The Thing Called Love Chapter Thirty- Six, a glee fanfic

At 6:45 am, the gentle melody of Rachel's favorite alarm tune softly roused her from a deep, restful slumber. As she slowly opened her eyes, the warm morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. With a contented stretch, she reached over to her nightstand, her hand fumbling for a moment before finding the source of the soothing sound. With a deft movement, she turned off the alarm and took a moment to savor the stillness of the early morning. Her gaze drifted over to the other side of the room, where Quinn lay in peaceful slumber, the soft rise and fall of her breathing a comforting sight.

Gathering her clothes and toiletries, Rachel stepped into the hallway, her footsteps quiet as she made her way to the shared bathroom. The familiar creak of the floorboards added to the tranquility of the moment as she turned on the faucet, feeling the rush of warm water cascading over her skin. The steaming tendrils of shower mist enveloped her, providing a cocoon of comfort and tranquility that washed away the last remnants of sleep. As she methodically went through her morning routine, each movement was deliberate and unhurried, allowing her to savor the peaceful solitude of the early hours. Emerging from the bathroom, she felt renewed and ready to embrace the day ahead.

The alluring aroma of freshly brewed coffee greeted her as she descended the stairs and made her way to the kitchen, where Cassie was just stepping out. The rich scent filled the air, wrapping around her like a comforting embrace. Cassie, with her cheerful morning smile, greeted Rachel, "Do you need any money for your school lunch, Rachel?"

"No, I still have some money left over from our trip," Rachel replied with a grateful smile, her voice reflecting the sense of contentment that filled her. She felt prepared to face the day ahead, her heart warmed by the thoughtful gesture.

Cassie, with a warm expression, reached into her purse and handed Rachel a $20 bill, saying, "Just in case, dear. Have a great day!"

Rachel's heart swelled with gratitude as she thanked Cassie, feeling the warmth of their friendship enveloping her. Together, they prepared breakfast, the clinking of utensils and the aroma of sizzling food filling the kitchen as they embraced the simple joy of sharing a morning meal.

As Rachel and Cassie were busy preparing a hearty breakfast in the warm and inviting kitchen, Shelby entered with a bright smile, greeting them with a cheerful "Good morning." She then walked over to the aromatic coffee pot, filled her favorite mug with the freshly brewed coffee, and took a seat at the cozy counter, savoring the rich, steaming beverage.

"The girls will be down soon. I heard the showers running, and Kitty's using ours," Shelby mentioned between sips of her hot coffee, the warmth of the cup providing a comforting contrast to the morning chill.

As the delicious aroma of the freshly cooked food filled the air, Shelby made her way to the top of the stairs and called out to Kitty, Santana, and Quinn, asking them to come downstairs for breakfast. The three of them chatted as they descended the stairs and warmly greeted their mom, giving her a hug to start the day on a loving note.

The morning was filled with the tantalizing aroma of sizzling bacon and freshly brewed coffee, wafting through the air and beckoning Shelby's family downstairs. Shelby excitedly made her way to the top of the stairs and called out to her daughters' Kitty, Santana, and Quinn. As they chatted and laughed, the siblings slowly descended the stairs and warmly greeted their mom with tight, morning hugs, setting the tone for a day filled with love and warmth.

They gathered around the table in the cozy kitchen, where the morning sunlight filtered in through the windows, casting a warm glow over the room. They shared stories and laughter as they sipped on their morning beverages and savored the delicious breakfast spread that their Mama and Rachel had lovingly prepared.

After finishing their breakfast, the teenagers gathered their backpacks and made their way to the car, chatting and joking as they walked. Meanwhile, Cassie lovingly drove Rachel to school in the family's sleek Escalade, starting the day with a sense of togetherness and joy.

As Cassie pulled up to the entrance of McKinley High School, Rachel stepped out of the car and was immediately greeted by her friends Mercedes and Kurt. They exchanged warm smiles and playful banter as they made their way into the bustling school building, the sounds of their footsteps echoing in the hallway. The morning sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the corridors as they walked together to their first period class.

After attending a couple of classes, Rachel walked to glee club with Kurt and took her regular front-row seat. Mr. Schuester then asked his students who wanted to sing, and Mercedes eagerly raised her hand. Mr. Schuester encouraged her to take the floor, and Mercedes stood in the middle, asking the pianist, Brad, to play "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from DreamGirls.

And I am telling you

I'm not going

You're the best man

I'll ever know

There's no way I can ever go

No, there's no way

I'm living without you

I'm not living without you

I don't want to be free

I'm staying

And you, you, you

You're gonna love me

Yeah, ohh

You're gonna love me

And I am telling you

I'm not going

Even though the rough times are showing

There's just no way

We're part of the same place

We're part of the same time

We both share the same blood

We both have the same mind

And time and time

We've had so much to share

No, no, no way

I'm not waking up tomorrow morning

And finding that there's nobody there

Darling, there's no way

I'm living without you

You see, there's no way

Tear down the mountain

Yell, scream, and shout

You can say what you want

I'm not walking out

Stomp on the rivers

Push, strike, and kill

I'm not gonna leave you,

There's no way I will

And I am telling you

I'm not going

You're the best man

I'll never know

There's no way I can ever, ever go

No, there's no way

I'm living without you

I'm not living without ya now

Living without ya

I don't want to be free

I'm staying, I'm staying

And you and you and you

You're gonna love me

Yes, you are

Yeah

Love me

You're gonna love me

As the song reached its climax, the entire club erupted into applause, cheering for Mercedes's incredible talent. It was a memorable and electrifying performance that left everyone in awe.

When the final bell rang at Carmel High School, Santana made her way to the study hall to start working on her history homework. However, on her way, she stopped by her mama's dance class. It was a rare opportunity to catch her mom alone without her students, so Santana took the chance to chat. Cassie, her mama, asked Santana how her history class was going.

"Okay, Mrs. Carson gave us a lot of history homework because Lauren and Jay wouldn't stop arguing over something that is dumb," Santana said. "We also have to write a report on Pearl Harbor. Can you talk to her? I shouldn't be doing it just because two of my classmates weren't listening."

"I will see what I can do," Cassie said. "Go to study hall and work on the report."

Santana followed her mom's advice, leaving her mama's class and heading to the study hall. She sat down at one of the tables and began working on her report.

After the school day ended, Santana made her way to her mom's English class, where the students were getting ready to leave. Distressed, she approached her mom, Shelby, and expressed her frustrations about Mrs. Carson's decision to assign a significant amount of work and a report on Pearl Harbor to the entire class. Shelby, curious about the situation, inquired about the reason behind Mrs. Carson's extra assignments. Santana explained that most of her classmates had not been attentive in class, which led Mrs. Carson to assign the additional homework to the entire class. Shelby comforted Santana and praised her for handling the situation without being disrespectful. She even offered to assist Santana with her report at home.

Meanwhile, Shelby was in the midst of grading her students' papers when her three daughters, Quinn, Santana, and Kitty, entered the classroom. They patiently waited for their mom to finish up before heading home. Quinn was engrossed in her phone, tapping out a message, while Santana diligently tackled her history homework. Kitty, on the other hand, was focused on her English assignment. At 4 o'clock, Shelby gathered the remaining papers in her briefcase and beckoned her daughters to leave, urging them to pack up their things as they made their way out of the school building and towards their mom's car, ready to head back home.

As Quinn, Kitty Shelby and Santan arrived at the house, their mother Shelby instructed them to start working on their homework. She then turned to Santana and promised to join her in a minute, once she had put her purse and briefcase down. The girls obediently began their tasks and afterwards welcomed their mama Cassie with warm hugs. Shelby then settled down next to Santana and help her with her report on Pearl Harbor.

After finishing helping Santana with her homework, Shelby turned to help Quinn and Kitty with theirs. As she completed her tasks, she grabbed an apple and took a moment to enjoy a snack.

After carefully reviewing Santana's research on the intricacies of the Pearl Harbor attack and providing support to Kitty and Quinn with their respective parts of the science project, Shelby decided to take a brief respite. She reached for a fresh, ripe apple and savored its crisp, juicy texture, enjoying a well-earned snack. With homework meticulously organized and nestled back into their backpacks, Shelby methodically washed her hands before embarking on the task of crafting a delectable homemade soup for the evening meal.

As Cassie walked into the den, she saw her family all gathered and deeply engrossed in the TV show that was playing. Deciding to interrupt, she smoothly paused the TV, drawing everyone's attention to her. With a mischievous smile, she then produced a vibrant paint chart, holding it up for the girls to see. She asked Quinn, Kitty, Rachel, and Santana to choose their preferred colors from the wide array of choices. Quinn's eyes immediately settled on a delicate shade of lavender, while Kitty opted for a glistening silver. Rachel, with her artistic sensibilities, picked out a harmonious combination of gold and white, and Santana confidently pointed to a bold pairing of teal and black.

Looking ahead at the upcoming plans, Cassie detailed the schedule for the rest of the week. Tomorrow, the family would start cleaning the guest room upstairs. On Thursday, Cassie's dad would be tackling the task of disassembling Rachel's bed to move it into the guest room, and the walls of the room would be prepped for a fresh coat of paint. Once the guest room was taken care of, the focus would shift to organizing her mom's office. In the midst of the conversations, Shelby popped into the room to check on the simmering soup, and Cassie eagerly mentioned that Rachel would be in her own bedroom by Friday, which brought a smile to Rachel's face.

As the evening progressed, Shelby once again appeared in the room, announcing that dinner was ready. She gracefully served everyone with steaming-hot bowls of soup, and Quinn kindly poured everyone a refreshing glass of water. The family settled down to enjoy their meal, relishing the warmth of their shared moments together.

After dinner, Santana and Kitty work together to clear the table, making sure to gather all the dishes and utensils. Meanwhile, Quinn and Rachel handle putting away the leftovers to make sure they stay fresh. Kitty then takes charge of washing the dishes, carefully scrubbing each one to make sure they're spotless. Santana dries the dishes with a clean towel, working efficiently to make the task easier. In the meantime, Shelby sits in her office, focused on grading her students' papers, providing them with valuable feedback.

After our delicious dinner, Santana and Kitty collaborated to clear the table meticulously, ensuring that all the dishes and utensils were gathered and taken care of. While they were doing this, Quinn and Rachel efficiently managed to store away the leftovers to preserve their freshness for another meal.

Following that, Kitty took charge of washing the dishes, treating each one with care to ensure they were impeccably clean. Santana then diligently dried the dishes with a clean towel, making the task easier for everyone.

Meanwhile, Shelby remained focused in her office, dedicating herself to grading her students' papers and providing them with valuable feedback. Once everyone finished their chores, we all gathered in the den and decided to watch "Law and Order" until it was time for bed at 8:30. Shelby joined us after finishing grading her students' papers, placing them in her briefcase before relaxing with the rest of the family in front of the TV.

At 9:25 PM, Santana and Rachel started to feel drowsy, so they decided to make their way upstairs to their cozy bedroom. Cassie and Shelby kindly offered their support and helped them reach their bedroom safely. Ten minutes later, Cassie returned downstairs to gently remind Quinn and Kitty to turn off the TV and take some time to unwind. Paying heed to Cassie's thoughtful reminder, Quinn promptly switched off the TV, turned on a warm lamp, and picked up a captivating book to delve into. Meanwhile, Kitty indulged herself in the latest fashion trends by flipping through a glossy fashion magazine.

At 10:00 PM, each of them bid their moms goodnight and retreated to their respective rooms. They changed into their comfortable nightclothes before settling into their beds for a restful night's sleep.