Chapter 7

Parked in front of Shelby's house, Rachel stares at the house. From the outside, it looks like the perfect home. But, it's not her home. She used to have a home with her dads. It was warm and welcoming. She hasn't been at home anywhere since they died. Her foster homes were temporary. She was never in them long enough to get comfortable. Sometime during the week she lived with Shelby, Rachel forgot that it wasn't her home. She did something she hadn't done in over a year. She hung posters and pictures on the walls in her bedroom. She should have known it was too good to be true. Now, she's here to get her things. And, the next time she makes herself at home, it will be in New York. She convinced Finn to skip class so they could get in and out while Shelby's at work.

Rachel uses her key to unlock the front door. When she steps in, she sees Shelby laying down on the couch. Shelby is wearing an oversize Ohio State sweatshirt and grey yoga pants instead of her normal black suit. When she hears the door, Shelby sits up and looks at Rachel. Bloodshot eyes tell Rachel she's been up all night.

"Why are you here?" Rachel asks. Her tone is accusatory. Her displeasure is clear.

"I live here," Shelby says, kinking her eyebrow. There's a hint of sarcasm in her tone.

"You were supposed to be at work," Rachel mutters.

And, that's when Shelby notices Finn standing in the doorway. Rachel isn't here to stay. It hits her that Rachel was going to pack up and leave without so much as a word to Shelby. Shelby's not going to make it that easy on her.

"It's a good thing I'm not," Shelby says.

"I'm just here to get my things," Rachel says.

Rachel doesn't give Shelby a chance to respond. She just goes upstairs. Shelby glances at Finn.

"Go back to school," Shelby says. Her tone is firm. Severe.

Frowning, Finn looks at the stairs Rachel just went up.

"Rachel's-"

"Rachel's my daughter," Shelby cuts in. "I'm going to work things out with her," Shelby says.

Finn reluctantly leaves. As soon as the door shuts behind him, Shelby goes up to Rachel's room. Rachel's suitcase is open on her bed. She's already laid her skirts down in the bottom. Now she's folding sweaters.

"Stop," Shelby says. The order comes out as more of a plea.

Ignoring her mother, Rachel continues packing.

"Stop," Shelby repeats. This time she's stern. Commanding.

Shelby knows her tone would have stopped her students dead, but it doesn't have the same effect on Rachel. Rachel zips her suitcase up and sets it down on the floor. Shelby feels like she's invisible. Rachel doesn't even look at her as she starts for the door. As Rachel walks past Shelby, Shelby grabs her arm to stop her. Rachel slowly looks up.

"Rachel, I'm so sorry. I was wrong. I know how much I hurt you," Shelby says.

"Then why did you do it?" Rachel demands.

"I wanted you. I wanted my daughter. I wanted a family. I couldn't wait until you were eighteen. Jesse's a good kid. I told him to befriend you and get you to listen to that tape. It seemed like the only way to get you to come to me," Shelby explains.

"You said you'd be honest with me! Why didn't you tell me when I moved in?" Rachel says.

"I was scared you'd hate me," Shelby says.

"Don't you see how it's ten times worse now?" Rachel asks.

"I messed up. I know that," Shelby says.

Rachel stares at Shelby with tears in her eyes. Rachel Berry is a forgiving person. She always tries to find the good in people. Even when it's hard to find. All Puck had to do was apologize once and all was forgiven. Quinn has never even apologized. Not for the slushies, the pornographic picture she drew of Rachel, the names she's called Rachel. And, Rachel doesn't need her to apologize. Yes, it would be nice if she did apologize, but Rachel has let go of the bad and held onto the few good moments she's shared with Quinn. Yet, here is Shelby practically begging for forgiveness and Rachel doesn't know if she can forgive and forget. Somehow, it's harder to forgive her mother than a high school bully. Shouldn't it be easier? After all, they're family. But, they're not an ordinary family. Would she be able to forgive her dads for the same transgression? Rachel can't answer that because she knows her dads would never do what Shelby did. Rachel can't even remember the last times her dads had to ask for forgiveness. It was always the other way around. Rachel apologizing for messing up. Her dads being stern, yet caring.

"I've never been so hurt in my entire life. You're my mom. You're not supposed to hurt me. My dads would never make me feel like this," Rachel says.

"Your dads wouldn't have to," Shelby points out. She takes a deep breath. "They got to see you, talk to you every day. I missed fifteen years. I couldn't miss three more," Shelby says.

Rachel slowly softens. She spent fifteen years missing her mom. Yes, she had her dads. They were a happy family. But, there were times when she wanted a mom. Shelby was alone. Single. No children. Of course, Shelby missed her daughter. Probably more than Rachel can even realize.

"I can understand why you asked Jesse to befriend me. I wouldn't have known you were my mom if I hadn't heard that tape," Rachel says.

Shelby breathes a sigh of relief. "Can you forgive me?" Shelby asks. Her eyes are silently pleading with Rachel.

Rachel looks down. "I don't know. Maybe. I can try," Rachel replies.

"Thank you, Rachel," Shelby says.

Shelby pulls Rachel into a hug. Rachel doesn't return the hug, but she doesn't step back either. When Shelby parts from her, Rachel remembers Finn waiting downstairs.

"I have to go," Rachel says.

Shelby's smile fades. "What? You can't go. You have to stay here. We can make this work," Shelby says. There's a hint of desperation in her voice.

"I'll stay here, but I have to go back to school. Finn's waiting downstairs," Rachel explains.

"No, he's not. I told him to go back to school," Shelby says.

Rachel is taken aback for a moment. She didn't think Finn would leave her, but she knows Shelby can be convincing. Rachel realizes suddenly that if she hadn't accepted Shelby's apology, she would have stormed out and had no one waiting for her, no one to go. That was probably Shelby's plan. Shelby always seems to know how to get everyone right where she wants them.

"I can drive you back to school," Shelby offers. "Or you can take the afternoon off. You had a hard night," Shelby adds.

"I think I will take the afternoon off," Rachel agrees.

Shelby is pleasantly surprised. When Rachel had a fever a few days ago, she wouldn't even hear of missing school. Now, Shelby thought Rachel would want to be anywhere but here, with Shelby.

"You don't mind missing Glee?" Shelby asks.

"I'm not. Glee is over," Rachel mutters.

"You guys aren't rehearsing until next year?" Shelby asks, surprised.

"We're never rehearsing again. Principal Figgins was only going to budget for another year if we proved that New Directions could be successful," Rachel explains.

"You won Sectionals," Shelby points out.

"That wasn't good enough. We had to place at Regionals," Rachel says.

Shelby sighs. She feels like she let Rachel down. Again. If Shelby's team hadn't won, Rachel would still have Glee. Of course, Shelby didn't know that winning would destroy her daughter's Glee Club. She thought Rachel would get over the loss. And, she genuinely thought Rachel would have a good chance of winning once Jesse graduated.

"I'm sorry, Hon," Shelby says.

"Thank you, but I don't want to talk about it," Rachel says.

Shelby nods her head in understanding. "Have you eaten lunch?" Shelby asks.

"No," Rachel replies.

They walk down to the kitchen. Standing in front of the refrigerator, Shelby scans the contents.

"How about salad?" Shelby asks.

"That's fine," Rachel replies.

Shelby makes the salad while Rachel sets the table. They've been living together for over a week now, yet this is one of the first times they've eaten together. Shelby has had Vocal Adrenaline rehearsal until midnight every night. They sit in silence for a while. Shelby remembers the conversation she wanted to have with Rachel after interrupting Finn and Rachel in Rachel's room. Of course, the conversation didn't happen because Rachel stormed out…and spent the night at her boyfriend's house. Shelby doesn't know if now is a good time to have that conversation. The last thing she wants to do is fight with Rachel. Again. But, the conversation needs to be had.

"I'm so happy you're staying, but we should talk about some rules now that you're living here," Shelby says.

Rachel looks up and folds her arms in front of her chest defiantly. Even when she was younger, her dads didn't have a lot of rules. They trusted her. They both worked. Rachel had the house to herself when she got home from school. She was allowed to hang out with friends as long as she left them a note. She hasn't had any rules since her dads died. She thinks it's a little unfair that Shelby is going to make rules for Rachel when Shelby is far from the perfect mom.

Seeing her daughter's initial reaction, Shelby quickly tries to calm her down.

"For both of us. I know it was hard for you to see Jesse here yesterday. I won't have him over when you're home," Shelby adds. "Is there anything else you need from me?" Shelby asks.

"You have to be honest with me. If I stay here and I find out you're lying to me again, I'm never going to be able to forgive you," Rachel says.

"I promise I will never lie to you again," Shelby agrees.

Shelby waits to see if Rachel has anything to add, but Rachel just nods her head and takes a bite of salad.

"I don't want you to have boys in your room," Shelby says.

Rachel rolls her eyes, but doesn't argue.

"You have to tell me where you are. I know you were angry and hurt last night, but I didn't know where you were and you wouldn't answer your phone," Shelby says.

"I couldn't talk to you last night. I was so angry," Rachel explains.

Shelby nods her head. She knows Rachel didn't want to talk to her. She should probably be thankful that Rachel is talking to her now. She doesn't want to talk about that anymore. She can tell Rachel is still angry and she doesn't want to make her even angrier. So, she moves on.

"I don't want you to spend the night at your boyfriend's house," Shelby says.

Rachel narrows her eyes suspiciously. "How do you know where I spent the night?" Rachel demands.

Should Shelby tell Rachel that Will came over last night? She's a little scared of how Rachel will react. After all, the rules she just made for Rachel are about boys. And, Will isn't just any boy. He's her daughter's teacher. She agreed not to lie to her daughter, but she didn't agree to tell Rachel everything. Leaving out that little detail can't be that bad.

"You came home with Finn," Shelby points out.

Rachel nods her head in acceptance of the explanation.

Shelby smiles as the conversation comes to an end. It could have gone worse. After lunch, they move to the living room to watch TV. Neither of them was able to sleep last night. Rachel tossed and turned in Finn's bed. Shelby didn't even bother going to bed. They both fall asleep on the couch watching TV.