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 32

The week visiting her fathers had flown by so quickly and before Rachel knew it they had only two days left before flying back to the states. She had sensed something was up with her dads and decided to confront them when she visited them for her usual lunch date. Her mom and Sue would be eating in a favorite café close to the hospital and Rachel hoped that whatever her dads had to tell her the news would be good.

Entering her father's room Rachel placed the cartons of take out on the round table near the window. "Are you two ready for some amazing food?" Rachel asked as she took the containers out of the bag. This is the most amazing Indian food I've had. The vegetarian options are wonderful and I am sure I'll love this vegetarian stew. Daddy, today's special was lamb korma and I know how you love lamb, so that's what I got you. And Dad, I saw that they had mango chicken today as well. I hope it sits better with you than that pizza did the other day. And of course we have rice and naan." Rachel finished pulling out the last container holding the flavorful flat bread.

Setting up their usual places at the table Rachel sat down and waited for her fathers to join her. She knew that they would be telling her whatever they'd been hiding today if she had to refuse to leave the room or something even more drastic. Singing off key. Shuddering at the thought Rachel smiled when LeRoy and Hiram finally joined her.

Dishing out the food all were lost in their thoughts for the first few moments. The silence was finally broken by Hiram. "You are so right, Rachel. This food is amazing. The lamb is perfect."

"And how's your chicken, Dad?" Rachel asked.

"Wonderful," LeRoy confirmed. "I just don't have much of an appetite today.

Rachel nodded, "Not like that summer cook out we had when I was twelve and you ate two steaks, a hamburger, a hotdog, four ears of corn, and a huge piece of apple pie."

LeRoy couldn't help but laugh. "That's for sure. All the while you are lecturing me on the evils of eating meat and everyone at the party was taking bets on how much I truly would eat."

"They were also taking bets on whether or not you'd be sick," Hiram offered with his own laugh. "I still can't believe you weren't."

"What can I say?" LeRoy asked. "I used to have a cast iron stomach."

"Like Scooby and Shaggy," Rachel quipped.

"More Shaggy than Scooby," Hiram teased.

A comfortable silence fell over the family and Rachel finally put her fork down. "I can't eat any more. I'll take the leftovers back to the hotel. I'm sure Mama and Coach will like them."

"I'm sure that they will," Hiram had put down his own fork and taken LeRoy's hand in one of his while reaching out to Rachel with his other hand.

Noticing the change in the room Rachel finally decided to address it, "So what do you two need to tell me?"

Both men lowered their eyes and then back up causing Rachel's dark brown orbs to tear immediately. "Dad's not going to get better is he?" She whispered.

LeRoy slowly shook his head. "No, princess, I'm not getting any better. I've decided to stop treatment. I just want to feel a little better before…" He trailed off and Rachel nodded.

"Are you going to come home?" The pleading in her voice and eyes almost did the man in as he shook his head slowly.

"No, Rachel. I don't want to leave the hospital yet. It's just that your daddy and I," LeRoy looked to Hiram for help and waited.

"It's just that we wanted you to know what was going to happen," Hiram began. "And to let you know that we're giving Shelby full custody. Permanent custody."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that we're signing the papers to give her all of our parental rights, princess." Hiram's voice was soft.

Jerking her hand from her father's Rachel pushed her chair back and stared at both men. "You're giving me away?"

"No!" Both men replied. "Princess," LeRoy began. "We are doing this because we don't want anyone to ever be able to take you from Shelby. We should have allowed her visitation from the time you were born. We were scared and selfish in regards to that. We can't be selfish anymore, Rachel."

"But what about when you come home?" Rachel demanded turning to Hiram. "Will I still be able to visit you? What if Mama won't let me?"

"Shelby would never keep you from me," Hiram stated. "She above everyone knows what that would do to you. It's just that…" the man looked at the table and Rachel stood tears falling down her face.

"You aren't coming back, after, are you? You're just leaving me!"

"Princess," LeRoy tried.

"No! It's my turn now," Rachel cried. "You aren't dead yet, but you're acting like you are! And you," Rachel turned to Hiram, "I know you're losing your husband, but I'm your daughter. I need you too! Just because I have my mother back doesn't mean I won't need the father who raised me. How can you do this to me?

"All those years of me wanting to know my mother and you denied me. All those years of me asking and then suddenly once she's back in my life, you throw me away! Maybe it wasn't Shelby you were afraid of," Rachel took a deep breath. "Maybe it was you! You were afraid you'd be able to let her walk away with me and never look back. I thought you wanted me. I thought you loved me. Was it all a lie?" Tears flowed down Rachel's face and Hiram and LeRoy both stood and pulled the reluctant girl into their arms for a group hug.

"No, Rachel. None of it was a lie," Hiram managed. "We do love you, that's why we are doing this."

"We don't know how Daddy will react, princess," LeRoy said softly. "He's going to need to mourn in his own way. Lima, that house…."

"I can't bear to face it," Hiram admitted. "I want to see you, Rachel. Just not there."

Rachel nodded, "I love you both." Stepping out of the hug she set her shoulders and glared at both of them. "Just know that if you do this. If you choose to let Mama have permanent custody in this way, I will never forgive you. You're both being cowards and even though I love you both and always will, I will never forgive you for walking out of my life. You have a choice to do this. Mama didn't." Rachel took a clean napkin and cleaned the tears from her face the best she could.

"I will come and say goodbye tomorrow," she sniffed. "Let me know if you change your minds. Oh, and I changed my mind about the leftovers," Rachel said as she flung her arms out knocking over the containers of leftovers smiling in satisfaction as the food dripped from the table onto the floor before she stormed out of the room.

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Entering the hotel room Rachel threw her purse and coat to the floor. "Rachel?" Hearing her mother say her name broke the dam she had been holding and the sobs began as Shelby quickly made her way from the couch in the suite to guide Rachel to sit with her on it.

Saying nothing mother and daughter stayed on the couch until Rachel's sobs finally quieted. Pushing Rachel back Shelby silently thanked Sue when the woman suddenly appeared with a warm washcloth and towel. Nodding, the cheer coach returned to the room she was sharing with Shelby. Shelby pushed Rachel back a little and gently cleaned Rachel's face with the warm cloth and towel. "Better?"

"I guess," Rachel sniffed. "I told them that I love them, but if they do this, I'll never forgive them."

"Oh, sweetie," Shelby pulled Rachel to her and held her daughter close. "I am so sorry."

"I called them cowards," Rachel said softly. "I told Dad that he needed to stop acting like he was already dead." Rachel sniffed again. "I also got great pleasure when the take out containers spilled all over the table and onto the floor before I stormed out."

"Rachel look at me," Shelby took Rachel's hands into her own and took a deep breath. "I know that you love your dads and this hurts more than anything has in a long time. I also know that they love you, Rachel. They may be acting like asses right now, but they do love you."

"Then why are they leaving me?" Rachel leaned into her mother and turned so she was snuggled into Shelby's side. "I know Dad can't help it, I know that, but I'm still so mad at him." Rachel's voice dropped to a whisper. "I just don't understand how Daddy could do this to me. How can he leave me?"

"I honestly don't know, Rachel." Shelby kissed the top of her daughter's head. "God knows I regret ever walking away from you and not fighting that damned contract. I don't understand how he can do this anymore than you do. I only can say that grief can make people do strange things."

"I told them that I'd say goodbye before we left tomorrow. I hope he changes his mind."

"I hope he does too, Rachel." Shelby agreed holding her daughter close as they once more lapsed into silence.

"Mama?"

"Yes?"

"If they do this I want to change my last name to Corcoran. There's no reason to be Rachel Berry if they don't want me anymore." Sobbing once more Rachel allowed her mother to rock her until Rachel's sobs quieted and Shelby noticed the girl had fallen into a fitful sleep.

"Hey," Sue's voice was soft as she sat on the couch next to Shelby. Helping her lover move Rachel so the girl's head was in Shelby's lap and her body on the couch, Sue was then able to put her arm around Shelby for some much needed comfort.

"I had hoped they'd forget this," Shelby whispered.

"I know, Shelbs. But they haven't. You noticed Rachel said the same thing to them that you did?"

Shelby gave a wan smile, "I did. I only wish she'd never had to think it, let alone say it."

"Me too," Sue looked at the sleeping form of the teen, "I know that Rachel and I have never been best of friends, but I am growing very fond of her. I'm thankful every day that you let me be in your lives, not that I won't make her life a living hell at school…" Sue trailed off a moment and then continued. "But at home, I enjoy her and I'm here to support you both however you need me to."

"Thank you, Sue." Shelby laid her head on Sue's shoulder and allowed the silence to engulf them once more. Just being with her family was enough for now.

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