Wow it's been so long since I've touched this thing! I've been feeling kind of lukewarm about the new season so professor Charles and his spunky know it all kid sister Charli have started to creep back into my daydreams. Please enjoy these Brooks siblings as much as I've enjoyed telling their story!

Charli

The afternoon sun spilled onto Charli's large antique desk. She smiled at the memory of Chucky and Josh trying to force the desk up their stoop and through her office door. The memory conjured a soft giggle from her as the image of Liza scurrying about like a headless chicken trying to navigate the guys so they wouldn't scuff up the overtly ornate and too expensive desk. Charli sighs nostalgically as she runs her fingers over the scratch that Charles and Josh both swear was already there before they delivered the monstrosity to her, it was the only empty corner on the desk every other inch was covered with legal pads, briefs, and client folders. The chaos drove Chucky mad, but was oddly comforting to her. She felt it kept her on her toes sharp and resourceful, if not slightly delusional.

"Einstein's desk was a mess, no one ever chided him for it." She mutters to herself.

"I'm sure Einstein's mother chastised young Al about his disorderly toy box." Charles chuckles from the doorway. He was wearing his professors uniform a pair of worn jeans, a pale blue button down shirt, and his favorite sports jacket. The first few buttons were undone and if he'd bothered to wear a tie today it was long gone now. He made his way into her office a plate with some chicken concoction piled high, she wrinkled her nose at the lumpy beige food and shook her head.

"Liza cook tonight?" She asks bluntly, Charles nods and responds

"Maggie warned me not to let her use the oven for anything other than baking." He smiles and shakes his head "she can bake a pecan pie that'd make you cry tears of joy, but anything that's not a muffin or doesn't have a crust just doesn't turn out right. This isn't really so bad though, Bianca ate half of her plate and Nicole...well I saw her sneak off with an apple and a pop tart. When's the last time you ate kiddo?" He pulls a pop tart package out from his shirt pocket and an apple from the jacket pocket and sets them in front of her as she pushes the plate over covering her favorite scratch.

"I'm fine Chucky. Josh brought me lunch earlier." She opens the sugary breakfast tart and frowns "blueberry? Ugh no strawberry?"

"Josh is in Ireland with Claire and Oliver. They left two days ago. Remember they're visiting Claire's mom? How is that I know more about the whereabouts of your boyfriend than you?"

Charli stretches and takes a bite of the apple, making a face she tosses it into the waste can and nonchalantly replies that she's fine.

"Uh huh...you haven't been to family dinner in three weeks and the girls tell me that you've canceled two sleep overs via email promising to reschedule at your earliest convenience. Charlotte when was the last time you went outside...or showered?"

"I'm sure I've showered this week..." She discreetly sniffs the air around her when was the last time I showered? she thinks to herself in horror. She takes in the mess that is her office-really takes it in and realizes that she's gone into full hermit worker bee mode. Great, I've become my father. She smiles to herself there are worse people to become, Marshal Brooks was a mensch.

"So what is new in the world of Chuckles?" Charles catches her eye and cocks an inquisitive eyebrow in her direction?

"You haven't seen Kelsey's Instabook or picture snap social media site?" Charli mirrors Charles raised brow and asks

"Do you mean Instagram or Snapchat...or Facebook?" She pauses and shakes her in bewilderment "just assume I have no idea what you're talking about...what happened?"

"She posted a private...provocative video and well the internet is forever. We lost a major investor. I've been on the phone all day between classes and my office hours trying to smooth things over...but" Charli pulls her phone out and within seconds she finds the video Charles is referring to.

"Damn Kelsey...that rack...if I wasn't with Josh-or hetero to a fault...dayyymmn. Get it Zane." She looks up at Charles who is fidgeting uncomfortably. Charles loves Kelsey like a niece or second cousin twice removed. She was his mentee and he is fiercely protective of her, this must make him very uncomfortable. Charli feels a pang of jealousy towards Kelsey (he's her Chucky she shouldn't have to share him with Kelsey Peters for Christ sake!), it's involuntary and juvenile so she pushes that aside and asks. "What does the board have to say about this mister chairman?"

"They want to remove her as publisher and promote Liza." Charli try's not to react. Inwardly she's doing flips, Liza is perfect for the job and she would secure the Brooks family legacy in the publishing world. Sure Kelsey would have too, but Charli likes Liza better-bad cooking and all. Outwardly Charli remains impartial and calm.

"How does Liza feel about the change in regime?"

"She's refusing to take the job. Even though she's perfect for it. I want her to take it, but there's no way I can tactfully encourage her without it seeming like I'm dancing on the grave of Kelsey's career." He sighs that deep Chucky sigh of his that's full of trepidation and angst. He clearly wants Charli to do or say something to make him feel better about the whole thing but what can she say? 'Hand Kelsey her pink slip and encourage Liza to turn her back on her best friend' She chews it over before carefully treading into the foreign waters of publishing.

"I think Kelsey needs to hire a fixer-think Olivia Pope minus all the political drama. She needs to clean up her mess not runaway from it altogether. Maybe have Liza step into a co-publisher role. This should appease the board and the investors will come back, or you'll find new ones. There is no such thing as bad publicity, just teachable moments or some other motivational horseshit. Really Chucky I'm running on fumes here." She yawns with her entire body and smiles at him proud of herself. Even when she running on 25% she's slaying.

"Josh is in Ireland?!" She bolts up from her seat frantically which was not a good idea her unused legs buckle and she drops to the floor hitting her chin on her desk as she falls. Charles rushes around to lift her up.

"I'm fine Chucky I just stood up too quickly. Really it's ok. I need to call Josh he probably thinks I'm angry at him."

"Josh knows you're working solo this week while John is visiting his family, but you should take a break, eat some real food, sleep in a bed...bathe."

"Shit! Shit! Shit! How can I be so self absorbed that I didn't even know my boyfriend was in another country!" It was Charles' turn to talk Charli down off the edge.

"Hey now kiddo, starting your own firm is no small feat. Josh understands that your career is demanding especially right now. He's a good one Charlotte, you guys will be fine."

"You're right. He is good...too good for me. I can't be in any relationship right now. Especially a relationship with a guy who deserves more than an occasional afterthought." She looks down and pushes the chicken disaster aside to trace her fingers over her perfect scratched corner. Her face drops with the realization that she shouldn't be in a relationship with Josh. "I have to end it with him. He can't wait around for me to put him before my career. He deserves to find someone who can take him to the airport when he leaves the country or someone to make really shitty chicken inspired meals. Oliver deserves stability and-" Charles cuts her off.

"I thought we were done spiraling out like this Charli. You know how much josh and Oliver love you."

"I do. And that's why I have to break it off now. I can't string them along for years to eventually break their hearts. It's kinder to do it now before we're too attached. Before we're too far down that road-like you and Pauline!"

"No. Pauline and I fell out of love because we weren't strong enough to love each other through the tough times. A lot of that is my fault. I was too ambitious and willfully blind to her needs. We just didn't love each other enough to grow together. With Liza I see now how I want to balance my life more. I can still be ambitious but I see her needs and desires and we grow together. I see the way Josh looks at you and vice versa, you guys can and will evolve together. Stop beating yourself up." Charli refuses to make eye contact with him. He pulls her chin up. "I know you have some tragic idea that you have to be miserable and alone to have a successful extraordinary career but you're wrong. All the greats were happy, don't give your happiness away because you think you know what's best for everyone else." She doesn't respond choosing to let his words die between them. He thinks he's convinced her, but this is Charli Brooks she does know what's best. He stands over her holding his elbow out. "Now let's get you home." She takes his arm and they begin their ascent to her third floor apartment.

"Can you tell Liza thanks for the salmonella poisoning?" Charles chuckles softly and nods obediently. They stop in front of Charli's door.

"I know what I have to do...to make the firm a success. To cement some big clients and take the pressure off of firm financially. You're not going to like it, but I'm going to accept another high profile murder trial...a mother is being accused for murdering her wife and three kids. She hired some two bit lawyer who fumbled the pretrial hearing and I've been pouring over the court notes. I believe she is innocent, just like Alvin was. You know I'd never defend her if I didn't believe her innocence...I'm flying out Monday to meet with the defendant before I make my decision. Then it'd be year or more of trial preparation and the trial itself. Then another year or so of appeals if things go south...2 years in Idaho. Do you really think Josh would...could wait that long?" She doesn't give him a chance to respond as she steps into her apartment and closes the door firmly ending the conversation.