Hey everyone, sorry about the repost but the spacing on the last one was all jacked up. Thank you all for your continued support on this story. This is the longest chapter so far so I hope you all enjoy it.

DISCLAIMER: I still don't own Glee.

Chapter 17 Part 2 - 'Tis the Season

A little while after Charlie, his family, and Rachel had finished eating lunch and got the kitchen cleaned up they had all retired to the living room area and were busy catching up on all that had been going on in each other's lives since the Fabrays had moved in July. John had pulled Charlie outside to look at his truck so Rachel decided to explore the house a bit. Rachel flicked on the light in the hall by the guest rooms she and Charlie were going to be staying in so she could see all the photos that littered the wall along the hallway. Rachel was only able to recognize a few people in the pictures, but she knew that they would probably be meeting a whole lot more of them while they were here. Rachel's eyes scanned the pictures until she found one that made her laugh out loud and she had to stifle her laughter with her hand.

The picture was of a very young Charlie Fabray, naked as the day he was born, standing outside in the yard facing a shrub looking back over his shoulder giving the photographer the biggest toothy smile that she had ever seen.

"Don't let that sweet face fool you, he was a mess when he was a baby." Liz commented as she noticed the picture Rachel was looking at.

"I can believe it. How old was he here?" Rachel asked, pointing to the picture.

"I believe he was about 6 in that picture. Way too old to be streaking around my yard." Liz said with a chuckle, "But my husband would've let that one get away with murder."

"Your husband, he took this one?" Rachel asked her.

"Oh yes, my Quinton was quite the photographer. He took most of these actually. It was a pretty big hobby of his when we started having grandkids running around here." Liz replied.

"Is that Mrs. Fabray? Was she in a pageant?" Rachel asked, sounding surprised.

"Yep, that's Judy and Jennifer when they were in high school. Judy was a year behind Jen in school and that picture was taken during Jen's senior year when both the girls were on the Homecoming court. That explains the dresses and flowers and the sashes. That was an exciting day around here let me tell ya."

"I bet it was." Rachel agreed with a smile.

"This is my brother Benjamin and his wife Lisa. That's their son, John that you meant earlier, and their daughter Heather. You'll meet her and her family tonight." Liz explained.

Another picture caught Rachel's eye, a large black and white photo of a young couple standing together under a shade tree. "Is this you and your husband?"

"Yes. That was taken shortly after we were married. This is a better picture of just him. Does he remind you of anyone?" Liz questioned.

"Oh my goodness." Rachel gasped, "Charlie looks so much like him. If I didn't know any better then I'd think it was Charlie."

"Hey, it's a picture of Charlie and me from Thanksgiving at the Fabray's. I don't even have a copy of this picture." Rachel said, pouting to herself.

"Judy emailed me several pictures of yall shortly after Thanksgiving. The two of you look quite good together, ya know." Liz told her with a smile.

"Thank you." Rachel told her shyly.

Rachel stared at the picture of Charlie and herself. She remembered standing in the Fabray's front hall and taking at least a dozen pictures with Charlie. In this particular picture Charlie had his arms wrapped around her waist and was bent down over her shoulder slightly, his cheek pressed against Rachel long wavy hair. Now here was this picture in a completely different state in an almost complete stranger's house, and Rachel couldn't help but feel honored.

"My late husband and Charlie share a lot more with each other than just looks. They are both two of the most kindhearted men that I've ever met." Liz explained to Rachel as she looked at the picture of her and her husband on the wall. "They both are compassionate and warm and wear their hearts on their sleeve."

Rachel smiled gently at Liz as she spoke, "Sounds like Charlie."

"You know, you're the first girl that he's cared enough about to bother introducing to all us, and considering that he bought you all the way from Ohio that must mean you're pretty special to him. When I saw the pictures that Judy sent me of the two of you I was certain that he cared a great deal for you and seeing him with him here only makes me that much more sure that he's crazy about you." Liz told her knowingly, "And Rachel, sweetheart, I can speak from experience when I say that being loved by a man like that is, well...it was certainly an experience of a lifetime."

Rachel felt like her heart was being squeezed by a vice. She knew Liz was right. She knew that Charlie was a wonderful, kind person and right then and there she felt immensely lucky that he had chosen her to share his heart with.

Rachel gave Liz a watery smile and nodded her head, "Yes, I already caught a glimpse of how wonderful it can be. Thank you for sharing that with me. I'm going to hug you now."

Liz chuckled and returned the hug, "So, I hear you're a singer. What kind of music do you like?"

Rachel beamed, "How much time do you have? Are you familiar with Barbra Streisand?"

"I'm free if you are my dear and of course I am. Hello, Dolly is one of my all time favorite films." Liz replied.

Rachel's smile grew impossibly bigger, "Liz, I think you and I are going to be great friends."

"There you are, Rach. What are you ladies up to?" Charlie asked as he walked toward them from down the hall.

"Girl talk, and we've been looking at some of these pictures I have of my heathen family." Liz joked.

"You love us." Charlie replied.

"Eh, maybe a little bit. Charlie, when you get a minute I have something I'd like to give you when you get a second." Liz told him.

"I have time now." Charlie told her.

"Okay, it's in my room. Come on." Liz told him as she led the way to her master suite.

Once she got to her room Liz opened the door and ushered them inside. She walked over to her bed and gestured to the black case that sat on top of her duvet.

"I've been meaning to give this to you since…for awhile." Liz said softly.

Charlie stared at the black case and sighed before looking at the ceiling and blinking back tears.

"I think," Liz continued, "that he would want you to be the one to have it, Sweetheart."

Charlie still refused to meet anyone's eyes and he wiped his cheeks quickly before shaking his head, "I can't take it. It belongs here, with you. I can't."

Rachel watched Charlie closely, his face scrunched up in grief. She felt certain of who the black Gibson instrument case belonged to. She wanted to reach out and comfort him but this seemed like a family affair so she just waited.

"Charlie, honey, I want you to have it. He would want you to have it. I know he would." Liz assured him gently as she rubbed his back.

Charlie unsnapped the metal claps that held the case shut and let the top lay open against the bed. Inside was a beautiful Gibson electric-acoustic guitar. Charlie smiled gently and ran his finger across the familiar black smooth spruce top. An old Polaroid that he had never seen lay tucked under the strings on the Rosewood fingerboard and Charlie gently pulled it out.

"I'm not sure when he started carrying that around in there." Liz told him softly.

Charlie eyes swept over the picture of his Grandfather as he sat on the seal of the bay window in the living room of the very house he stood in now with his guitar perched on his knee as he strummed and smiled down at a much younger version of himself and Savannah. Savannah had her head rested against his shoulder, probably drifting off to sleep Charlie suspected. Their Grandfather's voice was always like a lullaby for her.

Charlie pinched the bridge of his nose trying his hardest to reign in his tears. "I can't. Maybe Savannah-"

"I've already spoken with Savannah and she too feels that this should be yours. You were always his pride and joy Charlie. Don't get me wrong, he loved all of his girls, but you, since the day you were born, you were his boy. Now please, it's yours now. Just take good care of it, maybe one day you can pass it down to your son." Liz told him before giving him a kiss on the head, "I love you, Charlie."

Charlie turned and gave Liz a tight hug, "I love you too. Thank you."

"I'm gonna go make sure no one is tearing down my house. Make sure you shut the door when you go out. I don't want any rogue animals in here." Liz told them before leaving the room.

"Yes Ma'am." Charlie told her as looked longingly at the guitar that lay on the bed.

"Do you play?" Rachel asked him quietly.

Charlie tore his eyes away from the Gibson and looked at Rachel as he sat on the edge of the bed.

Charlie sighed, "I haven't played since he died."

Rachel frowned and stepped over closer to Charlie. She reached out and stroked his cheek softly causing him to sigh into her hand.

"I don't have much experience with things like this, but I think I would want to try to keep the connection that I shared with my loved one. I would want to keep that part of him with me always if I could and this," Rachel said, nodding her head toward the guitar, "is a beautiful way to do that. Try not to be sad Charlie, be happy and celebrate the life that he did have. It sounds like you were just given something that was incredibly important to him, cherish it."

She was right and he knew it. Charlie stared at Rachel's deep understanding eyes,

"You're right, darlin. It shouldn't have taken me this long to realize it. Thank you. I love you Rach."

Rachel smiled, "I love you too. Sometimes it just takes someone brilliant to make you see reason. Also, if the need ever arises for you to, I don't know, maybe play that magnificent instrument for me, don't fight it."

Charlie laughed loudly and stood up to pull Rachel into a fierce hug, "I'll keep that in mind sweet girl. Come on; let's get out of the house for a few. You brought some boots right?"

"Yes, just like you told me to. Where are we going?" Rachel asked.

"To see the animals." Charlie told her with a smile, as she closed the guitar case softly, "Let's just get you some warmer clothes on first."

"Animals?" Rachel asked.

Charlie looked at her confused, "Yeah, this is kind of a farm Rach."

"How did I not know that?" Rachel asked.

"I dunno. Maybe I never mentioned it before." Charlie replied, patting Rachel on the butt, "Now go get some warmer clothes on. I'm gonna stick this is my room."

After Charlie tucked his guitar safely in his room he walked across the hall and found Rachel zipping up her bright pink bubble coat, an equally pink beanie on her head. Rachel looked up from her zipper and smiled at Charlie cutely. Charlie looked down at her feet and saw that she was wearing her brand new UGG boots. Not really what he meant by 'be sure you take some boots or something', but it was too late now. He hoped she didn't step in any horse crap with those fancy kicks.

"You're adorable Rach." Charlie told her, "Come on, we gotta make a quick stop by the kitchen."

Charlie took Rachel's hand and led her to the kitchen had had about filled up with people.

"Hey everybody." Charlie called in greeting.

Several people turned their attention to the younger blonde and greeting him warmly in return.

"Who's the pretty lady, Charlie?" a blonde boy at sat beside Charlie Aunt Jen called.

"Everyone, this is my girlfriend Rachel. She came down with us from Ohio." Charlie explained. Rachel waved and gave them a beaming Rachel Berry smile, "Hello."

"Girlfriend? I didn't even think you could get a girl, much less a pretty one." The same blonde boy teased with a smile. "I'm single honey, if you ever wanna stop slumming it with that goofy looking guy."

Charlie grinned and raised an eyebrow, "Hunter, when's the last time that you even hung out with a girl that wasn't related to you?"

Hunter's mouth opened and closed before his cheeks turned red and he shrunk down in his seat and others in the room laughed.

"Hey kids," Judy greeted, "Where ya goin?"

"Outside." Charlie told her as he walked over to the fruit bowl on the countertop and picked out three apples and put them in his coat pockets before walking over to the fridge and fishing out a bag of baby carrots.

"Try not to feed them all my groceries Charlie." Liz told him.

"Can I have these?" Charlie asked hopefully, holding up the bag of carrots.

Liz smiled and nodded her head before Charlie grinned and stuffed the bag in his other coat pocket.

"Don't stay gone to long Charlie, we're having dinner soon." Judy called as Charlie and Rachel headed out the door.

"Yes Ma'am." He replied quickly before he shut the door.

Once outside Rachel dug her black mittens out of his coat and put them on before pulling her hat down more over her ears. Charlie smiled at her cuteness before offering her his hand which she took instantly.

"So was that everybody?" Rachel asked Charlie as they walked across the yard toward one of the barns.

"Lord naw, about half probably. People will trickle in until dinner I imagine. I know a couple of my cousins had obligations in Knoxville until today so they are driving down as we speak. That fella in there, the one that thinks you're pretty," Charlie explained with a wink, "has twin sisters that are seniors at UT. We'll have to wait until they get here to eat dinner."

"What are they majoring in?" Rachel asked curiously.

"Forensic Anthropology." Charlie grimaced, "You wouldn't ever guess it either by looking at them. Beauty Queen contestants out studying body decomposition isn't something you see every day, it's pretty awesome though. They went up there wanting to becoming nurses and the research facility peaked their interests. I know I wouldn't want to study at a body farm every day, but to each their own I reckon."

"I agree. My stomach would be nowhere strong enough to handle that, ever. I admire them already." Rachel chuckled.

"You and me both, darlin." Charlie told her as he unbolted the barn and released Rachel's hand so she could walk through.

Charlie stepped in be hide her and shut the door before she flicked on a light switch that lit of hanging lights that hung from the ceiling the length of the barn.

"Fancy." Rachel commented as she looked around the barn that was nicer than some people's house. There was a tractor backed up into the stalls that lines the complete left side of the massive barn. Hay bales were stacked on the right side with big a loose straw pile in front of them all with a pitchfork lying carelessly beside it.

Rachel watched Charlie as he moved to pick up the pitchfork and stuck it prongs down into the hay pile. Rachel heard a rustling in near the hay bales and then saw a furry head pop out of the space between two bales. At first glance Rachel thought it was a cat. She had never been in a barn before but she was fairly confident that barns had cats in them. When the he furry animal then squeezed itself out of its hiding place and scurried along on top of the row of bales toward Rachel she realized it wasn't a cat.

"Ahhh!" Rachel screamed, "Ahhhh! Charlie get it! Get it!"

Rachel ran away from the hay bales and hid behind Charlie's body before he realized what was going on. The raccoon stopped and watched them before smelling the air and climbing down the bale she was perched on and hurried across the dirt toward them.

"Ahhhh! Oh my gosh, it's rabid!" Rachel screamed before jumping onto Charlie's back. "Get it Charlie. Before it attacks us."

Charlie caught his balance after Rachel jumped on his back and tried to get as far away from the ground as possible, like on top of his shoulders it seemed like.

"Rachel it's okay, calm down." Charlie urged. "She won't hurt you."

The raccoon stopped about three feet from them and smelled the air again, still watching them both.

"She?" Rachel gasped, still clinging to Charlie's neck, angry claw marks marring his skin where her nails had clawed him. "Do you know this little creature?"

Charlie chuckled, "Yes, she just knows I have food. Why don't you give her a carrot?"

"I'm not giving her anything." Rachel answered swiftly, still clinging to him like a baby monkey would to it's mother.

"Okay then, do you want to get down to I can? She's friendly, I'll show you." Charlie told her.

"I'm scared, what if there are more? What if they attack?" Rachel queried.

"Rach, there aren't any more," Charlie told her trying to see her over his shoulder, "Do you trust me?"

"Yes." Rachel replied against his neck.

"Good. Now, you know I wouldn't ask you to do anything that would hurt you right?" Charlie asked her gently and felt a nod in reply and released her hold on him a little. He put his arm around his back the best he could to help her down until she let go of him completely.

"You okay?" Charlie asked.

"Yes." Rachel answered, not taking her eyes off the raccoon.

Charlie squatted down on the ground in front Rachel, sure to keep his body between her and the raccoon. The raccoon walked over to him looking up at Rachel occasionally.

"Good girl. C'mere Rascal. You want a carrot?" Charlie cooed to animal.

The raccoon scampered faster once he called her and reached into his pocket. The coon climbed up onto his leg and stood on her back legs putting her front paws against his arm then climbed up onto his shoulder. Charlie put his hand up to make sure she wouldn't fall while he stood up. He bit a small piece of carrot off and handed it to her.

"Is that good Rascal?" Charlie asked the coon. "We usually just feed her a little dog food up in the loft up there. My cousins were out squirrel huntin about 2 year ago and one of their dogs killed the momma but they got the dog leashed in time to save the three babies. The other two ventured off when they got big enough, but Rascal stayed and has been here ever since. She eats dog food and hangs out with the cats. She actually probably thinks she is a cat come to think of it. My cousin is a vet and he comes over and gives her the yearly shots and things she needs to make sure she's healthy."

Rachel giggled when the raccoon stuck its paw up under Charlie's beanie hat and put her other paw on his face. Charlie smiled at her fondly, "See?" he asked, "She's not to so bad, huh?"

"Mmmmm, she's kind of okay of I guess, when she's not attacking me of course." Rachel conceded.

"Wanna pet her?" Charlie asked. "I mean how often do you get to pet something this cool?"

"Well my cousin Leon has a dog that I pet sometimes." Rachel explained.

Rascal stuck her cold wet nose right in Charlie's ear causing him to laugh. "Just reach your hand out slowly to let her smell you."

Rachel looked at Charlie with trusting eyes before reaching out toward the furry animal. Rascal looked at her and smelled the air before sticking her paw out and touching Rachel's hand. She shifted around on Charlie's shoulder and pressed down on Rachel's hand and looked like she wanted to come to Rachel.

"Oh no you don't, I do not want to hold you." Rachel told the animal as she gently dropped her paw and stepped away.

Charlie watched them interact with a smile, "Wanna see the horses?"

"Yes, I think those are much more my style." Rachel responded.

"Okay." Charlie replied before he walked over to the hay bales that Rascal ran out of and leaned down a little and let her jump off his shoulder onto one of them. He pulled a few more carrots out of his pocket and put them on the bale before walking back over to Rachel and guiding her through the barn to the first stall.

In the first stall stood a black, white, and tan Appaloosa who was currently drinking out of a water trough.

"This is Dallas. He's Ashley's horse." Charlie said, "So you like horses, Rach?"

"I've never actually ridden one or anything but I think they are spectacular animals. His coat is so shiny." Rachel commented.

"He is a pretty horse. Ashley would be thrilled to know you complimented him. I'm surprised she hasn't brushed this guy's fur out yet. She's brushed him ever since she could reach anything worth brushing and he just stands there and lets her do it. They spoil each other I think. Do you want to feed him some carrots?" Charlie asked Rachel.

"Oh yay, gimme gimme." Rachel cheered, cupping her hands so Charlie could give her the carrots.

"Alright, first thing you need to know is to never cup your hands and try to feed a horse. I wouldn't want you to lose a finger darlin. So hold your hand out flat like this," Charlie showed her, "when you feed them to him okay."

"Dallas." Charlie called the horse.

The Appaloosa looked back slightly before snorting and going back to his water trough."Dallas, come here boy." Charlie called again which only caused the horse to flick his tail. "Come on man, you're making me look bad here." The horse snorted absently. "He's a jackass. Let's try to feed Marshall. He's usually more personable with me."

Charlie slid down a stall and Rachel followed her eyes falling on the cutest little horse she had ever seen. The white Eriskay Pony walked up to his stall door waiting patiently for some attention.

"Awww, he's adorable. He's small in stature like me. I think we've bonded already. I want feed him." Rachel told Charlie.

Charlie grinned at his girlfriend as she patted the pony and talked to him like he had a clue what she was saying.

"Here ya go Rach." Charlie told her and he placed four carrots in her hand. "Be sure you keep your hand flat and your thumb in tight."

Rachel stuck her hand out for Marshall to take his snack. "Here ya go horsey."

Marshall lipped the carrots a few times until they were all in his mouth, gone within seconds. Rachel smiled at the little pony before holding her hands out for more carrots. Charlie handed her a few more and before he even got the bag put back in his pocket Rachel was holding her hand out for more. Charlie smiled and handed a couple more and Rachel reached for the whole bag instead. She popped up on her tippy toes and kissed his lips quickly and took the bag in the process. Charlie cocked his eyebrow at her and Rachel bit her lip lightly to repress a giggle before turning and feeding the rest of the carrots to Marshall.

"Those were good huh horsey?" Rachel said before rubbing Marshall's nose with her hand.
She handed Charlie the empty bag and received a grin from Charlie, "What? He's so small. He needs his veggies."

"He's fully grown baby. The only growing this guy is doing is growing wide. He's well taken care of I promise you." Charlie told her as he stuffed the empty plastic bag in the back pocket of his jeans. "Wanna see my horse?"

"Does he look like this one?" Rachel asked, pointing to Marshall.

Charlie chuckled, "No. My horse is a little bigger than him. Come on I'll show you."

Down at the far end on the barn was a corral that spanned the width on the barn. In the corral were three Cleveland Bay horses all grazing near a pile of straw that was in the corner.

"Are they all yours?" Rachel asked curiously.

"Oh no, just one of them. The one on the right, he's mine." Charlie said in a near whisper.

"Snow!" Charlie called.

The horse lifted his head and whinnied before trotting over to Charlie and stuck his head over the corral fence.

"Oh my goodness." Rachel said, feeling startled, and took a step back from the large horse.

"Hey boy. How are ya big man?" Charlie asked the horse, running his hands along the horse's nose and neck as Snow shuffled his feet excitedly.

"Rach, this is Snow. My grandparents got him for me a few years ago." Charlie explained.

"Snow? Why snow? He's brown and black." Rachel asked with a laugh.

"Ashley names all the animals around here. His name is Snowflake, but I shorten it. Sounds a little more masculine I think. Those two over there are Peter and Wendy." Charlie explained.

Rachel giggled, "That's adorable."

"Mmmmm, I think Snow got the short end of the stick on the names, but it's too late now." Charlie said, "Want a treat boy? I bet ya Rachel will feed you anything she can get her hands on." Charlie teased, and winked at Rachel.

"Wanna feed him?" Charlie asked, taking an apple out of his jacket pocket and Snow whinnied and snorted, tossing his head a little.

Rachel looked unsure, this horse was a lot bigger and friskier than the little horse she had fed a few minutes ago.

"He's just excited Rach, he won't hurt you. Come stand right here." Charlie said offering her his hand.

Rachel took it and allowed Charlie to pull her right in front of horse. "Now Snow, this is Rachel, be nice okay? I'd hate to have to sell you if you're not." Charlie teased.

Snow snorted again. Charlie slipped his pocket knife out of his pocket and flipped it open before cutting the apple in half and then again into quarters. He wiped the knife clean on his pants before closing in and sticking it back in his pocket. He offered Rachel a piece of the apple and she took it looking nervous.

"Just like you did it before honey, hand flat, okay? Now just hold your hand out and he'll do the rest." Charlie told her as he stepped closer up behind her to be right there if she needed him.

Rachel offered Snow the apple slowly and he craned his and gently took the apple from Rachel hand and ate it in seconds.

"Good job Rach." Charlie told her as he kissed the top of her head. "Feed him the rest."

Peter and Wendy had made their way over and stood idly. Charlie petted them both and cut up his last two apples so they could have their share.

"Would you like to take a ride with me tomorrow?" Charlie asked Rachel shyly. "You don't have to, I know they make you a little nervous, but I promised Ash we would go, so I was wondering if you would like to join us."

"Since I've never been on a horse before I think it's best if I were to ride with you. Can we do that?" Rachel asked.

"Uh, yeah, yes, we can both fit in my saddle." Charlie stumbled, "It'll be a really snug fit, but I-we-it should be fine."

Charlie's could feel the heat flame his cheeks. He internally groaned at his own awkwardness. Just thinking of being pressed that closely to Rachel in any capacity made him flustered.

It's a horse ride, you loser, stop blushing like a child.

"Are you okay?" Rachel asked him. "You got really red all of a sudden. You're not getting a fever are you?" Rachel asked, checking his forehead.

"I'm fine," He told her, brushing her hand away, "Just a hot flash. We should probably head in and-"

"Charlie!" They heard someone yell from the house. "Come on in and get washed up for supper."

"-And get washed up for supper." Charlie finished.

Rachel laughed, "Let's go then. Bye horseys."

Charlie turned and rubbed Snow's nose again, "See ya later big man. We'll take a ride tomorrow and get you some good exercise okay? Bye boy."

Charlie petted Peter and Wendy before he and Rachel made their way back to the house to get ready for dinner. When they got back to the house it was just about over run with people. As soon as they walked in the front door they were ambushed by a black and white Border Collie.

"Down, Franklin. Sit." Charlie told the rambunctious dog. "Stay boy."

The dog sat and wagged his tail furiously, clearly wanting to jump on them both.

Meow Meow

"Hello Molly." Charlie greeted and scooted the cat away with his boot. "People come over and they let every animal around here in the house." Charlie explained, as he patted Franklin's head. "We better hurry and shower before-"

"Chaarlieee, look at you honey, all grown up." A blonde squealed as she hurried toward them and gave Charlie a tight hug.

"Hey Heather, it's good to see you. How was yall's drive home?" Charlie asked as she returned her hug.

"Oh honey, you know, long and boring. Holly get your butt in here." Heather called toward the kitchen.

As if on her way anyway Holly immediately appeared in the doorway of the kitchen and squealed as she saw Charlie and rushed to hug him as well. Rachel took in the twin blonde girls. Both were naturally gorgeous with blue eyes, their hair was just below the shoulder length and a little wavy. They were both clad in very flattering thigh length dresses and knee length black boots. They looked identical to Rachel except for the different color and style dresses that the girls were wearing.

"Judy told us you brought a girl home with you." Heather said excitedly, "So this lady right here must be Rachel."

Rachel smiled in greeting before she was swooped up into a hug from Holly, "It's so good to meet you honey. It is our pleasure to have you join us for Christmas. This is the first time he's brought a girl home with him so naturally we are ecstatic."

"We sure are," Heather continued, "We've been trying to get Savannah to help him get a girlfriend for ages, but she failed."

"Miserably." Holly said, adding to her twin's statement.

"But look at you. Aren't you a doll!" Heather sang happily, a smile plastered across her face.

"So Rachel, how did you sweep our little cousin off his feet? None of these gals around here could do it. You must tell us all the details." Holly said as she grabbed Rachel's hand and started to pull her toward the living room. "Everyone else to so anxious to meet you too. This is so exciting."

"Yes, you must tell us how you did it. We want to know every detail. I never wanted to say anything but I was beginning to wonder if Charlie even liked girls at all. I mean someone as cute as he is and never really had a girlfriend before, who wouldn't wonder, ya know?" Heather explained as she took Rachel's other hand.

Rachel's eyes found Charlie's, mentally begging him not to leave her alone with these two women.

"Ladies, hold up. Rachel and I need to get cleaned up for dinner. You two can get your gossip later but right now we both need to get cleaned up." Charlie told his cousin's and pried Rachel away from them.

Rachel mentally sighed in relief and grasped Charlie's hand tight.

"Awww okay honey." Heather pouted.

"We'll catch you later sweetpea." Holly told Rachel before she winked at her and followed her sister back toward the kitchen.

"Wow. I thought I talked a lot." Rachel said with a laugh.

Charlie laughed with her, "They mean well. They just have the overwhelming need to know everything that goes on with everyone they know so they will question you to death if they get a chance. And they will catch you, it's like they use some sort of twin power to hone in on their victims. Then they won't let you go until they know everything. It's a little terrifying at times actually."

Rachel whimpered as they both walked into the room she was staying in. Charlie pulled her into a hug and rubbed her back gently.

"Don't worry too much Rach. After they spend a few minutes with you they will see why I love you. If you show them all your sweet delectable charm then they'll know how I got so caught up in you. Show them your smile and laugh, then they'll understand. Show them a glimpse of your kind beautiful heart and they'll get it. They'll know how you got me and then they'll release you from their clutches and you'll be free to join me in being hounded by the rest of my family." Charlie told her before he pressed a kiss to her head.

At hearing his words Rachel smiled into his chest and hugged him tighter. She pulled away and pulled him down for a kiss and then another.

"Again, seriously?" Savannah sighed as she shut the bedroom door behind her and leaned back against it. She frowned before looking at Charlie who and just released Rachel's lips. "I hate you. Thing One and Thing Two have been asking me forty bazillion freaking questions about you and your new found love here." Savannah said nodding toward Rachel, "Apparently I suck at life because I couldn't get you a girlfriend while you were here. Do I look like I'm the Goddess of love or some shit? I can't control what you do, Jesus."

Savannah sighed again and stood up straight and smoothed out the nonexistent wrinkles in her form fitting red dress. She sat on her bed and kicked off her black heals and looked at Rachel and Charlie who were still standing in each other's arms and both looking at her with matching expressions.

"Are you done?" Charlie asked with a grin.

"Yes. Just go shower and get out there so they will stop asking me questions that I don't know the answers to. Santana said Rachel loves to talk about herself so tonight should be right up her ally." Savannah said and she rubbed the soreness out of her feet. Wearing heals so wasn't her thing.

"Savannah, be nice, it's Christmas Eve. 'Tis the season, Little cousin." Charlie said as he stepped away from Rachel and pecked her lips. "I'm gonna go shower. See you ladies in a bit."

Savannah kept her eyes on Rachel after Charlie left the room. Rachel shifted nervously on the spot before walked over to and collecting the things she would need to shower.

"Rachel," Savannah said softly, "I think we need to have a little chat. I don't want to, but I think there are some things that need to be said. Have a seat, please."

Rachel sat on her own bed and looked at Savannah and smiled lightly.

"Having a good time so far?" Savannah asked.

Rachel was a little thrown off by the simplicity of the question and just nodded before continuing, "I am. Everyone has been very welcoming so far."

"Of course they are. This family, as I'm sure you can tell, we are all a pretty tight knit group. We are supportive of each other and there for each other as any family should be. There is something different about him now, we can all see it. He's the same 'ol Charlie, he's just better. It's like going from watching a movie to watching a movie in HD. You've like given him an extra spark or something. So naturally we all like you very much." Savannah explained, "Which brings me to my next point. I would like to I mean, I would like it if we could be friends. I know I was kinda a bitch to you the last time I saw you in Ohio so I'm kinda sorry about that."

"I would like it if we could be friends as well." Rachel told her excitedly. "As far as Charlie is concerned, he's amazing all by himself. I'm not really sure I contribute to that."

"Well you're free to your opinion of course. All I was doing was giving you mine." Savannah told her with a small smile, "He's my brother. I love him like he is my brother. And this talk wouldn't be complete without me threatening you not to hurt him. If you hurt him again, we won't be friends in the least and I'll rip out your vocal chords so you'll never ever sing again. That's all there is to it."

Rachel's smile vanished as she absentmindedly touched her throat and swallowed.

"Now," Savannah said as she jumped up off the bed, "I need you to help me paint my nails because if the Wonder Twins tell me my nails look tacky one more time I will slap them both back to Knoxville. Here's the red I want to use. Can you paint quickly, because you really do need to shower because you smell like a horse?"

After a swift nail painting that looked pretty fabulous if Savannah did say so herself she was knocking on Charlie's bedroom door.

"Who is it?" Charlie called.

"It's Santa Clause, who the hell else would it be doofus?" Savannah replied through the door.

"Oh. Come on in." Charlie called as he wrapped his towel around his waist and Savannah entered the room. "I was just making sure you weren't Rachel."

"Didn't want her to see you in your underoos and a towel? Afraid she'll take advantage?" Savannah teased. "Man just you wait until you see the dress she's wearing tonight. Smokin!"

"Really?" Charlie asked with a grin.

Savannah nodded, "Yes sir."

Savannah walked over to the desk that Charlie's recently acquired guitar was sitting on and opened the case. She pulled out the guitar and slipped the strap over her shoulder and strummed a few chords. Charlie watched her from where he sat on his bed pulling his dress socks onto his feet.

"It's in tune." Savannah commented. "Are you going to start playing again?" She asked as she played on.

"Yeah," Charlie replied, "Rachel said that I should because it keeps that bond we had together and I should cherish it, and she's right, I should."

"Smart girl you got there, Charlie Horse." Savannah replied. "You gonna play her something? I bet she'd get a real kick outa that."

Charlie smirked, "Of course she would, she loves music, you know that. She actually already suggested that I should."

Savannah slipped off the strap and placed the guitar back in its case before pressing a kiss to her fingers and then pressing it to the guitar before she shut the case.

"I think you should play her a song because you love her." Savannah commented, "And because she makes you happy. Tell her in a song, you'll be speaking her language."

"She does make me very happy." Charlie confirmed before he slipped into the bathroom and back out wearing dark gray dress pants. "I want to, I do, I'm just a little rusty."

"It doesn't have to be perfect Charlie." Savannah told him. "Nice pants. Dude, it's so unfair that out of the two of us, you have the better ass. How does that happen? You're a guy. Ugggh, give me some of your ass fat."

"Psssh, there is no fat back here, Shorty." Charlie said as he turned his backside toward her and smacked it, "See? Buns of steel."

Savannah laughed, "You're such a goofball."

"The ladies love it." Charlie said as he wiggled his eye brows.

"No, one girl happens to like it and let's face it, she doesn't have the best judgment. She wears animal sweaters for God's sake." Savannah told him as he pulled on his white v neck t-shirt.

"Right, the same girl who's outfit you just said looked smoking not five minutes ago." Charlie replied.

"Yeah well, she can get it right sometimes it seems." Savannah teased.

"Can you tie a tie?" Charlie asked her as he slipped on his deep purple dress shirt and started buttoning it up.

"Will the Windsor knot be to your liking, your majesty?" Savannah teased as she grabbed the black skinny tie that sat on the bed next to his shoes.

"I guess that will have to do for now." Charlie teased in return.

"I didn't know you wore purple." Savannah told him as she laced the tie around its self and pulled the knot tighter.

"Rachel gave me this shirt as a Chrismukkah present. You don't like it?" Charlie asked.

"Chrismukkah." Savannah laughed, "You are such a dork, but yes I actually do like it. Looks nice on you. Plus this black tie compliments her black dress. Nicely done, I've taught you well my young padawan."

*Knock Knock*

"Yeah?" Charlie called before turning back to Savannah, "You watch Star Wars on repeat and you say I'm a dork?"

Charlie was expecting some kind or retort form his cousin but noticed she wasn't paying him any attention. He followed her line of vision to the doorway and his landed on Rachel. Charlie's eyed bulged slightly and his jaw dropped open a fraction. Rachel stood nervously just inside the room and tugged lightly on her black dress. The dress fit her body almost like a second skin, showing off her firm lithe form, displaying a hint of cleavage while still being conservative, and showing off her amazingly fit legs in a very flattering way. Her hair was wavy but pulled up displaying her smooth tan neck and collar bones. The makeup she wore around her eyes made her soulful brown eyes pop and he couldn't take his eyes off her.

The silence in the room was deafening and Rachel was getting more nervous by the second because Charlie still hadn't said a word since he had noticed her ten minutes ago. In reality it was more like thirty seconds at the most, but it felt like a lifetime to Rachel. Savannah turned to look at her cousin who had the most ridiculous expression on his face. She nudged his with her elbow which broke him out of his reverie.

"Wow, Rachel. You look…" Charlie started, "You're the prettiest thing I've ever seen."

Savannah rolled her eyes. God, why is he so lame.

Charlie stepped over in front of her and reached his hand out and stroked the back of his finger along her jaw softly, "You're so beautiful."

Rachel blushed but smiled, "Thank you. You look pretty handsome yourself, and you're wearing the shirt I gave you." Rachel admired the way the shirt fit around his torso where it was tucked into his dress pants, showing off just how in shape he was.

"Well I'm going to go." Savannah stated, "I'd rather be with the wolves than in here, it's disgusting. But I'm leaveing this door open, so no funny business. I'm serious Charlie, your ass better be out there in like two seconds or I'm telling Heather and Holly where you are."

Charlie didn't bother to answer his cousin before she walked out of his room. All he could do was look at Rachel, feeling overwhelmed by his own feelings in that exact moment.

"What is it?" Rachel asked shyly.

Charlie grinned at her before leaning down and giving her a long kiss, trying to convey all he was feeling. He was elated that he was home with his family and the love of his young life was right in front of him looking more gorgeous than any woman that he had ever seen. All he wanted to do was feel exactly like this, like he did in this exact moment, for the rest of his life.

"What was that for?" Rachel asked when they pulled out of the kiss, "Not that I'm complaining or anything, because I mean, wow."

Charlie smiled at her before resting his forehead against hers, "I just- I'm just so happy right now. I'm home with my crazy family that I've missed and I wouldn't trade for the world. And you, you're here with me. And I love you, Rachel, and what's even better than anything else is that for some reason you love me too."

Rachel beamed before she captured his lips again with passion. Charlie cupped her jaw with one hand placed the other on her slim waist and run it over the fabric of her dress around to her back pulling her closer to him. He could feel Rachel teasingly swiping the tip of her tongue over his lip but wouldn't deepen their kiss just yet. Rachel pulled him closer by his shirt and Charlie let his hand on her back drop down and little and he quietly groaned, he hadn't seen her from the back in this dress yet, but he would bet his life that her backside looked glorious as always. Rachel then slipped her tongue into his mouth and he forced himself to pull away. There was no way that they could continue kissing like that when she looked like this and his bed was right there.

They both stood there and looked at each other feeling breathless and smiled at each other shyly.

"We better get outa here before, well before that happens again." Charlie told her with a smirk

Charlie tucked in his shirt the way it was before Rachel had pulled it out of place and trying to cool his desire before they left the room. Rachel checked her appearance in the bathroom mirror before she came out looking just as she had when she walked into his room minutes earlier.

Rachel straightened his tie and smiled up at him before he kissed her one last time chastely on the lips and offered her his hand, "Come on Rach, let's get out there."

Charlie and Rachel walked hand in hand into the living room and greeted everyone on their way to the kitchen and met Judy Fabray on her way out.

"Hey baby, don't you look handsome and Rachel that dress is lovely." Judy greeted, "We're about to eat dinner, just waiting on John and Pam to get here."

"Okay Mom. Have you seen Savannah?" Charlie said.

"You look wonderful as well, Mrs. Fabray." Rachel replied with a smile.

"Thank you dear, and yes, she's in the sunroom I believe." Judy informed him.

Charlie and Rachel made their way into the kitchen, through the throngs of people and continued down into the sunroom where Savannah and her boyfriend Logan occupying the loveseat. Logan promptly removed his hand from high on Savannah's thigh and stood of to greet his friend with quick a hug.

"Sup Charlie, man how ya been? It's good to have you home." Logan told him.

"Thanks, it's good to be back. I've been good." Charlie replied, "Logan this is my girlfriend Rachel. Rachel this is Savannah's boyfriend, Logan."

"Hello. I've heard quite a bit about you. It's nice to finally put a face to the name." Logan told Rachel as he softly shook her hand.

"Hey kids," Jen said as she stuck her head in the sunroom door way, "John and them are here so yall come on in here so we can eat supper."

"We'll be right in Momma." Savannah told her.

"Alight!" Logan said as he rubbed his hands together, "I hope yalls Mamaw made one of her chocolate pies. I haven't had one since last Christmas."

"You know she did," Charlie told him, "but you're gonna have to fight me for it."

"Oh you're on brother." Logan joked as he headed up into the kitchen first.

"Ladies." Charlie said, gesturing for the girls to go first.

They made it back into the kitchen just in time to see a man dressed as Santa Clause come through the door.

"Ho Ho Ho yall!" Santa called. "Nobody worry, I've come bearing gifts for all you good girls and boys who are over twenty-one. Just call me Santa John." He said as he held up four bottles of wine.

Several people cat called as he flashed the wine to everyone. "Have you had any of that wine yourself yet, Santa John?"

"Only one glass of my finest champagne. I'm just in a good mood, 'tis the season after all." John replied smartly before adding another round of ho ho hos.

Charlie introduced Rachel to several different members of his family before they finally got some food and made their way back to the sunroom so they could eat in peace. Two people in Charlie's family were vegetarian so there was plenty for Rachel to enjoy eating as well. Logan and Charlie talked about football, how each of their teams faired over the season and about Charlie's shoulder injury that was healed completely as far as Charlie could tell.

After dinner when all the food had been put and the dining room and kitchen had been cleaned up everybody had made their way to the living room where most of the adults had opened the bottles that John had brought with him.

Charlie watched as Rachel chatted with his cousin Samantha, who was a Broadway enthusiast, talked excitedly and kissed her on the cheek, "I'll be right back."

"Okay." Rachel told him before turning back to listen to Samantha tell her about how she had seen Wicked three different times.

Charlie walked back to his room and shut the door behind him and walked over to the desk that held his guitar. He opened the case and pulled out the guitar and slipped the shoulder strap over his head and loosed it until it felt comfortable. He reached into the case and pulled out the familiar orange pick that he had used countless times before.

Charlie took a deep breath, "Now let's see if I remember how to do this."

He picked out a few chords and moved his fingers with practiced ease from chord to chord. He smiled at the familiar feel, "Just like riding a bike."

He cleared his throat and hummed as he played the song that he knew he wanted to play for Rachel. He felt more confident and started singing quietly to himself until he finished the song. He knew the song and he remembered all the chords and he had a very beautiful reason to sing that was currently sitting on his grandmother's couch. He was really going to do this.

"You got this Q. She'll love it. I think. I hope. No.. she will!" He told himself, trying to gain more confidence. "Just sing it so she knows how you feel."

Charlie took a deep breath and pulled off the guitar, "Alright Granddaddy, I might need some help here. I just don't want to look foolish to her. I just need a little guidance if I get lost."

Charlie steeled his shoulders and gripped his guitar in his hand before he strolled back out into the living room catching several people's attention.

"Oh shit, he's gonna actually do it." Savannah whispered to Logan, "Quick give me my phone. I am so recording this."

Logan stuck his hand in his jeans pocket and pulled out Savannah IPhone and handed it to her.

"You record too just so we'll have a back up video. I'm sending whatever he's about to do to Santana." Savannah told her boyfriend quietly.

The rest of the room had grown quiet and Rachel was currently watching him with wonder and a small smile on her face.

"Dinner and a show. Alright!" Santa John cheered as he held up his Bud Lite bottle, "Play some Steve Miller Band, Charlie, they rock."

Charlie laughed and shook his head a little, "I had something else in mind."

"Go ahead sweetheart, the floor is yours." Liz told Charlie as everyone sat quietly and watched him.

"Thanks Mamaw and thanks everyone else for taking the time to listen. It's good to be home and see all of you. Living in Ohio has been a pretty big change for Mom, Dad, Ash, and I. I really didn't want to complain too much when we moved because I was happy for Dad and what he and Brian Pierce were doing in Lima. They've made quite the business for themselves and Daddy I'm really proud of you for that."

Judy smiled at her son before looking at her husband who was looking at their son adoringly.

"I met two of my best friends the first day we moved to Lima, then one of those friends had a party at her house and that's where I met Rachel. I know a couple of you were wondering, so there ya go," Charlie said as he smiled over at Heather and Holly. "She strolled into my best friend's kitchen with a thermos with a gold star on it, she stole my heart, and has had it ever since."

Charlie looked around at his family and shouldered the guitar, "I'm a little rusty so try to bear with me here. It's been awhile."

Charlie looked at Rachel and smiled fondly at her, "Rachel. You came into my life completely by accident. It happened in a flash, and in that moment that I first saw you I became yours. You were perfect. I, on the other hand, was a nervously awkward inexperienced idiot. I don't know why you even talked to me, but I've never felt for someone that way I feel for you. People say that there is no love like the first, well now I don't doubt that at all. This is for you, Sweet girl."

Rachel's eye's were already starting to tear up a little as she watched Charlie confess his heart in front of his whole family.

"I still think you should play Magic Carpet Ride!" Santa John called loudly.

"John, shut up!" Rachel yelled loudly back at him.

The whole room went quiet and Charlie looked wide eyed at Rachel with a smirk on his face.

"We like her already Charlie!" One of Charlie's cousins called out. "Yeah!" Someone else agreed.

Charlie chuckled before he started to play the guitar and smirked at Rachel before he started to sing.

I Love Sleeping In On Saturdays
And I Love College Football Games
I Love Not Acting My Age
And Good Barbeque

Rachel smiled at him as he sang. His singing voice didn't dominate over the crisp music that he was producing from his guitar and it matched Charlie perfectly, strong and unwavering. She could hear his southern accent coming through pretty thick as he sang.

Yeah I'm A Fan Of Faulkner Books
And Anything My Mama Cooks
Charlie sang and shot a wink at Judy who giggled and leaned farther into Russell.
Small Mouth Bass Have Got Me Hooked
On Sunday Afternoon

"Amen!" Someone called and Charlie smiled into the song.

Yes I Love Good Cold Beer
And Mustard On My Fries
I Love A Good Loud Honky Tonk
That Rocks On Friday Night
And Hell Yes I Love My Truck
But I Want You To Know
Honey I Love Your Love The Most

Charlie looked Rachel in her gorgeous brown eyes while he sang the last line of that verse, hoping that she could feel that he meant it. He played the on into the next verse and smiled at Rachel as he loosened up a little while he played.

Man I Love How Redman Taste
And Damn I Love My Nascar Race
Any Song Sung By George Strait
Is Country At Its Best

"Yes Sir!" Santa John called, "Preach."

Yes I Love Good Cold Beer
And Mustard On My Fries
I Love A Good Loud Honky Tonk
That Rocks On Friday Night
And Hell Yes I Love My Truck
But I Want You To Know
Honey I Love Your Love The Most
I Loooove

Charlie stepped closer to where Rachel was sitting and held the last word and sang lower until he continued playing looking only at her.

Yeah I Love Scuffed Up Cowboy Boots
And Broke In Tore Up Jeans
A Four Wheel Drive Eight Point Bucks
And Rocky Road Ice Cream
And Hell Yes I Love My Dog
And Jack D In My Coke
But Honey I Love Your Love

Yeah I Love Your Love
I Love Your Love The Most
I Love Your Love The Most

Charlie finished singing and played the last couple of chords and as he strummed the last chord of the song Savannah was whistling loudly while she ended the video she had made on her phone of Charlie's impromptu performance.

Rachel got up from her seat on one of the couches and walked up to Charlie as he took off his guitar.

"That was beautiful Charlie," Rachel told him as she hugged him and kissed him chastely on the lips.

"You think so?" Charlie asked.

"Yes, I loved it. I think the song choice was very you. I Love you." Rachel told him.

"I love you too." Charlie told her before he kissed her again. "I'm gonna put this up real quick. Be right back."

"Well wasn't that precious." Savannah commented as she appeared beside Rachel, "What'd you think?"

"I think that was the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me." Rachel replied and smiled as watched Charlie head back up the hall toward them.

"He'll love you, he'll be your best friend, and your biggest fan, so don't fuck it up." Savannah whispered toward Rachel's ear before she smiled at Charlie who had just made it over to them, "Not too bad for being rusty, Charlie."

Savannah put her arm around Charlie's shoulder and her other one around Rachel's, "Come on kids, let's go steal some of Santa's wine and go chill in the sunroom until the flock in the living room leaves."

"I don't drink." Rachel informed her.

"Okaaay, more for me then." Savannah surmised, "Come on Logan, you're gonna be my bartender."

Three hours later everybody was wasn't staying the night had finally made their way home and Charlie was lying in his bed fast asleep. It had been a really long day so he was pretty exhausted by the time everyone left and feel asleep as soon as his head hit his pillow.

Rachel, on the other hand, was feeling restless. It had been a really long day so she wasn't really sure why she couldn't sleep. She suspected that it was because Savannah was snoring only a few feet from her. After Savannah's third glass of wine she was pretty tipsy and insisted that on talking about her sex life, which Charlie shut down the topic immediately. Her boyfriend Logan, became incredibly uncomfortable under Charlie's gaze and bid them all goodnight a short while later. Rachel listened to the silence of the house between Savannah's snores and decided that she just couldn't take the noise any more. She got up and crept across the hall to Charlie's room and cracked open the door and could barely make out his sleeping form in the darkness.

"Charlie." Rachel whispered as she rubbed his bare arm that stuck out from under the covers.

"Hmmm?" Charlie hummed, still asleep.

"Charlie." Rachel called again, "Wake up."

Charlie cracked his eyes opened and propped himself up a little once he realized Rachel was sitting on the edge of his bed, "Rach, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, just can't sleep," Rachel explained, "and I missed you. And Savannah's snoring is preventing me from getting any rest at all."

"Oh," Charlie said, "Umm you can sleep in that bed over there if you want to."

"Why can't I sleep with you?" Rachel whispered and leaned down a little and pressed a kiss to his cheek, "Please."

"Ummm." Charlie hummed and pulled the covers tighter around his waist. "I don't think that's a good idea, baby. Anyone could come in here."

"Fine, I don't really want to sleep in here. I just, I just want to kiss you right now." Rachel replied softly before she pressed more kisses along his cheek before she captured his lips with her own.

Charlie sighed and kissed her in return. She moved closer to him and wrapped her arm around his side and scratched lightly across his bare skin before pressing herself closer to him. Oh God. He could feel Rachel's soft breasts pressed up against his bare chest. The only thing that separated him and her hardening nipples was Rachel's thin loose fitting v-neck t-shirt. He had only touched her there once and even then it was only for a second, but now it could feel practically everything and his mind was running ramped. He had to touch her.

Charlie moved to set up a little more and rubbed his hand up and down her back a few times before and slipped his hand under the back of her t-shirt so that he could feel her hot skin against his palm. Rachel pushed the blankets away and moved to straddle Charlie's lap.

"Rach." Charlie whispered before trying to pull the blanket back to him to cover his rapidly growing erection that happened to be clear as day since he was only wearing a pair of briefs.

"Don't." Rachel replied, "You don't have to hide anything from me, Charlie, but we can stop if you want to."

Charlie exhaled a shaky breath and pressed his head against hers before whispering, "I don't want to stop."

"Thank goodness." Rachel sighed before she sat astride his hips and kissed him hungrily before she kept talking to him."Today was so wonderful Charlie. Everything was. You bringing me here, treating me the way you do, and singing to me the way you did, sweet Barbra I wanted to kiss you like this earlier so badly."

Charlie groaned and slipped both of his hands under the hem of her shirt and held her to him as he listened to her talk, desperately trying to focus on her instead on the stiff problem in his briefs.

"Well I love you Rachel, I'll do anything to make you happy." Charlie told her softly before hiding his face in her neck and kissing it sweetly.

"I love you too." Rachel replied before running her fingers through his hair, silently encouraging him to keep kissing her neck. She could feel his erection pressed against her leg and it felt so much different now that there was only a thin barrier between her and him. She swallowed nervously at the feel of it. She wanted to look down to try to see it better, but she knew it was futile with the darkness of the room, and touching it was completely out of the question so she chose to focus on the feel of his lips on her instead.

Charlie kissed her neck again and feeling her pulse quicken beneath his lips. He could feel her chest heaving slightly. He knew that she could feel his hard on pressed against the inside of her thigh because he could certainly feel the heat radiating from her body. He kissed down the column of her neck and down into the 'v' of her sleep shirt. Rachel arched into his mouth and pulled his head tightly against her chest.

"You can touch me if you want to baby." Rachel said through harsh breaths.

Charlie groaned softly into her sweet smelling skin. He wanted to, God did he want to, but this really wasn't the place to progress with their physical relationship, that he knew for sure. He hands, however, didn't seem to know that at all. His left hand trailed up the front of her shirt and he marveled at the feel of her flexing abs under his touch. His arousal was impossibly hard now, and the feel of Rachel's luscious thighs brushing it wasn't helping matters at all. If they didn't stop soon he knew it was going to pull a freaking Finn Hudson.

His hand slid higher hesitating a second before Rachel's whimpered plea filled the air around them and he palmed her perfect breast in his hand, feeling her hard nipple pressing against his palm. Rachel gasped and arched more into him as he brushed the pad of his thumb across it and captured her lips with his own, their ragged breaths mixing together beautifully. Charlie pulled back and studied her face as well as he could in the darkness of the room. He moved his hand to her other breast as his heart pounded and he felt her breath catch in her throat.

He gave her breast a light squeeze before his hand retreated to safer ground at her waist. Charlie panted lightly against her cheek and he moved to her lips and kissed her softly, "I love you so much Rachel."

"I love you too Charlie." Rachel replied against his lips.

"We need to stop baby, or things are going to get really messy reall quickly. I think I need to go take a cold shower." Charlie told her shyly.

Rachel chuckled lightly and nodded, "I understand, believe me. Can I stay in here until you get out?"

"Yeah, babe. Be out in a few minutes." Charlie told her as he kissed her forehead and went to the bathroom.

Charlie was only in the shower a few minutes, but by the time he got out Rachel was fast asleep in his bed. He checked his phone and sighed at the digits that told him that it was two in the morning. He looked at Rachel and smiled fondly before he tucked his cover around her. He wanted nothing more than to climb in beside her and hold her all night but he knew his ass was as good as kicked if his mom caught them, she wouldn't hesitate to tell the Berrymen and he knew it. So instead he settle for kissing her cheek and pulling on a shirt and his gray Vols sweat pants and going to crash on Rachel's bed in Savannah's room.

He was woken up as soon as he had fallen asleep good by Savannah hitting him with a pillow.

"Rise and shine, roomie!" Savannah said as she hit him with her pillow again. "I went to bed last night with a loud brunette and I wake up to bumbling blonde, which leads me to believe that this is either some Freaky Friday shit is happening or you and Rachel got naughty last night."

Charlie groaned and rubbed his eyes, "What time is it?"

"It's four in morning on Christmas Day if you must know. So you know what that means." Savannah told him.

"Crap, yeah, thanks for waking me up. I'm gonna go get Rachel up before everyone else get's outa bed." Charlie told her as he rubbed his eyes.

"Hold up. Did you and Rachel get busy last night? I coulda swore I heard the shower running at crazy o' clock this morning...you did didn't you?" Savannah asked, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "You two got busy in the shower! That's so fuc-"

"No, we didn't get busy in the shower, or anywhere else for that matter. She came to my room last night, we kissed a little, and then I came to sleep in here because Mom would tan my hide if she caught us in bed together here. May I go wake up Rachel now?" Charlie asked her grouchily.

"You're holding out on me, Charlie, if you were being honest then your face wouldn't be five different shades of red." Savannah told him with a grin, "I know you."

"Fine. We kissed and there was some touching, that's it." Charlie informed her.

"You touch her boobies?" Savannah asked as she waggled her eyesbrows at him.

"I don't have time for this, I'm going to wake up Rach and going to get some coffee before we open gifts, you coming?" Charlie huffed.

"Right behind you, boobie man." Savannah teased on their way out the door.

Charlie growled and Savannah laughed even louder.

By the time Savannah, Rachel, and Charlie made it into the kitchen they found Judy, Jen, and Liz wide awake and nursing a cup of coffee each.

"Morning, kids, we were going to just let yall sleep a little longer. We already put out Ashley's Christmas gifts from me." Liz told them as they filed into the kitchen.

"And me, the ones for yall are in there by the tree as well. When Russell get's in here we'll open them." Jen added as she sipped her coffee.

"I'll be right back." Charlie told them before he retreated to to his room to get Rachel and Savannah's gifts that he had brought with him. He stuck the velvet case with Rachel's present in it down in his pocket and grabbed Savannah's gift card before heading back to the kitchen.

"Here." Charlie grumbled, "Merry Christmas."

"Awww thanks boobie man." Savannah tased as she popped open her card, "Daaang, one hundred dollars gift card to Charming Charlie's? Whoa, thanks Aunt Judy!"

"You're welcome dear, Charlie said you liked that store." Judy commented.

"I do, thank you. I think he does too just because of the name." Savannah teased.

"Let's go on in the dining room and wait on Russell." Liz suggested. "I want to give you kids your gifts too."

"I have to go get Charlie's gift out of my bag, I'll be right back." Rachel informed them.

By the time Rachel made it back into the dining room Russell and Ashley were already in there and Ashley was ripping into a present. She stood in the doorway as she watched Charlie's family unwrap a few gifts. She felt strong arms wrap around her stomach and a kiss was pressed to the top of her head.

"Merry Christmas, sweet girl." Charlie spoke into her hair before he lefted up a black velvet box into her line of vision. "Open it."

Rachel looked at the box and plucked it out of Charlie's palm and opened it slowly. Inside was a white gold necklace with a with a treble clef pendent with diamond inlays around the big curve of clef.

Rachel stared at the necklace for a few more seconds before finally speaking, "It's beautiful."

"You're beautiful." Charlie said softly into her ear, "Do you like it?"

"I love it, but it's too much Charlie. All I got you were lousy basketball tickets and you got me this gorgeous necklace." Rachel pouted.

"Can I put it on you?" Charlie asked her softly, "And I love basketball baby. I love my present already."

Rachel nodded and handed him the necklace out of the box. Charlie gathered her hair in his hand and laid it over her shoulder before he slipped the necklace around her neck and fastened it together. He planted a soft kiss to the base of her neck before putting her hair back in place.

"Basketball tickets huh?" Charlie asked excitedly, "To see who? When?"

Rachel turned to face him and pulled the envelope out of her pajama pants pocket and handed it to Charlie. He opened it with a happy grin on his face before his eyes widened to the size of saucers.

"Oh my God!" Charlie yelled, "You got me Final Four tickets! Rachel, this is amazing baby!"

"What!" Savannah yelled, coming over to him to inspect the ticket in Charlie's hand. "You lucky mother-"

"Kids!" Judy yelled, "Use your inside voices please."

"Yes Ma'am." Savannah told Judy before turning back to Charlie, "Dude, you gotta take me with you."

Charlie stared at the tickets and looked back in the envelope and counted the tickets, five? Charlie looked back to Rachel and swept her off her feet into his arms and rained kisses down upon her lips and face.

"How did you get these tickets, baby?" Charlie asked her in disbelief. He knew the tournament tickets were practically sold out. They always were.

"I don't know. Daddy knows a guy that has something to do with sports or something in Indiana. He just knew that you liked basketball and I asked him to see if he could get you some tickets to a game. He said that any basketball fan would love these so, we got them for you. Daddy said he got the hookup on the tickets. Whatever that means." Rachel explained.

Charlie laughed and kissed her again, "I owe your Daddy for a very long time for these tickets right here."

"Is it a good team playing?" Rachel asked him.

"Oh darlin," Charlie chuckled, "yes, there are good teams playing. I'll tell you all about it in March when we go to the game."

Savannah whimpered loudly and exaggeratedly stuck out her bottom lip.

"Guess you shouldn't have been making fun of me this morning and I might have offered you a ticket." Charlie told her as he fanned himself with the envelope.

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry Charlie." Savannah whined.

Charlie pretended to think about it just to give her a hard time. He already knew he was going to give her a ticket, but there was no reason why he shouldn't make her work for it a little.

"I dunno, I'll think about it." Charlie teased her lightly.

"Right, well you just remember who gave you this." Savannah told him, "Mom will you pass me Charlie's present please?"

Jen handed Savannah a box wrapped in neon orange wrapping paper with a big white bow on it. Savannah looked smug as she handed him the box and he eyed her suspiciously before he tore into it. He pulled out a authentic Tennessee Volunteers football jersey with the number twenty two standing proud on the front. He turned it around to look at the back and laughed at the sight of Fabray standing out in white block letters against the orange jersey.

"You know, that's just until you get the real thing after next year." Savannah told him before he hugged her.

"Thank you. I love it. Thank you Aunt Jen." Charlie said to his aunt who waved it off.

"Don't mention it dear." Jen said, "Glad you like it."

Charlie looked at Rachel and then at Savannah and put one of his arm around both of their shoulders. He grinned at them and pressed a quick kiss to each of their heads.

"Best Christmas ever, what do you ladies think?" Charlie asked them and they nodded in agreement."

"Yep, good times with great family." Savannah agreed, smiling up a Charlie. "And it would be even better if my favorite cousin gave me one of his Final Four tickets. Christmas is about giving after all and 'tis the season."

"'Tis the season indeed, little cousin." Charlie agreed as he gave Rachel a sweet kiss on her lips.

Yep, best Christmas ever.

Thanks for reading. Review if you wish.

TBC

Song in this chapter is called Love Your Love the Most by Eric Church