A/N I would like to ounce again thank my great friend hippogriff-tamer for all of her help with the story we hope you like it like last time there will be a number of related one shots.

From the hotel balcony Verona was a beautiful city. It had old world charm with its cobblestone streets and stone villas. Yet, as I gazed out at the many buildings in front of me my thoughts were on my time here in Italy. Since coming here on a pre honeymoon trip with my fiancee, Victor, I had discovered the Secretaries of Juliet, a group of women who answered letters written by people seeking advice from Shakespeare's famous tragic heroine, Juliet. In my acquaintance with them I stumbled across a worn letter that would change my life. The letter was written by a woman named Claire Wyman nee Smith when she was just fifteen and by answering her I met her and her grandson, Charlie. Together we went on a journey to find Lorenzo, Claire's lost love. Along with the search for Lorenzo I found myself getting closer to both Claire and Charlie. Claire reminded me of my grandmother with her calm, maternal demeanor and Charlie, well despite our less than cordial beginning, he found his way into my heart.

Yet, I was still an engaged woman!

I rested my hand in my palm and sighed as my thoughts turned to Charlie. I could still taste his scent on my lips from where I had kissed him on the cheek. He smell reminded me of something citrusy like oranges. It was so different from Victor who smelled like wine and flour. They were both passionate; Victor about cooking and Charlie about helping others in need. Yet they were very different. Victor was more laid back and Charlie, he was so infuriating at times. There were times when he would say something and anger flared within me and there were other times when he could be so loving and gentlemanly; like helping Claire with her search despite his disbelief in her finding Lorenzo or when he walked me back to my room.

Out of the corner of my eye I caught sight of a car. Turning my head to the left I saw a familar dark silver car-one that i've spent the past few days riding in. My heart started pounding as I saw it and a figure standing besides it. Charlie was standing by its trunk staring up at me. He was still wearing his khaki pants, black under-shirt and unbuttoned blue shirt he was wearing earlier. My heart soared at the sight of him and the question of why he was there formed on the tip of my tongue. Before I could call to him I heard a noise behind me. I was able to stand up straighter before being swept into a pair of warm arms. Arms belonging to Victor. I pulled away from him to look back at Charlie but he and his car were gone. My heart ached at his absence. In that moment I made a decision; one which I'd never thought I'd ever make.

I turned back to Victor who was facing me while talking on his cell phone again. He spoke of mushrooms and wine so he probably was speaking to one of his restaurant's vendors. "Victor?"

He put his hand over the phones speakers. "Yeah, Sophie,"

"Can we go inside?" I hope he didn't hear the slight nervousness in my voice.

"Um, sure." He talked a couple of minutes more to the other person on the phone and hung up.

I led the way into the living room area of our hotel room. There was a couch and a couple of chairs around a brown coffee table. The couch and chairs were covered in neutral colored fabric. Victor sat in one of the chairs and I sat on the couch next to him.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Victor..I..."

He interrupted me, sadness lacing his voice. "You're going to say you want us to go our separate ways aren't you?"

I closed my eyes and nodded. I didn't have to ask how he knew what I was thinking. Victor could read my expressions. "I love you, I do but we basically came here on a honeymoon and we didn't mind spending time away from each other. It's not supposed to be like that. We should want to spend all of our time together. "

"I do want to spend time with you but I also have a restaurant I'm trying to get off the ground."

I smiled sadly. "I know and I adore your passion for cooking but I feel like I've changed and now we are going down different paths."

"Is there anything I can say to change your mind?" His eyes glistened with unshed tears.

"No."

"I love you, Sophie."

"I know. And I'll always love you too but I don't think we're right for each other anymore." I stood and went over to him. I gave him a small hug and kiss on the cheek. "I hope that you find happiness again someday..."

"You too..." he said quietly as I grabbed my still packed suitcase and headed out to our rented car.

I started towards Lorenzo's villa assuming thats where Charlie would drive back to. As I drove, I searched for Charlie's car to no avail. Frustrated, I was about to pull over to re-strategize my plan when a dark silver car on the side of the road garnered my attention. I pulled in behind it knowing in my heart that it was Charlie's. Turning the engine off, I slowly walked closer to the car. Charlie was sitting with his back toward me on its hood.

"Charlie," I called out as soon as I was in hearing distance.

His body tensed as he turned sideways and looked at me. "Sophie?"

The question of what I was doing there was clearly written on his face.

"I saw you on the street outside my hotel but you left before we could speak."

" You were so deep in thought that I didn't want to disturb you," he answered, his face returning to a less questioning expression.

I frowned. "You wouldn't have disturbed me. What were you doing there?"

He stood tentatively and started walking, stopping a few feet in front of me. "I, um, wanted to talk to you..."

Charlie never stammered so he must have been uncomfortable.

"But then I saw you with the dark haired guy who I assume is your fiancee," he finished a moment later.

"He's not my fiancee anymore," I told him softly.

"What?!" he said. Shock and hope filled his voice.

"I broke it off with Victor," I said more firmly.

He ran his hand through his hair and looked away. "Oh, Sophie, I'm sorry."

"I'm not."

His gaze shot back to me. "You're not?"

I shook my head. "I couldn't stay with him when my heart knew we weren't meant for each other any more; that it was meant for someone else."

I stepped closer to him as I spoke. He just watched me, a mixture of emotions crossing his face.

"What do you mean?" he asked a bit fearfully.

A smile tugged at my lips. "I know it might sound crazy since we just met but what I'm saying is that my heart was, well is, meant for you."

Charlie's face lit up with a huge smile before he closed the distance between us and kissed me. His lips were warm and tender on mine. His hands went around my back pulling me closer. Mine found there way to the nape of his neck.

"I love you Sophie," he said breathlessly when we parted. "And it doesn't sound crazy."

I was breathless myself. "Good. And I love you, too."

"Ah, Sophie, you don't know how hearing that makes me feel."

I smiled up at him as he continued holding me close. "I think I have a pretty good idea."

"You know Gran told me I was a 'total idiot' after you left with Lorenzo's son."

"Why would she say that?"

"Because I let you go; an action I will never repeat again."

I kissed his lips but removed them before the kiss could be deepened. "You know when I saw you in the street I was thinking about you."

"You were?" He sounded surprised.

I let out a quiet laugh and nodded. "Don't sound so surprised."

"I can't help it. After I saw you and Victor I thought that you'd go back to New York and get married. I was so heartbroken at seeing you and him that I had to stop and collect myself before going back to Gran and telling her...well telling her that I didn't speak to you."

I cupped his cheek with my hand and inhaled his citrusy scent. "I was thinking about meeting you and Claire and I was comparing you to Victor."

He straightened up slightly. "You were? How'd I do?"

I laughed. "I think you did well."

"I'm glad."

I just shook my head at him. He captured my lips again and this time I let it deepen. When I came on this trip I never expected to find the amazing story I found with Claire and Lorenzo nor did I ever expect to meet someone like Charlie. Though it was a sad ending with Victor,I'm glad that I met Charlie.