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's grounding was finally over and the girl was celebrating by going to see a movie and out to eat with some of the members of Glee Club. Having an awful sense of déjà vu Rachel grimaced and then turned to smile at her mother. "Thanks for letting me do this, Mama."
"I'm glad to let you have some fun, Rachel. Just remember that I need to know where you're going to be if plans change. You make sure to call me or text to check in."
"Okay," Rachel smiled at her mother. "What are you going to do with your child free day?"
"Wait for your return with baited breath," Shelby teased.
Rachel's retort was cut off when a knock on car window caused her to jump. Turning she broke into a smile, "Kurt!"
"Mama, can I go now?"
Shelby nodded, "I will pick you up at the food court entrance of the mall at 6:00, Rachel. If you need more time or the location changes let me know."
"I will," Rachel leaned over and gave her mother a quickly hug. "Love you."
Shelby watched until Rachel and her friends disappeared into the mall. Smiling at the scene she wondered how she ever survived without her daughter in her life. Shaking the thoughts from her head Shelby absently picked up her phone when it rang.
"Hiram hello. No I just dropped Rachel off at the mall to spend the afternoon with some of her friends. Come to your house? Sure, I'll be there in twenty minutes." Ending the call Shelby wrinkled her forehead in confusion. Why on Earth would the Berry men want her to go to their house?
Pulling into the Berry driveway Shelby was just about to ring the bell when the door opened. "LeRoy?"
"Shelby, please come in. Hiram and I need to speak with you."
Entering the house, Shelby immediately noticed the drawn curtains and the dim lights. Sitting down in a comfortable chair, Shelby waited as LeRoy sat next to Hiram. "I didn't think you were coming home so soon."
The men nodded as they clasped hands. "We weren't in Japan, Shelby. We were in Baltimore."
"Baltimore?"
LeRoy took a deep breath, "We were at Johns Hopkins, Shelby, looking into treatment."
Shelby sat forward in her chair and looked at the men silently studying them. She looked at them intently and finally noticed telltale signs of exhaustion on both men. LeRoy seemed a bit worn around the edges with dark bags under his eyes and was thinner than she remembered. Hiram looked just as tired but the way his thumb was rubbing on the back of LeRoy's hand, Shelby had an idea of who was sick.
"What's wrong?"
"To the point as always," Hiram smiled. "It's one of the reasons we liked you so much."
"And that," Shelby pointed to their intertwined hands, "is the main reason I knew my baby would be safe and loved with the two of you."
The men nodded and Hiram looked once at LeRoy before speaking, "There is no easy way to say this so I'm just going to say it. LeRoy is sick, Shelby. He has a brain tumor that they managed to shrink a bit at Johns Hopkins but it's still there and it's growing again."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that I need to get another type of treatment before the tumor begins to take my memory and personality away," LeRoy smiled sadly at the woman. "We've just gotten word that I'm going to be allowed to be in a study for some new treatment options."
"That's wonderful," Shelby sat back once more. "Does it look well, this new treatment?"
"It gives us hope," Hiram responded. "The thing is, the study isn't in Lima or anywhere near Ohio."
Shelby's heart sank. They were leaving and taking Rachel with them. Holding back the tears she nodded, "I understand. How much longer do I have with Rachel before you leave? Where are you going?"
The men looked at Shelby's pained face and back at each other. "Oh no, Shelby, you don't understand. LeRoy spoke again. We can't take Rachel with us we wanted to make sure you were up to having her full time."
"What?" Shelby looked between the men in confusion. "You're leaving her?"
"We have no choice," Hiram sighed. "The study is being conducted in Sweden."
"Sweden?"
The men nodded and LeRoy spoke one more, "It's based off a Cedars Sinai treatment from a few years ago. It's rather complex but the preliminary studies show that it helps to shrink even the most stubborn of tumors which I seem to have."
Hiram looked at his husband and then back to Shelby. "We aren't sure how long we'll be gone. The trial is for a year providing LeRoy responds to it and we can't uproot Rachel to another country when we can't be focused on her."
Shelby nodded, "I wanted to be in her life, but not like this."
"We know. We're going to need your help telling her, Shelby. We want you here."
"Anything. When do you leave?"
"Three days."
"That isn't a lot of time to get things in order."
"We've been home for over a week now. Our financial papers are in order and we have all of our legal affairs taken care of. We're going to let Rachel take whatever she wants from the house if that's okay with you before we close it up. We paid off the house this past fall and don't want to sell it unless we have to."
Shelby nodded, "I'll help in any way I can. You have given me such a gift in Rachel allow me to do what I can to help you."
The Berry men leaned forward and each took one of Shelby's hands in their own. "You can help us by taking care of Rachel. Love her for us, Shelby. Remind her that we love her more than anything. Be there for her when we can't."
"Gladly." Shelby moved forward and embraced both men. "I am so sorry this is happening. I have to believe you'll be home in a year if not sooner though healthier than ever."
"We have to believe that too," Hiram admitted. "Now, when are you supposed to pick up Rachel?"
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Rachel slid into Shelby's car smiling madly. "I take it you had a good time?"
"Oh yeah," Rachel began to hum with the music in the car. "The movie was funny and I found a new dish I like at this Mexican restaurant. It had so much cheese, I loved it."
"You've decided to eat cheese?" Shelby asked.
"Yep. I miss it," Rachel giggled. "I think I'll try eggs and dairy again too."
"Just remember to take it slow as you reintroduce foods, Rachel."
"Speaking from experience?" Rachel teased.
"What did my parents tell you?" Shelby asked glancing at her daughter quickly.
"Oh a little bit of this and a little bit of that," Rachel teased. "Hey, what are we doing at my dads?"
"You'll find out. Let's go." Shelby was already out of the car when Rachel finally followed her.
"Mama really, what are we doing here?" Rachel asked once more not noticing the front door opening.
"Rachel?"
Eyes focusing on the front door Rachel broke into a huge smile. "Daddy! When did you get back?"
Running past Shelby she threw herself at her taller father. "I didn't think you'd be back for another week."
"We had a change in plans, Rachel." Hiram gave her a kiss on the top of her head. "You and your mom come on in so your dad and I can catch up."
Rachel pushed past Hiram and squealed as she found her other father on the couch. Sitting down she hugged him as well and then pulled Hiram next to her. Noticing that Shelby sat alone in the chair across from them Rachel's face fell for a moment. She hadn't thought how her mother would feel at this moment. Loyalties divided Rachel frowned briefly.
"You okay, Rachel?" Shelby asked.
Rachel nodded, "Yeah, I was just thinking." Putting on her show face Rachel turned back to her dads. "So when did you get in? Why are you home so early? Can I still stay with Mama next week?"
"Rachel calm down," LeRoy spoke softly. "Your daddy and I need to talk to you."
"What's wrong? You're not taking Shelby away again are you? I won't let you!" Rachel moved from between them and practically flew into Shelby's lap. "You can't take her away again. You promised."
Looking at each other the men knew they had made the right choice allowing Shelby back into Rachel's life by her reaction. "Rachel we are not taking Shelby away from you. We wouldn't do that to either of you," Hiram began.
"Now, calm down and let us talk," LeRoy directed. He wasn't looking forward to this conversation and wanted to get it over with.
A short time later Rachel was still crying on the couch in between her fathers. "I don't want you to go away, Daddies."
"And we don't want to leave you, Rachel." Hiram kissed the top of Rachel's head. "But we don't have a choice. We have to go to Sweden to get the best chance for your dad. And we know you'll be in the best hands possible while we're gone."
"And we can skype and talk on the phone."
"It's not the same," Rachel protested.
"I know, princess." LeRoy kissed Rachel on the temple. "But it's what we'll have to do until I get better and come home."
"Okay," Rachel finally managed to stop the tears. Hugging her fathers again she looked from one to the other. "Do you want me to stay here or at Mama's tonight?"
"As much as we love you, princess," LeRoy began. "I am exhausted and I'd feel better if you were with Shelby tonight."
Rachel nodded sadly. "Okay Dad. I can come back tomorrow right?"
"You'd better," Hiram smiled at his daughter. "We want to spend as much time with you as we can besides you have to decide what else you'd like to take with you to your mom's house for the year."
"Okay." Rachel stood up and waved at her fathers. "By Daddies I'll see you tomorrow."
"Goodnight, princess."
Rachel was quiet on the ride home and entered Shelby's house without a sound. Shelby sat quietly in the car trying to prepare herself and after ten minutes finally entered the house. Not seeing Rachel the woman headed upstairs and saw the light coming from Rachel's room. Deciding to change into her pajamas Shelby headed to her bedroom and got into something much more comfortable before steeling herself and heading towards Rachel's room.
Shelby knocked lightly and entered when she was met only with silence. Her heart broke seeing Rachel in her own pajamas lying on her bed with her stuffed lamb held tightly in her arms.
Saying nothing Shelby crawled onto the bed with her daughter and merely opened her arms and held the girl as Rachel began to sob into Shelby's shoulder. Shelby knew there were no words for Rachel's pain and she merely continued her silent vigil as Rachel cried herself to sleep in her mother's arms.
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Thanks once more to everyone who has added this story or me to their favorite or alerts list. It makes me happy that it's been so well received.