Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter, they were really appreciated.

This chapter picks up a few hours after the events of chapter ten and once again huge thanks to Steph for proofing and editing this chapter.

Charles sighed as he lent back in the small desk chair and rubbed his eyes. It had been a hell of a day, in fact it had been one hell of a twenty-four hours. This time last night he and Molly were at his parents Halloween party disciplining Sam for possibly trying to drink his beer. Then came the kiss and make out session with Molly, even thinking about that caused a slight tightening in his groin. Before receiving the phone call that turned their whole world upside down.

As promised, Charles had bought take-out food for the Dawes clan on their way home from the hospital. When he walked through their front door, for the first time in years, it brought back a mix of emotions – sadness, but also it felt like home, and it was nice to be back in the midst of the madness of the Dawes family. All of Molly's siblings, Bella included, greeted him warmly as he was bombarded with both hugs and questions. They didn't stay very long at the house, with Molly being the one to hint at wanting to leave and head to the hotel. He knew by looking at her that she was exhausted, so they said their goodbyes and promised to call round the next day.

The journey to the hotel didn't take long and he was pleased that Molly had decided to call his mother and chat to her en-route.

Nathaniel had booked the hotel room for them for a few days but had explained the circumstances of their stay to the receptionist and when Charles checked them both in, he was advised that they could extend their stay if needed too, at short notice.

The room was your average standard hotel room, not that he or Molly cared. At this point as long as there was a bed and a bathroom they didn't really care about anything else. He was currently sitting at the small desk writing in his journal. There were so many emotions going through his head and he needed some way to sort them and 'get a calmness in his nut' as Molly would say. His main concern was Molly. Apart from Smurf, Nan's passing was the first time Molly had lost someone close to her and he was concerned at how she was going to react.

At that moment he heard the bathroom door open and smiled when Molly walked out wearing mismatched pyjamas.

"Ignore me, I wasn't really paying attention when I packed this morning," Molly blushed.

"As long as you are okay, I couldn't give a shit what you're wearing," he said, as he saw Molly walk towards the bed and hesitate "Go ahead lie down, I can sleep on the floor."

"Don't be daft, you'll end up doing your back in," Molly laughed. "I think we're old enough to share a bed for the night."

"As long as you're sure?" Charles asked.

Molly nodded her head, sat down and leaned up against the headboard.

"How are you feeling?" He ventured.

"Numb. Tired," she sighed. "I still can't really believe she's gone. I mean it's nan. The woman's indestructible - or so I thought." She said solemnly.

"I know," Charles smiled sadly "Can I get you anything? Room service?"

Molly smiled at him, "This is going to sound stupid but all I want is a cuddle."

"That's not a problem," Charles replied as he kicked off his shoes and joined her on the bed, pulling her into his arms as he leant against the headboard. "I am so sorry Molly," he whispered as he kissed the top of her head.

"Is this how you felt, when Elvis died?" she asked hesitantly. She knew she was on shaky ground mentioning Elvis but she figured he was strong enough to handle talking about it now, and she really wanted to talk to him about how she was feeling.

"Yes and no."

"I should have spotted it, last week when they came to us," Molly whispered as she clung to his t-shirt.

"Molly, don't. You heard the doctors it could have happened anytime, anywhere, we must be thankful that it happened when it did. Imagine if she'd been in her own flat or, god forbid, out driving. She was with family who called for help," Charles explained.

"But her blood pressure was high, she told me. When I called her from the hospital after I had my surgery, she told me she was having tests and I did nothing!"

"What could you have done?" Charles said quietly, as he continued to hold and soothe her "And even if you had of pestered her, would she have listened?"

"God no!"

"Exactly," Charles said as he let her out of his embrace so that he could lie on the bed leaning on his arm, facing her. Molly quickly followed suit.

"I hear you," she sighed, "but you questioned and doubted yourself after Elvis," Molly said as she looked at him, while she fidgeted with the sleeve of her pyjama top.

"Your right I did. I've questioned everything about what happened on that tour over and over again. If I had listened when Richards warned me about Azzizi then maybe none of this shit would have happened, maybe somehow Elvis would still be alive, maybe not. I should have told you from the beginning how I was feeling, and I didn't, and look where that got me," he whispered sadly.

"I wanted to be there for you, to help and support you like you've done with me today."

"I know, I wanted that too Molly," Charles said closing his eyes briefly. "When I came home and stepped off that plane at Brize and you were there, I wanted to lose myself in you. We were hugging, and I wanted to break down and cry, for Elvis, our baby but something told me to man up. I was surrounded by fellow soldiers and the last thing I wanted was to be seen as a cry baby, and then Elvis's parents arrived, and I got caught up with everything."

Molly nodded as she tenderly stroked his face as he continued talking "There was one night, just before his funeral when we were in bed like this."

"I remember," Molly replied, smiling at the memory.

"We talked, and you held me, and I wanted to lose myself in you, I wanted to so badly, but my stupid male pride didn't want me to show you how I was really feeling, numb, devastated by everything that had happened. In my head I didn't want to upset you any more than you already were, and I pulled away. And I regret that more than I can ever tell you Molly."

"I know." She said softly.

"So please I'm begging you don't pull away from me, tell me what's going on in that head of yours, no matter how stupid you think it is."

"I will, I promise," Molly said as they both reached forward, their lips meeting as his teeth gently caressed her lips, coaxing her mouth open, so his tongue could roam her mouth. She wanted this, no scratch that, she needed it. She needed something to take away the pain and memories of today. The kiss intensified as she gently moved so Charles was lying on his back and she was on top of him, straddling him. She traced her hand down across his chest and felt his heart beating through his t-shirt, before quickly moving her hand lower and felt the bulge through his trousers. She started to stroke it before his hand grabbed hers and pulled it away. She pulled away from his kiss and frowned as Charles took back control and rolled her gently onto her back and lent back on his side.

"No."

"No offence Charles, but your body says different," she giggled, as she again tried to touch him only for him to stop her again. "I don't understand?" She frowned. And in that moment a million thoughts ran through her head. Why didn't he want her? Did he not find her attractive anymore? Was he wishing it was Georgie and he suddenly realised he couldn't go through with it. That thought was almost too much to bear and started to make her feel sick. She pulled away from him and sat up on the bed and wrapped her arms around herself in an effort to hide her pain at him rejecting her.

"Not tonight Molly, not like this," he whispered as he pulled her close to him again as he stroked her hair and kissed her lightly.

"Please, I just need to forget…" she whispered back almost crying.

"Molly, I want to make love to you, I really do, more than anything, Christ one touch from you and I'd come undone" he smiled down at her "but I want us to remember it, like we did with that first time in Bath. In the years to come I want to look back on it with happy memories and not sadness. "I want us to make love out of love for each other and not because of grief."

Molly sniffed and nodded her head. She got what he was saying but she couldn't help but ask "I get it, but what about last night? You couldn't keep your hands or eyes off me?"

"You looked stunning last night, and I was jealous as hell. Every man in the house couldn't take their eyes of you and," Charles said as he tried to find the right words "all I could remember was our last Halloween party in that house and that bloody French maid outfit. I could remember how you felt that night and it was haunting me everywhere I went. Looking back, I'm glad that we didn't."

"I wanted too," Molly said quietly "Right up to the point where you asked me if I was sure, and then I froze."

"I know you did," Charles smiled "Why?"

"Just something Anna told me in therapy, she told me I'd know when I was ready, and I needed to make sure that I was."

"And are you?"

"Yeah, I was about to tell you when, well you know the phone went," she sighed "Maybe you're right though, tonight's not the night."

Charles nodded his head as he pulled her closer to him and felt her rest her head in the crook of his neck.

"Just hold me tonight please," she whispered.

"That was what I was planning to do," he replied as he continued to soothe her.

A few minutes had past, and he started to feel himself drift off to sleep when he suddenly felt Molly move from his embrace. He opened his eyes and saw her sitting up frowning.

"What's wrong?"

"What the hell happened between you and dad at the hospital? He was a pig one minute and sombre the next?"

"I think today has made him realise that he has a problem," Charles said quietly "Call it an epiphany."

"What?" Molly asked still frowning.

"Something similar to what I had back in Bangladesh after the fall," Charles explained "I think he saw nan and suddenly realised that if he didn't do something, he was going to end up…"

"Dead, like Nan?" Molly finished for him.

"Yeah."

"What the hell did you say to him to sober him up that quickly though?"

"I gave him one of my trademark stern bollockings, told him how he'd end up alone if he didn't sort himself out," Charles replied "And I warned him to never speak to you like that again. That was uncalled for."

"I hardly noticed. It wouldn't be the first time he came out with a remark like that."

"Yeah well no father should speak to their child like that," Charles said, "I scared my own son once and it's taken a long time to repair the damage."

"You saw he needed help," Molly said as she started to put the pieces together in her head. "You could see he was starting to spiral and stepped in before he did too much damage?"

"Like you and Beck did for me," he replied as he grabbed her head.

"Why didn't I see it? Some bloody medic I am," Molly muttered

"Sometimes you can be too close, too used to something to notice that someone needs help. It was something I learned in rehab. Not everyone in there had PTSD, some had gambling addictions, drug addiction, alcoholism. I saw some leaflets that I thought would be useful for your dad, on alcohol addiction and support groups, to get him started."

"Thank you," Molly said as she lay back down beside him on the bed.

"I told him about the ptsd, Elvis' death, the flashbacks. How I was pushed to the brink, and he understood."

"Did you tell him about, well that?"

"Georgie? No, you didn't want them to know that and I respect that. But he got the point that talking and asking for help is okay."

They lay in silence for a few minutes while Molly was processing everything he'd told her. "He must owe someone money, I mean why else would he come out with that remark of us getting divorced and getting settlement money?"

"He owes a loan shark £5,000," Charles replied and took a deep breath "and I'm going to pay it off on Monday morning."

"What? Don't even think about it! You give in to him once and he'll always be begging. I know he's my dad, but I know what he's like!" Molly all but screamed at him.

"I know," Charles started to explain but Molly interrupted him.

"Then what on earth possessed you?"

"I genuinely believe it's a one off. I think he now understands what's at risk, and besides, it was either give him the money or have the bailiffs round by the end of the week and your family come and live with us in Bath. Now, I love your family, but I really don't think my sanity could survive that."

Molly was about to speak but stopped and thought about what he said. "Good point. I swear I'll pay it back!"

"No need."

"But…" Charles stopped her, placing his finger across her mouth

"That is what families do, we help each other out, whether it's my crazy gang or yours."

Molly nodded and smiled her thanks. She was too tired to argue anymore and moved closer to him, her head resting on his chest.

"Get some sleep Molly," he whispered as he kissed the top of her head.

"Thank you, for being here," she whispered before sleep claimed her.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes immediately remembering the hilarious drunken performance of Love me Tender from his wedding reception by Elvis and Nan. 'Yeah those two would be having one hell of a party upstairs' he thought as he prayed for sleep.

OGOGOGOG

Tuesday morning. (A few days later)

"I hate doing this," Charles said as he parked the car outside the block of flats where the Dawes family lived. "I'm going to call Rebecca and tell her she's being unreasonable."

"No, you're not and it's fine," Molly said as she unbuckled her seat belt and turned to face him. "You know Rebecca, if you cancel on her she'll likely stop you from seeing Sam for the next six months."

"I know, but I should be here, with you."

"Charles go, I will be fine, besides there's nothing to do, the funeral isn't until next week and everything is more or less organised," Molly explained "Go home and make sure the workmen have installed the correct bathroom, as in the one you and I choose, and not the one your mother wanted and then meet with the she devil and see what she's demanding now."

"She devil? Dad has started calling her Medusa," Charles laughed.

"Well with that hair I can understand why," Molly laughed "Seriously though Charles if you stay here, you're only going to be stuck looking after the little bleeders, or even worse, helping mum go through nan's flat."

"I don't envy you with that."

"Exactly, have you seen how much stuff she had! We'll be there till next Christmas tryin' to sort it out," Molly said smiling, "And before you say anything, don't worry I'll take dad to his first AA meeting tonight. I don't know what strings you pulled but thank you," Molly said, as she reached over and kissed his cheek.

"If you need me for anything, even if it's just for a rant or cry call me okay," Charles said as he stroked her hand.

"Ditto."

Charles reached over and kissed her goodbye "Don't forget you still have the hotel room for tonight."

"Thanks, but no thanks. I'll stay here tonight, Martin isn't sleeping and has been keeping mum up, so I'll sleep on the sofa and let her get some kip."

"Okay," Charles said as they both got out of the car as he helped her with her bags. "Tell your parents I'll be back down as soon as I can."

"I will."

"And I'll call as soon as I arrive in Bath," Charles said as he kissed her goodbye "I love you."

"Ditto."

OGOGOGOG

It had been a long and emotional day. Molly, Belinda and Bella had spent most of the day at nan's flat trying to find an outfit to bury her in. Instead of looking at clothes they had looked at old photos and other bits and pieces that they kept over the years and they'd eaten lunch watching her and Charles' wedding video. Something Molly hadn't watched since they came home from their honeymoon. They were all crying laughing at Nan pretty much bringing, or rather dragging, everyone out onto the dancefloor, but it was the one of Nan and Elvis singing and dancing that broke her resolve and had her sobbing. The next clip was of her and Sam dancing along to another Elvis track with Charles standing watching them both. The look in his eyes made her heart stop beating and she quickly stood up.

"He still adores you," Belinda sniffed, she too was getting emotional watching the clip.

"Sorry?" Molly asked as she wiped her eyes.

"Charles, I know that you both have gone through a bad patch, all couples do," Belinda said "Christ look at me and your dad. But he still adores you. There on that video, with you and Sam dancing, he has the same look every time you walk into the room Molly. Even mum used to comment that he must love you to put up with us lot."

"I love him too mum," she whispered. They had only been separated a few hours, but she missed him already, probably even more than when he was on tour or in rehab. She cleared her throat and glanced at her watch "We better hurry up, I need to get back and get dad to his meeting."

OGOGOG

Dinner had been a noisy affair like always and Molly was seeking refuge outside on the landing overlooking the street below. Her head was banging and all she wanted was some peace and quiet, something which was hours away judging by the noise coming from the flat. Little Martin was running riot and refusing to go to bed and some of nan's friends had called round to pay their respects. As she let them in, she stepped outside for some fresh air.

She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and she smiled when she saw his name flash across the screen.

"Hey," she smiled as she answered, "How's things in Bath?"

"Hey yourself," Charles replied, "mum and dad send their love and a huge hug."

"That's nice," Molly replied.

"How's your dad, did he go to the AA meeting?" Charles asked.

"Yeah, I took him, he was scared shitless, but he did it, he stood up and opened up and told them everything," Molly explained as she told him how well it had gone and how positive he looked afterwards.

"Enough about me though" Molly said, as she wandered around in circles on the landing. "What was the Rebecca emergency?"

"You're not going to believe this!"

"What?"

"She's only marrying this Mike bloke!"

"No way!" Molly exclaimed "And she couldn't tell you that over the phone?"

"I said the same thing too, but she thought face to face was better. Always the drama queen," Charles replied.

"That's true," Molly smirked.

"Oh, it gets better," Charles continued "Apparently, in Rebecca's eyes anyway I'm now stable and trustworthy enough to look after our son while she goes and gets married and has her honeymoon."

"Charles that's brilliant!"

"Yeah, but she's getting married next month and then going off on a three-week cruise over Christmas and New Year, we have Sam for the entire month of December."

"Hold on, is Sam going to the wedding?" Molly asked.

"She doesn't want him there, in her eyes children don't go to their parents wedding," Charles replied, "She had the nerve to say that in front of him."

"That witch, how did Sam take the news?"

"I think he was happier at the fact that he'll be staying with us than he was at her getting married again, which was another thing that didn't go down well with Rebecca."

"What the hell does she expect?"

"She at least had the decency to pass on her condolences about nan... Mum and dad are obviously thrilled and will help with school runs."

"Oh shit, the training courses! I'd forgotten about them," Molly said as she stopped pacing. Her and Charles had to attend training courses prior to starting their new positions as trainers in the new year.

"Don't worry I spent the afternoon with Beck and we have them all sorted, he too passes on his condolences and will be attending the funeral."

"That's nice of him, but he doesn't have too," Molly replied.

"He wants too, mum and dad will also be coming," Charles said quietly. "How did today go at nan's flat?"

"Oh, that was a serious trip down memory lane," Molly sniffed as she remembered the video from earlier. "What about our bathroom?"

"Molly are you okay?"

"Yeah, just keep distracting me please," Molly sniffed "The bathroom emergency you had to deal with?"

"Dad had it sorted by the time I got there, someone got the wrong measurements, but it's all sorted now. Bathroom is finished. All I need to do is fit the towel rails."

"So, your mum didn't secretly change our design?"

"No, and I actually think she likes it!" Charles laughed.

They chatted for a few more minutes before they both said goodnight. Even though the phone call was over Molly continued to stand outside in the cool early November air. The thought of going back inside into the noisy house was making her head hurt even more, and she was tempted to sneak back to the hotel that she and Charles had stayed at. It would be quieter, but she'd still be lonely.

"Molly?"

The sudden voice made her jump as she turned and saw her mum standing at the door.

"Jesus mum, you nearly gave me a Julius there."

"Are you okay, it's freezing out here?" Belinda asked as she rubbed her arms.

"I was talking to Charles, I'll be in in a minute."

"You missing him already," Belinda smiled.

"Is it that obvious?"

"You can go, if you want too," Belinda said as she came and stood beside her eldest daughter.

"What?"

"I, we couldn't have gone through the last few days without you, Charles too, and I love having you here, but it's not home is it?" Belinda asked.

"No, it's not. But you need me here," Molly replied.

"To be honest I'll need you more this time next week," Belinda said "I love having you here, someone sane in the midst of the madness but I, well we all need to remember that you have a family too in Bath. We all loved your nan and we're going to miss her, but she wouldn't want you to be alone and miserable. Life is too short, the last few days have proved that."

"Are you sure mum?"

"Go!"

OGOGOGOG

"Cheers mate," Molly said as she lifted her bag and paid the taxi driver before quickly walking up the path and into the house. Lifting out her keys she quickly opened the front door and instantly heard Bruce Springsteen's greatest hits coming from upstairs.

She knew he was home; his coat was hanging on the coat stand and his keys were in the bowl where she instantly dropped hers.

For the first time in a long time she really did feel as if she'd come home. She smiled as she heard banging coming from upstairs and knew Charles was trying to put up the new towel rails they'd picked in Ikea.

"Jesus fucking Christ!" came the shout from upstairs.

"Charles? Are you okay?" She shouted up the stairs before she heard his footsteps across the landing and saw him poke his head around the bannister at the top of the stairs.

"Molly? What are you doing here? Why didn't you call me, I would have come and collected you from the station!" he said smiling from ear to ear as he descended quickly down the stairs holding his thumb.

"I wanted to surprise you," Molly replied as she looked at his hand.

"I missed the nail with the hammer and hit my thumb instead."

"Stupid bugger!" Molly grinned "I take it you're expecting me to kiss it better?"

"Well I am injured after all," Charles smirked "You should have called me, if only to help you with your bags, last thing you need is to aggravate your ribs."

"Stop fussing I'm fine," Molly smiled.

"How long are you staying, I thought you'd be staying in London for the foreseeable," Charles said, "I was going to drive back down tomorrow."

"I love my family to bits but to be honest, there's nothing more I can do there apart from get in the way until the funeral, and there's always people at the house, and," Molly explained as she stared into his eyes "I just wanted some peace and quiet. I wanted to come home, to you," she said quietly as she tried to hold back the tears.

Charles stepped forward and took her into his arms in a heartbeat and held her close. He could feel her tears through his shirt as the sobbed uncontrollably and feel to her knees. He sat down with her and pulled her onto his lap as she cried. He kissed and consoled her as he rubbed her back and whispered in her ear, as the tears fell from his eyes too. They both cried in grief for Nan, Elvis, their baby but also in happiness at finally coming back to each other.

You will be pleased to hear that all the drama is over and the last two chapters are pretty much tying up the loose ends… aka fluff!

As always if you have read this then please do leave a review!