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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Will Schuester slipped out of his car and crossed the parking lot entering Carmel high as quickly as possible. Shelby had asked to see him before her VA practice began and since his prep period was at the end of the day he'd been able to accommodate her.
Signing in at the office he clipped the visitor's badge to his jacket and headed to Shelby's office. Stopping to look at all of the VA trophies in the case next to Shelby's office, Will finally knocked on the closed door entering only when he heard the muffled come in.
"Will please sit down," Shelby didn't give the man a chance to speak preferring to keep him on his toes.
"Shelby…"
Holding up a hand Shelby shook her head, "I am talking right now, Will. Please let me get this out."
"Of course." Sitting back in the chair Will allowed Shelby to continue.
"A video was brought to my attention yesterday by Coach Sylvester. On this video my daughter kneed a jock in the hallway for whistling at her. I then saw and heard as she told you to leave me alone. You looked rather confused by her anger so I thought I should clue you in before Rachel decides to stand up for me again."
"I don't understand…"
"Still talking, Will." Shelby stood and moved to the front of her desk pulling herself up on it easily and looking down at the McKinley glee coach. "Rachel found out that you and I spoke after I entered her life the first time. I let her know just how much your comments bothered me and in fact were a big part of why I left the first time.
"I never should have let your voice get into my head that way but I did. That fault is mine and Rachel and I are working through it. The fact remains that you seem to have a habit of sticking your nose into places it doesn't belong. I would like you to stay out of Rachel's personal life, Will. I know you probably feel you're trying to help but in all honesty you are doing nothing but making things worse."
"Shelby I am sorry if you feel this way," Will began. "As for our conversation when you came back…"
Shelby shook her head cutting him off, "That is over, Will. I'm not rehashing it with you. The point is stay away from my kid in regards to her personal life. Teach her, let her excel in glee, but don't try and fix her personal life. Neither of us want you there. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get to VA practice."
Sliding off her desk, Shelby moved to the door and held it open. "Bye Will."
Running his hand through his hair Will stood and slowly turned. He wasn't sure what had just happened but even he wasn't dumb enough to stick around when Shelby Corcoran dismissed him. "Bye Shelby."
"Bye Will." Shelby closed the door as he left and locked it moving quickly down the hallway in the opposite direction he was moving hoping that the man would finally take the hint before she had to do something drastic.
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Will glared at Sue Sylvester as she made her way towards her car. New Directions practice could have gone better but it wasn't awful and at least Rachel was no longer giving him the stink eye every chance she got.
"Sue, Sue, wait up." Running to catch up with the coach Will finally reached her.
"Not that I'm not flattered you want to be a gentleman and walk me to my car, I don't need it."
"What did you show Shelby Corcoran?"
"Some security footage. You know the halls are wired better than the CIA building during a government coup."
"Why?"
"It needed to be done before Babs Jr. did something her mother would make you regret. Not that I'm looking out for you, but Babs Sr. and I have a unique relationship and as you know, Sue Sylvester does not have many relationships. Goodnight Brill-o."
Left speechless Will wondered when his life began to spiral so far out of control without him even noticing.
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Another week had passed and Rachel and Shelby's routine was finally set. Shelby allowed Rachel to ride home after glee practice with Kurt and she would then pick her up at the Hummel house. Most nights this went off without a hitch and Shelby was just glad that things seemed to be settling down.
Rachel still Skyped with the Berry men when they were able and she talked to them at least twice a week on the phone. Shelby was also in contact with the men for weekly updates and knew that things were not going as well as they had hoped. The treatment was still new thought and it had only been a month so hope was still present though the more Shelby spoke with the men the more she realized that they weren't even telling her the entire truth of what was going on.
Shelby was currently waiting for Rachel to come out of the Hummel house so they could go home. Friday night was their customary take out and movie night. Shelby was looking forward to the ritual and hoped that Rachel would be open to trying a new take out place that was on their way home.
Rachel greeted her mother quietly as she slid into the car. "How was your day, Rachel?"
"Okay I guess." Rachel said nothing else and Shelby decided not to push her daughter.
"I thought we'd try a new place for take-out tonight," Shelby said conversationally.
"What's wrong with the usual place?" Rachel demanded.
"Nothing Rachel," Shelby sighed. "I just thought it might be nice to try something new."
"What's wrong with leaving things the way they are?" Rachel huffed. "We have a viable place to go for Friday night and now you feel the need to change it. I don't understand why you'd want to do that."
Shelby pulled into the unfamiliar parking lot putting the car in park she turned to look at her daughter. "I just thought it would be nice to try something different, Rachel. This is a new vegetarian restaurant and I thought you might like to try it tonight." Shelby held up her hands at the glare Rachel gave her. "I understand that you'd rather not do that tonight and it's fine with me. Please call Wong's and place our usual order and add a side of garlic vegetables."
Rachel pulled out her cell phone in obvious relief, "I knew you'd see reason if I explained it to you."
"You mean that little temper tantrum was an explanation?" Shelby asked raising an eyebrow.
"That was not a temper tantrum, Mother. Do I look three years old to you?" Rachel asked as she put the phone to her ear.
Shaking her head Shelby made a mental note to call her parents and apologize for using that line on them when she was fifteen. "No Rachel you do not look three which is why I was rather surprised," Shelby responded before pulling out of the parking lot and driving to their usual Friday night place.
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Pulling her feet under her Shelby shook her head as Rachel filled her plate exactly the same way that she had done every Friday since they began their tradition. Adding some more vegetables to her plate Shelby added a spoonful to her daughter's plate when she wasn't looking only to be met with a look of horror.
"Mama, why would you do that?"
"You love these, Rachel," Shelby shrugged.
"Well I didn't want them now. I need to start my plate all over again." Rachel began to get up when Shelby put a hand on her daughter's leg.
"Do not move, Rachel. Your plate is fine. Start eating and I'll begin the movie."
"Fine," Rachel narrowed her eyes at her mother. "But I want you to know that I did not appreciate your help in filling my plate tonight."
"Noted." Pressing play Shelby sat back and groaned. "Again, Rachel?"
It was Rachel's turn to shrug, "Funny Girl is never a bad movie choice."
"Rachel, honey," Shelby put her plate on the coffee table, "You know that I love Barbra as much as you do, but even I have my limits. We watched this the past two weeks and frankly you need to pick another movie."
"But Mama…" Rachel trailed off seeing the look on her mother's face.
"Fine, but please note this is done over my protests."
"Duly noted." Shelby watched as Rachel looked through the DVD selections.
"I believe this movie will satisfy both of us," Rachel switched the DVD discs and sat back on the couch picking up her plate of food.
Pressing play again Shelby looked at her daughter and shook her head, "Gypsy?"
Rachel grinned and nodded, "I just love Roseland Russell and Natalie Wood in this version, don't you?"
"Are you trying to tell me something, Rachel?"
"What on Earth would I be trying to tell you with my choice in movies, Mama? After all Mama Rose was a typical overbearing stage mother who felt betrayed as her daughter began to develop her own life. There is obviously no parallel between you and me."
"Obviously," Shelby rolled her eyes and settled in to watch the movie. Looking at the clock she paused the movie and turned to Rachel. "Aren't you going to Skype with your dads?"
"No. Would you please resume the movie?"
"Why aren't you talking to them tonight, Rachel?" Shelby pushed.
"If you must know I got a text from Daddy before school was out," Rachel turned to look at her mother. "It seems that Dad isn't reacting well to the new protocol and therefore isn't able to converse in person for a while." Rachel stopped for a moment and moved closer to her mother. "Daddy says that Dad can't leave the treatment facility at this time and Daddy won't leave him alone. Daddy said that they would phone me in the morning. I guess that's his best time of day and with the time change it can't be helped."
Placing her arms around Rachel hugged the girl close to her, "I am sorry, Rachel."
Rachel shrugged, "No reason for you to be sorry, it's just the way things are."
Kissing the top of Rachel's head Shelby said nothing as she pressed play on the remote. She knew that she and Rachel would have to talk about this but it was obvious that wouldn't happen tonight. Sliding down Shelby Rachel put her head in her mother's lap and Shelby began to brush her fingers through the long locks glad that Rachel seemed to relax at the motion.
Noticing that Rachel had fallen asleep with her head on her lap Shelby continued stroking her daughter's hair merely relishing being with Rachel. She never thought she'd have the opportunity and as much as Shelby hated the reasons she now had her daughter with her she couldn't help but feel happiness that Rachel was now living with her.
Trying to shake the past fourteen years of regret from her mind Shelby decided that she needed to get her daughter to bed. Looking at her lap once more Shelby decided that it wouldn't hurt to let Rachel stay where she was until the movie ended.
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The ringing of Rachel's phone woke her and she reached for it wondering why it seemed so far away. Finally waking enough she realized that she was asleep on the couch using her mother's head as a pillow. Sighing she finally picked up her phone, "Hello."
"Princess!" Hiram Berry's much too cheery voice greeted her.
"Hi Daddy," Rachel sat up and grinned at Shelby's posture. The woman was still asleep on the couch with her neck on the back of the couch. She looked anything but comfortable and Rachel slowly pushed her mother with one hand until she was lying on the couch.
"Are you there, Princess?" Hiram asked.
"Yeah Daddy, sorry I needed to sit up. It's still early here."
"I know and Dad and I are sorry about that," Hiram tried not to let his sadness into his voice. "Dad would like to talk to you."
Rachel smiled and nodded, "Of course."
"Hi Princess," LeRoy's voice came over the phone and Rachel smiled once more.
"Good morning, Dad. Or rather afternoon for you isn't it? How are you feeling? Will you be able to Skype on Friday?"
"Slow down, Rachel." A cough followed the request and LeRoy took a deep breath. "I feel as well as I have felt in a few days and I don't know about using Skype on Friday."
"Oh," some of Rachel's happiness deflated at the reply. "I miss you and Daddy."
"We miss you too, Rachel," LeRoy replied. "How are things with Shelby?"
"Things here are good," Rachel looked down at her mother wondering how in the world she could sleep through the phone conversation. "Mama and I have established a Friday dinner theatre routine of our own. Basically we order take-out and watch a musical. It's not as interactive as what we usually due but I find I enjoy it quite a bit."
"That's good to hear," LeRoy sighed. "I'm sorry Rachel, I need to go. Let me give the phone back to Daddy he wants to talk to you again."
"Bye Dad, I love you." Rachel spoke but LeRoy had already given the phone to his husband. "Dad?"
"It's me, Princess," Hiram spoke again. "I'm sorry but the doctors are here to look at your dad. We'll text and call again when we can. We love you, Rachel."
"I love you both," Rachel said quickly before her father finally ended the call. Slowly rising from the couch Rachel put a blanket over her mother and then made her way upstairs deciding that she needed to be alone.
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Shelby's eyes opened and she sat up the moment she heard Rachel's door close and her heart sank as she picked up her phone. Pressing a button she was relieved to hear Hiram Berry answer almost immediately. "Hiram what's going on?" Shelby asked not wasting any pleasantries.
"I was going to call you in a while," Hiram admitted. "The treatment isn't going as well as we would like it to be going. LeRoy has his good and bad days. Friday was a bad day, Shelby. He didn't remember Rachel. I couldn't expose her to that."
Sighing Shelby ran her hand through her hair. "Oh Hiram, I am so sorry."
"It's alright, we're still early in the treatment and the good news is that LeRoy seems to be showing potential with the newest protocol. It's just that we're unable to communicate with Rachel as much as she'd like especially on days where LeRoy isn't himself."
"I understand," Shelby sighed again. "But Rachel doesn't, Hiram. You need to tell her so she's not wondering about why you aren't calling her or cancelling your weekly Skype visits. She's hurting Hiram and I'm doing the best I can but she needs to hear this from you."
Hearing voices in the background Shelby waited and then angrily hit the end call button when the line went dead. Knowing that it would do no good to call back her head immediately turned to the stairs when she heard music coming from Rachel's room. Deciding it was time get up Shelby cleaned up the coffee table from the previous evening and headed to the kitchen to make coffee and think.
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More to come soon.