At the first hint of light peeking through the window, Shelby slowly roused from her peaceful slumber. Eager to embrace the tranquility of the early morning, she quietly descended the stairs and settled into her cherished office nook. The gentle morning glow cast a warm, comforting ambiance as she delved into her personal projects, taking a moment to sort through the mail that had arrived the previous day.
Suddenly, her phone chimed with an incoming call from her lawyer. With a heart full of hope, Shelby listened as he shared the incredible news that Rachel Dads had officially signed over her parental rights, paving the way for Shelby and Cassie to legally adopt her. Overwhelmed with emotion, Shelby expressed her gratitude and joy before ending the call. She couldn't contain her happiness, knowing that Rachel would soon be an integral part of their loving family.
As the morning unfolded, Shelby found solace in the familiar routine of preparing a nourishing breakfast for her loved ones. Each plump, ripe strawberry was tenderly washed and sliced, releasing a burst of sweet aroma that filled the kitchen. The vibrant berries were carefully arranged in a radiant bowl, a testament to Shelby's unwavering attention to detail.
Turning her focus to the heartwarming meal she was preparing, Shelby expertly crafted a hearty serving of oatmeal and crispy bacon, knowing it was Quinn's beloved morning indulgence. For Santana, Kitty, and Rachel, she toasted golden slices of bread to perfection, complementing their steaming bowls of oatmeal. Taking extra care, she meticulously prepared a customized blended shake for Cassie, tailored to her exact preferences, and adorned the table with a vibrant assortment of freshly cut fruits, catered to everyone's individual tastes.
As the morning light flooded the room, the table was adorned with an exquisite array of breakfast delights, each carefully prepared with an abundance of love and consideration, a true reflection of Shelby's unwavering devotion to her cherished family.
Cassie woke up at 7 am to the gentle rays of the morning sun streaming through the window. She reached out to Shelby's side of the bed, only to find it empty. As she glanced around the room, she noticed the absence of her wife. The sound of Shelby's voice drifted from Rachel and Quinn's bedroom, where she was gently coaxing them to wake up. With a soft smile, Cassie quickly got out of bed and made her way to Santana's bedroom. She gently shook Santana awake, her voice filled with warmth and encouragement. "It's a beautiful day today, Tiger. Get out of bed, because it's Friday and you can rest tomorrow," Cassie said confidently, her eyes sparkling with affection.
Santana slowly opened her eyes, still feeling the warmth of her bed as she greeted her mama. Cassie returned the greeting with a soft "good morning" and reminded Santana to get ready for school before her mom wanted to have a chat with her after breakfast. Santana nodded in understanding and started preparing for her day, while Cassie left the room with a reassuring smile, knowing that Santana was on her way to getting ready for the day ahead.
Cassie gently woke Kitty up from her peaceful slumber, then quietly made her way to the bedroom to get dressed. Just as she was getting ready, Shelby burst into the room, her face beaming with joy. She excitedly shared the wonderful news that Rachel was officially theirs, and they could move forward with the adoption process by signing the papers.
Overwhelmed with happiness, Cassie embraced Shelby, expressing her gratitude for the incredible news. As they held each other, they made their way to the paperwork, signing the documents that would solidify Rachel's place in their family.
Shelby carefully placed the adoption papers back into the vanilla folder, ensuring that everything was in its place. With a deep breath, she and Cassie made their way downstairs to the sunny dining room, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. They were eager to greet their daughters with a warm and cheery "good morning." As they entered the room, the four teenagers beamed in response, their eyes lighting up with joy as they exchanged morning greetings and settled in to enjoy their breakfast together.
After breakfast, Shelby passed the vanilla folder to Rachel, encouraging her to open it. As Rachel unfolded the papers, her eyes widened as she read the word "adoption." She looked up at Shelby and Cassie, the two women she had come to consider as her moms, with a mixture of surprise and joy. Her heart swelled with emotion as she realized the significance of the moment.
"We're one step closer to officially becoming your moms," Cassie said with a smile, her voice filled with warmth and determination. "All we have to do is give the adoption papers to our lawyer, and he will handle the rest, presenting them to the judge."
Rachel's eyes welled up with tears of happiness, and Shelby and Cassie immediately comforted her, wrapping her in a warm embrace. Meanwhile, Santana, their other daughter, rolled her eyes playfully at the emotional display, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
Kitty, Quinn and Santana were filled with joy as they welcomed Rachel into their family. After Rachel had returned the vanilla folder to Shelby, they all shared a heartfelt hug and finished their breakfast. Shelby then asked Kitty to clear the table and instructed Quinn and Rachel to grab their backpacks, while she requested a private conversation with Santana. The girls followed the instructions, and Shelby led Santana to her office, where they settled on the couch by the wall.
Shelby acknowledged that they hadn't had much one-on-one time since Rachel joined their family several months ago. She reassured Santana that despite this change, their bond would remain as strong as ever. Shelby expressed her love for Santana, affirming that she would always hold a special place in her heart as her first daughter. With a warm smile, she emphasized that Santana's importance in her life would never diminish. She also informed Santana that her opinions do matter and that they would spend a day together over the weekend.
Santana, feeling a warm sense of love and reassurance, openly expressed her emotions, "I know you love me, Mom. I will make an effort to get along better with Rachel. Can we go out to eat at McDonald's?" she asked with a mischievous smile.
Shelby's expression shifted to one of disapproval, "We're not going to McDonald's."
I still can't understand why you dislike going to McDonald's; they have good food.
You know the reasons why, Santana, and I'm not going to list the amount of unhealthy food they sell there," Shelby said, wagging her finger at her teenage daughter.
Santana chuckled at her mom and then asked, "Can we go to Breadsticks then?"
"Sure, we can," Shelby answered. "Go get your things so I can take the three of you to school," Shelby said softly, and Santana hugged her mom before hurrying out of the room. Shelby followed her out, grabbed her purse and the vanilla folder, and then locked the door once everyone had left. She drove to her lawyer first and handed him the papers to give to the judge. After that, she drove the girls to Carmel High.
As Shelby pulled into the school parking lot, she turned around to address all three teenagers in the back seat. "Quinnie bear, Kit, your mama is going to take you two and Rachel home today while Tiger and I have our one-on-one time," Shelby said gently, her eyes filled with warmth. "If mama goes out, Quinnie, you're going to be in charge. And tomorrow, all four of you are going to Nana's house to spend time with her. You're going to spend the night there until we come to get you in the morning. Make sure all of you are on your best behavior."
"We will, mom, and I will make sure everyone behaves and is respectful," Quinnie said with a confident smile.
"Thank you, Quinn," Shelby said, reaching over to give her a kiss on top of her blonde curls. "In two weeks, we're leaving for our family vacation."
The three teenagers nodded in understanding. "Until then, we will be good," Santana said, getting out of the back door with Kitty following her, and then Quinn. Shelby got out of the truck last and went into the school building.
After dropping off the cheerful teenager Rachel at the entrance of McKinley High School, Cassie quickly made her way through the bustling halls to Carmen High, where she was scheduled to teach her students in the morning dance class. As she entered the studio, the vibrant energy of the students immediately filled the room, and Cassie felt a surge of excitement for the day's lesson.
Meanwhile, Rachel was beaming with joy as she shared the wonderful news of her upcoming adoption by Shelby, her former glee club coach, with her friends at school. The news quickly spread through the corridors, and soon, the entire glee club was buzzing with excitement for Rachel. Mercedes and Kurt, her close friends, were overjoyed for her and eagerly offered to help organize a celebration.
"Are they going to throw you a party like they did for Quinn and Kitty?" Kurt asked, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "I can get the decorations and put together a great music setlist."
"I can get my mom to make the food," Mercedes added, already envisioning a fantastic gathering to celebrate Rachel's special moment.
The family's lawyer acted swiftly and efficiently to file all the necessary paperwork in order to expedite the legal process. Without delay, the lawyer promptly contacted the judge to discuss the case. The judge, recognizing the urgency of the situation, scheduled a meeting with the family for three weeks from now, specifically on a Monday morning at 9 am.
After securing the meeting, the lawyer made a considerate gesture by personally calling Shelby and Cassie at their workplaces to deliver the uplifting news. Both Shelby and Cassie were overjoyed and expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the lawyer for his dedicated efforts on behalf of their family. They eagerly looked forward to sharing the wonderful news with the rest of the family upon their return home.
During lunchtime, Santana sat with her friends, engaging in lively conversations and enjoying their meal together. The sound of the bell marked the end of their break, signaling the time to head to their next class, which happened to be English. In class, they diligently worked on their assignments, taking the opportunity to ask questions whenever they encountered challenges or needed clarification on their English tasks.
After a long and eventful day at school, the final bell rang, and the students began to trickle out of their classrooms, eagerly making their way to their rides or the school bus. Quinn and Kitty left with Cassie, planning to pick up Rachel from McKinley High School later.
Meanwhile, Santana headed to her mom's classroom to wait for her to finish grading her students' work. Shelby, Santana's mom, asked her daughter if she had any homework to do. Santana replied confidently, "Only algebra. I can do it tomorrow, Mom."
Shelby, with a firm tone, insisted, "No, you can do it now, Santana."
Santana decisively grabbed her things and started working on her homework, while Shelby watched with a proud smile as her daughter diligently tackled the algebra assignment.
After Mrs. Corcoran finished grading her papers, she put them in her bag so she could take the rest of them home to grade. Then she confidently helped Santana with her algebra homework, and they left the school together. Shelby drove to the science museum so they could spend some quality time together. As they walked through the museum, Shelby wrapped her arm around her teenage daughter, and they confidently explored the exhibits together.
After a captivating and educational two-hour visit to the science museum, filled with a wide array of interactive exhibits and captivating displays, Santana and Shelby decided to continue their day of adventure by heading to Breadsticks, a charming restaurant renowned for its delectable Italian cuisine. Eager to satisfy their appetites, they settled into their cozy seats and eagerly anticipated their meals. As they waited, they engaged in lively conversation, enthusiastically discussing their favorite exhibits from the museum and sharing their anticipation for their upcoming family vacation.
Santana's eyes shimmered with delight as she expressed her immense enjoyment of their time at the science museum, her infectious enthusiasm lighting up the conversation. "I simply can't contain my excitement for our family vacation," she exclaimed, her joy palpable. Equally thrilled about the impending trip, Shelby responded with a broad smile, "I'm eagerly looking forward to it too!" Their conversation was momentarily interrupted by the arrival of their steaming hot meals, and they indulged in the delicious Italian fare while continuing their animated discussion.
As they concluded their meal, Shelby graciously took care of the bill, and they made their way to her sleek black cadillac escalade parked just outside the restaurant. Just as they were about to depart, Santana's friend Brittany, whom she hadn't seen in several weeks, called out to them. "It feels like it's been ages since we've seen each other or had a chat," Brittany exclaimed, pleasantly surprised to run into her friends.
"I know, it really has been forever," Santana replied with a touch of nostalgia in her voice. "I'm grounded for a while," she added softly, offering an explanation for her absence from their usual hangouts.
"What did you do this time to get into trouble?" Brittany asked, curious about Santana's situation.
"It's a long story, Britt. I'll tell you about it another time. I have to go," Santana said with a smile as she got into the passenger side of Shelby's black cadillac escalade.
"Bye Brittany," Mrs. Corcoran called out as San and Shelby waved goodbye and Brittany watched them leave.
As Shelby drove home with Santana in the passenger seat, the sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow over the city. The sky was streaked with hues of pink and purple, creating a picturesque backdrop for their drive. Meanwhile, Cassie was at home baking a batch of her famous peanut butter cookies. The kitchen was filled with the delightful scent of freshly baked cookies mingled with the sweet aroma of peanut butter and sugar. Kitty and Quinn cheerfully assisted her, their laughter and chatter blending seamlessly with the soft music of Barbara Streisand playing in the background, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
After the cookies were done, Cassie carefully started cutting up the boneless chicken breasts into small, bite-sized pieces. The tantalizing aroma of the seasoned chicken filled the air as Quinn diligently washed the fresh carrots, their vibrant colors adding a lively touch to the bustling kitchen. Meanwhile, Kitty handled the sweet beans with precision and care, ensuring that each ingredient was prepared to perfection. The kitchen hummed with activity as the three teenagers worked seamlessly together, the clinking of utensils and the gentle sizzle of ingredients in the pan harmonizing with their lively conversation.
As Cassie expertly assembled the savory chicken pot pie, she watched the three teenagers put everything in the pie pan, their laughter and easy camaraderie creating a heartwarming scene. With a smile, she placed the pie in the oven, the warm glow of the interior light casting a soft illumination over the kitchen. As she straightened up the kitchen with the girls' help, Shelby and Santana arrived, their excited chatter filling the room as they discussed their next trip together.
Cassie eagerly greeted Santana as she reached the stairs, informing her about the freshly baked peanut butter cookies waiting in the cookie jar. Santana warmly hugged Cassie before heading to the kitchen to grab a few cookies. Meanwhile, Cassie mentioned that she had just put the chicken pot pie in the oven and that it wouldn't be ready for another hour, wondering if it was okay to let the girls have some cookies.
Shelby, after putting away her purse and bag, hesitantly agreed, acknowledging that it might spoil their dinner. Quinn emerged from the room with a cup in her hand, and her mother inquired if she had finished her homework. Quinn obediently affirmed and handed it over for her mother to check. She then mentioned that Kitty didn't have any homework, and her mother decided to verify by checking her bag. It turned out that Kitty was being honest, much to everyone's relief.
"Okay, go back to the kitchen and drink your juice," Cassie instructed Quinn, who promptly left the room to join her sisters in the kitchen. Santana began sharing details of her day spent with her mom, her happiness evident to everyone present.
Kitty and Rachel were sitting at the antique oak table, the afternoon sunlight casting a warm glow over the room as they focused intently on a 1000-piece puzzle scattered across its surface. The puzzle's intricate design presented a delightful challenge, and the two friends were determined to conquer it.
Soon, their concentration was interrupted as Quinn and Santana entered the room, their eyes lighting up with excitement at the sight of the puzzle. Eager to join in the puzzle-solving endeavor, they pulled up chairs and began sorting through the colorful array of pieces, each searching for the perfect fit.
As the four friends worked on the puzzle, Santana reached for a plate of freshly baked cookies, a mouthwatering aroma filling the air. With a mischievous grin, she selected a particularly large cookie and savored each decadent bite, sipping on a glass of cold, refreshing milk between bites.
After a while, Rachel leaned back in her chair and shared a surprising revelation. "I told Kurt and Mercedes about Cassie and Shelby adopted me , and they want to throw me a party," she said, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "But I told them they have to ask Shelby and Cassie about it."
Kitty chimed in, a hint of concern in her voice. "I'm sure Mom will throw you a party, but I'm still going to be grounded along with San," she said, glancing over at Santana.
Rachel nodded thoughtfully. "They might restrict it so you can enjoy the party," she replied, uncertainty evident in her tone.
"Maybe," Santana added, her voice trailing off as she reached for another puzzle piece, the conversation temporarily set aside as they continued their collaborative effort.
After dedicating an hour to unraveling the intricacies of their challenging puzzle, Cassie decided to take a break and attend to the chicken pot pie she had been laboring over. With eager anticipation, she opened the oven, and the kitchen was immediately flooded with the delightful aroma of the perfectly golden-brown pie. Handling it with care, she took it out of the oven, turned off the stove, and placed it on the counter to cool, ensuring it would be just right when served to her family. The tantalizing scent lingered in the air as the chicken pot pie gradually cooled, prompting Cassie to ask the girls to tidy up the puzzle. After washing their hands, Cassie and Shelby joined them at the table, and Cassie generously served steaming hot portions of the chicken pot pie for everyone to relish. As the family savored the delicious meal, compliments and expressions of gratitude flowed, creating a heartwarming atmosphere. The girls blushed at the praise, adding to the warmth of the moment. Shelby and Cassie also shared the wonderful news that the judge had set the date for Rachel's adoption three weeks from that Monday at 9 am, filling the teenagers with joy. "I need all of you to pack an overnight bag because I'm taking all of you to Nana after breakfast," Shelby said. "We will," all the girls chimed in. They continued to revel in the rest of their meal, basking in each other's company. After dinner, Rachel and Kitty took charge of cleaning up, while Shelby headed to her office to grade her students' papers.
Later, Santana and Kitty tidied up the family room, and after completing their tasks, they took a refreshing shower and then packed their overnight bags. They then proceeded to Santana's room to indulge in a game of cards until 10:30. Following that, they retired to their respective bedrooms for the night. Their mom checked up on them, giving each of them a goodnight kiss before they settled in, preparing for bed.