Nothing is Right When You're Pretend

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Glee or any of it characters.

Chapter 28

As Shelby got into her car her phone rang and recognizing the ringtone as Judy's she quickly picked it up and answered. "Hello?"

"Hey Shelby, are the girls with you right now?"

"No, Glee just let out and I'm headed to pick up Beth. The girls are headed home to Rachel's."

Judy sighed and Shelby could hear the fatigue in her voice. "Ok, I'll call later to talk to Rachel but here's what's going on."

Shelby sat in the driveway for a few with her head resting on the steering wheel. She had to go in and talk to Rachel to let her know what was going on with Hiram but she needed a minute to compose herself so she could. She had gone to Susan's to talk to her and Simon agreed to watch Beth for a little bit while Susan was set to follow shortly to talk to Rachel with her.

As Susan pulled in Shelby finally got out of the car and met her at the edge of drive. "Are you sure that Simon's ok with all the kids?"

Susan waved off her concern. "He's fine, the man should have been a teacher or something. Kids adore the goof. She's fine let's go take care of your other daughter."

Shelby sighed and they walk into the house. As soon as the girls saw them both they know something was up because Susan wasn't supposed to be coming over tonight. Rachel looked from one to the other uneasily. "What's wrong?"

Shelby took her hand, "Let's sit."

Rachel nodded and they all moved to the living room Rachel sat next to Quinn on the couch and Shelby sat in front of them on the coffee table taking both of her hands. "Judy called earlier to let me know what Alejandro had to say about your dad. After running a bunch of tests he's positive that there is some kind of buildup or blockage in his brain that is causing him not to wake up. He thinks that it is imperative that he have surgery within the next week."

Rachel sat forward. "Is he going to be ok?"

Shelby sighed cupping her check. "We don't know. He does say that we need to get him back in the states for the surgery. They are not equipped where he is right now to do what is needed. He wants to fly him home and do the surgery himself in Columbus or here in Lima. Your daddy is making the choice of where and they will be putting him on a medical transport plane in the next day or so."

Rachel leaned into Quinn wiping the tears from her face. "What about daddy?"

"Judy is staying with him until he is able to fly, which should be in a few days. She said if they can leave by Friday they could be home by Monday. Alejandro is hoping to do the surgery no later than Tuesday. The surgery is very dangerous but if they do nothing he will not survive baby."

Rachel nodded trying not to completely break down. "How confident is he that the surgery will work?"

Shelby looked to Susan then back to Rachel. "He says he has a 50-75% chance of survival with it and 0 without it and even if he does survive there is still a chance that he may have deficits."

Rachel stood walking toward the kitchen waving off the girls. "I need a minute."

Shelby watched her go and put her face in her hands trying to calm herself as tears started to fall. "I hated telling her that but I will not lie to her."

Quinn took her hand and squeezed it before standing. "You did the right thing Shelby. She needed to know. Now we just need to be there for her." She walked into the kitchen and over to the window over the sink. Rachel was on the back deck sitting on the steps.

As her shoulders began to shake Quinn couldn't take it anymore and went out to her. When she sat beside her Rachel looked up and falls into her on a sob. "He… can't die."

Quinn pulled her into her lap and held her close. "You have to think positive baby. Papi is one of the best head doctors in the country. They'll bring him home and Papi will do his thing and we'll just pray as hard as we can."

Rachel buried her face in her neck and sighed. "I love you Quinn, please don't leave me."

Quinn picked up her face by her chin to look into her eyes. "I love you so much Rachel. You my love are stuck with me. I'm not going anywhere and I will be by your side for as long as you'll let me."

Crushing their lips together Rachel buried her hands in Quinn's hair and kissed her for all she was worth. Breaking away she sobbed and fell into Quinn again. "I'm so scared."

Quinn tightened her arms and rocks her gently. "I know baby, I know." She didn't know what else she could say so she just held her and let her get it all out.

From the window Shelby, Susan and the girls watched on with tears in their own eyes. Shelby sighed, "I can't stand this. I feel so helpless."

Susan rubbed her back in agreement and comfort. Santana stood there just vibrating with nervous energy. "I can't just stand here. I… I just… No I can't do it."

Before they even realize what was happening she's out the door, Brittany hot on her heels. They plopped down on either side of the girls and wrapped around them. Rachel peaks out seeing Santana and leaned into her from her spot on Quinn's lap while Brittany rubbed her legs. None of them said a word.

Susan gave Shelby a one armed hug before pulling her away from the window. "Come on. The girls have her for now. Let's get some dinner made because regardless of whether she wants it or not she needs to eat. Simon will bring Beth later unless you want me to keep her tonight."

Shelby took one last longing look at Rachel then followed. "No, Beth can come home with us, it'll be fine. Let's figure out food. Is Brittany staying the night or going home?"

She shrugged. "Simon wanted her to come home but I talked him into letting her stay. She doesn't sleep at all at home when something bad is happening. That's why I've been letting her stay. Otherwise I'd have a zombie on my hands. She loves them all so much. She, San, and Q are in protection mode around Rachel. It's like it's ingrained in them that their world revolve around her right now."

Taking some things out of the fridge she turned back to Shelby. "I've seen them go into protection mode over San too when her grandmother was causing crap and I've heard what they do to kids at school if they hurt or upset one of them. A while back Britt was dating that boy Artie and he called her stupid. That did not go over well. Rachel tore him a new one in the halls and Quinn called an all-out war on the boy for a while."

"You heard what happened with that Finn boy when he hurt Rachel at Regionals. Santana was physically held back, but Quinn was able to get a shot in. Britt was holding a crying Rachel the whole time. From what Britt told me there was also an incident with Finn grabbing Quinn. Santana was held back then too, and Rachel ended up comforting Quinn that time. They take care of each other, when one of them hurts they all hurt or they hurt the one who's responsible." She shrugged moving to the counter.

Shelby looked toward the window. "That's kind of weirdly codependent isn't it?"

Susan shook her head, "No, that's family. They are fiercely loyal and protective. Maribel and I are the same way so is Judy now that she finally found her backbone again. You… you I'm still holding a verdict on but you have moved up in my book since this all started."

Shelby chuckled lightly. "I'm happy to hear it. All I care about is getting Rachel through this."

"And after it's all done? What then?" She eyed her while chopping vegetables.

Shelby sighed looking back to the window again. "I'll do whatever she wants. I screwed up with her once already but I want to do better. We've talked about all of that and I'll be all that she needs me to be. I just want to be her mom."

Susan nodded satisfied with that answer and they looked up as the door opened and all of the girls file in. Rachel walked straight into Shelby's arms and sank into her. "Where's Beth? I need my little sister cuddles."

Shelby smiled running her hand through her hair. "She's with Simon but you can get your cuddles in a little while when he brings her home."

Rachel smiled into her chest. "Ok, I think we're going to go up for a while. We still have homework and hopefully it will take my mind of things until Mama J calls with more information."

Hugging her once more she detached herself moving to Susan to kiss her check then headed upstairs with the girls following. Once upstairs they sprawled on her bed with their schoolbags as set to finish their work. Rachel finished hers quickly and turned to Brittany to help her. Once they are finished she looked to the other two seeing them still working.

Smiling she curled into Quinn's side as she worked and dozed off and on until she felt lips pressed her own. She sighed as the lips disappear and opened her eyes to see Quinn hoovering above her, "Hey."

Quinn smiled nipping her chin. "Hey, Shelby said dinner will be ready in a few."

Rachel nodded wrapping her arms around Quinn's neck then looked around confused. "Where are San and Britt?"

Leaning back in she ghosts her lips over Rachel's. "They went downstairs so Britt could spend some time with her mom."

Grinning, she pulled Quinn the rest of the way down and eliminated the space between their lips. It almost instantly deepened and Rachel could not get close enough. She ran her hands down and around to Quinn's back and pulled trying to eliminate the space Quinn was keeping between them.

Quinn pulled her mouth away, "I don't want to crush you baby."

Rachel shook her head rapidly and pulled once more raking her nails down her back and sides, "You won't. I need to feel you, please Quinn."

With a nod she rests her body fully on top of Rachel and they both groaned at the feel before they attack each other once more. The kiss deepened as Quinn ran a hand up Rachel's chest to caress her throat. Rachel dragged her nails down her back once more stopping at the gentle swell of her ass taking a cheek in each hand and pulling her closer. She shifted one leg causing Quinn to straddle the other and one of her legs to be nestled against her core.

Ripping her mouth away Rachel moaned breathlessly, "Quinn!"

Quinn pressed her forehead to Rachel's trying to catch her own breath at the feel of Rachel's strong thigh against her as well. "Jesus Rachel."

They lay there for a moment looking into each other's eyes then dove back in. As they devoured one another they moved together rubbing against each other's thigh. They knew they are not ready for things to go any further but damn. Eventually they slowed their kisses and stopped the movement of their bodies.

Quinn detached with a soft kiss to her chin and smiled. "I love you Rachel."

Rachel beamed kissing her lips lightly. "I love you too."

Not being able to resist she pulled her back down and kissed her deeply once more. Quinn moaned into her matching her intensity for a moment before ripping her lips away on a groan of disapproval but knows she had to do it. "God baby we need to stop."

Rachel tried to catch her breath holding her shoulders, "I know I'm sorry. It's just… I waited so long to kiss you and now that I can and I know you love me as much as I love you I want to kiss you all of the time."

Quinn shook her head pecking her nose. "Don't apologize for loving me so much you don't want to stop kissing me. I'm just as much at fault. I don't want to stop either."

Rolling off, she pulled Rachel over with her and settled her into her side as they calmed down. "We need to head downstairs. Dinner will be ready soon and Beth is back for your cuddle needs."

Rachel chuckled nuzzling into her neck. "I think all my cuddle needs are being met right here."

Laughing Quinn climbed out of bed pulling Rachel with her. "Come on let's go eat, you can cuddle me and Beth after dinner while we rock her to sleep."

Rachel smiled following after, "That sounds like heaven to me."

Once they made it down stairs dinner was ready and they all sat to eat. Judy called right after they finished eating but the only thing new she had to say was that LeRoy decided to do the surgery in Lima because Alejandro would be doing the surgery either way and this way they didn't have to go to Columbus as much and Rachel would miss less school.

Rachel and Quinn took Beth upstairs afterward they hung up with Judy for a bath and to put her to bed while the others cleaned up. Shelby came up to check on them after she had finished downstairs to find Beth in her pack-n-play sleeping and Quinn and Rachel sound asleep in the middle of her bed.

She smiled and went back down stairs to the others. "They are all asleep in my room. I think she's ok for the night."

Susan stood looking to Brittany. "Ok baby I think it's time for me to go and let Shelby and you girls get some rest."

Brittany looked up with sad eyes. "Ok mom, can I stay tomorrow too?"

She nodded her head and sighed. "I'm not sure your father will let you stay tomorrow too. You may have to wait and come back Friday and maybe Santana will take you on a date too while Quinn and Rachel are out."

She winked at Santana and Brittany just smiled. After talking to Quinn finding out that all the moms already knew Brittany and Santana talked to Susan and Simon about them dating and were planning on talking to Maribel and Alejandro as soon as they were home too. Simon and Susan just chuckled at them and thanked them for finally coming clean.

She got up to walk her mom out still unhappy about not getting to stay tomorrow and Santana stood with her. "It's ok baby, I'll take you to the pond after school to feed the ducks and you can pick anywhere you want to go to dinner."

Brittany bounced excitedly and hugged her close. "Oh those are always the best dates." Santana smiled and they walked to the door.

Susan chuckled after her daughter and turned to Shelby. "I guess they've been dating long enough that it doesn't have to be as elaborate as what Quinn is planning."

They both laughed as Shelby walked her out and she and the girls locked up after hugging her goodbye. "I'm not going to wake them so if you two want you can get dressed for bed and come lay with us."

They shared a smile and Santana looked to her as they started up the stairs. "Thanks Miss C, I think we'll do that."

After getting ready for bed Shelby settled in and smiled as Santana and Brittany came in. Santana climbed in to bed and curled up to Rachel's other side effectively sandwiching her between her and Quinn than Brittany spooned her from behind. Shelby knew that the next week would be hell with the Berry men coming home and Hiram's surgery but all she cared about was that Rachel was ok. Being totally exhausted as well sleep found her quickly as she prayed that everything turned out for the best.

A/N: Ok there it is. Up next the date.