"I am pretty certain that I mentioned that we should have done our Christmas shopping for the twins early, just like we really should start planning their surprise birthday party," Rachel reminds Santana who shoots her an annoyed glare.

"Have you taken a look at Charlie's bank account? Let alone Quinn's bank account, they can buy whatever it is that they want. I mean at least you're lucky, Quinn probably knows how to be romantic, Charlie is probably going to get me a gift card to a lingerie place and be pleased with herself for coming up with a present that is mostly for her." Santana rolled her eyes, "And then I'll have to remind her that she doesn't get to have me model for her, because we broke up and she'll pout."

"Charlie is extremely good at romance! I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised, I mean what did she get you for your birthday?" Rachel insisted.

"I literally just told you what she got me for my birthday," Santana groused, if it was anyone else she would personally be offended but it was Charlie, and she had probably put a lot of thought into it far too much thought into it. Charlie was impossible to shop for, she would get Charlie a TMNT action figure, but she really didn't want to start Charlie on collecting action figures. "What did you get her?"

"Charlie? I got her a mega bacon box, it was expensive, but it's artisan bacon and I mean whatever she gives me will probably be more than 200 dollars."

"You spent two hundred dollars on her?" Santana groaned. That was actually a good idea, why hadn't she thought to get Charlie a box of artisan bacon, she didn't even know that was a thing. Well she did, but it hadn't occurred to her.

"Well, while we were in New York whenever we went anywhere Charlie paid for it, and we went to a lot of expensive places. We also went to some cheaper places, but I did get Charlie to try a vegan dish, and she ate a quarter of it before giving up and waiting for me at a hot dog stand. I still have no idea what to get Quinn, I was tempted to get her a box as well, but well they'd fight over it. Or Charlie would simply steal Quinn's."

"Just get her some art supplies or whatever, I mean it's Quinn. I'd get her some crayons and safety scissors," Santana shrugs her shoulders. "This would be easier if we could go to any store in the world like they could. I mean it's the Lima mall, it's not exactly somewhere that they'll ever visit again."

"Well since we are here, maybe we could stop by Victoria's secret," Rachel mumbles, her cheeks flushing as Santana turns to look at her. "I don't exactly trust Kurt's opinion and you've managed to seduce Charlie."

Santana tilted her head at the last part which had come out as a bit of a mumble, "Rachel, seducing Charlie is like the easiest thing in the world, I raise an eyebrow and she's removing her pants. I mean you could seduce Charlie, she is incredibly easy. That's not an invitation though, I will burn you alive if you ever attempt to sleep with her."

Rachel rolled her eyes, "I'm not interested in Charlie, we're friends. But you and Charlie did have sex—"

"We seduced each other, though again, Charlie's ready and willing to sleep with most people when she's unattached. And before you start, we talked about it, she's not going to sleep with anyone at McKinley. The team doesn't have to worry about me getting jealous, I can't promise I won't get pissed at Charlie and attempt to burn her alive, but we're in a good place right now, even if it really does suck giving her space. She'll come to me when she's ready."

Rachel smiled, "You're handling this better than the team expected, we expected a melt down and apparently signs of the apocalypse on Charlie's end. You know dead birds, locusts, that sort of thing." Rachel pauses and takes a breath. "Quinn, I want to seduce Quinn and I realize that I may have made a mistake turning her down a second time—"

"You turned her down a second time?"

"Her mother just died, as did her grandparents, I didn't want to be one more thing that Quinn had to juggle, and she's off to Yale as soon as possible, and I'll be in Lima next year—and I wasn't sure if I trusted her to do long distance. It's Quinn, you saw her at the assembly. And I saw Marley like staring at her, and I know that Quinn's not Charlie, but she's going to Yale where she'll meet a bunch of people who are far smarter than me, and prettier and they'll want to be with her, because it's Quinn. She's smart and funny—"

"She really isn't funny," Santana interrupts.

"—thoughtful and kind, and like there's a sense of danger and someone like her likes me, I mean do you ever feel that? What is someone like her doing with someone like me?"

Santana made a face, "You can't think like that, you can't think you're not good enough. If you start going down that path—it's not a healthy place. Charlie's the most powerful AI in the world and I don't doubt that she loves me, I don't think there's anything I could do and she wouldn't stop loving me, and I haven't been—sometimes our relationship turns toxic when our communication isn't where it needs to be. I fucked up on Thanksgiving, and I'm too scared to have the conversation with Charlie about if she blames me, she says she doesn't. But I don't believe her. How could I, when I fucking hate myself for making that stupid ultimatum."

"I don't think they blame you at all Santana, I mean Quinn just dislikes you for other reasons. If she hated you I'm pretty sure she would have frozen you solid by now," Rachel says attempting to make Santana feel a bit better.

"She could fucking try," Santana snips back. "I'm upset that we're not together anymore, and I'm fucking terrified that Charlie's going to meet someone who doesn't have the baggage that we have and fall in love. But breaking up is the right thing to do, you and Quinn can probably make it work with a long-distance relationship. You seem to know how to communicate better than before, Charlie and I would never be able to. Charlie has no idea how to effectively communicate things. I'm not Quinn, I can't read her moods, I don't know if she needs space or if she needs me. I just assume it's the latter and I hope that when she's ready she'll open up to me. I just fucking worry and think the absolute worst is going on. Also sexy underwear only works if you feel confident wearing it, if you're overthinking it, if you're worried it's not going to be much of a turn on."

"Charlie, loves you more than anything. Anyone with eyes can see it, who knows maybe Summit will do the impossible and teach her how to communicate effectively."

"I'm tempted to write a note to Linda so she can fix Charlie's communication skills. Come on let's go to the art store and get crayons and finger paints for Quinn."

"I know you're being sarcastic Santana, but that actually sounds like it could be a fun first date," Rachel says.

~ O ~

Quinn glanced at her watch as she stumbles downstairs, "Charlie, where the fuck are you we're going to be late—" Quinn stopped and looked at her twin who was seated on the couch, "Did you go to LA for a poke?" Charlie loathed the color green on her plate and yet she was eating what appeared to be a slice of avocado."

"I didn't get one for you," Charlie states, taking another slow bite.

Quinn pauses, she had never once seen Charlie, willingly eat a poke. Instead of pressing Charlie on it, she decides to focus on something else, "What did you get Santana for Christmas?"

"A gift card so she can buy herself fireproof sexy lingerie. Do you have any idea how expensive non flammable underwear is?"

Quinn opened her mouth to point out that Charlie wouldn't be seeing the benefits of the sexy non flammable underwear, but upon seeing her twin eat another slice of avocado gave her some pause. "And the last time you gave her underwear it went well?"

Charlie glanced over at Quinn for a moment, "You're judging me."

"You're currently sitting here in your pj's, and you smell like you haven't taken a shower in three days. Of course I'm judging you. I miss them too, you know. It's going to be our first Christmas without mom—"

"I felt like a poke, so I got a poke. I'm in my pj's because I finished my exams and am now on vacation. I also showered last night, and worked out this morning, I didn't shower after, but I will later. I'm not depressed. I'm on vacation Quinn."

"And you're going to let Santana and Rachel see you like this? They're already worried. At least pretend that everything is alright."

Charlie grunts, "I'm not depressed Quinn, if anything you are."

"You're not the only one that misses them Charlie, you're not the only person who lost them. So acting like you're the only aggrieved party is beneath you and more importantly it won't bring them back. You can't let your grief consume you Charlie. Remember them as they were not how you saw them that day, this isn't what they would have wanted for us."

"They're dead, they don't really get a say anymore," Charlie retorts, as she gets to her feet. "As for the poke ball, dad can't cook, you can barely cook and I am tired of eating like absolute shit. So I went to LA and got a poke. This is not that big of a deal,and you making it a big deal is like you're projecting. I'm fine—"

"I'm not fine. None of us are, do you have any idea how many times I've caught dad crying?" Quinn questions. "He tries to be strong in front of us. But if you ask he wouldn't lie about it, and he's taking it day by day right now. Brittany feels like shit because she couldn't resurrect them, she blames herself. Given the power of this family, raising the dead should be something that we should be able to do. Frannie—as good as she is at training people, panicked at that moment. She could have tried to save them instead of focusing on Mikey. The only reason that I haven't completely fallen apart is because we don't have that luxury. But I am not fine, I'm not okay. With all my smarts, I couldn't predict this senseless violence. You're the only one who is pretending that you're fine, when it's perfectly okay to not be fine."

"When I say I'm fine, I mean I'm not going to lose my shit and murder a bunch of people, or lose control of my abilities. If I want to spend the next three weeks in pj's then I'm going to spend the next three weeks in—"

"Santana thinks that you blame her. At least a part of you blames her, I mean do you?"

Charlie narrowed her eyes and clenched her fist, "Santana didn't murder them, Cassandra did. I usually don't respond to Santana's ultimatums to begin with, and she drops a bunch on me all the time. Usually when she's upset but I knew how much this meant to her, and I wanted to be normal. I wanted her parents to like me, I wanted her to stop being mad at me and to constantly choose to save other people instead of trying to work on our relationship. Santana giving an ultimatum is nothing new and if I had managed to save them she probably would have forgiven me. I made the decision to not go based on my analysis of the situation. I didn't see Cassandra coming Quinn, I didn't and I feel like this entire situation is my fucking fault. Santana didn't give Cassandra hope, she didn't make her promises that she couldn't keep. I did that and I dropped the fucking ball, I didn't check in weekly, I got busy, I couldn't take five fucking minutes to just check in on her. I knew that she was using again, I knew she was spiraling but maybe I convinced myself that none of this was my problem. Even you think that I hold a huge portion of blame."

"That's not—"

"Now who's lying?" Charlie shoots back. "I'll open up a portal and put on some sweats and a clean shirt after a quick shower."

"Your calculus wasn't wrong, this isn't the first time that she's fallen off the wagon and she didn't go on a murder spree back then. I'm upset that she's still breathing. But I can't blame you for something that I'm not willing to do myself. It's not your fault."

"You've never been able to lie to me Quinn, I know you just as well as you know me. I couldn't save the people who are actually important to me—to us." Charlie stated simply as she licks her dried lips. "I think that going our separate ways after high school is the best thing for us."

Quinn looked away for a moment, she hated how easily Charlie could read her at times. Pretending that things were good between them were good and that they were fine wasn't working, and trying to trick herself into simply forgiving her twin was near impossible. "I think you're right. I still love you though, I just—"

"I know, I love you too Quinn, now I'm going to see if Santana will model what I got her for me, if I look like a wounded animal she might feel sorry for me and forget that we broke up."

"Has that ever worked for you?"

"No."

"Do you have another present for her?"

"No?"

"Good luck with that."

~ O ~

Rachel tugged Quinn away from the small get together that she was throwing for the team and friends, a little gift exchange. She hadn't made up any rules about how much they should spend on each other, just that they didn't need to take out a loan to afford gifts. Still Charlie had simply venmoed everyone cash, which was problematic but it was Charlie and a few thousand dollars probably wouldn't phase her. The rest of the team was super excited about the cash, but Charlie had probably forgotten about the whole thing and had simply gone with the simplest present and easiest one. She didn't blame her, it was clear that Charlie's mind hadn't been into socializing but she puts that aside as she fiddles with the gift that she'd gotten for Quinn. Art supplies weren't cheap, even crayon and fingerpainting was expensive, but she truly hoped that Quinn appreciated the thought that went into the gift. "I know it's not as fantastic as a box of bacon, but I really do hope that you can find some use for it."

"You do know that if you had gotten me a box of special Artisan bacon, Charlie would simply insist that you had made a grave mistake and confiscated the box," Quinn said, flashing a smile as she pulled out the fancy black envelope that she had kept glued to her person. "I really didn't know which one you'd prefer, or if you had a preference. So I got a bunch of different shows, and you can pick and choose or we can go see them all."

Rachel took the envelope from Quinn gently as she handed over her box, "On three?"

Quinn nods wordlessly, tempted to simply shake the box to figure out what was in it. But she waits until Rachel counts down before tearing the box open, it felt semi-heavy, and when she sees the new paintbrushes and finger paints, crayons and sketch pads, "I can't remember the last time I drew or painted anything," she murmurs mostly to herself. She had gotten busy with the Cheerios, and everything else and painting and art had just fallen by the wayside. "I love—" there's a high pitched squeak from Rachel causing her to look up just as she's practically hug tackled by Rachel. She immediately flushes as Rachel wraps her arms around her.

"I almost want to say that this is too much," Rachel murmured to Quinn, but she was excited to share her passion with Quinn and going to see multiple Boradway productions with someone who would appreciate it was something she was looking forward to. "Thank you."

"I really wasn't sure which one you'd like so I got some plays, some musicals, a bit of everything, because Charlie really wasn't any help when I asked her what you enjoyed on Broadway and I figured a selection of productions that I found interesting and you might find interesting led to those choices, we can start seeing them in the New Year, it's why I bought tickets—" The kiss is gentle, and it catches Quinn off guard as her eyes widen and she stares at Rachel who flushes deeply.

"I—" Rachel stammers.

"Get a room!" Charlie calls out, only for Santana to throw a fireball at her head. "What was that for?"

"Being a dick and getting me lingerie, despite the fact that we broke up and the last time you got me lingerie we had a long talk about how this was a gift for your pleasure and not mine."

"That's not even remotely true! You literally burn through a lot of your clothing, and you need new sexy underwear, I was being practical."

"I would stop talking," Finn whispered to her.

"See, even Finn knows it's a terrible idea. Finn!" Santana grouses at Charlie.

"It is not! You don't have to get lingerie, I got you a gift card—"

"You really should stop talking," Tina insisted.

"I got you a gift card, which means you can get a bathing suit, clothes, or comfortable pj's. I'm just saying that the lingerie picture on the gift card is just a suggestion, Santana. But if you get lingerie or decide to go for a bathing suit—all I'm saying is—"

"We broke up. You broke up with me, you don't get a free show anymore Charlie. You're the one that wanted to be just friends, and I don't have sex with my friends. Especially one that can't be bothered to get me a gift that I'd actually appreciate."

Charlie's cheeks flame up, she was used to being able to dig herself out of any hole with Santana, she just needed to talk enough. "We both know that I am terrible at gift giving. If you don't want the gift card, I can just give you cash like everyone else."

"That's not what I—" There was a defensive note in Charlie's voice that gives Santana a bit of pause, usually Charlie just brushed off the teasing as if it was nothing, and it wasn't as if she wasn't grateful but this was still a gift that was more for Charlie's enjoyment then her own. They weren't together anymore and she wanted to believe that she had some self-respect. "You broke up with me, and you're sending mixed signals—" Her phone beeps and she doesn't look at it and instead reaches for Charlie who immediately takes a few steps back, opening a portal and sinking through. She was really beginning to hate that trick of hers. "Seriously?" Santana says, pinching the bridge of her nose and looking at Quinn who simply shrugs. Almost immediately she checks her phone to bitch at Charlie only to see that Charlie had sent her five thousand dollars. "Fuck." She didn't want Charlie to simply throw money at the problem and hope that it went away. Screw whatever Quinn believed the next time that she saw her ex-girlfriend she was going to have words with her.