#I feel like Baz still might win this one but we shall see

[otherpeoplesheartachept-2]

Courtesy of @bazzybelle

[chuffyfan87]

Hiding. Part 72d

He hesitated before he moved to his stepmum. “I don’t mean to... you know.”

"Mean to what?" She pressed gently, reaching out to rest her hand on his shoulder.

“Be mean. To you or dad or... them.”

"Your brothers and sisters?"

He nodded.

"I don't see you as being any different from them, you do know that right?"

“You don’t?” He whispered.

"Not at all. To me you're as much my child as they are. I may not have carried you and given birth to you but I still love you as though you were my own."

“I’m sorry.” He mumbled.

"You don't need to apologise. Just don't wind your sister up quite so much from now on ok?" She smiled softly. "And maybe give your dad less of a hard time? He's really trying his best."

“I know.” He smiled sadly, “I know he tries.”

"He doesn't always make the smartest choices but he's a good man at heart."

Louis nodded.

"I know this isn't the situation you wanted to be in but can we try and make the best of it?"

He nodded, “Can try.”

"That's all I ask. That you try. Is there anything you want me to promise to do?"

Louis shook his head, “Not that I can think of.”

"OK. Shall we go back downstairs?"

“Will you give me a minute? Please.”

"OK. We'll be downstairs if you need us."

Louis nodded and watched as his stepmum left his alone. He sighed, he was so conflicted sometimes.

Duffy smiled softly as she found Charlie sat at the table on the patio. "You ok?"

“Yeah.” He smiled sadly, “You?” He asked as he looked up to meet her gaze.

"I just had a very interesting chat with Louis."

“You did?”

"He's very conflicted about everything."

“I know.”

"I think I got through to him though."

“What did you say?” He asked.

"To give you a break." She smiled softly. "That you're trying your best."

“What if it’s not good enough though?”

"What do you mean?"

“Is he ok?” Charlie asked. “I’m trying.”

"I think he will be. We just need to give him time. He doesn't know what to do with all the feelings that are whirling around in his head nor how to talk about them. A bit like someone else I know..."

He sighed sadly, “A bit like me?”

"He is your son afterall." She smiled.

He smiled, “I can imagine it is confusing for him. It’s sometimes still confusing for me.”

"What do you find most confusing?"

He shrugged, “Me and Baz. It was complicated and I can’t always explain that to Louis.”

"I'd try and help but I still can't understand what you ever saw in her."

“I settled for her because I couldn’t have you.”

"As... Flattering... As that sounds... I'd advise against explaining it that way to Louis."

“No. I did love her. She was fun to be around sometimes.”

"Yeh, she was alright when she wasn't calling me ever name under the sun." Duffy conceded.

“I don’t know what happened to her to make her change so much. But the Baz I fell in love with in 86 wasn’t the person I fell in love with when she returned and we married.” He admitted.

"It had been ten years, we all changed in that time. Me and you just had more opportunities to get used to the changes in each other." She shrugged.

“Hm, maybe.” He smiled.

"She, on the other hand, still saw me as an unthreatening twenty five year old."

“So young... and gorgeous.”

"But apparently no match for her sophisticated charms..."

“The first time I was... protecting you. I think. Second time, I was just a moron. And the times after that too.”

"And now..?"

“What are you asking me?” He asked.

"What made you eventually decide that I was the better option?" She was clearly fishing for compliments.

“You just understood me. Still do. Know all the right things to do and say even when I’m struggling. I was tired of pretending I wasn’t in love with you when you were the only thing I ever thought about.”

She was briefly taken aback, she'd not expected him to answer her like that, but then her face broke into one of those genuine smiles that reached her eyes.

He looked up to catch her eye and seeing the biggest, most genuine smile on her face, smiled even brighter himself.

"I was expecting a more vulgar response if I'm honest." She admitted, blushing.

“You were?”

"Its nice to know you've not always got a one track mind." She giggled.

“Not always but sometimes.” He laughed gently.

"Maybe you're finally maturing past adolescence." She teased.

“No chance of that happening, gorgeous.”

"I have visions of you still trying to cop a feel from your zimmerframe!" She laughed.

“Of course I will.”

"So long as you don't get distracted by the nurses."

“You know I like a woman in uniform.” He smiled.

"Oh I've noticed..!" She smirked.

He laughed gently, “I think it’s every man’s dirty dream isn’t it?”

"It would seem so if those mucky films I tried to get banned were anything to go by..." She gave him a pointed look, she was still a little salty that he hadn't backed her on that..!

“You’re still salty I didn’t back you up on that?” He asked.

"Yes! Though I am grateful that you 'forgot' to add the police caution to my personnel file."

“Oh yes.” He laughed gently, “You’re very naughty, Duffy.”

"He deserved it!"

“You’re still naughty.” He got up and wrapped his arms around Duffy’s waist.

He was rewarded with a soft kick as she lent back into his embrace.

“Hello son.” He stroked her stomach.

"You're sure that team girls aren't going to draw back even then?" She giggled.

“Nope they won't.” He smiled.

"We'll still easily beat you smelly boys anyway!" She replied, sticking her tongue out.

He shook his head fondly. “Yeah yeah.”

"Name your contest and I assure you us girls will win!"

“Are you being serious?” He asked as he met her gaze.

"You afraid of getting beat?" She smirked.

“No.” He pouted.

"So go on then - name your challenge."

“You name yours.”

"I asked first." She giggled.

“I don’t have a challenge in mind. Do you?”

"Nothing specific. I just know we'd win."

“Our girls are much smarter than me. Did I tell you what they did to me at the beach?”

"No, what?"

“Beat me up.” He replied. “All three of them dived on me.”

"That was unfair of them ganging up on their old dad like that!" She giggled.

“I know. It made me a bit emotional if I’m honest.”

"How come?"

“Just makes me realise how lucky I am.”

"We are so lucky." She smiled.

“What if that changes?”

"What do you mean?"

“It scares me.”

"What does?"

“The fact I could be left to raise all of them alone. Without you.” His voice broke.

"You underestimate me, Charlie, you always have!" She remarked, a slight cockiness to her tone.

“You really believe it’ll be different this time?”

"Even if it isn't we've made it through before."

“It keeps me awake some nights.” He admitted.

"Are you still upset that this happened?"

“Do you want my truthful answer?”

"Its usually best to tell the truth."

“I’m not upset this happened. That we were blessed with another baby.”

"There's something though. Something you're not saying."

He smiled sadly, “I’m just frightened that I might have to say goodbye to you.”

"I'll just take to haunting you instead!" She remarked, attempting to distract him away from that terrifying possibility.

“Sorry. I’m bringing the mood down terribly.”

"There's only so much positivity I can try and inject, I need you to try and hold on to the hope of a positive outcome too."

“I’m trying.” He smiled, “Believe me I am.”

"My doctor is happy with everything so far." She reminded him.

“I know.”

"I know what they're going to suggest sooner or later and, believe me, I'm not planning on arguing."

“You? Not arguing? That’ll be a first.” He smirked.

"Despite what my eldest son seems to think I don't have a death wish."

He smiled, “That’s reassuring to know, babe.”

"Oh I plan to be causing you problems for a long time to come yet!" She giggled.

“You’ve caused me problems for the last twenty, what’s another twenty?” He replied with a laugh.

[almost-emerald-eyes]

it seems my need to ALWAYS click the vanilla extract has overruled my love of carry on

how could I do this

Courtesy of @bazzybelle