A/N: okay wanted to sneak in a bit of Astrid/Charlie friendship/romance.

Bath Time

They hadn't told anyone about their union, but no surprise came when Charlie was the first to figure it out. The man seemed to know everything when it came to those two. Like he had some sort of psychic ability. Charlie told Astrid next. John discovered it on his own, followed by Walter, who subsequently shouted it to the rest of the lab.

Things between them only got better. Every look, gaze, stare, looked like they were having eye-sex across the lab. They always looked like they were ready to jump each other, always lingering around the other, simple touches, seemed to mean more to the duo. Something the others in the lab didn't really understand. It was like they could read each other's minds. One quick glance across the room and the two would disappear for hours at a time, returning with disheveled clothes, glazed over eyes and sated looks.

It was Peter who noticed the subtle, but (once noticed) completely obvious connection between Charlie and Astrid over the last few weeks. He was always around her, helping her with Walter and occasionally Ashley. He would bring her food if she was too busy to get it herself, and he would always be asking how she was.

Every time Peter saw them together he could see Charlie slowly, albeit extremely slowly, healing. Moving on. Sonia was gone. When he had no one, when he fell to the ground, Astrid was there to help him back up again.

Peter felt glad that they had found each other. They each needed someone to help keep them on their feet. Broyles was a private man; he didn't talk about his family. Like John, he kept himself occupied by patrolling the grounds, cleaning the weapons, doing what he could security wise.

Katie and Ella had each other. And Walter, well Walter was hardly lucid enough to care.

Everyone was quiet today, with the occasional 'uh oh' from Walter or snore from Broyles. It was a relatively cold day outside, a sudden draft and occasional shower occurring. It wasn't that surprising since the weather had become adverse and fickle since the end of the world. The population in the air form cars, factories, all the technology just suddenly stopping, and god-knows what the sudden change could do.

Everyone had done the 'Sunday-rainy-day' tradition. Rugged-up and asleep somewhere. They had no TV to watch old films on, so sleep was the next best option. Well, only after Walter told stories to Ella and Katie, much to Ella's dismay. Katie hadn't experienced one of Walter's stories yet. But her eagerness would wear off soon.

It was well into the afternoon when Charlie was approached by one of the 10 year olds. Charlie turned to find Ella rubbing her eyes sleepily.

"Ash is crying." She yawned as she spoke, the words barely coherent.

"Oh." Charlie did a quick scan of the lab, "Astrid?" he whispered across the lab, just loud enough for the young agent to hear.

"What's wrong?"

"Ashley's awake and crying. I don't know what to do. I don't want to wake them," Charlie pointed to the furthest corner from the office. Peter was lying on the tattered mattress; Olivia curled up in his side. Their legs were tangled together. They both looked so peaceful in their sleeping state.

"They haven't had a decent sleep in awhile."

"Oh come on. It's not that hard." Astrid dragged Charlie by the hand to the office.

Checking Ashley once over Astrid found the problem.

"She needs a bath."

They'd been lucky enough to find a ton of nappies in a still-standing store. No one wanted nappies after the world ended. That alone raised several questions. How many mothers had died protecting their babies? How many fathers had died protecting their wife and child? Worst yet, how many parents had abandoned their child to protect themselves?

Their luck continued when Astrid had found two of those cloth nappies. The reusable ones. Wash them in water and bam! clean and able to be worn again. It was a god send.

"I'll bathe her if you wash the nappy and get a fresh one."

"Deal." Charlie didn't want a repeat. Ashley just seemed to really dislike him. Astrid was growing on her. She let her hold her and wash her, but Charlie, she'd kick and cry.

They took the crying child to the bathroom. All baths, showers, anything water related were cold. Occasionally Olivia would offer to heat the water, but usually only to Ella, Katie and Astrid, since she and Peter usually showered together. Peter drew the line at her being anywhere near John while he was naked.

"Olivia usually heats up the water, you know, now she's all pyro-women and all."

"What do we do then?"

"Go back to the lab, see if you can carry one of the barrels out, we can light a fire and sick it under the basin, see if that works."

It did. Slowly, but eventually the water was humid enough that Ashley stopped crying. Instead she moved on to fussing about, splashing water everywhere. Clearly enjoying the mess she was causing. Astrid was drenched by the time she had finished bathing her. Charlie had washing her nappy and had hung it to dry near the fire lit barrel.

"Charlie?"

"Hmm?"

"Can you hold her; make sure she doesn't go under the water while I grab a cloth from somewhere." And with that Astrid disappeared from the bathroom, leaving Charlie alone with the goofy-grinning baby. Her big round eyes gazed up at him.

Charlie took the step forward so he was within reaching distance of Ashley. She reached out to him, her arms grabbing at the air in front of him. Instinctually, Charlie gave her his finger which she grabbed instantly.

She played with it, pulling on it, waving it around in her tightly clenched fist. Charlie noted how small her fingers were, they looked so frail. Charlie soon realised that Ashley wasn't crying or kicking him. She was actually letting him near her.

When Astrid returned she was delighted to see that her little plan had worked. Forcing Charlie to care for Ash in the hopes that Charlie would get over his baby-fear.

"See, it's not so bad once she gets use to you." She stood in the bathroom doorway holding several cloths.

"You set this up?"

Astrid nodded. "Guilty. But see, she's not kicking you or throwing up on you."

"Yet." Charlie smiled down at the baby as she wriggled around, sloshing the water in the basin.

Astrid dried her and dressed her before taking her back to the lab. Placing her back in her makeshift cot. Ella and Katie were back asleep, Walter having zoned out, staring into space at one of the desks.

Once she was down and asleep, Astrid silently left the office. She sat next to Charlie, both leaning against one of the walls.

"Thanks, Astrid."

"What are friends for?"