Chapter 16
Slightly AU: if Charlie had proposed to Duffy, as he'd planned...
Recent events hadn't exactly gone to plan at the Christmas party, trying to keep their relationship secret had failed miserably, as soon as they'd been caught by the bouncer. Duffy's mishap with her wine only complicated matters more, and embarrassed Charlie even more so. But, they were a couple, they were in love, what did it matter now the department knew.
Charlie and Duffy began to walk unsteadily along the path in front of the pub, as Charlie turned and held his arms out to hug Duffy to him, as he said.
"Do you know what I fancy?"
"What tell me?" She replied, hugging him back.
"I fancy nicking a bottle of cider, and heading for the park." He answered, as he released her from his embrace, whilst she linked her arm through his.
"I love you Charlie Fairhead."
"I love you right back." He replied, as they continued to walk down the path unsteadily.
"Good." She replied, as she grasped her bag with her other hand.
"God it's bloody cold tonight." Charlie said, as he wrapped his coat around himself, as they continued down the path, and over the road.
"Sorry, that's my fault." She said, as she looked up at him, mischievously.
"Hmm?" Charlie asked, as he frowned at her.
"The wine." She replied, giggling.
"Yes, yes, it is, I can't believe you did that." Charlie said, as they reached the other side of the road.
"It was an accident." Duffy said, as she looked at him again.
"Hmm." Charlie just frowned at her.
"It was." Duffy laughed again.
"You're the hopeless at lying Duffy, it's written all over your face." Charlie said, as they then stood underneath the bus stop, and taxi rank.
"Want me to warm you up." Duffy said, as she then stood right in front of him, and wrapped her arms through his jacket.
"You offering?" He asked, as he put his hands on her waist, and smirked at her.
"Might be." Duffy replied, as she bit her lip at him.
Charlie just smirked at her, and pulled her towards him and kissed her.
"Any warmer?" She asked, as their kiss ended.
"Hmm, so so." Charlie replied, and tilted his head side to side at her.
"Ha, ha." Duffy giggled at him.
"Maybe another kiss would help?" He asked, as he smirked at her again.
"Mmm, really?" She said, as she leaned in and kissed him once more.
As their kiss heated up, Charlie's eyebrows raised slightly, as their tongues intertwined.
"Hey, hey, it's the love birds Jez, look at 'em going for it." Iain said, as they walked out of the pub, towards them both.
Charlie and Duffy pulled a part, and sighed at each other.
"Oh, great. They're coming over." Charlie said, as he looked over and saw Iain and Jez walking towards them.
"Why don't we walk home..." Charlie suggested, as he looked down at her.
"Um, yeah, let's." Duffy said, as she then turned around, and put her arms through Charlie's.
"Night lads." Charlie said, as he nodded at them, before they reached them.
Charlie and Duffy then carried on walking down the path, in the opposite direction from Iain and Jez.
"Oh, you don't have to leave Charlie. We were just havin' a laugh." Iain said, as he watched the couple walk down the street.
"Oh, leave 'em Iain, the dirty pair, off to have some fun I bet." Jez said, and laughed at them.
"Ha, ha. Yeah, probably." Iain replied, as they stood in the bus shelter.
"It's quicker to walk to mine anyway, by the time we get there the taxi will have shown up." Charlie said, blushing still from being caught.
"Yeah, yeah, you're right." Duffy said, as she squeezed his arm.
"It'll keep us warmer if we walk too." He added, as he then put his hand on hers.
"Are you warm enough? Do you want my jacket?" Charlie said, as he felt how cold her hand was.
"No, no, I'm fine." Duffy said, as she walked a little quicker.
"Wait a minute." Charlie said, as he stopped.
He then released her arm from his, and began to take his jacket off for her.
"Charlie, really, you don't have to." Duffy said, as she watched him removed his jacket, and drape it over her shoulders.
"Shh, just put it on." Charlie said, as he looked down at her, as he arranged it on her.
"Better?" He asked.
"Um, yeah." Duffy replied, as she looked up at him.
"Good." He said, as he gently removed her hair from inside the jacket.
"As soon as you start shivering you're having the jacket back mind." Duffy said, as she looked up at him.
"Ok, ok." Charlie said, as he looked down at her.
"Good." Duffy replied.
He simply smiled at her.
"Park?" He asked, knowing full well it was the quickest route to get to his house.
"Yeah." Duffy replied, as she pulled the jacket around her tighter.
Charlie then put up his arm, and she linked it, and they began to continue their walk to his house.
Try as he might he fought the urge to shiver, it was cold, it was freezing actually. But, making sure she was warm was his priority, so he certainly wasn't prepared to show her how cold he truly was.
A few streets later, and deep into the park, they had spoken about the day's events. Who they'd treated, how the party was fun. And also, to his astonishment how he'd thought people had figured out he was seeing Duffy, because people had been asking about his sex life. It had been a long time since anyone had asked him anything remotely like that. Therefore, they must have known they were a couple. He hadn't a clue it was because she had suggested he had a string of women, to throw them off the scent. It was funny though when Louise had asked if he was a swinger, her face was a picture, they giggled at each other reliving the moment.
They were half way through the park, as they continued on their walk home.
"I still can't believe Jez caught us, 'hooking up', as he called it." Duffy said, as she giggled at him.
"We'll have to be more discreet next time." Charlie suggested, as he winked at her.
"Oh, and where do you suggest?" Duffy asked, as she turned to look at him, as they walked down the path further into the park.
"Oh, well, my office, the store cupboard, the on call room, oh? And my personal favourite: behind the bike sheds." Charlie said, as he pulled her closer to him, and kissed her on the forehead.
"Ha, ha, the bike sheds, now that takes me back." Duffy laughed, as she looked at him and shook her head.
"Seems like the perfect place." Charlie stopped suddenly, and turned to look at her.
The lake was in the background, he looked to his left, and to his right, then looked back at her.
"Nice and quiet, no interruptions." Charlie said, as he stood gazing into her eyes, he reached up and put a few stray hairs behind her ear.
"Yeah, sounds perfect." Duffy said, as she took in a breath of anticipation.
"Just like you." He said, as he gazed into her eyes.
He then took a step back from her, and he then got down on one knee.
"Charlie?" Duffy asked, frowning at him.
"Duffy." He began.
"Um?" Duffy said, realisation hitting her.
He then took her hand in his, as he said, and swallowed hard.
"Knowing you love me, as much as I love you, has made me the happiest man in the world."
He looked up at her, tears beginning to form in his eyes.
"Oh, Charlie." Duffy said, as put her free hand to her mouth in shock.
"So, um, I know it's too soon maybe, and I'll wait as long as it takes."
He said, as he rubbed her hand with his thumb.
"I want to spend the rest of my life with you. So, um, Duffy, um, will you marry me?" He said, as he looked up at her.
"Oh, Charlie, yes, yes, oh my god, yes." Duffy said, as she nodded at him.
"You will?" He replied, the happiness written all over his face, as he rose up from the floor.
"Um, I know it's not the real thing, but, um, I got you this." He said, as he showed her the jelly ring in his hand.
"Oh, Charlie it's perfect." She laughed at him, and tilted her head at him.
He then looked into her eyes, and put the ring onto her finger, she giggled at him as he did so.
He then produced some mistletoe from his other pocket, and held it above their heads, she giggled again, as she reached up and kissed him. A deep and meaningful kiss, full of love and devotion.
-x-
