This is not the dream I dreamed - Rachel faces up to the fact that her Broadway career could be over before it had chance to begin.
Rating - T
Character -Rachel (Also features her fathers, Finn, Will, Shelby, Beth and others)
A/N - Reviews/concrit are loved, and if there's anything you'd like to see happen the let me know and I'll try my best to work it in somehow.I'm from the UK, so if anything American is not quite right, please let me know and I'll fix it.
"Momma" Beth grinned, flinging herself at Shelby as soon as she walked through the door. "Is Rachy better yet?"
"Not yet" Shelby crouched down to wrap her arms around Beth, "She's got to stay in the hospital for a few days but she'll be home soon baby."
"Uncle Leroy said I can make her a card later to say get better soon, can I really Momma?"
"Of course you can. I bet she'd love that" Shelby smiled.
"I'm gonna do my bestest colouring Momma, I won't go over the lines or nothing."
"That sounds wonderful Bee" Shelby saw Leroy lurking in the kitchen. "How about you play with Lyla for a little while longer so I can talk with Uncle Leroy, then we'll see about making that card."
"Okay" Beth kissed Shelby's cheek before skipping off into the living room, leaving Shelby to speak to Leroy.
"Coffee?" He asked as Shelby flopped exhaustedly into a chair.
"Please" she nodded, "milk 2 sugars."
"Regular or Soya milk?" Leroy asked taking both cartons from the fridge.
"Regular's fine".
It was only once both adults had a mug of steaming coffee in their hands that Leroy asked the question he'd been dying to ask since Shelby walked through the door. "How's Rachel doing?"
Shelby sighed and placed her mug on the table. "She said she felt a bit ill when she woke up, a headache and nausea. But she's so broken Leroy. I didn't know what to do. When she woke, I know I said I'd ring you, but she was so upset, she's convinced she's going to loose Lyla, and she kept beggging me not to leave her. She fell asleep again and I had to wake her when Hiram arrived, just so I could reassure her I wasn't leaving for good. She blames herself Leroy. She thinks because Will's Lyla's father I'm going to leave her and not come back."
Leroy took a deep breath, "you're not are you?"
"God no" Shelby was shocked he would even suggest that. "Do you really think that I'd have sped over here at 3am if I was just going to up and leave a few days down the line? I love her Leroy, I love her so much, but she's hurting, she told me the first time we met that when she got upset you and Hiram would give her a glass of water, but a glass of water won't fix it this time."
"I know" Shelby didn't even realise she was crying until Leroy stood and passed her the kitchen roll, "she's a strong girl though, I have every faith that with time and love and support she'll get through this."
Shelby nodded, "I know it must be hard for the Hiram and you too, if you want me to leave, you just have to say the word, I'm never going to walk out of Rachel's life unless it's what she wants, but if you need your own space, I don't mind going back home."
"Shelby" Leroy spoke firmly. "I can't speak for Hiram, but we owe you so much. Rachel needed someone last night, and for whatever reason she didn't feel able to speak to either Hiram or me about it, but she felt able to call you. Rachel called you at 3am and you were there for her Shelby, I can't. . ." the usually strong man began to tear up. "I can't even bring myself to think about what would have happened if she hadn't have felt like she could turn to you, or if you'd brushed it off and told her you'd speak to her in the morning. Rachel needed you and you were there" he repeated, "and I'm under no illusion that she's going to need you, need us all a lot over the coming weeks and I think it would be better, for Rachel's sake if we were all together, that way if she wants you to comfort her she doesn't have to wait for you to come over, or vice versa if she's with you and suddenly decides she wants Hiram or myself we'll be in the next room, not 20 minutes away. Hiram and I are happy for you and Beth to be here as long as Rachel needs you here, or until you get sick of my cooking" Leroy tried to lighten the mood.
Shelby nodded, "Thank you. I spoke to Rachel earlier, I probably should have spoken to you and Hiram first, but I told her that when she was back home and feeling better I think we need to sit down as a family and talk through some things. I think Rachel's carrying a lot of emotional baggage, and if we sit down and let her know that we're all here for her as a team, as her family, I think that would help her open up a bit more." Shelby paused for a moment, "I think right now she's scared of opening up to me, it's like she thinks you'll be angry if you found out she'd told me something she hadn't told you. We need to let her know that bottling things up isn't okay, but talking to any or all of us is okay."
"Yes" Leroy nodded, "I'd do anything if it means we don't have to experience something like last night again."
"I think she has a lot of questions about the surogacy too." Shelby said quietly, "I've told her what I know, but I think it would be good for her to know that it's okay to talk about it, to ask questions, and when it comes to reasons and feelings I think we all need to be 100% totally honest with each other and not worry about upsetting someone or making someone angry."
"I think we can agree with that. If we're talking to her about it, I want her to have the truth." Leroy's voice changed, "I think Hiram and I owe you an appology too, I know hindsight's 20/20, but the contract, we. . ."
Shelby shook her head, "Leroy" she interrupted, "it's in the past, let's keep looking to the future yeah?"
Leroy nodded, "Yeah" he smiled slightly, "But I still want to thank you, "Rachel & Lyla are the best things that happened to me, I wouldn't have them if it wasn't for you."
Shelby smiled and tipped her head to rest on Leroy's shoulder, "Thanks for letting me get to know them" .
"Momma" they were interrupted by Beth running into the kitchen before skidding across the tiled floor in her socks. "Lyla's cry. . .oh Momma, you're crying too."
"I'll go sort Lyla out" Leroy told Shelby,smiling reassuringly at her before leaving the room.
Shelby lifted Beth to her lap. "Are you really sad Momma?" Beth wiped at Shelby's damp cheeks with her tiny fingers, "is it cos Rachy's sick? cos you said she'd be better soon."
Shelby nodded, "Yeah baby, she will be, I'm just tired, I didn't sleep a lot last night and you know that you get cranky when you're tired."
"Go take a nap then" Beth said matter of factly, "Uncle Leroy said we were going to have a sleepover here."
"Yeah, we're going to stay until Rachy's better. And I think I am going to lie down for a bit, do you want to come?"
Beth shook her head, "I'ma go watch tv with Uncle Leroy and Lyla, but I still loves you Momma. And Rachy and Lyla loves you too, and I think Uncle Leroy and Uncle Hiram loves you too."
"I love you too Bee." Shelby smiled as Beth slipped from her lap.
"See you later Momma" she grinned. "Sweet dreams"
Shelby smiled as Beth skipped from the room, and it was at that moment that she made up her mind. She was finally going to tell Beth that Rachel was her sister.