A/N: I have no excuse. Except that I haven't had a computer. As a matter of fact, I am currently using my cell phone to write and update, which is why I'm not doing my usual thank you's and replies this chapter. (I hope I'm right in thinking that you'd prefer to wait for those until the next update, rather than waiting longer for this one.) Still, thank you so much to everyone who has read, followed, favorited, and reviewed. I appreciate you, and I hope you enjoy!

Chapter XVIII

It wasn't until that evening, when Charlie and Fia (who had been nearly inseparable since the confrontation at the North Pole) arrived at his apartment that Charlie broached the subject of Danielle.

"So," he said, smirking. "Someone was jealous today."

Her head jerked toward him, her eyes wide. "I was not! She was being rude."

"She was being rude. But you were so jealous."

Her cheeks turned a dark red, and she crossed her arms in indignation.

"I was not!" Charlie sent her a knowing look, and she glared back at him. "And so what if I was? I kind of like you, you know."

He moved in closer to her and put his hands on her waist.

"I liked it. I kind of like you, too, you know."

Her blush remained, though the reason for it had clearly changed. She averted her eyes, and snuggled her head into his chest.

"Sometimes I still can't believe it."

"Me too. I just wish I'd known you in school. We might have been married with kids by now."

She didn't say anything for a moment.

"You shouldn't say things like that, Charlie."

"Why not? Don't you want to get married someday? Have kids of our own?"

"Of course I do, but . . . Oh, good grief, can you imagine? An Unseelie Claus baby? As if we don't have enough trouble."

They laughed and then he pulled her closer.

"We don't have to decide anything right now, okay? Besides, you shouldn't make important decisions when you're starving."

She let out a snort that would have made her mother glare daggers at her, and reluctantly pulled away from his arms.

"I'll start the spaghetti if you'll pour the wine."

Charlie grinned at her. "Sounds good, Fi."

After they ate, they cuddled up on the sofa for some tv. It wasn't long, though, before Fia fell asleep. Charlie chuckled, having known what would happen, and changed the channel. She mumbled something, but then burrowed closer to him. He snickered.

Later, he took her to bed, and then went to the bathroom before lying down himself. When he looked into the mirror, his eyes widened. His skin was beginning to look like an elf's.

She woke up before Charlie did. She savored the first few minutes, smiling to herself. It was so lovely and... normal.

She was in the kitchen making breakfast when a visitor dropped in. So much for normal.

"Hi Puck," she said in a tired voice. "What's up?"

"Just checking in, Princess," he said, smirking and moving in close to her. He put his hands on her waist, ignoring her suspicious glare. "I wanted to make sure you're... satisfied."

"Get your hands off of her."

Puck turned, holding his hands up in front of him. "No harm, no foul kid. You haven't claimed her yet- people are starting to think you're not going to. People who would love to have her," he added, his eyes raking over her.

She frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. "Leave it, Puck. We're together. I don't want anyone else- including you. So get off his back."

The Fae shrugged. "Whatever. Call me if you change your mind. Humans," he said, shaking his head, and then disappeared.

"I'm sorry, Charlie," she said regretfully. "Fae are.. Well. Different. It shouldn't happen again."

"What did he mean, I haven't claimed you? I mean, we're..." He gestured between them, as if to say, we're an 'us' now.

"Fae do things differently, Charlie," she said with a sigh. "A lot of times they date a lot of different people at once, so dating doesn't mean much to them. Sex doesn't mean much to them. It's when you bind yourself to someone that it's the real deal, in their eyes."

"So when we get married, they'll leave you alone?"

When?

"Pretty much. But don't do it just because you're jealous. I'm the princess, remember? There not much they'll do beyond being really irritating."

He nodded, but his frown remained. So she kissed him, and got him thoroughly distracted. Twice.

"Yes?"

"We should talk," his wife said, in the tone of voice that made him shiver. It could be anything.

"All right," he said hesitantly, and they turned toward each other in the bed.

"You love me?"

"You know I do."

"I hope you will still love me now."

Oh, shit.