A/N: This is kind of based on last night's episode as it involves the awards dinner they all attended. It might help to have seen the episode prior to reading this as it contains SPOILERS. None of the characters are mine.

Diana was being honored at The Pubbies Awards dinner and she wanted everyone there, including Liza. Liza discussed it with Charles and they agreed to attend separately. Diana had planned on bringing Richard but they broke up just before she left for the dinner. At Diana's request, Liza arrived early.

"Diana, you look great."

"Thanks, Liza. I'm glad you came tonight. It really means a lot to me. Richard and I broke up. It turns out that he has been lying to me. At least you eventually told me your secret. I just wish you would reconsider and come back to Empirical."

"I can't. I miss everyone but this is really for the best."

"If you say so. Walk in with me."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Diana headed in and Liza followed. Diana grabbed Liza's hand as the photographers took pictures. They found their table and sat down. Kelsey had come in and found the table.

"Hey, Liza."

"Hey, girl. You look great."

"Thanks. So do you. You too, Diana."

"Thank you."

"Is Jay coming to this?"

"Yeah. Is it ok if he sits with us?"

"Of course."

Charles came in looking handsome as ever in his tux.

"Liza."

"Charles."

"How's your job with Jay?"

"It's going good."

"Great."

Charles sat down between Liza and Diana and then Jay came in. He headed over to their table.

"Hey there, Up Chuck."

"Jay."

"He's joining us if that's ok."

"Of course."

Jay sat down on the other side of Liza and then Kelsey saw Zane come in and head over to their table.

"What are you doing here, Zane?"

"I was invited."

"Why?"

"You'll see."

Zane sat down and then Charles stood up.

"Congratulations, Diana. We are all very proud of you?"

"Thank you."

"I have an announcement. Edward LL Moore is coming home to Empirical. Also I would like to introduce Empirical's new Executive Editor, Zane Anders."

"Wow, Zane, congratulations!"

"Thanks, Liza."

Zane sat down and Kelsey rolled her eyes. Everyone toasted Diana and Zane and then Charles moved his hand over to Liza's leg. She grabbed his hand and held it under the table. This was going to be so hard for her to pretend they weren't a couple but the only one at that table that knew about them was Kelsey. They got their food and then after dessert, they started handing out the awards. Charles had gotten a phone call, so he left the room to take it. Once he came back in and sat down, Liza could tell he was upset.

"You ok?"

"Not now."

"Ok."

Once Diana got her award, Charles excused himself and said he needed to call it a night. He left the room and then texted Liza to tell her to meet him at the car.

"Liza, would you like a ride home?"

"Thanks for the offer, Jay but I'm good. It's a nice night. I'll just take the subway."

"I can take you. Really, I don't mind."

"No, it's ok. I'm good. Really."

Liza got up and rushed out before Jay could catch up with her. She got out to Charles' car and got in. Then they left.

"Jay offered to take me home but I told him it was a nice night, so I'd take the subway home. You ok?"

"That call was from my lawyer. Pauline is being a real bitch. She said she wants joint custody of the girls. Them being gone summers I can deal with but they have always spent holidays with me ever since Pauline left."

"I am so sorry you have to go through this with her."

"I'm not surprised but I don't want to give up Christmas with them. I always take them ice skating at Rockefeller Center and on a carriage ride through Central Park on Christmas Day."

"You know, if you don't have them for Christmas, you can always do those things with me."

"You're so sweet."

Charles leaned over and kissed Liza. He then undid his tie and unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt.

"There were so many times tonight that I wanted to kiss you."

"Me too."

"Stay with me tonight?"

"Ok."

The car pulled up to Charles' townhouse. They got out and went inside. He paid the sitter and then they went up to check on the girls, who were watching a movie.

"I'm back."

"Hi Daddy. Hi Liza."

"Hey, you two."

"As soon as the movie is over, you need to go to sleep. Ok?"

"Ok. Liza, will you be here in the morning?"

"Yeah."

"Good. Daddy."

"What?"

"Are we going to have to go live with Mommy?"

"If I have anything to say about it, no. She wants joint custody of you two though. She wants you two stay with her during the summer and holidays."

"Not Christmas. We have our traditions."

"I know we do. We'll work it out. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Daddy. Goodnight, Liza."

"Goodnight."

Charles kissed the girls and then Liza did too. Charles shut the door and then he and Liza went to his bedroom.

"Do you think Pauline is having you followed?"

"I don't care what she does. If she finds out about us, I don't care."

"What if you lose them because of us?"

"She already walked out on them once. That's just her. She needed to find herself even though she technically left me for someone else. She got bored with that and decided she wanted to try to get me back. I can understand her doing what she did to me but what she did to the girls was unacceptable. She has every right to see them but I just cannot forgive her for everything she has put us through. I just want to get my divorced finalized and then I can concentrate on us and by us, I mean you, me and the 3 girls."

"Caitlin really liked you."

"I really liked her too. Let's not talk anymore."

"Ok."

They started kissing and then they undressed each other before they got on the bed. They made love more than once before falling asleep in each other's arms. The next morning, they got up to get showered and ready for work. Liza had clothes at Charles', so she could go straight to work whenever she'd spend the night with him. She'd stay with him on weekends more than anything but occasionally she would stay over during the week. The girls were up by the time Charles and Liza were ready to head down for breakfast.

"Good morning."

"Morning, Daddy. Morning, Liza."

"Liza, do you want me to have the car drop you off at work?"

"No. I can walk."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. Thanks for the offer though."

"Sure. Can you meet me for lunch?"

"That I can do. I need to go anyway because I'm meeting Kelsey for coffee."

"Please eat something first."

"Ok."

"Thank you."

Charles got Liza something for breakfast and then she finished getting ready to go.

"Have a good day, Liza."

"Thank you, you too."

"Will we see you later?"

"Probably."

"Good. Love you."

"I love you both too."

Liza hugged Bianca and Nicole and then she went to kiss Charles.

"I'll call you later to find out where you'd like to go and if you want me to pick you up."

"Ok. I'll be looking forward to that."

"Me too. I love you."

"I love you too."

Liza kissed Charles again and then left for the office. She checked her phone and Maggie had texted her wondering where she was. She called her back.

"Hey! Did you stay with Charles last night?"

"Of course I did."

"Good. Will you be home tonight?"

"Honestly, I don't know. I told the girls they would see me later. I love feeling like part of a family again."

"You seem very happy with Charles."

"I really am. I love Bianca and Nicole so much. Charles got a call from his lawyer last night and I guess Pauline wants joint custody. She wants them summers and holidays. Charles doesn't want to give up his Christmases with them, since their tradition is to go ice skating at Rockefeller Center and for a carriage ride around Central Park. I told him that if he doesn't have them to do that with, he can do that with me. He said he just wants to get his divorce finalized and concentrate on the 5 of us becoming a family."

"Speaking of divorces becoming final, is yours?"

"Oh, crap! Now I need to call my lawyer."

"Not necessarily. There was something from an Attorney's office dropped off for you after you left last night."

"Can you bring it to me?"

"Of course."

"Thanks."

"No problem."

"I see Kelsey, so I have to go."

"Ok. I'll see you later."

Liza hung up the phone and then she and Kelsey got their coffee and talked for a bit before they headed to their respective offices. Several hours later, Maggie brought Liza the envelope from the Attorney's office and it was her divorce papers that once again needed to be signed. She signed them and decided to drop them off with her Attorney before her lunch with Charles. When he called her, she told him she wanted him to pick her up and she had something she had to do first. She told him that her divorce wasn't quite official either and he was very understanding about it. They went to her Attorney's office first and then they went to lunch together. After lunch, he took her back to work, kissed her before she got out of the car and then he went back to work himself. Towards the end of the day, Charles got stuck in a meeting, so he texted Liza to tell her that he will have the car pick her up and take her to the townhouse. Liza told him it wasn't necessary but he insisted. Liza could really get used to having Charles spoil her the way he was.

Reviews are appreciated.