Semper Fidelis
A Revolution fic (Revolution AU – no Blackout): Sebastian (Bass) Monroe/Charlotte (Charlie) Matheson; Charloe. Mention of regulars incl. Miles and Rachael Matheson, Aaron Pittman, the Nano & the Patriots… Rating T… It is 2027, a permanent blackout was narrowly avoided in 2012, but the war with the Patriots was not. Bass and Miles are on active duty as US Marines. Bass has taken some hours off to go to Jasper to visit with his family for Christmas day and finds that sometimes dreams can come true...
Summary:
Authors note: This story is for the Good Ship Charloe, Christmas story gift exchange and it is my pleasure to have written it for Wild Irish…! It is accompanied by sincere wishes for a truly wonderful Holiday season, full of good times with friends and family for all of you lovely Charloe fans and writers, with love from ThreeMagpies
I really hope you like it WildIrish…
For many people around the world, Christmas is a time of deep emotion and, at times, crisis and grief…as well as (hopefully) joy and fun… But, in the true spirit of Christmas, and with the help of loved ones and sometimes strangers, a little light always shines…
I don't own any part of Revolution unfortunately – I continue to love it though and I find these two characters especially fascinating wherever they are and whatever they are doing…Cheers, Magpie
Semper fidelis
It was Christmas Eve 2027. Major General Sebastian Monroe of the United States Marines was on overnight leave and on his way to Jasper from his base in Florida to be with his family for Christmas morning. He was alone for the trip this year, Miles Matheson, his brother in everything but name, had soldiers in the field on a critical mission and his responsibility was to them…
Bass gazed out of the clear canopy surrounding him… He was travelling through a star filled night – his single person light transport humming as it whisked him along on autopilot using a dedicated military high priority fly path. The lights of civilian traffic in the lanes below, shining red, blue, yellow or green depending on their direction and altitude, were visible through the outer bubble of the transport and he watched them – glad to see people going about their daily lives, hoping that Christmas day for them would be a good one…
Looking down at the scattered streams of flying transports, Bass had a brief moment of nostalgia for cars, but they had become impractical as well as obsolete as a means of transport following the technological revolution of the mid 2010's when the Nano technology – originally developed by Miles' brother by blood Ben Matheson together with Ben's wife Rachael and expanded by their adopted team of computer geeks: led by the ex Google guy and inventor of the operating code for the Nano, Aaron Pittman - allowed human beings to take to the air en mass – and to do so many other things… Bass cracked a little smile – Ben and Rachael were an amazing team but he especially liked Aaron – the man was brilliant (his working out how to control the nano input/output of energy was nothing short of genius), he had great taste in music and vids and he always had the best whiskey…
Cars, bikes and trucks were still around although few in number and mostly in museums, the rest having been recycled, re-purposed, or, like Bass' own vintage Harley, kept in storage by devotees and brought out occasionally for recreation and showing off (using hoarded fuel...). Roadways themselves were becoming increasingly scarce though – the bitumen and concrete removed and recycled, mainly to create dykes in an attempt to hold back the waters as long as possible along coastal regions… The uncovered land was reclaimed for agriculture, living space for humans and animals, re-forestation and fresh water reservoirs... Rising sea levels and temperatures had made arable land extremely precious and its use for something like road transport – when there were viable and more efficient alternatives – became untenable. Horses, oxen and older, non powered forms of transport and production were rapidly coming back into use even in so-called developed countries for those who either couldn't afford the new tech or who (perhaps with reason…) blamed industry and technology for the drastic changes in the environment. A steadily increasing number of people were joining the low-tech, artisan movement… and recycling had become a way of life…Trains were still running for heavy transport between major centres though – and ships still plied the expanding oceans (Bass was planning to buy a boat)… but many things had changed out of necessity over the last one and a half decades…
Miles was on active duty in Mexico at the front line near Guatemala… The occupation, then annexation, first of Cuba and then parts of South and Central America following a failed coup in 2012 by the traitor and then US Secretary of Defense, Jack Davis, along with his followers (fanatics who called themselves Patriots…), meant that the US had been on a war footing for fifteen years…and Davis' hunger for power seemed limitless… It was discovered, shortly after the desertion to Cuba and the missing were counted that the Patriots had been working in secret for several years prior to 2012, funded and supported by those who believed, gradually preparing, increasing their numbers and infiltrating government and non-government organizations – including parts of the military - until they were ready to make their move… and inadvertently, Ben and Rachael Matheson had given them the means to do that in a spectacular way.
Bass sighed and leaned back on the travel couch, his thoughts going back to the day that Miles had told him what Ben and Rachael had discovered while working on the Nanotech program for Randall Flynn, Assistant Secretary of the DoD (and unbeknownst to them a Patriot in league with Jack Davis).
They had started out as a private company – developing what they thought was a means of creating a source of energy but in fact producing something that did exactly the opposite – inhibiting electrical energy, absorbing it, using it as an energy source to replicate – so, apparently failing, the business seemed to be heading for bankruptcy. Ben had been convinced by Flynn, who had recognized the potential in the Nanotech despite its apparent failure…to work for the DoD after he had made it possible for them to get their terminally ill son Danny into an experimental treatment program that saved his life… Rachael didn't like it – she was suspicious of Flynn's motives even then, but she would have done anything to save her son…and so she joined Ben in working for Randall Flynn and the DoD.
Then they had found out (an email had accidentally gone to Rachael that started her checking…) that Flynn had secretly organized another team of scientists to work on the Nanotech – subverting and re-programming the nano, changing the program and removing the limits on their growth and replication set by Ben and Rachael with the aim of causing a world wide, self-sustaining failure of electrical supply… except of course for that provided and controlled by the Patriots… As a safeguard though, portable devices had been created by Rachael and Ben that when operated produced a nullifying field – disabling the nanotech within a limited range and allowing (or disallowing) access to power within that range only. The devices were set into pendants carried by members of the development team – including Ben and Rachael… but Flynn had acquired two of them…murdering two of the team and three of their assistants to get them…
When they realized what was happening, Ben called Miles and warned him (not knowing who else to go to or who was involved with Davis and Flynn) explaining what he knew of Flynn's plans…and their concerns about his using the Nanotech to cause a worldwide blackout… Miles and Bass - out for a weekends R&R, were able to join Ben, Rachael and Aaron (who had joined them to refine the nano OS and further develop the technology) and the rest of their team at their Colorado base not far from an underground Military installation called the Tower…before Flynn went took action…At the time it was difficult to know who was working with Flynn – even in the military - and so they were wary of alerting anyone else…
The very next night, Flynn, on behalf of the Patriots and Jack Davis, deployed the altered nanotech from a secure room, in the Tower. Pressing the button live on national TV, in the company of several high ranking military and civilian personnel, he gave the pretext that it was going to be a way to stop terrorist activity by depriving the perpetrators of access to power… Fortunately however, Ben, Rachael and Aaron were able to re-program the subverted nano by uploading a virus using their own pendants – although it took them, even with the help of Miles and Bass, nine and a half hours to break into the sealed portions of the Tower to overpower Flynn and turn the power back on...
Once discovered Flynn had killed everyone who had been with him when he pressed the button, then shot himself rather than be captured and interrogated - but just before he died, he had declared himself a Patriot and inadvertently provided a clue to whom they were chasing when Jack Davis made his move openly in Cuba… Flynn had one of the stolen pendants in his possession…but the other was missing…
The search was still on for the second pendant – there were people who could reverse engineer the technology and bring back the nightmare of the blackout… although thankfully that hadn't happened yet… and Bass had been tasked with coordinating the search…
They also found that Flynn had set a trap in case the power was returned… He had entered the codes to re-target and launch ICBM's at strategic Military and symbolic targets within the US automatically as soon as power was available outside the Tower… The group had with Aaron's help been able to prevent the launch of all but two of the missiles…and they had watched helplessly and in live colour as the two rogue missiles hit their targets in Nevada and Pennsylvania… The energy absorbing qualities of the nano were later able to be utilized to reduce the effects and spread of fallout to some degree but it was a very heavy blow for a country already reeling… both areas had since been declared National memorials…
During the nine and a half hours of literal and metaphorical darkness, millions of people around the world died and countless others were injured or displaced as a result of the bombs, as planes crashed to the ground, trains ran on out of control or as innumerable vehicle collisions reduced roads to death traps… People died in hospital theatres, lifts, restaurants, hotels, apartment buildings… as anything that relied on electricity to work stopped… Loss of life, property damage and the environmental cost from those few hours remained incalculable… in addition, Air force one had been in the air when the lights went out and had gone down with the President and his family and half the cabinet on board - leaving the Vice President to take the reins of a government and country in disarray…
After the power returned, and before he declared openly that he was a Patriot… Secretary of Defense Jack Davis had publicly placed the blame for the blackout on the US Government, and on the scientists who had developed the technology… He had also stated that the use of the nanotech might also be partly responsible for the dramatic escalation in climatic and geographic change, playing on the fears of people already in trauma and gaining many recruits by doing so – frightened and confused people, looking for answers in a world become unpredictable and terrifying. The Vice President, now acting President, reacted calmly and re-established control as soon as he could…starting by removing Davis from office once he was briefed about what had happened at the Tower….
Many had flocked to Davis however after he relocated to Cuba with his followers, and recruits still trickled in to the new Patriot outposts in Cuba by boat or on foot – finding themselves in the training camps with no way out – drugged and indoctrinated, their behaviour modified and controlled through the use of drugs and conditioning under hypnosis….
Bass had seen the results of Patriot training methods, had fought against those produced by them…and it made him sick to his stomach… A man called Victor Doyle was running a program for Davis that produced soldiers that were like zombies – vicious, fearless, deadly, unable to be reasoned with once their conditioning was activated…and almost impossible to rehabilitate… Miles and had been tasked with leading the mission to find and stop Doyle but hadn't succeeded in doing so as yet. The man kept well hidden…and finding him meant repeatedly sending good people into a very bad place… The territory between Guatamala and Panama as well as the entire Island of Cuba had become a training ground for Patriots – willing or not… and was crawling with hostile recruits. No one had come out of there sane for years now…civilians either converted or were held hostage (with regular video updates sent out over the net) against possible air strikes… The Caribbean Sea was a no go zone due to Patriot missiles… and the Patriots were starting to infiltrate and expand south… so, the war was mostly fought on the ground…and a generation had grown up fighting it…
Efforts to counter Patriot propaganda using education, the press and social media had had some success but since they had come out in the open the Patriots were continuing to provide a focus for the disaffected and displaced people around the world who believed the rhetoric that they might be able to turn back the tide (literally)… Believing when they were told that there was a way to stop the waters rising and the earth warming and that the Patriots would do this if and when they came to power…
…
Bass had allowed 18 hours max for his visit to his home town and then he would be heading back to Florida via Texas - the entire coast facing Cuba was the frontline, as well as most of Mexico… and there was an awful lot to do…but he hadn't had a break in months and this was a tradition that he did his best to maintain – a pilgrimage of sorts…
He wouldn't see Emma - she had been on a flight to Europe and was over the ocean during the hours the power was out… No trace of the plane had ever been found… She and Bass had never got back together romantically after that one time when they had made Connor together – and although she and Miles kept in touch, the engagement – and any relationship between them had faded… He and Miles had left to join the Marines before he knew Emma was pregnant but when he eventually found out about Connor he had asked her to marry him… She refused – she said she didn't want to be an army wife and instead found a good, stay at home man who had given her a good life although no more children… Bass had made sure though that their son Connor had grown up knowing that Bass loved him, wanted him and was helping to take care of him… Connor had followed his father into the Marines as soon as he was old enough and was currently serving in Mexico – Bass kept track although the kid used his mother's maiden name, Bennett, so no one knew he was related…he was doing well and Bass was very proud…
Ben, Rachael and Danny still maintained Ben and Miles' parents house in Jasper, and sometimes returned to spend Christmas there… Danny was still a fragile boy although sometimes Bass thought that Ben and Rachael kept him in too much cotton wool… But he knew how much Danny meant to Rachael, everything she did was for Danny… Bass sometimes felt for Ben who would always be second for her… he shrugged, not that it was his business… Charlie now, he did worry about Charlie… so much of her parent's time had been invested in work or Danny – there hadn't been much time or energy for her and whenever Miles had invited him to go visit with his family she had seemed… left out, somehow…but she was such a great kid…smart, interested in everything…full of life…
He had a sudden memory of a golden haired, skinny girl of eleven… all legs, elbows and eyes and full of spunk – except when it came to him – he knew she'd had a huge crush on him and he smiled gently when he thought of her stammering, sweet adoration… He had only seen her every now and then since though – either he was busy – or she was away doing what teenagers do on school holidays when parents are a necessary evil – good for money and rides but not much else…Miles had told him proudly that she had enrolled in Med School – following in her grandfather's footsteps – and was also in the army reserve… good choices he thought given the times… She'd have turned twenty-one now, and he hoped she was doing ok… Med school (not to mention the reserve…) was tough – but she was pretty tough herself – she was a Matheson after all… Then another memory came to him, one he had put away as a dream that seemed as out of reach as the stars…
He had seen her a few months ago, at a family party in Willoughby, Texas… Rachael's parents had invited them all for the weekend to celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary. He had been so happy that Connor was able to make it too – they caught up so rarely these days… But his first sight of Charlotte at that party was engraved like letters in stone on his memory… She had very, very definitely grown up…
She had on a pair of the new Nano fit jeans – jet black and the words skin tight didn't do them justice, they were the tightest jeans he had ever seen… they made her legs look impossibly long and outlined every smooth muscle and curve…a chain belt hung over her hips that jingled a little and drew attention to her beautiful butt every time she took a step… Her top had been a striking contrast in white silk draped with delicate lace and seed pearls, very feminine with just little glimpses of shoulder and the tops of her breasts – whispering of the treasures that lay below it… Her long, dark honey blond hair swung in glinting, shining waves in the lights, and pearl earrings dangled below her ears… she looked incredibly beautiful…and he couldn't take his eyes off her…
She had sauntered up to him on sky-high black patent leather heels (he wondered when women would be sensible and stop wearing those but hoped they never did…) and she had stolen his breath and then his heart between one step and the next… As a child she had charmed him and reminded him of his sisters… as an adult, she brought out a whole lot of different feelings… He tried valiantly to resist them but she overwhelmed his senses…He knew in that moment that she could ask him to fetch the moon for her and he'd get it or die trying…
She had smiled at him 'Hi Bass…' she had said…. His mind froze and for a few seconds he couldn't think of a word to say… 'Hello Charlotte…' he found his voice at last… 'It's nice to finally meet you…I was starting to think that maybe you hadn't been able to make it…' she laughed and shrugged...'Just running late, Bass' and then the very next second a young Texan – all legs, moustache and bravado marched up and asked her to dance, whisking her away from him…and over the next couple of hours he just stood and watched with a combination of frustration and mounting amusement as Ben and Miles took turns at guard duty around their respective daughter and niece… Not that she actually needed much guarding he thought; he could tell she was capable of managing any and all of the panting young studs crowding the dance floor around her… still it was fun to watch Ben and Miles doing the protective thing and damned if he could blame them… he'd had to hold himself back more than a couple of times from – gently of course – removing hands from where they damn well shouldn't have been… Then he caught the twinkle in Charlie's eyes when she caught his gaze for one long and brilliant moment and realized that she was leading all of them on a dance of her own…
It wasn't just that she was gorgeous… Bass had always loved and appreciated women in general (and many beautiful women had liked him back…) but he loved her spirit and her strength… She had never once that he knew of complained about Danny always coming first in the family…on the contrary, she had loved him, taken care of him when their parents were neck deep in work… she had always been there for Danny when he needed her… she was everything he admired in a human being, and a woman…
Then Connor had walked up to her – and for a moment his heart had stopped beating as he wondered how he could bear it if she decided she wanted him - although he would bear it of course, he'd have to, Bass had told himself sternly... She couldn't be with him… for so many reasons… She deserved a younger man, a man like Connor, who could give her long years… but his heart didn't seem to want to listen…
The she had grinned up at Connor… a little frown playing on her brow as though she was trying to figure out something – then she looked over at Bass… then back at Connor (of course, Bass thought… she wouldn't have seen Connor for years, they had kept missing each other at gatherings - either he was away at school or she was – and then he was on duty and away or she was…), then she glanced back at Bass, a little smile curved her lips and she winked at him (he grinned back, happy to indulge her in whatever she was planning …). Then she had smiled politely up at Conner, said a couple of words and left him to join her grandparents at the buffet…
Bass was a little confused, he didn't know what had happened there, but then Connor strode over to join him 'Hi dad…' Bass took a moment to admire his son, tall and strong, like Emma round the eyes and the colour of his hair – like him in the build, the jaw line and the (damned) curls… 'Hi yourself… kid… enjoying the party?' Connor shrugged and smiled…'it's great to see everyone isn't it…? I'm due back tomorrow though …the guys and I are heading out in a few days…' Bass nodded, 'Yeah, I heard…don't come back with a bullet in you this time…' Connor laughed, 'I'll do my best, Dad...' then he looked a little put out… 'Dad… Charlie asked me to tell you that she's been waiting for you to ask her to dance…?' he looked over at Charlie then back to Bass, a quizzical twist to his lips 'but you do know that Ben and Miles will both kill you if you do don't you…' Bass choked back a laugh…'Well, they could try I guess… Ben I could handle … Miles might be a bit of a challenge - not sure about both of them together…' he grinned, blue eyes sparkling, glancing across at Miles (who was still directing a baleful, shark like stare at Connor's back)… He decided that he would ask her – Miles and Ben could both kill him but he'd die happy…
But in the end he hadn't had the chance… He, Miles and Connor – as well as several of the young bucks in the room had all been recalled urgently a few minutes after that conversation… all he had time for was a glance and a wave (catching her eyes for a brief desperate moment), and she had looked so disappointed that he hoped that maybe she did feel something…but then they had all left at the same time hadn't they…maybe she was disappointed that someone else had left…
….
A small 'ping' alerted Bass that the transport was starting its descent to Jasper and he strapped himself in… The landing was smooth and uneventful but his heart was racing anyway… Home, he was home…
He had requested a landing close to town and was only a short walk from his destination. He picked up his overnight bag and slung it over his shoulder, gathered up his other bundles and thumbed open the door – it was keyed to operate with his print only so he had no concerns about leaving it. The exit ramp unrolled before his feet and once he hit ground it retracted back into the craft leaving a sealed, opaque silvery egg denting the grass. It was cold of course – especially after the warmth of Florida…and he had come prepared in his winter uniform and overcoat, gloves, hat and scarf – but the bite of winter was less than he remembered as the dawn approached and there was only a light scattering of snow… Temperatures were gradually rising around the world…
Bass couldn't see anyone around so he walked on. He had shared this trip with Miles so many times – his best friend knowing how much his being there to talk to and drink with afterwards made things easier… still there were going to be times more and more that he'd have to do this alone – Miles and Nora were planning their wedding so he might as well get used to it…There wasn't anyone special in his life at the moment… although he definitely wasn't a saint and there had been lots of women in his life, just no one who stayed there long…and none at all since the time he saw Charlotte at that party, somehow he hadn't wanted to overlay the image of her with that of other women…
He sighed…here he was again… he opened the double wrought iron gates and walked slowly along the gently curving path, stones and ice crystals crunching under his feet, the evergreens and bare trees and shrubs planted around swaying in the crisp evening breeze – the moonlight playing on the leaves of the evergreens, outlining the wings of stone angels with silver and glinting on the edges of the rows of headstones... He knew exactly where to go of course and a little further on stopped in front of the group of four headstones marking the graves of his parents and his two sisters…killed by a drunken driver so long ago now… but never forgotten…
He sighed… 'Hi again folks…' he gently put a small bunch of hot house flowers against each headstone… 'It's Christmas day…' damn he still choked up, he thought he'd be over that by now…but he was also glad that he wasn't…'and I really wish you were here…'
He got out a picnic chair from his bag and set it up, next came a half bottle of single malt whiskey (courtesy of Aaron…) and a glass – he sat and poured himself a finger… 'We're all doing ok… Mom, you'd love to see Connor now, he's tall and strong, he's a good man and a good soldier and I couldn't be more proud… Dad, he looks a bit like you, but probably more like Emma… and maybe a bit like me…' he took a sip from the glass…'he got injured a few months ago – one of the Patriot zombies shot him in the shoulder, but he sorted things out and got himself and his guys back…' another sip…'I never told him but I've had him tagged so I always know where and how he is and I promise you – if he ever needs me I'll go in and get him…' he nodded…'Miles will too…' Bass pondered for a moment… 'Connor doesn't talk about it much but I know he thinks a lot about Emma…' he looked over to the right where Emma's – empty – memorial stood… 'I've tried to be the best father I could be…but…' he sighed again… 'I wish she could have been there for him…' he took a deep breath and downed the rest of the glass… then poured another finger…
He addressed the graves of his sisters…raised the glass in a toast and drained it 'Girls, you should see the clothes these days… you'd love them…and you could make your hair and nails any colour you liked just by waving a little wand and saying what you want…' he knew the comment was a bit trivial but they were so young when they died… they would always be young to him…and they'd loved things like that… Then he thought back to Charlie's outfit at that party…'And they can make jeans that are so tight and thin that…' he cleared his throat…they really didn't need to hear about that…
'That what Bass…?' came a voice from behind him… a very familiar voice… He turned round so quickly that he nearly fell off the chair … 'Charlotte…' he said, not believing his eyes…'I… what are you doing here…?' he stood, put the glass down and walked quickly over to her…. She was dressed in a pale winter coat, faux fur hat and gloves and sturdy boots… and she looked wonderful…'What do you think…' she said, a small smile playing around her generous mouth as she stripped the glove from her right hand…'Miles called me… said he couldn't make it this year and would I come and share Christmas drinks with you and the rest of your family…' she smiled up at him – a gentle smile, her usual spunk and bravado absent… then held out her hand for him to take… 'So here I am…' He took her hand in his, then brought his other one up to keep her fingers warm… she tipped her head over to her right…'see… I even brought my own chair...' he laughed, 'so you did…' he reached for the camp chair roll with one hand, keeping hold of hers with the other…then she moved to take his arm, hooking her elbow around his and pressing in close to his side…
They walked peaceably arm in arm the couple of steps to where Bass had left his chair – it was looking a little out of shape so he straightened it then set up Charlie's next to it… 'It's so good to see you Charlie…' he said, hardly believing that she was here… She sat down and pulled out a whiskey glass from her bag… holding it up to him… 'I wanted to come Bass… and I'm glad Miles couldn't make it so I could be here…' Bass poured a good splash in and she knocked it back - holding the glass back up for another while licking whiskey from her lips… 'He told me to make sure you didn't drink too much…'
Bass lifted an eyebrow 'So you're going to finish my whiskey to stop me drinking too much?' she shrugged…'that's pretty much the idea…' he shook his head, chuckling…'Never gonna happen Charlie...' she raised an eyebrow and gave him her cheeky grin… 'You'd have to be able to drink like Miles to do that…' the grin widened, her dimple flashed and teeth glinted in the moonlight, 'just try me, Major General Monroe…' she sat back and crossed one leg over the other 'I've been practicing since I turned twenty one…' he chuckled 'then you've got a way to go to catch up with Miles, kid…' She frowned… 'I'm not a kid, Bass…' then she looked right at him, face serious - her eyes shadowy in the moonlight but he could feel them… 'I haven't been a kid for years…' she sat forward again, uncrossed her legs and put the glass down next to her chair, leaning towards him... '… And I know what I want…' Bass was silent for a moment… he didn't know if he should ask…or what she'd say if he did… but he decided to say it anyway… so with his heart pounding he said 'So what do you want Charlotte…?'
…..
She stood up, took a deep breath and moved a couple of steps towards him, her knees almost touching his as he sat in his chair… 'Bass, I've wanted you and loved you since I was eleven years old…and I've never stopped wanting you or loving you...' He looked up at her…hardly daring to breath, his heart beating so hard in his chest he thought it was going to jump out… She put her hand to her mouth…then down again, grasping the lapel of her coat like it was a lifeline…'There, I've said it…. now you have to say something back…and I'm really, really hoping that you're going to say that you want me and love me too… but…but if you don't… want me…it's ok, we'll just get drunk together and forget I ever said anything…'
Bass reached up and caught her hand, bringing it to his lips, kissing her fingers… 'Charlie… you saying that to me was something I never dared to dream about…because I wanted it so much…' she smiled, 'So would that be a yes then…?' he laughed against her fingers…'that's so a yes Charlie… to both…I want you more than anything I've ever wanted in my entire life….'You're beautiful and strong, and honorable and one incredible woman…'
He reached up to take her other hand…'But Charlotte,'…. he took a deep breath… 'I'm a lot older than you…and I'm a soldier and you're going to be a doctor…and we're at war…and I respect you too much to pretend that it'll be easy...' he sighed… 'And I think I know what Ben and Rachael would feel about it…' she moved a little closer, her knees touching his… 'They know, Bass, they've known for years…they know there's never been anyone else for me but you… and I did try believe me…' she pressed closer, 'I've been out with other men,' she took a deep, shaky breath… 'And… I've slept with other men…' Bass felt a twinge of anger at the thought of other hands but his on her… but then how many women had he slept with…? 'But Bass, none of them were you…' she was wedged between his thighs now, leaning into him, a warm and very welcome weight… 'It's like I've just been waiting till I was ready…or you were ready… or something… but I'm ready now…' then she was on his lap and in his arms and she was warmth and life, her lips on his and the world was suddenly absolutely perfect…and he was falling into her… and then they were both falling as the chair even more suddenly gave way underneath them…
Bass found himself lying on the ground with a bit of the chair sticking into his right shoulder and another bit poking into his right buttock, her elbow on his nose and one of her knees in a very, very sensitive spot 'Ow… Charlie…sorry… but can you move your….' She giggled…her knee digging in even further…'Hey...! watch your knee, Charlie…!' then she was laughing hysterically… 'Sorry Bass…can't seem to get up…' she tried to move but only succeeded in getting her other arm tangled in his coat and poking her other knee into his… ' Bass gasped, laughing too but she was heavy for such a little thing… 'Charlie…stop… moving… damn it…' she rolled over and off him, her other elbow digging into his stomach on the way and nearly shoving the breath out of him… He lay there for a moment, getting his breath back… then felt her looking at him… She was lying on her side on the ground next to him; head supported on one hand… her gorgeous grin twitching her lips… 'Next year we'll have to bring stronger chairs…' he reached over and cupped her face in his hand, thumb stroking her cheek and the line of her lips…she leaned into his hand…'Yeah…we can do that…' he pulled her gently towards him, she smiled and met his lips with her own for a long, long kiss that warmed him to his bones… then he pulled back a little…'Charlotte…?''Yes Bass…?' she sighed…her voice, dreamy and soft… 'I love you too…' 'I know…' she said and reached up to pat his cheek….'silly…'
Another long moment later and she moved a little… 'Bass…?' she was curled against his side, his arms around her, both of them lying on the ground… the remains of the chair tossed aside…'Are you getting cold yet…?' he cursed himself… he'd been lying there, holding her, completely content – his dreams come true… and he hadn't even thought that maybe she could be cold… 'God…I'm Sorry Charlie…' he sat up with a start…'Come on…I'll walk you home…where are you staying?' She grinned up at him, and then she reached out a hand…he stood then pulled her to her feet…she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tight… 'Mom and Dad gave us the house for the night Bass…' He stared, bemused… 'They did…?' she laughed lightly, dropping a kiss on the lightly bearded tip of his chin… 'They said it was their Christmas present to us, we'll have it all to ourselves… we can use it for the wedding too…Mom's so looking forward to organizing it…' she tilted her head…'That's if you want to marry me of course…I can get married and study too…' he felt his heart thudding in his chest, feeling somehow that the world had shifted and that several Christmases had converged into this place and time…giving him everything he could possibly want… 'Charlotte Matheson, it would be my honour and privilege…and… yes… of course I want to marry you…' he stopped for a moment… 'Hey…shouldn't you get down on one knee or something to ask me that…?' her laughter rang out in the clean crisp air…'How about I do that at the house, Bass…' her eyes merry and full of promises…
They said their goodbye's to his folks…gathered up their things and walked back along the winding path towards the road… the house was an easy distance away and as they walked along hand in hand, the sun just starting to peek over the horizon…Bass found himself thinking of the future with more hope than he had for a long time… the war would still be there, the world was pretty messy and there were a lot of if's… but now he had Charlie and together they were strong enough to deal with anything…
…..
AN… yes I know, shamelessly romantic – and yes… there is a lot of stuff they need to work out (Charlie's studies, Bass' duties) but it's Christmas day and for a while they have it all to themselves…the cares of tomorrow can wait till tomorrow comes – that's one of the best things about Christmas isn't it…?
Hope you liked it, and again, wishing you all a very merry Christmas, Magpie