-x- Chapter 9 -x-

The specialised sterilised water-bottle kettle whistled and steamed, boiling away quite loudly in the kitchen. The sound echoed around the room. Robyn had Charlotte in her arms, as she tried to gently soothe her as she wailed and squealed.

"It won't be long sweetheart." Robyn said, as she rocked her daughter.

The water-bottle kettle was specially designed to boil up to a certain temperature, and it then added cool sterilised water, to make the exact room-temperature water for a milk bottle, in less than 2 minutes. The water drained into the powdered milk in the plastic bottle Robyn had placed underneath it. The kettle beeped, as Robyn tried to put on the teat, with difficulty, so she walked over to Charlotte's white crib, and gently placed her in it, as she cried louder.

"Just a minute Charlotte." Robyn said, as she sighed to her daughter.

Robyn quickly returned to the kettle, as she put on the teat, shook up the milk, and walked back over to her daughter.

"Soon sweetheart, very soon." She added.

Robyn then poured some of the milk onto the back of her hand, feeling it was at the right temperature. She then bend over and picked up Charlotte in her arms, gently feeding her the bottle as she rocked her slightly. Charlotte's crying ceased, as she sucked the teat, and Robyn sighed in relief.

Robyn then thought she heard a noise coming from upstairs, but shook her head, thinking it was just her imagination.

She then walked into the living room, and sat down on the sofa, cradling Charlotte in her arms.

"There, that's better. Phew." She said, as she smiled down at her daughter. Sinking into the sofa, getting comfier.

She turned and looked at the clock on the mantelpiece.

10:35

"Hmmm, they must be really tired and definitely will be hungover."

She said to herself, wondering why Charlie and Duffy had not yet risen from bed. She giggled to herself, as she shook her head. Then again, she dreading seeing them this morning. All she could think of was Charlie telling Duffy how sexy she was, and where his hands were.

"Haha."

She giggled again, as she blushed slightly. Now this morning it going to be interesting.

-o-

"You have any more adventurous ideas like that darling? I'll be as quiet as a mouse." She said, as she giggled at him.

She stroked his face, as he propped himself up on his elbows looking down at her.

"Oh really?" He smirked at her.

"Promise." She said, as she smirked at him.

"Good." He smiled at her.

They heard the sounds of Charlotte cries echoing in the kitchen, and then they slowly ebbed into silence.

"Let's just hope you weren't louder than Charlotte. Or we're both going to be the talk of the department." He said, as he smirked at her, then playfully kissed her.

"You needn't talk. She actually saw you in action Mr. Fairhead." Duffy said, as she giggled at him, playfully tapping him on the chest.

"Duffy." He frowned down at her.

"Now who's more embarrassed? Hmm?" She asked, raising her eyebrows at him.

"Hmm." He groaned at her.

"Come on, last one in the shower makes breakfast." She said, as she quickly rolled over, and out of the bed. She walked over to the door, pulling down her bathrobe from the hook behind the door, tying it around her, then giggled at him.

"Duffy." He said, as he lay in bed shocked.

"Haha." She laughed, as she stuck out her tongue at him.

He sighed at her shaking his head.

-o-

Duffy sat at her dressing table, in the bedroom drying her hair, as she felt his eyes on her.

He lay on the bed, fully clothed, simply watching her brush her hair.

She smiled at his reflection in the mirror, he smiled back and winked at her.

She switched off the hairdryer, and said into the mirror at his reflection.

"I thought you were going to make breakfast."

"I'm waiting for you." He replied, hands behind his head, legs crossed.

"Ha ha, Charlie Fairhead, embarrassed. Well, I never." She giggled at him.

He blushed at her, and frowned.

"Come on then. Let's go and face the music." She said, as she turned around in her seat.

He swung his legs off the bed, getting up to his feet.

"You go first then." He said, as walked over to the door, opening it for her.

"Charlie." Duffy said, shaking her head at him.

"What?" He replied, looking even more apprehensive.

"What'll I do with you?" She added.

"Save it for later. I'm starving." He said, as he winked at her, then smirked.

"Eeee." She giggled at him.

She walked through their bedroom door shaking her head at him.

-x-

"Morning Robyn." Duffy called out, as she opened the door walking into the living room.

"Morning." Robyn replied, as she sat on the sofa cradling Charlotte in her arms, and began blushing a bright shade of pink.

"Sleep well?" Duffy asked, as she sat on the sofa opposite her.

"Sort of. You?" She replied, still blushing.

"Well, a bit too well. Too much wine." Duffy replied, looking a little apprehensive.

"Yeah, erm." Robyn answered, trying to not seem as embarrassed as she felt.

"About last night." Duffy said, as she began to blush herself. She sat with her hands clasped in front of her, as she looked at her young colleague, clearly getting nervous.

"Um, yeah." Robyn replied.

"We, um, had a bit too much to drink. Ha." Duffy explained nervously.

"I guessed." Robyn said, her eyebrows raised a little.

"Well, we don't want to make you uncomfortable, or anything." Duffy said, as she tried to discuss it further.

"I know, I know." Robyn replied.

"We're really sorry you had to, um, see that." Duffy explained, trying her best to excuse themselves.

"I know, wrong time, wrong place." Robyn said, shrugging a little, her cheeks still rosy.

"Yeah. Well, we don't want you to feel unwelcome, or to feel, like, um." Duffy looked at Robyn, then down at her hands.

"It's ok Duffy. I understand." Robyn said, as she saw how nervous Duffy was herself.

"You do?" Duffy replied, looking up from her hands and directly at Robyn.

"Duffy, you are allowed to be happy. Both of you. You've waited long enough to be together." Robyn said, as earnestly as she could.

"We have." Duffy says, as she looks down at her lap again and sighs.

"And, you two are helping me out so much, with Charlotte, letting us stay. I don't want to spoil what you and Charlie have together." Robyn added.

"Robyn." Duffy responds, looking up at her, tilting her head at her.

"We just..." Duffy adds.

"Need time alone, I know." She interjects.

"Erm, yeah, yeah we do." Duffy adds, truthfully.

"It's no trouble, if I ask Max, I'm sure he won't mind us moving back." Robyn says quickly, and a little disappointed.

"Robyn, that's not what I meant." Duffy points out, as she frowns at her.

"Duffy, it's only fair." Robyn shrugs.

"Robyn, we love having you stay here." Duffy reassuringly says.

"You do." Robyn asks shocked.

"Charlie and me won't dream of making you leave." Duffy explains.

"You wouldn't?" Robyn replies, her eyebrows raising in emphasis.

"No, don't be silly. We just need to be a bit more grown up about it that's all." Duffy truthfully advises.

"I guess we all do then." Robyn says, shrugging to herself.

"Why don't we babysit a few times a week for you, then you can go out and have some time alone, with your friends. And then Charlie and me can have some quality time together too. The best of both worlds? Yeah?" Duffy suggests.

"Really?" Robyn replies.

"Yeah." Duffy answers.

"Thanks Duffy." Robyn said with enthusiasm.

"And thank you too Robyn, for being understanding. Although, I think Charlie is a bit too embarrassed about the whole thing. He's hiding in the kitchen." Duffy says, explaining Charlie's reluctance on making an appearance yet.

Robyn giggles as she replies.

"Ha, ha. Poor Charlie."

"I know. Don't tell him I told you that though. He makes out like he is a tough guy. But he's a big softy sometimes." Duffy says, as she winks at her.

"I won't say a thing." Robyn sincerely answers.

"Thanks. Want anything for breakfast? It'll keep him busy for a bit longer if he makes you something too." Duffy asks.

"A bacon sandwich would be great." Robyn agrees.

"One bacon sandwich coming up." Duffy reiterates.

"Thanks." Robyn replies, her rosy cheeks slowly fading back to normal.

"Thank you too sweetheart." Duffy kindly says, as she clasped her hands together.

Duffy then rose from the sofa, and walked out of the living room, closing the door quietly. She then continued to walk down the hallway, towards the kitchen to join Charlie.

-x-