Bass leaned over and looked at all the sketches on the table. There were many different designs here, but he was having a hard time narrowing them down. He knew he only wanted the best for his son's nursery, but unfortunately he didn't exactly have the eye for this sort of thing. The doors opened and he turned around to see Charlie being escorted inside by two soldiers. "Why am I here?" she asked, not wasting any time on formalities.
"Come, take a look at these." Hesitantly, she walked over to the table set up in the middle of the room. She didn't stand next to him, but instead crossed to the other side of the table. He cleared his throat and moved to stand beside her, but she took a step back. Bass laid a hand on her arm to keep her close. "I'm not going to hurt you, Charlie," he said, trying to reassure her. He couldn't have her constantly cowering in his presence, especially once the baby arrived. What kind of example would that set for him?
"You've hurt me before." she answered with a glare.
"But I'll never do it again." Charlie narrowed her eyes and searched his face for a moment before turning back to the drawings on the table.
"What are these?" she asked, and Bass picked up a few sheets.
"They're sketches for a crib. I thought you should have some input in how the nursery is designed, considering you'll spending a good deal of time in here." Charlie turned and scanned the room. It was empty for now, all except for the table set up in the center, but it was fairly large. Bass had chosen a room exactly between his and Charlie's living quarters so they could both reach it easily.
"It's a little extravagant for a nursery, don't you think?" she said disapprovingly, and Bass narrowed his eyes. He didn't like the way she was talking to him at the moment, like she had power over him. True, he couldn't hurt her because of the baby, but that didn't mean she was invincible.
"Only the best for the future general of the Republic," he answered shortly, letting his annoyance show in his tone. Charlie shot him a sideways glare, and he knew she'd picked up on it. But of course she wasn't backing down. No, she only grew more antagonistic.
"And what if he doesn't want to be general? What if he grows up and wants nothing to do with all of this?" Bass turned to her angrily and got right in her face. Who did she think she was? No one could challenge him like that, not even her! He was the General of the whole Republic and he deserved more respect than that.
"Of course he'll want to be general," he said menacingly, "He will want to be general, because he will see what a great honor it is, how prestigious a position. And he will know that it's a great privilege because he will see how his father receives everyone's respect. Especially the respect of his mother." Bass stopped and looked meaningfully in to Charlie's eyes. "Do you understand me?"
He saw her confidence begin to waver, no doubt because he was successful in his attempt to intimidate her. Every time she tried go against him, and all he had to do was assert his authority and she would submit to him. Surely it wouldn't be long now before she accepted the fact that he was in control. and wouldn't try to oppose him in the first place. Charlie nodded and turned again to the schematics on the table.
"These are all for a boy," she noted quietly, and Bass smiled.
"Yes, I know what you're thinking, that it could be a girl. Well, even if it is, no doubt we will have a boy at some point in the future." He reached up and began twirling some of her blond locks with his fingers. "After all, you're only just about to turn twenty-one. There will be plenty of time for you to give me a son." He started to lean down and place a kiss on her forehead, but she pulled away from him and crossed to the other side of the table.
"So, have you started think about names yet? For the baby?" Bass smiled at her little attempt to change the subject, and he supposed he would indulge her a bit.
"Well, I had considered the name Samuel, after my father. He had always wanted grandchildren, but… well, it never really worked out. Until now, of course." As he talked, he made his way around to Charlie's side.
"And for a girl?" she asked, and he could hear the nervousness in her voice.
"Maybe I'll let you choose if that happens.." Now he traced his hand through her hair, down her back. She was so beautiful, he thought. If only she would stop fighting him all the time. When his hands reached the buttons of her blouse, Charlie moved away from him.
"I thought we were done with this," she said, not daring to look him in the eye. "I'm already pregnant, Bass. What more do you want from me?" Did she really think that was all this was about? For her to give him a child and that be the end of it? True, that had been Bass's main purpose for bringing her here, but he had always wanted her to stay. He wanted her to accept her new life, and her new family. He wanted them to raise their child together, not as two separate influences on his life but in a unified effort. He wanted… he wanted…
"I want you." And he closed the gap between them with a kiss.
Charlie finally sat back and rested her head against the wall. She'd been sick that evening, which was unusual because it was normally only in the mornings to early afternoons that she didn't feel well. When the vomiting started she'd called for Julia, who had come to her immediately, helped her get through the nausea. At last now it was over, and she gratefully accepted the water that Julia offered her.
"Don't worry," she said as she helped her to stand up. "Most of the nausea should pass after the first trimester."
"The what?" Charlie sat down on the couch and drew her knees up to her chest.
Julia took the chair beside her. "The first trimester. Did no one ever teach you about these things?"
"Well, my mother left when I was about ten, and my dad never really talked to me about… those kind of things. I sort of had to figure it all out for myself." Charlie remembered how difficult things had been in those first few years after her mom left. Just when she needed her the most, her mother was gone. And now the same thing was happening. She needed help to get away from Bass, but her mom was nowhere to be found. She should have seen it coming, she supposed.
"That must have been hard for you to deal with, being so young," Julia remarked, bring Charlie back to the present.
"It was, but I learned to deal with it, like I do with any tough situation. Like I'm doing right now." Julia nodded and started to make herself some tea. She offered some to Charlie, but she didn't want any. Not now, after what she'd just dealt with for the past hour.
"And how is Bass treating you now that we know you're expecting? He's not still hurting you, is he?" Charlie shook her head. It was true that he hadn't really hurt her since the announcement, but he wasn't exactly treating her well. The memories of what had happened earlier that afternoon replayed through her mind, despite all her efforts to stop it. It must have shown on her face because Julia showed immediate concern. "Charlie, don't lie to me. Tell me how he's treating you."
Charlie struggled to find the right words to explain what she was feeling without getting emotional. She refused to let herself cry right now, not here, not with Julia. "I just… I thought it would be over now that I'm pregnant. I thought Bass wouldn't…" she trailed off, unable to make herself say the words. It was just too difficult. "Anyway, apparently I was wrong."
Julia gave her a sympathetic look and started to say something, but was interrupted by a strange noise. Both woman turned towards it to find the bookshelf being pushed forward, opening up to reveal a dimly lit hallway, and two dark figures. As soon as he stepped out in to the light, Charlie couldn't believe what she was seeing. "Miles?" she whispered, still unsure if he could really be there, after all this time.
"Charlie!" he ran to her and wrapped her in a hug. As she felt his arms around her, she knew that it really was him, that he'd finally come for her. She felt a few tears glide down her cheek as she smiled and hugged him back.
"I never thought I'd see you again!" she cried in to his shoulder, her voice muffled by his shirt, but he could still understand every word she said. "I can't believe you're finally here."
"Well you'd better believe it, Charlie," Miles said, holding her even closer to himself. It was such a relief to finally have his niece here with him, safe. He never wanted that moment to end. Behind him, someone cleared their throat. Charlie looked over her uncle's shoulder, and was very surprised to see Julia just returning from a reunion of her own.
"Jason?" she asked, and he nodded. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to get you away from Philadelphia, away from General Monroe." Then he turned to his mother and grabbed her hand. "Mom, you have to come with us." Julia looked shocked.
"Jason… my life is here. Your father will be home soon, and if I'm not there-"
"Once the general finds out that Charlie is gone, he's going to be looking for who's responsible. You know he'll come for you, Mom, so please just come with me." Julia sighed and glanced over at Charlie, who nodded. Jason was right, of course. Bass would kill Julia as soon as he realized she was missing.
"All right," she agreed, and they went inside the hidden passageway. Charlie held on to Miles's hand as he turned and gave the room one last glance before closing the bookcase. Then they took their torches from the walls and started walking towards the exit.
"Those were my old living quarters, you know," Miles pointed out. "Bass may have kept you prisoner for a month, but at least he gave you a nice cell." He was joking now, trying to lighten the mood a bit and Charlie appreciated it. She smiled a little back at him. She was genuinely glad to be leaving Philadelphia behind her, and all the bad memories that went with it. Finally she was leaving Bass behind once and for all.