"Stop it, it hurts" Rachel whimpered thrashing about in sleep.
"Baby wake up" Shelby said starting to shake her daughter. She hated knowing what her daughter was dreaming about.
"Hey, momma's here" Shelby said and it didn't take long before Rachel opened her eyes.
"Mom" She cried and Shelby pulled the girl into her arms.
"Momma has you baby, Momma has you and no one is going to hurt you again" Shelby said rocking the girl for what felt like the one millionth time this evening. Again Shelby rocked her daughter back to sleep.
The night continued like this. It seems that each time Rachel and Shelby got to sleep, Rachel would wake up with another nightmare. Each time she did, Shelby was there to comfort her back to her slumber.
Shelby alarm went off to early. She looked at the clock and decided to jump in the shower. Since Rachel had a bath the night before Shelby decided to give the girl has much as a lie in as she could. Once she was dressed, she bent down and sat down next to her daughter.
"Come on, sweetie you need to get up now" Shelby said softly. Rachel huffed.
"I know you are tired but you need to go to school. You have missed enough school" Shelby explained and Rachel nodded.
"Get dressed and then I'll sort out breakfast" Shelby explained and Rachel nodded. Shelby exited the room, leaving the girl to get changed. Once Rachel was dressed she walked down the stairs and noticed her mother standing leaning against the counter. Rachel walked over to her mother and leant against her. Shelby was slightly surprised by this but put her arms around the girl. Rachel turned around and snuggled against her mother's stomach.
"Oh baby" Shelby said and she picked the girl up to give her a proper cuddle. Rachel wrapped her legs.
"Eat your breakfast and then we'll go to school" Shelby said.
"I don't want to go to school" Rachel whispered.
"I know sweetie but you need to go to school" Shelby said and Rachel just snuggled into her mother again. Elizabeth smiled at them.
Shelby held the girl for a couple more minutes before giving her toast.
"Eat up" Shelby said and Rachel nodded.
"Right, to the car" Shelby said and Rachel nodded. She followed behind her mother as they walked to the car. They drove to Lima.
"Are you going to see Miss Miranda today?" Shelby asked and Rachel nodded.
"At lunch" Rachel said and Shelby nodded. They spoke generally for a while longer before floating into a relaxed silence. They listened to the music.
They arrived at the school and Rachel jumped out. She walked away before turning around and running back.
"You will definitely pick me up, won't you?" Rachel asked and Shelby smiled.
"Of course I will sweetie" Shelby said.
"Love you, Rach" Shelby called as the girl ran passed.
"Bye" Rachel called as she walked into the school.
Shelby headed back home, she arrived home and walked into the living room where her mom and Sarah were. Sarah only worked Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays so she was off today.
"How is Rachel now?" Sarah asked and Shelby shrugged.
She knew that she was going to have to speak to the girl about it but she was still getting her head around it herself.
"I really don't know. She doesn't really understand. She knows that it hurt and is bad but I don't think she understands the whole situation" Shelby explained and Sarah nodded.
"Are you going to speak to her about it" Sarah asked and Shelby nodded.
"I just don't know how" Shelby explained.
"Come on, Shell you were the one that spoke to Ellie about things like this when she was a bit older than Rachel is just now" Sarah said.
"I know but it was different with Ellie" Shelby said.
"Come on though, Shell. It must be hard for Rachel, think how many questions Ellie had when you spoke to her and we had always been relatively open with her. Rachel has lived with her father and from what I have heard she didn't have a single female role in her life" Sarah explained and Shelby nodded.
"She must know some of it from school" Shelby said. She had remembered Ellie mentioning when they had the conversation that Ellie knew some things already from school.
"Remember she is only 9 going on 10" Sarah said and Shelby nodded.
"But she is in 5th grade" Shelby said.
"How did that work?" Sarah asked and Shelby shrugged.
"Hiram and Leroy could be very persuasive, they probably got her in early" Shelby said and Sarah nodded.
"Still even if she has had some sex education, you need a parent to sign a confirmation letter and I doubt they would be learning about sex, probably just puberty" Sarah explained and Shelby nodded.
"I doubt he did, so I best call the school" Shelby said. Shelby walked out the room and called the school. As expected Leroy hadn't signed the forms allowing the girl to be involved in sex education lessons.
Meanwhile at school, Rachel had been in a day dream much of the day. She was so relieved when it was lunch time. Rachel quickly had her lunch and then headed to Miss Miranda's room.
"Hi Rachel" Miss Miranda said and Rachel nodded.
"Hi" She said shyly.
"Are you okay?" She asked and Rachel nodded.
"There is just a lot going on so I just want to sing" Rachel said and Miss Miranda nodded.
"Of course" Miss Miranda said.
They started singing and Rachel got into the song. She let go of everything, the emotion was overpowering and Rachel didn't even notice that she was crying.
"That was beautiful Rachel" Miss Miranda said and Rachel smiled.
"Thank you" Rachel said wiping her eyes.
They sang for a bit longer before the bell rang and Rachel headed to class. The afternoon classes went quickly and Rachel was so relieved to see her mom's car waiting for her.
"Hey" Rachel said climbing into the car.
"Hey, sweetie did you have a good day?" Shelby asked and Rachel nodded.
"It was okay" Rachel said quietly.
"Really?" Shelby asked and Rachel nodded.
"I just have a lot of things going through my head. I just want to get home now" Rachel said and Shelby nodded.
"Of course" Shelby said. Shelby was slightly surprised to hear Rachel refer to her parent's house as home but she knew that the girl was settling in. They spoke on the way home and Shelby could tell the girl was tired.
"Do you have any homework?" Shelby asked and Rachel nodded.
"Let's go into the kitchen to get it done" Shelby said and Rachel nodded. Rachel put her bag down and got the work out. Shelby got Rachel a drink and cookie.
"What homework do you have?" Shelby asked.
"Some math, and reading" Rachel said.
"I'll do the math first" Rachel said and Shelby nodded before sitting down. Rachel did some problems before looking up at Shelby.
"What are you doing here?" Rachel asked.
"I'm here if you need any help" Shelby asked.
"My dad never used to be around when I did my homework" Rachel said.
"Well, I am here for you. Are you managing that?" Shelby asked as she stood up and walked behind Rachel. She noticed that the girl was managing without a problem.
"It's quite easy" Rachel said and Shelby nodded. After doing the math, they moved onto the reading. Shelby listened to the girl as she read the page.
"You are very good" Shelby said and Rachel shrugged.
"Are you one of the youngest in your grade?" Shelby asked and Rachel nodded.
"I am, but I'm in the top set for everything" Rachel said.
"Oh you are very clever" Shelby said.
They spoke for a bit longer before Rachel was finished.
"Good girl, I'm away to the living room. Just put your bag away and then come through" Shelby explained and Rachel nodded.
Once she put her bag away, she knocked on her aunt's door.
"Come in" Ellie called.
"Can you help me?" Rachel asked and Ellie nodded.
"Of course, what's up?" Ellie asked and Rachel walked over to her aunt and whispered something to her. Ellie nodded and grabbed the girl's hand before standing up.
"Come on then" Ellie said guiding the girl down the stairs. She grabbed her phone on the way.
Meanwhile Shelby was sat down the stairs with her parents and Sarah. They were speaking when music started.
Rachel walked into the room. Ellie snuck behind her niece.
I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most, to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...
Rachel walked in front of Shelby and held her mom's hand. She had emotion in her voice and the rest of the family were all crying. This little girl had a voice of an angel.
Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes the sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good
It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...
Shelby joined in quietly singing with her daughter. She loved this girl and their voices blended amazingly.
Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
Because I knew you
I have been changed for good
And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done, you blame me for
But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share
And none of it seems to matter anymore
Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes the sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a bird
In the wood
Who can say if I've been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better
And because I knew you...
Because I knew you...
Because I knew you...
I have been changed for good...
Shelby and Rachel sang the last note in perfect unison.
"I love you Mom" Rachel said and Shelby smiled before pulling the girl into her arms.
"I love you too baby girl" Shelby said and everyone clapped.
"Oh Rachel, you are amazing" Elizabeth said. Rachel loved the attention she was getting from all her family. She smiled, this was her family. They spent the next hour or so with the family before Shelby knew she needed to speak to her daughter in private.
"Come with me a minute, Rachel" Shelby said and Rachel nodded.
They went up to Shelby's room and sat on the bed.
"Rachel, do you know the name of what your dad did to you?" Shelby asked and Rachel shook her head.
"Well, it's called sex, but because you didn't want to do it, it's called rape" Shelby explained and Rachel nodded.
"People have sex when they love each other and it can create a baby" Shelby said and Rachel looked confused.
"Women have eggs inside their bodies, in their ovaries and men have sperm. Sometimes when people have sex the sperm from the man goes into the woman and it can create a baby" Shelby explained and Rachel nodded.
"How was I created then?" Rachel asked. "Did you have sex with my dad?"
"Well no, you seen sometimes the doctor can move the sperm from the man to the woman without them having to have sex" Shelby said and again Rachel nodded.
"Why are you telling me this?" Rachel asked.
"Well, I think it is important that you understand what has happened to you and that you can speak to the CPS officer tomorrow. She might use words like sex and rape and I'd prefer you to know what they mean" Shelby explained and Rachel nodded.
"Okay" Rachel said.
"Do you know what puberty is?" Shelby asked and Rachel shook her head.
"Well, it is changed which a girl goes through to become a woman" Shelby said and Rachel nodded though she was started to get distracted and bored of this conversation.
"Rachel, are you listening to me or do you want to have this conversation another time" Shelby said softly. She didn't want to overwhelm the girl.
"Another time" Rachel said timidly.
"Okay, sweetie" Shelby said. "Can I get a cuddle?"
Rachel nodded as she put her arms around her mom.
"I love you Rachel and I am so proud of you. You have been through so much and you don't let it get to you" Shelby said.
"I'm glad that you are back. I just want you to look after me" Rachel said.
"I love you baby, I am never leaving you" Shelby said.
"Thank you mama" Rachel said into her mom's chest.
"Shall we go down the stairs for a bit?" Shelby asked and Rachel nodded.
"Can I play with Emily?" Rachel asked and Shelby nodded.
"Okay sweetie" Shelby said smiling. She was glad that they were getting on so well.
Shelby walked into the living room and sat down with her family.
"How did it go?" Sarah asked and Shelby shrugged.
"It wasn't too bad, I didn't talk to her about everything. I didn't want her to become overwhelmed so I didn't tell her about puberty or anything just what sex and rape are" Shelby explained and both Sarah and Elizabeth nodded.
Ellie came down the stairs and snuggled up with Shelby.
"Hey, what's up with you?" Shelby asked looking at her sister. By now both Sarah and Elizabeth were looking at Ellie as well.
"It doesn't matter" Ellie said sniffing confirming to Shelby that something was wrong.
"Is it to do with a couple of days ago?" Shelby asked and Ellie nodded before bursting into tears.
"Hey" Shelby said pulling the girl into her arms.
"Let's go up the stairs so a chat" Shelby said and Ellie nodded allowing her sister to drag her up the stairs.
"Right what's up?" Shelby said sitting on Ellie's bed.
"He told everyone" Ellie said and Shelby sighed.
"I thought you would have known that it would get out" Shelby said and Ellie nodded.
"I did know, but he told everyone that it was my first time and I bleed. It was so embarrassing, everyone was saying how late I was to have sex and how they thought I'd done it ages ago" Ellie said and Shelby sighed.
"Ellie, it's not as cool as people make to have sex. You'll end up calling you a slut or something" Shelby said. "I promise you, you get called names for not having sex but you still get the exact same for having sex"
Ellie nodded.
"I know that now, I wish never did it" Ellie said and Shelby sighed.
"Well, you have done it now" Shelby said. "Ellie, this is quite a serious question now. Are you planning on regularly having sex with Jackson?"
"Well, not anymore" Ellie said.
"Okay, well when you feel ready to have sex I'd like you to speak to either myself, mom or Sarah. We need to speak and I might find it easier to get you on birth control" Shelby explained and Ellie nodded.
"I know" Ellie said before it went quiet.
"Will you cuddle me?" Ellie asked and Shelby smiled.
"Of course" Shelby said pulling the girl into her chest.
"I'm a little jealous of Rachel for having you to herself" Ellie said.
"Oh sweetie, baby just remember that I am your sister and I always will be" Shelby said.
"I was looking forward to spending New Year with you in New York" Ellie said and Shelby smiled.
"Oh sorry baby, I forgot about that" Shelby said.
"Do you want to come to New York with me when I turn the lights on at Times Square" Shelby asked and Ellie nodded.
"I'd love that" Ellie said.
'"Good, I'll talk to Mom" Shelby said.
"Right, let's go and get tea" Shelby said taking Ellie hand and walking her down the stairs.
"What was all that about?" Sarah asked.
"Jackson again" Shelby said. Sarah was confused.
"People found out" Shelby said and Sarah nodded before they walked into the kitchen were everyone else is.
Rachel came running over to Shelby and stood very awkwardly.
"Are you okay?" Shelby asked and Rachel nodded but she didn't look so sure.
"Do you want to speak to me alone?" Shelby asked and Rachel nodded.
"Let's go into the living room then" Shelby said guiding the girl to the other room. She sat down and Rachel sat down on her mother's knee. She hide her face in Shelby's hair.
"Can I call you mom?" Rachel asked embarrassed and Shelby smiled. She pulled the girl away from her.
"I would love it if you would call me mom, but only if you feel ready" Shelby said and Rachel nodded.
"I am" She said and Shelby smiled. She hugged her daughter again. They stayed still for a bit longer before Elizabeth called them through to eat.
They ate with the family and all spoke to each other. By the time they had finished, it was late and nearly time for the children to go to bed.
"Right, pjs and shower" Shelby said. Shelby decided that Rachel was to shower in the evening as it made things easier in the morning.
Rachel went up the stairs and quickly got in the shower. Once she had a shower, she clambered into her mother's bed.
"Oh you didn't need to go to sleep" Shelby said.
"I'm tired" Rachel said and Shelby nodded.
"Okay, sweetie" Shelby said pulling the girl into her arms.
"Go to sleep baby" Shelby said.
"Sing to me" Rachel said and Shelby nodded.
Hush a bye
Don't you cry
Go to sleep my little baby
When you wake
You shall have
All the pretty little ponies
In your bed
Momma said
Baby's riding off to dreamland
One by one
They've begun
Dance and prance for little baby
Blacks and bays, dapples and greys
Running in the night
When you wake
You shall have
All the pretty little ponies
Can you see the little ponies
Dance before your eyes
All the pretty little ponies
Will be there when you arise
Can you see the little ponies
Shining before your eyes
All the pretty little ponies
Gonna be there when you arise
Hush a bye
Don't you cry
Go to sleep my little baby
When you wake
You shall have
All the pretty little ponies
All the pretty little ponies
By the time Shelby had finished singing, Rachel was in a deep sleep. Shelby kissed her on the head before going down the stairs.
She stayed with her parents for a couple of hours before going back up the stairs to bed as she was tired.
Hope this is okay :) Please review and tell me what you think :) I'd really appreciate any ideas people have :)