A/N: Thanks for continuing to read. And thanks to all who have reviewed and/or added the story to your alerts. I hope you keep with me. I have a plan, though I prefer to keep it to me until I publish. As per usual, JKR owns Harry Potter and his entire world…
Chapter 18—The One Where Charlie Comes Home
In the summer 3 years after Charlie and Maya graduated, the Quidditch World Cup came to England. Charlie found himself returning home for the event. Maya was performing with a group for the summer, playing Velma Kelly in Chicago! The opening night was the Friday after the final of the Quidditch World Cup.
On the Friday before the finals, Maya went to the Burrow to visit Molly and give her a pair of tickets to the show. She apparated to a point just down the lane from the house and walked through the garden and into the kitchen. "Hi Molly!" she called, entering the house.
Molly came bustling in from the pantry to greet Maya. "Dear, you're looking far too thin!" Molly admonished Maya.
"I'm really fine, Molly," Maya replied. "I've just come by to give you your tickets for opening night. It's Friday after the cup. I do hope you'll come to see it. I've had to learn an American accent and everything."
"It sounds lovely dear," Molly said, taking the tickets and stowing them in her apron. "Would you like a spot of tea?"
"I'd love one," Maya answered. She and Molly were seated at the kitchen table, catching up, when they heard the distinct pop of someone apparating.
"That'll be one of the boys," Molly said. "Charlie and Bill are both coming home for the Cup."
"Charlie's coming home?" Maya asked. Molly nodded. "That's amazing. He hasn't been home since he left for Romania."
"He really likes it there, but I think he misses his best mate," Molly said. She gave a small, imperceptible wink and then Charlie grabbed Maya from behind, scaring her half to death.
"How are my favorite girls in England?" he asked, pulling Maya out of her seat and into a fierce hug.
"Never better," Maya replied. "You look good."
Molly bustled over to give Charlie a Weasley hug and then left them in the kitchen alone. "So, tell me everything," Charlie said. "How's school? What are you up to? What's Maggie doing now?"
"I'm doing well," Maya answered. "School is good and I'm set to graduate in December. I'm currently working in a production of an American play that opens next Friday. I was just dropping off tickets for your Mum. And Maggie is going to Healer training at St. Mungo's in the fall. Now, your turn. How's Romania? How many dragons? Spare me no details."
"Romania is too far away, but amazing," Charlie said. "I'm working with 14 dragons at the moment, all different species. And I really love it."
Checking her watch, Maya noticed she was about to be late for rehearsal. "I've got to go," she said. "I have to be at the theater for rehearsal. Could we meet up again? How long are you home?"
"I'm here until September 2," Charlie answered. "Dinner tomorrow?"
"Meet me at the Leaky Cauldron at 7," Maya said. She hugged Charlie once more and thanked Molly for her hospitality. Then, she apparated to her flat in London and went to rehearsal, a light bounce in her step. Her friends noticed and asked what had her so happy. "My Charlie is home," she said, beaming. They demanded to meet him.
She met up with Charlie the next evening, after rehearsals ended, just as they had planned. "Some of my muggle friends want to meet up with us after dinner for drinks and dancing if you're up for it," Maya offered. "They want to meet the legendary Charlie Weasley who is my best mate since I was 11."
"Then, we won't keep them from meeting the legend," Charlie teased. "But what will we tell them I do?"
"We'll tell them that you work with animals in Romania. They know a little bit about my special talents and yours, just not about the magical creatures," Maya replied. "Now, you promised me dinner. Where are you taking me?"
"Wherever you'd like to go, love," Charlie said, laughing. They walked a few blocks into muggle London and went to Maya's favorite curry restaurant for Indian food. "What, exactly, is this that I'm eating?" Charlie asked.
"It's a sweet potato and chicken curry," Maya answered. "Just try it. You might like it."
Charlie tasted the dish that Maya had ordered for him. He found that he did like it very much; in fact, he liked the entire curry experience. During dinner, they caught up with each other, laughing together as they had not done in years. After dinner, they went to a muggle bar not far from the restaurant to meet up with Maya's friends.
"Charlie," Maya said, "This is Kevin, Kate, Jamie, and Drew. Everyone, this is Charlie Weasley."
"You forgot that I'm the legendary Charlie Weasley," Charlie joked. Maya rolled her eyes, but her friends all laughed. Charlie bought them beers at the bar and brought them to the table. For an hour, the group got to know Charlie and Charlie got to hear Maya's more interesting stories from school. Charlie was particularly amused to hear the story of when Maya "accidentally" lit another girl's knickers on fire during a stage production.
"It wasn't on purpose," Maya said. "She just really annoyed me when she snogged my boyfriend in front of me."
"You didn't tell me you have a boyfriend," Charlie scolded.
"I don't," Maya answered. "He snogged another girl in front of me. I also got revenge on him. It was just more subtle than lighting his pants on fire."
"What did you do to him?" Drew asked.
"I may have dropped a few herbs into his tea that would cause impotence," Maya said, smirking. "Of course, the sex was so bad, I felt like I was doing Lucy a favor." Charlie nearly choked on his beer from laughing. After they had finished their round, the group went to another bar where a band was playing.
Maya held Charlie back a little and asked, "Does Molly expect you home at any time tonight?"
"Not at any particular time," Charlie answered. "Just before breakfast tomorrow."
"Good," Maya replied. "If it's too late, you can stay at my flat. And Charlie, you'll be expected to dance at the bar, but they won't force you to sing."
At the bar, all of Maya's friends took turns singing with the band. Charlie and Maya danced together while the others sang, until Kevin announced that it was Maya's turn. She blushed, but Charlie encouraged her to sing. "I've never heard you," he pled. "Do it for me." She smiled and nodded. The band played "To Sir With Love" by Lulu and Maya got a rousing applause when she finished.
"That was amazing, love," Charlie said, pulling her into a hug. "I didn't know you could sing like that." They were continuing their praise when Jamie got to the microphone. He asked to sing a slow song. Maya and Charlie were going to sneak out into the alley, but Jamie forced them to dance together.
"I've missed you," Maya said after a moment of silence on the dance floor. "You stopped writing."
"So did you," he replied. "Your hair smells just like I remember it."
"Your hands feel just like they did before," Maya answered. Charlie's lips gently brushed against hers. She kissed him back, running her hands through his hair. "Will you stay tonight with me?" she asked. Charlie nodded. "Can we leave now?" she continued. Charlie didn't answer; he simply grabbed her hand and pulled her out into the street.
When they were sure they were alone, Maya apparated them to her flat. "You live alone?" Charlie asked, breathlessly.
"Mm-hmm," Maya hummed. "Now, shut up and kiss me." Charlie smirked, but did as she asked. She pulled him down the hallway to the single bedroom in the flat, tossing their clothes off on the way. In her room, Maya grabbed her wand and cast a contraceptive charm. Charlie was fumbling with her bra when she started to laugh.
"What is so funny?" he asked.
"It hooks in the front," Maya replied. Charlie looked down and noticed that there was a small hook in the front. He rolled his eyes and unclasped the bra, pushing it off her shoulders and tossing it aside. He kissed her neck, collarbone, and chest, remembering exactly how she liked to be touched. She mimicked his movements, kissing his neck and chest. With a smile, he removed her knickers and his boxer shorts, tossing them to the floor.
He kissed her on the mouth as he entered her, moving slowly at first. Maya matched his movements as their pace quickened. They came together, screaming each other's names. They lay in her bed together, panting and sweaty. "I've really missed you," he said.
"Me too," she whispered. "Can I ask you something? Were there others?"
"Yes," he answered. "You?"
"Two," she replied. "Neither was nearly as good as you are and I broke up with them both." There was a brief silence, before Maya asked, "What are you thinking about?"
"The what ifs," Charlie said. "I do it a lot when I'm alone in Romania. Like what if you had come with me?"
"I'd resent you," Maya answered.
"What if I'd stayed here?" he continued.
"You'd resent me," she said plainly.
"What if we were parents?" he asked, finally. "He'd be turning 3 this year. He'd have your eyes."
"And your hair," she added.
"And your intelligence and strength," he continued.
"And your sense of humor and kindness," she finished, wiping a tear from her eye. "Do you think that losing him was nature's way of telling us we weren't ready? I mean, I was terrified of being a parent so young."
"I think that it was tragic," Charlie said. "I was terrified, too, but I want very much to have children some day. You would have been a great Mum."
"You are a terrible liar," Maya joked, sitting up. She pulled the sheets up to cover herself a little more.
"You know, I've seen it before," Charlie teased. "And I wasn't lying about you being a good Mum." He looked her straight in the eye when he said the last part, trying to impress upon her that he was really telling the truth.
They sat together in silence for a long while before Maya asked, "Are you staying tonight?"
"If you want me to," Charlie answered.
"Whatever will we do in such a large bed?" Maya teased. She had a queen size bed, but when they had been at school, they had become accustomed to sharing a very small bed.
"You won't crush me while we sleep," Charlie joked. Maya smacked him with a pillow. He retaliated by smacking her with another pillow. Their pillow fight soon became passionate kissing and then, they made love again, before collapsing in each other's arms and falling asleep.
Charlie woke early the next morning and kissed Maya on the head before returning to the Burrow. Molly questioned him when he came in, demanding to know where he had slept. "I had a beer too many and it was very late," he explained. "Maya let me stay at her flat. I slept on the sofa." Molly was going to further question Charlie, but Ron and Ginny entered the kitchen at that moment for breakfast. Molly's interrogation would have to wait.