Charity wakes slowly, and tenses when she realizes she not in her bed. The familiar scent of Vanessa is everywhere, "Oh shit." She can tell from the brightness of the room that they have definitely overslept.
"What is it?" Vanessa mumbles and she presses back into Charity.
"It's daytime babe. We overslept."
Vanessa sits up, "What?" she glances at the clock. "Oh shit."
Charity chuckles as she gets up to put on last nights clothes. She can hear people talking in the kitchen and smell food and coffee lingering in the air.
"What do you want me to do?" Charity asks, standing in the middle of the room awkwardly.
Vanessa doesn't seem to be to bothered about the situation, she just steps forward and pulls Charity into a hug, humming against her. Charity can't help but pull her tighter and enjoy the moment.
"Everyone will be leaving in a bit, just stay in here," she smiles. "Good luck sneaking back though."
Charity sighs, they share a kiss and a promise to talk later and then Vanessa is gone. She sits for an hour on the bed listening as everyone finally leaves the house. Its a bit weird being the only one in the house, but she sneaks down the stairs and out the back door. Thankfully the village is blessedly empty and she makes it to the pub without anyone seeing her.
She walks in the back door of the pub just as Chas and Paddy are coming down the stairs, "Well well well, look what the cat dragged in," Chas is smiling broadly. "I told you she had been sneaking around," she gloated to Paddy, who simply shook his head. He walks past them into the other room. Chas blocks her way up the stairs.
"So what gives? Why are you keeping this guy such a secret?" Charity can hear a tinge of concern in her voice.
Charity sighs, she's tempted just to tell her, but she doesn't, "I just want it to be my own thing for now. There's nothing sordid going on."
Chas looks at her suspiciously, "So no married man? Nothing illegal?"
"Just two consenting adults, having a bit of fun," Charity shrugs.
She can tell Chas doesn't completely believe her, and while she doesn't really blame her, it stings a bit.
Chas shakes her head, "Just be careful, kid."
Charity heads up to her room, pausing at Noah's door, glad to see he had managed to get himself off to school on time. Once in her room, she flops onto her back on the bed, and even though it hasn't been that long since she's seen her, her mind drifts to Vanessa as it usually does.
If she's honest with herself she hates being this gooey over someone. It makes her feel weak. Makes her feel out of control. She knows she falling hard for Vanessa, and she's at a point where she needs to make a decision. To fight it, or to let it happen.
It's nearly a week before they are able to see each other again. They've both been busy, her with Debbie and Noah, and Vanessa with work. Charity can feel she's nearly reaching her breaking point, so she makes a decision. When she sees Vanessa in the pub with Rhona and Paddy, she approaches, "Hey," she can't believe that she feels nervous. "Can I have a word?"
Worry crosses Vanessa's face and she stands immediately, "Of course."
Vanessa follows her wordlessly, they stopped at the cellar which had a brand new lock. Once inside she leaned against one of the shelves. Vanessa stood in front of her, "Can you..," she trails off not sure what she wants to ask.
Vanessa moves closer, her hand reaching up and caressing Charity's cheek, "Tell me what you need."
Charity leans into the touch, "I don't know," she answers honestly.
Vanessa steps closer, her body flush with the front of hers. She pulls Charity to her and kisses her softly, moving down her neck and over her chest, Charity can already feel herself relaxing.
Vanessa pulls Charity's shirt from her jeans and runs her hands up underneath it caressing her breast's through her bra, Charity leans into the caress with a sigh. Vanessa is watching her closely. She's never had anyone look at her in the way that Vanessa does. So much caring. Charity gasps when Vanessa pops the button on her jeans and quickly moves a hand into them.
They both moan at the wetness she encounters, "I've missed this so much," Vanessa whispers into her neck.
Charity is shaking, overwhelmed, she pulls Vanessa closer with a hand at the small of her back, "Please," she doesn't even know what she's asking for.
Vanessa seems to understand as she starts to work her harder, pulling her impossibly closer, whispering into her neck. Charity is panting, she can feel Vanessa everywhere. Smell her shampoo and perfume, "Vanessa," she needs to see her face.
Vanessa's head jerks up, and she puts her free hand behind Charity's neck, putting their foreheads together, "I've got you. You can let go."
Charity kisses her deeply to muffle her own moans as she comes, clutching to Vanessa desperately. Her knees nearly buckled, but Vanessa keeps them standing. It's not until Vanessa is wiping them away that she realizes that she's been crying. She feels embarrassed, but when she looks into Vanessa's eyes there's no judgment, just caring and maybe even understanding.
"Thank you," she finally says after she catches her breath. When Vanessa goes to pull away she holds her tighter, "Not yet."
Vanessa kisses her gently, her arms wrapped around her tightly. After several minutes Charity finally pulls back, letting Vanessa step away so that she can adjust her clothes.
"Are you OK?" Vanessa asks when Charity is put back together. She caresses her cheek like she had when they first entered the room.
Charity smiles her first genuine smile in days, "Yes." She starts to say more but the sound of the door has them jumping apart.
They both try to look casual as Chas comes down the steps, "Rhona says there's some animal emergency."
Vanessa nods then turns her back to Chas and winks at Charity, "This was a waste of time anyway," she sounds exasperated. Charity has to fight a smile.
Its an inordinately beautiful day in the village and a gaggle of Dingles have joined Charity around the tables outside the Woolpack just to enjoy the weather and a drink. Its rare for them all to be gathered in the same place when there's no drama to be found.
"Wonder what's going on over there?" Zak disrupts the conversation. He points down the street to where a large group has gathered.
It's only then that a familiar cry penetrates the air. Without hesitation, Charity takes off at a run. She can hear Debbie and Chas call her.
As she approaches the crowd she can see Johnny on the ground, practically in a fetal position. Every time anyone reaches for him he releases a terrified shriek. It breaks Charity's heart to hear.
She roughly pushes through the gathered people, "Johnny," his head pops up at the sound of her voice. His face is bright red and covered in tears. She kneels, "Come here."
Johnny doesn't hesitate as he crawls into her lap, burying his head into her neck, his tiny hands clutching her shirt for dear life. She pulls him tighter against her when she feels him shaking.
"Debbie, give me your jacket."
Debbie quickly hands the jacket over. Charity can feel the confused eyes of her family as well as those of everyone else.
"What happened? Where's Vanessa?"
"We have no idea. I found him standing in the street but when I went to pick him up he started screaming," Doug explains.
Before she could ask any more questions she spots Vanessa running toward them, with Paddy and Rhona right behind her.
"He's OK," Charity tries to reassure her.
Vanessa is sobbing and tries to pull him into her arms, but he clutches harder onto Charity. Vanessa cries harder.
"Vanessa," Charity tries to get her attention. "Ness," she tilts Vanessa's face toward her. "Look at me."
Vanessa finally meets her gaze, looking like she's just realized who's holding her son.
"He's terrified right now. We need to get him home OK?" Despite all the people around them she caresses Vanessa cheek in the way she knows soothes her, "He's OK."
Vanessa nods closing her eyes and leaning into Charity's hand, taking deep breaths to calm herself.
Its a struggle but Charity manages to get to her feet, she pulls Vanessa against her side, she clutches to her shirt much like Johnny is doing and they start walking to Tug Gyll.
"You have so much explaining to do," Chas says quietly as they pass. Charity gives a small nod.
When they make it to the house they collapse on the sofa.
"What in the world happened?" she asks Vanessa who is practically sitting in her lap.
"He apparently wandered off from the playgroup at the park. I was on a call when they called me."
"Hey Johnny, Can you sit up so I can look at you? Mummy wants to see your face."
Johnny finally looks up from where his face had been buried in Charity's neck. He had stopped crying minutes before, but his face is still red and he looks exhausted. He reaches for Vanessa moving off Charity's lap onto hers.
Charity rubs Vanessa's back as she has a quiet conversation with Johnny.
After several minutes Johnny is asleep spread across both their laps and Vanessa has her head on Charity's shoulder. She's not sure if she's asleep or not.
She finds out when Vanessa speaks, "What are you going to tell your family?"
"I don't know. Depends on what you want me to tell them."
Vanessa sat up a little, careful not to jar Johnny, "What do I have to do with it?"
Charity raises an eyebrow, "You are my girlfriend, yeah?"
Vanessa looks genuinely surprised, "Am I?"
Charity frowns, "I can't tell if you're taking the mick or not."
Vanessa shakes her head and looks down with a little shrug, "You haven't wanted to tell anyone about us."
"Because you didn't want anyone to know about me," Charity answers a little more harsh that she means to.
"What the hell are you talking about? Of course, I want people to know I'm with you," Vanessa sounded insulted anyone would think anything else.
"Really?" Charity is surprised.
"Have I really made you feel like that?"
It was Charity's turn to shrug, "In the beginning maybe. I mean I wanted it to be just between us but then you didn't show any interest in changing that so..." she shrugs again.
"I was confused in the beginning. And then it was just hot having you all to myself. I've never ever been ashamed of you," Vanessa says confidently.
If they weren't holding Johnny she would be all over Vanessa right now, "I should have said sooner, but I do really care about you. And I would like very much to tell my family we're together."
The huge glowing smile is all the answer she needs.
They sit in silence listening to Johnny snore until Charity glances at the clock, "I need to run to the pub. Ross is going to drop Moses off in a bit. How about I bring him back here and we order some pizza and have a movie night.'
"That sounds perfect."
She's not surprised at all when she walks into her living room. All the Dingles from before are accounted for, but now Moses, Aaron, and Moira have joined the group.
"Someone has some explaining to do," Chas has a huge smile on her face.
"There's nothing to explain. We're friends," Charity refused to just give them the information they wanted. She was going to make them work for it.
"She didn't look at you like you're just friends," Lisa pointed out.
"I've never seen you that soft with anyone," Debbie joins in.
"How long have you been with her?" leave it to Moira to cut to the chase.
Charity sighs, "Since Finn's funeral."
"That's like six months," Chas says in shock.
"Are you happy, love?" Lisa asks.
Charity can't fight the smile, "Yes I am." Before anyone can say anything else she turns her attention to Moses, "You want to go see Johnny babe?" The question perks the little boy up. He reaches his arms up for Charity to carry him.
"You can't just leave. I have so many questions," Debbie practically whines.
"Well, I'm sure the answer to most of them is none of your business."
When she makes it back to Tug Gyll, Vanessa and Johnny are still on the couch, but Johnny is awake, playing with one of his trains and babbling to Vanessa. Vanessa is rubbing a soft hand through his hair, smiling softly and answering occasionally.
Moses wriggles to get down when he catches sight of Johnny. When she put him down he ran and climbed up onto Vanessa's lap and gave her a big hug. Then he was distracted by the toys scattered around Johnny and they started to play together.
"I ordered the pizza. It should be here soon."
They spend the night snuggled on the couch with the boys and watching movies. It's oddly perfect.
Once in the privacy of her bedroom, Charity flops onto the bed with a sigh. Completely clothed. She has her eyes closed and a slight smile on her lips.
Not bothering with pretense, Vanessa strips down to her underwear and climbs onto the bed straddling her hips.
Charity's smile deepens, but she doesn't open her eyes until she places her hands on Vanessa's hips and then they snap open with surprise, and her smile turns into a smirk. Vanessa runs her hands under Charity's shirt, all the way up to her breasts. Her nipples are already pebbled.
"So does this mean I get to call you my girlfriend now?" Vanessa teases as she pushes Charity's shirt and bra out of the way and takes her nipple into her mouth.
Charity sighs, "You keep doing that and you can call me whatever you want."
Vanessa laughs and then moans when Charity's grasps her bottom and pulls her against her. She can't help but rub herself against her. It's not long before she is panting against Charity's breast and then she is coming. She's embarrassed, her cheeks red.
"That was so hot," Charity pants against her mouth as she pulls her into a rough kiss.
Charity flips them, positioning herself between Vanessa's thighs. She's all frantic movement, divesting Vanessa of the rest of her garments. There's something thrilling about being completely bare, while Charity is fully clothed. And from the way that Charity is looking at her, she knows that she feels the same.
"This feels different doesn't it," Charity speaks between nips to her neck.
Vanessa moaned, clutching Charity closer, "It does." And it did. Everything seemed heavier now. More important somehow. Each kiss and caress seemed special, knowing that Charity actually cared about her, in the same way, she did Charity. Even though sometimes she felt like she could see it in her eyes, she had often doubted how deep Charity's actual feelings for her went. But now as Charity worshiped her way down her body, she knew they were on the same footing.