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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Chapter 20

"Damn it!" Rachel's chocolate eyes flashed as listened to the glee club in front of them at the last competition of the year. They had just begun to sing what was supposed to be the New Directions opening number.

"What are we going to do?" Santana hissed. "We can't sing that now."

"We are so screwed," Kurt's voice joined the unrest and Rachel moved to the middle of the group.

"Everyone shut up and listen to me," Rachel demanded. "I know exactly how we're going to save this competition."

"Rachel, as much as I appreciate your confidence there is no possible way we can learn a new number in under ten minutes."

Spinning on her heel Rachel glared at her glee coach, "We are not going to learn a new number. New Directions is merely going to do what I tell them to do while I go out there and save this competition. I'm not Shelby Corcoran's daughter for nothing, you know."

Motioning for everyone to huddle close Rachel began to tell them her plan while Will Schuester wondered when he'd lost complete control of his glee club.

Hearing the first notes of the song waft through the auditorium Rachel put on her best show face and prayed that her fellow glee club members could figure out how to walk and show their stage presence at the same time. Thankfully only one song of their set had been stolen and rather than ending with the new song Rachel had decided they would start with it. She knew she'd pull it off and it would get the crowd's attention. She was born to sing this song after all. Hearing her intro Rachel opened the curtain and entered the auditorium with all the force of someone twice her size:

"Don't tell me not to live, just sit and putter
Life's candy and the sun's a ball of butter
Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade
Don't tell me not to fly, I've simply got to
If someone takes a, spill it's me and not you
Who told you you're allowed to rain on my parade…."

"Shit," Shelby muttered from her spot in the back of the auditorium. Rachel had, with one entrance, managed to win the audience and judges over. She knew that this competition was going to be close, but now she was actually feeling a slight bit of worry on who would come out the winner. Vocal Adrenalin or New Directions. Her worry was soon forgotten however as she watched her daughter. There was no doubt Rachel was beyond good. Feeling a pride she didn't know was possible Shelby merely enjoyed the moment of watching her daughter work the audience as though she'd been doing it her whole life.

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No, this could not be happening. Shelby was fuming. A tie, a flipping tie between Vocal Adrenalin and New Directions. That was unacceptable. Totally unacceptable. Vocal Adrenalin did not share first place with anyone. Apparently the judges agreed. Watching in disbelief as one of the judges stood and faced the crowd Shelby schooled her face and waited.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have never experienced a tie before during this competition. While looking through the rules we have decided that we would initiate a sing off between one member of Vocal Adrenalin and one member of New Directions. These scores will be added to the total now and a winner will then be announced. In the event of another tie we have decided that both glee clubs will be listed as number one in their sectional class. We are giving each glee club thirty minutes to choose their singer and song. Thank you."

"Motherfucker," Shelby whispered to herself. "With me people!" she barked heading towards their warm up room. Who the hell was she going to put up against Rachel? None of her girls measured up to her daughter's voice and damned if it wasn't a huge risk to put up one of her boys.

"Ms. C, what are we going to do?"

"We are going to pick a song, pick a competitor, and kick New Direction's proverbial ass, St. James. Now, you're going to be the lead in this fun little game so let's find the perfect song for you."

"Me?" the boy asked running his hand through his curls.

"You, and you had better sing like you've just discovered how to end world hunger, bring world peace, and stop the polar ice caps from melting. Do you understand me, Jesse?"

"Yes Ms. Corcoran, I understand." The boy gulped. "Sing like it's my last song because if I don't win you'll kill me."

"Always knew you were bright," Shelby commented. "Okay people let's go through the sheet music and find Mr. St. James the perfect song."

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"Alright people we don't have much time," Will was addressing the members of New Directions. "So who do we think should sing?"

Mercedes turned and faced the man, "Seriously, Mr. Shue? After Berry's performance you ask us that? Now as much as I'd love a solo even I know now is not the time to screw things up." Shaking her head she looked at Rachel. "So Rachel what the hell are you going to sing to win this for us?"

Smiling, Rachel moved to her bag and pulled out a folder full of sheet music, "I have this idea," she began. "I'm sure I'll be put up against Jesse St. James because not one female member of VA can keep up with me or my abilities, but Jesse could, theoretically throw a wrench into us winning. I have to do something unexpected that is going to completely wow the judges and get the audience behind us."

"More Barbra?" Kurt asked.

Rachel shook her head, "Too predictable. Besides Shelby knows how I think and right now I need to out think her as well."

"What do you have planned, Berry?" Santana asked.

"This." handing the Latina a piece of sheet music from the folder Rachel watched as the girl read it and then began to laugh before handing it off to Puck.

"Pass that around, Puckerman, Berry here is a genius."

Looking at the sheet music in his hands Puck sighed, "I don't get it." He passed the music to Kurt who looked at it with Mercedes. Both teens grinned and then shook their heads. "You are a bad ass, Berry and your moms isn't going to know what hit her," Mercedes commented as Will pulled the music from their hands.

Looking at it his eyes opened wide, "Are you sure about this, Rachel?"

Taking a deep breath Rachel looked at her glee coach, "Of course I'm sure. She'll never be expecting it."

"But this song is perfect for you," he commented. "It's a belter's dream at the end."

"I know, and that's why she won't expect it. Mama is going to try and out think me as well. She's going to expect me to do a song like this and change my mind to more of a ballad or something to showcase my vocal range but not necessarily my head voice within my belting range. It's too obvious."

"It's genius," Santana quipped again. "Alright people let's help Berry rehearse this number so she can kick Vocal Adrenaline's collective asses."

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"You're sure about this, Ms. C?" Jesse asked again.

"Of course I'm sure," Shelby huffed as they waited for the judges to call him onstage. "I know Rachel and she's not going to be so predictable as to do Barbra again or a purely belting number. She's going to showcase her octave range along with a few hard notes thrown in. Something slower."

"Alright then, let's do this," Jesse replied hearing his name. "Can't believe I lost the damn coin toss," he muttered before putting on his best show face and walking onto the stage.

Hitting the last note of ballad Jesse felt as if he was walking on air. He knew he had hit every note perfectly as well as owned that stage. Berry was never going to match his ballad expertise with her own ballad. Of that he was sure.

"You were right," Kurt hissed as Rachel nodded.

"I know," hearing her name Rachel's show face was perfect as she moved to the center of the stage and nodded to the judges. Her music began and she slipped into character:

"Did that really just happen?
Have I actually understood?
This weird quirk I've tried
To suppress or hide
Is a talent that could
Help me meet the Wizard
If I make good
So I'll make good…"

Shelby was watching again from her spot at the back of the auditorium and her mask slipped for just a moment. "Son of a …. My own daughter out thought me," she whispered to herself as Rachel became a hopeful Elphaba on the stage. Knowing that the last note would be sung perfectly Shelby wasn't sure who she wanted to win anymore. No matter what though, she knew her daughter would one day make it big on Broadway if she wanted to and that feeling made Shelby's heart soar.

Clapping with the audience, Shelby shook her head. Rachel had made the audience wait for that belt and it had been worth it. The last note brought down the house and she could only hope that Jesse's vocal range would give him the needed points. Moving from her spot Shelby then shook her head, who the hell was she kidding? Rachel had taken this competition for her team and she couldn't be prouder.

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Shelby was running her fingers through Rachel's hair as they snuggled on the girl's bed. Both were beyond exhausted but Shelby could tell that something was bothering her daughter. "What's on your mind, Rach?"

"Are you upset that we won the competition?" she asked quietly.

"Upset? With that performance of the 'Wizard and I'? No way, sweetie. You were amazing and you even managed to out think the great Shelby Corcoran." Placing a kiss to the top of Rachel's head Shelby once more began to run her fingers through the long locks. "I am so proud of you, Rachel. You were amazing tonight and being your mother trumps the loss of that trophy."

"Really?"

"Really. Listen carefully to me, sweetie. I don't care about that trophy, though you'd better never tell my VA kids that," Shelby teased. "Being your mother will always be more important than another first place award."

"Or even a career on Broadway?" Rachel whispered.

"Especially a career on Broadway," Shelby reaffirmed. "I love you, Rachel Barbra Berry do not forget that. You are the most important thing in my life and I have no regrets. Not anymore."

"I love you, Mama."

"I love you too, sweetie." Shelby began to hum quietly as she stroked her daughter's hair simply allowing herself to live in the moment. Everything she had told Rachel was true. She didn't give a damn about the loss or being second. All she cared about was that she was the mother of Rachel Barbra Berry and tonight that girl had killed it.

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Walking into the glee room Rachel's smile lit her face. Everyone was standing and clapping for her. It was totally unexpected and overwhelming. Was it possible they liked her even a bit or was it only for her voice?

"Nice job, Berry!" Mercedes congratulated. "We finally have a first place trophy and it's all because you are a genius with a killer set of pipes."

"Thank you, Mercedes." Rachel blushed slightly. "Though your pipes are pretty amazing too."

The sudden silence in the glee room made Rachel shift, "What? Just because I'm perfect for most solos doesn't mean that I don't listen to everyone else sing. Everyone here had talents and if we can just learn to dance more like Mike, Quinn, and Brittany we might have a chance to reach nationals next year." She announced, "Provided that we showcase my talents fully as well as all of your vocals to compliment me."

"Now that's the munchkin we know and love," Santana joked as the group swarmed the girl congratulating her once more.

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Hope this chapter was enjoyed. Thanks again for all the PMs as well as adding the story to your lists.