Disclaimer: I only own the story specific characters I created. The originals belong to Cecily von Zeigesar and The CW.

Charlotte was buried in paperwork in her office, yet she continued to glance at her watch every five minutes. Her brother, Brice, and his girlfriend were supposed to arrive In New York City almost an hour ago. They'd promised to call the minute the Bass jet landed on American soil. She hoped they hadn't been delayed in leaving France.

She was more excited for his arrival this year than she'd been in any year since he'd moved to France. Of course, he visited as often as his school schedule allowed, but she missed him terribly. They'd always been close, but the distance and time difference was tricky to navigate. They didn't converse nearly as much as they would have liked.

She frowned at the time on her watch as it was only three minutes since she'd previously checked. She mentally cursed herself for her inability to focus on her work. She had a deadline rapidly approaching, and the office would be shutting down a few days before Christmas for the holidays. She had to get her work done to allow her manager the necessary time to review her reports.

Finally finding a burst of time to concentrate, she was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"That looks like Charlotte Waldorf-Bass with her head buried in paperwork," a familiar voice cut through Charlotte's concentrate.

"Brice!" Charlotte shrieked as she ran around her desk to engulf her brother in a hug, "What are you doing here? You were supposed to call when you landed."

"This way is more fun," he released her to take in the surroundings of her office. The walls were still mostly bare and aside from the picture of her family on the bookcase, there were zero personal touches to her office, "I'm surprised Mom hasn't hired a decorator to do your office."

"I'm sure she's been tempted," Charlotte laughed, "When did you get in?"

"About an hour ago," he claimed her seat behind her desk.

"Hey, nuh-uh, you haven't earned that desk," she gave him a playful shove, "Where's Collette?"

"She went to see her mother," Brice refused to budge from his seat, "This is a comfortable chair. Maybe I should get me one of these."

"I don't think Dad has expanded the empire into the wine making business," Charlotte teased, "Now get up before I call security."

"Yet," Brice snorted before finally relented her chair to her, "Have you eaten? Dad suggested we could order some Chinese and have a quick bite, just the three of us…unless you already have plans."

"Nope, I'm free of plans," Charlotte shook her head. She'd told Eddie breakfast that she was hoping to take her brother to lunch if he arrived in time. He had made plans to eat with another colleague.

"Are you hungry?" Brice asked, "I've been craving good Chinese food for months."

"I can eat," she linked her arm with his and walked them to the elevator. She badged them both up to the executive level where Eugenia greeted Brice with a warm hug.

"Lunch is waiting for you in your father's office. He's just finishing up with a meeting in the conference room. He won't be more than ten minutes," Eugenia told the duo, "He said not to wait for him to start eating."

Brother and sister were catching up on their lives when Chuck entered his office. "This looks like trouble," Chuck had already shed his jacket and was rolling up his sleeves before his oldest two children even noticed his presence.

"Hey, Dad," Brice rose to his feet and gave his father a hug.

"How was the flight?" Chuck kissed the top of his daughter's head before taking a seat and helping himself to some lunch.

"Smooth as always," Brice dished out more fried rice onto his plate.

"And where is Ms. Lafonte?" Chuck referenced his son's long-term girlfriend.

"She went to see her mom," Brice responded before stuffing a bite of chicken into his mouth.

"And Barty?" Charlotte asked, "If you left him in France, I'm uninviting you to stay with me."

"Arthur brought him to your place already," Brice assured her, "He seems happy to be home. Collette and I will be taking him for a walk in the park after lunch."

"How's school?" Charlotte asked him.

"Funny you should mention it," Brice began with a nervous hitch in his throat.

Charlotte gave him a look of total bewilderment. He couldn't have possibly flunked out. He'd been getting straight A's in all of his classes since kindergarten. Though she hated to admit it, he was way smarter than she was.

"With my summer courses and internship credits, I had enough to graduate this term," Brice cleared his throat.

"Holy crap, Brice, that's like a year and half early!" Charlotte gasped, "Why didn't you tell anyone until now?"

"The ceremony won't be until the spring," Brice told her, "Collette still has the one term left, so for the next several months we'll be doing the long distance relationship."

"What? Why?" Charlotte was completely shocked by her brother's announcement, yet her father looked the picture of calm.

"I'm moving back to New York," Brice explained, "Lettie will be joining me when she finished."

"What?" Charlotte sputtered before turning towards her father, "Did you know about this?"

"I did," Chuck gave an amused chuckle, "The part about moving back to New York is being kept under wraps until Christmas. It's part of your mother's gift."

"So what will you be doing?" Charlotte asked, "Last I checked, there were no vineyards in the city."

"I'm joining a wine brokerage firm," Brice replied, "I'll be the exclusive representative of Grandpere's vineyard. He and Roman have decided it is time to expand the brand, and I will be the liaison between their vineyards and the retail shops here in the states."

"Sounds like the perfect job for you," Charlotte was up off her chair to hug her brother, "It will be so great having you back in the city, but are you sure this is what you want?"

"Collette and I have been discussing our plans for a couple of years. We both agreed New York is our home. Her father was the only reason we stayed in France as long as we did. With her schooling nearly done, there is nothing her father can do to keep her there," Brice stated.

"Finally standing up to that jerk," Charlotte spoke before she could censor her words. She looked appropriately chagrin once she realized her words were spoken out loud.

"We're finally able to," Brice responded with a chuckle, "As generous as Dad's offer was to pay for Collette's education, she didn't feel comfortable taking his offer back then. With our relationship a bit more solidified, we're able to do as we wish."

"So when's the wedding," she teased.

"Very funny," Brice glared at her, "Speaking of significant others. How about we talk about your love life and this mystery man you're dating? Does Dad know you're seeing someone?"

"He does," Chuck chimed in.

"He even knows who it is," Charlotte stuck her tongue out at her brother like she used to when they were kids trying to get the other sibling in trouble.

"You told Dad before you told me and Aiden," Brice nearly choked on his rice. "Is the poor guy still breathing?"

"He is," Charlotte rolled her eyes, "Daddy even likes him…don't you Dad?"

"As much as I could ever like anyone dating my daughter," Chuck stuffed another bite of chicken into his mouth.

"Wow, that's high praise coming from you, Dad," Brice snorted, "What did the guy do to earn such a compliment? I figured you'd only ever say that about someone like Eugenia's sons."

It was Charlotte's turn to choke on her food.

It took Brice a few moments to understand Charlotte's reaction. "Wait, Justin's married, so you and Eddie?"

Charlotte flirted for a moment with telling Brice a lie, but he was going to find out in a week anyways. She could only manage to bob her head as she reached for her glass of water to take a sip.

"You and Eddie?" Brice repeated, his voice rising an octave above normal.

"Kinda," Charlotte replied.

Chuck hid a laugh behind a well-timed cough. Brice's reaction was in line with how he usually reacted to Charlotte's dates.

"Kinda?" Brice scowled at his sister, "How do you kinda date Eddie Fraser?"

"It just sort of happened," Charlotte replied, "We started spending time together. One thing led to another, and now we're dating."

"And Dad knows," Brice looked towards his father, "Have you thought about how complicated and awkward this will be for your family, for his family?"

"Do you really think Eddie and I would be so careless?" Charlotte scowled at him, "Yes, we know the risks, but we're willing to take them because we both think there could be something great between us."

"He's like ten years older than you," Brice countered.

"It's six and a half actually, and so what if he is a bit older. It doesn't bother me, and it doesn't bother Eddie. Why the heck should it bother you?" Charlotte was suddenly up off her chair and bolting from the office.

"Why are you just sitting there so calm?" Brice turned towards his father, "You're usually freaking out when Charlotte's dating someone seriously."

"She's happy, Brice," Chuck responded, "You've been away for a few years, so maybe you can't see it, but she's as happy as I've ever seen her."

"Dad…" Brice began.

"Mister Fraser is a good guy," Chuck interrupted his son, "While no one will ever be good enough for my daughter, he's about as close as they come."

"Is this thing between Charlotte and Eddie really serious?" Brice asked.

"Yes," Chuck bobbed his head, "As much as I want to step in and drive Mister Fraser away, I also want Charlotte to have the happiness I have with your mother. This is the first time I've ever seen it as a possibility for your sister. I'd be a fool to ruin that for her, just as I would have been to step in a few years ago with you."

"Why did you do that, Dad?" Brice asked, "You just let me move across the ocean four years ago when I was in high school to follow the woman I love."

"Do you still love Ms. Lafonte?" Chuck asked.

"More than I did four years ago," Brice confirmed.

"Charlotte was one hundred percent supportive of your decision to move to France. The least you could do would be supportive in her own romantic endeavors," Chuck told his son.

"I need to apologize, don't I," Brice frowned.

"It is the adult thing to do," Chuck patted his son's shoulder.

Brice set aside his lunch and made his way towards the elevator. When he found Charlotte in her office, her head was down as if she was concentrating on her work, but Brice could tell she wasn't focused.

"Char," Brice knocked at her door.

"Go away, Brice," Charlotte wiped at her eyes, "I have lots of work to do before the holidays."

"Char," Brice tried again as he closed the door, "I'm sorry. You caught me off guard."

"You did to," she wiped at her eyes again but refused to look up, "I thought you'd be my supportive little brother, not questioning who I'm dating. And by the way, my relationship with Eddie is the best, most supportive one I've ever had."

"I'm sorry," Brice took a seat in one of her chairs, "You've always been the best big sister…well except for when we were little kids and you were always torturing me."

"You gave as good as you got," Charlotte shot him a look.

"The point is, you've been so supportive of me and Collette. It was you who got Mom and Dad on board with me moving to France to be with her. The least I can do is be supportive of you and Eddie," he replied.

"You're right, it is the least you can do," Charlotte hissed.

"I want a do over," Brice demanded.

"A do over?" Charlotte snorted.

"Yeah, I want you to tell me about Eddie, and I'll get the reaction right this time," Brice replied.

"Brice, it's fine," Charlotte told him, "You don't like the idea. You don't have to. You'll just have to deal with it."

"I want you to be happy, Charlotte," Brice told her.

"If you wanted that, then you'd be happy for me and Eddie," she finally looked up. The tears welling in her eyes nearly broke her brother's heart. His approval clearly meant a lot to her.

"And I will be," Brice replied, "It's just a surprise."

"Maybe springing my relationship with Eddie on you and Aiden wasn't the hottest idea," Charlotte frowned.

"We'll come around…or rather, I'll come around," Brice tried to reassure her, "Aiden will have the reaction you're hoping for. He'll be sufficiently shocked and then thrilled."

"I really do care about Eddie," Charlotte swallowed hard in an effort to keep her emotions in check.

"Good," Brice smiled.

There was an awkward pause in the conversation.

"I'd better let you get back to work…Are we good?" Brice asked.

"Yeah, we're okay," Charlotte managed to smile. "I'll see you later at home…Oh before I forget, I have an extra houseguest."

"Eddie?" Brice raised a curious brow.

"Uh, well, two I guess," Charlotte bit her lip, "Don't tell Dad that Eddie spends the night."

"I would never," Brice assured her, "Who's the other?"

"Devon," Charlotte replied, "He's back in the city and needs a place to crash until he gets on his feet."

"Char, your current boyfriend and ex-boyfriend under the same roof. Is that a good idea?" Brice hesitated.

"It's been a bit awkward, but Devon knows he has to behave," Charlotte stated.

"And Eddie is okay with it?" Brice pressed.

"He's not altogether thrilled, but it's not like it's going to be for weeks or months," Charlotte waved off his concerned, "It's just until Devon can find his own place."

"I won't say another word, but this just has disaster written all over it," Brice replied. "I'll see you back at your place later."

"And be nice to Devon. He's going through a tough time. The holidays are coming, and his family is out of the country."

"I'll do my best," Brice pinched the bridge of his nose before leaving. He'd never told Charlotte while she was dating Devon, but he'd never liked him, never trusted him. It always appeared like Devon was using Charlotte to get attention, but when she got too much, he was quick to cut her down.

Brice was out of the office for two seconds when Hannah came darting in, "A Columbia friend, I hope?"

"Brother, Brice," Charlotte laughed, "And he's taken."

"Everyone you associate with is taken," Hannah plopped herself down in one of the chairs.

"After the holidays, I'll arrange a meet and greet with one of my Columbia buddies, I promise," Charlotte assured her.

"And you're sure your brother is taken?" Hannah frowned, her eyes following Brice to the elevator, "He's so cute."

"Sorry, yes, I'm absolutely positive," Charlotte snorted, "After Christmas, I promise."

"I'm holding you to that," Hannah giggled and exited Charlotte's office.

Charlotte finally found the last few hours of uninterrupted time she needed to finish up her reports. She gathered them all up and went to her boss's office.

"What can I do for you, Charlotte?" Octavia looked up from her work when she noticed Charlotte standing in her doorway looking for an opening to interrupt.

"Finished up my reports," Charlotte held up several manila files.

"Excellent," Octavia smiled, "Put them on my desk. I'll get them back to you tomorrow for comments."

"Thank you," Charlotte replied.

"Since you have a bit of free time, would you check in with Higgins," Octavia requested, "He was out with the flu last week and fell a bit behind."

"Of course," Charlotte bobbed her head.

"And Ms. Bass," Octavia called after her as she turned to leave, "You've been getting a lot of personal visitors lately. You're allowed some latitude because of your last name, but please try to keep them to a minimum. This is a place of business."

"You're right," Charlotte felt the guilt hit her stomach immediately, "I'm sorry."

Octavia nodded in acceptance of the apology and went back to her work while Charlotte crossed the workroom and approached her coworker with the offer of help.

"Barty!" Charlotte was greeted as soon as she stepped off the elevator by the family's K-9 companion, waiting eagerly with his tail wagging. The dog immediately pounced on her, barking happily as Charlotte took several moments to rub him down.

"She's more excited to see your dog than she is you, Brice," his girlfriend, Collette, teased as they appeared in the entryway.

"He's so much cuter," Charlotte continued with her rubdown, "How have you been, Buddy? Chasing all sorts of vermin all around Grandpere's vineyard, bet you loved that."

Barty barked in response, his tail still wagging eagerly.

"He doesn't seem to like the leash too much anymore, but he loved all the mingling at the dog park at Central Park a couple of hours ago," Collette greeted Charlotte with a hug.

"So happy to see you, Lettie," Charlotte eagerly returned the hug.

"You have a nice home," Collette looked around, "Remind me to get the name of your decorator whenever I want to settle down."

"Sounds like the settling down might come sooner than I originally thought," Charlotte teased, "With Brice being a college grad, and you nearly finished, I expect Daddy to be buying a love nest for you two quite soon."

Brice rolled his eyes. He'd already had the discussion with his father about purchasing real estate. Brice wanted to wait until Collette was finished with school and back in New York City permanently. He didn't want to make any decisions until Collette had made decisions about her career. His was fairly mobile. He could live and work from anywhere in the city, but he didn't want her having to deal with a long commute.

"So Brice told me a little secret about you and that dreamy Eddie Fraser," Collette linked arms with Charlotte as the two wandered into the living room to chat, leaving Brice in their dust. The pair had grown quite close over the years, even with an ocean between them. "Tell me everything, and don't leave anything out."

"Do I really have to hear this?" Brice moaned as he followed the pair, "My sister's sex life is none of my business."

"Ditto, Bro," Charlotte laughed.

"I just want to know how the pair went from friendly to more than," Collette sent her long time love a scowl.

Charlotte was all too happy to finally have someone close to her to talk about everything with. Her sorority sisters were great, but they didn't understand the workings of the Bass family like Collette. They didn't know how close the Frasers were, so they didn't get the complications. Collette certainly did.

"I'm gonna go up to the see the parents," Brice announced, "You two can have your girly conversations in peace."

"It's about time," Charlotte sent a laugh in her brother's direction.

Brice expected his dog to follow, but he was happily soaking up the attention Charlotte was bestowing upon him while she continued to converse with Collette.

"So, you and Eddie," Collette prompted Charlotte, her eyes were swimming with eagerness.

"Oh my god, Lettie, it just came out of nowhere," Charlotte gushed, "He was sitting there in HR day one at Bass, and it just hit me. I can't explain it, but we just clicked which was so weird because we've known each other forever."

"Awe, that's so sweet," Collette responded appropriately.

"We just fit now where we didn't when we were younger…when I was younger," Charlotte frowned.

"What's wrong?" Collette picked up on Charlotte's suddenly turbulent thoughts.

"Our age difference," Charlotte sighed, "At first it didn't seem like much of a deal, but as we get closer…I really care about him, and I love being with him, but I think we're on different timelines. He's ready to settle down and have kids."

"And you're not?" Collette asked.

"I don't know," Charlotte let out a shaky breath, "I mean Mom and Dad were only a year older than I am now when they got pregnant with me, but they had been together forever and they were ready for that next step. Dad was already well established at Bass. Mom was making waves at CB and taking the fashion world by storm. I'm just starting to find my footing at Bass."

"So just because you're starting out professionally means you have to put your personal life on hold?" Collette looked to Charlotte with confusion.

"I have such big shoes to fill," Charlotte pointed out, "I'm being groomed to take over Bass."

"That's not for a long time," Collette pointed out, "There's no crime in being happy while you're learning things."

"Maybe I'm just scared," Charlotte bit her lip nervously, "He's such a great guy."

"And that's bad?" Collette asked.

"No!" Charlotte gasped, "I'm just afraid I don't know what I'm doing. We haven't even slept together yet."

"Awe, he's such a gentleman," Collette gushed.

"We holds me at night as we're sleeping, and I feel so safe and cherished," Charlotte confessed, "What happens if we do get physical and it ruins what we have?"

"What happens if you get physical and things get even better?" Collette turned the question around on Charlotte. "Look, I'm not going to get into specifics because Brice is your brother and well…ew…but after Brice and I…got closer physically, I knew I never wanted to be without him. I know we were only seventeen at the time, but I just knew. When Dad announced he was up and moving me to France, it just about broke my heart."

"I remember," Charlotte recalled.

"You'll know when the time is right," Collette offered, "And when it is, it's going to be wonderful and everything you feel now will just get better."

"It's just so different than it was the last time I was in a relationship," Charlotte confessed, "With Devon, it just some school girl chemical thing. I just wanted to get it out of my system, but with Eddie…it feels like it's building towards something, something I just don't know if I'm ready for."

"You can never be ready," Collette replied, "I've been with Brice for five years. I still get freaked out every now and then when we talk about what's going to happen after I graduate and move back to New York, but I also know I want to spend the rest of my life with him and no one else."

"Yeah, sometimes I catch myself thinking about what it would be like to be married to Eddie. I'm not going to lie…I like it, a lot."

"There's no rush," Collette stated, "Just because his biological clock has started ticking doesn't mean yours has to start. Guys can be dads at any age. If he loves you, he'll wait."

"Love," Charlotte gasped. The 'L' word had yet to be uttered by either of them. She wasn't sure she'd ever even experienced such a feeling. She'd cared about Devon, but she was pretty sure she'd been in lust with him, not in love with him.

"Is that what you're feeling?" Collette asked.

"I don't know," Charlotte replied, "I don't know what it feels like."

"You'll know it when you feel it," Collette assured her.

"God, I've missed you," Charlotte hugged her friend, "I can talk to you about things I can't talk about with anyone else."

"I'm only a phone call away for one more term," Collette replied.

"Brice needs to put a ring on it, so we can officially be sisters," Charlotte teased.

"One thing at a time," Collette burst out laughing, "Let's get through the term first."

Eddie waited until he got the all clear from Charlotte later in the evening before he ventured over to her place to sleep. He knew she was having a happy family meal with her parents and siblings. He didn't want to intrude, so he'd stayed late at the office, grabbing a quick bite at a café down the block before returning to work on his reports. If he was honest, he was drowning in paperwork. The extra hours at the office were needed if he was going to make his deadline.

He gave a nod of acknowledgement to the doorman as he entered Charlotte's building, being sure to give him a healthy tip in exchange for his silence with the powerful man who lived a floor above Charlotte, her father. He then rode the elevator up to Charlotte's floor, expecting the quietness to greet him. He was taken aback by the chocolate Labrador waiting at the elevator.

"Hey, Barty, remember me?" Eddie knelt down to give the dog some attention. The dog apparently did remember him as he began licking Eddie's face in greeting.

"I thought I heard the elevator," Brice greeted Eddie in the entryway.

"Brice, oh, hi," Eddie was a bit thrown. He'd assumed he'd be able to sneak in without being seen. "I'm here…um…"

"Charlotte told me about the two of you," Brice quickly put the older man out of his misery.

"Oh," Eddie breathed a mild sigh of relief. He hadn't had a chance to talk to Charlotte all day, so she hadn't broken that particular bit of news to him. "I…ah…guess it was a bit of a surprise."

"To put it mildly," Brice agreed, "I realize it's a bit late, but do you have a few minutes to chat?"

"Sure," Eddie bobbed his head and following Brice into the kitchen. There was a bottle of wine open on the counter, left over from dinner.

"You want a glass?" Brice went to the cabinet to retrieve a glass for him.

"Sure, but not too much. Work in the morning and all," Eddie agreed.

"How is it being back in New York?" Brice asked.

"There's a different speed here than in London," Eddie confessed, "I'm still trying to figure things out. Your father is a very measured and precise man. He knows exactly what he wants, and it's up the rest of us to make it happen."

"He is one of the best businessmen in the world," Brice bobbed his head, "He wouldn't have brought you back if he didn't think you were up to the task."

"Yeah, I know," Eddie took a sip from his glass.

"This was from the first harvest at the vineyard after Collette and I moved to France," Brice swirled the liquid around in his glass so he could bring up the aroma, "I didn't have a clue what I was doing, but Grandpere and Roman were very patient with me. I think it turned out rather well."

"Yeah, it's quite good," Eddie agreed after taking another sip.

"I'm not going to make some big thing of you and Charlotte being together. She's obviously very happy. I'd be a fool to want to get in the way of that," Brice began, "I just need to know that you're going to treat her right and that you're with her for the right reasons."

"Dating your sister was never the plan, but I've come to care about her a great deal…more than I thought I ever could when we were younger," Eddie replied.

"If you're just using her to advance your career…" Brice began.

"I'd never do that," Eddie cut him off, "Come on, Brice, you know me better than that. I'm a stand up guy. I always have been."

"I thought I knew you, but now you're dating my sister," Brice countered, "That's an entirely new level of get to know that you and I need to work through."

"You're protective of Charlotte, I get it," Eddie replied. "You wouldn't be a good brother if you didn't have concerns, but I'm not what you need to worry about. I'm afraid I'm more into this relationship than she is."

"What does that mean?" Brice frowned in confusion.

"I'm in love with her," Eddie snapped.

There was a significant pause in the conversation. It was clearly the first time he'd said the words out loud.

"I'm so in love with her," Eddie responded, his voice barely above a whisper now, "I'm so afraid. She's just figuring out her place in this world. What if she realizes she can do better? She deserves so much better."

"I know my sister," Brice began, "She's never been happier. I could tell it in her voice when I'd talk to her when I was in France. I could see it the instant I appeared in her office today. Your relationship is the real deal for her too."

"Thanks for saying that," Eddie replied.

"Don't hurt her," Brice requested, "You're like a brother to me. I don't want to have to hire a hit man to take out my brother."

Eddie couldn't help the snort that escaped.

"Okay, here goes," Brice responded after inhaling a deep breath, "You treat her like the royal she is, and you and I will be the best of friends."

"That's a promise," Eddie extended his hand and the pair shook on it. "It's getting late and work is going to call first thing in the morning."

"Go on," Brice watched Eddie swallow the last gulp in his glass, "See you at breakfast."

Just as Eddie was exiting the kitchen, Devon was entering. Eddie didn't bother to address the intrusive young man. He simply brushed passed him on the way to Charlotte's room.

"Feels a bit chilly in here," Devon bellied up to the counter.

"What do you expect, Dev?" Brice rolled his eyes, "You just show up out of the blue, take advantage of my sister's generosity, and just parade around here like you own the place."

"I'm just here until I can find my own place," Devon helped himself to a glass of wine, finishing off the bottle on the counter.

"Have you even started looking?" Brice challenged him. "I'm not an idiot. I know exactly what you were hoping for when you showed up. Things didn't work out in L.A., so you figured you'd just waltz back into New York and Charlotte would open up her arms, home and wallet for you. Let me just set you straight. That would never happen. Even if Eddie wasn't in the picture, you being here would only be as a houseguest, not lord of the manor."

"You so sure of that?" Devon took a healthy gulp from his glass.

"Hundred percent," Brice bobbed his head confidently, "You were the college boyfriend. You were never going to get a seat at the Waldorf-Bass dinner table."

"We'll see about that," Devon polished off his wine in record time.

"Dev," Brice grasped the other man's arm when he turned to leave, "You know my dad. You know how protective he is of us. Don't do anything stupid."

Devon shook Brice off and returned to his bedroom.

Eddie slipped into Charlotte's bedroom to find her sound asleep, curled up with her arms around his pillow. He smiled at the sight. She was so beautiful as she slept, her eyes fluttering slightly when she was dreaming. The peaceful smile on her face told him it was a good dream. He bent down to kiss her forehead before slipping into the bathroom to change into his pajamas. The words he'd spoken to Brice echoed in his ears. He was finally ready to admit it to himself. Now he needed to find the moment to admit it to her.

When Eddie slipped into bed, Charlotte stirred slightly.

"I tried to wait up for you," she mumbled, her arm wrapping around his torso.

"Sorry," he kissed her temple, "Paperwork is getting stacked up at the office."

"You're here now," she molded herself against him, "I missed you today."

"I missed you too," his arm wrapped around her shoulder, bringing her a fractional bit closer.

"Brice knows about us," she replied.

"I know," he caressed her shoulder softly with his fingers, "Go to sleep. We can talk in the morning."

"Good night, Eddie," she muttered into his chest.

"Good night, Charlotte," he felt her breathing immediately even out. She was already back to sleep. "I love you."

Just saying the words out loud with her in the room was enough for right now. One day he would find the courage to say them to her directly.

TBC…

So there is a bit of Brice and Collette's backstory in this chapter. I've flirted with writing the actual story, but haven't gotten the necessary inspiration beyond what are on these pages.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter.