AN: Hey, it's been awhile since last update and I'm not sure why but in the last document 's name was cut out of a few sentences. Hopefully similar errors wont occur from now on. Rated M for future chapters? Yes or no?

Disclaimer: I own nothing, but my original character Isabella 'Izy' Walker

*Sunday*

Izy's POV:

"What did I say about wasting your time with shit like this?!" My father yelled, enraged that I was wasting good working hours on singing in some club. I backed up slowly only to be stopped by the wall behind me.

"I-I'm sorry," I said as my breath seemed to shudder and my voice seemed all but mute, "I had to join a club." I tried explaining.

"Sorry isn't good enough bitch!" He yelled back handing my cheek with all his might. I fell over and lightly held the now throbbing skin. "You'll drop it and make up for what you've been loosing at work!" he commanded. I stayed on the floor afraid to get up only for him to knock me down again.

"I-I can't... The s-school wont let m-" My breath was cut off as I felt his foot pressing hard on my back, almost trying to break it. Tears flowed unwillingly down my cheeks as I coughed from the pressure on my chest and back.

"You will do as I command you to. Now if I here another word you'll regret it." He spoke darkly, pulling me up by the collar of my shirt. I looked back at him broken and in tears.

"They w-won't let me..." I stated helplessly. His gaze turned more twisted as his hands moved to my throat and tightened around it. "P-ple-" I tried to beg struggling against his grip.

"It should've been you." He said tightening his grip as hard as he could. I struggled as hard as I could but I couldn't get any air.

I jolted up from the bed coughing and trying to breathe in as much air as I could. I felt a bit dizzy and curled up slightly waiting for my head to clear from the nightmare. Only a moment later I felt a comforting hand lightly rubbing my back. I let out a shaky breath and leaned into Rachel a bit wanting the comfort. She wrapped her arms around me softly and brushed my hair out of my eyes to feel my forehead.

"You have a fever Izy..." Rachel said quietly which I appreciated having felt a headache coming on. I gave a slight nod and closed my eyes not wanting to get up. "Is it because of last night...?" She asked hesitantly. I wasn't sure what she was asking. The nightmare or the fever? I guess both were added to by the events last night so I nodded once more. She hugged me lightly and rested my head on the bed as she got up. I opened my eyes and looked at her a moment. "I'll be back in a few minutes, you need to get something to eat so you can take some medicine." She said worriedly as she went downstairs to make a quick breakfast. I let out a sigh and pulled a pillow over my head. It had really seemed lately that Rachel was doing everything she could to take care of me and kept ignoring her own problems and left no strength for herself to rely on. I felt the bed move slightly as she came back and sat down. "Come on, you need to get up and eat." I moved out from under the pillow and blankets wincing lightly at how bright it already was.

"I'm gonna be fine Rach. You really don't have to worry every time I have a slight fever." I smiled slightly. She pouted lightly.

"Being sick on any level is a serious thing and I really hope you are not implying that this is a weekly or daily thing for you because if it was I would have to recommend seeing one of my fathers and having them check to see if anything was seriously wrong." I laughed a bit tiredly and shook my head.

"It does happen a bit often, but really I'm used to it and it's really just because I've been working a lot and have a lot of stress lately. More now with glee..." I explained. She frowned lightly, but nodded.

"Sorry... At least your not in the competitions." She tried to say enthusiastically. I took one of the apple slices she brought up and ate it a bit slowly.

"Honestly... yeah it bothers me, but I'm a bit more concerned for you right now..." I trailed off. As much as I was scared of my father finding out, seeing Rachel's one safe haven of glee turned into a nightmare since her mother was there hurt more. She blinked a moment and looked down. I tilted my head a bit knowing I hit a nerve. "You need to eat too. We'll talk more seriously after we eat and get dressed." I offered. She smiled.

"Your right." She conceded eating some of the fruit she had brought up.

"I would say when aren't I, but... I feel I'm a bit wrong often." I laughed lightly. It was entirely true, I had possibly the worst mind for decision making and it often showed in the consequences of my actions.

"I wouldn't say too often. After all you've made a few friends in your decision to join the Glee club. You made a great decision to save up for the future by getting a job. I'll admit even I make my fair share of horrible decisions, but that's what it is to be human. We all make bad calls here and there." She re-assured. I nodded a bit in agreement as we finished breakfast. I got up and grabbed my bag from the bedside.

"I'll get dressed in the downstairs bathroom." I said heading down. Rachel nodded and closed the door as I left. I changed into a comfortable pair of jeans and a long sleeve shirt before walking back out to the living room and lounging on the couch. Rachel came down a few minutes later and laughed lightly.

"Someones gotten comfortable here." She smiled.

"Sorry." I said with a bit of an apologetic look scooting over so she could sit down. She shook her head and sat.

"Not at all. I'm actually very happy you are able to be so comfortable in my home after it's taken you time to adjust to it and my fathers. It is also normal being over as often as you have for it to feel natural to be here." I nodded and sighed lightly.

"Rach... I know it's not my place to ask but... I'm worried." I said a bit slowly. She looked down and thought on how to respond. "Too straight forward I know, but when I try to approach you differently you shrug it off. I know... I don't talk about what bothers me. So I in no way have right to ask the details of your situation I just want to make sure you're okay... I know glee is your only comfort at that school and that her being there is hurting that."

"It is... but like any mature adult I am handling it professionally. In the real world situations will arise where I have to work with those I do not get along with, but being an aspiring actress I simply can not and will not let it ever be a problem." She explained.

"Yes, but you know as well as I do that when you have a job you can escape and get away from it when your done. School was your job before and as much as you like to regard glee club as your 'job' as well it's more of an escape from how horrible that school is. You can't tell me that your fine and just getting over it so you can be professional." I countered.

"Have I said or done anything that would show I can not handle the situation Izy? Have I acted in a way that would prove I can not handle the situation like a professional or need extra help since Shelby is now a coach in our glee club?" She asked defensively. I looked down not having meant to hurt her by asking, but I fully understood the defensiveness. I had it too. All the time.

"No..." I said slowly. "Like always you've acted like a professional. Going on with your routines with a smile. Performing like you always have." I looked back up at her to see she felt a bit guilty for snapping at me. "But I also see the same thing I see in me and that scares me... Suppressing it all and forcing a smile through something that hurts does more damage then good Rach. I would know."

Rachel's POV:

I looked at her unsure of how to respond. I had already discovered her and I acted the same about certain things, but I hadn't thought she saw it so clearly when no one else could. "Izy... you sound like you know how bad I'm hurting. That you've been there for a long time and you can tell what will make it worse or better... what does that mean for you?" I asked seeing her tense a bit at my curiosity.

"You're reflecting like I do too. Just... please tell me how bad it is. Know that if you wanna talk I'm really here to listen and believe me when I say I would never tell anyone." She said raising her voice a bit. I hated the double standards. How she could be so forward with me yet when I was forward with her it was a bad thing. But... I hated keeping this all inside.

"What was your nightmare about?" I asked being a bit forward myself. Her eyes widened slightly as she looked a bit confused.

"What? Rach-"

"You want me to open up about my mom, you just said that you knew it was unfair and a double standard yet I'm the one pressed to open up while you get to remain silent? It seems hardly fair... I don't appreciate being talked down to by someone who does the same." I said a bit harshly. She looked a bit shocked at my outburst but a silence fell over the two of us as she thought on what I'd said.

"Our situations... are completely different. The reason I'm not telling you is because I can't tell what you would say or do. When you saw my scars you... freaked. I know this will only worry you more, but that's the least of my problems and if that set you off I don't know what you'd do if I told you everything... I don't want it to effect you either which is why I've said not to ask." She said tearing up lightly. I felt a wave of worry hit hard at her words. Something so severe that her scars are of lesser value? I wanted to demand the truth, but... she seemed overly concerned at what would happen if she told me so I didn't know how to respond. "Rach... What is friendship?"

"I'm not sure what you mean..." I responded a bit confused.

"Friendship is two people who care for each other and are there for them when they need it. But friendship is also trust. Trusting in another person that you know... so trust me when I say that now... isn't the time to talk about my problems. That I would and will when I can, but... I just can't right now." I thought on it for a moment and contemplated her words. Friendship was trust, but friendship was also helping a friend when they didn't want it, but needed it. It had seemed that I would not be able to help Izy without going against her so I nodded, but decided I would talk to Quinn about this more tomorrow.

"How can I be there for you if you wont tell me even the slightest of what's wrong?" I asked pouting lightly.

"You're there for me almost everyday being my best friend." She smiled lightly. "Perhaps in small ways you may not even notice. Having a friend... has helped me more then anything really. I'm not one to usually get a long with others so to have someone to talk to everyday has really helped." I nodded. "... I had a nightmare about joining glee." She said after a moment of silence. I tilted my head lightly.

"Let's just say... my dad really doesn't want me to waste my time in something like glee club. He found out and..." She trailed off.

"Is that why you moved from your last school?" I asked a bit quietly. It made a bit of sense. Even though she wasn't really a part of Bongi's club she sang often with them. If her father had disapproved of singing so greatly then it was no wonder she was forced to move and didn't want to join glee club.

"I-... we moved for many reasons. That was one of them though..." She said quietly. I nodded with a bit more understanding. After all if that prompted him to want to move her once then he might again. Loosing the only friends she's been able to make and moving once again from a sister like figure would be cause for a nightmare.

"I'm sorry... I've always had parents backing my decisions and dreams. I can't imagine what it is like to have a parent who would be so harsh as to move their child away because they've expressed a love for music. He... also doesn't support your vegetarianism?" I asked recalling one of the first nights Izy ate dinner with my fathers. She half shrugged.

"He's never remembered. I don't think he really knows or cares." I suddenly felt horrible for my harsh words. Here I was yelling at her for inquiring about my feelings towards my birth mother when I have two wonderful fathers who want me to simply be happy. She had only one parent, one that did not care for her likes or well being it seemed to me. Working her hard at a job and getting the grades she does. I had imagined I was under stress, but for her it must have been worse... "Please don't. I want to be there for you and I don't want you not talking about this because you think my problems are worse and your just whining. That's not how I feel at all..." I let out a small defeated sigh.

"Izy please stop reading my mind. I really am contemplating the fact that you have a psychic gift because you really seem to always know what I am thinking or what happens to be on my mind or even bothering me. It seems you have a great amount of stress in your life and I had not noticed this. Venting about my troubles and worries will add to it and I am not one to want to make another situation worse just to make myself feel better." She smiled lightly and shook her head.

"Not psychic Rach. I just know you and you had that look of, oh no what did I do? On your face and I'm telling you it's fine. I'd feel much more relieved if you talked about it and let me help or listen. I hate seeing you keep it all inside and if anything it's stressful worrying about you." She explained. I nodded and leaned back against the couch silent, not knowing where to start with my feelings on Shelby.

"I'll try..."

"That's all I ask." She said softly.

"I've told you how things ended before... She came up to me the day I ran into you crying. She wanted to start over and give 'us' another chance..." I started. Izy nodded and stayed quiet waiting for me to continue. "I just..." I said biting my lip lightly. Izy reached over and lightly rubbed my back knowing I was already getting upset. "After she went through so much to get into contact with me just to say I'm sorry this is uncomfortable and doesn't work. Tossing that chance aside for another child instead of her own... How could she even think to ask me for another chance?" I asked as a few tears started to roll down my cheeks. "I begged for her to not give up on us and she just walked away... now she expects me to give this another chance. We all know how it's going to end... She gave me up and would never really love me." I cried. Izy pulled me lightly into a hug as she lightly rubbed my back.

"There's a connection between a mother and daughter... it really can't be replaced. It can't be forged. I think she might really regret her actions before and know how selfish it was of her. I don't blame you for not wanting to give this another chance."

"How could she want another child over her own daughter...? Was I that-"

"No." Izy cut off quickly. "You are an amazing person Rachel. There is no way you were in any way shape or form undesirable... I-." Izy stopped unsure how to continue. I looked up at her confused and she sighed lightly. "You'll be mad at what I have to say..." She said lightly brushing off a few of my tears.

"What...?" I asked.

"Rach... adopting Beth probably hurt her. She thought it would be the mother experience she wanted. She made an extremely horrible and selfish move by adopting another child and giving up on the amazing daughter you are and could have been to her. Over time though... especially seeing Quinn and Puck with Beth... she realizes that she will never have that connection with that child. The only time she could feel that is with you. Now... it may come from a selfish place of wanting to feel like a mother first, but none the less I think she regrets what she did to you..." She trailed off.

"I don't care if she regrets it! I'm not putting myself out there for her to just leave me a third time!" I half yelled. Izy hugged me a bit tighter.

"I'm not siding with her Rach... and I would make the same decision. She's done wrong by you twice... I'm just trying to help you know where she's coming from." She said softly not wanting to upset me. "You have every right to reject her and feel as upset as you do. I can't... I can't even believe she'd give up on someone like you. You're the perfect daughter and I know you would have done anything to make it work."

"I hate her... I hate seeing her every time we meet for glee. It's not fair that she's pushing herself into my life after all she's done. Did I move to where she was and force myself upon her when she rejected me."

"Don't you hate when adults can't even act as mature as their children... If you really hate her Rach, then show her what she's missing. Enjoy glee to the fullest and prove to her you don't need her in your life. That you are strong enough to overcome what she's done to you."

"Why should I be the one that has to be strong and the adult..."

"Neither of us should be... it's the way our lives were dealt. At least... it means we'll both be stronger then most others if we can overcome the hardships we shouldn't have been put through right?" Izy asked. I nodded lightly. "If she says something or gets under your skin at glee then just tell me. I'll try my best to create a buffer zone between you two so she can't corner you alone if I can."

"Thanks Izy..." I smiled lightly. I couldn't ask Quinn act as the buffer since she had to associate with Shelby to see Beth. Finn and I weren't on the best of terms so really Izy was the only person I felt comfortable clinging to in order to repel Shelby.

"It's no problem... I know you want Beth to have a good relationship with her mom. I wouldn't want Quinn to try running interference when she's trying to get to know her daughter." I hugged Izy a bit tightly and sat back up. It was nice having someone really understand me without explanation and I was extremely grateful for it. "Come on, lets put on something to cheer you up a bit." She said giving me a slight apologetic look.

"How about RENT?" She shook her head lightly but got up to get the movie.

"I said to cheer you up Rach not to make us both cry like babies." She half joked.

"But it's an amazing movie. Any worthwhile story has it's sad points, but it has a happy ending." I smiled. She nodded.

"Entirely true." She said putting in the movie and getting back on the couch with a blanket.

Izy's POV:

The rest of the day went by calmly as we pretty much spent the day watching musicals. To Rachel's surprise I joined in signing some of the songs with her. Later in the evening we prepared dinner for her dad's since they've been working overtime almost as often as I had. After dinner we all spent time talking about the day and various small subjects, but as it got late I decided to gather my things. In all honesty I didn't want to return home, but seeing as it was a school night and I didn't have my books on me it wouldn't me a good idea to spend the night. I also detested the fact that my father was due home tomorrow. Hopefully another job would take him away again soon.

"It's a shame you have to go Isabella." Leroy said. I nodded.

"I know, believe me I would much rather spend the night again, but I feel if I'm over any more often then you two might grow tired of me." I smiled. Hiram laughed.

"If you come over even more often I'll have to actually finish the guest room so you can have your own room here." I shook my head.

"Don't be ridiculous I'm not moving in so don't tempt me with such jokes~" I scolded jokingly.

"It wouldn't be that ridiculous Izy, you are here more often then any of my other friends and you've spent the night almost every weekend the past few weeks." Rachel smiled.

"It really isn't that far of a stretch she's right." Leroy added. I gave Rachel a light sigh.

"What?" She asked innocently.

"Do you see what your doing Rach? You shouldn't give them false hope or else you'll have to be the one to explain to them when their disappointed it didn't happen. I mean really do you even think of what you say in front of them? It's like I am the only one raising them." I laughed not being able to remain serious. She laughed and shook her head.

"Get home before it's too dark out!" She yelled lightly.

"Oh don't worry if I get attacked I have a whistle to protect me." I said rolling my eyes walking to the door as her dads let out another laugh.

"Do not mock the rape whistle Izy!" She called after. I smiled and waved as I left.

I couldn't help the small smile on my face as I walked home. Spending time with Rachel and her parents had really become my favorite hobby lately. When I got home I reached for my keys and went to unlock the door only to notice it was already unlocked. My heart started beating a bit harder as I opened the door slowly. 'He's not due back till tomorrow.'I re-assured myself as I closed the door quietly behind me. I made a direct move to my room only to have my father step out from his room in front of me.

"Where... were you?" He asked angrily. I shrank back a bit.

"I got off late from work..." I lied.

"Really? Then where were you last night?!" He yelled taking a step forward. My eyes widened lightly.

"I-I thought you weren't getting home till tomorrow." I said slowly. His gaze darkened as he closed the distance between us.

"Answer the question. I thought I had made it clear your to go to school, work and stay here." His fists clenched tightly slowly turning his knuckles white.

"I spent the night at a friends la-" I started honestly as his fist collided with the side of my face. I stumbled into the wall and used it to steady myself.

"Little whore! I'm not letting you stay here to fuck around!" He yelled infuriated. I could feel the skin throbbing and pulsating as I held it to try and calm the nerves from screaming.

"I wasn't! I was at a friends!" I yelled back. He grabbed my shirt and threw me to the floor before kicking me hard in the side. I coughed hard and winced at the now aching waist. I could already feel a bruise forming from the force of his kick.

"Don't even fucking try that with me! We both know what you are. A useless whore." I remained silent, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of a yelp or cry, and tried to get up. "... Say it." He commanded after a pause. My fists clenched at the thought of admitting to something I wasn't. Indulging his sick twisted sense of joy.

"No." I managed between breathes. He kicked me harder this time, immediately causing my waist to swell lightly and scream with pain, trying to regain my breath I clutched my side pulling my knees to my chest. I felt tears burning in my eyes but I bit my tongue hard to keep them from falling.

"Say it!" He commanded more forcefully. I froze, unable to move much without my side hurting even more. I wanted to get up and beat the shit out of him, but I couldn't... I couldn't move. I could hardly breathe. No one... no one would believe me if he called the cops. He lifted his foot again and I curled up more wincing at the thought of another impact. It would be bound to break something if he did.

"... I'm a useless whore..." I mumbled under my breath, hiding my face in my knees and arms as tears started to fall. I didn't need to look at him to know he was smirking with sick satisfaction.

"I can't hear you. Louder." He said with a glint of joy.

"I'm a useless whore." I repeated louder through my tears.

"Now... That wasn't so hard was it." He commented before returning to his room. I laid on the floor awhile before trying to move and make it to my room. It took me a few minutes, but I made it to my bed and curled up on top of the covers, clutching my pillow hard and burying my head into it letting my tears and chocked back sobs out. One small slip up... one small glimmer of happiness and it's all taken away. Was I not allowed to have happiness in my life? I had really started to wonder... if I've done something to possibly deserve this. What did I do... how much further could I make it. Eighteen seemed like an impossible goal a this point.