Chapter 37:
"Reid?" Charlie yawned as she sat up and stretched in her bed. Her and Reid had spent the last night watching movies in her room and they'd fallen asleep. But as she awoke to the small light coming through her bedroom window he was no where to be found.
Getting up she slipped her slippers on and went looking for Reid. Her hair was in two french braids and she wore simple flannel pajama bottoms that hung low on her hips and a white tee. As she found herself walking in to the kitchen her hand on the small bumped of her belly she could hear Reid clear as day talking on his cell.
"Caleb man I just I don't know...Yes but I can't handle pregnant Charlene, she's bossy, and snappish and just not...We both did this...I know, but I don't know if I can handle five more months of this man...Yeah I get it, I get it. This is my life we're talking about Caleb...Yes I love her, but I don't know if that means I'm going to marry her..."
Charlene walked away from the kitchen grabbing her spare set of keys off the small key rack hanging on the wall next to the closet door and she walked out of the house to her car getting in and driving off.
Reid was still talking to Caleb on the phone. "I mean I am going to marry her, but do I have to do it before the baby, can't we wait a couple years."
"Reid you're just nervous about what's coming. And no you don't have to get married just for the babies sake, it would be nice but you don't have to."
"Man I don't know what to do anymore. Should I propose and have a long engagement or..."
"Well whatever you do, it's up to you." Reid heard the front door slam and then barking and got confused.
"I gotta go Caleb."
"Later." They hung up and Reid stood up and walked out of the kitchen and jogged quickly to the front door where he found King scratching at the door. He swung it open blocking the dogs path for escape and saw the tail end of Charlene's BMW pulling out of the main gate in a hurry.
He quickly shut the door and flipped open his phone calling her cell. 'Hey...'
"Legs..."
'Psyche! You've reached my voicemail leave me a message!'
After the beep Reid left a message. "Hey Legs, um you just pulled out without saying anything just got worried. Call me back as soon as you can." Reid flipped his phone shut and headed up to Charlie's room to wait for her to come back.
With Charlene:
I can't believe he said those things to Caleb. It's not my fault this stupid pregnancy is messing with my hormones and emotional balance. And I never asked him if we needed to get married. I've barely just got him to trust in his boyfriend abilities, he isn't ready for husband. I mean It's not like I think he'd be a horrible husband, I just don't think he would be able to handle it right now. Which makes me a pretty damn decent girlfriend if I do say so myself.
Charlene sat on the park bench and sighed. She went over to her car grabbed her cell phone and went back to the bench. She flipped it open and saw she had a message and a missed call from Reid. She cleared the message counter and dialed Kara's number.
"Hello?"
"Hey Cake."
"Charlie? Oh jesus where are you? Reid called and said you've been gone for a half and hour and aren't answering your phone?"
"Sorry. I just...he called you?"
Kara snorted. "Well duh, I'm the best friend remember. If you were in emotional crisis who would you call?"
"You. I just overheard Reid say some things that upset me." Charlene said softly.
"Babe he's crazy about you, how could he say..."
"He told Caleb he wasn't going to marry me and that I've been bitchy since I got pregnant. I mean I can't help it!" Charlene said tears starting to run down her cheeks. "And it's not like I've brought up marriage. He's just getting comfortable with boyfriend, god knows what would happen if he was a husband."
"Charlene don't you think you're over reacting? Maybe you heard wrong. Where are you?"
"The park."
"Alone? Charlene what if you trip and hurt yourself or worse the baby?"
"Oh Cake, please I can take care of myself. Look I need to go." Charlene said slightly annoyed. "I'll talk to you later."
"Bye." Kara said lightly and Charlene hung up her cell phone.
With Reid:
Reid was pacing in Charlene's room with King following him with his eyes. "Where is she?" He said worried. It had now been an hour and she still wasn't back making him worry that much more. She never disappeared without a word and she never hadn't returned his phone calls.
His cell rang and he flipped it open instantly thinking it was Charlene. "Charlene?"
"No Reid it's Kara. She just called, she's upset with you. Apparently she overheard you on the phone with Caleb saying you didn't want to marry her and some other things. And I'm only telling you these things cause she's my best friend and I hate hearing her so glum. She's at the park."
"Thank you. I'll have Tyler come get me and go pick her up. She totally misunderstood everything I was saying. I'm not ready to marry her, I was just talking to Caleb about if I should marry her before the baby or if we could wait. And those other things I said, I'm just not use to her acting this way. I've never been around pregnant women before and it's just I didn't know what to expect."
"That's why I am calling you. I knew she probably just misunderstood Reid. So please go find her and talk to her."
"I will. Thanks Kara."
"Later Reid, don't fuck up or I will come kick your ass."
Reid chuckled lightly. "You do that." With that they hung up and Reid called Tyler to come and pick him up. Tyler didn't question him once he said he just needed a quick ride to the park to talk to Charlene who wasn't answering her phone for him and then Tyler could leave them their to talk.
With Charlene:
Reid's right. I am bitchy. I snapped at Kara when she was only trying to be a good friend. But it isn't my fault. I'm pregnant and the doctor said mood swings would be normal. Charlene put her hand on her slightly protruding belly and sighed. Your daddy doesn't want to marry me, which is fine I guess, but what will that do to you?
"Legs?" Charlene groaned in annoyance as she turned her head and saw Reid running over and the Hummer that had dropped him off pulling away. "Legs I'm sorry!" He said getting closer.
Charlene stood up and looked at him. "For what? Not wanting to marry me or for calling me bitchy?"
"First off I said bossy and snappish, not bitchy..."
"It was implied in your tone Reid." Charlene said angrily.
"Well you obviously don't understand where I'm coming from Charlene. I've never been around anyone who was pregnant in my life, let alone did I think I'd end up with a pregnant girlfriend. I didn't know what to expect and it's just a strange change from the calm relaxed Charlene. And I didn't mean for you to think I don't want to marry you. I was just trying to figure out if we should get married before the baby or after in a few years when we're more settled."
Charlene was stunned by Reid's explanation. Mostly because he'd just laid all his feelings out there and she hadn't had to force it from him. She hung her head. "You're right though, I have been snappish, but it's not my fault. This stupid pregnancy is causing mood swings and I don't mean to be bossy, but when I try and do things for myself you insist on doing them, so I stopped asking. I'm sorry."
Reid stepped closer to her gently stroking her cheek as she lifted her head up to look at him. "We're both learning here. I love you and all, but right now there's times I can't stand you."
"Sometimes I can't stand me either." Charlie joked softly.
Reid laughed lightly. "How about this? At least until the third trimester if you start to get a little overwhelming I'll just let you know and after the third trimester I will just deal because I will feel really horrible for you since you'll be carrying an almost fully developed child around."
Charlene giggled. "Just let me know when I'm being to snappy or bossy and we'll be fine. But you're right come the third trimester you might just want to leave me alone. I wont like you very much if you tell me I'm being mean. Especially since I am potentially carrying the most obnoxious hell raising decedent in the Garwin family line."
"I thought that was my roll?" Reid smirked.
"Nope. Not anymore." Charlene teased.
Reid bent his head kissing her while his arms wound around her waist. "You know I love you right? And I'm glad...I'm glad that I get to have a son with the woman I love more than anything."
"Awe..." Charlene cooed. "That's sweet Reid."
"I have my moments." He said softly. "Since I met you anyways."
Charlene smiled tiptoeing up and placing a soft affectionate kiss to his lips. "I love you too Reid and I'm glad I'm having this baby with you. Granted it would've been nicer in a couple years but I can't complain on how things turned out."
"So you don't hate me right?"
"No. I shouldn't have been eavesdropping on your conversation. It's just I woke up and you weren't there and when I heard you on the phone I couldn't help myself." Charlene said softly.
Reid shrugged. "It's done and over with. We move in three weeks and we're going to have to get use to living together. Like I need to be careful about saying things that might come out wrong, and you, well you just have to learn I say before I think."
"I already know that." Charlene said grinning at him. She lifted her hand up and smacked it lightly with her other. "Bad Charlene." She scolded herself jokingly.
Reid chuckled grabbing her hands in his and gently placed kisses on the back side of the hand she slapped. "Don't beat yourself up about it Legs." He joked.
Charlene smiled. "Ok I wont."
2 ½ weeks later:
Charlene laughed uncontrollably while King ran around her and Reid's new 3 level condominum style apartment set in a tower over looking the Hudson river. Reid was trying to catch King who'd was currently exploring the apartment with fascination. "Reid...Reid baby let him be he wont break anything I promise." She giggled.
Reid stopped running after the dog, as King took off up the spiral staircase to the second floor. Reid grumbled something under his breath as he walked over to his girlfriend. "Do you want to official tour?" He grinned putting his arms around her waist.
"Reid this place is enormous, what were you thinking picking this one?"
"You said pick the one I liked the most. So I picked. This was my favorite, besides it will be perfect, there's lots of space. Our room, the baby's room, two guest rooms, an office. There's the library the workout room, closets, the large kitchen space..."
"Ok you make a good point, but it seems so large." Charlene said looking around, and then her eyes looking out the beautiful bay windows that gave way to the stunning view of the Hudson on a New York summer day. "I do love the view." She murmured.
"We have the whole third floor to ourselves, and there's a spa and that nice big tub..." Reid said huskily nipping her ear lobe.
Charlene sighed contently melting in to his arms. "Ok, ok you've got me hooked."
"Good. The only thing I don't think we'll be making use of in this apartment is the wine cellar." Reid said.
A playful smirk graced Charlie's lips. "Who says?" She asked seductively.
Reid was just about to lean down and kiss her senseless when... "We're here!" They both moved back a bit so they could see around the wall blocking their view to the main entrance and saw Pogue walk in carrying two large moving boxes, Caleb as well and Tyler. Sarah and Kate came in dragging luggage behind them.
"So did we pick the right floor?" Tyler asked.
"Yeah. From now on just come to the ninth, it's the generally living space area, downstairs is the guest stay area and recreation area. And do not under any circumstances let yourselves in on the 10th floor, for whatever reason." Reid said sternly.
Pogue smirked. "Let me take a guess." He joked.
Reid grinned back. "Shut up Pogue."
"This place is amazing, way more lavish then the place Caleb and I got in Cambridge." Sarah commented taking in the large apartment with wide eyes.
"It is a little big, but Reid's right, the space is definitely welcome, and I love this view." Charlene moved out of Reid's arms and went to stand in front of the wall of windows. "Plus you two know the meaning of quant." Charlie teased Reid lightly.
Sarah giggled. "Yeah, it's nice though, this will be the meet spot every Saturday."
"Ugh stay away. I already have to deal with Reid and junior Reid I don't need guests." Charlene joked.
Tyler walked over placing his arm around her shoulder. "I'm still welcome right?"
Charlene looked over and up at his taller form and smiled. "Kara's coming to attend NYU, so I suppose since she's already called dibs on babysitting occasionally, you'll have to wont you."
"Man she called dibs, is she insane!" Tyler grumbled jokingly. "Reid's kid is probably going to be a monster!"
Charlene slapped his stomach playfully. "Shut up, my genes are in there too you know."
"Ha!" Tyler mocked her.
Charlene smirked at him and ducked out from under his arm. "Reid you better talk to your boy before I do something I'll regret." She joked walking away.
Reid and the others chuckled as she headed for the door. "Ty come on man she's sensitive right now."
"I heard that. You're on my list to Garwin."
"Fuck." He muttered rubbing his temple. Even though they all knew it was in good fun it still sounded serious.
A week Later:
Charlene was coming down to the second floor when Reid came in the door. "Legs!"
"I'm coming no need to shout gloves!" She called back.
"Check it out." Reid said lifting up his shirt revealing his left side to her pulling the plastic away that was taped on. Charlie saw a fresh tattoo there, it was a woman looking over her shoulder holding her white tank top up barely showing her breast, the words Lady Luck written beneath it with an eight ball behind her head.
"That's...Reid I drew that girl...where'd you..." Charlene stuttered looking at it.
Reid covered it back up smirking at her as he let his shirt down. "I found it in your sketchbook babe. I just had Nate add a little something extra."
"Reid I drew her in my comparison..."
"I know." Reid said wrapping his arms around her waist. "That's why I used it, plus she's just damn hot." He smirked.
Charlene giggled. "Is that why you rushed out of here so early this morning?"
"Yeah. I wanted to surprise you." He said kissing her softly.
"Well it's nice." Charlene said sweetly.
"Glad you like it." Reid smirked.
"I ordered in."
"Tyler's finished unpacking his dorm room and he was going to come over..." Reid started guiltily.
Charlene smiled. "He called after he talked to you, to make sure I didn't have any other plans for us tonight. Don't worry I ordered plenty. Enough to feed the concierge too." She giggled.
"You're very giggly, what did you do today?" He asked skeptically but grinning at her that infamous Garwin grin.
Charlene shrugged. "Nothing really. But the dr. called to confirm the sex of the baby." She said smiling.
"Uh...you asked?" He questioned.
Charlene shrugged again. "Maybe...it's a girl." She said flat seriousness on her face.
Reid looked at her blank. "W-wh-what?"
A grin slowly crept on to Charlie's face and she laughed. "I'm kidding. It's a boy don't worry."
Reid glared at her playfully. "That was not nice."
"But the look on your face was priceless, baby really."
"You need to behave." Reid said playfully.
Charlene smirked. "What if I like being naughty?"
"Ok we should change the subject, because this practically topic is just going to make me want you and..." Reid started almost pitifully.
Giggling softly Charlene gently slipped her hands in to his back pockets. "We can still have sex Reid, just not as...rough as we're use too." She grinned. "At least for a little while longer."
"Good to know." Reid smirked back. "You know Kate told me some women wont let their guys touch them for the entire pregnancy."
"Are you kidding? I can barely last a day without some sort of erotic play with you let alone nine months. That would just be pure torture." She teased.
Reid laughed. "I love you."
"I love you too Gloves, really even though I'm getting fat because of your advanced sperm, I still love you." She mocked playfully.
Reid rolled his eyes leaning down and capturing her lips tenderly against his. For a moment both were content and then hungered for more. Reid reached up gripping his hands in her hair tilting her face to the side deepening the kiss as he slipped his tongue passed her lips. Charlene gently pushed back against his and then sucked the soft mass for a second and pulled away. "Whoa." Reid muttered.
Charlene grinned. "Yeah. I haven't had a kiss like that in days."
"More of that." Reid nodded. "I'll make a list of things I need to do more often."
Charlene giggled again. "You do that." She smirked kissing and nipping his neck before licking it lightly with the tip of her tongue. Reid groaned.
"I love it when you do that." He growled in her ear.
"I knew that the first time I did it, you practically came in your pants at lunch that day."
"Tease."
"Man slut."
"Love you."
"Ditto."
AN: So so so so sorry for the long wait, I've lost some of my writing luster at the moment. I work five days a week on roughly four hours of sleep a night, and lately all I seem to want to do is just read and sleep when I'm not working...not to mention my manager has me training to be an opener of the store so it's just nerve racking...ugh...anyways also i posted some more pics on the page for the story, enjoy check um out! Lates and give lots of reviews!