A/N:

*I own nothing* this one is a long one and jumps from Liza to Charli back to Liza. It also features a sweet lunch with Charles, the girls, and Charli. Let me know if you like it. The next chapter is going to feature Diana, Charli, and maybe Enzo having an adventure. Maybe this adventure leads them to a tattoo shop in Brooklyn? I might also have Charles and Maggie meet in the next chapter too, but i don't want to make it too long so we'll see!

Chapter 4

Liza's POV:

Liza's rubbed her temple and squinted her eyes as she leaned over her desk her face inches away from the monitor. Charles had remembered to make her a lunch but he'd forgotten to remind her to grab her her damn readers! She looked down at the half eaten apple next to the last bite of her crustless pb&j sandwich and smiled at the memory of him shyly holding it out to her as she was heading out the door. Liza had almost felt bad for teasing him about it...almost, but she couldn't help herself he'd looked so cute and boyish standing there holding the small brown paper bag out for her with his large hands. Hands that had set flames to her body earlier that morning. Liza blushed as flashes of their early morning romp jumped through her mind. Her face grew a shade darker when she thought about the naughty poem Charles had scrawled out and tucked away with her lunch. She marveled at his brain, he could bring her to the brink of ecstasy with a few elementary rhymes. At the bottom of the explicit limerick he'd invited her to spend the weekend with him at Pound Ridge where he'd promised her a weekend of no clothing and adventurous love making under the stars. As cheesy as he could be Liza would be lying if she didn't admit that she loved every bit of it...and him. It was too early to tell him that, with all the heightened emotions involving the major changes in both their lives, she feared if she told him she loved him now it would spook him, or worse he could take it as a sign of pity and feel that she was being disingenuous. Besides, now that the absentee Charlotte- Charli (she corrected herself) had reemerged she was fairly certain the Pound Ridge getaway was on hold and next weekend the girls would be home.

Liza pushed all distractions aside and focused on the work before her, she had one more interview for Diana's assistant that would be arriving later that afternoon so she needed to get caught up on things at her desk. She wasn't to optimistic about the interview though, Diana was vetoing every viable prospect presented to her. Liza suspected it had nothing to do with the caliber of the job candidates, but instead it was her way of rebelling against their current circumstances. She didn't want to trump Diana's choice (she wasn't too sure she even had the power to do so...the power dynamics were still blurry) but she may have to bite the bullet and hire the next person she liked. It would be easier to ask for forgiveness instead of permission.

**Charli's POV

"and-and he said that you-" the animated 7 year old sitting across from Charli pointed her pizza crust at her with as much drama and flare her small body could produce- "were defending a murderer and you deserved to be in jail too! So I called him a-" Bianca looked up at her father who silently forbade his daughter to use any profanity so she took an exaggerated breath and settle for: "I called him a name that was NOT slanderous (B smiled at her use of a word she'd probably heard from an episode of The Good Wife) and then he cried like the little baby he is. AND that's how I got moved out of Ms. O'Connors class into Mr. Jacobs class." Charli tried very hard to hide her pride and amusement at the kid, Chucky shot her a warning glance from across the table and then directed his attention back to his youngest.

"You forgot some of key components in your story Bianca, particularly why Jimmy was crying."

"Yeah she forgot to say that she shoved him to the ground and sat on him while calling him a-" Nicole stopped short of whatever obscenity little B had used. Which made Charli all the more curious, if it was this bad maybe she needed to add it to her own vocabulary.

"Shut-up Nicky you weren't even there!"

"Enough." Charles didn't have to his voice for the three girls sitting at the table to know he meant business. The siblings stopped squabbling...well after B stuck her tongue out at her older sister when their father wasn't looking.

He looked ridiculous crammed into the child sized picnic table they were seated at. It was a warm day and the school was letting the students eat outside in the sunshine to "counter act vitamin D deficiencies in children that spent most of their time indoors under fluorescent lighting" she'd wanted to ask the principal if they had a "counter active plan" to fight melanoma since none of the children had been given sunscreen. She'd thought better of it after Chucky shot her a warning glance. Instead she'd complimented the Principal on his "proactive enterprising and courageous initiative". She'd meant it as a snarky insult but it had only bolstered his already too high opinion of himself. She hadn't impressed Chucky or Nicky both of whom had rolled their eyes at her, B had nodded her head in approval though. Charli wasn't sure she understood it, but the girl could sense a snarky dis from a mile away.

"Hey kiddo, we use our words to win arguments in this family. Right?" Charli ignored the look Chucky shot her, it hadn't been two hours since the last time she'd punched him. Well that was different and he knew it. Bianca looked her square in the eye when she replied.

"I did use my words to win that argument Aunt Charli, but I had to punctuate my point with a physical action so that my words could be heard over Jimmy's crying." She lost her battle and smiled down at the youngster, B was clearly wrong and she knew it but she was not going admit defeat. Bianca was secretly Charli's favorite. Chucky turned his head to "cough" so that the girl didn't see his own smile. He stood and picked up their trays.

"Lunch is almost over girls. I'm going to return our trays, but then Aunt Charli and I are going to have to leave ok?" He left the three Brooks girls alone as he stiffly made his way back into the school's cafeteria. She wondered how much of that limp was from being too tall for the small table, his morning "run", or just age. She deduced it was probably a cocktail of all three. She'd spring for an Uber to get them home when they left. She hadn't told him yet but she was going to be staying with him, until the people subletting her apartment left. Their lease didn't run out for another 63 days. She hadn't planned to win Alvin's case so soon, but alas she was too good. She suspected Charles would be excited to have her there especially now that the girls were gone every other week. Nicky's soft but unfaltering voice brought her back to reality.

"Jimmy didn't start crying until after he'd been brutally shoved to the ground, correct?" Nicole was playing prosecutor, Charli was so proud!

"So, he's still a big ol' cry baby." B defended herself shamelessly, unaware of the trap Nicky had just set.

"But he was only crying because you pushed him and then sat on him. So you didn't win that fight with your words Bianca. You were wrong to do it and that's why you were moved to the bad kids class. Also you shouldn't call people names, just because they don't agree with you. That makes you a bully and we aren't bullies in this family either, right Aunt Charli?" Damn kid why'd she have to shame Charli too? Nicole held her gaze and Charli nodded in agreement. The prosecution rested it's case. Nicky had beat B. Charli's heart swelled with love for her sensitive niece, this was why Nicole was secretly her favorite too.

"She's right B, as Judge I rule in favor of Nicole Charlotte Brooks, and Bianca Anita Brooks I sentence you to a lifetime of being kind and fair to everybody, even if you think they deserve to be called- uh what did you call Jimmy?" Bianca who was perturbed at being called out as a bully and losing to her older sister, perked back up at the opportunity to tell Charli a bad word with out being chastised but her father. Just as she was about to educate Charli in the world of foul language Chucky returned and announced it was time to go back to class.

Predictably Bianca protested but ultimately she hugged Charli goodbye and told her to come back tomorrow they'd have lunch again. She whispered in Charli's ear to not bring Charles with her so she could tell she'd tell her ALL the bad words she knew. Many of which she'd learned recently after being transferred to the "bad" kids class. She scurried back to her class without them, she was too independent to need anyone to escort her back to class. Charli also suspected she didn't want to lose her street cred by have her daddy walk her back to class.

Nicky hugged her aunt as tightly as her little arms could squeeze. She then promised to ask her mother if Charli could come over one night this week to have dinner and read to them before bed. She'd just started "Charlotte's Webb" and she wanted to read it with her Aunt Charlotte. She promised she come over, with or without an invitation from Pauline. She wished she hadn't put it that way after she saw Nicky's anxiety. She was the peace maker in their family it bothered her that Pauline and Charli didn't always get along. She vowed to make amends with Pauline, Nicole shouldn't be punished for Charli's stubbornness. She tugged gently at Nicky's pony tail and said that she was only kidding, not to worry she and her mother were on good terms. Nicole nodded not entirely convinced, but she headed back to class anyway.

Just as she and Chucky were leaving the school's campus her phone went off, when saw that it was from a founding partner at her firm she answered it on it's second ring. Charles watched her as she spoke to Chase Goldburg, all hints of sarcastic jovial Charli gone. Instead she was the picture of professionalism, she even stood straighter when she spoke. "Yes, sir I got back into town early this morning...I couldn't stay away a moment longer...yes I sure can uh...I'm 8 blocks away from the office now but I will need to run home and change quickly I'm not dressed for the office. I will be quick...Okay, yes sir I can be there in 20... Yes...okay I will see you shortly." She hangs up the phone, and Chucky asks her who was on the phone. "The partners want to have a meeting with me today." She does a disco move straight out of Saturday Night Fever then she's all but running towards her office. Charles catches up to her struggling after his "run" this morning and asks her around uneven breaths what the meeting was about. "I don't know for sure, BUT I think they are going to invite me to be an equity partner! It makes since I bring in more money and I have a more lucrative client list than any other associate. Heck I bring in more revenue than half of the senior partners, even Bobby! Now that I've won Alvin's very public case the firm is getting national recognition. They've seen spikes in their LA and Chicago offices because of the high media coverage." She can't contain her glee. "Equity partner at 27, then name partner by 30! It takes some lawyers 20 years to get their name on a firms letter head. With that prestige, I could apply for a judgeship before 40 maybe even 35!" She was walking on air literally floating towards her destiny and they made it to her office in record time. "Okay check me do I have anything in my teeth?" She flashes her pearly whites at him and he shakes his head no. "Nose?" and tilts her head back, again she was good. "Pits?" and raises her arms for him to inspect.

"Charli" He'd called her Charli, he only did that when he was angry at her or really wanted her to listen to him. "you look fine, they told you to come as you were right?" She nodded her head yes. "Alright then, go get 'em kiddo." This was why Charles was her secret favorite, he had the ability to calm her seas. "I'll wait for you in Bob's office I need to go over some stuff concerning Empirical anyway. Just last minute stuff, you go." He shoos her on as he heads in the opposite direction towards Bobby office.

"You're okay, you got this. You're cool, calm, collected, congealed, coagulated...okay stop with the weird alliteration." She should also stop talking to herself, out loud at least. She takes a final breath and heads towards Chase's office. Before she can knock, the door opens and a familiar face greets her. "Bobby! hey!" She grabs him in a bear hug. "I've missed you, oh hey I just spotted a moose head into your office." She mouths "Chucky" just in case Bob thought a literal moose was rummaging about his office.

"Oh, uh I'll see him afterwards then. I'm sitting in on the meeting too. Come on in Charlotte, we're waiting for you."

She follows Bob. Her hands are sweating and she dries them on her pants before she shakes Chase's hand, and the other name partners of Goldburg, Johnson, Katz. George Johnson sits in a chair across from Chase next to Charli. Bobby is sitting to her other side. She sits patiently waiting for someone to make her dreams come true.

"Miss Brooks, we've been evaluating your progress, and we are thrilled to bring you this offer today." He smiles at Charli and his smile is not unlike the cat who got the canary.

The events of that meeting, would turn Charli's world upside down. It seems Charles wouldn't be the only child of Marshal and Anita Brooks that'd have to adjust to a new normal.

Liza's POV

Liza stood and held her hand out to Trudy to shake. Trudy was her last interview for the day, she was a plump sweet girl straight out of college. Her eyes were bright with ambition and a naivete only the very tenderest of people could honestly convey. Liza had no doubt that Trudy was smart enough and talented enough to be an excellent addition to the company...if she were going to be anyone's assistant but Diana's. Trudy would never last a week with Diana.

"We'll be in touch either way, thank you so much for coming in today." Liza gave the girl her best encouraging mom smile hoping that it didn't give her away. It'd be easier to tell sweet faced Trudy that she wasn't getting the job over the phone. She escorted her to the elevator and when the doors opened a red eyed Charli marched out nearly running Trudy over."

"I'm so sorry excuse me, are you ok?" Trudy asked Charli. Liza sighed this is why she couldn't hire the girl, she was too nice. Charli had clearly been the one who'd ran into the affable Trudy."

Liza looked Charli over surveying her condition she looked the same as she had earlier. Except the wildness that had been there earlier just bubbling under the surface was now raging through her. She seem to be a foot taller which was impossible, and there was an electric intensity about her that was almost palpable. When she spoke her voice deep like the roar of a rolling thunder.

"Excuse me," she says curtly and side steps the girl as she heads straight into Diana's office. Liza was worried that nothing good could come from whatever had set Charles' kid sister on this rampage. She smiled apologetically to Trudy and chased after hurricane Charli."

"I can start next week. Three days a week is all I can commit to but we both know I can do more in three days than others can do in seven. I don't care that the salary is shit-in fact donate to a local charity. I don't need It. What do you say boss?" Liza stood there with her mouth ajar, Diana caught her gaze and she could tell she was just as shocked. What had transpired since this morning? Last she'd seen of Charli she was happily skipping away dragging Charles with her. Where was he now? She needed to get to her phone and call him, she did not know Charli very well but this seemed like erratic behavior.

"Has something happened at your firm Charli?" Diana's voice squeaked as she asked.

"Yep, I just promoted. I'm the new public face for one of the nations biggest full service law firms. I get to be featured on all the news shows. I'm booked for Tucker Carlson tomorrow. I've been relieved of all my clients, they gave my few open cases to a 2nd year associate, and reduced my court hours to zero. But hey they gave me a big raise a corner office that I don't get to work in, and I get to be on TV. Like Nancy Grace" Charli's voice cracked at the end and she held Diana's gaze captive until she accepted her offer to work for her.

"Uh- um Liza?" Diana graciously passed the buck to her.

"Charli I think you may feel differently about this in the morning we can talk then. I can call Charles for you if you'd like? Where is he? Let's have a seat take a deep breath and hash it out?" Liza flashed her mom smile again, this time hoping it would calm Charli down. She was practically vibrating next to her.

"I left him sitting in Bob's office, he's big boy he can find his way home. And I don't need to be handled, nor do I need your pity. I need to work. I busted my ass to get into Princeton at 16, to graduate summa cum laude from there at 19. I was number 2 in my Harvard Law class-should have been number one-but I digress. The point is I'm am a shark and I cannot stop swimming. I will die if I can't work. Playing opposition to know it all blowhards on Fox News and MSNBC, is not a job. It's debate club for toddlers."

"Maybe you can work for another firm? I just feel you wouldn't be very happy publishing."

"I can't work for a competing law firm. It's in my contract, which is iron clad. I drew it up myself so, damn me and my talent for contract law." Charli was a pro at the humble brag Liza was noticing... "I'm serious about working here, and it's only temporary my employment contract is up for review in 9 months I can leave the firm then. I just need something to keep me busy when I'm not debating the validity of whatever D.C. law makers trying to get passed on television. I'll be damned if I'm going to sit around twirling my thumbs and letting my brain go to mush like Chucky is doing."

Liza dropped her head and stared at the ground. Charlotte had just blurted out her own biggest insecurities about Charles being out of work.

"Good enough for me, I promise to not coddle you and I expect 110% from you when you are here. Now let's go, you need a drink and I want you to meet Enzo. He's going to love you." Diana smiles proudly at the prospect of showing off her man.

"Can we go to Marie's Crisis? I need to sing Razzle Dazzle and be adored by my fans." Charli says this with a sense of dramatic flamboyance, that reminded Liza of Bianca.

"I don't think that it is wise to take my gorgeous straight boyfriend to a gay bar. I don't want to tempt fate, and lose him to another one." Diana retorts.

Charli goes full Alicia Florrick and begins laying out her case and all the reasons exactly why Diana should march Enzo into Marie's Crisis and mark her territory. Diana and Charli leave and Liza makes he way to Kelsey's office. She hadn't checked on her in a while and she wanted to make sure all was well before she left for the day. Then she needed to nail down plans with Charles for dinner-Charles! She needed to call him and find out if he knew what was going on with Charli. As soon as she was done with Kelsey. She entered his former office and found Kelsey sprawled out on the floor. Liza had went from one spiraling Millennial to the next...she should have called Charles before she came in here, it was going to be a long night of talking Kelsey off her ledge.

End