A/N: I came late to the Younger fandom. I binged the entire series over a few weeks in December 2021. Like many of you I hated the ending. Charles and Liza should have ended up together. I felt very let down to watch these 2 passionate characters go through so much and at the end not even be together. The writers should have listened to Charles and Liza's own words from episode 4.05 - words they gave them - when they say "People just want to believe love exists and a happy ending is not the worse thing to hope for." I am in no way connected to the show.
The story picks up 6 weeks after the last episode.
Charles Brooks pulled the Range Rover into his designated parking spot in the garage and shut off the engine. It had been a long six weeks. His shoulders slumped in relief and exhaustion as he leaned back against the headrest, closing his eyes. Today had been tiring and coupled with an even longer than normal trip along the NY-22, he was ready for bed. The congestion and accidents along the way made him consider pulling into a hotel but sleeping in his own bed for the first time in six weeks kept him going. Yaddo, the writer's retreat in upstate New York had been rewarding. He still had a few things to do with his manuscript, but it was done. He was grateful for the experience and thought it helped his 'day' job working as a publisher to see what writers go through to create their work. Although he instinctively knew their struggles, doing it himself had been eye-opening.
Sleeping in the car was not an option and reminding himself he was two minutes from his front door, he swung his long legs out of the car and walked around back, opening the hatch, grabbing his suitcase, computer bag, and a smaller bag that contained some gifts for Nicole and Bianca, his two daughters. Nodding to the attendant on his way out, he made his way out of the garage and down the sidewalk to his luxury townhome on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
It was well past midnight, but even so, there were still people milling about outside the eateries and trendy drinking establishments on the other side of the street.
He dug around the computer bag for the house key, inserted it in the lock, and stepped into his five-story pre-war townhome. It was tastefully decorated with subtle touches and neutral colors. He had neither the time, nor the interest to make any changes after soon-to-be ex-wife Pauline left him.
Shifting his belongings to the left hand, he silenced the alarm and reset it now that he was inside. He placed his things on the floor and took off his lightweight spring coat and hung it in the closet. Picking everything back up, he made his way up the curving staircase to the second floor. He looked around the second floor noticing a dim light on in the living room. He made his way over to turn it off when he noticed a pair of women's shoes, a woman's purse, and a long trench coat draped over the back of a chair. Turning off the light, his eyes narrowed in exhausted recognition of the items and looked around sharply. She was here? Where? It was after midnight. What was she doing here? He poked his head in the kitchen, instantly feeling silly, realizing she would not be in the kitchen now. Her purse and shoes were here so she was in the house somewhere. He glanced up the stairs towards the 3rd floor and started to make his way.
He stole a quick glance in the bedrooms of both daughters and found them empty. He knew they were with Pauline. He walked over to the guest bedroom on the same floor and found her. Liza Miller, the love of his life, asleep in the guest bed. Lying flat on her back with her arms down by her side close to her body like she usually slept. She was wearing his beat-up old Princeton Rowing tee shirt from college. It was the same shirt she always put on after they made love, just in case one of his daughters should come in their bedroom during the night. His face softened and he smiled allowing himself a moment to remember before reaching for the door handle and closing it quietly behind him. He did not know what she was doing here. Not that it mattered. She had a key and he had never asked for it back when they split. She had her own code for the alarm too and he knew she had been here a few times in the last six weeks. The alarm company sent a weekly report on codes and whose PIN was used. Pauline asked if he objected to Liza watching Nicole and Bianca when she had a recent book deadline, then later told him Liza and the girls had spent the night at the townhouse. He did not object because he knew Liza and his daughters adored each other.
He crossed to the stairs, made his way to the 4th floor, walked into the master bedroom, dropped his bags and got undressed. He took a quick shower to wash off the day's grime, got into bed, and was fully asleep before his head hit the pillow.