Disclaimer: See last chapters.

Thirty-Two Years Old

Shelby held onto her daughter's hand as tight as she possibly could as the woman sobbed next to her. She watched as her daughter's husband held onto her other hand as tight as he could, some tears finding their own way down his face as he tried to concentrate at the coffins ahead of him. Shelby didn't know what to say or do, she loved Hiram and Leroy in her own way for the way they brought up her little girl, she loved them for loving her. But she never knew them, she had spent time with them but not enough to truly say she knew the two fathers.

She watched as the coffins were lowered, the woman shaking with devastation at the thought of losing both parents. Shelby knew what it was like to lose one, she had been depressed for months after she lost her dad, but Rachel had lost both of them to a horrific car crash, and she could do nothing but offer words of comfort that fell on deaf ears.

She stood with Rachel after the ceremony ended, watching as her friends and family slowly dispersed to their cars, waiting for the girl back home for the wake. She stood there patiently, nodding in understanding at Finn as he tried to comfort the small seven year old boy who had no idea what was going on fully – but he was very much like his mother in the way he picked up on others emotions. It was his cry for his mommy that pulled Rachel from her trance as she ran towards her little boy and hugged him tight, trying her best to calm him down as tears ran down her own face.

Shelby walked to pick up the small five year old girl – Rosabella Ann – smiling a little at Finn as he bit down on his lip. "Rachel, honey.. the twins will be wondering where we are, shall we go home now?" She nodded at her husband and kissed Christopher's head, whispering a goodbye to both her dads before getting in the car. Shelby watched her new family get in the car and smiled to herself, she was so glad she could be here for Rachel the moment she buried her wonderful fathers – she needed a mother more than ever on this day.

She stayed close to Rachel for the whole day, helping Finn with the kids – she was the grandmother to five (soon to be six) now and although it was hard work for the still young parents, she knew both of them had always longed for a big family. Two years ago, when Rachel had the twins, she had given up a life on Broadway and taught Musical Theatre at the local school – something she loved equally as much as being on Broadway. She watched as Christopher tried to help his dad as much as possible, but the boy was only seven and he had a short attention span; very much like his father, Carole would always say.

Rosabella was like Rachel in every single way possible – she was a little diva, with a powerful voice, a triple threat in the making. Their four year old, Riley was shy, and even at her young age would be found with her nose in a book in the corner of the room – very much like she was doing now as she stayed out of everyone's way. And then the two year old twins; Jennifer and Jonah came along next. And Shelby couldn't be prouder, she had a wonderful family and she had been there to experience every single moment, every single birth.

She would be the first to admit that she was worried about Rachel, the girl was six months pregnant and she had just lost the two parents she had grown up with, the dads she had been so proud to call her own for so long now. She watched her carefully, waiting for any sign of exhaustion, or pain so they could finally tell the woman to slow down. She met Finn's eyes and nodded when he frowned, his own eyes following his wife's as she met with every guest, and fussed after everyone.

"Shelby, I'm going to put the kids in bed – they're all exhausted, and Christopher is still really upset.. can you have a word with Rachel? My mom has tried but she won't stop." He sighed and grabbed Rosabella as she tried to run past him, giving her his best stern look as she nodded and walked upstairs, clinging onto her older brother's hand.

"Of course.. I'll say goodbye to the guests and then try and get her into bed.." She hugged the man and sighed, going to find the woman she loved so much. She finally found her with the rest of the Glee kids, hugging them all as they promised to drop around tomorrow, she found herself smiling gratefully at them as they announced the end, and went to see all the guests out, with Kurt and Blaine staying behind with Burt and Carole to help clean up so Rachel didn't get a chance to do anything.

Shelby took the moment to grab her daughter and lead her up the stairs, not saying a word to her as she took her into her old bedroom of her dad's house. Not a word passed between them as got her changed and wrapped her arms tight around her, going only on her motherly instincts as the girl sobbed into her chest, clinging into her mom as though she was afraid the woman would disappear at any second. "I'm not going anywhere." Shelby whispered to her, kissing her head, "I'm right here.. okay? And you need to be right here for your babies." Rachel nodded and pulled away, wiping her eyes.

"I miss them so much.. it really hurts. I can't imagine a family event without them, I try to.. I close my eyes and try to imagine them not being here, but it makes my heart break and I don't think I will be able to do it. I love them both so much.. they were my everything when I was a little girl – not many people liked me, so they took time to play with me, and make me the person I am today... I wouldn't be this person if it wasn't for them." She sobbed again and held onto Shelby tighter, "Mommy.. make them come back." She finally whispered as the mother lay her daughter down and kissed her forehead.

"It's going to hurt for a while, Rachel but it will get easier, I promise. I'm going to be right here, and you have Finn and your children, and a lot of friends who love you very much. I promise that it will be okay one day." Rachel just nodded and rubbed her stomach, biting down on her lip.

"Daddy and dad liked the name Joseph – they were going to name me it if I was a boy." She smiled and rubbed her stomach again, "I need to speak to Finn about it but I love the name.. I think he'll agree." Shelby nodded and put a hand on top of her daughter's,

"He will love it, Rachel. Now you have to sleep, okay? You have to get plenty of sleep because it's been a long day." Rachel nodded,

"Can you hold me for a while? Until I fall asleep?" She nodded and moved to lay next to the girl, looking around the room she had when she was a teenager – Leroy and Hiram hadn't changed it at all, and she smiled at the gold stars that pretty much covered every corner of the room. She wrapped her arms tight around the woman and closed her eyes,

"Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow,

I am the diamond glint on snow,

I am the sunlight on ripened grain,

I am the gentle, gentle autumn rain.

Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there, I do not sleep.

When you awake in the morning rush,

I am the swift uplifting rush,

Of quiet birds in circling flight.

I am the soft, soft starlight, starlight at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there, I do not sleep.

Rachel held on tighter to her mom and smiled, whispering a soft thank you, cuddling into her mom as she slept. Shelby smiled and played with the woman's hair as she watched her sleep, so glad she had walked back into her life to share all these moments with her – even the worst ones.