Okay, this was in response to my own challenge 'An AU meeting for Charles and Molly.' It was only going to be a short standalone of them in Afghan but then I got thinking about the others characters so it's now a multi chapter and this first chapter turned out quite long. I hope you like it and it's not too confusing to follow…
History rewritten
Charles left the debriefing, wondering whether he had enough energy left to eat before getting some sleep. Even though the mission was a success, it had lasted a couple days longer than expected and ended with him and their medic hiding in the mountains of Afghanistan with one of the injured soldiers they had been sent to rescue. The rest of their team had already headed back to base by road with the less serious injured while Charles waited with the medic and Private Lewis to be airlifted out when shots were fired and they were forced into hiding. As they waited for backup, he had the chance to talk to the medic who had been a last minute replacement. He hadn't been too impressed to begin with. She had seemed too young and inexperienced for this mission but he had to admit, she had impressed him.
As he debated whether or not he should just head for his bed, he spotted her loading her Bergan onto a truck.
"Heading back to your section, Dawes?" He greeted as he crossed the compound to join her.
She turned and smiled at him. "Yeah, boss… back to dealing with sunburn and blisters."
"Well, I just wanted to say thank you for your help with this…You did a great job."
"Cheers, Boss." Her smile widened at the praise. "But I should be thanking you for giving me this opportunity…"
"Even though we were stuck in the mountains for two days?"
"Well, yeah… It feels like I've actually done something… made a difference."
"You did…you should be proud of yourself…" He told her. "You're proving yourself to be a great medic and from what I heard, Private Lewis is doing well...That's down to you…I'm glad you were with us."
"Thanks, Sir!" She beamed again. "It weren't too bad being stuck with you, although you were doing my head in to begin with….all the pacing and playing around with your keys…"
Charles couldn't help but let out a little laugh. "Sorry about that, Dawes but I was trying to attract the attention of our guys before the enemy found us…"
"I figured that out after a while when I spotted the laser light on your keyring….It's why I never chucked anything at you….Sir." She added cheekily.
He laughed again and shook his head. "Well, I guess I should appreciate that then…."
"You should….I got a killer aim." She grinned at him. "I was ace at rounders at school…"
"Really?"
"Yeah…Well, when I went to school that was…" She shrugged.
He rolled his eyes but couldn't stop a small laugh as he shook his head. Before he could reply, someone called over to her to tell her to hurry up.
"Looks like they're waiting for you…" He nodded in the direction of the truck. "Thanks again…and maybe I'll see you again…"
"You asking me out, boss?" Molly asked jokingly, tilting her head to the side a little.
"I meant for work…" He corrected. "The army is a small place, I'm sure our paths will cross again …you never know, I might need medic again one day…"
"Okay, good…"
"Right, so….wait a minute, what do you mean good?!" He couldn't stop himself from questioning, almost sounding offended.
"Sorry to break it to you, boss but you're not really my type…too posh…" She smirked again. "And I normally go for complete twats who treat me like rubbish…"
"I think there might have been a compliment in there somewhere…" He cut in but she carried on talking.
"Plus, you a bit bloody bossy…and really tall…"
"Alright." He rolled his eyes again and gestured to the truck. "Piss off, Dawes…"
"Yes, Sir." She saluted him but had a grin on her face before it softened slightly. "Seriously though…Thanks for giving me the chance..."
"You deserved it…." He told her. "Just make sure you take care of yourself and get home safely."
"Ah, don't worry about me…I'm tough." She replied, as she turned to walk away.
Charles found himself watching her as she climbed into the truck but she didn't look back once. He hardly knew her but she had made him laugh and it felt like years since he had laughed like that.
He had only volunteered for this tour because he needed something to distract him from his divorce. His marriage to Rebecca had only last 3 years before they both admitted they weren't happy. She hated that he was in the army but the final straw had been a year ago when he had passed the selection for Special Forces. He wished he could give her what she wanted and find something outside of the army but he just couldn't. The army was all he knew and the only thing he had wanted to do since listening to his Grandfather's stories when he was small child.
When he joined Special Forces, he hadn't expected to like it as much as he did. The planning, the adrenaline, and the type of missions they were sent on… He really felt like he was making a difference in the world but it had ended his marriage.
He knew in his heart it was the right thing to do but it still hurt, mainly because of Sam but he also knew it would be better for him if he had two happy parents, even if they were in two separate houses.
"James…On me." Major Beck appeared and ordered as he walked by.
"Sir…" Charles turned and followed his CO.
"You need to pack up…there's another mission." Beck explained as he handed him a folder.
"But we were heading back home…" Charles replied. "We're meant to start our leave."
"I'm sorry, but it's been delayed…you're needed in Iraq." Beck answered. "It should only be a week or so…"
"Yes, sir." Charles sighed quietly as he began to look through the notes of the next mission.
Any other time he would be more than happy to skip his leave and take on another mission but he had made a promise he would be home in 2 weeks and he really did not want to break it.
XxXx
The Wedding
Georgie sat on the edge of her bed in her wedding dress with full hair and make-up complete. She was ready to go, she just needed to stand up and walk down the stairs but she couldn't. She ignored her parents knocking on the bedroom door, reminding her of the time and asking if everything was okay. She knew she should answer them and tell the truth but didn't know how. They had been looking forward to this from the second she told them she had gotten engaged.
Suddenly a noise from outside caught her attention and she turned to look towards the window then a familiar figured appeared. Despite everything she was feeling, she couldn't help but smile as she watched her best friend climb into her bedroom, in full military dress.
"What are you doing you, nutter? You know you could have used the front door, right?"
"I saw Lulu outside, she said you were freaking out up here and your parents were panicking downstairs…The window always worked well when we were kids, so thought it would be a good choice today."
Suddenly, she stood up from the bed and threw herself into his arms, unable to stop tears from filling her eyes. "You're late."
"Yeah, sorry about that…Bit of a long flight from Afghan." He replied, frowning a little in concern. "What's going on?"
"Nothing…" She pulled back, turning to the mirror to wipe away the tears without ruining her make up.
"No? Because you've locked yourself in your bedroom when you should have left for your wedding 10 minutes ago…"
"Maybe I was waiting for you…"
"What is it? What's wrong?" He asked again but she didn't say anything. "Georgie?"
"I don't think I can do it…" She whispered before turning around to face him, tears running down her face. "I can't marry him, Charlie."
Charles stared at her in surprise but before he could say anything in reply, the bedroom door handle rattled for a few seconds before the door was flung open.
"Hey!" Georgie exclaimed when she saw her family entered the room.
"Charlie!" Marie ignored her sister and ran across the room to hug him.
"We were worried about you, love…" Grace told her, glancing from her to Charles. "We didn't know you had arrived…"
"I've not been here long." He told her. "I was running a bit late, I had only got back from Afghan this morning and had to drive straight here."
Charles' mother had grown up in Manchester and had been best friends with Grace since they were little girls. His Dad travelled a lot for work and when Charles and his mum didn't go with him, they spent a lot of time in Manchester with her family and Friends. Georgie was only a few months younger then Charles, so neither of them could remember a time when the other one wasn't there and had always been best friends. Then just before he started secondary school, he opted to move in with his Grandparents in Manchester instead of attending boarding school. Grace and Max treated him like a son and being an only child, he loved acting as a big brother to Marie and Lulu but his bond with Georgie had always been special.
"How did you even get up here without us seeing you?" Max looked confused for a moment but then spotted the open window. "You and that bloody window… Should you really be scaling a house when you're in your uniform and with that sword? Dread to think what the neighbours would think if they saw you…"
"He's been doing it since we were kids, Dad…I'm sure it's nothing the neighbours haven't seen before." Georgie pointed out and Charles noticed she was keeping her back to everyone to hide the tears.
"Felt like I should do it for old time sake and the uniform doesn't look as good without the sword." Charles added with a grin, shrugging his shoulders a little and then looked down at Marie. "And where did you learn how to pick a lock?"
"Just some guy…." She started to say but then realised the look she was getting from him and corrected herself. "Just something I saw on YouTube…"
"Well, I'm so glad you made it…" Grace hugged her godson tightly. "I've been so worried about you being out there….Thank god, you're home safe now."
Charles smiled politely but didn't say anymore; already knowing he wouldn't be home for long before he was sent somewhere else.
"We're all pleased you're here, son but we're already late…" Max looked at his watch. "We can all catch up after the service."
"Oh, it's a good thing that it's tradition for the bride to be late, isn't it…" Grace joked. "Are you ready, Love?"
"I uh…I need 5 minutes…sort out my makeup…" Georgie stalled.
"You should already be walking down the aisle by now…" Max pointed out and Charles noticed Georgie tense at the words. "They're all going to be wondering where we are…"
"Well, you go ahead and tell them…" Georgie suggested, still refusing to turn around and face them.
"Don't be silly…we're not letting you travel to your wedding on your own." Grace stated.
"Charlie will be with me." She answered. "You go ahead and we'll be right behind you…"
Charles looked from Georgie to her parents, wondering whether they were buying it because he wasn't. He had a feeling that this wasn't just nerves and Georgie had no intention of leaving the house.
"But…"
"Please, Mum…I just need five minutes."
"Oh come on, Love, lets go….Charlie will look after her, won't you son?" Max gave in.
"Of course, Sir…"
"If we don't get a move on, they're going to think we're not turning up." He added, jokingly.
"Oh alright." Grace agreed. "If you're sure…"
"I am."
"I'll be there waiting to walk you down the aisle." Max added before ushering his wife and daughter out of the room.
After they had gone downstairs, Charles moved to stand on the landing and waited until he heard them leave the house before returning to Georgie's bedroom.
"So, are you going to tell me what's going on?" He sat on the bed.
"I can't marry him…" She looked at him through the mirror before standing up and paced as she wrung her hands together.
"You've said that but why not?"
There was silence but Charles kept quiet, waiting for her answer. After a couple of seconds, Georgie sighed and sat down beside him.
"I'm pregnant…."
Charles' eyes widened a little. "What?"
"God, it such a mess…"
"Hey, it doesn't have to be…" He put an arm around her. "This is a good thing…a baby… a little mate for Sam…"
She leaned into him and buried her face into his chest as she cried. He wrapped his other arm around her and held her tightly.
"Won't he be happy?" Charles asked after a few seconds. "I know I don't know the guy but don't you think he'll be excited to be a Dad? You always said family was important to him."
His new role in the army and his attempts to forget about his nightmare of a personal life meant that he hadn't been around much over the last year so had not had chance to meet Georgie's new man but did know he was in the army.
Georgie was an A+E nurse and had met him when he was admitted after being injured during a training exercise and then ran into him a few weeks later when she was out on a girls night and he was out with his section. They had gotten engaged early on which had surprised Charles but was happy if his friend was happy. That didn't stop him from doing some digging but all he found out was that he was good a solider and had a reputation for being a bit of a player. He had been concerned to begin with but then some people had also told him that had all stopped now he had a fiancé he adored.
"I'm 6 weeks pregnant, Charlie…"
"Right…"
"He's been on tour for the last 6 months…only got back a week ago…"
"I know, I remember…." He trailed off when he worked out what Georgie was trying to tell him. "Shit."
"Yeah, exactly…" She muttered.
"Who?"
She shook her head and closed her eyes, feeling ashamed but knew if there was anyone she could talk to about this then it was him. "Some guy…I met him on a night out…we both had too much to drink…It was just one night…Never saw him again."
He watched as she stood up and crossed the room to look out the window. "So, the wedding…"
"I can't marry him…"
"Do you love him?" Charles asked. "Because if you do, you should talk to him…."
"I wouldn't have done what I did if I loved him…" She said quietly. "I don't want to hurt him, he doesn't deserve that but it would be wrong to marry him….I think I just got caught up in it all…I wanted to love him, get married and have kids…I wanted that life but it won't be fair to anyone if I only married him because of that…"
"You're right." He agreed softly and paused for a moment. "Okay, so what next?"
"I need to tell him, I guess?" She swallowed the lump in her throat. "I'll have to call him…"
"You can't do it over the phone, Georgie…"
"I can't go down there!" She shot him a look.
"I know…" He sighed softly. "I'll go."
"What?"
"You stay here and I'll go tell him…tell everyone."
"I can't ask you to do that…"
"You're not…I'm offering." He stood. "What are best friends for?"
Her eyes filled with tears once more and she ran back over to hug him again. "Thank you."
"I'll be back, okay?" He kissed the top of her head before stepping back. "My parents are there with Sam so I'll need to sort him out but then I'll come back."
"Sam…" She had forgot that her godson would be waiting at the courthouse in his little ring bearer outfit. "You haven't seen him in months…don't worry about coming back…you need stay with him."
"It's fine…I'll sort it." He promised. "But I need to go now…"
"Okay." She nodded, stepping back. "Charlie?"
"Tell him I'm sorry…"
Charles gave her a small smile but didn't say anymore. He knew no matter how sorry she was, it wasn't going to help the poor bloke one bit.
XxXxX
Charles raced up the stairs to the courthouse, ignoring all the curious looks he got from people he passed. The wedding party must had already gone in because there was no one waiting outside. When he entered the hall, everyone turned to look at him. He spotted his parents but Sam wasn't with them, which he was thankful for. He couldn't see Marie or Lulu so guessed he was with them somewhere. He loved the attention he got from his honorary Aunties.
"Ah, here's Charlie now…" Max and Grace were stood up at the front, obviously trying to reassure the groom. "Is she out there waiting?"
"Uh…I just need a minute…" Charles told him before looking at the groom. "Can I talk to you?"
"Sir?" He asked, questionably and Charles regretted wearing his uniform.
"Outside?" He suggested and walked away before he could protest.
Once in the hallway, he explained to the stunned groom, his mother, Max and Grace that Georgie wasn't coming. She had changed her mind and couldn't marry him.
"But why?" He asked.
"She'll call you in a few days… once everything has settled a little." Charles stated. "I'm sure she'll explain then…"
"This isn't right…" Max shook his head. "This isn't like Georgie…"
"But you know, don't you! You know why she's stood me up? You can tell me…" He insisted angrily.
"It's not my place…"
"Stop being an asshole and just tell him what's going on!"
A familiar voice from behind said and when Charles turned around, he was surprised at who he saw.
"Oh shit…I mean…Sorry, sir!" Molly's eyes widened and stood up straighter.
He wanted to smile at her reaction and even though she was only sticking up for her mate, who he had just told he had been dumped on his wedding day and she was wearing a beautiful red dress instead of her uniform she still stood to attention; he almost expected her to salute him.
"Medic." He nodded his head in acknowledgement before looking back to the groom. "I'm sorry but I have to go…"
"No! Not until you tell me!"
"Smurf!" Molly tried to pull him back. She felt sorry for him but knew getting into a fight with a captain was not a good idea. "Leave it, mate…"
Charles looked down at the hand that gripping onto his forearm before looking up with a raised eyebrow. "I would listen to your friend if I was you…"
Smurf allowed Molly to pull him away. "I love her… I thought she loved me…"
"I'm sorry." Charles said again before turning and walking away.
He pulled out his phone as he walked back down the stairs, texting Georgie that he had done it…No doubt her parents and Smurf would be on the phone to her soon, demanding to know what was going on….if they wasn't already.
"Charlie?"
He looked up and saw Marie coming towards him; behind her he could see Lulu with Sam looking into a fish tank. Despite everything, he couldn't help but smile at the sight of his 3 year old, looking incredibly cute in his little suit, his face pressed up against the glass and also looking so much more grown up then the last time he saw him, which made his heart ache.
"What's going on?" Marie frowned. "Where's Georgie?"
"She's at home. She's not coming…"
"Shit! She jilted him?"
"Yep…" He nodded, noticing the annoyed look on her face. "Try not to give her a hard time though….She has her reasons and it's going to be rough for her for the next couple of months."
"No, it's not that…I owe Lulu a fiver…"
"What?"
"She bet me that was what Georgie was planning when she was acting weird at home…" Marie explained. "But to be honest, we both thought he was a bit of a twat and she could do better…"
Charles laughed and shook his head. "Look, I'm going to grab Sam and get out of here but I'm going to come check on Georgie as soon as I can…"
"I better go check on the rents…make sure Dad hasn't had a heart attack…"
He leaned forward and pressed a brotherly kiss on her forehead. "Alright, call me if you need anything…"
He was halfway across the lobby when Sam spotted him and immediately pulled away from Lulu and race towards him. "Daddy!"
Charles swung him up in the air before bringing him down to hold him tightly to his chest. "Oh, I've missed you so much…"
"Daddy home?"
"Yeah, Scamp...I'm home now…" He kissed the top of his head.
"Fish over there, Daddy…" He pointed. "We were watching waiting for aunty GG…"
"Finally made it then…" Lulu joined them. "Where's Georgie?"
"Let's just say Marie owes you that fiver…"
Lulu's mouth dropped open for a few seconds before she grinned. "I knew it!"
"Try not to look so happy about it…" Charles glanced behind him towards the stairs where he could still hear the upset groom. "It's obviously hasn't gone down to well…"
"Well, I'm gonna go see what's happening." She replied, holding her hand up to Sam for a high five. "See you later, little dude!"
Sam giggled and slapped his palm against hers.
He rolled his eyes as he watched her head for the stairs just as his parents were coming down.
"Okay, Scamp…how about we get Nana and Pops and then head out of here?"
"Where's Aunty GG?" He frowned, looking around.
"She's not here…."
"We go and see her?"
"Yeah, Scamp…maybe later."
"Charles, darling!" His mother hugged him tightly. "Oh, I'm so glad you're home."
"Good to see you, son…" His Dad hugged him once his mother had stepped back. "Although, I thought we might be sharing a drink and toasting the happy couple by now…"
"Bit of a change of plan there…"
"I'll say…Grace is so upset!" Louisa stated. "I asked if they needed anything but I think she just wants to get home to Georgie…"
"I think its best we move on to…" Peter James, added as he nodded his head towards the stairs where an angry looking Smurf was walking down followed by what looked like his army mates.
"Good plan…" Charles agreed but his eyes couldn't help but straying to Molly, who in her red dress looked completely out of place in the middle of Army dress uniforms.
"Charles?" His mother placed a hand on his arm. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, fine…sorry…lets go." He smiled, unable to resist looking back once more only for his eyes to meet Molly's but received a glare back.
He frowned slightly as he followed his parents out of the court house, wondering why it bothered him so much.
XxXxX
Run Away
90 minutes after leaving the court house, Charles let himself into the Lane's house, this time through the front door. Sam had fallen asleep in the car on the way to the hotel where his parents were staying, so had taken the opportunity to change out of his uniform and head back to check on Georgie.
"I don't want to talk!" He heard Georgie exclaim from upstairs.
"Well, you're going to have to at some point!" Max shouted back.
"We're worried about you, love…." Came Grace's much softer, almost tearful voice.
"She's locked herself in her room…won't come out or let us in." Marie told him, from her place sat on the stairs with Lulu.
He sighed. "I think I'd rather go back to Afghan and face the Taliban…"
"Take them lot with you…" Lulu added dryly as the shouting started again. "They'll scare the lot of them off…"
Charles chuckled. "Not a bad idea…"
"They're not going to leave her alone until she tells them what's going on, Charlie…" Marie said.
"I know." He made his way past her, squeezing her shoulder reassuringly as he did. "Let me see what I can do."
When he reached the top of the stairs, both Max and Grace turned to face him.
"Oh thank god, maybe you can get through to her…." Grace sighed in relief.
"Or here, help me knock down this door…"
"Max!"
"Why don't you both go and have a cup of tea?" Charles suggested.
"I think I need something a lot bloody stronger then tea!" Max muttered.
"Come on, love…Lets leave Charlie to it."
He waited until they had gone down the stairs and disappeared into the living room, taking Marie and Lulu with them before gently knocking on the bedroom door.
"Georgie, it's me….let me in… your parents are downstairs."
"Just you?"
"I promise."
He heard the lock turning before the door opened slowly. Once he was inside, she locked it again and placed a chair under the door handle
"This is such a mess…" She ran her hands through her hair, gripping it tightly "Maybe I should have just married him…"
"If you didn't love him, then you did the right thing." Charles assured her, watching as she paced the room.
Since he left her, she had taken off the wedding dress and had changed into some comfortable leggings and a hoodie. She had also unpinned all her hair and scrubbed off her makeup. Her face was red and puffy where she had been crying.
"What do I do now?" She asked. "He's not stopped ringing and I know I need to explain but I need to get my head right first…and I can't because they keep on and I just don't know what to do…"
"It'll be okay…"
"I've let so many people down…"
"Hey, come on…they'll get over it….And in time, they'll see it was the right thing to do…"
"I don't think I can deal with any of this…." She cried.
"Okay, so come home with me…"
"What?"
"I wasn't planning on staying in Manchester…I was going to drive home with Sam later on tonight after the reception….Why don't you come with us?" He suggested. "Hide out for a bit and get some space to think."
"Bath would probably be the first place they'd look for me…"
"Good thing I rented a house near base from a mate then, isn't it…" He answered. "An old Uni friend was looking for someone to move in…I arranged it all when I was in Afghan via email and haven't even had chance to tell my parents yet…"
"Really?"
"Yep, it's got three bedrooms and a small garden…." HE shrugged. "Not got much furniture yet but there's a sofa, a TV, a fully fitted kitchen and he sorted out some stuff for Sam's room."
"And you don't mind?"
"Course not…you can help me shop for it….Plus, Sam wants to see his Aunty GG."
She threw her arms around him. "I don't know what I would do without you!"
"Well, pack a bag but I don't think your Dad was joking about kicking down the door."
"Shit…they're never going to let me out the house."
Charles grinned. "We'll just have to do what we did when you were grounded and Luke Clarkson was throwing a party…"
Georgie turned and looked at the window before returning the grin. "Okay, let do it!"
"Hurry up then."
Georgie quickly filled a bag with the basics, not really caring what she took and once she was done, Charles took the bag and went out the window first so he could help her down.
He glad he had decided to drive himself and his car was parked right out the front of the house… He felt guilty that they were leaving without telling her family but he knew once Georgie had time to think, she would explain everything to them and they knew he'd take care of her.
Georgie stayed in the car when they reached his parents' hotel while he went to get Sam and then soon they were on the motorway heading out of Manchester.
TBC
Okay, so Charles is Special Forces not Elvis…Molly was the replacement medic not Georgie… Charles still got left with dumping someone at the alter but it was Georgie doing the dumping….(FYI this is 100 per cent not a Georgie / Charles fic… they are just best friends and going to stay that way….Ben and Michelle have a sweet friendship in real life and thought it'll be interested to see their characters be BFFs)
If anyone wants to write their own fic about an AU meeting for Charles and Molly then I'd love to read it!
I'm also going to set another challenge, it was going to be:
'A first Holiday'
Could be any couple/ the characters….could be all of the characters…can be within line with the storyline or could be AU…. Could be romantic, funny, drama, family…anything
Then I saw the photo of CJ & Molly at the rehab centre on Instagram….so I'm going to set 2…the second has to be:
The Missing Scene…Molly visits Charles during rehab.
Looking forward to reading anyway!