Disclaimer : I don't own anything so there!

XSARAH : Yeah, she does, doesn't she. It sometimes makes me wonder if there's ever a reason, I make a character like Connie's mom, the way they are lol. Anyways thank you once again for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

B : Honestly, so am I lol. As much as I love writer Charlie all angsty and such, he's much nicer to write when he's well normal I suppose lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

Chapter 15

I slowly felt my whole body relax. It had been a long road after Julie's death, but somehow, we all managed to get down it. Some days faster than others, but nonetheless we still got there. There wasn't a day, I didn't think of Julie, or even talk to her in my mind, and I presumed it would always be that way.

About 6 months after my car accident, I moved out of Charlie and Jonah's, into my own small apartment. It wasn't really home to me, as I rarely spent very long there. A lot of my time was spent with Charlie, Jonah and Adam.

Charlie had eventually gone back to the team after his compassionate leave was over, but he didn't start playing in games until the start of the next season. On the occasions where he was playing away, I looked after Jonah, and on the odd occasion going with the team. Once Charlie had settled back into a routine, I began looking for a new job, finding one with a family run business that specialized family photography. Though taking photo's of children and parents that all plastered fake smiles on their faces, was far from what I really wanted to do, the pay was good, and I needed to recreate my reputation.

A year later, I spoke with Miles again, and we came to the decision that our separation was for good, and we began proceedings for filing a divorce. Though we were still good friends, and decided that Miles should keep the house, in return he was going to pay for my share of our assets.

Nearly 2 years later, everything seemed to have returned to normal, well as normal as they'd ever be.

FLASHBACK

"Ok, you be good for Auntie Connie". Charlie hugged his son, that morning, as he left to catch the team bus to Wisconsin, where they were playing that night.

"I will". He scrambled away, more interested in playing than saying a proper goodbye to his dad.

"Love you". Charlie called, but it fell upon deaf ears. "Ok, right I'm going". He picked his bag up.

"Good luck". I hugged him tightly.

"Call me if you NEED anything ok. Um, I might make it back tonight, but we're not sure". He babbled.

"Look don't worry about it. Just concentrate on the game". I began gesturing for him to leave.

"Ok, see you later". He finally left.

I headed into the living room, where Jonah was playing with his toys. I sat down and watched him for a few minutes. At 4 years old, he was now growing daily. He was quite tall for his age, but Charlie was also pretty tall, up until Junior high, when I hovered over him. But then by puberty everyone seemed to hover over me. Though Jonah looked every bit like Julie, you could still see plenty of Charlie in him.

"So Jonah! What shall we get up too, today"? I asked the toddler.

"Go see Grandpa Mowow". He answered. As yet, he couldn't pronounce my last name. "Play with Grandpa's car". He told me, his eyes gleaming at the prospect.

I can't really remember how it came about that he called my parents Grandma and Grandpa, but he did. I think it might have been when he was playing with Carl's kids, and he just happened to copy them. It was just a simple mistake that non of us really felt needed rectifying.

"Ok, come and get your coat on then". I stood up and headed to closet, Jonah screeching his yippee's behind me.

Not long after, I was pulling up in my parents driveway. Jonah was almost bouncing out of his seat at the prospect of playing with my dad. Once the car was secured in the driveway, I went around the passenger side and helped Jonah out, before watching him dash inside, whilst I walked almost sedately behind him. As I walked through the front door, I could hear my mom asking him if he wanted a drink.

"No thank-you. Where's Grandpa"? He asked immediately.

"He's in his shed sweetheart". My mom replied, watching amused as he dashed toward the backdoor.

"Don't get in the way". I called. "Hey mom". I gave her a quick hug, before seating myself at the breakfast bar, watching her as she began preparing some vegetables for dinner.

"Jamie called this morning". She stated.

"Oh yeah. How's he doing"? I asked. Jamie and his wife Colleen had gone to Europe for a year with Jamie's work. He'd been gone a month, and the few times I had spoken with him, he'd sounded so upbeat and was obviously in love with the place.

"He say's they're having a wonderful time. They've got to spend another month in France, then they're going to start traveling through some other countries. I think he mentioned Berlin, and Venice, but the line was getting a bit bad by the time he mentioned that. He did tell me to tell you, that he'd sent you an email with something he thought you'd like". She told me. "It'll probably be his failed attempt at taking photo's". She laughed, knowing Jamie all too well.

"Probably, he never could take a decent picture". I laughed.

"He's gotten worse as he's got older. Only half of the photos of you and Carl that he took when you were younger have your heads cut off". She laughed some more, remembering our childhood days.

I spent the rest of the afternoon with my mom. Eventually we ended up getting the photo albums out and looking through them together one by one. To be honest, I really enjoyed myself, looking at my memories. There were even some photo's I can't ever remember posing for, like the one after we won our first pee wee championship, and I was stood in between Carl and Jamie, the one and only time I actually towered over them because of my skates.

"JONAH! It's time to go". I shouted from the back doorstep.

He had been locked away with my dad the whole afternoon. To be honest, I had forgotten all about him. I went and put my own coat on then grabbed Jonah's, waiting for him to come back in.

"My God you're filthy"! My mom exclaimed loudly. I headed back into the kitchen to see Jonah's hands covered in oil, with the frequent hand mark on his shirt. My dad looked pretty much similar, though he had overalls on.

"It's just a bit of oil Janet". My dad countered.

"Just a bit of oil he says. Look at him, he's covered in it". She argued back. I just laughed, as I watched Jonah looking on proudly.

"I've been helping Grandpa". He told my mom proudly.

"C'mon, let's get you cleaned up". She pulled a chair over to the sink, and picked him up on it, so he could wash his hands.

"Tell Charlie I think he's got a future mechanic on his hands". My dad told me as he pulled his overalls off.

"Funny, you said the same thing about me". I replied, smiling.

"Well you could have been if you had wanted to be. All you ever used to do when you were younger was play hockey and get underneath a car with me". He told me. I had never had the heart to tell him, that the only reason I used to get under cars with him, was just so I could hang out with him.

"I'll tell him". I agreed. "You ready". I asked Jonah, as he finished drying his hands. He nodded his head as I helped him on with his coat. "Ok, go say goodbye". I told him.

"Bye Grandpa". He wrapped his arms around my dad kissing him on the cheek.

"See ya later champ". My Grandpa stood up from the hug.

"Bye Grandma". He did the exact same thing to my mom.

"Bye sweetheart". She watched him head toward the door.

"Bye mom". I hugged her. "Bye Dad". I hugged him too, then followed Jonah out.

We were silent in the car until I had the car rolling easily. Jonah was sat in the passenger seat beside me, trying his hardest to be able to see properly out of the window.

"So have you had a good time with Grandpa"? I asked finally.

"Yea". He replied enthusiastically. "We've been fixing his car". He told me.

"Sounds like fun". I answered, knowing full well that they hadn't been fixing the car, it was more like fiddling with it.

That evening after dinner, we settled down to watch a couple of films. We watched Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty bang bang, his two favorite films. He sat silently throughout both, pausing it every so often for the bathroom. Even now at 25 years old, I could still sit through all his favorite films, openly enjoying them. Charlie and Adam both pretended to hate watching them, but I found it funny, that as soon as the film came on, they both fell into silence.

After Chitty Chitty bang bang went off, I found the right sports channel and we awaited eagerly for the game to start. I think the only reason Jonah actually watched, was to spot his dad and Adam. He was still too young to really understand the game properly.

At the end of the 2nd period, I got up and went to pour Jonah his glass of milk and few biscuits. I could hear the rain hammering against the window, and I was glad I was inside. During the 3rd period, Jonah drank his milk and slowly but surely, he began to look tired. The game ended, the Wildes losing 2-1. As soon as the game ended, Jonah climbed willingly to bed. When I was sure he was asleep,. I left the room, leaving his night light on, and heading back downstairs. With nothing much to do, I sat on the sofa and put the radio on, listening to the soft music that emitted. Slowly I began to unwind, feeling myself relax.

Suddenly there was a big clap of thunder startling me, followed almost immediately by a flash of lightning. I turned the radio off, trying to listen out for Jonah moving around incase he became unsettled. The thunder clapped another 5 times, before I heard a small voice, shouting my name. I quickly headed up the stairs, finding Jonah cowering under his quilt, his teddy tight in his grip.

"Oh sweetie, it's ok, it's just a thunderstorm". I held him close to me.

"I'm scared"! He cried, as another clap of thunder roared.

"Tell you what. Just this once. How about we get the quilt from the spare room, and we go downstairs and snuggle up on the sofa"? I asked.

"Yea". He replied, a small smile creeping slowly onto his face. "Can we watch the lion king"? He asked.

"Yea, we can watch the lion king".

After about 5 minutes we had had settled down on the sofa, quilt cover wrapped snuggly around ourselves and began watching the film. Jonah fell back to sleep just before Mufasa's death. To be honest I was enjoying watching it, so left Jonah where he was, and continued watching.

"Connie, Con wake up". I heard a soft voice. I slowly opened my eyes, to see Charlie sat on the coffee table. Behind the TV screen was snowy.

"What time is it"? I asked slowly trying to get up, then realizing Jonah was still fast asleep in my arms.

"Past midnight". He replied. "Looks like you two had fun". He stated, smiling.

"He was scared of the storm so we decided to watch the lion king". I replied, as he gently picked Jonah up.

I followed him with the quilt back upstairs, as he put Jonah back in bed. Whilst he was tucking Jonah in, I went back downstairs and started tidying up a little. I was just rinsing Jonah's glass out, when Charlie came down. He came in and lent against the work surface.

"You didn't need to do that". He told me.

"Too late, I already did". I laughed, then turned around and lent on the work surface opposite him.

"So what did you get up to, today"? He asked.

"We went to my mom and dads. Jonah wanted to play with my dad". I laughed at the phrasing. "My dad reckons we're going to have a future mechanic on our hands". I told him.

"We do, do we". He laughed.

"Anyway, good game tonight, sorry you lost though". I realized the more we talked, the later it was getting. "I best get going".

"You can stay if you want. It's a bit late to be heading home by yourself". He told me as I grabbed my bag and coat.

"No, it's ok, Apparently Jamie's sent me an email, and I'm curious what it is". I replied, finding my keys.

"Ok. Um, I'll see you tomorrow". He opened the door for me.

"Yeah". I replied, standing just in the doorway.

We both went to hug/kiss each other goodnight just as we always did, but as Charlie leaned further down, we both seemed to change direction and our lips touched gently. It was by far anything like your average friendly kiss, it was a, full on, thoughts out the door, kind of kiss. After a few seconds, we both pulled apart, shocked at we had both just done.

"I… I b…best be… be going". I stuttered, rushing away from the house and to my car.

END FLASHBACK

I smiled gently, remembering the awkwardness of the that night, and the following few days after. I suppose we both thought we were betraying Julie, but to be honest, after that night, there was no denying that there was something between us.

So what do you think? PLEASE R&R!