Carrying on the Torch

Disclaimer: I don't own Good Luck Charlie

A/N:

Chapter 24 (Major Headache)

As she walked towards Regina's home, she felt almost as if she were about to walk into a warzone, but she didn't know why she felt that way. The one story brick house had three windows on the front side near the front door, with two windows to the left of the home and one to the right. The door had a long sidewalk that stretched out to the road. The one lone window led to a garage while the two windows off to the sides were bedroom windows. Regina lived in a three bedroom home, one bedroom was hers, one was the Master bedroom, and the third was just the guest bedroom. Her mother never married, never had any other children, so it truly was just Regina and her mom. Why they didn't live in an apartment, she never really understood.

Alice really needed to date, though. She was a strong, empowered, beautiful lady who could certainly have many men at her feet if she so chose. So why did she not date? As she approached the front door, she noticed the white screen door was shut, but the big wooden door on the inside was wide open. Before she reached for the doorbell, she heard Alice's thick, deep voice, bellowing at someone. She froze and lifted her eyebrows, it definitely wasn't Regina she was yelling at.

"Get the hell out of my home! Dragging yourself back here, trying to give me another pathetic excuse to why you can't pay your goddamn child support! You may as well start taking responsibility before I send the cops down your throat!" She lowered her arm and winced, she felt a pang of sadness and turned her head to the side. Perhaps now was a bad time. "You're a deadbeat! Scum! Your daughter is twelve years old and you haven't given us one single dime!"

"It's not like you need the money," A man said with a quiet tone. "I mean, you've got plenty of money in your business, Alice."

"Some support would be nice, Spencer." Charlotte's eyebrows rose and she slowly peered into the screen door. Alice was standing in the living room, shouting at someone. She turned to start circling him, then she saw it, Coach Walsh! She heard someone clear their throat and turned around to see Regina walking up to her. She had a red leash in her hand connected to a happy looking Beagle, Sandy.

"They're still going at it?" She asked with a visible cringe. "She called him over to discuss when he was going to start paying the child support…she's thinking of reporting it."

"Your d…uh…" Dad wasn't the right word, so what better way could she describe the man? "Your sperm donor is Coach Walsh?" That worked. Regina chuckled softly and knelt down, patting Sandy's head. The pup barked playfully and started spinning around. Charlotte pet the pup and met Regina's eyes with gentle concern. "You've never talked about him."

"Not exactly a guy I want to talk about, to be honest. He's everything you could hear my mom calling him…" She rose to her feet and crossed her arms as Sandy trotted over to a bush and started to squat. The girls turned their heads to the dog for a split second, the turned away. "When they were teenagers, he used her to try and win back Teddy. She didn't know…they had sex one time at some party that his friends got him into…alcohol for the first time, they got drunk really fast…" Her eyes started to water. Charlotte's stomach immediately turned over and her heart sank down. It was so shocking that she didn't want to believe it, she couldn't imagine what Regina must have been going through. "When he found out, he ran. Evidently, still interested in Teddy…but she probably wouldn't take him back knowing what he did to her friend."

"I doubt she would have…" Her sister seemed like the opposite of that, most likely the girl would have cussed the man out. She had to wonder, though, if PJ and Skyler knew this. If so, it would explain a little more why they were so pissed when he tried to come onto Skyler. "Was he drunk when he hit on Skyler a few years back?"

"Probably. He's been a drunk pig for the last twelve years. Ever since the accident, really. One time he actually asked mom on a date, didn't hit on her or anything, just seriously asked her for a date, but she turned him down. If he isn't willing to pay his child support or shape up, then she's not willing to consider him. Something like that." She clicked her tongue and glanced to the door. More yelling. It never seemed to stop. What had Alice so infuriated today, besides the child support? The screen door opened and Spencer sulked outside. The girls stared at him and he gave them a half-hearted smile before bowing his head and walking away.

He didn't seem to look so bad off. His face was marked with stubble, he had a thick brown mustache and long shaggy hair. His eyes held years of sorrow and regret. He must have made many mistakes in his life, but didn't everyone? His eyes widened on Charlotte for a moment, then he rushed off, shaking his head.

"What was that about?"

"Besides the fact that you have golden, curly hair, you look just like your older sister. I'd imagine he's shocked by that. You know, he often asks to spend time with me on the weekends, but mom never lets him."

"Why?"

"Says he doesn't deserve it." Surely it wouldn't be bad to let the guy spend time with his daughter, would it? Even if he was a pig, if he was trying to show some desire to see his only child, why disallow it? "I think she just wants him to clean up his act and start taking responsibility first." Regina walked inside, Charlotte followed close behind. Alice was sitting on a maple-colored couch, rubbing her forehead and sighing. She looked exhausted emotionally and physically. Sandy barked and Alice turned her head to the girls, still frowning. "Hey mom, I'm guessing I missed the storm?" She unhooked the leash from Sandy's collar. The dog ran up to the couch and started curling next to Alice, who put her hand on the pup.

"Yeah, pretty much." Alice looked at Charlotte and lifted her eyebrows. "Hello Charlotte, how are you? I hope you didn't hear all that…it's not normally this way."

"It's okay, I'm just surprised at who he is…" Alice breathed in and slowly shook her head.

"Your sister was really shocked when she found out, but she and Skyler refused to let it be a problem. After the accident, he just kind of disappeared. He comes back years later, starts teaching, hits on Skyler…and he was drunk." Charlottes eyebrows rose astonishingly. You will never find me drinking a drop of alcohol, can't stand that crap." She rose to her feet and moved over to the girls, smiling slightly. "So, what brings you over?"

"Well, I know Regina has some cousins that live in town, so I was wondering if they could come to the family reunion."

"Candice and Quinn? I could ask their mother, I'm sure that wouldn't be an issue. Keep in mind, Candice is five and Quinn is three, so…"

"Well the thing is, my cousin Jennifer is only six and I don't want her to be the only kid there. I think Mason's grandpa is going to bring Tyler along." Alice rubbed her chin and took one of the flyers. She read it over and slowly nodded her head. "Oh, and what about Ryan?" Alice ran her finger along her lower lip and flicked her eyes to Charlotte.

"Ryan and his parents live in another state, dear. Besides, I don't know that you want John and Taylor at the reunion." John and Taylor were Ryan's parents, both were heavy smokers and had no trouble smoking in public. Candice's and Quinn's mother, Jenny, was no smoker. Not only that, but Ryan was two years old, he probably wouldn't do much of anything at the party. "I'll talk to Jenny about bringing the girls. Regina's not going to be able to go this weekend, however." Regina's eyebrows rose and Charlotte pursed her lips.

"Why not?"

"Because…" Alice took a heavy sigh and started running her fingers along the crease in her forehead. "I'm actually letting that man take her out this Saturday. Regina gasped and started to smile while her mother quickly jabbed a finger in their direction. "Don't get too excited. I just want to see how he acts…he claims to be cleaning up his act and has agreed to pay the child support on the condition that he gets to see his daughter..."

"I actually get to spend a weekend with the guy?" Regina asked with uncertainty. Even though the man seemed a deadbeat, that didn't mean Regina never wanted to actually know who her father was. Hopefully she would have a good time! "What made you even consider that?"

"We've been…talking…lately, sweetie. Anyway, if you two want to play some games, feel free to, I need a nap." Charlotte watched her walk away, still rubbing her temples. Her eyes drifted to the end table while Regina ran into the kitchen. What she saw stunned her, a home pregnancy test! As she walked over to the trash can near the end table, she peered in and saw the test face up, it was identical to Skyler's pregnancy test. Positive.

Now medical advancements had come a long way in recent years, to the point that they invented one hundred percent accurate test results, so people didn't have to go to the hospital to confirm it. Though if positive, they needed to go in anyway and start seeing a gynecologist. This test read positive, and that meant only one thing, Alice was going to have to start seeing a doctor on a regular basis. What would Regina think? She might be happy, but who really knows how she'd react. What about Alice? Who was the father? Was it Coach Walsh? If so, then he really had to clean up his act!

She wanted to tell Regina, but she knew it wasn't her place. Alice was good, she would tell her, and soon hopefully. She started tapping her head and looked up with a frown. She needed to get to Dee. "Hey Regina!"

"Yeah?" Regina walked around the corner, a bottle of water in her hand. She looked extremely happy, which wasn't all that surprising. After all, why shouldn't she be happy, she got to spend some time with that father of hers. "You have to go?"

"Yeah, I need to get Dee and see if she's able to bring any of her cousins to the party." Regina slowly nodded and brought her water to her lips, sipping it slowly. She moved it down and wiped her mouth with her fingers, sighing quietly.

"Good luck, I got done talking to her on the phone while I was out walking Sandy. It seems like her mom's throwing some sort of party and she's the very bored center of it." Regina laughed once and started walking towards her. Charlotte was overcome with an aura of confusion, her eyes beckoned Regina to explain. "Simple, Mrs. Dooley's trying to hook her up with some wealthy, snot nosed boys."

"Oh god, then I better hurry and get her out of that mess."

"Yeah, I'm worried the next boy that tries to ask her to join him at the movies, will be promptly thrown out on his butt."

"Knowing Dee? I'm pretty sure we don't have to worry about any boys being thrown, I think we have to worry about her killing them! You want to join me?"

"No, I'm going to stay here and take care of mom, in case she has a nervous breakdown." Charlotte nodded and told her friend goodbye, then quickly moved out. Next stop, Dee, where hopefully there were no boys currently unconscious on the floor.

Well, no one saw this coming. It is a headache, heh. Well, let's see what's up with Dee, keep in mind that chapter will be in her perspective, for good reason. She has more emotion for what's going on.