As their noses were touching, Charlie was ready to poke out her lips to reach his when he held her waist.

"I'm sorry if I spun you too hard." He looked confused with the sudden approach and nose touch.

"Huh?" Charlie was way more confused than him now.

"You tripped, didn't you?" Alastor tried to look down without moving so much, but it just made their noses rub more.

"Oh," Her cheeks grew red very fast, as soon as she gave a little step back just enough to unglue their noses. "Yes, I tripped on my own feet, I'm sorry. How clumsy!" She looked down. Truth was, she wanted to hide her face as fast as she could.

"Don't apologize." Alastor's hand touched Charlie's jaw, and made her look up to him. "I think that's adorable." His smile was big and gentle, which made Charlie's heartbeat up fast.

Adorable? It has been years since she heard someone say such a thing about her, without trying to be mean...

"T-Thank you, Al..." Her smile was shy, but genuine, which caught Alastor off guard.

For a few seconds he mesmerized Charlie's smile before looking up to her.

"You are welcome, dear. Still want to dance?" His hand was still over her waist having never left.

"Y-Yes, I would love to." She nodded and placed her hand over his shoulder while Alastor grabbed her free hand gently.

It wasn't like her dream as she first thought it would be. But it was better... It was way better. Charlie felt alive once again, she had the biggest smile ever on her face even after the awkward situation.

The park was relatively quiet, just birds singing around them and the sound of nature. A song she heard on the radio was playing in her head, and without even noticing she started to hum the song. Her eyes never disconnected from his.

Alastor's facial expression changed as soon as Charlie started to actually sing. He knew the song very well actual

"No one to talk with

All by myself

No one to walk with

But I'm happy on the shelf

Ain't misbehavin'

I'm savin' my love for you"

She sang and Alastor quickly led the dance to the tune. He was enchanted by Charlie's voice. It was the very first time he heard her singing.

"I know for certain

The one I love

I'm through with flirtin'

It's just you I'm thinkin' of

Ain't misbehavin'

I'm savin' my love for you"

He spun her and glued their bodies together once more. His eyes couldn't get out from her and the way she sings... It was making him feel weird inside. He could feel his heart speeding up the beat.

"Like Jack Horner

In the corner

Don't go nowhere

What do I care?

Your kisses are worth waitin' for

Believe me"

Charlie didn't notice how excited she was getting by singing it. And she didn't notice the meaning of the lyrics as she was singing with her heart while dancing.

Her eyes slowly got wider as she heard Alastor's voice but it was different from what she heard before.

"I don't stay out late

Don't care to go

I'm home about eight

Just me and my radio

Ain't misbehavin'

I'm savin' my love for you"

She didn't know Alastor could sing, and now she was mesmerized by him. Her cheeks grew red and warm very fast. She knew it was the song, but the way he sang the last part was breathtaking.

"Like Jack Horner

In the corner

Don't go nowhere

What do I care?

Your kisses are worth waitin' for

Believe me"

Their voices were together now, a duet. It felt so right, so right in so many ways.

Now it was just instrumental in the music, and it was playing in their heads as they danced and sang in sync.

They began to dance as if the actual music was playing there, both of them humming the rhythm, and dancing as they did in the club.

Alastor separated their bodies and both of them started to dance with their hearts... If someone saw it, they would think they were at the end of their rehearsal. That was how connected and synchronized their dance moves were.

They never lost sight of each other's eyes, lost in each other's eyes in this little show.

Once the instrumental part of the music was ending in their heads, Alastor pulled Charlie strongly against him.

She knew exactly what to do. She gave a little jump, opened her legs so their hips were glued and she could throw her top body back. To sustain her body more, she had to squeeze his hips between her thighs. Everything was extremely fast, and in a blink, she had her feet against the floor once again.

Their bodies connected once again to the same position as before.

"I don't stay out late

Don't care to go

I'm home about eight

Just me and my radio

Ain't misbehavin'

I'm savin' my love for you."

As they sang the last word, they both closed their eyes and touched their foreheads together. It truly seemed as if they rehearsed before... Alastor's hand slowly slid over Charlie's arms until their hands entangled.

That made Charlie open her eyes and look down. He was feeling the same as her? She looked up and he still had his eyes closed.

Soon he opened his eyes and smiled. He released one of her hands and turned to the garden.

"Thank you, thank you!" He started to bow to an invisible crowd. "But I owe this dance to the talented and dear Charlie Magne." He then released her other hand and put his hand over her back.

She looked confused at him. He was imagining they were on a stage, wasn't him?

"Well thank you!" She got the ends of her skirt and bowed a bit. Charlie was playing along with him.

"You did splendid dear." Alastor applauded the blonde with a big smile. "I had no idea you could sing too." He stopped to clap, and put his hands behind his back.

"You tell me about it!" Charlie poked Alastor with her elbow, now imitating his gestures. Her hands were behind her back, but different from him, she leaned forward and stayed on the tip of her toes. "You sing so well! How come you didn't tell me?"

Alastor chuckled and adjusted his glasses over his face. "Well, I do sing now and then, but it's not something I'm used to doing all the time. I use my voice for other things, as you know."

"I know, still, I'm quite impressed!" She gave a little jump with a big smile at him.

"Thank you dear, but how about you? Ever thought about singing for others?" He tilted his head while watching her mannerisms.

"Oh no... I- In fact, I never told you before about that because... I thought you would laugh at me." Charlie released her hands that were once before behind her back, now they were loosen by the sides of her body. She caressed her arm, in a shy way.

Alastor chuckled, confused. "Why would I laugh at you?"

"Because..." How would she phrase that? A knot formed in her throat. "Because my fiancé does that... And my parents kind of don't approve..." Her body felt small, she felt small just remembering how they used to react, especially her fiancé.

"Your fiancé is a very silly man." Alastor kept with the same smile as before. "You have a wonderful voice, I wouldn't mind hearing more from you." The man then shrugged and looked away to the sky. "Guess he doesn't know how to appreciate good stuff." He chuckled again.

Charlie didn't have a reaction at first. She watched the man admiring the sky quietly. Her heart was filling up with joy and her eyes were watering for a second. Her voice was... Appreciated?

Charlie couldn't handle herself, without warning she hugged Alastor, hiding her face against his back.

Alastor's eyes widened. He was caught off guard with such an abrupt hug. The collision made his glasses slide to the tip of his nose. He took awhile to understand what was happening, and when he did, he finally adjusted his glasses and put his hand over her arms.

"Thank you." Charlie muffled against Alastor's clothes. She was trying hard to control her eyes and not drop a single tear.

"Thanking me for speaking my mind? No need to, dear." He gave a few little taps over her arm trying to calm her down.

She took a deep breath and stepped back, releasing the man from her grip.

"You are right, I'm just not used to this." She admitted adjusting her clothes and caressing her own cheeks as she tried to check if there were any tears rolling down them.

She adjusted the sunflower over her hair and sighed again. Alastor offered his arm for her and Charlie gladly grabbed it without even thinking.

"Let's walk a bit around this garden, I'm pretty sure you will enjoy it even more checking it closer." The man smiled and began to walk.

Charlie slowly hugged his arm and nodded. "I would love that."

As they walked in the garden, the blonde was looking around with a big smile. There were flowers she never saw before. One of which caught her attention, a rose. She knew that particular one.

"Do you think it will rain?" She asked out of nowhere, which made Alastor look at the sky above. It was very clear, almost none cloud there.

"I doubt, maybe at night, but if the sky continues to keep like that, no." He was looking at the sky while talking and didn't even notice Charlie got a rose and raised her hand to his face's level.

He looked at the red color by the corner of his eyes and turned his face to her.

"For you!" She smiled holding the flower at him, carefully to not poke her fingers with the thorns.

"Well, thank you. I never received any flowers face to face." He tilted his head and got the rose equally careful as Charlie.

"Never?" Charlie blinked a few times. Alastor was a very charming man, it was hard to believe he never got such a gift face to face.

"No." He chuckled. "I mean, I got them when I was younger, but now it's just through fans for my work." Alastor carefully cut the cable of the rose and put the rest over his shirt top-pocket.

"I see, in this case, now you got one, from me!" Her smile shone for him and Alastor smiled back at her. "You also look good with red." She put her hands behind her back once again.

"I'm glad you think so-" Alastor was saying something but Charlie's attention was caught as she saw a man walking a little away from there... But it wasn't a simple man. His eyes were red, shining in the sunlight and his aura, Charlie could see it extremely well. He had a red aura around him.

Charlie's eyes widened and she pulled Alastor against her abruptly. The way she did, made the rose spike Alastor in the chest, but he just made a slight grimace before blinking a few times and looking at her.

"Are you okay, dear?" His voice was failing a bit from the surprising hit.

"Y-Yes, I just think it's better if we go." She chuckled nervously, pulling him to spin a bit with her so that his body hid her.

"Didn't you like the garden?" He tried to adjust the rose in his pocket.

"I did! I-" She looked over his shoulder and the man was still looking around. His eyes went in her direction and Charlie abruptly put her head against Alastor's chest in a hug.

"What is happe—" He was extremely confused with the touches out of nowhere.

"I-I'm just—" What she was supposed to say? They had to get out of there as fast as she could. "I'm extremely hungry and just noticed right now." She looked up at him, still with her face against his chest.

"I thought you had lunch earlier." He frowned his eyebrows. His confused expression was clear to her, but what could she do?

"I did! But I-I'm thinking we could sit down and talk." Her mind was rushing, her hands shaking.

"I'm not following Charlie. You said you are hungry..."

"I just want to get some dessert, and talk to you somewhere else... Maybe we can come back later? Please?" She looked up to Alastor, her eyes were shining and her expression was terrified.

Alastor raised his eyebrows, she sounded urgent. "Sure, dear..." He smiled at her. He wasn't touching her at all, his arms were raised but slowly got down, grabbing her arms to adjust the girl.

As she was slowly getting up, she took a peek above his shoulder again. The man was still there, not looking in their direction though. It was her chance.

She abruptly grabbed his arm, hugging it and walking in the opposite direction.

Alastor almost tripped on the ground but it didn't look like it would stop Charlie. If he indeed tripped Charlie would probably have dragged him by his arm.

As they got out from the park, Charlie slowed down her pace. She was looking around desperately.

"Can... I lead now?" Alastor adjusted his shirt and the rose that still poked his chest.

"Y-Yes, please." She nodded looking around. Alastor was going to ask her but he decided not to question her.

He began to walk to a bakery, not so far from where they were, and as soon as they entered Alastor pulled a chair for Charlie. She sat down and thanked him, trying to calm down.

"What do you want to eat, dear?" He asked while adjusting the chair for her.

"Anything you chose!" She soon looked away from him, to look at the glass from the store. The view was the street yet she didn't take her eyes off of it while talking to him.

"Okay..." He half closed his eyes, looking up to the street. What was she looking so much for? What just happened? Alastor stepped away from their table and went to the counter to place their order.

Charlie's heart was jumping in her chest. She was scared, she was terrified. She was paying attention to every little movement around her.

Alastor came back to the table with a tea, a coffee, and a plate full of different cookies and muffins.

He sat in front of her and she didn't even look at him. He had to cough, putting his hand over his mouth to get her attention.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I- Got distracted." She nervously laughed and then looked at the table. "What did you get for us?" She looked up at him.

"I got a brand new iced-tea, cookies and muffin for you, and a coffee for me, dear. I hope you enjoy it." He crossed his legs, getting his coffee and sipping it.

"Thank you, A-Dean." She smiled, getting her tea and sipping it. It was delicious, refreshing and tasted like orange. "That's good, which flavor is it?" She smiled at him, getting one of the cookies.

"Orange Pekoe tea, I believe." He smiled and kept his eyes at her.

"So good, never had iced tea before." She said calming down as her focus was once again at their interactions. Now and then she looked at the bakery's glass until she looked at Alastor's expression. His eyes were half closed, his smile was big and he was sipping his coffee calmly.

"What?" She tilted her head.

"Nothing, just watching you enjoying it, dear." He said as he slowly rocked his leg.

Charlie chuckled and looked up. "Why?" She was waiting for him to ask what happened back there. She knew he would ask, and she had no idea what to say to him.

"Because you seemed to enjoy the tea a lot. Which I'm surprised." He admitted.

"Surprised? Why?" She raised her eyebrows.

"Because I tried it once, and they're not for me." He chuckled.

"Oh, you didn't like it? Really? But it's so tasteful!" She looked down the tea cup she was holding.

"Not for me." He sipped his coffee again.

"Glad you got your coffee then." She giggled.

"Oh, me too." He chuckled once again before the silence resumed

Charlie was waiting for Alastor to ask something, but the silence between them just grew... She noticed that talking to him, even if it was a brief moment, kept her mind away from the man in the park.

"Don't you want a cookie?" She slid the plate to him. "It's not fair for me to eat them alone." She smiled at him.

"I'm not into desserts. But, I guess I can open an exception for one of them." He smiled and took a cookie. As he placed it in his mouth, he gave it a bite and smiled while chewing it.

Charlie saw his expression... He just said he wasn't into desserts, but he really looked like someone who was enjoying its taste.

"Are you sure you don't like desserts?" She giggled and grabbed her muffin, biting it and closing her eyes for a second. It was also delicious, as much as the cookies.

"Well..." He cleaned the corner of his lips with his fingers. "Cookies are the only dessert I will always open an exception for. I do like those." He smiled after swallowing then took another bite.

"Uh, I like to discover new things from you." She giggled and leaned a bit more towards him. She placed her elbow over the table and rested her rosy cheek over her hand. "I know we just met each other, but, I don't know, it's so exciting to meet you more!"

Alastor eyebrows frowned at her phrase. Then he raised his eyebrow. "You are not used to meeting new people, are you, Charlie?" His smile was still there, even though his expression changed just by his eyes and eyebrows, his smile remained.

"I- Hm- Guilty." She giggled shyly. "I came here to meet new people too... I miss doing that, it's been a while." She admitted, sipping her tea and sighing right after.

"I think you are doing wonderfully then, dear. It's good to do what feels right for you." He smiled and finished his cookie, right after, he finished his coffee too.

"Thank you, A-Dean." She wanted to call him Alastor, but they were in public, she had to be careful. "Thank you for all the support. I hope to meet more people like you here in my stay." She gently smiled at him, and the smile was reciprocated.

"I'm sure you will!" He put his coffee cup over the table and looked at her. "I know it's getting late, but... Would you like to join me at the dance club tonight?"

Charlie's eyes lightened up. Lorraine said before he didn't invite others to dance with him, but he was inviting her twice now...

"Yes!" She smiled wide and breathed deeply. "I would love to!" She sounded excited, putting the muffin at the table.

"So... After that, we can have dinner together... What do you think?" Alastor watched the girl, her smile got bigger. He had to chuckle at how adorable her expression was.

"Absolutely! But this time, I pay." She crossed her arms.

"No." He rocked his leg.

"Oh, c'mon! It's not fair! Let me do it." She pouted at him, with pleading eyes.

"Half of it, then." He smiled at her.

"Okay!" She raised her arm with her fist up in the air, and then she felt some attention over her, which made her blush and adjust her pose. "I mean, that's fair for me." She raised her nose and nodded in agreement with him.

He chuckled and shook his head. "So, I got you a little bit earlier. How about 5:40 – 6:00 pm? At the hotel."

"Sounds good." She tapped slightly on the floor with her shoes. She was getting excited to dance with the man again. Then she looked at the hour. She wanted to explore more of the city and get a few more clothes for her. She truly wanted to fit more into Alastor's city and 'fashion'. "I guess it's good for us to get going then. I've gotta rest before tonight's show." She winked at him which made him chuckle.

"I believe it's a wonderful idea." He paused and looked down. "Want to finish these before we go, or shall I ask them to be packed to go?"

"Pack it, if that's okay." She smiled and he got up to get the plate.

"For sure, mademoiselle." He bowed before going to the counter.

Charlie sighed happily. She could feel the excitement growing inside her chest the more she thought about tonight.

They separated their paths after Alastor left Charlie at the hotel. She double checked her baggage and she had more shirts and social pants than she did dresses. She needed a few dresses if she wanted to dance more than that night with Alastor, and she for sure wanted that.

Charlie got recommendations for a few stores from Lorraine and headed out in a hurry to them. As she was walking in the street she couldn't contain her smile, or even her silly little happy jumps now and then.

The breeze from the streets, the sun setting down, it was all magical for her that if it was a musical, she would just start singing to everyone there.

Seviathan didn't make her feel what Alastor did, it has been years that she didn't feel like this around Seviathan, her own fiancé, and she missed that.

Charlie was getting new dresses from the stores, she would re-do her whole wardrobe from the hotel and was excited. There was one last store that Lorraine said was the best but it was the most expensive one.

As she entered, she faced a beautiful manle suit. It was extremely elegant, an overcoat in dark red, with thin lighter red stripes. It's collar was black. It was so pretty, so different. She could see Alastor wearing it for sure.

"Looking for something for your boyfriend, honey?" A saleswoman showed up by the side of Charlie, making her jump a little.

"Oh, no no! Just reminds me of a friend." She smiled at her.

"Do you want to get this as a gift for this friend of yours?" The woman smiled at the girl.

"Oh, I barely know him..." She giggled. "I'm here to see a few dresses for myself, actually."

"Taking care of yourself, that's what I like to see in a nice woman like yourself." The woman crossed her arms and gave a good look at Charlie. "Do you have anything in mind, or can I suggest a few one's for you?"

"I just want-" She looked around and saw a clock in the store, she had time. "I want to see what you got for me." Charlie's smile got even bigger.

"Right answer." The saleswoman pointed at Charlie and with a giggle she called the girl to follow her.

Charlie had an amazing evening, getting new stuff for herself so she could enjoy all the days in New Orleans, especially if Alastor invited her to dance more times, which she was counting on.

She was heading back to the hotel, all happy and smiley when her feet froze.

Her eyes widened and her heart stopped. She could feel that aura again, and she could feel it growing around her. Her eyes looked around, almost desperately. And she found it, she found the source of it.

The same man from earlier was walking along New Orleans' street. He was far away from her, but she could see him at the end of the long street.

She couldn't go back to the hotel but she couldn't stay in the city anymore. In a hurry she got back to the store she was in before.

"Ma'am, is something wrong?" The saleswoman saw the blonde entering rushing into the store.

"No, I mean, yes... I have... I have to return to my home – I- " Charlie looked down to her bags of clothes. "I need a favor," She handed all the bags to the woman and asked for a paper and pen.

She wrote an address in one note. "Here, can you leave those bags at this address for me?"

"I'm sorry but—"

"I'll pay." Charlie took out of her pockets a good amount of money and slapped it against the counter. "Please!"

"O—okay." The saleswoman widened her eyes and stepped back. That was a good amount of money.

Without saying a thing, Charlie got another piece of paper and wrote a quick message, handing it over to the girl. "And please, leave this with Lorraine okay?"

The woman nodded a little shocked.

"Thank you. I- Thank you." In the same hurry the blonde entered the store, she left.

The saleswoman was frozen just trying to process and connect what happened.

Later that night Alastor was there, his hair combed back, a white shirt, dark brown vest and gray pants. As he entered the hotel, Lorraine smiled at him.

"Dean! Charlie is not back yet, would you like to join me for a coffee while you wait?" The girl had the biggest smile.

"Absolutely." He nodded and followed the woman.

They sat and spent a few minutes talking. As the time passed it was almost one hour later, with no sign of Charlie. Alastor was constantly checking the door.

"She said anything to you?" He asked sipping another coffee Lorraine served him.

"No, she went out to buy some stuff, but didn't tell me when she would be back." She pursed her lips.

"I see..." Maybe he mixed up the time... He would be patient and wait for her.

The talk with Lorraine has extended until one hour transformed in two hours and no sign of Charlie yet.

"I guess I... Should get going. It's getting late." Alastor got up and smiled at Lorraine. "Thank you for being so kind and waiting with me." He bowed before starting to leave.

"Dean, wait!" Lorraine held his arm and released as soon as he turned to her. "I- Don't know what happened, but I'm pretty sure Charlie wouldn't miss it." She smiled kindly.

"Thank you, dear." He nodded, smiling at her before returning to head out until he stopped and turned around. "I owe you a dance, don't I?"

Lorraine frowned and turned a bit, her head confused. "Yes, you do..."

"Would you be up for a dance tonight?"

"I-" She turned to the reception desk. "I think I can ask Jerry to take my place tonight... And keep an eye if Charlie's back. Would you wait a bit till I get dressed?"

"I can wait a bit longer." He chuckled and nodded. "But only if I can get another coffee."

"Of course! I will be right back." Lorraine said and got to her way all excited.

Alastor slowly went back to the table, and got another cup of coffee. His eyes went to the stairs. Where was Charlie after all?

That night with Lorraine was good, not as good as with Charlie, but was pleasant.

The next few days, Alastor went back to the hotel, to always receive a frown from Lorraine and a negative nod.

Charlie didn't show up for days, then days transformed into weeks, until he gave up on going to the hotel. Lorraine always kept saying something must have happened to Charlie, otherwise she knew she would have warned her or him. After all she paid for a good number of days to be at the hotel and her stuff was still there.

Lorraine had to check it out after weeks.

Alastor's head always wondered what happened... If he did something that day. He knew she was acting weird, but he never asked why.

What bothered him the most was the fact he had no idea what happened and that he kept thinking of her. When he went to dance, he thought of her dancing with him, their brief conversations, her voice, her smile...

Charlie was a good friend after all, maybe the very first friend Alastor missed, or had a significant impact in his life.

After he hadn't heard from her for one month, he considered it a closed chapter in his life. He didn't have any of her information, he didn't know where in Los Angeles she lived, so what was the point? He knew her for a few days and that was that.

One more week passed and Alastor was back to his normal life. It was a cold late night when he got out from the jazz club and was going back to his home just like the other nights.

The only thing different was that he felt weird inside.

Something was bothering him, and he couldn't quite say what. First, he felt like someone was following him. He turned around, but no one was there.

Then he felt like he was being observed. Maybe he was being neurotic, but he had to change his normal path just to be sure.

His strides grew longer as his pace got faster, until he didn't feel them anymore.

He thought maybe it was just a dog following him, or such but now he was sure it wasn't anymore. He then goes back to his normal track, going in the direction of his home once again.

He closed the door, took off his coat and hat and turned on the lights. His house was cozy as always. It was his safe place and he needed a shower to relax. But first he would cook his dinner.

He had some leftovers from the previous day, spaghetti and tomato sauce. He was heating it up when a sudden knock echoed in his house. He looked up to a clock, 10pm... Who would knock at 10 pm?

He lowered the fire so the spaghetti wouldn't burn over and walked till his door.

"Who's there?" He asked and he didn't have any answers. He shrugged and went back to the kitchen when a sudden knock again. He turned around and asked once again more aggressively.

"Who's there?" Nothing, but a huge knock this time as something was thrown against it.

"If you are a kid, I will-" He was pissed off when he opened the door, just to feel a collapse against his body.

He looked down, the body was cold and tiny. The body had blonde light hair and soft pale skin. He had to pull it up and hold it.

"Charlie?!" He widened his eyes as he recognized the girl with her face covered in blood and some blood stains around her dress.

"Al—" Her voice was too weak before she passed out in his arms.

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Beta Reader:

Angel: angie_bun