a.n. 1 So, you know that feeling you get when you hit the delete button instead of the save button? Yeah. That's what happened to to the original chapter 7 so what you're getting here is a combination of 7 and 8 which I'm not entirely happy with, but it does bring our story to an end. Thank you so much for all the lovely reviews. This is really just the best community of Shippers ever.

a.n.2 I recently saw a prompt about 'the accidental baby acquisition" and a plot bunny with razor teeth grabbed on to my ankle and I'd love to bounce some ideas off of someone. If you're interested send me a pm.

Chapter 7

The Rangers gave Bass and Charlie a week off, but after that expected them back to work. The patriots weren't going to stop just because one of their best trackers had taken a blow to the head. Word from Austin was the same. Blanchard needed them in the field as long as she was physically capable of being there.

The morning after Charlie's "something good", found her burying her face against Bass' chest as Miles came barging into her room, demanding that she and Bass get their asses out of bed and outside for some practice. He turned a disturbing shade of purple as he heard her mutter something to the effect of her ass being just fine with Bass' dick inside of it before turning on his heel and stomping down the stairs. Bass silently began to pray for his life as the slamming of the door shook the entire house.

They both put Charlie through her paces making sure that the loss of her memories hadn't affected her fighting skills. She found that they each presented her their own unique challenges and she enjoyed learning new techniques from them.

So, they spent the days training and in the evenings rode into town to have dinner with Rachel and Gene. Charlie had offered to make dinner the first night they were on their own with each man quickly refusing. Miles had put his hands on her shoulders saying, "Charlie, I know you don't remember, but you can't cook. Unfortunately Bass and I do remember. So we're going to ride into town and have a civilized dinner with your Mom and Gene, ok?"

The first night went well, but the second night found Charlie storming out of the house due to an off-handed remark from Rachel. With a sigh, Bass stood, quietly thanking Gene for having them, and with frown at Miles that said "you need to fix this shit," followed her out of the house.

He took his time riding home only to find her pissed and naked, pacing in the barn as she waited for him.

"Charlie?" he questioned as she took his hand dragging him to an empty stall where she had thrown a blanket down covering the hay.

"Now, Bass!" she demanded tugging at his shirt and then his pants. His erection had barely sprang free before she had it in her hand, pumping up and down, her other hand tangling in his hair to pull him to her mouth. Reaching under her thighs to lift her, Bass twisted, depositing them on the blanket, entering her so swiftly she didn't have a chance to catch her breath. He slammed into her over and over until she hooked her feet under his ass trapping him to her body. Her orgasm exploded around the two of them as Bass clenched his teeth riding it out with her until finally able to withdraw and spill his seed on the blanket between her legs. Setting back on his haunches, he laid his head in the valley between her breasts. Charlie stroked his hair, rubbing his shoulders as he caught his breath.

"I'm sorry, Bass," She said contritely.

He raised his head to look at her. "For what?"

"I shouldn't have used you like this. Just because I was mad at Rachel…."

Standing, Bass held out his hand, pulling her up when she took it. "Charlotte, feel free to use me that way any time."

"You're incorrigible," she chuckled.

Bass laughed, smacking her ass as she bent over to retrieve her clothes before gathering his own.

They had just finished getting the horses down when Miles came walking in. "Thought you two would be up at the house by now."

Charlie shrugged, "Decided to go for a ride first."

Bass tried to cover his snort with a cough and Charlie winked at him.

Miles rolled his eyes, handing his reins to Charlie. "I don't want to know." They held their laughter until they heard the back door slam.

After that week, Rachel returned home while Charlie and Bass resumed their work. Their first job took them away for a week easing the pressure that she was feeling the longer it took her memory to surface. They talked a lot about her Mom and she thought it said a lot about him that he really wanted her to give Rachel a chance which she promised to do.

They returned home for a three-day "layover" as Bass called them and Charlie made an effort to help her mother in the kitchen every evening and attempted to find safe subjects of conversation at dinner with Miles' help.

The next job was a long one, taking them all the way down to the borderlands and back. As far as Charlie was concerned she had never been so happy to be home in her entire life.

"Bed, bath, sex and in no particular order," she yawned when they finally made it home.

"Charlie!" Miles groaned as he just happened to walk in for that part of the conversation, "TMI!"

"Huh?" Charlie asked looking over at Bass.

"Go take a bath," he chuckled brushing his lips against her cheek, "Miles and I will take care of the horses.

"How'd it go out there?" Miles asked as he lifted the saddle off Charlie's horse putting it on its rack.

Bass looked thoughtful as he brushed his horse down. "More troops are heading up through Mexico. Not sure if they're just passing through or not. We'll head back out in a few days and see what we can find out in the towns they've already been through."

Miles nodded. "Things have been pretty slow around here. Mind if I tag along?"

"That'd be great, man. I know Charlie would love it. I think she's already tired of my stories."

"Well that's no big surprise, your stories are shit." Miles replied with a grin.

"Were we always this busy before?" Charlie whined as she lay entwined with Bass and the bed sheets.

"Mmmhmm," he hummed as he rubbed his hand up and down her arm.

"I miss my bed when we're gone."

Bass snorted. "I knew you loved this bed more than anyone else."

"No, I love this bed because the expression 'pounding me into the ground' is a little too accurate when we're actually sleeping on it and you're doing stuff like this to me.

Bass raised his head to look down at her, "Doing stuff like what?"

"Stuff like this," she grinned pulling him down towards her.

"God-dammed fucking Patriots," Charlie cursed in her head as the three of them found themselves in a small skirmish and she somehow become separated from Bass and Miles. She had just killed another soldier and was trying to get her bearings when she was suddenly tackled to the ground from behind.

However, instead of seeing stars from the blow her head took when it met the ground, she was seeing visions of herself locked inside a bar and as she was flipped over to her back and her shirt ripped open, it was like her mind was suddenly flooded with every infinitesimal detail of her life. Looking up at the man who had her pinned down, Charlie began to fight back, screaming at the top of her lungs as she did so.

Miles and Bass were fighting off their own attackers, when they heard Charlie begin to scream. Picking up the pace, Miles slashed the throat of his opponent, making eye contact with Bass who nodded and continued his attack of the two men facing off with him.

Running towards the sound of Charlie's screams, the hair on the back of his neck rose when she went silent. She was on the ground with her eyes closed when he found her, knife in hand, and covered in blood, a patriot half-draped on top of her.

"Charlie!" He yelled dropping to her side, tossing the soldier off of her as he took in her appearance, one eye nearly swollen closed, busted lips, her breasts spilling out of her torn bra and shirt. "Charlie!" He said once more shaking her shoulders as he pulled her towards him.

Opening her one good eye she stared at him for a moment before a sob broke loose from her throat as she grabbed him. "Daddy!"

"Oh, Baby, it's ok, it's ok, I've got you," Miles murmured tightening his hold on her as he rocked her back and forth in his arms, stroking her hair as she cried in his arms.

It seemed like forever before Bass was finally able to to reach them. "Miles? Charlie?" he choked out as he dropped to his knees beside them tilting Charlie's face toward him.

"Bass," Charlie whimpered moving from her father's arms to her lovers.

"Charlie?" Bass asked running his eyes over her face, wincing at the swelling already taking place.

"I remember, I remember all of it, and nothing's changed." She pushed past swollen lips, clutching at his face with bloody hands. "I still want you."

Her forehead came to rest on his chin as she collapsed from the emotional exhaustion. Miles hand came to rest on the back of her head as he met Bass' tear filled eyes over her head.

"Let's go home," he said softly.

Nodding, Bass and Miles helped Charlie to her feet, before Bass simply lifted her into his arms as they walked towards camp and their horses, Charlie insisted on riding on Bass' lap, absolutely refusing to be separated from him.

It was barely noon when they arrived home. Rachel walked out on the porch watching them make their way to the barn. Charlie immediately left going straight to the bathhouse as Bass stood at the barn door watching her go. With a frown, Rachel headed to the barn.

When Charlie emerged roughly an hour later she not only looked better but felt better as well. She still hurt like hell but the hot water had done wonders for her aching muscles.

She plodded her way up to her room and stood in the doorway as she tried to determine what was out of place. "No." she said shaking her head pissed as hell moving to the door of Bass' room. His things weren't there either. All of his things were gone. "NO!" Charlie roared running down the stairs and out the front door.

Miles stopped her in the front yard, grabbing her around the waist. "Charlie," he soothed as he pulled her back against his chest.

"Is he coming back?" She asked her voice shaking.

"You'll see him tomorrow, I promise."

They stood there until Rachel called them in for dinner.

She woke to Miles poking at her shoulder. "Up and at'em, Kid."

Charlie groaned. Her face felt like it was about to split apart and the rest of her wasn't far behind. "Not sure if there's any way to get up." She croaked.

"That's why you're lucky to have me." He declared slipping a hand under her shoulder helping her to sit up. Sitting on the bed behind her, he opened a jar of something that smelt revolting, setting it in her hand. "Hold this," he instructed dipping his fingers in the jar and started working it into her skin.

"Jesus, that stinks, Miles."

"Yeah, but you'll be right as rain in a few minutes."

"Where's, Mom?"

"In town. We'll probably see her at Gene's since were' going straight there to have that mug of yours looked at."

He took the jar back, screwing the lid on and helped her stand. "Better?"

"Better." She nodded.

"See you downstairs."

"Miles."

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

He gave her that goofy grin that never failed to make her smile back. "I love you, too."

They took the ride into town slowly, stopping at Gene's who tisked and clucked as he applied ointment and bandages as needed.

Miles shook his head when she emerged. "Damn you're ugly." He teased.

She tried to glare but it was hard to do when the majority of your face was swollen. "Office next?" She grumbled cursing horses as she attempted to lift herself up on her horse, finally accepting Miles help to get mounted.

"Nah. Bass already took care of it. You're on medical leave for at least week and then desk work until gene gives the ok. And yes, I know what I can do with my paperwork," he grinned.

They rode through town to a street of homes that were reserved exclusively for the rangers stationed here. Charlie glanced over at Miles with a look that he was quickly learning, as many times as he had seen it already this morning, was her "wtf" swollen face look. They rode up into the driveway of a smaller home, tying the horse's reins to the post that was in the yard. Walking up the sidewalk to the front porch, Miles knocked on the front door.

Charlie was surprised when her Mom answered the door. "Oh Charlie, Your face!" Rachel gasped, even though she had seen it last night, pulling her in for a hug.

"It's ok, Mom." Charlie assured her. "What are you doing here? And for that matter why are we here at all?" she asked pulling away and turning to Miles. Rachel gave her a small, possibly forced smile as she pulled her in the house.

"Bass, they're here!" Rachel called out towards the back of the house. Bass came bustling down the hallway with a huge grin on his face as he made his way to the door, frowning the closer he got to Charlie. Gently taking her chin between his thumb and finger he winced on her behalf. "Ouch."

"You left." She huffed poking him in the chest with the best frown she could muster under the circumstances.

"And that's our cue to leave," Miles announced grabbing hold of Rachel's arm.

Rachel shook him off giving Charlie another hug as she glared at Bass over Charlie's shoulder. "Let me know if you need anything, ok honey,"

"Ok," Charlie replied hesitantly as she gave Miles the look again.

He simply smiled and winked as he steered Rachel out the door shutting it firmly behind them.

Charlie turned to Bass. "What the hell was that about?"

"That was your parent's way of saying their okay with us living together."

Charlie's mouth opened and closed a few times as she looked from Bass to the door and back again. He couldn't help but grin as she looked like a poor, abused owl.

"Us? Living together? Here?"

Bass nodded, but then gave a heavy sigh shaking his head. "I had to promise Miles I'd make an honest woman out of you by the end of the year, though. I told him that I was willing, but wasn't so sure you'd take me up on the offer."

He watched as her one good eye watered and her chin began to quiver. Approaching her slowly, he wrapped his arms around her gently, knowing how bruised she was today. "So, what do you say, Charlotte?

"I love you Bass, but I'll only say yes on one condition." she answered seriously.

"Anything." Bass said pulling back to look at her.

"I need you to understand that my bed and I are a package deal."

Busting out laughing, Bass pulled her to him, gently kissing the unmarred portions of her face. "I'm so glad you've come back to us."

"I am too," she whispered against his cheek. "It makes this, us, that much more special."

The end.