-x- Chapter 13 -x-

"What is it? What's wrong?" Charlie asked as he stroked her back comforting her.

"Nothing." Duffy replied, sniffing back her tears.

"It can't be nothing Duffy, you're crying." He said, as he looked down at her, gently wiping a tear from her cheek with his thumb.

"I'm just being daft." Duffy answered, trying to crack a smile and failing.

"Duffy." He said, frowning at her.

"It's just, all these years we could have been together, it just upsets me sometimes." She explains.

"What do you mean?" He frowns at her, confused.

"I should have told you sooner too." Duffy adds, as she plays with the collar of his shirt.

"Duffy, what are you on about?" He asks, his brows still furrowed.

"That Christmas." She says, looking up at him.

"What Christmas?" He asks.

"When you came to my Mum's for dinner, with Peter and me." She advises, looking down at his shirt, she fiddles with a button.

"Oh, that Christmas." He replies, recognition written on his face.

"And the mistletoe?" He adds, smiling down at her.

"You remember." Duffy exclaims, looking up at him.

"Duffy, of course I remember." He explains.

"I've never been more nervous in my life." He added.

"What do you mean?" She asks.

"I was meeting your Mum, Duffy, that's a big deal!" He points out.

"Oh Charlie."

"I had to impress her."

"Oh, so that bottle of wine was for my Mum, not for me?" She looked up, wiping a stray tear from her cheek with the back of her hand.

"Don't be daft." Charlie blushed.

"The chocolates were for your Mum." Charlie explained.

"Ah, I see." She said, and giggled.

"Duffy?" Charlie frowned at her.

"And the mistletoe?" She asked.

"Well, what's Christmas without a mistletoe kiss?" Charlie said, as he smiled down at her.

"True. But three times Charlie?" She giggled at him.

"What? That wasn't my fault." He shrugged.

"Oh no, not at all." She rolled her eyes at him.

"That was Peter." He explained.

"Oh really? Blaming my son are you?" She said, as she patted him on the chest.

"I was just showing him what mistletoe was for, that's all." Charlie shrugged again.

"Getting him to sneak up and ask for kisses was your idea?" Duffy said, looking shocked.

"Maybe." He smirked at her.

"Ha, ha. Mum was right all along."

"About what?" He asked.

"You've always had a soft spot for me haven't you?" She asked, then giggled.

"Is that really so hard to believe?" He looked down at her and raised his eyebrows at her in disbelief.

"No, no, of course not. I just wish I'd not been so scared and I'd have asked you, or done something about it then." She replied, looking at him remorsefully.

"Oh Duffy, there have been so many moments I'd have told you, or done something too. But, don't dwell on it. We are together now. That's all that matters." He said, as he smiled down at her, putting some loose strands of hair behind her ear.

"I'm so lucky to have had you in my life Charlie. You've always been there for me, and my boys." She said, as she smiled back at him, lifting up her hand and gently caressing his cheek.

"And I'd do it all again, if that's what it took to be with you now." He said, as he looked into her eyes.

"I love you Charlie boy." She said, as she smiled at him tearfully.

"I love you too kid, always have, always will." He then leaned down and kissed her tenderly.

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