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Post by PenguinNinja on May 17, 2012 0:00:59 GMT
Charlotte laughed at Tom's comment and jostled June to make sure that her daughter was still breathing. When she was satisfied, she turned her head back up to say, "You're too kind. You realise that?"
When both John and Darryn received their drinks, a small "Thank you sir," was uttered from both of them.
She uttered the same words, minus the sir, when Tom came back with her drink.
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Post by Mr Spock on May 17, 2012 0:09:53 GMT
Tom smiled gently and sat down opposite her again, sagging in the chair slightly. This was more than he had expected from his Saturday night. He ran a hand through his chestnut hair and rubbed his forehead with the back of his hand, before looking to Charlotte again.
"We have more than enough space for you. Do you want me to sort for the baby to go in with the boys or with you?" He spoke gently, becoming increasingly aware of the fragility of her character.
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Post by PenguinNinja on May 17, 2012 0:25:16 GMT
Charlotte felt a true smile stretch across her face for the first time in weeks. "I'd like for her to be with me, just in case she's caught something from the cold."
Jostling June into one arm she picked up her brew with her free hand and took a generous sip. It brought a spread of warmth to her entire being that she felt had been missing for days. She looked over towards Darryn and John and found them both happily sipping at their drinks. Her smile stretched itself just a little further. "Really Tom, I do appreciate this."
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Post by Mr Spock on May 17, 2012 0:44:23 GMT
Tom shook his head gently, raising one hand.
"I'll hear nothing more on the matter. You're welcome here whenever you like. You should know that."
He stretched back in his seat and looked around his living room, aware suddenly of how different everything was thanks to one freak event. He was opening his home and his soul to a woman who he hadn't even known in years, but it felt exactly right in that way. He flashed Charlotte another smile, more natural than the rest.
"Just like old times, eh? You eating me out of house and home whilst I happily comply."
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Post by PenguinNinja on May 17, 2012 0:52:27 GMT
Charlotte grinned at the comments. "Just like old times, yeah," she chuckled and let her eyes linger on Tom's just a moment longer than was strictly necessary. She'd forgotten how nice it was just to simple sit and talk with another man without having to worry about being caused pain in some way or about the image her kids were getting.
Those thoughts were pushed from her mind almost immediately. Right now, her children needed her to be strong. That meant that she couldn't let herself think about Martin. At all. "They were some good moments huh," she said offering him another smile.
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Post by Mr Spock on May 17, 2012 1:10:14 GMT
Tom smiled gently and nodded, his gaze drifting to the boys and back again.
"It was a long time ago..." he mused, his perception of the moment slowly ebbing away into the full enormity of the spectacle before him. He sighed and stood, keeping his expression neutral. He didn't want to worry her any more than she clearly was.
"Would you like me to start fires in the rooms for you?"
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Post by PenguinNinja on May 17, 2012 1:28:43 GMT
Charlotte nodded as she looked over to her boys. "That would be lovely, thank you."
She got up from her seat and took another quick, cursory glance at June before looking at her boys. "Kids, come on. Mr Q has kindly let us stay the night."
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Post by Mr Spock on May 17, 2012 2:30:56 GMT
Tom headed out of the room and up the large, wide staircase in the corridor. The house was obscenely massive; large and ornate, old and with huge windows walling the wooden enclosure. The staircase led up to a dimly lit hallway with an uncountable number of doors off in both directions. Tom led Charlotte and the children to the left, down the corridor before opening a door into a mildly painted room, complete with bunk-beds, a cosy looking rug and a fireplace set opposite the beds.
Tom immediately set to work starting a fire in the boy's room.
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Post by PenguinNinja on May 17, 2012 16:46:03 GMT
Charlotte followed Tom up the stairs, both boys on her heel. When they reached the first room he lead them to she stopped just inside the room. Even the boys were impressed by the room. It was certainly different then anything any of them had seen. "Whoa," John expressed and Charlotte turned to look at him.
"Tom," she said, "This is, it's, wow."
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Post by Mr Spock on May 17, 2012 17:13:05 GMT
Tom smiled gently.
"It's simple, but we have a big house, and Mrs. Q doesn't like empty rooms..." he trailed off as the fire caught and he stood again.
"The sheets have been changed recently, I'm sure you'll be fine in here, but I'll put your mum next door so you can get her if you need anything," he said, addressing the boys with another gentle smile, though his heart sunk at the shock on all of their faces. Where had they been that such simplicity was a wonder to them?
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Post by PenguinNinja on May 17, 2012 17:36:26 GMT
Charlotte closed her mouth and she nodded. She realised she probably looked like an idiot just standing and staring at the room. "Sorry," she said embarrased. It wasn't the same as living in the council houses back home.
She shook her head of those thoughts. Home. It wasn't home. Not anymore.
"Thank you mister," Darryn said. John shortly followed with the same line. Shortly following this was the shedding of coats and boots. Both items of clothing were tucked away to one side and both boys clambered into bed, Darryn on the bottom bunk and John on the top one.
Once they were settled Charlotte stepped over to the beds and placed a kiss to each of their foreheads. "Sleep well you two. I love you."
"Love you too Mum," both of them replied and she stepped back into the hallway to signal to Tom that she was ready for her own room.
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Post by Mr Spock on May 17, 2012 18:05:04 GMT
Tom smiled at the boys and bade them goodnight, closing the door gently behind him and moving a doorway along, opening the door into a slightly bigger room, curtained in red again, with hardwood floors and another fireplace. There were two doors on either side of the four-poster bed, and the bed was dressed in satin sheets.
"Come on, I'll light the fire," he said gently, leading Charlotte into the room and making his way over to the fire.
"On the left is a wardrobe. It's got the bits of things I don't normally wear in it, feel free to find something comfortable. The right is your bathroom," he spoke as he focused on layering wood and paper over the firelighter.
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Post by PenguinNinja on May 17, 2012 18:11:40 GMT
"Thank you," Charlotte said with an honest smile. She felt like she'd never stop saying it and stepped to the bed. This time, she did not comment on the room. Merely accepted it as she laid June down and unwrapped the fleece from around her. She looked fine as far as she could tell.
"I don't know how I'm ever going to repay you for all of this," she said, checking to see how wet June's clothes had gotten. They were still dry and she moved to make a space on the bed, surrounded by the fleece, for June to carry on sleeping in.
Once she was comfortable with June's positioning she turned back to Tom and watched as he started the fire. "I mean it Tom. This is, really kind of you."
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Post by Mr Spock on May 17, 2012 18:15:46 GMT
Tom stood and stretched, meeting her eye with a knowing smile.
"You wouldn't be here if you expected any less, Charlotte. And I wouldn't have allowed it if you deserved any less. You look torn apart. No offense," he added with an apologetic grin.
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Post by PenguinNinja on May 17, 2012 19:35:33 GMT
She gave him a short laugh. "Yeah, tell me about it. The past few days they've, well, they've been less then kind."
She tucked her hands into the pockets of her pants. Talking about this kind of thing was starting to feel weird.
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