Carrying on for my What If story here is the next instalment.
What If: Shelby came back into Rachel's life sooner. I would say this first bit is set in July/August 2017, around the time they came back for Judy's birthday.
Quinn laughs loudly as she watches her 7 year old dance with Rachel in the Berry's back garden. The music is blaring from the kitchen inside and Rachel is dancing happily, holding onto Madeline's arms as she tries to get her to dance as well. Madeline loves dancing, however hasn't quite got into what Rachel is trying to get her to do.
"Mommy come save me." The little girl squeals when Rachel starts tickling her. "No, stop mama stop." She punctuates each word with a loud giggle as she tries to get away from her mother's tickling fingers. "Uncle, Uncle." She squeals out and Rachel stops. Madeline collapses to the floor as she tries to get her breath back and Rachel sits down next to her daughter and hugs her to her chest, which Madeline snuggles into. Quinn smiles from her position on the chest, she loves the fact that the two most important people in her life get along so well. Madeline some how from the moment she met Rachel again, felt right at home at the other woman whom she used to know as her mother. Quinn was very grateful for this because she can't imagine her life not looking like what she's seeing in front of her.
"Rach." Quinn turns her head when she hears a voice behind her. She sees Joe Berry looking solemn and wonders what is going on.
"Yea daddy." The brunette says from her position on the grass hugging Madeline tightly.
"There's someone here to see you." Rachel nods and gets up off the ground, however when she gets to the patio doors Joe stops her. "Rae baby. It's Shelby. She said she wants to talk to you."
Rachel's eyes widen and she looks through the patio doors and sees Elijah trying to stop himself from saying something scathing to the woman stood at the door. "Why?"
"I don't know baby. Do you want me to get rid of her?"
Rachel shakes her head. "Daddy could you watch Madeline?" He nods. "Quinn I need you there." Quinn nods and jumps up and goes over to her girlfriend and wraps her arms around her as tight as she can. "Why now?"
Quinn closes her eyes at the pain in the brunettes voice. She leans her head down and kisses the top of her head and squeezes her tightly. "I don't know angel. We'll find out and I'll be there the whole time." She smiles. "I love you Rachel Berry."
"I love you too princess." She pulls out of the hug and intwines her fingers with Quinn's before turning back to the house, smiling at her dad who now has Madeline in his arms and walking towards where her birth mother is standing. She keeps an eye on Shelby's face as she gets closer to her, when she is noticed Shelby's eyes brighten and a bright smile comes across her face. She looks down at Rachel holding Quinn's hand and a look of confusion comes across the older woman's face. "Hi Shelby."
Hurt flashes across Shelby's face, but that was what Rachel intended for. "Hello Rachel. It is very good to see you again. You look good."
"Thank you." She sighs. "What do you want Shelby?"
"Why don't we all go into the living room?" Quinn suggests and Rachel nods and motions for Shelby to follow them into the living room, where Quinn releases Rachel's fingers and wraps her left arm around the shorter girls back and holds her right hand out for Rachel to take for support. Shelby sits opposite the two girls and furrows her brow at the scene in front of her. "Shelby, why are you here?" Rachel asks hurt lacing her voice.
"To see you. I have been going through counselling the last few years after an abusive relationship." Shelby sighs and looks down at her hands. "My shrink has made me see how I treated you was all down to my fear of failing you as a mother when you were a baby and how the same happened to me by my mother when I was younger." She swallows hard and looks up at the two women. "I know it probably doesn't matter to you Rachel, but I am so very sorry for the way I treated you. I can't believe that I did that, especially after how I pined for you for 15 years and then just to run away like a scared little girl."
"I wanted you in my life when I was 15 mom."
Shelby nods. "I know, I am so sorry Rachel."
"Why are you here?"
"I want to ask for forgiveness. I want to ask if I can be apart of your life now." She looks down at her hands. "I made a mistake, a very bad one, I just hope one day you forgive me."
Rachel looks up at Quinn and the two of them stare into each other's eyes having a silent conversation. Quinn knows what Rachel is asking, should she forgive? Rachel also knows what Quinn's response was. Judy threw Quinn out on the street when she needed her the most and she had lived with the girl for her whole life, Shelby panicked when she first met Rachel. It probably wasn't as bad as what Judy did to Quinn, however the blonde managed to forgive her mother.
Rachel turns back to her mom and nods. "I think I can forgive you mom. We all make mistakes. It will take time and you need to get to know my family. See me for who I am at 22 rather than 15."
Shelby lets out a sigh of relief and Rachel smiles at the smile of joy on her mother's face. "Thank you. Thank you so much Rachel. I would love to get to know you now. You are a beautiful young woman from the looks of things, who is, in love?" Shelby asks as she interperates the scene in front of her.
Rachel nods and looks up at Quinn fondly. "Yeah. Mom this is Quinn Fabray. My girlfriend. Quinn, this is my mother, Shelby Corcoran."
"Nice to meet you ma'am." Quinn says politely even though she was having a harder time forgiving the woman in front of her than Rachel was.
"You too Quinn. How long have the two of you been together?"
Quinn smiles. "Recently since October 31st of last year. We started dating when we were 16. Well when I was 16. Rach was 15." She says racking her brain for dates.
"You were dating in High School?" They both nod. "Why did you say recently?"
"We broke up. Quinn went to study at Harvard in Boston and I went to Julliard." Shelby smiles proudly at this news. "It wasn't until last year that we saw each other and realised that we never stopped loving each other and that our family was worth fighting for still."
"Harvard and Julliard. Very impressive."
"Quinn got a full scholarship to Harvard as well which is almost unheard of." Rachel says proudly. "She wrote an essay on how much she has overcome, raising a child and being bisexual in a town like Lima and they loved it." She smiles. "She graduated top of her class and was valedictorian all whilst raising a toddler to a small amazing smart child. My girl is pretty amazing."
Quinn blushes and leans down to kiss Rachel's cheek in thanks.
"Child?" Shelby mutters out shocked at the idea of her daughter's girlfriend having a child.
Quinn nods. "Yeah, we have a daughter. Madeline." Shelby's eyes widen even brighter at the words 'we'. Rachel is considered a mother to this little girl, her baby is a mother. She really can't get her head around that.
"My baby is a mother?" Rachel lets out a loud giggle and nods.
"I had her when I was 16. Rachel and I had been dating a few months then, and we raised our daughter together." She sighs. "Maddie didn't get to see Rachel whilst we were apart, which I regret, but the two of them are so close now. You should see them Shelby. It is truly a beautiful sight."
"I'm sure it is." She turns her head and notices a picture on the side. "Is this her?" The small blonde little girl is smiling brightly at the camera, her teeth on show and her arms open wide as she is obviously putting on a performance. She looks just like the blonde woman sat on the couch in front her.
"She is truly beautiful."
Rachel nods and then turns her head to shout towards the kitchen. "Maddie?"
"Yeah mama." Is heard from the kitchen.
"Can you come here a second baby girl?"
Suddenly hard footsteps are heard and a small blonde girl comes running in and jumps in between her mothers. "Hi" She says to the strange woman who is sat in front of her.
"Maddie, this is my mother, my birth mother Shelby. Shelby meet my daughter, Madeline Sofia Fabray."
"You have a mommy?" Madeline says her eyes widen in excitement.
"I do."
"Wow." She gets up off the couch and stands in front of Shelby. "You look so much like mama." She says in awe, going to hug the older woman before realising she's got to ask first. She turns to her mothers who nod knowing what the little girl is asking. "Can I hug you?" She asks Shelby who nods and wraps her arms around her 'granddaughter?' who snuggles into the hug and holds on tightly. Shelby vows right there that if she has anything to say about it, she will be apart of this family.
5th June 2018
"Hi mom." Rachel says as she wraps her arms around the older woman. "Thank you for coming."
"My daughter is getting married. I'm not missing this for anything." Shelby holds onto her daughter and kisses her cheek. "How are you doing sweetheart?"
"I'm nervous but I've been waiting nearly 8 years for this. She is my soul mate, nothing will stop me from marrying her."
Shelby smiles. She has got to know the couple over the last year or so, and she knows that these two women are meant for each other. "What time does the ceremony start?"
"Uh 2pm."
"Lets get you dressed and start on your hair then." She hugs her daughter for the last time. "I am so happy you asked me to be here today Rachel."
September 3rd 2018
Rachel dials the familiar number and waits for the person on the other end to answer. She is currently snuggled into her wife's side as they wait to tell the person on the other end the good news. Rachel got the job in Wicked today and was worried about ringing her mother as she knew this was the older woman's dream job.
"Hello."
"Hi mom. It's Rachel."
Shelby's voice changes when she hears her daughter taking. "Rachel, it's good to hear from you. How are you sweetheart?"
"I'm good thanks mom. I've got something to tell you actually." She sighs. "I've been offered a job playing Elepheba in Wicked starting November." There is silence on the other end and Rachel curls into Quinn's body trying to get support incase Shelby doesn't take the news well.
"Oh my god Rachel that is amazing news." Shelby says excitedly. "You are going to be perfect for the role baby. I want tickets to your opening night. Oh my god, my baby is on Broadway. This is brilliant. I need to go tell people." Rachel lets out a loud laugh at her mothers excitement.
"I'll let you go then mom." Shelby squeals again and Rachel hangs up the phone knowing her mother is ready to go and tell all of her neighbours.
"She take it okay?" Quinn asks as she leans forward and captures her wife's lips.
Rachel nods. "Brilliant."
July 11th 2020
Rachel smiles as she sees who is knocking on the door. Their second child had just been born, Grace Catherine Fabray and Shelby was stood outside the door having travelled all the way back from England where she was now working for a few months, to see her granddaughter for the first time. Rachel goes over to the door, holding Grace in her arms and opens it smiling at her mother.
"Hey. Oh my god look at her. She is beautiful Rachel." Shelby steps forward and kisses Rachel's forehead and then the little girl's in her arms. "She's Quinn's clone already. Just look at her."
"I know. I can't believe how much I love her already." Rachel says as she looks down at her hours old child. "I have two beautiful baby girls. This is amazing."
"I am so proud of you Rachel." Shelby says as Rachel passes her the little bundle. "Hello sweetie. I'm your Grams. I am going to spoil you rotten beautiful."
March 7th 2022
"Hey mom." Rachel says as she rings Shelby up for their weekly phone call. Last week she rang her and told her that she was pregnant, this week she has some even more exciting news, and potentially terrifying news.
"Rae. It's good to hear from you. How are you? Hows the baby?" Shelby asks quickly.
"Babies." Rachel replies and smiles at the silence on the other end.
"Excuse me?"
"I'm having twins mommy." Rachel says the last bit happily. She loves Judy with her whole heart and calls her mom all the same, but having this relationship with her mother was an amazing experience for Rachel and one that she always wanted.
"Oh sweetie that's excellent news. That properly comes from my side of the family. I have a twin brother and sister." Rachel groans. Of course Shelby would forget to warn her about that. "Are you alright Rache?"
"Just scared mom. 4 children before I'm 28. It's scary."
"It's what you wanted though Rachie." Shelby says trying to calm her daughter down. "Isn't it?"
"Yes of course. I always wanted a big family. I hated growing up an only child and never wanted Madeline to have the same, but... to be honest I think I'm just scared of giving birth. I'm so glad Quinn had the first two as I think I would have freaked out if I was any younger."
"Your freaking out now darling."
Rachel laughs. "I know, I know. I was so impatient when waiting for Grace, but having these babies in my stomach, I can't wait to see them. I just want them here now."
"I know baby." Shelby says. "Did you get a sonagram?"
"Yeah. Quinn scanned it and sent it through to you."
Shelby smiles. "Thank you. How have Madeline and Gracie taken the news?"
"Grace has no idea what's going on. Madeline is ecstatic. She was the one who talked sense into me and Quinn when we had a freak out after the doctors appointment."
"There's my granddaughter. She's a brilliant child Rach."
"Don't I know it. I hope Grace and these two turn out the same."
"I'm sure they will."
"I better get going mom. I've got a show in a minute. Talk soon?"
"Of course. I love you."
"Love you too." Rachel replies before hanging up the phone and reaching down to hold her arms over her stomach. "I love you babies."
Shelby and Rachel smile as they watch Rachel do her work. Shelby is holding two year old Jacob on her hip whilst Rachel has her hands on the shoulders of 4 year old Grace who is stood in front of her watching her mommy work. Olivia is being held by Julia Corcoran and Madeline is due to arrive from school in a few minutes.
Shelby had come to New York with her parents Julia and Nathaniel, it's not the first time that Rachel has met them but they have yet to meet their great grandkids and their granddaughters wife. Quinn had asked for Julia, Shelby, Nathaniel and her family to come down to the studio this afternoon for a surprise. Now they were just waiting for Quinn to finish with the model so they can see what she wanted.
After 10 minutes, Madeline trudges into the studio, looking like she's ready to pass out from exhaustion. Rachel opens her arms and Madeline snuggles into them. "You okay baby?"
"Just tired mama." She sighs. "What did mom want us here for?"
Rachel shakes her head. "No idea." She watches as her wife shakes hands with the model before walking over to her family with a bright smile on her face. "So why did you drag us all here Princess?"
Quinn holds up the camera in her hand. "I thought it would be nice to have an updated picture in our living room. What better than having all these generations here." She goes over to her office and knocks on it, and out comes Judy and Dianna with bright smiles on their faces. Madeline and Grace run over to their grandmother and Grandma Di ready for hugs from the two blonde older women. Rachel walks over to Quinn and wraps her arms around her and brings her lips to her wife's to give her a proper thank you for sorting this out.
10 minutes later, Quinn has got Shelby and Rachel into position for a few mother & daughter pictures that neither of them had. She knew this is the one thing Rachel regretted, and Quinn was going to give her the picture she wanted with her mother. "Shelby, can you wrap you arms around Rachel's neck from behind and rest your chin... yah that's awesome." She continues to snap a few pictures and smiles when Shelby leans her head down to whisper in Rachel's ear what she can make out as 'I Love You Baby' and Rachel smiles up at her mother giving Quinn the perfect picture.
Quinn quickly gets Julia into the picture giving them three generations to work from. Julia and Shelby wrap Rachel into a big hug making the smaller girl laugh in delight at having a family around her. Quinn then asks for Nathaniel who arrived a little earlier to get into the shoot and her wraps his arms around his three girls in a big bear hug and kisses his granddaughter on the top of her head in adoration and Quinn snaps away, getting them to change their poses.
"K, lets change this up. Rae baby, you come out." Rachel walks over to her wife and kisses her on the cheek. "Mom, Nana, if you go into the shot and take Jacob and Olivia with you." Judy and Dianna carry the twins over to the shoot and when Quinn tells Grace & Madeline to go into the shoot and hug the other three, she begins to take some more pictures getting into different angels to change it up a bit.
"I want you in their with your mom and nana." Rachel says holding her hand out for Quinn's camera.
"Take care of it." Quinn hands over her camera reluctantly and walks over to her mother and grandmother whilst the others get out of the shot. Rachel takes a few pictures before Madeline runs into the shot giving her mother a hug aroudn the waist, making the two toddlers and Grace run over and find their way into the pictures.
"Hey can I put this on a tripod Quinn?" Quinn nods and goes over to the other side of the room and opens up the tripod to the correct height and helps Rachel put the camera on the top and set it up to take some pictures with them all in it. "Everyone into the shot then." Rachel holds her wife around her waist in the centre of the picture, smiling at the camera whilst Quinn smiles down at hte beautiful woman in her arms. Around them the kids are playing with their grandparents smiling brightly, enjoying being around their family. This is the picture that later ends up above their mantel for many years in their living room.
July 5th 2028
Quinn wipes the tears out of her eyes. She's just finished ringing Rachel's fathers telling them about the accident and now it's time to ring Shelby. Even though she knows Rachel is going to be fine, she is still terrified at the thought of loosing her soul mate. She dials the familiar number and waits for Shelby to pick up.
"Shelby Corcoran speaking."
"Shelby, it's Quinn."
Quinn waits for Shelby to answer again knowing hte brunette is shocked to be hearing from Quinn. "Quinn, hello sweetheart. What can I do for you?"
"Rachel's been in an accident." She swallows. "She is going to be fine." She hears Shelby release a sigh of relief. "She's hurt her back but after another op they're sure she'll walk again. She has broke quite a few bones and looks rough, well she's still beautiful of course." Shelby chuckles at this. She loves the love between these two girls, even after so many years they truly are still completely in love with each other.
"I'll be in New York as soon as I can Quinnie." Shelby says.
"Joe and Elijah are coming too, you might wanna come down with them or something."
"Thank you for letting me know sweetheart. I'll see you soon."
A/N: I think this is the only What If I've written where I really like this side of things better. I wish I wrote in Shelby in this manner however it's done now.
Again if you liked the story or wanted to see another snapshot or what if, please tell me, as I'll be stopping this probably around the beginning of July as it doesn't generate a lot of interest anymore.