A/N – I finally have a new chapter of this. I'm sorry there has been such a delay. I have had a really rough last couple of months. I'm doing my best to write when I can and keep both stories timely. I hope you all understand.

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read and to those who write reviews and send me messages. It really means so much to me. I love getting to hear your thoughts on the stories and what is happening in them. I hope you enjoy this next chapter as well.

Disclaimer – I don't own Glee.

Two weeks had passed since the discovery of Rachel's singing abilities and the girl who had once been so cautious and careful to be quiet so she wouldn't disturb anyone now sang loudly and proudly all the time. Jesse was skeptical at first, but he became a believer as soon as he heard Rachel sing. The two children became even more inseparable and perhaps a bit insufferable. But sometimes it could be hard not to boast when you knew you were exceptionally talented.

Shelby had easily agreed to allow Rachel to sit in on a couple of Jesse's singing and dancing lessons and signed the papers when Rachel said she also wanted to join the classes. She was going to have to wait until the next month though when spots became available. Much to Rachel's chagrin, Shelby followed Martha and Desmond's lead and only allowed Rachel a few lessons a week. They all wanted the kids to enjoy other parts of their week and to get to be kids and not always in a lesson. Rachel had pouted at first, but Shelby reminded her she was also getting swim lessons and that cheered her up. They would look at expanding the lessons and classes more as the kids got older.

Another thing Rachel wanted desperately was to take piano lessons so she could play like Shelby. She'd asked every day for the past two weeks and Shelby always told her she was thinking about it. It's not that she minded Rachel taking lessons, but she wanted to make sure it was what Rachel really wanted. A lot was happening for her all at once and Shelby didn't want to overwhelm her. If Rachel still wanted to do it after the dancing and singing lessons had started and Rachel realized it was just as much work as it was fun, then Shelby would look into finding a piano teacher for her. Besides, Shelby assured Rachel she could show her the basics and that mostly satisfied the girl. Shelby just wished it satisfied her enough to stop asking. She was nearing her wits end with the same question over and over again.

"Mom, are you ready?" Rachel yelled impatiently as she stood by the door with her jacket and warm hat already on. "We're going to be late."

"Rachel, don't yell in the house," Shelby chastised as she emerged from the hallway and headed towards the girl.

"But I want to get there before all the good seats are taken," Rachel whined.

"The movie doesn't start until an hour from now," Shelby reminded her.

Rachel had been bugging about seeing a new movie for days now. Shelby would just as soon stay home that early Saturday evening and watch a movie there, but Rachel was insistent. Rachel had been moody all day and Shelby thought it could be good to get them both out of the house.

"But we have to get a good seat," Rachel said. She liked to sit in the very top row and right in the middle.

"I know," Shelby said with a roll of her eyes. "Let's go."

They arrived at the movie theater well in advance of the show and were so early, in fact, that they weren't allowed in to sit down yet so they had to linger around the lobby.

"Oh my god," came a hushed whisper nearby.

Shelby and Rachel both knew what that meant. Shelby didn't look in the direction of the four teenage girls who had just recognized her, but Rachel did. She glared so hard one might have thought she was trying to bore holes into the girls' heads. It was a common occurrence for Shelby to be recognized when they went out and, at first, Rachel thought it was really neat. Jesse loved it when it happened when he was around, but Rachel was getting tired of strangers butting in on her time with Shelby.

Rachel's stare hardened when one of the girls started to nervously make their way towards her and Shelby.

"Excuse me."

"What?" Rachel asked rudely.

Shelby put a hand on Rachel's shoulder as she turned to look at the teenager in front of her. She hoped that would be enough to shush her little girl.

"Yes?" Shelby asked with an encouraging smile for the teen that was wide-eyed and in disbelief.

"You're Shelby Corcoran!"

Shelby only nodded.

"Can I- I mean, can we have your autograph?" the teen spokesman asked.

"Sure-"

"Can we have a picture?" one of the other girls asked as the rest of them started to move towards Shelby. "I can't believe it's really you."

Rachel looked past the girls and saw that the theater they were waiting for was now allowing people in.

"She can't," Rachel sassed. "We have to go in now."

"Rachel," Shelby admonished lightly and smiled at the girls. "I can take pictures."

"But-"

"Shh."

Rachel huffed and crossed her arms and stepped back a bit. She grew angrier every time she saw another group of people walk into the theater. She just knew she wasn't going to get her seat now. And they still had to buy popcorn. Rachel glared at Shelby. They could have already had it by now, but Shelby wanted to wait until they could go in so they weren't standing around in the lobby eating popcorn.

The girls were all giddy and smiling stupidly as they took out their phones. One of them dug a pen from her tiny purse and Shelby signed their movie stubs and took pictures in turn with each girl.

"Mom, we can go in now," Rachel spoke up to inform the woman.

"I know, Rach-"

"You have a daughter?!" one of the teens gasped.

Shit, Shelby thought as she saw all four girls look over at Rachel and then down at their phones and start typing.

"I-" Shelby was cut off.

"How did you keep that a secret all this time?" another girl asked.

"It was nice to meet you girls, but we have to go," Shelby said. "We don't want to miss the movie. Goodbye now."

The four teenagers started to move away in a huddle as they discussed this new revelation. Shelby sighed and knew she was eventually going to have to put a statement out. She didn't want to have to deal with the press, but it was bound to happen sooner or later. She would call Jason, her publicist, as soon as they got home.

"Mom," Rachel broke into Shelby's thoughts. "Come on."

"Alright, come on, honey," Shelby said as she took Rachel's hand and started to lead her towards theater number eight so they could see their movie.

"You forgot the popcorn," Rachel whined.

"You're right, I did," Shelby said with a smile. She hoped to get Rachel out of this mood she was in. "Let's go get some."

"I want to get candy and a soda too," Rachel said as they got in line.

"No, we're just going to have popcorn and water," Shelby replied easily.

"But I want candy and some coke," Rachel insisted. "I want M&Ms."

"No," Shelby said. She looked down at Rachel and shook her head. It was already 6:45 and the last thing Rachel needed was a bunch of candy and soda.

"Why not?" Rachel demanded grumpily.

"Because I said so," Shelby said. "Now that is enough. If you keep acting like this we are going to go home without seeing the movie." She was well aware that the other people in line were watching them.

"This is so stupid!" Rachel yelled. "You won't let me do anything!" She stomped her foot and glared up at her foster mother.

"Alright, that's it. We're going home," Shelby said. She took Rachel's hand and held it firmly and started to lead her towards the door.

"Noooo," Rachel immediately turned on her tears and tried to drag her feet. "I want to see the movie."

Shelby just ignored Rachel's crying along with everyone's stares as she walked them outside and up the street towards her lavish apartment building.

"Mom, I'm sorry," Rachel repeated when they got in the elevator in the apartment building. "You don't have to buy me any candy." She had tried this new tactic about halfway home, but so far it wasn't working.

"Rachel, that's enough," Shelby said once they were in the house. "We are not going back to the movie tonight. You lost your chance when you decided to throw a fit. Now I want you go and sit in the chair for a time out."

"That's not fair!" Rachel yelled and cried all at the same time. "You made us late on purpose because you had to talk to those stupid girls! Why do you always have to talk to people?"

"I didn't make us late on purpose," Shelby said calmly. "And please don't call people stupid."

"Why not? They are!"

"Rachel," Shelby admonished. "Time out. Now." She pointed in the direction she wanted the girl to go and then stood and waited for her to move.

"Fine!" Rachel stomped over to the dining room chair and pulled it out and faced it towards the wall because she knew the routine by now. She plopped down in the chair and crossed her arms across her chest and stared at the wall. She was angry.

Shelby sighed and turned away when Rachel was finally in place. She knew she needed to talk to the girl, but she hoped Rachel would calm down first. She hoped the time out served that purpose for her. Shelby hung her jacket up in the closet and then puttered around the kitchen until ten minutes had passed and it was time to spring Rachel from lock up.

The little girl's demeanor had changed by the time Shelby came back and she was now crying softly with her head down instead of staring defiantly at the wall. It broke Shelby's heart to hear Rachel's sniffles. She made her way over to the girl and gently moved her so she could sit in the chair and then lifted Rachel to sit in her lap. Shelby unzipped Rachel's jacket and took it off and set it to the side and pulled Rachel close. That was all the girl needed and she turned so she could wrap her arms around Shelby's neck and hug her tightly.

"Shh," Shelby soothed as she rubbed Rachel's back. "Tell me what's wrong."

"I wanted to see the movie," Rachel cried.

"I know, but you threw a fit and I wasn't going to take you to see the movie while you were acting up," Shelby explained. "Why were you so upset?"

"Why did you have to talk to those girls?" Rachel asked seriously. She sat back in Shelby's lap and looked up at her foster mother with earnest, confused eyes.

"I don't know," Shelby shrugged. "I always do." Shelby had a reputation of being great to her fans and was always willing to stand for a picture and sign an autograph. It rarely bothered her when someone approached her because most of the time it was just so sincere that Shelby had a problem saying no. And truth be told, she still got a bit of a thrill at being recognized and sought after.

"Sometimes I wish you wouldn't," Rachel said. "You're supposed to be with me."

Shelby hadn't really thought about it like that before and she was now kicking herself for not seeing it sooner. Like all children, Rachel wanted her mother's undivided attention and Shelby knew she should have done things differently. For as much as she had told everyone that she understood the implications of taking in a small child to raise, Shelby really hadn't fully grasped everything it would mean. She learned new things everyday about having a child, but this was an important lesson and she would take it to heart.

"You're right, honey, and I'm sorry," Shelby said. "I will do better in the future."

"Do you promise?" Rachel asked.

"I promise," Shelby affirmed. "But, just to be clear, that doesn't mean you can throw a fit whenever something isn't going your way." Shelby wanted to make sure Rachel still knew she wasn't in the right back at the movie theater. "When I told you no about the candy and soda that should have been it and we left and you sat in time out because you threw a tantrum. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Rachel said with a rueful nod.

"Good girl. Now what do you say you take a quick bath and put on some PJs and I will make us a snack and then we can read before bed," Shelby suggested.

"Okay!" Rachel readily agreed and she got up from Shelby's lap and hurried down the hall. She and Shelby had been reading Charlotte's Web every night and Rachel loved it. She already had another book in mind for when they finished that one.

Later that evening after Rachel had been tucked in and was sleeping, Shelby got on the phone with her team. They knew of the situation and, after being told of the events at the movie theater, all agreed it was time to put out a statement. Shelby hated the thought of people trying to intrude on her and Rachel's life, but she knew she needed to control the situation as much as possible. They agreed to a meeting Monday afternoon to discuss everything and Shelby was relieved. Her next call was to Martha.

"Hey, Shelby," Martha greeted when she answered the phone.

"Hi. I've got a quick favor to ask of you," Shelby said.

"What is it?"

"Can I drop Rachel off with you and Jesse Monday after school?" Shelby asked. "I've got a meeting I have to go to and I can't take Rachel."

"Sure, that's no problem," Martha said. "Why don't I just pick her up when I pick up Jesse? You can get to your meeting earlier and not worry about it."

"That would be great," Shelby said with a smile. "Hopefully we can finish up and I can get out of there earlier than I thought."

"Maybe you and Rachel can stay and have dinner with us when you get done," Martha offered.

"That would be lovely. Thank you."

They talked for a couple more minutes before finishing up and after she hung up Shelby turned on the TV so she could veg out for a bit. She felt better about everything coming out and tried to relax. She hoped it wouldn't be much of a story and would be forgotten pretty quickly. The last thing she wanted was for her and Rachel to be harassed for weeks on.

Monday morning came and Shelby and Rachel walked hand-in-hand to school. Shelby's mind was going a mile a minute about the meeting she would have that afternoon. She and her team knew of the rumors, of course, but the online traffic that was usually limited to forums had gotten worse since the trip to the movie theater on Saturday. She was grateful for the school because they're information was protected there. The other parents didn't really bother her when they were all waiting for their kids at the end of the day and after some stares for the first few days, Shelby was blending in.

Neither Shelby nor Rachel noticed the four men in a car across the street taking pictures of them as they walked. The men watched them for the rest of the trip to school.

Shelby crouched down in front of Rachel when they reached the entrance to the school. She handed the girl her lunchbox and brushed some hair behind her ear.

"Remember that Ms. Martha is picking you up this afternoon," Shelby said. She and Rachel had talked about it yesterday and the girl was excited to spend the afternoon with her friend.

"I know," Rachel said.

"Stick close to Jesse when you're walking out," Shelby reminded her even though it was unnecessary. Rachel and Jesse always walked out together.

"I will," Rachel assured her. "What time are you coming to Jesse's house?"

"I'm not sure," Shelby said. "I'll be there before dinnertime."

"Okay," Rachel said with a smile.

"Alright, I love you," Shelby said. "Go on. And be good today."

"I love you too," Rachel said before hurrying off into the school.

As Shelby walked back down the street each photographer smiled down at their cameras as they looked over the pictures. They had some great shots and were sure to make a lot of money off of them. The fact that Shelby Corcoran had a kid she'd been hiding all these years was going to be a huge story.

The pictures reached the internet about an hour after lunchtime. It happened at the same time that Shelby and her team was closing the doors for their meeting. Their phones were set aside as they began to talk.

The school day was dragging along much too slowly for the two small kids who couldn't wait to get out of there. They were so close to being done, but it still felt like they had an eternity to go.

"What do you want to do this afternoon?" Rachel asked. They had been trying to talk about this all day but schoolwork kept getting in the way. There was only thirty minutes left in the day and they were whispering to each other while the teacher had her back to the class so she could write on the board.

"We should put on a concert!" Jesse whispered excitedly. "We can pick songs and get them ready to sing for everyone when Ms. Shelby gets there."

"That would be so much fun!" Rachel squealed, forgetting to whisper. Everyone in the room, including the teacher, turned and stared at her.

"What would be so much fun, Rachel?" Mrs. Johnson, their teacher asked.

"Nothing," Rachel mumbled.

"Jesse, since you were talking to her can you tell us what would be so much fun?" the teacher turned her questioning gaze on the young culprit.

"I don't know," Jesse muttered. How did she even know they had been talking? Her back had been turned the whole time!

"I can only assume you were talking about our math problems," Mrs. Johnson said. "Rachel, why don't you come up here and help me solve the problems on the board.

Rachel reluctantly got up from her desk and made her way to the front of the room and took a green whiteboard marker from her teacher and waited for instructions. Rachel had to help for the rest of the day and found that she began to enjoy it. She soaked up the praise from Mrs. Johnson and actually liked the math she normally didn't enjoy doing.

When the kids were released half an hour later, Mrs. Johnson kept Rachel and Jesse behind. She sat at her desk while they stood in front of it looking contrite.

"You two know better than to be talking during the lesson," she scolded mildly. "What got you guys so excited?"

"I'm going to Jesse's house to play after school," Rachel answered honestly.

"We're going to put on a concert," Jesse added and flashed an award worthy smile. "Rachel's almost as good a singer as I am."

Mrs. Johnson couldn't help but chuckle at his statement. Jesse's ego was well known throughout the school. It was a good thing he was also so charming and sincere.

"Well that does sound like fun, but next time I don't want to hear you two discussing it during the lesson. You whisper and giggle enough as it is. I don't want to have to send a note home," Mrs. Johnson concluded while giving them each a serious look.

That sobered each kid up and they nodded their understanding. Set let them go with a smile and a shake of her head.

"You're not supposed to talk out loud when we're whispering," Jesse said as they headed towards the front doors of the school.

"I know," Rachel responded in a duh tone.

They continued their chatter as they walked down the hall and the turn to go out through the doors. Jesse started to tell her a story about a time he had to get a note signed last year, but his tale didn't get very far. As soon as they stepped outside there were so many flashes and so much shouting that the kids stopped and stood in stunned silence. They both tried to shield their eyes to the flashes and Rachel started to tear up because so many people were yelling at them.

The group of photographers had them surrounded and were pushing away other kids and parents so they could try and get the best possible picture.

"Where has she been hiding you?" One photographer yelled.

"Have you always lived with your mom?" Another shouted.

"What's your name, sweetheart?"

"Did you know she was your mom?"

The questions continued as Rachel and Jesse tried to force their way through, but they weren't able to make much progress because they were no match for the fully grown men. The children held hands as they attempted to clear a path for themselves. Martha stood on the other side of the photographers and was just as shocked as the children when she saw the men swarm them and start taking pictures. She had caught a glimpse of the kids when they first walked out of the building, but now she couldn't see them at all. She heard the questions though and it wasn't difficult to figure out what was going on. She needed to call Shelby, but the most important thing was to get to Rachel and Jesse and get them out of there.

Martha started to try and push her way through the men and the flashes. Many of the school administrators and teachers were also fighting their way into the crowd to try and create some order. The men were creating a hazard, not just for Rachel, but for all of the students and parents there. Mrs. Ripley was going to call Shelby as soon as she got back inside.

"Jesse," Martha yelled. "Honey, can you hear me?"

Her voice was lost in the chaos, but she never stopped trying to push her way into the crowd.

The photographers soon became defensive and started arguing that they had a right to be there and it didn't matter if it was a public school with a fence around the front. This was a story and they weren't going to back down.

The police arrived a few minutes later after receiving several calls from upset parents. It took them a few minutes to get some semblance of order restored and to get the photographers to back off. Martha finally made her way through and stood next to Mrs. Ripley and Mrs. Johnson and looked around.

"Where did they go?" Martha asked.

The subject of the frenzy and the one every photographer was trying to get a picture of was not there. Rachel and Jesse were missing from the sea of people and the three women were bewildered.

After some threats from the police and the realization that the little girl was no longer around, the photographers backed off and dispersed. They would have to hurry if they wanted to be the one to sell their pictures and get them published.

"Maybe they went back inside," Mrs. Johnson suggested.

"What was going on here?" the sergeant in charge demanded to know.

"They're trying to get a picture of a kid because she's living with a celebrity," Martha answered. There was no reason to beat around the bush now. That secret on that ship had sailed.

"Where's the kid?"

"We don't know," Mrs. Johnson said. "I'm going to check inside."

"My son is with the little girl," Martha said. Panic was starting to creep in and she looked to the cop desperately.

"Let's go look inside," Sergeant Lee said, taking charge. "They can't have gotten far."

The four of them headed inside and split up to look around the school. They agreed to meet back out front when they were finished looking. Mrs. Ripley went to the office and got on the PA system so the entire school could hear her and told Rachel and Jesse to come to the office. Each was as despondent as the next when they came back together and realized no one had found either of the kids. Martha placed a quick call to her Desmond at his practice and the man left work immediately so he could meet her.

"Who is the little girl living with?" Sergeant Lee asked. "What is the situation there?"

"Shelby Corcoran," Martha answered. "She's her foster mother."

"We need to get her on the phone," Lee said. "Now."

Across town Leroy sat in his office reading over a case for a child that had just been removed from his parents when a co-worker named Millie interrupted him.

"I think you need to see this," Millie said as she handed her phone to him. "Apparently this happened about fifteen minutes ago."

Leroy looked down at the phone and saw a video with the headline, "Is Shelby Corcoran Hiding a Secret Love Child?" He hit play and saw the chaotic scene from the school play out before him. It was a video that had been taken on a cell phone. He saw Rachel briefly and could see how scared she looked before she was swarmed and hidden from the camera's view. The article that accompanied it cited multiple sources as verifying that Shelby had a child she'd given up and hidden from the world eight years ago. It was unclear why the child was now back with her.

"Oh my god," Leroy said when he finished reading the article. "I've got to call Shelby."

Several blocks from the school Rachel and Jesse ducked onto a side street and stopped running. Each kid leaned over and put their hands on their knees and panted. Jesse had no idea what had happened back there, but he and Rachel were scared. When the men got closer and others started trying to push their way in he had tightened his grip on Rachel's hand and ran. It hadn't taken too much effort to reach the side of the school and they had disappeared from view before anyone even knew they were gone. Once they realized they were free, they just kept going.

"Who were all those people?" Rachel asked.

"I don't know," Jesse answered.

"I don't want to go back there," Rachel said.

"Me either," Jesse agreed. "Come on. I know where to go."

A/N- That's all for this chapter. There will be more to come soon. I really hope everyone liked it. Please leave me a review and let me know what you think. Thanks, everyone!