Morning lovlies! So this chapter is a little shorter then usual but holy is there lots of fluff! go enjoy and I'll see you below!
The movers came and left, an hour after the bookshelves had arrived Bass and Charlie could been found sitting in the middle of her living room surrounded by piles of shelves and screws.
"I have no idea what this says." Bass said holding up a piece of paper. "How are we supposed to put these together with no way of understanding the instructions!" He slammed the paper down on the ground with a frustrated growl.
"Bass." Charlie said crawling over her pile. "This is in russian, you have the wrong papers." She giggled at him and reached past him grabbing the english papers.
"How did I not notice that?" He asked bemused.
"Maybe because you can't stop staring at me." Charlie gave him a sly grin as the scooted back into her space.
Bass' jaw dropped. "Was not!" He retorted feebly.
"Face it Bass, you're totally busted." Charlie picked up her own instructions and glanced over them ignoring Bass' glare. "Come on if we do finish these before dinner I'm going to make you come back tomorrow to help me." Charlie had her head turned or she would have seen the smile that broke out over Bass' face.
"Would that be so terrible?" He asked dropping the papers and crawling towards her.
Turning back she was almost nose to nose with him. "I suppose not..." She said breathless.
"Charlie you wanted to tell me something earlier, what was it?" His voice sounded serious but his eyes twinkled with the mischief that was never far away.
"Umm..." Charlie said backing up slightly.
"What?" He was kneeling in front of her his knees brushing hers. "Charlie?"
Charlie bowed her head suddenly unable to make eye contact with him. "I-I don't want to scare you off..." she said quietly.
Ducking down Bass tried to make her look at him. "Do I look like I scare easy?" Bass asked smirking.
"Of course you don't." She looked up nervously. "Bass you're important to me, always have been and I don't want to say anything to make you go away." She said wringing her hands together.
"Charlie, didn't I say earlier that I'm not going anywhere?" He reached out and grasped her fidgeting hands.
Charlie looked at him, her blue eyes searching his. "Alright..." She looked down at her hands again, smiling at his larger ones holding hers, she took a deep breath and let out. "Bass I'm pretty sure I'm in love with you, I'm also pretty sure I have been since I was 16." She said it quietly and quickly.
"Charlotte would you look at me?"
Charlie's eyes snapped up to his at the use of her full name. "I know you had a thing for me back then, teenage girls are not the most subtle creatures." He said chuckling. "But I didn't realize you loved me." his voice had gone soft. He brushed her hair over her ear as he spoke. "How do you know you love me?"
"I don't know..." She looked down again then back up searching his face and eyes for any sign of fear or panic, seeing none she plowed on. "I just know that when you're around my whole body goes into chaos, but it also seems to be calmer and more relaxed just being near you." She tightened the hold on the fingers still wrapped around her hands. "I know that when I see you my world seems so much brighter." She sat up on her knees and leaned forward to kiss him lightly. "And when you kissed me back at the games place I just knew, it was like my world stopped and everything I ever wanted or needed was right there in my hand."
Bass reached out and pulled her into his lap holding her as tightly as he could. "Charlie, my god you have a way with words. I honestly had no idea." He pulled her back slightly to look at her. "You know I'm a lot older then you right?" He asked seriously.
Charlie laughed and brushed her hand down his scruffy cheek. "Yes Bass, I know you're older then me. I'm blonde not stupid." She rested her head in the crook of his shoulder and smiled. "But I don't care, honestly." She pulled back suddenly. "Do you?" her eyes speaking the panicked tones she was trying to keep at bay.
"I just don't want to start something if you realize 10 years down the road that I'm some creepy old man." He leaned in so his forehead was touching hers. "If you really want to be with me, if that's what you really want then I'm all in."
A smile a genuine huge smile broke out over Charlie's face. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to hear that." She choked on a laugh as he grinned back at her.
"Good because I can see us scaring the shit out of your parents and that brings me so much childish glee it's a little crazy." He cupped her face with his hands and brought her in for a long sweet kiss.
Charlie giggled as they pulled apart. "In that case can we hold off telling them until after my birthday?" she asked holding the hands still encasing her face.
"Why?" Eyebrow raised he pouted at her.
"Because I would like to avoid murder on a day that I get to see Miles." She laughed again.
"Ya... alright, I suppose." He kissed the end of her nose before continuing. "Let's not wait to long though, cause I really want to be able to hold you or kiss you when ever, where ever."
"Deal." She kissed him softly before standing up.
"What are you doing?" Bass asked still cross legged on the floor.
"We have to be back at the house in just under an hour, I've got this dinner thing dunno what for, could be my birthday or something." She said reaching her hand down to him. "Seriously though if I don't get back soon my mom is going to flip."
Bass laughed and took her hand, instead of standing up though her pulled her back down. "We'll go soon I promise, I'll even drive, but right now I just want a little more time with you." He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.
Charlie rolled her eyes but sank into his warm hold. "Yah ok." She let out a content sigh and snuggled in.
So? Was is cute enough? Was it sweet enough? It made me jealous of Charlie just writing it!
I was going over how to end this and I think there is only going to be maybe 2 or three more chapters left in this story, might be a little optimistic though, it might only be one more, I'll let you know when I know, but seeing as how this story is going it looks like there will be a partner fic to this one showing more into their lives after her birthday, and how the family finds out and all that jazz.
btw writing that super intense moment in Holding On then writing this one was a little weird so if any of the tone from the other story carried over I apologize!
As always, I love hearing from you! it makes my day, I live and breath my reviews so drop one on your way out and I'll see you for the next update :) tootles my lovlies!