Charlie hesitated slightly as she looked at the manicured lawn, and the brick house, as she tried to comb and pat her hair down. Her heart was thumping loudly in her ears, as her nerves built. She already felt guilty for lying to Santana, who thought she was safe and sound at Green Oaks. It was supposed to be her last week there, before she came home permanently, and she was supposed to be going over her plans, and her various medications, and what to do if she had another break. But she had done that the week prior.
This had been her test, where she wasn't escorted by Quinn or Santana, where she did something on her own. Which is why she had taken the Amtrak down to Pittsburgh. It had been packed like normal, but she hadn't had a freak out. It had stressed her out, but she had gotten into a Lyft, without incident. Now she was standing outside Santana's childhood home, a nervous wreck of emotions. This was far more daunting than taking a packed Amtrak, or getting into the car of some stranger.
Santana had some traditional sensibilities, which was the only reason she was here despite the fact that she thought it was ridiculous. So, if Santana wanted her to ask her parents for permission to marry her, then she would do exactly that. She just wasn't sure what would happen if they said no. She was sure Santana would rage at them and then marry her anyway, but she really didn't want to be the reason that Santana and her parents weren't talking.
She was also aware that she probably should have asked the internet, how to ask someone's parents for permission to marry their only child, but it was far too late for that now. So instead she takes a deep breath, and stares at the door. She had gone into active war zones. She'd been shot at. She could certainly handle Santana's parents. They had liked her at one point, before her breakdown. Maybe she should have worn her uniform, but that seemed like too much. Which meant she probably should have dragged Quinn along, she had gotten married, she had probably asked Rachel's fathers permission.
~ O ~
"How long do you think she'll stay out there muttering to herself?" Maribel Lopez asked her husband as she studied her smartphone.
"She's already been there for ten minutes, I say we give her another twenty, before we open the door for her," Miguel responded. "That way we can finish dinner and we don't have to feed her."
Maribel snorted at this, "Should we let Santana know she's here?"
"I think our daughter has made it abundantly clear how she feels about us interfering in her relationship, and even if I'm no longer comfortable with Charlie being with our daughter, with all her mental health issues, Santana has stated that she's been working on it actively."
"I was under the impression that we already went through this when she bought that ring for Santana." Maribel said as she put her phone down. "Did we have the ability to take back our permission?"
Miguel chuckled, "Maybe there's an expiry date on these things that we weren't aware of. After a year and a half and being in a mental health facility for most of that time, time to make sure that the parents are still okay with this relationship."
Maribel rolled her eyes, "As if we could say anything other than yes, if we wanted to remain in our daughter's lives. Santana is going to do what she wants, with or without our permission. She's been doing that ever since she stopped depending on us."
There is a moment of silence, as they continue to have dinner before the doorbell rings, and Miguel glances at his wife. "We could pretend that we're not here," he says even as he gets up to go and get the door. He smiles to himself even as he scowls as he opens the door. "Charlie," his words come out short and harsh and he can practically see the fight or flight response activated, as she tenses up.
"IwanttomarryyourdaughterandI'mheretoaskpermission," Charlie says the words tumbling out of her mouth.
Miguel turned to look at Maribel who was struggling not to laugh at Charlie, her cheeks were flushed and she looked absolutely miserable. "What was that dear?"
If it was possible Charlie got an even deeper red, but takes a deep breath. "I want to marry your daughter and I'm here to ask permission."
"Do you have a plan in place in case you have another break?" Miguel asked. "How seriously are you taking your recovery?"
Charlie hesitated, the fact that he had brought it up her mental health meant that she needed to play this as truthfully as possible. "I do have a plan which will continue to evolve as I go through the process of healing. I also brought over the list of my medication."
"Will there be any weapons?"
"No, there won't be another weapon in the house. Santana and I both agreed, that for now and maybe forever it's best if there wasn't a weapon in the house." Charlie explained.
Miguel didn't say anything for a moment before he shrugged. "Okay."
"Okay?" Charlie repeated.
"You already asked permission before everything went down, and we all know that Santana is going to do what she's going to do. And trust us we tried to insist that she find someone better, but she knew you were going to get better, and here you are sweating about asking us to marry her again." Maribel said gently. "However, I want to suggest getting her a new ring."
"A new ring?" Charlie repeats.
"You bought her a ring and then a few weeks later you had a psychotic breakdown, just—buy her a new ring." Maribel suggested, watching as Charlie nodded.
"You're right and I'll do that," she promises.
"Also don't wait for weeks, pick something and then ask her."
Charlie puffed out her cheeks but nodded. They were right, she had taken to long last time. She would have to do better this time. "I need to get back. Before Santana calls Green Oaks and finds out that I've checked myself out."
Maribel nodded, "I'll pack you some food for the road."
"I thought we agreed we weren't going to feed her—" Miguel rolled his eyes when Maribel elbowed him.
Charlie smiled, "Yes please!"
