Quinn glanced at Charlie who was covered in a light sheen of sweat as she entered the kitchen, "Good you're up."

"I'm always awake at this time, you know where to find me this early in the mornings," Charlie pointed out as she looked at the clock on the microwave and made a face. She would have to order ahead at Lima Bean if she wanted to make it on time for practice. "What do you want?"

"I was thinking of throwing a party," Quinn informs Charlie, who looks up at her. "Think of it as a team bonding exercise. Mom, grandpa and grandma are currently in California with Frannie. Sectionals is this weekend, and I think that we should have a small get together," she explains. It could be like a belated birthday party for the two of them. They'd never really done anything before, sure they got presents from their parents and Judy had made them a cake and their favorite food but for the first time she really wanted to have a party.

"I meant what do you want from Lima Bean," Charlie responds dryly. "Nevermind. I'll get your usual, I'm going to go shower."

Quinn blinked, usually Charlie showed more enthusiasm when it came to one of her ideas and she can't help but follow her twin. "I mean it's for the good of the team—"

Charlie rolled her eyes, "You're not a member of the Titans Quinn, so I have no idea why you care about the team bonding," she stops nearly causing Quinn to crash into her and she turns to look at her twin. "So we're clear, I don't care what you do as long as whatever you do doesn't interrupt my training."

Quinn paused, she normally didn't care what Charlie got up to, but for the past few weeks, all Charlie had done was train. It was non-stop constant training, only taking a break for school. Even then Charlie trained at school all the time, and despite Beiste's best efforts, the heroes that she had brought to help Charlie get ready weren't good enough. She hadn't even eaten the cake Judy had made for their birthday, she'd barely eaten anything at all. "You're training too much."

Charlie stopped again at the top of the stairs for a moment and looked at Quinn before rolling her eyes and making her way for a quick shower before school.

Quinn sighed while studying her twin's back. There was a thing as overtraining and it was obvious that Charlie was heading in that direction. If her mother wasn't going to say shit, and her grandmother was going to encourage this, someone needed to be the adult and she was older than Charlie. "I'm serious. You're training too hard. Like it's all you do these days. You want to be a hero, I get it, but for fucks sake Charlie there is more to life than training." Quinn glanced at the lights as they began to flicker and she immediately dropped the temperature.

Charlie exhales slowly and turns around so she can look at her twin sister. "If you want to throw a party Quinn, then throw a party. I really don't care, I spend enough time around my team, this isn't about sectionals or nationals. But seriously Quinn, I have no idea why you aren't taking this time to fuck your girlfriend," Charlie said bluntly.

Quinn blinked in surprise and shot Charlie a look, "Excuse me?"

Charlie raised a brow, "You have a girlfriend. You have a girlfriend who is busy with her own life—as a side note, you need a hobby or something you're passionate about because again you hovering is kind of sad."

"Get to your point," Quinn hissed as the temperature began to drop faster. She could see Charlie's breath as she saw arcs of lightning around Charlie's fist.

Charlie disarmed and rolled her eyes turning her back to Quinn, "Spend time with your girlfriend Quinn. That's what I'd be doing, not throwing a party for a team you're not a member of."

Quinn scowled, before rolling her eyes. Well it was clear that Charlie needed to get laid regularly otherwise she turned into a raging bitch. "I'm throwing the party. You're welcome to come when you decide to step off your pedestal."

~ O ~

"Shouldn't you answer that?" Shelby asked looking over from where she was going over last minute plans for sectionals. She's not surprised that Cassandra has made herself comfortable on the couch and was currently reading a magazine, but the Jaws theme song that was coming from Cassandra's phone was making it hard to concentrate.

"It's my mother—so no," Cassandra answers without looking up at Shelby. "Are you nearly done?"

"Sectionals is this weekend, and I need to make sure that Vocal Adrenaline is one of the five schools that will move onto Nationals. I hate not knowing what the events are—"

"The theme of your sectionals is elimination and survival, there was a call for heroes, and I'm not talking bargain bin heroes, I'm talking the Seven, 4 Horsewomen, also the US Military has a few major players getting involved, I imagine this is some backwards test for my niece. All the top firms want to see just how strong she is."

Shelby tore her gaze away from her notes and looked at Cassandra, "How did you—"

Cassandra shrugged her shoulders, "I still have connections, Shelby. I am still one of the 12 level 5 AI's in the country. Though with Frannie pregnant, and our family producing nearly half of America's level 5's, the government has taken a renewed interest in our family. " Cassandra scowled when her phone went off for the umpteenth time. She's tempted to simply ignore it once again, but when Shelby shoots her a look she groans and answers the phone. "Has Frannie released her spawn yet?" Cassandra asked as she placed the call on speakerphone.

'Frannie is having an elective c-section, the appointment is set for Saturday.' Artemis explained.

"Joy. If Frannie hasn't had a child cut out of her, why are you calling me?" Cassandra asked. They barely talked as it is.

'Charlie's competition is on Saturday. Your father let me know that you still planned to be there—'

"I do have a job," Cassandra cuts her mother off.

There is a pause on the line, before a sigh is heard, 'Yes, I know that. I was hoping that you would keep an eye on things this weekend. There needs to be someone who can stop Charlie in case things get out of hand, and while Quinn will be there, it'll be better if it was you. Perhaps you two can finally stop fighting and learn something from one another.'

"What could I possibly learn from a sixteen year old who has yet to get her hands dirty?"

'Perhaps you can learn not to crack under pressure. Or perhaps you can find a lesson in her kindness.'

Cassandra let out a short abrupt laugh, "Are you serious? She isn't some piece of coal that turns into a diamond under tremendous amounts of pressure. She's a dumb idealistic kid who doesn't realize that being a hero is the worst fucking thing in the world. Having to be fucking happy all the time—having people stalk you just so they can get a picture of you messing up. She will crack just like everyone else has, and honestly with you in her life, I imagine that it's going to be so much worse than mine. She's going to disappoint you and it's going to break her."

'Me being disappointed in her, isn't going to define her entire life, like it has yours.' Artemis replies calmly before hanging up.

Cassandra stares at her phone before gripping it with enough force to crack the glass and twist the metal, and she looks up at Shelby. "See what I have to deal with?"

Shelby didn't respond immediately, "It seems like a lot of family drama," she says finally, and relaxes when Cassandra flashes her a pleased smile. "You're not wrong the system needs to be changed, and quite a few of my students have flamed out of being a hero."

Cassandra nodded, "Whatever, I should probably talk to her before she does crack. Who knows maybe she'll listen."

~ O ~

"So, let me see if I got this straight Fabgay, you want to throw a party where the team can bond? And your idea of bonding is playing board games and singing karaoke?" Santana asked, an incredulous tone in her voice. They weren't five, they were teenagers.

"It was Rachel's idea," Quinn said proudly.

"That's why it sounds lame as fuck," Santana responding pinching the bridge of her nose. "You have no parental supervision, and your big idea for bonding is to play monopoly and sing love songs to the side-chick. What does Smurfette have to say about this?"

"Smurf—oh Charlie. She doesn't care that I'm throwing a party as long as she's not forced to attend, and we really don't bother her," Quinn explained before pausing and narrowing her eyes. "What do you mean it sounds lame as fuck? And what side chick?"

"Rachel's never been to a party, at least not one that I've hosted, or I've been too. And it's clear that even though I know you and Charlie have been invited to nearly every party thrown at McKinley, neither of you have showed up. So it makes sense you have zero idea how to host a party. I'll handle it."

"You'll handle it?" Quinn repeats.

Santana rolled her eyes, "Just give me some money and I'll buy a keg and some ice, I'll take a look at wherever your parents keep their liquor and raid the good stuff. Also we'll need ice—actually nevermind, it'll be good for you to put your abilities to use, for the greater good. We'll need cups, and garbage bags as well," Santana mused. "Also some decent music—what time is the party at? I can swing by a couple hours before and set it up."

Quinn frowned, and was about to open her wallet so she could hand over some of the food money her mother had given her. With how much Charlie ate normally, her mom had basically just given her a thousand dollars, plus with her allowance she certainly had more than enough money to spend. "How much do you need? And what do you mean by side chick, Rachel and I are just friends."

Santana rolled her eyes, "Two hundred should cover it. Don't worry I'll give you receipts and your change." When Quinn doesn't budge she sighs, "Rachel is fifteen and hasn't been through a sexual awakening yet. I'd say she hasn't gone through puberty—but I've seen her in the showers after training, definitely—" Santana grins when she feels the instant drop of temperature. "Why are you getting so upset Quinn, I wasn't insulting your girlfriend, if anything I was complimenting your friend."

The temperature returns to normal after Quinn takes a breath and she glares at Santana, "Rachel isn't interested in me we're just friends."

"Rachel wasn't interested because she's what we call a very late bloomer," Santana pointed out. "Look, I don't actually give a crap about your dating life Fabgay, I don't care that you have a weird hobbit fetish, but Marley's nice so don't fuck her over."

Quinn scowled, she wasn't going to cheat on Marley. She pulls out the cash and hands it to Santana, "Here. I'm not a cheater."

"Right," Santana said, grabbing the money and putting it in her locker.

Quinn scowled, she wasn't her father. "You're one to talk."

"What's that supposed to mean," Santana asked with a roll of her eyes. She didn't have some deep seated feelings for anyone.

"You're the idiot that's in love with my twin."

Santana snorted, "No, I'm not. Charlie's fantastic at getting me off. I have zero interest in being with someone who will sleep with the first pretty girl that bats an eye at her. I have more self-respect than that."

Quinn tilted her head, "You really don't know shit about Charlie do you?"

Santana's smile faded and she tilted her head, "I know why she broke up with Dani, and if you think that shit—"

"That's not the reason that they broke up." Quinn interrupts with a wave of her hand. "You're the second person who has criticized my relationship today. And it's funny because neither you or Charlie has your shit together. I have a girlfriend who I love, so why don't you fix your relationship with Charlie before commenting on my life." Quinn snapped storming off.

Santana blinked and looked around the hall, noting that there were people staring at her. "I still need details about this stupid party," Santana calls after Quinn who flips her off. "Fucking bitch," she grumbled under her breath.

~ O ~

"I honestly can't tell you what to bring Marley, I don't know anything about engineering. What I can tell you is that the support team will be with me until after events, that's when you guys will need to go in and make adjustments. We'll be watching the event on a monitor, and at least now with our new communication system we can communicate with the team." Beiste states as she studied the support team. This was their very first competition, and she had realized that she needed to go over what was expected of them.

"So not only will we be managing the communication network, we're also going to be triaging all the support items?" Marley clarified.

"Sounds about right," Beiste agrees even as there is a knock on the door to the shop classroom. She turns and spots Quinn and waves her in. "I don't know how easy that will be for you but, even if it fails Charlie and Santana are flexible enough and capable of calling instructions on the fly."

"Assuming they get on the same page," Jane muttered.

Marley snorted, it was the topic of the team, but it was a hot topic amongst the team. "They both want to win—we all want to win, so they'll probably put whatever is going on between them aside and figure it out. I think with the time we have we need to start working on making our prototypes more durable. Sam has a tendency to break his control gauntlets, we need a better way to manipulate the chemical energy."

"Makes sense, and we should probably make a few more communication devices, Charlie fries hers all the time," Roderick groaned.

"What if we were to wrap it in that dampener you created, I mean Charlie will still fry it just to make a point, but at least she can't pretend that it was accidental with a giant smile on her face," Jane suggested and shook her head.

Marley let out a laugh even as she glanced at Quinn who was waiting for her, "I'll talk to her about it," Marley explains as she heads over to Quinn, "I'm swamped with work Quinn, what's up and I need to go to work tonight."

Quinn nodded, the art studio closed at eight, it was still plenty of time for her to pick up Marley and take her to the party. "Can I talk to you for a moment? Outside?"

Marley froze for a moment, there was something in Quinn's voice that made her heart drop but she nods. She knew that she had been swamped with work lately but joining the Titans and showing off her tech, was her ticket out of Lima. She adjusts her glasses, and nods as she follows Quinn out of the classroom. "What's up—"

"Are we okay?" Quinn asks immediately as she turns to look at her.

Marley blinked, "What?"

"Are you and I okay?" Quinn repeats reaching for Marley's hand and looking at her, searching her face for any hint that Marley was hiding something from her.

Marley fiddled with her glasses for a moment as she looked at Quinn, she had seriously believed that Quinn was going to break up with her. She had been spending quite a bit of time with Rachel lately, sure they were training and she trusted Quinn, but she had caught Rachel staring at Quinn when she wasn't paying attention. "What brought this on?"

"Charlie made a snide comment about it when I mentioned that I wanted to have a party tonight. I thought she'd be excited, but she basically informed me that I needed to spend more time with you. Santana made a similar comment when I talked to her about setting up the party. But they were both far crasser then they had any right to be." Quinn muttered.

Marley paused for a moment, "We—" she takes a breath, she didn't want to just sweep this under the rug. "You've been spending a lot of time with Rachel. I know you two are friends, and I know that I've been super busy lately, but it makes me uncomfortable."

Quinn gently squeezed Marley's hand, "There's nothing going on between me and Rachel."

"I know that, but I was looking forward to hanging out with you and you know, and you chose to spend time training Rachel, and asking me to create that amp for you. I do get it, I've been busy and you have every right to do whatever you want, but I felt left out. And once sectionals are over with, yeah we may have nationals, but the hardest part is creating a device, that's done and now it's just modifying it and testing it which shouldn't take as much time. There was a crunch because we came in rather late but that's over after this weekend."

"I'm sorry," Quinn said immediately she hadn't even—she had just wanted to help Rachel. She hadn't thought about Marley's feelings at all. "Fuck, Charlie's right I'm a terrible girlfriend. Look I can still cancel the party and you and me can spend the night together after work, we can watch movies or just—"

"Don't do that Quinn, the team is looking forward to it, and honestly I can use the time to unwind tonight. Besides everyone will leave at some point, and you and I can have a bit of fun," Marley whispered the last part, grinning when Quinn flushed.

"Yeah?" Quinn asks, pulling her close.

"Yeah," Marley grinned and gave Quinn a quick kiss, "Later though, I need to get back to the team meeting. I'll text you and see you later tonight though."

Quinn huffed and nodded, stealing one last kiss. "See you tonight," she says before heading to her next class. Charlie and Santana clearly didn't know what they were talking about. She and Marley communicated and yeah she could be a bit better and she would, but their relationship wasn't on the rocks. After sectionals everything would be better.