Hi to all my amazing readers, reviewers and everyone else. Here for your reading pleasure is chapter 17. FYI this chapter is full of dialogue of Rachel seeking advice both warranted & unwarranted. I know I said at the end of the last chapter that Tamara & her mum would get what's coming in this chapter. They don't, but trust me it's coming incredibly soon. All the legal stuff belongs to Ryan Murphy & FOX except my characters. So please read, review, rewind, then read and review again…enjoy!
Rachel walked to the front door wondering who could be knocking on her door at this time of night. After checking her reflection in a nearby mirror to make sure she didn't have anything on her face, she proceeded to open the door. This day had gone from a bad day to the worst ever, and now thanks to the person standing on the other side of the door it had now graduated to shocking as well. For there on the other side of the door stood, Rachel's estranged long lost mother Shelby.
"Shelby? What are you doing here?" asked a completely shocked Rachel as she stood in front of the very last person she expected to see.
"There's my beautiful daughter!" Shelby greeted Rachel with extreme enthusiasm that translated into giving a shocked Rachel an extremely big hug that went unreciprocated.
Rachel managed to pry herself free of Shelby's hug before taking a few paces back away from the woman who had played so many games with her heart. "First of all I'm not your daughter…I may be in a biological sense, but that doesn't make us family! Second, you still haven't answered my question. What are you doing here, Shelby?"
"Typical Rachel, always wanting to get down to business." Shelby said looking at Rachel with a weird look of adoration. "Do I get invited in, or do your neighbours get a free floor show!" Shelby continued now reverting back to her usual hard as steel persona.
Rachel begrudgingly stepped aside and let Shelby into the spacious apartment. "Fine! Come in, but you can't stay long because I have work in the morning."
Shelby walked into the apartment and gave her coat to Rachel to hang up. As Rachel was closing the door, Shelby looked around the expansive New York apartment, silently taking in all of its splendour.
"Since I was raised BY MY FATHERS to be a good host no matter who the company is, means I should offer you a drink." Rachel said putting extra emphasis on the bit of the sentence referring to being raised by her fathers, to get an unsolicited dig in at Shelby. "So Shelby coffee or tea? I would offer you water but I wouldn't want you to melt!" Rachel sarcastically added.
"Wow! Rachel two extremely unsubtly insults in the space of five minutes, I think you've been hanging around your friend Santana too long. As for the drink, coffee's fine with milk and two sugars." Shelby nonchalantly answered back unperturbed by Rachel's antics.
As Rachel disappeared into the kitchen to make the coffee, Shelby took another opportunity to look around the apartment. "Rachel this apartment is amazing! I remember when I first started on Broadway and all I could afford was a dingy two bedroom flat in Yonkers."
"Well the apartment is actually Finn's. I was still living in the loft before he asked me to move in with him." Rachel admitted as she came back into the living room with the coffee.
Shelby accepted one of the cups of coffee from her daughter before taking a small sip and casting one more glance around the apartment. "Who would of thought that the down to earth, simple country boy I met all those years ago at McKinley would turn out to be so successful? I mean an amazing songwriter across multiple genres and a businessman to boot. The Creative head of a major inaugural label!"
"I did!" Rachel answered Shelby's rhetorical question with such conviction it actually stunned Shelby for a moment. "From the moment I met Finn, I could tell he was more then just your stereotypical hot jock from a small town. He was meant for more, he was destined to become something greater. I know Finn always thought I was always encouraging and complimenting him in high school because I was his girlfriend or I had a schoolgirl crush. But the reality was that for anyone with two eyes it was plain to see that Finn was destined for bigger things than being a manager at Burt's garage surviving on retelling past sporting glories!" Rachel continued speaking with the utmost reverence and truth.
"You know the same could be said about you, Rachel." Shelby slyly took a peek at Rachel from over the lip of her coffee cup as she took another sip.
"That's what Finn always told me." Rachel said rather wistfully
"I don't admit I'm wrong often, but I have to concede I was wrong when I tried to set you and Jesse up together." Admitted Shelby reluctantly.
"Jesse and I would never have worked out!" answered Rachel without a doubt in her voice. "On paper we looked amazing, both performers, driven even slightly narcissistic. But given that narcissism and how competitive we both were, we would've ended up killing each other. Besides the fact I never loved Jesse, I was drawn to him because I found him very intriguing. Because for so long I thought I was the only person in Lima or even in Ohio that had such a passion and drive for Broadway and show business. Then finding there were in fact other people out there like me was a huge shock and I couldn't help myself but try and find out more about these people. At one time I admit I may have confused that intrigue with love but after having experienced real love…true love, I can now see the other things just didn't compare." Rachel said in all honesty.
"So what do your fathers think about you living with Finn?" asked Shelby.
Rachel sat up straight and put her coffee cup down on the coffee table and turned so she was looking directly at Shelby. "As much as I'm enjoying this walk down memory lane with my estranged mother, who literally traded me in for a younger model. Can we please just cut to the chase here and you can tell me why you're here and how the hell you knew where I lived and also where is Beth? If you're here to try and adopt another one of my friend's babies, I think your going to be surely disappointed. After all the baby-gate stuff died down all the glee kids became extra vigilant in the safe sex department. So for all you baby adopting needs your going to have to go elsewhere."
Shelby adopted the same stance as her daughter and placed her cup on the coffee table as well. "Okay! Fair enough…I guessed I deserved that barb to some extant." Shelby said as Rachel saw a brief crack in her mother's cool demeanour. "And don't worry about your sister…" Shelby continued despite Rachel's protest about the use of the word sister. "Beth is staying with a good friend of mine, while I went out for the evening." Shelby took the silence from Rachel as consent to keep talking. "As for why I'm here, I decided to go see my daughter in her first Broadway show. There I am sitting in the audience with great anticipation at seeing my little girl playing the iconic role of Fanny Brice. Then I get the shock of my life, for who do I see…not my beautiful daughter, but some random nobody butchering some of the most iconic Broadway songs of a generation."
"So after five years of not a single word, you now all of a sudden what to see if I'm okay!" shouted Rachel as she jumped up from the couch and started pacing back and forth getting angry. "Even if I wasn't okay, there's no way I would talk to you about it! I think it's time you go now! Beth…your real daughter is probably wondering where you are!" Rachel stalked over to the door and flung it open, as she stared at Shelby daring her to say something.
"Rachel…please? Just talk to me. I know how hard it can be to lose Broad…." Shelby started but was interrupted by Rachel.
"No!" Rachel shouted. "We are nothing alike and I will never be like you! Now are you going to leave or do I have to ring building security."
Shelby reluctantly stood up and straightened out her pencil skirt and grabbed her handbag. Before walking over to the door, Shelby pulled a pen out of her bag and started writing something on the small notepad Finn and Rachel keep beside the phone.
"Remember Rachel that no man and certainly no woman is an island. So when you finally get tired of feeling sorry for yourself and acting like a bitch, and actually want to have an adult conversation with someone whose been through a similar experience. I will be staying at this address, so come see me and we'll have a chat." And with that Shelby grabbed her coat and walked out the door.
Rachel closed the door and just sat in one of the couches in the living room staring at nothing. Till finally she got up and went to the bedroom and opened up one of the wardrobes; after a little bit of looking around, Rachel came out with some old photo albums of her when she was little. As she flicked through the different pictures, Rachel started to sing….
Hey Mom, why didn't you tell me?
Why didn't you teach me a thing or two?
You just let me go out into the world
You never thought to share what you knew
Rachel looked at one of the pictures that showed a little Rachel posing for her fathers on the first day of school. She remembers being dressed in her favourite outfit, which was a brand new yellow sundress with white tights, and being so eager to go to school and learn and gain new friends. Then she remembers all the kids playing and her trying to join in but being shunned by all the other little kids.
So I walked under a bus, I got hit by a train
Keep falling in love which is kinda the same
I've sunk out at sea, crashed my car, gone insane
And it felt so good I want to do it again
On one of the pages is a picture from Rachel's eighth birthday and she's standing there in her favourite little party dress. A couple of moments after that picture was taken Rachel threw the biggest tantrum because she wanted to open her presents but wasn't allowed. She remembers kicking, screaming and yelling until her daddies finally gave in an allowed her to open all her presents and feeling extremely satisfied because she got her way.
Hey Mom, why didn't you warn me?
'Cause about boys is something I should have known
They're like chocolate cake, like cigarettes
I know they're bad for me but I just can't leave 'em alone
Next Rachel saw a few pictures of her and Finn and then some of her with Noah and Jesse when they were in Glee Club. She remembers how confused and also excited she was when she first started having feelings for Finn, and also when she would see Jesse and Noah and thinking to herself they were really attractive.
So I walked under a bus, I got hit by a train
Keep falling in love which is kinda the same
I've sunk out at sea, crashed my car, gone insane
And it felt so good I want to do it again
I walked under a bus, I got hit by a train
And it felt so good I want to do it again
I wanna do it again, I wanna do it again
Oh, it felt so good
Hey Mom, since we're talking
What was it like when you were young?
Has the world changed or is it still the same?
A man can kill and still be the sweetest thing
The next picture was a picture that was taken a few days after she first met Shelby. She remembered being a swirl of emotions that day and wanting to just know everything about this woman who gave birth to her. She wanted to know if they had the same interests, the same tastes in music and fashion or even if they had any of the same idiosyncrasies.
I walked under a bus, I got hit by a train
Keep falling in love which is kinda the same
I've sunk out at sea, crashed my car, gone insane
And I felt so good I want to do it again
Under a bus, I got hit by a train
Keep falling in love which is kinda the same
I've sunk out at sea, crashed my car, gone insane
And it felt so good I want to do it again
After seeing a picture of prom, Rachel remembered back to all the mistakes she made in regards to her love life. From telling Finn about Noah being the father of Quinn's baby and dating Jesse to make Finn jealous. To dumping him after being sent to New York alone and shacking up with a gigolo in Brody. All these mistakes felt good at the time but with a clearer head she often wondered what she was thinking.
Under a bus, hit by a train
And it felt so good I want to do it again
Rachel closed the last of the photo albums and carefully placed them back in their special box, before once again placing them back in the wardrobe. She quietly looked at herself in the bedroom mirror contemplating if she had actually matured or changed throughout the years. After getting no closer to an answer Rachel let out a loud humph and turned out the lights and went to bed to awake to hopefully a clearer head and a better day.
The enormous crowd was deafening in their applause for the band currently performing on the stage. Mix that with hundreds of backstage support staff scurrying about the place made the performers area backstage rather hectic. Which was where Finn, Puck, Sam, Blaine and Ryder were situated at the moment waiting their turn on stage. By now each of the guys had figured out their own pre-performance rituals, which they all were undertaking at the moment, except Finn.
Finn was sitting off in the corner by himself staring at his phone, wondering why it hadn't rung. He was staring at it wondering why Rachel hadn't tried to call him at least once in the whole week since he'd been gone. Maybe he was reading too much into it and there was nothing to be worried about. It was just the old Rachel…the Rachel he was used to would've already left close to fifty messages and made an offer of flying over to see him. But I guess she's still figuring stuff out after Funny Girl let her go. Maybe he should have invited her to come along with him and the guys.
As soon as he thought that he immediately chastised himself because we're upset at Rachel he had to remind himself. So there will be no feeling sorry for one Rachel Berry during this tour, no matter how utterly adorable she looks when she's upset. Or missing her immensely warm and inviting snuggles she gives you every night when spooning. Not to mention how it's an instant hard-on when Rachel wears those incredibly tight and sexy yoga pants while doing her daily yoga workout. Oh! Who the fuck am I kidding? I can't stay mad at my little Hummingbird! And with that Finn started punching in the numbers he had memorised by heart all the way back in high school. That was until someone came along and knocked the phone out of his hand.
"What the…" Finn shot his head up to see who had knocked his phone out of his hands, only to see his best friend Noah Puckerman standing in front of him with two beers.
"You had better not been trying to call Berry, bro! Otherwise I'm going to do more then knock your phone out of your hand!" Puck warned his best friend as he sat down and handed him one of the beers he was carrying.
"It's just…why hasn't she called?" asked Finn as he popped the top off his beer and took a swig.
"Umm! Maybe because you told her to get herself right first." Replied Puck.
"It's just I can't help but be worried about her you know." Worried Finn as Puck watched him absentmindedly picking at the label on his beer bottle.
"What the hell is it with you two? Your all hot and heavy when your together, then you break up and spend all your single time worrying about each other until you get back together and do it all over again." Sighed Puck as he too took a swig of his beer.
Finn turned to look at his best friend and said, "Its our tether" Finn started wistfully. "Rachel and I are like a raging fire, going through a forest after a drought. When were together we burn hotter and brighter than anything else around. But just like the fire we can only continue to burn if we have enough fuel and oxygen. So a lot of times especially back in high school we burnt so bright we ran out of oxygen and we had to part until we could refuel enough to rekindle that spark. That's where our tether separates us from other couples because it maintains that spark, keeps the flicker or ember of hope alive until we can refuel enough to use the new found oxygen to burn bright once more. Just like certain types of forest's that can only survive and regenerate after a fire, I think Rach and I need that downtime to breath as individuals and work on gathering that figurative kindling to refuel our fire."
Puck just looked at Finn stunned and with a profound look on his face said, "That's deep bro! Real Deep!"
"I just hope we haven't finally run out of oxygen." A contemplative Finn answered.
"Not even close! You and Berry are like destined or something." Proclaimed Puck. "You two are like those famous couples that everyone raves about. Like Heidi Klum and Seal, Taylor Swift and Joe Jonas, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart or even Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez. I would even go so far as to say Finchel is reminiscent of the bond Zayn and One Direction share." Concluded Puck.
Finn just looked at his best friend disbelievingly as he couldn't believe he had compared Rachel and me to these celebrity couples, before letting out a booming laugh towards his friend.
"What?" a very confused Puck asked as he watched Finn laughing his head off.
Once Finn had managed to settle himself down from his laughing fit, he explained to Puck. "Puck, you do realise everyone of those celebrity couples you mentioned have broken up."
Puck jumped out of his seat liked something had bitten him on the bum before asking in an extremely worried voice. "Your fucking with me right!" when he saw Finn just staring at him, he realised his friend wasn't joking. "Surely not the Zaynster and One Direction?"
"Yep! Left because he said he wanted to be a normal 22 year-old rather than a grown man singing love songs to teenage girls." Sam yelled out as he walked past on his way back from the bathroom.
"Goddammit! Who's going to be the brooding one in the group now? It just throws off the whole dynamic of the group! This is worse than when the Jonas Brothers split up!" Puck fumed, before looking around to see if anybody had seen his outburst and adding. "Man! My little sister's… going to be… pissed!" Puck stated nervously while looking around and flexing his muscles at any passing woman.
Finn finished his beer and went over to the trash and threw it in. As he came back from throwing away his rubbish, Finn patted Puck on the back and flippantly said. "Yeah! Your little sister is going to be so pissed." Before walking off laughing.
An annoyed Puck followed while shouting, "Fuck You Finn!"
"Puck you should've told us you were a huge One Direction fan you could've been the part of Zayn in our One Direction Halloween costume last year. I was Niall, Blaine was Liam, Artie was Louis and Mike was an Asian Harry in a wig. You would've been a way better Zayn then Artie's eleven year old cousin who had accidentally drawn on Zayn's beard with permanent marker and couldn't get it off." Offered Sam.
Before Puck could reply in anyway, Blaine leaned over and said, "Be thankful he didn't ask you to participate the year he wanted to do a Star Wars group Halloween costume."
"What's wrong with that, Star Wars is cool?" asked Puck.
"Unless your Artie and Sam say's you have to be R2D2." Explained Blaine, just as one of the stagehands came out and told them that they were up next.
The guys all moved out to the side of the stage waiting there turn to get on as the announcer moved onto the stage as the previous band left.
"Wow! Guys give it up for the Jupiter Bombs! What a great set guys! Now these next guys have come out of freaking nowhere and have everyone talking. There from the middle of nowhere aka Lima, Ohio and are called McKinley!"
With that the crowd went wild as the guys walked out on stage and went to their respective places behind their instruments.
"HELLO MIAMI!" Blaine yelled through the microphone, causing the crowd to erupt in cheers. "We're McKinley and we have an exclusive for you! We have our debut album coming out in November and you lucky people are the first to hear a track off our album. Sung by our resident rock stars Puck and Finn!" continued Blaine as the huge crowd started chanting Puck and Finn's names. "So let's get it on! Take it away guys!"
Puck and Finn moved to the front of the stage while the others got settled with their instruments. Ryder loudly clapped his drumsticks together and shouted out, "1,2,3,4!" as the music started playing…
FINN:
Everybody shake,
Everybody move,
Everybody shake.
Mary, Mary, you're on my mind.
Folks are gone, and the place will be mine.
Mary, Mary, want to be with you,
FINN/PUCK:
And this is what I'm gonna do.
I'm gonna put a call to you,
'Cause I feel good tonight,
And everything's gonna be right, right, right.
I'm gonna have a good time tonight;
Rock and roll music gonna play all night.
Come on baby, it won't take long;
Only take a minute, just to sing my song.
PUCK:
[Chorus]
Boney Maroney's gonna be with Jim.
I said long, tall, Sally gonna be with Slim.
Short, fat, Fanny's gonna be there too,
FINN/PUCK:
And this is what I'm gonna do.
I've got to put a call to you,
'Cause I feel good tonight,
And everything's gonna be right, right, right.
I'm gonna have a good time tonight;
Rock and roll music gonna play all night.
Come on baby, it won't take long;
Only take a minute, just to sing my song.
[Chorus]
I'm gonna have a good time tonight;
Rock and roll music gonna play all night.
Come on baby, it won't take long;
Only take a minute, just to sing my song.
…As the music faded out and the crowd erupted into cheers, each of the guys all looked around at each other and realised this is what it was all about. Being able to live a life where you write and sing music all day long with your friends is arguably the best job and feeling in the world.
Rachel got off the train at the station at New Haven, Connecticut and once again wondered if she was doing the right thing. Ever since she had her late-night surprise visit from Shelby, Rachel had been thinking about a lot of things. Like maybe she could forgive her mother for her indiscretions and they could maybe, somehow forge a relationship. Especially now since both her and Shelby are now living in the same city and state. But to do that she first had to learn how to forgive her mother for leading her on and then abandoning her. Which is why Rachel found herself attempting to navigate the streets of New Haven, Connecticut. For what better way to figure out how to forgive a parent then to go seek advice from someone who has a ton of experience with disillusioned parents, Quinn Fabray. Also the change in scenery is something Rachel really needed right now to clear her head. I guess it's true what they say, that a sea change really does do you good.
Now she was supposed to be meeting Quinn at some coffee shop near the Yale campus. Yet she couldn't find a cab, Rachel felt a bit like a fish out of water here amongst all these intellectual Ivy League students. But I guess that's what people feel like when they hear that she attends NYADA. Rachel finally came across the taxi rank that was weirdly unpopulated with people, so she jumped into the very first taxi and directed the driver towards the Yale campus. That fish out of water feeling came back as she exited the taxi and took in the three centuries old university. That had been the breeding ground for five US Presidents, 19 US Supreme Court Justices, 13 living billionaires and many more foreign heads of state; and now a former McKinley High Glee Club Alumni and Head Cheerleader in Quinn.
Wrapping her jacket tighter around her small frame to keep out the cold wind, Rachel once again manoeuvred through the traffic of people. After only a tiny bit of difficulty Rachel finally managed to locate the campus coffee shop, where she was supposed to meet her former nemesis, Quinn. The coffee shop was not what Rachel was expecting at all. When Quinn mentioned meeting at a coffee shop located on the Yale campus. Rachel imagined a pretentious little coffee shop where the price of the coffee is enough to feed an average person for a week and filled with trust fund brats who think the world revolves round them. But in reality what she found was quite different. Instead of being filled with offspring overflowing with trust funds bequeathed by their parents it was actually lightly populated. By average dressed students hard at work studying surrounded by laptops and textbooks. Rachel was also pleasantly surprised when she ordered her coffee that she could get an organic coffee and it cost cheaper than in New York City.
Rachel weaved through the tables populated by the studious members of Yale's student body and situated herself in a spacious booth by a large window. After a short period of waiting and skimming through an old edition of a Yale Newspaper, Rachel steeled herself as she noticed Quinn sliding into the booth on the opposite side.
"Sorry I'm late, one of my lectures ran overtime and I couldn't leave." An exasperated Quinn said as she quickly ordered a large coffee through a passing waitress.
"Don't worry about it. I haven't been waiting long anyway." Replied Rachel.
"So what do I owe the pleasure of having Miss Rachel Berry being in my neck of the woods?" asked Quinn just as her coffee order was brought over by the same waitress she had ordered it from.
"I'm having some issues and I thought why not go to someone who's been through something similar, hence why I'm here." Rachel said as she looked over at Quinn. "Besides having some girl time while drinking some amazing coffee, with one of my dearest friends." Added Rachel just in case Quinn thought she was only here because she needed something.
"Well I don't know how I can help you. I went through a teen pregnancy, I never dated a gigolo and got fired…no offence." Retorted Quinn.
"I'm not here about that Ass-hat, Brody!" sneered Rachel.
"Hold up! Who are you and what have you done with my conservative friend Rachel?" jested Quinn as she took some dainty sips of her coffee.
"Your hilarious!" Rachel sarcastically replied.
"Thanks, I'll be here all week." Quinn flippantly added. "Anyway what really brings you down to see me?"
Rachel placed her cup of coffee gently down on the table and wrapped both her hands together in a fist in front of her before timidly asking. "Did you know, Shelby and Beth are now living in New York?"
Quinn did the same as Rachel before replying, "I did. Shelby and I have been emailing each other so I could keep up to date with what's going on with Beth. I didn't mention anything to you, because I know how you feel about your mother."
"She came to see me the other night." Rachel said in what Quinn couldn't quite decide was a question or a statement. "She wanted to give me advice about getting over being fired from Funny Girl."
"Well, that's a good thing isn't it?" Quinn politely asked back.
"I don't know. Every time I see that woman, it's like a red mist just descends over my eyes and all I can think and see is every little thing Shelby has done to me over the years." Rachel stated before adding. "How did you end up forgiving your mother?"
"Our situations are a little different, whereas my mum never didn't want to know me after sixteen years of not knowing each other. But in regards to my situation with my mother, I don't think there was a specific point where it was your forgiven. It was just a collection of things. Like when she came to me and said she was divorcing my father and that she didn't agree with him kicking me out. At the time those were just words to me, but at some point you just have to decide if it's worth it to open up your heart; and give that person the opportunity to prove that their more then words and let their actions back it up." Explained Quinn.
"But how do you know there worth it?" Rachel timidly asked.
"That's a question only you can answer Rachel. But I ask you this, how did you know Finn was worth it after all your breakups?" Quinn asked back.
"The only way I can explain it is that when it came to Finn and I, I just knew in my heart that our story didn't end there… you know. It was like we had been left with a cliff hanger of an ending at the conclusion of the last chapter and it was up to us if we turned the page or not and started a new chapter." Rachel tried to explain to her friend.
"Maybe you should look at it like that with Shelby as well. Is there more unwritten chapters in the story of you and Shelby or are you content to close the book on that part of your life?" queried Quinn.
"So your saying I should forgive Shelby?" pondered Rachel.
"I'm not necessarily saying you should forgive Shelby, what I am saying is that maybe you should at least talk to her first before making up your mind. Who knows she might surprise you and show you that her actions are more than capable of backing up her words." Explained Quinn.
"Who knew you were so good at giving advice?" Rachel rhetorically asked.
"I did! Everyone was just too intimidated by me, to ask for advice." Stated Quinn.
"Well to be fair you were an extremely crazy bitch in high school." Quipped Rachel.
"Touché!" Quinn said making both the girls laugh. "Now Puck was telling me you and Finn was having some trouble."
"Oh no! I couldn't bore you with that, I've already unloaded on you about my mother issues." Stated Rachel.
"Like I said earlier Rachel, I'm here all week…so let's hear it." Joked Quinn.
"Well you probably more than most know how I can get when I'm angry." To which Rachel gave a slight smirk as she saw Quinn eagerly nodding her head. "Sometimes I can get a little…crazy, let's say."
"Crazy…you…never!" mocked Quinn.
"Wow! The worlds first ever comedic lawyer." Rachel mocked back.
"Quinn put her hands up in surrender and said, "Hey when find your niche…you find your niche!" Quinn jokingly said.
"In a fit of anger I may have blamed Finn for holding me back in regards to Broadway and called him a distraction." Rachel regretfully admitted.
"Rachel you didn't!" admonished Quinn. "Finn more than anyone is the complete opposite of being a distraction and or holding you back. I know I told you once in high school that you had to choose between Finn and Broadway and that you had to leave behind your old life to be successful. Well I was wrong, Rachel I said that at a time when nobody seemed to want to know me. I mean Finn had you, Puck was doing whatever Puck was doing and Sam had Mercedes. So to me it felt like I needed to wipe away my old self before I could grow into my newer persona. But what I've come to realise is that the world is a lonely place and you need to hold onto any relationship that you can as long as it's beneficial." Quinn explained.
"I was continually told by my fathers, you and other members of the Glee Club that somehow Finn would be a disservice to me and my career. So I guess I had developed an involuntary complex about Finn and my career. The funny thing is that it appears I was the one who's a disservice to Finn and his career. I guess, something in my mind wanted to try and end things before Finn realised I was the one bringing him down. But Finn surprised me by being his usual forgiving self." Stated Rachel.
"Rachel you have to realise that Finn is not a typical teenage boy. Most teenage boys all their interested in are getting some action from their girlfriends. But Finn whether he knew it or not was always about the future. He wanted that stereotypical future of the wife and kids and the white picket fence. I think that's why he was so devastated with my deception over Beth, because he had that future and yet it was cruelly ripped from his grasp by my lies. But with you Rachel he has that foundation and he can once again see that future; yet you telling him he's a distraction a hindrance to your career it probably feels like that future is being taken from him once again." Stated Quinn.
"I want that future too, even more so then Broadway." Replied an emotional Rachel.
"That's what you need to tell Finn, Rachel. Because at the moment to him it feels like he's coming second once again to Broadway. Finn needs to know he's just as important as your career. Because at the end of the day what is a Tony award and adoring fans when you come home to an empty house, with no one to love you? I've learnt that the hard way, multiple times, that's why I'm opened to reconnecting with Puck. Because I want my successes, my triumphs but I also want to celebrate those things with the person I love." Explained Quinn getting a bit emotional herself.
"I think I have an idea on how to show him that I want that future with as well." Rachel told Quinn.
"That's great, Rachel…really!" Quinn assured her friend. "I really hope it all works out for you and Finn. But I really need to go as I got another lecture." Quinn said as she glanced at her watch and saw the time.
"Thanks for everything Quinn." Rachel said getting up and hugging her friend.
Rachel watched Quinn gather up her belongings and leaving the coffee shop as she sat back down and finished the last of her coffee. Once she'd finished she walked up to the counter and paid before leaving. As she left, Rachel whipped out her phone and started making some very important phone calls to get the ball rolling on operation 'Prove to Finn that we want the same future'.
Rachel couldn't believe she was actually doing this, as she got out of the taxi at the address Shelby had given her. It really felt like she was a dead woman walking, on her way to the gallows. In reality it wasn't anything like that; it was a simple afternoon tea and chat with the woman who led her on for two years before cutting all ties…simple really. Who was she trying to kid, this situation wasn't simple, and it was more like an episode of Dr. Phil or Jerry Springer. Rachel seriously wished she had Finn by her side right now, but it was her own stupid fault for why he wasn't, which made her sad because Finn made everything better. It was like those stupid shirts and what not that have everything is better with bacon printed on them, except Rachel obviously being a vegan would substitute the word bacon for Finn.
But the truth of the matter is that Finn was thousands of miles away on tour with the guys; and she Rachel Berry was standing like an idiot in front on her estranged mother's building. Just go up there and talk to the woman, Rachel it's not like she's a stranger. She's your mother, one half of your DNA, maybe you'll be surprised and find out you have more in common with Shelby than just the physical similarities. All you have to do Rachel is take a page out of astronaut, Neil Armstrong's book and take one small step for Rachel and one giant leap into the unknown.
Which is exactly what Rachel did as she entered the building and walked over to the elevator to take her to the correct floor. Upon hearing the elevator ding that she had reached the appropriate floor, Rachel felt a bit like a pie coming out of the oven. She could almost hear someone scream, stick a fork in her because she's done. But she sucked it up and walked down the hallway until she found the door she was looking for. Which belonged to apartment 22B the current residence of Shelby Corcoran and little Beth.
Rachel timidly knocked on the door and waited for an answer. After only a few seconds of waiting, Rachel could hear noises on the other side of the door. The noises sounded like Shelby yelling something out before, Rachel could hear little feet scurrying towards the door. Just then the front door flew open to reveal a beautiful blonde little girl dressed in a pretty blue dress, staring back at her.
"Hi there! You must be Beth." Rachel said while staring back at the little girl who bore an uncanny resemblance to both Quinn and Noah.
Beth just continued to stare back at Rachel before finally exclaiming, "Mummy said I'm not supposed to talk to strangers! So can you please leave, because we're expecting someone really special to my mummy!" and with that Beth slammed the door closed and walked off.
Rachel stood there stunned beyond belief staring at the closed wooden front door. She couldn't believe it, Beth was like five and already she was showcasing the spunk, savvy and mischievousness that characterised both of her biological parents. Just as Rachel was about to knock again, the door swung open to this time reveal a frantic Shelby.
"Oh My God! Thank goodness your still here! I was worried after Beth's little stunt you might have turned around and left. Please…please come in." Rachel just silently entered the apartment not letting on that she almost did exactly what Shelby was worried about.
Shelby took Rachel's coat before sitting down with her in one of the lounges in the living room. "Sorry about that. Beth just finished going through a stranger danger course at her daycare and now she's…let's say extra vigilant." Laughed Shelby nervously.
"Well better safe than sorry, I suppose." A just as nervous Rachel answered back.
Just then the little girl of the moment Beth came back into the room holding a little tiny doll tucked under her arm. "Mummy why is the stranger in our house?"
Shelby motioned for Beth to come over and sit on her lap, which she did. "Now Beth remember when I said a person very, very special to mummy was coming over?" to which the little girl nodded. "Well this is mummy's special person, her name is Rachel. Can you say hi to Rachel?"
Beth gave Rachel a shy little wave that couldn't help but tug on Rachel's heartstrings. "Hello Rachel."
"Hi Beth, I really like your doll, I use to have one just like it." Rachel greeted back to the little girl with a bright smile on her face.
"You did?" a now energetic Beth replied back while showing Rachel her doll.
"I did! Except mine had a violet coloured dress." Rachel responded back while handing Beth her doll back.
"Beth do you remember I told you that I had another daughter along time ago, but she lived with another family?" little Beth nodded her head. "Well Rachel is my daughter." Explained Shelby.
Beth looked at Rachel and then back at Shelby, which she repeated another two or three times before simply exclaiming. "Okay." And then adding, "She looks like the girl from your scrapbooks." To which Rachel gave Shelby a puzzled look that Shelby returned with a, I'll tell you later look.
"She does…doesn't she" replied Shelby. "But Beth your doll is exactly the same as the one Rachel had when she was little."
"How do you know that?" asked a confused Rachel.
"Because I gave you that doll right before I handed you over to your fathers." Stated Shelby. "I've never told you this before but I used to have a twin sister and her name was Violet Ann Corcoran. When my sister and I were born my parents had two special dolls made, one wearing a violet dress for my sister and the other wearing a blue one…"
"Hey! My dolly has a blue dress!" interrupted an excited Beth.
"That's right it does!" Shelby sweetly replied back to her adopted daughter before continuing. "Violet was seventeen when she died." Rachel noticed that Shelby needed a moment or two to compose herself before continuing. "She was riding her bike home from a friends house when a car driven by a drunk driver lost control at a busy intersection and hit her head on, killing her instantly." Rachel reached over and put a hand on Shelby's knee in silent comfort. "So I decided when I was fortunate enough to have a daughter I was going to name her after my sister. After I realised I couldn't keep you, I relented and allowed your fathers to name you. But I wanted you to have something of mine as well as something that represented the name you would've had if I kept you. Hence why I gave you my sisters doll, so in some small way I could always be with you." Shelby finished as both her and Rachel were crying and Beth was innocently playing with her doll on the floor of the living room.
Rachel didn't know what to think after that story. Maybe Shelby wasn't as evil as she always thought and just maybe there was hope for reconciliation as well.
"Okay! Enough of this crying nonsense." Shelby said as she wiped her eyes. "Beth honey can you go and play in your room for a while? Mummy needs to talk to Rachel for a little bit."
"Okay mummy." The little girl said happily before trotting off to her room to play.
"She really seems like a great kid." Rachel said as she watched Beth happily leave to go play in her room.
"She is and I'm trying to enjoy this stage as long as possible because sooner or later she's going to be a teenager and want nothing to do with me" Shelby said half jokingly and half serious.
Rachel was tempted to say that she knew the feeling but this was about reconciliation not about starting an argument.
"So anyway tell me about your situation and Funny Girl?" Shelby asked as she leaned back on one of the couches.
Rachel proceeded to tell Shelby everything about what had been going on. From Finn putting her on the train alone, hooking up with Brody. Finn coming back from the army and then leaving again; till finally meeting up again and finding out not only was Finn a record executive/producer and a singer/songwriter he also had a brain tumour. Then to finish off, Rachel filled Shelby in on Brody being arrested for prostitution and the media finding out and then her subsequent firing from Funny Girl and blaming Finn.
Wow! There's some better storylines then an episode of Day's of our Lives!" quipped Shelby. But when she saw Rachel wasn't laughing she added, "What too soon?"
"Too soon." Agreed Rachel.
"Sorry." Apologised Shelby.
"So what do you think I should do?" Rachel asked honestly not knowing what to do.
"I tell you a story. You already know that I was the star of Bugsy Malone on Broadway." To which Rachel just nodded. "I pretty much was in the same boat as Julie Andrews. After one of the performances I complained about soreness in my throat. They diagnosed me as having nodules on my vocal chords and with surgery they could remove them and I should've been right to sing again a month or so after the operation. I don't know what happened but after having surgery my voice was never the same and I never performed again on Broadway. So when I told you the other night that I knew what it was like to have Broadway and then lose it was true." Explained Shelby.
"But you and I have sung together multiple times." A confused Rachel asked.
"I can sing, just not to the extreme and high level I use to be able to." Stated Shelby.
"So how did you get over it?"
"The most important thing that I learnt through all that was to not let other people dictate what you do, and I learnt that lesson far to late to save my career. I was offered other musicals, plays and other things yet I chose to wallow in my own self-pity. But with you Rachel your still young and you still have your wonderful voice. Like any actor or performer worth their salt knows the show must go on…rain, hale or shine, the show must go on. So what are you going to do Rachel are you going to step up or are you going to turn out like me, running a show choir with military precision to somehow try and fill the gap of not being able to perform on Broadway?" asked Shelby.
For some reason what Shelby said really connected with Rachel. What happened to her drive her undying will to succeed? Old Rachel would've told Funny Girl and Tamara to go get stuffed, before scoring a new Broadway role and showing the doubters there's no dimming Rachel Berry's starlight. But old Rachel was no more and new Rachel had taken over. The one that wanted Finn and a life with the man she loved. The epiphany that had occurred during her discussion with Shelby and others was that just like she didn't need to choose between Finn and Broadway; she also didn't need to choose between the wants and needs of old Rachel over the wants and needs of new Rachel. An extremely mega bright show stopping smile spread across Rachel's face as she reiterated her knew motto…the show must go on.
The next day…
The next day Rachel stood on the relatively small stage of the Spotlight Diner, preparing to sing. This time was different from the other time she sang at the diner when Santana wanted to know how she was feeling. Then she felt any stage other than Broadway was below her standing as a Broadway performer. But now this quant little stage situated at one end of the diner filled her with so much warmth and happiness. Not only for the fact that she was currently sharing the stage with her mother, Shelby but also because for the first time in a long time her future looked good. Now she just had to figure out what that future held. But one thing she was sure of is that future involved Finn and at the very first opportunity she had some serious apologising to do. But as for today…today she and her mother were going to show the patrons of the Spotlight Diner a performance they'll never forget.
Ever since their talk the other night, Rachel had decided that maybe Shelby wasn't as bad as the Wicked Witch of the West; and maybe just maybe if they took things slowly, they may be able to rebuild their relationship. Rachel chuckled to herself as she thought back on the last period of her life. She performed on Broadway, got Finn back, found out Brody was a gigolo, got fired, almost lost Finn and maybe regained a mother and added a little sister. Maybe her life did belong on the Jerry Springer show, Rachel thought to herself. But what she did know for sure was that after she finally retires from show business her autobiography was going to be one hell of a great and fascinating read. But back to the job at hand, Rachel thought to herself as she looked out across the diner and smiled at one table in particular that seated, Quinn, Santana and Dani with the little adorable Beth in between them swinging her legs with a huge smile on her face.
This is what life was meant to be Rachel thought, because you're always learning, always moving forward. At this point Rachel thought it was apt to use a sporting metaphor that Finn loved and also just because metaphors were very important. But the metaphor was, it's not how hard you can hit, it's about you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!
See Finn! I do pay attention when we're watching one of your stupid sport's movies. Rachel only wished she could rub that in Finn's face in person, but first things first. As Rachel concentrated back on delivering an outstanding performance as the music started playing….
SHELBY:
Empty spaces, what are we living for
Abandoned places, I guess we know the score
On and on
Does anybody know what we are looking for
Another hero, another mindless crime
Behind the curtain in the pantomime
Hold the line
Does anybody want to take it anymore
SHELBY/RACHEL:
The show must go on
The show must go on
Inside my heart is breaking
My makeup may be flaking
But my smile still stays on
Whatever happens I'll leave it all to chance
Another heartache another failed romance
On and on
Does anybody know what we are living for
RACHEL:
I guess I'm learning
I must be warmer now
I'll soon be turning
Round the corner now
Outside the dawn is breaking
But inside in the dark I'm aching to be free
SHELBY/RACHEL:
The show must go on
The show must go on, yeah
Ooh inside my heart is breaking
My makeup may be flaking
But my smile still stays on
RACHEL:
My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies
Fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die
I can fly, my friends
SHELBY/RACHEL:
The show must go on, yeah
The show must go on
I'll face it with a grin
I'm never giving in
On with the show
I'll top the bill, I'll overkill
I have to find the will to carry on
On with the
On with the show
The show must go on
The music faded out as the whole diner erupted in applause and the reconnecting mother and daughter happily hugged. Even little Beth was jumping up and down applauding. But that may have more to do with all the chocolate that was smeared on her face, then being excited about the actual performance. To which both Quinn and Santana gave poor Shelby innocent shrugs as to why Beth was now bouncing around the diner like the energizer Bunny.
Rachel hopped down off the stage and immediately went for her phone. Because now it was time to get operation 'get Finn to forgive her' into full effect; and with a sly smile Rachel punched the number into her phone, because she knew just how to do it.
Finn moved off to the kitchen to grab himself another drink as Puck and Sam continued to annoy the hell out of Blaine by singing the Lego Movie theme song…
Everything is awesome
Everything is cool when you're part of a team
Everything is awesome, when we're living our dream
Everything is better when we stick together
Side by side, you and I gonna win forever, let's party forever
We're the same, I'm like you, you're like me, we're all working in harmony
Everything is awesome
Everything is cool when you're part of a team
Everything is awesome, when we're living our dream
"SHUT UP…SHUT UP!" Blaine yelled while covering his ears. "I don't want that stupid song stuck in my head again!"
"Sorry Blaine, we promise we won't sing the song anymore." Sam reassured his friend.
"Thank you!" a relieved Blaine sat back down with his friends in front of the TV.
"I would just like to say how great it's been going on tour with you guys." Gushed Puck. "It's amazing the things you can get done when your part of a team."
"Wow Puck! I've really enjoyed being on tour with you too." A surprised Blaine told Puck.
"Yeah I guess you could say…" Puck looked around at the guys with a large smirk on his face since everyone but Blaine could see what he was about to do.
"What?" asked an intrigued Blaine.
"Well I guess you could say that…everything is awesome, when your part of a team!" exclaimed Puck before everyone burst into the Lego Movie song again.
"No! You guys suck!" Blaine yelled as he ran to his bedroom and slammed the door. "I'm going to bed…screw you guys!"
Finn laughed as he heard his phone beep that he had a message. He went over to the counter where he left his phone and swiped it on. The message he read surprised him to no end. After a week and a bit of no talking Rachel had sent him a message, and a strange one at that. The message read…
Finn, meet me at the spot where you once told me that no girls were allowed. See you soon Finny ~ Rachel *
Finn knew exactly the spot Rachel was talking about, which was Puck and his old tree house by the lake in Lima. But why would Rachel want to meet at that location. Only one-way to find out; it was lucky they currently had a couple days off before they had to perform again. So it looked like he needed to inform the pilot that the plane needed to fuelled and ready tomorrow for a trip home to Lima, Ohio.
Just then the guys could hear Blaine turn the shower on to have a shower before going to bed. It was only a couple of minutes after Blaine had hopped into the shower when everyone heard, Blaine start to sing…
Everything is awesome
Everything is cool when you're part of a team
Everything is awesome, when we're living our dream
Everything is better when we stick together
Side by side, you and I gonna win forever, let's party forever
We're the same, I'm like you, you're like me, we're all working in harmony
"ARGH!" Blaine screamed throughout the house. "THANKS A LOT GUYS NOW I HAVE THAT FUCKING SONG STUCK IN MY HEAD AGAIN!" which caused everyone to erupt into fits of laughter again, while Puck and Sam gave each other a high five.
Then all of a sudden Sam stopped laughing and turned to everyone and motioned for everyone to be quiet before saying. "Has anyone noticed that Blaine has the same haircut as Emmett?"
Everyone stared at the paused Lego character on the television screen and then towards the closed door where Blaine was taking a shower and back again. "No way!" exclaimed an incredibly shocked Puck, before adding. "That's fucking awesome!" Which caused everyone to start into another rendition of, 'Everything is Awesome' from the Lego Movie.
Finn just chuckled at the antics of his friends and gave a silent thank you to whoever was looking out for him. That he had such great friends to help take his mind off everything going on with Rachel. Just as the guys and even a reluctant Blaine who was still in the shower started the Lego song over again, Finn couldn't help but join in. Because as the song clearly states, everything is awesome and cool when your part of a team and living your dream. Truer words have never been said Lego…thanks Lego.
It looks like everyone's favourite Rachel Berry is once again back to her normal self and has a plan on winning Finn back. Whatever could it be? Anyway I'm glad that people like this story and I hope you enjoyed the latest chapter. The songs used in this chapter were 'Buses and Trains' by Bachelor Girl, 'Good Times' the Jimmy Barnes & INXS Version, 'The Show Must Go On' by Queen and 'Everything is Awesome' by Tegan and Sara from the Lego Movie. Like always see you next time. Have a good one and don't do anything I wouldn't do.