Thanks to everyone who's been following this story from the beginning. Folks have just been so supportive and wonderful, and I've just had a wonderful time with this fic. I certainly hope to write some more of Charlie in the near future, and I do have some other projects in the works in this fandom. Again, thanks so much to everyone who's been so supportive of this work, who's followed it from the start, who's offered good concrit and ways to genuinely improve.

Warnings: some strong language, mentioned infidelity, enough fluff to comprise a tribble colony

Mike unlocked the door to his apartment, skillfully juggling his keys and a box of donuts. He still smiled every time he walked through the door, casting his eyes around to the furniture and the TV and the curtains. Depositing the donuts on the kitchen counter, he toed off his shoes by the door and went into the bedroom, where he stripped down to his boxers and climbed into bed. He draped an arm over the small, warm lump under the covers. The young woman shifted slightly, and Mike's lips found the back of her neck and a bare shoulder. She made a soft noise and rolled over to face him, snuffling against her mop of dark curls.

"Charlie… Charlie, wake up," Mike whispered, "I've got three words I know you wanna hear."

Blue eyes blinked blearily up at him, a sleepy grin on Charlie's face. Mike leaned in and pressed a kiss to her forehead, her nose, her lips.

"Hmm… three words?"

"Brought home donuts."

She laughed quietly, saying, "You're right, I did wanna hear that. Makes my whole morning."

"Seein' me wasn't enough?"

"It was a good start, but the news of donuts made it."

"Oh, well, if I don't matter then maybe I should go."

Mike pulled away half-heartedly, allowing Charlie to easily pull him back in, snuggling up against his bare chest. He wrapped his arms around her, pressing his nose into her hair and breathing deep, and slid his hands up under her shirt, his broad palms flat against the smooth skin of her back. She hummed appreciatively.

After everything that happened, Mike and Charlie only grew closer, their relationship getting stronger. Mike moved out of his apartment over the course of the trial and moved in with Chet and Charlie, putting whatever wouldn't fit in that apartment with their stuff into storage. Pfeffer was eventually sentenced to consecutive terms that would surely keep him locked away for the rest of his life. He had no family that still cared for him or any friends, and so Mike had no fear of anyone taking revenge on him again. Knowing he was safe, Mike finally felt ready to move on… particularly with Charlie.

The two of them moved into an apartment of their own, in the same complex as Chet though a different building, and Mike was never happier. The two of them enjoyed nothing more than being in one another's company, in being close, in being near each other. They had a one-bedroom with a pullout couch in the living room in case of visitors like Johnny or little DeSotos or the Lopez children.

Susan Stoker was delighted at her son moving in with Charlie, apparently seeing it as a first step toward marriage. She dropped little hints around the two of them about nice places for ceremonies and receptions and the prettiest flowers.

"You know, Edgar and I weren't quite twenty when we were married," Mrs. Stoker told them, "Now, Charlotte, you're almost twenty-four, and Michael, you're thirty-four. You're both losing time."

They tended to just let her go on whenever she got like that. Mike liked to think he and Charlie were modern adults, were hip with the times. Marriage just wasn't a necessity. Mike brought it up once or twice in terms of benefits, but she had her own working through dispatch, and Chet helped her out, too. They just didn't need marriage yet, and honestly, not being married helped avoid certain questions.

"Look, if we get married, then people are gonna start askin' when we're gonna start our family," Charlie pointed out one afternoon, "They're all gonna be waiting for us to announce some little Stokers."

Mike gave a little shudder, replying, "Yeah, I hadn't thought of that. I wouldn't even know what to say if someone asked."

"I just planned on saying we're not interested in having kids."

"What would people say to that?"

"Who cares?" Charlie shrugged, "Some people'll feel sorry for us and some'll think we're selfish, but who really cares? I sure won't care what they think, not when we'll be rolling around in disposable income. Plus, we can spoil our nieces and nephews, the DeSoto kids, the Lopez kids, the Stanley girls… it'll be great. Now if other people wanna say somethin' about it, they can go play in traffic."

So they just cohabitated for the time being. They bought common furniture and appliances. They got two cats, a brother and sister Charlie decided to name Merry and Pippin, and so Mike got used to having little brown and grey and white hairs all over him. They had dinner and breakfast together and lunch if they were lucky and slept in the same bed and cuddled up together. Mike was really quite sure he'd never been happier.

A chorus of meows sounded from the kitchen, and Charlie snorted quietly.

"You feed Merry and Pippin yet, Mike?"

"Nope, I came right in here to you."

"Good, I won't feed those fatties second breakfast, but I need to give them one soon before they wake the whole building with their lamentations. C'mon, lemme up, ya big lug…"

He did so, letting her get out of bed and following her lead, stopping to pull on a t-shirt. The cats were happily eating when he entered the kitchen, Charlie aimlessly petting them while they ate. Mike stepped up behind her, wrapping his arms around her and resting his chin on the top of her head. Quiet laughter shook through her small frame.

"I'm glad I'm here for you to use as a chin rest," she quipped.

"So am I. I don't know what I would do without you, Charlie."

"I guess your chin would just droop and droop until it hit the floor and you were all hunched over."

He hummed in agreement and asked, "Want me to make the coffee?"

"Certainly."

Mike dropped a kiss to the top of her head and stepped away to get the coffee started, scratching Pippin's head as he did so, earning a flick of his bushy tail and happy chirp.

"Oh, remember, Charlie," Mike piped up, "Mother's hosting that New Year's party tonight at the house."

"Yes, I remember. I didn't buy that new dress the other day for nothin'."

"Well, you still gonna fit in it after all them donuts?" he asked jokingly, earning himself a glare.

To emphasize the glare, Charlie shoved almost half a donut into her mouth and grabbed another. Mike laughed. That's my very lady-like lady. Others in his parents' social circle were certainly beginning to wonder if and when Mike and Charlie were ever going to tie the knot. She'd attended a number of functions with him as his date, but this was the party to be seen at. Anyone with money who was anyone with enough money attended this party. Mike usually managed to avoid it thanks to work, but this time he had no such luck. Charlie's excited, though, so I guess I should be, too. She always liked dressing up and seeing the big houses and the fancy clothes.

Mike thought perhaps that was related to her reasoning for not wanting to get married. It's the bride's family that was supposed to pay for the wedding, but Charlie only had Chet. Both their parents were dead, plus a brother, and their eldest brother, while he was financially well-off, was estranged from them. The kind of wedding Mike's mother expected would cost a great deal of money, money she and Chet didn't have. Mike had no doubt his parents would happily pay for a wedding should it occur, but for now, he was content to simply live with Charlie and see her every day. That was more than enough for him.

They both looked up when they heard a knock at the door, and Charlie made her way over to answer it.

"Ah, look what the cats dragged in," she quipped.

"Ha ha," Chet replied, leaning against the doorframe, "You gonna let me in or should I make myself comfortable out here?"

"Ooh, someone's cranky," she said, stepping aside.

"I'm not cranky."

"Sure doesn't sound like it."

Chet stuck his tongue out at her.

"Yeah, you were pretty cheerful when we all left the station, Chet," Mike spoke up, "Thought you had a hot date or somethin' like that… some chick named Bonnie…"

Chet coughed into his hand, turning a little pink, and said, "Well… Bonnie neglected to tell me something very important about herself and decided to let it all out in one fell swoop this morning. Apparently, Miss Bonnie Carlisle is actually Mrs. Bonnie Zydlycki."

Mike felt his eyes go and saw Charlie's do the same.

"Uh huh, yeah, she's married. Took off her ring to pick up guys, I guess, and I'm the schmuck that fell for it. Now, I'm kind of a scumbag, I'll admit that, but I'm not that big of a scumbag to mess around with someone I know is married."

"Well, you just said you didn't know," Charlie said.

"I didn't know! She lied to me! But I know now and I'm pissed off! I don't do that shit, Charlie! You know tha- Oh, I forgot the kicker: she broke it off with me because she was goin' with another guy."

"Holy shit, you gotta be kidding," Mike replied, "Tell me you're kidding, Chet."

"I wish I was 'cause this is some soap opera shit goin' on, but I'm not," Chet stated, a smirk growing on his face, "But you know who else won't be kidding? Her husband when he files for divorce because she's cheatin' on him."

Both Mike and Charlie's jaws dropped, and Charlie burst into laughter a moment later, a loud cackle that made the cats jump. Mike said, "Oh, Chet, you didn't…"

"Oh, Mike, I did, and damn it felt good. Great way to end the year," Chet responded proudly, "See, Bonnie's a red-alert, level eleven bitch. Not only was she cheatin' on her husband, but she was cheatin' on her Purple Heart recipient, Bronze Star recipient, crippled, Army hero husband."

"Wow, what a c-"

"-crazy bitch… to do something like that," Mike cut Charlie off quickly.

"So what you're saying is you called this guy, told him you banged his wife, and he doesn't wanna rip your lungs out?" Charlie asked, "Ballsy move, Chet, I gotta hand it to ya."

"Well, the name Zydlycki ain't too common, and it just so happens me and this guy served together for about a year or so at Leonard Wood. I figured it was my duty to tell him what was goin' on with his wife. Brad was actually extremely appreciative. I believe he's on the phone with a good lawyer right about now."

"Oh, Chet, that is brutal. I've never been more proud."

"Thanks, sis. I'm pretty impressed myself to be honest. 'Course now I got no plans for New Year's… but I don't want you guys feelin' sorry for me! I know you've had plans for a while, and I don't want you missin' out on that party."

"I could call Mother, see if you could come with us to the party…"

"Nah, I don't have anything fancy enough for that shindig. Besides, I'd only be a third wheel for you guys."

"Well, what about Marco?" Mike suggested, "Doesn't his family have big party or somethin'? I'm sure you'd be welcome there if you asked and explained what happened."

"Yeah, that's a good idea… Can I use the phone?"

Chet left not too long after that, but not before swiping a few donuts, his mood greatly improved by his invite to the Lopez family New Year's party.

"That Lopez party sounds pretty fun," Charlie commented, "Maybe we should go there instead."

"But you got that new dress, and besides, Mother made me, like, triple swear we'd be there."

"A triple swear, huh?"

"Oh, yes. I'm pretty sure it's an unbreakable vow," Mike replied seriously.

Charlie snorted, returning to her coffee. Mike smirked, asking, "Well, we've got time 'til we have to get ready for the party. What'd you wanna do today?"

"Just be lazy and lay around, I think. Sound good?"

"Sounds great. We had a run about three, so I could use some sleep."

He wrapped his arms around her, nearly lifting her off the floor. They spent the whole rest of the morning and early afternoon just cuddled together in bed before they actually had to get up and get ready. Mike wore his good suit: black trousers and jacket with a powder blue shirt and navy blue tie. Charlie had a floor-length gown in a rich blue satin, with a deep V and a halter. She wore her hair loose with a large, glimmering barrette clipped in for added show.

"Beautiful," he told her softly, "Charlie, you look so beautiful."

Her cheeks flushed pink, and she replied, "And to think, I'm all yours."

Yes… and I'm yours… I'll be yours forever if only you ask. They didn't stray from each other's side the whole night, Charlie's arm looped daintily through Mike's.

"Mike! Charlie!" a familiar voice called, "Oh, it's so good to see you again!"

"Clarissa, it's good to see you, too," Mike replied, "How've you been? And you, Matt?"

"Oh, we're fine," Matt said, "Never been better, matter of fact."

"You're lookin' pretty good yourself there, Mike," Clarissa spoke up, "You just look so happy. You, too, Charlie."

"Well, hopefully I'm not just speaking for myself, but I'm very happy," Mike smiled.

"Gosh, you're both so precious! Might there be, ah, wedding bells in the near future, Mike?"

"Not yet," he replied, "Things work out pretty well the way they are now, so we're pretty happy like this."

"You said 'not yet,' darling, which implies it's still a possibility."

"We never said it wasn't," Charlie piped up, "just that it wouldn't be anytime soon… and please don't say anything to Sue- erm, Mrs. Stoker."

"Why not, Charlie?"

Charlie's blue eyes tipped down as a flush crept up into her cheeks, and she answered, "Well… uh, we just don't have enough money for something like that, me and Chet. He's my only family, after all, and it's the bride's family who's supposed to pay for the wedding. The two of us don't have money for that sort of thing… a big wedding, I mean."

Strangely, Clarissa smiled. The older woman stepped in closer and, in a tone bordering on conspiratorial, whispered, "Just remember this, Charlie and Mike, my darlings…whether a wedding happens in a church or in the Ritz or at the courthouse, you're just as married after one as any other. It's the vows that really matter, not the size of the party."

She gave them a wink and stepped back with, "Matt, sweetheart, we haven't spoken to the Morrisons yet. You know how they'll get if we skip talking to them. Hearing them complain about it for another three months will be worse than actually speaking to them now. Anyway, we'll see you two around. Party's only so big, after all."

Charlie's eyes were wide as she watched them go, almost comically so. Mike gave her a little nudge, and she turned those wide eyes on him.

"Y'know, they'll fall out if you don't keep 'em in check," he quipped.

She blinked, "What?"

"Your eyes. I think they're gonna fall out if you keep 'em so wide open like that."

"Oh, shut up. That-…what Clarissa said… that was pretty damn smart."

Mike's stomach gave a strange little flop. He cleared his throat and asked, "Do you wanna dance, Charlie? It looks like the floor cleared a little."

"Sure, I'd like that."

The thoughts sent swirling by Clarissa's comments were set at ease by the simple movements of their dancing, easy spins and twirls set to soft music they could focus on instead. Charlie gazed up at him with love, her eyes sparkling joyfully; Mike knew his matched. He was still amazed every day when she kissed him or told him she loved him or even just sat by him on their couch. He couldn't believe someone so strong and so beautiful and so amazing loved him so much, though she reminded him every day, in myriad little ways. I hope she knows how much I love her. God, it's more than what I can express in words. He pulled her in a little closer, reveling in her quiet giggle, in the way her small hand squeezed his.

As midnight approached, Charlie suggested they go out to the garden.

"I just want a little fresh air, some open sky. I'm gettin' a little hot in here."

He walked with her to a small bench under a handsome old oak tree, sitting together under the naked branches. Stars glimmered weakly overhead, dimmed by city lights and barely visible. Mike wrapped an arm around Charlie's shoulders and pulled her close to his side. She easily leaned into him.

"It's gonna be a whole new year soon, Mike."

"Yup. 1976. It's hard to believe we made it to another year… especially after this one."

"A new year… new beginnings."

"Still thinkin' about what Clarissa said?"

"Yeah," Charlie admitted, "I mean, it made a lot of sense. What would we need a big ol' church wedding for anyway? We don't have that many friends or family. We're not really religious or fancy or-or extravagant. The only reason I was thinkin' it would be so expensive was because I was thinkin' of the kind of wedding Sue would want."

"Alright, well, don't go making any decisions right now. There's a whole year ahead of us, remember?"

"Quite right. A big, new, exciting year."

"Hopefully not exciting like this one was."

"Oh, I dunno, Mike. This year wasn't all bad. Some parts were pretty damn great."

Charlie smiled up at him, and he obediently leaned in for a kiss, pressing his lips to hers. She looked so lovely in the soft glow of the light from the house, so radiant…

"So beautiful," he murmured, bringing his other hand up to her cheek, his thumb stroking her soft skin.

Color flooded her cheeks, and Mike leaned in, pressing gentle kisses to her cheeks, her nose, her lips. He told her quietly, "You are. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever met, beautiful inside and out, and I love you. I love you more than anything, Charlotte Rose."

The smile that lit up her face was true and somewhat shy as she replied, "Why, Michael James… I love you, too. I love you more than you'll ever know."

A cheer went up inside the house. Must be midnight. Mike turned to look at Charlie, who quickly swept in for a kiss. He held her close, moving his lips slowly against hers. Her perfume filled his nose, a scent fresh and floral that fit right in with the few garden flowers left over the winter. Two small hands cupped his face and made him smile, laughing into the kiss. Charlie pulled away after a moment, flushed and breathless and oh so lovely, saying, "Happy New Year, Mike."

"Happy New Year, Charlie."

A happy New Year… yes… I'm sure it will be a very happy new year…

He leaned in for another kiss.

If you would like to read some more of my works, please feel free to check out my AO3, xcourtney_chaoticx. I have some works posted there I don't have here, including the very first fic in this series and some oneshots unrelated to this series.