Sorry it been a hot minute since I've posted a new one. This one has a time jump, Liza and Charles are still super happy and in love. This has a couple of sweet moments between them and ends with some dramatic Josh stuff. Next one may take awhile too, but I'm tossing around an idea that little Bianca has a "lip sync battle" themed birthday party with a few interesting and unexpected guests...

Please enjoy and comment!!!

Liza

"Hello? Charles?"

Liza enters the quiet home calling out for any sign of life. She was nearly three hours late for dinner because she'd been wrapped up in Pauline drama at work. Her second book wasn't coming together as well as her first. Pauline was unfocused now that she was writing for Marriage Vacation the Netflix series. Which was fine and dandy, but Millennial needed their pages too. Kelsey had dropped a lot of money on this book, and while things haven't been bad in the 10 months since Charles stepped down they needed a big win to keep Quinn's investors interested. She headed upstairs, Charles had texted her and told her there were leftovers in the oven for her and that he was putting the girls to bed.

She helped herself to a glass of wine and retrieved the plate of lasagna Charles had saved for her. As she dug into the food she couldn't differentiate between Maggie's lasagna or Charles', the cooking lessons really were working out great. She smiled as she remembered how awkward the first couple of lessons had been, both Maggie and Charles had insisted she be there as a buffer but by the third lesson they'd forgotten to ask her to be there. It warmed her soul that Maggie and Charles had found a real friendship built on respect, great wine, and food.

She finished her dinner, washed, dried, and put away her dishes still without hearing a sound from anyone. Curious, she cautiously made her way deeper into the eerily quiet house, her over active imagination telling her something was wrong. She was prepared for a gruesome scene of murder with blood drenched walls and floors, (she needed to lay off the Stephen King novels for awhile) but what she actually saw damn near broke her heart.

They were all in Nicole's room. Nicole was planted in the middle of the bed Charli was laying to her right and Charles was on her left and he was holding a pajama clad Bianca. The child was getting too big to be held like that, but both she and Charles were not ready to let go yet. As far as they were both concerned Bianca would always be small enough for him to hold and carry. She smiled at the almost too perfect picture. Nicole and Charli had been reading Little Women before bed all week and from the looks of it Bianca had demanded to be included bringing Charles with her. Sure enough there was an open copy of Little Women in Nicole's lap. Liza tiptoed over and plucked the book from the sleeping Nicole careful not to lose their page. She then pulled the covers over both Charli and Nicole. Liza made her way to the side of the bed where Charles was sleeping with Bianca snoring softly on his chest. She was debating on whether to wake Charles or not. On one hand he looked perfect there with his girls, on the other he couldn't realistically sleep like this all night and she didn't want his back to give him problems tomorrow. She gently touched his arm and whispered his name, trying not to wake the girls. He took a few uneven breaths and then responded to her soft voice. His eyes flutter and adjust to the room and the child sleeping in his arms, she watches as he remembers the events leading up to him falling asleep in Nicole's bed with Charli and Bianca. He's not quite as graceful as he normally is when he slides out of bed, but he's careful not to wake the sleeping beauty in his arms or the other two girls tucked into the bed. He makes his way down the hall and deposits his youngest into her bed tucking her in and kissing her forehead before coming back for Liza. While Charles was putting down Bianca, Liza had switched off Nicole's lamp and closed her door soundlessly. As a way of greeting Charles scoops her into his arms and kisses her like he hasn't seen her in days, when in fact they'd just had dinner with Caitlin last night.

"Hey you"

"Hi" she replies breathlessly he chuckles and kisses her again this time short and sweet then he leads her down the stairs out onto the patio. Liza is confused it's too cold outside, but before she can protest Charles flips a switch and the outside is illuminated in the soft romantic glow of hanging lights. It's like stepping into a fairytale realm where knights slay dragons and maidens wear their hair in braids. She looks about the completely redecorated patio. There's a touch of whimsy there now that wasn't the last time she been out here a few months ago when it was still warm enough to grill.

"You like it?" She nods in astonishment, still taking in the transformation. The lights were the main attraction, they spanned the entire area and when you looked up it was not unlike looking up at stars. There were several tiny fairy gardens hidden in plain sight, an infinity fire pit, new furniture (furniture she'd helped him pick one Saturday trip to Pier One), and a beautiful mural on the back fence. It was a small space but he'd worked very hard to make it seem bigger and it was much better than just the table and chairs that had been there before.

"That isn't Maggie's is it?" She asks and points to the mural a scene overlooking a valley with a mountain range in the distance. He looks to where she's pointing and shakes his head no.

"Actually, uh Charlotte commissioned Josh to do the mural." Charles pulls his phone out and taps away suddenly the fire is roaring, engulfing them in heat and then soft music begins to play as Charles pulls her into his arms. They dance completely content and happy to be in each other's embrace. Something is tugging at her thoughts though and she just can't help but to ask.

"Josh didn't tell me he was working for you?"

"He wasn't officially. Charlotte pretty much brow beat him into doing it...I think he did a fine job."

"It's beautiful, Josh is very talented. I love it, all of it, and you." She bounces up to kiss him on his cheek. They sway to the music for a bit longer before Liza blurts out again. "But like he was here, with you? Like you two collaborated on everything? Together???"

"Not everything, just the painting. I wanted something straight out of a movie with beautiful Princesses and galant Knights. Josh knew exactly what to do. I let him have at it and stayed out of his way." Of course Josh knew what to paint because she'd described this very scene to him when they'd been dating. He'd teases her then and said she was a dork for wanting something so "Disney cliche" as he'd put it. Charles had never thought she was silly or white girl Disney basic. "What's wrong Liza? I thought you'd be excited that Josh and I were friendly acquaintances?"

"I am, I really am...It's just weird that's all. I still feel like I live a double life sometimes. Josh is in one and you are in the other." He nods and pulls her closer to him. Reason 1657 she loved this man, after he came to her that night in the snow and told her he didn't care anymore, Charles had never again made Liza feel bad for her lie. It had taken Josh so long to forgive, sometimes she still felt he didn't trust her completely. It was so great that Charles just accepted it all and loved her even more because of the journey she'd taken. His deep voice brings her back to him.

"Is it okay that Josh and I have this awkward acquaintance-which is mostly because Charlotte keeps pushing us together- or do you want to keep your two worlds separate?" She thought about it and then shook her head no.

"I want to be free with everyone in my life. Is it weird? Hell yeah it's weird, but it's mine and I love it." He kisses her slowly and their kiss gradually grows in intensity and need for each other. Charles is the one to break them apart.

"I'm so very grateful that you're apart of my world Liza Miller." She smiles and rests her head on his chest as they dance slowly in circles. She hums to the beat of his strong heart, and she thinks about how very happy she is with her life right now. She thinks about how very far she's come from being a stay at home Jersey housewife, and she's proud of it all. She's proud of finding herself in her 40's, climbing that professional ladder, proud of staying true to herself even when half the people in her life thought she was someone else. She's proud of her time with Josh and knows that she had to love him before she could ever have loved this man holding her in his arms right now. Yep Liza Miller was pretty damn happy.

Josh

"Hey Joshy" Charli chirps as she lets herself into Josh's apartment, where she was easy breezy with Josh's hello she was the exact opposite with her greeting of baby Oliver. "Mr. Oliver" She nods at the baby sternly and Oliver burst into a fit of intoxicating baby giggles.

"I don't understand why he loves you so much??" Josh looks up from his spot on the floor. He'd been down there playing with his rollie pollie butterball of baby. Charli deposits a bag of leftover food and a box diapers on the counter and kneels on the floor so Oliver can crawl his way over to her. She picks up a toy and gently tosses it across to room, causing Oliver to change his trajectory heading to fetch the toy instead.

"Good boy Oliver fetch the toy, there you go put it in your mouth and bring it back to me."

"Hey I've asked you not to treat my kid like a golden retriever." Charli shrugs and takes the toy form the 8 month old and tosses it again, she smiles satisfied that the baby instantly crawls to retrieve the toy.

"Hey golden retrievers are super smart case in point- Air Bud. Also they can be taught to fetch in a day. It took Olly 3 months...just saying."

"Ok, but did you have to teach him to bark too??" As if on cue the baby between them made a squeaking bark like sound. Charli laughs so hard Josh is worried she may have an accident on his floor. "Yeah...Claire doesn't find that so funny." She rolls her eyes and lets the cherub crawl into her lap. Oliver curls up into a ball resting his head on her thigh, as Charli rubs his back much like you would pet a lap dog. Josh instantly melts at the image of his mini falling asleep on Charli.

"Hey, I brought you my leftover Chinese food, also I picked up an extra box of diapers."

"Thanks and you didn't have to do that."

"I know but Liza said you were running low on diapers and I know you don't typically leave the apartment on your baby days. Which is ridiculous by the way...Dude Olly is as healthy as an Ox and Claire takes him outside on her days, you gotta get over this fear of the outside."

"I'm not afraid of the outside. I'm afraid of the people and the diseased carrying vermin that are outside." Charli shakes her head and pats Oliver on his rear. Josh feels a wave of warmth wash over him as he watches his son sleep in Charli's lap, and suddenly the erge to crawl over to her and kiss her burns low and hot in his gut. Ever since that day he'd helped her manipulate half of Hollywood to get Marriage Vacation moved to NYC he'd been dreaming of kissing her. Sure, Oliver had been a welcome distraction and the first three months of his life Josh hadn't thought of sex at all. Then as the newness wore off, and being a dad became his new normal his-uh carnal needs resurfaced. Josh told himself that he was only fixated on Charli because she was the only viable option that ever crossed his path anymore. Liza was too disgusting happy with the jolly green giant, Kelsey, Lauren, and Maggie were like his sisters, and he and Claire were crushing this whole "co-parenting" thing so no way were they going to jeopardize that by sleeping together. Josh also wasn't interested in ruining his friendship with Charli either, but damn she checked all of his boxes sitting there across from him sexy as hell and being all maternal petting his baby like a chihuahua. She was looking at him funny, probably because he was looking at her funny. She scrunches her nose at him in confusion and it's the straw that breaks the camel's back. As if someone else is controlling him Josh crawls towards her closing the distance between them and without thinking he cups her face in his hand and kisses her. Her lips are soft and sweeter than any candy Josh has ever ate and when he finally breaks the kiss he holds her gaze. His hand still cups her face, and with his thumb he caresses her cheek (which has now turned a bright pink) she sits quiet for a solid two minutes. Which is a rarity for Charli, the girl never shuts up. The other day she talked for two hours straight about tort law vs criminal law. He still didn't quite know what the difference was, but she had been super hot describing her favorite torts.

Finally she blinks and leans back away from his touch, and he sees a flash of panic flicker in her eyes. She makes an indiscernible sound and looks to the sleeping baby in her lap, Josh quickly scoops Oliver into his arms and Charli jumps to her feet. Josh is on his knees holding the chunky baby and he struggles to get to his feet.

"Charli I sorry I don't know why I just- you don't have to go...please Charlie Brown don't go...that was-" she's at the door in seconds she looks back at Josh still trying to find his way up without waking Oliver.

"No it's cool, don't get up...I uh-Chucky's at Maggie's they were uh making chicken carbonara. I think I'll go over there and-uh ok bye." She opens the door and is halfway out of it as Josh apologizes again. "No, don't apologize...it's fine really I swear-I, I'll call you later. G'bye" and she's gone. Josh rocks back on his heels and curses himself for being so impulsive. As angry as he is at himself, he can't shake just how amazing that kiss had been before Charli freaked and ran away from him. He hadn't had a first kiss as great as that since...well Liza, and if he was being honest there was something extra about this kiss. There was an electricity he hadn't expected, but that could be static electricity from crawling across the floor...nah that was real and he couldn't wait to do it again next time without the baby between them. He smiles and finally finds his footing, as he carries Oliver to his crib Josh hoped Charli wasn't over analyzing this too much. He knew she was spooked but that's because she'd felt it too, he'd have to be patient with her but damn it was going to worth it in the end. The smile doesn't leave his face the rest of the evening.