I'm sorry for how sucky this chapter is. It was so hard to write and it's only a filler chapter. I will get to the good stuff soon, I promise. I do not have a beta, so all typos or mistakes are my own. *stabs all my typos and pretends they dont exist*

Thank you so much for all the comments, follows and faves, you have no idea how much that all means to me.

Happy reading! And I hope to hear from you soon.

Regina x

Rachel was on edge for the rest of the day after her encounter with Brittany and Santana. Having been caught with her bear was too close of a call, even if she did manage to sway them away from her attention with the lie about her cousin. She knew she'd have to be more careful about her..needs..from now on, she'd have to ensure that Mr Harrison only came out when the situation was dire and she was utterly sure she was alone. Every call of her name or the laughter of the more popular students made the hairs on her neck stand on edge, she was sure something would happen, maybe another slushy or a hateful slur thrown her way, but to her surprise she managed to make it to the final bell relatively unscathed. Her petite frame scurrying from the school grounds as quickly as her knee high sock covered legs would take her. Unlike the rest of the student body, she didn't have a car, so whilst everyone else was distracted in the parking lot she managed to leave the grounds and begin the familiar walk home. She didn't mind walking, it was just even more time that she could spend exercising rather than being lazy. She had to keep her figure perfect and walking to and from school helped aid this process.

Any hope left inside Rachel left her as soon as she stepped into her silent home. The post it stuck to the notice board letting her know that her fathers would be away...again. This time for a month on a humanitarian project in Uganda. Yes, she should be proud that her fathers travelled the world on a regular basis, making a difference in other peoples lives… but she missed them. And sometimes a 16 year old girl needs her fathers too. Is that too selfish to ask? They'd been travelling since she was in second grade, first fobbing her off onto relatives or a nanny service, but come fourth grade she was just left alone in the house ever since. She'd see her fathers maybe one or two days every few months because they would always rush off for another 'last minute trip'.

"Guess it's just you and me again, Mr Harrison" She sighed to herself as her hand instinctively dug into her school bag, once her favourite bear was free from its daily prison, she tossed her bag to the ground, engulfing the plush item in her arms and buried her nose against his soft fur to inhale his familiar calming scent. The diva slowly made her way up the stairs to her room, slipping off her shoes upon entering her gold star and pink wallpapered sanctuary, her toes curling in the plush carpeting.

"Teddy wan' cuddle?" little Rachel was definitely coming out to play as the young girl sat her bear on the end of her bed before beginning to absentmindedly taking of her school clothing. Once she was left in nothing but her underwear she shuffles to her closet, picking out her favourite pair of footsie pyjamas which were decorated with little music notes. A faint giggle escaped Rachels lips upon zipping up her PJ's, little Rachie well and truly out now. She toddled over to her bed and scooped up her favourite bear before falling backwards onto her bum. Rachels brow began to knit together in a slight frown, wishing she had some form of diaper to cushion her poor buttocks when she landed so heavily.

"Owie, Mr Harrison. It hurt." She sniffled against the fur of her bear, her child-like voice quietly singing a soft lullaby in an attempt to sooth herself. She wanted a mummy to do that for her. Or at least someone bigger who wanted to take care of her. No one ever wanted to look after Rachie, not even her own dads - that was made evidently clear through them scampering off for work at every opportunity - so the young girl was forced to take up the role of parent and child all herself. Her desire to be cared for had always been there, deep down inside of her, but it wasn't until her 14th birthday, which consequently she spent alone, that she began to actively embrace her little side. She'd cuddle her bear, watch cartoons, babble to herself and just participate in anything that enabled her to forget her worries and sorrows for a little while. Rachie was a comfort and it helped her deal with the stress of each troubling day she made it through. But now, two years later, she wanted nothing more than a mommy to take care of her. Especially after the encounter in the bathroom with the two cheerleaders, she wanted someone to cuddle her and tell her that it was okay, that they didn't know anything.

Rachel remained on the floor cuddling her bear for the rest of the night, she'd quite often sleep this way, pulling a small blanket down over her petite form. She couldn't cook herself dinner, she was too young for that, so more times than not, Rachel would skip dinner completely. Her only meal of the day being lunch in school. It just provided her even more proof that she needed someone to take care of her. But how was she supposed to find someone willing to do that?

Santana spent the afternoon after school cleaning her apartment and prepping dinner whilst her little Britt-Britt slept. She couldn't help but smile every time she passed the blonde on the couch, she looked so peaceful, dreaming about god knows what as she replenished her energy through slumber.

"Wakey wakey, little nugget." Santanas soft voice penetrated the blondes sleep, a small lazy forming on her lips as she began to wake. "Mama!"

"Hey babygirl. Did you sleep well?" Santana asked, her fingers smoothing the messy hair of the tired toddler, a simple nod given to her in response. "Mama made your favourite for dinner. Chicken nuggets!"

The blonde squealed and instantly sat up, her arms raising to the brunette. "Rachie haves nuggets too?"

Santana shook her head, smiling softly as she lifted the young girl into her arms, carrying her to her special high chair waiting for her in the kitchen.

"Rachie isn't here, silly girl." She ruffled her hair once she was sat and strapped in, placing her small plate of chicken nuggets and carrot sticks on her plate. "I said maybe you guys can play tomorrow, huh? We'll find a way to talk to her."

The young blonde just grinned with delight as she began nibbling her first chicken nugget, her legs swinging happily from the high chair. "Rachie gon' plaaaay!"

Brittany squealed and giggled as she ate. She'd wanted to play with Rachie for a long time, she always thought she would be good at the games she liked to play. And after finding her little bear today, she just knew that Rachel was what she was looking for. Maybe she could even join their little family and live happily with them? If Brittany was good at anything, then it was definitely reading people. She'd noticed Rachel had been darker recently.. she knew she needed someone and hopefully her and Santana were just the someones she needed to make her smile again.