With the first trimester finally over, Charlie rejoices at the end of the morning sickness. She counts four days in a row where she doesn't wake up and have to shove her head in the toilet, and brags to anyone who will listen. Bass, ever the patient and loving husband, listens attentively to every word she has to say, though he's the only one that seems to be listening lately.

Danny and Jason are closer than ever, their exclusive little club impossible to penetrate. Miles and Nora are busy being a couple, a real one this time, on top being a General and a Vice President. Technically, Charlie is still the VP, but with Nora picking it up so quickly and Maggie wanting her to keep the stress to a minimum, Charlie's pretty much let Nora take the reigns. And with Tom and Jeremy down in Georgia trying to put a stop to the fighting, Charlie is left with no one but Julia and Maggie for company. As much as she loves them both, the two mother hens can be a bit of a downer, leaving Charlie lonely and desperate for some attention.

It pains her to admit that she's become so jealous of everyone else. Jason with his new best friend, Danny without need of an older sister, Miles and Nora content with just each other. The only thing keeping her sane is the knowledge that her baby needs her, even if no one else does.

She is deep in those depressing thoughts when Ben finds her in the library, attempting to distract herself with a book. "Hey sweetheart." He greets her with a broad smile that she tries to return, but doesn't succeed. "What's the matter?"

"It's nothing," Charlie lies. She's been hearing whispers all around the house about her over-dramatic tendencies and doesn't want to add more fuel to the fire. Ben looks her over with concerned eyes but decides not to comment on her obvious lie, instead inviting her to go out to lunch with him.

"Really?" The disbelief in her voice is unmistakable.

"Yeah. I want to have lunch with my daughter, is that so hard to believe?"

The two of them leave Independence Hall arm in arm, Charlie chattering away about her pregnancy nightmares while Ben listens intently, laughing and nodding in all the right places. It feels good to have someone's attention again, someone other than Bass, so after lunch they go for a walk in the park and lounge in the shade of an old oak tree. They're quiet for a little while, Charlie's mind wandering back to memories of an oak tree from years ago when Shelly had been her teacher.

"When I was a kid, Bass was married to a woman named Shelly. She was schoolteacher. Taught me how to read and write, do math, everything. She was kind and gentle. Always knew what to say to make someone feel better... I miss her." From the moment she'd realized she was pregnant, Shelly has been prominent in her mind. Every little thing seems to remind Charlie of her.

"What happened to her?" Ben asks gently, sensing the sensitive subject.

Charlie picks a few strands of grass and shreds them with her fingers, the vivid memory of finding Bass wandering around their camp in the middle of the night playing in her mind. "She died. They were going to have a baby, but neither of them made it through delivery."

"Bass lost a wife and a child?" He asks incredulously.

Charlie turns to look at him, her eyes sad. "And I lost a friend. We all did. Shelly was one of us. After she died, well, Bass has never really been the same."

"But you still love him," Ben says. It isn't a question, it's more like acceptance. "I still don't get it, but I can see now that you guys are happy."

Smiling, Charlie pats his arm. "You may not understand it, maybe you never will, but I'm glad you're willing to accept it."

Ben nods and takes her hand, giving it a little squeeze. "I just want what's best for you. That's all I've ever wanted." He chuckles and says, "although it wouldn't hurt if you at least tried to explain how you fell in love with a guy who is literally twice your age."

Charlie laughs, putting a hand over her belly to remind herself of the miracle that lays inside. The miracle that she and Bass created together. "I honestly wouldn't even know where to start. All my life the boys have played such a big part. Miles raised me as best as he could, always put me first in everything he did. And Bass... He was just there. A friend to talk to or a shoulder to cry on. Without him, I wouldn't know what to do with myself. He has both guided me and let me grow on my own. We've shaped each other into the best versions of ourselves, and isn't that what a relationship is supposed to be?"

Ben raises his eyebrows in surprise, his mouth dropping open in shock. "I... I guess." He chuckles, his lips quirking in a smile. "You are too wise to only be twenty-two."

"Yeah, well, I grew up with Miles, Bass, and Jeremy. Someone had to be the adult and I think we both know it wasn't any of them."

"No, I guess not." Ben gives her a sad look, his eyes full of guilt. "And I'm so sorry for that. You should never have been put in the position to have to make that choice."

"It's alright. If I hadn't been, I probably wouldn't be who I am today, and I kind of like Charlie Monroe."

Ben laughs, pulling her close and kissing her on the head. "I kind of like her too."

They sit in the park for a little while longer but eventually Ben decides that he needs to get home. "Your mother will worry if I don't get back soon."

Charlie nods in understanding. "You'll come by and see me again though, right?"

"Of course I will." With a kiss on the forehead, Ben leaves the park. Charlie relaxes for a few minutes longer before rising to her feet, realizing that her own spouse will start to worry if she doesn't return soon.

As she makes her way down the foot path, she spots someone in a militia uniform out of the corner of her eye. She turns to look, frowning when she sees Jason pressing some girl against a tree, her blonde hair visible just over his shoulder. Charlie rolls her eyes. She'd thought that Danny and Jason had mentioned doing something this afternoon, but apparently Jason blew him off to hang out with his new girlfriend. Charlie makes her way home with the thought that maybe she and Danny can spend some time together since Jason is busy, though her brother is no where to be found in the house. Shrugging it off, Charlie heads upstairs in search of her husband, the knowledge that he'll at leat be happy to see her bringing a smile to her lips.