"So let me get this straight, there was no fighting between you and my mother after I left. You both just talked calmly? Like civil adults?" I questioned still not believing everything my aunt had told me."

Aunt Jennifer tucked a piece of hair behind her ear as she let out a sigh, never taking her eyes off of the road in front of us.

"For the last time, yes we just had a conversation after you left. I was not fully aware of everything that had transpired and your mother was filling me in on everything. We just talked and I helped your mother to organize some of her thoughts. I don't understand why that is so hard for you to believe." Jennifer let out with an exasperated sigh.

I didn't bother with asking any more questions. I knew that Aunt Jen had told me everything that she was going to and I was just going to have to wait until my mother came and got me later to figure out what was going to happen to me.

The rest of the ride to the house was silent, not even the radio to drag me from my thoughts. I was for sure going to get mine when my mother came to get me, I just knew it.

When we did finally arrive at Jennifer's house, I helped Aunt Jen carry in everything before she had me settle in the kitchen to work on my homework. Uncle Bryan was not home yet so there was no snack this time, but I did settle on a nice cup of hot chocolate that my aunt was kind enough to make.

"So other than the worksheet for my class, what other homework do you have?" Aunt Jen asked peering over my shoulder to see exactly what I was working on at the moment.

"Just a math page and some chapter reading for history, nothing too involved tonight." I said as I continued to solve for x.

"Your mom said that she should be done early today, she thinks around five, five fifteen so that should be a nice." Aunt Jen mentioned as she walked over to finish preparing the two mugs of hot chocolate.

"Great, I get to die even sooner." I mumbled only to have Jennifer rest her hand on my back a second later.

"Your mother isn't going to kill you." Jennifer responded as she used her other hand to place a mug next to my homework. "Your mother just doesn't fully understand why you would put yourself at risk of being hurt again. She isn't sure what you were trying to prove." Jennifer added now rubbing small circles on my back.

I knew that Aunt Jen wasn't sure she was ready to become a mother, but she was pretty great at the whole parenting thing as far as I was concerned, she was a real natural.

We fell into a bit of silence as she tried to calm my growing nerves. I continued to work on my homework while Aunt Jen stopped comforting me and pulled out a stack of papers to grade before taking a seat next to me. I just couldn't get what she had said out of my head.

It bugged me that they thought I was trying to prove something. I was on an award winning team, as far as I was concerned, I had nothing to prove. I didn't want to perform because I thought I was better than the rest of the girls, I wanted to make sure that the entire teamed looked their absolute best, that was why I was doing this in the first place.

"I wasn't trying to prove anything, well not really anyways." I spoke after collecting my thoughts. The thought had been weighing on my mind so much that I just had to say something. They needed to understand where I was coming from and that this was not me being some irresponsible teenager. I was honestly just trying to be nice.

"Then why?"

It was a simple question really, but I hadn't thought about it that much. I know that I was fine and I knew that I wanted to help the cheerleaders, but I didn't know why I did it at the expense of my health and well being. I never really weighed out the what ifs in this whole thing.

"I just wanted to help I guess." I admitted causing Jen to smile.

"That's a really nice thing to do, but you need to focus on helping yourself kid."

"Kid? Does that mean my favorite niece is here?" Uncle Bryan asked as he walked into the kitchen and I grinned.

"Uncle Bryan, that's unfair, I am your only niece." I corrected and he smiled.

"That my dear is why it is so easy to say that you are my favorite!" He said as he placed his bag down before giving Jen a small kiss.

"If you have time after you finish your homework, maybe we can try out my new game system." Uncle Bryan said, turning his attention back to me.

"You and that stupid game system." Aunt Jen complained and I grinned.

"That sounds awesome." I relented, just hoping that I had time before my expiration at my mother's hands.

After he had settled in after arriving home, Uncle Bryan set about getting dinner started. Since Aunt Jen had been pregnant, she liked to eat no later than six or she would be absolutely starving, at least that was what she told me. She made sure to tell me that she was going to invite my mother to stay for dinner, but I assured her that after our unfinished chat this afternoon, my mother would be in no mood to stay for dinner. Jennifer however was under the impression that my mother was going to be just fine when she came to pick me up, my goodness was she delusional.

With my homework complete, Aunt Jennifer released me into the living room so I could watch some television while Uncle Bryan was busy in the kitchen. I decided to just sit on the couch and wait, there was no need to try and distract myself anymore. When the doorbell rang, I sighed knowing that the small bell was signaling that my mother had finally come to collect me. With a deep breath I steadied myself for the incoming forces as Jennifer got up to answer the door. It was a matter of seconds now before I would be dead, or at least wishing I was.

I watched as my mother and my aunt exchanged pleasantries. Shelby even made a stop in the kitchen to say hi to Bryan before heading into the living room where I was seated. It was amazing how good she was at dragging this adventure out.

"Did you finish your homework?" My mother asked as she walked into the living room and I stood and nodded in reply. "Good, then we would be more than happy to stay for dinner Jen." Shelby replied to her sister who in turn shot me an 'I told you so' look.

"Perfect, I will tell Bryan that it is confirmed that you are staying." Aunt Jen said before heading into the kitchen.

"What are you up to?" Shelby asked as she walked over and pulled me down next to her on the couch.

"Well I was playing on my phone before you came, but that's about it." I stammered, still trying to wrap my head around everything that was happening.

"What game?" She asked and I handed her my phone to show her the app I had been using. "Looks like fun." She said handing the phone back to me.

I wasn't sure what was going on as I pocketed my phone again and leaned into Shelby. I was sure that we would be continuing our discussion from earlier, but that seemed to be the farthest thing from Shelby's mind at the moment and it was driving me nuts. How dare she allow me to just walk out of her office mid conversation and not have the decency to resume our fight at the next time we saw each other outside of school. As much as I wanted to just cuddle with my mom, I couldn't take avoiding the conflict any longer. With just a little reluctance, I pushed away from my mother earning a curious look from the woman.

"What's up?" She asked and I rolled my eyes.

"You, that's what's up. Why are you not angry with me. Why are we not continuing our discussion from earlier today? You are killing me with not talking about it!" I said running my hands through my hair in frustration.

Shelby was silent for a moment before she broke into a thin smirk. For some reason my distress at the current moment seemed to amuse her.

"I never said I was angry with you. Disappointed, yes. Angry at your actions, yes. Am I going to make sure you understand the consequences for said actions, absolutely. However, I am not angry with you as a person." Shelby stated emphasizing what she had just said with a kiss to my temple.

"I don't think I am following you." I said still trying to work out what was happening in my head.

It was then that Shelby got off the couch with a smile and pulled me to my feet as well. With my hand securely gripped in hers, she led us both to the kitchen where Aunt Jen and Uncle Bryan were talking.

"Would it be at all possible for us to borrow your guest room?" Shelby asked send me into sheer panic.

There was only one reason that Shelby would want privacy and that meant spanking. As fast as I could I tried to pry my hand from hers but she was faster and she turned and pulled my body into hers.

"Yeah, of course." Aunt Jen said and I sent her a scathing look for betraying me after everything we had been through.

Shelby wrestled with me she pushed us both out of the kitchen and towards the guest bedroom. I was trying with all of my might to push her back the other way. To try and find some way to escape her grasp on me, but no matter which way I turned or twisted, I was met with Shelby gently guiding me the opposite way. For a woman who I never saw work out, she was damn strong.

"No!" I screamed as we neared the door. Trying once again to make a run for it, finding no success in escape once again.

"Hey, calm down you're going to hurt yourself." Shelby gently cooed, trying her best to keep me calm but I was not going down without a fight.

Was I wrong for performing before I was cleared? Absolutely, but she had to understand why I took the risk. I needed to help Veronica and the team, even though if I had another chance I wouldn't help that traitor if my life depended on it, especially now.

"Rachel, come on, I just want to talk." Shelby reassured but I knew it was just a trick. As soon as she got me alone in that room she would exact her revenge on my butt, not this time.

"No, I am not going in there with you." I said as I gave one last ditch effort in clinging onto the doorframe of the guest bedroom.

Sure I was small but I was muscular as hell and I was not going to let go of that doorframe for any reason whatsoever. Sue Sylvester had trained me to perform great physical feats, I was not under any circumstance going into that room with my angry mother. Not now, not ever. Never ever in a million years was I going to let go of this doorframe. In other words, not today Satan!

Try as she might, Shelby was not able to pry me from where I clung. It was starting to look like I might win this one, that was until Uncle Bryan showed up and removed my fingers from the place they were perched allowing Shelby to pull me away from the door frame and into the room.

With a quick thank you, Shelby shut the door behind her and turned to me looking completely flustered.

"Rachel why are you fighting me right now?" She asked and I raised one eyebrow in response.

How could she not know why I was fighting her so hard? It seemed pretty damn obvious to me. I didn't want a spanking that I knew she was going to give.

"Rachel I need an answer, a VERBAL answer." Shelby said, still blocking the door in case I tried to bolt.

"I'm trying to get away from you because I don't deserve a spanking!" I ranted, starting to pace back and forth in front of Shelby. "I know what I did was wrong, stupid even. But you have to realize that I just wanted everything to be perfect. I was suppose to be cleared by the time we performed and then it would be no big deal. I just wanted to help the cheerleaders out. My heart was in the right place." I whined, pausing for a moment to see Shelby with a smirk on her face.

"You really do pace when you are flustered." She remarked and I stopped with a confused look.

"What? I said all of that, and you bring up my pacing?" I asked and she nodded before gently grabbing my hand and guiding me over to the bed where we sat side by side.

"I'm not going to spank you, I never was." Shelby assured, using her free hand to rub circles on my lower back just as my aunt had done earlier, it must have been something they picked up from nana when they were younger.

"Then why did you bring me into the guest room?" I asked leaning into her side ever so slightly, not ready to give into her comfort just yet.

Shelby let out a gentle sigh before adjusting the way we were sitting so that I was fully leaning against her with her arm securely wrapped around my waist. I might not have wanted to give in to her, but she surely wanted to be there for me. It was just like that, that I quickly laid my head down on her should, prompting her to lay several soft kisses to my head before speaking.

"I brought you into the guest room because I wasn't sure you wanted to have a discussion about your behavior and punishments in front of your aunt and uncle." Shelby gently said continuing to hold me close to her. "I want you to be comfortable and I know that you don't like it when other people know your business. I should have realized what you were going to think and I should have assured you that I was not going to spank you." Shelby admitted as she used her free hand to turn my head so I was looking at her.

"I'm sorry I caused so much trouble for you to get me to come in here." I mumbled causing Shelby to grin just a bit.

"You have quite the grip, I'll give you that." She chuckled. "Please know that I am extremely disappointed that you lied to me again Rachel. I am also upset that you put yourself at risk of being severely injured and you didn't seem to think all of your actions through." Shelby said on a much serious note and I turned so I was no longer looking her in the eyes.

"I'm sorry for all of that. I wasn't thinking long term when I made these decisions I guess." I admitted as Shelby lifted my chin so we were eye to eye again.

"You already caused the healing process to be slower by lying about the injury in the first place. I am not sure how to get it to stick in your head that injuries are serious and they need to be taken care of properly, that means staying off of them until you get the all clear from a trained medical professional." Shelby lectured, not releasing my chin so I could look away again.

"Okay." I whined, not wanting to have this discussion.

"I don't think it is okay. We've talked about this exact thing just a few weeks ago and nothing has changed. Therefore, until you are cleared by a doctor, you are in my or your aunt's sights at all times before and after school, like it should have been to begin with. That means no more helping the cheerleaders or anything else you may want to do. It's VA rehearsal or your aunt's classroom, is that understood?" Shelby asked and I nodded.

"Yes, though I'm not entirely happy about it." I grumbled.

"Good, you shouldn't be thrilled with a punishment. That's how I know I am doing this parenting thing right. Another thing, until we hear from the specialist, you are wearing a brace on your foot anytime you are not sleeping. I want your foot propped and braced at all times, is that understood?" Shelby asked and I nodded.

I knew that Shelby was only trying to do what was best for me, but I really detested wearing the brace and propping my foot up was stupid at this point. It was going to heal with or without putting it on top of a few pillows. This was more about her being in control and with every thing she had learned today, I was going to let her have this one.

"Fine, but if the doctor says that I don't have to do that after this appointment then I get to stop." I argued knowing that she would agree to the doctor's orders.

"I can live with that." Shelby said as she ran her hand through my hair for a few moments.

Shelby and I sat together for a few minutes as I tried to process everything that had happened in the past few minutes. Shelby had no intention of spanking me, she never did. While she wasn't happy with that I had done and the danger I had put myself in, my punishment was nothing more than being watched and taking care of myself. I just wasn't sure what to make of everything. I was sure that after lying to her again there would be more of a problem than there seemed to be.

"What has you thinking so hard? I can just about see your thoughts." Shelby mentioned and I let out a small sigh.

"I think I am trying to figure everything out in my head right now." I stated and Shelby gave a small nod.

"Would it help if you verbalized your thoughts and I could give you help as you need?" She asked and I shrugged knowing that I had nothing to lose at this point.

"It may, I just don't understand how you were so mad this afternoon and now, well now your calm and understanding." I said and Shelby adjusted us so we were now sitting face to face.

Taking my hands in her she stated with a smile.

"I was overwhelmed earlier today and I think that it is important for you to know why." She said pulling her feet into a criss-cross position. "My job as your mom is to keep you safe and I was mad that I agreed to let you help the cheerleaders. I should have known that the temptation to perform was going to be too great for you but I have a hard time telling you no." Shelby said and I rolled my eyes.

"Could have fooled me." I mumbled causing Shelby to laugh.

"Honestly it takes all of my will power to tell you no, although it is getting easier." She mentioned and I smiled.

"Okay, but you were pacing and you couldn't understand why." I added and Shelby nodded.

"You're right and as your aunt pointed out earlier today, we both pace when we need to think. It wasn't that I was fuming I was trying to process everything. As much as I wanted to put you over my knee, I knew it would do no good in that moment. You believe with every fiber of your being that you were correct and I knew that us talking like we are now is more beneficial."

"So does this mean that we will talk every time I am in trouble now?" I said and Shelby shook her head.

"God no. There will be times that the only way that you are going to learn your lesson will be through a stern lecture and a good spanking. However, today wasn't that day. Try me with your foot tomorrow though, and we will have a different story." Shelby added and I nodded.

"Noted. So, do you think we can head out to where Aunt Jen and Uncle Bryan are cooking dinner?" I asked, hopeful as the smells from the kitchen drifted into the guest bedroom.

"I don't see why we can't, but let's be fair and note that Aunt Jen is not helping with the cooking." Shelby teased as she helped me off the bed, following closely behind me as we walked out of the guest room.

We were greeted in the kitchen with warm smiles as Uncle Bryan went about plating the food that he had prepared. No one asked about what happened in the room and I doubted that anyone would. My aunt and uncle were nothing if not big on privacy when it came to me and my mom. Now don't get me wrong, Aunt Jen loved to know what was going on, but when it came to things like private conversations, mum was the word.

Dinner was rather uneventful. We discussed our respective days, leaving out the whole cheerleading debacle. It was what I imagined a normal family dinner would look like, sort of like those 1950s television shows.

"So your Aunt Mia wants you to come over and spend some time with her and the boys." Shelby mentioned as we cleared the plates from dinner.

It wasn't that I wanted to do the dishes, but Shelby volunteered us to do them being as Jennifer and Bryan cooked.

"I don't think that is the best idea given what happened last time." I responded, loading the dishes into the dishwasher that were in my hands. "Besides, I thought I wasn't allowed to leave your sites any more." I added with just a hint of sass.

"You aren't, and I think you know better than to behave like you did last time." Shelby corrected handing me more plates as my hands were now empty.

"So I guess that means you would be going with me?" I asked and Shelby nodded confirming my suspicions.

"I meant it when I said that you would be in my sights at all times before or after school."

With that I let out a sigh and finished loading the dishwasher before going over to the sink and washing the pan that Bryan had used to cook with while Shelby dried.

"Does that mean that I am being forced to go over there?" I asked and Shelby stopped pulling me to look at her.

"I will never force you to do anything you don't want to do." Shelby assured me as she ran a hand through my hair. "That being said, I think that you should at least attempt another visit. They are still your family and I think that it is important for you to have that connection with them." She reasoned and I nodded knowing that she was right.

"I'll try going over there again, but mainly because I do miss Blaine." I admitted causing Shelby to smirk just a bit.

"I figured, and if everything goes well after our visit, maybe we can have Blaine over to our house again. I know that you enjoyed that last time. Now let's finish with the dishes so we can join your aunt and uncle in the other room before we head home for the evening." Shelby said turning me to the sink again.

I made quick work of washing the dishes and when I was finished, I even helped Shelby with the drying. With everything clean, we put them back in their respective places and then headed into the living room where my aunt and uncle were cuddled together on the couch.

"I think that Rachel and I are going to head home." Shelby mentioned and I shot her a curious look.

"But I thought that you said we were going to hang out here for a little bit." I corrected as Shelby shot me a look.

"I changed my mind, we will see later." Shelby said as she ushered us both out of the living room and out towards the car.

It wasn't until we were in the car on the way home that I dared to ask why we had left so abruptly.

"What was with the sudden change of heart?" I asked and Shelby smiled.

"Your aunt was half asleep and I knew that if we stayed she would have forced herself to stay awake. I think it was in everyones best interest that we left."

"How was that what was best for me?" I asked and Shelby laughed.

"Well I was thinking that you may actually want to spend time at home, just the two of us." She reasoned.

"We spend time at home all the time, just the two of us. Uncle Bryan was talking about letting me play with him on his game system. Aunt Jennifer falling asleep would have been perfect!" I whined remembering the conversation from earlier.

"Of course he did. I'm sorry I didn't know that, I promise that I will schedule a time for you to go over to their house again so you can play with your uncle." Shelby said as I was starting to hear just how ridiculous it sounded, but I was content.

Upon our arrive at the house, Shelby and I both went about getting ready for bed. Showers were taken and we changed into our pajamas before settling into Shelby's room for the night, not wanting to chance falling asleep on the couch.

Shelby turned on the television that was mounted on the wall of her room and she pulled me close to her as we laid in bed.

I knew that things weren't always going to be like this. I knew that we would fight, I knew that I would get in trouble, I knew that I would pull away. But I was going to enjoy our moments, I was going to be happy with the now.

A/n: I hope this was a good surprise for you all. I think it really shows the growth of Shelby as a parent, that's not to say that things aren't going to pick up if Rachel doesn't get her act together.

- Katie