Hi everyone! Welcome to Chapter 2 of Not So Instant Family. Thank you for all the reviews and favourites. It appears that I'm not the only one who is coming back to Glee after a little break!

The next morning, Rachel was woken by Rebekah to get ready for school. She jumped significantly as the woman gently shook her and whispered, "Rachel, its time to get up." Rebekah backed off when she noticed the wide eyes the teen gave her, "sorry dear. I thought you might like the bathroom before the others get up," she smiled softly, "come with me and we'll get you some supplies." She waited for Rachel to follow her down the hall and opened a storage cupboard. Rachel saw the small store of personal items and took the empty toiletry case she was handed, "do you need shampoo, conditioner, deodorant?" Rebekah asked and indicated to the cupboard, "I know you have some things already, but take anything else you think you might need. We can always get you anything else that's not in here."

Rachel blushed and looked away for a second but Rebekah was patient and waited for Rachel to reach out and take a couple of items. Rebekah showed her to the bathroom and pointed out the drawer that had been cleared for Rachel to keep her belongings.

"I'll leave you to it, sweetheart," she smiled, "when you are ready, come and meet us down stairs."

Rachel went back to her bedroom and rummaged around in her bag for an outfit. She showered quickly and spent some time in front of the mirror in her room fixing her hair and her make up. She packed her book bag and left it on her bed, heading downstairs to see Hannah sitting at the table eating a bowl of cereal. Noah was nowhere to be found. Rebekah handed her a glass of juice and pointed out the toaster and cereal so the teen could choose what she wanted for breakfast. She looked around the room, a little unsure before grabbing a bowl of the same cereal as Hannah. Rachel barely looked up from her food as the little girl chatted away. Eventually, Noah dragged himself down stairs and slumped over the kitchen bench, still in his pyjamas. Rebekah rolled her eyes but kissed the top of his head.

"I'll drive you all in to school today but Rachel and Noah, you can walk home together this afternoon," Rebekah explained earning nods from the two teens.

Rachel washed her dishes and hid out in her room until Rebekah called her down to leave. The woman handed the girl a packed lunch and Rachel stared at it as if it was completely foreign to her.

"She never forgets," Noah whispered, understanding what the girl was thinking, "We have a packed lunch everyday except Friday… On Friday we can eat from the cafeteria."

"Oh," Rachel replied. She climbed into the backseat of the car with Hannah and the woman started driving. Noah started flicking through the stations on the radio and he and Hannah sung along to the different songs. It was all very civilized and not at all like what Rachel was used too. When Rebekah dropped the two teens at school it was early enough that no one else was in.

"Meet you out the front after school?" Noah suggested earning a quick nod from Rachel who disappeared down the hall. Noah was surprised that the quiet and insecure Rachel disappeared as well. The next time Noah saw her was during Glee Club where she was back to her 'normal' self. He watched as she confidently performed in front of the crowd and led them through their rehearsal. Rachel ignored the curious look he had on his face and continued to discuss her set list ideas with Mr Schuester.

He didn't say anything about it when he went to meet her outside the school after class but he knew the quiet Rachel would be back. They just started walking in silence. Neither really seemed sure of what they should say to the other. They were about ten minutes into their journey when Rachel spoke up.

"How does she know?" Rachel asked, looking at her feet and kicking a stone along the ground.

"Who?" Noah questioned.

"Rebekah. How does she know what to say? How did she know what to do?"

"Oh, um… She was a foster kid too," he replied, "she says that they bounced her from home to home until one family was strong enough to keep her until she graduated… They are my grandparents, our grandparents I suppose… She says she wants to be that one family for us and look after us until we don't need her anymore."

"But doesn't she want kids of her own?" Rachel asked.

"Maybe," Noah shrugged, "but she doesn't treat us as if we are just foster kids. I mean, she's the first person I've ever called Mom."

"My mom's dead," Rachel supplied.

"I'm sorry," Noah whispered, slightly surprised that she was offering up that information while they were walking, "Mine's a drug addict and can't remember her own name, let alone the fact she had me. And my dad was a real piece of work."

"I'm sorry," Rachel mimicked his response.

"It's okay," he replied, "I'm okay now."

The two walked up the drive to find they were the first ones home. Rachel followed Noah into the kitchen where he grabbed a plate off the bench. Attached to the platter of chocolate cookies was a note from Rebekah.

Picking Hannah up from school and doing the grocery shopping. I love you both. Mom.

Rachel stared at the three little words she hadn't heard in reference to her since she was a little girl. I love you. Noah seemed to notice but didn't say anything. She grabbed a cookie off the plate and headed upstairs. Noah didn't hear a sound from her again all afternoon.

"Where's Rachel," his mom asked after greeting him.

"Her room," he supplied, briefly looking up from the History text in his hands, "She hasn't spoken since we got home… She's so different at school, Mom… She's bossy and loud and confident but then the complete opposite here."

"You know what its like, Noah," Rebekah smiled and kissed the top of his head, "its easy to act like a different person at school. Rachel hasn't had a family that supported her before. She's not sure how to act around us yet… Give her some time."

At the dinner table, Rachel barely looked up from her plate as the others chatted around her. She grabbed a bread roll off the table and shoved it into her pocket when no one was watching. Part of her knew that saving the food item wasn't necessary but she'd gone hungry too many times for her to truly believe that.

"How was your day today, Rachel?" Rebekah asked, trying to include the girl in the conversation.

Rachel looked up at her and held her eye contact for a couple of seconds before looking away. She nodded as if to say her day was okay.

"She got a new solo in Glee Club," Noah blurted out. Rachel looked at the boy with wide eyes. Why would he share information about her so freely? Noah seemed to realise what she was thinking but shook it off and continued, "You know that Katy Perry song… Firework."

"Oh I love that song!" Hannah called out and she and Noah wildly started singing it around the table, earning a laugh from Rebekah and more wide eye stares from Rachel.

After dinner that evening, Rebekah climbed the stairs to check on Rachel. She found the girl sitting on the floor doing her homework. Rebekah took a look around and noticed the suitcase sitting in the corner.

"You can unpack, you know," she said softly, "I would much rather you felt at home here… This is a long term placement, Rachel. I am well aware that you have been told that countless times but the difference between this time and all the other times you've been told that is I mean it. All families have problems and we're going to be no different… that doesn't mean I want you to leave… We'll work our way through any issue that comes up." The woman noticed a photo had been placed on the bedside cabinet and picked it up, "You look like your mom, Rachel."

Rachel couldn't help but smile a little at that. Rebekah turned and left the girl alone. A while later when she walked passed again, she noticed Rachel had hung some of her things in the closet and the suitcase was now under the bed. It wasn't everything but it was a step in the right direction.

"Noah, have you seen Rachel?" Rebekah asked the teenager as she returned from upstairs. The woman had gone to wake the girl up but had found the bed empty.

"No," he answered, sitting up a little straighter in his seat at the kitchen bench, "isn't she still asleep?"

Rebekah shook her head and furrowed her eyebrows. She knew enough of the teens past to know that there was a very real possibility that Rachel had run away while she had been pre-occupied, "I'm going to do another search upstairs before I have to call Social Services," she told him, "can you please help get your sister ready for school?" Rebekah didn't wait for his answer as she dashed up the stairs in search of the girl again. Opening up the door to Rachel's bedroom, she took a good look around. The teens backpack was still slung over the back of her chair. She also noticed a pillow missing from the bed. On a hunch, Rebekah crept quietly over to the closet and gently opened the door. Curled up at the bottom of the closet, Rachel started to wake as the light reached her. She sat up in a panic and had a frightened look on her face. Rebekah seemed to notice and stepped to the side so the girl didn't feel trapped, "come on sweetheart," she reached out and put her hand on Rachel's shoulder.

"Don't touch me!" Rachel shouted suddenly. It was an instinct. She hadn't meant to shout at the woman who was just trying to help her. Suddenly overcome with embarrassment, the teen started to hyperventilate and before Rebekah knew what had happened, Rachel bolted. Rebekah was stunned by the speed in which the girl fled and heard the front door slam before she even made it to the top of the stairs.

"Noah!" Rebekah called quickly, as she grabbed her keys and coat. The teen appeared from upstairs and had Hannah with him, "can you please get your sister and yourself to school today? I've got to head out and find Rachel."

Noah nodded. He had heard the girl scream from her bedroom and had tried to entertain Hannah in her room to give Rachel some space, "come on, Midget, lets get your breakfast finished… We'll need to leave a little earlier today so I can walk you to school."

"Where's Rachel gone?" She asked.

Noah hesitated, not knowing how much the little girl had picked up about Rachel, "she just got a bit scared," he said carefully, "and she's still learning that we wont… be mean to her," he explained, "mom has gone to find her."

Rebekah called the kids social worker, Melanie as she pulled out of the driveway and the two began coordinating their search around town. Rebekah didn't really know where to start as she slowly drove through the streets looking carefully out each side of the car. It was a good hour later that she heard her phone ringing and pulled over to answer it.

"I've got her," Melanie said simply, "I'll meet you back at your house with her."

Rebekah had to resist the urge to race back to the house but luckily made it just before Melanie and the teenager. When the social workers car pulled into the driveway, Melanie got out and walked around to the other side of the car to open the back door for Rachel. The teen got out, wrapped in a blanket the woman had supplied for her. She still had bare feet and was in her pyjamas.

"Let's get you inside," Rebekah smiled and led the pair inside, "thank goodness you're okay." She switched the kettle on and turned up the heating in the house, "Why don't you go and have a shower and get ready for school?" she suggested, knowing the teen wouldn't want to talk about it and needed to get back onto a routine.

Rachel didn't say a word but folded the blanket up before heading upstairs.

The foster mother sighed as the teen disappeared, "thank goodness you found her."

"She has a few regular spots she runs to," Melanie admitted, "I found her at a park I've found her at a few times before… She won't tell you, but she feels bad for over reacting. Its still very early days but she appreciates everything you've done for her in the last couple of days. She's already had a much better start to her stay here than she has with previous homes," she continued to explain, "Rachel's childhood with her birth parents was very volatile. She adored her mom and her mom used to tell her to run and hide to keep her safe. Its instinct to her now…."

Rebekah nodded to show she understood.

"I'll leave her with you," Melanie smiled supportively and made her way out.

Rachel shyly made her way downstairs not long later after she showered, dressed and got ready for school. When she entered the kitchen, Rebekah didn't say anything and simply handed her a warm tea and some toast. She sat down across from the girl and was adding items to her shopping list. Rachel couldn't help but feel embarrassed. She couldn't believe she had ruined her stay with the family already.

"I'm sorry," she said with a voice barely above a whisper.

"You have nothing to be sorry about," Rebekah reinforced calmly. She could see just how nervous the teen was, "I understand how our instincts overwhelm us sometimes." Rachel couldn't respond and simply continued to look at her lap. She finished her breakfast and took the lunch bag that Rebekah offered her. They climbed into the car and made the short journey to school. Rebekah came in with the teen and signed her in for being late. Rachel arrived just before her English class so she headed for her locker and collected the appropriate books. The halls were starting to fill with students switching classes.

"Are you okay?" a voice said from behind her. Rachel turned to see Noah standing there with a concerned look on his face, "I was worried when you didn't make it in time for first period."

"Rebekah just dropped me off," she whispered and he noticed the blush on her cheeks, "I'm fine."

Noah didn't push the issue. He just nodded once, gave her a small smile and walked over to where Quinn and Finn were chatting, "what were you talking to Manhands for?" Quinn screwed up her nose.

"Don't be such a bitch, Fabray," he rolled his eyes at her and turned to walk away again, "she not so bad and you know it." Noah was finding it a little difficult to know what to say to the others about Rachel. At some point they were going to find out that the pair were 'brother and sister' but in the mean time, although everyone knew Puck had a soft spot for the girl, they weren't really supposed to be close. He knew that once everyone found out there were going to be questions. He knew that once everyone found out they were 'related' there was probably going to be no way around telling them they were foster kids and he didn't think Rachel was ready for that. To be honest, he didn't know if he was ready for that either.

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