Chapter 41

The light of the day is gone, and dusk has settled over the cape. Lip lifts Charlie, and she wraps her legs around him just like she used to greet him at the airport. Between kissing her, Lip carefully carries her along the path, up to the deck, and through the back doors of the house. When they reach the guest room, Lip lowers Charlie gently in front of him, and wipes away her tears.

Standing close again, filling that incredible void each of them has felt, brings a familiar comfort that adds to their need for each other. Through their kisses, Lip's and Charlie's hands softly reacquaint themselves with each other's bodies. Their clothes are delicately peeled away, and each is reminded of the nuances of the other that they both have desperately missed. All the while, Lip showers Charlie with breathless assurances of his love and need for her.

Their lovemaking is both tender, and intense. Whispered promises are intermixed with familiar touches that awaken long, unmet needs. They find the rhythm of each other again, and exhaust themselves with physical and emotional satisfaction. The hours of the night pendulate between quiet conversations, and pleasurable releases of their deep hurt and pain. By dawn, they are both spent, entwined in each other, not letting the other out of their grasp.

In the late morning, Lip and Charlie wake to a peaceful contentment. They both relish in having each other close again, and every activity of the day is sprinkled with soft touches and kisses while they make up for the lost year. Their smiles come easily now, and the future is more exciting as they being making plans together, instead of apart. They write out their individual job offers, and sort through what scenarios make sense for them both. They quickly decide that they can both move toward their career goals by returning to Chicago as a home base.

Lip texts Fiona to let her know he won't be returning home on a flight the next day. His plans are a little delayed, since he will be helping Charlie pack up some items in Boston before they both arrive at the end of the week. Fiona smiles ear to ear when she gets the news.

After decisions are made, and laptops are put away, Lip and Charlie playfully focus on one another again. Their ease with each other returns, and the pain and disappointment of the last year falls away. They've picked up right where they left off, but still have some catching up to do. A lively game of chase ends up in the bedroom again, and they spend the afternoon continuing their rediscovery of each other. They finally emerge when their hunger outweighs other basic needs, and Lip orders take-out while Charlie slips into one of Lip's shirts, and returns to the deck with a blanket. When the food arrives, they sit closely on the deck couch, watching the sun set. Lip can't help but think that this is the best sunset of the two weeks that he's been in Cape Cod.

The next morning, Lip and Charlie are padding around in the kitchen, when the front door opens, and Robert and Megan come sailing in. Robert turns the corner to the kitchen, and stops dead when he sees Charlie sitting at the counter in Lip's shirt drinking juice. Megan follows behind him, and gives Lip a smile and a wink when she sees them.

"Good morning," Charlie says nonchalantly while taking another bite of her bagel.

"Well, good morning to you too." Robert says in a somewhat stunned response. He doesn't move from where he stopped. "Just give me a minute to process this situation."

Everyone laughs at Robert, while Megan walks to the fridge and gets out more juice and pours some for herself and her brother. She hands Robert his glass. "Drink this, before you fall over."

Robert takes a sip of the juice and then hesitantly asks Charlie, "So, it worked? You read his notebooks and now you are here? You two are back together and everything is cool?"

Charlie slides off the stool and steps over to Robert to give him a hug. "Yes, that's the short version. Thank you."

Robert returns her hug and is still slightly stunned. "What the hell took you so long? We've been here for two weeks!" he slightly scolds her.

Lip walks over to Charlie and puts his arm around her. "She's here now, that's what's important." Charlie smiles and lays her head against Lip's chest.

Robert sees their kindness to one another and is finally convinced his plan worked.

"Well, I'm glad that craziness is over. I was afraid I was going to have to choose which of you I could be friends with; team Charlie or team Lip!"

They all chuckle again, and then Lip speaks up as he looks around at the four of them. There is so much happiness in the room. He lifts his juice glass and begins a toast. "Well, here's to four recent graduates," they all clink their glasses together, "and to friendships," they all click to one another individually, "and to some great make-up sex," as Lip clinks his glass with Charlie and gives her a quick kiss before finishing his drink.

"Details, please." Robert chimes in before Megan slaps her brother playfully and the rest drink to the toasts. Their laughter reverberates through the house and they enjoy each other's company before the next several days bring changes to them all.

THE END

From the author:

I hope you have liked this story. I have enjoyed writing it over the last year. The idea came to me at the end of Shameless season 7 when Lip was so lost. Most of us who watch this show are invested in the characters, and would like to see them each finally get what they have worked so hard toward. I thought in season 8, Lip was just coasting along, and the writer's didn't do the character justice. I am hopeful that in season 9, Lip begins to pull the pieces together in his life, and meets someone who is a good influence, and his intellectual equivalent. Sometimes we forget how smart Lip really is.

Also, if you liked the story, I would love for you to take a minute and tell me! I've had thousands of readers, but very few reviews. Please tell me what you think! I tried to craft a story that was both true to the characters, and authentic to the show.

Thank you for your sharing this journey with me over the last year.

Lynn