A friendly, dark-skinned woman wearing a suit whom Rachel had never seen before held Rachel's hand as she was being poked and prodded by a gynecologist. Rachel stayed silent as she stared into the woman's eyes. This woman was the first person who had shown her any kind of care that Rachel could mistake as love in a long time. She felt bad for not talking to the woman, but the woman made it clear that Rachel was under no pressure to talk but the woman was here to listen to anything she had to say if she wanted to say something. Rachel appreciated this, but wanted to stay silent for the time being.

She was dressed in a hospital gown, but when the extensive exam was over, a soft pair of cotton pants and a thick long-sleeved shirt, and socks were brought to her, the dark-skinned woman helped her put them on and then gently helped her out of bed. Curious as to where they were going she looked up at the woman and finally spoke.

"I really appreciate you staying with me during this difficult time." Rachel was trying to keep her poised and polite demeanor about her because she really didn't want the closest thing she had to a mother right now to leave her. "It's no problem angel, I'm going to give you my number, and if you ever need someone to talk to, don't hesitate to call me, no matter what time it is". This woman had a thick southern accent that made Rachel smile to herself. She took the woman's business card and read it over

Violet Allen

Psychologist for sexually assaulted Minors

Lima General Hospital

555-444-3333

' Of course, she's a psychologist. How could I not have guessed that?' Rachel thought to herself. "Thank you Ms. Allen" Rachel said with a smile and put the card in the pocket of her pants. "O Rachel dear, you can call me Violet". Rachel nodded. "So where you taking me?" Rachel said with slight fear in her voice as they walked down the hospital hallway. They passed many doctors who greeted Violet and smiled at Rachel wishing both of them a great rest of the day. Rachel could only roll her eyes. "Please don't take me back to the fosters". Rachel was driving herself to tears. Violet put her strong arms around Rachel as she continued to lead her down the hallway, holding her up just in case Rachel collapsed from this mini-panic attack. "Baby girl I would never do that, you will never see that house again, I promise". Rachel's crying was reduced to sniffles. "And I'm just taking you to the visitor area, there are some people here who have been demanding to see you". Rachel was perplexed. 'Who the heck wants to see me?' she wondered to herself. 'Maybe it's the Glee-club?' But Rachel didn't want to face her peers at this moment, all she wanted to do was to tuck herself away in a deep dark corner of this hospital and never see the light of day again.

Violet and Rachel walked down two long hallway filled with other patients taking a walk. Most of them toting IV drips. Rachel got more and more anxious not wanting to have to deal with curious high school students who just wanted the latest news so they could start making up rumors about her. She started to cry again and Violet held onto her trying to reassure her that her visitors genuinely loved her. "Here we are" Violet finally said leading Rachel into a room filled with chairs, a tv, and a coffee maker.

Rachel's whole world stopped for a moment as the sobs starting escaping her lips. Violet let go of Rachel and gently nudged her forward. Rachel couldn't have asked for two better people to visit her at a time like this. "Mommy" she cried. She wrapped her arms around a slightly surprised Shelby and cried into her chest as Shelby wrapped her arms around Rachel and covered the top of her head with kisses.

Shelby had hoped that Rachel would be happy to see her, but was almost sure of it that Rachel would flock to her other visitor, Mr. Shue, first. He had known her for quite longer and she thought Rachel would be more comfortable around him... that was really the only reason why she asked him to come along. But Rachel chose Shelby first, and that's when she was sure that the bond a daughter makes with her mother is never broken, no matter what. And this sentiment gave her hope.

Shelby couldn't help herself when she started to cry alongside with Rachel, scooping her up in her arms and sitting down on a chair, Rachel curled up in her lap. "I love you so much Rachel" Shelby cried. "Please don't ever leave me again" Rachel almost screamed in response. It was a muffled statement because Rachel buried her face into Shelby's hair, loving the smell of her shampoo. She thought it was silly, but the smell comforted her.

Violet and Will stepped out to give them some privacy and so Violet could somehow calm the furious person that was Will Shuester down. He was livid. All he could think about was murdering Rachel's foster father, but one look into Rachel's eyes made him melt and the only thing he wanted to focus on was Rachel finding happiness.

Back in the visitor room, Rachel's sobs subsided into hiccoughs, and Shelby finally got a chance to look at her daughter's beautiful face. She pushed Rachel's hair back and smiled. "Hi there gorgeous". Rachel smiled and could feel herself turning red from her mother's affection. She really never had anything like that before and didn't really know how to react to it.

Rachel looked down, reality hitting her again and remembered the real reason why they were their in this position. "I'm sorry. I should have told you about my dads the first time I met you instead of misleading you from the truth". Shelby shook her head and kissed Rachel's forehead. "Hey, none of this. All of that is irrelevant right now. The only thing that's going to happen now is I'm going to take you home, and you and I are gonna start over, start a new life together. No more of this foster parent nonsense when you have two real parents who love you more than anything in the world" Shelby said looking over to Will. "Life can be so beautiful Rachel, please give me the chance to give you everything that it has to offer". Rachel started to cry again as she snuggled into her mother. But they weren't sad tears. They were tears of joy and happiness from renewed hope.

Rachel looked at Mr. Shue and then back at her mother, and Shelby nodded. Rachel got up and walked to the door as Will opened it and walked in. Rachel smiled and wrapped her arms around the teacher she had considered to be a third father to her. He didn't need to say anything, as the look of sheer hope on her face said it all. He scooped her up in his arms much like Shelby did before and held her close. He then decided it was only appropriate to say "How would you like every single solo from now until you graduate". Rachel giggled and said sarcastically and with pretend disbelief "Now, Mr. Shue, that just wouldn't be fair to all the other kids that work so hard!".

Will just laughed as Shelby got up and created a group hug. Will shifted Rachel so she could be held with just one arm and took his other arm and wrapped it around Shelby. She followed suit wrapping one arm around Will and the other was resting on Rachel's back. Rachel rested her head on Will's shoulder and smiled at the scene in front of her.

Will and Shelby looked deeply into each other's eyes, and finally after what seemed like a century of just staring, Rachel finally picked her head up and looked at Will and ecstatically said "Just kiss her already!" And that's exactly what Will did. He captured Shelby's lips in a gentle and intimate, but passionate kiss. When they finally broke, they just continued to stare into each other's eyes.

"Mama-"

Shelby finally broke off the eye contact to dote on her daughter, rubbing her back and cupping her cheek, wiping away her stray tears with her thumb. "Mama" Rachel said again. Shelby could just sit and listen to Rachel say that word over and over again for centuries. Rachel pretended to whisper into Shelby's ear but purposely speaking loud enough for Will to hear.

"I think you should invite Mr. Shue over for dinner tonight. I think he may have a bit of a crush on you".

"O really Sunshine, well I hadn't noticed that. But now that you mention it, if Mr. Shue wants to come over for dinner, he's more than welcome". Shelby said throwing her head back and laughing.

Rachel loved it when Shelby laughed.

"But he's only allowed on one condition". Rachel continued, "he has to sit through Funny Girl at least once, even though you and I will watched it on repeat the whole evening". "You're a funny girl, Rachel Berry". Shelby said scooping Rachel up in her own arms again, planting a kiss on her temple.

"How about this," Will started "we can make it a musical movie marathon, we'll watch Funny Girl first, of course, but I'm gonna stop by a video store and pick up some of the best musical films ever made and we'll stay up all night singing along to them. Do we have ourselves a deal Ms. Berry?" Rachel nodded gleaming with happiness.

"Well, we'll see about all night" Shelby said letting her concerned mother side come out. "You need your sleep. And so does your ancient mother and her boyfriend". Shelby sneakily and seductively cocked an eyebrow Will's way, just quick enough for him to see and for Rachel to not. Will got the hint and quickly agreed with Shelby's statement.

Rachel was wheeled out of the hospital in a wheelchair that evening by Shelby, hand-in-hand with Will. The three of them knew it was going to be a long and painful road to recovery for Rachel after everything she had been through these past two years, but Rachel wasn't worried and neither was Shelby. Rachel knew her mom was going to be there for her every step of the way and Shelby promised herself she would never walk away from Rachel, ever, ever again.

As the three of them began their new lives together, Rachel thought about her and her mother's favorite movie, ' life really ain't so funny' she thought,' but that doesn't mean funny things won't happen that make life happy.' and right now, all Rachel had to do was look into her mother's eyes, and she knew she was on her way.