AN: I trying to put of some more with Charlie as younger and this is a start, even though it's uber-short.
Five year old Charlie stumbled down the dark stairs to the kitchen in the middle of the night, hoping on a glass of water or even a little snack. He saw someone sitting by the table, it was a vague silhouette against the window and the glow of a cigarette.
"Hi," he said, already knowing who it was.
"Hi. Shouldn't you be sleeping now?" She asked.
"I'm thirsty. Can you turn on some lights?" He rubbed his eye with his fist as the oil lamp on the table was lighted. Kay stood up and filled a glass for him, he took it and sat down beside her, facing her tired frame. "Why aren't you sleeping?"
"I'm... I had a fight with my husband and don't want to go home," she admitted and took a sip of her cold tea, gazing out in the July-night for a moment.
"But Mum made a bed for you here, I heard you talking," he said, not getting why she wasn't sound asleep in the small top-room.
"Yes, that was very nice of her," she simply said, knowing the small boy wouldn't understand her troubles and worries.
"Is that good?" He asked and pointed at the cigarette. She smiled at him in a way he almost found scary as she handed him the smoke. He put it to his lips, inhaling like he had seen her do so many times, breathing it out again with a frown.
"I don't think it's anything for you," she said and took the cigarette back, putting it out in the ashtray. He drank the rest of the water, his head had began hurting and he was always told to drink when that happened.
"The ghoul isn't dangerous, it just bangs sometimes," he told her and nodded to make his point.
"I know that." She gave a friendlier smile, but he still thought something was missing.
"You can sleep with me if you feel safer." He put the glass harder down than intended, but she kept looking at him, making up her mind.
"That would be nice, thank you," she said at last and he smiled back at her. "Let's go." She turned off the light, letting the glass and cup be as they went up to the second floor by the light of her wand. He crawled into the narrow bed at once while she took off her skirt and shirt before settling beside him.
"Good night," he whispered when they were firmly tucked in, facing each other.
"Night, Charlie," she whispered back and let go of the tension in her back.