Title: Prophylactic Love

Rating: M-NC17

Summary: Chuck has been studying, and thinks she can really make this work. Chuck wants to make love to Ned, and she thinks she's found the way to do it.

Notes: Purely Fluff and dreams that I'm sure can't actually happen ever, but I can hope!

She had taken the day off from The Pie Hole to set up the flat for the nights "activities". She had simply said to Ned that she needed a little time to have conversations with herself, and he understood. He said, with a quirky smile, "No need to explain, have a good chat, see you tonight." and off he went to bake.

Chuck had been doing her homework over the last few weeks, and she was hoping the night's activities would be fruitful and not fatal, it would change things for Ned and her forever and she knew it would be amazing if it was truly possible. Her belly was full of butter flies, the good ones!

Chuck had been known to push her limits a bit since being "Alive Again" so her research the past few weeks had Ned a little on edge. As he brought the dead fruit to life that morning he pondered over what he thought Chuck really was doing upstairs, not that he didn't believe she needed to have little talks with herself sometimes, he found himself doing it quite often since she had come into his life again. He had a feeling she had a little something up her sleeve, he had been noticing her over the last few weeks really studying him, maybe this was connected. Now he wasn't just curious, he was intrigued!

As she set up the flat with flowers, candles and strategically placed plastic wrap she heard a light rap at the door. As she peeped out the peephole she saw a lingering Olive Snook, and she opened the door.

"Hi Olive!" she exclaimed as she waved her into the flat.

"Hey Chuck, what are you up too? Ned seems like he's off in space today, something wrong between you guys?" Olive asked trying not to sound too eager for them to be having "issues".

"He is? Aww he's probably worried over me staying home today, he's so sweet, he's probably thinking something's wrong and that's why I needed my space. Oh I love…." She paused before she said "it". Not just because she felt a bit uncomfortable saying it in front of Olive, but because she'd never said it out loud ever before. "What I meant to say was I love the way his mind works, if you want Olive, as a favor to me, tell Ned I have a 'special' night planned for us, and not to worry." she hated for Ned to feel on edge, his life had become quite difficult since she entered his life again, even if it was by his doing.

Olive smiled and nodded her approval, though disappointed it wasn't her making the night 'special' with the piemaker. Suddenly she caught a glimpse of the clock on the wall, "Sugar booger, I got to get back, I was supposed to be on break! Good Luck tonight, bang on the wall if you have a severe allergy issue and you get into a bind!" she yelled back as she ran off down the hall. Chuck laughed at the thought of her 'allergy', yet at the same time she swallowed hard thinking about that slim chance that her plan could backfire and she'd end up dead! Tears welled up in her eyes.

As Ned finished up his last few pies, and after Olive reported back on Chuck, he found himself close to getting to go home. He was both ecstatic and terrified! Before he went home he decided to take a calming little walk with Digby. He walked block after block before he began to turn back and he found himself conveniently in front of Dawson Jewelers, he couldn't help himself, he walked in….

Back at their flat, Chuck worked on a special dinner, one that centered around cheese, Cheese Fondue with every type of dipping item, for dessert she made her now infamous "Tart Apple Pie with Gouda Crust". She was just about finished when she heard the door. "Ned, is that you?" she called out.

To be Continued……