I do not own Glee or any of the characters created by Ryan Murphy. If I did we would see way more of Shelby. This story will contain spanking of a teenager. If that's not your thing stop reading now and go read something else.
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Rachel threw down the broom and groaned. She had spent Wednesday cleaning the kitchen from top to bottom and Shelby now had her cleaning out the garage. What a way to spend her Thursday. It wasn't fair in the least. Her mother was taking this grounding thing way too far in Rachel's opinion.
So she had snuck Shelby's phone to call Kurt it's not like any harm came of it. She couldn't believe her mother had taken away her electronics until Tuesday now and had then assigned her the chores in the garage. She was coming to find out that life with Shelby Corcoran was infinitely different than life with Hiram and Leroy Berry.
Hearing a car in the driveway Rachel opened the door and shook her head in disbelief at the sight in front of her. An older couple had alighted from the car and were looking at Rachel holding the broom as she stared.
A taller blonde woman slowly closed the car and made her way to the front of the car where she waited for the man to join her. He had a smile on his face and linked hands with the woman after pushing his glasses back on his nose.
"Rachel, why did you open the door?" Shelby had come into the garage at the sound of the door opening and stopped short at the visitors on her driveway.
"Mom, Daddy?" Smiling she ran to them from the garage to greet them.
"Shelby Lorraine Corcoran why didn't you tell us to come sooner?" Shelby's mother asked sternly.
Stepping back Shelby looked at her mother in confusion, "What do you mean, Mom?"
"Why is it that we have to hear from your sister that you've canceled your spring vacation plans with her because you don't feel well enough to travel?"
Gulping, Shelby took another step back. "Well?"
Turning to her father Shelby smiled slightly, "Hi, Daddy," she began. "I guess because it's not quite true."
"What isn't true, Shelby?"
"I think we need to take this inside," Shelby began only to be cut off by Rachel.
"Mama?" The teen had put the broom away and joined her on the driveway.
"Mama?" Theo Corcoran's eyebrow shot up as he looked at his wife then back to Shelby. "Is this Rachel?"
Rachel nodded, "I take it from Mama's reaction that you're her parents. It's nice to meet you, Mr. Corcoran." Holding out her hand Rachel was surprised to be pulled into a bone crushing hug.
"Mr. Corcoran, I don't think so, little girl." He pushed Rachel back slightly and looked at her closely. "So much like your mother," he mumbled. "And it's Saba to you, little girl." He added with a smile.
Rachel nodded and turned to the blonde who was watching her closely, "And what you would like me to call you?" Rachel asked. "I'm thinking Mrs. Corcoran will not be to your liking, but I've never had grandparents before so I'm not really sure of the proper etiquette in this matter."
Hearing Shelby groan, Emily Corcoran grinned, "Well, Rachel, I think you should call me what your cousins call me."
"And that would be what exactly?" Rachel asked.
"Rachel!" Shelby finally found her voice.
"What?" The teen shrugged, "I can't call her what she wants when she hasn't told me what it is yet." Rolling her eyes Rachel looked confused as her grandmother laughed.
"Oh, Shelby, she is all you," the woman said. "And Rachel, you may call me Bubbe."
Rachel nodded and extended her hand, "Nice to meet you."
Shaking her head the blonde pulled her granddaughter into a hug and kissed her on the temple. "We hug in this family, Rachel."
"I'll try to remember that." Rachel quipped stepping back and leaning into her mother. Truth be told, she was a bit overwhelmed by her new grandparents but thought perhaps their arrival would shorten her grounding.
"Let's go inside, shall we?" Shelby asked.
Seeing her parents nod she looked to the car, "Do you have luggage?"
Her father nodded, "I'll get it, Shelby. The three of you go ahead and I'll join you in a minute."
"Would you like some help?" Rachel volunteered.
Theo smiled at the girl but shook his head, "Thank you, sweetie, but I have this. You go on with your mother and grandmother into the house. I'll can't up."
"Okay." Turning Rachel moved to follow the woman in front of her smirking when her grandmother's hand made contact with her mother's bottom once as she urged her through the door from the garage into the house.
Rachel still had the smile on her face as she sat on the couch and melted into Shelby while her grandmother chose to sit in the large overstuffed chair as they came into the living area.
"What are you grinning about?" Shelby asked playfully.
"You got swatted," Rachel whispered.
Seeing the twinkle in her daughter's eye Shelby groaned. "I know."
Leaning against her mother Rachel watched as her grandmother sat in the overstuffed chair across from the couch. "So, Rachel, how is it you came to be staying here? The last time we heard you and Shelby…" the woman broke off as her husband entered the room and sat down in the last remaining chair.
Looking up at her mother, Rachel put on her show face and took a breath. "My dads had some business overseas and wanted to go on a second honeymoon. They'll be gone a month so we decided it would be a great time for Shelby and I to get to know each other better."
Emily nodded, "How long have you been here?"
"Just this week." Rachel replied linking her fingers with Shelby's.
"And why didn't you just tell us this rather than telling your sister that you were too sick to travel?" Emily focused her eyes on her daughter and Rachel swore she heard her mother gulp before answering.
"I didn't want to overwhelm Rachel. It's our first time really being together in this way and I knew if I'd told you then we'd have a house full of relatives wanting to meet her. I wasn't ready for that and I'm pretty sure she's not."
Theo nodded, "We understand, sweetie. However, that doesn't mean we aren't happy to meet the infamous Rachel Barbra Berry."
"Infamous?" Rachel looked up at her mother and squeezed the woman's hand. She wasn't one to let others know she was nervous but she had to admit that being introduced to these people that knew about her had her a bit frazzled. "I suppose that could be true when used in the best possible way. I admit that I did kill it at sectionals which I suppose could lay the foundation for when I make it on Broadway."
Looking at each other and then their daughter both adults finally focused on their granddaughter again. "That's wonderful that you have such ambitions, Rachel." Theo began.
"Thank you. My fathers have always encouraged me in my musical endeavors and knowing that I have a genetic predisposition to such an outstanding vocal range whereby I can encompass both head singing and belting. Genetics is a wonderful thing."
Seeing the confused looks on her parents' faces Shelby chuckled. "Rachel, not everyone understands musical parlance. How about we keep in layman's terms, okay?"
Rachel nodded. "Okay, Mama."
Looking at his watch Theo broke the awkward silence, "How about you ladies get ready and we'll take you out for lunch?"
Shelby looked at Rachel and nodded. "That sounds great. What do you think, Rachel?"
"I suppose that would be fine. I know of a couple places where I can have my dietary needs met with something other than a salad." Getting up Rachel headed up the stairs with Shelby's encouragement.
"Shelby, what was she talking about? Dietary needs?"
Shelby looked at her mother, "Rachel is a vegan."
"Of course she is," Theo chuckled. "She is so much like you, Shelby. I can't believe she's just come back into your life.
Shelby gave a half smile, "I know. I'm so thankful to have another chance with her." Holding up her hands she shook her head, "I'll explain everything tonight after Rachel goes to bed. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go get ready. I'll put your suitcase in your usual room."
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Rachel entered the house pouting. Lunch had gone surprisingly well and her grandparents had even eaten at her favorite eatery. They had enjoyed the vegetarian fare while Rachel had ordered her favorite soup and wrap.
She had been hoping they'd want to do something after lunch, but it had been decided that they'd come back to the house and get to know each other a bit more before other plans would be made. Rachel had quietly asked her mother if they could please go to the mall the next day but Shelby had simply told her she didn't know. When the girl had tried to push the issue Shelby's eyebrow raised in warning and Rachel backed off knowing that arguing with that eyebrow in front of her new found grandparents wouldn't be a smart move.
Rachel was up the stairs and in her room before her mother had even made it into the house. Closing her door she kicked off her shoes and changed into her favorite sweats and tshirt before throwing herself onto her bed.
Pulling her lamb from under her pillow Rachel tried to reconcile the conflicting emotions within her. She was angry with her mother over being so strict with the grounding yet isn't this what she had wanted. She had wanted Shelby to be her mom and now that she was why was it so hard to accept.
Hearing a knock on her door Rachel ignored it and sighed heavily when she heard it open. "Rachel?"
Surprised at the voice the girl sat up and looked at the door in surprise, "Yes?"
"May I come in?" Her grandmother's light eyes were friendly and Rachel slowly nodded.
Scooting over on the bed she made room for the woman in invitation wondering what Emily Corcoran wanted. "I wanted to let you know that I had a nice time at lunch."
"So did I," Rachel agreed.
"And so did your grandfather," Emily smirked. "Despite his complaints of no real burgers on the menu."
Rachel grinned, "Yeah, he told me that he was just doing it to tease Mama about having a child who was even harder to feed than she was as a teen."
Emily chuckled, "That's probably true. Your mother went through these phases starting when she was about thirteen," the woman paused and looked at her granddaughter for a moment. "Not that I think you being vegan is a phase, I'm just using it as a basis for your grandfather and me."
Rachel nodded and moved a bit closer to the woman, "I understand. You were saying about my mom?"
Emily nodded, "As I said, she began to go through these phases. For a while she was going to be a vegetarian who ate only eggs and cheese. After that, she was a vegan," Emily smiled at the look on her granddaughter's face. "But my favorite was when she had heard about the raw diet. Mind you, it hadn't really been anything but a health movement when Shelby was your age. She decided she would only eat raw foods."
"Really?" Rachel opened her eyes in surprise. "How long did it last?"
"About two weeks," Emily laughed again. "She got tired of having to find a bathroom so often during the day. Not to mention the note we got from school asking if she had some health concerns since she had to be excused so much from class."
Rachel began to giggle, "How old was she?"
"Fifteen."
Rachel's giggles continued. "That note must have been so embarrassing for her."
Emily nodded, "It was. But at least we got her to start eating normally again."
Rachel looked thoughtful for a moment, "I always wondered why she never seemed to make a big deal out of me being vegan."
"It's because she understands, Rachel." Emily reached out and took her granddaughter's hands in her own. "She may not have chosen to remain a vegan, or a vegetarian, or a raw food enthusiast, but she understands needing to explore those parts of yourself and not limiting yourself to being one thing. She never let one thing define her, Rachel."
"Not even her voice?" The question was asked before Rachel could even think about it.
"Well, she always was confident in her voice." Emily confirmed. "School musicals, and talent shows growing up. Studying theater in college. Going to New York to pursue her dreams and finding out that those dreams didn't mean as much to her as they once did."
Rachel was quiet and finally looked into her grandmother's face. "Why didn't she make it in New York? She's spectacular, Mrs…, er Bubbe," Rachel tripped over the unfamiliar name. I can't believe she never made it. She should have. She has so much talent."
Emily took a deep breath and put her hands on either side of Rachel's face before she spoke, "Conquering New York wasn't nearly as important to her as you were, Rachel. After she had you and gave you to your fathers…She broke, Rachel. Something inside of her changed forever and she did perform in some great off-Broadway shows. One of which went on to conquer the Great White Way, but she chose to come back to Ohio instead of moving with it to Broadway."
"Why?" Rachel's voice was quiet. "Why wouldn't she move to Broadway?" Rachel couldn't understand giving up that dream for anything.
"She wanted to be closer to you." Emily said simply.
"But, I don't understand."
"You were about two when that happened, Rachel. Shelby called us up one day and told us that her production was going to Broadway that the workshops would be starting in a few days.
"We were so excited for her but before we could congratulate her she told us that she'd quit and was coming home to teach Drama and English at this school called Carmel. They had a glee club and she was going to step up and be a part of that as well."
"Wow. I can't imagine ever giving up Broadway to teach." Rachel admitted.
"And your journey to Broadway will be your own, Rachel. Just like it was your mother's."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I know you're frustrated with your mom right now, sweetie. I just wanted to let you know that she understands more than you think she does and that she's always thought of you, Rachel. She may not have been there, but she never forgot you."
Rachel nodded, "I'm just frustrated." She finally admitted. "I got grounded and Mama is a lot stricter than my dads are. I've never actually had a grounding last as long as what my fathers said it would."
Emily chuckled, "I'm afraid she gets that from personal experience as well, Rachel. That girl was grounded so much as a teenager it could make your head spin."
Rachel smiled at the remark, "Really?"
Emily nodded, "Let's just say Shelby Lorraine Corcoran can go all out when she wants to and when she was in Junior High and High School going all out often resulted in being grounded."
Rachel laughed at the remark and allowed her grandmother to hug her. Maybe having grandparents wouldn't be so bad after all, she thought.