Previously...

"Oh Charlie, it will be ok. I promise. I am here for you and until you tell me to go I am here." He pulled Charlie into an embrace and whispered. "Do not worry, I will never leave you alone with him or less you ask" he tilted her head so he could look into her eyes. "Trust me?" Charlie smiled and nodded and reached up to kissed him when

"We'll isn't this cosy"

Charlie turned to see Miles, hand on edge of his sword leaning against the door. With so much anger and hatred on his face. Charlie actually for a moment felt scared, until she felt Connors arms around her.

CHAPTER 7

Miles felt like hitting something well someone in particular!

He gripped his sword so tight that his knuckles turned white. Seeing Him put his arms around Charlie made his blood boil. But it was the look of fear in Charlie's eyes which hurt him, he would never intentionally hurt Charlie.

"Charlie?..." Charlie ignored Miles and looked beyond Miles and saw Aaron and Nora.

Charlie smiled and stepped away from Connor "Hey so glad you came. Wasn't sure you would" Charlie kept her gaze from going to Miles. It still hurt what he had said, and she just could not look at him.

"So your ok?" queried Aaron.

Charlie walked past Miles into the hallway and hugged Aaron and Nora. She could feel his gaze as she walked past. She didn't need to look at him to know what he was doing. He would look right at her and follow her out the room with his eyes. Then once he could no longer follow he would drop his head. As he had done on previous occasions.

"Yes, as you can see I am not chained up!" She laughed at this and turned and winked at Connor who in return smiled and winked back and also tried to stifle his laugh.

Unfortunately for Miles he looked up and caught the winks and was not happy about how comfortable and at ease both Charlie and Strausser were around each other; it angered him more. He and Charlie used to be like that; well until he opened his stupid mouth and ruined it!

"Charlie, can we talk?" Miles asked. He wanted to get Charlie away from Strausser and to explain things to her.

Connor looked at Charlie and spoke "Sorry Miles, but Charlie does not want to talk to you at the moment" Charlie mouthed Thank you to Connor and smiled.

Miles drew his sword and stepped forward and put the sword under Straussers chin. "I was talking to Charlie. Not You!"

The two men stared at each other. Charlie stepped between them. Her back to Connor and faced Miles.

"Miles" Miles could hear Charlie's voice but was too focused on Strausser.

"Miles!" Charlie raised her voice slightly, breaking Miles from his trance, he looked into Charlie's eyes. He wished he hadn't when he saw the hurt in her eyes.

"Miles, please put the sword down. You are an invited guest in Connor's home." She waited a minute to see if he would comply. He did not.

"If you don't show some manners I will personally escort you off of his property. At this moment, it is of no matter to me if you stay or go. It is your choice" Miles saw the look in Charlie's eyes. He dropped his sword and put it back in his belt.

"Charlie I.." Miles started to speak to Charlie but her look silenced him.

Connor decided to try and defuse a volatile moment "Why don't I show you to your rooms. Get freshened up and then we can have dinner. If you wish to bathe before, let me know and I can have water brought to your rooms."

Connor put his hands on Charlie's shoulders, gave her a comforting squeeze, and walked by her and Miles. Miles could hear Connor introducing himself to Nora and Aaron in the distance he was too focused on Charlie. He was about to try and speak to her alone.

"Please don't Miles. I am not ready to talk or to listen to you at the moment. What was said hurt. We will talk tomorrow. Please for tonight can you be civilised with Connor?" Charlie looked into his eyes "For me?"

Miles looked at Charlie; for that look he would do anything for her, he usually did. But it was the little bit of the old Charlie in her eyes, which gave him hope and a reason to try. He nodded and followed everyone else up the stairs.

Seeing Miles again confused her. She waited until he was in his room before heading up to her room. She needed sometime to herself, sort out the feelings which she thought had been put to rest, but after seeing him again...

She noticed that Connor had put Aaron and Miles on the same floor as his room and guessed Nora was on the floor above near her.

As she followed she couldn't help but notice how thoughtful Connor was being.

With Aaron and Miles in there rooms, Connor showed Nora her room. Charlie followed more out of nosiness; if room was like hers.

Connor turned to Nora "here we go, Charlie's room is right next door, so you can protect her honour" he said with a wink to Nora she just smiled at him.

"Some clothes in the wardrobes if you wish to use by all means. Keep whatever you fancy" he looked between the two women. "Well I will leave you two lovely ladies to catch up and freshen up" Connor closed the door on his exit.

Nora looked at Charlie, for the first time properly since arriving.

"So, you really ok?" Nora asked Charlie "yes of course I am" Nora looked at Charlie knew she was lying.

"I am fine" Charlie said trying to convince herself more than Nora "I am just struggling a little with seeing Miles. I didn't think he would still be around"

"Charlie, he has been a mess since you disappeared." Charlie looked like she didn't believe her. "But you really need to talk to Miles. He has a few things he has to tell you, to clear up this mess"

"I told him will speak tomorrow. After a good day and being treated as an adult. I just want to have a nice evening" Nora understood what Charlie was saying.

"Ok, how about we raid these wardrobes and see what we can find to wear tonight." Nora winked at Charlie "why not dress up, not often these days we have three men to dress up for. Plus Straus..., I mean Connor is easy on the eye" Charlie and Nora laughed and started looking for something to wear.

It was not laughter in the rooms below. Aaron was trying to get his head around so many things that had materialised over the past few days. But the relief that Charlie was ok was the main thing. He heard a knock at the door. He let in the men carrying the water. He locked the door, stripped and slipped into the hot water. It had been a while since had a hot bath.

In the room next door, Miles was pacing. He really did not want to be here in Straussers house, but he could not voice that thought aloud. He thought about going up to Charlie's room and speaking to her now. But knew if he pushed her she would go away forever, and he could not cope with that.

He sat down and thought over what had happened and what had been said. He then realised, Strausser had been saying things to turn Charlie against him. It was not just his fault. Charlie would never of spoken to him like that before.

Before Miles knew what he was doing he was out the room and heading down the stairs, he was looking for Strausser. He was just about at the bottom of the stairs when he remembered what Charlie had asked of him. For tonight he was going to be as civil to Strausser for her.

Miles continued towards the study door, he saw him leaning over the desk, looking at what seemed a map. Miles leaned against the door frame. Strausser looked up and smiled at Miles "Hello Brother.. Been a long time" Miles just gave a grimace look to Strausser and walked in the room and closed the door behind him.