'Cause I'd Find You In Any World (Nick and Charlie - Alternate Universe)

Chapter Twenty Four

Chapter Twenty Four.

Charlie:
I know this all happened within the last two hours but I am so utterly exhausted that I feel like it's been dragging on for days. Although I am not sobbing anymore, the tears don't stop; it's so quiet in the house it's almost as if no one is even here. Nick randomly looks down at me and wipes my tears but him, James and I are just .. silent. I've been laying curled up in Nick's arms on the couch ever since Dad left. Nick on one side of me, James on the other. I know I should be thankful that I have such a great support system but I can't help but replay the scene with my Mum over and over again. I know I don't have a kid but I know that there could never be anything that they would say to me that would make me react this way. My train of thought is broken by the front door swinging open. Mia comes in running frantically, tears in her eyes which doesn't help with my crying situation.

"Charlie?" She manages to say, although her voice is cracking.

She runs over to me and nearly tackles me into Nick's ribs. I wrap my arms around her and begin to sob again. An action I'm sure I'm going to be doing a lot of in the near future.

"I'm so sorry," she says between sobs. "I can't believe she did this."

She pulls away from the hug and wipes my eyes as I wipe hers.

"I love you. And we are all here for you. But I'm sorry that your Mum is such a bitch.

Dad walks in and quietly closes the door.

"Twice in one night Mia," he says with a sigh. "But I don't disagree."
"What do you mean twice in one night?" James asks.

Mia sniffles and wipes her eyes again.

"I called your Mum a bitch tonight."

Everyone looks around shocked before James kisses the top of her head.

"I am so proud to call you one of my best friends."
"Okay James," Dad says.
"Sorry Dad, but we were all thinking it. Glad someone said it."

And just like that, the room falls silent again. I think we are all in a state of disbelief. I look at Dad who looks almost as broken as I feel. Now that my mind isn't racing, I start to think about how he must be feeling. His wife, the woman he has loved more than half his life, isn't who he thought she was. He has to deal with that, plus the reactions to her treating both of his sons terribly. I can't even imagine. I stand up and hug him.

"Thank you for standing up for me today. I know it must have been really hard to do that."

Dad pulls away from the hug and runs his hands through my hair, pausing for a moment before speaking.

"Charlie, I love your Mum but don't you dare, for a second, think that this was a hard decision for me. Defending you when you have done nothing but be yourself, well, you can always count on me for that."
"Me too," James adds.
"Me three," Mia joins in.
"Four times over," Nick says with a slight smile.

And just like that, the weight on my chest lightened. I didn't feel like a burden here, this was my safe space.

"Charlie, I have to tell you though, Jane and Richard know."
"What?!" Everyone says in unison.
"Well, your Mum was playing the victim over there and I needed to set the record straight," he said. "I'm sorry if that betrayed your trust."
"Dad, it's out there already. You have done so much for me this past week, more than I ever imagined. You did not betray my trust. But... what did they... are they --"
"They wanted me to tell you that they love you and are so proud of you."

Well, here comes the tears again. Two people that Mum didn't want to know, don't even care. I wonder how that made her feel. 

"I want you to know, both of you boys, that things might be changing around here."
"What do you mean?" James asks.
"Well, I expressed to your Mum tonight that unless she can figure out a way to make things right, she is not welcome here."
"Are you guys... are you guys going to get a divorce?" James asks.
"Because of me?" I whisper, wiping my tears.
"Lets just take this one day at a time, okay? But Charlie, you listen to me, anything that happens between your mother and I is not your fault, it's one hundred percent hers."

Nick:
The room falls silent yet again before Sebastian stands up.

"Okay, I think we should all get ready for bed. James, you want to help me get the blankets and pillows? I figure you can all sleep down here."

Once we set up the living room floor to look like a huge bed, Sebastian says goodnight and heads upstairs. We all lay down and shut off most of the lights and the room remains silent.

"Thanks for everything, all of you," Charlie whispers.

We all sort of sit up at the same time and look at Charlie .

"You don't need to thank us, we love you," Mia says.

We all surround Charlie with a group hug. Silence again.

"Did you really call our Mum a bitch?" Charlie whispers.
"I just call them like I see them, she is a bitch," Mia says with a shrug.
"What did your parents say?"
"Shocked at first because it was before they knew. But then after I explained that they taught me to stand up for the people I love and that's what I did. So, I don't think I'm in trouble for it or anything."
"Nice!" James says. "Wish I was there to see that."

We all lay back down, Charlie in my arms, but I can't sleep. My heart is breaking for Charlie. I know he has so many people who are in his corner, but I can't imagine not having my Mum in my corner, so I know this must be hard for him. She was the main reason he didn't want to come out and she just confirmed all of his fears. I kiss the top of his head and I feel him look up.

"Can't sleep?"

I shake my head.

"Not really."
"Me either. Want to have some tea in the kitchen?"

I nod as we quietly get up and walk over to the kitchen. Charlie turns on a small light as to not have it disturb Mia and James in the other room. After Charlie makes the tea, we both sit down at the table.

"Thank you for rushing over here."
"You sprinted to my house once, figured it was time I returned the favor," I say with a slight chuckle.

I place my hand on his.

"How are you doing?"

He sighs.

"That's a loaded question. But I'm doing better than I was hours ago. But ask me in an hour and I might be doing worse; it's coming in waves."

I sigh.

"I'm sorry that she reacted exactly how you thought. I just can't believe how someone can treat their own child that way."

He shrugs but I can see the sadness in his eyes.

"I'm just thankful to have my Dad in my corner. And all of you; even Mia's parents. I wonder what it's like over there right now."
"Well, if Mia's parents are anything like her, I'm sure they're letting her have it," I say.

Charlie lets out a small laugh, and even though it's only been hours since I heard it, god did I miss it.

"I'm sorry," I whisper.

He looks at me confused.

"Why are you sorry?"
"I feel like I turned your world upside down the second I moved here."

Charlie pushes his chair closer to mine and takes both of my hands.

"You did. In the best possible way. I don't want you to think for a second that you forced me to get here or that you are the reason any of this is happening. If anything, you just make me so happy that I wanted to share that with the people I love. And even though I'm really hurting now, I don't regret coming out for a second. You are the best thing that has happened to me, Nick. Everything was in black and white before you got here and now everything is in color, everything is alive. You make me feel safe, and special, and protected. You challenge me, you make me laugh, you make me blush. You are just, you're everything."

I kiss him and place my forehead against his.

"I love you," I whisper.