Taking Things Slow

Chapter 3

Standing in Awe

She was so excited, so much so that she ran ahead her dress and hair billowing behind her. "Oh, Charlie! This is wonderful!" He was steps behind her smiling, watching her run around like a little girl. She was so pretty like that, he realized, her yellow daisy sundress blowing in the wind and her hair tousling around, her grey eyes bright and smiling at him. All she needed to fulfil one of those muggle romantic movies she kept showing him was a big hat and a basket. He almost laughed aloud when she spun around in a circle; stopping, she saw his face and put her hands on her hips and faked a frown. "What is it Weasley?"

That did it, he couldn't help but laugh. "You are so funny, acting like a little girl or something." Her face twitched as she tried not to smile back at him.

"Making fun of me are you Weasley? Well, fine! Be that way!" And she suddenly turned around and began running again, with a reckless abandon she had missed feeling for so long. As she ran she felt free and so with eyes closed and arms outspread she ran fast and faster. The wind whipped through her hair, she felt the air touch her cheeks and caress her skin. It was magnificent. Almost like she could run away from her troubles, her past; like she could run away from the impending war.

Charlie watched her run, at first he laughed and enjoyed her flushed face, flowing hair, glowing skin; but then he realized why. She had much to run from. His past, though bumpy, did not have the pitfalls hers had. The loss of a father, the distance of a mother, the loss of a friend and a lover. He didn't want to acknowledge Sirius, he knew he was fighting enough with her on it to want to have to fight with himself, but she had lost him, twice, it was not something he could deny really. So here she was, running, and all he could think was how he wanted to help her. Stop her, let her enjoy for just a moment, Now.

So suddenly, when running, Liz ran into something, and before she could look up or say anything his arms were around her tightly. At first she was confused, worried even, but then she just relaxed and held him. She was safe right then. On the small dirt path leading to the village, just the two of them holding one another in the whirlwind of life.

When they did finally pull apart, she stared into his brown eyes and leaned up gentle pressing her lips to his. "Mmm, Charlie, you make me hungry for strawberries..."

He looked down at her, "well the village is just up ahead..."

"Or I could just keep kissing you..." She wrapped a hand around his neck and pressed up to his lips again. He pulled away slightly his eyes half shut and glazed. "Sounds wonderful." He said as he kissed her gently again, "however, we need to get to the village before the shops close."

Pulling away a little Liz wrapped her arms around his ribs staring up into his loving face. "Alright, I'm getting actually hungry anyway."

They walked hand-in-hand down the small village. Old homes and shops lined the cobblestone street. A range of people walked by, some young wearing modern-day muggle clothes, others in the more traditional outfits for the town. Liz thought it was absolutly wonderful. She turned up to Charlie and beamed, her face glowing; it reminded her of going to Japan with her father. He always held her hand while they walked through the small village outside of Okinawa that he grew up in, always like this, people dressed in all sorts of clothes, chatting, enjoying themselves, no worries. It was like that now. She purposefully put behind her all of the troubles that were going on, pretending that she was just out for a leisurally stroll with her boyfriend, no war was heading for them.

They had just eaten dinner at a little tavern just down the way, now it was time for shopping. Normally it bored her, only enjoying it while out with Tonks, having a good laugh as she would metamorph into strange shapes for her strange clothing. But out with Charlie in a quaint little town, it made something rise in her. A need to be domestic. The thought made her heart flutter, yet her stomach turn. She had always wanted a family, that wasn't new, however, already feeling it with him was scary and yet exciting; but really it wasn't her feelings for Charlie that scared her, that really was what excited her, even in her nervousness. It was the war. It was oncoming, no one could deny it, so it was coming, and coming quickly, leaving no time for those that were already ready to settle not able too. When would it be safe?

Charlie noticed her change in posture almost immediately after it changed. She had started walking slower and her face dropped. Still holding her hand, he turned around and looked at her eyes which were staring at the ground. "Lizzie? What's wrong?" He was worried about her, she looked up, into his brown worried eyes and tried to smile.

"Nothing Charlie…I'm fine." She said; Charlie just gave her a condesending look, Liz however, just waved at him. "No really, I'm fine, I was just thinking. Lets get what we need, alright?" He looked at her skeptically but nodded.

"Alright." As he said it, she let go of his hand and walked a bit a head of him. But before she got to far away he grabbed her wrist. Confused she began to turn around to face him.

Quickly he had his free hand around her waist and on the small of her back pushing him towards her, while leaning his face down to kiss her soft lips. She yeilded, pressing against him, the wrist he held going slack. When they pulled away, Charlie's brown eyes were closed, and Liz looked up at him with glazed greys, "Weasley…" she moaned out.

"Mmm?"

"We're in the middle of a street…"

"Mmmm…."

"A crowded street."

"Right." He breathed, he let go of her wrist and began to pull his wand from his pocket, but with her now free hand Liz touched his arm.

"Charlie, the muggles." She was much more alert now, getting her mind back, and knowing apparating in plain sight would not be a good idea. Instead she grabbed his hand and dragged him foreward. He gave her a strange look and almost stumbled, but quickly caught himself, following her whereever it was that she was dragging him.

They passed the shop she had wanted to go too, and had made known to Charlie she had wanted to go too, he almost said something, but before he could, she had thrown him into a dark alley and pressed herself up against him, hands on his biceps and face so ridiculously close to his he could feel her warm breath on his cheek. Her grey eyes were clouded and filled with lust; the look in them shot electricity through his nerves. He couldn't help it, he flexed his arms forcing her to let go, grabbed hers and spun her around against the wall, pinning her, his lips pushing hard onto hers. She responded in kind, a moan escaping her lips, as it did his fingers flexed around her arms as he pressed harder against her.

Normally Liz would have backed off, but for whatever reason, she was to caught up and she pressed back, feeling his arosal against her thigh. Another moan espcaed her lips as she grabbled with the stone wall her palms were pressed against. Swiftly Charlie's lips were trailing down her neck, licking and biting there way down to her exposed collar bones; his left hand gently moved from around her arm to move behind her neck and down to the middle of her back, his right hand traced her curves resting momentarily on her arse before cupping it, pressing her flesh tight against his mouth. Her arms now free she reached behind him and grabbed his neck.

His fingers twitched against her clothed skin and slowly he dragged his tongue across her collar up to the crook of her neck where he lightly bit down. This time Liz held back her moan, instead she gently pushed him away. Charlie's eyes opened, glazed, filled with lust and confusion. Smiling she placed her small hands on the side of his face and softly kissed his lips. "I love you Charlie" she whispered keeping her hands on his freckled cheeks.

He smiled back at her and gently tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. "I love you too Lizzie." He understood the unspoken words behind her profession. They were taking things slow.

AN: Ah well, things are starting to heat up between the two, however, they've still got a long way to go. I hope your all enjoying Liz and Charlie's journey...Don't forget, please review! Thanks!