Chapter 1: Charles

"This will be your office someday. And I know the company will be ok because you will never let me down.", his father had said, patting his shoulder, as he had shown him around empirical for the first time. It had been 25 years since but he still remembered it like it had happened yesterday.

And a year after that, at his father's funeral, as he had stood there before the coffin controlling his tears, he had silently sworn to himself that he would do everything he could to keep this company alive. Not for himself, for his father. And he had worked hard for years after that, just to make his father proud. This company was the only part of his father that he still had and he had never thought he would have to let it go.

And yet here he stood, no longer in charge of that same company, with no idea of what the future held. With no idea if the company would survive or whether he could trust Kelsey to run it. The only thing he was sure of was his fingers interlaced with those of the woman he loved. Liza. And that she was right there, next to him and that gave him all the hope he needed. He would be fine.

Maybe he hadn't had time to think over this decision, and maybe the realisations were finally dawning on him. And maybe it wasn't all as simple as he had conceived it to be. But he knew he had made the right choice. He loved Liza and that was all that mattered. When he had said "I don't care anymore.", at her doorstep that night. He had meant it. He was ready to face it all. She had made him happier than he had ever imagined he could be and the last 4 months of his life had been the best thing that had ever happened... She was the best thing that had ever happened to him. Period.

He felt the frown leaving his face, a kind of bliss settling over him. He did have everything he would ever want. He had her. And now he could tell the world that he did. And he knew how much she loved her job and knowing that she could still keep it made him happy. Yes he was happy.

Looking down at liza he gently brushed his thumb against the back of her hand. Acknowledging the touch, she looked up at him, the worry in her eyes overshadowing her smile. Stopping in the middle of the street, he turned to her, brushing a strand of hair from her face, tilting her chin up until she looked him in the eye. He waited there for a moment, giving her a chance to collect her thoughts.

"Charles what if this doesn't work out? What if you gave up your company for nothing? What if you spend the rest of your life with me, knowing that I was the reason you had to give up the company? What if you... resent this? Resent me?" She said, self-doubt, evidently the only thing in her mind.

A small smile found a place on his face. She was worried about their future. Just as he was. Every word of hers reflected the doubts he had himself been reflecting on just moments ago. But seeing her standing there in front of him, confident and vulnerable at the same time, he knew that he could never even think of resenting her. She had changed him in ways he hadn't even thought of himself. And being with her had made him the man he was now. He felt a sudden urge to just tell her - I love you. God, had he been wanting to tell her that for a long time. But he always wondered what she would say to that, or rather what she wouldn't say...

But now he realised that choosing her had been a decision. A decision he had made months ago when he found himself standing at her stoop in that snowstorm. And he would stand by that decision no matter what. He would stand by her. And he had to tell her.

"Liza I could never resent you.", he began. "Being with you has been the most amazing experience in my life. And I would never even think of giving up on us for the sake of the company. I would rather take a risk with you than wonder for every moment of the rest of my life, what it could have been if I had you by my side. Liza, I know it may seem hard now. Changing my life as I had known it. But like I said before I am happy. And nothing can change that. This is what I want. Us. And I would never regret choosing to be with you. The future is scary, sure, but at the same time I know it will be ok if you're with me." He said emphatically, wanting to wipe away any trace of doubt on her face or in her mind. She was what he wanted and he was ready to fight for it. And he needed her to know that.

She stood there, searching his eyes, wondering if he really meant what he had just said. "This is exactly what I want too, Charles. To be with you." She said after a moment, cupping his cheek as she rested her forehead against his. The smile on her face as she said those words was something Charles would never ever tire of seeing. "This might be a big change. But if there is anyone who can deal with it, I know it's you. And we will get through this together."

He leaned forward, capturing her lips in his, as she slid her hand around his neck, pulling him closer. God knows what the future held in store for them. But as long as she was by his side he knew he'd have the strength to face it all.