The Morning After

part 5

Charlie was sprawled out on the couch reading, as Bass sat with her feet in his lap, absently rubbing them as he drifted between reading his own book and staring out the window.

Charlie nudged him with her foot. "What's wrong with you today?"

He shook his head with a smile. "Nothing, just thinking."

"About what?"

"Lots of things."

Charlie sighed. "Fine, don't tell me."

He pinched her big toe. "Be nice. I was thinking about Tex."

"Tex? Big Tex?" Charlie asked with a puzzled grin.

"I didn't like knowing that someone else had touched you."

Charlie sat up, moving to lean against him as he gathered her up against his side. "Yeah, I figured that out when you came over that next Sunday. It was also the last time I was ever with anyone else."

Threading his fingers through her hair, Bass pressed his lips against her crown. "God, I was an idiot."

Charlie remained quiet until he poked her. "What? I completely agree, you were a total idiot."

"I'm sorry that it took so long for me to figure it out."

Charlie tilted her head, moving his lips from her crown to her forehead. "Tell me you love me and all's forgiven."

Pulling her across his lap, Bass gathered her to him. "I love you, Charlotte Monroe," he whispered kissing her gently as her hand rose to rest against his cheek. "I love you too, Sebastian Monroe. You've been all I needed for a very long time."

Resting their foreheads against each other, they sat silent for several long minutes, their hands tangling together.

"Charlie?"

"Yeah, Bass?"

"You're not leaving this spot until you finally tell me why we're married."

Charlie snorted. "Well, there goes the romance."

Bass nuzzled her neck causing her to giggle. "You want romance? You'll get romance. But first you're spilling the beans."

Charlie sighed, squirming in his lap to get comfortable causing him to growl and clamp down on her thighs. "I thought we decided you were going to be nice?"

"No. That's what you decided, I did no such thing. "

"Charlotte," Bass growled, frowning at her.

She rolled her eyes. "Well, speaking of Tex, that was Frank's follow up to the still. He hit me hard and fast. Then to make it a triple play, he gathered all the men in camp around the women's shower tent, God, I miss those showers, and had the tent rigged to collapse."

"He did what?" Bass growled at the thought of every man in camp seeing Charlie naked and vulnerable, somewhere she was supposed to be safe.

Charlie waved him off. "Joke was on him. I hadn't even dropped my towel yet. So while they were busy ogling the other girls, I gathered my things, gave a jaunty salute and headed for my tent. Frank watched me the entire way. So, thinking that he deserved something for all the effort he had went to, I flashed him."

Bass nearly choked. "You did what?"

"Jesus, Bass? Is it good for someone your age to get this excited? I'm not sure if I should tell you the rest or not."

Squeezing her ankle he gave her a look. "Geesh, it was just a joke," she soothed leaning forward to kiss his jaw.

"I knew that whatever I did next was going to have to be the whole enchilada, because we had got our discharge date. You and Miles had that last trip to the border and then we were coming home."

"This has to do with why you were confined to quarters when we got back, doesn't it?"

"Bass, I don't think I've ever pissed someone off to the point that they were speechless before."

"Oh, you'd be surprised," He muttered, earning an elbow to the ribs.

"We bribed Sgt. Travis into letting us know when Blanchard wanted someone sent up from the local whorehouse and took the place of the runner."

"You? Went to a whorehouse?"

"Seriously?"

"You went to a whorehouse to do what, exactly?"

"I had a conversation with the Madam, who for a generous donation to her establishment, let me pick one out that was absolutely perfect for my needs."

"Your needs or Blanchard's needs?"

"Do you want to hear this or not?"

Bass held up his hand in surrender.

"When Frank's guest and I arrived back at camp, everything was ready to go. Travis gave us the signal when it was time. However, this time, it was everyone in camp who had gathered round, sitting or standing wherever they could get a good view. Did you know that the sides of the tents can be rolled up without a sound? Especially when someone's being spanked loudly with a paddle by a transvestite hooker in lingerie?"

"Oh, sweet Jesus, Charlie." Bass said his eyes going wide as his laughter boomed through the house. Charlie joined him, the memory bringing tears to her eyes as she laughed.

"Oh, Bass. You should have seen the look on his face as he tried to get untied from the bed when he realized we were all watching, but when he realized that Robin was actually a man?" She had to stop in order to take in a few deep breaths, "I was immediately seized and sent to the brig until the next day when he informed me I would be confined to quarters until Miles returned and that Miles would immediately escort me back to Willoughby."

"He didn't say anything about payback or retaliation."

Charlie shook her head. "The last words he said to me were, 'Well played, Ms. Matheson. Well played.' How was I supposed to know that he'd show up damn near a year later seeking revenge?" she asked as she twisted to straddle him. "So, now that you know the whole sordid story between myself and Frank Blanchard, are you sure you don't want a divorce?"

"If we got a divorce, we'd be missing out on an opportunity to tell our grandchildren how a cross-dressing hooker was the reason we got married. How many other people can say that?"

"Absolutely none," she snorted playing with his curls. "But in order for there to be grandchildren, there have to be children."

"That's very true," Bass replied as he pulled her shirt over her head, popping the clasp on her bra.

"I take it you want kids?" She asked with a gasp as he sucked a tender nipple into his mouth while using a hand to unfasten her pants.

Coming to a complete stop, Bass looked up at her. "I don't just want kids, I want your kids. You know me, Charlie. I don't do anything half way."

"Thank God for that," she said leaning forward to kiss him softly, burying her hands in his hair.

Standing in the bar, Bass read the letter that Charlie presented to him, before pulling her in close. "Poor Bastard never stood a chance did he?"

She wrapped her arms around him with a grin, "Not even a tiny one."

Frank Blanchard sat in his chair, boots firmly propped on the edge of his desk, a cigar tucked snuggly between his teeth as he gleefully opened a letter that had just been delivered from Willoughby, Texas.

He had been waiting weeks for a response.

Dear Frank,

Sebastian and I can't begin to tell you how much we enjoyed your visit over New Year's and then to find out that you had us married, our very heart's desire, was such a wonderful surprise. We've settled into our new home and domestic life seems to suit us both.

My mother and Miles have recently announced that there will be an addition to our family and Sebastian and I are hopeful that we won't be far behind in that endeavor and will certainly consider naming our firstborn son after the man who had such a hand in bringing us together.

Our door is always open to you whenever you're in town.

Sincerely,

Sebastian and Charlotte Monroe

Franks secretary, smiled nervously at the occupants in the hallway outside his office as a very loud "God Damn Son Of A Bitch!" emanated from his office followed by the sound of ripping paper.

a.n. one last follow up and we're done and I really need to give credit to where credit is due. A big thanks to JM2788 for helping me come up with the most of these wonderful pranks, including Robin :)