His Son's Teacher

14. Love

A/N: IMPORTANT NOTE AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER! PLEASE READ!

Soon after, Shawn made his way downstairs, where Camila was making eggs and Rachel and Rio were sitting at the counter, "You can stay tonight, but you're gone tomorrow morning. You can come visit Rio three times a week, but you're not staying here."

Rachel sighed but nodded, Shawn remained suspicious but did nothing to stop Rio from communicating with his mother. He moved over to Camila and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Hey, babe. We're gonna go out after breakfast. Come?" Rachel looked up upon hearing that they were going out. "Rio? Rachel? Are you ok with me coming along?" Camila asked out of respect, out of the clear want the woman had to get close to her son and did want to impose and prevent anything from forming between the two.

Rio immediately nodded, "Of course, mama!" Shawn, Camila and Rachel froze. Sure Shawn and Camila had agreed to it, but that was before the boy's actual mother showed up and now they weren't so sure. "Rio, I don't think you should call me that anymore." "Why not?" He asked confused. "Because it's offensive to your mother." Rio shook his head, "She's not my mother, you are."

Camila sighed. "Rio, I'm not your mother, Rachel is. I love you like you're my son, but it's not fair to your mother that I let you continue to call me that." Rio sighed and crossed his arms, as Rachel placed a hand on his back to soothe him. "You're not my mama." He hissed at Rachel, who recoiled in shock and hurt.

"Rio Mendes!" Shawn called in anger. Rio's anger slipped from his face as he looked at his father nervously. "Do not talk to your mother like that. She's here now and she deserves respect." He explained. "Not in my eyes." Shawn sighed, giving up and sending a slightly apologetic look to his ex-girlfriend.

He wrapped his arms around Camila who had returned to the eggs. "You're still coming?" "Rachel. Is it alright if I come?" The brunette nodded, looking slightly irritated but made no objection. Shawn squinted slightly at her, but let it go.

Soon, the four sat down to breakfast and sat in an awkward silence. "Daddy, can we see the bears today?" Rio perked up. "Of course, buddy. We'll go see whatever you want." Rio clapped his hands together and hugged Shawn who pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.

Camila and Rachel sat on opposite sides of the counter, Rachel glaring at the shorter brunette for thinking she could replace her, while Camila shrunk back in fear. "What do they see in you?" She muttered bitterly. Shawn snapped his head over to the woman, "She's an amazing, loving, kind and beautiful woman, who puts up with me and cares for Rio as if he were her blood. What did I see you?" 

Rachel was left speechless as Camila felt a frown take over her face. "Shawn! Don't speak to her like that, maybe she made mistakes in her past but you can't keep treating her like that. You wouldn't like it if the roles were reversed." She told him off, pulling her hand away from his. Rachel stared shocked that Camila would stand up for her when she had been so rude to her. "Thank you." She smiled. Camila gave her a smile up before collecting plates and sending everyone to get ready.

Twenty minutes later, everyone had clambered into the car and were on their way to the zoo as John Mayer's rendition of Route 66 played in the background. Camila tapped her foot to the music as she stared out the window, attempting to block Shawn out. Shawn kept glancing forlornly at the woman as Rachel watched from the back.

Rio leant over and whispered in her ear, "I think they're perfect together." Rachel felt her heart sink at the words from her son. "Why?" She questioned curiously. "They just work, I can't explain it. It's just there." Rachel sighed, if she hadn't of gone and cheated on Shawn, she never would've been in this situation. She never would've felt the need to go be with her fling instead of with her child, Shawn would never have had to raise Rio on his own. They would still be together and Camila wouldn't be in the picture. But that was her mistake and she had to live with it. Realistically, she knew Shawn would move on eventually, she was gone for six long years and Shawn was good looking and had such a great personality, so someone would snatch him up. But she kept thinking in denial, holding onto too much hope and forgetting the truth.