Sorry I haven't updated in so long! But, now I'm back with a new chapter. Here's chapter sixteen. This one is where they're in Manchester! I hope it's as long as I said it would be! Enjoy!

Chapter Sixteen: Manchester

They had all been in Manchester for about two days now. The weather was the really nice though, not at all like Claire expected. It was really warm and Claire liked the change.

Charlie's parents, Shawn and Beth, were nice and welcoming as usual. They had even told Charlie and Claire they would watch the kids one night to give Charlie and Claire a break. And Charlie and Claire were grateful for that break.

Claire woke up on their third morning there and stretched. Charlie was still asleep with his face buried in the pillow. Claire ruffled the hair on his head and kiss his cheek softly. He mumbled something in his sleep and then turned over on his side. Claire smiled and got out of bed.

Claire walked to the kid's room to see both were still sleeping soundly. Aidan had his mouth open, something Charlie does when he slept. Camille was holding onto a teddy bear and sleeping soundly. Claire kissed both of them and walked down the stairs to the kitchen.

She walked into the kitchen to see Beth standing there cooking. "Good morning Claire," Beth said when she saw her.

"Good morning Beth, you need any help?" Claire asked.

"No, I've got it right now," Beth said. "Thanks anyway." Claire smiled and sat at the table.

"So, how you been Beth? We haven't really got to talk a lot since we've been here," Claire replied.

"Just fine, but of course I missed all of you like crazy. I'm just glad you all are here to visit," Beth replied.

"I know, we should visit more often. I feel so guilty that we don't," Claire said looking at the tablecloth.

"Don't feel guilty. We love when you guys come to visit. We appreciate all the visits you guys can make," Beth replied sort of sadly. Claire looked at her.

"Are you okay Beth?" Claire asked.

"Yes, I'll be fine. It's just, since Shawn is retiring next year, it would be great if we retired down to Sydney to be closer to you guys. We're talking about it but we don't know yet. I mean England is our home, has been since we were born. I mean, my two sons left and they have a great life, and a beautiful family," Beth replied. "I love what they did with their lives. I want to do something with my life, and I wouldn't love it more than moving to be closer to my family."

"I understand that," Claire replied. "Talk about it with Shawn, I'm sure he'll agree if you want to be closer to your children and grandchildren." Beth sat down next to Claire. She placed her hand on Claire's.

"Thank you Claire," Beth said. Claire smiled and hugged her.

"Anytime I can help," Claire said. Charlie shuffled in, hair all a mess, he looked at the two of them.

"What's going on in here?" he asked rubbing the back of his head.

"Nothing," Beth said smiling at her son. Camille started crying then.

"Why don't you go get your daughter," Claire said to Charlie. Charlie turned to get her but Beth stood.

"I'll go get my granddaughter. Claire, could you watch the food for me?" Beth asked. Claire nodded and Beth left. Charlie came over and sat next to Claire.

"What's going on?" Charlie asked. Claire smiled and leaned onto him.

"Nothing, trust me. If it was something I would tell you," Claire replied smiling. Charlie rolled his eyes and Claire leaned up to kiss him.

That night…

Charlie, Claire, Liam, and Karen had decided to go out that night. Charlie and Liam were just dying to take Claire and Karen to the place they use to hang out at before they hit it big.

Karen had been there before and she was sort of dreading it. Claire was clueless to the whole thing.

"Why are you so worried?" Claire asked. "Is the place bad?"

"No, it's not the place. It's the people," Karen said as they got ready to go out.

"What's wrong with the people?" Claire asked as they walked down the stairs.

"Well, Charlie and Liam use to go their to do gigs, but also because they had a lot of friends there that could hook them up with their drugs," Karen replied.

"Oh," Claire replied. "Now I'm not sure I want to go."

"Don't worry, they're both clean now. You know they wouldn't go back to taking those things," Karen said trying to reassure her.

"I know," Claire said. They met up with Charlie and Liam and went to the pub they always hung out in.

"So, what do you think?" Charlie asked Claire as they sat down. Claire looked around the dark pub.

"Looks like any other pub," Claire replied. Charlie smiled.

"You want something to drink?" Charlie asked.

"Yeah, you know what I like," Claire said. Charlie winked at her and then went to the bar with Liam.

"Well, so far I don't see anyone that use to hook them up," Karen said looking around. Claire looked around the pub; to her it looked just like any other pub in Sydney. But obviously to Charlie it was a great place. She hated to think of what he did in the dark corners of this place when he was on drugs.

"Oh God!" Karen said. Claire turned her attention back to her sister-in-law.

"What?" Claire asked.

"Tommy is here!" Karen said disgustedly. Claire followed Karen's line of sight. Charlie and Liam were talking to a British guy with dark curly hair.

"Who is that?" Claire asked.

"One of there old friends. He was in DriveShaft with them and he was also the one who got them started on drugs," Karen said. Claire turned back and watched Tommy like a hawk.

Over with the guys…

"Charlie and Liam Pace! I never thought I'd see you two again!" Charlie and Liam looked up to see Tommy walk over.

"Hey Tommy!" Liam said hugging him.

"Charlie Boy!" Tommy said hugging Charlie. Charlie hugged him.

"What's up Tommy?" Charlie asked.

"The usual, not much. What I want to know is, what's been going on with you guys. Haven't seen you all in probably four years," Tommy said. "How's the wife and kid, Liam?"

"Karen's great. Megan's five now and she's started school. She's doing really well. And Karen and I have had another baby since then. Little Liam Jr. He's doing great too," Liam said.

"Nice," Tommy said not really caring. "And Charlie, you? Still running the roads, free to do whatever you want?"

"Actually no," Charlie said. He held up his left hand to show Tommy his ring. "Married now."

"No! The Charlie Pace is married!" Tommy asked. Charlie nodded. "Get out of town!"

"I'm serious, her name is Claire. She's over there with Karen," Charlie replied.

"Ah, so you brought the girls with you huh?" Tommy asked leaning on the bar. They nodded. "So, you wife like that you're still doing heroin?"

"I'm clean now Tommy," Charlie said. Tommy got off the bar.

"You're clean? What happened to the Charlie I use to know?" Tommy asked. Charlie smiled and looked over at Claire.

"Well, I met Claire. We fell in love, have two kids, got married, and have a wonderful life together. She's better than a drug," Charlie said.

"Don't you miss it?" Tommy asked.

"Nah, I have more important things in my life now. I've been sober for two years now," Charlie said. "Come on Liam, let's get back to the girls."

They left and Tommy followed them back to the table. Claire and Karen looked up as they came back and smiled. Karen's smiled dropped upon seeing Tommy come too.

"Hey Karen," Tommy said. Karen rolled her eyes.

"Hello Tommy," Karen said.

"And you must be Claire. It's nice to meet you, I'm Tommy Ryan," Tommy said. Charlie watched as Claire smiled and nodded. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her temple.

"Why are you here?" Karen asked. "We wanted to spend the night with our husbands, not you."

"Excuse me," Tommy said. "I see I'm not wanted here, I'll just leave." Tommy got up and left, but before he did, he dropped a small stash of heroin in Charlie's wide open jacket pocket.

Later that night…

The couples returned back home late that night. Charlie took his jacket off and Claire took hers off. She took them both and headed for the closet.

She grabbed two hangers and attempted to put hers on the hanger and dropped Charlie's jacket in the process. She leaned down to pick it up when she noticed something. The heroin. She stood and marched over to Charlie.

"Charles Shawn Pace, what the hell is this doing in your coat pocket?" Claire asked holding it out in front of him.

"Where did that come from?" he asked. Claire rolled her eyes.

"I don't know, why don't you tell me!" Claire asked. Charlie stood.

"Claire, I don't know where those came from. I swear!" Charlie said.

"Are you using again? Did you get Tommy to give you more drugs?" Claire asked. Charlie shook his head.

"No, I swear, I would never do that to us or the kids. I'm not using again!" Charlie pleaded. He then remembered Tommy asking him about drugs.

"Tommy did it! I know he did, he asked me about drugs all night!" Charlie said. "You know I wouldn't do that again. You believe me right?"

Claire looked at him. She knew he was telling the truth by looking in his eyes. She smiled and kissed him.

"Of course Charlie, I know you wouldn't do that. I'm sorry I accused you," Claire said. Charlie smiled.

"Apology accepted, give them to me. I know the perfect place for them," Charlie said. Claire handed them to him and he headed towards the bathroom. He dropped them in the toilet and flushed them.

Claire smiled. "That's the Charlie I know," she said. Charlie smiled and kissed her.

"Come on, it's late. Let's go to bed," Charlie said. Claire smiled and nodded. They went upstairs and went to bed.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Okay, I hope that was long enough! If it wasn't, don't worry, they're will be more to the story soon. The next chapter they will be home again and a few more surprises will happen before it's over!

No review responses in this because I have a headache and I need to get off before my head explodes. But thanks to everyone who reviewed! I appreciated them all!

Until next time,

Bloomy Angel