-Chapter 56-Too late-

-Maribel pov-

I won't lie and say I've enjoyed the maid attire. I won't lie and say there haven't been good parts to it either. I've loved being free underneath it at home. Issue is today we are running behind for an appointment. I'm currently wearing a trench coat like jacket and the maid attire.

Did I mention its early in the morning? Yeah I'm freezing my ass off! Judy was working on something with Rachel and Shelby had some other important stuff to do. Where is Santana, Brittany, and Quinn? Getting Santana clothes for Quinn's control month.

I finally get parked into a spot and rush out. I run lightly with Beth into the clinic. I sign us in and then go to sit. I think better of it when the coat raises up some. After a few minutes we are called and we go through the door.

"Hello" I nod at the man and he looks at Beth "Don't you look like a little bundle of Joy?"

"Yeah she's a good girl" We get her weight and measurements before going into a room "She's had a few temperatures and gets a little fussy every now and then"

"Let me look at her records real quick" I sit down on the table with Beth and watch as his face pales. It's quite a feat when the man is Black "Uhhh This can't be right"

"What?" I finally notice the name on the jacket "You two didn't actually leave?"

"We weren't ready for a kid" He looks at me "We did leave but I came back to finish a few things"

"You arent getting her back" He looks at me confused "You know your daughter? The one that tried to kill herself a few times! The one you and your husband abandoned! The one who is still being fixed piece by piece! She was almost raped! Did you know that?! This appointment is done I know what's wrong with her and you best NEVER step foot in the hospital I own again"

I grab my things start to walk out "It was his idea" I turn back to the man confused and still angry "He said if we left...It would make her life better than if we stayed and didn't want to...I know now why he wanted to do that and I'm sorry"

"Don't apologize to me" I turn away and open the door "Apologize to the girl you abandoned"

With that I walk out the door holding Beth. I don't pay and just walk out. They know who I am and what to charge. I just wanna get home to my girls.

-time skip-Rachel pov-

We have been having a laid back day today. Judy helped me with some songs earlier. I think we have a real shot at Regionals and Nationals. I hope we win though. I may not be doing a solo but I can still do a duet.

There's a knock at the door and I stand "I'll get it" I walk to the door and slowly open it. I freeze once I do "I-I-I"

"Hi" Silence falls upon us "Could we talk?"

"You've had so many years to do that" I hold back the anger and tears "Are you sure you really wanna?"

"Come on Rachel" I glare at Hiram and he rolls his eyes "I knew this was a dumb idea"

"Shut up" Leroy sighs and looks at me "I came here to say I'm sorry for leaving you for so long...You didn't deserve that and I could never apologize enough"

"You know I have had so long to think of what I wanted to say" I let out a sarcastic chuckle "I think this works the best"

-Rachel singing-

I'm holding on your rope

Got me ten feet off the ground

And I'm hearing what you say

But I just can't make a sound

You tell me that you need me

Then you go and cut me down, but wait

You tell me that you're sorry

Didn't think I'd turn around and say

That it's too late to apologize, it's too late

I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late

Too late, oh

I'd take another chance, take a fall

Take a shot for you

And I need you like a heart needs a beat

But it's nothing new, yeah yeah

I loved you with a fire red, now it's turning blue

And you say sorry like the angel

Heaven let me think was you

But I'm afraid

It's too late to apologize, it's too late

I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late, whoa whoa

It's too late to apologize, it's too late

I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late

I said it's too late to apologize, yeah, too late

I said it's too late to apologize, yeah, too late

I'm holding on your rope

Got me ten feet off the ground

"You little bitch" Hiram launches at me and Finn flashes in my mind "You dumb litt~"

I see red and I don't stop until I hear her "RACH!" I get pulled off by Brittany and Santana "Baby come back to me"

"FUCK YOU BOTH!" Hiram stands up with blood pouring out of his nose and falling from his mouth "DON'T EVER COME BACK! DON'T EVER COME BACK TO MY HOME OR EVER COME NEAR MY FAMILY!"

The door is closed and I get dragged away. I'm helped upstairs to the bathroom. The door gets closed and I'm slowly helped undress. I hear water turn on but I'm still not fully focused.

I get helped to the tub and pulled against someone. I relax and realize its Brittany. I'd realize that home feeling from anyone. I press myself as close as I can to her.

"Can you sing something" I look at my bruised knuckles "Anything"

-Brittany singing-

Hey, don't write yourself off yet

It's only in your head you feel left out or looked down on

Just try your best

Try everything you can

And don't you worry what they tell themselves when you're away

It just takes some time

Little girl, you're in the middle of the ride

Everything, everything will be just fine

Everything, everything will be all right, all right

Hey, you know they're all the same

You know you're doing better on your own (On your own)

So don't buy in

Live right now

Yeah, just be yourself

It doesn't matter if it's good enough (Good enough)

For someone else

It just takes some time

Little girl, you're in the middle of the ride

Everything, everything will be just fine

Everything, everything will be all right, all right

It just takes some time

Little girl, you're in the middle of the ride

Everything, everything will be just fine

Everything, everything will be all right, all right

Whoo

Hey, don't write yourself off yet

It's only in your head you feel left out (Feel left out)

Or looked down on

Just do your best (Just do your best)

Do everything you can (Do everything you can)

And don't you worry what their bitter hearts (Bitter hearts)

Are gonna say

It just takes some time

Little girl, you're in the middle of the ride

Everything, everything will be just fine

Everything, everything will be all right, all right

It just takes some time

Little girl, you're in the middle of the ride

Everything, everything will be just fine

Everything, everything will be all right

I smile and slowly close my eyes. I love feeling safe with her. She's my safe place. She's my home.

-Time skip-Brittany pov-

I lay Rachel down in bed and quietly walk out. I walk downstairs to the kitchen. I see everyone around the table. I give them all a sad smile and a thumbs up.

"He's no longer employed at the hospital" Maribel sighs "This is my fault..I shouldn't have told him to apologize to her"

"You had no clue he'd actually show up" Shelby sighs and takes a drink of her coffee "How was she?"

"She was out of it until I pulled her close" I smile as Santana gives me a mug full of coffee "She fell asleep after I sang to her...She was so shaken"

Santana sits down in her seat "What are we gonna do?" We all look at her "She could go back to square one after all of this and we'd be screwed...We may not be able to save her again"

The silent truth finally makes it's way up. We all knew it but wouldn't speak it. We may not be able to save her from ending it all the next time. So how do we keep her from doing it?

"Give us that free day" Everyone looks at me confused "She wants a free day of just me and her..I think I can try a get her back while you all figure something else out"

"Sounds like a plan" I give a grateful nod to Shelby and she returns it "Let's get our Star back"

We all nod in agreement and I start thinking of plans. I'm gonna blow her mind tomorrow with pampering and love! She won't know what to do with herself.

I just hope we can get her back to Rachel Barbara Berry. I miss how she used to be. I really want the old Rachel back. I just want Rachel to be ok.

I'm gonna do whatever it takes to get her back to being ok again. Whatever it takes. Rachel will be back. My star will shine again.