AN: Thank you to everyone who reviewed the previous chapter :)

This is my version of THAT BTS clip with Charles waking up in Liza's apartment! Hope you like it, and please drop me a review to let me know what you think :)

CHARLES

Charles blinked sleepily as his eyes gradually accustomed themselves to the daylight pouring in through the blinds. In his not yet fully conscious state, it took his brain a while to register that he wasn't in his bedroom. It only took him a moment though to realise where he actually was: the impressive collection of classic novels on the bookshelf above his head being a dead giveaway – he was at Liza's apartment. It was the first time he'd stayed over at Liza's – they'd been spending their nights at his for the past few days since they'd come out in the open with their relationship, but he could safely say that this place now also had some very fond memories. It had been a very, very, memorable night!

Stretching his gloriously aching limbs, he smiled as he caught sight of the woman he could now officially call his partner, standing in front of the mirror as she carefully put in her earrings. He'd always thought she was beautiful, right from the first moment he met her, but it was simple moments like this that he appreciated just how stunning she really was. The early morning light reflecting off her face gave her an ethereal quality, and his chest constricted at the thought of how lucky he was to have her in his life.

Liza hadn't noticed he was awake yet, so he took the opportunity to creep up behind her. He caught the smile on her face in the mirror as she sensed his presence. He delicately brushed the hair away from her neck and leaned down toward that special spot just above her collarbone that he knew drove her wild. Before he could kiss her though, a sharp twinge in his neck had him jerking his head back up in pain.

Liza turned around to face him with a look of concern on her face and tenderly placed her hand on his side. "Are you okay?"

Despite the pain in his neck, a tingle ran up his spine at the feel of her touch. "Yeah, I erm must've pulled something."

"Oh no!" Liza replied sympathetically as he rubbed the offending area of his neck.

"I think it's your bed" he teased, trying to control the smile tugging at his lips at her look of mock offense.

"What's wrong with my bed?"

"Nothing" he replied, placing his hands on her waist and pulling her flush against him. "I'm just a little long for it."

"This is true" Liza chuckled and wrapped her arms carefully around his neck. He could feel her breath on his lips as she leaned in closer, holding his gaze as she murmured, "Although, it could have something to do with all the strenuous activity you were doing last night…especially that thing you did…"

He grinned widely at her – he knew exactly what she was referring to, and he would happily wake up with a sore neck every day if that were the reason for incurring it! Before they'd got together, he'd dreamt about being intimate with her (more times than he would ever admit), but the reality far surpassed the fantasy. They were totally in-sync, and she had awoken something in him that had been dormant for a very long time. He felt like he was in his twenties again – ironic he knew! The fact that they connected so well intellectually and personally, no doubt had an impact on how incredibly well matched they were sexually. It was like they just knew what each other needed, without any words being required. She was, in a word, perfect for him.

"I'd say it was definitely worth it" he replied, closing the gap between them and brushing his lips over hers.

A moan escaped her lips as she pulled him tighter against her, deepening the kiss. His mind became foggy with lust at the heady sensation, and he wanted nothing more than to pick her up and carry her back to bed so that they could continue where they left off last night. He knew though that if they did that then they would both be very late, so before he passed the point of no return, he conjured up every ounce of self-control he could muster and pulled back, resting his forehead against hers. They were both breathless, and he noticed that her face was adorably flushed.

"How about we continue this tonight?" he murmured softly, brushing her cheek with his thumb. "I have to go meet Quinn, and you have to go run my company…but afterwards, it's just you and me."

Liza smiled warmly at him, "I like the sound of that. And maybe I'll give you a massage – help work out that kink in your neck."

Charles grinned, "And I like the sound of that."

As Liza finished getting ready, he retrieved his pants from the floor by the side of the bed, pulling them on as he looked around the room for the rest of his clothing. "Have you seen my shirt?"

Liza smirked, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she replied, "It's probably in the lounge – I was a little eager to get you out of it last night!"

Charles ran his fingers lightly across the exposed skin on her back, smiling as he whispered in her ear, "I remember."

He smiled over his shoulder at her as he left her room in search of his misplaced shirt, however a voice startled him before he'd taken more than a couple of steps into the lounge. "Good morning!"

Looking over to the couch and the source of the voice, Charles felt his face flush in embarrassment. Maggie was sitting, one leg crossed over the other, coffee in hand and smirking at him in amusement. They hadn't actually formally met yet – Liza had planned for him to come over this coming weekend for a boyfriend meets best friend dinner…but it would seem fate had plans for them to meet sooner than that. He knew that Maggie was one of the most important people in Liza's life and he wanted to make a good impression with the people she cared about…and so him standing half naked in her lounge would not have been his first choice of scenarios for their first meeting.

Charles had flashbacks to his teenage years and the horror he'd felt when Tori Stevens' mother had caught him trying to sneak out of her bedroom window. At least that time he'd been fully clothed though! "Erm, hi" he replied shyly, running his hands self-consciously through his hair.

"You must be Charles" Maggie offered, standing up and walking towards him. The smile on her face told him she was finding this situation highly amusing.

Charles met her in the middle and shook her hand. "I am. It's nice to meet you" he replied, giving her an embarrassed smile.

"I'm Maggie. I've heard a LOT about you."

The mischievous look in her eyes, coupled with the emphasis she placed on 'lot' told him she wasn't just talking about girly chats she'd had with Liza. It was then that he noticed she was wearing a bathrobe, which meant that unlike what he'd originally presumed, she hadn't got back home early this morning – she'd been here all night. He felt his face heat up and turn an even darker shade of what he was sure was already scarlet. He and Liza had presumed they had the apartment to themselves last night and so had been rather 'uninhibited' with the level of noise they were making. Turns out they weren't alone after all and Liza's best friend had more than likely heard them. If there ever was a time he wished the ground would open up and swallow him, it was now.

Liza chose that moment to emerge from her room and looked equally surprised to see Maggie there. "Maggie! I thought you were staying at Malkie's?"

"We had a fight so I came back last night" Maggie replied, waving her hand dismissively.

"Oh, I'm sorry – is everything okay?" Liza asked sympathetically.

"It'll be fine. I just can't deal with her nosey friends being so up in my business all the time."

Liza nodded, seeming to understand what Maggie was talking about. "I didn't hear you come in."

Maggie smirked, "I'm not surprised."

If he wasn't already blushing, he would be doing so again now. Liza also blushed this time and glanced at him in shared embarrassment. She coughed and attempted to change the subject. "So, I see you've met Charles."

Maggie smiled, "I have. Although I feel like I already know him." She seemed to be enjoying this far too much. Leaning down she retrieved something from the couch and handed it to him. "I believe this is yours."

"Thank you" Charles replied shyly, taking his discarded shirt from her and hastily putting it back on. He felt decidedly better now that he was no longer stood there half naked.

Maggie took pity on him and placed a hand on his forearm. "Sweetie, don't worry about it – Liza's walked in on me doing far worse!"

Liza turned to him with a mock grimace, "It's true. Trust me!"

Charles chuckled and felt himself relax. Whilst Maggie had found great delight in his embarrassment, he got the feeling that she did actually like him – and ultimately that was all that mattered.

The three of them made their way over to the breakfast bar and Liza placed a comforting hand on his thigh as they sat down. Maggie grinned at them as she poured some coffee for the three of them. "So I take it you two had a good night?"

Liza rolled her eyes good naturedly at her best friend. "Okay, you can stop teasing now!"

Maggie chuckled and Charles smiled as Liza joined in. The deep friendship between the two women was obvious, and Charles was glad Liza had had someone in her corner through the years.

"Well this wasn't how I planned for you guys to meet, but I'm glad you have." Liza took one of his hands in hers and intertwined their fingers, then took Maggie's hand with her other one. Her eyes shone warmly as she looked between the two of them. "Along with Caitlin, you're the most important people in my life, so it means a lot to me that you get along."

Hearing her describe him as one of the most important people in her life sent a rush of warmth through his body. He returned her smile and hoped that she understood from the look of adoration on his face that he felt the same way.

"I think we're gunna get along just fine" Maggie replied sincerely. She turned to him and smiled, "If you keep making her smile like that then I'm totally Team Charles!"

Charles chuckled at that and squeezed Liza's hand as he smiled back at Maggie. "I think we'll get along just fine too."

"And by the way" Maggie added, "I knew she was into you before she even knew she was into you."

Liza rolled her eyes and then the three of them laughed as they relaxed into easy conversation. They discussed Maggie's art, which he was truly impressed with, and she asked about his girls. Charles' swelled with pride when Liza smiled and added her own anecdotes about Nicole and Bianca, the morning's previous embarrassment all but forgotten. Seeing how happy Liza was to have him there, emersed in her world, made it totally worth it. Plus, being caught shirtless by her best friend was a small price to pay for the mind-blowing night they'd had last night!