Dragon Man
Chapter 13 – No easy solution
Juliet sat looking out of the window in Charlie's room. She was unsure what to do; Molly had more or less given her and Charlie the thumbs up. She'd said that although she was opposed to the idea of them sharing such a personal space before marriage, she was convinced that they were committed to each other, and could live with it – for now. But that still left Juliet with the problem of what she should do next. Every instinct told her that she should go back to her job; it was after all the sensible thing to do. She wouldn't abandon Charlie but obviously they couldn't be a couple with such a distance between them. And that's where she got stuck; right there on the bit that meant they couldn't be together. She would be abandoning him wouldn't she? Right when he needed her the most. But then what if he didn't want her to stay? What if he didn't think that they had a future in terms of long commitment?
Her mind went around in circles, but she knew she wouldn't go, she didn't want to and if she had to give up her job, work in a shop, sweep the streets to stay near him then she would. The problem would be the long term, she would need to work, and she would need to live somewhere because she couldn't camp at his parents for ever. But then what about Charlie? How would he feel about her staying? So many questions and so few answers to hand.
"Hey" she hadn't heard the bedroom door open, and jumped when he spoke to her.
"Hi" she said, looking as he stood framed in the doorway, for the first time since she had met him he looked unsure of himself.
"I'm sorry, I was a pratt" he said.
"Yes, you were" she agreed "Getting to be a habit all this saying sorry between us isn't it?" she said, but with a smile.
He sat on the bed next to her, his hands clasped between his legs, looking at the floor "I need to know what your plans are" he said, more aggressively than he had intended.
"I don't know" she answered honestly "It depends on a lot of things, like what you are going to do and what you want out of us"
"I don't know what to do" he said, the tone of despair was clear "I don't think my magic is going to just re appear and I can't sit here for the rest of my life waiting. I think I'm going to try and find a job of some description and somewhere to live. Don't get me wrong, I love my parents and I love being here, but I moved out when I was seventeen and I'd been away at school for years before that. I can't live here, I'd drive my mum crackers and vice versa"
"I want to be here with you" she said simply.
"What about your job?" he asked "You are up for the matron's position aren't you? And you have worked really hard, your own hospital, it was what you wanted"
"But you won't be there" she said "It wouldn't be the same"
"If you stay, turn down that job it will be because of me" he sighed.
"Because of us" she corrected "Because I love you and want to be with you, support you and don't bite my head off here, but to help you too"
"But is it what you want deep down?" he asked.
"Yes, but only if that's what you want" she replied, effectively putting the ball in his court.
"We've only been together for a few months Juliet, it's a big commitment, and a big risk and the risk is all yours, not mine"
"It's a risk I'm willing to take, if you want to make the commitment to me" she said quietly.
"I already have, It'd kill me if you went" he let out a breath "I love you, I know it's probably way too soon to make these kinds of promises but I can't see that changing any time, ever"
"Then I stay" she said, placing her hand over his "I don't expect a marriage proposal or anything, but I think that we can make each other happy"
"You do make me happy" he smiled "You're probably right on the marriage proposal but seeing as I'm going to move anyway how about sharing a place, no pressure, separate rooms?"
"Separate rooms?" she snorted "Like that's gonna happen, but it makes a lot of sense. And we practically lived together in Romania anyway"
"It's all very sudden" he said.
"Yes, and if things hadn't turned the way they have we would have had longer to make these decisions, but as they stand I just know I don't want to go back without you, I don't want to be without you and if that means jumping in feet first then I think it's a risk worth taking, for me anyway" she spoke as he put an arm around her, hugging her close.
"Me too" he agreed "It's not going to be easy, and although I hate to admit it, I will need help, at first at least. But it's going to be worth it, being with you"
They sat huddled together for a long time, both thinking about the future. Juliet broke the silence eventually.
"We will get through this Charlie, together we will"
"I know" he sighed into her hair "Somehow"
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When Charlie and Juliet went downstairs it was with a purpose, and as a couple. They intended on telling the family their plans, Charlie had warned her to expect opposition from some of the family; they would be reluctant to let him out of their sight, him being without magic.
Molly had made a special effort, Charlie had asked that she get all the family together for dinner and she had really pushed the boat out. He had warned her not to get too excited, that there weren't wedding bells in the offing. But that he and Juliet wanted to talk to them about something important.
"That was wonderful mum" Bill said, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his stomach contentedly "I'm stuffed"
"Makes a change!" muttered Fleur under her breath, earning herself a dark look from Molly. Despite the fact that her children were very well fed by their others halves, she still liked them to come home for a 'proper meal' now and again, she was particularly worried about Bill, she was convinced Fleur fed him salad seven days a week, and her ironing left a lot to be desired too!
"So Charlie, come on spit it out" Ron began "I'm on nights and I want to hear the gossip before I go"
"Ron!" Hermione was outraged "Honestly you have absolutely no tact whatsoever!"
"What?!" Ron asked in all innocence.
"It's ok Hermione, he's always been as subtle as a giant" Charlie laughed "We wanted to tell you all of some decisions we have made, and ask for your help"
"Ask away" said Molly, she looked more relaxed than she felt.
"Well, Juliet and I, we have decided to er, give it a go so to speak" he began "Obviously I can't work with the dragons at the moment and I need to support myself, and to find a place to live"
"You have somewhere to live" Ron said "What's wrong with here?"
"Just because you had to be dragged from the larder kicking and screaming by Hermione doesn't mean that we all do" Bill said pointedly "Charlie wants his independence I expect"
"Yes, I do" Charlie agreed "We want our independence. Juliet has decided against the job in Romania, she is going to apply at St Mungo's, and we are going to look for somewhere to live, together"
"Why can't you live here?" Molly asked.
"Because we want to have our space" Charlie said, he was about to continue when Juliet cut him off with a look.
"Molly, we want to make our way in the world. We want to make it work and do it together, but we will need your help, a lot. If you will give it to us?"
"What do you want us to do?" Arthur asked carefully.
"Just support us, when things get tough" Charlie said "We know that this is a bit soon for us to be moving in together but if we want to be together it makes sense, I can't go back to Romania, not yet anyway. We will need support, I have to learn to do things myself, to not rely on everyone else and that means learning a whole new set of skills. It will be a lot on Juliet, and I know it's not going to be easy, we both do. But we feel like it will be worth it"
"So basically, you want us to help you move home and give you a bed for the night when you piss her off and she kicks you out?" Bill said.
"Put simply" Charlie laughed "Yeah"
The laughter eased the tension around the table, even Molly smiled despite the bad language, Charlie still looked at her though, out of everyone he needed her ok on this, he needed her to be happy for him.
"Mum?" he said, it wasn't a question, it was a plea.
"How will your parents feel about this?" she asked Juliet.
"As long as I'm ok, they're happy" she said "And as Charlie said it won't be easy, we know that but we are willing to work at it"
Molly didn't speak for a few moments, the tension started to creep back through the room, eventually she spoke.
"I will sort out some kitchen things for you, and some sheets, towels and things" she finally said.
"I can do the same" Fleur joined "And we have a sofa, Bill has been promising me a new one for ages now"
"I can try and get hold of some muggle things for you" Hermione followed on "from my parents, you will need things like a phone and a microwave and a cooker, non magical things for when Juliet isn't home"
The conversation continued but Charlie didn't hear half of what was said, he caught his mother's eye, smiling his thanks at her, she smiled back, mouthing 'I love you' at him, and he knew that she might not be overjoyed that he was moving out, to move in with his girlfriend, especially when he had no magic, but she would support him, because she was his mum.
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