It wasn't rare for Charlie to be up before everyone else, despite her general—eccentricities, she was always up super early to hit the gym, meditate, and finish half a box of cereal before Quinn rolled out of bed. There were times when she wondered if Charlie actually slept at all. "How was your workout this morning?" Judy asked as she began to make a pot of coffee.

Charlie chewed on her cereal and watched her mother for a moment, but when her mother doesn't open up the fridge to grab a pack of bacon, she loses interest rather quickly in what her mother is up to. "Fine, I'm going to ask grandma to increase the gravity again."

"Again?" Judy asks looking at her youngest. "Charlie don't you think you're going a bit too far?"

"The stronger I am, the safer I'll be," Charlie replies. It wasn't a new conversation, it was an ongoing argument between the two of them. She usually ended up doing whatever she wanted anyway, but if it made her mom feel like she was parenting, then she could deal with being lectured about it.

Judy sighed, she really couldn't argue with her on that. She wasn't sure she wanted to know where Charlie was at. She just hoped that Charlie didn't need more exercise equipment, it wasn't as if she was hurting for money. Her parents had made a fortune, but it was their money. "What do you think of me joining the workforce?"

Charlie paused and looked at her mother, Quinn was better at this sort of thing then she was. "Like a part time job?"

Judy rolled her eyes, she recognized Charlie's tone. "You remind me so much of your father. I'll still be able to cook you dinner and make you lunch if I go work."

Charlie studied her mother again, before shrugging her shoulders, "Grandma and grandpa can both make dinner," Charlie pointed out. "And it's not like I can't cook for myself, it just doesn't taste as good as your food mom. I get it, we're getting older, you don't want more level 5 babies, dad's a jerk, you need something to do to fill your time and Quinn and I are going to graduate soon. You should find something that makes you happy."

Judy smiled at her daughter and shook her head, she forgot that there were moments when Charlie acted like a young adult rather than a 4 year old. "Would you like me to make you some bacon?"

Charlie grins, "Yes, please."

Judy rolls her eyes and moves to the fridge to grab some bacon. She pauses when she notices that Charlie hadn't eaten the dinner she'd left out for her last night. It was becoming a pattern. "You didn't eat dinner?"

Charlie shrugged, "I was going to take it for lunch today. I've been helping Santana every day this week, she makes me dinner. I give her lessons. Which generally involves me telling her to do something, her bitching at me because apparently I'm a shitty teacher, before she figures it out. It's a process."

Judy raised a brow, "Well, be safe," she decides on. It was pointless attempting to get Charlie to stop having sex. It was a losing battle.

"I'm not having sex with Santana," Charlie corrects her mother, turning when she hears footsteps and spots Quinn. "Mom is thinking about getting a part time job."

Quinn stops and rubs her eye before looking at her mother, "Sounds good," She says flopping down on the island beside Charlie and grabbing the box of cereal. She looks around for a bowl before elbowing Charlie, who uses her powers to open one of the cupboards and a drawer to get Quinn a metal bowl and spoon. "Thanks," she mumbles.

Judy smiled at how relatively easy this was. Back when all her children were in the house, she had been forced to break up fights. Prevent Brittany from using Charlie as a guinea pig, stop Frannie from picking on Quinn. "Since I have you both here now—thanksgiving is in a couple of weeks, do you two mind sharing a room for the week? Your Aunt Cassandra is coming, Brittany and Frannie are coming home." When neither twin says anything she looks up and focuses on Quinn, "Your father will also be here."

The temperature in the room drops suddenly, freezing the milk and cereal instantaneously. "Why?" Quinn asks suddenly, very awake and very irate.

"Because he's your father, and he called and asked. I said yes. Your father and I may be in the process of getting a divorce, but he is still your father. And he wants to spend time with you."

"Can you pick out his clothes this time, so I don't have to see him in a vomit green shirt?" Charlie asked as she chipped at her frozen bowl of cereal with a spoon. She gives up and pushes it away from her and just waits for her bacon.

Judy chuckles, "It was an ugly color wasn't it? But he's a grown man, he can pick out his own clothes," she focuses her attention on Quinn, who hadn't said anything. "Quinn, you don't have to talk to him if you don't want to. But you are not his only child, and since Frannie and Brittany are coming here, he will be coming here as well. It's Thanksgiving."

"Well maybe he should have thought of that before he decided to stick his dick into another woman," Quinn muttered bitterly.

Charlie snorted at the comment, but immediately cleared her throat when her mother shot her a look. "I don't know why you're making this a bigger deal than it is Quinn, dad feels super guilty. Which means that he's going to do his best to make it up to us. The only way he knows how to do that is by opening his wallet. I would like a car to drive to school. He said he'd think about it. Which means that Thanksgiving I'm going to take him to that car dealership that we pass on the way to school."

Judy sighed, it did sound like something Russell would do without talking to her about it first. But she was more concerned about Quinn's reaction to hearing her father would be in town, then she was about Charlie using her father's guilt to her advantage. "Quinn, I know you're upset with him, but he's still your father and I know he was never the best at showing it, but he loves all four of you. And I know he's proud of all of you. Especially you Quinn, when we do talk he asks how he can make it better. So just give him a chance, for me?"

Quinn grunts at her mother's plea and focuses on the plate of bacon. "Charlie can sleep in the basement, I'm not sharing my room with her."

Judy looked over at Charlie who shrugs, "Alright, we'll get one of those blow up mattresses." She lets out a sigh and places the plate of bacon between them and watches as they attack the plate like ravenous dogs. She shakes her head.

"Do you think that the family can stay to watch the first Inter-high event?" Charlie asks, chewing and swallowing before reaching for another piece of bacon.

Judy smiled, taking them out of LA had been good for them, Charlie had never shown any interest in joining a club, or doing anything that took away from her interests. "I can certainly ask. Is your team any good?"

"No," Charlie replied honestly.

This time it was Quinn who snorted, at Charlie's blunt reply. When her mother turns her gaze onto her she shrugs. "Rachel made the team. It's not that their abilities are lacking, but there is no teamwork, it's just a bunch of people trying to act like Charlie, and attempting to do everything with their abilities, even if they're abilities aren't suited to that task. And then there's the complete lack of fitness."

"That's why I volunteered grandma and grandpa to help," Charlie said. "Rachel and Santana were the only ones who managed to complete Beiste's fitness test, apart from me. We need to increase their fitness quickly, because as it is now—" Charlie made a face. Yesterday's practice had been an utter clusterfuck.

Judy winced, "That bad? Are you sure you want Frannie and Cassandra watching them? You know how critical they both can be."

Charlie hesitates for a moment before nodding, "Yeah. I think I want their opinions on my skills. I already know that the Titans's suck. But this will be a good test for my leadership skills. If I can make the Titans a formidable force, then it'll be easier for me to run my own firm in the future." Charlie grins at her mom.

Judy shook her head, as she moved to the fridge and began to pack up the leftovers for Charlie's lunch. She glances at the time and winces, "You two are going to be late. So hurry up and get ready. Do you want me to make you something for lunch Quinn?"

"No I'll just grab something from the cafeteria, I think today is Tater Tots," Quinn stretches and swipes the last piece of bacon before Charlie can get it.

~ O ~

Lauren Zizes glared at Charlie, who was perhaps the only person not covered in sweat and grime. She grimaces when Finn manages to drag his ass to the nearest garbage can and hurls. There was that same unimpressed look on Charlie's face and she really can't stand it. Everyone was treating Charlie like she was some golden child and it was disgusting, they were supposed to be in this together.

Lauren spots Beiste talking to Charlie's grandparents and scowls, the entire school was kissing their asses. "Why the fuck do we have to do something that she doesn't have to do?" Zizes asks loudly, drawing the attention of everyone around them.

Beiste glances up at Charlie who seemed content to ignore the situation before sighing and deciding to handle it. "What are you talking about?" Charlie had run the course faster than everyone else, and had gotten bored waiting for everyone to finish so she had done it again.

"Seriously? You made us run the entire course with 1.5 times the gravity, how the fuck is she still fine? My arms, my body it feels like lead." There were a few murmurs of agreement from a few of the freshmen, Charlie did seem fine, and Zize turned to Santana, if anyone should be on her side it was Santana Lopez.

Santana wipes the sweat from her brow and looks up at Charlie who looked utterly bored by the sudden accusations. It was obvious, at least to her, that Charlie was not a leader. Still Zizes would keep making a scene and questioning Charlie's authority without someone stepping in. "Charlie, did you run the course with 1.5 times the gravity increased?" Santana asked, watching as Charlie stops moving and looks at her.

"God no," Charlie states.

Lauren's face went a bright red, as her anger spiked. "Are you—"

"I was doing it at my normal gravitational pull which is at 5 times the gravitational pull of the earth," Charlie finishes. "I haven't been at 1.5 since I was a baby."

Santana blinked, none of what Charlie said made any sense. "What?"

"I was floating before I could walk. My grandmother decided to weigh me down, forcing me to learn the importance of leg day. Ever since I was twelve, my grandmother would increase the amount every birthday. If you want us to do the same thing Zizes, all you had to do is ask." Charlie turns to grandmother. "Grandma."

Artemis glanced at her granddaughter before looking at all the teenagers gathered. She understood what Charlie wanted her to do, but sudden changes in the gravity could hurt them. Charlie could go all the way up to seven times the gravity, but it would be a strain on her muscles and bones. She decides to be on the safe side and just triple the gravity. But the result is the same and even Beiste drops.

Charlie on the other hand just kept floating, she moves her body so she's right in front of Zizes and drops down in front of her. She squats so she's at eye level with Zizes. "I've wanted to be a hero since I learned what heroes are. Everything I have done is to get to that goal. I workout every day, I meditate, everyday. You don't get to question my commitment to this, or the team. You might think I'm arrogant, and condescending but the fact is Lauren, I earned the right to be. And if I was in your shoes, and you were in mine, I'd bust my ass to get to where you are. If you don't have that type of determination then leave and don't come back." Charlie gets up and looks at her grandmother. "Anyone who wants to be on the team needs to get to their feet. Because that's what heroes do, it doesn't matter how many times they are knocked down, they get back up. They fight. They certainly don't bitch and moan about how unfair their lot in life is. Now get up. I don't care how you do it."

The seconds turn into minutes, and all that is heard is grunting, before Charlie floats up and pulls up her phone, and starts to play a game. The minutes stretch and Charlie begins to make the sound effects of the game she's playing much to everyone's general annoyance.

That only lasts for a few seconds before Charlie grows bored and puts her phone away and begins to slowly float over the various bodies, stopping while she's right in front of Sam and lowers herself, so she's on the ground. She watches as Sam, who is turning purple with the strain of attempting to pick himself up and gently pats his head. "Sam, since you're my sidekick I have the authority to help you out, and make this a teachable moment."

Sam's arms give out and he slumps to the ground. He couldn't remember agreeing to be her sidekick, but if she was going to help him then he wasn't going to turn down her advice. "K." He manages.

"You want to be a superhero, do something super." Charlie floats back up and pulls out her phone.

Sam stares at where Charlie had been, how was that supposed to help him?

Another minute ticks past, before the sound of Santana igniting causes Charlie to put her phone away and watches as Santana forces herself up. Using her hands, and focusing her abilities like Charlie had shown her last night, The moment her feet hit, the gravitational field eases up and she stumbles forward. Still her legs give out from the strain and she drops back down, gasping. That had been a complete workout and her muscles were basically screaming in pain. Everything hurt, even breathing hurt.

When Charlie doesn't call Santana out, Artie is the one to try using his powers to his ability next. His finger tracing out a figure. A massive hand made out of dirt, appears from underneath him, pushing him to his feet, and just like Santana the moment his feet touch the ground.

Before anyone else can do anything, Sam activates his abilities. His legs begin to glow, as his powers activate and he suddenly shoots forward against the ground, but he manages, somehow to use his momentum and his face to twist himself into a standing position. He staggers as the gravity disappears. Still he's about to fall face first onto the ground when Charlie appears, and catches him, and helps him to the bleachers. "Doesn't matter how you do it. I don't care how pretty it is, just get back up." Charlie says loudly. Once Sam's on the seat, she pets him gently. "Next time try not to use your face," she whispers to him before she floats up. "This isn't a game. Being a hero is dangerous, and it is difficult. Some of you may try and strike it out on your own, others will join a firm and be part of a team. Knowing that when you fall and when it feels impossible they will have your back as well."

Santana pushes herself up slowly and eyes Rachel and drags herself over to Rachel who was still struggling to get up. She bends over and grabs Rachel's shoulders and helps pull her up. It takes her remaining stamina, but she manages to get Rachel to her feet before her muscles decide she's had enough, and she slumps to the ground. "Sing hobbit, fucking sing." Santana snaps at Rachel. It was words that she had once believed she'd never say, but it was starting to become a pattern.

Rachel takes a deep breath and despite the fact that her throat is dry, and it really really hurts to breathe, beating Charlie needed to be a team effort. It was always going to be a team effort.

"Makes me that much stronger

Makes me work a little bit harder

It makes me that much wiser

So thanks for making me a fighter

Made me learn a little bit faster

Made my skin a little bit thicker

Makes me that much smarter

So thanks for making me a fighter—"

Finn was next, as Artie helped Tina to her feet. Matt Rutherford was next, using his force fields to help him up. One by one they helped one another up until only Lauren was left, Rachel's voice failing her as she slumps to the ground.

Charlie touched down in front of Lauren, this challenge favored her, above everyone else. Lauren's ability might have been momentum, and simply walking made her an unstoppable force, but she was also physically strong. It was probable that her abilities were working against her. "You want to be a hero, then you need to be at your very best. Because when you're out there, might makes right." Charlie bends down and grabs Lauren and physically pulls her up. It's a strain, but she manages to get it done. Charlie grabs Lauren's wrist before she can fall over and leans in. "If you want to be Captain then fight me for it, and take it from me." She pulls back and smiles. "So ready for a rousing game of heroes and villains?" Charlie asks.

She's met with a loud and very audible groan from everyone on the team.