Author's Note: Thank you to all who left reviews, followed or faved this story—I want to take this opportunity to also thank the 3 people who signed in as guest's who left reviews- this site doesn't allow me to reply to you but thank you very much for your kind words—it all helps keep me going. This is a quick update before the weekend; I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 2

Bass began to stir about an hour later- he and Charlie had not moved from their original positions. He carefully removed his hand from hers and kissed the top of her head before getting out of bed to put a shirt on and head downstairs. He hoped to find Gene but when he entered the kitchen he found Rachel standing at the sink, her back to him, looking out the window.

"Hello Rachel," he said calmly. She jumped, startled by the sound of his voice. She slowly turned.

"Hello," she said coolly. "I brushed down Flame and put her in the stable with Cola and fed her."

"Thank you," he said, surprised. He pulled out a chair and sat down at the table.

"Well, she's Charlie's horse after all…" she trailed off looking him directly in the eye.

"She is," Bass said, "Is Gene around?"

"He went to the store to get some things for dinner…some things that Charlie may be able to eat- she looks like she's starving," she said in an accusatory tone.

He could tell she was getting fired up for some kind of fight and he wasn't having it.

"Great," he replied, "I'll wait outside." Before she could say anything else he was out the door and sitting on the porch swing outside.

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Charlie woke up feeling a bit stiff- she had no idea how long she'd slept but instead of reviving her it only left her feeling more tired. She walked into the bathroom and splashed some water on her face. She toweled off and was about to put on her clothes and go find Bass when she saw her…Rachel was standing in the doorway.

"God, Mom!" she said, startled, "do you always sneak up on people like that?"

"Sorry," Rachel said, "I heard you moving around up here and just wanted to see how you're doing. Do you need anything?"

"No thanks, I'm good," Charlie said taking a large gulp of water from her canteen.

"You know," Rachel said, "I was very sick when I was pregnant with Danny…much like you I couldn't keep anything down. With you it was a breeze…so…if you're anything like me, you might be having a boy."

"Hmm," Charlie said, thinking about this new information, "Good to know, thanks."

Rachel smiled, happy that they could talk without arguing.

"I'll have to tell Bass about that…do you know where he is?"

"No, I don't—I haven't seen him," she lied.

"I'll go look for him," Charlie smiled.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Rachel asked, "I mean, you've been through a terrible ordeal today- you still don't look well."

"I haven't looked well in over three months…today is nothing new," Charlie answered. She began changing her clothes when it became apparent that Rachel wasn't going to leave on her own.

"But honey, you're so weak. I must insist…" Rachel tried.

"I appreciate your concern," Charlie said a little bit harshly, "but a little walk to go find my husband is not going to kill me."

"Husband?" Rachel asked, stunned.

"Yes," Charlie said, standing to look directly at her mother. "Bass and I are married now." She figured now was as good a time as any that her mother find out.

"When…when did this happen?" Rachel said, clearly stricken.

"About a month ago, right before Miles left for Austin…in fact, he walked me down the aisle. Blanchard was here and we asked him to do it- Grandpa and Miles were witnesses," Charlie concluded.

Rachel only now seemed to notice the ring on Charlie's left hand. Charlie saw her staring at it and said, "It belonged to Bass' mom- he had tears in his eyes when…"

"Why wasn't I told…or included?" Rachel interrupted.

Charlie soured. "For obvious reasons…it was a happy occasion, Mom. You being there would've brought everybody down, including me. Now excuse me, while I go look for my husband."

"He's on the porch," Rachel murmured almost to herself.

Charlie started to pass her but when she heard this she stopped, shook her head in disgust and mumbled under her breath, "Should've known." She left Rachel standing there, shocked and alone.

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Charlie walked out on to the porch- Bass was sitting slumped in the swing, his head down and eyes closed. She walked to him quietly on padded feet—she hated wearing her boots now as some days her feet would swell so whenever she could get away with bare feet she did. She gently stroked his cheek unable to keep from touching him.

His eyes still closed, he grinned. She stood right in front of him and bent low, resting her hands upon his knee's; she leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips. He opened his eyes, taking her in and gasped.

"What?" she asked alarmed.

"You're just so…lovely," he breathed.

She smiled then, a big smile she reserved just for him and kissed him again, only this time deeper. When she pulled back he took hold of her hands and pulled her down onto his lap; she giggled. She sat with her legs stretched out in front of her on the swing and her head resting on his shoulder.

"Really Charlotte," he said, "you just take my breath away sometimes." When she'd laid down to sleep her wet hair was splayed across the pillow; having dried in the breeze it was now extra bouncy and curly and he couldn't stop running his fingers through it. She was wearing a white cotton eyelet top with spaghetti straps and a little v-neck above her breasts with two drawstrings hanging loosely down in front. This over her jeans and bare feet she looked like a model out of a magazine in days before the blackout, like she should be sitting on a beach somewhere. "I wish I were a photographer," he said, "I'd capture your picture just like this."

"Really," she said, a bit of skepticism in her tone, "even with the bloodshot eyes and dark circles below…well, I guess I'm glad you're not picky, Bass Monroe."

"Your eyes look better," he noted, "But you should be drinking water- actually, we both should…let me go get some."

He started to get up but just then Rachel walked out holding two canteen's and smiling, "Here ya' go."

Charlie stared at her, and then said, "Are you going to be listening to all our conversations, Mom? Are we talking loud enough for you?" She began to cough.

Rachel turned her icy gaze to Bass obviously blaming him for the state Charlie was in now. Bass already blamed himself and rubbed Charlie's back, trying to help her cough up the remaining soot.

"Stop glaring at my husband!" Charlie said, her voice having gone gravelly. "You honestly don't think I see that? Or you just don't care…" she broke off coughing again.

"Rachel…" Bass began.

"I'm leaving," Rachel said and hurried back inside.

"We can't stay here," Charlie breathed once her coughing had subsided.

"I know," Bass said quietly. They continued to sit on the swing, holding each other in silence.

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Rachel wrote in her journal:

Not only has the bastard gotten my daughter pregnant but he also somehow got her to marry him! She is blinded by some false feeling of love for him. They are all blind by him now- everyone but me. This whole thing with the smoke inhalation is his fault and he knows it! Just wait—he will mess up again and when the pieces all fall down around her, I will be there to pick Charlie up. She needs me! Now more than ever- she just doesn't realize it yet. But don't think you can get rid of me, Sebastian Monroe—you've got her fooled for now but she'll wake up eventually- they all do. And when she does I'll be the one holding her and comforting her- she'll want to be here with me. And I'll be the one raising your child…your son...just like Danny.

Rachel smiled inwardly.

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That night they ate dinner outside- Gene's friend, Marion, joined them; fortunately, for everyone involved, Rachel took her dinner inside. The four of them were sitting at an old picnic table; Gene had barbecued chicken, it being one of the only meats that Charlie could be around the smell of without getting sick. She didn't want any but had some soup broth that Marion brought that went down easily enough. Marion also brought some homemade applesauce and Gene cooked corn over the pit.

Each of them in turn stopped what they were doing and started watching Bass. With his hands wrapped up in bandages trying to hold a fork and knife was like trying to walk without legs; they were all trying not to laugh. He finally gave up on the meat and managed to pick up the corn between mittened fists and took a bite. As he bit down he noticed all the suppressed grins.

"What?" he said between bites.

"Can I help you with your chicken, honey?" Charlie grinned.

"No," he said in mock anger.

"Oh, come on," she said, "ever since I got pregnant you've been babying me and I've been letting you. You can at least let me cut your meat."

He grinned at this and nodded. She cut up his slice of chicken and fed him some which he downed with some mulberry wine that Marion had brought from her bar.

Charlie tried the applesauce and was pleasantly surprised when it didn't turn her stomach—the smoothness of it felt good on her throat and she greedily accepted more.

"Oh good," Marion said, "I'll make more and bring it to you later this week."

"As far as tonight, Gene," Bass changed the subject, "we're thinking it's not a real good idea to stay here."

Gene looked somber. "I know," he said, "but I was hoping that just for tonight you would. I'd just feel better so I can monitor Charlie and give her some of that tea every four hours so she can sleep." He looked at Charlie, "It has a sedative effect in case you didn't notice earlier…keeps you from coughing so you can sleep. Won't hurt the baby at all…" he said seeing the worried look on her face. "You should drink some too," he looked at Bass.

"But being sedated…" Bass began.

"Rachel won't bother you- she sleeps downstairs in her old room. I sleep in the room across the hall from yours and I'm a very light sleeper. You can lock your doors and I'll only come in if you call me or if I hear you coughing I'll be knocking and will let you know it's me."

"I never thought we'd have to take such measures….with my mom!" Charlie cried.

"I know, honey, but it's only for tonight. Tomorrow you can move to Mile's house as long as you're doing all right," Gene said.

Bass looked to Charlie- he would only agree if she did- she met his eyes and saw so much love there.

"Okay," she said, "but just for tonight; because I can tell you right now Bass won't be sleeping."

She knows me so damn well, he thought. "I'm only drinking that tea if my cough gets bad," he said to Gene, "otherwise, I'll be up on watch."

"I don't think you need to go to that much trouble," Gene tried.

"Gene I think you underestimate just how much your daughter hates me…and now that she knows we're married…" he trailed off.

"How does she know that?" Gene asked.

Charlie raised her hand, "Guilty."

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Rachel chuckled to herself as she sat by the window and listened. You can sit up all night for all I care, Bass Monroe, she thought. I won't be bothering you and you'll have done it all for nothing. I'm not going to bother Charlie like that. But just seeing you squirm out there with the thought of it is enough for me…for now anyways.

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Charlie and Bass both noticed a flutter of the curtains in the kitchen window and looked at each other- Bass gave her a wink. They knew she'd be listening—he'd only said all that so she wouldn't try anything; he planned on getting a good night's sleep. He loved beating this woman at her own game.

That night they still locked the door to the hallway and the one to the bathroom when they were ready for bed. Charlie drank the tea Gene had given her; Bass only planned to if he felt he really needed it. He rested his knife on the stand next to their bed just in case and then climbed in bed next to his wife.

"You sleepy?" he asked her.

"Uhmm…" she said nuzzling his beard.

He kissed her, gently at first. She responded greedily, deepening the kiss and meeting his tongue with her own. They lay there for a long time, holding one another and kissing. They were interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Bass, I need to apply more salve to your hands and re-wrap them…well…since dinner," Gene said, trying not to laugh.

Charlie giggled as Bass bent his head down to her chest in mock shame. He had made a mess of himself on purpose, knowing they were laughing about it and the bandages were dirtied now.

Bass let Gene in, a look of consternation on his face for having been interrupted with Charlie.

"Sorry…so sorry," Gene said, "almost forgot about it."

"So Grandpa," Charlie asked while he worked, "what's up with you and Marion? Is something going on there?"

"My dearest Charlotte," Gene said simply, "whatever are you driving at? I mean, an older man such as I does not kiss and tell…" he trailed off.

"Ohhhhh!" Charlie and Bass exclaimed together.

"Well, Gene, I just think you told us everything," Bass laughed.

Gene smiled playfully at this.

"Good night you two," he said as he finished with Bass' hands. "And get some rest! I mean it!" he finished all too knowingly.

"Wow!" Charlie said, "I guess he told us…I feel like a little girl again getting caught taking a cookie right before dinner."

"He was only guessing," Bass said.

"No I wasn't," Gene said from out in the hall.

Bass threw his hands up in consternation, "You're killin' me old man!" He lsaid. "We're going to bed…relax!"

As he crawled into bed next to Charlie and blew out the candles that were lit she snuggled up against him and buried her face in the crook of his neck.

"I love you so much," she said.

"I love you too, baby…more than you know," Bass replied.

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Rachel wrote in her journal as they slept:

As I sit writing Charlie and Monroe are upstairs—he's sitting up keeping watch out for me. I can't wait to see his face in the morning when he sees me, knowing he waited up all night for nothing.

Charlie is still coughing but Dad is helping her with that. I could kill Monroe for putting her in danger again. Especially when she's pregnant! He better not have hurt little D…her baby. I will kill him if he has.

A/N: As always reviews are most welcome and really appreciated! Tell me what you think.