A/N: I don't own Glee, its characters, A Christmas Carol, or its characters. This was just for fun.

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Chapter 4 - The Ghost of Christmas Present

Rachel woke up again hearing the ghostly clock strike one. She shuddered violently at the thought of having to go back and see the past again. The diva sat up and scooted back, leaning against her headboard. She didn't see any point in going back to sleep, if the next Spirit was coming now. Her bedroom was freezing cold. It was never freezing in her room. She looked over to make sure the window was closed, and it was. She heard a clock stike at the quarter and half past 1. Still, no new Spirit. Her anxiety levels were skyrocketing as she remembered everything Sue Sylvester and Jesse St. James, or whoever they really were, told her and showed her. Her behavior towards Quinn, her mom, and her dads saddened her.

Rachel knew she was a driven person. It was part of her genetic makeup. It was going to help her in her quest for success. She knew she irritated her friends and family. It was also clear she alienated people who didn't really know her. People that knew her, and disliked her, the feelings bordered on hatred. Despite all that, Rachel knew she was not a mean-spirited, unkind, or uncompassionate person. She was just very focused, and in times of stress her focus became laser-like.

The diva tried at times to believe her selfish behavior was for the greater good, but she was too honest for that. She was selfish. She knew it. It had never really caused her painful consequences. She'd always talked her way out of punishment with her dad and daddy. Quinn had seemed to find her behavior adorable. She could see she was deluding herself, her selfishness had long reaching effects on the people she loved, and she never really saw it before last night.

Rachel hoped the Spirit didn't show up. She'd seen enough. It was time to change. The clock continued to chime, and she thought just maybe she was free. She saw a light shining under her bedroom door. Maybe her dads were awake; she needed someone to talk to. She got out of bed, and walked to the door. The moment her hand grabbed the door handle, she heard the voice of a woman call for her to come in.

Deciding that nothing that happened tonight was going to be weird, she opened the door and entered her own room again. Only, it didn't look at all like her room. It was like a beautiful garden, and florist shop had exploded. It was gorgeous, and smelled wonderful.

"I'm glad you finally came in, Rae!" Brittany S. Pierce was sitting on a throne adorned with mistletoe, ivy, and berries of all kinds. She was wearing her Cheerios uniform. There were holiday goodies on every table. Cute, fuzzy, little, baby animals wandered around the room. Brittany had a small, loud, mewling kitten on her lap, "Don't be afraid of me, Rae. I'm the Ghost of Christmas Present."

"Where's Santana tonight?" Rachel asked, slightly relieved that Brittany's girlfriend was nowhere to be found.

"Oh, I am right behind you Hobbit. You didn't think I was going to let my baby wander around the planet with just you tonight, did you?"

Rachel was indignant, "And just what is wrong with me? I love Brittany. You know I would never hurt her, or let anything happen to her."

"As long as she didn't get in your way, I don't want my baby winding up in some crack house, or sobbing in my arms all night long."

The diva stamped her foot, "Oh for crying out loud, Santana. It was an abandoned crack house, and Sunshine was not right for our team."

Santana scoffed loudly, but was interrupted by Brittany, "San, be nice. Besides, I am the Ghost of Christmas present. I'm not here to show Rachel how devastated and sad Sunshine was that night. I'm also not here to show her that Quinn spent the evening of their breakup in my arms, sobbing all night long. That's clearly in the past."

Rachel got sad instantly, hearing that Quinn spent the night crying. She was so strong, and hardly ever cried. Obviously, her mother allowing Russell back in the house, and her awful behavior had devastated Quinn. She had never considered that Sunshine would feel abandoned and unloved. Rachel never meant for that to happen. That was awful, and all her fault.

Brittany stood up, and looked down at Rachel, "Don't be sad, Rae. You're being shown all of this so you can change. It's not too late for you, or for those you love. Let's go now, ok? I'll make sure Santana behaves herself," she pointed two fingers towards her crystal, blue eyes, and then back towards her beautiful girlfriend in the universal sign for "I'm keeping my eyes on you."

The diva giggled when Santana looked humbled.

The Latina growled at the pint-sized singer, and Rachel immediately stifled her amusement. She and Santana had made strides to be friendlier toward each other for Quinn and Brittany's sakes. She also didn't want to push her luck, the volatile brunette made her nervous.

"I'm ready, Brittany. Go ahead, and take me to what you want me to see."

The tall dancer held her hand out towards the diva, "Hold on, Rae. We get to fly now, it's super cool! I love this job!"

Rachel found herself standing in Noah Puckerman's living room. A party was going on, and everyone from Glee, except her and Quinn were sitting in there.

Mercedes was laughing at something Blaine said. She turned to the host of the party, "Puck, you best hope that Q doesn't find out about this party. It will be your chestnuts roasting over an open fire."

Puck looked a little uncomfortable when Santana scoffed, "She knows, I told her about it myself. I'm not leaving my bestie in the dark about something like this."

Brittany spoke up, "It was mean not inviting Rachel," she pouted.

Kurt spoke up, "I love my diva, but she has gone way past crazy this winter break. Rehearsals at 6am every day, just so we can fit her schedule?"

Artie spoke up, "Word!" he waved his gloved hand in the air, "she is totally cray-cray."

Tina looked at Brittany sadly, "I love Rachel, but she yelled at me in the drug store. I mean we were in the tampon aisle. She yelled at me for fifteen minutes. It was embarrassing."

Mike nodded sadly, "We love Rachel, and we are going to her play. She just doesn't know how to relax."

"He's right, babe. I just want to have a few drinks, celebrate the holidays, and get my cuddle on. I don't want to argue with her about the Glee Club rehearsals," Santana said pleadingly to a still pouting Brittany.

"I don't think Q is going to care, from what I heard they broke up," Finn smirked. He was still hurting over being tossed aside for Quinn Fabray, "I never understood that pairing at all. Quinn finally gets to see what I've known all along. Rachel Berry is a pain in the ass as a girlfriend."

No one had seen Quinn walk in and stand behind them. Blaine noticed her first, "Hey, Quinn. I'm so glad you could make it."

"I only came to tell all of you what I think of you. I couldn't believe when Santana told me you were having a party, and inviting everyone but Rachel. You all make me sick," she said menacingly.

Mercedes stood up indignantly, "Hey now, Q. That's not fair!"

"I'll tell you what's not fair, you all accepting her help every time you ask for it. Letting her make the set lists, and work out the arrangements since we all know Schue won't do it. She would give every last one of you the shirt off her back. Kurt, Mercedes; her supposed best friends, you know that more than anyone."

"And you," she turned and pointed at Puck, "this is just like you to pull something like this."

"Come on, baby mama. I love my Jew babe, and you know it. She's just too intense! We all just want to relax and drink. I don't want to argue with Rachel tonight."

"And you call Rachel selfish. This would devastate her, if she found out about not being invited to this party. At least she's not mean and vindictive, like all her so-called friends," Flashing hazel-eyes searched the room, and no one was willing to meet her eyes, not even Santana.

No one, except for Finn Hudson, he was glaring at her, "You two deserve each other. Both of you act like you're better than everyone else. She's always been a loser, and you are a cheating liar. What makes you think you have the right to tell us off? You're just a teenage unwed mother, who happens to be a dyke to boot! If you recall, you hypocrite, you and your Cheerios were the most awful to Rachel for years. Why don't you just leave, neither you nor Rachel is welcome here."

The room erupted in loud shouting. Santana lunged for Finn, only to be held back by Brittany. Mike and Sam jumped to their feet yelling at Finn.

Puck looked sad, and guilty, "Don't talk to Quinn like that, Hudson. Ever, and especially not ever in front of me," he turned to Quinn, "I'm sorry for not inviting Rachel. I was a dick."

Quinn nodded solemnly at Puck, "Yeah you were," she looked at Finn, "you only ever wanted Rachel when someone else did. The minute she started dating you, she wasn't even interesting anymore. You treated her like shit, and worried more about your popularity. I've made many mistakes with Rachel, but I actually love her for the person she is."

Quinn walked over to Kurt, Mercedes, and Blaine, "Do you really believe had been you not invited to this party," she waved around the room to include all of them, "she would have come, and left any of you at home? If you do, you don't know Rachel Berry. She really does believe we are a family. You don't fuck over family, not cool. Just not cool."

Looking at Santana, she just shook her head sadly, "I thought you were starting to understand her. I'm disappointed in you, San."

Quinn stormed out of the deathly quiet room leaving behind a somber group.

Rachel stood next to Spirit Brittany, "No one wanted me to come? I …." She stopped talking when she choked up with emotion. She just nodded, and took Brittany's hand. Even Santana was being quiet.

The next place Rachel found herself was in a strange living room, "Where are we, I don't recognize this place?"

Brittany just pointed. A somber Shelby walked out of the teeming dining room, and walked over to a picture sitting on the fireplace mantel. She stood alone, and in thought for a few minutes. The woman Rachel recognized as Ann Corcoran came out looking for her younger sister.

"What's going on, Shelbs? You don't seem like you're here with us tonight."

Shelby shrugged, "I guess I'm not," she handed the picture she was looking at to her sister. Rachel looked, and saw it was a picture of her. She was surprised. Her biological grandparents had a picture of her on their mantle. They had her picture with the pictures of other family members. It made her feel wanted, and loved.

"Oh, Annie. I should be with Rachel at her show tonight. What was I thinking? I could hear it in her voice that she was hurt. I told her it was Beth's first Chanukah with the family. Once again, I made her think that I love Beth more than I love her," she wiped free flowing tears from her cheeks.

Annie wrapped her arms around her sister's waist to soften the blow of her words, "Yeah, for one of the most intelligent women I have ever met, you sure do make some stupid decisions."

Shelby snorted. She knew her sister loved her. Annie was always there for her, but she was a Corcoran, and she didn't sugarcoat things either, "fuck off," Shelby said without rancor.

Her sister just laughed at her, "It's pretty clear you don't want to be here tonight."

"I want to be with Rachel. I want to support her, and let her know how important she is to me."

"So what's stopping you?" Annie said softly, "I'll keep Beth with me. Go; be with your oldest daughter. You can surprise her."

Shelby shook her head sadly, "The play starts in an hour. We are at least two hours away."

"You will still get to see half of the play. Jesus, Shelby, don't be a dumbass. For once in your life do something impulsive, something you haven't made a Pro/Con list for. Just get in your car, and be there for your child. Quit worrying that what you do isn't enough to make up for the past. Rachel needs you now! I will keep Beth for however long you need me to! Now go, before I kick your stubborn ass!"

Shelby turned around and pulled Annie into a hug, "What would I ever do without you? I love you so much, and you are always there for me. Thanks, Annie! I'll call you later. Take care of Beth. Maybe I can convince Rachel to come back and meet the family?"

"That would be wonderful. I would love to meet her, and so would mom and dad. Now hurry, but drive carefully. Text me when you get there safely."

Shelby kissed her sister fondly, and ran for her purse and coat, "You'll explain to mom and dad?" she smiled when Annie shook her head yes.

Rachel was so confused, her mom was sad about missing her play? She hadn't sounded like she cared at all. The diva had misjudged her mother badly. She turned to Brittany, "My mom and I just seem to always have trouble communicating our feelings to each other."

Santana scoffed, "That's because…" Brittany cut her off with a frown, "Your mom is operating out of guilt and shame. You feel abandoned and unloved. It's hard for you two to be open with each other. It makes you both feel bad. Someone has to start being honest."

"Shelby really came to my performance?" Rachel asked in awe.

Santana laughed, "She drove like a bat out of hell, but she got there before intermission. She was standing in the back."

Rachel looked to Brittany, who nodded her agreement with Santana's words.

"Wow, I can't believe she left Beth and her family during Shabbat," Rachel marveled.

"She really does love you Hobbit, although for the life of me, I can't understand why!"

Brittany turned to Santana, "No more sweet lady kisses for you tonight, Santana. You were warned. You promised to come along, be quiet, and behave," she stood bathed in light, with her hands on her hips.

Santana looked down at her feet. Damn Hobbit was always messing up her sexy times, "I'm sorry, Rachel. B is right. We are trying to show you things you don't see. It's wrong to pick on you."

"Thank you, Santana. Unfortunately, I agree with you. I'm not sure why Shelby, Quinn, or my Dads still love me after this December. Is it too late to fix things, Brittany?"

The serene blonde's face broke into a huge smile, "No, it's not too late to change things, Rae. It's important though to remember we are showing all this to you now so you can change things, before it is too late."

Santana nodded, "She's right. Don't blow it, Hobbit. Remember what you've been shown tonight."

Brittany turned to Rachel, "We have something else to show you, Rae. Take my hand, before my time tonight runs out."

They were transported to the Fabray living room. Russell and Judy were both drunk. Rachel turned when she heard the front door open. She knew it had to be Quinn.

Judy called out, "Quinnie, can you come into the living room for a moment?"

Rachel heard her hesitate, but walk into the living room anyway. She scoffed when she saw both Judy and Russell were drunk.

"Can you say hello to your father?"

"No, I'd rather not," Quinn stately flatly.

"Your mother and I have talked out our issues. I will be spending Christmas here with the family. Then I will be moving back in for the New Year. I can see that discipline has gotten very lax around here without me around. Things are going to change," Russell pronounced.

Santana scowled, "Self-righteous douchebag."

Brittany nodded her agreement.

Rachel shook her head sadly, "Oh my God. Judy promised Quinn she would protect her from him. He is so mean and hurtful towards her. Why can't he see how amazing she is?"

Quinn looked at her father with thinly veiled disgust, "Oh? What things are going to change?"

Russell set his glass down on the coffee table, "For one, you will not be disrespectful to me or your mother anymore. You will be going to Church, and confession. You are going to give up this lesbian nonsense, and find a nice Christian man to marry. I understand you are rebelling with this nonsense with that Jew girl, but enough is enough Quinn. I'm not going to let you destroy your life. I'm back now, and you will toe the line, or else."

Quinn laughed a light tinkling laugh, "Or else what, father? What exactly do you think you can do to me at this late stage? Are you going to lock me in my room? Are you going to beat me? Cut me off from your money?" She scoffed, "When I was pregnant, and needed my family, where were you? I should thank you really. In a perverse way, your total abandonment forced me to discover my strengths. I found out who I really was, without you. I found out who really loved me for me. I found out that I was capable of loving myself. I love Rachel Berry. I will love her until the day I die. Nothing you say or do will ever change that, Russell."

Russell stood up, "You will do what I say!"

"I won't! Ever again! I'm free, and I don't need you or your approval or your money," she turned to Judy, "I love you mother, I really do. It makes me sad that you feel you need him to survive, but I can't judge you. I'll be at the Lopez house, if you need to reach me. Santana and I will be over to get my belongings after Christmas. Goodbye," she turned, grabbed her keys and without looking back left the Fabray house.

Rachel grabbed Brittany's hand, and they followed Quinn into the driveway. They watched as she got in her car put her head on the steering wheel and cried.

Rachel felt her heart break in two. She knew now that she would never leave Quinn, ever. She was her heart, soul, and her other half.

"We need to go, Rachel," Brittany said softly.

"I can't leave Quinn here alone and hurting. Please, let me go to her, Brittany. She's alone and crying. She needs me."

"You cannot go to her, Rachel. We need to go."

Rachel reluctantly turned to Brittany, and took her hand.

They were now in her fathers' house. Her dad was sitting in the living room with her daddy. They looked so sad. They were hanging up ornaments on the tree, and making other Christmakkah preparations. Her dad, Hiram was sniffling.

LeRoy came over and hugged him, "Sweetie, she's growing up. She is happy about this play. We've always known she wasn't going to be here for every holiday."

"I know, but she just….." she sighed, "she doesn't seem to miss us, or even care."

"Hiram! I'm ashamed of you. Why do you think she's been such a pain lately? Of course she cares. She's young, she wants it all. She hasn't learned balance yet. She will, sweetie, she is always going to be our little girl. Don't worry, honey. Our Rachel is a star, but she is still our daughter first."

Rachel smiled when they kissed, as only a longtime couple could, "I'll always be your little girl, I promise."

"Come Rachel, there is something you need to see."

They were transported to a horrible place; it was dismal, with a cheerless plastic Christmas tree, and secondhand ornaments everywhere. There were woman, and children mingling in the common room.

"Where are we?" Rachel was stunned, "Why did you bring me here?"

"This is a battered woman's shelter in Lima, Ohio. This is ten minutes from where you are performing tonight. It's right across the street from the homeless shelter. It's full to capacity tonight. They had to turn people away tonight."

"But, it's so cold outside tonight," Rachel said sadly, "why don't I know about this place?"

Santana said softly, and without rancor, "Would you really have cared, Rachel? Even if you had known it was here?"

Rachel wanted to argue, but in all honesty, she knew that before tonight she wouldn't have done much about it, "I had no idea."

Brittany looked around sadly, "It's even worse in New York City."

"But what can I do about it?" She said feeling overwhelmed.

Two small children ran up to Brittany. They were dirty, and bedraggled, skinny, and fearful.

"Who are they" Rachel said emotionally.

"They are the forgotten children of all mankind. They are the children who go to bed hungry every night. They are the children afraid in their own homes. They are the abused, the unloved, the abandoned children of the world. What can any of us do about them?" Brittany cried unabashedly.

Santana walked up and took Brittany in her arms. She comforted her, kissing her cheek softly.

Rachel closed her eyes in pain. She was startled to hear the clock chime again. Opening her eyes, she saw that Brittany and Santana were no longer in front of her, and she was back in her room. She was not alone.

A tall person clothed in a black robe, wearing a hood that obscured her face was standing in front of her. Rachel felt a chill of pure fear run down her spine. She knew this was the final Spirit.

This was the ghost of Christmas Future.

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Next part is up tomorrow evening. Almost over….. Let me know what you think…..