Whatever was due to happen at the dock that night hadn't happened. There had been nothing going on, but Jonathan had turned up. Matt had listened as he snapped down the phone, saying that they couldn't afford to have a delay. He was upset and angry. Matt had almost smirked, liking the sound of the stressed politician. He knew, however, that whatever was going down wasn't going to be anything good. He took a few moments to wait, certain that the coast was clear, before he'd returned home to an anxious Charlotte. He told her nothing had happened and her heart rate calmed down. They spent the evening hypothesising, but they came to no conclusion before they went to bed together.

Matt woke earlier than she did, slipping out of the bed and into the bathroom. He showered and wrapped a towel around his waist before moving to the kitchen, his feet padding softly against the floorboards. He went to put the kettle on to boil, finding two mugs and dropping tea bags into them. His wet hair dripped onto his torso and to the floor, hanging limp on top of his head. He could hear Charlotte beginning to stir, the quilt ruffling around her and soft moans coming from her in protest. Lottie had never really been a morning person. When she wanted to sleep, she could sleep for hours.

Moving back towards the bedroom, Matt sunk down onto the mattress. He sat down on her side of the bed, a hand reaching out towards her and brushing her hair from her face. She sighed contently, her warm breath hitting his palm as she moved to kiss his knuckles.

"Good morning," Matt said to her in a soft whisper.

"Good morning," she replied and he went back to stroking her hair softly. She closed her eyes again, a hand moving to rest on top of his own. "How did you sleep?"

"Very well," Matt answered her. "And you?"

"Better knowing that you were here all night and not disappearing," she replied honestly.

Matt sighed and Charlotte opened her eyes once more, this time truly drinking in the sight of him shirtless and in nothing but a white towel around his waist that had dipped far too low for her liking. Biting down on her bottom lip, she let her eyes linger on him for a little while and Matt's lips arched upwards, a smirk forming on his face.

"Enjoying your ogling, are you?" he questioned.

"I am not ogling," she denied.

"Sweetheart, I'm blind not an idiot," he said to her. "And trust me, if I could see then I would most definitely be doing the same."

"I doubt it."

"I don't know, the idea of you in an old Billy Joel concert t-shirt and sweatpants really does get me going," Matt said and Charlotte hit his shoulder, hardly moving him but making him laugh loudly.

"You don't need to be sarcastic," she said to him.

"I am just being honest, Lottie," Matt replied. "Trust me…it never mattered what you wore…although I do have a soft spot for that little dress you wore that night when we went to that college party."

"Oh yeah?" Charlotte asked from him, sitting up slightly on her elbows. Her hair fell down behind her shoulders and she tilted her head up so that she could watch him, quite enjoying how his own cheeks had turned red too. She loved the impact he had on her, but she had to admit that she also liked the idea that she could drive him just as mad.

"It was quite something…and it felt nice…"

"Not sure I could fit into it anymore," Charlotte said. "Not sure I even still have it."

"Good job I have a decent memory, huh? And besides, that dress was nice but I much preferred peeling you out of it," Matt said, voice turning low and husky as he leaned in towards her and kissed her neck once. He heard her struggle to breathe, her pulse racing and her eyes rolling back into her head.

She shook her head slowly as Matt stood up, a hand going to the towel and making sure it was still secure around his waist. He wondered if he had overstepped a line, but there was something about her that he found intoxicating after all these years. His sightless gaze moved in her direction and Charlotte watched him, sitting up fully and crossing her legs. She played with the edge of the duvet in her fingertips.

"You know you don't play fair, right?"

"Lottie, when have you ever known me to play fair?" Matt questioned from her.

"Good point," she retorted. "Is that the kettle I hear?"

"I had intended on making us a mug of tea and drinking it in bed considering it's the weekend and we have the day off…besides, I am taking you on that date tonight."

"Oh, are you?"

"I am," Matt said, securing the towel around his waist and heading back towards the kitchen. "We are going to head out and have dinner at that taco place you love and I was thinking that we could maybe even stop by Jenny's for cheesecake on the way back here…and then I know that it's the final of that terrible dancing reality TV show you watch."

"Matt Murdock, you know how to spoil a girl," she said to him and moved from the bed, adjusting the sweatpants she wore on her hips and tugging on her old concert tee. She tugged a pair of socks onto her feet and raked a hand through her hair before following Matt out into the kitchen. She stood on the other side of the worktop and folded her arms on top of it, leaning forwards against it and peering to him.

"Not sure I've ever been accused of spoiling my dates, but I'll take it," he said to her and poured her a cup of tea, sliding the mug in her direction. "Unless you had other plans for the day?"

"No other plans," she promised him with a shake of her head. "Although I was thinking that…maybe I might start looking at college courses."

Matt's eyes widened and seemed to light up at hearing her say that. He leant on the worktop, arms folded on top of the surface. Charlotte picked her mug up and took a sip of the warm tea. A smile remained playing on the edge of her lips and she didn't know why she felt so happy considering her ex-husband was still dragging them into his mess. But looking at Matt watching her, she felt a sense of pride. It was something she'd never had before. No one had ever looked at her like that before. She'd had no parents ever be proud of her. Jonathan had never encouraged her to do anything with her life. She had always just felt like there was no one, except Matt, who had ever encouraged her to do more with her life and do what she wanted.

"Really?" Matt asked from her.

"It's just a thought," she said, trying to downplay it like she usually did. "I mean, I might try and do it while working in the gallery…see if Vanessa might let me go part-time or I can do night classes."

"You've really given this some thought, huh?" Matt asked her.

She shrugged. "You want to start your own firm and I think that's made me think about what I want. I have the money now and I don't want to waste any more opportunities. I don't want to dwell…sit around…I want to make something of myself."

Matt went quiet then, but the smile remained on his face. Charlotte rolled her eyes and let out a low laugh. "It's not stupid, is it?" she asked him.

"Lottie, no," he said, shaking his head quickly, hand reaching out to take hold of her own. His fingers squeezed hers tightly and she let him play with her hand. "It's not stupid. It's good. I'm happy for you…I'm…I'm just proud of you."

"Stop it," she urged from him and Matt knew she didn't do well with being praised. She had spent most of her life being downtrodden and thinking she had never been good enough. He could still remember their time in the home together, when she had finally admitted to him how she felt. She always felt like she'd never been good enough because she'd not been enough. Her father had walked out when she was two. Her mother had died from an overdose. Her stepfather had never wanted her and had left her alone in that house with her mom's body for days.

"I'm serious," he said, keeping her hand in his and walking around the worktop so that he was on the same side she was. He reached for her then, hands going to grab her hips. "After everything you've been through, you're doing everything you can to do what you love…and I'm proud of you for that. You're stronger than you think."

"I'm not sure on that," Charlotte said.

But Matt shook his head firmly. "I am," he retorted. "I'm proud of you and I'm going to do everything I can to support you…every step of the way."

Charlotte leaned in and kissed him, knowing that whatever happened, she'd be fine so long as she had Matt by her side.

…

Holding Matt's hand inside of her own, Charlotte had to admit that it was nice being out in public. No one had stopped or stared at them. She felt invisible. She liked that. She liked not being the centre of attention and as they wandered back from the restaurant that night towards Jenny's for cheesecake, they were just another couple in the sea of people out and about on a night out.

Matt had dressed smartly, a crisp white shirt with a blazer but no tie. Charlotte had stressed for ages on what to wear and finally settled on a simple black skirt with a lacy green top. As the evening turned cool, Matt had shrugged out of his jacket and had draped it over her shoulders to keep her warm. He'd dropped her hand and moved his arm over her shoulders.

"Fancy a walk through the Park before we go back?" he asked from her.

"Alright," Charlotte agreed with him and they detoured into Central Park. Charlotte was glad she'd opted for flats if they were going for a longer walk. The sun was slowly setting and Charlotte squinted against the dipping rays. They ambled along the path and Matt let Charlotte lead the way as they had no set route.

"I…I've been thinking that…if we're doing this…then I want to tell you the truth," Matt said to Charlotte and she peered up to him, seeing his face as her arms wrapped around herself. "About Elektra."

Charlotte wondered why he was bringing this up now after they'd had a nice meal out and he had made such a big fuss over the two of them going on a date. Charlotte bit down on her tongue and Matt stopped walking, his arm moving from her shoulders and his hand going to her cheek, cupping it tenderly. "Whatever I tell you, it doesn't change us, Lottie," Matt promised her. "It doesn't change that you are my everything and it is you who I love. But you deserve the truth. If we're doing this…going to be together…then this is it for me. You're the one who I want for my entire life and I don't want there to be secrets between us, not when you've been so honest with me and told me everything."

Charlotte knew he was trying to comfort her. She knew he was trying to offer her reassurances and she loved him for that. Nodding her head, she took his hand and guided him towards the nearest bench underneath a line of trees, their leaves offering some shade from the setting sun.

"If we're doing this then I need to sit down," Charlotte said to Matt and she guided him to the bench. Perching on the edge of it, she sat down and Matt sat next to her, keeping her hand inside of his.

"I'm not going to rehash everything that happened with Elektra," Matt said to her. "I was besotted with her, but I was young. I didn't entirely understand things like I do now…and I thought that we…I just thought that we needed space because I didn't want us to get hurt. I didn't want us to get involved and I…I wanted you to go to college too. I wanted you to live your own life. I always worried that I was the one who would hold you back."

"I still don't know why you would think that," Charlotte said.

"And I wish I hadn't because it caused us nothing but pain, but I did," Matt said. "But then when I met Elektra…she felt dangerous. I don't know what it was but I was drawn to her and I guess a part of me had feelings for her. She brought out the worst in me at times and then one night…things went too far."

Charlotte had met Elektra once and that had been enough for her. She was everything that Charlotte wasn't. They were polar opposites and she wondered if Matt had never liked her. How could he go from one extreme to another?

"What happened?"

"We broke into a house," Matt said. "I didn't know whose house it was and I didn't care because I was so enamoured by her, but then she told me…it was Roscoe Sweeney's house."

Charlotte's eyes widened and her mouth gaped. Shaking her head back and forth, she squeezed Matt's hand tightly. "The man who killed your father," Charlotte said and Matt nodded, gulping hard, his throat clenching as he remembered that night in detail. "Why did she do that?"

"Because she wanted me to get revenge on him," Matt said. "She thought it would only be justice and she…this is what I mean, Lottie…she's dark. She's dangerous. And I saw that. I saw it that night because she had no qualms about killing."

"But you didn't," Charlotte said confidently and Matt tilted his head to the side.

"How do you know?" he wondered from her.

"Because I know you," Charlotte replied. "And I know that you are many things…that there is something inside of you that has anger…a rage…I saw it when you beat Jonathan to a pulp. I saw it when you came home after dealing with that little boy's father. But there's a line. You're not a killer. You might have wanted to kill Roscoe and I wouldn't blame you at all for that, Matt. I would understand it entirely. But that's not who you are."

Matt nodded, sniffing and lifting his face up towards the sun, feeling its dying rays as Charlotte tugged his jacket tighter around her shoulders. "I wanted to," Matt confessed to her. "I just kept hitting him and hitting him…over and over again…and I wanted to kill him. I really did. But I couldn't. I just couldn't. Elektra didn't understand that and I knew that I had to leave her. She was no good for me. What I felt for her…it wasn't good for me. It wasn't right."

Charlotte was quiet then as she tried to drink in what he was saying to her. A part of her understood that they had both had other relationships. She had gone to Jonathan and a part of her had loved him at the beginning. She had loved how he used to make her laugh and would shower her with compliments to begin with. She loved how he would turn up to her place unannounced and take her out for dinner spontaneously. She loved it when he bought her flowers just because he could.

It only made sense that Matt had felt something for Elektra. She knew that shouldn't make her insecure. People had previous relationships. People fell in love and fell out of love. But there was something at the back of her mind that she couldn't get rid of.

"Talk to me, sweetheart," Matt urged from her, arm going back around her shoulders.

Looking to his face, Charlotte studied him, seeing how his sightless gaze flickered around and the lines on his forehead deepened.

"Are you with me because I'm the safe option?" Charlotte asked him and Matt swore he felt his heart break a little.

"No," Matt said with certainty. "Lottie, never think that. I am with you because I love you."

She was quiet then and Matt let his hand squeeze her shoulder tightly. There were times when she was an open book to him, especially in the past. But there were times when she went silent and he knew her mind was whirling and he wondered exactly what she was thinking about. It took him a few moments before he moved, his forehead brushing against hers and forcing her to look at him and he longed to see her. He pictured her in his mind, but he knew that could never do her justice.

"Talk to me," he whispered, warm breath hitting her face.

Charlotte took a moment to think about what she should say or how she should articulate what was going through her mind.

"I'm not like her, Matt," Charlotte said. "I am nothing like her. We are complete opposites and the reasons why you're attracted to her…why you loved her…they have to be completely different to why you fell in love with me."

"Just like why you fell in love with Jonathan," Matt replied and she knew he had a point on that. She took a moment to exhale a sharp breath and think of what to say to him. She had so much she wanted to say and she didn't know where to begin or if it was just rehashing the past. "The point is, Lottie, that was what happened. That was why we broke up and I want you to know. I wanted to tell you the truth because I love you far too much to keep secrets from you and not be entirely honest…but the fact is that I did love her, but never like I loved you…or how I love you now…you need to believe me."

"And I do," Charlotte said to him.

"Because the amount of arguments we had about you, Lottie," Matt trailed off and let out a deep chuckle. "I think Elektra knew it was always you that I wanted. She wasn't a woman who got jealous, but she was always jealous whenever I brought your name up."

Charlotte scoffed. "That's ridiculous. I'm not worth getting jealous over."

"Wrong," Matt said. "Don't belittle yourself. You're worth more than that."

Leaning in closer to him, Charlotte pecked him on the lips for a brief moment before pulling back. She lifted a hand up and stroked his cheek softly, feeling the stubble that was growing there and letting her nose brush against his. "Thank you for telling me," Charlotte said to him. "And I do love you."

"I love you too," Matt said and moved to kiss her once more.

….

Charlotte knew that things wouldn't stay quiet forever and she had been right. The night after they had gone on their date, Matt had returned to the docks. She'd waited up for him to come home and he'd gotten back at about one in the morning. It was Monday morning and she had to be at work, but they had spent most of the night talking about it. Matt had found a container of kidnapped women who were due to be trafficked. He'd disrupted what had been going on and had told the women to get to safety.

"So the name Vladimir and Anatoly Ranskahov mean nothing to you?" Matt checked against they got dressed the following morning.

He was pulling his shirt on as Charlotte tugged on a fitted sleeveless green dress. She had agreed to open up the gallery considering Vanessa was going to an auction. She knew they were running late considering they'd hit snooze on the alarm so many times. She had showered first and Matt had then showered as she blow dried her hair.

"Nothing," Charlotte said. "You think they were the ones running the thing last night?"

"Their names came up and it sounded like they were the ringmasters," Matt said and he buttoned his shirt up as Charlotte peered into his mirror and applied her foundation with her sponge, trying to get an even coverage.

"Russian?" she asked from him.

"I would assume so," Matt said with a nod. "Either way, your ex-husband knew what was going on at the dock…and if he didn't know specifically what it was, he knew it was going to be something illegal. I get the feeling Jonathan prefers to bury his head in the sand as opposed to owning up to mistakes he's made and doing the right thing."

Charlotte remained crouched over in front of the mirror and Matt heard her pulse race. "Is he in trouble?" she wondered and Matt thought that sounded a bit like concern in her voice.

"Are you worried for him?"

"I…you know I'd kill him myself if I could," Charlotte said and she tucked her hair behind her ears before standing up straight. "There were times when I'd be cooking dinner and I'd imagine taking the knife I was using to cut the meat and stabbing him. I never did because I knew I never could…but if he's in something deep then I worry about what that means for us because I know you don't quit."

Matt kept his tie loose around his upturned collar. Charlotte moved to him, tugging it down and then tying his tie up for him.

"Trafficking, Matt," Charlotte whispered. "I just…this feels very dangerous and I don't know if I can handle anymore danger."

"Nothing is going to happen to you," Matt promised her.

"It's not just me though, is it?" she said and she knew there was no point having this discussion again. She stood on her toes and kissed him briefly. "I need to get to work. I'll see you tonight?"

"I'll be back in time for dinner," he assured her and heard her slipping her sneakers onto her feet considering she hated rushing in her heels and so she left them at the office. Picking her bag up from the floor, she hung it on her shoulder and headed towards the door.

"Love you," she called back to Matt and, despite everything, his lips quirked.

"Love you too."

….

Standing in the office space, Matt knew that it felt right. They were looking at leaving Landman and Zack, but they needed office space if they were going to do it. Foggy had suggested they scope out potential buildings in Hell's Kitchen and Matt had agreed to it. He intended on surprising Charlotte with the news that night if things went well. They had already looked into establishing their own practice and Nelson and Murdock was ready to go.

"How can we afford this?" Foggy wondered from Matt once the estate agent had left them alone to look around. She had been practically fawning over Matt and Foggy had done his best not to roll his eyes.

"We get clients," Matt said as if it was that simple.

"Clients who are down on their luck tend not to have much money, Matt," Foggy said to his friend and he moved through the open space towards one of the offices, his cane in front of him as he felt his way forward. There was a smell of wet paint in the office and Matt could also hear a tap dripping that suggested some plumbing issue in the small kitchenette.

"I have enough from savings to get us through the first few months," Matt said. "But we get clients and we make money…we can do this, Foggy. We can have this space. We can go to Landman and Zack this afternoon and tell them we don't want to stay on the training contract."

"You really want to do this?" Foggy asked, looking out the dirty window that showed a view of the street below. "I mean, at least we have a window here."

Matt chuckled. "See? Things are looking up for you," he said.

Foggy sighed loudly. "I just…you know I worry about things like this. I need money to live. I have rent to pay. I need this to be successful because I don't have a safety net like you do," he said and Matt's brows knitted together and he pushed his glasses further up his nose and leant back against the wall across from the window.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you're dating a millionaire," Foggy said.

"I haven't asked Charlotte for any money to do this, Foggy," Matt said and his friend quickly shook his head and Matt could tell he was getting flustered.

"I didn't mean it like that," he said to his friend. "I just meant that…if this doesn't work out…then Charlotte would never let anything happen to you. I didn't mean that you were relying on her for this. I know that you want to pave your own way."

Matt softened then. "I know," he assured his friend. "Either way, I think we should do this. I think we need to do this."

Foggy sighed and nodded his head. "Well, I can't let you do it alone," he said to him and Matt smiled, knowing that this was officially happening.

…

Charlotte had no idea why Matt had told her to meet him at an office block on her way home from work. She had left the gallery and had tugged her blazer around her body before heading towards the address he had given her. She went up the staircase to the third floor and then she saw it. On the door, there was the sign she had drawn for him plastered on the glass pane. Charlotte beamed widely and knocked on the door before opening it up and peeking her head in. Matt was stood behind a desk in the reception area while Foggy was in an office on the left, moving around chairs.

"I'm looking for Nelson and Murdock…I heard they were the best lawyers in this city?" Charlotte said. Matt laughed and Foggy stepped out from the office.

"I think you're in the right place," Matt said to her.

"Glad that we have a reputation already," Foggy said and Charlotte closed the door behind her before moving to Foggy and embracing him tightly, holding onto him and rubbing a hand down his back. She let go and then moved to Matt, arms slipping around his neck as he bent down to kiss her quickly.

"You surprised?" Matt wondered from her and kept his arms around her waist as she leant back in his grip slightly, hand running along his neck.

"Surprised you moved this quick," she said, "but not that you did it."

"You're okay with this too?" Matt asked.

"You don't need my permission."

"I know, but we're in a relationship," Matt said.

Charlotte nodded and moved to kiss him chastely once more. "I'm proud of you," she assured him on that point and Matt was glad to hear it. "When did you decide to do it?"

"We've been thinking about it for a while," Foggy said. Charlotte turned to face him, Matt's arm going over her shoulders as she leant against his side and wrapped her own arm around his waist and underneath his jacket. "I booked us a meeting to look at this space and it just feels right. I'm going to try and make a start on us getting some clients. I bumped into an old friend this morning who said he'd send work our way if he hears of anything…if not, it's a case of staying by the police stations and seeing what we can get."

"And what about furniture?" Charlotte asked.

"The office downstairs is vacant and the building manager says we can take what we need," Foggy said. "I mean, we're going to need computers…printers…we had to give ours back to Landman and Zack. Until then, though, we have pen and paper."

"I see," Charlotte said and Matt sensed she had something on her mind and he could guess what it was. "Well…I mean…if you need help…I can help."

"You know, that's a kind offer," Foggy said to her and he knew that money was always an awkward topic of conversation. "I mean, hopefully we'll be fine. We just need to get things set up and find some clients."

"You will," Charlotte said knowingly. "Anyway, can I have the grand tour?"

Foggy bowed and extended his hand, motioning for her to follow him to his office. She walked in behind him, leaving her bag on the table in the reception area, and Matt let the two of them chat as he went to his own office and he adjusted the chair on the other side of his desk. It was only a moment later when he heard Charlotte approach his office. Folding her arms, she leant against the doorframe.

"Foggy's just taking a call," Charlotte said to him. "And I just wanted to check I didn't overstep."

"You didn't overstep," Matt promised her.

"You sure? Because your face seems to suggest otherwise," she replied.

"I…I'm grateful for the offer, Lottie," Matt promised her. "I know that you support me no matter what."

"Is there a but?" Charlotte asked.

"No buts," Matt promised her, holding his hand to her. She moved towards him and he slipped his fingers against hers, pulling her forwards and to him. "I'm grateful for the offer and I know you want to help."

"But only if you ask for it," Charlotte said to him, hand running along his tie. "I know that this is something you want to do on your own…but I'm here. I'm here."

Matt bent down and kissed her, grateful that she wasn't pushing this or insisting on helping him. A part of him wanted to do this on his own merit. He wanted to build something on his own and he saw that money as Jonathan's money and he didn't want it associated with his firm.

"And, you know, if you ever need any legal advice, I think I can do a discount," Matt said, trying to change the mood.

"Oh yeah?" she wondered, amusement in her voice.

"Benefits of being the partner's girlfriend," he said.

"Hmm," she hummed, hands tangling around his neck and threading into the ends of his hair. "And what other benefits is there of being the girlfriend of the partner of an up-and-coming law firm?"

"Well…I think time will tell…but there are some more personal services…especially for valued clients," Matt said and he moved to brush his nose against hers and Charlotte smiled widely. "Breakfast in bed on weekends…cooking dinner… Friday night cheesecakes from Jenny's…"

"I really do hope you only offer that service to the most valued clients."

"Oh, there's only one client who will ever be that valued," Matt said and he finally kissed her, keeping the motion soft and tender. Charlotte closed her eyes and let him wrap his arm around her waist, keeping her front pressed against his as he lifted his free hand up and toyed with her hair, tucking it behind her ear as he continued kissing her.

"Sorry to break up this love fest," Foggy's voice suddenly interrupted and they pulled apart, but Matt kept her in his grip. "But we have a new client."

"What for?"

"Homicide," Foggy said. "Right in at the deep end. We need to get down to the precinct now."

"Be out in a second," Matt said.

"Put her down, Murdock," Foggy urged, but he was closing the door behind him.

"Would prefer not to," Matt mumbled for Charlotte's sake and she chuckled, giving him one final kiss and then patting his chest and putting distance between them.

"You should go," she said to him. "I'll head home and cook dinner. I'll save you some if you're not back until late."

"Thanks, sweetheart," Matt said and he reached for his cane and his bag. Charlotte moved to the door, but kept her hand on the handle and turned to look to him once more.

"I really am proud of you," she said to him before she opened the door and went to grab her bag. She tugged it onto her shoulder and walked out with the two lawyers. Matt kissed her one final time before she walked off in the other direction back to the apartment and he and Foggy went towards the precinct.

Foggy chuckled to himself. "Please just marry her," he urged from Matt. "It's obvious how much you love her and you can never let her go again. She's good for you."

"One day, Foggy," Matt said wistfully. One day I will."

...

A/N: It's been a while so not sure if anyone is still reading - if so, would love to know what you think!