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...

"Could we have an apple cranberry pie, please? We're going to share it" Shelby told the waitress. Sharing some pie could be seen as insignificant to most people, but to her, it was a big step. It was going to be the first thing she'd ever share with her daughter.

"So, Shelby, what´s the story behind the mug?" Rachel insisted.

Shelby took a long breath and then said, "It was a gift … from your fathers."

Rachel frowned, "Why? When?"

"Let me tell you the story. For eight months, I was convinced that I was doing the right thing. I was helping a couple bring a child into the world and I was finally going to be able to get out of Ohio and move to New York. I was thrilled. But then, I started to have some doubts. The closer the due date came, the more hesitant I was about giving you up. I think Hiram and Leroy noticed that and they drafted a contract …"

"So you would have to give me away even if you had some doubts?" Rachel asked.

Shelby shook her head. "They knew I wanted to make it big on Broadway, they knew what my dreams were, so they drafted a contract to give me the chance to make those dreams come true."

"But you were never on Broadway" Rachel said.

"I wasn't. Dreams change. Life sometimes takes you in a different direction." Shelby said and remained quiet for a couple of seconds, as she gathered up her thoughts. "They drafted a contract that stated I wasn't allowed to look for you until you turned 18. At first, I was okay with it. But then, you were born. I wasn't able to hold you in my arms for more than two minutes, but those two minutes meant the world to me. You were perfect. But I had to give you up. Hiram came into the room and took you away."

Rachel noticed a few tears were starting to roll down her cheeks and tried to wipe them before Shelby noticed. She didn't know what to say.

"I know you are wondering what this has to do with the mug" Shelby said and watched Rachel nod her head. "I fell into a severe depression after your birth. I thought about you all day long. I moved to New York, but I couldn't focus. I am not entirely sure how your fathers found out I was not doing well, but one day, I arrived in my apartment and found a little box with a card addressed to me. Inside, there was a mug and a note."

"What did the note say?" Rachel asked.

"It said: Thank you for giving us the world's best gift. Leroy took this picture while you were holding our Rachel Barbra. Thank you for all the sacrifices you made, including not drinking coffee for nine months …" Shelby said and smiled at the last words. She had read that note so many times that she knew every word by heart. "Now, every time you drink your coffee, you can think of the wonderful gift you gave us. We promise to love and cherish our little girl for the rest of our lives."

Rachel smiled and drew her chair closer to Shelby, and then she put her head on her mom's shoulder and whispered. "Thank you"

Shelby kissed Rachel on the head. "I knew you'd be happy with them. Your fathers are wonderful men. I knew I could trust them with my baby."

"I just wish I could have had the three of you" Rachel admitted.

Rachel and Shelby stayed in that position, with Rachel's head on Shelby's shoulder until they were interrupted by the waitress. "One apple cranberry pie and two forks. Enjoy, ladies."

Rachel sat straight on her chair and grabbed a fork. "I promise this is better than that tofu you ate"

"It better be" Shelby said, chuckling. "Oh, I forgot to order some coffee."

"You really like coffee, huh?" Rachel said, smiling, as she remembered the story her mom had just told her.

"I do. I cannot live without it. Would you like some?"

Rachel shook her head, "I'd prefer some tea."

…

Both mother and daughter spent the rest of the afternoon together, getting to know each other a little better. They walked around Times Square and talked about Rachel's plans for the future. The young brunette showed her mom the theater where Funny Girl was going to be on stage and they went into some stores before picking Beth up from the sitter's.

By the time, they got to the apartment building, they were all tired. For Beth, it had been an exciting day and she had fallen asleep before they got home, so she was in Shelby's arms. For Shelby and Rachel, it had been a very emotional day, so they couldn't wait to get home and sleep.

"I can't believe I have to work at the diner tomorrow" Rachel said, as she went into the apartment and sat on the couch.

"What time do you have to be there?" Shelby asked.

"At nine."

"I'll make you some breakfast before you go" Shelby said smiling.

"No, that's okay, Shelby. I can eat something at work."

"I insist. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and no child of mine will leave the house without it." Shelby said, giving Rachel a motherly look.

"Thank you, Shelby" Rachel replied, as she yawned. "I should go to bed. Good night."

…

The next morning, Rachel woke up and just as her mother had promised, she was greeted by the sight of eggs and freshly squeezed orange juice.

"Yummy, Wachel" Beth said, with a mouth full of eggs.

"We don't talk with our mouth full." Shelby gently scolded Beth.

"But it's good, mommy!" Beth said, taking another spoonful of eggs.

Rachel sat down and looked at her plate. "I'm not really that hungry, Shelby"

"You have to eat. Don't you like eggs? I can make something else" Shelby said.

"No, it's okay. I think I'll just have some juice." Rachel replied.

"You need to have something other than juice."

Rachel drank all her juice and then stood up, ignoring Shelby's last comment. "I have to go now."

"Rachel, it's 8am. You said your shift starts at 9. So, sit down and have some breakfast"

Rachel rolled her eyes and huffed. "I am not hungry, okay?"

Shelby shook her head. She knew that as a mom, there were battles that were not worth fighting, and she was starting to wonder if this particular one was one of them. Did she really want to start the day with the wrong foot?

"Okay. Take an apple or a banana, in case you get hungry." Shelby said, calming down.

"I work in a diner, Shelby, I can have something if I get hungry." Rachel replied, not really understanding what the big deal was. She was used to eating whenever she felt like it, and she wasn't taking being ordered around too well. Her fathers never demanded that she had to have breakfast before school.

"Please, Rachel, let's not fight. Just take an apple." Shelby said, handing Rachel the fruit.

"Okay. I have to go. I don't want to be late."

Rachel rushed out of the apartment and let out a sigh of relief once she was outside. She was happy that she was starting to build a relationship with her mother, but being a daughter could be really tiring. After being her own boss for almost a year, she was finding it difficult to have someone around to look after her.

…

"Rachel! There you are! I have been calling you nonstop, but you never answer your phone!" Kurt said as Rachel walked into the diner.

"I have been busy" Rachel replied. She was dying to tell Kurt that she was staying with Shelby and she wanted to talk about everything she was feeling, but she wasn't sure if Kurt could be considered her friend at the moment. He had taken Santana's side and Rachel was still hurt because of that.

"I have been worried about you. I even called Brody to see if you were staying with him." Kurt said.

"Brody? Why would I be staying with him? I haven't seen him since we broke up."

Kurt shrugged, "I didn't know where else you could go."

"I'm staying at …" Rachel was interrupted by her boss telling her that she was there to wait tables not to gossip with her friends.

"Wait, Rachel, where are you staying?" Kurt asked as Rachel took her notepad and went over to a table to take an order.

Rachel and Kurt didn't have a break until 12. Sundays weren't usually that busy, but that particular day, it seemed like everyone in Manhattan had decided to go to the diner.

"So, where are you staying? You should come back to the apartment" Kurt said.

"No. Santana and you have made it very clear that I am no longer welcome there." Rachel said, "I can't believe you'd do that to me, Kurt. I thought we were friends. I even called you my best friend."

"We are friends, Rachel."

"No, we're not. The minute you didn't back me up, you showed me you were never my friend. Santana made our life miserable when we were in High School, Kurt. I cannot believe you are now choosing her."

"I never chose her. I just thought we had to sit down and talk calmly." Kurt replied.

Rachel shook her head, "No. I hope you and Santana live happily together. I will be moving in with Shelby."

"Shelby? Ms. Corcoran? You are staying with her?" Kurt asked surprised.

"Yes. She welcomed me with open arms and she said I could stay with her. She lives in the city and has a beautiful apartment. I am a star, Kurt, and I should not be living in Bushwick. I should be living in Manhattan, so I will be staying at Shelby's" Rachel said, with a proud look on her face. She was really happy to be living with her mother, but she had to admit that she missed Kurt. "You can come visit me once you admit that what you did was wrong and I did not deserve that."

As Rachel spoke the last words, she walked away and returned to work.

"I think she needs another dose of Midnight Madness" Kurt said to himself.

…

Rachel walked back into the building in the late afternoon and realized she didn't have a key to the apartment. "I hope Shelby is home," she thought, since she didn't want to wait for her mom outside the apartment. She had been on her feet for over 8 hours and she was very tired. All she wanted to do was take a shower to remove the smell of fried food from the dinner and go to sleep.

She rang the bell and waited.

"I'll open, mommy" Beth said, rushing to the door.

"Ask who it is first, Beth" Shelby said.

"Who is it?" Beth asked.

"It's Rachel"

"It's Wachel, mommy!" Beth said, jumping up and down as she waited for Shelby to unlock the door. "We fed the duckies today!" Beth added, as soon as the door was opened.

"That's great! I wish I had been there" Rachel replied with a smile.

"We can go now!" Beth said, taking Rachel's hand.

Shelby chuckled and shook her head. "I'm afraid the ducks are already asleep, sweetie. We can go next weekend."

"But mommy, Wachel wants to feed the duckies" Beth answered, with an urge in her voice.

"We can go some other day" Rachel said, "I'm tired today, anyway"

"Oh" Beth replied with a disappointed look. "So, we no play today?"

Rachel yawned and looked at Shelby to get some help. She didn't want to disappoint the little blond girl, but she was really tired.

"You and Rachel can play tomorrow" Shelby said.

"I wanted to play today!" Beth said, stomping her foot.

Before Shelby could stop the outburst that was about to happen, Rachel said, "We can sing a song, if you want."

Beth nodded excitedly. "You sing? Like mommy?"

"Better than mommy" Rachel said, winking at Shelby.

Rachel started singing Castle on a Cloud from Les Miserables. When she finished the short song, she noticed Shelby had tears in her eyes and Beth was looking at her in awe.

"Again, Wachel!" Beth said, clapping.

Rachel yawned again. "I'll sing you another song, tomorrow, okay?"

Beth shrugged and yawned as well. "I think my two girls need to go to bed now." Shelby said.

"No tired, mommy" Beth said, being betrayed by another yawn.

"Come on, Beth, let's go to bed" Shelby said, holding her little girl's hand and leading her into the bedroom.

After having sung Beth a lullaby and having tucked her in, Shelby walked back to the living room, ready to walk her other girl to bed.

"You should go to bed as well, Rachel" Shelby said.

"I need to take a shower. I smell like burgers and fries" Rachel said, making a face of disgust.

"Okay, go take a shower and then, off to bed"

"I could really use a drink" Rachel said.

"I'll get you some juice" Shelby replied.

"How about some red wine?" Rachel asked, "Do you have any?"

"Very funny, Rachel. You are 18 years old, so no alcohol for you. Not until you turn 21."

"Kurt and I sometimes …" Rachel started to explain.

"Rachel. No alcohol for you until you turn 21. Understood?" Shelby said with a firm tone.

"Okay, okay" Rachel said, as she yawned again.

"Go, take a shower. I'll get you some juice."

Rachel smiled and stood up, "Thank you"

When Rachel was inside the bathroom, she smiled and whispered, "Thank you, mom."

Rachel had chosen to sing Castle on a Cloud, because ever since she was little, that song reminded her of her mom. She would sing it every time she was sad, every time she missed her mother. Whenever she sang 'There is a lady all in white, holds me and sings a lullaby. She's nice to see and she's soft to touch' she would think that lady was her mother and she was there to hold her at night and sing to her. And she always changed the last line to 'She says, My Rach, I love you very much!' instead of the name Cossette.

As soon as she finished her shower, she put her pajamas on and headed to bed. There was a glass of juice on the night table, and she smiled as she thought about her mom. She finished her juice, brushed her teeth and got into bed.

Just as she was falling asleep, Shelby came into the room to make sure Rachel was comfortable, and as she tucked her girl in, she whispered, "Rachel, I love you very much."

That night, Rachel realized that she could stop dreaming, because her mom was really there with her. And she couldn't ask for anything else.

...

The song "Castle on a Cloud" is from the musical "Les Miserables".