authors confession: I don't like Rachel. Never have. Never will. I do, however, have to hope that after everything had settled and she and Miles were making a life for themselves and she had reconnected with Charlie that she could see Bass for the friend he was and could be again. Hence, her willingness to help him settle down with his granddaughter.

But, while it's one thing to make peace with your former enemy for the sake of your partner and your own sanity/happiness, it's something else entirely when you find out that they're sleeping with your only living child. So, it was a struggle trying to find a balance between "bat crap crazy let's blame Bass for everything Rachel" and the Rachel who can't help but revert to some of those old behaviors, because of and for her child and I'm not entirely happy with the result. But thank Heavens for Miles, right?

Thank you all for reading my first foray into this fandom. I've never felt more welcome. Hay.

Part 6

Charlie woke to the feel of Annabeth's knees in her ribs and her tiny hands patting her on the check. It wasn't the first time she had woken like this but it was the first time that it had hurt so badly. Opening her eyes she was surprised by the amount of light in the room but when she pulled the baby to her chest everything came rushing back.

"Papa!" the girl babbled pointing to a sleeping Monroe. When he didn't stir, Charlie carefully eased herself out of bed taking Annabeth to change her before heading to the kitchen to fix a bottle. She knew the little girl needed some solid food but this would have to do for now. She had just finished when Rachel came plowing through the front door a covered dish in her hand.

"Oh, Charlie!" she exclaimed rushing to set her things down in the kitchen. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I went a round with Bass and Miles at the same time," she chuckled, setting Annabeth on the floor beside her.

"You saved her life, Charlie," Rachel said quietly.

"I'd do anything for her," Charlie said lovingly watching the girl trying to use the coffee table to pull herself up.

They were interrupted by Miles arrival. Setting his packages down, he went straight to Charlie reaching out a hand and cupping her cheek. "There's my hero," he said leaning over to plant a kiss on her head.

"I couldn't let him lose her too, Miles." she said grasping his hand, her eyes watering.

"I know."

"Is he ok?"

"He's exhausted, Charlie; he was up searching for you all night. Thought we had lost you too there for a minute." he said crouching down beside her.

"Never," she responded with a smile.

"Well since you're awake, you can come home with us." Rachel suddenly announced. Charlie looked between Miles and her mom. Miles sighed, scooping Annabeth up on his lap as he took a seat on the couch.

"What do you mean?"

"Your house is gone, Charlie. Where else would you go?"

"I'm staying here."

"Oh honey, that's so sweet that you want to help Bass with Annabeth but he has his own life. I'm sure you don't want to get in the way." Charlie looked at Miles incredulously. Miles raised an eyebrow and shrugged.

"What?" Rachel asked looking back and forth between the two of them.

"Mom, Bass and I are together."

"Excuse me?" Rachel responded lines popping out on her forehead.

"We're together. Do I need to go into detail?"

"Oh God, please don't," Miles groaned as he kept the baby occupied with his necklace.

"You knew about this?" Rachael asked turning on him.

"Well not the details, no." Miles responded with a frown.

"But Charlie, he's our age," Rachel said pointing between herself and Miles.

"Are you calling me old?" Miles asked with a *hmpft*.

Rachel turned on him "Are you saying you approve of this?"

"Mom!" Charlie interrupted before Miles could say anything. "It doesn't matter what Miles thinks. It doesn't matter what you think. Bass and Annabeth are my family and I'm not leaving."

"But Charlie! This isn't right. Think about your Dad and Danny.'

Charlie shook her head sadly walking over to Miles. "Dad and Danny are dead. I'm not. Don't you want to see me happy?"

"You'll be lucky to have twenty years with him," Rachel scoffed earning another glare from Miles.

"Just an even better reason not to waste time."

"Jesus, I need a drink," Miles muttered rubbing a hand across his forehead.

"Charlie, please think this through! I know you're smarter than this!"

"That's enough, Rachel!" Miles said raising his voice from frustration causing Annabeth to whimper. Rachel watched with a stricken look on her face as Miles stood, gathering Charlie and the baby in his arms. He could feel Charlie's hot tears soaking into his shirt as she cried. "If she wants Bass and he makes her happy then she's damn well going to get Bass, and if she wants to have a dozen babies then you'll be the best God damn Grandma that ever lived. You know why, Rachel? Because out of all of us, she deserves whatever happiness she can get." Charlie pulled her face out of Miles' shoulder long enough to see her Mother blinking like an Owl. It wasn't often that Miles laid down the law but when he did it was impressive. She almost felt sorry for her mother. Almost. Rachel took a step towards them with an outstretched hand but stopped when Miles turned her away from her mother after feeling her flinch as Rachel approached. "I think it's time we headed back to the house. Gene probably needs your help." Rachel nodded and quietly grabbed her jacket before walking out of the house.

Charlie sighed, releasing the death grip she had on Miles shirt as he brought his free hand up to grab her shoulder. "I may not like it, and I'll kill him if he hurts you, but you deserve to be happy. And if that dickhead makes you happy, I'll drive him to the church myself and dangle a dozen great-nieces and nephews off my knees."

"You're so much more than that Miles, I hope you know that."

"I do." He whispered kissing the top of her head. "Get some rest, Kid. We'll be by in the morning." Charlie nodded walking him to the door and locking it behind him.

Leaning against the door she wiped at her face. "Let's go check on Papa," she said bouncing Annabeth in her arms.

Charlie stopped as she crossed the threshold to their room. Bass was sitting up on the edge of the bed, his knuckles white, staring at the floor. "Oh," Charlie breathed, "I didn't know you were awake. Mom and Miles just left."

"I know. I heard." Bass said softly.

"How much?"

"All of it."

"I'm so sorry about Mom, Bass,"

"Don't!" Bass said harshly holding out a hand to stop her. "Don't ever apologize for your Mother."

"Ok." Charlie whispered in reply.

"Did you mean it?" He asked.

"Mean what?" Charlie asked her mind racing back over the conversation, but forgetting everything as he raised his face to her. His eyes were unlike anything she had seen before. A mixture of hope and sadness, love and desperation. "When you said that Annabeth and I were your family?

"Oh, Bass," Charlie whispered slipping her legs in between his knees as he took the baby from her. "I couldn't love the two of you more if I tried. You'll be mine till the day I die." Bass buried his face in her stomach as Charlie ran her fingers through his hair, holding him close.

Charlie was serious when she told her mother she wouldn't be wasting any time. They married in the back yard of her grandpa's house at the end of May, in the evening as the earth cooled off and the fireflies came out to play. Just as they finished their vows and Bass was kissing his bride, a soft rain sent the guests scrambling to the barn where the reception was being held, everyone that is except Bass and Charlie.

As they broke their kiss, Charlie tilted her head to the sky and held out a hand to catch the raindrops before looking back towards her husband. "Shouldn't we go inside with others?" She asked as Bass watched the rain collect on her lashes.

"Ain't nothing but a summer rain," He replied with a grin twirling her around before setting her back on the ground where they danced to the music only the two of them could hear.

The End