Summary: Before they were Charlie and Monroe, they were Charlotte and Sebastian. A story that starts with Bass first meeting Charlie as a child and then again as an adult. Alot of movie allusions, songs, and references; particularly Disney and other Princess films (Anastasia, Princess Bride, Swan Princess, etc.). Basically a bunch of One Shots that will include Pre-series to Current episodes. May be nonlinear later on.
Notes: I Don't Own Anything, but what comes from my own head. The title is just a working title for now, but it may or may not make sense later.
The first time they met, she was 3 and he was being dragged by Miles to watch her following the birth of her brother. He honestly couldn't care less where he was, Miles just up and packed up his things and told him that they were heading out to Chicago. He'd seen pictures of the picture that Miles got in the mail, but Miles didn't visit his brother after he married Rachel. Bass knew why, but he always wondered if Ben did.
When they arrived at the Chicago townhouse, they were met by a worry faced Ben who was holding this golden haired toddler who looked like she was ready to jump down and bolt out the door. Miles hugged his brother and took the girl, who was seemingly expecting to be handed off and promptly asked, "Are my uncle? Daddy said that I have one watch me."
Bass was standing behind Miles with his backpack and another travel bag. He felt his heart twinge at the sight of the child; he vaguely recalled her name being Charlotte or something like that. Miles smiled at the child, walking in and letting Bass follow before Ben shut the door. "Yeah, kiddo. I'm Miles; and I'm gonna watch you while your mommy and daddy take care of the baby."
Miles set her down and she looked right at Bass. "Who are you? Are you my uncle too? Daddy said I only have one." She put her hands on her hips, her words soft and sweet sounding coming from her mouth.
Bass swallowed, he hadn't talked much since that night. His therapist said it was normal, he just needed time. He was about to speak when Miles spoke up, "This is my friend Bass, you're going to help me watch him while I'm here." Bass felt another twinge, this one more from frustration at Miles; the man hadn't left him alone for more than thirty minutes since he found him at the cemetery.
"But his a growed up; doesn't he supposed to watch me since I'm not a growed up?" Charlie said, looking at Bass. "Is he sick?" She stayed by Miles, her young eyes seeming to study the curly haired man in front of her.
"Uncle Miles is just being silly sweetheart. Why don't you take Bass into the living room so I can talk to Uncle Miles?" Ben spoke up, looking apologetically at Bass. "Is that all right with you Bass?"
Bass nodded and was soon being dragged towards a room messily slewed with toyed and DVD cases. "Wanna watch a movie Mr. Bass?" She didn't seem to expect an answer as she was soon putting in a disc into the player and grabbed a stuffed animal. "This is my favourite movie." She then grabbed his hand and moved them to the couch. He hadn't realized he was standing in the middle of the room until then. "Are you all right Mr. Bass?"
Bass cracked a fake smile, something he'd become used to the last few weeks. "I'm all right Charlotte, just not used to being in a house I suppose."
"My name's Charlie not Charlotte." Charlie giggled, lisping a bit as she said Charlotte.
Bass replied, relaxing a bit as some commercial for a Disney movie played on the television. "I think your name is Charlotte, that's what the pictures your mom and dad send to Miles say."
"Nuh-uh, my name is Charlie. Only my mommy calls me Charlotte when I done something not good." Charlie said, looking at Bass critically as she spoke. "And Bass isn't a real name; it's a type of animal or something."
"Bass is a nickname like Charlotte is for Charlie." Bass said, scratching his arm absentmindedly.
"Then that isn't your name! What's your really name?" Charlie insisted, turning on the couch to look Bass in the eye. Bass shook his head, gaining a whine from Charlie, "Secrets don't make friends."
She sat on her bottom, crossing her arms as the movie started. There was a good five minutes of silence, Bass actually watching the movie. It was some fairy tale movie about a girl who falls in love with a farm boy that she bullied around. And then he died. Bass wasn't even going to comment on the misanthropic message of the movie when Miles came into the room. "What's with the long face Charlie? Is Bastian being a spoil sport?"
Charlie jumped up at the sound of her uncle's voice and started talking to him over the back of the couch, "Bass isn't telling me his really name! He keeps calling me Charlotte even when I asked him to stop."
Miles walked around and stood in front of Bass, a humorous twinkling in his eye. "Is this true Sebastian?
Bass glared at Miles, but was interrupted by Charlie. "Is Sebastian his really name? Sebastian, like the crab in The Little Mermaid ?"
Bass groaned, "Jerk." He muttered throwing a couch pillow at Miles' face when he was suddenly assaulted by a 30 pound child.
"You said a bad word Sebastian; you gotsta go to the timeout chair." Charlie said, pulling on Bass's arm.
"No I don't. Time outs are for children." He looked to Miles for support but was just laughed at.
"No, everyone goes to the timeout chair, even mommy and daddy. You havesta go to the timeout chair for 5 minutes." Charlie said, all seriousness on her face.
"Bass, just go. It's for five minutes, not a prison sentence." Ben's voice said from behind the trio.
Charlie jumped down, "Sebastian won't go daddy! Tell him to go or he can't haves dessert." She ran to her father, "He called Uncles Miles a mean name when he told me his really name. And Sebastian didn't even tell Uncles Miles sorry!"
"Well, sounds like both of them need to go time out." Ben said, looking at Miles sternly. "It isn't nice to tell others things that someone doesn't want people to know. Why don't you grab mommy's timer and you can make sure they serve their time outs."
Charlie smiled as she ran to the kitchen, leaving her father with the other two. There was a chuckle in his voice as he next spoke, "I never thought that I would have to get a three year old to watch you two. Just don't kill each other, and the numbers are on the fridge." Charlie came back with the timer as he was done speaking and Ben kissed her forehead, "I'll be back soon, okay sweetheart. Be good for Bass and Miles and eat all your vegetables."
"I will daddy," Charlie promised, hugging her father.
And this is how, at the age of 28, Sebastian Monroe, United States Marine, found himself sitting in a chair facing a corner as a three year old played evil dictator for five minutes. Only benefit was that Miles shared his predicament.
Notes: What you think? This is unbeta'd... Reviews are most welcome. Honestly I love the idea of Bass in time out :) He really needed a lot of them when he was being a dictator.
