So as an early Christmas gift, here is another chapter. :) I promise I will not take that long to have another one written and I will also be updating ILYM soon. Thanks for sticking with me.
Shelby's POV
"We are just about to touch down at Dayton International, in about 10 minutes, and we are right on time. The weather is perfect and we are looking at an easy descent. Thank you for flying with us today. And if you live here, welcome home." I hear the pilot say over the intercom. I fix my tray and prepare for landing. Only a little over an hour and I will see Rachel again. You can do this Shelby. I grab my carryon bag and head to the car rental place. Dayton is the closest airport to Lima, but I still have about an hour drive.
An hour later, as I arrive at the theatre, I shoot Rachel a quick text. Hey, Rachel. I just arrived at the theatre. When you get here walk in and let them know I am expecting you. Someone will bring you back. If you run into any problems, call me. I will see you soon, sweetie. XO Shelby. I find the head of security and let them know about Rachel and Kurt before going to my dressing room, to relax until sound check and wait on Rachel and Kurt.
Rachel's POV
I wake up to an alarm clock ringing. It is the day of Shelby's concert here in Lima. That is still unbelievable. I asked my dad if I could have a friend over tonight who is coming from out of town; they didn't need to know who was coming. Of course they agreed after I convinced them that it was an old friend who moved away a couple of years ago. Kurt stayed the night last night to help me prepare the guest room for Shelby and to make sure the house was perfect for her arrival.
After my morning routine, I hear Kurt in the kitchen, making our protein shakes.
"Good morning, Kurt." I say as I walk into the kitchen.
"Good morning, Diva. Here is your shake. So what should we do today, considering we still have 10 hours before we have to meet Shelby at the theatre?"
"I was thinking that we could just hang out, get our nails done, and then get ready."
"Sounds good to me." He says, making his way to the living room.
About 5:30 I receive a text from Shelby letting me know she is here and waiting for us. I go find Kurt and we check each over to make sure everything is perfect. The drive over to the theatre is silent for a while. I am so nervous. Kurt must have picked up on this as his pats my leg and gives me a small smile.
"It is going to be great, Rachel. Don't worry. You have met her before, hell she is staying at your house tonight."
"I know, but she is still Shelby Corcoran, the Broadway legend, my idol. Your idol. We may know her better than some fans but she is still huge."
"I know, it is crazy, but it will be just fine. Oooo, look there is a spot!" I pull into the parking spot, take a deep breath, and check the time.
"Right on time. Come on Kurt." We head to the stage door and knock. A big, bald headed man comes to the door. He is at least a foot taller than me. I look up at him, "Hi. I am Rachel Berry and this is my friend Kurt Hummel. Shelby Corcoran is expecting us."
The big man gives us a small smile. "Right, she told us you were coming. However, I just need to check your IDs to make sure you are legit." We pull out our licenses and hand them to the man. "Alright, Miss Berry and Mr. Hummel, right this way." He led us down a small hallway and before I knew it I was standing in front of Shelby's door. He knocks to let her know we are here.
"Just a minute," I hear her call from the other side of the door. I swear time stands still as I am waiting for her to answer. The big man, I need to find out his name, leaves us waiting. When the door opens, my heart just about pounds out of my chest. She is just so perfect, in her sweats and a long sleeve shirt, hair thrown up into a messy ponytail, no makeup. She smiles at us. "Come on in." We walk inside. She walks over to me and holds her arms out; I fall into her warm embrace. I swear this woman is perfect. I feel so safe in her arms. Rachel, what did Shelby say a mother's hug feels like? Oh god, that's the same way I am feeling right now. Is Shelby my…? No. Rachel, get a hold of yourself. Shelby doesn't even have kids. I pull away, reluctantly. She smiles at me then turns to Kurt and pulls him into a hug as well.
"Please, make yourselves comfortable. I have a little bit before the sound check. Let's talk." I place my bag by the couch and sit down. Kurt sits down in the recliner, eyes bigger than I have ever seen them. He is still in shock, what was that he was telling me in the car? And now look at him. I smile to myself that is until Shelby sits down next to me and grabs my hand. "How has it been, Rachel?"
"It is okay. How have you been?" I ask, shakily.
"I'm good." She says with a small laugh. "Look, Rachel, I am just going to say it." I nod. "The reason I made this concert so soon is because I needed to see you. I needed to make sure you were okay. I don't know what it is but I feel a connection to you, but I can't put my finger on it. I just feel the need to make sure you are okay."
"I am okay, Shelby. Sure, things at school are horrible and home isn't much better. My dad's still aren't home. I am not even sure when they are coming home. But I manage, thanks to Kurt and you. I still can't believe you are in my life."
"Well believe it, sweetie. I am here and I have no plans on going anywhere." She gives my hand a light squeeze. "Well, I have to go to sound check would you like to come join me? If you don't you can stay back here and chill." I look over at Kurt who is slowly calming down.
"If you don't mind, I would love to come to sound check. We may have to give him a minute to compose himself, but he will come too." I say with a laugh. Kurt looks at me and nods.
"Okay, let's go." She gets up and offers a hand to me and then to Kurt. He looks at her hand and then at me. "It's okay, Kurt, I won't bite…hard." With that Kurt snaps out of his funk and grabs her hand, smiling.
Shelby sits Kurt and me in the front row to watch her sound check. The first song she does is Somewhere Over the Rainbow. When she sang the first note, I was in tears. How did I become so lucky that the one and only Shelby Corcoran is my friend? About half way through the sound check, she takes a break while the band takes a moment to fix a few problems. Shelby joins us in the audience while the conductor talks to a few members of the orchestra.
"So, what do you guys think so far?" She asks as she sits beside Kurt.
"You are great, Ms. Corcoran." Kurt replies, wiping the tears from his face.
"Please, Kurt, call me Shelby." She says smiling at him. She looks over at me and raises an eyebrow.
"You were great, Shelby. Thank you again for having us." I say, figuring she wanted my thoughts.
"It's really no problem. Well I need to get back." She says, getting up from her chair. The rest of the sound check goes by quickly without any glitches. Her final number is one of mine and Kurt's all-time favorite songs, Defying Gravity. I remember back when we were fighting over who would sing it as a solo in Glee, and then we didn't even use it in the set list. Once Shelby hits her last note, she waves for us to come up on the stage.
"Alright, kiddos, I need to get ready. You can come back with me to get your things but then you should probably go find your seats, surprisingly we have a full house." She says leading us backstage to the dressing room. After we retrieve our things, she walks us back to the same big, bald guy who let us in.
"Will you please see they get to the front safely?" She asks.
"Sure thing, Ms. Corcoran." She nods before turning towards us.
"I am sorry to just kick you out so abruptly but I need to get ready and it will be pretty boring. I will see you both after the show. While everyone is heading out to the stage door, come to the door to the left of the stage and someone will be there to bring you to the back again." She smiles before giving us each a quick hug.
Baldy starts walking us back to the stage door and around the building.
"So, you know our names but I don't ever remember catching yours." I say. I am dead set on finding out this man's name.
"Frank." he says looking back at us, with a grin on his face.
"Well, nice to meet you, Frank. Thanks for helping us today." I say extending my hand out for him to shake once we make it around to the front of the theatre.
"Sure thing, kid. Oh I will be at the door Ms. Corcoran was referring to. However, you will need to hurry because I have to get back outside to control the stage door crowd." He states, shaking my hand and then turning to walk away.
Before we know it, everyone is being let in to take their seats. Shelby had us sitting in the same seats we were in during sound check. I know we heard her sing earlier today, but it was a completely different experience seeing her now. It is completely different from the first concert I went to as well; this time I know her. In the middle of her set list she stops the orchestra.
"I just wanted to take this time to thank a couple of really special people who are here tonight." My heart starts beating extremely fast. "Rachel Berry and Kurt Hummel, this next song is for you guys. Thank you for coming." I feel Kurt reaching for my hand; I latch on as tight as I can as soon as I find it. I glance at him and he has tears in his eyes. I mean you would too if your idol called you out in front of your whole town at a concert and is dedicating a song to you. I look back at the stage to see Shelby looking directly at us as the orchestra starts back up. She has a glimmer in her eye as well.
Oh why you look so sad
The tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
Don't be ashamed to cry
Let me see you through
Cause I've seen the dark side too
By now I am already a complete mess, as is Kurt. I reach into my purse and pull out some Kleenex for us. He gratefully takes a hand full and begins dabbing his eyes.
When the night falls on you
You don't know what to do
Nothing you confess
Could make me love you less
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
So if you're mad get mad
Don't hold it all inside
Come on and talk to me now
Hey, what you got to hide
I get angry too
Well I'm a lot like you
When you're standing at the crossroads
And don't know which path to choose
Let me come along
Cause even if you're wrong
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me in into you darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you
And when, when the night falls on you, baby
You feeling all alone
You won't be on your own
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me in into you darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you
Oh I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
As Shelby sang this last line, she was standing right in front of Kurt and me, tears falling down her face. She reaches her hand out for us and we stand up and take it. She takes a moment to pull us into a quick hug.
"I meant every word of it." She whispers in our ears, before wiping her eyes, putting her award winning smile back on her face, and continuing with the show.
At the end of the show, as we were told to do, we rush to the side door where Frank is waiting as promised. He leads us to the back to Shelby's room before disappearing down the long hallway we were walking just earlier today. I knock on the door with her name engraved on a golden name plate. She opens it right away.
"Just give me a half an hour and I will be back." She says. She is dressed in skinny jeans with a white long sleeve shirt and her biker boots. Her hair and makeup are still in place from the show.
"Okay. Sure, we will just hang out here." I say. She smiles at us and nods before grabbing her sharpie and heading out the door.
Shelby POV
I hate running out on Kurt and Rachel but I need to do the stage door, seeing as I rarely miss one. I step out into the rigid, cold air, pulling my sweater tighter around me. There are maybe 50 or so people out here, so I agree to take some pictures with the ones who ask. I get to the end of the line and I come across a young brunette and two blonde girls. They are shaking it is so cold, but yet they are wearing their red cheerleading outfits. I make eye contact with the shorter blonde and smile.
"Ms. Corcoran, I just wanted to thank you for coming to Lima. I am a big fan." The blonde says, nervously.
"It was my pleasure. Thank you. What's your name sweetie?" I ask.
"Quinn. This here is Santana and Brittany." I instantly freeze up. Those are the girls that have been terrorizing Rachel and Kurt. Okay, Shelby, you are a professional. Play it cool.
"Nice to meet you girls. I need to get back in with my guests. Thank you for coming, have a great night." Whew. I turn to walk away when the taller blonde, I am guessing Brittany, calls out to me.
"Tell Rachel and Kurt I said hello." She smiles. I can tell she means what she is saying.
"Will do." I make my way back inside to my two guests. When I walk in the door of my room I see that Rachel and Kurt are passed out in the recliner and on the couch. I walk over to Rachel and place a hand on her shoulder, hesitantly, and give her a gentle shake. She doesn't wake up, so I sit down beside her and run my fingers through her dark brown hair.
"Rachel, sweetie, wake up. It is time to go. Come on get up." Her eyes flutter open as a smile graces her face.
"I'm sorry, Shelby. I didn't mean to fall asleep."
"It's fine. Let's get Kurt up and then we can go back to your house and order in instead of going out tonight. How does that sound?" She smiles one of the biggest and brightest smiles I have ever seen. How could someone be mean to this little girl? Can't they see she just wants someone to show her a little attention, be nice to her?
"Sure, that sounds great." I hear Kurt speak up. I smile while grabbing my overnight bag and my purse. We make our way to Rachel's car; I had Frank take my car back to the car rental place here in Lima.
Once we arrive at Rachel's house, I am in shock that this little girl stays in this huge house alone. We make our way inside.
"Would you like a tour now, or do you want to order the food first?" Rachel asks.
"We can order." She calls her 'favorite pizza place in the world. It is the best.' I just laugh. She must order it all of the time, considering she has placed the order in no time. She gets exactly what I do, when I eat pizza. That's crazy.
After placing the order, Kurt takes my bag from the foyer to what I am guessing is where I will be staying. Rachel grabs my hand and leads me into the living room. It is gorgeous, all white and black down to the pictures on the wall. She then leads me to the kitchen. And right off of the kitchen is the family dining room.
"We never eat in here." She says with a little disappointment coming out, however she shrugs it off and takes me up stairs. The first room we come to is her room. Her door has a huge gold star on it with her name in the middle. Inside of her room, she has a king size bed with a New York comforter and sheets. Broadway posters line the wall and in the corner is her elliptical. A seventeen year old with her own elliptical-insane. After showing me her room, she walks me into her bathroom which is connected to a guest room; I think this is where I am staying. It is nice, there is a full size bed and it is done in red black and white, very modern looking.
"You will be staying in here, is that okay?" She asks nervously.
"This is fine, Rachel. Thank you again for allowing me to stay here."
"You are welcome, thank you for helping me."
"It's no problem. Speaking of helping you-" The doorbell rings.
"I'll get it." Rachel bounces out of the room. I follow her down the hallway that leads back to the stairs, when something catches my eye. There is a picture hanging on the wall across from Rachel's room. It is of two men and Rachel. I step a little closer. HOLY FUCKING SHIT! The tears instantly begin to pour out of my eyes.
"Shelby, are you okay?" Oh shit. Kurt, I forgot he was here.
"Kurt, who are these men with Rachel?" I know the answer, but I need to hear it out loud.
"They are her fathers, why?" He asks as I feel like I am about to throw up.
"Kurt, are you sure?"
"Yes, I am. I see them all the time, well when they are here. Why, what is wrong Shelby?"
"I am Rachel's mother." I fall to the ground, head in my hands, crying harder than I ever had.