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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The last three days had passed in a blink of an eye for Rachel where they had seemed to be never ending for Shelby. They were spending their last morning with the Berry men before they left and the dining room table was crowded with a few extra people that were not usually present in the Berry house.
"Daddies what's going on?" Rachel finally asked recognizing one of the lawyers from LeRoy's firm at the table, but not recognizing the two women also present.
"We've decided to do one last bit of paperwork before we leave," Hiram began.
"What more is there to be done?" Shelby asked.
"Custody papers," LeRoy nodded around the table. "Shelby and Rachel this is Mark Jansen, a fellow lawyer at my firm, Miriam Rogers, our Notary, and Judge Melinda Samuels."
"I still don't understand," Rachel said.
"Neither do I," Shelby offered.
"It's simple really," Hiram said. "Since we're going to be gone a year we felt more secure giving you full custody of Rachel. Upon our return we'll discuss joint custody arrangements."
"Why?" Rachel looked at her fathers in confusion.
"We aren't going to be in the country, Rachel," LeRoy offered. "This way Shelby won't have any issues regarding making decisions for you at all. We want to do this to make sure that Shelby's custody of you can't be challenged by anyone."
Shelby looked back and forth between the men and Rachel. "I don't know what to say. Thank you."
"Thank you," Hiram took Shelby's hands in his. "We're giving you a piece of our hearts. We know she's in good hands and we can focus on LeRoy getting better."
"Rachel?" Shelby noticed the subdued girl and wondered what she was thinking.
"You'll be back though, right?" Rachel addressed her fathers. "And then I'll get to live with you and Mama, right?"
The men smiled and nodded, "Of course, princess. Don't think you're getting rid of us that easily." Hiram smiled and pulled Rachel onto his lap. "We love you, Rachel and we will be back as soon as we can."
"Promise?"
"We promise," LeRoy added. "Now, we just need to sign the papers in front of all of these people and Judge Samuels will be happy to change the current custody arrangement.
Shelby looked up at the almost forgotten strangers, "Thank you for taking time to do this for us."
"Nonsense," Mark spoke. "We've known Hiram and LeRoy for years it's the least we can do for them and your Rachel."
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Rachel had said nothing on the last ride home from her fathers' house. Shelby had the car radio on and was shocked when Rachel turned the music off. The goodbyes between fathers and daughter had been heartbreaking and Shelby hoped the men could keep their promise of both returning within the year.
Pulling into the garage Shelby turned off the car and shut the door behind them. "Do you want to go to school tomorrow, Rachel or would you rather take another day off?"
Rachel merely shrugged before leaving the car and heading into the house. Watching her daughter walk into the house Shelby's heart broke once more for Rachel. "We'll get through this, baby," Shelby muttered to herself before following Rachel into the house.
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The last three weeks had passed quickly and Shelby couldn't believe that the first week in May was half over. Rachel had been rather subdued since her fathers left but seemed to be adjusting alright to their weekly Skype chats and daily texts.
In all honesty Shelby was waiting for the other shoe to drop in regards to Rachel and she wondered what it would be. Her answer came in a big way the first Thursday in May, and even Shelby was surprised by what her daughter managed to do.
Shelby was heading to VA rehearsals when her cell phone rang. Answering it, she nodded into the phone, "I'll be right there."
Catching a student in the hallway, Ms. Corcoran directed them to go to the auditorium and tell VA that rehearsals were cancelled for the day. Damned if she cared if the kids would believe it or not. She figured her top performers would run rehearsals despite the cancellation. Stopping by the front office she let them know that VA had official been cancelled before racing to her car.
Shelby had just reached the door of McKinley H.S. when she was stopped by a tall blonde in a track suit. "Barbra Senior, a minute please."
"Are you talking to me?" Shelby questioned.
"Yeah, Sue Sylvester, Cheerio coach. Look I just wanted to tell you that Babs Jr. did what needed to be done. As a daughter of world famous Nazi hunters I understand not having your parents around like you want.
"Anyway, don't let Figgen's blustering fool you. What she did every one of those kids in the office did to her at least once with no repercussions. Anyway, I have the video to prove that it happened to her first yet again. And though little Miss Focker and her singing marionettes drive me insane. I'll be there to back you up."
"Thanks?" Shelby wasn't sure what to make of the tall blonde now walking with her.
"May I ask why?"
"I've heard things about you, Fanny Brice Sr. and I may not like you or the fact that you think singing is a good way to make a living. Namby pamby, if you ask me, but anyone who can get non cheerleaders to do an entire routine on their hands can't be bad. Not to mention the fact that you know metal underwear chafing is not your problem. Your methods weed out the weaker performers. So, let it not be said that Sue Sylvester doesn't support the arts in her own way."
Shelby merely shook her head at the Cheerio coach and stopped short as she entered the office. The office was filled with kids in various shades of slushy. All were wearing letterman jackets or cheerleader uniforms. "What happened?"
"I told you your kid finally grew a set." Sue then moved through the kids still dripping slushy onto the carpet while Shelby merely followed behind.
"Figgens!" Sue barked upon pushing the principal's office door open. "Yentel's mother is here."
"Very good," the man nodded from behind his desk as Shelby took in Rachel's appearance.
"Rachel, what happened?"
"I got slushied, again. I got tired of it. I decided to do something about it."
"I am afraid Ms. Corcoran, that I will have to suspend your daughter for this outrageous behavior."
Shelby rounded on the principal eyes blazing, "So that means you're suspending every kid who slushied my daughter today as well?"
"Well…"
"From what Rocky here has told me my kid has been slushied by every kid out there and you've never done a damn thing about it. So the first time my daughter decides to stand up for herself you think you can punish her. I don't think so. Now, let me tell you what's going to happen, Mr. Figgens. Billie Jean King here is going to show us the video leading up to what happened with Rachel and all those slushy covered idiots out there and then we're going to figure out what to do to make sure it never happens again."
Shelby turned to her daughter after viewing the video. "You aimed the slushy nozzle at everyone?"
"I figured after I ran out of one flavor I could switch to another."
"And Mr. Schuester?"
"Tried to stop me," Rachel shrugged. "He was putting his nose in my business once again the last place brillo head needs to put his nose."
"What about your glee friends?"
"Casualties," Rachel shrugged again. "Don't worry I've already apologized to them. However I feel justified for what I did. I have spent almost every day this year getting slushied while nobody did anything about it."
"Mr. Figgens?" Shelby demanded.
"Slushies are not on the board approved list of violent objects."
"How about angry mothers? Is that on the board approved list because I have to tell you I can make your life a living hell if this ever happens to my kid or any of her friends again."
"Now Ms. Corcoran…"
"That's right, Shelby Corcoran award winner coach of Vocal Adrenaline at Carmel High. Maybe you've heard of me or our illustrious glee club supporters. I know, what about a few of the board members whose kids I coach. It stops now, Figgens. So, if you'll excuse me, I'm taking my kid and leaving. She will be back and this will never happen again."
Sue grinned, "I knew I liked you." Turning to Figgens the Cheerio coach smiled. "Don't think you want to get that one mad. She knows how to use metal underwear."
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Throwing her purse on the kitchen counter Shelby looked at her daughter. "Go shower, Rachel. Then come back down here so we can talk."
"Talk about what?"
"About why you felt it necessary to slushy half of McKinely's student body today."
"I told you I got sick of being slushied myself."
Shelby sighed. "Go shower and get changed, Rachel. I'm going to change as well."
"Fine, but I still don't see what the big deal is." Rachel stomped up the stairs and Shelby shook her head.
"Of all the things I thought she might do," Shelby trailed off as she headed up the stairs as well.
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Shelby was putting the finishing touches on the salad when Rachel finally came back down stairs. The pasta was done and as Shelby put the food on the table she still tried to figure out how she was going to deal with this act of rebellion from her daughter.
Shelby and Rachel ate in silence for a while before Shelby finally put her fork down. "What caused the slushy gun incident today, Rachel?"
Rachel put her fork down and looked at her mother. "I was having a really bad day today, Mama. Today is dad's birthday and I haven't been able to get a hold of them to wish him a happy birthday. I always sing to them on their birthdays."
"I'm sorry, sweetie. I'm sure you'll be able to talk to them later."
"But it's not his birthday anymore! He's in Sweden and it's already past midnight there. It's not fair!"
"No it's not fair, but you will get to talk to your dads before bed." Shelby reached for Rachel's hand but the girl pulled hers back.
"Anyway, those stupid jocks decided to slushy me all at once and I'd had enough. I had just had a rather upsetting meeting with Mr. Schuester about our next play list and that combined with not getting to sing to Dad was more than I could handle.
"I decided to give them a taste of their own medicine. I walked to the cafeteria and waited until they came after me. Then I picked up the slushy nozzle and let them have it. It was rather gratifying. I don't know why I didn't do it long ago."
"As gratifying as it may have been, Rachel, it was still an inappropriate way to handle what happened."
"Why is it inappropriate, Mama?" Rachel stared hard at her mother. "They've done it to me and my friends most of this year. I bet they don't do it anymore. Especially since you tore Figgens a new one."
"Rachel!"
"What? You did and about time somebody told him where to step off," Rachel huffed. "He's almost as bad as Will Schuester."
Shelby ran her hand through her hair and sighed, "You're right, Rachel. I did let your principal have a piece of my mind, he deserved it for not protecting you or your friends from the bullying that has been going on at McKinely."
"So what's the problem?"
"The problem is, Rachel, that you are fourteen years old. I am an adult and despite the fact that you felt the need to do something about the situation you could have come to me."
"Why so Figgens could do nothing and I could keep getting slushied?"
"No, Rachel. So I could still tear Figgens a new one and get it stopped."
"Fine. The next time someone at that school decides to slushy me I promise to let you know so you can come and rip Figgens a new one again. Oh and while we're delving into fantasy land maybe we'll see a mermaid too. Or I know maybe Sue will be nice."
Shelby's reply was cut off when Rachel's phone rang. Smiling at the number she answered happily, "Daddy!"
Seeing her daughter's face fall Shelby wondered what was being said on the other end. "But I always sing on your birthdays. Why didn't you call me this morning then?" Rachel demanded. "Fine. No, I understand. Goodnight and tell Dad I love him too. Bye."
Ending the call Rachel stared at her phone. "Dad is asleep already. It was a big day, whatever that means. I'm going upstairs." Rachel announced disappearing from the kitchen and to her room before Shelby even had time to process the information.
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Hope this chapter was enjoyed.