-x- Chapter 8 -x-

Charlie pulled back, looked into Duffy's eyes, then stroked her cheek as he said.

"...I love you. So very much."

Then kissed her again, lightly at first, then with more passion.

He pulled her closer to him, as their kiss continued, tongues intertwining.

Duffy reacted, she reached up and ran her fingers over Charlie's hair, and neck, as she deepened their kiss.

Charlie's hands went lower, and they rested on her bum.

That feeling in the pit of Duffy's stomach, was spreading to every inch of her, making her react to his touch.

She ended their kiss breathlessly, feeling light-headed and flushed.

"Oh, Charlie." She said breathlessly.

Duffy stroked his cheek as she said.

"I love you too, so very, very much."

Charlie looked into her eyes, pulling her closer to him as he said.

"Let's go home." He said breathlessly, then kissed her lightly again.

He then looked down at the champagne bottle in his pocket and said.

"Fancy a drop?" He asked, as he raised the bottle in her direction.

"Haha, you're not serious." She replied.

"I'm thirsty, there's a difference." He responded.

"Haha, go on then." She said, as he let go of him.

He grasped the champagne bottle in his hands, popped the cork, and the frothing bubbles poured out.

"Whoops." He said, as he tried to steady the bottle.

He took a large gulp and then handed her the bottle.

"Ah, that hits the spot." He said.

She too took a large gulp, and giggled as the bubbles tickled her mouth.

"Mmm, that's lovely." She said, then passed the bottle back to him.

"Not too bad. It certainly beats cider in the park though." He said, after he took another gulp.

"Haha." She laughed, as she took the bottle from him, taking another gulp.

"Come on Charlie boy. Let's get home." She said, as she linked her arm through his once more.

"That's if we make it that far." He chuckled, as he winked at her again, and grabbed her bum in the process.

"Charlie!" She exclaimed.

"What?" He replied.

"Just being honest." He shrugged, as he smirked back at her.

"Haha."

They both giggled, and began to walk unsteadily down the path, between the row of houses, and out into the main street. The darkness was filtered out by the array of street lights, as they continued on their journey home.

-x-

Thirty minutes later they were walking unsteadily hand in hand, up the pathway into their house. Duffy couldn't stop giggling, as clearly the champagne was now taking full effect. Duffy was busy fiddling with her keys in her bag, as she eventually took them out, and raised the key up to unlock the door.

"Duffy?" Charlie said quietly, as he grasped her waist.

"Shhhh", she said to Charlie, as the door creaked open.

"Give over." She said, trying to swat him away.

"Wait until we get upstairs?" She added.

She walked into the hallway, followed closely by Charlie. He closed the door as gently as he could.

"Shhhh." She said once again, as the door closed.

He grimaced, but then smirked back at her. He grasped her hand and pulled her close to him, holding her waist, he then kissed her playfully.

"You're so beautiful?" He said to her, as began kissing her neck lightly.

"Charlieee, shhhh." She whispered.

She giggled at him, and then took his hand leading him down the hallway into the living room instead. She closed the living room door gently, turned around and he was there right in front of her. He kissed her urgently, grasping her waist, pulling her towards him. She dropped her bag on the floor, and raised her hand onto his shoulder, then caressed his neck, as she deepened their kiss. He walked her backwards, gently pushing her back against the wall, his hand went to her breast.

"Duffy." He said breathlessly, as he left her lips and began kissing her neck.

"Charlie." She said, as she felt his lips caress her.

"Ahem, ahem, *cough, cough*." Robyn said, as she switched the lamp on next to her, as she sat on the sofa, cradling Charlotte in her arms.

Realisation hit Duffy first, as she opened her eyes and saw Robyn sat staring at them both.

"Charlie, Charlie." She said, as she tapped him on the shoulder forcefully, trying to break free from his grasp.

"You're so sexy." He said, as he kissed her neck, not realising.

"Robyn, hi." Duffy said, as she looked scandalised, as she struggled to break free from his grasp.

He froze where he was, and pulled away slightly from her, as he looked at Duffy now blushing.

"Robyn?" Charlie said, as he took and unsteady step backwards from Duffy, looking horrified, he still had one hand on her breast, and he removed it slowly.

He turned around, standing unsteadily next to Duffy. He saw Robyn sat on the sofa; bright red and blushing, holding Charlotte in her arms, giving her a bottle.

"Sorry." Robyn said, and smirked at them.

Charlie blushed, totally in shock, as he looked at Robyn and then back to Duffy.

"Ha, erm, we'll just, ha, erm." Duffy said, as she took Charlie's hand and unsteadily opened the door to the living room.

"Erm, yeah." Robyn said, as she looked even more embarrassed, watching the intoxicated couple in front of her.

They both hurriedly left the room, Duffy closed the door behind them. Charlie unsteadily walked backwards.

She mouthed the words (OH MY GOD) at him, as she covered her mouth afterwards with her hand.

She shook her head at him, as she attempted to take her shoes off, she reached for his hand to hold onto for support, he held her up, as she kicked off her shoes.

"That was your fault." She then whispered.

She shook her head at him.

"My fault." Charlie replied, looking chastised.

Cheekily, he then took her by the waist, as he said.

"Can't help it, sexy woman." He whispered into her ear, then kissed her neck.

"Charlieee." She said, as she giggled back at him.

"Wait until I get you upstairs Mrs Fairhead."

He added as he lightly kissed her, a teasing kiss, that made her dizzy.

"Charlie, what about Robyn?"

"Well, we'll have to be quick then." He winked back at her.

"Haha." She giggled at him.

He giggled back at her, as she took his hand and led him upstairs, giggling the entire time, as quietly as they could, but failed miserably.

-x-

They made it to the top of the stairs, and walked into their bedroom. He then took her by the waist and tried to kiss her.

"Charlie, give over." Duffy said, as he tapped him on the chest.

"What? Why?" Charlie said, as he looked down at her in shock.

"It's not a good idea, Charlie. Robyn, will hear us." She said, as she then began to play with the collar on his shirt.

"Duffy." He replied, sighing.

"She'll be embarrassed enough. She does have to live with us, Charlie." Duffy explained, she still played with his collar.

"Erm..." Charlie answered, his brow creased, as he then sighed again.

He stepped back from her unsteadily, and proceeded to take his coat off, haphazardly walking over to a chair in the corner of the room, draping it over.

"Charlie?" Duffy asks, concerned.

"Mmm." Charlie replies.

"Please don't." She adds, as she takes her coat off too, walking over unsteadily to her chair at her side of the room, draping it over.

"Do what?" Charlie replies, unbuttoning his shirt.

"Sulk." Duffy says, as she tries to undo her zip on her dress.

"I'm not sulking." Charlie adds, as he removes his shirt.

"Yes, you are!" She replies, struggling with her zip.

"Oh, this bloody thing." She adds in frustration.

"Come here." He says, as he walks over to her, and proceeds to help her unzip her dress.

As he draws the zip down, he then turns her around, holding her waist. They stand there looking into each others eyes for a few moments. She sighs, and places her hand on his chest.

"It's just..." Charlie says, as he looks at her sadly.

"I know darling, I know." Duffy she adds, as she strokes his cheek.

He looks at her with such emotion. And a few seconds later they come together and kiss, a long and emotional kiss. He pulls her closer. But he then slowly withdraws, and sighs again.

He kisses her forehead, as he says.

"I love you."

"I love you too." Duffy says, as she strokes his chest delicately.

He bows his head and rests against her forehead, sighing again.

-x-

Meanwhile Robyn sat on the sofa still feeding Charlotte, who had drifted off to sleep a few moments before. Robyn remained still, as she didn't dare move just yet for two reasons. One, to avoid waking Charlotte, and two, to avoid walking upstairs and hearing her housemates, well, enjoying themselves. She heard a stumble from upstairs, and shook her head and blushed. She had no idea they'd be like that. Well, not that she'd even thought about it. One of the reasons why she'd accepted Duffy's offer to move in was so she had help to care for Charlotte and some peace and quiet, to settle into a routine. Living with her brother, Alicia, and Jez, she didn't really have that quietness that she needed. She'd lived with them all for so long but, it was always hectic, noisy, and sometimes busy with various partners her flatmates were seeing, or sleeping with. So to find herself and her daughter in a safe, and quiet environment helped relax them both. What she hadn't realised was that they were also intruding on her friends lives. They were only adjusting to married life together, and being together after years of waiting and wanting to be. She hadn't realised it before, but, she envied them. It wasn't long ago when she was about to marry Glen, in the same place as Charlie and Duffy had done. But, then he broke her heart and left. She looked down at Charlotte and smiled. Glen may have broken her heart, but he had also given her something to fill it again. She gently kissed her daughters head, as Charlotte slept.

She realised she hadn't heard any other movement from upstairs, but, decided to stay downstairs a bit longer. It was only fair. After all, she knew how much they deserved to have some time alone together. Even if she had to shake that thought from her mind again, it's like imagining her parents together. She giggled, and shook her head once more.

-x-

"Shit." He said, as he nearly fell over taking his jeans off.

"Charlie." Duffy said, as she got into bed, and giggled at him.

"I'm fine." He said, as he tried again.

"Oh darling." Duffy, said, as she tilted her head looking at him struggling.

He gave up and sat on the bed, as he eventually took them off.

"Bloody back." He said.

"Aw, sweetheart." Duffy replied, as she leaned over and stroke his back comforting him.

He turned around slowly and got into bed.

"Ow." He said, as he sunk back into the mattress.

"Aw, Charlie." She said, as she rubbed his chest.

"My poor darling." She said, as she rose above him, stroking his chest.

He grimaced again.

She kissed his lips, as he moved slightly to put his arm around her shoulders.

"I'm sorry." Duffy said, as she looked at him, and rubbed his chest.

"What for?" He asked, as he stroked her back.

"Inviting Robyn and Charlotte to stay, you were right. It isn't fair on you, on us." Duffy replied, looking sorrowfully.

"Duffy, that's not what I meant." Charlie replied.

"No, no, I know. But, you're right." Duffy said.

"Duffy, we were going to get our own house, somewhere to start again, for us both. Somewhere for us to make new memories, to relax, and to be happy, that's all." He said, as he looked up at her and tried to catch her eye.

"Really?" Duffy said, as she looked down at him.

"Duffy, I'd give you the world if I could, you deserve it. I just want to make you as happy as you make me." He said, as he brushed her hair back over her ear.

"Oh Charlie." She said, smiling back at him, tears forming in her eyes.

"Duffy, I love you, I'd do anything for you." He added.

"I love you too." She said, as she reached down and kissed him tenderly.

As their kiss ended she moved slightly, and lay her head on his chest.

She sighed, as she began stroking the hairs on his chest.

"I'd do anything for you too." She added.

"We have all the time in the world sweetheart." He replied, as he took her hand in his and kissed her palm.

"Yeah, yeah we do." She said, as she cuddled into him.

They lay like that together and it wasn't long until they both drifted off to sleep.

-x-