Rachel glanced over at Quinn, as they walked through Lima's only mall. This was supposed to be a welcome break from the non-stop training that she'd been going through. With the regional Inter-High happening next week, she thought that this break would be a welcome reprieve, but it was clear that Quinn was in a mood. She hadn't said much, if anything since they had arrived at the mall. "It's Black Friday, are you and your family going to risk the stores?"

Quinn blinked and turned to look at Rachel, she flushed when she realized she'd been stuck in her own head. "Sorry, what?"

"It's Black Friday, are you and your family going to risk the stores?"

Quinn snorted, as she tried to imagine her family fighting with other families over random crap. "Amazon is a thing Rachel, it's why many stores are closing. What are you doing this thanksgiving?" She asks, deciding to change the topic.

Rachel shrugged, "Nothing this year. Daddy drew the short straw this year and has to work all day. I was just going to spend the day watching movies with dad." She forces a smile onto her face when Quinn looks at her. She didn't really want her pity. "I was going to go through Barbra Streisand's greatest films."

Quinn raised a brow, "Would you and your dad like to come to the circus that is a July Family Thanksgiving? I mean if you don't mind the chaos, the bickering between siblings, the fighting over the bacon. My sisters and my Aunt Cassandra will be there. My mom makes like a feast, like a proper ten course meal, so there will be plenty of food. We'll just need to get two more chairs."

Rachel immediately shakes her head, "I don't want to impose on your family time Quinn. And it's not like we're not going to have thanksgiving, it's just not going to be on that day."

Quinn shakes her head, "Rachel, you would be doing me a favor. You've met Charlie and my grandpa, so you have an idea how insane my family is. Perhaps with a third party observer there, they'll try and be normal for once. I doubt it, but I can only hope that your presence at least makes Frannie bearable."

Rachel rolls her eyes, she was curious to meet the rest of Quinn's family. "I'd have to ask my parents first but I might be able to stop by sometime on Thursday for a little while anyway."

"Good, just if you do stay for dinner. Sit by me, and point to what you want. I'll get it for you, it's survival of the fittest at the table."

"Do I want to know what that means?" Rachel asks, slightly horrified and intrigued all at the same time.

"It means that it isn't a Thanksgiving dinner, unless someone gets stabbed. Again it would be best if you just sit by me," Quinn explains. At Rachel horrified look she glances around before dropping her voice down to a whisper. "Don't worry Brittany will be there, there are no permanent injuries."

"Quinn, I know it's hardly my place to comment on your family's actions, but really stabbing each other over food?"

Quinn's lips quirk upward. "Then there's the board game after dinner, that also gets super competitive. I think—it's either mine or Charlie's turn to choose this year. That usually devolves into a fight. Someone ends up with either a burn or in some foreign country until Frannie feels like bringing them back home."

Rachel squinted at Quinn, she couldn't tell if Quinn was teasing her, or if she was being serious. "Stabbing someone over food does sound like something Charlie would do. But since she's not here to defend herself against your allegations, I've decided that you're simply full of it Quinn Fabray."

Quinn's lip quirk upward, and she gently nudges Rachel. "A rather accurate assessment, but my family is insane."

"Your mother seems like a regular mom Quinn, I mean I wouldn't know I've never met mine. But she cares about you despite the fact that you and Charlie both drive her crazy."

Quinn gasped at Rachel's accusation, "Take that back! I'm the normal and the good one."

Rachel laughed at Quinn's outrage, "Normal, maybe. But no one thinks you're the good one."

"My dad did," Quinn admits, her own smile fading slightly. "He'll be there as well, I don't know why though, no one really wants him there except Charlie. She wants him to buy her a car. And I think he knows that if he tells Charlie no, she'll lose all interest in having him around. So Charlie will get a car, and then she'll lose all interest in him and he'll just be there. Pining after my mother, even though he was the one that cheated."

There's a heaviness in the air and Rachel reaches for Quinn's hand, not knowing what to say to that, but wanting to offer some comfort.

"Rachel!"

Quinn's back goes rigid, and she slowly looks up to spot Saint Fuckface, who was running up to them. "Are you sure this isn't the only mall in Ohio? Because it really does seem like this is becoming a pattern."

"He's probably here to try and scope out the competition," Rachel whispers back to Quinn before smiling and turning to Jesse. "Hey Jesse—"

"Do you seriously have nothing else to do? Why are you in Lima again? No one wants to be in Lima, everyone and I do mean everyone wants to leave. Yet you keep coming back. Why?" Quinn asks.

"My uncle lives here. He's in the hospital right now, so my parents and I are just helping around the house." Jesse shoots back, smirking when Quinn winces. "But since I'm here, I can once again extend an invitation to Rachel."

Quinn gritted her teeth, and even though she desperately wanted to tell Fuckface to go fuck himself, she couldn't fight all Rachel's battles for her.

"While I'm flattered that you think so highly of me Jesse, my parents are not going to relocate to Akron. And I could never, would never betray my teammates." Rachel said hoping that she was being firm. She leans into Quinn a bit more and smiles when she feels Quinn's fingers brush against hers.

"Rachel, I know you feel some sort of misplaced school loyalty, but you're just a level 2."

"And you're just a level 3, so you're one to talk Fuckface." Quinn snips holding up her wrist, to show her tattoo.

Jesse ignored Quinn, "That's not what I meant Rachel, I mean you're just a level two when I know someone with your abilities who is a level 4. That's why I'm so desperate to recruit you Rachel, your talents are being wasted at McKinley. Win or lose, if you want to be a hero then you need to get as strong as you can if you want to make it in the hero business. She can teach you, and foster your abilities. There is no one else who can."

Rachel blinked, "You know someone with my ability?"

"The coach of Vocal Adrenaline—"

"Rachel, my grandfather is already helping you," Quinn interrupts Jesse. There was something in her tone that caused Jesse to ease away and Rachel to turn to her.

"I know that, and I'm grateful. But we're still attempting to learn how my abilities work, and if this person knows how they work, then that will help your grandfather help me. And more importantly it will help the team."

Quinn met Rachel's gaze with a cool one of her own. "Are you really going to ask your dad to drive you 3 hours up to Akron, just on the word of this Fuckface?"

Rachel hesitated, for a moment and looked at Jesse. "I still live in Lima, and if you're intent on having me meet this mysterious coach of yours then you can make the introduction after our team beats yours." With that Rachel sidesteps Jesse and pulls Quinn along with her, as she walks away.

Quinn turns to flip Jesse off, before she leans into Rachel. "I'm pretty sure I can freeze his—"

Rachel stomped her foot, dramatically. "Quinn, I'm not going to let you tempt me down the road of villainy."

"But it would be funny. Well for us not for him."

"Quinn, no!"

~ O ~

Santana gasps for air, as her back slams against her wooden deck. The pain was familiar, she had lost count at how many times Charlie had put her on her back or her ass. She rolls out of the way as Charlie's foot slams onto the ground where her head had just been. Charlie was unrelenting, but she manages to put a bit of distance between them as she rolls off her deck and uses the sudden drop to drop to her feet, and scramble away.

Her reprieve comes before Charlie can launch another attack, as Charlie's phone begins to vibrate and ring, signaling the end of their sparring session. Santana drops to her knees, and sucks in air noisily. She was covered in sweat and grime, and she was certain that Charlie had drawn blood at some point. Charlie's elbows were sharp.

Santana looks up when a towel is dropped on her head, and she spots Charlie offering her a cold bottle of water. "Thanks," Santana said, grabbing it and patting away her sweat with the towel. She had lasted the full hour, this time. It was an accomplishment that had taken her nearly three weeks of working with Charlie every day to accomplish, and even if Charlie didn't say anything about it she was pleased with herself. It was another goal that she had managed to check off her list.

"You need to learn how to check kicks and work on your center of gravity, it's remarkably easy to get you on your back," Charlie informs Santana who scowls at her. "We can work on that though, other than that—good job."

The words are shocking, Charlie had never once offered any words of encouragement, "Did I give you a concussion?" She blurts out and when Charlie raises a brow, she shrugs her shoulder and fiddles with her bottle of water. "You've never once said anything remotely nice to me or anyone else on the team apart from Rachel."

Charlie studies Santana for a moment, "I can see how much you want this, and I know how frustrating it is to keep getting your ass kicked. But for someone who took this up a couple of weeks ago, you are picking up things quickly. Keep practicing the moves I showed you this week. I won't have time to come over, my family is going to be in town."

The surprise on Santana's face at Charlie actually saying something relatively positive about her showing, dissipates when she realizes that Charlie had just informed her that she wouldn't be making time for her this week. "Wait what?"

Charlie sighs, "My family is coming to town Santana. It's Thanksgiving, so everyone—minus my dad's parents—is going to be in town. My mother will be cooking up a storm for the next few days. And I'll be busy."

"Charlie, I still need to train," Santana protested immediately. They couldn't stop now, not when she felt like she was on the verge of a breakthrough.

Charlie rubbed at her temples. "I know you do Santana, but I want to spend time with my family. If you really want to do something worthwhile, have Beiste train you. Or do an extra training session with the rest of the team. They could really use the extra practice." Charlie picks up her bag. "You don't have to make me food tonight Santana. Enjoy your week with your family, practice what I taught you. And eat lots of turkey—and ham. Mmm—and then all the leftovers. All the sandwiches—" Charlie wiped at her chin and smiled at Santana. "I should head home now."

"Well what about during practice?"

"I can't take you aside during practice and give you one on one attention," Charlie pointed out. "Lauren might lose her shit. Look I'm happy that you're taking this seriously, but I want to spend time with my family. Ever since I moved here from LA, I've missed them. Well—only Brittany, but I want to spend time with them. Maybe I'll actually get some of my own training done."

"Well what about meeting on Friday at least?"

"Santana, it's the day after Thanksgiving where there will be plenty of leftovers. I'm not leaving my house for anything. If you really want some extra time, go and practice with Lauren." Charlie stretches out her muscles and then pats Santana on the shoulder. With that she starts to hover, before taking off.

For someone who disliked flying long distances, she sure seemed okay doing it. Santana makes a face, if Charlie wasn't going to take the time to come to her house, then she'd simply have to go to Charlie's place.