Hey all, this is pretty short but I wanted to post something since it's been about a week or so annnnd it's a Glee Tuesday so I couldn't not post anything. I Kissed A Girl episode is on tonight! Tune in folks.

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Glee.

Chapter 15 – Chemistry

Charlie exhaled deeply before straitening himself up to full height in front of the Berry's front door. He held the flower vase full of thorn-less pink and red roses tight at his front before reaching out and ringing the door bell. He took a step back before waiting nervously for someone to answer the door. He hadn't been this nervous about standing on this doorstep since his first date with Rachel. That was a huge deal then but now, in many ways, he felt this was a bigger milestone in their relationship.

After his and Rachel's sleepover they had discussed how to ask the Berrymen if they would allow Rachel to accompany the Fabray family to Tennessee for Christmas. After little debate Charlie suggested that he ask them personally instead of Rachel. They were likely to tell him no, but he had to try. Rachel knew he was going to ask her parents but she had no idea that he was going to sneak over to her house while she was at dance class and ask them. Charlie hoped that she would be in for a pleasant surprise when she got home in a few hours.

After a few moments of waiting on the porch Charlie was greeted by a surprised Hiram Berry at the door.

"Charlie, hi, Rachel is at dance class, but I'm positive you already knew that." Hiram joked.

"Yes Sir, I am actually here to see if I could come in and talk to you and Mr. Berry for a few minutes about something." Charlie explained nervously.

Hiram looked the blonde boy over, taking in his nervous appearance and the flowers that he was clutching to him before nodding and allowing him to come inside.

"Leroy." Hiram called up the stairs, "Could you come down here for a second Honey, we can company."

Charlie swallowed nervously as Leroy Berry arrived down stairs in the living room. Leroy looked at him suspiciously before addressing him, "You brought us flowers?"

Charlie shook his head, "They're for Rachel."

"Rachel isn't home. You should know by now that she has dance class every Tuesday." Leroy stated.

"I know, I was just going to leave them here for her. I came by because I was hoping to be able to talk to you guys about something." Charlie explained nervously.

Leroy narrowed his eyes before looking to his husband who just shrugged his shoulders, unsure of what the topic of discussion was going to be either.

Leroy turned his gaze back to Charlie and took a step toward him, "Have a seat."

Charlie sat down and looked up at the Berrymen before swallowing worriedly.

"She's not pregnant is she?" Leroy asked, a fire evident in his eyes.

"Leroy Berry!" Hiram chastised, "Don't say such a thing. Rachel is a respectable young woman, of course she's not. Is she?" Hiram asked Charlie, his eyes as big as saucers.

Charlie shook his head furiously, "No sir! We-we- aren't, we haven't…"

"Thank God. Lee, you should know better than that." Hiram said as she slapped Leroy's arm playfully.

"Well what was I supposed to think? Look at him, Hiram, he's sweating bullets." Leroy said as he pointed to Charlie who was indeed clearly sweating.

"Honey, have a seat. I think we're scaring him. Charlie, what did you want to talk to us about?" Hiram asked nicely after taking a seat on the couch next to Charlie.

Charlie placed the flowers in the floor by his feet before he wiped his hands on his jeans. He took a breath before explaining to the Berrymen why he was there. "I asked Rachel a few days ago if she would like to accompany my family and me home to Tennessee for Christmas. She said that she would like to, pending you guys approval. So, that's why I'm here, I'm asking for your permission."

"No." Leroy answered shortly, "We want our baby here for Christmas."

Charlie sighed sadly and nodded, "Okay."

"Hold on a second Leroy." Hiram said, "Rachel wants to go with you?"

"She said she did." Charlie answered.

"What are the detailed of this trip?" Hiram asked curiously.

"We are going to fly out of Columbus early on Christmas Eve and stay at my Mamaw's house while we're there. We'll be back on the late on the twenty-sixth because my Dad has work to do here. I will to pay for Rachel's air-fair if you allow her to go." Charlie told them shyly.

"She'd be here for Hanukkah Leroy. If Rachel wants to go I don't see the problem." Hiram explained to his husband.

"The problem is I don't want her staying with her boyfriend over night in another state." Leroy interjected.

"Will there be supervision on this trip?" Hiram asked Charlie.

"Of course he's going to say yes, Hiram." Leroy deadpanned.

"Yes Sir," Charlie told them, "My parents and the other adults in my family will be there. I have tons of family who all stay over at my Mamaw's so we can all be there Christmas morning. I know Rach doesn't celebrate but I got her something so she would have something to open there too. As far as sleeping arrangements go Rachel can bunk with my sister or my cousin, the one y'all meant in Starbucks a few months ago."

"I'm not sure that she and Rachel get along, Son, you might want to stick her in with your sister. Now, she's a doll." Hiram told Charlie with a smile.

"You're talking as if you're letting her go Hiram, I think it's a bad idea." Leroy told his husband.

"Mr. Berry, with all due respect, I would like it very much if she could go with me." Charlie explained to Leroy, "This is our first Christmas together and I don't want to spend it in separate states. I love her, Mr. Berry. She's so special to me and I just really want my family to meet her. Please reconsider."

Hiram smiled fondly at Charlie while Leroy pouted to himself. He knew he was vastly outnumbered here so he conceded, "We'll be talking to your parents about this before you go to make sure that you two are supervised and that you act according to the rules as if you were here."

"Yes Sir," Charlie said excitedly, as he got up to shake Leroy's hand, "Thank you Sir. Thank you."

Hiram smiled as his husband reluctantly shook Charlie's hand. Hiram stood up and Charlie turned to offer him a handshake as well before Hiram grabbed him in a hug. Charlie hugged him back lightly.

"Since Rachel will be joining you for your Christmas festivities I want to invite you over here to join us for some of our Hanukkah celebrations. I think Rachel would enjoy it as well." Hiram told him with a smile.

"That would be great Mr. Berry. Thank you for the invitation, I will certainly take you up on it." Charlie told him gratefully.

"Good, and we'll see you on Saturday at Rachel's Sectionals I assume?" Hiram asked.

"Oh, yes, Sir. Wouldn't miss it. I hear it's going to be quite a show." Charlie replied with a smile and picked the vase of flowers up off the floor, "Thank you guys again for allowing Rachel to go back home with me, it truly has made my holiday. Is it okay if I go put these up in Rachel's room?"

"Sure." Hiram said with a warm smile.

Charlie headed upstairs with the roses and opened Rachel's door. He looked around the room and debated on the best place to set them. He settled for Rachel's desk, right next to a picture of the two of them. He pulled the blank card out of its card holder and wrote her a quick message:

Hello Beautiful,

I talked to your Dads tonight baby, and I hope you're ready for a Fabray country Christmas. ; )

I love you,

Q

He tucked the card back in its holder that stood out against the roses before walking back downstairs. He stepped into the living room to bid the Berrymen good evening before he headed back home. He hadn't been home twenty minutes before his rang and a picture of Rachel popped up on his screen. He smiled to himself before he answered, "Hey Babe."

Hey you. How did you get them to say yes?

"I honestly don't know. Your Dad was reasonable about it all. He was okay with it if you really wanted to go." Charlie explained.

Dad said you were so nervous. Sweetheart, you didn't need to talk to them alone.

"I know Rach, but I wanted to. I want them to feel like they can trust me I guess." Charlie replied.

Well Daddy certainly doesn't, but hopefully he will eventually. I think he's jealous of my roses. Thank you by the way, they are so beautiful Quinn. You're so good to me.

"Nothing less than you deserve sweet girl. I love you." Charlie told her shyly.

And I love you. I can't wait for Christmas now Quinton, I'm so glad we get to spend it together.

"Me too. I'm looking forward to it. I talked to Savannah and she said that you could room with her at our Mamaw's house." Charlie explained.

There's no way we could sneak in together? I really enjoyed sharing a bed with you at our sleepover.

"Mmmm Rach, I would love to but we better not risk it. Mom already said she's got her eye on us." Charlie informed her.

Not even after she goes to bed? You know it was fun the last time. I know you enjoyed it Quinn.

Charlie groaned to himself at the mere memory of feeling Rachel's body pressed against his in all the right places during their sleep over at Rachel's. "Don't tempt me you little minx. You know how hard it is for me to resist you darlin. We need to follow the rules. I don't want this to be our last vacation together."

Fine. I'll behave, maybe.

Charlie chuckled at her suggestive tone, "Enough teasing Rach. Go to bed. I'll see you in the morning. I love you. Sweet dreams."

I love you too, Charlie. Sweetdreams.

The following Saturday was the Glee Club's Sectional competition and Charlie loitered around in the building lobby with the Berrymen and the rest of the people that had gathered to watch the different schools perform.

"You guys ready to take our seats? They should be starting soon." Hiram said as he looked over his program.

Charlie and the Berrymen made their way to their seats and stuck Charlie on the end by the aisle and he placed three flowers under his seat so he didn't have to hold them. After pretty sweet performances from a elderly group called the Hipsters and very lively group from Dalton Academy the New Directions were finally about to go on. Charlie thought both groups that had performed so far were good so he couldn't wait to see what the Rachel and the rest of the Gleeks had up their sleeves.

When the music started playing Charlie smiled at the song choice, his Mom loved Dirty Dancing so he knew the song. Finn's voice drew the attention of everyone in the auditorium to the back of the room where he had stepped out from between the red curtains. After Finn had sang his lines Charlie's head wiped around again toward the sound that spoke to his heart. Rachel was stepping through the curtains in her blue and white dress, looking as gorgeous as always.

Rachel sauntered down the aisle as sang her parts of the song. Charlie was watching her with a dopey grin by the time she had made it down next to him. She shot him a wink as she sang the lyrics and reached her hand out toward him. He grasped it and planted a quick kiss to her knuckles before she moved on toward the stage.

Charlie was in awe of Rachel's elegance on stage. His eyes wondered from his love to the tall boy who was her duet partner. Charlie narrowed his eyes at Finn, clearly seeing what Santana had meant when she said that Finn was singing the song to her and not with her. Charlie huffed and pushed his feelings aside and tried to enjoy the rest of the song while the rest of the New Directions joined in.

After Finn and Rachel had finished their song the beat of the music changed to a faster song. Charlie heard Hiram squeak out "Amy Winehouse," and clap over from his right side before he turned his attention back to the stage. He could see Rachel and Brittany standing at the back of the stage with Santana between them bopping to the beat. Brittany gave her a quick pat on the butt before she turned around and started belting out the lyrics. Charlie's eyes grew wide at the sight he was witnessing on the stage. He had never really heard Santana sing or Brittany dance, or Mike for that matter. He was fairly certain the dance moves from Britt and Mike only ever happened in a professional dance setting, they were amazing. When Charlie finally pulled himself out of his shocked state he could only smile and enjoy the show.

After the Valerie number Charlie was the first one out of his seat wolf whistling like a mad man. It was obvious that New Directions had this is the bag. After the winners were announced Charlie scooped up the flowers that he put under his chair and went with the Berrymen to the lobby to wait on Rachel. Ten minutes later New Directions came shuffling out from one of the back rooms and Rachel, Santana, and Brittany came over to talk to them.

"Well done girls!" Leroy called as they walked to them.

"Yes, you all were outstanding. Better and better every time we see you perform. Santana, I love Amy Winehouse and you nailed it, Sister!" Hiram concurred.

The girls smiles at them in thanks. "What about you Q, no comment?" Santana asked.

"I'm still kinda recovering from the show, B, Santana, just wow guys. Y'all were freaking awesome. These are for you." Charlie said as he handed them each a rose.

"Thank you Charlie!" Brittany said with a tight hug.

"Thanks." Santana told him with a quick smile.

Rachel stood by them as she chewed nervously on her lip waiting to hear her boyfriends thoughts on the show.

"And you," Charlie said as he stepped in front of Rachel, "You were flawless, sweet girl. For you." Charlie told her as he handed her the last rose in his hand.

"Thank you." Rachel responded with a smile.

Charlie reached up and gently stoked her cheek with the back of his fingers before leaning down and kissing her chastely.

A gagging noise interrupted the kiss and Charlie rolled his eyes at Santana. "We're all going out to celebrate, Q, you in?"

"Where y'all headed?" Charlie asked her.

"Breadstix, duh, where else would we go?" Santana answered sarcastically.

Charlie chuckled, "Shoulda known. Babe, do you want me to go?"

"Of course." Rachel answered as she reached for his hand, "Can we ride with you there?"

"Yeah, does everyone else have a ride?" Charlie asked.

"Yep, Wheels is riding with his Dad, Lauren, and Puck. They are meeting us there. Everyone else is riding in Mike's Mom's truck I think." Santana answered.

"Cool. Y'all ready?" Charlie asked.

"Yes. Bye Dad. Bye Daddy, love you both! See you at home." Rachel said as she hugged each one.

"By baby, see you at home. Home by eleven please." Hiram told her.

"Bye sweetheart. Wonderfully done tonight Rachel. We're so proud of you." Leroy told his daughter.

"Thank you Daddy." Rachel said as she hugged him again.

On the way to bread sticks Rachel and Charlie held hands over his console while making small talk with Brittany and Santana who sat in the second row of his Tahoe. By the time they got to Breadstix the rest of the Glee clubers were already there in the back pushing together enough tables to seat them all.

Charlie went to the restroom to wash up before joining the group in the back. On his way out of the bathroom he saw Santana coming out of the ladies room and waited on her.

"Sup Q, what did you really think of Berry's duet with Finnessa tonight? You were kinda quiet about it." Santana asked him.

"I thought it was good, but I did notice what you were talking about. Honestly, it bothered me a little but I just pushed it aside. It was just a performance, no big deal." Charlie said as he shrugged his shoulders.

"Yeah, it was for Berry, but come on man. He wants her and he's not giving up. Look, look at him right now. He's like that all the time with her." Santana said as she gestured toward the table.

Charlie looked toward the tables and saw Finn sitting in his chair next to Rachel with his arm around the back of her chair as he leaned down toward her. Charlie gritted his teeth and whispered harshly, "Why can't he just get a clue."

"Maybe you should give him one. If he was like that with Britt I would set his ass straight real quick, just sayin." Santana told him, "It's only going to get worse if you don't stop it."

Charlie nodded his head, "Okay, you're right. Thanks Santana."

Rachel turned around in her seat and spotted him before she got up and walked over toward them, "What are you guys doing?"

"Talking Berry, obviously." Santana answered.

"Right, well I'm going to the ladies room, be right back. Are you okay Quinn?" Rachel asked Charlie, concerned by the look on his face.

Charlie smiled softly down at her before he nodded, "I'm fine."

"Good." Rachel said as she popped up on her tiptoes and kissed his lips quickly.

Charlie watched her go before he gestured toward the table and took Rachel's seat right by Finn.

"Dude, that's Rachel's seat." Finn told him as he sat down.

"It's mine now, she can sit next to me right here." Charlie said as he patted the seat next to him.

"But I want to sit next to Rachel." Finn replied dumbly.

Charlie looked at Finn coldly, "Why do you want to sit next to my girlfriend?"

"Because." Finn responded, "Because I want to sit next to her."

"Yeah, I already know that Finn. Do you want to sit next to her because you want to try to put your arm around her again? Because you want to flirt with her more? Because you want to try to get her to flirt back? Well it's not going to happen. I am so tired to you ignoring and disrespecting my relationship with her, Hudson. I'm asking you as nicely as I can to back off." Charlie told him, looking the dumbfounded boy right in the face.

"Me and Rachel have chemistry. It was obvious tonight." Finn explained, "I feel it. And everyone here can see it except for you. This is a Glee dinner, why are you even here?"

"You call that chemistry? What I saw was Rachel performing, putting on one heck of a show. It's what she does. You may have feelings for her Hudson, but she will never return them." Charlie told him with a raised brow.

Finn shot up out of his seat and looked down at Charlie, "We do have chemistry, you're just too blind to see it, but I feel it, and when you're not around I think she feels it too."

Charlie stood up from his chair and face Finn with a determined expression on his face. The rest of the Glee club was sitting back in their seats watching them anxiously. Santana was poised in her chair waiting to jump in at the slightest hint that she needed to.

"It's all in your mind Finn, you just want to think she has more than platonic feelings for you. Rachel sings with you, but that's all it's even going to be. I love her and I'm lucky enough for her to love me back and I'm never letting that go. It's in your best interest if you just move on." Charlie told him plainly.

"No." Finn told him, "She doesn't love you. She doesn't know what she wants."

Charlie took a step toward Finn and Santana stood up from her seat, ready to help her friend. Brittany looked between the boys before speaking, "Stop the violence."

"Nobody is getting violent B," Charlie assured her before turned to Finn again, "She does love me. I know because I feel it. I feel with when she's with me, when she's kissing me, when she looks at me. That's chemistry, Finn. We don't have to sing love songs together to have chemistry, all we have to do is be near each other it's there and everyone in the room can see that except you."

Finn didn't take kindly to being mocked. He fumed and kicked over a chair that was sitting at another table before storming out of the restaurant. Charlie watched him go with an emotionless expression on his face and that's when he saw Rachel standing there watching him. She looked at him disapprovingly before she shook her head at him sadly and followed after Finn.

"Rachel!" Charlie called, "Rach, wait."

"What?" Rachel snapped as she turned around, "What is wrong with you? This a Glee Club celebratory dinner and you just upset our male lead enough to make him run out of the restaurant. What is your problem Quinton? You're invited here as a guest and you make a scene? That was incredibly rude and disrespectful, especially after I remember telling you not to confront Finn, that I would handle it."

"He started it, Rach, not me." Charlie explained.

"I don't care who started it, Quinn," Rachel seethed, "I'm going to check on Finn. I'll find my own way home."

"Rachel, no, stop please." Charlie pleaded.

"No, don't follow me. I'm mad at you, can't you see that?" Rachel said angrily before she turned toward the door again.

"Rach…" Charlie called sadly, before his cry was ignored as he watched the girl he loved go after someone else.

TBC

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