AN: Another chapter, thank you for your reviews. We're like at the halfway point of this story.
It was nearing midnight before Santana finally decided that enough was enough and made up her mind to confront Charlie in the basement. Charlie hadn't said much about what had happened to her, but this was getting ridiculous, she was exhausted and while she was fine with Charlie staying on the couch or something. She was not okay with hearing the sound of construction going on in her own house near midnight. Charlie was lucky that Bela slept like the dead.
She grimaced as she finally got down the steps of her basement, immediately placing a hand on the wall to steady herself. It was a battle getting out of bed sometimes. It was certainly a battle to get out of bed, getting down to the basement after a long day was a war that sometimes it felt like she was losing. Even still she straightened herself up and moved to Charlie who had her back to her and cleared her throat causing the contractor to turn to look up at her. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing out loud. Charlie looked absolutely ridiculous with the Hello Kitty Band-Aid on her chin and cheek. "Why are you still here?"
Charlie blinked and immediately reached for her phone, the screen had a crack in in it courtesy of the police department but she could still tell what time it was and she winced. "Sorry, I just sometimes lose track of time. I'll just pack up—and head home." She winces at that, she can already see her father looming there, demanding answers.
"You've had a rough day Charlie, if you want to crash on the couch you can, but you can't make this a habit. Bela might get ideas and try and parent trap us. I'm pretty sure she's been trying to, and I don't need to confuse her." Santana says and Charlie nods at this.
"It's fine—the drive should do me some—" Charlie began rubbing her arm shoulder, it hurt badly but she wasn't going to let that get to her.
Santana held her hand up, "It'll be two am by the time you get home. And we both know that nothing good happens after two am in the morning. Look truthfully I'd be more comfortable if you just stayed here for the night. The couch is pretty comfortable."
Charlie nods after a moment and gets off her knees and offers her arm to Santana to help her back up the stairs. "I'm sorry about all this, I know you didn't want my parents knowing about her." Charlie said after a moment as Santana takes her arm and lets Charlie help her up the steps.
"No, I didn't. I don't want Bela being spoiled, I never wanted that. But I'm surprised that you didn't tell them. Actually I'm surprised Quinn kept quiet about it." Santana admits after a moment.
Charlie winces a bit but shrugs. "I did tell him, about her." Santana looks at her. "He didn't believe me, so I just left it alone." Charlie rubs her hands slowly. "I mean I don't blame him. I am a disappointment, and I did lie about it. I lied to him, so he's right to not trust me." Charlie explains to Santana.
"Oh please. You've been clean for ten years. And whatever you did to him, however disappointed he is with you, when we were together we both know you did worse to me. But I've forgiven you, and more importantly, I trust you." Santana says firmly. "I trust you with Bela. So if he doesn't trust you then it's not your problem anymore. Same goes for Quinn."
"Quinn's just looking out for Beth, I don't blame her either. I get why she made me stay away for as long as she did. I mean I could have relapsed or something and she didn't want that near Beth to begin with," Charlie admits. "Kids get into everything after all," Charlie says defending Quinn.
"Or Quinn just enjoys torturing you for her own sick perverted pleasure," Santana says and Charlie looks at her. "What? Quinn's a bitch, you know this. I know this. Nothing's changed in ten years—well that's not quite true." Santana studies Charlie for a moment. "What happened to the Charlie I knew? You know the one who had no fear of telling people off?"
Charlie snorts at this and lets one of her calloused fingers run across Santana's knuckles gently. "I fucked up. I know I did, I hurt so many people and did such shitty things. I just—if people want their pound of flesh, if people want to be wary of me—then they can be. I don't want to be that person again. I just—after I hit the ground I thought to myself—I looked at my life. I made so many mistakes in such a little amount of time and I just—I needed to change and grow." Charlie is quiet for a moment as they reach the top of the stairs. "I hurt you Santana. I left you with no other choice but to take our daughter and run. You raised her by yourself and I don't understand—like I don't understand—how?"
"How?" Santana repeats causing Charlie to meet her eyes.
"How could you forgive me? How could you ever trust me again? I betrayed you, I hurt you—I let you down again and again. You felt the brunt of it and I don't understand how you can stand there and tell me that you forgive me, that you trust me. I just don't."
"I trust you with Bela, I'd be blind to ignore the fact that you're good with her. She adores you, to her you're the knight that lost their way and is finally back to slaying dragons. That's what I need you to be too her. This taking everyone's shit because you feel guilty is getting old quickly. It's been ten years. At some point people do need to get over it." Santana informs Charlie. She had a daughter who looked up to her, and she was damned if she allowed Bela to think that you could let people treat you like shit because you made a mistake. "But my heart Charlie? I don't trust anyone with that. Understand that I forgive you—but you did a number on me and I can't forget that."
"Good, you shouldn't forget," Charlie says after taking what Santana said.
Santana eyes Charlie for a moment, "This is what I'm talking about Charlie. You deserve my crap. You don't deserve Russell's. You did hurt me. You did do all these things, but recent events have reminded me how short life is. I can't stay angry at you, I can't hate you forever, and I can't punish you forever. It takes way too much time and energy and I'm in short supply of the latter these days."
Charlie bites her lip, "You shouldn't forget what I did to you. But not everyone is a cocaine addict. Once you beat this thing—and you will, you need to get out there and find someone who makes you happy and loves you and Bela. You deserve to be happy and get a happy ending."
Santana groans, "Not you too. First Brittany, then Bela and I'm pretty sure Yentl, and now you? I was happy. I am happy with my life Charlie. I mean yeah the cancer thing is terrible and I feel like death, but I have Bela and even though she can be a little shit sometimes—she gets that from you by the way—I love her more than anything in the world. She brings me a tremendous amount of joy, about ninety-nine percent of the time."
"Well, I know that but you should have a full life as well." Charlie said nudging her gently.
"Pot meet the kettle. What about you? I don't see you with a girlfriend." Santana says, smacking Charlie's hand gently when she moves to scratch her chin. "It'll scar if you pick at it. Your daughter does the same thing." Santana says.
Charlie was quiet for a moment, "I tried to date—but I didn't want to hide my former addiction from anyone. So I tell them during the first date, so they know. Maybe I should wait until they get to know me better but most people—don't want to be with someone who has that in their background. Then there are people who hear the name Fabray and they're all over that—until I tell them that I've been disowned and I'm a contractor. Then they never call again. I just sort of stopped looking and it's been a few years since I've had anyone." Charlie admits.
"When you say years?" Santana prodded as they headed upstairs. It was a personal question but she was curious and since Charlie's apartment had been boring as hell, this was the next best thing.
"Um—I think around eight?" Charlie answers stopping to turn to Santana who stops moving and just stares at her. "What?"
"You know what will boost your confidence? Getting laid." Santana says bluntly and pats Charlie on the back.
"Why, you offering?" Charlie asks and flashes Santana a smile before realizing what she said and turning a bright pink. "I'm—"
"And that's the Charlie I remember." Santana said poking Charlie in the side and smiling at her. "Enjoy the couch, goodnight Charlie." Santana smiled at Charlie before opening the door to her bedroom. "Extra blankets are in the closet across from Bela's bathroom." Santana informs her.
"Night Santana," Charlie said and relaxed waiting until Santana closed the door before heading to the closet to grab a blanket and making her way down to the couch.
Bela grinned as she finished getting ready and grabbed her bag to head downstairs. It had been forever since her mom had made pancakes on a weekday morning, and they smelled awesome, maybe she could get some bacon to. Her mom had been a bit slower getting out of bed to take her to school but she didn't mind, it beat taking the bus to school. She heads down the stairs immediately to get the pancakes while they're still hot, and stops and stares. Charlie is standing there making some pancakes and cutting up some fresh fruit.
Bela moves to sit at the island pulling herself onto the stool and grabbing a plate that Charlie had put out and some cutlery, and moving the maple syrup closer. "So." Bela says as Charlie picks up the pan and flips the pancake onto her plate. "Did you have sex with my mom last night?"
Charlie drops the pan and stares at her daughter, "No!" she says stumbling back, turning a bright red.
"It's okay Charlie I'm ten. I meant it's gross but I sort of thought you were lame and my mom is super picky." Bela says stuffing her face with pancake and chewing.
"I slept on the—what do you mean you thought I was lame?" Charlie said her face crinkling at the thought.
Bela stared at Charlie as she chewed. "You're super old, and my mom is cool and so is Aunt Brittany even if she is a cat lady—but like really old adults are like super lame." Bela informed Charlie.
"I'm not that old." Charlie mutters under her breath. "I thought you thought I was cool." Bela pushed her empty plate towards Charlie who had begun to make another pancake.
Santana sighed as she fixed her outfit for the day as she entered the kitchen where her daughter was being waited on by Charlie. She watches for a second as Charlie places another pancake on her plate. "What's going on here?"
"Charlie's making me pancakes! And telling me about how you two had sex." Bela informs her mother.
Charlie turns a bright red when Santana's eyes flick to her and she holds her hands out. "No! No! I didn't say that!"
"Plus I'm telling her how lame she is," Bela informs her mother.
"She is pretty lame." Santana agrees with her daughter popping some fruit into her mouth and studying Charlie. "And so you're aware, we're not having sex. We aren't going to have sex and stop trying to parent trap us." Santana informs her daughter bluntly.
Bela crinkles her nose, "What's a parent trap? I was just hoping that you would make me a baby sister." Bela says watching in amusement as Santana begins to cough and Charlie pats her firmly on the back.
"Did you!" Santana says clearing her throat and Charlie shakes her head as Bela laughs. Santana glares at her for a moment before shrugging. "Charlie take your daughter to school."
"Wait, I'm taking her to school?" Charlie asks and Santana shrugs her shoulders.
"Yeah and for my next project I have to build a spaceship can you help me with that this weekend?" Bela asks. "I'll show you Callie. She got so super steamed that everyone thought my project was awesome because it glowed in the dark."
"I have to get to a meeting this early in the morning, so thanks Charlie." Santana said and kisses Bela on the forehead. "I'll be there to pick you up, and if I'm not Brittany will be there."
"Why can't Charlie pick me up?" Bela said immediately.
"I have to go to work in the city today and I don't think I can make it back in time Bela. I didn't go to work yesterday and I'm worried about the damage the guys did without my supervision," Charlie says. "But maybe I can stop by later tonight—"
"Charlie you aren't going to use our daughter as an excuse to not go home. Take care of your shit, get your house in order and you can spend as much time with Bela as you want." Santana interrupts. Charlie was avoiding and she'd be damned if that was going to happen under her watch. "Beside we said we weren't going to make it a nightly thing."
"I knew it!" Bela said with a triumphant look on her face.
Charlie flushed deeply. "We didn't have sex." She states immediately and nods. "Okay. I'll see you tomorrow then."
"See you tomorrow, you're going to need to behave Bela. No tricking Charlie, straight to school." Santana said grabbing her bag and eying her daughter who nods and flashes a grin at Charlie. "I'll talk to you later Charlie. Bela lock up when you leave."
Bela waits until her mother leaves and waves her off before grinning at Charlie. "So can we go to an amusement park today?"
"I'm the lame parent remember—so no." Charlie says with a huff, smiling when Bela's smile falls off her face. She could so get the hang of this parenting thing.
AN: See you tomorrow
