A/N: Taking a short break from writing Charlotte's Secret. Hopefully I'll get a few chapters of that story done over spring break at the end of this month. Anyways enjoy part one of this story.

Arabian Nights

Part One:

Violet put down her book and peeled the snuggie off of her body. It was past midnight and time to go to bed. She did have to go to work tomorrow after all. She cleared the empty martini glasses off the coffee table and deposited them into the kitchen sink before heading up stairs. She tiptoed down the long hall to her bedroom, pausing at the door of her guest room. She had recently acquired a roommate, a rude, snarky, southern roommate, but a roommate none the less.

They weren't great friends, okay they weren't friends at all, but she felt sorry for the woman. Charlotte had given up everything to be with Cooper and that was an incredibly huge step for the emotionally stunted sexologist. It was sad to see such a proud and strong woman fall apart like that. So she had let Charlotte stay with her and truth be told she didn't mind the company.

She listened at the door and heard nothing but silence, but when she took a step down the hall she could hear it. It was very quiet. A soft whimper, she would have never have heard without the hush of night. The whimper was followed by a series of sniffles and then finally gasping sobs. She hadn't seen or heard the blonde cry over her recent breakup with Cooper yet. This was just unnerving. She had been sure Charlotte did not possess the full spectrum of human emotion. She sighed and slowly opened the door.

The crying stopped immediately.

"Charlotte?"

Moonlight spilled onto the pure white sheets and over the lone body that lay perfectly still beneath them. The blonde was feigning sleep, but she knew better.

"I know you're awake," she said while making her way to the bed. "I heard you crying." She climbed up onto the bed and leaned her back against the headboard.

"Are you okay," she asked softly

When she got no response she moved closer to Charlotte and rubbed the blonde's back soothingly. After a few minutes Charlotte turned on her side facing her with dry eyes. The blonde said nothing, but she somehow got that her presence was appreciated. It was later, maybe half an hour later, when she started nodding off. She shook her head and looked back down at Charlotte, who was watching her intently.

"Lay down, if you want," Charlotte told her.

She nodded and slipped beneath the sheet beside Charlotte. She closed her eyes and began to drift off. Just as she was about to slip into that sweet dark relief she heard the blonde sigh and turn over.

"Can't sleep?" She said with her eyes still closed.

"I think…I miss him," Charlotte said hesitantly.

She made a noise of agreement and scooted closer to Charlotte's warmth without touching her.

"You know I wanted to be a veterinarian when I was younger. That's what I was going to do. All through high school I kept planning for this great life full of exciting and exotic animals. I guess I liked animals a lot more then."

"What are you talking about?" Charlotte asked incredulously.

"I'm telling you a story. It'll take your mind off of…well, you know."

Charlotte nodded and then closed her eyes. "Go on."

"When I got to college….

0oo0oo0

She was sitting outside on the patio when Charlotte approached her the next day. It had been a hectic day in Oceanside and the blonde had opted take care of her Chief of Staff duties at St. Ambrose that day. She thought it was good for Charlotte to get away from Cooper. Hopefully the both of them would realize how madly in love they were with each other and get back together. She couldn't stand watching Charlotte fall apart and she couldn't stand the way Cooper was behaving. She didn't know what was going on with her best friend these days.

She stopped her train of thought and cleared her head. She needed to relax. She needed to watch the sunset and not think of anything.

"It's beautiful," a voice said behind her. She jumped about a foot out of her chair and whipped around to find Charlotte leaning against the sliding glass door.

"Please don't do that," she said as calmly as she could. She was still dealing with remnants of Katie's attack. Today was one of those hard days.

"Sorry," Charlotte said behind her.

"It's fine. You just surprised me."

Charlotte didn't say anything, but took a seat next to her instead. She was grateful for small favors.

She fidgeted in her seat and alternated her gaze between the sunset and her hands.

"Don't you go out anymore?" Charlotte asked her suddenly.

"Go out?" she said uncertainly.

"Like to bars. Hang out with friends? Anything?"

"No. I don't go out." She lowered her head and set her gaze to her lap. "I'm fine here."

"Right," the blonde said not believing her. "You afraid or something?"

She stood up suddenly. "I need to go inside."

She left the blonde outside and rushed to the kitchen. A glass of water would make her feel better. Cool, refreshing water. She sipped it slowly and by the time she was halfway through the glass Charlotte had decided to come back inside.

"You alright," the blonde asked.

She took a deep breath, a sip of water and then nodded.

"Hey, I didn't mean to upset you back there," Charlotte said while reaching out to touch her hand.

She flinched back when the blonde's hand made contact with her hand and dropped the glass of water in the process. It fell to the floor and shattered into sharp jagged pieces. The resulting sound spooked her and she ran upstairs to her bedroom. At least she hadn't run to the closet to hide.

Baby steps.