So here we are, the final chapter from this story, it concludes 'Going back'. But no worries, the story continues, with more Charloe ahead. I am just not ready to part with these two amazing characters and writing. The next story will continue where we leave things today. It's called 'Things change' and the first chapter is already there for you guys! It will be longer, following the second season and I will write about how everything is changing, again, for Charlie and Bass. But in the middle of these changes, they will find each other again and again.

As always, feel free to share your thoughts, ideas or even request for a one shot ( don't be shy, send me a private message if you like ). I am happy to write for you! I love to write about Charloe, but different ideas are welcome too!

Disclaimer: I do not own Revolution, just daydreaming of what could have happened there. ;-)

New Vegas, again

The last miles Charlie spent with Monroe on the road were silent ones. They hid the wagon and closed the remaining distance between them and Willoughby on foot. The needed to scout the area first and found a perfect location on a roof just near the town. A cold grip locked around Charlie's hart when they found out that the trouble Monroe talked about many weeks ago, already found Willoughby. Found her family.

An American flag, men in uniforms she had not seen before guarding the town walls. Weapons everywhere. All of this new to her but the threat coming from the situation made her want only one thing: find her family, as fast as she could.

When Monroe was still taking in every little detail of their surroundings, Charlie started to slowly back down from the roof. It took Monroe a second to register her move before he reached out to her, trying to stop her, his left hand firmly locked around her right.

'Hey, where are you going?' He asked sharply and Charlie could not decide if there was irritation or something else in his voice. Whatever it was, Monroe had obviously decided to go for a firm tone.

'I am going to find my mum, they might already have her' She tried to keep her voice down but an intense feeling of irritation washed over her. This was her family, she needed to find them. Why the hell did he think he got a say in this? She looked Monroe in the eyes, giving her line some extra weight.

She tried to pull back from his grip, but she noticed there was no complete dedication in it. A part of her already aware when uttering the words she just spoke to him that acting on that impulse alone, was not the way to go.

'Charlie,' Monroe looking back at her, his free hand pointing at the town walls, his tone deep, his hand pulling her back down the roof and next to his side. 'They already have the town. We have to be smart and scope it out first.' His hand still wrapped around her arm, wanting to stop her not only with his words.

Charlie, he had called her Charlie. He did not do that often and the sound of her name coming from him was familiar yet so new to her. There was an urgency in his voice and the way he choose his words, the way he was pulling her back to him. She realised he was doing his best to not be a son of a bitch and really needed her to understand.

And last, and this was the hardest part, after a couple of second she knew he was right. She knew they needed to do this first. The moment she came to this realisation, her arm must have relaxed just a little bit, because Monroe let go of her arm.

So they did scope out the town first, following the walls, counting the men, paying attention to the details. Charlie observed Monroe being focused, taking in his environment, his movements careful but so very certain.

They made sure they stayed out of sight. Charlie remembered a point north of the town where they could approach and hopefully she would be able to get in. She hoped that the one weak spot in the defence of the town wall was still there so she could slip in.

Luck was on their side because they were able to find the spot , giving her a chance to get to into the town. Charlie checked her weapons, felt the weight of her crossbow on her back. She knew she had to get to Miles first. And there it was again, her not being sure at all how Miles would react when he would understand who she brought back. She knew how explosive and unpredictable Monroe, she knew there was so much history between those men although she was far from understanding only a small part of it. She knew her uncle's strength, she knew how fast things could go to hell today. It gave her a punch in the stomach, a feeling she could not push away anymore.

They were still out hidden from sight, under a line of trees, not far from a high bridge. They had decided pretty fast that she would go first, try to find her family and take it from there. She noticed how Monroe shifted his weight from one boot to another, his eyes straight ahead, weapon loosely in his hands but the little gestures from his body told her he was tensed, unsettled. Charlie realised she was not alone in her feelings of dread and anticipation.

She was not sure anymore what she felt, so she kept telling herself to find Miles. Find Miles first and then take the next step. She was not sure anymore what to say to him, although she knew this was probably one of the last moments she spent time with Monroe alone. She still was not able to thank him. Thank him for the night he made sure those men in that bar did not take what was not theirs to take. Thank him for seeing another sunrise. But that did not mean she was not grateful. Because she was. Somewhere behind all the hurt, the things she lost, his actions, their history together, she wanted to say those words to him. Thank you.

She just did not know how to talk to him. So she kept her eyes on a point in the distance as well and started to walk in the direction of the town.

'Charlie,' His voice tense and slow. She turned around, saw him a couple of feet away, uphill. She felt he wanted to say more but he changed his mind. Instead he gave her a small nod. His eyes still tense but not unfriendly.

She kept the eye contact with him, deciding it was too hard to speak. She nodded back, and then had to break away from his eyes. Without looking back, but with the absolute certainty knowing Monroe's eyes were following her, she took the first step to Willoughby.

Present

Now Charlie followed another path, this time she was not walking to Willoughby but towards Duncan's camp. She could see the light from several fires in the darkness in the distance and hear men chatting, drinking.

She hated to be wrong. Being wrong was not one of her favourite things, she was a Matheson, that said it all. But she was wrong, wrong about him. Here in the cover of darkness of the night, alone, where it was just her and her thoughts, away from what everybody else around her wanted her to feel, she could finally admit it to herself.

That one line he said to her, in that empty swimming pool. She could hear him, picture him again against the wall and hear him say it again and again.

'You don't know me Charlotte.'

He was right. Something was released in her chest when she finally allowed herself to give in. He was right.

It had happened ever so slowly. But there was more of him to get to know. He became human. Things unfolded on the road back to Willoughby with all those little moments between them. She did everything she could to not let herself feel it. To keep him at a distance. He had to stay that one dimensional monster she created to deal with her pain. He had to stay Monroe. Not a person, but Monroe.

She did his best pushing all his buttons so he would hurt her, but he never did. He had to stay Monroe, not become a person. Not the person who saved her life after she did everything in her power to take his. He was not supposed to show up in her memories, he was not supposed to give her comfort, he was not supposed the be a man she ended up in fights with, only to discover they actually could work together.

But there was no going back now. There was no going back from this. Charlie always fought, and always would be fighting, for the values and people she cared about. She could have just walked away, from the cage, from Connor and Monroe, leave them there. Leave him there to die. Death by a stroke from his own son. Because there was no doubt in her mind that Monroe would do anything else.

She could have everything she did not get the first time she went to Vegas. But she could not leave him behind. She knew she probably was not going to walk away alive from not wanting to leave him behind. But leaving Bass behind, just was not an option anymore. Because she would never say it to his face for a very long time, but Monroe became Bass. Bass. After all, one time not so long ago Monroe came back for her. Now Charlie was going back for him.

The End ( for now)

So, here we are, at the end of this story. A story formed with Charlie's memories. But of course, we all know, this story is not over yet. There is more to tell! If you want to read more? Then you can start with 'Things change' I will pick the story up where we left Charlie and Monroe, just outside Willoughby. It will follow the second season, but them with more and new Charloe angles. If you have request, ideas or feedback? Feel free to share, I am always open to fresh ideas for this long and Charloe filled story. Thank you for reading, reviewing and sharing your thoughts. You guys are the best! For now, goodbye and hopefully I will meet you all in the next story!