you be home?" Hiram asked as he passed Rachel some green beans. LeRoy had gotten home late and they were eating dinner.

"I'll fly back on Thursday," LeRoy answered. "It's probably going to be a waste of time, but someone has to go. And get this; they're making me fly through JFK instead of straight to Albany because it's a cheaper flight. I've got a three hour layover. I could probably drive there faster than it'll take to fly."

"You're flying to New York City on Tuesday? Rachel asked, suddenly a lot more interested in the conversation.

"Yeah, at five in the morning," LeRoy said.

"That's perfect!" Rachel exclaimed.

"Sweetheart, there's nothing perfect about five in the morning," LeRoy replied.

"No, I mean that you're going to New York City on Tuesday," Rachel said.

"Why?" Hiram asked.

"Because I can go with him!" Rachel explained.

"Rach, you already have a flight on Wednesday," Hiram pointed out.

"I know, but you could change it," Rachel said. "That way I could fly with Daddy and surprise Mom and get a whole other day with her."

"Rachel, I don't know," LeRoy said.

"But why not?" Rachel asked. "It all makes perfect sense. She won't have to come to the airport to get me and Daddy, you're already going to the airport here. There's no reason for us to have to go two days in a row. It's so early that I really would get a whole extra day with her and I'd have someone to fly with. Plus, I'd love to be able to surprise her. Please, dads. Please."

Hiram and LeRoy exchanged a look and both kind of shrugged. They didn't really see the harm in it since it was just one more day. They knew Shelby would love to see her.

"Please," Rachel added again.

"Give us a chance to talk about it and check how much it would be to change your ticket," Hiram said.

"Thank you!" Rachel squealed. She hopped up out of her chair and hugged Hiram and then LeRoy.

"Don't get all your hopes up yet," LeRoy said as he pulled Rachel down to sit on his lap. "If it's too expensive to change the ticket you're just going to have to wait until Wednesday."

"Okay," Rachel said. "And make sure you don't tell Mom because I want her to be surprised.

"Our lips are sealed," Hiram assured her.

Three days later on Monday Rachel and Kurt were at the mall shopping for school and just hanging out.

"I'm glad they were able to switch your ticket," Kurt said as they sat in the food court.

"Me too," Rachel agreed. "I can't wait to see the look on my mom's face when I show up tomorrow. She'll probably still be asleep because we're getting there so early."

"Hopefully she doesn't get scared and call the police because she thinks someone broke into her house," Kurt said.

"She won't," Rachel replied as she rolled her eyes. "I'll wake her up so she knows it's me."

"Do you know where you're going for her birthday yet?" Kurt asked.

"Not yet," Rachel shrugged. "She just said it was fancy."

"You're so lucky," Kurt said. "There will probably be some other stars there."

"I don't know," Rachel said, but she was giddy at the thought. Shelby hadn't introduced her to hardly any of her famous friends and Rachel was dying to meet some.

"Make sure you take pictures," Kurt said.

"Oh I will," Rachel said with a definitive nod.

The only stayed at the mall for an hour longer and Mr. Hummel picked them up.

"Kurt, are you feeling alright?" Burt asked as he pulled out of the mall parking lot.

Rachel looked over at her friend and noticed he looked paler than normal. She hadn't thought much of it when he said he was ready to go home earlier than planned, but now she could see why. He didn't look like he felt good at all.

"Yeah, I'm okay," Kurt said. "I'm just really tired all of a sudden."

"Okay," Burt replied. "We'll drop Rachel off and go home and just relax for the rest of the day."

They arrived at Rachel's ten minutes later. "Thank you, Mr. Hummel. Bye, Kurt. I hope you feel better."

By the next morning Rachel also wasn't feeling well and she was no longer all that excited about having to be up so early to make it to Columbus for a 5am flight. But she wasn't complaining either. She would grab a nap at her mother's house and she was certain she would feel better after that. And there was no way she was going to admit that she didn't feel good this close to her flight.

"Pumpkin, are you feeling okay?" LeRoy asked during their drive to the airport.

"Yeah," Rachel lied. "I just didn't sleep very well."

"Maybe you can grab an hour of sleep on the plane," LeRoy suggested.

"Yeah, hopefully," Rachel replied.

Sleep was not something Rachel was able to do on the plane even though she rested her head on LeRoy's shoulder most of the way. Her stomach was churning and it didn't help that they kept hitting patches of turbulence. She silently cursed Kurt for getting her sick. If she missed out on anything while she was in New York she'd kill Kurt when she got home. Rachel seriously thought she was going to have to reach for the air sick bag a few times, but thankfully the plane landed without her getting sick.

LeRoy walked her out to collect her luggage because even though she had plenty of clothes at Shelby's house, Rachel insisted on bringing more stuff with her. He was going to put her in a cab and then go back in to catch his next flight. Rachel told him he didn't need to do that since he would have to go back through security, but he insisted.

"Are you sure you're feeling okay?" LeRoy asked as they waited in the cab line.

"I'm fine," Rachel said though it was clear she wasn't.

"I want you to go straight back to bed when you get to your mom's," LeRoy instructed. He would call in a couple hours to see how she was so he didn't ruin her surprise.

"Okay," Rachel agreed.

"I'll call you later," LeRoy said when Rachel was first in line for the next cab. "Be a good girl. I love you."

"I love you too, Daddy."

LeRoy gave her a hug and kissed her head while the cab driver was putting her suitcase in the trunk. When Rachel was in the back seat LeRoy went to the driver and gave him the address and more than enough money to cover the fare and the tip.

"Love you, sweetheart," LeRoy said again.

"Bye, Daddy. Love you."

Rachel normally loved the cab rides in New York even though it was usually hectic and involved lots of honking. This time, however, she couldn't wait for it to be over. She kept closing her eyes so she could try and focus on taking steady breaths.

The cab finally stopped in front of Shelby's impressive building and Rachel took a few moments to steady herself while the driver got her suitcase out of the trunk. The doorman came outside to retrieve the suitcase and Rachel finally emerged from the car.

"Well hello, Rachel," Tony the doorman greeted.

"Hi," Rachel said. She took her suitcase from him and whispered out thanks as he held the door for her.

A quick glance at her phone told her it was only 7:37 in the morning and she looked back at Tony who was talking animatedly with another resident of the building. There was no call for him to be as cheerful as he was at this time of day, at least not while she was feeling like this. Rachel's stomach was still doing flips and she was certain she'd never want to eat again.

Rachel headed for the elevator, pulling her suitcase behind her. She was soon inside her mother's house and all was quiet just as she anticipated. She knew Shelby must still be asleep. She left her suitcase by the door and dropped her keys and phone and purse on the dining room table. She was going to wake up her mom and maybe even climb right into bed with her.

Rachel made her way to Shelby's room and opened the door and stepped in.

"Mom, I-"

Rachel stopped short when she saw that it was not just her mother in bed, but Brian too. She couldn't be one hundred percent sure because of the sheet, but Rachel thought they were both naked.

Shelby opened her eyes when she heard someone talking and blinked against the sunshine in the room. She looked over at the doorway and saw her daughter standing there.

"Rachel!" Shelby exclaimed. She almost sat up but stopped when she remembered what state she was in. She grabbed the sheet and held it up to her neck.

"Rachel?" Brian asked groggily. He followed Shelby's stare and gasped when he saw the girl. "Rachel!" He too grabbed the sheet and held it close to him.

Rachel's eyes were wide in shock and she tried to back out of the room and walked into the wall instead. It was then that Rachel's stomach decided it had finally had enough. Rachel looked from Brian to her mother and then vomited all over the floor.

A/N – That's all for this chapter! I really do hope you all enjoyed it. Please leave me a review if you can and let me know what you think. I value your opinions and insight so much and it really makes my day to get the feedback. And like I said in the beginning, I am hoping to be able to update this more regularly. Please be patient with me and stay the course. I won't abandon it.