Charlie woke up wrapped in a cocoon of Bass. His chest was plastered against her back, arms around her waist, and his legs were tangled around hers. Removing herself from his grip was going to be next to be impossible, but she moved as slowly as she could so she wouldn't wake him.

Several minutes and lots of patience later, she finally managed to escape his grasp. She turned to look at him as she climbed out of the bed and saw him reaching out for her in his sleep. Smiling to herself, she stuffed one of her blankets into his arms and watched as he wrapped himself around it like an octopus.

Now completely free, she stretched her sore muscles. It was the good kind of sore though, the kind that left you with a glowing smile on your face. She grabbed her discarded clothes off of the floor, cleaned herself up, and went downstairs to find some breakfast.

As she hopped off of the last step, she saw Conner sitting on the floor next to the remnants of the fire they had started the night before.

"I hope that smile means that last night went well." He was smiling smugly up at her.

She hummed appreciatively, "I don't think your dad would want me telling you all the dirty details."

Conner snorted but didn't press her further. "I didn't actually come here to ask about that, Miles sent me."

Charlie whipped her head around. "What? Why?"

"Well... I guess him and your mom kinda got into a fight last night." He winced slightly as he said it, like he was bracing for impact.

Charlie sighed heavily and took a seat across from him. "What happened now?"

He took a deep breath before launching into the story. "According to Miles, everything was going great for most of the night. He had even managed to convince Rachel that we should all leave first thing this morning. But, I guess late last night they got into an argument about something, because when I woke up this morning I was sharing my bed with someone. And I definitely did not take Miles to bed with me last night."

Charlie snorted at his little joke but continued on. "Do you know what they were fighting about?"

"No, he wouldn't say. But I did hear the lady that owns the house talking to some guy this morning, she told him that two of her guests really got into it last night. So whatever it was, it wasn't good. Miles sent me to tell you that since your mom is refusing to speak to him, we'll be stuck here at least one more night."

She nodded absently. "Wait, if she's not talking to him, then why couldn't he come tell me?"

Conner chuckled, "because he's camped out right outside her door. I think he figures she'll have to come out eventually to go to the bathroom." They laughed together for a moment before he stood up. "Well, message delivered. I've got some other things I need to attend to."

"Like what?"

"Saw this super hot redhead in town, gonna go find her." He gave her one last wink before disappearing out the front door.

As Conner's footsteps could be heard going down the front steps, Bass' could be heard coming down the stairs. He came into view wearing only his old boxers and pulling a t-shirt over his head.

Charlie stood up and walked over to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Nice outfit."

He chuckled low in his throat as he nuzzled her neck. "Did I hear correctly? We get the day off?" He slid his hands down her back to cup her ass, pulling her flush against him so she could feel his hardness, waiting eagerly for her.

The feel of his hands on her sent a jolt straight to her core. "Yes, we do. Any ideas on how we should spend it?"

"Plenty." Bass slammed his lips on hers and she gasped. He pushed his tongue through her parted lips to taste her, moaning as she rolled her hips against his erection. He kissed her passionately and Charlie could feel her own need growing, soaking her panties. She threaded her fingers into his hair, pulling his face closer to her. Without warning, he lifted her up off of the ground, she wrapped her legs around his waist and let out a yelp of surprise which he swallowed with his lips.

"What are you doing?" He was walking them towards the kitchen, trailing kisses down her neck

"I've been thinking about this since you suggested it yesterday."

"What?"

He set her down on the counter and pulled his shirt off. "I'm gonna fuck you on the counter." Then his lips were on hers again, his hands moving to the hem of her shirt to pulling it over her head, adding it to the pile on the floor. Charlie unhooked her own bra and tossed it down with the rest of the clothes. Then she leaned back on her hands so she could watch him.

He quickly undid the button on her jeans, sliding them and her panties down her legs. Kneeling down in front of the counter, he ran his tongue through her wet slit. Charlie moaned as he parted her folds and began sucking on her clit, occasionally pulling at it with his teeth. She fisted a hand in his hair, trying to pull him closer while she ground her hips against his face.

"Oh God Bass, please." Bass stopped what he was doing with his mouth and kissed the inside of her thigh.

"Please, what?"

Charlie looked straight into his eyes, "fuck me, now."

His growl vibrated through his chest and he stood up, pushed his boxers down far enough to release his hard cock, and pulled her ass closer to the edge of the counter. She wrapped a leg around his waist and he thrust into her, filling her completely while they both moaned with pleasure.

He fucked her hard and fast, snapping his hips into her while he watched her breasts bounce up and down with the force of his thrusts. He wasn't going to last long like this though, and he wanted to feel her come around his cock again. He would never get tired of that feeling. He pulled the leg that she had wrapped around his waist up and set it on his shoulder, changing his angle to hit a better spot, earning him a cry for more as Charlie's head flew back.

She was rocking her hips against him as best as she could, but she needed more. She reached down between them to rub her cit in quick circles, arching her back to force him even deeper inside of her.

Bass watched her fingers as they took over her clit. Watching her touch herself while his cock disappeared into her tight pussy nearly made him come right then, but he held out.

"Fuck Charlie, come on. Come for me."

With one last 'Bass' falling from her lips, she came hard, her body spasming around him. He couldn't hold it in anymore, he thrust into her one last time, spilling his come deep within her. He leaned forward and rested his head between her breasts, his cock still buried in her pussy.

Charlie ran a hand over his head and down his back. "Guess it was a good idea, huh?"

Chuckling, he kissed her gently on the lips. "Definitely."

He kissed her again before helping her down off of the counter. They cleaned up and dressed, deciding to eat something before either one of them came up with any other good ideas.

OpOpOpOpOp

It was late in the afternoon, Charlie and Bass were upstairs in the bedroom. She was sitting with her back against the headboard reading a book while she stroked his hair, his head was laying in her lap while he slept. This was the first time Charlie had ever felt truly and completely comfortable with someone. The love she felt for this man seemed more real than anything else in her life ever had.

She had been so lost in her own thoughts, that she hadn't heard the front door downstairs, or the footsteps coming up the stairs.

"Hey, honey."

Charlie jumped slightly in her seat, startling Bass from his nap. He sat bolt upright and reached for his gun because he thought they were under attack. Charlie put a calming hand on his shoulder and he slowed, lowering the gun and looking over at Rachel standing awkwardly in the doorway.

No one said anything for a moment. "Well I'm glad your both dressed. Conner warned me that I might stumble into some of your 'activities.' "

Charlie knew that her mother hadn't come here just to say that, but she also knew that trying to rush her wouldn't help the situation. Luckily, Bass seemed to know the same thing, so they both remained silent.

Rachel was swaying back and fourth on her feet, looking anywhere but at the two of them. She finally gave in and asked, "Bass, can I speak to Charlie alone for a few minutes?"

Slightly shocked that she had addressed him directly, he slid out of the bed and grabbed his boots. He looked at Charlie to make sure she was alright and waited for her to nod her head before stepping around Rachel and closing the door softly behind him.

Charlie closed her book and scooted so she was sitting on the edge of the bed, facing her mother. "Where's Miles?" Rachel seemed a little confused by her question so she continued on, "Conner said that Miles has been camped outside your room all night and day, I just figured he would be here with you."

Rachel actually looked slightly guilty. "Yeah, well... I went out the window."

"You what? Why would you do that? What-"

"It's not what your thinking, honey. I love Miles, I really do. I just needed some space and I knew he was out there, so I went out the window. I hadn't planned on running into Conner, but when he told me where you were he told me 'good luck' and it seemed like he actually meant it." Her face was screwed up like she was trying to figure out why Conner had been so nice to her.

"I know the feeling, one minute he's driving me nuts, the next minute he's smiling and being nice. It's kind of weird."

Rachel gave her a little smile and nodded her head in agreement. She was still standing awkwardly by the door.

"Mom, I know you didn't come here to talk about Conner."

She shook her head, "no, I didn't." She closed her eyes as if she were collecting her thoughts and stepped forward to sit next to her on the bed. "I know that what I did was wrong. But I won't lie to you, I don't regret leaving. Yes, I regret missing out on yours and Danny's lives, but not leaving. I love Miles, I always have, and I was sick of not being able to be happy.

"I spent over fifteen years with your dad, and there wasn't a day that passed that I didn't wish he was Miles." Charlie could see a light sheen of tears in her mother's eyes. "It was too much, I had to leave. For your dad, for you and Danny, and for myself. I'm so sorry that I wasn't there for you Charlie, but please don't cut me out of your life."

Her mother looked genuinely upset and Charlie had to look away from the single tear that rolled down her cheek. "Then don't make me choose." She looked directly into her mother's eyes, "you said you wished you were with Miles everyday. If you try to push me and Bass apart, that's what will happen to me, and I want to be happy. He makes me happy."

Rachel stared down at her hands in her lap. "I want you to be happy sweetheart. I do. It's just hard to see you with him when I know what he's done." Charlie made to interrupt her mother so she could tell her that she knows all about what Bass has done, but Rachel held up a hand to stop her. "But if you think he'll make you happy, I'll stay out of it."

Tears sprang into Charlie's own eyes but she blinked them away. "Thank you, Mom."

Rachel nodded and then turned sharp eyes on her daughter. "But don't think even for a minute, that he and I will be friends. I will tolerate his existence in my daughter's life, but one wrong move, one little screw up, and I will kill him. I promise you that."

The seriousness in her mother's face made her nod in agreement. Rachel wasn't promising not to kill Bass, she was simply saying she wasn't going to kill him yet. And the way Charlie saw it, that was probably the best she was going to get out of her.

Rachel got up from the bed and headed to the door, she turned around with her hand on the handle. "I'll talk to Miles tonight, you guys should be ready to leave in the morning."

"Ok." And then she was gone.

As soon as she disappeared from sight, Bass came back into the room. He touched his fingers to her cheeks and down her arms like he was looking for something. "Well, no visible injuries, and I didn't hear any shouting. So what happened?" He sat down next to her on the bed and pulled her close, wrapping an arm around her. Charlie melted into his comforting embrace.

"She agreed not to kill you, and I agreed to give her a chance."

Bass was silent while he rubbed little circles on her back for a few minutes.

"I guess that's the best we could have hoped for. Don't you think?"

Charlie chuckled, smiling up at him. "Yeah," she kissed him gently on the lips, "it is."

She snuggled back into his chest and he kissed the top of her head. "I love you. You know that right?"

She pulled away from him and rubbed her palm over the scruff on his cheek. "I know. I love you too. You know that."

He nodded and pulled her in for another kiss before burying his face in her hair. They sat there for a while, content to just be in each other's arms. Together.

Three weeks later

They were in an old hotel, in some unnamed town, in the middle of freaking nowhere. So far Rachel had held to her word and stayed out of their business and Charlie had kept hers as well. She made a point to speak to her mother at least once a day. The conversations don't always end well, but she figures its probably better than not talking at all.

Her and Bass lay tangled and sweaty on the old mattress in their room. The only sound is their deep breathing. Charlie moved to lay her head on his chest, where she could hear his still rapidly beating heart. He kissed her temple and stroked her hair gently.

"Charlie?"

"Mmm-hmm?"

"Don't get mad at me."

That made her pop up to rest on her elbows, looking down at him suspiciously. "Why would I be mad?"

He gave her a quick glance and sighed before looking back up at the ceiling. "Beacuse I'm gonna ask you something that I swore never to ask a woman."

Brows furrowed, Charlie glared down at him. "What?"

"When was the last time you had your period?"

Charlie stared at him in complete shock, her brain went into overdrive trying to remember her last cycle, and got frustrated when she couldn't. Bass seemed to read her thoughts because he nodded his head solemnly.

"Yeah, that's what I thought. If my calculations are correct, which they usually are, you should have started six days ago. And your never late, at least not for as long as I've known you."

She blinked at him for a second and then punched him hard in the shoulder. "What do you mean 'calculations?' Do you keep track or something?"

He smiled softly up at her and ran his thumb over her cheek. "I told you, I like to know the women around me."

Charlie huffed a laugh, trying to let the information sink in. "I'm pregnant."

Now, Bass seemed nervous. "Yeah, you probably are. I'm so sorry-"

SMACK

"I know that you were not about to apologize."

He raised a hand to feel the warmth on his cheek, looking at her like she had gone completely insane.

"Is that what you plan on telling our child? 'I'm sorry you were born?' "

"What? No, of course not. I just thought that-"

Charlie's eyes flashed dangerously. "You thought what? That I don't want a baby?" Her eyes softened and she leaned over to touch the cheek she had just slapped. "Or were you worried that I wouldn't want your baby?"

The sad look in his eyes was the only conformation she needed to know that she was right. She held his face in her hands, forcing him to meet her eyes. "I love you Bass. You know that, and I will love our baby because it's a part of me and a part of you."

Bass couldn't hide the tears that had formed in his eyes, she wiped them away as they fell down his cheeks. He moved to lay a hand flat on her stomach and whispered, "our baby."

A/N Yay! I can't decide whether or not I want to do an epilogue, what do you guys think? And thank you so much for reading my story. When I posted this it was only supposed to be that first chapter, so I really appreciate those of you who showed so much interest and pushed for more. Thank you!