AN: I know zilch about football. But I do know a film that does. A couple of these quotes and explanations come from Fever Pitch, which kept gave me an excuse to watch it again, other than my usual of perving at a half naked Colin Firth.

I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles – Part 2

"I might start supporting a team that never wins...Gillingham or something..."

"Oi!" Mickey scowled.

"Least you know where you stand, 'stead of screwing yourself over like this!" Smithy continued pacing, scratching his head as he looked at the TV. "We should be 8 nil down!"

"If you want to win a game 2-nil, I'd say you've got a better chance if its nil nil at half time, than if you're 8 down, don't you?"

"Might as well be 8-nil." Smithy muttered, scowling.

"Jesus Smiffy!" Mickey rolled his eyes. "You need medical help! You've got some sort of disease that turns people into miserable bastards."

Smithy scowled and dropped back down onto the settee, startling Charlie who'd fallen asleep in the excitement.

Charlie blinked round and frowned at Smithy, rubbing her eyes with both hands. "What's happening."

"Nil Nil." Mickey answered before Smithy could snap, "Any more booze?"

"Hmm?" Charlie yawned and gestured through at the kitchen. "Fridge." She mumbled, lifting her legs onto Smithy's lap. "Whassup with you now?"

Smithy scowled petulantly, "Nil nil."

"That's good isn't it?" Charlie blinked, "I thought you don't want them to lose?"

"I don't!" Smithy lifted his can and gulped a good third of it, before placing it back on the table in front of them, looking thoughtful. "But they're gonna…"

"For gods sake, Smiffy!" Mickey's head appeared around the door. "Do us all a favour and shut up!"

"You short arsed little-"

"DALE!"

Charlie smirked to herself from her vantage point in the corner of the settee, watching as Smithy's lips moved as he muttered obscenities under his breath at the television, his eyes glued to the screen as his brow furrowed in concentration.

"Dale?" She tried, fighting to keep a straight face. "….Dale?"

Smithy's scowl deepened a little, but he kept staring at the TV.

"Dale…?"

"MmmmTV…"

Charlie chuckled, grinning to herself as she knelt up beside him, blowing gently in his ear.

Smithy reluctantly tore his gaze from the screen, moved his arm out so it was around Charlie's waist and pushed her back down against the settee. "Shh!"

Charlie's eyebrow raised and she folded her arms as she pouted, glaring at Smithy from under her fringe, before grinning as she saw her next victim, shuffling out of her chair, and over to Mickey's armchair. "Mick Mick…" she purred, sitting on the arm of the chair.

"TV." Mickey's eyes followed the ball, sipping from his can.

"Mickeeeeeey…." Charlie whined, poking his shoulder gently.

"TV."

"I'll cry…" Charlie let herself drop down onto his lap, pouting as she moved for his can.

"Cry…" Mickey shrugged, lifting the can out of reach.

Charlie concentrated hard, set her jaw and sniffled, attempting to force a tear out, frowning as she was ignored. She smirked, lifted her arms and started to undo the top button of her top, yelping as she was grabbed from behind and pulled off Mickey's lap.

"Can I move yet?" Charlie scowled, attempting to loosen Smithy's vice like grip on her arm.

"It's nearly over." Smithy looked down, his expression still resembling thunder.

Charlie sighed and turned so she was sat against him, resting her head on his shoulder as she watched, gently stroking his arm. "It was just a joke…" She tried to reason.

Smithy's eyebrow almost reached his hairline and he glared as the final whistle sounded. "See!" He gestured at the screen with his free hand. "Reg Hollis could do better blindfolded."

Mickey smirked, idly scratching his chin. "That's a tenner you owe me."

"I said-"

"You said they'd win two nil. They drew…"

Smithy scowled and reached into his wallet, passing a note over. Mickey took it and frowned, running it over in his hands. "It's a fiver…."

"Charlie flashed, that makes up the difference."

"That was hardly a flash!" Mickey protested. "She didn't even get her button un-." He trailed off on seeing Smithy's expression, pocketing the note. "I better get off….."

"No, you ignored me!"

"So that's a reason to flash your ex?"

"He's not my ex!" Charlie pulled away, sighing. "It was a joke, Smithy. I know it wasn't very funny, and I'm sorry…" She stood in front of him, one hand cupping his face. "Dale…" She said softly. "I don't need to flirt with anyone else…" she smiled slightly, leaning forward to kiss his cheek. "I've got what I want. I love you."

Smithy blinked, did a double take and tilted his head a little. "….What?"

Charlie flushed and looked down, swallowing hard. "…Nothing." She said quietly, inwardly cringing.

A smirk tugged at Smithy's lips and he tilted her head up with one hand, brushing a tendril of hair back behind her ear. He scanned her face with his eyes, smiling a little, before leaning in and kissing her. "Love you too." He whispered into the kiss.

Charlie squeaked and giggled, wrapping her arms around his waist as she returned the kiss lovingly, beaming broadly as they separated. "Will you teach me about football?"

"I don't think we've got enough time." Smithy chuckled, looking amused. "Least not before the next home game…"

"Well…" Charlie batted her eyelids and grinned at him. "You could always take me…"

"You're going to the football?" Amber smirked. "...You?"

"Yes me!" Charlie rolled her eyes, "Is there a problem with that?"

"You're being colonised!" Leela smirked.

"It's all a sinister form of male manipulation." Sheelagh added with a chuckle.

"Rubbish!"

Leela smirked again, "It's true! You get colonized! Your native culture gets driven out, and it's replaced by stuff that you don't like and don't even want to know about."

Charlie frowned. "I asked him to take me…"

"See, that's what they want." Amber sniggered into her drink. "They want you to think that you want to go…"

"'Cos then, when you go on about him ignoring you over football, he can say that he tried to get you interested." Sheelagh added helpfully.

"He's not like that!" Charlie protested.

"He's male, isn't he?" Leela smirking knowingly.