They start packing up early the next day, leaving after lunch. Miles is fine by this point, and takes every opportunity to walk around after being confined for the past seven months. Charlie is better than fine, she's on cloud 9. Everything with Bass is out in the open and so far no one has given them any real grief over it. Charlie can't believe that they can touch and kiss without worrying someone might see them. In fact Charlie has been taking every opportunity to stay plastered to Bass, even when Miles or Aaron yell at them.
They plan on splitting from the Rangers once they start heading towards Austin. They are all anxious to get home but for now they're sticking together.
"Rider up ahead, coming in fast. Female, blonde, no visible weapons. Five minutes out." One of the scouts informs Blanchard. Before Frank can reply Charlie rips the binoculars out of his hands and looks for herself.
"Shit."
"Should we fire?" Frank asks, trusting Charlie's judgment.
"Probably but I don't think Miles would be too happy. Its my mother." Charlie looks around, spotting her Grandpa and Aaron a few wagons back but still not seeing Miles or Bass. Finally she sees them, lagging behind the line and passing a flask back and forth. Letting out an ear piercing whistle Charlie watches them both look up in alarm. Charlie signals them to meet her in the middle.
"Rachel is about two minutes out. Plan?" Charlie explains as soon as they are in talking distance.
"I'll meet her up front, you two stay in the back and out of sight." Miles hurries towards the front while Bass and Charlie take cover in one of the covered supply wagons. It isn't the most comfortable place to stay but they've had worse and they both promised Miles they would let him handle Rachel.
"WHERE ARE THEY?!" They both wince at shrill sound of Rachel's voice.
"Can you see anything?" Charlie asks, leaning towards Bass who's looking through a small gap between the roof and the wall of the wagon they're crammed into.
"No but I think its safe to say she knows." He scoots back to the little spot they cleared in middle of wagon, squeezing in next to Charlie.
"Should we go out there? Give Miles some back up."
"Not yet. He said he wanted to handle Rachel so let's give him some more time."
"I don't like just sitting here." Charlie huffs. Bass grins and pats his lap.
"You could sit here." He grin widens when Charlie rolls her eyes.
"My mother is out there, probably planning out how to murder you or me, or both of us and you want to have sex."
"I just wanted you to sit on my lap but its nice to know where your mind is at. Might be a little cramped but if you take off your pants, I'm sure we can make it work." Bass watches her, expecting another eye roll, a smirk and maybe even a little swat on his arm. Instead Charlie shrugs and her hands go to the snap on her jeans.
"Really?" Bass asks, even as he starts working on his own jeans and can feel his cock jump to attention.
"I happen to enjoy sex with you. Besides, what else are we going to do in here?" Charlie kicks off her boots.
"So its a boredom fuck?" He pulls his cock free.
"No. Its a 'we have time to kill' quickie." Charlie is just about to push her jeans down when the same ear splitting whistle that she used earlier is let loose. They look at each other in disappointment as Charlie fixes her jeans and starts putting her boots back on while Bass tucks himself back in.
They step out of the wagon cautiously. It takes them a minute to find Miles standing off to the side. They can see Gene and Aaron next to him but no Rachel. Charlie reaches over and grabs Bass' hand, both in display of their relationship and in a show of support. The second they clear the crowd they see Rachel on the ground, obviously unconscious.
"What happened?" Charlie asks, running over.
"I had to sedate her, she was getting hysterical." Gene explains, holding up an empty syringe. Charlie looks at Miles, noticing how pale he looks.
"Miles? What's wrong brother?" Bass voices Charlie's concern but Miles hasn't stop looking at Charlie.
"We need to talk. Alone." Miles puts a hand on Charlie's shoulder, guiding her deeper into trees on the side of the road but Charlie doesn't let go of Bass' hand.
"Bass?" She asks and Miles seems aware of someone other than Charlie for the first time. He blinks at him for moment before nodding.
"Yeah, you better come too." They move forward in silence until Miles feels like they're far enough away. He stops and turns, just staring at Charlie.
"Miles? You're kind of freaking me out here. What's going on?" Charlie asks, squeezing Bass' hand tighter.
"I tried talking to Rachel about you, about the way she treated you but she didn't think that there was anything wrong with it. She admitted that she said horrible things but seemed to think that because she was grieving that you had no right to be upset. It was like she couldn't comprehend that you were grieving too. It was unsettling."
"Miles-"
"There's more. She demanded to see you but I told her you were hunting with Bass. That's when she really lost it. I think maybe she had already known something about you two because she started talking about him taking advantage of you. I didn't try to deny you guys being together but I told her that you make each other happy but she wouldn't hear it. That's when things got ugly. She was yelling, asking me how I could let him anywhere near you." Miles looks away from them suddenly and takes a deep, shuddering breath.
"Rachel, she uh grabbed my shirt and... Jesus, she said that you're mine, my daughter. She kept asking how I could let Bass touch my daughter." Miles still won't look at her and Charlie feels like she might pass out. Suddenly Bass is there, gently guiding her to sit down. Charlie doesn't realize she's shaking until Bass covers her hands with his as he holds her against him.
"That's when Gene sedated her, and I had to see you. I had to tell you. Oh God Charlie, I'm sorry." Miles drops down in front of her, looking broken in a way neither Charlie or Bass had ever seen. At first Charlie doesn't respond, feeling like her world is being tipped on its head again but with Miles looking at her like she might rip his heart out Charlie can't just ignore him or his pain.
"Could it be true?" She asks, a tremble in her voice.
"Yes. When she was first pregnant with you, I asked her. Back then there was a test to find out a child's paternity. She said she ran two separate tests and that you were Ben's but obviously she was lying."
"Or she's lying now?" Miles and Charlie look at Bass. "Look, Rachel isn't okay, there's obviously something going wrong in her head. Its possible that she's lying now as opposed to the last 26 years."
"To what end?" Charlie asks, looking so completely confused.
"Probably hoping Miles will try to end our relationship if he thinks he's your dad. Or it could something else completely. As someone who's had a break down I can tell you, Rachel is not well."
"Gene said he's going to keep her out until the morning. I'll talk to her Charlie, I'll find out which is the lie." Charlie nods, leaning further into Bass.
"We should get back." Miles stands and holds out his hand for Charlie.
"I just need a minute. We'll catch up. Okay?" Miles watches the way Charlie seems to melt into Bass. He sees Bass offer him an apologetic look but he waves it off, he'd rather have someone taking care of Charlie since she's not letting him at the moment. Miles takes one more long look at his maybe daughter and starts walking back towards the road.
"I didn't realize it was so bad. I was so caught up in my own grief and you, that I didn't think about how bad she was getting."
"Hey no, don't do that. Rachel is sick Charlie, there is something wrong with her but its not your fault. Its your right to grieve when you lose someone you love." Charlie is quiet in his arms for a few beats before she literally jumps to her feet and starts pacing.
"Oh God Miles might be my father! What will that even mean? Does he expect me to call him dad if its true? I don't know if I can do that."
"Woah calm down Charlie. I don't think Miles expects anything from you either way. Ben is your dad, weather he's here or not. He raised you, loved you, and took care of you. Miles knows all that and he respects that, no matter if he's your biological father or not."
"Do you think he's my father? Honestly."
"I always wondered, just in the back of my mind but Rachel was very adamant that you were Ben's and Miles let it go, so I did too."
"That's not an answer."
"Charlie..." He trails off, looking decidedly uncomfortable.
"So that's a yes."
"You've got a lot of Miles in you. It could just be that he's your uncle and you've spent a lot of time with him in the last few years but I guess, yeah I could see him being your father."
"What about Danny?"
"Uh no, he's 100% Ben's. Miles wasn't anywhere near your mom at that time." Bass watches Charlie breathe out a sigh of relief, he approaches her slowly and pulls her back into his arms. Pressing a kiss into her hair he marvels at the simple fact that he's hers now, openly and without reservation.
"Ready to head back? I don't want Miles to worry anymore than he already is."
"Yeah let's go." They're half back to the road when Bass starts laughing.
"What could possibly so funny right now?"
"If Rachel isn't lying, I know you're not comfortable with calling Miles dad but when we get married, I plan to. At least once a day."
"Married?" Charlie looks startled, like the thought never even occurred to her. Bass feels a moment of panic. 'Too fast, too soon. She's gonna bolt.' He thinks, looking down at her as his mind races for a way to fix this.
"Not right away... or ever if you don't want to. I just meant... in the future if its something you want. Please don't run Charlie!" Bass feels like an idiot. He knew he was going to fuck this up. Charlie is just staring at him, and he can see her mind processing all this.
"You've thought about us getting married?" She finally speaks, her voice oddly insecure. Bass thinks about lying, making this about Miles throwing a tantrum but he swore to himself when he and Charlie got involved that he was going to be honest with her, even if its hard. Especially when its hard.
"Yeah, I've thought about it some. Its not like I planned the wedding or anything like that, just let the picture of us being married rattle in my head. Me being your husband, you being my wife, us building a life together." Something soft but important clouds her eyes as she looks up at him. She cups the side of his face, gently pulling him down into an achingly tender kiss.
"Its a very nice picture." Charlie whispers against his lips, pressing another kiss to the corner of his mouth before she reclaims his hand and they continue on their way. Bass wants to pull her to a stop again and talk about that but he doesn't. She didn't run or push him away, its progress and by God she likes the picture of them being married. He's not going to ruin it by pushing her, he's learned his lesson.
The sun is low by the time they catch up with the caravan, and the Rangers are setting up camp for the night. Miles looks anxious but wisely chooses to let Charlie come to him. Charlie doesn't bring up Rachel (who is resting in one of the wagons) and she definitely avoids talking about the dad issue but she does hug Miles. Once they've had dinner they decide to get some sleep. Its been a hell of a day and tomorrow probably isn't going to be any easier. Miles grumbles just a little when Bass and Charlie go into the same tent, but they both hear his warning about not wanting to hear anything. Not that Charlie is in any mood for sex, she just wants to sleep in Bass' arms. Its a fitful sleep, as her mind goes over everything that's happened in the last few days. Each time Charlie wakes up, Bass is there to comfort her.
"I feel like we're in a lopsided relationship here." Charlie says the next morning, curled up in his arms. Bass lifts his head and frowns at her.
"How so?"
"How many times now have you picked up the pieces of my meltdowns? Saved my life?"
"Do you love me?"
"Of course bu-"
"Then nothing else matters Charlie."
"But-"
"But I suppose if you need reassurance... you keep me sane Charlie. You bring me peace of mind. Nothing about us is lopsided. Anything I give you, you've given me more just by smiling at me, loving me. You are my home." Charlie feels the words down to her soul.
It scares her how easy it was to fall in love with Bass. It should've been harder, more fights and stony silences but it just happened. The more she thinks about it, the more she knows that's not entirely true. It was not easy in the beginning, before the Patriot War was in full swing, even during the war. They fought constantly, always butting heads but somewhere along the way the fighting turned to bickering. Hatred turned to grudging respect, respect led the way to trust. Trust came hand in hand with partnership. Partnership morphed into friendship, and finally melted into love.
"Come on, we need to get out there. Eat something. Talk to Miles."
"Why can't we just stay in bed all day?"
"Lets get home first, and then I promise I'll keep you in the bed for a week. You won't be able to sit properly for at least another week after I'm done."
"We'll see old man."
"Old man? Old man? I'll show you old, kid!" The sound of Charlie's shrieking laughter could be heard half way across the camp. She tore out of their tent, feet bare and in nothing but one of his button down shirts. Bass on her heels, in a hastily thrown on pair of jeans that weren't even fastened. Charlie dashed around making sure to keep the tent between them, her laughter echoing. The rest of the camp watched them openly, amused to see the two hard ass warriors they fought with in such a carefree state.
"For fuck's sake! Can't you two put some damn clothes on before you leave your love nest? Innocent eyes over here!" Miles yells, throwing a stick at Bass.
"You haven't been innocent since we were 14 jackass!" Bass shouts back.
"I'm innocent when its my niece asshole!" Charlie turns to look at Miles, probably to say something snarky and Bass takes advantage of Charlie's distraction to grab her from behind. He lifts her feet off the ground, making her laugh ring out again.
"Do you concede?" He asks, his fingers digging into her ribs. Charlie squirms in his arms but shakes her head, trying to stifle the giggles.
"Never!"
"Give him hell Matheson!" Its a Ranger, one of the guys that Blanchard cleared out of the war room back in Willoughby. Its at that moment that Charlie and Bass realize the whole camp is watching. They figured on Miles, Gene, and Aaron but the whole camp is riveted on them.
"Its like watching my stories again!" Someone shouts making everyone laugh.
"Way better than any soap!"
"And way more complicated!"
"I still ship it." That gets more laughter and a few cat calls. That seems to spur Bass into action. He sets Charlie back on her feet and they both go back into their tent. A few minutes later they come out fully dressed and maybe a little embarrassed that they let themselves be seen in such an openly relaxed manor.
"You two ran and hid like the whole camp hasn't known about you for weeks. According to Blanchard, there were honest to God wagers going on in Austin about when you would 'finally get on with it'. Guess I'm the only blind idiot in Texas for not seeing this coming." Miles is honestly enjoying their embarrassment. He's still adjusting to their relationship but its easier when he can give them a hard time.
"Aww Miles you aren't blind." Charlie says with a smile, making him frown at her.
"Did you just indirectly call me an idiot?"
"No, I just didn't disagree with your whole assessment." Bass is laughing quietly next to her.
"Laugh it up Bass."
"Oh I am brother." They eat breakfast through a chatter of bickering and insults before packing up to get moving again.
An hour in Gene pokes his head out of their wagon and nods to Miles. Rachel is awake. Charlie gives his arm a firm, supportive squeeze before he climbs into the wagon. Their voices rise at first, Rachel screaming about Bass but eventually Miles' voice cuts through, demanding the truth. A few minutes later Miles climbs out, one look at his face and Charlie knows. Rachel has been lying to everyone her whole life.
"She wants to see you, talk to you. What do you want?"
"I can't right now." Miles nods and takes a minute to form his thoughts.
"This doesn't change the past Charlie. Ben was your dad. He raised you and loved you, and nothing will ever change that." Charlie doesn't say anything just hugs him.
"Bass she said if Charlie refused to see her, she wanted to see you." Bass shrugs and goes towards the wagon.
"You don't have to." Charlie says, catching his hand.
"I'd rather just get this over with. She wants to scream at me and threaten me, let her. I'm not going anywhere Charlie." Bass lets go of her hand and climbs into the wagon.
Rachel is chained to one end of wagon, her eyes shooting up hopefully before narrowing in rage when she sees Bass coming in, and not Charlie. He sits across from her, wondering what she's going to say exactly.
"Where's my daughter?" Pure ice, that's what Rachel's voice sounded like to Bass.
"With her uncle. Oh no, that's right. You've been lying to her for her whole life, not just making shit up in the last twenty four hours. She's with her father."
"You need to stay away from her. She's too good for you." She hisses at him, pulling on her restraints. Bass scoffs.
"Of course she's too good for me but she wants me Rachel. She wants a life with me, and so long as she wants me I'm hers. Nothing you say or do is going to make me leave her."
"You bastard! You killed Ben and Danny! You may not have pulled the trigger but you still took them from me! And now you're taking Charlie but I won't let you. I'll kill you before I lose her to you!"
"Rachel no one is taking Charlie away from you. She wants you in her life but you have to stop hurting her. You have to stop trying to control her."
"She's my only child left, I would never hurt her! Its your fault! You turned her against me!" Bass sighs as she snarls in rage at him.
"I know this is going to sound ironic coming from me but you're not well Rachel. You're having some kind of mental breakdown. You need help and hopefully we can get you some. I don't know when or where or how but for Charlie and Miles I'm willing to try."
"Get out! I hate you! Do you hear me? I. Hate. You." As Bass climbs out of the wagon, the first thing he sees is Miles cradling Charlie against his chest protectively as she cries. He wants to pull her away from Miles and into his arms, not out of any sense of misplaced jealousy but instinct. Protecting Charlie, comforting her has become second nature to him but he knows in this moment Charlie and Miles need each other. So he gives them some space, choosing instead to walk along with Aaron and Gene. After a minute Gene starts speaking.
"I wanted to object to this, you and her when I first figured it out but she was in so much pain after Miles so I decided to leave it. I thought if you could get her through the loss who was I to disagree, and admittedly I was preoccupied with Rachel. So I waited, telling myself that once Charlie had grieved and was feeling stronger that I would make my opinion on the matter clear." Gene stops and shakes his head before continuing.
"I didn't count on watching you fall in love with my granddaughter, and I certainly didn't think she would ever love you back but it happened. I've watched this love between you two blossom, even as you tried to hide it. I know who are Sebastian and I know that you will cherish her, protect her, love her, and make her happy until the day you die. What more can I want for my only living grandchild?" Bass listens to Gene in dumbfounded silence. Grudging acceptance he expected but Gene Porter basically giving them his blessing wasn't something he ever thought was possible. He wants to say something in reply but words fail him. They don't however, fail Aaron.
"Ditto what he said, just make that little sister not granddaughter." Aaron says with a begrudging smile. Bass finds his own smile emerging and doesn't try to hide it.
"Look I know I'm not anyone's first choice for Charlie but she's it for me. I'll spend the rest of my life making sure that she's happy and safe. I love her more than anyone, even myself, thought possible and I'll keep loving her, always." Aaron and Gene nod, knowing there's nothing else to say.
"Are you guys gonna group hug now or something? Cause if so the kid and I will be up front with old Walnut." Miles breaks in, arm still wrapped around Charlie's shoulders. Charlie smiles, its watery but genuine.
"What if I want in on the group hug?" Charlie asks looking at the four people that mean the most to her. "And what if I want you in the group hug?" Miles rolls his eyes and sighs, looking exactly like an exasperated father.
"Do you?" He asks hesitantly. Charlie thinks about it for a moment before she smiles up at him.
"Not right now but good to know I can get you to do it."
"Charlie I don't think there's anything the four of us wouldn't do for you." Aaron points out.
"Hmm good point. I'll have to start making requests." Charlie ponders, tapping a finger against her chin in exaggeration.
"You want it Charlotte, its yours." Bass speaks up, eyes heavy on her.
"Come on Bass! How do you even manage to make her name sound dirty? You know what? Nevermind, I don't want to know." Miles says. Charlie smiles up at Bass, a light blush tinting her cheeks.
"Are you okay?" Bass asks, turning serious. Charlie takes a deep breath and steps away from Miles into Bass' arms. They melt into each other.
"I will be." She whispers against his chest as they hold each other. They rest of the day passes slowly and uneventfully.
When they make camp that night Miles goes to see Blanchard, letting him know that his group will be breaking off the next morning. Gene keeps Rachel heavily sedated at night and during the day she stays tied up in the wagon most of time. They let her out when Charlie and Bass go hunting in the mornings and evenings. Charlie still refuses to talk to her, not quite ready to listen to Rachel try to explain all the lies or rant about Bass. On their last night before they get home Charlie finally decides she's as ready as she'll ever be. She wants to put everything on the table and find a way to move past this before they get home. Charlie wants to build a life with Bass, she can't do that without getting closure and making some kind of peace with her mother.
"I'm here, if you need anything. We all are." Bass whispers just outside the wagon. Charlie nods and offers a strained smile before climbing into the wagon. Rachel doesn't respond at first, keeping her eyes downcast.
"Mom?" Rachel's head snaps up, eyes wide as she does a quick sweep of Charlie's form.
"Charlie... you look surprisingly well."
"Why wouldn't I look well?"
"Monroe. He's got you all tangled up and confused. He's using you."
"Bass isn't using me, and I'm not confused. We're together because we want to be, both of us."
"How can that be true? You hate him."
"Mom, I haven't hated him in a long while. Couple of years actually. He was my partner and friend before we were anything else. You know that."
"No Charlie, he's not your partner or your friend. He's the man that murdered your father and your brother."
"Danny choose to pick up a weapon and fight. He wasn't murdered, he was killed in action. And dad... dad was accident. Bass never wanted him killed. Was he directly responsible for the circumstances surrounding their deaths? Yes but then again, so are you and dad. None of this would have happened without the blackout and the Nano. You made the world that shaped General Monroe."
"So it's my fault that my husband and son are dead?"
"No mom but this rage and all the blame you lay at his feet, I need you try to get passed it. I'm not saying you have to forgive him but I want to be able to have you both in my life without making everyone miserable anytime you're in the same room."
"I can't do that Charlie. It's not just Ben and Danny, he held me prisoner."
"So did Miles. And you went willingly."
"I suffered at his orders."
"He was in the middle of a full on mental breakdown that was years in the making! Losing his family, then Shelley and the baby, and the nail in coffin that was his sanity, Miles' betrayal. I'm not saying that he still doesn't hold some responsibility but I'm also not saying that he's the big, bad monster that everyone makes him out to be." Charlie lets out a long breath and slumps back against the wagon before she continues on, her voice oddly quiet. "He's broken. Hell we all are but Bass and I, we've found that being broken together soothes some of the jagged pieces of our hearts. He makes me happy. I love him."
"Charlie you don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes I do. Mom, I love you but I'm not a child anymore. I know what I feel and what I want. It's Bass. I hope you can find a way to accept that eventually but honestly I didn't come in here to fight about him. I came to talk about Dad and Miles."
"Miles is your dad."
"No, Ben is my dad. Miles is my biological father and my Uncle, and while I love him he'll never take my dad's place."
"Charlie-"
"No! Don't do that, don't talk down to me. My dad is, was, and always will be Ben. He raised me and loved me and took care of me, even after you made a choice to leave us. Just because you've spent my whole life lying to me and everyone else, and now finally decided to tell the truth doesn't mean that it erases the years I had with dad." Charlie is crying by the time she finishes talking. She looks at her mother through her tears and see Rachel's stubborn determination, her need to be right. That's the moment Charlie gives up.
"I'm done. I know what you expect of me and I'm not willing to give up my happiness and future with Bass for you. You know what I want from you and you're not willing to compromise. There's nothing left to say. If you ever change your mind and want to be a part of my life, you know where to find me until then stay the hell away from me and Bass. Goodbye mom." Charlie leaves the wagon before Rachel can say anything else. She pulls Bass away from everyone else, walking away from their camp to a secluded spot on the side of the road. It's there that she breaks down in his arms, crying for the loss of her mother. Her mother who she never really had anyway. He lets her cry until she's out of tears, giving her the time she needs to pull herself together. He tells if she wants to talk about it he's here but he doesn't push her.
The next day they make it to back Willoughby. Miles goes with Gene to get Rachel settled while Aaron goes home to Priscilla. Charlie and Bass go straight to his place and fall into bed, all tangled limbs and soft, affectionate words. The make love for hours, without reservation. They love being so open with each other, not worrying that they are revealing too much to the other person.
"God I love you." He whispers against her skin, pressing hot open mouthed kisses down her spine.
"You're just saying that because we've only been home for a couple of hours and spent it all in bed." She teases, eyes closing in ecstasy as his hands stroke across her ass and hips.
"That definitely doesn't hurt but I just love you. All of you. Every single, stubborn, beautiful, strong inch of you, inside and out."
"I love you too."
"Move in with me?" Charlie cranes her head around to look up at him. Bass scoots back and turns her over so they are face to face. He should be panicking because they've just gone public with their relationship and he knows how hard it is for Charlie when things start moving too fast but he feels calm right now. He knows that even if she says that she's not ready, it won't be the end of their relationship.
"Really?"
"Yes. We spend every night together either here or at your place anyway. Why keep on pretending? I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life showing you how much. So move in with me, or I'll move in with you, or we can get a whole new place if you want." Charlie thinks about it for a minute before leaning up to kiss him.
"You're right. Okay, let's do it. I'll move in with you."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"My place, your place, a new place?"
"Your place. It's bigger and has that walled in backyard that I've become very, very fond of." Bass grins in memory of the times they've used to privacy of his backyard to its full extent. He leans down and kisses her again.
"Next week. We'll go to your place and bring over whatever you want and need."
"Next week? Why not tomorrow?"
"Because I plan on keeping you in our bed for a week, or don't you remember my promise?" Charlie feels giddiness spread through her when he says 'our bed' and a pulse of excitement jump in her veins at the reminder of a week in bed and not being able to sit properly for a week after that. Charlie rolls them over and straddles him, feeling his erection press up against her wet folds.
"Well then, let's get started." She whispers against his lips as she rolls her hips.
He keeps his promise.
AN: Just the tiny epilogue left, I'll post it soon(ish).