A/N: Thanks for reviewing you guys. I appreciate it. No Duck Watch post for this chapter (she's taking the Holiday off). Keep reviewing though.

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Carlyle woke up and stretched, feeling comfortable in the large downy bed. She'd been assigned to sleeping what Dwayne's parents called "the old barn." When they updated the ranch they'd built a new barn and converted the old one into a guest house. The Robertsons had welcomed her with open arms. Her own parents had, as expected, been less than thrilled, although somewhat relieved that Charlie was out of the picture. She pulled a pair of jeans on and a tee shirt. She felt so relaxed here, she tossed a pair of flip flops on and walked outside and saw Dwayne pitching hay. It did feel a lot of the time like home, except that Dwayne and his brother Phil had to do chores. She and Jacob never had to do anything at home, except ride, and occasionally water, the horses. She bit her bottom lip, as he pulled his shirt off.

"Hey hottie," she walked over. He laughed.

"Hey sleepy head," he said and they kissed. "Merry Christmas." She smiled. "I'm glad you decided to stay."

"Mm, me too," she said. "Can I help?" He laughed.

"It's OK darling," he shook his head. "You're not the working type, I know it." She blushed, "you're the sleep until noon while everyone else is working type." She nodded. She supposed it was nice that Dwayne got her so much and it was definitely nice that he'd been such a gentleman. Except that after a year of Charlie's incessant hounding to get into her bed she sort of wondered why he hadn't been more insistent? She wanted to sleep with him. She was dying for it now, in the dry heat, his shirt off and him all sweaty from work. She'd even been leaving hints, but then she remembered that Dwayne was not the kind of guy who picked up on hints.

"Dwayne," she said as he went back to work and she propped herself up on the fence.

"Uh huh," he said.

"Why didn't you come to see me last night?" She asked. He looked at her.

"I saw you," he said putting the pitchfork down. She looked at him and then at the ground. "Oh you mean," she nodded. "Carlyle," he walked over. "I figured we'd just, I mean, I love you, you're amazing, but I don't want," she had a realization.

"Dwayne, it's really OK if you've never had sex before," she said, "we love each other and," he looked at her.

"Carlyle I'm not a virgin," he said. "I just don't want to rush into it with you."

"Oh," she said and he held her hands.

"Look, you're amazing, and I want you," he said, "but I want to things right, and you're a lady and you should be treated like one." She smiled. Is that what she'd been missing out on, not dating southern boys for all this time? "But don't you worry honey, when it is right, you're in for the ride of your life."

"I wouldn't expect less Cowboy," she whispered, "I've seen you ride." They kissed.

Tammy lay contently on her bed, her head resting on Charlie's bare chest. He was playing with her hair.

"It's Christmas Eve," she whispered.

"Yeah," he said. "So, you're going to talk to him soon right?"

"Charlie," she whispered and kissed him. When she kissed him he tended to forget that they were sneaking around behind Fulton's back. She knew it was wrong but they both gave her different things. Fulton was stability and the past and the future all at once. And Charlie was fun, carefree and loved her. He didn't expect anything beyond that, which was nice. He pushed her away gently.

"Tammy," he said. "When are you going to talk to Fulton?"

"I don't know," she sighed, "soon, after Christmas, or New Years, or never." He looked at her and stood up. "Charlie, don't go."

"Look," he said and pulled his shirt on, and then his pants. "Be straight with me, I was with you." She looked at him. "What is this for you? Because I love you, and I want to be with you, to whatever extent you want to be with me. If this is because you're feeling restless and need a vacation, I'm OK with that, I'll be that guy for you. I'll be whatever guy you want me to be." He kissed her. "But just tell me."

"I love you," she whispered. "So much, but I love him too, and I just need some time. Can you be the guy who gives me more time?" He nodded and kissed her.

"I can be that guy," he said, "but not forever. OK?"

"OK," she said. "Come back to bed." He laughed and lay down. She curled up into a ball and snuggled into the space between his arms and his legs. "I'm sorry."

"I know you are baby," he said. "I'm sorry too." She snuggled closer to him. He was sorry, sorry that he'd been too selfish to keep how he felt about her to himself. He was sorry for hurting his oldest friend every second that he spent with her, every time he touched her. He wondered, not for the first time, how long Carlyle knew, how long she held up her proud curly head and ignored it. Carlyle probably knew before he did, she was smart like that, noticed things that way.

"What are you thinking about?" Tammy asked and looked at him. He smiled softly at her.

"Carlyle," he said honestly. She looked at him and pulled back. "Tam, it's not like that."

"No, I mean," she whispered. "I guess, you should be thinking about her while you're in bed with me." He looked at her and kissed her softly.

"And Fulton never enters your mind when we're together," he teased. She frowned and crossed her arms retreating all the way to the other side of the bed. "Tammy, come one, I'm sorry. It wasn't, I mean, I wasn't thinking about her, I was just thinking," he shook his head. "I wonder how long she knew about, I mean," Tammy nodded.

"Oh," she said quietly. "Charlie, I'm sorry I'm not as brave as you." He cupped her face gently.

"I'm not that brave," he whispered. "Really, I'm a coward, if I'd been brave I would have told you after that night at the lacrosse party, I would have ended things with the Carlyle the minute after I kissed you again." She kissed him. "What are you thinking about?"

"I hate that Portman is dating Monique," she said. He looked at her. "I do, I hate it. Because I hate what an ass he is when he's with her, and I hate that she loves it, and I hate that Julie's such a wreck over it, and I," she choked on the words. "I can't tell Fulton any of this because he just gets all defensive because you know, Julie cheated on Portman, and that was really shitty, and forget that you know, I cheated on you with him, but," Charlie looked at her. "Sorry."

"Been holding that in for a while?" He teased. She nodded and kissed him. Then they heard the front door open. "Are your parents home?"

"No, they're not coming back til late," she said, "and Tommy's in Europe with some old friends." Charlie looked at her, "Charlie, only one other person has a key to the front door."

"Tammy?" Fulton's voice boomed, "You home?"

"Shit," Charlie mumbled. "Shit, shit shit."

"Go into the bathroom," Tammy said, "I'll convince him to take me out and then you can go home." He nodded and walked into the bathroom and closed the door. "Upstairs baby," she called. Fulton walked up. "I was just getting dressed. Want to go get some food?"

"Wow," Fulton said. "Please don't get dressed," she blushed, she couldn't help it. She knew she shouldn't, but the way Fulton was looking at her; it couldn't help but make her blush. It made sense because she was wearing a white wife beater and an old pair of boxers. It was definitely a Charlie sex outfit. Casual and easy, like him, but apparently Fulton liked it too. He put his arms around her waist. "You look amazing."

"Stop," she said, "I haven't showered or anything and I really want to get out of the house."

"Mm," he nodded, "shower sounds good, let's go for it." He started walking towards the door and Charlie winced, he knew what was coming.

"No!" Tammy squeaked, but it was too late Fulton had turned the door knob. Charlie was crouched on the toilet. Fulton stared at him and then at her. "Fult, please,"

"Don't say a word," he said softly. Charlie inhaled, "either of you!" He stormed out. Charlie got up and followed after him.

"Fulton!" He said. Fulton kept walking. "Come on, look at me!"

"You don't want me to do that," Fulton shook his head. Charlie grabbed him and they stopped. "Are you sleeping with her?"

"Fult, look," Charlie said. "It's not just,"

"Charlie, answer the question," Fulton said simply.

"Yes," Charlie said. "I'm sleeping with her." Fulton threw the first punch, then Charlie hit him back. By the time Tammy was outside, wrapped in a parka they were tumbling in the snow, punching and wrestling. She swallowed when she noticed the red on the snow.

"So, Adam," Claire Bryant looked at her daughter's boyfriend and placed her tea cup on it's saucer. Annie glanced at him and smiled sipping her own. "We're just so glad that Annie decided to bring you home this Christmas."

"Um, I'm excited to be here," he said, "Annie's always talking about how great Christmas in New York is."

"We're going to going skating in Central Park later," Annie said. Adam looked at her. "You'll like it."

"I'm sure I will," he said. "Mrs. Byant, I really am glad you invited me, but I'm really tired, I think I'll go take a nap." He stood up and walked into the guest room and exhaled. After a few minutes of lying on the bed Annie walked in and lay down with him. "We're going skating in Central Park?"

"Yes!" She nodded.

"Why?" He hugged her. "When we're so warm?" She closed her eyes and bit her bottom lip. She couldn't bring herself to explain why she wanted to take him there. She knew that Blair Waldorf would be skating with her father, the same as she was every Christmas Eve and she wanted to show Adam off. "Annie? You alive?"

"OK, I want to show you off to the snotty girls who used to torture me in middle school, OK?" She groaned, "it's totally pathetic, I know, but," he laughed and kissed her.

"OK," he stood up. "Just let me get my coat."

Keep reviewing! I appreciate it.