Paul was used to April favors, as he was her director for years. She and Shelby really put him on the map and expedited his career, and he vowed to always do anything for either woman. His eyes went wide when she asked him though, then watered when she told him why.
"Let me see what I can do, okay?"
"You're the best, Paul. She's backstage with the girls, we have front row tickets but don't worry, I'll distract them."
He nodded and let her run off before he went to see if he could really pull this off. When April saw him coming, she pushed the Corcoran's into one of the dressing rooms so Shelby wouldn't see him. The actor who was in there with them looked up about to yell at them for closing the door until he recognized the women.
"Oh my gosh, you're April Rhodes and Shelby C—"
"Corcoran, yeah we're her daughters. Who are you?" Santana asked.
Shelby was about to get on her about the attitude, but it was evident the man didn't care. "I'm Jacob, and such a big fan."
"No, in the musical Jacob," Rachel continued. "Who are you in the musical."
"Oh, I play Boq."
"So you like, moms sister," she declared.
"Uhh…"
"Our mom doesn't actually have a sister—"
"In the musical she does."
April was watching the continued conversation that flowed effortlessly between the twins without really including anyone else. She always found it fascinating they could do it and have since they were little. Clearly Jacob found it amusing too because he just started to laugh.
"What's so funny, Mr. Boq?" Santana asked, an eyebrow raised as she glared at him.
"Santana," Shelby said, pulling her feisty brunette backwards. She knew how overprotective the twins were over one another, Santana a bit more than Rachel. "He wasn't making fun of you babe, relax."
Jacob apologized, "I thought it was impressive to be honest."
"What? That we know every detail of the musical our mom and aunt starred in?"
The girls neglected to see the signal Shelby was giving the poor guy telling him not to mention it, causing him to just agree with the feisty brunette. Due to the girl's conversation, Shelby herself didn't notice April had left the dressing room and found Paul until she came back in with a huge smile.
"Where did you go?" the mother asked.
"Girls, say goodbye to Boq, we have somewhere else to be," the blonde announced.
April led them to another dressing room and pushed Shelby down into the makeup chair as the girls sat on the couch. "I don't get why we need to sit down, there's nobody even in here."
"Zip it sweet cakes, they'll be here any minute."
Shelby still wasn't clued in on April's little mischief and then she saw her long-time friend and makeup artist walk in.
"Madison!" the girls said in unison, running towards her and wrapping their arms around her.
"Hey Mads," Shelby smiled. "How are Steve and the kids?"
"They are fantastic! How are you three? Gosh it's good to see you." Madison loved Shelby, April, and has become another aunt to the twins over the years as well.
"Can you do our makeup again?" Rachel asked.
"Yeah you're the best at it, I can never get mine to look as good as when you do it," Santana added. She did their makeup when they were little girls for fun, and a few times as they've grown up as well.
"She has a much harder job to do girls, trust me," April said, wearing a proud smirk.
"Wait, you did it?"
"No-my god!"
The girls said at the same time. They had waited their whole lives to see this, it was going to be the best. "I'm sorry, can someone please fill me in?" Shelby questioned.
"Warm up your voice honey."
"No, no. April, you can't be serious," Shelby said, shaking her head back and forth. She hadn't performed since becoming a mother.
"Just the favorites," the blonde winked.
The girls watched on with anticipation, and realized their mom and aunt were doing the same thing they do, which they always assumed was a twin thing. "Come on Shelbs, do it for the babies."
The girls let it slide because even though they always gave everyone crap for calling them babies, they were too excited to see their mom on stage. Shelby looked at her girls then looked up, essentially at Juan who gave her so much strength. She pulled the girls close and nodded as they squealed, "Just the favorites."
Soon enough, the girls were in the wing of the stage watching their mom act as April sang Popular, mouthing along to all the words. They had acted this song out for their family for years, today though, neither could tear their eyes away.
The audience cheered louder than the girls had ever heard, and their jaws remained dropped as Shelby and April exited the stage. She could see them about to speak and held a finger up to her lips—they knew the conditions of them watching the show from the wing: silence, and best behavior for Paul and Madison who were standing with them.
She hugged them and could feel them still shaking with excitement, and then realized now, just maybe, they won't look back on this week with as much pain. The actors who were playing the roles they once had were now back on stage doing all the scenes except for two, and the girls were beyond excited to see the next one.
They loved their aunt April, and the Popular scene will always be their second favorite, but they have so many memories of their mom singing Defying Gravity and to be able to watch it from the stage was so special to them. Santana doesn't even have an obsession with all things Broadway, but this was her mom.
Before Shelby went back on stage to sing, she kissed the girls and whispered, "More than all the stars."
The girls grabbed each other's hands and watched the most incredible thing they had ever seen in their life. Madison put a hand on their shoulders and the girls leaned against her while watching their mom and trying to hide their tears.
Madison saw the girls mouthing the words again and held them close when she heard sniffles. As a mother herself, she couldn't imagine what these girls were feeling because of their father, and seeing their mom for the first time.
Paul stood back, wiping his own tears watching the scene unfold. He was so fond of Juan as well because of Shelby, and he watched the girls grow up—they all did.
Glinda, dreams the way we planned 'em
If we work in tandem,
There's no fight we cannot win
Shelby and April sang; it was the girl's favorite line because they said it represented their twin bond, and it did. Together, they were always better and stronger.
They both gasped when Shelby was being lifted into the air, covering their mouths immediately, wrapping their arms around each other, never tearing their eyes from the stage.
And nobody, in all of Oz, no wizard that there is or was, is ever gonna bring me down.
I hope you're happy (Look at her! She's wicked, get her)
Bring me down! (No one mourns the wicked, so we've got to bring her)
Oh, oh-ohhhh (Down)
The girls clapped along with the audience, they knew their mom told them not to, but they couldn't help it. Intermission was here, and their mom couldn't get mad at them.
As the curtain closed, they ran onto the stage looking up as their mom was lowered back to the ground, jumping up and down in excitement. Shelby already had tears running down her cheeks seeing the girls crying as well, she knew theirs were happy tears though; lucky for her, crying was one thing she could always get away with as a mom by saying the were because she was happy, proud, and a million other things.
The second Shelby had her feet back on the ground, the girls crashed into her, and she nearly fell with the force from them both. "That was the most amazing thing, like, ever!"
"I can't believe you ever stopped doing this, seriously mom, what were you thinking?"
"Yeah, what are you? Nuts!"
"I was thinking," she winked, using her daughter's words, "being your mom was much more important."
The girl's jaws both dropped again, and the adults laughed. Madison and Paul had joined them on the stage and were listening to the conversation with interest. "You little monkeys are more important than any musical, and being your mom is my greatest joy in life."
"You have a Tony!" they said in unison, causing the adults to laugh again.
"I do, and you two mean so much more to me."
"And me," April added, being a Tony winner too and pulling focus from her best friend, who was trying not to cry again.
They finished watching the musical from stage right and then they all said their goodbyes. After they got back to the hotel, Shelby got the girls to bed and found herself wrapped in a hug by April as she watched them sleep.
"I know Shell, I know," she soothed, feeling Shelby shake from the silent tears she was crying.
She knew tomorrow would break her girls, and there wasn't anything she could do to protect them from hurting. "I miss him." April nodded, knowing there was nothing she could do but comfort her best friend.
Shelby woke up the next morning and found herself trapped. Santana and Rachel had climbed into her bed during the night and were on either side of her. She decided to stay there for a bit and let herself feel all the emotions that came with this day. September 24th, the day Juan was taken from her and the two sweet babies in her arms. Unfortunately, she still remembers every emotion she felt that day. A day that started out like every other, turned into the most painful of her life.
About thirty minutes later, she carefully and skillfully got out of the bed and watched as the girls snuggled into each other. She then made a cup of coffee and sat near the window with three letters in hand. She laughed way back when she leaned over Juan and saw him working on a third piece of paper after they celebrated the twins half birthday with 'My dearest Shelby' written at the top. "Juan, I'm not the one who celebrated a birthday today."
He laughed, then turned to face her, pulling him down on his lap. "You're just as much to celebrate every year on this day, beautiful. Without you, we wouldn't have celebrated anything today."
They knew they were a little crazy for inviting all their friends and family to celebrate the twins on their half birthday, but Juan and Shelby were crazy about each other and their family, stating they didn't need a reason to celebrate—it just happened to be a party held on their twin's half birthday. Family and friends piled in all day, and they felt so celebrated for having such incredible people in their lives.
Juan wiped the single tear from his wife's cheek and kissed her. "You're so perfect Shelby, and you gave us the most precious gifts."
Shelby has read the letter he wrote every year, and during those first few years, she read it constantly. Honestly, she could recite it because she's read it so much. But it's something that brings her comfort on this day, and she won't apologize for doing anything and everything that makes her smile every September 24th.
My Dearest Shelby,
Gosh you're perfect. I am the luckiest man in the world because you're my wife, and absolute best friend.
The minute I first saw you, I knew I just had to get to know you. The first date we went on, I knew there was nobody in this world who could ever mean more to me. You're the sun in my sky, the heaven on my earth. You make me laugh until I can't anymore, smile until my face aches in the best way, and live my life as a better man than I've ever been.
I knew walking home on our first date when it started to suddenly downpour, there was no one else I'd rather dance in the street with. No other hand I'd rather hold, no lips I'd rather kiss. You are everything to me, and always will be.
When I first brought you home to meet my mother, I had no fear because I knew she and my dad would fall in love with you the way I had. When we met your parents for the first time, I knew I was gaining the most wholesome set of second parents I could ever have, and a brother for life. When I asked you to marry me as the fountain lit up, I knew when the fireworks went off our life would be filled with the same amount of beauty and surprise you felt seeing them go off.
When you showed up in my office that day, dripping wet because of the rain but mainly because you chose to walk there, and jumped into my arms, I knew something life-changing was about to happen. And when you pulled the pregnancy stick out of your pocket, swirling you around as we cried happy tears didn't nearly express how excited I was to start this new chapter of our life.
Maybe almost fainting when the doctor told us it was twins expresses the pure shock and extreme happiness I felt a bit more, but still not nearly enough. I've never been more excited about anything. I knew how beautiful our girls would be because you are their mother, and the day those two made their grand and dramatic entrance may perfectly describe the feelings I've felt for you since I first saw you.
And yes, I know all three of you will forever mean more than life itself to me. Believe me, my heart is plenty big to love you all to the moon and back. You'll always be my sun, and my moon: the girls forever my stars in the sky.
I love you, to the moon and beyond.
All my love, and forever my heart,
Juan.
Shelby wiped her tears, although she knew it was pointless because she knew reading the girls' letters was going to break her once again. After reading them and balling, she jumped in the shower and got ready, knowing it was easier to know she was ready for the day.
Once her makeup was finished, she peeked into the bedroom and saw the girls were starting to wake up. Sitting on the bed, she pushed the stray hairs out of her daughter's faces and continued looking at them as they stretched out, then snuggled back into each other. Santana opened her eyes first, and Shelby was met with one set of brown eyes, soon to be followed by a second set.
"Hi monkey faces," she smiled.
She loved the blissful innocence her girls were able to enjoy, not fully processing anything until they were truly awake, unlike herself who knew what today was before she even opened her eyes.
"Mommy," Rachel said sleepily, rolling onto her mother's lap, pulling her sister with her.
Santana slowly rolled over a few minutes later, and Shelby could tell the exact second she processed what day it was. It broke her heart each and every time her babies were upset, and she knows it always will.
Seeing Santana reach for her sister's hand, Shelby knew Rachel was about to wear the same look. Feeling the smaller brunette tense in her arms, her heart broke again. Rachel's tears were felt as Santana's were seen, and Shelby moved Rachel so she could lay in bed with them. They curled up to her immediately and were now full-on crying.
Any other day and topic, Shelby would have countless ways to make them smile, while validating their feelings. Today though, there wasn't anything she could truly say to fix this for her sweet babies. She continued to rub their backs and started to sing, knowing it was the only thing that would help right now.
The girls had each picked at their breakfast, only eating a few pieces of fruit which Shelby would typically frown upon, today though, she wasn't going to force them to eat. She too only picked at her fruit.
"I want to talk to you about something," Shelby stated, gauging their reactions.
"We don't have to go to Tiffany's, I know you're mad we aren't eating," Santana said, her child-like side in full force.
"I don't care how much you two do or don't eat today, babe. Come on, let's go sit on the couch."
The girls stood up and sat on either side of their mom, feeling like they could cry again. "I want to talk to you about daddy."
Feeling the girls stiffen in her arms, she decided to yank off the band-aid. "When you two were in my belly, daddy and I decided we'd always do something special to celebrate each of you individually, and together. We knew being twins, so much of your childhood would be celebrated together, and we wanted you to be able to look back and remember all the times you had together, and as individuals. For the first six months of your life, even though I know you don't remember, we did just that. The weekends were for family time, but every Wednesday, your dad took the mornings off to take one of you out on a daddy daughter date."
Shelby smiled at the memory she had of Juan telling her his plan. "Juan, what are you possibly going to do on a daddy daughter date with a one-week-old?"
"Anything and everything, hermosa."
"Your father celebrated everything. I'll never forget when he came back from his first daddy daughter date, both of you came home in mismatching outfits, screaming, with one sock on, and your bows nearly covering your eyes and he celebrated it. But he got better, and each time you'd come home, he had a new story for me. He was up for any and every challenge, whether he was making a memory with the two of you individually, together, or with me too. He was first to jump up and change your diapers, pick out new outfits for you wherever they sold baby clothes, celebrate your gas smiles as real ones, and to dance along as I sang to you even though he wasn't the best dancer. When you two turned six months old, we had the biggest celebration—and once we got you two down for the night, we sat down and wrote the two of you a letter. The day you were born, we decided writing you two a letter each year on your birthday would further celebrate you two as a pair, and as individuals."
"Did he actually write them?" Santana asked, tears spilling down her cheeks.
"Yeah baby, he did," Shelby nodded.
Neither processed the fact Shelby had written one, nevermind 14 of them. "Do you," Rachel asked, but couldn't bring herself to complete the sentence.
"Do you have them…here?" Santana finished.
Shelby nodded again. She watched the girls look at each other and have a conversation without words before looking back at her and she knew they were ready. Shelby stood up and went to grab them, pulling over one of the chairs over to sit in as the girls were now squeezed together. Once their legs were interlocked the way they always did when they snuggled together, Shelby handed them each their letter and braced herself for impact.
They looked at each other once more, then opened them up at the same time. She was incredibly thankful to her own mother in this exact moment because the girls were already crying and she knew it was possible their tears may smudge the words on the page—thankfully to Katherine, Shelby had three copies of each letter, hers included.
My sweet Santana Marie,
I love you, more than all of the stars in the sky besides one. One of my perfect stars, gosh you're beautiful. As you lay asleep next to me, I can't help but feel like the luckiest man in the world. I've been your father, and biggest fan for six incredible months now. You are the most special little baby.
You have my nose, although I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not yet. I know I love it though, and that's all that matters. Your smile makes every day brighter. Life with you in it has changed me for the better, and I know you're too young to realize it yet, but I'm pretty cool already so imagine me now.
We've already done so much together, nina, which only makes me that much more excited to see you grow. I know you won't remember any of these memories yet, but I'll never forget them. Our first time at Central Park, we had a picnic together; I laid you out on the blanket and we played with your toys until you were hungry, and cheers'ed each other with our bottles. Granted yours had breastmilk and mine had water, and I got a few silly looks trying to take a few sips from the one of yours I actually filled with water. But it was worth it because we did it together.
When you were three months old, I took you to your first musical, telling you all about how beautiful mommy looked on stage, and how I thought you'd shine just as bright up there. Mommy thought I was crazy for taking you, you loved every minute of it though.
We went out to eat together, and you happily and greedily ate the ice cream right off my finger, trying to go in for seconds with your entire hand. Shh, don't tell your mother. I also took you on the carousel three times because each time I tried to get off, you made it known to everyone how much you didn't want to.
Santana Marie: Marie is homage to my mother, Maria and Santana is the name I picked. When you were in mommy's tummy, I picked up every single name book I could find on my way home. Your mother and I looked at them for days, weeks really. The night I came home with them, we fell asleep looking through them all. I didn't want to rush it, but I knew that first night, I fell in love with ones of the names on the first page I opened to. I know, you should really start books from the beginning. I've always had a thing for opening them to a random page and seeing what I'd find though, and you know what babe? Your name was on that page.
I knew with a name like Santana, you could run the world. I know you're only six months old, but I truly believe you could do it. And best believe I will always be your number one supporter all the way.
I love you, Santana.
More than all the stars besides one: forever.
Love, daddy.
P.S. Always remember today as your first bite of ice cream, not the one you had at four months. I love you.
My sweet Rachel Barbra,
I love you, more than all of the stars in the sky besides one. One of my perfect stars, gosh you're beautiful. As you lay asleep next to me, I can't help but feel like the luckiest man in the world. I've been your father, and biggest fan for six incredible months now. You are the most special little baby.
Life as your dad has been the most special and rewarding experience for me. I'm a pretty cool guy, but you've made me even better. You're so beautiful and I often wonder what I did to become so lucky.
We've already done so much together, nina, which only makes me that much more excited to see you grow. I know you won't remember any of these memories yet, but I'll never forget them. Our first time at Bryan Park, we had a picnic. I thought we'd play and then eat; you had other ideas though. You were completely mesmerized with all the people passing by that I stood up and showed you around. The way your eyes lit up seeing the flowers caused me to pick one for you. I thought you'd smoosh it, but you held on to that flower with all your existence and when we got home, held your little hand up and let mommy have it, along with the few I picked for her leaving her with half a bunch.
When you were three months old, I took you to the aquarium and watched your eyes lite up all over again. Don't worry though, we didn't bring anything home for mommy that time.
I also brought you to your first music class, we played the rainbow xylophone together loving every minute of it. When class was over, you made it known to anyone who would listen how unhappy you were to leave but were happily surprised when I took you for ice cream. Well, I had ice cream, you tried a bite from my finger and were stunned by how cold it was. You didn't go back for seconds like I thought you would, you did watch each bite I continued to take though with your expressive brown eyes.
My sweet Rachel Barbra, I know there's nothing but greatness ahead of you. If you're anything like mommy, I know I'll see you on stage one day too. Even if you aren't, whatever and whoever you are will be absolutely incredible, and I will always be your number one fan.
I love you, Rachel.
More than all the stars besides one: forever.
Love, daddy.
P.S. Always remember today as your first bite of ice cream, not the one you had at four and a half months. I love you.
Shelby was watching the girls and knew when they were getting towards the end of their letters. They're twins, and still to this day, she was certain they read at the same speed because she was their English teacher. She also knew Juan shared all the memories with each of them were told in their letter although they were at different times because he never wanted to repeat a daddy daughter date, but he did want to have the memories with each of them. She loved him for that, and everything else—he will always be her true love: forever.
The tears were streaming down her girls' faces, and before they crashed into her arms, they looked at each other exchanging a look of their own as if to ask if the other was okay. "I know babies, I know," Shelby soothed. It wasn't fair they never truly got to know him, just like it wasn't fair Shelby had raised them without him by her side. She will never stop keeping his memory alive for them though.
"What it today, we write our own letters to daddy, and you can tell him everything and anything you want to say to him," Shelby asked, wiping their tears.
Seeing the looks on her girls' faces, she continued. "I used to take you to see him when you were little, and I'd tell him all about you. I haven't seen him since you girls were six though, and I know I have a lot of catching up to do. What about you two," she asked, looking from Santana to Rachel.
The twins exchanged a look with each other, and then nodded. They had never truly been to where Juan was buried since they were three, each year though, Shelby would sneak away while the girls were with their grandparents and go see him. She'd bring three white balloons, each containing a piece of paper inside with a message and release them into the sky for him. I love you daddy, more than all the stars in the sky. Love Santana. I love you daddy, more than all the stars in the sky. Love Rachel. And, I love you Juan, more than infinity. Love forever, Shelby. She figured this year, Juan could get an I love you from the girls themselves.
They wrote their letters, sealed it with a kiss, then showered and followed their mom to pick up white balloons. At the cemetery, they continued to follow their mom to the top of the secluded hill where there was a bench, a cherry blossom tree and their father.
Juan Lopez-Corcoran: Devoted son, loving husband and father. A man who celebrated anything and everything, to the fullest, always.