RPOV
"Rob, why don't you go and get some sleep?" I heard Ashley say to me. I turn my head to look at her, every muscle in body aching.
"No" I say simply.
"Rob, you need to rest" Ashley said softly.
"No Ashley. I'm not leaving her" I say firmly, looking back to Charlie. Charlie was asleep now, though I think it was more through the sheer exhaustion. She didn't want to sleep, convinced that Jack would somehow come back to get her. Every tear that ran down her bruised face made me want to kill Jack once again. When I first got to them, I knew that I was going to kill him. If it hadn't been for Kellan and Jackson, I truly believed I would have.
I hear Ashley open the door and leave quietly, leaving me to be with Charlie. I sat next to her, stroking her hand softly when she opened her eyes.
"Hey" I say trying to smile but I just couldn't do it. Charlie looked at me, her eyes having lost the sparkle that I loved so much.
"Rob, have you been here the whole time?" Charlie asked. I could hear the concern in her voice for me.
"Of course. I'm not leaving you" I say matter of factly.
"You need to rest" her voice was still raw.
"And you sound like Ashley" I say smiling.
"Is she here too?" I nod.
"They're all here" I say. Even though each of them at some point have told me that i needed to eat or that i needed to rest, i still loved my friends for being here.
"When can we go home?" Charlie asks as tears form in her eyes again. I stand up and place a kiss on her forehead before sitting back down.
"Not yet, my love" I answer, which cause Charlie to let out a small sob.
"Shhh, it will be okay" I say softly.
"How could I have been so stupid Rob? As soon as I saw him, I knew that I had to get out of there but instead, I tried to talk to him...be his friend. Why didn't I run?" Charlie cried, shaking her head.
"You did the right thing...you called me".
"But what if you hadn't had gotten there in time...he could have..."Charlie sobs. I carefully lie next to her on the bed, and wrap my arms around her bruised body. We lay like that for a long time...I had lost track of how long. When PC Chase and Woods came into the room, neither me or Charlie moved.
"Mr Pattinson, we need to talk to Charlie about what happened. Why don't you go and get a coffee?" PC woods suggested. I shake my head.
"No chance. I am staying right here!" I say defiantly. The officers look at Charlie to see her nod, allowing me to stay before they started their questions. Even if she had said no, the officers would have had to physically drag me out of the room. I sat completely numb at Charlie began to tell them what had happened. I held her hand the whole time as she recalled when she had first gotten to the bar to when Jack attacked her. The numbness I felt to begin with was replaced by an anger so fierce, it consumed me. I realised that if I had been a few minutes later, then Jack would have...I shake my head, trying not to think about him.
"Charlie, if...and it's a big if, if Mr Potter denies the charges, there is a chance that you may be asked to give evidence in court" PC Woods told us.
"What? You're fucking kidding me! How could he deny the charges?" I shout instantly. This was insane.
"We don't know that he will, it's just precaution Mr Pattinson" PC Chase explains to me.
"Rob, it's fine. Yes, I can give evidence if I have to" Charlie spoke. I looked at her, amazed by her bravery. She was an outstanding person. To go through what she went through and still have the courage to stand up to Jack...it blew me away.
After an hour of countless questions, the officers finished their enquiries.
"Ok I think we have everything we need. Charlie, if there is anything else you remember, please ring us. We will keep you updated if anything changes" PC Chase spoke softly.
"Thank you" Charlie smiled before they both left. Shortly after, Hannah, Kris, Kellan, Jackson, Ashley,Nikki and Peter all came into the room. Each of them carried something, from large bouquets of flowers to teddies and balloons. The sight made Charlie smile properly since all of this happened.
"How's our girl doing?" Kellan smiled as he handed Charlie a massive teddy.
"Better" Charlie smiled.
I stood next to Kris as the others sat around Charlie. Kris smiled at the scene in front of us.
"Kristen, I am so sorry! I can't believe I could have thought that-" I say shaking my head. The guilt I felt was paralyzing. I had worked with her for months, and out of everyone on set, I connected with her the most. How could I have been so stupid?
"Rob, please don't apologise" Kirsten began.
"No, please. I need to do this. I feel horrible for even thinking it. I am so sorry" I say looking at her, hoping she could see the regret in my eyes.
"Rob, I forgive you. I'm just happy that Charlie is okay" she smiles before hugging me. "Are you okay?" Kristen whispers in my ear.
"Not really, but I will be" I say honestly. I pull away from Kristen and look at all of my friends. Kellan was being...well, being himself as he moved the teddy's arms to make it look like it was giving Charlie a hug. Ashley sat on the bed, brushing Charlie's hair as Nikki painted Charlie's toe nails. Peter was making her laugh, no doubt telling her about something stupid that I had done and Jackson was busy placing flowers into a vase. I look at them all and feel an overwhelming warmth. The things that had happened were awful...life changing, but I knew that with our friends love and support, Charlie would pull through this. She was strong and I admired her beyond imagination. Yeah, things were bad but with them around us, they would help us heal.
Three months later...
"Don't open them! No peeking!" I smile as I hold my hands over Charlie's eyes as I lead her into our new home.
"Rob, where are we?" she laughs.
"You'll see!" I smile. I lead her further into the house. After Charlie had been release from hospital, I managed to stay with her for a couple of weeks before I had to go back to set. I begged her to come with me, but she insisted on staying so her and Jazz could fix the bar. They had received a generous donation by an anonymous person to use as they wished. Of course, they both knew thatit had been me, though I never admitted it. I went back to set, but I couldn't stop thinking about Charlie. Hannah had stayed with Charlie for as long as she could, until Charlie ordered her to go home. Charlie had said that she wanted to get back to normal and no matter how many of us told her it was too soon, she wouldn't listen. Jack had been charged with attempted murder, attempted rape, arson and criminal damage. We were waiting for the case to go to court.
The time I didn't spend on set, I spent house hunting. It took me only a month to find and arrange the decorators to finish the perfect home for us. It was in the middle of nowhere and still not too far from the bar. I knew that would be one thing that Charlie would want. I had gotten back from filming the last scene only last night, and before I surprised Charlie, I had to see this place for myself. It was on one word...perfect. In an instant I could picture Charlie cooking in the kitchen as I told her about my day. Or even Charlie outside in the garden playing with our daughter... We had never discussed having children but the image of it was so powerful, I knew that one day it would happen. I couldn't wait to share that life with Charlie
"Can I look now?" Charlie laughed.
"Okay, hang on" I say positioning her. After a few seconds I pull my hands away. I hear her gasp almost instantly.
"Rob...wh-what is this place?" she asks whispering. I stand behind her and wrap my arms around her waist.
"This my love, is our home" I whisper in her ear.
"Rob..." was all she could say as she began to look around the room. I watched her, fascinated by her every smile, her every gasp.
I give her the full tour of the house. Half an hour later and we are stood in the large garden in front of the small lake. The sun was beginning to set on the day, creating a warm glow across the fields.
"Rob, this is...I...thank you" she smiles ecstatically.
"Do you like it?" I ask into her hair.
"Oh my god! Of course I do!" she laughs placing a soft kiss on my lips. I pull her closer to me as I melt into her lips. Pulling away, I brush a strand of hair away from her face.
"So what do we do now?" Charlie asks me, her eyes sparkling.
"Now...now we plan our wedding" I say before placing my lips onto hers. This house was a symbol of our new start...our new life. And right now, I couldn't wait for that life to start.
