Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews! Please keep them coming!

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 4: One of These Days

Charlie walked quietly into his apartment and saw Linda sitting on the couch. She looked up at him

"Hi," he said.

"Hi?" She said. "That's what you have to say to me!" He looked at her. "Where were you?"

"Don't ask me that," he shook his head. She looked at him.

"Did you expect me to not ask you that when you didn't come home?" She said. He looked at her. "You slept with her didn't you?"

"Linda," he said. "It's been over between us for a long time." She laughed humorlessly.

"Right," she said. "Is that what you told yourself to make it OK? Or maybe that's not even what you told yourself, that's probably just what you told Julie." They stared at each other. "It is over, now, because you did this."

"Then how do you explain the past few months?" He said. "Linda, we never talk anymore. We're barely ever together."

"Because you're always with Julie!" She said. "Charlie, you've been cheating on me with her since she came back into your life."

"That's ridiculous," he said, "nothing happened between us until last night."

"An emotional affair is still an affair!" She said. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to watch your boyfriend fall in love with some one else?"

"About as hard as watching your girlfriend sell out for eight years?" He shrugged. She dropped her jaw and stared at him. "I fell in love with you because you were passionate and involved and interesting. Look at our life Linda! This wasn't what we wanted."

"So, you cheated on me because I'm not the same person I was when I fifteen?" She said. "By that logic I should have jumped into bed with every guy who crossed my path once we got to college and you decided to hang up your skates!" He looked away. "I want you to move out."

"Fine," he said. "I will."

"Fine," she said as he marched out.

Julie sat looking at a picture from the hospital, the first time she'd held Tyler. She'd known in that moment that she'd give up everything for him. It wasn't like she hadn't considered still going to college, her parents had offered to take care of the baby, back when he was just, "the baby." But once he was Tyler and she held him, she couldn't bear the thought of losing him. She flipped to the next picture in the stack. It was a Christmas photo of Tyler sitting on Santa's lap at the mall last year. She smiled and thought about how she'd saved all year to make sure that Tyler got whatever he wanted for Christmas. She turned another page and closed her eyes. She didn't know how this one had ended up there. A formal portrait from the senior Holiday dance at Eden Hall. The night she'd gotten pregnant. It was nice to look at though. Sure, he'd panicked and bolted and over the years things had grown strange but when they made Tyler, she and Scooter had been really in love.

"Is everybody decent?" Sean said walking in with his hand over his eyes.

"Come in," she said, rolling her eyes. He smirked and walked inside.

"Aw, he left?" He said. "I'm sorry." She laughed.

"I told you it's not like that," she said. "Want to see something funny?" She asked and flipped through the pictures.

"Whoa," he said, "nice hair on Charlie. And that hat is adorable on you." He said. She smiled. "How old are you guys here?"

"Twelve," she said, "that's the summer we met. At the Goodwill Games." He looked at her.

"You're in love," he said. She rolled her eyes. "I can't believe I missed that. I knew you wanted to get some I didn't think you were like emotionally involved."

"God you're a pain in the ass," she said and stood up. "I have to go to work. Do you need something?"

"Just wanted to see how last night went," he shrugged.

"I don't kiss and tell," she said.

"So there was kissing?" He smiled.

"It's an expression Sean," she said. "Go home."

"Why are you working today?" He asked. "Isn't it supposed to be your weekend off?"

"No," she said, "it's a weekend with Tyler, which means that I can work Saturday night, which means big tips."

"I'll see you later," he said. "And you will tell me everything." He walked out. Julie rolled her eyes and walked into the bedroom to get changed for work.

After a very long and busy night Julie walked back from the bus towards her building she unlocked the door and walked upstairs.

"There you are," Sean said. She looked at him. "Um, you had a visitor."

"Oh my God!" She said. "Is he sick or something? Why didn't anyone call me? God, he can't handle one night?"

"Um, what are you talking about?" He said. "Charlie showed up drunk and I buzzed him in because you weren't here."

"Charlie," she sighed. "You scared me, I thought that,"

"Julie," he said. "If your ex dumped Ty on me I would have called you." She nodded.

"Point me the way," she said following Sean into his apartment. "Charlie," she sighed, seeing him on the couch.

"Cat!" He said. "How long has it been since someone called you Cat?" He slurred as she helped him to his feet.

"It's been a while," she said, "thanks Sean."

"No problem," he said as Julie got him outside. She walked him up to her apartment.

"Julie, Julie," Charlie said. "You're very pretty."

"Uh huh," she nodded and opened her door. "You made that clear last night." She settled him on the couch.

"Linda kicked me out," he mumbled. "I have no place to go." She sat down. "You'll keep me right?"

"Tonight I will," she said. "But not once Tyler's back." He nodded. "I wish I could." She kissed him. "I'm going to make you some coffee." She opened a cabinet.

"I love you," he said.

"I know," she said putting the coffee on.

"No," he said as she walked back over and he took her hands. "You don't know. I love you. And I love Tyler. I should have stayed in touch."

"I know, sweetie," she said and patted him on the hand. "You've told me all of this while you were sober."

"Yeah," he said. "Last night was like the best ever. You're really good at sex."

"OK," she said. "This stopped being endearing." She stood up and poured the coffee and handed it to him. "Drink this."

"No milk or sugar?" He said.

"No," she said. "Drink it." He took a sip. "Good boy."

"What was I saying?" He said. She looked at him. "Oh right, you're very good at sex. Better than Linda."

"I really can't have this conversation," she said. "OK?" He looked at her.

"OK," he said. "Are you sure I can't be your boyfriend?"

"Pretty sure," she nodded. "You can stay on the couch tonight."

"But I like sleeping in the bed with you," he smiled. "That was nice."

"Right," she said. "But we talked about this. I'm going to get changed." She walked into the bedroom and changed into sweats and ran a brush through her hair. Once she was outside Charlie was passed out on the couch. She smiled and covered him in a blanket.

Please Review!