Chapter 2: Little Townhouse in Chicago

Summary: Bass Reads to Charlie; Miles Cooks (With almost disastrous results); and Charlotte the Dictator

Notes: Don't own anything but my thoughts :) The Bastian thing... It's my head canon that Miles calls Bass that when he wants to annoy him... or something like that. Kinda like how he called Ben Benjamin in the pilot...

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Bass and Miles were soon out of their time out corners, Charlie having made sure they kept their noses against the wall for a better part of their punishment. Bass was almost sure that the child had taken a bit too much enjoyment out of their situation. As soon as the timer rang, Charlie was dragging her captives back to the couch and they finished the movie; the ending was much better than Bass had anticipated. Honestly, a pirate beats a silly farm boy anyday of the week.

As the credits started to roll, Charlie jumped up and started to set her stuff animals and dolls in a circle. Bass watched her as she concentrated on getting a rather saggy bear to sit against the wall. "What are you doing Charlotte?" He asked, leaning forward a bit to grab the television remote. Miles left the room to see, how he put it, "If Ben was smart enough to get microwaveable food."

"I'm going to have a tea party," She replied, giving up on the bear and looking at Bass. "But no growed ups, Sebastian. "

Bass cracked a smile, "All right." The little girl was so ornery about calling him Sebastian anytime he called her Charlotte.

Charlie went back to her toys, getting a bunch of mix matched cups and setting them before the toys. Bass sat back into the couch, yawning slightly as sleep lost for the last few days crept up on him.

...WeepLittleLionMan...

Bass felt a tug on his arm, pulling him out of the cool darkness that was his rest. "Sebastian... Sebastian, reads me a book, pease?" A little voice said, tugging on his sleeve once again.

Bass opened his eyes, seeing Charlie looking at him holding a rather good sized book. "Sure. I guess... Where's Miles?" He asked, looking a around as he rubbed sleep from his eyes. Figures he'd be in the room with a kid.

"Uncles Miles said he was getting dinner ready." Charlie said, setting the book on Bass's lap and scooting close to him.

Bass looked behind the couch, and then shook his head. If it was inedible, he'd just get take out or something. Hopefully Ben left something for tonight. He looked back at Charlie and picked up the book. "Little House in the Big Woods, huh?"

Charlie nodded, trying to get Bass to open the book. "Gramma gave me it and mommy started reading before..." Charlie stumbled on what she was saying, " Before she had to get the baby. Daddy said that Uncles Miles would read to me, but he said to ask you."

Miles... Evil son of a bitch...Bass thought as he opened the book. "I'll read it to you." There was a book mark at the end of a chapter and Bass started to read, figuring he'd be able to read a few pages before Charlie got bored.

He was, surprisingly wrong. As he was able to read a whole chapter to her. She asked alot of questions, though. Like why they just didn't turn on a light or drive their car; somethings like time change, Bass figured, just don't translate well to a three year old. He closed the book after a chapter, surprised that Miles hadn't gotten them for dinner. "Charlotte, let's go wash your hands and then we can go see what Miles made for dinner."

Charlie nodded, jumping off the couch. She pulled Bass to the bathroom in the hallway. (Wonder if she drags eeryone around or just me). After making sure her hands were washed, they made their way to the kitchen, where Miles was clean up a mess of some kind of casserole from the counter. "Having a bit of trouble there Miles?" Bass asked, a slight chuckle in his voice.

Miles turned around, "Just fine, Bastian. Just needed to heat up the dish and were good."

"Uh Huh." Bass said, helping Charlie climb up into a seat. "What do they have to drink around here?"

"Milk, water, juice, and no beer." Miles replied, opening the stove and pulling out the dish. Bass was looking in the fridge when he heard Miles said loudly, "Gah... Stupid..." and the sound of the faucet turning on.

He turned to see Miles at the sink running his hand under the water. "You know there's oven mits so that doesn't happen." Bass deadpanned, going over to check out the damage.

The burn wasn't anything major, just a bit of inflamed skin that would blister and peel off in a few days. "No shit Sherlock. There was a hole in the mit. Why would anyone keep that thing around."

Bass shook his head but was cut off by Charlie saying, "Uncles Miles you said a bad word, you gotsta go to timeout after dinner if you want dessert."

"Charlie, I what I said was by accident." Miles said, turning off the water as he tried reasoning with the toddler. "How about we let this slide?"

"No, bad words means timeout. You gotsta sit in the timeout chair for 10 minutes." Charlie said, looking at Miles like he was a big dummy.

Bass chuckled, wondering why he was actaully in a good mood for the fierst time in a while. "Just go with the Miles. I'm sure Serg will love to have your mouth cleaned up a bit." He then started to look for plates to serve the food on.

Miles grabbed three cups, filling the first with milk for Charlie and water for himself; leaving the last for Bass when he was done making the plates.

Dinner was a quiet affair, Charlie was a good eater and ate just about everything but the carrots because 'orange things taste funny'. Bass was still tired, his nap being interrupted by Charlie and all; and Miles was still sore that was stuck in timeout for ten minutes. Apparently Rachel was using timeout to secretly teach Charlie multiplication.

When dinner was over, Bass cleared the table (knowing full well that Miles would purposely stall and inevitably break something). That left Charlie to order Miles to the Chair and start the timer. Bass quickly started the dishwasher and went to the living room where Charlie was looking at a group of DVDs.

"Sebastian, should we watch Mulan or Swan Princess?" Charlie asked him when she saw him sit on the couch.

Bass looked at the child, surprised at how quickly she seemed to assimilate Miles and himself into her world. Now if only they could get her to assimilate enough to watch something not about fairy tales. "How about Mulan?" He shrugged, the music was catchy and it was almost a war movie.

Charlie nodded, putting the DVD into the play. Children now a days with their technology. The timer went off when Charlie sat on the couch, so Miles was about to get up. The movie started with the three of them sitting together, Charlie between the two Marines. She was out before Mushu bit the guy's butt.

...YouAren'tAsBraveAsYouWereAtTheStart...

Ben came home later that night to see Charlie laying with her head on Bass's leg and one foot on Miles's knee. All three were out like a light until Ben moved Charlie and Miles steered awake. "I'm gonna put her in bed, there's a spare room by hers if you want it."

Miles nodded, "Sure." He stood up, "How's Rachel and the Baby?"

Ben's face was lined with more worry than earlier as he spoke, "Rachel's all right... But he isn't doing so well. Three months early with a problem like his..."

Miles patted Ben's shoulder, not sure what to say. He was about to head to the spare room when Ben said, "Thanks for coming, it helps alot."

Miles smiled, "You're welcome. Though you should probably thank Bass more. He spent more time with her. She seems to like him."

Ben nodded, "Well, hopefully it helps him." He laid Charlie down, Miles had forgone going straight to the room to talk to Ben. Ben came out a moment later and continued, "It might do him some good, being around Charlie."

Miles nodded, Ben seemed to be right about that.

Notes: I have a question , is it ever revealed who is older. Ben or Miles?