Part 4

The next morning, pounding on the front door jolted her awake. Wincing against the slight headache, she jerked the door open to her mother. After an unfortunate incident involving her and Grandpa walking in on Rachel and Miles, boundaries had been established for both homes. Knocking was one of them.

"Morning, Charlie."

"Mom." Charlie replied using the door to prop herself up. "What's up?"

"We're headed over to Bass' to help him get unpacked and settled in. Thought you might want to come."

Charlie leaned out around her mother to see Miles sitting on the bench of the wagon that had been parked outside grandpa's last night. "Uh, sure. Let me wash up and find some clean clothes. I'll meet you there."

"Okay, honey," Rachel said brushing a hand down her arm. "See you in a bit."

Charlie nodded and closed the door behind her mother, running a hand through her hair. Setting her living room to rights, she deposited the dirty glasses in the sink and put some water on to heat. Putting some dried ginger in a cup along with a dollop of honey for her headache she added warm water to the cup stirring it before taking a sip and pouring the rest of the water in a wash basin that she carried to the bathroom.

Rachel was on the front porch, bouncing on the balls of her feet when Charlie arrived. "Thank goodness you're here! One of the Sims kids fell out of a hayloft and Dad needs my help. Bass and Miles are over at the Livery, the men that came up with Bass are getting ready to leave. Annabeth is down for a nap. Her bottle is on the stove keeping warm, there's water and diapers on the changing table. I gotta go."

"But…!" Charlie called out as her mom raced down the street. Grumbling under her breath Charlie entered the house which had went into total disarray since she had been here last night. Shrugging her jacket off she hung it on a hook in the entry way and got to work unpacking. She had only been at it about thirty or forty-five minutes when she began to hear muffled cries out of the back bedroom. Dropping her shoulders with a sigh, she grabbed the bottle off the stove and headed back. By the time she arrived beside the crib, Annabeth's face was scrunched up and she was in full-blown wail mode.

She wasn't afraid of babies, far from it; she had gotten quite good with them since most of her students had younger brothers or sisters. She just didn't feel comfortable with them. Danny's death still profoundly affected her. She wasn't sure she wanted the responsibility of another child on her hands when she had so spectacularly failed her brother. Shushing the infant, Charlie picked her up, moving her to the changing table. Evidently mad that she still wasn't being held the wails increased. Charlie let out a *hmpft* while stripping the baby's diaper off and running a wet cloth and then dry towel over her.

"Demanding, just like your grandpa," she told the little girl as she wrestled her into a new diaper, trying not to stick her with the pins. Putting the diaper cover on her that they had found in all her mother's baby clothes, Charlie finally picked the infant up, grabbing a towel to put over her shoulder and the bottle. Settling in the rocker, the baby greedily pulled on the nipple, her angry cries reduced to indignant sniffles as she inspected Charlie with her dark brown eyes. With a crown of curly dark curls, Charlie could clearly see the Monroe in her and realized she was quickly falling in love with the newest member to their dysfunctional family. She began singing softly to the child in her arms.

Monroe walked through his front door expecting to see Rachel. What he found was an empty living room and something that sounded like a dying cat coming from Annabeth's room. Holding up a hand to Miles, they both pulled out the guns they were carrying and made their way silently down the hallway. Rounding the doorway slowly, he smiled at the sight that greeted him. Tilting his head at Miles as he put his gun away, he winced as Charlie continued to sing to his granddaughter as she lightly tickled the girl's feet causing to her laugh, in turn causing a huge grin to appear on Charlie's face.

"Jesus, Charlie," Miles said causing her head to snap up. "Where'd you learn Metallica?"

"Aaron," she replied as she stood with the baby. "He sang it continuously on our way to Chicago to find you. It's probably one of the only songs I know all the words to."

"Well, just stop, ok. Lars and James are probably turning in their graves right now."

Charlie stuck her tongue out at her uncle, before she turned her attention back to Annabeth and Bass. "Mom had to go help Grandpa. I hope its ok," she said as she moved the baby to her shoulder.

Miles watched as Bass eyes softened, causing his to narrow. "Its fine, Charlie. I was hoping you'd get to spend some time with her."

"She's beautiful."

Bass just beamed. Miles coughed. "Well do you mind watching her a bit longer so we can get the rest of this stuff brought in the house?"

"That's fine, Miles. I got this," she said in Bass' direction.

"Thanks," he said the corners of his eye crinkling.

She nodded and followed them outside, wrapping a blanket around the baby. The weather had been mild so far and the days were more like autumn than winter. Annabeth was just starting to get fussy again when Miles sought her out. "I'm gonna swing by the Sims place to check on Gene and Rachel before heading home. Want a ride. "

"Nah. I'll stick around for a while and help Bass."

Miles pursed his lips for a moment before reaching out to grab her shoulder, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about all this before. I just...just be sure this is somewhere you want to go, Charlie."

Charlie nodded. "I will. Promise."

Miles pulled her in, wrapping a hand around her neck as he kissed her forehead and wiggled a finger at the baby. "Love you, Charlie."

She watched him take off in the wagon before turning to the house. Bass met her with a bottle. "I heard her fussing. Figured it was probably time for another nap."

"Do you want to...?" Charlie offered beginning to hand the baby over.

"No, it's ok. You can."

Charlie took the bottle giving it to the baby as she wondered down the hall humming the same song she had sung earlier, Bass watching as a quiet contentment spread throughout his chest.