A/N: Hi all, sorry for the longer than usual wait for this update, but a friendly warning that as of right now, I'm planning four to five more chapters to wrap this story up ~give or take because we all know about my gross inability to write concisely/struggle with letting things go! But it's been almost a year since I first posted EC, so I'm excited to see this through with you guys.

Quinn: How did the doctor go? All clear? And can u come over tonight? I'll send a text to everyone and we can talk more about ur Regionals plan ;)

Rachel: ALL CLEAR! :D

Rachel lifted her eyes from her phone to watch her mother exchange a brief conversation with the receptionist at the doctor's office before they headed home.

Quinn: Awesome! Congrats on being concussion-free!

"You ready to go, Rach?" Shelby asked the distracted teen a moment later while she stuffed the medical forms in her hand into her purse.

Rachel: Thx! So happy. Not sure about tonight. I'm in but have to ask mom first.

"Hey! Watch it kid," Shelby warned as she lunged for the hood of Rachel's jacket, pulling on it to keep the girl from walking right into the door. "Sheesh, we haven't even walked out the door and you're already going to give yourself another concussion."

"Oh sorry," Rachel remarked in shock at the almost accident, peeling her attention from her phone to meet her mother's piercing glare of disapproval.

"Who are you even texting?" Shelby prodded, guiding the teen safely out the doctor's office and into the hallway.

"Quinn. She's asking if I can go over to her house tonight? I think the rest of the glee kids are coming over. Can you drop me off later and then dad can just pick me up afterwards, since I'm spending the weekend with him?"

"Actually, you're spending the weekend with me," Shelby said brightly. "I have a surprise."

Quinn: Just lmk! It was San's idea to talk about this before we go back to school Monday. More privacy.

Rachel's head shot up, intrigued. "Really? What is it?"

"What do you think about going away for the weekend?" Shelby pitched, nervous about the reaction to her rather impulsive and extremely last minute decision.

"Where? Chicago for the weekend? Or are you taking us to London now that the doctor said I could travel? Can I also take next week off? Or, better yet, are we going to New York?" Rachel gasped. "Are we going to New York? Did you change your mind and you're letting me come with you on your business trip?" The teen questioned, air quoting the business trip part.

Shelby rolled her eyes while opening the door to exit the building for the both of them. "No to Chicago, no to London, and like I already told you kid, absolutely not to New York."

"But mooom, why not?" Rachel whined, her attention already reverted back to the phone screen.

Rachel: Don't think I can come over tn :( my mom is taking me hostage, guess we're going out of town for the weekend but let's meet in the choir room Monday morning?

"Because your dads and I don't want you missing any school, and I am not going for fun, Rach. I'll be gone for four days for business and to take some meetings with Marty. We can go back together in the summer. I promise."

"You mean when you come watch me perform at Nationals after we beat you and VA?"

Quinn: For sure! Have fun with Shelby!

Shelby suppressed a smirk from forming at the retort though an unsettled feeling cut in momentarily. With Regionals coming up, she needed to find a way to focus on maintaining a healthy competition between the two of them. Bantering was fine, but she wanted to also keep things respectable. She had to set an example. Rise above.

"In your dreams, kid," she stuck her tongue out at her. Eh. Rising was for losers. "You don't even know what's coming. What random lesson is Schuester teaching you all now? Also, I refuse to make you another Lady Gaga costume. It took me hours last week."

"Mom!" Rachel exclaimed passionately in objection. "Stop, you're being unfair."

"How am I being unfair?" The coach snickered in amusement. "My team and I have been in morning and evening practices since the beginning of the month. We were also in rehearsals during break. Preparation wins championships, my dear. It's not my fault that you are all still just focused on having fun. Talk about wrong directions, am I right?"

Rachel's eyes practically rolled to the back of her head, groaning. "You're so annoying."

"What was that, Rach? I can't hear you over the deafening cheers of my consecutive championship wins. Think I'm in for a… Three-Peat!"

"Mother!" The teenager glared. "You are incorrigible!"

"You started it!" Shelby retorted, dissolving into laughter as she pulled her pouting child over to her side, linking their arms together as they walked towards the car. "Can't wait to spend the whole weekend together."

"Wait, but that was the exit to the airport," Rachel asked quizzically. "Where are we going? Why won't you tell me?"

"Well, we're going to stop in a little bit and get gas and then we'll get back on the road," Shelby informed, watching for her daughter's reaction through her periphery. "I was thinking we could spend the weekend up at the lake. Your grandma and grandpa co-own a summer home with the Fabrays. It's on the coast of Lake Erie, two hours north from here."

A gasp.

"What?" Rachel remarked, whipping her head to face her mother in total disbelief. "You're taking us… camping? Outside?"

A shake of the head in response.

"No.. it's a lake house," Shelby replied, unfazed. "Indoors surrounded by nature. You'll love it, Rach. It's too cold to swim or be out in the water but it's right by the State Park and if it's warm enough, we can go on a hike. There are even trails for you to run. It's beautiful out there and the house is very comfortable. Your grandpa and Russell spent a lot of time renovating it during the past couple of years. There's even… Wi-Fi."

A grimace.

"I don't know," Rachel said skeptically. "I'm not really a fan of the outdoors necessarily, won't there be bugs and stuff? Bears?"

A sigh.

"Can we skip and drive to Chicago instead for the weekend?" The teen pitched hopefully. "We can go shopping! I need a spring wardrobe."

Shelby smirked. Leave it to Hiram and LeRoy to raise a city kid through and through.

"Nice try, but no," she rejected the proposal. "We're going to the lake. And I promise that you'll enjoy it. If nothing else, we can just hang out and relax before we both go back to school on Monday. Get some peace and quiet. We can even talk."

"Oh," Rachel's face fell slightly, her smile faltering. "About what?"

Shelby hesitated to answer for a moment, deciding, trying to play her cards right. "Just more about how I'm going to crush it at Regionals."

Rachel chuckled in relief and her grin returned. "I don't know about that. Need I remind you, mother, that you're going up against me and what did you say to me when you first fake met me at the bookstore with Jesse? You said that I'm extraordinary, remember?"

"That you are, my love," Shelby conceded with a firm nod. "But… I'd also say that you probably got that from me."

"Mom!"

"Love you, baby," Shelby winked, forever entertained by her teenager's whining. "Let me just stop and fill up the car and then we'll get back on the interstate."

"Sure," Rachel shrugged reluctantly as she eyed the GPS warily. "How far away did you say it was?"

"A little more than a hundred miles, so around two hours," the mother answered, picking up on the sudden shift of the mood, on her daughter's nerves. "But we can stop anytime you start to feel uncomfortable, Rach. I'm not in a rush, and I know that's a long time to be in the car, so if you're feeling a little overwhelmed, just let me know and we can make a pit stop. I don't mind."

"What?" Rachel replied, sincere shock settling across her features. "How did you know that's what I was thinking about? Did Dr. Montgomery tell you?"

"No, but I am your mom, hon," Shelby said softly with a worried sigh. "Of course I've noticed that you've been having some anxiety about driving in the car, and that makes sense Rach. There's nothing wrong with you. You and Jesse were in a very scary accident and it's absolutely normal to feel nervous about being in a car after that. I would be, but I think, I hope, it'll get better and easier as more time passes. But we can work on it together, my love. It'll be alright."

"Is that why we're going on a road trip?" Rachel questioned, shifting in her seat uncomfortably and absentmindedly adjusting her seatbelt. She didn't think that her apprehension had been that obvious. But she clearly couldn't keep much from her mother.

Shelby shrugged. "In part. We've also just been really busy. I don't know about you, but I feel like my feet haven't touched the ground in a while, so I also just wanted to spend some time together, just us, to decompress. And we also have the end of the school year coming up, Regionals, Nationals, Fran and Will's wedding, there's a lot ahead and I don't know when we'll get another chance to go away again, at least not until later on in the summer."

"Okay," Rachel nodded, buying into her mom's reasoning. Though she was living with the woman part-time now, they had both been rather preoccupied with a variety of things now that she thought about it. It was a nice idea to get away from it all, even for a little bit. "Yeah that sounds good. I mean I guess we were supposed to go on vacation together before this."

Shelby hummed in acknowledgement, wondering if she should make a foray into that conversation. She and Hiram have been stumped on why their child has been acting cold and aloof toward her other father, and anytime they tried to bring it up, Rachel outright refused, brushed it off, or locked down immediately.

"I'm sorry that we couldn't go baby, I know you were looking forward to seeing your daddy."

The teenager only nodded. "It's okay, but are you sure you're okay with making a few stops if I start to feel weird?"

Shelby sighed internally at the diversion, but glad she was making headway with this particular problem at least. "More than okay, Rach. We can take it one step at a time until you gain more confidence being in the car. And I was thinking that maybe we just need to distract you too, get you out of your head a bit. How about you put together a playlist while I fill up? Or find a podcast for us to listen to?"

"Anything I want?" Rachel clarified, slowly beginning to relax.

"Whatever you want," Shelby agreed as she pulled into the gas station. She put the car in park and turned to regard her daughter seriously. "Or if you're really not up for it, then I can turn right back around and we can go back home. We can do whatever you need, my love. I don't want to do anything you're not comfortable with. I know I sprung this on you last minute."

Rachel leaned into her mother's touch when Shelby reached over to tuck her loose hair behind her ear. Her mom was a lot of things but the one she never failed to be was always considerate. Since they met, she's not once backed her into a corner, always providing her the driver's seat, always allowing her to set the pace. She'd never really realized how much flexibility her mother granted her until right now. Maybe it was time to start letting go of the wheel and meeting her halfway.

"No it's alright," she answered truthfully, tossing the woman an appreciative smile. "I'll be fine. I think we should go to the lake. See some bears… and lions… and tigers?"

"Oh my," Shelby responded appropriately with a shake of her head. "Your fathers really never took you camping or anything like that growing up?"

"Dad took me to Lincoln Park Zoo once to protest the cruel practice of caging animals for the public's entertainment. I was eight. Daddy had to come break us out of Zoo-jail."

"Well alright," Shelby laughed nervously, a bit unsure now for this particular adventure with her daughter. "Let us take you into the woods then where the wild things are… in Ohio."

Rachel Barbra Berry in nature was a concept. After a relatively problem-free car ride with fewer stops than she had anticipated, a demanded and thorough sweep of the lake house for any unwanted bugs, and a valiant attempt at a brief hike cut short by incoming storm clouds, they were back at the family cottage stranded for the time being due to the unexpected weather.

"Well I can definitely get behind camping if that's all it takes," Rachel commented brightly as she unbuckled her seatbelt. "Got my selfies on the beach. Tested these cute hiking boots you got me. I didn't get dirty. And it only took us half an hour? Here for it."

Shelby couldn't help but laugh at the unexpected turn of events. A bit disappointed, but she also loved the thought of curling up by the fireplace and spending a quiet evening in their woodsy getaway on top of the water.

Purchased almost three decades ago and a constant project for her father to work on, the lake house was always a haven for her and her family and friends. It was elevated on a 60-foot setback and the L-shaped cottage had black siding to help it disappear into the trees. If they were on the water, the house sort of vanished into the darkness. Sometimes it felt like they were in a giant tree house.

In the living room, the 20-foot high wall of windows provided sweeping views of Lake Erie. Though her favorite fixture was always the Rumford-style fireplace, taller and shallower than most models, to help radiate heat into the cozy space.

The highlight of the kitchen and dining room area for her was the breakfast nook's awning windows that could be cranked open to let in the breeze in the cool summer evenings.

But as soon as the weather turned agreeable, they spent most of their time on the deck outside the living and dining rooms. She had convinced her dad and Russell to install frameless glass panels instead of railings last year, both for safety and to shield from wind blowing off the lake. But really, it created the best spot to watch sunsets since the glass didn't obscure the view.

She wasn't necessarily the camping type either but this space in the woods was always special to her. Maybe even more so now that she can share it with her daughter.

"You're right mom," Rachel admired the home when they pulled into the driveway completely. "It is really pretty out here. And kinda feels like we're the only ones left in the world, but in a good way. Maybe we can come back out here with everyone over the summer?"

"Of course we can," Shelby promised wholeheartedly. It was always a dream of hers to have her entire family here together, her daughter included. But for years, she never allowed herself to believe that it could ever happen, that it was even possible.

"Mom? Are you okay?"

Shelby blinked away her wandering thoughts and reverted her focus back to her reality. "Yeah baby, I'm okay," she offered a small grin. "Why don't you head inside, shower, then change into something more comfortable? I'll start the fire and make us some hot cocoa. Sound good?"

"Sounds perfect," Rachel agreed enthusiastically. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm just gonna call your grandpa in a sec and double-check to see if there's anything I need to do to prepare for this incoming storm," Shelby answered distractedly as she fished through her bag for her cell phone. "I don't really get good reception inside the house, so I want to catch him before I head in. Also your daddy texted while we were out. Do you want to give him a call now? He's just about to head to bed."

Rachel's posture stiffened quite obviously at the suggestion, her expression closing up. "No, it's okay. I'll just text him goodnight later."

Shelby sighed. "Baby, you should call your daddy. I know he hasn't heard from you all week, and he misses you."

"I've been texting him," the teenager shrugged, averting her mother's inquisitive gaze. "I'm not ignoring him."

"I didn't say that," Shelby proceeded with caution. "I… but what's going on, Rach? Did the two of you get into a fight? Are you mad at him about something? Or is it because he didn't come after the accident because you were the one who told him not to, hon, remember?"

"No," Rachel shook her head tersely. "We're fine. It's nothing. I don't want to talk about it mom, please? Can I just call him tomorrow? You just said he's going to bed."

Shelby hesitated. Her inclination was to let it go but that's what she always did when it came to these conversations with her daughter. She stopped tipping. She never rocked the boat. Treaded carefully. Backed off. But perhaps it was those habits that put them in the position they were in now in the first place. Even with the understanding that she could, the reality was, for whatever reason, her daughter didn't talk to her, couldn't talk to her—at least not without any prompting. It always took a breaking point for Rachel to open up and that was no longer working for her. It wasn't okay. And she didn't want to settle for that any longer because how was she supposed to help, if she didn't know how. Her sister was right. Maybe it was time to push.

"Rach," Shelby continued, choosing her words carefully. "You used to call your daddy every day, twice a day. You'd be so disappointed whenever he missed them, so I'm not buying that there's nothing going on, my love. What happened? Did your daddy say something to upset you?"

Rachel swallowed thickly, her good mood draining right out of her. "Mom, please, I don't want to talk about it. I'll call daddy later," she begged, finding herself getting angry. "It's not a big deal."

"I asked you a question Rachel, and I would really appreciate it if you'd answer me."

"Mom."

Shelby shrugged, unwilling to budge. She and Hiram couldn't allow their daughter to shut her other parent out of her life without an explanation. And they couldn't fix it, it they didn't know what the issue was. "Rachel, I only want to help."

The teenager crossed her arms defensively, irritation flaring inside of her. She didn't want to talk about it, why didn't her mother understand that. This was so unfair.

Shelby sighed again and unbuckled her own seatbelt, shifting to face her daughter with a stern expression. "I'll wait as long as I have to."

Rachel's forehead creased while indignation flitted across her face. "Fine," she relented, her tone clipped. "Since you want to know so badly, I called daddy last week right before bed and he didn't pick up. But usually, if I fall asleep and then wake up during the night, I try again because I know it's morning in London and he's either getting ready for work or in his office. I called last Wednesday and someone else picked up his cell phone. That never happens, but he said his name was Paul and that daddy was still asleep. I asked who it was and he said he was his boyfriend. His boyfriend, mom. Daddy's seeing someone new already and he didn't even tell me," she said with a bite in her voice that made Shelby wince involuntarily. "He's been keeping it from me. From us. He's moving on, and he didn't even say anything. So please, tell me mom, how you can possibly help?"

Shelby blanched at the admission, completely unprepared for that news. She watched helplessly as Rachel's breathing became labored and her face began to crumble in on itself. "Oh Rach," she replied sadly. "I didn't—"

"There's nothing you can say," Rachel shook her head, swiping an angry hand across her eyes. "Just—I told you I didn't want to talk about it. I'm going inside."

Before her mother could even formulate a reply, she pushed the door open, not even caring that she was defenseless against the rapidly falling rain, and stormed towards and into the house.

A couple hours later into the evening, and after a few failed attempts to coax her daughter out of the guest room, Shelby sat alone in the living room, entirely lost in the sound of the rain thrumming against the roof and the crackling of the blazing fire in front of her.

The lights dimmed, she leaned her head back against the couch and watched the shadows from the fire dance among the ceiling beams.

She wanted her daughter to open up to her. More than anything. But at what cost? It seemed the more she pushed, the more Rachel resisted. She was running out of strategies and she was beginning, if not already, to sorely feel like a failure as a mother. Although she knew better than to compare experiences, she couldn't help it. Even when she was a teenager, even through all the angst, she had always turned to her parents for help. She went to her dad for advice. She sought out her mother for comfort. Voluntarily. Willingly. She never shut them out like this. Refused their help like this.

With a deep sigh of resignation, Shelby lifted her head, settling her sight on the antique chickering grand piano that her father painstakingly restored for her. Drawn, she rose to her feet and moved towards the piano and sat down, brushing the keys lightly. He had surprised her with it when she decided to move back to Ohio three years ago. A welcome-home gift. She spent a lot of her first summer back here at the lake. Playing music. Writing songs. Making plans and composing arrangements for her, at the time, new gig with the show choir team she was just asked to lead.

It was her therapy. It helped her reset. Maybe that's what she and Rachel needed. A do-over.

She glanced at the stairs momentarily before turning her focus back to the instrument in front of her. Without another thought, she began to play a piece that she composed that summer. One that she had never shared with anyone else before. She called it Rachel's Melody, and it was the best, the most personal music she's ever done.

As a perfectionist, composing tended to be difficult for her; she always struggled to meet her own standards, to make it sound perfect, just right. But with this piece, it took her one go. It just flowed right out of her. And the moment she played it, she couldn't find a single thing she wanted to change.

It was a true testament to the feelings she had towards her daughter, who, regardless of the distance or the years spent apart, utterly and unconditionally owned her entire heart.

As Shelby played and reached someplace in the middle of the piece, she became aware of Rachel crossing the room and coming to stand behind her. She felt a hand on her shoulder and she scooted over in response to make room on the bench, continuing to play for a few minutes more. She never dreamed, either, that she'd ever get to play this for her daughter.

"That was beautiful mom," Rachel whispered as she watched her mother's fingers move gracefully and effortlessly across the black and white keys, bringing the song to its soft ending. "It doesn't sound familiar. What were you playing?"

"Come here," Shelby urged, shifting and opening her arms up to her child. "I love you so much," she whispered back as she placed her cheek on top of her head.

"I love you too," Rachel melted. Her mother always had this effect on her. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright," she pulled her head back, her throat tightening at her daughter's poorly concealed reddened eyes and tear-stained cheeks. "Are you okay, baby?"

Rachel heaved a weary sigh while she stood up and transferred over to the couch. She waited for her mother to join her before answering.

"Did you know about daddy? About him dating someone else?"

Shelby settled down next to her kid and immediately enveloped her into her arms. Automatically, Rachel rested her head against her chest.

"No," she answered truthfully. "I had no idea, Rach. And if I had, I would have really encouraged your father to talk to you about it. But I truly did not know he was seeing someone. I am sorry, though, that you had to find out that way, hon."

"It's okay," Rachel said, hugging her tighter. "It's not your fault. I was just so blindsided. Again. I wasn't expecting it. But that's what they did last time, both dad and daddy just pretended like everything was okay until it wasn't, and then the next thing I knew they were getting a divorce and I didn't even see it coming. I just don't like that… not knowing. I hate it."

"I know, my love. That can't be easy."

"It's not," Rachel continued, finding that this was a lot easier to share once she started. "I just want them to be honest with me. They keep acting like I can't handle it or that I don't understand. But I'm not a baby anymore, they don't need to keep treating me like one."

"I think they just want to protect you, Rach," Shelby offered her perspective as a parent. "I don't think they're deliberately keeping things from you because they want to. I think they're doing what they think is best for you, my love."

"It just sort of feels like they're lying to me though. There never used to be any secrets between the three of us. Now I feel like I'm on the outside all the time and that I'm always the last to know about things. It doesn't feel good."

Shelby bowed her head to place a kiss upon her daughter's long dark hair. "You know your dads, baby. I don't think that's their intention. But I do think if you tell them that that's how you feel, they'll act or make decisions differently. They love you, Rach. I think if you're honest with them about all of this, they'll fix it. They wouldn't want you feeling that way. I just don't think that they know."

"I know," Rachel agreed with a sigh. "I kind of told dad and he's been better lately. But I just miss daddy so much and I never want to bring it up on our phone calls. And then Paul happened. What if, when I do ask, he lies to me about him?"

"I think you should give your daddy more credit than that," Shelby said, hoping she's hedging the right bet on LeRoy. "And even if he is dating Rach, I think he'll remind you that you're still the most important person in his life and that he will always be there for you."

"Maybe," the girl shrugged with uncertainty.

"No. Not maybe. Definitely," Shelby assured, changing her tune. It was LeRoy. He loved their daughter and would put her first. Beyond a shadow of a doubt.

"Okay. I guess. Maybe I can talk to him about it tomorrow? I texted him earlier, like I said I would, and promised I'd call in the morning."

"I think that would be a good start, my love," Shelby encouraged. "And I'll be here the entire time if you want me to step in and tell your daddy what's been on your mind. But I do think that it's important he hears it from you. I know I would want to."

Rachel nodded and relaxed further into her mother's embrace, her stress over that situation slowly diminishing now that she had a plan. "Okay. Thanks mom."

"You don't always have to thank me," Shelby said, her voice trembling with unsettled emotions. "I know you don't necessarily want to talk about these things with me, and maybe I can't solve everything for you, in fact, I know I can't, but I'd at least like to try. I just… I'm your mom, Rach. I want to be there for you."

Rachel sat up and looked at her mother in the eyes, swept away by the sudden flash of pain and the rejection she saw in them. "Mom?"

Shelby mimicked Rachel's movements and also sat up straight. She dropped her head into her hands and ran her fingers through her hair listlessly. If she expected Rachel to open up to her, to be honest with her, to let her in, maybe it was only fair for her to do the same. If she wanted her daughter to lower down her walls, she could probably start with lowering down her own.

Unsure of and not liking what was happening with her mother, Rachel lifted her hand to rub the older woman's back in the same manner her mom has done for her so many times before. "Mommy, are you okay?"

Shelby inhaled a lungful of air before lifting up her misty gaze to lock onto her daughter's. "I know that you're trying, sweetheart. And I know that you're working on it. And I am so proud of you and of how far you and I have come in the last few months, but…" she swallowed, shaking her head, wracking her brain for the right words. "I know that you're still struggling to come to me for help. To even just come talk to me. And, I'm not angry baby, I know that maybe you can't help it, but you feeling like you can't come to me, Rachel, makes me feel like I'm doing something wrong. It makes me feel like you don't trust me. It makes me wonder... if we made the right choice."

"What choice?"

Shelby sighed. She had already leapt. "I don't know, if this was fair… for us, to have come in and interrupted your life this way."

Instant tears pooled in Rachel's wide brown eyes at the implication. "What? You mean you regret meeting me and choosing to be my mom?"

"No, Rachel," Shelby's heart dropped to her stomach. "Absolutely not," she backtracked. "Never. I… no, never. I will never regret that. But I just... I don't know, Rach. Everything's changed so much for you lately and I'm just worried about how much it's affecting you. I know that there isn't anything you can't handle, Rach. But I also just… I feel like you've been so unhappy lately too. And I.. I don't know if I'm doing this right or if I'm doing enough. I don't know if there's something that I'm missing or something that I'm not doing. I don't know if I'm helping you enough, or if you need more from me. But it really feels like I'm not, Rach. It feels like I'm… like I'm failing you."

"Mom…"

"Sorry," Shelby sniffled, swiping the wetness away from her cheeks, embarrassed. "I'm sorry. But it's not your fault that I feel that way, Rachel," she said adamantly. "That's not, and will never, be on you. I just… I'm going to work through that too. In the same way that you are with everything. A lot of it is just me feeling insecure. And I… I only want to be the mom that you deserve, Rachel. More than anything else."

Without responding, Rachel only scooted over and pulled her mother's head down into her lap then started to stroke her hair slowly as she collected her thoughts. Relief washed over when she saw the older woman's features begin to calm.

"You're the best mom I could have ever asked for. You do help me. You take care of me all the time. You make things easier. And you always seem to know what I need before I even know what to ask for. I don't know if there's anyone out there that could be better than you. I don't think that you're failing. Remember? You're the one who told me that neither of us can be bad at this because we're both still learning?"

Shelby chuckled lightly at the gentle chiding. She dropped her hand back down when she felt Rachel brush away her tears with a heartbreaking tenderness. "I'm sorry mom. I know I haven't made things any easier but I never wanted you to feel that way. I think you're amazing. You even made an Instagram for me just to help me feel better, and you swore that you would never do that. And you… you fix things for me all the time. I'm really sorry if I'm making you feel like I'm taking you for granted or something. I don't mean to."

"Rachel, no, baby, it's not your fault," Shelby shifted and moved to pull her child back into her arms again where she belonged. "Please don't apologize. I just… I wanted you to know how I feel. I want to be honest with you too."

Rachel felt her mother draw in a jagged breath and guilt twisted inside her stomach. She curled in closer. It was definitely time to meet her halfway. "Mom?"

"Yeah, baby?" Shelby asked with a soft kiss to her daughter's temple.

"I can't talk to you," she began, in a struggle to almost say anything at all. "I can't talk to you because I'm afraid that you're also going to change your mind. About me. About us. About being my mom. I'm scared that you'll change your mind, and you'll leave me too."

"Rachel, I will never change my mind about that. About you. That's not even a question," Shelby answered quickly; truly shocked she even had to say that aloud.

"But daddy did," Rachel pointed out, unable to hide the hurt in her voice. "He changed his mind. He left me. He left us. And now he's seeing someone. He's replacing us."

"Baby, that's not what your father did. You know he had to move away for his job. And your dad and daddy's marriage just did not work out, and that's not on you. That has nothing to do with you, Rachel. At all. Sometimes, things between two people, even if they do love each other, just don't work out. That was not your daddy or your dad changing either of their minds about you or your family."

"I know mom," Rachel accepted, though still frustrated, still confused. She untangled herself from her mother, gathering her wayward thoughts. "I know. Dr. M already told me that it's not my fault, and I understand that. I do. More than I did before. But it's just how I feel and I can't help it."

"Rachel…"

"I don't know. Everything's just different. Everything's changing. Everything has changed. And sometimes it's okay, but sometimes it's overwhelming. And a lot of the times, I don't really know what to do."

Shelby felt a pang in her chest at the look of defeat written all over the girl's face. She reached out, drawing her child in for a hug and then further onto her lap.

"You let me help you," she suggested, enclosing her arms around her baby. "We figure it out, together."

"But it's my problem. Everyone else seems to be moving on just fine. I don't know why I can't... but I think I can work it out. I think I just need more time. I don't know. I'm sorry, mom. I guess I'm just not as okay with everything like I thought I was, but I'll get over it. It's fine."

While she had little doubt that her daughter could and would "figure it out" eventually, she hated that her child thought that she had to do it by herself. That she had to shoulder it all herself. "Rachel?"

"Hmm?" She peeked up to meet her mother's eyes, which this time, were bright and clear. Determined.

"Just because you carry it all so well, my love, does not mean that it's not heavy. Let me help you."

Rachel felt her mother's arms wrap around her even tighter in a way that made her feel as though they'd always be around to catch her. Maybe she could do better than halfway. "Okay," she finally complied, hesitant, but willing to try. "I think you're right. I think I need you mom."

"I know I need you, Rachel."

A/N: Thanks for joining me for another one! Next chapter — When Coach Corcoran goes away, the New Directions and Vocal Adrenaline kids come out to play. A poem, by pomatterpie