A/N: Disclaimer — This chapter is where I start using the occasional quote from the show. Some of those lines are repeated verbatim, but some are just very similar to the line from the show.
Chapter 2: Moving Forward
There's something a little odd about everyone at school knowing you because you spent so long being seriously ill. And many of them saw a mild attack and at least one of the times she'd collapsed in school last year. Or the year before that. Walking into McKinley High on the first day of the new school year, many people smile at her, wave at her, or even stop to briefly talk to her. Kids she has had classes with. Kids she barely knows. Kids she swears she never met before. Plus, she's friends with, or at least friendly with, the cheerleaders and football players. More than that, it seems that the Glee club winning a National Championship raised their own popularity. They're no longer looked down on by the rest of the school. Nice. Her brother teases her about being a mini celebrity.
Rachel walks with Kurt down the hall. She's not sure why she did it, but she's happy that Ms. Pillsbury kept the same plan as last year; Rachel has at least one Glee kid in every class with her. Even though she's healthy and it's not necessary, it's pretty awesome to have a friend in every class. She and her brother walk into English class together and take seats. They chat with the other kids while waiting for class to begin.
"Mrs. Andrews is supposed to be the teacher, but I heard she had her baby just before the school year began." Sadie starts out gossiping.
"No, I heard she miscarried."
"Oh, that's so sad!"
"She didn't miscarry. She had the baby!"
"No, she didn't!"
Rachel and Kurt shrug. It'd be horrible if their teacher had a miscarriage. That's not something they're going to gossip or even speculate about. Not even Kurt, the insatiable gossip. The door opens a minute after class was supposed to start and a very familiar blonde woman walks in.
"Good morning, class!"
Rachel sits up straighter, a huge smile blooming on her face. "Ms. Holliday!"
The rest of the class smiles and applauds, nearly as happy as Rachel about this new development. Holly had come by one more time after her remission party to talk to her. She'd explained that Rachel no longer needed her, so she'd be moving on to a new role. She also mentioned that she found a guy to date. Some dentist. They'd hugged and promised to stay in touch, but that was their last real conversation. Rachel had no idea Holly would be subbing at McKinley once again. The woman winks at her before addressing the class.
"Let me clear up the rumors. Mrs. Andrews did not have her baby or a miscarriage. She had some medical issues that cause her to have to be on bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy. Then, of course, she'll be out for her actual maternity leave. I will be your substitute while she's out."
The kids applaud once more, Rachel and Kurt the loudest. Holly gives them the syllabus and talks about what she expects the year to be like and what they'll be learning and doing. Then, she has them write about their summer vacations. They have the option of writing an overview of their entire summers or just their favorite part, but it has to be at least a page and a half. The class groans, but Holly says it'll give her an idea of their writing abilities and points out that she could have them write about one of their required summer reading novels. The complaints quickly stopped. The end of class was reserved for sharing stories about their summers. A couple kids grumbled about it being like elementary school, but some seemed excited to get to share something fun they did. They went around the room talking about vacations, the two who bought cars over the summer proudly discussed that, some mentioned parties they went to. Then it was Rachel's turn.
"My Mom and I went to the Caribbean Islands and stayed at an all inclusive resort. It was a lot of fun." Holly is looking at her funny. She turns to Kurt and finds him staring at her with wide eyes. "What?"
"That's what you're going to share?!"
Rachel frowns, then turns back to the class. "Um…..I also went on a fun camping trip with my friends."
Holly starts sniggering, leaning forward on her desk. Kurt is starting to turn red but looks less amused and more like he's frustrated. "Seriously Rachel?! I honestly might slap you."
Rachel blinks in bewilderment, ignoring the chuckles from her classmates. "What?"
"July. What happened in July? The most important event of our summer!"
Her eyes widen as realization dawns. Embarrassed, Rachel grins sheepishly. "In July I went into remission."
Her classmates applaud and laugh. Holly is shaking her head with a smile. Kurt has his arms folded across his chest and mumbles something about her being a moron. When it's Kurt's turn to share, he gives her a pointed look.
"My favorite part of my summer was when Rachel went into remission in July." He pauses for the applause and laughter that rises up once more. "We had a big party to celebrate. Then, like she brought up before mentioning that, we went on a four day camping trip."
Class ended and they turned in their papers before filing out. Rachel hesitates, unsure if she should stop to talk to Holly or not. She was her substitute History teacher, then her tutor/nurse, and now substitute English teacher. Can she go back to hugging her and chatting with her? Does she need to treat her the same as other teachers? Holly solves her dilemma by snagging her arm. Once the last kid besides Kurt is out, Holly wraps Rachel in a tight hug. Smiling, Rachel hugs her back. She laughs when Kurt joins them for a group hug.
"I had no idea you were coming back!"
"Well, I didn't want to go far. Plus that dentist I'm dating is around here."
Rachel adjust her backpack. "I thought you tried to avoid close connections."
Holly sighs. "I did. Getting to know you, getting close to you, gave me the courage to try. Girlfriend, if you could face everything you have had to deal with in your life with your head up and keep going, I can build actual relationships with people and risk being hurt."
Rachel hugs her again and then they leave.
"I can't believe you didn't mention going into remission as the big 'thing' to share from this summer." Kurt is grumbling.
"It's not like I forgot or don't care. I just figured they'd be more interested in hearing about the trip to the islands. And," she looks around, then lowers her voice, "while I'm proud and happy to be in remission, I want to finally be normal again. Normal is sharing events like vacations, not going into remission."
Kurt wraps an arm around her. "My beloved sister, I mean this in the kindest, most loving way possible:" He stops walking and turns her so they're face to face. "You were never normal."
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Rachel is in bed thinking back over her first day of senior year. She was thrilled to discover that Holly is one of her teachers again. She'd happily greeted school friends and classmates, as well as students she's barely spoken to. Sue Sylvester had pulled her aside just to chat for a few minutes. Mr. Schuester had done the same after Glee ended. Each coach had taken the time to both catch up and check in on her. The first Glee rehearsal had been fun. It'd basically just been a jam session. After school she'd hung out at Hummel house, where her mom had met them after she got out of work. They'd all had a nice family dinner together, then she and her mom had gone home. They'd lounged on the couch and talked more in detail about their first day back. She pets Yero, who slumbers against her with his head on her stomach.
Comparing this first day back to last year's first day back is like comparing a soldier at war, fighting for their life, to the same soldier at peace after the war is over. So very different. Same location, same event, same person, but they feel different after the battle is over. Stronger for it, but sort of battle weary as well. She'd talked it over with Scott after discovering he'd been a soldier. She'd talked about it with Renee, whom she still speaks to once in a while. And of course she talked it out with her mom. Rachel is thrilled that their closeness has only strengthened after their crucible, not withered away. She has been toying with the idea of asking if she can change her last name to Corcoran. She hasn't brought it up to her mother yet, but she talked it over with Uncle Burt, Kurt, and her grandparents. While all four supported the idea and loved it, they all also pointed out that your name does not define who your family is. Kurt pointed out that "Rachel Berry" sounds and looks better for a star, her name up in lights, than "Rachel Corcoran". Uncle Burt may have looked at his son like he had two heads, but Rachel understood his point and honestly agreed with him. Her grandparents had had another point.
"Things are going very well with Scott. If he proposes in the near future, you could very well end up with him as a stepfather. This would mean that shortly after you legally change your name to Corcoran, your mother may be changing her own last name."
"And," Nana had added with a smirk, "if you and Finn really do get married after graduating college, then I imagine you'll be changing your name to take his. All teasing and speculating aside, the most important aspect to this is that your mother could not care less what your last name is. You are her daughter. Your last name will never have any effect on that, one way or the other."
Ultimately, Rachel decided she'll leave the final decision up to her mother. Before falling asleep, Rachel takes a few minutes to pray and thank God for how much her life has improved. She has always been grateful for the people in her life. Now she is equally grateful to feel good and be healthy. Renee has been helping her deal with everything and move forward. With a peaceful smile on her face, she drifts off into a contented slumber.
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Shelby sits on her bed towel drying her hair. Her eyes settle on a photograph on her nightstand. It's one of her favorite photos from their vacation this summer. She and Rachel are in sundresses on the beach. They'd eaten an early dinner, then decided to walk on the beach in their dresses, carrying their sandals. Rachel is back to a normal, healthy weight and that trip put color on her. On both of them, actually. A resort employee gushed about how beautiful mother and daughter looked and offered to take a picture of them. They both look healthy, relaxed, and happy. Seeing it never fails to make Shelby smile.
It was the best vacation of her life. Just her and her (not so little) little girl spending their days on a tropical island. It was the perfect combination of relaxing and fun. She'd loved reading on the beach and working on her tan. Did she go a little overboard with sunblock and umbrellas over Rachel? Maybe. Her daughter never complained about it, though. In fact, Rachel hardly complains about anything these days. She wonders if it's because she doesn't feel like she has anything to complain about or if there's another reason. She makes a mental note to talk to both Rachel and Renee about making sure Rachel knows she can still whine and complain when she's unhappy. God knows Rachel has suffered enough in her life. While Shelby doesn't actually want to spoil her rotten and risk her getting a huge ego or becoming selfish or entitled, she does want to do everything she can to make sure her little girl is happy and feeling good. She deserves it. And more.
Shelby had been a little worried that once Rachel started feeling better, she'd stop sitting on her lap and curling up with her as much. And she may not do it quite as often as she did while she was sick, but Shelby is happy that Rachel still lets her cuddle with her regularly. Her little snuggle bug. And Rachel continues to tell her everything going on with her, as far as she can tell. It had taken a few appointments with her own therapist to understand that she'd been worried that Rachel wouldn't need her anymore. Her therapist, Jane, had helped her accept that Rachel may not need her quite as much, and not the same way as before, but she does still need her.
Her eyes move to another photo from this summer. Scott had taken them to the zoo. It was a fun day. Rachel giggling like a little kid while they were riding on an elephant had been the highlight of her day. The photo is a professional one taken by the zoo staff of just that event. Scott, Shelby, and Rachel sitting on an elephant together with huge smiles on their faces. They look like a family. They felt like a family. She supposes she'll have to have a serious talk with Rachel sometime soon about how she feels about Scott. She's confident Rachel likes him, but Shelby has a couple specific questions to ask her daughter.
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"You guys should show off more."
Rachel laughs at the cheerleader's suggestion. "Show off?"
"Yeah, you know, strut your stuff. You guys are National Champions! Show it!"
"And how exactly do you propose we do that?" Mercedes asks curiously.
"Perform for us, obviously." Another Cheerio, Stephanie, insists with a grin.
Rachel and her friends look around themselves. They're spread out over several tables clustered together that includes members of New Directions, the football team, and the Cheerios. The New Directions look surprised, but the rest look almost…eager.
"Really?" Finn asks dubiously, "You want us to sing?"
"When?" Artie leans forward to be seen when speaking.
"Now." David Karofsky grins. "Or are you chicken?"
"Do you want us on the tables or off?" Santana challenges.
The boy shrugs. "Whatever strikes your fancy, Lopez."
Seeing that everyone is in support of this, Rachel shrugs her own agreement. Artie rolls over to where some of the band kids who often help them out are sitting. Those guys love playing songs last minute and usually have their instruments with them. It's weird but works out well for the Glee kids. Though why there's a fully put together drum set in the cafeteria is beyond Rachel. They start playing "We Got the Beat" so Brittany, Mike, Quinn, and Santana immediately get up and start dancing. The rest of the New Directions smile and spread out, dancing as well. Except Finn. Acknowledging that he can't dance, he convinces the band to let him help out drumming instead. Rachel takes lead singing.
"See the people walking down the street
Fall in line just watching all the feet"
Sam and Puck each grab one of Rachel's arms and lift her so she's standing on a table. Going along with it, Rachel keeps singing while now dancing on the table.
"They don't know where they wanna go
They're walking in time
They got the beat"
Santana and Brittany hop up on another table and start dancing as well. The rest of the team joins in the chorus, but continues to dance on the floor. Santana takes the next verse, so Brittany quickly scurries over to Rachel's table and dances with her, instead.
"All the kids just getting out of school
They can't wait to hang out and be cool
Hang around 'til quarter after twelve
That's when we fall in line
They got the beat"
While the team sings the chorus together once more, Rachel takes that time to quietly encourage Brittany to take the next verse. She may be the best dancer, and prefer dancing to singing, but she also has an awesome voice and Rachel wants her friend to get more opportunities to show it off. And, selfishly, the more chances she gets to show it off outside of competitions means more chances Rachel has of keeping solos at competitions. She may not be as selfish as she used to be, but…..come on. She's still a diva and she still wants as many solos as she can get. While Brittany sings the next verse, Rachel keeps dancing on her own table, noting that Mike and Noah have climbed up and are dancing on yet another table. Karofsky and a few other football guys are laughing and pounding the table along to the beat. Some of the Cheerios have gotten up and joined the dancing.
"Go-go music really makes us dance
Do the pony really puts us in a trance
The Watusi, just give us a chance
That's when we fall in line"
Rachel laughs happily when the song ends and a lot of the kids in the cafeteria applaud. Not all. Some seem annoyed or bored, but that's high school for you. Finn lifts her off the table and kisses her soundly. It hadn't escaped her notice that her boyfriend had spent the majority of the song drumming while watching Rachel dance on the table.
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Mr. Schuester is having them start the year by practicing basic dance moves. Finn turns the wrong way and bumps into Mercedes. Again.
"Hudson! I swear, if you bump into me one more time—"
Finn throws his hands up. "I'm sorry! It's not intentional."
Santana rolls her eyes. "You seriously suck at dancing."
"It's true. You suck ass."
Rachel turns to the new person walking into the room with a glare. "I'm sorry, and you are?"
"I'm Sugar Motta and I have self-diagnosed Asperger's, so I can pretty much say whatever I want. I'm like a diplomat's daughter."
Looking both bewildered and wary, Mr. Schue approaches the new girl. "How can we help you, Sugar?"
"Here's the deal. I'm awesome and I want to be a big, big star. And when I saw you guys singing and dancing at lunch yesterday, I thought 'I'm so much better than all of you'." Upon seeing everyone's irritated looks, Sugar shrugs. "Sorry, Asperger's."
"Well, great! Why don't you show us what you can do?" Mr. Schuester sits in the seat in front of Rachel.
Near her, Kurt leans into Mercedes and whispers "Sugar Motta…..why does that name sound familiar?"
"Oh, her dad is that rich dude that donated the new pianos to the music program."
"Get ready to taste some sweet ear candy." Sugar announces, pulling everyone's attention to herself.
Rachel grips Finn's hand. While she is less selfish than she used to be, she doesn't like the possibility of losing solos to some new star taking her place. She knows she's being ridiculous. She's co-captain and female lead. And her friends love her. This girl is a complete stranger and rude to boot. She's not about to steal Rachel's place. She relaxes her hold and prepares herself to possibly get less solos. Rachel reminds herself that more talented voices in the club would be a good thing. Finn kisses her cheek. Seeing the knowing look on his face, she wonders if he already suspects what she's thinking. The music starts, Sugar dances provocatively and then starts to….sing? Rachel's eyes widen. Screech is more like it. It's like nails on a chalkboard. She looks over at Kurt and Mercedes. Those two are wearing matching looks of disgust.
"Her ears should get to park in my handicap spot." Artie mumbles.
Rachel and Finn are struggling to hold back their laughter. Mr. Schuester looks pained. When the girl ends, the man straightens up.
"Holy shhhSugar—"
The obnoxious and tone deaf girl interrupts him. "Text me the rehearsal sched."
"Of course—"
Horrified, Rachel kicks Mr. Schue's chair. "Mr. Schue, stop speaking." Her coach spins to look at her in shock. Beside her, Finn is turning red. Rachel ignores them to focus on Sugar. "Okay, uh, Sugar, we'll be in touch! Thank you. Bye." Sugar Motta tosses a wave over her shoulder and leaves. "Okay, I think I speak for everyone when I say 'never gonna happen'."
Mercedes and a few others make obvious expressions of agreement. The rest seem too stunned by the horrible audition to respond. Unfortunately, their coach disagrees. He turns to face them.
"Guys, I know she was a little….rough….but we have always had the policy that anyone who tries out gets in."
"You're not doing Sugar any good sheltering her from the truth. She's terrible and she'll just drag us down."
"Rachel—" He's hesitant, but he obviously agrees with her.
Finn decides to chime in and try to help out. "Mr. Schue, that was a good policy when we didn't have enough members. Now we do."
"And," Blaine continues to make their argument, "we're National Champions. We can afford to be picky this year and only take the best. And not let less talented people risk pulling us down."
"But no one else has signed up to audition!"
"I can explain that." All eyes jump to Quinn. "Sorry I'm late, my dentist appointment ended up taking all morning. It turns out, this club went from the epitome of loserdom to skyrocketing to being one of the coolest clubs. Plus, we're all very talented and attractive. Have you noticed that? Other kids, average kids, are too nervous to audition. Most of those who would be interested are too intimidated by us to try out."
She looks quite smug about it. Rachel admits to herself that she completely understands the feeling. Her lips twitch. She feels bad when Mr. Schuester's shoulders slump. He really hates the idea of crushing a kid's dreams, she knows. He had such a hard time last year, telling her she couldn't perform like she wanted to. Rachel leans forward and pats his shoulder.
"It's okay, Mr. Schue. She's just not cut out for it. When you talk to her, why don't you suggest singing lessons or a different club?"
The man nods.
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"It was so bad! Nails on chalkboard bad!" Rachel flops on the floor dramatically. Yero immediately starts licking her face. Rachel turns her head away, trying to keep him at bay so she can keep talking. "That girl is absolutely tone deaf."
Shelby laughs, placing the neatly folded shirt on the top of the pile. "And Mr. Schuester still considered letting her join?"
"Yes!"
The more experienced vocal coach shakes her head. She shares her daughter's frustration. If the girl was seriously that bad, and Shelby trusts Rachel's judgement, she should absolutely not be allowed to join the team. Even if they weren't National Champions, she would still be holding them back.
"Mom, maybe you could speak to Mr. Schue. You know, help him with understanding why we don't let people who can't sing join a singing team?"
Shelby chuckles. "Maybe, hun. But I don't want to step on his toes."
"Whatever. I'm going to take Yero for a walk, is that okay?"
The golden retriever jumps up, runs to the front door, and starts jumping up and down in excitement. Mother and daughter laugh.
"I guess I can't say no now, can I?"
"Leash!" Rachel calls over.
They watch to see if he has mastered this command yet. The dog pauses his jumping and tilts his head.
"Leash!" Rachel repeats, making the motion to go along with it.
Yero moves to where the leash is kept next to the front door and gently grabs it with his teeth. He carries it over to Rachel and drops it in her outstretched hand. Yero waits for her to attach it while doing a little dance and wagging his tail. With a proud smile, Rachel attaches it. She kisses the pooches head and calls "bye" over her shoulder. Shelby leans back on the couch and reaches for the blinds. She watches her daughter walk her dog down the street, waving to neighbors as she goes. Shelby smiles. Rachel is fine. She doesn't need to keep watching her this closely.
But some habits are hard to break.
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"….which is why I think we should try original songs. It would give the judges something new, something they've never heard before. And it'd be a fun challenge for us."
Her friends shift in their seats, but no one responds. Blaine looks excited at the prospect. Kurt looks curious, but hesitant. Brittany just looks happy to agree because Rachel herself is so excited about it. Blaine is just opening his mouth when Mr. Schue starts speaking.
"I don't know, Rachel." He looks truly hesitant to shut her down. "I'm not sure about doing original songs for competition. For weekly competitions just amongst us, absolutely! But…..maybe not for Sectionals."
Rachel slumps in her seat slightly, feeling a little dejected. She realizes she's gotten used to getting what she asks for. She's both annoyed and relieved to realize she doesn't anymore. Everyone saying yes to her and going along with her ideas or requests was awesome…when she ignored the fact that they were only doing it because they felt bad that she was sick. She misses getting her way. But, she can also acknowledge that she's relieved to be treated normal now. Just like everyone else. She had kind of gotten tired of everyone walking on eggshells around her and treating her with kid gloves. Now that she's being treated normal, but not getting her way….it's a double-edged sword.
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In late September, Sam doesn't come to school for several days. He also only responded to their messages with brief responses, giving no information. It worries them. When he finally returns to school, he walks into Glee with slouched shoulders.
"Is everything alright, Sam?" Mr. Schuester asks in concern.
Sam shifts his weight on his feet and doesn't meet anyone's eyes. "Um….no. Not really."
Mr. Schuester squeezes his shoulder in support. "Tell us."
Hesitantly, Sam nods. He clears his throat. "So, um…my dad lost his job. And….my parents had dumped their entire life's savings into the move and our house. So…..the bank took our house." His lips quiver. "Did you know they can literally just….kick you out of your house?"
Kurt's stomach falls. He can't imagine what that's like. He feels bad for his friend.
"We are officially homeless. We're living in a one room motel room right now. I share a bed with my two younger siblings. My parents are out all day looking for jobs. I've been watching my little brother and sister."
"Is that why you haven't been in school?" Quinn asks softly.
"Yeah. And I'm going to be dropping out of school. Either we're gonna move, so I won't be going here anymore, or I'll be taking on a job to help support my family."
Kurt shakes his head. That's just wrong. He listens to his friends all start offering their support for Sam and his family. But his eyes land on his sister. Rachel has a peculiar look on her face. She's biting her lip, but her eyes look determined. She has a plan. She's clearly not ready to share it yet, because she lightly shakes her head and joins the others in brainstorming ways to help keep Sam here and help his family. They all start offering to let Sam stay with them (when he doesn't have to stay to watch his siblings). They offer food, full meals for his family, clothing, and toys for the kids. Quinn reminds him that they go to the same church, and surely their church will help out. Sam becomes overwhelmed with their support and starts crying softly. He wipes his tears away in embarrassment. Rachel takes his hand and speaks softly to him. It's quiet, but Kurt is close enough to hear her words.
"You really thought we wouldn't rally around to support you and do everything we can to help you? After everything you guys did to support me?"
Sam glances at her, then mumbles "This is different."
"This is a friend in need. Besides, we're a family, right? This is what we do."
Sam pulls her into a hug, his tears renewing.
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She stares down at the phone in her hand. On the one hand, she doesn't want to make this call. On the other hand, she knows she needs to. Her mom has already given her support. She sits cross legged on the bay window in her room. Yero is curled up next to her, dozing in the late day sun. With a heavy sigh, she presses the button.
"Rachel?" Her dad sounds surprised. She hasn't spoken to him since his visit over the summer.
"Hi. Um, do you have a second?" For a moment her mind flashes to movies from the 80's and 90's she'd seen where teenagers would twirl the curly telephone wire while talking on the phone. She'd love to have a wired phone for her twitching fingers to play with at the moment.
"For you? Of course."
So he's going overboard to show she's still important to him. She supposes that's a good thing. "Before you took the job in Texas, you worked for KPFT, right?"
"Yes, I did. Why are you asking about my old company?"
"My friend Sam…his dad is also an actuary. His company laid off a whole bunch of people, including Sam's dad."
"Livingston Incorporated. I'd heard about it. They've been circling the drain for a few years, now."
Rachel twists the fabric of her shirt. "Right, well, now Sam's dad can't find a new job and his family is homeless. They're staying in a one bedroom motel room and Sam is talking about dropping out of school to get a job and help support his younger siblings."
She hears her father sigh. "Would you like me to reach out to KPFT?"
"Please. I'd appreciate it." She decides to really drive her point home. "Sam and his family were really helpful and supportive while I was sick. They brought mom meals so she didn't have to cook, his mom offered to run errands or clean the house for us, his younger siblings made me get well cards, and his parents were constantly driving him around to visit me in the hospital, at home, or at the clinic. After everything they've done to support me, I wanted to see if there was anything I could do to help them."
Her father is silent for several seconds. "You didn't promise him I could get his dad a job, did you?"
"No! Of course not! I didn't even tell him I'd be calling you."
"Alright. I'll give them a call tomorrow, alright? I'll see what I can do."
"Thank you."
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Shelby walks into Rachel's room to begin her "wake up" routine. Some days she sings a song (either a known song or one she makes up on the spot). Some days she sits on the edge of the bed and gently shakes her until she wakes. Still other days, usually after Shelby had a nightmare, she'll lay on the bed with her and cuddle for a few minutes while encouraging her to wake up. This morning, the room is empty. She'd expected to see her daughter either still asleep or just getting up. She's a bit disconcerted to find she's no where in sight. Her bathroom door is open and the light is off, so she's not in there. A bit nervous, despite knowing she has no need to be, Shelby hurries down the stairs. Her daughter has been waking up early more often. Dr. Reed said it's possible, but unlikely, that Rachel would go back to waking up at the crack of dawn every morning; both because of being a teenager and also because of what her body went through. Her daughter's body is healthy. However, the strain and stress it went through causes her to need more sleep. But it is no longer unusual for Rachel to wake up on her own, before Shelby comes to wait her up. There have been two other times when Rachel did get up at the crack of dawn and was up hours before her. While Shelby is happy that she's doing better and able to wake up early, she admits that on those days she misses getting to do her routine of waking her kid up. Downstairs, she finds Rachel sitting at the kitchen table, kicking her feet while munching on a bowl of cereal. Yero is eating his own breakfast. Calm now, Shelby smiles.
"Good morning, honey."
"Morning, Mom!"
Shelby eyes her daughter, taking in her appearance. "Did you get on your elliptical this morning or go for a jog?"
"Yero and I went for a jog. I took my phone with me and I left a note." Shelby looks around for said note. "Well I threw it away when I got home, obviously."
"Watch the tone." Shelby warns mildly. Rachel nods apologetically and takes another bite of her breakfast. "Hun, I'm happy you brought Yero and your phone. And that you left me a note."
"But?"
"But I'd like you to wake me before you leave. I don't care what time. I would feel better knowing when you're not in the house. Okay?"
She watches her daughter actively swallow back her irritation. Interesting. "Fine."
Shelby narrows her eyes, but decides to let that one go.
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The following week, Sam comes to school with a big smile. He weaves between students in the hall, determined to find his target. He nods to friends, but doesn't stop. He sees her walking ahead of him and talking to Karofsky and Blaine. He quickens his pace to catch up. As soon as he's in range, he wraps his arms around her, lifting her into the air. She immediately shrieks and kicks her legs, her arms flying to his, holding on tight. Karofsky and Blaine spin around, instantly tensing up and ready to fight. They relax when they see it's just him.
"Sam!"
He puts her down, but only long enough to toss her over his shoulder. He grins at the other two guys and carries her off. Behind him, the boys roll their eyes. He brings her to Coach Sylvester's office.
"Evans, the school frowns on the kidnapping of classmates." The woman comments in an offhand manner.
Sam sets Rachel down.
"Samuel Evans, what is going on with you!?" She demands, her hair falling in her face. She pushes it back irritably.
"I wanted to talk to you alone."
"And you couldn't have just asked me?"
He shrugs. "It was more fun this way."
"You're lucky she's not truly upset. Hudson would kick your ass for upsetting her." The cheerleading coach says bluntly, still flipping through papers at her desk.
"I'm sorry," he tells them both, "but I wanted to talk to you, didn't want to wait, and thought it'd be fun."
Rachel sits on "her" comfy chair. "Alright, Sam. What did you want to talk about?"
He gives her a look. "Like you don't know."
She grins a little. "I want to be sure. I didn't actually hear what the verdict was."
Sue Sylvester frowns. "What is going on?"
Sam turns to her. "Rachel called her father and asked him to give his previous actuarial firm a call on my dad's behalf. He did. The Vice President of the company called my dad and invited him for an interview. He got the call yesterday saying he got the job. And, the pay is even better than his last job!"
Rachel is smiling happily. Coach Sylvester smirks a bit, then nods. If Sam didn't know any better, he'd say she looks proud of Rachel. Then again, from what he has heard and what he has seen, Coach Sylvester was a mother-like figure to Rachel before her actual mom came in the picture. She certainly has a soft spot for Rachel. But then, these days, who doesn't? He may not have known her for as long as the others, but it didn't take long for Rachel to earn a place in his heart. He loves her. Is part of it because of her being sick for so long and nearly dying? Yes. But it's not the entire reason. She's just a kind, passionate, smart, talented person. It's hard not to like her. He has seen her light up stages and rooms. He has seen her crumble and cry. He has seen her stand back up, her head up, ready to face the next hurdle life throws at her. He's a little embarrassed to admit it, but he looks up to her. He still has random nightmares of her dying. He thinks she can tell afterwards, because he'll be making more impressions than usual for her and she'll laugh a little more than usual at them. There's still a small part of him that is a little….not tense, but not relaxed…until he gets to school and sees her. It reminds him that she's here and reinforces the understanding that she's healthy and in remission.
"Thank you, Rachel. For helping my dad get a job."
"You're welcome, Samuel."
"My parents want to thank you, too. My dad already reached out to your father and thanked him. But this only happened because of you. So they're inviting you over for dinner this weekend. Your mom, too."
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Kurt is fighting back laughter. He's sympathetic to her plight, he really is. But the situation is far too amusing to not have a good laugh over it. Unfortunately, his sister isn't ready to laugh about it yet. She's still far too irritated. To be honest, her continued irritation is what is largely driving his current amusement. Rachel practically throws herself down into a seat.
"Whoa, what crawled up your butt, diva?" Artie wheels closer. When Rachel's response is to glare at him, he backs up. "Never mind."
Rachel huffs and crosses her arms. Finn is eyeing her nervously. He knows what's bothering her, too. The others watch in bewilderment. They clearly want to know what's going on, but after her reaction to Artie, they're holding off for the time being. Sue Sylvester strolls in along with Mr. Schue.
"Everything alright, mini-Streisand?"
"Fine."
Everyone's eyes widen. Even Kurt's. They're curious if Rachel will get away with that attitude unscathed. Rachel herself seems to realize she may have gone too far with her tone.
"Want to run that by me one more time?" Sue's tone is carefully controlled.
Rachel melts, looking truly apologetic. "I'm sorry, Coach Sue. Really. I didn't mean to snap at you."
"Thank you. You can fix it by telling us what's going on." She hesitates, her eyes narrowing. "Unless it's something you're not ready to share with the group. We can go talk in my office if you need to."
Rachel shakes her head. "It's honestly not a huge deal. Just…..aggravating."
Kurt snorts, then presses a hand to his mouth to hold back the rest. His boyfriend is looking between them carefully.
"Rachel, talk to us."
With a heavy sigh, Rachel sits on the stool at the front of the room. "My mom got a call last night. From Al Motta."
"Wait, isn't that the same last name of that crazy chick who came to audition?" Puck asks.
"Yes. Yes it is. Her father called my mother. Apparently, Mom is known as one of the best, if not the best, vocal coach money can buy in all of Ohio. She has coached teams to National victory 5 years in a row. Al Motta wants the best for his daughter. So, he called to hire her."
"For what?"
"To be her vocal coach. He wanted her to come to McKinley and start a new glee club starring Sugar." The other kids look appalled and annoyed at this. "My mom explained that she's not willing to give up her job at Carmel. Instead, she agreed to be Sugar's one-on-one coach."
"Seriously?"
"Berry, you were supposed to make sure she didn't join us, not drag your mother into it!" Santana teases.
Rachel groans. "Trust me, I know!"
"You're the one who suggested Mr. Schue tell her to get vocal lessons." Quinn points out.
"I didn't think she'd get them from my mother!"
"So now, Aunt Shelby not only has to deal with Sugar on a regular basis, but this means that Rachel is probably going to have to deal with her more often. And, with vocal training, it is possible that she'll be attempting to audition again." Kurt summarizes.
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Saturday night, Rachel and Shelby went to the Evan's house (which they now own once more). Mrs. Evans swept Rachel into her arms and tearfully thanked her for helping her family. The seven of them enjoyed a delicious meal and great conversation. After, Sam played his guitar and he and Rachel sang for his little brother and sister. Then they played a board game; kids versus parents. Rachel joined Sam when he went to help the little ones get ready for bed.
"Sam is wonderful with them." Shelby comments.
"He always has been." Dwight Evans says proudly.
"How are things going?" Mary Evans asks Shelby. "I mean, I know Rachel is in remission and Sam tells me she's doing well, but….how are you?"
Shelby smiles. "Good. Very good. She's doing really well. She's been getting monthly check ups and her numbers are still good. She's still anemic, but we knew she'd have to stay on iron supplements for a while. Probably a few years, they said. She's still in remission, still healthy. It's….a huge relief and so wonderful to be able to focus on watching her grow up and actually live."
Dwight clears his throat. "Sam mentioned that Rachel commented on being spoiled."
Shelby laughs. "Yeah, my family and I are still spoiling her a little. We're trying not to go overboard, but….she suffered so much. And for a long time was uncertain if she'd made the right choice in choosing to keep fighting instead of giving up. In the hospital, my family and I promised each other we'd spoil her and make her as happy as possible. We've backed off a little, but we still give in to her requests pretty easily."
Sam's parents smile. Mary nods. "Yes, Sam said Rachel is aware that people still tend to give in to her so she's trying to be careful about what she asks for and how often. I'm impressed. Most kids would be taking full advantage of this."
"Oh, she did over the summer. She was smart about it, though. She still is. Rachel only really asks for things she truly wants and doesn't push if we hesitate. I'm not sure how long that'll last before she's arguing and pushing for what she wants."
"Do you think you'll give in?"
Shelby laughs again, then sips her wine. "I have no idea. I guess we'll find out."
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That question gets answered sooner than Shelby had anticipated. The following week, Rachel is twisting the hem of her shirt and not really paying attention to the show they were watching. Knowing this means something is on her daughter's mind that's making her anxious or uncertain, Shelby sets down the clean clothes she was folding and pauses the show.
"Alright. Out with it, kid."
Rachel's brown eyes meet hers and she grins nervously. "Will you take me to get my learner's permit?"
Shelby's stomach drops. Shit. "We've been giving you lessons, Rachel."
"Yeah, car basics and off road stuff in empty parking lots. I completed the training at the driving school in August! I've been ready to get a temporary permit for a month now!"
"I know, honey. But there's no rush to get y—"
"Not a rush, but I turn 17 in two months."
"What does that have to do with getting your temporary permit?"
Rachel breathes out heavily. "I can't get my driver's license until I've had my temporary permit for a minimum of 6 months! So even if I get it this week, I still can't get my license until April, four months after I turn 17!"
Shelby shakes her head slowly. "Why does it matter that you'd have to wait until after your birthday to get your license? Not everyone gets it on or immediately after their birthdays."
Rachel gives her a look of irritation. "Most kids do! And I had wanted to."
"I know, but being sick changed things. You know this."
"Yes, but I'm not sick anymore! I understand I couldn't get my permit back in June, and definitely not sooner than that. I was still sick. I was disappointed, but I understood. But I went into remission and you gave me lessons and let me take the driving class. The next step is to go get my permit."
Shelby swallows. She knows Rachel is right, she just doesn't want to follow through with it.
"Mom, I've been ready to get it for over a month. Please?"
Shelby looks away, trying to think of something, anything, to delay this from happening. She folds another pair of pants and sets them on the pile. "There's really no rush, Rach. I don't like the idea of you getting your permit just before it'll be icy and snowing."
Rachel's expression becomes deadpanned and she speaks with exaggerated patience. "Mom. Fall only just barely started. Winter doesn't start until late December."
"Yes, but weather is unpredictable. It often starts getting colder here sooner than—"
Her daughter groans. "Mooom. I'll be careful! Besides, it's a permit. That means I have to have an adult with me when I'm driving anyway. I won't be alone. I'll have you or Uncle Burt or Nana or someone with me!"
"It's dangerous, Rachel. You do understand that the last thing I want to do is put you in a position to possibly endanger your life, right?"
Rachel takes the shirt she's currently folding out of her hands. Reluctantly, Shelby meets her gaze. Rachel's expression is understanding, but she can see the hint of frustration she's trying to stamp down. "I'll be careful. I promise. Don't you trust me?"
"Of course I trust you, Rachel. But you have to admit you have terrible luck. I trust you. I don't trust the bad luck that seems stacked against you. You could hit black ice and lose control, you could be hit by a drunk driver or someone who runs a red light."
"That could happen to Kurt or Finn or anyone else! And their parents let them drive!"
"Their parents didn't nearly lose them several times already!" Rachel's mouth snaps shut. She stares at Shelby with wide eyes. Shelby's shoulders drop. "Shit. I'm sorry, Rachel."
Rachel looks down, going back to twisting the hem of her shirt. "That wasn't my fault."
"I know, honey. I really am sorry."
"Mom, I'm finally able to live a normal life."
"I know—"
"So let me live a normal life! Please."
Shelby takes in her daughter's pleading expression. She clenches the laundry she'd dropped in her lap and finally nods. "Alright. I'll take you this week."
Rachel's face lights up. "Thank you thank you thank you!"
She throws her arms around Shelby and kisses her cheeks repeatedly. Shelby chuckles lowly, happy to make her kid so happy but hating how nervous it makes her. Rachel starts bouncing on the couch in excitement. Shelby can't help but smile at how adorable she is when she's excited.
"I'll get my permit this week, I turn seventeen in two months, and I'll get my driver's license in April. That gives me like three or four months of practice driving alone before moving to New York City, where I obviously won't need a car. I'll just take the subway or taxis or I'll walk."
Shelby feels her blood run cold and her stomach plummet. What? "Wait, what?"
Rachel stops bouncing and looks at her oddly. "Well, I don't have a car. I don't even need one since I'll be moving to New York in less than a year. There's no point. I mean, I wouldn't turn one down if offered," she grins, "but its not necessary. While still living in Ohio I can drive your car! Just for a few months, since I'll be moving…" Rachel trails off, peering at her carefully. "Mom? Are you okay?"
No, no she is not. Not at all. "I…..I mean…I know you've always talked about living in New York when you got older, but….in less than a year?"
"I'm a senior, Mom. That means I'll be graduating high school in the spring, then going off to college."
Shelby blinks. Then blinks again, harder. Is it getting hotter in here? It's suddenly very hot and stuffy.
"I want to go to NYADA for college, which is in New York City. We've talked about this, Mom."
She reaches for her glass of water, her hand shaking lightly. She's hoping the cool water will help alleviate both her nausea and suddenly dry mouth.
"Mom?" Rachel is looking at her worriedly. "What's wrong? Are you sick?"
A slightly hysterical laugh bubbles out of her. "Not sick how you're thinking, hun. It's just…." She sighs deeply and scoots closer to her daughter, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. Rachel easily snuggles into her side. "…..somehow, it hadn't occurred to me just how soon you'll be heading off to college." She kisses the side of her head. "I only just got you, baby girl. Then I nearly lost you. Now I have you, healthy and wonderful, only to be told I'll be losing you in a few months."
Rachel twists in her arms, turning to hug her tight. "You're not losing me, Mom. You're….letting me grow up."
"From a distance."
Her baby girl tucks her head into the crook of her neck. "New York isn't that far. And I'll be home for holidays and summers. And you can come visit me!"
Shelby rests her head on top of hers and releases a slow breath. "I know. I just want you with me longer."
"I'll always come home to you, Mom." Her little girl looks up at her with twinkling eyes and a small smirk. "I mean, I came back to you from the brink of death. I'm pretty sure it'll be even easier to come back from New York."
Shelby laughs heartily, ignoring the tears filling her eyes.
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Shelby struggles to remain calm and supportive while Rachel drives them home from the motor vehicle agency. She's actually doing pretty well for a new driver. A bit heavy on the brake, but she's learning. It's just nerve wracking. She knows perfectly well that all parents go through this when their teen starts driving. But it's a little different for her. For Shelby, she sees this as a way for Rachel to be in danger more frequently and after nearly losing her and fearing for her life for so long, Shelby doesn't want her daughter to do anything that could possibly put her life in jeopardy. Kelly pointed out that the more practice she gets, the less likely it is that the danger will be from her own driving. That helped a little, but not much. Her other issue with Rachel learning to drive is it's a sign her baby is getting older and can get herself around. And away from her.
She pushes all of that away and focuses on how excited her kid is. The joy and excitement in her expression makes Shelby smile. She silently vows to try her best to be happy and accepting of anything that puts a smile on Rachel's face.
