"You wanted to see me?" Frannie asks, not looking up from her tablet. The worst thing about her various jobs was the immense paperwork. Why did she need to fill out a form for every portal that she had opened? It wasn't as if they were paying for the size or number of portals, though maybe the next time her contract came up she would insist that they do unless they cut back on the inane paperwork.

Santana rubbed her arm, "I just—is Charlie okay?"

Frannie paused and flicked her eyes up towards Santana for a moment before she returned her attention back to her paperwork, if she had misplaced form 37-AC, "I'm pretty sure I gave a speech about that this morning. My sister's medical history is just that, her medical history. I only informed you that she was fine, because people wouldn't leave me alone about it."

"I mean I just thought—"

"That you would be privy to more information? As far as I know you're not actually a member of my family, and you aren't dating my sister. And while you are closer to my family on a personal level than most, my suggestion is the same as it was this morning. If you want to know how Charlie is doing and you know her number, use it."

"I texted and she said she was fine." Santana muttered under her breath. It wasn't as if it was complete radio silence on Charlie's end but the one worded answers were driving her crazy. They used to talk all the time, and exchange music, sure it was never about the real things but ever since she'd uttered the three words, Charlie had been treating her as if she had some contagious disease. It would be insulting if it wasn't so damn hurtful, and reacting with anger like she had when Charlie had rebuffed her, was probably why Charlie was keeping her distance.

"Which she is," Frannie agrees. "Santana, your times are down, my advice would be to stop worrying about her, and focus on yourself. Charlie is fine. I mean she's an idiot, but she's physically fine."

Santana flushed in embarrassment, she felt like an idiot. Frannie was right she needed to focus, she could deal with Charlie the next time she saw her. She would be able to get answers then. "I'll do better."

"You'd better, I would rather not have the media saying that Dani Harper is the future," Frannie responds.

Santana relaxes, Frannie was still supporting her, she probably hadn't meant to humiliate her. She turns to head back to her room, when she remembers that she still hadn't thanked Frannie for the files. "Thank you, for sending over the trainer's analytics."

Frannie's head snaps up, "What?"

"The analytics, I'm still trying to make sense of all the numbers but I've read the summaries for every member of the team."

"I never sent you—how irresponsible—" Frannie inhaled and looked at Santana carefully. "My suggestion is that you burn those files when you can. You're not supposed to have them." Frannie sighs, "I've asked Charlie to help with training sometime this week. You can meet and question her then."

Santana nods, "Thanks Frannie."

Frannie grunts in response before picking up her phone the moment that Santana leaves. She would need to have some words with her aunt about breaking protocol.

~ O ~

"How—"

"Charlie's fine," Quinn interrupts. She'd gotten the question a million times, sure Charlie seemed off, but physically she was fine. She'd talk about it when she was good and ready or she wouldn't need to and she'd simply get over it. Personally, Quinn hoped that it would be the latter, but she would be ready to listen to Charlie.

Marley rolled her eyes, "I mean she sent me a thumbs up emoji when I asked how she was, which is basically as good as I'm going to get. I was going to ask how you are? Charlie's your twin and you were worried."

Quinn was quiet for a moment, Marley was the first person to ask how she was, "She could have died, and I don't know what I would have done. She's a fucking pain in my ass but she's my twin and even though she really can tell me off, I know at the end of the day she has my back even if she doesn't agree with me. I mean she really is a fucking pain in the ass."

"I agree with that statement." Marley let out a laugh as Quinn grinned, "I was worried too. I mean who else is going to correct my math when it's wrong? It is weird that she gets far higher marks than me in AP Physics. All she does is sleep in class, there's usually some drool too, and she doesn't even show any work." Marley complained.

"Charlie's an idiot savant, don't take it personally," Quinn smiled, this felt like the old them. Which probably meant that the next part wouldn't go well. "I miss us, and despite my attitude with money, I like the fact that you're ambitious and driven. I mean I'll be super busy this year anyway, I'm applying to most of the Ivy's and I'm going to be joining the debate team, I realized that some of the Ivy's might accept me and try to force me to join their intercollegiate version of the Inter-High, so I want to get in with something else."

Marley smiled, "That's great, I mean you'll have to deal with Mac and the other skanks, but I think it'll be good for you."

"Where are you applying?"

"Ohio State. It's an excellent school and I'm applying for as many scholarships as I can, but hopefully with a good—"

"Why not MIT or Caltech?" Quinn interrupts frowning. If Marley wanted to be scouted by some of the top firms.

"Quinn. Even if I were to get in, do you know how expensive tuition is? MIT's tuition is over 80 thousand dollars. Even with scholarships I probably won't be able to cover a fourth of it, and I don't want to be saddled with crippling debt. I know they have programs for families like mine, but my mom has a lot of debt and it's just endless, I mean I can't take the risk."

"There are grants Marley, I looked it up. They'll pay for the bulk of your tuition. With other scholarships, you might just need to work a job for living expenses and even if you have to take out loans. Luthorcorp, Wayne Tech, Stark Industries, offers student loan payback to their top recruits."

"And if I don't get recruited?"

Quinn bit her lip, "I believe in you. That's the thing Marley, I believe that you're going to make it, with or without me you're smart and driven enough to get it done." She takes a deep breath. "And I know that if I offer help you're always going to wonder if there are strings attached, if you'll have to be with me and I get how it puts this weird strain on our relationship. That's why I think we should break up."

Marley blinked. "What?"

"My grandmother is helping me, by introducing me to all the right people, but with Charlie's career taking off, and us having the same face—" Quinn sighed and opened up her phone onto the bank app and pushed it to Marley. "That was deposited last night."

Marley's eyes widened immediately and she looked at Quinn, that was more money then she'd ever seen in her life. "I don't—"

"Charlie is going to be a superstar and her merchandising—she has a shit ton of endorsements rolling in. Mom vetoed the bacon sponsorship." This brings a small smile to Marley's lips.

"Wouldn't that save your mom a ton of money on bacon?"

"Probably, but as for the money—Charlie's the one putting her life on the line. I got lucky that Charlie and I have the same face, and she gave me 25% so I would stop bitching about seeing my face everywhere. Don't tell her but I really was really just talking shit, so it's a bit of a surprise. I'm going to be honest I plan on using a very small percentage for my education and you know paying taxes on all of it, but the rest of the money is going to be put into a foundation with the right people for young men and women like you, who are gifted at what they do but they don't have the resources to excel. It's called the Future Foundation. My grandmother knows the Richard family, and I had a meeting with Valeria Richards."

Marley's eyes widened, "Your grandmother knows the Richards?"

"Well really it's my grandfather who was friends with Valeria Richard's uncle, Ben Grimm, and my grandmother helped out with some experiments back in the day," Quinn shrugged. "I mean Valeria is one of the smartest women on the planet and Frannie takes quite a bit of her teaching philosophy from Valeria, who occasionally guest lectures at MIT. But it's an honors course and apparently you have to pass this insane test to get in, so most times she doesn't have to show up, because no one passes. I realized that you might like it being down to some chance, so I suggested a test. An insanely difficult test, aimed at high school students. Those that pass will get a full ride to the university of their choice. Tuition, housing, food. Not only that, there will probably be a bidding war for that student once they leave university."

Marley was stunned, if what Quinn was saying was true then it would mean— "Why are you doing this?"

Quinn's brow furrowed for a moment, she had known that Marley would question her involvement, but seriously. "Pick a reason, Charlie's rub off on me and it was the right thing to do. How about, I'm doing this so you don't end up stuck in Lima. What about, you wouldn't let me help you because of your pride. I don't know—"

"Money can't solve every problem, Quinn," Marley snaps.

"Of course it can't but it can solve this particular problem," Quinn fires back. "You think I pity you Marley and that's the thing, I don't. I love you, and I don't understand half of what you say, my mind isn't exactly geared to that level of math and detail. You talk about theories that I don't understand, and you're fucking creative, and you're adorable and I want to make all you dreams come true. To show you that I'm sorry, to show you that I fucking care. I might not get it but I think I'm dating one of the smartest people in the world, and you've met my sisters. Fuck you've met my twin. They're all outstanding and I think you're outstanding too. I wish you would just let me help and let me pay for your tuition. But you won't so I'm letting you earn it, and I'm dumping you so when you do earn it maybe then you'll accept the help. Or not. Throw away your dreams because someone dared to offer you help."

"There are always strings attached to gifts like this Quinn. Maybe I spend too much time at the lab and you throw it in my face that I didn't make dinner or take out the trash—"

"You think I'll lorde it over you?" Quinn interrupts and stares at Marley heartbroken. She lets out a breath trying to keep a very tight seal on her emotions but she can't help the involuntary stillness that chills the air as her breath condenses into a thick fog. This wasn't what she needed, what she needed was someone who loved her, and who needed her just as much as she loved and needed them.

~ O ~

It's the moment he feels danger that he's reacting, his movement fluid, as he hooks his waterbottle to the loop in his khakis and uses the momentum to whip around to deliver a sharp elbow to protect himself. He barely has time to register; he had probably made the worst mistake of his very short life, as his brain registers a grinning Charlie Fabray. She was going to think that this was a game and spend the rest of his day off tormenting him.

Blaine's muscles immediately seize, he could already feel the shock heading his way, but instead his elbow connects with Charlie's temple with all his momentum. Charlie's head snaps to the side, and Blaine immediately stops and gasps, "I thought you were going to evade, or attempt to or put your hand up."

Charlie shook her head and opened her eyes revealing that her eyes were glowing for a split second. "Not quite," she mumbles to herself and blinks a few more times before flashing Blaine a smile. "Holy crap Frannie can actually teach!" Charlie exclaims, she had never thought Frannie's methods were particularly teacher friendly. Maybe she needed to use more of Frannie's methods.

Blaine took a few steps back, well it seemed they had all been worried about nothing. Charlie was fine. "Did I give you another concussion?"

Charlie looked up for a moment as if she had to think about it, "No. But I am in a good mood today. I don't have to be a sidekick anymore, and my mother couldn't think of a good reason why I can't go back to training. So, do you want to—"

At Charlie's grin Blaine immediately jumps back, "No."

"What do you mean no. I want to see how much stronger you got! Look we can have a quick spar—"

"No!" Blaine repeats himself. It was never a quick spar, and even though Charlie was now pouting he needed to be firm. "I—hey Artie, Finn look who it is!" Blaine said, spotting Finn and Artie making their way back from the showers.

Charlie turned and looked at both Finn and Artie critically, for a moment before raising her hand almost immediately. Finn's reacting far quicker than he ever did before as he hardens, dropping his towel in the process. Charlie immediately looks up, "Alright, I can wait till you put on some pants." She turns around and blinks, noting that Blaine had taken the time to flee. It was almost enough to hurt her feelings, but it's not as if she had actually planned to fight them. She was actually curious about their growth. Blaine had been able to react before she had even done anything. She needed to bring Frannie's methods back to the team, perhaps if she promised to babysit Mikey she'd convince Frannie to help the team.

"So, can I get your autograph? I was on ebay last night and there was an autographed copy of your new action figure selling for like thirty thousand dollars," Artie asks.

Charlie blinked and let out a laugh, they weren't treating her any differently. "Sure, maybe after you put on some pants. And after I see Santana, she'll be even madder that I said hi to Blaine and you guys before her."

Finn bent down and grabbed his towel wrapping it around his body, "She's probably hitting the showers in the women's dorms. Can you talk to your sister, she's really mean."

Charlie snorted, "No, because then she'll be mean to me, and I need her to trust me so I can start Mikey's ninja training early. I mean as much as I hate to admit it, Santana and Quinn may have a point and the nunchucks are far too dangerous for a baby. So we'll start with the staff and a practice sword, and then we'll get to the nunchucks and sai."

"Do you actually know how to use all those weapons?"

"They have tutorials on Youtube, how hard could it be?" Charlie said with a shake of her head.

Artie turns to Finn, but he's no longer really paying attention. "Sure I'll help." Maybe if he made a cardboard staff and a sword, no one would lose an eye.

"You're the best Artie, Blaine's more likely to listen to you then me, so you convince him to help," Charlie grinned. Her nephew was going to be a badass. She waves them off and grins as she heads towards the women's floors and immediately slips her hood up and keeps her face down as she passes a few teenagers who don't pay her any mind as they chat away, she looks around for a moment, wondering which room was Santana's before grinning. Seeing Santana just out of the shower would probably make her feel normal again. She immediately makes her way in the direction that she had seen Finn and Artie come from. She pauses for a moment and steps over one of Dani's tripwires.

"I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to be here. Coming here looking like some sort of creeper. This floor is for the womens—" Charlie turned and the teen who had confronted her stopped talking as it clicks, "You're—"

Charlie presses her finger to the girl's lip and flashes her a smile, "Just wanted to surprise Santana, have you seen her?"

"Yeah she and Dani hit the showers together, after everyone is done, they're probably still in there now."

Charlie grinned, "Thank you, I'll be helping my sister run some exercises, and talking to the group, if you have any questions let me know—"

"Elaine."

"Elaine, I'll remember that. Is the bathroom—?" Charlie gestures.

"At the end of the hall," Sara replies.

Charlie winks at Sara and makes her way to the end of the hallway, picking up the pace. She reaches out to push the door open and stops for a moment, Dani's invisible strings were all over the door, it was just like when they would sneak off and—Charlie immediately takes a deep breath and turns around. She didn't need to use her field to know what was going on behind closed doors.

~ O ~

Judy looked up in surprise from where she was wiping down the counters, as Charlie exitted the portal, she hadn't expected that. She hadn't expected Charlie to be home at all tonight. "I wasn't expecting you back so—" There's a rather stormy look in Charlie's eye and she recognizes it because it's the second time she's seen it today. Judy puts her napkin down, she was certain her father had finished the ice cream earlier. She bites her lip. She would definitely need to go and do some last minute shopping, and she needed to find the perfect movie.

Charlie ignores her mother and just walks up the stairs and without even bothering to knock on the door she just opens the door and looks at her twin, and tilts her head ever so slightly when it looks like Quinn had been crying, and was attempting rather poorly to pretend like she was okay. "You're a horrible actress. Did Marley break up with you?"

Quinn scowled, "I broke up with her." When Charlie snorts in disbelief, she can't help but narrow her eyes. "Santana laughed in your face for suggesting that your first date should be at fight club."

"No. I never asked." When Quinn gives her a look she sighs. "Dani and Santana are fucking."

Quinn let out a laugh, her eyes widening in disbelief, out of all the things that she expected Charlie to say that actually ranked rather low. "Wait, you're serious." Charlie nodded and Quinn smiled just a bit. "And you didn't try and get a threesome out of it?" The look that Charlie shoots her is withering. "Sorry. I mean. Dani. Santana?"

"They're roommates," Charlie stated, motioning for Quinn to move. When Quinn scoots over she flops face down on Quinn's bed. "She said she loved me."

Quinn tilted her head, "Wait, Santana said that first?"

"I mean it was in the throes of passion, so I mean it doesn't count right. I mean I was going to drop it when she pressed the issue that's when I mentioned that I was going on a date with Sasha Banks, I mean I panicked."

"Well that explains the fight—"

"Why did you and Marley break up. I liked Marley," Charlie interrupts, no longer wanting to discuss her life.

"Have you looked at your bank account recently?"

"No. I have plenty of money, and I know where to get more—oh this was about class."

"You really need to start paying attention to your finances, or you're going to end up penniless. A budget is your friend." Quinn rolled her eyes, at Charlie's bluntness,"I'm using the money that you've given me to start a foundation for talented people like Marley who don't get a chance at the big schools because of their wealth. I mean I would have just paid for Marley's education or gotten grandma to do it, but—she thought I was going to lord it over her."

Charlie was quiet for a moment before she finally lifted her face and turned to look at Quinn. Quinn wasn't nearly as cheap as she was, and she knew Marley well enough to know that she would view Quinn's help as charity. "There's nothing inherently wrong, with you but from people like us it comes off as condescending. And it's not like we haven't been known to be petty."

Quinn snorted, that was true. They weren't above being petty, she had made sure that Dani had needed sweaters for a month after she had hurt Charlie. "True, but I don't think I was happy. I mean you were right, I just made my life about her. I stopped paying attention, and I checked out. As much as it hurts. I need to focus on the future. It's our senior year—wait, you weren't actually serious about not going to Summit?"

"I know how to save people Quinn, I'm not saying that I don't have a lot to learn, but I don't think that I'll learn what I need to know at Summit. I'm tired of school, and if you make me sit in another classroom for another four years I promise you I will become a super villain and destroy all universities, and I'll liberate the children."

Quinn stared at her twin for a moment before she began to laugh, it was just so ridiculous. "I need a degree from a top notch institution to get what I want. But to get there I'm going to need your help."

"As long as it's not that illegal, like misdemeanor stuff Quinn," Charlie promised.

"Really you wouldn't commit a felony for me? I'd commit one for you," Quinn said sitting up.

Charlie made a face, this was how it always started. Quinn would throw out a hypothetical and she'd be forced to agree and it would just keep going. "What do you need my help with?"

"I need to stretch."

Charlie immediately propped herself up, and slowly grinned. "Really? Wait. Why?"

Quinn was quiet for a moment, "I know what I want to do with my life and I need to learn to control my abilities better, I need to learn to control them like you do. Absolutely no more accidents when I get annoyed."

Charlie nodded, "Well lets see if Frannie will take us to—"

"I've got ice cream and I've got Netflix on the television and tissue," Judy said as she came up the stairs, slightly out of breath. She pauses when she sees her two daughters looking at her like she's grown another head. "You managed to figure it out?"

There was a hint of disappointment in Judy's voice and Quinn shifts a bit, "Dani and Santana are together."

"Quinn." Charlie snapped. Like she was ever going to believe that Quinn would ever commit a felony for her without somehow throwing her under the bus. She looks at her mother. "Quinn tried to use money to solve all of Marley's problems."

"You little—"

Judy immediately stepped in between them and smiled. "It's okay we don't have to talk about it, I mean I wish you would let me in but I just want to be there for you in anyway that I can."

Charlie and Quinn glanced at each other, "That does sound nice."

"Can I pick the movies? Charlie's taste is absolutely shit."