Author's Note: Warning… Lemons ahead. :)

Charlie and Bass walk hand in hand from the old playground to their house. They don't speak, but they do share shy smiles and stop for the occasional kiss. The energy between them is plump with promise. The air hums with anticipation.

And then Bass starts to slow. His expression grows pensive.

"What is it?" Charlie asks, suddenly nervous. They are close enough that they can now see the house, but she's not sure why they are slowing down. "What's wrong?"

Bass comes to a stop. She stops next to him, looking up at his face.

"Nothing is wrong." But he doesn't meet her eyes.

"Monroe." She says sternly. "What the hell?"

He turns to face her, "So now I'm Monroe again?" Bass asks quietly.

"I just don't know what's going on. You suddenly seem distant and I want to know why."

"I think we should talk." He says, holding her gaze.

"Shit." Charlie pulls her hand from his, crossing her arms across her chest. "This sounds an awful lot like you are dumping me and we've only just started something here."

He moves closer and takes her hand again. "I am not dumping you." His mouth lifts at the corner. "I just want to talk before we go inside. That's all."

"Talk about what?" She's frowning. "Are you changing your mind?"

"No." Bass shakes his head, "I am not changing my mind." He leans in and kisses her again. "But I do want to talk about this before..."

"Before what?" Charlie asks, her voice breathless after the kiss.

"Before we go inside and I…" he trails off as he begins to nip at her throat.

"Before we go inside and you have your way with me?" she asks. Her smile is back.

"Yeah. Before I do that, I want to talk. That okay?"

They make it to the house. She leads him to their spot on the porch steps. They sit close enough that their thighs are pressed against each other. "So, what do you want to talk about?" Charlie asks impatiently.

He runs a hand nervously across his jaw. "I guess I just want to make sure you get how big this is."

"Wow Bass, You're worried about how big it is? Cause I'm not." She laughs loudly.

Bass looks at her blankly for a moment before cracking a smile himself. "Jesus Charlie. I was not talking about that." He shakes his head. "I mean us starting something. That's what is big." He reaches for her hand. "Not just because of our history, but because of your family and the age thing and all of it." Their eyes meet and Charlie's smile fades.

"Well, yeah I get that it's a big deal." She frowns. "We do have history. Not all of it is pretty. For a long time I blamed you for my Dad and Danny." Charlie pauses before continuing, "I don't blame you for what happened to them anymore."

"You don't?" he looks uncertain and skeptical.

"No." she shakes her head, "I haven't for a while now."

Bass wants to believe her, but it's hard for him to accept. "But why?" his expression is pained; his voice raw.

"Well, first of all you kept saving me. You kept saving me even when I wanted to kill you. So, that was part of it. I could tell that you weren't the kind of person who I had thought you were."

"Okay." He pauses, digesting her words. "What else?"

"One day I woke up and realized that I'd become immune."

"Immune to me?" he isn't sure what she means.

"No. Immune to killing people. I remember lying there trying to count the people I'd killed and I couldn't remember them all. None of it was personal. They were all just in the wrong place at the wrong time, fighting for the wrong side."

Bass nods. This he understands.

She goes on, "And I was trying to count them when the other thing occurred to me."

"What other thing?"

"Every one of those people I killed… every one of them was somebody's brother or somebody's Dad and I had killed them as if it meant nothing." She sighs. "And I felt bad, but I knew that it didn't change anything. If I had to do it over, I would. This is a war. So it is not fair for me to blame you for doing something that I've also done. I can't treat you differently just because your actions impacted my family. We've all messed with someone's family."

"I'm sorry Charlie. I'm sorry you ever had to kill anyone or try to justify doing it." He looks at her sadly.

"I don't want you to be sorry or feel bad for me. I'm lucky. I don't spend my free time hanging out with the families of the people I killed, constantly having that thrown in my face. I honestly don't know how you do it." She shrugs and then looks into his eyes. "Why do you stay?"

Bass inhales deeply and lets the breath out slow and steady. "I need Miles in my life." He pauses, staring at the ground. "I know how lame that sounds. I'm a grown ass man, but he's my brother and my best friend and I need him in my life."

"I don't think it's lame Bass."

He smiles sadly, "I do like it when you call me Bass."

She smiles back. "I'm glad Miles is so important to you, that you feel the need to stick around."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. If he wasn't, you wouldn't be here, and we wouldn't be sitting out here talking…" she strokes his thigh with her fingers. "And later we wouldn't be going inside and not talking."

"We haven't yet talked about all the stuff…"

Charlie cuts him off, "Well, then let's do it now. Here it is. Yes we have history. Yes I slept with your son and you slept with my Mom. Yes you are way older than me and my family isn't going to be super excited that we are together. Did I forget anything?"

"Uh, no. I don't think so." He runs his hand through his curls. He still looks sad, but also a little hopeful.

"You know what?"

"What?"

"I don't give a shit about any of that." Charlie shrugs and then stands.

"What do you mean Charlie?"

"I mean it's time for you to snap out of it. I like you." She pauses, tilting her head a little. "I like you a lot. You said that you like me too. I want to be with you. Tonight."

He stands now as well, but still seems unsure. She rolls her eyes and opens the front door. "When you are done ringing your hands, come on in and get in my bed." Then she's gone, swallowed by the darkness within. But he hears her when she says. "Come on Monroe. We are done talking for tonight."

Bass pauses for a few moments, wondering how he got so lucky. Charlie Matheson likes him. She wants to be with him. "What the hell am I doing out here?" he growls to himself before heading inside.

The interior of Charlie's house is cloaked in darkness, but Bass can see a tiny sliver of flickering light that shines from under Charlie's door. He gets to it and knocks lightly. "Charlie?" he asks. She doesn't answer, but he slowly pushes the door open anyway.

The candles on either side of Charlie's bed are lit and the soft light bounces around the room. His eyes fall on Charlie and he sucks in a deep breath. She has made the most of these past few moments, lighting candles and stripping down to nothing. Bass' heartbeat accelerates. She faces away from him; her naked body glows in the flickering light. Her wavy hair hangs long and loose down her back, the ends brushing the curve of her ass. In that moment Bass knows Charlie was right. None of the other stuff matters. "Charlie?" he asks again, his voice now rough.

"My back." She says without turning around. "Rub my back Bass. It's been a long day." As she speaks, she sways a little, tantalizing him with her perfect backside.

Bass doesn't need to be asked twice. Shrugging out of his jacket, he approaches and stands just behind her. He leans close, but doesn't touch her yet. "You're sure about this?"

"Yeah, Bass. I'm sure."

When Monroe puts his hands on Charlie's bare shoulders, she can feel a slight tremor in his fingers. Slowly, he begins to knead the tight muscles there, working his way leisurely down her arms. Moving his attention to the small of her back, Bass carefully presses his thumbs into the tension just under the warm skin. She moans softly, pressing back against his touch; erasing the space between their bodies. Bass moves his hands to encircle her waist, leaning over her shoulder he searches for her lips with his own. Charlie turns her head to meet his mouth with hers.

This kiss is sweet and gentle. Softly, Bass runs his hands up her abdomen until he is just barely brushing the underside of her full breasts with the lightest of feather touches. Bass isn't in a rush. In spite of the verbal hints and queues Charlie is giving him; he doesn't yet touch her nipples. Instead, he moves his fingers back and forth along the tender flesh just underneath. He feels her shiver and Bass smiles into the kiss. He takes her shoulders, turning her to face him head on. He takes a moment to look at her, to soak her up with his eyes. "Charlie, you are so beautiful."

She reaches out, stroking a fingertip along the collar of his v-neck tee. "And you are not nearly naked enough Bass." She smiles at him and he can't help but smile back.

He pulls the shirt off easily, tossing it over his shoulder. "Better?"

"So much better." She breathes out shakily as she strokes the smooth flesh of his chest, mesmerized by the cut of muscle and the occasional scar.

Bass watches the emotions that play across her face as she touches him.

Charlie remembers the first time she saw him without a shirt. She'd hated him. She'd wanted him dead, but even then she'd recognized that he possessed the kind of body she wanted to touch – a body she wanted to know better. It hadn't been a thought she'd dwelt on at the time, but in hindsight she realizes that she'd wanted to touch him from that very first night in New Vegas when she'd watched him fight in the ring. She runs her hands gently up and down the firm muscular chest, memorizing the feel of him under her fingers.

Bass loves her hands on him. He loves watching her learn his body. He loves feeling the heat of her skin so close to his own. He moves her hands from his chest to his denim clad hips. Then he wraps his arms around her and pulls her close. The feel of their nakedness pressed together is intoxicating. Their lips meet and this kiss is not so sweet and not so gentle. The passion behind them is almost too much. Bass bites lightly at her bottom lip. Charlie sucks at his tongue, tangling it around with her own. She moves her hands from his hips to his fly, carefully unfastening his jeans to release his throbbing shaft.

Charlie begins to ease Bass' jeans over his hips. He pulls away from her long enough to kick out of his boots and step out of his pants. Then he's kissing her again, and now the kiss is urgent with desire. Bass wants to spend hours worshipping Charlie's body, and he will next time, but right now there is too much need in him. His dick is painfully hard as it presses against her belly. She's stroking his ass with her hands, scraping lightly with her nails. He moves his lips to her throat, sucking and biting at the flesh over her pulse. Without breaking the kiss, he walks her over to the bed.

Bass follows her to the mattress, his body spreading over hers. He kisses her forehead and trails delicate little kisses down her cheek and across her collar bone. Settling over her right breast, he takes the pebbled nipple in his mouth and sucks gently. She keens against him, arching her back to force him closer. When he's done there, Bass moves to her other breast for a repeat performance. Charlie is writhing under him now. He sees her need and it matches his own.

"Charlie." His whisper is hot on her ear.

"Yeah?"

"I want to hold out a little longer, but I want you too much. I need you." His voice trembles. "I need you now."

In answer, Charlie opens herself to him. He settles between her legs as their lips meet again, and he feels like he's never belonged anywhere else so perfectly. He reaches between their bodies, searching for her heat. He finds her dripping with desire and he growls appreciatively. "You're so wet."

"It's all for you Bass. It's all for you." Her whispered reply sends all other thoughts scurrying. Using his fingers, he urges her velvety folds to flower open and then in one sure movement he buries his cock in her heat. Charlie takes in a ragged breath, and moves just a little to better accommodate his size. "Shit Bass. When you asked if I knew how big it was, I knew you weren't just talking about our history."

He smirks before kissing her lightly. "You all good?" his voice is strained.

"Oh yeah," she says softly, moving under him to welcome him deeper. "So good." When he hears her words and feels her move beneath him, what little control he had been clinging to, shatters. He pulls almost all the way from her before thrusting deeply to sheath himself in her depths again. Charlie moans and arches against him, wanting more.

He gives her more.

Bass can't get enough of her. She is tight and hot and everything he ever wanted. He's pounding her into the mattress and he knows he should probably ease up but he just can't. Charlie reaches up and grasps the iron bars of the headboard for leverage. Bass feels that he's getting closer and he wants to be as deep inside Charlie as he can get. Pausing for just a moment, he grasps her legs, moving her calves to his shoulders. This time when he pumps into her, he's reaching a new place and Charlie cries out, her eyes wide.

Bass stops, afraid he's hurt her.

"Don't stop! Please don't stop!" Charlie's voice is frantic. She's close too.

Bass groans and proceeds with deep, hard thrusts. He feels when the orgasm begins to take her and as she shudders to climax, the spasms grasp his dick like a vice.

"Shit." He mutters. Unable to hold back, be rocks into her feverishly; stopping only when he feels his balls tighten. Bass pulls out quickly, rolling to his back he jacks himself to completion; coming across his stomach with a grunt.

They are still sprawled out like that minutes later. Breathing has finally returned to normal for both of them. Charlie leans up on an elbow to look at Bass in the flickering candlelight.

"See?" she grins at him.

"See what?" he asks lazily. Not yet ready to move at all. His body is so relaxed he wonders if this is what it would feel like not to have bones.

"That I was right. We had better things to do than talk."

Bass laughs, and looks at her, "Yeah, you were right about that." She blows out the candles and puts her head on his shoulder. He wraps his arm around her loosely. "Charlie?"

"Yeah Bass?"

"You asked why I stay. I told you it's because I need Miles in my life."

"Yeah?"

"He's not the only one I need in my life." He presses a kiss against the top of her head.

"I'm glad to hear that, because he's not the only one who needs you back." She pauses and then continues, "Bass?"

"Yeah, Charlie?" he's grinning into the darkness as she nestles closer into his embrace.

"I'm sleepy." Her voice is soft and quiet. She yawns.

"You sending me back to the couch?" he asks with a smirk.

"Now that I have you in my bed, I'm never going to let you leave."

He kisses her forehead softly, "Oh really?"

"Yep. I'll burn the damn couch before I let you sleep on it again." He can hear the sleepy smile in her voice. It is soon followed by Charlie's even breathing as she drifts off to sleep.

Bass is having a hard time keeping his own eyes open, but takes a minute to think about the day and about how much better his life is tonight than it was this morning. His last thought before sleeping, is that he's exactly where he wants to be.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bass wakes slowly. He feels the warmth of the morning sun and the weight of her as she straddles him, and the way her long hair brushes his chest as she kisses his neck…

His eyes pop wide open. Memories from the night before come rushing into his head and he smiles. "Good morning." Bass whispers into Charlie's hair.

She sits up, looking at him; her wet heat resting low on his belly. His cock springs to life and when she feels it straining against the flesh of her ass; she grins. "Good morning to you too." Charlie uses her legs to lift her body, and then reaches between them to line him up. Slowly she lowers herself onto him and he can't think of any better way to wake up than this.

"Damn." He says softly as she begins to ride him, slow and easy. Charlie holds his gaze and he is lost in her blue eyes. The sunlight streams through her hair and he can't remember ever seeing such perfect beauty. She's found a pace she likes, and he reaches up to grasp her breasts in his hands, squeezing lightly at her firm nipples. He watches her move up and down. Her eyes go hazy and she reaches down to stroke her clit. He leaves one hand on a breast and bats hers away with the other. "No Charlie, that's my job." He says simply as he begins to stroke that knot of nerve endings she'd been reaching for. Bass watches her face closely. He knows her climax is near when he sees the way her skin flushes and her breathing becomes shallow and her eyes lose focus. When she comes, she does it like she does everything else: totally and completely. Her whole body rocks with it. He can feel her vaginal walls grasping and stroking his dick. Watching her find that release pushes him closer to his own, and he pushes at her gently. "I'm close. Move."

She lifts and pivots. His dick pops out of her heat with a slippery smacking sound. He reaches down to finish himself, but she stops him. "No Bass, that's MY job." Before he even registers what is happening, she's taken him in her mouth. He doesn't last long, spurting deep into her throat.

She collapses next to him, throwing one long leg over his and wrapping her arm around his waist. "You know what?"

Bass loves the feel of her in his arms. "What is it Charlie?"

She smirks at him, and playfully says, "I'm really, really glad that you got evicted."

Bass can't help but laugh. "Yeah, I guess I'm really glad about that too."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bass meets Connor for lunch. "Any leads on the case?" he asks his son before taking a bite of the vile stew generously called 'the house special'.

"Uh, no. Not really." He's looking at Bass strangely.

"What?" Bass asks, his mouth full of stew. He swallows, then repeats, "What?"

"I don't know." Connor says slowly. "You're being weird." He's watching his Dad carefully.

Bass shakes his head, "I have no idea what you're talking about." But his eyes are sparkling.

"You're smiling." Connor comments thoughtfully. "You're kind of… happy."

"What the hell? Can't a guy be happy?" He grins at his son.

"Oh, I see." Connor is nodding now, also smiling. "You and Charlie must have figured out your shit."

Bass shrugs, "Yeah, we're good."

"Well, based on the big grin on your stupid face, you're more than doing good." Connor chuckles. "I'm glad. It was time."

Bass' smile fades. His expression grows serious. "Yeah, it was."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

The Pittman Academy is as unique as its founder Aaron. Not only does it offer classes for elementary and high school students; it also has a wide variety of what he calls 'life courses' available. Community members are encouraged to teach whatever it is they know and anyone interested in learning can attend. Priscilla teaches cooking. Rachel teaches basic physics. Charlie teaches survival skills and hunting. Other Willoughby residents teach sewing, woodworking and art. The school has become a community center of sorts.

Charlie plops down in the chair across from Aaron.

He speaks without looking up, "So, you and Monroe?"

"Wow. How did you hear about that?" Charlie truly is surprised. After all they'd only admitted their feelings for each other the night before.

"Heard you were living together."

"Oh that."

Now he looks up. "Oh that? Like there is something else I should know?" he leans back, studying her for a moment. Rolling his eyes, he shifts his attention back to the pad of paper in front of him. "You're not just roommates are you?"

"Um…"

"No, it's okay. I don't want to know." He keeps working. She stands and starts to leave.

"Hey Charlie."

"Yeah Aaron?"

"Be careful okay. I really don't want to die."

Charlie walks back over to him, concern etched on her face. "What are you talking about?"

"Well," he looks up at her again, his expression determined, "If Monroe breaks your heart or hurts you, I'm going to have to go after him and we both know who wins in a fight between Staypuft and Batman."

Charlie tries to hide her smile, but fails miserably. "First of all, I don't think he's going to be breaking my heart. This feels… different. I don't know how to explain it, but there's something there." She leans down and gives Aaron a hug, "And thanks for wanting to defend me, but if Bass hurts me, I'll be sure to take care of him myself."

Aaron chuckles. "That's probably a good idea. Hell hath no fury like a Matheson woman scorned."

Charlie feels a chill as she thinks of her Mom.

"You okay?" Aaron asks, noticing the change in her demeanor.

"Yeah, just thinking about my Mom."

He looks at her blankly for a moment and then his eyes go wide. "Oh, yeah. Speaking of scary Matheson women…."he frowns. "How is she taking all this?"

"Not well?" Charlie offers.

Aaron nods slowly, "Well I can't help you there. I'm no match for Monroe, but I'm not even in the same atmosphere as your Mom. She's the Devil. I'm Jimminy Cricket." He tries to laugh at his lame little joke, but he struggles. "Sorry Charlie."

"It's okay. It will all work out, I hope." She looks down at the desk for the first time and notices that Aaron is working on a drawing. It's not complete, but there is enough done that Charlie can clearly make out Priscilla's face. "Aaron, that is really nice. I didn't know you can draw."

"Well I couldn't, but I've been taking an art class. I needed to learn something new." He shrugs. "You think she'll like it?"

"She'll love it Aaron."

He grins at her. "Thanks Charlie."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

As he leaves the bar where he'd eaten lunch, Bass is walking along when he hears someone call his name. It's Blanchard.

"Hey Frank." Bass says, his stomach suddenly tied in knots.

"Monroe," the older man says with a frown. "How are you doing?"

"I'm good and you?"

"Oh I'm fine, but let's cut the bullshit shall we?"

Bass is startled, but nods, "Sure. What's on your mind?"

"I'm curious if you knew that Miles Matheson's lady friend came to my office to tell me she thinks I should not hire you because you're unfit to serve the great nation of Texas?"

Bass feels a wave of fury roar through his head. "I did not know that, Frank. I'm really sorry." He starts to walk away.

"Hey, did I say I'm done talking to you?" Frank asks with a chuckle.

"Well, you just told me I'm not fit to take that job you have."

"No Sir. I said that's what SHE told me. I am my own man, Bass Monroe, and I didn't particularly like that lady. There is something way off with her. Anyway, I've been out looking for you."

"You have?" Bass feels a finger of hope pushing through the fury.

"Yeah. Wondering if you could start tomorrow?" Blanchard grins at Bass and smacks him on the back.

Bass feels his anger recede as Frank's words sink in. "You're gonna hire me?" he asks with a smile.

"Well yeah. The day I let a crazy woman tell me what to do is the day I go back to my wife." Frank laughs mirthlessly, "And I'll tell you right now Monroe, that ain't ever gonna happen."

He starts to walk away but then pauses to call out over his shoulder, "Come by my office in the morning. I'll show you around and you can get started."

Bass grins broadly, "I'll be there."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

That night Charlie and Bass are sitting on the porch again. He has told her about the new job. She talked to him about her day. It is a sweet and comfortable conversation. Sometimes they stop talking, and gaze at each other, talking just with their eyes. After a while they go inside and eat a quick dinner before Charlie pulls him by the hand – taking him to her room.

As the bedroom door swings open, Bass has his arms around Charlie. He is nipping at her neck and she is giggling at something he said.

She stops. "Bass?"

"Yeah?" his face is still buried in her throat.

"Were you in here again?' her voice holds an edge, and Bass looks at her.

"I was here last night. You invited me. Please don't tell me you forgot already. I'm kind of like a vampire. Once you invite me in, I'm here to stay." He starts to lightly bite on her ear lobe.

"No Bass, I'm serious. Someone has been here." She sounds mad and a little worried.

"You think it was your Mom?"

"Who else could it be? She was probably checking to see…"

"If we're sharing a room?" he finishes for her.

"Yeah." Charlie's voice is quiet. They both look around the room. The bedding is rumpled. Charlie's bra is hanging on the bed frame. Bass' shirt and jeans from yesterday are tossed haphazardly on the floor. This is clearly a room being shared.

"Shit." Bass says. "We can talk to Connor first thing in the morning. In the meantime let's make sure everything is locked up tight."

After they've made sure all the windows and doors are secure, they fall into the bed and make up for the hours spent apart during the day. The mood is softer than last night, and it is sweeter. Bass and Charlie are learning each other. They take their time. Unhurried and unrushed, they touch and stroke. He whispers softly in her ear. She looks at him in ways that touch his heart.

Satisfied and exhausted, they finally fall asleep; unaware that they have had an audience.

Rachel has been watching through a gap in the bedroom curtains. Her expression is grim. This can no longer wait until Miles gets home.

She needs to deal with this now.