A/N- Hey guys, this chapter is a transitional one, it's basically about getting them to a place where they're more likely to stick together under the shitstorm that will be Rachel's plan to keep them apart and get Miles back on her side. I also wanted Charlie to have more of an understanding of why Bass became the way he did and where it stems from. I honestly don't understand how Rachel is a victim or a hero in that show at all, I mean if you had watched your partner die screaming in agony along with your child, because somebody had deprived you of even basic medical care, and the person responsible for that sat in your home with a smug smile on their face and refused to even explain to you how or why the whole thing happened wouldn't you feel totally justified in breaking their face open? I would.
Thanks everyone for the reviews, I'm off to reply now. And for the prayers, my aunt is breathing on her own and able to communicate with the family, thank you so much for thinking of her, fingers crossed her recovery is quick.
Ps, you can thank (or blame) perfectmanhattan for any smutty things in this chapter, who put ideas in my head that wouldn't go away :) I'm nervous about next chap for Absence of Light, that's what I haven't posted yet, sorry guys.
Bass lay awake long after Charlie had fallen asleep despite how tired he was. His mind was reeling from the events of the past few days. That hateful, hypocritical bitch Rachel had finally gone too far. He could just about stomach her whiny, self-important voice droning on and on about what a good man Miles was and how downright irredeemably evil he was - but her treatment of Charlie had flipped him over the edge. As long as he lived he would never be able to forget the fear that had taken hold of him when he saw her lying motionless on the ground. It was still there somewhere, deep inside him, crushing terror. His mind had started slipping away from him again, only this time he had been fully aware of it happening. All he had been able to focus on was Charlotte. Desperately willing her to wake up had been the only thing to keep him from losing it totally and slaughtering someone. Namely, her mother. Miles too if he tried to stop him.
But even in the darkest depths of his own brand of crazy, he knew that Charlie would never forgive him if he did. So he had fought every instinct in his body by closing down completely. Shutting everything out, he eventually had felt nothing at all. He let nothing in except his determination that she was going to wake up, he was going to will her to open her eyes until she did. Nothing else mattered. All of the people who had died because of him meant nothing next to her, he'd kill them all again twice if it brought her back. General Monroe had returned in force.
Yet the second she had opened her eyes his carefully constructed walls had crumbled. The relief of seeing her awake had washed over him making it seem, just for a second, like everything had been wiped clean. She had a habit of doing that to him, making him feel brand new. Charlie hadn't even noticed anyone else in the room, she had looked far enough to find him and didn't bother to search any further once she had. That had to mean something. He wasn't an idiot, he understood that the word 'love' had been used to describe Rachel's feelings for Miles - not Charlie's for him but still... the comparison had been made by her. She had been the one to say it, accident or not. If it wasn't true now, he at least had some hope that maybe someday there was a chance she could let herself use that word in relation to him.
Although he didn't have a clue how to describe his own feelings for the infuriating and amazing young woman in his arms. She knocked him off balance, made him unsure of himself. There had never been a woman before her to make him feel the furious clash of emotions she always brought out in him - sometimes without even trying. Anger, lust, pain, guilt, fear, hunger, need... But there was also the tenderness, the rush of contentment he felt every time he caught her eye and saw that she was safe after a fight. The amusement that sometimes had him literally biting his tongue to avoid laughing when she was giving him attitude, totally without fear or contempt, just literally enjoying trying to get a rise out of a man who could kill her with one hand and had proven he was capable of it. She was dangerous and annoying and kind and smart and sexy as hell. And every time she looked at him he wanted to pull her into his arms and bury himself as deeply inside of her as he could get.
Bass had been in love before, but it had always been much simpler than this. Even when it was complicated. Miles had always been his best friend, the person he stuck to like glue, the one who kept him sane. They were partners in crime and always had each others backs, even though they could bicker for hours at a time and sometimes disagreed with each other just to piss the other one off. Lately though, it had been Charlie who filled that role for him. But despite her frequent jokes alluding to it and the rumors that others had started in the past, Bass had never felt any urge to put his dick anywhere near his best friend. His best friend's niece however... well he had spent hours of his life fantasizing about where he wanted to put it in her. So wanting her for his new best friend wasn't what he was after. At least it wasn't all he was after.
Either way, he needed her in his life. Rachel could go fuck herself if she thought she could keep him away from her daughter now. And Miles, he hadn't put a bullet in him when he saw them kiss so maybe his brother understood. After all, it had been him who convinced Bass that Charlie gave a crap about him in the first place... if he hadn't realized that sex was involved in the whole thing, well that was his problem. Technically the whole situation was his fault anyway. Bass wondered if he would actually get away with that line of defense when Miles eventually got him alone away from Charlie. You never knew with Miles.
The other issue that bothered him was his son. Connor cared about Charlie, by now he would have realized that Charlie did not feel the same way about him. Guilt ate at him, thinking of the way he had ignored his child for the past two days. Nobody had existed to him outside of his girl. Would Connor hate him for stealing her? Bass didn't know. And the part that really killed him was that he knew who he would choose if he had to. If the offer of the Republic was taken off the table, he wouldn't see his son for dust, it hurt to realize. Yeah the kid cared about Charlie, but Bass got the feeling that she was the only thing around here he had any actual emotional connection to. Maybe he should have stayed the hell out of it and let the two of them keep whatever thing they had going together.
But Bass was the first to admit that over the years he had become a selfish man, if Charlie wanted him over his son then she would have him and screw the consequences. He was already in too deep. He wasn't going to be the one to walk away from this. If she decided to, well, he hoped that he could let her go without falling into the same dark pit that had consumed him ever since the day Miles had walked out on him. As he finally drifted off to sleep, holding Charlie against him, he prayed that when she woke up and faced her mother and uncle, she would still want him.
When Charlie woke up she had her face buried in Monroe's neck. Somehow she had managed to end up half on top of him, with his hand gripping hers just above his heart, her leg draped across him as if to hold him in place. It was the most comfortable she had been in a long time. Even her head hurt a lot less. Usually, anybody being inside her personal space made her feel distinctly uncomfortable. Even her lovers. As soon as she found her release she generally felt the need to get them away from her right away.
But Monroe had been different. In the arms of others she felt trapped, like a caged animal wanting to flee - in his, she felt secure, completely at ease, like she belonged there.
Which was just downright weird.
But there was no denying it. Nor was there any denying the fact that no matter how violent, unbalanced or dangerous he could be - he had always looked out for her, taken care of her. It made her smile, albeit reluctantly, to think that she was the one he chose to reveal his gentler, protective side to. He cared about her, that much was obvious. But in what way? Just because he clearly enjoyed having sex with her didn't necessarily mean he wanted to be with her. It was a question that needed an answer sooner rather than later because the second they left this room her family would be waiting to confront the issue.
Did she even know if she wanted to be with him? A tiny part of her brain said she was crazy for even contemplating that - but the rest was pretty certain that she'd be happy to wake up with him like this every day.
What had happened to her a couple of days ago had only proven that her words to Connor in New Vegas, and his dad here, had been accurate. Sooner or later, and her money was on sooner, she would be dead and gone. So though it would probably be easier to stay the hell away from Monroe, there wasn't a good enough reason not to. Danny and her dad had loved her more than anyone else, besides Miles, ever had. Charlie had to believe that they would understand, that they would want her to hold on to any happiness that she could. Miles was the only one alive whose feelings about her and Monroe really mattered. But no matter what those feelings were, they wouldn't stop her.
Monroe stirred against her and she waited a few minutes while he woke up properly.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, gently touching her head.
"Better," she closed her eyes, unconsciously biting her lip, "look, we should talk." When she screwed up the courage to look up at him his face was guarded. 'Wonderful. Great start Charlie.'
"It's alright Charlotte, I get it. This couldn't ever work, I don't deserve it. You don't ever have to explain." His voice was a low monotone, like he had rehearsed what he was saying and was just repeating it one more time.
"You're an idiot." She told him after a few seconds silence. Monroe just sighed, refusing to look at her. "Yeah I know."
"No." Charlie felt like punching him. And then kissing it better. God, when had she turned into such a girl? "No," she repeated, "you really don't know." She pulled away from him, gingerly touching her head as she sat up. "I." This was awkward, she didn't know what to say, how to tell him what she wanted - and ask what he wanted from her. Last night it had been easier, the relief of being back with him and knowing they were both safe had made it that way. Now it was literally the cold light of day and insecurities had set in. He wasn't helping much, lying on his back, just looking at her, his face unreadable. 'Asshole.'
She decided to try again one more time and if she screwed this go up she would just give up and stab him so she didn't ever have to look at him again. "That's not what I was going to say. But, I mean... If you want to just forget all this then we can. I just thought..." She shrugged at him. 'Forget it my ass, if you dump me now Monroe you're a dead man.' This was even more humiliating than she'd feared it would be. But just when she wanted to die, Monroe sat up. There was a sparkle in his eyes, like he had just read her thoughts and was trying not to laugh.
"Charlotte..." he whispered, reaching over to kiss her. He was gentle, coaxing her lips to part for his tongue. Just when she thought she was going to melt he moved his mouth to her neck, kissing a trail up to her ear. She loved when he did that, all the while she had her hands loosely fisted in his shirt, now they gripped it tightly as she moaned. His hands were everywhere, running down her arms then sliding up her back and into her hair. Every part of her body felt warm, humming with need.
Their lips met again as she slowly undid the buttons of his shirt, making sure to run her fingers across his muscled stomach and hard chest before pushing it off his shoulders. Tongues danced with each other, their hands moving everywhere, exploring in a way they hadn't had the chance to do last time. When he finally removed her top she was convinced it would only be a matter of seconds before she exploded. But there wasn't time to because his mouth had suddenly left hers bereft and found its way to her breasts. As his lips and tongue attacked one nipple, his hand had come up to tease the other one. Her eyes rolled back in her head as he bit down and sucked hard.
"Sebastian..." She groaned softly, feeling him bite even harder in response. He was killing her, the bastard, in the sweetest, most torturous way. There was no way she was going to survive this without com-busting. She jerked in his arms as his fingers slid across her belly and headed south. Charlie grabbed his hair and yanked him up to her as he made fast work of her buttons. Their mouths fought a swift and short-lived battle for dominance as his fingers slid inside her underwear. The second he slipped into her wet heat she was gone, he could do whatever he liked with her as long as he never stopped making her feel like this.
"You're so wet for me." He growled against her lips, dipping two fingers inside her as she bucked against his hand, then dragging them out and up to rub her clitoris lightly.
Charlie didn't trust herself to speak, she was on the cusp of an orgasm and he was showing no mercy. He just rubbed faster, sucking hard on her tongue and swallowing her moans as he drew it out of her. Before she could come down though, he thrust his fingers back inside her and pumped hard. She was weightless, clinging desperately to him as he brought her to an even deeper release, never once removing his mouth from hers.
When she came down, clenched around his fingers like she could hold them there forever, he slowly slid them out of her again. He pulled back a little, bringing them up to his mouth and sucking them clean. "You taste like heaven." He told her, the corniness of the line almost making her laugh until she saw the hunger in his gaze. He was being infinitely gentle with her, but in his eyes was a wild animal that had finally caught its prey. She almost came again just looking at him. Giving over complete control of herself to a man had never been on her to-do-list, but somehow he rendered all her thoughts about that useless. Her jeans had somehow disappeared and she couldn't figure out when he had taken them off. But he had begun kissing his way down her body and the need to think disappeared once more.
"There are easier ways to kill me." She half-groaned at him, fighting a smile at the wide grin on his face.
"I'm not going to kill you, Charlie, I'm going to ruin you for all other men and then I'm going to keep you chained to my bed so I can do this whenever I want."
As he began stroking her lightly, soaking her even more than he already had, she managed to mumble, "Technically this is my bed." But then his tongue replaced his fingers and she had to smother her moans behind her hand.
Bass wasn't lying, she did taste like heaven. Her arousal from just his touch had drove him crazy, his dick was straining to get out of his pants and inside of her, but first he was going to make her forget everything, he wanted her begging for him. As he sucked on her clit, he slid two fingers back inside of her and set a punishing pace. He was rewarded with a sharp tug of his hair as she gripped onto him tightly. As she groaned his name he almost lost control completely. She had no idea what she was doing to him.
Her walls tightened around him as she came again, this time unable to quiet the loud moan escaping her. He hoped that nobody heard and came bursting in because right now he would happily continue this in front of all of them. As she recovered, breathing heavily, her hair scattered around her like a halo on the pillow, he quickly removed his pants, finally letting his cock spring free.
In seconds, he was on her again. Careful to keep his weight off of her, he lay on top of her quivering body and kissed her softly. He fought a smile as she gripped his face possessively, holding him to her. She forced her tongue into his mouth, writhing beneath him. He lined his body with hers, sliding his dick against her, feeling it covered in her juices. Charlie bucked her hips, trying to impale herself on him and it took every ounce of self control he had not to give in to her. He tore his mouth from hers, thrusting his hips and watching as her head fell back at the friction.
"Tell me what you want, Charlotte."
She was breathing hard under him, fighting just to focus on what he was saying. "I-"
He bucked his hips again, harder this time and she bit her lip hard.
"You." She told him, her face suddenly open and vulnerable, almost scared. "I want you." She whispered.
His heart fluttered. Bass reached down between them and lined himself with her entrance, then slid inside her in one long thrust. Buried to the hilt, he groaned, his eyes on her face. Her eyes had closed, her mouth slightly open as pleasure spread across her face. He almost came straight away. He leaned down to kiss her, "I'm here," he whispered against her lips, "I've got you." She kissed him deeply in response and he started moving. He pulled almost all the way out before sinking back in again, the feeling indescribable.
Her legs had come up around him, nails digging into his back. She was so wet he could hear himself slid in and out of her, and her tightness was driving him wild. Even at his slow pace he knew he wasn't going to last for very long.
She was getting close, he could feel her walls tensing around him, he picked up the pace, thrusting deeper and harder each time. Burying his face in her neck, he held her close. As they both approached orgasm he felt her wrap her hands into his hair, felt her lips brush his ear as she whispered, "I've got you, too." And he lost it, he slammed into her one last time and spurted inside her, which seemed to send her over the edge as her trembling walls milked every last drop from him.
He stayed inside her as they came down. Their bodies both slick with sweat. She was still holding him to her, clinging to his body as if he might drift away when she let go. But he knew better than to comment on it, not unless he wanted to say a swift goodbye to his balls. Charlie would see it as being weak, and even worse, him seeing her as weak. It didn't matter, she could cling to him every day for the rest of his life and he could never see her as weak. She was perfect. His arms were beginning to ache though, so he gently, (and regretfully), slid out of her and rolled onto his back, pulling her with him and tucking her head under his chin. For a long while they didn't say anything, just lay together, his arm stroking her back soothingly.
"So," she said finally, "Does this mean I get to call you my girlfriend?"
It took him a full 3 seconds to realize she was kidding. He chuckled, knowing the little witch had an evil grin on her face and replied easily, "If it means I get to call you my girlfriend you can call me Bozo the clown for all I care."
Silence reigned as she took in what he said.
''Ha,' his grin was becoming more smug by the second, 'knew that would shut her up. Paybacks a bitch. If we're having the relationship talk you're going first. Balls in your court Matheson.' All of those devilish smiles and "Sebastians" were not forgotten now that she wasn't dying on him. He was going to make this as uncomfortable as possible for her. Let her work out for herself whether he was joking or not.
She pulled back to rest her head on her hand beside him. He watched her, patiently waiting for her adorable stuttering to start again.
Why he kept forgetting who he was dealing with, he'd never know.
Because instead of blushing red and tripping over her words, Charlie merely shrugged. He immediately got a sinking feeling in his stomach. Then she shot him her brightest smile and he knew he was fucked.
"That's okay, Bozo, you're not really my type." As his entire face fell, rug effectively swept right out from under him yet again, Charlie burst out laughing.
"You little... You.. that's not..." As he stuttered out angrily, trying desperately to form words that made sense she only laughed harder. It wasn't too long before he started laughing too. It was hard not to, in the face of her obvious happiness.
"Bozo's good though," she told him between giggles, "I always thought you were a clown anyway."
As he grabbed her, pulling her close and rolling over and pinning her body beneath him, she was still shaking with laughter. "I am not a clown." He mock-growled at her.
"No. No you're right." She breathed out. "Clowns are scary."Charlie beamed up at him, he couldn't keep the grin off his face. "Careful woman, or I'll take you back to New Vegas and swap you for a quiet chick, one who doesn't answer back."
She poked her tongue out at him and he promptly leaned down to suck on it. Suddenly her giggles had morphed into a moan. He made a mental note to remember that his mouth was, so far, his only effective tool for shutting her up.
Before things could get too heated again though, the door banged open. Aaron had bounded into the room before either of them could shout out a warning, or get themselves properly covered up. "Hey guys it's-"
Bass didn't bother to look around at the door. Charlie had frozen, still pinned beneath him. He heard Staypuft gasp and fought the urge to burst out laughing as the man immediately turned and rushed out, "God, you guys... Would it kill you to put a sock on the doorknob?! My eyes...I think I'm blind!" The door slammed shut.
Bass started laughing outright as he looked down and saw that Charlie had finally gone bright red. Her eyes were screwed tightly shut. "You know closing your eyes only makes you invisible when you're six, right?" She did nothing to help him stop laughing as she opened her eyes to glare at him.
"It's not funny!" She slapped his chest as he chuckled on, totally unrepentant. "Up, up!" She shoved at him. He rolled off her, grinning as she climbed out of bed. But the second she stood up straight her eyes went unfocused. Bass barely caught her as she collapsed.
"Charlie!"
He was a fucking idiot. She was still recovering from almost dying and he was having sex with her and screwing around like she was fine. "Charlie."
He cradled her in his arms as she opened her eyes. He sagged in relief. "I'm okay. Just stood up too fast." She told him.
Bass clutched her to him, "You need to eat, it's been days since you had anything proper. What the fuck was I thinking? I'm sorry Charlotte."
"Hey." He was shaking. "Hey!" Their eyes met. "I'm fine, Bass. Really. Sex with you beats food any day." She smiled at him. It hadn't even been noticed by her, but she had just called him by his nickname. The feeling it evoked in him was suffocating. He almost choked on it. Everything he had ever wanted was in his arms and if he wasn't careful he was going to lose her through his own stupidity. They didn't have the medical care they once did. The Republic at least, had afforded them the luxury of having the best a post-blackout world could offer. If he got it all back maybe he'd be able to sleep a little better, knowing she had the best care and protection anyone could have.
As he helped her up and got her dressed, he decided that his new mission in life was to keep her safe. By any means necessary.
Rachel had spent the night pacing in front of the house. Charlie was alive, she hadn't killed her daughter. But where there should have been relief, all she really felt was emptiness. Because as long as Sebastian Monroe was in her bed, Charlie might as well be dead.
Of course she felt awful about what had happened to her daughter. When she thought too hard on it the guilt consumed her, but for the sake of her child she had to bury that feeling. It was the only way she could keep her head clear to plan what she was going to do about this whole mess. Bass wasn't going to keep his disgusting hands on her daughter for long, not by the time she was finished.
Why he had to choose Charlie was beyond her. Surely there was a willing whore out there somewhere. He didn't need to pick her girl, her last child. The bastard had the sheer audacity to look at her as if he loved her. Like he knew what love was! Maybe he was doing it to get to her. That must be it. He was probably jealous that she was with Miles and wanted to hurt her. After their night in Philly, he probably still wanted her. Even though he had left her bed straight away and hadn't come near her for months afterwards, she knew the effect she had on him. And she also understood the effect he had on her daughter. But being good in bed didn't make a man a good person and he wasn't a good person. He was a child killer.
Rachel needed to get Charlie free of him. Then she would understand that her mother loved her, that she did it for her. But she needed to be careful. Miles hadn't looked at her since Charlie's accident, he was mad at her already...
A smile lit her face as it dawned on her. If Miles would just understand why she hated Bass so much, if he knew what Bass had done to her, he would get it, he would stop hating her for what happened to Charlie. And Charlie would never, ever, look at him again. Bass would deny it, of course he would. But Rachel knew who her family would believe. After all, they were her family, not his. The plan to seduce him in Philly to earn a few treats, if not her freedom, had been flawed, it had gotten her nothing except his contempt. She had manipulated him and filled him with drink until he could only see her and what Miles had done to them both, but in the cold light of day he had rejected her and her efforts had been for nothing. Now though, they were about to pay off.
Nobody sane would believe that she had willingly fallen into her captors bed. Certainly not after having known him for years and never having done so before. Why would they have suddenly hooked up right when they were enemies? Rachel sat down again, propped against the house, a serene smile on her face. She had wanted to destroy Sebastian Monroe for years and now she was actually going to manage it. She would even let him live. She would show her compassion by begging Miles and Charlie not to kill him and then watch as he was cast off, losing them both and having to live with it every day.
Her eyes finally closed, a feeling of peace descending over her. Soon her lover and her daughter would come to find her, seeking an explanation and she would have one ready for them. All she had to do was say three words and the whole Monroe nightmare would be over.
Charlie watched Monroe as they ate. Outwardly he appeared relaxed, but there was a storm brewing behind his eyes and it had her worried. She knew he already blamed himself for her injury and now he was mad at himself because she had almost passed out. Aaron had left a tray of food outside the door for them, which was lucky, because right now facing anyone else would feel like torture. And with the mood Monroe was suddenly in, he would probably shoot someone without much prodding. She would bet everything she had that he was plotting some way to keep her under strict supervision from now on. As he brooded over his plate, staying quiet, she'd finally had enough.
"Whatever you're plotting... just don't, okay?" Their eyes met as his head shot up. If he kept up his stony silence much longer she was going to kill him. She set her plate aside with a sigh. "We've just got this, whatever this actually is... don't screw it up by being an idiot."
"I've already been an idiot Charlie, I let you get hurt in the first place and then I failed to-"
"Hey, don't give me that crap okay? We've already established that me getting hurt was not your fault. And if you go all crazy General again trying to keep me safe and shut me out guess what? You'll lose me anyway. So just don't." Monroe shoved his empty plate aside and moved to sit down down beside her. He looked defeated. Charlie reached over and took his hand, lacing their fingers together. "I need you with me right now. We're gonna have to leave this room and face them all soon." He squeezed her fingers at the reminder and she rested her head on his shoulder.
"I've been helpless a few times in my life Charlie." He told her quietly, turning to kiss her head. "But the worst it has ever been was when I saw you lying on the ground with your head bashed in. I thought, I thought you were gone. I don't ever want to feel that again." Her heart hurt listening to him talk, she had never seen him like this. "After the blackout, I got married. Her name was Shelly. We were going to have a baby. The day she went into labor was the happiest day of my life. Right up until she died, screaming and covered in blood. Her and the baby both. That night I walked into a camp full of people and killed them all, with a smile on my face."
There were tears streaming down his face, she could barely see through her own. As she gripped his hand, he continued. "I thought that I would never love anybody again. Miles was the only person who never left me, since we were kids, so he was the only one I allowed myself to care about. Until I met you. I care more about you than I have any other woman. If I lost you now, I don't know what I would become, what I would be capable of."
Charlie was stunned. There was nothing she could say, nothing she could do. Miles had told her bits about why Monroe became the man he did, but hearing it in full, from the man himself tore her up inside. So she pulled him to her, wrapping him in her arms and crying quietly into his hair. "I'm so sorry."
When he had gotten himself under control he pulled back, only to find tears still streaming down her face. She tried to wipe them away, embarrassed, but he grabbed her hands and used his free hand to wipe them for her. "I'm trying Charlie, to be the man I once was. For Miles, for you. But the man I became is still inside of me, I can't just make him go away. If you want to be with me I need you to understand that."
She nodded, caught up in his gaze. "I do. But I need you to understand that everything bad that happens is not your fault. And I need you to accept that I don't want General Monroe, I don't care about General Monroe, I care about you, now, just as you are. Darkness included. Bad things are going to happen, one or both of us will probably get hurt again. You can't protect me from that, certainly not by going back to something you hated being in the first place. I know that he's going to appear sometimes, the General, but I need to know that the man who holds me at night is going to be you." She hoped to God that she was making sense, that he would understand.
Monroe smiled at her suddenly, "If I can wake up every morning like I did today, you've got a deal." She let out a shaky laugh as he kissed her forehead.
"I guess it's time to face the music." She sighed, standing up. "I think you should hide out in here until it's over. No one can shoot you that way."
She almost made it to the door before he called her back. Bass knew Rachel, and he knew she would use anything she could to turn Charlie against him, to convince her that being with him was a mistake. It was time to come clean before Rachel beat him to it. As the woman he loved turned to face him, question in her eyes, he blurted out, "I slept with your mom."
Twenty minutes later, he left the room with her, still rubbing his aching jaw. "You hit like Miles."
"You want me to hit you again?"
"No."
"Then shut up."
"Okay, but was the kick really necessary? I may have to outrun gunfire in the next few minutes and you just made sure I'll get hit."
"The kick was for being a hypocrite. The punch was for-for that. And after your behavior I at least deserve another go on Connor."
"Charlie... one of these days I am actually going to kill you."
"Yes, Bozo," she grinned, grabbing his hand and pulling him along with her, "I love you too."