Hey folks! For those of you who are still interested in this story, first off I just wants to say that I'm sorry it's been so long since I updated. Life gets in the way and all that. Second, well I am so unhappy with this chapter that I would rather not post it but i feel like I need to post something at least. Happy Glee Tuesday to you all. The next update will be fairly soon I promise. Sorry again for the long wait.
DISCLAIMER: I still don't own Glee.
Chapter 16 – Can't or Don't?
The next morning Charlie was aroused from his slumber by soft strokes to the back of his neck. He felt another stroke against his hand and he looked down at to see a small tan hand caressing his own.
"Rachel?" Charlie asked sleepily.
"Expecting someone else, Charlie?" Rachel joked as she nuzzled his neck again.
Charlie rubbed the sleep from his eyes before he tried to turn toward his girlfriend. "What are you doin here Rach?"
Rachel smiled at his softly before answering, "I think we need to talk about last night, don't you?"
"Uh, yeah." Charlie replied, "I'll be right back."
Charlie scooted around Rachel and stood up from his bed before kissing her forehead before heading into his bathroom. Rachel's eyes swept over Charlie and she chuckled at the sight of him in his Superman briefs and couldn't help but admire his fit form and firm posterior. A few minutes later Charlie came back out sporting some basketball shorts and a little less bed head.
Charlie sat on the edge of his bed and looked at Rachel expectantly has she now stood in front of him with her hands firmly planted on her hips.
"You're not talking Babe, it's kinda weird." Charlie stated.
Rachel seemed displeased by the comment, "That's because I'm waiting on you to apologize for your behavior last night."
Charlie raised his brow in confusion, "Me? Me apologize?"
"Yes," Rachel stated, "I think you owe the entire Glee Club an apology actually. You ruined our dinner last night. You should say you're sorry."
Charlie looked up at his girlfriend in awe, "Unbelievable. I'm not apologizing for jack Rachel. Finn is the one who should be saying sorry to me."
"Why?" Rachel asked.
Charlie's face went slack. "You're kidding right? How about for his complete disregard for our relationship for starters? Or how he rubs his feelings for you in my face every time he has a chance?"
"No he doesn't." Rachel mumbled.
"That's bull and you know it baby." Charlie told her, "Do you have feelings for him? I know you already said no, but I feel the need to ask again."
"No, Charlie, I love you. I just don't like the way you acted last night at dinner. That wasn't the time or the place and you know it." Rachel replied.
Charlie sighed, "You're right. I am sorry about handling it there, but I'm not sorry about what I said to Finn. And I wanna know why you left me and went after him."
"You don't know what it's like to be me. You've never had to deal with not having any friends, with being labeled a loser or an outcast your entire life. The few friends that I have managed to make I would like to keep. Finn is one of those people. We've been through a lot together and I don't want to lose his friendship. Finn is a good guy most of the time and he's my male lead. I need him. I need him to sing beside me so we win competitions. Winning competitions looks really good on my college resume. Working hard now will pay off when I get ready to apply to NYADA. Do you understand?" Rachel asked him.
Charlie's hazel eyes searched his girlfriends face and found nothing but sincerity etched across her lovely features. He exhaled slowly and held out his hand, "C'mere."
Rachel took his hand and stepped closer.
"He wants more than friendship, Rach. That's the problem." Charlie told her.
Rachel smiled softly and ran her fingers through his blonde locks, "Jealous, Quinn?"
"Pssh, no! Why would I be jealous of Hudson? He has nothing that I want." Charlie said bluntly.
"I think he does." Rachel responded with a smirk.
"Like what?" Charlie asked, daring her to try to come up with something.
"He has history with me." Rachel said, searching Charlie's eyes to see if she was right.
Charlie's features darkened slightly and Rachel knew she hit a nerve. Charlie reached both hands out and stroked the back of Rachel's legs right above her white knee high socks.
"Why must you tease me Rach?" Charlie whined, "And I'm not jealous of Finn. Why would I be jealous of your past with him when your future is with me?"
Rachel smirked, "You sounded confident when you said that."
Charlie pulled Rachel onto his lap, "Why wouldn't I be? You love me don't you?" Rachel nodded. "And I love you, so much. Why wouldn't I feel confident about our future together? I want you more than anything."
Rachel blushed shyly, "You're so charming, so confident, Charlie. So why do you feel threatened by Finn?"
"Because you give into him so easily, darlin." Charlie answered.
"I'm not interested in him romantically. I only want his friendship. Will you deny me a friend Charlie? I don't have many." Rachel told him softly.
Charlie wrapped his arms around her slim waist and sighed against her neck, "No. I will never deny you anything sweet girl."
Rachel smiled at his words, "I must say Quinton, that I love hearing you say that. Look at me, please."
Charlie lifted his head and looked his girlfriend right in her eyes.
"I love you." Rachel cooed softly. "I want to keep Finn as a friend Charlie. He's been there for me a lot, when I had no one else. Like last year when I had laryngitis Finn went with me to the doctor because my actual boyfriend was on Spring Break with his friends. I felt so alone and Finn was there."
"You'll never have to feel like that again Rachel. You have me now baby." Charlie said, reassuring her. "I'll always be there for you."
"I believe you and thank you, for being so good to me." Rachel said sweetly as she ran her hands through his hair and down his neck. "My sweet boy."
Charlie smirked as he caught on to Rachel's change of mood. He pulled her close and leaned forward to capture her lips with his own. Rachel shifted on his lap so that she straddled his lap fully and deepened their kiss.
"Mmmmm Rachel, are we done talking now? You forgive me for last night?" Charlie asked against Rachel's lips.
"I forgive you, but no more fighting with Finn okay?" Rachel replied.
"Not unless he starts it babe." Charlie responded.
"Fine. Just try, for me?" Rachel asked with an anxious expression.
"For you." Charlie conceded before he kissed Rachel again.
The next morning Charlie found himself at Brittany's with an extremely unamused Santana who was currently reclined back against Brittany's headboard staring at Charlie who was sitting in Brittany's desk chair across the room.
"Dude, how do you just let her do that to you?" Santana asked expectantly.
"Do what? What is she doing to me exactly that has you so riled up? I told you what happened yesterday; we talked, we worked it out, and she's not really mad anymore. I don't see what the big deal is, San." Charlie replied.
"The big deal is that your little hobbit princess is playing you, Q. You're hot for her so you give her whatever she wants and you don't even know it's happening." Santana explained, as if it were most obvious.
Charlie scoffed, "Playing me? Don't be ridiculous Santana. The things I do for Rachel I do because I love her, not because she manipulates me or is playing me in any way."
Santana sighed and looked down at the sleeping blonde next to her. She softly brushed a few hairs away from Brittany's face and looked back at Charlie. "I know manipulation when I see it, Q. I'm practically a pro at it. I've done it to the people I care about too. I know you don't want to think that Berry would do that to you and maybe she's not even doing it purposely, but she's doing it nevertheless. You told her that this thing with Finn makes you uncomfortable, that you don't like it, and what's she do about it? She tells you not to say anything to him and finally when you've taken as much of him as you can take and say something to him, he pitches a fit she goes and comforts him. Him, Q. Then she tells you to apologize to him, for you standing up to him for you and her? Then she somehow magically makes you forget that their relationship makes you uncomfortable. She gives you a few kisses, makes little Q all hard for her, and then bam…she's right back to where she wants to be, beside Hudson and you're just peachy with it."
Charlie stared at Santana with a stony expression before swallowing dryly. He didn't want to admit to Santana that her words made his heart ache. "Rachel loves me. Just because you…you manipulate B into doing whatever you want her to do doesn't mean that Rachel does it to me."
Santana clicked her tongue against her teeth, "I have done it in the past, yes, but don't talk as if it's a current thing Fabray. Desperate people do desperate things and I was desperate for her. She's the only thing that makes sense to me most of the time and I'm not proud of what I did. But this isn't about me, this is about you and Berry. I obviously hit a nerve because that's the most hostile thing you've ever said to me, Q."
Charlie sighed, "I'm sorry San. Just don't say things like that okay?"
"I'm only looking out for you, Q, as a friend it's my job to give you a reality check if you need one." Santana said, running her fingers through soft blonde locks. "Plus, I think I have a solution to all your problems."
Charlie perked up, "What?"
Santana smiled, "Your ears literally just tweaked, you're like a puppy Fabray, seriously. Anyway, as I was saying, what's the one thing she sees in Hudson?"
Charlie looked thoughtfully at his friend, "Uhhh," going over Finn's qualities in his mind, coming up with nothing off the top of his head.
"Dude, come on. What's the one thing that Berry sees in him?" Santana asked, sighing, "He sings, Q, he sings."
The blonde that was previously curled into Santana yawned and stretched, "Who sings?"
"Sorry, B, didn't mean to wake you baby." Santana cooed.
"'s okay S." Brittany said as she sat up, she rubbed her eyes and smiled widely at Charlie. "Hey Charlie." Brittany said, waving excitedly. "What are you guys talking about?"
"Berry and Finnessa and Q." Santana answered, pecking Brittany's lips lightly.
"Anyways, you were saying you had a plan Santana?" Charlie said.
"Yep, just join Glee. Take Finn's spot as our male lead…bing, bang, boom, Hudson is out and Berry is all yours. She'll probably come in her pants and want to merry you instantly. There's my plan, now get out, I wants to get my cuddle on." Santana told him before waving him off.
Charlie stared at her wide eyed, "Santana don't say that and there's a small flaw in your plan, I can't sing."
"Yeah, about that, I kinda already know that you can. A little bird told me that you're actually pretty good at it too. So suck it up and join the club. It will make all your problems go away. Sounds pretty flawless to me, country boy. Scoot." Santana said before kissing Brittany again.
"Saaan…" Brittany scolded, pushing her away slightly, "You're not being very helpful to Charlie."
Santana growled, "Q, that's my suggestion. I'm being serious about it. If you join Glee Club then you can keep an eye on Finnept and make beautiful music with your loud mouth girlfriend. Win–win situation, Q, I don't see the problem."
"Are you not hearing me Santana, I don't sing anymore. I don't know what Savannah told you, but she knows I don't sing anymore so that plan isn't gonna work. I'll see you guys later." Charlie said before he got up and headed out Brittany's door. "Thanks for the talk Santana. Bye B."
"Q!" Santana called.
Charlie turned around and looked at his friends.
"There's a big difference between can't and don't? If you have nice pipes you need to join the club. So, can't or don't? Which is it, honestly." Santana asked seriously.
The corners of Charlie mouth turned down slightly, "Don't. Good evening ladies."
"We'll come up with another plan, Q." Charlie heard Santana call from the other side of the door.
Charlie sighed as he made his way to his truck. He fiddled with his phone, contemplated on calling Savannah to giving her a good talking to for blabbing to Santana about every little detail of his life.
Savannah wasn't lying when she told Santana that he used to sing or that he could sing. Come to think of it, he didn't actually know what Savannah had told Santana, but the point was that he didn't sing anymore. He just didn't feel it anymore. Truth was Charlie use to love singing. Charlie thought about learning the guitar and how his Grandpa taught him the chords and lyrics to the first song that Charlie ever loved. Charlie chuckled to himself as the lyrics to John Anderson's Swingin' played in his mind. He could still hear his Grandpa's voice singing it and shooting his wife a wink. His Grandpa loved singing with a passion and he found himself wishing that his Grandpa could have met Rachel. He would have loved her. Charlie smiled at the memory and wiped his face as he felt a tear trail down his cheek. Charlie composed himself immediately. It had been over a year since his Grandpa died, but the loss still felt very fresh and singing reminded him to much of that.
He slid his thumb across his phone to unlock the screen and smirked at the picture of Rachel blowing him a kiss that graced his background. He stuck his keys in the ignition and decided that seeing Rachel was what he really needed right now.
Once he got to the Berry's house he noticed that Hiram and Leroy's cars were both gone, but Rachel's Beetle was there so he tried her cell but received no answer.
He stuck his hands in the pockets of his jeans and made his way up to the door. When he got up to the front door he could hear noise coming from inside the house. He listened a few more seconds before he knocked. He waited before trying the door knob which opened much to his surprise.
He stepped inside and slipped off his boots, "Rach?"
The noise that he heard outside was now very clear and becoming louder and then he heard it. Rachel had started singing along with the music, well she was singing over the music really. Charlie slipped toward the living room where the music was coming from. He peeped around the corner and saw Rachel standing on top of the ottoman, remote in hand as she belted into it whatever song was playing on the movie she had been watching.
He smiled and peeped around the corner again. He knew this movie, the one with the singing lesbian couple. With the hot one that kind of looked like Rachel, which was weird. RENT, maybe. He wasn't sure.
He smiled widely as he watched Rachel as she faced the T.V and spread one arm wide out to the side and kept the other close to her mouth, still singing loudly into the remote. She was wearing pink pajama pants with little lambs on them and a white spaghetti strap white that showed off a sliver of smooth tan skin as Rachel rose her arm up in the arm as she sang, cuz every night who's in your beeeeed.
Rachel jumped down off the ottoman, her long ponytail bouncing as she stepped forward and continued to sing the rest of the song, take me baby or leave meeee. Guess I'm leaving. I'm gone. Rachel huffed as she finished the song and turned back toward the couch as the people on screen filed on of the room.
"Charlie! Sweet Barbra you scared me!" Rachel shrieked as she saw him standing in the doorway leaning casually against the wall.
Charlie continued to smile radiantly at Rachel, "Sorry. Kiss Pookie?"
Rachel's face flushed red in embarrassment when she realized he had probably caught most of her performance. "You weren't supposed to see that. Um, what…what are you doing here? I mean not that you're not welcome here any time I'm just, I'm not," Rachel strutted out looking down at her appearance. "I'll be right back. I just need to change and put on a little eye liner or something. I'll be right back, just make yourself at home."
"Whoa, honey." Charlie said, catching her around her waist and pulled her back against his chest, "You don't have to do any of that Rach. You look adorable."
Rachel turned around in his arms and looked up at him shyly, her brown eyes unsure, "You don't think I look hideous? I didn't know you were coming over or I would've put a little effort into my apprea-ummph."
Charlie officially cut off her rant with long kiss to her soft lips, "You always look good to me sweetheart. I'm sorry I came by spur the moment, but I just wanted to see you. I called but you didn't answer. You were probably, "Charlie smirked, "warming up for your performance."
Rachel's cheeks tinted red again and she bit her lip and smiled softly up at Charlie. "You just wanted to see me huh?"
Charlie then remembered the way his morning at Santana's and nodded his head a little. He pulled Rachel close again and hugged her to him, breathing in the sweet smell of her hair.
"Are you alright Charlie?" Rachel asked quietly into his chest as she tightened her arms around his stomach.
"Yeah," Charlie sighed, "I just needed some Rachel lovin to brighten my day. I feel better now."
"What was bothering you? Do you want to talk about it?" Rachel asked him softly, urging him to talk to her.
"Just a disagreement with Santana, no big deal honey. It's all better now." Charlie assured her, "Thank you for asking though."
Rachel nodded in his chest and pulled out of the hug and grabbed his hand and pulled him over to the couch, "Lie down."
Charlie lay down on the Berry's large sofa and scooted over, hoping Rachel planned on joining him. Rachel lay down beside him and pulled the blanket off the back of the couch down onto them. Charlie pulled her snuggly against him and pressed his lips against her forehead.
"This is nice, really nice." Charlie whispered against Rachel's forehead.
"Umhmm. I'm glad you came by Charlie. I know things have been a little weird for the past few days and I'm glad that we have gotten past it. It's nice for it to be just us, like this." Rachel replied as she cuddled closer to her boyfriend.
Charlie nodded slightly against her head and tightened his hold around her back.
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot! Daddy told me to tell you not to make any plans for the night of my birthday because they are taking me to dinner. They also said that you are welcome to join us, your family as well." Rachel explained.
"I know," Charlie replied, "Your Dad texted me three days ago and told me."
"It didn't mess up any plans that you already had mad did it?" Rachel asked, a hint of hope in her voice.
Charlie smiled to himself, "Actually I'm glad he texted me because i had completely forgot about your birthday."
Rachel gasped lowly. "You did not Charlie! Don't tease me." Rachel whined.
Charlie chuckled into her brown locks before pressing a kiss to them, "Of course I'm teasing you babe, I'd never forget your birthday, but no, they didn't ruine any plans I made. I was going to take you to dinner, but I'm glad that your Dads are going too. It should be fun."
"I think so too. Daddy is still ridiclously nervous about me joing you and your family for Christmas so maybe this will ease his worries a little since he'll be able to see that you aren't trying to take me from them. He says I'm growing up to fast and spending a holiday with your significant other is grown people's business, not seventeen year old girls. I told him he was being silly and Dad was able to calm hom down some. He might give your the third degree between now and when we leave to go to Tennessee." Rachel told him.
"If he does that'll be fine honey, I don't want them to worry about you while we're gone. I'll try to assure them as much as I can that you'll be fine with me." Charlie told her.
"They trust you, they just worry. A couple of drama queens, both of them." Rachel told him fondly.
"Well at least you get it honest, sweet heart." Charlie told her playfully.
"Chaaaarlie!" Rachel whined again.
Charlie laughed and hugged her tight to him as he flipped them over so that he laid flat on his back on the couch with Rachel laying on her front on top of him, her head resting comfortably on his chest. She stared up at him with a small smile, biting the corner of her lip to keep her smile from splitting across her face.
Charlie watched her eyes as they coyly watched him. He watched her beautiful soft lips as she tried not to smile brilliantly at him. He reached her hand up and softly stroked her cheek and brushed a rogue lock of hair back behind her ear.
"Gorgeous girl." Charlie whispered.
At that Rachel let go of her lip as a smile broke across her features. She scooted up Charlie's body until she was only inches from his face. She searched his playful hazel orbs and saw all the love they held for her. She smiled again before tiling her head slight and capturing his lips in a loving kiss.
"I'm all yours, Quinn." She whispered against his lips.
"My gorgeous girl?" Charlie asked shyly.
"Yes, Charlie," Rachel giggled, "and you are mine."
Charlie closed his eyes briefly as he soaked in her words. He knew Santana was wrong. He knew Rachel was doing anything but being herself, fighting for her passion, music and Glee. Her fighting him about Finn didn't mean that she loved him any less, it just meant that Rachel was protecting her first love, music. He understood that now and as long as she was happy and still loved him, coming second was okay with him, for now.
When Charlie opened his eyes he was meant with a smirking Rachel who captured his lips immediately. He smiled into the kiss and cupped her jaw gently with one hand while he slid the other around her side to her back and held her to him.
After a few more heated kiss the couple slowed down and sighed as their lips broke apart.
"You're a really good kisser Charlie." Rachel sighed dreamily.
"Better than Hudson?" Charlie asked with a smirk.
Rachel scoffed, "I don't see how that's revelent, but yes. And I also apprecite you not getting an erection every single time our kissing progresses to a making out type situation."
Charlie's smirk dropped a little. On one hand he was happy that he had better stamina than Finn, but meanwhile hating that he had a hard on anywhere near Rachel.
Rachel sensed his discomfort and kissed him gently, "Wanna take a nap together? I'm a little tired. Regrettable I haven't been getting my necessary eight hours of sleep."
"Yeah, babe. That sounds pretty great actually." Charlie replied as he picked up the blanket off the floor that had falling during their heated kissing earlier.
Rachel sighed as she snuggle down onto his chest again, "Love you, Q."
Charlie smiled and stroked her hair softly before responding, "Love you too, Rach, so much."
A few minutes or hours later Rachel was woken up by brisk pokes to the back. She popped an eye open and took in the unimpressed features of Leroy Berry.
"Hey Daddy." Rachel said before she closed her eyes again.
"Rachel, wake up. That's a very handsome pillow you have there." Leroy told her with a raised brow.
Rachel opened her eyes again and blinked before she registered what her Daddy was talking about. She smiled sheepishly at her Daddy before she looked at Charlie's sleeping face. He looked very relaxed and almost didn't have the heart to wake him, almost.
"Charlie, wake up." Rachel told him gently.
Charlie groaned lowly and tightened his hold on Rachel, "Go back to sleep Rach." He stretched sleepily without even opening his eyes before he rubbed her back gently and ran his hand down to Rachel butt and giving it a squeeze then a pat, leaving his hand in place before he snored softly again.
Rachel flushed red before looking up at Leroy who looked about ready to smother Charlie with the blanket that now lay abandoned on the floor.
"Charlie," Rachel tried again, "get up sweetheart, Daddy's here."
"And he doesn't like you groping his daughter in your sleep, Mr. Fabray. Get up." Leroy added.
At that Charlie's eyes shot open and he tried to gather his bearings enough to access the situation that he currently found himself in. Rachel smiled softly at him before she got up off him so he could sit up. Charlie stood up immediately brushing nonexistent dirt off himself.
"Umm uhh, sorry Mr. Berry. We were just..."
"Oh! Hey kids!" Hiram greeted as he joined them in the living room.
Hiram caught on the tension as soon as he walked farther into the room.
"So, what's going on in here baby?" Hiram asked.
"They were-" Leroy started.
"We weren't-" Rachel tried to explain.
Rachel and Leroy raised an eyebrow at each other before Rachel took the lead, "Charlie and I were taking a nap on the couch Dad, that's all."
"Oh, that's nice baby. Did you have a good day sweetheart?" Hiram asked her.
"Oh yes, Dad. It was lovely. Did you?" Rachel asked him sweetly, giving him a hug.
"Splendid, we're about to start dinner. Charlie are you staying?" Hiram asked
Charlie looked straight at Leroy who just rolled his eyes, "He's staying Hiram. Come on Honey, let's go get dinner started."
Charlie just smiled awkwardly at Leroy, "Yes sir, Mr. Berry, thank you for the invitation."
Rachel smiled at the three men in her life. They didn't always all three see eye to eye but this was her family, and she loved them and wouldn't have it any other way.
She took Charlie's hand and pulled him into the kitchen to see if they could off her Dads any help. It was the perfect way to end the weekend with her boys.
TBC
Thanks for reading. Review is you wish.