"Are you certain this is what you want Rachel?" Leroy asked as he waved his phone at Rachel. The contents of Lawrence's training plan, were what was on the screen. "Have you actually read what he wants you to do?"

Rachel rolled her eyes at her father's silly question, "I actually appreciated how detailed his schedule was. Not only did he color-code things, but he highlighted the reasons why I'm doing it. I understand that you think—"

"Know. We know this is dangerous. Didn't you say that Charlie lost her arm in an accident?"

"It grew back." Rachel says defensively.

"Arms don't just grow back Rachel," Hiram glances at his daughter. When he sees Rachel getting ready to launch into what he can only imagine is an impassioned speech, he quickly changes the subject. "Rachel, see it from our perspective. You can have a fulfilling career on Broadway, I can see several Tony Awards, you can branch out to other mediums and who knows maybe by the time you're 30 you'll be an EGOT winner. I really don't know why you need to learn martial arts."

"It reads like a military boot camp!" Leroy snaps.

"I have abilities, that while they may seem benign at this moment, I could inadvertently hurt someone. I want to understand how my abilities work, and I also want to be able to defend myself. Even if I don't become a hero, I should have the skill to defend myself, and protect others," Rachel said as she noticed that some of the trees on the way to Quinn's place, had patches of ice all over them. "And weren't you the ones that said that if I wanted something that I had to work for it? This is me trying to reach my dream."

Hiram sighed, as he pulled up towards the July's house. "Alright Rachel, but so you know you can quit anytime. No one. I mean no one is going to think any less of you. Don't think that you have to prove anything to anyone. And more importantly don't compare yourself to Quinn and Charlotte, they've been doing this since they were young. They're probably used to it."

"I don't think anything on the schedule is unreasonable. It's a very basic fitness exam, an obstacle course. And then it's really an introduction to martial arts. I doubt very much that he's going to throw me in a ring with either Charlie or Quinn and tell me to fight them," Rachel said with a laugh, as she unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the door. "If I do need you, I'll call you."

Before either of them can say anything or protest, Rachel closes the door and heads over to the front door. "Do you think Judy would mind if we visited? She did say to drop by anytime," Leroy reminds his husband.

"I mean we don't have to stay the entire time, we can just say hi to Judy and just watch Rachel for a few moments and then we can go home." Hiram said as he began to unbuckle his seatbelt.

"We are here and it would be rude not to say hello," Leroy agreed, watching as Artemis opens the door and points towards the garage. He opens the door, "Hello Artemis, we just thought we'd stop by and say hello to Judy, see if she's doing alright."

"We heard about Charlie's accident and we—thought we should stop by." Hiram stated as he turned to look at the garage which had just opened, and Lawrence's booming voice can be heard.

"Charlie your threat assessment might be second to none, but your decision making leaves a lot to be desired. You could have stopped Quinn without putting yourself in danger. Stop showboating. You were lucky it was your arm and not that thick-head of yours!" Lawrence yelled at Charlie who yawned and pulled out her phone. He scowls at her and immediately gives her a firm chop on the top of her head.

There's enough force to get Charlie to drop the phone and she immediately rubs the top of her head as she glares up at him. "What the hell? Have you lost your mind?" When Lawrence raises his hand again Charlie does the intelligent thing and ducks behind Quinn and shoves her forward.

"Some hero you are," Quinn muttered, before noticing Rachel. "Hey Rachel. You're here for the fun part, when he forgets that he's our grandpa and starts yelling at us like a drill sergeant."

Lawrence turned and flashed Rachel a smile, "Go and get ready, the two of them need a stern talking to," he immediately turned back to Quinn. "Look, I get that you're pissed at your father. I get it. I want to kick his ass, so badly. But is your dad really worth losing control over?"

Charlie poked her head out, "Seriously? She gets the feelings speech and I get the 'you-could-do-better?' speech?" Charlie twists around when her grandfather looks at her. "That is bullshit."

~ O ~

Quinn flinched as Rachel nearly fell, only for Charlie to reach out and grab her hand. The course had been built for Charlie, the moment she had announced that she wanted to be a superhero. She was certain that Charlie could run the course in her sleep, she'd been running a version of the course since she was seven. Every year they increased the difficulty, and every year her grandmother increased the gravity on the course to increase the difficulty. "Gramps that's enough. Rachel isn't Charlie. Most people—most superheroes wouldn't be able to run this course. Aunt Cassandra failed when Charlie challenged her to a race a few years back. I know that I can't even run the course."

"Your grandmother isn't using her abilities on the field Lucy. She's created a localized field around Charlie, so that she doesn't slack off on her training." Lawrence informed Quinn. "As for the difficulty of this field, I think you're forgetting that she wants to be a superhero. Which means that she wants to carry the weight, of people's expectations, of their hopes and dreams. The point of this obstacle course isn't about how fast Rachel can do it. No, I want to see what she'll do when she gets knocked down. It's about finishing, even if it feels impossible. And right about now, when her limbs are heavy and she's only done half of the course we can see what she's made of."

Quinn flinched when Rachel landed in a giant mud puddle, and grimaced when Rachel didn't immediately get up. "Gramps." She looks at him but when he doesn't seem even the least bit concerned, Quinn takes a step to help Rachel only to feel his hand on her shoulder. "Seriously—"

Rachel stirred a bit before slowly pushing herself up, and trying to crawl out of the mud. She manages to get to where Charlie is standing looking at her, her body shaking from the mounting exhaustion.

"You done?" Charlie asked, bending over so she's at eye level with Rachel.

There was an almost patronizing tone in Charlie's voice, that causes Rachel to wipe the mud from her face and shakes her head. She slowly begins to push herself to her feet, even as the muscles in her leg quake, threatening to simply quit on her. "No."

Charlie stood up, this time not offering her hand as she watched Rachel. Her grandfather had given her discretion when to put an end to this. This obstacle course had been built for her, and she was the only person who could complete it. The first half of the obstacle course had been meant to actually build her fitness, the second half was all about using her abilities. "You sure Rachel? Because it's only going to get more difficult."

Rachel finally makes it back to her feet, "If you can do it then I can do it," Rachel manages to get out taking a step forward, her legs nearly giving out again.

Charlie raised a brow, it was obvious that Rachel could no longer continue. That a simple gentle breeze would probably knock her over, but this wasn't a test of her fitness, it was a test of her determination. As far as she was concerned, Rachel had already passed. She had already gotten further than anyone else who attempted to run this obstacle course. Charlie turns ready to inform her grandfather to end the test when she hears Rachel singing. It's only a few notes before her voice seems to fail, and she begins to hum.

It doesn't last long before Rachel pitches forward, her body finally giving into its exhaustion. Charlie moves to catch her and looks at her grandpa, as Quinn rushes forward to take Rachel from Charlie. "You were supposed to stop her from pushing herself too hard," Quinn snaps at Charlie.

"I was going to end it before she started to sing," Charlie says defensively, trying to peer at Rachel. "She's not dead is she?"

Quinn glares at Charlie who attempts to touch Rachel and slaps Charlie's hand away. "She's still breathing."

Lawrence moves closer and peers at Rachel, "Well at least we know she has what it takes," he's rewarded with both twins shooting him a dirty look. "Perhaps this may have been too much for her, but in my defense. Charlie completed this exact course when she was 12."

Quinn turned to look at Charlie who rolled her eyes. "I was doing a smaller version of this obstacle five days out of the week, for years before I got to this one, with at double the normal gravity. I'm abnormal, Rachel is normal. You need to stop thinking of me as normal. Instead focus on what Quinn can do."

Quinn narrowed her eyes at her twin. "I'm going to take Rachel up to my room."

"Keep the door open," Lawrence said as he rubbed his beard.

Charlie blinked and turned to Quinn who flushed a deep red and tilted her head. "Quinn, Rachel is my ex-girlfriend. By the law of identical twins, that means you can't date her."

"We're not dating," Quinn hissed at Charlie. "And there is no such thing Charlie. You and Rachel never dated. And she's never seen you naked, which is surprising because I'm certain half the female population at McKinley has seen you naked."

Charlie frowned ever so slightly, it sounded like Quinn was calling her a slut. She was about to say something to defend herself when her grandfather pulled her back. She struggles for a moment trying to follow Quinn but her grandfather doesn't let her go. "She insulted me."

"Charlotte," Lawrence said in a patient tone. "Do you actually want to date Rachel?"

"No. God no. She's a vegan," Charlie insists immediately as if there was something wrong with that. "I like to eat obscene amounts of meat. It will never work out if she thinks I'm the person who killed and ate Bambi."

"What about Santana?"

"What about Santana?" Charlie paused. "I haven't slept with Santana. Does this entire family think that I'm some sort of slut?"

Lawrence smiled at his granddaughter and patted her on the head, "Charlie your mother told us about the chicken nuggets."

"She was my girlfriend. Who brought me chicken nuggets, when I wasn't feeling all that great. She wasn't some random woman! I have standards."

"Low standards are still standards Charlie," Lawrence pointed out, watching Charlie's outrage build. He smiles, "Your grandmother and I are concerned. I understand that sex is wonderful—"

Charlie's left eye twitches and she immediately tries to back away from her grandfather only for him to grab onto her shoulder. "What are you doing? Mom already gave me the talk! There were rainbow colored pamphlets!"

"I'm not giving you the talk, I'm just trying to tell you that someday you're going to find a woman that makes you happy. You aren't going to do that by not giving any of these women a chance. You don't want to be in the unfortunate situation where you blew it with someone you could have been happy with."

Charlie rolled her eyes, but simply decided to nod her head. In hopes that this awkward conversation would end sooner. When her grandfather pats her on the head, she takes that as an excuse to find food and then make sure that Quinn wasn't being weird.

~ O ~

"She fainted. I knew that this would be too much for her!" Hiram said, turning to look at Lawrence who seemed relatively unperturbed that their daughter had worked herself to exhaustion.

"Dad," Judy said with a sigh. "I told you that you needed to ease into it with Rachel."

Lawrence glanced over at Rachel who was currently tucked into Quinn's bed, and then back at both Hiram and Leroy who were fussing over her. "Rachel told me that her goal was to attend Summit, and I needed to test that resolve. Summit is the best hero course for a reason, and I needed to be certain that she wasn't going to half-ass it."

"So this was just a sick test?" Leroy snapped at Lawrence.

Lawrence scratches at his beard again and looks at Rachel. "Your daughter is fifteen, and while she does seem reasonably athletic. We have less than three years, to not only increase her power level but raise her fitness level. I'm not expecting her to be Charlie. Charlie's fitness levels are abnormal, but I do need her to be at a place where she can pass Summit's physical. She's not there yet, but the good news is that I can tailor a plan for her."

"Dr. Berry, I'll make sure that my grandfather doesn't go overboard," Quinn speaks up and glares at her grandfather. How he could look so unperturbed about Rachel collapsing in exhaustion was infuriating. "She won't be doing Charlie's obstacle course again."

"Of course she won't. We'll build Rachel her own obstacle course for her fitness. It should be ready next week. I should probably start making some calls," Lawrence mused.

"Grandpa."

"Lucy," Lawrence responded, noting that Quinn was glaring at him as if he had done something wrong. He turns to look at Hiram and Leroy and then back at Quinn, and he sighs. "This is what your daughter wants. I know that it might not be what you want for her, and I know that seeing your children in danger goes against every instinct you may have as a parent, but trust me. Which is why it's better to start now, so when she is older you'll know that she can take care of herself. Judy's not worried about Charlie."

"That's a lie," Judy said immediately. "Out of all my children I worry about Charlie the most."

"Yes, but not because she wants to be a hero. There are plenty of other things to worry about when it comes to her," Lawrence said, hoping that Judy acknowledged that this was indeed the case.

Judy ignored her father, and focuses on Hiram and Leroy. "I know how powerful Charlie is, and I know how good she is, but that's not going to stop me from worrying about her. And yes, my father is correct. A lot of it has to do with other issues, but when she finally does put on that costume and faces a villain. I promise you that I will be terrified. I don't even think I'll be able to watch. But it's what Charlie's wanted to do, and I'm honestly just thankful that she wanted to be a hero rather than use her powers for her own benefit."

"We wanted her on Broadway," Hiram said sullenly. "Her abilities, she would have had her pick of any show that she wanted."

"The only thing that we'd have to be worried about is paparazzi and the occasional odd stalker," Leroy added. "I don't think we can ever approve of this Lawrence, we also know we can't stop her. She'll find a way, she always does. We should have raised her to respect our authority more. You were the one that said to be an artist she should be more independent and free thinking."

"We were relieved when she was considered to be a level 2. She started focusing on becoming a Broadway legend," Hiram sighed before looking up at Lawrence. "I don't think we'll ever accept her doing this. But we know that she'll walk here everyday, just for a chance of her dream. So all I can say is that this—" Hiram pointed at his daughter. "Doesn't happen again. It cannot happen again. Understood."

Lawrence was about to argue when Artemis gives him a look and he grumbles. Rachel was not his grandchild, and he couldn't just bully her parents into giving him free reign. "Very well, I'll make sure that this never happens again."

"And that you won't throw Rachel into the ring with Charlie and hope for the best," Quinn adds glaring at her grandfather.

"You were going to what?" Judy and Leroy demanded at the same time, turning to look at Lawrence who shrugged his shoulders, and held up his hands.

"Charlie knows how to be gentle!"

"Words no one said ever," Quinn muttered as she looked at Rachel, touching the towel that was on Rachel's forehead, to make sure that it was the right temperature. She frowns and chills the towel when she realizes it is getting too warm. Perhaps she needed to call Brittany and beg her to heal Rachel.

"Cold."

Quinn looks up and spots Rachel wincing and immediately pulls her hand away. "Sorry. I was worried about you."

"It was nice," Rachel admitted as she tried to push herself up, and looked at Lawrence. "I failed."

"You didn't fail." Quinn insists before her grandfather could make an ass of himself. "You got further than anyone not named Charlie. And if she wasn't stuffing her face, she'd tell you as much. I mean you got further than me."

Rachel blinked, "I'm sure your grandfather had his reasons for asking me to attempt that obstacle course."

Lawrence smiled and opened his mouth to say his peace, when Quinn interrupted. "No."

"No?" Rachel asks.

"You are not going to be the first member to sign up for my grandfather's cult," Quinn said with a shake of her head.

"Cult's a bit harsh don't you think Lucy?" Lawrence said, attempting to defend his honor.

"It's pretty accurate." Quinn snaps at him before turning to Rachel. "If you want to work with my grandpa then you need to treat him like we treat him. Otherwise, you're going to burn out. Like your body won't be able to handle it. That is the most important lesson when it comes to dealing with my grandfather. You act like he's a crazy old man, because that's what he is. A crazy, old, man. So do not take everything he says as the gospel truth. Ask him why, and if it sounds like he's full of shit, assume that he is and refuse the order."

"I feel personally attacked by your characterization of me," Lawrence said, turning to his wife. His jaw drops when he sees her nodding along. "You're supposed to be on my side."

"Lawrence, she's not Charlie and she's certainly not Cassandra. You need to find a different way." Artemis points out. "True, you don't have as much time as you like, but you still have time."

Rachel looked between Quinn and Lawrence, "While I appreciate your concern Quinn, he's your grandfather, and he's doing this to help me. I couldn't possibly be rude to him. That would be rude."

Lawrence sighed, "Rachel, your health is important. Injuries will just slow your progress. So you need to be honest with yourself. This is training."

Rachel hesitates before finally nodding. It made sense, an injury would slow her down. "Very well but I would like to work on my actual abilities today."

Lawrence grins. "Rest, eat and then we'll start."