Leroy frowned, Hiram had always been the worrier between the two of them and watching him fuss over Rachel reminded him of Rachel's first day of school. He had always made the excuse that Rachel needed one parent who wasn't a complete neurotic mess, so he had swallowed his worries. Putting on a brave face, despite knowing that the world could be a cruel place. Except this wasn't dropping Rachel off at school and hoping that she made friends.

Shelby Corcoran was an unknown variable that he couldn't predict.

And that terrified him. He couldn't predict how this would play out, but he feared the damage that Shebly could cause. She had already put a strain in his marriage with Hiram, who thought that this was a terrible idea. But he and Hiram could weather the storm, his main concern was Rachel who was fussing over her appearance, desperate to make a good impression. "Are you sure you want to do this sweetie? We can still call this off—"

"She's my mom," Rachel interrupts.

Hiram exchanged a look with Leroy, "I understand, but if it becomes too much for you, or you change your mind at any time Rachel—no one is going to be upset with you." Hiram swallowed, he understood where Leroy was coming from, but he didn't agree. It was their job as parents to protect Rachel, and Shelby was a grown woman who had come after his daughter. Even if Rachel hated them at this moment, he knew that they could weather it.

Rachel paused for a moment, finally looking at both of her dads. She could see the worry etched onto their faces, and it made her chest hurt. "You're my parents. That isn't going to change, and I think I know that Shelby will never be my mother, but I never thought I'd meet her, and we share powers—she used to be a hero and I'm curious. Most of the advice that I received from people who knew the situation, was to be careful and I intend to."

Leroy shares another look with his husband, it was a mature response, but at the end of the day Rachel was still just a teenager. All he could hope for was that Shelby took the care with his daughter. "Alright. Your father and I will be right there. We'll give you your privacy because we trust you."

"We just don't trust her," Hiram mutters under his breath. Perhaps it would be best if they invited someone that they knew who had powers, who could protect their daughter in case Shelby tried anything. Perhaps he should text Judy to see if he could borrow her mother for the night. It couldn't hurt to have a level 5 protecting Rachel, and it was partially Judy's fault anyway. Cassandra was her sister so she needed to take some responsibility.

~ O ~

"You do realize that if you used your abilities, you'd be done by now." Frannie leaned against the doorframe to the nursery. "Also, I really don't know why you're here. I was going to hire a professional to paint the baby room."

"You asked for my help before exams," Charlie reminded Frannie without looking up from where she was rolling the paint; manually.

"I asked for your help in building the crib. You decided that you were going to paint the nursery. I didn't even pay for these supplies, you bought them yourself." Frannie gestured to all the painting supplies. "Charlie, I'm pregnant, I don't have the time to do this back and forth with you. Why are you painting my nursery an ugly gender neutral color?"

"Yellow is joyful."

"Sure, but the color you chose is ugly," Frannie retorts. "Charlie. You're my least favorite sibling, and I know the feeling is mutual so why are you here?"

"Quinn's in love and Brittany still has exams. Since I have no other siblings to turn to—" Charlie trails off and looks at Frannie.

"Still pregnant, and still impatient," Frannie says with a roll of her eyes.

"I think I want to move back in with dad."

Frannie blinked, Charlie's response wasn't what she expected. "Why?"

"I'm bored. I've hit a block with my training, so I'm just in a holding pattern. I was bored at Pacific View too, but at least they let me stress test things, and break shit. They had all the top of the line equipment, McKinley doesn't even have a functioning gym."

Frannie raised a brow, "So you want to move in with dad, and his stripper girlfriend?"

"I thought they broke up—nevermind it's dad, of course he's still trying to get with mom while he has a side piece," Charlie said with a wave of her hand. "Don't let Quinn know, she's already super sore about the divorce."

"You still haven't answered my question, as to why you're here. You're always bored, and if you really wanted to move in with dad and Charity—"

"He's dating a stripper named Charity?" Charlie interrupts, smirking at how much of a cliche her father was.

"Charity is barely older than Brittany and younger than me, it's gross. She's only with him for his money, and I hope to god he's not burning through our inheritance to fuck a stripper," Frannie grumbled before focusing on her sister. "If you wanted to move in with dad, then this is a discussion you should have had with mom. I have no opinion on who you should live with. It's your life. Though given your proclivities, I would suggest not seducing your father's girlfriend because you can."

Charlie stopped and looked at Frannie, "Gross. I think mom would be relieved if I became Dad's problem. She's been treating me differently since the Inter-High, I think I scared her, so now she's not enforcing all her stupid rules."

"Rules that you never followed to begin with," Frannie pointed out.

"Yes, but I at least had the decency to hide it from mom so I wouldn't upset her. It's not like you followed her stupid rules anyway." Charlie retorted, getting agitated.

"We're not here to discuss my misspent youth Charlie, we're here to discuss why you care. Mom's giving you the freedom that you crave, she's not enforcing her rules. You should be happy." Frannie said, crossing her arms over her chest. She pauses when the lights start flickering, and glances up before looking at Charlie.

"Because she's supposed to keep me grounded." Charlie snaps, throwing her hands up in the air. "Grandma spoils me, I'm her little firefly. Grandpa also spoils me but he's trying to cover for mom, and that's not going to work because it's grandpa. Mom's the only one who wants me to try and be normal. I peeled potatoes with my powers and she didn't even say anything, she always made me do it by hand, and even though I thought it was stupid back then, I like doing things by hand. I liked spending time with her in the kitchen, I liked helping her make things. It's about the only thing we have in common, and it was supposed to be ours, but now she doesn't care about me."

Frannie doesn't say anything, instead she waits until the lights stop flickering. She wasn't in any danger, Charlie had always kept a tight rein on her emotions, and thus her abilities. She slowly approaches Charlie and rests a hand on her head, she understood why Charlie had come to her. "I don't have any life changing advice for you. All I can say is if I were you I'd stay with mom. If you leave and go live with dad, mom will be upset, and then she'll try to get super involved in my life."

"We can't have that," Charlie mumbled.

Frannie flicks Charlie's forehead, causing her youngest sibling to scowl at her. "Charlie, talk to her. She'll probably get all weepy when she realizes that you need her. As for your eternal boredom, I could make a few calls to my contacts in the military to get you facilities you need at McKinley, but they will want something in return. So how about instead, you come into work with me tomorrow."

Charlie grinned, "I get to use USC's facilities?"

"Not quite. I need a villain for my exam tomorrow, and while another professor said he could cover it, I do actually want to weed out who will be capable heroes and who will be the ones rescuing cats from trees. My exams always have a level of difficulty to them and most people fail. As long as you don't kill anyone, I don't care what you do. "

Charlie mulled it over for a second, before grinning. This might just be the breakthrough that she needed. "Sounds like fun. Thanks Frannie."

"Thank me by helping me fail at least three quarters of the class. I have a reputation to uphold, Charlie. I will be disappointed if you go easy on them," Frannie said as she pulls back and looks at her nursery. "I'm going to pick a different color, that's not puke yellow," she informs Charlie who gives her a mock salute.

~ O ~

Santana grimaced and pulled the red solo cup, away from her lips inspecting the shitty cheap beer that she'd been handed. It had been months since she'd been invited to a party, but she certainly remembered better alcohol then this cheap swill. Still, she brings the cup to her lips again and gulps the rest of the drink down, tossing the solo cup into a trash bag.

She spots Finn playing a rousing game of beer pong with a few of the guys and waves at him before reaching for her phone. She was certain that she'd seen Lauren, Jake and Matt at some point as well, but it seemed no one had bothered to invite the freshmen and the sophomores. Santana pauses for a moment and quickly scans the party once again, she'd seen all of the juniors and seniors on the team except for Charlie. Despite the shitty beer, and even worse EDM music, this was the party of the year and there was no way that Rick the Stick hadn't invited Charlie.

McKinley's hierarchy was rather straightforward. Quinn and Charlie stood atop of the mountain not only because of their level, but because everyone assumed that both Charlie and Quinn would be famous one day. It made sense to befriend them now so they could get the perks of being famous.

Santana reaches for her phone, tempted to text Charlie to see where she was when she feels an arm wrap around hers, causing her to look up and sigh when she spots Sugar and Bree. They had been her best friends, until she had lost her position. "Do you need something?" Santana asks, narrowing her eyes at Sugar.

"Don't be like that Lopez, we missed you. I always knew you'd climb your way back to the top." Bree said as she slid up beside Santana. "I mean you're finally headed to sectionals and rumor has it that you've managed to generate a lot of interest from the scouts and agents."

Santana shrugged off Bree's touch, "So what if I have? I've been busting my ass for weeks to get noticed, to be better—"

"Busting your ass?" Sugar repeats. "Is that code for sleeping with Charlie? Does she do butt stuff?"

Before Santana can make a retort, Bree speaks up. "I'd say I approve, using her to claw your way back to the top, but deciding to be one of Charlie's girls. I thought you had more self-respect, but it seems you're resigned to be her sidekick." Bree smirked.

Santana scowled, "I'm no one's sidekick, Bree."

"You're right, I'm sorry. I meant to say pet," Bree retorts, taking a step back when the temperature rises. "I'm trying to help you. You've become the lapdog of the person who took everything from you. You're not dating, that would imply monogamy, and Charlie sleeps with any girl who shows an interest, even the unpopular losers. Even if you are dating, you're letting Charlie humiliate you, in front of the entire school because she clearly doesn't respect you."

"We're just saying that we miss the old you. The HBIC, not whatever this pathetic version of you is. The version where you constantly seek Charlie's approval," Sugar adds.

Santana clenched her fist tightly, "I don't need Charlie's approval and the hero team is still my team, even if I'm not the official captain."

Bree smiled, and nods towards the phone. "So who were you about to text?" Santana glared at her. "For your information she was invited. We've been inviting both twins to parties all semester. They think they're so much better than us because of their level—unless you think you're special. That if you asked her she'd come."

Santana squeezed the phone tighter. She and Charlie had shared moments; several of them. Charlie had saved her life, and had helped her when no one else had faith in her. Charlie had stayed when she had asked her to post-coitus. She quickly shoots off a text, ignoring the pleased smiles on the face of Bree and Sugar, as she caves.

She waits a moment, before her phone buzzes it's a picture of one of those roller paint brushes that's currently coated with white paint. It's quickly followed by a single word text.

Nursery.

Santana blinks, Charlie was in LA. Even though she had promised to take her to LA to go and fuck with her old school and to go for lunch. She had even promised to help paint the stupid nursery to thank Frannie for using her abilities. She licks her lips and looks up at Bree and Sugar who both have smug looks on their faces and she swallows. "Maybe—maybe you're right."

"Of course we're right. We're your friends Santana," Bree promises wrapping her arm around Santana's. "Come on this party is lame. I know a more exclusive party, that I scored an invite too."

Santana made a face, she didn't truly trust Bree, but this party was terrible and she was still sore that Charlie hadn't taken her to LA like promised. She had begun to think that they were friends, but she had clearly been wrong about that assessment. "Fine."

~ O ~

"Don't worry Quinn, I'm not going to tell anyone about your attempts to learn how to skate," Marley promised reaching for Quinn's hand. It had been funny, Quinn had been so sure that she would be able to master the art of skating in five minutes, but she'd spent the entire hour helping Quinn not fall on her ass. She wasn't super successful.

Quinn laughed, her initial embarrassment fading as she squeezed Marley's hand. "It's fine if you want to tell them, I can control ice, and I am completely incapable of skating. Another reason that I'd make a poor superhero."

"That's not a reason Quinn, I could always make you rocket skates."

"Rocket skates? But how would that help me with my complete and utter lack of balance?" Quinn questions as they take a seat at a table.

Marley rubs her chin for a moment, "Well bikes have training wheels—" Marley laughs at the look on Quinn's face.

"I can see it now, a bank robbery. I rush to the scene on my rocket skates, get there just as the villain is exiting the bank and they see me and give me a look over only to stop and ask me if I'm wearing training blades."

Marley grins, "It's a perfect plan. He'll be distracted by your cool rocket skates, and you'll turn him into a popsicle and no one gets hurt."

Quinn laughs, relaxing and she lets a comfortable quiet wash over them, as they glance at the menu and order something warm to drink. She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a box that has a large red bow on it. "I made you something for Christmas, I was going to buy something, but my mom suggested that I make something. "I hope you like it," Quinn adds shyly. She had spent the past week working on the gift.

Marley looked at the rectangular box, and looked up at Quinn. "Can I open it now? Or should I wait for Christmas?"

Quinn nods, a pleased smile flitting across her face. "Yeah, I don't want to wait till New Year to see you, and learn what you think of the gift." Quinn watched as Marley eagerly tore the wrapping paper off, and opened the box causing a bright blue light to appear.

Marley touched the glowing battery shaped crystal, it was cool to the touch and she looked up at Quinn. "Is this a battery?"

Quinn nodded, "Completely clean energy, and all it cost me was all my Christmas candy," Quinn admits. Charlie had driven a hard bargain, but that small battery could power a town for a month. "I know your club has been having trouble powering your devices, and that your principal was getting on your case about using the school power. I mean it's not the most romantic gift, but I changed the crystal structure just enough that you should be able to use it like a normal—" Quinn's babbling is interrupted by Marley's pressing her lips against hers, and her eyes widen in shock. It was a first for her, and she truly hadn't been expecting it.

Marley pulls back, "This has to be the most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given me," she informs Quinn, averting her gaze shyly. She always went off on these tangents about her work in the support club, and she knew that most people had trouble following her, but Quinn always seemed attentive and tried to keep up. "Thank you Quinn."

"I-welcome," Quinn manages her cheeks burning as she grabs the drink menu and stares at it. She really wanted to kiss Marley again, and she hated the fact both Brittany and Charlie had been right about kissing. It really was a gateway drug.

~ O ~

Everybody had regrets, and Shelby Corcoran's biggest regret had been her decision to put her daughter up for adoption. At the time, giving Rachel up for adoption had seemed like the only option. While most people dreamed of being a hero, the vast majority of heroes barely made any money.

She had been one of those heroes, she had dreamed of glory, of getting massive licensing deals, of being interviewed by late night hosts, of having children dress up like her. But the reality was that she was barely making minimum wage, and promises of raises and rising through the ranks hadn't come to fruition. There were months when she had to choose between having food and paying rent.

All of that was coupled with the fact that for most of her pregnancy she'd been grieving. Rachel's father had been killed in a villain terrorist attack. To say that she had been in a dark place, would be an understatement. Rachel's birth should have made her happy, it should have filled her with hope, and dreams of her little girl, but instead of feeling joy, she had felt nothing when the nurse had placed Rachel in her arms. Adoption had been the easy route. It had taken her nearly two years to get herself in a good place, two years to try and get her daughter back. But in the end she had ruined everything.

Shelby shoves the thoughts to the back of her mind as she stands when she spots Rachel and her fathers, and waves her hand to catch their attention. She swallows her nerves as they approach the table. "Rachel, I—" Shelby motions to the chair, "Sit, please."

Rachel glances at her fathers for a moment, and reaches to grab Hiram's hand to give it a little squeeze, before she moves to sit down at the table in front of Shelby, suddenly feeling nervous. She glances back to see that her fathers had pulled back and had taken a seat at a table closeby. "Before we begin this relationship, I hope that you know that I would never betray the confidence of my teammates. If this is just a ploy—"

"It's not," Shelby quickly interrupts. "I've just dreamed of this moment," Shelby admits, "I've been looking for you for years." She shoots a look over at Hiram and Leroy who were attempting to pretend that they weren't listening to the conversation, ready to jump in at a moment's notice. She turns her attention back to Rachel, "I'm sure you have a million questions. I have a million questions for you—but how about you start?"

Rachel fiddles with the menu,for a moment she doubted that this restaurant served vegan dishes. An awkward, painful silence comes upon them and she suddenly feels unsure. Everyone, everyone had basically given her the same warning, that she needed to be weary of Shelby's intentions but all she could see was a hopeful woman who was the key to a family that she had never known. "Why did you give me up? Did you not want me?"

Shelby closed her eyes, there was something in Rachel's voice that broke her heart. "When I found out that I was pregnant, I was so excited. Me and your father were happy, we were talking about getting married, starting a family—you were wanted. Your father, Cody, died a few days after my first ultrasound, and it broke me. He was killed in a villain terrorist attack. I didn't—I lost a piece of myself that day, and I thought that your birth would make everything okay, even though I wasn't financially stable to be a single mother. I didn't feel anything when you were born, I was too numb, too tired, clinically depressed and I thought I could handle it and when they put you in my arms I knew, I just knew that you needed to have someone who could take care of you, because I couldn't Rachel, and I'm sorry."

Rachel is quiet as she processes what Shelby had just laid out, she's not quite sure what to say to this information. "Thank you," she finally decides. "My dads love me, and I think they're my biggest cheerleaders even if they worry too much," Rachel turns and flashes her dads a smile.

"Well that answers my most pressing question, so why don't you ask another question?" Shelby says as she wipes at her eyes.

Rachel hesitates for a moment, "I heard you were a hero—what was that like? What school did you go to? Why are you coaching Vocal Adrenaline?"

"Being a hero Rachel isn't all that it's cracked up to be. For most people—I never made it, I could barely afford to pay my power bill. Teaching at Carmel is extremely lucrative, and I'm making more in a year than I made as a hero. Though that's only because I've managed to produce results, we are a nationally ranked team."

Rachel frowned, "You don't think I can make it?"

Shelby studied her daughter for a moment and closed her eyes and sighs, "Jesse told me that you don't have mastery over your abilities, abilities which you inherited from me. I can teach you how to use your abilities. If that's what you want." Shelby opens her eyes and sees the suspicion on Rachel's face. "There is no catch, I'm not attempting to recruit you Rachel. You're my daughter, and I want you to blow them away. I want you to succeed when I failed. If that's the only way that I can be in your life, then that will be enough for me."

"I don't believe you, why would you help McKinley?" Rachel frowned. "We're enemies."

Shelby made a face. "I'm not helping McKinley Rachel, I'm helping you. I don't actually view McKinley as some existential threat, I barely view your team as a threat." Shelby informed her honestly.

"We won at regionals," Rachel protests immediately. "We beat you."

Shelby paused, this wasn't a conversation that she had planned for, but Rachel needed to hear the truth because it was becoming clear that Shannon Beiste hadn't been honest. "Charlie is a threat, not McKinley. The reason why my job isn't currently in any danger is because Charlie is the only reason you made it as far as you did. It's not as if McKinley doesn't have any potential, but you lack the resources that the bigger and better schools have. McKinley doesn't have a support team, let alone any support items. Quite a few of the people who made the team, have potential but are unable to control their abilities. All I have to do is wait for Charlie to graduate, and by that time Vocal Adrenaline will have completed it's rebuild. Helping you doesn't actually hurt Vocal Adrenaline, at least not in the long run."

"We have more heart," Rachel insists.

"Maybe. But I'm sorry to inform you; heart doesn't win championships." Shelby leans back in her chair. "We shouldn't discuss our teams Rachel, it's a conflict. But my offer still—"

"Yes." Rachel says immediately, interrupting. "I accept." There was no hesitation in her voice, as she studied her mother. Shelby was wrong, heart mattered. Even a level 2 could beat a level 5 if the conditions were right, even Charlie believed that. But she couldn't just reject Shelby when she needed her to get stronger. There wasn't much time and she needed to catch up, she needed to learn everything she could from Shelby, so she could prove to everyone that she wasn't just sidekick material.