Hey guys! It's Glee Tuesday and we get a new episode tonight. Who's excited? I find myself fighting the urge to kill Finn off in this story in retaliation of all the Finchel that we will be seeing in 3x05. Ick. Anyways here is chapter 7. I think I might have dropped the ball on this one, (SORRY) but I wanted to post something because I probably won't be able to for a few days. Thank you all SO much for the alerts and reviews. You all are wonderful. All mistakes are my own. Enjoy.

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Glee. If I did Finchel would be nonexistent.

Chapter 7 – Post Game Plans

It was official, today was the longest first day of school ever. Since he was late to first period, he and Kurt received a detention from an angry Mrs. Bodenheimer. In his second period AP U.S. History class, Stacey Davis strolled in looking fierce in her Cheerio's uniform and sat right next to Charlie, much to his displeasure. Charlie was currently sitting in his AP Chemistry class bored out of his mind. Sitting next to him was an equally bored looking Mike Chang. Charlie couldn't believe they were going over things he learned two years go. The only plus of the day was him finding out from Mike that tomorrow they would share first period with Rachel. Charlie found himself having a newfound fondness for needing to take AP Calculus.

"Psst Fabray, you ready for football next period? I am so ready to get outa here." Mike whispered across the aisle.

Charlie nodded, "Yeah man, if this doesn't get more interesting soon this is going to be the class I do my homework in. Surely it'll get more challenging soon."

All the football players and Cheerios had fourth period weight training every day. After third period they would all just go their appropriate practices and practice well into the afternoon.

Weight training and football practice hadn't gone all that well for Charlie that day either. After Coach Beiste had felt that they had had enough for the day she let them go home.

As Charlie trudged through the parking lot toward his truck he noticed a little powder blue Volkswagen Bug parked a ways down from his truck. There was currently a short brunette wrestling a hot pink roller backpack into the passenger's seat. Charlie smiled as he saw her. He headed towards the Bug to see if he could offer her any assistance.

"Hey Rachel, need any help?" Charlie asked her with a smile.

Rachel jumped a little at the unexpected voice, "Charlie, you startled me. Yes please, I couldn't get my seat scooted back and my backpack won't fit."

"Let me try." Charlie told her as he tried to muscle the seat back.

After a little pushing the seat slid all the way back. Charlie slid it back forward leaving just enough room for Rachel to store her back pack.

"Thank you Charlie!" Rachel said told him with a smile.

"You're very welcome Rachel. Did you have a better first day after this morning?" Charlie asked her.

"It was pretty good. Just a normal day for me. Maybe tomorrows classes with be better. I didn't really have any of my friends in any of the classes I had today." Rachel explained.

Charlie nodded in understanding, "Mike Chang is in most of my classes and we were talking about our schedules earlier. He mentioned that you have Calculus with us in the morning." Charlie explained.

"You're in AP Calculus?" Rachel asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, I'm not as dumb as I look." Charlie joked.

"I didn't mean it that way." Rachel said sheepishly.

"You did, but it's okay." Charlie assured her with a smile.

Rachel looked down slightly embarrassed, "I'm sorry."

"It's fine." Charlie reassured her again, "Ummm.. I was sorta wondering if um you'd mind like-"

Just then Santana pulled up and revved her car engine, "Hey sexy, you need a ride?" She asked Charlie with a wink.

If looks could kill then Santana would have died twice over with the look Charlie was giving her. Brittany sat is the passenger's seat waving frantically at the two of them.

"Got any plans, Q, wanna go grab some food?" Santana shouted to him out the window.

"No thank you ladies. Goodbye, see you tomorrow!" Charlie urged, trying to get them to leave.

"You sure? We missed your wonderful company all day and B has your shirt. The slushy came right out." Santana said sarcastically, purposely not leaving in any hurry.

"That's great. Thank you Britt. I'll get it back from y'all later." Charlie said, waving his hand at them from behind Rachel's back for them to leave.

"Well alllright. I guess call me later and let me know of any plans you may be making in the near future with certain magical creatures." Santana told him with an over exaggerated wink. "Catch ya later guys."

Charlie rubbed his face with his hand. He was going to kill her.

Rachel turned to Charlie, "Magical creatures?"

Charlie chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck, "I dunno. Santana's crazy."

"Without a doubt." Rachel said smiling, "You were saying before they pulled up?"

"Oh right," Charlie stammered, "I was uh wondering if..." Charlie exhaled, "If I could maybe have your phone number." Charlie finished, looking everywhere but at Rachel.

Rachel beamed, "Sure, do you have your cell?"

Charlie nodded frantically before pulling his phone out of his pocket in such a hurry that he bobbled it before it fell to the ground. After a good mental slap, he recuperated enough to pick up his dignity and his phone before handing it to Rachel. His face wore a look of utter embarrassment.

Rachel smiled sweetly before taking the phone and putting her number in it.

"Thanks." Charlie smiled sheepishly, "I'll text you so you'll have mine too."

"Great." Rachel said as she smiled again. "Thanks again for helping me with my bag."

"No problem." Charlie replied back, "Have a lovely evening Rachel. See you tomorrow."

Charlie waited until she got in her car and drove off before heading to his truck. Later that evening after Charlie had gotten everything done that he needed to at home he went to Santana's to shoot pool.

Santana gasped for breath as she laughed, "Hold up. Hold up. Hold up. You fucking dropped your phone because you were in such a rush to give it to her? Ohhh gah Q, you trip me out man. There is no limit to your Berry awkwardness."

Charlie sat on a bar stool pouting a little. Santana had been cracking jokes on him for the past five minutes after he finished telling her his story about talking to Rachel that afternoon.

"So have you actually texted her yet? That might be safer since you can't stutter via text." Santana said smirking.

"No, I don't know what to say." Charlie informed her.

"You could start with 'hey Berry' or 'howdy partner' for all the difference it'd make. Just text her and see how her night is going or something. Show her you're interested. Let's get this ball rollin." Santana told him as she sat down on the stool beside him.

"Okay." Charlie said as he pulled out his phone only for Santana to grab it.

"Does she have your number?" Santana asked and Charlie shook his head no. Santana got up and walked with his phone over by the windows on the far wall. "Hey Rachel," Santana said as she typed out a text, "I think you have nice boobs. I'd love to see them sometime. I'm hopelessly in love with you. Q Fabray. Send."

Charlie was up off his stool in a second flat trying to pry his phone away from the Latina who was laughing wickedly. Charlie went to his 'sent' messages and read the text Santana sent out.

"Hey Rach, this is Charlie Fabray. Now you have my number. Smiley face. You ass! I thought you really sent her that." Charlie laughed as he read the message.

"I was just jerking your chain, Q. We're trying to get her more interested, not make her pull out her rape whistle." Santana joked.

"Oh crap, she texted me back." Charlie said excitedly.

From Rachel: Hi Charlie Fabray. I was wondering if you were going to use my number or not. ; )

"Winkey face? What does it mean when girls do that?" Charlie asked curiously.

"Maybe she's bein flirty. B sends me winkey faces when we're sexting." Santana offered, trying to be helpful.

"Thanks for that Santana. Knowing that proves to be completely unhelpful. I seriously doubt she wants to sext." Charlie deadpanned.

"I was just sayin. I don't know man. Ask her out or something." Santana suggested.

"I'm not asking her out through a text message." Charlie huffed.

"Fine whatever. Ask her out in person and stutter your lame ass way through it. Your choice. Now stutter your way on home. I gotta call B." Santana told him pulling out her phone. "See you tomorrow."

"Yep, have a good night Santana." Charlie said before he walked out the door.

The next morning in AP Calculus he was nervously fidgeting in his desk playing as he played Angry Birds on his phone while he waited in class to start. He was in the middle of mentally patting himself on the back for finally being able to beat a course he'd been stuck on when the smell of apples hit his nose. He started to look up but a soft 'hey' in his ear caused him to freeze for a second and the hairs on the back of his neck to stand up. When he looked up he was greeted by a smiling Rachel.

"Hey. Good morning, how are you?" Charlie asked her with a smile.

They had texted well into the night getting to know each other and Charlie had hardly slept a wink.

"I'm a little tired, but staying up late last night was worth it." Rachel said with a smile.

"Yeah?" Charlie asked with a smirk, "Same here. Umm I was wondering if you had uh any plans on Friday?" Charlie asked, looking hopeful.

"I have dance class until 7:00 but nothing after that, why?" Rachel asked him.

"Would you maybe want to um go out to get some dinner with me Friday night? After your class? I have a scrimmage game in Fairmont at 4 so we'll be back around 7:30. If you wanted to go I mean. You don't have to. Obviously." Charlie stammered.

"You can pick me up at 8:30." Rachel stated with a smile.

"Really? You want to go to dinner with me?" Charlie asked in disbelief.

"I would love to Charlie." Rachel assured him sweetly.

Charlie beamed."Awesome. 8:30, I'll be there."

As soon as Charlie saw Santana walking out of her second period class he sneak hug attacked her. He grabbed her around her waist and picked her up, spun her around once before he received a smack to the head with a folder.

"Unhand me you brute! Did you toke on a pipe last period because you gots to be high right now." Santana told him as she straightened out her uniform.

Charlie just beamed before trying to hug her again, "Hold up, Snuggles! What is going on?" Santana asked getting frustrated.

"She said yes. I asked her to dinner and she said yes." Charlie told her, beaming again.

Santana laughed, "That's awesome for you Q. I'm excited for you, really. Just don't try to hug me again. Wait til B gets here if you wanna hug."

"Eeeeek!" Brittany squealed as she approached them, "I heard someone here has a date after the game Friday night. And it's not me and San." Brittany said as she clapped.

"Give him a hug B, he's dying over there." Santana urged the blondes.

Brittany jumped into Charlie's arms before hugging him tight, "I'm so happy! Where are you taking her to dinner Charlie? It has to be a special place because she can only eat grass."

"Not grass, B, just like salads and stuff." Santana explained.

"She's vegan. That means she can't eat anything with any anima-" Charlie started before Santana silenced him.

"Maybe you should try that little Italian place over on Baker Street. I'm positive they have a vegan menu." Santana told him.

"Cool, I'll see if she likes Italian." Charlie said as he whipped out his phone to text Rachel.

"I'm glad to see that you're getting over your nervousness, Q. It was getting kinda sad. But I'm sure you'll be back to lame by Friday night. Good thing your game is only in Fairmont, so you guys will get back early." Santana told him as they walked to lunch. "Good thing we bought you something nice to wear the other week at the mall too. You're welcome by the way. As a thank you, B and I will accept a dinner for two at Breadstix. Gift certificates are also acceptable."

"She likes that place. Thanks for the tip Santana." Charlie told her as he texted Rachel again.

"Hillbilly, did you hear what I said about my Stix?" Santana huffed.

By the time Friday rolled around he was so nervously excited about his date with Rachel that he was having a hard time focusing on the football game.

"Fabray! Get your head out of the clouds and back into the game son or I'm pulling you out!" Coach Beiste yelled from the sideline.

This was expected to be an easy win for McKinley but Fairmont was winning by 3 points with only two minutes left in the game.

"Dude, I know you're ready to get back to Lima but let's finish this up here first, okay?" Mike told him with a wink as they broke the huddle. Charlie nodded and focused on the game. They had a lot of ground to cover and not a lot of time to do it in.

Charlie called a quick pass play that was supposed to allow him a quick dump to the outside so the receiver could sprint down the sideline. As soon a he snapped the ball the defense blitzed them hard pulling their defensive line up. Charlie knew they had the game as soon as he saw them coming. He stepped back and threw the ball straight to Douglas who sprinted up the field and scored with another minute left on the clock. McKinley ended up winning 27-24.

When Charlie got Brittany and Santana were waiting in his room. They had already laid an outfit out for him to wear. Charlie smiled and shook his head before he dropped his football gear on the floor and started shedding clothes by his clothes hamper.

"You guys are awesome. I really do owe you Breadstix Santana." Charlie laughed before he disappeared into his bathroom.

Charlie came out twenty minutes later fresh and clean. He walked over and grabbed some underwear popping back into the bathroom to put them on.

"Don't look ladies." Charlie instructed as he walked out in his underwear over to his clothes laid on his bed.

"Sorry dude, it's like a car wreck... You wanna look away but just can't." Santana explained as she watched him.

"No time to argue San. Any pointers for me ladies?" Charlie asked as he slipped on his black socks.

"Did you get her flowers Charlie?" Brittany asked.

"I did on my way home. One dozen lilies, you don't think it's too much do you?" Charlie asked worriedly.

"Absolutely not dude. Berry loves attention and shit like that." Santana assured him.

"Okay. Anything else?" Charlie asked as he tucked his white t-shit into his dress pants.

"Savannah says she wants Rachel's number so she can send her threatening texts." Santana said, reading the text she just received. "I told her you were all nervous and shit."

"Not a chance." Charlie laughed.

Charlie smoothed out his green dress shirt straightened his belt nervously, "Do I look okay?"

"You look hot Charlie. The shirt really brings out your pretty hazel eyes. I think we did a good job San." Brittany told her as she hopped up and kissed her on the cheek.

Brittany messed with Charlie hair a tad, "There. She'll love it Charlie."

Santana nodded in approval. "Better get going, Q. We'll be by here tomorrow to see how it goes. Spray on some of your Armani, it smells delicious. Good luck with the dwarf."

"Good luck Charlie." Brittany told him as she kissed his cheek.

The three friends left Charlie's house together after Charlie grabbed the flowers off the table. Charlie made it to Rachel's with a couple minutes to spare. He sat in his truck giving himself a pep talk before he got out to walk up to the door.

"You can do this Fabray. It's just Rachel, beautiful, perfect Rachel. Oh gah I can't do this. No, you can do this Fabray." Charlie mumbled to himself as he willed himself to ring the doorbell.

As if she could feel his anxiety from a few states away Charlie was alerted of a text from Savannah when her ringtone chimed on his phone.

From Savannah: Heard fromsome Fruity Loops that you are looking "all kinds of fine" for your date tonight, Quinton. Don't be nervous! Get your girl! Love u Cuz! P.S. – DETAILS SOON

Charlie smiled down at his phone, "Gotta love that crazy girl." Charlie received the much needed confidence boost from the text and reached his hand out and rang the doorbell. Moments later Charlie was greeted by a serious looking Leroy Berry.

"Good evening, Mr. Berry." Charlie greeted as he offered him the hand that wasn't holding Rachel's flowers.

"Hello, Mr. Fabray. Come in." Leroy greeted as he opened the door.

Charlie stepped inside the Berry house and looked around the entry hall.

"Rachel will be down in a moment." Leroy said, pulling Charlie's attention away from the walls.

Charlie then took the time to realize that Leroy Berry was dressed in his police uniform apparently about to leave for his night shift.

"Come into the living room. I think we need to chat." Leroy stated as he walked through the doorway leading to the den.

Suddenly Charlie was racked with nerves again. He had dealt with parents before but never two Dads, one of which was a very tall Police Officer who was currently wielding a gun. Charlie gulped.

Leroy made a show of picking up his sidearm off the table and slipping into his holster and placing his handcuffs in their appropriate place on his utility belt.

"Where are you taking my baby out to tonight?" Leroy asked him.

"Umm the little Italian place over on Baker, Sir." Charlie told him nervously.

Leroy nodded, "Hiram will be here by 10:00 and we expect Rachel to be home by 10:30. No exceptions."

Charlie nodded furiously, "Yes sir."

"You seem like a respectful young man, but as her Daddy I feel the need to tell you anyways. She's a nice young lady and she will be respected as such, you feel me?" Leroy asked.

Charlie nodded again, "Of course, Sir. Always."

Charlie had no idea where the nice guy version of Leroy from the Starbucks went, but he liked that version a whole lot better. The version in front of him was just plain scary. There was a sound of someone thundering down the steps behind them and Rachel was in the room moments later looking beautiful as ever.

"Daddy!," Rachel scolded, "You weren't trying to intimidate Charlie with your uniform were you? Dad and I gave you specific instructions not to do that."

"Of course not, pumpkin." Leroy assured her before she turned to Charlie for confirmations.

Leroy shot him a glare from over Rachel's shoulder that told him he better go along with what he had said.

Charlie gulped again, "Of course not, Rachel. We were talking about uhhh football." Charlie lied lamely, "You look beautiful, Rach. These are for you." Charlie told her as he handed her the lilies.

"Thank you Charlie, they're lovely. Let me just put these in some water and we can go." Rachel smiled sweetly before practically skipping to kitchen.

Leroy looked down at Charlie, "Thanks. They told me not to give you a hard time, but as her father I feel the need to protect her. She is our baby and if you ever hurt her…"

"I'm ready Charlie." Rachel said as she came back in the room. "Bye Daddy, be safe tonight at work." Rachel told him as she leaned up on her tip toes to kiss his cheek.

"Home by 10:30, okay sweetie?" Leroy told her sweetly.

"Yes Daddy." Rachel huffed. "Bye love you."

"Bye baby." Leroy told her with a smile. "Love you too."

"Have a good night Mr. Berry." Charlie said as he offered Leroy his hand, trying to convey with his eyes that he had nothing to worry about, that Leroy could trust him with Rachel.

Leroy nodded before heading over to the door and opening it for them, "Be safe kids."

Charlie offered Rachel his arm as he escorted her to his truck. He opened the door and she climbed up in it before he went around and got in on his side. He smiled over at Rachel taking this feeling in as he backed out of the driveway with a smile.

"You look really handsome Charlie. That shirt really brings out your eyes." Rachel complimented.

Charlie smiled, "Thank you. How was your dance class earlier?"

"It went well. I've only recently in the past few years taken up ballet. I think it will look that much better when I apply for college." Rachel explained. "How was your football game? Did you do well?" Rachel asked him.

Charlie nodded, "We won, so that's good. I was really looking forward to tonight so it was hard for me to focus on the game. Coach yelled at me a few times. Next week is our first real game so this win was good for team morale."

"Congratulations. So are you going to be playing as our Quarterback this year?" Rachel asked him interestedly.

"It looks like it." Charlie answered with a smile. "Looks like this is the place. Whoa, it's crowded, I'm glad we have a reservation." Charlie commented as he hopped out of his truck before he went around and opened Rachel's door.

He held out his hand to help her down out of the truck. After Rachel stepped down Charlie offered her his arm as they went inside the restaurant.

"Hi," Charlie greeted the Maitre d', "Reservation for Fabray."

"Right this way Sir." The Maitre d' said as she led them to their table for two in the back.

"Thank you." Charlie told her as he pulled out Rachel's chair so she could sit down.

"Your server will be with you momentarily." The Maitre d' told them before she walked back to her station.

"Nice place." Charlie said as he looked around the cozy restaurant.

"It is. The food is delicious here too. I've been in here a couple times with me Dads." Rachel explained.

"Good evening Sir, Madam. My name is Amanda. Can I start you off with a beverage and an entrée?" The server asked them politely.

Charlie looked to Rachel who shook her head, "I'll just have water, please."

"Same. With lemon." Charlie added.

"Okay. I'll be right back with your drinks." Amanda told them as she walked away.

"How is Glee Club going so far this year Rachel?" Charlie asked curiously.

"It's going alright. We have quite a bit of talent in the club and I am so excited for us to compete at Sections this year. Santana, Kurt, and Mercedes never fail to amaze me. My only complaint thus far is just that Finn uses Glee as an excuse to try to get close to me which is completely unprofessional and annoying." Rachel complained.

"If he annoys you too badly just let me know and I'll talk to him. It won't be the first time that I've had words with Hudson." Charlie told her, "All you have to do is tell me."

"Thank you Charlie." Rachel replied with a blush.

"Here are your waters. Are you two ready to order?" Amanda asked them as she looked to Rachel.

"Yes, I'll have the Vegan Manicotti. Thank you." Rachel ordered.

"I'm just gonna get the Lasagna." Charlie told her as he squeezed his lemon into his drink.

The pair had pleasant dinner conversations about school, family, Glee, and football. Shortly after they ordered their food arrived at the table, much to Charlie's pleasure.

"That looks pretty tasty Rachel." Charlie commented.

"It's delicious, would you like to try some?" Rachel asked sweetly.

Rachel cut off a piece with her fork and offered it across the small table to Charlie, cupping her hand below the fork just in case she dropped any. Charlie opened his mouth to receive the food before chewing.

Charlie made a face, "What's in that?"

Rachel smiled, "It's tofu."

Charlie's face went slack and Rachel buried her lips in her hand to stifle a loud giggle. Charlie smiled at that. He'd eat a pound of tofu if he could get Rachel to make that adorable sound again. The rest of their dinner went wonderfully. It seemed like Charlie had a knack for getting Rachel to smile and giggle. It was approaching ten o' clock and the waiters were putting up the chairs before they finally got up to leave. When Charlie opened his truck door again to allow Rachel to climb up she turned around and faced him. She lifted herself up on her tip toes and kissed Charlie on his cheek shyly before she hopped up in the truck. Charlie felt his face burn from the kiss, blown away by the feel of Rachel's lips against his skin. After he got in the truck he smiled at Rachel before they headed toward her house chatting about everything and nothing along the way.

After they pulled up to the curb outside Rachel's house Charlie went around and opened her door again. He offered her his hand and she took it before climbing down. Charlie smiled as he looked down at her smaller hand in his, not letting go as they walked up the walk way to Rachel's door.

"Thank you for dinner Charlie. I had a really good time." Rachel told him with a slight blush tinting her cheeks.

"Me too. Would you be interested in going out with me again?" Charlie asked shyly.

"Yes!" Rachel assured him almost before he could finish the question which caused Charlie to smile.

"Fantastic. Maybe we could see a movie or something?" Charlie suggested.

"That sounds lovely Charlie." Rachel said sweetly.

"Cool. Well…uh goodnight Rach. Have a wonderful night." Charlie told her as he leaned down to kiss her cheek. His kiss landed a little closer to Rachel's lips than he had planned, but Rachel didn't seem to mind. Rachel blushed again before she offered him a soft "good night" and disappeared inside. Charlie beamed at the door, in a complete Rachel induced utopia right there on the front porch. He felt like he was about to explode with giddiness.

When Rachel closed the door behind her she pressed her back against the door and sighed happily with a megawatt smile on her face.

"So I take it the date went well?" Hiram asked from the living room doorway with a raised brow.

Rachel nodded, "It was wonderful Dad. He was a complete gentleman."

Hiram walked over to his daughter and hugged her before pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"Good baby, I'm glad." Hiram told her as he moved the curtain by the door and looked outside. "What in the world?" Hiram asked in confusion as he squinted out the window.

"What?" Rachel asked turning to look out the curtain opposite Hiram.

"Is-is he- is that the… Cabbage Patch?" Hiram asked in disbelief as he watched Charlie dance as he moved toward his truck.

Rachel burst into fits of giggles as she watched Charlie. Hiram raised his eyebrow before commenting on the dance routine going on in their front yard, "Nice catch honey. Will that one be coming over here often?"

Rachel smiled before turning back to look out the window again, "Definitely Dad."

TBC

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