A/N: Just a few more chapters, I think. I have a plan on where this is going. Also, I won't be able to update for a while. I'm going away on an annual vacay! Happy reading. Jessa
Chapter 23—The One Where She Finally Gets to Romania
When Charlie opened the door, he turned to Maya and said, "Welcome to my home, love. It's not much, but I rather like it."
"It's perfect," Maya said, looking around. The cottage had 2 small bedrooms, a lovely sitting room, a kitchen, and a bathroom with a nice tub. Charlie's bedroom was decorated in red and gold and there were pictures of Maya and Charlie at school together, and then at the World Cup. She was beaming in all of them.
Maya picked up one of the pictures that had been taken at the Prefects' Christmas Party during their fifth year. "I had forgotten that we took this picture," she mused.
"It's one of my favorites," Charlie said from the doorway. "Do you remember that night?"
"That was the first time you almost kissed me," she said, a small smile spreading across her features. "You were walking me back to the common room after the party and we took a detour through a secret passage."
"And then Filch interrupted what promised to be a lovely snog," Charlie finished for her. He put his arm around her shoulder and kissed her head.
"And this one," she pointed to one of the Quidditch team, holding the Quidditch Cup, at the end of their sixth year. Maya and Charlie were embracing each other and paying little attention to the group around them. "That was a really good catch you made at that game."
"I recall that you made some pretty impressive goals," Charlie joked. "They were really happy times."
"When did it go wrong?" she asked. "I haven't been truly happy for years. When did my life go to hell?" Tears spilled out of her eyes and Charlie was left wondering what to do to console her. He followed his instincts and pulled her into his arms, stroking her hair while she sobbed against his chest.
"Sometimes, princess, you have to go a long distance out of your way to get back a short distance correctly," he said. "I never understood what that meant until now."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," she cried.
He led them to the bed and sat down next to her. "It means that we both needed these last years apart to truly appreciate what we had together. We had to get to rock bottom before we could reach the top again."
"I suppose that you're right, but it still sucks," she said.
"It does suck indeed," Charlie laughed. "Would you like something to eat?" She nodded and he led her to the kitchen to make lunch. Of course, Charlie didn't really have anything in his refrigerator. "It looks like we have to go to the market first," he suggested.
Charlie took Maya's hand and led her through the compound to the small market for employees. He showed her where the hospital was, as well as the hatchery, his office, and some other interesting spots on the way. On the way back to his cottage, they ran into a man called Mike. Mike was an American who worked at the reserve. He was also a friend of Charlie's. Charlie introduced Maya to Mike and then made their excuses so that they could leave.
Once they were back at the cottage, Charlie made them sandwiches. "Is there anything you need?" he asked.
"Not at the moment," she replied. "When do you have to be back to work?"
"Tomorrow morning," Charlie said. "So, you have me for the entire day."
"Lucky me," Maya teased. Charlie laughed with her. "I should unpack some of my things, though."
"I can help," Charlie offered. "I'll make room for your things wherever you want to store them. And you're welcome to sleep with me or in the spare bedroom."
"I think for now, I should sleep in the spare bedroom," Maya suggested. "I'm not planning on staying there forever, but I'm not sure I'm ready to share a bed for any length of time yet. You're not upset are you?"
"Of course not," Charlie promised. "And you don't have to worry about upsetting me. I promise not to hurt you."
"I know you won't," Maya answered. "You really are the best friend, and boyfriend, I've ever had." Charlie blushed, but smiled at Maya.
"Thanks, love," Charlie finally muttered. "You rank at the top of the list for me too."
As soon as they were finished with lunch, Maya went to the spare bedroom and started putting her things into the chest of drawers that was in the room. She managed to get everything unpacked in just under half an hour. She went back to the sitting room to find Charlie reading. "So, what do you do for fun around here?" she asked, scaring him half to death.
"I could take you on a walking tour of the reserve," he offered. "And afterwards, we can get some dinner. My friends usually hang out at the pub after work, so that's also an option."
"Alright," she replied. "Show me around, but please keep me as far away from the dragons as possible. They still terrify me more than a little."
"I promise not to let anything harm you," Charlie said. He put his book down and led Maya into the compound. They walked around the enclosures, Charlie making sure to keep her as far away from the dragons as possible. Then, they went to the hatchery. "There's mostly just eggs and maybe a few newborns in here. Would you like to come inside?"
"Yes," she said, definitively. "I think I would." They arrived in the hatchery and Charlie introduced Maya to a girl called Anne Jones.
"So, you're the infamous Maya Binning?" Anne asked.
"I suppose so, though I highly doubt I'm infamous," Maya replied.
"Love, you're infamous around here. You are the reason that Charlie has never managed to keep a girlfriend long," she said. "None of the girls he's dated could get used to the idea that he had so many pictures of you in his bedroom."
Maya smiled. She had instantly begun to like Anne. "Anne's just jealous that I've never asked her out," Charlie teased. "Of course, her girlfriend would probably get annoyed if she started going out with me too."
"Very funny, Charlie," Anne deadpanned. "Would you like to hold the baby, Maya?" Anne offered Maya the newly hatched Chinese Fireball that was crawling around in her hands.
"Maybe not just now," Maya replied. "They still scare me half to death."
"Any time you want to come and hold them, feel free," Anne offered. Maya thanked Anne for her hospitality and they said their goodbyes as Charlie led them back into the compound. He showed Maya his office and the hospital. Then, he took her to the pub.
At the pub, Charlie ran into some more of his friends from work. "This is Justin, Brian, and Mel," he said. "They are from America. And over there is Sophia; she's Greek. And that is Pedro and Nuria. They're Spanish. Everyone, this is Maya." The others all smiled and shook their heads knowingly. They also shook Maya's hand and offered her a drink.
"So, does Rosalyn know about this?" Brian asked.
"I don't see why she would need to know," Charlie replied. "She broke up with me, remember?"
"I do, Charlie, but that doesn't mean she's over you," Brian warned. He pulled Charlie away from the table. "She said something yesterday about wanting to get back together with you. And she'll be here in about an hour."
"Does she know I'm back yet?" Charlie asked, getting nervous. Brian nodded. Charlie started to panic. He started to try to figure out how to get Maya out of the bar before his ex-girlfriend showed up. He let Maya finish her drink and was about to lead her out of the bar when Rosalyn entered.
"Charlie!" she shouted and leapt into him. "I didn't know you were coming back today." Charlie rolled his eyes as she took his face in her hands and tried to kiss him.
"Rose," Charlie said, pushing her back. "We're not together anymore. And this is Maya." When Rosalyn saw Maya, her nostrils flared and she got a dark look on her face.
Maya extended her hand and said, "It's nice to meet you. How do you know Charlie?"
"We used to date," Rosalyn sneered. Maya simply nodded and looked sad. Twenty minutes later, Charlie suggested they go home.
"How long were you and that girl dating?" Maya asked.
Charlie sighed heavily, but stopped them. He took her face in his hands, and said, "We were together for 6 months. She broke it off with me when I refused to remove your photograph from my bedroom. She said that it was painfully obvious to everyone but me that I was still in love with you and that I shouldn't date anyone until I was no longer in love with you."
"Okay," Maya answered. She pulled back from him and started walking again, back to Charlie's cottage. When they arrived, she went to her room and sat on the bed, staring at the floor. She hadn't expected to run into someone that Charlie had dated and she was taken aback. Rosalyn was pretty and obviously still had a thing for Charlie. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Do you need anything?" Charlie asked.
"I'm fine," Maya lied. Charlie started to push her to tell him what was bothering her, but she cut him off. "Let it go for now, Charlie. I'm fine, but I'm tired and I want to go to bed." Charlie nodded and left her alone. She changed and climbed into the bed, falling asleep quickly.
Again, however, Charlie was woken in the middle of the night by Maya's screams. He rushed into her room and pulled her into his arms. "Shh," he said. "Maya, you're safe. I'm not going to leave you. No one can hurt you here."
"Don't make me go back there," she cried.
"You don't have to go anywhere," Charlie promised. "Why don't you come to my room for the rest of the night? My bed is bigger." Maya nodded and Charlie took her hand and led her to his room. After that night, Maya simply started going to bed in Charlie's room, and she never went to bed if he wasn't with her.