Chapter Six: Don't Do Sadness

Violet Turner was watching her best friend closely. Cooper had already run through his weekend with Cruella, a. k. a Charlotte King, but something was still on his mind. Something that he wasn't telling her. Sure she knew he edited parts of his narration to protect the blonde, but she could tell that he learned a big juicy secret about the Charlotte.

The clues were there. He avoided eye contact. He kept ringing his wrists and he kept looking at the door, his only exit out of her office. He was definitely keeping a secret.

"You think I should call her," Cooper asked. "Just to see how she's doing."

This constant obsession with Charlotte was what really annoyed her. All he did was worry about the evil little blonde. Not that she wasn't unsympathetic because she truly was sad about Charlotte's loss, but right now she was pregnant with two potential fathers. She liked them both, but she kind of liked Pete more. The problem was that she hadn't told either of them yet, but Cooper didn't really seem to care about her drama. Or rather he did care, but he being the love sick puppy that he is, was still going on and on about Charlotte, her nemesis and competitor for Cooper's attention.

"I think that would probably annoy her Coop."

"Yeah, you're right. I'm just worried about her." He looked like he was about to say something else, but didn't.

She had sort of stopped paying attention to him anyways and was focusing on her belly. She was going to blow up to the size of a beach ball. The idea of another human being growing inside of her freaked her out and fascinated her all at the same time. She tentatively placed a hand on her belly.

When she noticed Cooper had been silent for the last minute she looked back up at him and blushed. He had caught her being kind of motherly.

"Sorry," she said putting her hand back at her side. "What were you saying?"

He smiled in that knowing way. "You're pregnant Vi, you have to accept that. And I promise, I'll be there to help you."

Not if Cruella has her way.

0oo0oo0

"It's big," Charlene said in reference to Charlotte's office.

"That's because I'm the boss," Charlotte told her proudly. "Come on let's see the rest of the place."

Charlotte was giving Charlene the grad tour of Pacific Wellcare. She knew the place would seem impressive to the little girl. Patients were filling the lobby and lots of important looking doctors were scurrying around.

As they walked on, all of Charlotte's staff stopped to give their condolences. She could tell they were all surprised that she was back so soon. She could also see a hint of fear in their eyes. She smiled secretly at that. Yep, was still the top dog.

No one commented on Charlene, but it couldn't be doubted that there was a great resemblance between their boss and the child standing next to her.

"Dr. King!" Someone called behind her

She turned around to see Sheldon Wallace. He was a good shrink, but she personally found him annoying.

"Yes, Sheldon," she said impatiently.

"I didn't know you were coming in today. I'm kind of surprised."

"Well I'm here so…" She hoped he would get the hint and get lost but, he just kept on talking.

"Dr. King, grieving is a process," Sheldon began. "You need time to overcome your loss. You should-."

She was not interested in his analysis. "I skipped a couple of steps. And you know I think you and me need to have a little talk," she said sharply.

"About what?" He was getting nervous. She could tell.

"About your involvement with a certain therapist in the enemy practice."

He gulped. "Violet?"

"That would be the one," she said flippantly. Just then she remembered that Charlene was watching. She was supposed to be this girl's role model. Tearing down men was not a skill a little girl her age should learn. Maybe when she was older. "Charlene, why don't you run up to the fifth floor and surprise Cooper? I'm sure he'll love to see you. Dr. Wallace and I have to discuss something."

Charlene agreed and then left.

Charlotte nodded to Sheldon and led him to her office. She took a seat behind her big imposing desk and gestured for him to sit.

"Your relationship with Dr. Turner needs to be handled."

"Handled? I don't see why any of this is your concern?"

"I just don't want a scandal. If one of my doctors is caught up in something, I don't want the reputation of the practice being compromised."

Sheldon looked thoroughly confused. "A scandal? Dr. King you are not making any sense."

"The pregnancy Sheldon!" She said losing her temper.

"Pregnancy?" His eyes widened in realization. "You mean Violet's pregnant?"

"Yes."

"Pregnant?" he uttered disbelievingly. "With a baby?"

"No, with a horse," she snapped. "Yes, with a baby! And it might be your baby, so I need you to take care of it."

Sheldon just sat there with that dumbfounded look on his face. "She's pregnant?" he asked again.

Charlotte cocked an eyebrow. "You didn't know she was pregnant?"

"No, I didn't. Would you excuse me," he said. And then he was gone.

It was then that Charlotte remembered that Violet's pregnancy and paternal predicament was a secret, a secret that she shouldn't have exposed.

"Shit!" I'm in trouble.

But she did have to admit, working was making her forget about her grief.

0oo0oo0

Violet wasn't sure what she was seeing. Standing in front of her, near the receptionist desk was a small blonde girl. But the thing about this girl was that she looked exactly like Charlotte King. The resemblance was eerie. Behind her, Naomi came out of her office to see what she was staring at.

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Violet asked her.

"Uh, yeah, Charlotte's mini me," Naomi answered.

Addison ventured near the two with her eyes glued to a chart. "Naomi do you think you can see one of my patients this afternoon? She's having trouble-." The redhead stopped talking when she noticed that her best friend was completely ignoring her to gawk at something in front of them. She turned to see what both Violet and Naomi were staring at.

"Whoa! Did someone shrink Charlotte?!" Addison exclaimed.

Charlene smiled at them shyly. "Excuse me, could one of you please tell me where Cooper is?"

"Of course sweetie," Naomi said. "Just back there. His office is the last one on the left."

"Are you by any chance related to Dr. Charlotte King?" Violet asked cutting in.

"I'm Charlene King, Charlotte's daughter." And then she was gone to find Cooper.

"Oh my god!" Violet exclaimed. This is what Cooper has been hiding.

"Charlotte has a daughter?" Naomi asked.

Addison was just about to comment, but the elevator opened and Sheldon stalked out of it.

"You're pregnant and you didn't tell me?!" Sheldon shouted, loud enough for all to hear.

Violet blanched. "Who told you?"

"Charlotte. My boss had to tell me," Sheldon said angrily. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"To be fair, I didn't tell Pete either," she said. "Well now you know."

The thing about Violet was that she was an avoider. When she felt uncomfortable in a situation she removed herself and that's just what she did. She hopped on the elevator and went down one floor.

She intended to give Charlotte a piece of her mind.

0oo0oo0

Cooper was a little surprised to see Charlene. Okay, he was more than surprised because if Charlene was here then so was Charlotte. And he knew she was not ready to come back to work. She still needed time.

"Hi, Charlene," he said. "Not that I'm not happy to see you, because I am, but what are you doing here?"

"Charlotte brought me to work and she's been showing me what she does, but I came up here to visit you."

He watched the girl walk around and examine his office. She immediately gravitated towards his bookcases and began scanning his various medical texts. Never mind all the wacky toys he had in his office.

"You like to read," he asked.

"It's my favorite thing to do."

"Oh yeah? What do you like to read?"

" The classics: Jane Eyre, A Tale of Two Cities, The Scarlett letter, Frankenstein, Ethan Frome…you know. I like poetry, especially anything written by Emily Dickenson or Poe."

He could tell she was enthusiastic about her literature. He was also a little surprised that a girl her age could read and understand those books.

"What grade are you in Charlene?"

"I'm supposed to be in third, but I skipped a couple of grades. I'm in the sixth grade now," she said proudly.

"Wow, you are one impressive young lady."

Charlene smiled and he recognized that smile as Charlotte's. It was so beautiful.

"Do you love Charlotte?" Charlene suddenly asked him.

"Uh, well…," he stumbled. Then he looked around and leaned closer to her. "Can you keep a secret?"

Charlene nodded her head vigorously.

"One day I'm going to marry her."

Charlene giggled. "That's what Charlotte says."

He grinned. "Really? You guys have been talking about me?"

She nodded shyly.

"What else did she say?"

"Sorry, can't tell you. It's a secret."

0oo0oo0

Charlotte was just filling out some paperwork when Violet barged into her office. She wasn't really surprised that the therapist had come, but she was surprised at how angry Violet was. The therapist had a temper.

"What the hell do you think you're doing telling everyone that I'm pregnant?!"

Charlotte stood. "I wasn't telling everyone, just the potential father of your child," she said haughtily.

"So you're judging me now? Because I don't seem to remember you telling Cooper about that cute little blonde girl before," Violet shot back.

"That cute little blonde girl," She said angrily. "Is Charlene and…that is a really long story that you know nothing about. Besides Sheldon deserves to know that he has a baby."

"I can't believe you did that! No…no I can believe you did that. You are an evil little…"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence," Charlotte growled.

Violet threw her hands up. "Now everyone knows."

Charlotte sat back down. The fight was becoming less intense by the second. "Everyone would have figured out eventually."

Violet took a sudden interest in her shoes. "Not if I chose to get rid of it," the therapist said quietly.

She pursed her lips. "That doesn't really seem fair. The baby, who did nothing wrong, has too suffer 'cause you couldn't keep your knees together?"

Violet looked up quickly and glared at her.

Charlotte rolled her eyes and said, "I'm putting this fight on pause. You should know that the kid thing. It's not so bad."

"Thanks. And you should really be at home. Grieving takes time." Violet was silent for a moment. "I still hate you." And just like that they were enemies again.

"Good, because I still hate you too."

"Cruella," Violet mumbled. And

"What did you say?"

"Nothing."

"You are so lucky you're pregnant. Now get out of my office."

"I can't believe you're the one Cooper loves," Violet said disgustedly.

Violet was already gone, when she replied.

"That makes two of us."

0oo0oo0

Charlie was thinking about the wonderful day she had. It was exciting seeing her momma work and she liked spending time with Cooper. It was a fun day, but now that she was alone in her room, the reality of her situation hit. Granddaddy was dead, Rachel left her and she was in a completely new city where she would have to go to a new school and make new friends. But mostly she missed her granddaddy.

It was night and she couldn't sleep in a new place. Last night she had just been exhausted, but tonight she couldn't even close her eyes without thinking about her grandfather laying in that bed, looking so pale.

0oo0oo0

Charlotte was thinking about how successful her day was. She had gotten a lot of work accomplished, forgotten about Big Daddy's death and managed to piss off that annoying therapist, Violet. But now reality was crashing down on her.

Her bedroom door creaked open, scaring her half to death until she remembered that Charlene lived here too.

The little girl walked silently to the side of her bed. "I miss him." Charlene said. "Can I sleep with you tonight?"

She scooted over to make room in her bed and lifted up the comforter. "Get in." Charlene curled up against her and she hesitantly wrapped her arms around the small girl. It felt natural and she was kind of comfortable now.

They stayed like for a few moments and Charlotte was doing fine until Charlene started crying. She couldn't help, but cry too.

She thought she could avoid feeling her sorrow, but she couldn't. The sorrow came and got her anyways.