THANKS FOR READING and REVIEWING!:D Sorry I haven't updated in a while, but I have been really busy with school. I tried to incorporate some of the suggestions I was given. THANKS!
Shelby sighed maternally and responded "Of course baby girl. You know you never have to ask." Rachel quickly took her cue and got into the queen sized bed. She quickly scooted over and laid her head on her mother's chest, every since Rachel was ten years old and moved in with Shelby. She always seemed to find a lot more comfort and a need for more physical affection than her other very independent siblings. Rachel snuggled to her mother with her blankie in hand, a comfort that has never left her side since it was first introduced when she was brought home from the hospital.
Rachel was fourteen just starting her freshman year in high school, but as a result of her unstable past she seemed to be stunted and needing more attention from the mother of three than the other children. She did act like a normal teenager mostly it was just certain things like this that made her different from her siblings. The reason she made her nightly trips into Shelby's room was the feeling of comfort and stability that she missed out on all those years ago.
Yes it was odd and Shelby for years had attempted to break her of this habit. But it never seemed to work, it would only end in nightmares and her anxiety sky rocketing and Shelby couldn't help but feel responsible for the trauma her daughter went through.
When Rachel first arrived to the Corcoran household, it was traumatizing to say the least. Shelby was up for her first cup of coffee when the phone rang.
She answered trying not to seem to tired "Hello…Yes this is she." A man with a very husky voice answered on the other line "Hello, . I'm Brad Smith. First let me ask you were aware of your daughter Rachel was in the custody of both Hiram and Leroy Berry?" Shelby confused responded quickly "Of course she was they are her parents. Why wouldn't I know where my child is? What is this about, did something happen to Rachel? Oh…god what happened to Rachel? "
Shelby began hyperventilating, Brad cleared his throat "Ma'am, let me assure your Rachel is fine and in perfect health. No, I've called to tell you that her fathers were killed in a plane crash late last night. "Shelby fell to the floor, Leroy and Hiram were gone? Dead from a crash, she hadn't talked to them since Rachel was born. The line went dead, Brad could hear her breathing but no words were said, " , I'm truly sorry and apologize about you having to find out this way. But I called to discuss Rachel. " Shelby snapped back "Rachel, where is she? "
Shelby couldn't put a face to her daughter, only the face the baby girl she gave away all those years ago. She often wondered when celebrating special events and holidays with her children, what was her baby girl doing? Was she excited about celebrating both Hanukkah and Christmas because similar to Shelby's family the Berry men celebrated both, or at least that was their plan when she was pregnant?
She wondered how Rachel acted on the holidays, was she like Santana who got so excited that she was grumpy for the festivities or was she more like Noah who was excited but held it back? She didn't know anything about her baby girl. She didn't know when she began talking or what her first words were. What she did for fun, if she slept a lot or was constantly moving and never wanting to settle down. What her favorite food was? When she began walking? Did she hit all milestones right on time or was she late? Shelby knew absolutely nothing about her baby.
After a long pause Brad spoke " I'm going to cut to the chase. Since both Rachel's fathers are deceased and there are no living relatives. But since you are the only living biological parent, are you interested in adopting her?" Shelby was floored; she never imagined that she would get the chance to see her baby again until she was a woman. Shelby answered back without a minutes hesitation "Yes…of course. Yes…. " Shelby couldn't get any other words out of her throat repeating it as a mantra "yes…yes".
Mr. Smith responded relieved that he had found a home for this very lost child. Rachel's face when Brad said she had to spend the night in foster home-made him feel something in his very experienced heart that he never felt "That is great to hear. Now, I will need you to sign papers and get a few things in order. But I don't see why this couldn't be done later, I will pick up Rachel and drop her off at your house at twelve?"
Shelby was stunned by twelve she would have the baby she was so desperate to have all those years ago. Shelby spoke "That would be great. I can't wait to see her. One question, did you tell her who I am? I mean did you tell her I was her….. mother?" Mr. Smith sighed remembering the odd reaction she got from the girl, which gave him the feeling that her mother wasn't involved in her life "I did attempt to explain it to her. But I'm afraid she is so confused right now. I'm not totally sure what she entirely understood."
Shelby shook her head at her question "Of course, I don't' know what I was thinking. So you'll be arriving by twelve?" Brad responded, "Yes, I will call if anything changes. I will see you then?" Shelby before hanging up "'Thank you, Mr. Smith. I'll see you then. Bye" The phone was hung up and her world had totally been flipped on its side.
Shelby got off the ground where she had wound up during the conversation. Then everything hit her. Where was Rachel going to sleep I'm mean she did have an extra room, but it was a guest room not really suitable for a ten-year old girl, kind of boring? Would she bring her own stuff, or would they buy new things? The guest room was right across from her, which was nice. It had been previously occupied by the other two kids when they were much younger and demanded a watchful eye.
The other kids, how was she going to tell Noah and Santana? Would they be o.k. with all this, everything was happening so fast. Should she tell them before school or just let them find out when they got home. No, she had to tell them now this was a family decision and it was going to change their lives.
Shelby first visited Noah's room. Walking toward him she began to rub his back with small circles " Noah….Noah wake up sweetie. I need you to get up and meet me downstairs. O.k.?" He glanced at the clock and gave her look of utter disdain for disturbing him during his sound sleep "You do realize I don't have to be up for another hour. I know I've been tardy a lot, but this is just cruel." Shelby put on her serious tone "Noah, meet me downstairs." Is all she said and she left to go wake yet another sassy teenager.
It was funny when they were younger all they wanted was Moms attention but now they couldn't stand to see her beyond the mandated family time. She crept into Santana's room, seeing her blankets entangled and strewn all around the bed. She could never figure out how her child could teeter a few inches from the end of the bed and never fall off during sleep. She walked over Santana and tapped her on her shoulder, knowing she couldn't rub her back because this could cause Santana to wake up in fear. She was a very sound sleeper and if she isn't woken up just the right way, the person attempting to awaken her might whined up with an unforeseen injury. She whispered "Santana, honey. I need you to get up." Santana groined and stirred "Mom, it's to early. I can't go to school, I'm sick."
Every morning the same excuse, you would think she would come up a new one eventually. Shelby began again "Honey, you don't have to get up for little while. But I need to talk to you downstairs it's really important." Santana sighed and opened her eyes "But…" Shelby cut off the obvious teenage tantrum that was brewing "Santana meet me downstairs." Even in her sleep Santana could recognize Shelby's no messing around tone. And slowly rose and pulled the covers off and followed Shelby downstairs.
The two teens blurry eyed from the sleep they were not getting sat on the couch across from their mother who seemed very nervous. Santana sighed and gave her mom a disapproving look spoke "Is this a punishment because if it is I didn't do it. " She then turned to Noah the usual culprit "Hey, don't look at me problem child…"
Shelby cut them off before the bickering went any further "First of all Noah don't call your sister a problem child. We both know you have been in just as much trouble as she has. Now, the thing I wanted to tell you both is well I don't know how to tell you…." Santana looked concerned her mother never had this much trouble talking to them "Mom, just say it." Shelby looked at both her children, now more awake than she had ever seen this early in the morning "Well, guys you remember how I told you Rachel was living with her fathers?"
Noah and Santana both exchanged a confused glance with each other and then at Shelby responding with an unsure "yeah". Shelby spoke again her voice getting shaky "Well Rachel's Fathers were killed in plane crash last night. " Both Santana and Noah peered downward. Noah spoke first "Mom, I'm sorry to hear that…"His mind hesitating, not knowing what to say. He wanted to ask how Rachel was but didn't know how to approach it, well he didn't have wait much longer because Santana beat him to the punch. Santana's voice very strained and unsure spoke "Was she with them?"
She didn't know how to say it, she only knew that it had to be said, looking right at Shelby who had pained but relieved look on her face. She looked at both them tearing up and released the one word from deep in her chest "no". The mood in the room was still somber and shaky but there was a certain amount of relief felt when they found out that the littlest member of their family was all right. Shelby composed herself "So now that you know, I have to tell you something else."
Both teenagers got pained expressions on their faces, what else could she have to tell them. She began "Since Rachel has lost both fathers. She's coming to live with us. Now I know this will be hard and I didn't speak over with you guys. But the situation was so sudden and…" Noah stopped her "Wait, are you saying she going to come here" Santana continued the thought "and live with us?" Shelby looking very confused just motioned her head in the affirmative.
The siblings reacted like she never seen them do they turned to each other high-fived and then hugged. Shelby smiled immediately and said, "So I guess you guys aren't…" Noah and Santana got up sat right beside their mother each placing an arm around her Noah spoke "Mom I think as the oldest of the Corcoran children, when I say we are so happy that we get to finally meet Rachel." Shelby was shocked, Noah might seem intimidating and hard on the outside but he really was the sweet little boy she adopted all those years ago. Santana began to speak "Mom, you don't know how happy we are about getting a new sister!" Giving her an extra tight squeeze Shelby couldn't believe any of this her eyes teared, they understood. Shelby through trailing tears spoke "I love you both so much and am so happy. It's funny I was worried that…"
Santana knowing where she was going finished her sentence "we would be mad that you didn't ask us? Mom we understand, it makes sense. Plus when would we ever be angry about something as great as this. We get to have a little sister. " Noah spoke to break up the purging of emotions "yeah now you have another person to blame things on besides me and problem child over there." Shelby smiled remembering a very similar comment being made by a much younger Noah when she told him about Santana being adopted. She ruffled his one tuft hair and pulled him closer, oh how she hated that Mohawk.
Santana deciding now was the perfect moment to one up Noah for his "problem child" remarks spit out "Oh, don't worry Puck head I don't think anyone could distract from your monumental…. " Shelby raising an eyebrow, knowing to well how that statement was going end "San, do not finish that sentence and Noah second warning about the name calling." She pulled both her kids in tighter; feeling somewhat relieved that the first hurdle had been passed.
Both teens went to school with out a hitch. It was funny how easy they were to get to school today, Shelby knew that wouldn't last. But they were excited and for her teens to have a reaction besides being sarcastic was huge. She had explained to them what was going to happen they would go to school and come straight home after school. Will was going to drop them off.
Even when she left Lima, Will and Shelby had never lost touch. They just had one of those friendships that lasted. He knew all about her life with the kids and she knew all about his life as a bachelor. Being a Spanish teacher and the Director of the Glee Club at the high school, he made sure to keep a close eye on Noah. Both Noah and Santana liked a lot and enjoyed when he came over to hang out with their mother, mostly because it kept her out of their business for few hours. So when they left for school Shelby made another call.
Will picked as he always did with sassy comment and happy tone "Hello and how may help this morning Mrs. Corcoran?" She laughed a little "Oh, shut up. Did you get my message? " Will still a laughing at her reaction, he loved to mess with her "Yes, I did. I would be glad to pick up both Santana and Puck after school. Would that be all?" his chuckles could be heard through the phone. She was smiling "Yes that would. But can you refrain from calling my child by that horrid nickname, it's almost as bad as the haircut." Will responded "Oh, Shel he's a teenage boy. That's what they do, I don't think it's been that long since you were in high school?"
Shelby smirked "Watch, it. I'm actually calling to tell you why you have to pick up my precious children from school. " Will spoke "do tell." Shelby then went into the whole explanation of what had taken place last night. When finally reaching the end of the story Will began to speak again "Wow, Shel I'm really sorry to hear about Rachel's Dads." Shelby sighed, "I am too, but I can only imagine how Rachel's taking it." Will began again "When is she supposed to arrive? "
Shelby sounding more depressed "She's being dropped off at twelve. But, Will I don't know how to do this? I mean yeah I've been through the process before with Noah and San. But this is different she literally just lost her parents and now she's being sent to me? Her mother who doesn't know a thing about her and who knows if she knows about me? I mean… I'm really scared… What if she hates me? " It had finally come out the one feeling Shelby had been pushing down, what if her child, her baby hated her. Shelby was tearing, she had not cried so much since she gave up Rachel it was ironic that the day she was getting her back she was crying just as much.
Will sighed, "Shelby, you're going to be fine. Your child needs you and one thing I know about you is that you do anything for your kids. I'm not going to lie to you she might ask questions about why things turned out the way they did, but just explain it to her. But right now you've got to deal with a child who just lost everything she knows. It's going to take some time. But if any one can do it you can. " Shelby felt some the anxiety subside "Thanks." Will began "No, problem. You know I'm always here for you and the kids, whenever. But I was thinking why don't I take Santana and Puck to the mall after school and drop them off a little later?"
Shelby thought for a second "Actually that would be great. But please do not and I repeat DO NOT buy them anything." Will laughed, "Shel, me come on. I would never want to treat your terrific kids to a well-deserved present. Why would I ever? " Shelby smiled, but attempted to sound serious "Will Schuester, my children better not return with any more bags than they left with. Am I understood?" Will smirking "Yes ma'am. Maybe I should have you come and yell at my seniors?" Shelby giggled, "Thanks, again. I'll see you later." She hung up the phone.
Shelby glanced at the clock eleven thirty, thirty minutes until Rachel arrived. She was running through the list of things she had to do. She had taken down some of Santana's old things from storage for Rachel and placed them in the guest room. There was so much uncertainty with all this, she had never felt this nervous. She went up to the guest room just to make sure she had not forgotten anything, when the doorbell sounded.