I own nothing but my ideas.

Wednesday

Catie's POV

When I woke up the next day it was to an alarm that wasn't mine and in a bed that wasn't the one I was used to. I was a bit startled to realize that what had happened yesterday wasn't actually a dream and that Darren and the rest of the gang had, in fact, returned early. Although I knew there was no way I'd be creative enough, even in my subconscious, to have come up with the kind of song that Darren had sung to me in the airport and even in my wildest dreams I hadn't expected them all to surprise me and return early. Unfortunately I had a class at 8:25 so I had to be up pretty early and I couldn't just miss my classes that day no matter how much I may have wanted to. Skipping class isn't something I'd normally do and because of that I could feasibly miss one day of class. The problem was I'd be missing the same classes on Friday because of Championships so I couldn't do that, plus I didn't think Darren would let me. It seemed like he wanted me out of the room and distracted so that he could set something up. I had tried talking to him about it but he just told me that it was important for me to go to class and do well. I tried to tell him that I'd already taken the classes I had that day at AP level in high school and had gotten fours on two of the three AP tests I'd taken, but he was right I needed to be in class and I really couldn't argue. Lucky for me my lab for the next day had been cancelled so I wouldn't have to worry about making it up, but I did need to get the work I'd be missing on Friday so after eating breakfast we got into Darren's car and he drove me to school.

At lunch I was thinking about Championships as I was sitting with Alyssa and we were discussing the weekend. I was really excited that my parents were going to be able to see me swim on Saturday and Sunday. I was really thankful that Alyssa didn't mind me talking; babbling really, about how nervous and excited I was when she didn't really have a lot of experience when it came to swim meets. She was learning though and I couldn't have asked for a better friend than one who really tried to understand what I was saying rather than just shaking her head and saying "yeah, that's cool." She was excited because Joe had texted her asking if they could go out somewhere that night and I was so glad that things were working out between them. I told her that as soon as my season was over we'd get to planning the bowling date and we kind of changed subject onto double dates and dates in general. It was weird for both of us, we'd never had much experience with this kind of thing, but we were so excited about it.

I got an email from my Calculus professor saying that class that day was just going to be going over our tests so if we didn't have questions we didn't have to go. I'd gotten a 100 on it so I decided to use that time to get some of my work done that I knew I wouldn't get done over the weekend. Darren texted me and asked if I would stay with him at the hotel again and if I'd eat dinner with him. I answered yes to both and then lay in my bed to take a nap before heading over to swim for about an hour or so. I started thinking again about champs and I realized that I'd thought Darren wouldn't be able to make it to see the meet so I never really mentioned it except saying a while ago that I didn't think he'd be able to come because of when he'd be returning and then to tell him I had to leave by 3:00 the next day. I decided not to say much more about it because, as much as I wanted him to be there, it wouldn't be fair to ask him the day before to rent a hotel room for four days and pay money at a meet to some watch me swim. The meet was a four hour trip from Madison anyway and I thought I remembered him saying that he had something going on that weekend anyway.

After my practice I asked the girls to hang back so that they could meet Darren when he came to pick me up. We had to hide from coach though because I didn't want him to meet Darren just yet. When we all walked out of the athletic building he was leaning against the outside wall and he took his sunglasses off as he walked over. I just giggled and rolled my eyes, he was actually really nervous to meet my teammates even though they'd already given their stamps of approval. It was the guys who were really protective.

"Hey, ladies. It's nice to finally meet you all. I'm Darren," he said. I'd told them ahead of time that I was planning to introduce them all, but I think some of them hadn't put two and two together and they were a little bit starstruck when they came face to face with the guys who played Blaine on Glee.

After the introductions, questions, and requests for autographs the girls told him that he needed to come hang out with us one weekend and he said he'd love that. While he said that he wrapped an arm around my waist and took the bag I had with clothes and some homework in it and put it on his own shoulder. The girls aww-ed effectively sealing their positive impression of him.

"Well, you certainly have a way with the ladies, don't you babe, just charmed them all in less than a minute!" I laughed.

"Well mama Criss always taught me to be polite"

"Ehh I'm not impressed, I've seen better." I teased him and we laughed.

"Yeah, yeah," he said. "yuck it up now, but see if I take your bag for you again." All of that was said out loud for the benefit of the girls, but he leaned into me and whispered "I'm sure there are other ways I could think of to impress you babe," loud enough so that only I could hear and I was sure I blushed from head to toe at that.

"What about the guys though?" I asked teasing Darren a little, he still wasn't off the hook for not telling me he was coming back early, even if his surprise at the airport had been wonderful. We all joked about them a little bit which was ok because they still hadn't come out of the building yet. The girls reassured Dare that the guys would give him a hard time, but that they'd love him soon enough. As we said that they all walked out of the building in a clump.

"What took you all so long?" one of the girls asked. We always made fun of them because they took longer than us to get ready after practice.

"What do you mean? Wait… Who are you?" Matt asked looking at the way Darren had his arm around my waist. Matt was like my big brother and he was like the papabear for the team. He'd told me at the beginning of the year that he wanted to "Ok" any guy that thought he was good enough for me and I'd kind of assumed he'd just meant the one on campus, but apparently I was wrong. I had forgotten that Darren hadn't arrived yet when Matt was touring the group so he would not have recognized my boyfriend.

"Matt, guys, this is my boyfriend, who I love very much, Darren Criss. Matt he was the one who was running late the day we gave the tours to the IMPORTANT group of people." Matt's eyes widened in recognition and then narrowed as he looked Darren up and down. The guys seemed to hold off, waiting for Matt's reaction. As protective as they all were, they knew Matt was in charge when it came to me.

Darren chose that moment to step forward, "Matt, Catie has told me so much about you! Well, all of you really," he turned and looked them all in the eye. "The girls invited me to hang out with you all one weekend and I'd love to meet the guys Catie considers brothers." At that point they all smiled and Matt relaxed a little.

Then Austin who was the next most protective put one hand on Darren's shoulder and held the other out for him to shake. "Well you've got yourself one amazing girl there man, treat her right or we'll get you. I mean it. All of us. We're worse than a dad because we're in college and have very little discretion."

"Oh you don't have to worry about that. I love her more than anything I'd never hurt her."

I chose that moment to step in, thinking he'd been "intimidated" enough for the evening. "Alright guys, that's enough thank you, now I know you'll all like him, so just shake his hand say 'see ya soon man' and get going to commons. I know you're all hungry, you always are." They laughed and did as I asked; all except Matt of course.

"Big bwuder, pwease be nice to my Dawwen? I weeeewy wuv him. Plus my dad already said he's fine with it and I'd really like you guys to be friends. I know I'm your little sister, but trust me I've already handled hate from the media and fans and he's been right there with me, supporting me the whole time. I love him, Matt," I turned to Darren, "I love you." Darren reached out his hand for mine and gave me a light squeeze. Matt sighed and stuck out his hand to Darren.

"Nice to meet ya man. I can see how happy you've made her. But if anything changes expect a visit from us. And you," he said to me, "I saw that video on youtube. When were you gonna tell us if we hadn't walked out just then."

"Uh Matt, that was the plan to tell you! Haha I would have earlier, but our decision to start going out was kind of weirdly timed and Darren had to go back to LA to finish shooting for glee so I decided I'd introduce you all when he got back. Now can I go on a date with my boyfriend?" He nodded and opened his arms for a hug, which I gladly gave him. I knew Darren would fit right in with the guys, he was just as protective of me, but for different reasons, obviously.

We said our goodbyes and ran to his car because Matt had told us coach would probably be leaving soon and that was not something I was ready to deal with at the moment. As far as I was concerned my coach would be getting information on a need to know basis and right now he did not need to know anything.

Darren's POV

After being "initiated" by Catie's team which meant interview by the girls and intimidated by the guys we climbed into my car and headed toward the hotel. We dropped off her stuff in my room and then made our way to the restaurant I had made a reservation at. While we were eating she told me she was proud of me for handling her team, she apologized for them and I told her it was fine. I smiled, and told her they wouldn't have done it if they didn't think we were serious so that is was a good thing. She asked why my friends hadn't done that to her yet and I told her they'd already interrogated me about her, that they were worse than her friends and that they knew she was perfect so that it would be me that would be getting beat up she were hurt in any way. They were more worried about the media aspect, but I told her to still expect the girls to whisk her away at some point and grill her for all the dirty details. She blushed at that and I sighed. How I had missed that blush.

Too soon it was time to get back to the hotel and into bed. Catie had a later class the next day, but I had a surprise for her and I told her we'd be waking up at about the same time as today, she groaned a little but conceded and then snuggled into my chest after a quick… or not so quick make out session, and fell right asleep. Again I couldn't believe how I'd ever gotten to sleep without holding her in my arms like that. I felt so comfortable that, after listening to her soft steady breathing for a few minutes, I was out like a light.